What's new
By:

Following potential 2017 draftees...

Am I correct in my observation that Smith Jr has extended his range from his high school days in rapid fashion. This development has helped him make the game easy. Even though his shooting is streaky, he doesn't lack confidence and considering his severe knee injury a couple years back that sudden surge in shooting is impressive.
What's the main area of improvement for Fox since high school?
 
BTP said:
Am I correct in my observation that Smith Jr has extended his range from his high school days in rapid fashion. This development has helped him make the game easy. Even though his shooting is streaky, he doesn't lack confidence and considering his severe knee injury a couple years back that sudden surge in shooting is impressive.
What's the main area of improvement for Fox since high school?
Click to expand...

I'm sure there's some improvement, DS4 has always looked like a player who can do it all since he led the 19th(IIRC) preseason ranked North Carolina HS to the state championship as a Sophomore...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5yWr1Rsi4Q
When his stock first blew up I posted him here right away it was around the time that Henry Ellenson was ascending from 4-star status. I wouldn't say his range was limited, my take after seeing him play the first time was "looks like a lottery pick"..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMypF5lZBwA - 38 vs Jamal Murray (before the injury)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxMosOLGgQc

Fox's main improvement is probably in the efficiency of his dribbling, he's playing faster than ever because of it. He was always blazing fast but he's really taken it to a different level at UK -- look no further than PKM's comments about his speed over the years.. we've gone from "He's not as fast as John Wall" to "Some scouts think he's faster than Wall with the ball"..

Fox has basically achieved 'the westbrook speed effect' which is that he can grab a defensive board and push the floor up the court so fast you would've thought that a teammate grabbed the board and hit him in stride on an outlet pass.

As seen on the biggest play of UK's season so far which is Fox getting Malik Monk the ball for the game-winner vs UNC
 
6'10" KSU So. SF Dean Wade is picking the right matchup to drop 20 against.. thats twice now vs Josh Jackson.. this time on 8/12 from the field, 3/3 from 3 (Putting him at 45% on 3 attempts per) 3orebs, 3drebs, 4ast, 2 blk..

He looks good and like a legit sleeper to me!! (posted that after the first KSU-KU matchup too) I've mentioned Wyoming's Hayden Dalton before Wade looks to be at-least that level of prospect. He's shooting like 53% from the field..

There's certainly some parallels with Chandler Parsons..




Josh Jackson plays the game with the confidence of a cat burglar. He's 13 for his last 24 from 3...
Picking up that 4th foul with 10 minutes to go was dubious tho..
I really wonder if were gonna see Frank Mason wear down a bit by tournament time, Self never takes him out of the game...
 
Last edited:
Deng Adel being suspended for yesterdays matchup vs UVA (along with Mangok Mathiang) is disappointing. It should've been but that game is no true measuring stick for UL..


GREAT schedule of games tonight for a tuesday!
 
PG_AB said:
I'm sure there's some improvement, DS4 has always looked like a player who can do it all since he led the 19th(IIRC) preseason ranked North Carolina HS to the state championship as a Sophomore...

When his stock first blew up I posted him here right away it was around the time that Henry Ellenson was ascending from 4-star status. I wouldn't say his range was limited, my take after seeing him play the first time was "looks like a lottery pick"..

Fox's main improvement is probably in the efficiency of his dribbling, he's playing faster than ever because of it. He was always blazing fast but he's really taken it to a different level at UK -- look no further than PKM's comments about his speed over the years.. we've gone from "He's not as fast as John Wall" to "Some scouts think he's faster than Wall with the ball"..

Fox has basically achieved 'the westbrook speed effect' which is that he can grab a defensive board and push the floor up the court so fast you would've thought that a teammate grabbed the board and hit him in stride on an outlet pass.

As seen on the biggest play of UK's season so far which is Fox getting Malik Monk the ball for the game-winner vs UNC
Click to expand...

The biggest difference in Smith's shooting mechanics I can find is that he's started using a sway technique.
DX says they recorded 29% long ball shooting prior to this fall on 2.5 attempts. His step forward IMO. If he got more comfortable with shooting it can make the game a lot easier.
Maybe the root of the shooting improvement is in his ACL tear where he probably a lot of time to refine his shot.

So Fox has basically tried to bring his strengths to another level. Different approach. Explains why I couldn't spot it from highlights. Wall and Westbrook sound like promising comparisons for him.
 
