Thon Maker
- Thread starter bssparks
- Start date
Lets see...
Cauley-Stein, gone.
Towns, gone.
Johnson, gone.
Makes sense. He'd be crazy to go elsewhere, especially considering the talent UK will have in the back court and wing.
Cauley-Stein, gone.
Towns, gone.
Johnson, gone.
Makes sense. He'd be crazy to go elsewhere, especially considering the talent UK will have in the back court and wing.
It depends how they are used. I would've called WCS more of a center than Noel. However, point remains the same. UK is going to lose three 7-footers to the NBA Draft.
Skal and Thon are awfully similar, aren't they? I thought the biggest difference was that Thon was a little more polished in the post? I could be wrong, Idk, but I would put the one with the better post moves at C.
They're both pretty similar.
I know many college players enter the draft when they shouldn't, but I just don't see Dakari doing it. He's so very far from ready. Potential will only get you so far.
Dakari isnt automatic draft material. Draft.net has him going middle of the 2nd round and DraftExpress has him at 27th in the first round. Thats not real flattering.
Johnson ain't going anywhere next year, he can't score against Ole Miss and A& M, he damn sure ain't scoring in the league
A defensive interior of Lee, Maker, Skal, Poythress and a defensive perimeter of Ulis, Matthews, Hawkins, Booker and possibly Neman = defense next year might even be better than this year. WCS is far and away a first team All-NCAA defensive player, but the upside of Skal and Maker as far as rim protectors are concerned is at least enough to create a healthy debate. The shot blocking would probably have no drop off, and Matthews is better than either twin defensively. Newman's defense needs work, but there's potential with him as well. Obviously if Poythres returns, he gives UK another upgrade defensively at the 3 and 4 positions.
my money is on Kansas..... Brown, Maker and Bragg to KU while Zimmerman and Newman head to UK along with our signed trio of Briscoe, Skal, and Matthews. By the way Matthews is playing well enough he should be back in the top 30 if not top 25 rankings but since he already signed and then also committed so early in 2014 , the scouts aren't even paying attention to his games.
Also like to point out , Adidas kids to adidas schools and Nike kids to Nike schools. be ready for it.
Also like to point out , Adidas kids to adidas schools and Nike kids to Nike schools. be ready for it.
Just...no. Stop.
Maker is a superb prospect. He's not Superman. He's not going to be the first 7 footer in basketball history to spend time at PG. He's not even Anthony Davis, a guy with a guard background who grew and grew (and grew) until he was center height. Maker has nice perimeter skills, for a 7 footer. He's still a pure frontcourt player. And if he's not, it's a complete waste of talent.
I think we can all universally agree that we really want Maker, without a doubt. Anyone that doesn't is either too stupid to realize how great it would be to have him, or just simply doesn't know anything about him or CBB recruiting, for that matter.
oh yeah we all really want Maker. Really bad. But our chances of landing him is basically Nike stealing him away the same way adidas did with Wiggins. In other words promise of a huge payday endorsement down the road that Adidas couldnt match.
Booker can play small forward (it's just a wing) especially with another year of strength and conditioning plus normal physical maturation. Remember he just turned 18 (!)
Also, Mathews is a much better player and athlete than most people understand. He will play at 6'6" and 200/210.He can really jump , has long arms and is a willing defender. He reminds me of a more skilled ,bigger Antoine Barber. He is certainly much bigger and more athletic than Doron Lamb .
Also, Mathews is a much better player and athlete than most people understand. He will play at 6'6" and 200/210.He can really jump , has long arms and is a willing defender. He reminds me of a more skilled ,bigger Antoine Barber. He is certainly much bigger and more athletic than Doron Lamb .
I think Maker is making a mistake reclassifying. I've seen him live, he's one of the most unique basketball players maybe ever. But his problem is that he has no position in college. He wants and plays out on the wing in high school and there's no way Cal lets him do it here. But he's still too thin to bang down low in the SEC. He's just as thin or a bit thinner than Lee.
Maker would be best to stay in 2016, add 20 pounds and work on his post game. I'm afraid BBN will be disappointed next year if he came because of what people expect him to play like. Yes he will have many moments that he leaves us speechless from something he does but he's not superman. If I could pick between Maker and Davis at age 18, I'm taking Davis.
