Utah Basketball Snags Big In-State Recruit

[Cope]

My old high school!

Seen this kid play a few games last year as the AD at Roy is an old teammate of mine that played college ball (Mike Puzey). Puzey signed with Utah and eventually transfered and ended his career at Utah State (Prior to Utah State becoming the best basketball team in the state).

Kid can ball - with highschool ball in Utah though he has the height advantage most nights at 6'8" and uses that to his advantage. It will be interesting to see how that translates into the college game. I would definately say he will be a SF though unless he hits a growth spurt.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I have watched the videos, and read about the kid, and am just not that impressed. I just don't see him as the basketball messiah apparently a few of you do. He is a nice in-state pick-up, sure, but far from a Keith Van Horn or even Danny Ainge if you are looking at Utah college players that made it in the pros. He will probably have a nice college career and come away with a good education for free. Nice for him. You will not see him in the pros, unless you follow the european or chinese leagues.

People probably said that about Hayward coming out of HS.

 

[LogGrad98]

People probably said that about Hayward coming out of HS.

You really think this kid is a future Hayward? Meh, you never know I guess. Isn't the legend that Michael Jordan was cut from his high school team when he was a sophomore or something? But the counterpoint is that right now this kid doesn't show much beyond being big and fairly coordinated for his size, with skills I have seen in plenty of pick-up players that didn't even play in college or even high school.

I am just not sure how this guy drives such heated discussion about who recruited him, other than the fact that Ute and BYU fans all lose 50 IQ points when they start blathering on about the Holy In-state Rivalry. Hell the dude could be the first quadraplegic basketball player taken to grant the kid his final wish and they would be at each other's throats about it.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

You really think this kid is a future Hayward? Meh, you never know I guess. Isn't the legend that Michael Jordan was cut from his high school team when he was a sophomore or something? But the counterpoint is that right now this kid doesn't show much beyond being big and fairly coordinated for his size, with skills I have seen in plenty of pick-up players that didn't even play in college or even high school.

I am just not sure how this guy drives such heated discussion about who recruited him, other than the fact that Ute and BYU fans all lose 50 IQ points when they start blathering on about the Holy In-state Rivalry. Hell the dude could be the first quadraplegic basketball player taken to grant the kid his final wish and they would be at each other's throats about it.

No, just saying not all NBA players look like NBA players at age 16/17. This kid is tall and obviously has some skill. Who knows how he develops down the line. Like you said, you don't watch college sports, most freshman don't come in and dominate and look like ready made NBA players (yes, even top 100 recruits, it's not like this guy is a top 10 or anything). Actually, a ton of them are red-shirted so they can learn the offense, get in the weight room, and get adjusted to college lifestyle.

 

[7StraightIsGreat]

I am just not sure how this guy drives such heated discussion about who recruited him.....

Funny, because I was actually wondering why this thread has gotten you pretty heated. Strange for a guy who admittedly doesn't follow, nor care about college basketball. For a guy who doesn't follow it, you sure can break down film on a would-be college player. I've been confused by a few of the reactions in this thread, because I did not make it in an attempt to talk ****, or claim that this kid is the next Keith Van Horne. I'll say it again: He's a nice in-state get for a program that badly needs it. To me, it does matter that BYU was down to his final 3 choices and that he ended up picking Utah. It doesn't mean that the kid is the 2nd coming, but I do think that it is a BIG DEAL that Utah is finally getting back to the place where they can recruit a national Top 100 player from in-state, go up against BYU, and get a win here and there. That hasn't been the case leading up to these last couple of years and if you are a Ute basketball fan, it's a good sign.

I know all of the stuff I'm saying is pretty radical and that I've lost 50 IQ points just for discussing it, so thank you for indulging me and reading this post. I have to go now and read other threads with subjects about stuff that I claim not to follow and give definitive and know-it-all statements.

Thank you.

 

[green]

I have watched the videos, and read about the kid, and am just not that impressed. I just don't see him as the basketball messiah apparently a few of you do. He is a nice in-state pick-up, sure, but far from a Keith Van Horn or even Danny Ainge if you are looking at Utah college players that made it in the pros. He will probably have a nice college career and come away with a good education for free. Nice for him. You will not see him in the pros, unless you follow the european or chinese leagues.

Again, LOL. I guess that's why you aren't a scout or paid to evaluate players, right?

 

[Former Member]

Great pick up for the Utes. Hopefully this kid has a good senior year with Roy...

Also, there is a kid from Layton that I know the Utes were looking at. I forgot his name, but he was a great shooter... #10 I think. Hopefully, he comes to Utah as well. (He definitely needs to put on weight though).

 

[Former Member]

Yep. I'm pulling for you guys to get back to making the tourney. Seems like forever since we have crushed your dreams there.