BTP said:
The biggest difference in Smith's shooting mechanics I can find is that he's started using a sway technique.
DX says they recorded 29% long ball shooting prior to this fall on 2.5 attempts. His step forward IMO. If he got more comfortable with shooting it can make the game a lot easier.
Maybe the root of the shooting improvement is in his ACL tear where he probably a lot of time to refine his shot.

So Fox has basically tried to bring his strengths to another level. Different approach. Explains why I couldn't spot it from highlights. Wall and Westbrook sound like promising comparisons for him.
Click to expand...

I'm sure there's also an element of; no defenders can really consistently keep dennis out of the paint or stop him at the rim at those lesser levels of play, so he's much more inclined to drive than settle for a 3.

But yeah hes improved, I don't kill players for their shooting mechanics at that stage unless it's like a bells and whistles type of alarming situation **cough** Aaron Gordon **cough**. Even with Lonzo Ball I wanted to just see him make it in the NCAA's first..

DS4's shooting was definitely never a cause for concern the way I see it tho, next years consensus top-ranked PG Trevon Duval is much more worrisome in comparison..


Wall and Westbrook are kinda like mini LeBron's, what Steve Nash dubbed "super guards".. Fox to me seems more like an oversized tiny guard.. If that makes any sense..
 
PG_AB said:
I'm sure there's also an element of; no defenders can really consistently keep dennis out of the paint or stop him at the rim at those lesser levels of play, so he's much more inclined to drive than settle for a 3.

But yeah hes improved, I don't kill players for their shooting mechanics at that stage unless it's like a bells and whistles type of alarming situation **cough** Aaron Gordon **cough**. Even with Lonzo Ball I wanted to just see him make it in the NCAA's first..

DS4's shooting was definitely never a cause for concern the way I see it tho, next years consensus top-ranked PG Trevon Duval is much more worrisome in comparison..


Wall and Westbrook are kinda like mini LeBron's, what Steve Nash dubbed "super guards".. Fox to me seems more like an oversized tiny guard.. If that makes any sense..
Click to expand...

Fox's size compares favorably compared to Wall and Westbrook afaik. I think filling out a frame is the most consistent results players can achieve with practice. Far more likely than learning to shoot. From my POV betting on the capability to add weight is a fair gamble.
 
Kyle Guy with 2 points in 5 mins in Virginia's upset over Louisville.

Wasn't he getting some hype around here? What happened?

Genuinely curious.


Sent from my iPhone using JazzFanz
 
White Chocolate said:
Kyle Guy with 2 points in 5 mins in Virginia's upset over Louisville.

Wasn't he getting some hype around here? What happened?

Genuinely curious.


Sent from my iPhone using JazzFanz
Click to expand...

Thats not much of an upset without Adel and Mathiang playing..

UVA is loaded with shooters.. they have 3 possible NBA players coming off the bench. Guy's 49% from 3 isn't that much of an upgrade over Devon Hall and London Perrantes. Once Perrantes graduates the reigns will be handed over to Guy and Ty Jerome both of whom are squarely on NBA radars.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3l0Tw1YS4E

Moses would be a perfectly ideal backup C behind Rudy until of course his rookie contract is up and needs a huge raise. He'd also provide great insurance in the event Rudy walks after this extension.

You could actually play them together too vs any sort of twin tower type of look, Moses is very skilled and very agile for that size (possibly/probably still growing too)

type of bigman you could take top-5 and then actually get a bigger return trading him like 2½-3 years into his rookie deal because he'll fit in as a starter at the minimum.. I mocked him 5th in 2019 at the end of 2016 even tho for some odd reason many scouting services still have him at 4-stars.

(#50 the PG is Cole Anthony[Greg Anthony's son] who many have rated as the top PG in the class)
 
BTP said:
Fox's size compares favorably compared to Wall and Westbrook afaik. I think filling out a frame is the most consistent results players can achieve with practice. Far more likely than learning to shoot. From my POV betting on the capability to add weight is a fair gamble.
Click to expand...

No. Fox would be a slightly better prospect if he were built like predraft John Wall. Probably predraft Westbrook too..


On Russy's DX page it says

best case - Leandro Barbosa
worst case - Shannon Brown

lol
 
Lol. Of course PG came back after all of this. Never fails.

I did think you could last a little longer away from here little buddy! Maybe someday you'll follow through on your promises.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page
Back
Top