How does Skal compare to (incoming freshman) Nerlens?

[mktmaker]

I don't follow recruiting as much as do many of you.

I've read a bit and seen some video of Skal, but I don't have too much sense of what his progress is in relation to how he currently is ready for high-level college competition.

How does he compare to how Nerlens was at this point (incoming freshman)?

 

[jrpross]

Same caliber player but different styles. Noel was stronger, probably a better rebounder, and was an absolute monster on defense. Skal can score though. More of a finesse big. He can shoot and he's got some post moves. I don't know much about his defense honestly. I don't expect it to be a liability but I don't expect him to block shits like Noel or Davis. He could prove me wrong though. We shall see....

 

[wcc31]

I don't follow recruiting as much as do many of you.

I've read a bit and seen some video of Skal, but I don't have too much sense of what his progress is in relation to how he currently is ready for high-level college competition.

How does he compare to how Nerlens was at this point (incoming freshman)?

Different planet offensively. Skal is polished and has a better looking J than Davis/Towns at this point. Can play pick-and-pop. That touch should translate inside as well although he will have to get used to the physicality. Should be an excellent rim-runner, too.

Same lithe athlete as Noel and Davis- doesn't move like your typical 7-footer.

Defensively, though, Noel is more advanced. Noel was as gifted a pure shotblocker as you'll ever see. Skal will certainly block a lot of shots, but he's not Noel.

I think Skal will advance much in the same way Davis did- although his ceiling isn't as high. I expect him to be one of- if not THE best big in the country by March.

 

[stenchymouse]

Nerlens was a beast defensively but he needs great offensive players around him.

He was a liability offensively without perimeter weapons...

Overall, I'd rather have Skal because he's a good defender but an elite offensive big.

Skal would have been a better fit for the 2013 team and I think Nerlens would have been great on this years team.

 

[Orange Soda King]

I don't expect him to block shits like Noel or Davis..

I don't expect him to block shits

block shits

shits

 

[seccats04]

If you could combine Skal's offense with Nerlens' defense, you would have the second best player on the planet.

 

[Orange Soda King]

In all seriousness, he might be quite good at shot-blocking, though maybe not quite the level of Davis or Noel. Maybe like KAT last year, who blocked plenty of shots. Poythress and Lee will also swat shots away.

 

[Smashcat]

Different planet offensively.

Yep.

 

[jrpross]

i don't expect him to block shits

Well I don't. It'd be gross.

 

[kentucky_wildcat_#1]

Haha. I knew when that guy made that typo it wasn't going to be left unnoticed. I've heard of our guys not pooping ice cream, but finally a crap blocker. Sick.

 

[stenchymouse]

Those attempting to answer this question are basing it on stuff they have read, along with maybe watching a couple high school all star games and, maybe in one or two cases, actually seeing him play a real game against over-matched high school kids.

The truth is, we don't know, but we'll know in about three months after we've seen him in important games.

At this point we've seen quite a bit of Skal and we definitely have seen his offensive skills.

We've also all read quite a bit about his defensive potential and we know that he isn't as long as AD or as explosive as Nerlens.

There's still a lot that remains to be seen, be we know enough to have a discussion on a message board.

It's not like we have the first pick in the NBA draft (oh yeah, he's projected to be the first pick next year) and are making a million dollar decision on him.

We're just chatting about our players...

 

[TheTweak]

I don't expect him to block shits like Noel or Davis

They dont call him the constipater for nothing

 

[BBUK]

Same caliber player but different styles. Noel was stronger, probably a better rebounder, and was an absolute monster on defense. Skal can score though. More of a finesse big. He can shoot and he's got some post moves. I don't know much about his defense honestly. I don't expect it to be a liability but I don't expect him to block shits like Noel or Davis. He could prove me wrong though. We shall see....

If he blocks shits like AD blocked shots and his shot is shit then NN may have been the shits if KAT shoots like Skal shits, ah blocks, uh constipates, shit the shot,...oh the heck with it.

 

[mj2k10]

If you could combine Skal's offense with Nerlens' defense, you would have the second best player on the planet.

Yeah. And his name is Anthony Davis.

 

[dave5164]

Skal Labissiere and Noel are different in that when I have watched labissiere play in the Nike Hoops Summit and score 23 points and double digit in rebounds is awesome on the Offensive end of play. Noel was a great defensive player and blocked so many big shots that led to fastbreak easy points for UK. Noel was also good on the Offensive side of the ball but I believe that Labissiere has a way better touch on his shot from 10-15 feet out. Labissiere will be huge on our offense and will shoot the ball very well. It will be fum watching him, Briscoe, Ulis, and Murray. Looking at this team they could be alot better on the offense side of the ball than last years team with Murray, Labissiere, Briscoe, Ulis, Poy, Lee, and Mulder, Mathews and Humphries off the bench. This team by middle of SEC play and heading into March Madness will be an awesome team to watch!

 

[Orange Soda King]

Well I don't. It'd be gross.

They'd be straight up nasty!

 

[Stonewall12]

Different planet offensively. Skal is polished and has a better looking J than Davis/Towns at this point. Can play pick-and-pop. That touch should translate inside as well although he will have to get used to the physicality. Should be an excellent rim-runner, too.

Same lithe athlete as Noel and Davis- doesn't move like your typical 7-footer.

Defensively, though, Noel is more advanced. Noel was as gifted a pure shotblocker as you'll ever see. Skal will certainly block a lot of shots, but he's not Noel.

I think Skal will advance much in the same way Davis did- although his ceiling isn't as high. I expect him to be one of- if not THE best big in the country by March.

This sums it up.

 

[KA4Prez]

Noel on a team with Ulis, Briscoe and Murray and minus an injury, would've been the consensus #1 overall pick. The guy would've been an absolute monster on the lobs and offensive glass, in addition to his defensive dominance.

We have to remember, Noel did what he did without having much help at all in the back court.

 

[Bkocats]

Noel on a team with Ulis, Briscoe and Murray and minus an injury, would've been the consensus #1 overall pick. The guy would've been an absolute monster on the lobs and offensive glass, in addition to his defensive dominance.

We have to remember, Noel did what he did without having much help at all in the back court.

I still maintain that Nerlens wouldn't have gotten that injury if he hadn't been trying to save the season - because he had so little help he was going above and beyond when he shouldn't have had to (in that case anyway).

Agree with your first statement; he'll do well as a pro I think.

 

[JohnnyGentle]

noel was the consensus #1 pick, even after the injury, until late in the process. and the teams that were scared off--for whatever reason--blew it. imagine cleveland with a core of lebron, irving, nerlens, and wiggins--yikes.

skal is probably a better offensive player than nerlens right now. he can make shots, and he can create them for himself. very smooth. noel is mostly a diver in ballscreen situations (though okafor's presence muddies those waters). he is a good passer who can put it on the floor a little, but he's not a big scorer.