Maker will have the same problem Alex has had, having size of one position but the skill set for a different position which will keep him from reaching his true potential. Maker will be a much better NBA player than college. I fully expect to get blasted for saying all of this.
Maker would be best to stay in 2016, add 20 pounds and work on his post game. I'm afraid BBN will be disappointed next year if he came because of what people expect him to play like. Yes he will have many moments that he leaves us speechless from something he does but he's not superman. If I could pick between Maker and Davis at age 18, I'm taking Davis.
Maker will have the same problem Alex has had, having size of one position but the skill set for a different position which will keep him from reaching his true potential. Maker will be a much better NBA player than college. I fully expect to get blasted for saying all of this.
dude, it'll be near impossible for Maker to be like Alex...Alex is like undersized PF (not really in college, he just is small compared to other teammates and require him to play SF). Maker is huge and completely fine center.
Coach cal will reel him into center/pf position. I doubt he'll struggle the same way Alex does.
However, he might get pushed around a lot, not sure he'll be able to handle the physical nature of collegiate basketball yet. Which i think is your point. However, he is freakishly long. He won't dominate like Davis....but who can? He'll be fine. Coach Cal knows what to do with his type of player.
If his camp took no benefits, it's not an issue. Are you aware of any real proof? That, plus I don't see Calipari taking another high risk situation after the Kanter fiasco. If the NCAA allowed Selby, Muhammed, Boatright and others to play, I'm not really all concerned about Skal. I'm not sure why you would be concerned until there's actually a smoking gun.
This post was edited on 1/11 10:42 PM by Son_Of_Saul
Weight isn't any issue with guys like Maker. Being 7' and skinny hurts you if you're Hassan Whiteside and can't move well or do anything beyond three feet. If you're mobile, fluid, explosive and skilled, it just means you need to add weight in the NBA. Was Nerlens a problem? Davis? No. Lee's weight is a problem because he's 6'9 and raw, not because he's skinny.
Maker's floor in college is what, Chris Bosh? With skills, athleticism and length like that, he's a 5 star if he's a 6'7 wing or a 7' center.
He's also a dream for what we're trying to do here. Roster crowding is a lot less of an issue when your 7 footers can play the 4 and the 5. He and Skal would be a dream Cal frontcourt. Can both protect the rim, guard the perimeter, run the floor, play above the rim, step out and kill you with a jumper, and score from the block. If Trey Lyles can play almost exclusively at the 3 spot for us, Thon Maker won't be a problem for being between positions at this or any level.
Maker's floor in college is what, Chris Bosh? With skills, athleticism and length like that, he's a 5 star if he's a 6'7 wing or a 7' center.
He's also a dream for what we're trying to do here. Roster crowding is a lot less of an issue when your 7 footers can play the 4 and the 5. He and Skal would be a dream Cal frontcourt. Can both protect the rim, guard the perimeter, run the floor, play above the rim, step out and kill you with a jumper, and score from the block. If Trey Lyles can play almost exclusively at the 3 spot for us, Thon Maker won't be a problem for being between positions at this or any level.
If the NCAA punishes UNC really hard ???. They will make Skal ineligible just to piss us off..and to please all the people that hate UK and Cal.
Posters said Davis would get pushed around in college and would need multiple years to bulk up , he was cast by some as a project with great upside . Same thing but different player , Thons weight is a non issue . The biggest concern is can he get pt with Willis in the mix , who we all know has a Michael Jordan like skillset .
Awesome i think we will get him and i think this was a big reason Bragg went there . I think Maker would take the ride that might go to Swanigan or Diallo or before Bragg . I could see our class as this
Matthews
Newman
Briscoe
Maker
Zimmerman
Skal
Brown
Brown is a toss up like Maker as i think Brown might go to UCLA ( he ain't going to KU ) but i think in the end Brown wants to play and win alot and that will be done here .
Can you imagine a line up of
Blue platoon
Ulis
Booker
Brown
Maker
Zimmerman
Briscoe
Newman
Poythress
Skal
Lee
that would be insane . I think Dakari is gone as well and will go around 20 to 25 . Booker might leave as well but i think he and Ulis will play 2 years together and go to the league.
Matthews
Newman
Briscoe
Maker
Zimmerman
Skal
Brown
Brown is a toss up like Maker as i think Brown might go to UCLA ( he ain't going to KU ) but i think in the end Brown wants to play and win alot and that will be done here .
Can you imagine a line up of
Blue platoon
Ulis
Booker
Brown
Maker
Zimmerman
Briscoe
Newman
Poythress
Skal
Lee
that would be insane . I think Dakari is gone as well and will go around 20 to 25 . Booker might leave as well but i think he and Ulis will play 2 years together and go to the league.
Well, the NCAA should already have a presidence in this type of situation with Cam Newton but unfortunately you cannot trust the NCAA to rule consistently with even their own rulings. By the NCAA ruling, his handle should not effect his status as long as Skal did not accept any benefits. Even if he has, the NCAA has allowed a lot of other players to simply pay the money back but that's with other schools. I just hope that Skal himself is clean because I too do not trust the NCAA at all. There is 1 person I do trust in these matters and that is Mrs. Bell!
This post was edited on 1/12 12:28 AM by UKCATSFREAK
I am sorry Son, I thought we had already signed The number 1 point Guard you have left off your list of players.
Almost for certain...
1. Zimmerman has been UK's highest priority at C and still is. Maker isn't a priority at C over Zimmerman.
2. Maker is a unique case. He's a tall, athletic 6'11 kid with terrific handles/moves for a guy that big. Not a ton of interior post game but is a capable kid to hit the glass and score from there as well.
3. To me the curveball as Skai verballing to UK but since we did pick him up very early (and assuming he makes it in to college) we'll gladly play him interchangeably at the 4 and 5 positions alongside of Lee and whomever else stays (Dakari/Poythress) or comes on board next years (Diallo, Maker, Zimmerman).
Cal has been in contact with Maker and we're not sure which way the tea leaves will blow on him yet as his camp keeps it pretty quiet....but I think him classifying into 2015 doesn't kill our chances with him but possibly would be in UK's best interests if he were a 2016 kid.
1. Zimmerman has been UK's highest priority at C and still is. Maker isn't a priority at C over Zimmerman.
2. Maker is a unique case. He's a tall, athletic 6'11 kid with terrific handles/moves for a guy that big. Not a ton of interior post game but is a capable kid to hit the glass and score from there as well.
3. To me the curveball as Skai verballing to UK but since we did pick him up very early (and assuming he makes it in to college) we'll gladly play him interchangeably at the 4 and 5 positions alongside of Lee and whomever else stays (Dakari/Poythress) or comes on board next years (Diallo, Maker, Zimmerman).
Cal has been in contact with Maker and we're not sure which way the tea leaves will blow on him yet as his camp keeps it pretty quiet....but I think him classifying into 2015 doesn't kill our chances with him but possibly would be in UK's best interests if he were a 2016 kid.
Whoever thinks Thon needs another year in HS is nuts...get stronger and tougher, is this Camp Billy G? Kevin Durant couldn't bench 100lbs and he's fine. He's a top 5-10 lock right now, and will probably end up a top 3 pick; why lose a year of earning potential?
And DJ is most likely gone, I'd just assume he leaves...a big guy with a soft touch, runs the floor, plays hard. That's first round material, early second at worst. He gone.
Agree with Spears, if a guy like Skal wants to commit you take it and roll the dice. Just because we accepted doesn't mean Cal is/is not certain he will play. Very similar to Kanter. Could be they rule him ineligible for 9 games and make him pay something back, or he's out for life. No rhyme or reason here, just take what they give you.
And DJ is most likely gone, I'd just assume he leaves...a big guy with a soft touch, runs the floor, plays hard. That's first round material, early second at worst. He gone.
Agree with Spears, if a guy like Skal wants to commit you take it and roll the dice. Just because we accepted doesn't mean Cal is/is not certain he will play. Very similar to Kanter. Could be they rule him ineligible for 9 games and make him pay something back, or he's out for life. No rhyme or reason here, just take what they give you.
Wonder if Thon would hurt us with Zimmerman.
Definitely don't think Dakari is going anywhere. Skal, Lee, Johnson, and potentially Poy, Thon and Zimmerman, along with Ulis, Booker, Matthews, Briscoe, Newman, Hawkins and WIllis? Another stacked team.
Getting ahead of myself though.
Definitely don't think Dakari is going anywhere. Skal, Lee, Johnson, and potentially Poy, Thon and Zimmerman, along with Ulis, Booker, Matthews, Briscoe, Newman, Hawkins and WIllis? Another stacked team.
Getting ahead of myself though.
