Last year's class seemed college ready in two specific regards, ball handling and scoring. I liked having three very experienced point guards in the bunch and that all five of them had scored a ton of points in HS. They proved themselves in these regards as a quick learning, all freshman backcourt that became a potent scoring attack by the end of the year. They also handled presses very well for a bunch of freshman. These traits helped them compensate for their lack of physical maturation.
This year's class comes in with some skill as well. But they are physically more college ready. All four of them seem physically developed beyond what is typical of an incoming freshman. Sehic and Justice were early bloomers. Sehic was a beast in the paint as a HS freshman. And Justice has played 6 years of HS ball at a high level. Baptiste and Toye step onto campus packing a big time athletic punch. Toye really blossomed this past year after looking like a typical HS guy as a junior. And Baptiste has an NBA body. Add to those four, 4th year Cressler, and we are adding five big and strong guys (all of them college sized) from guard to post.
Other roster thoughts:
- We were one of the tallest teams in the country last year...we just got a whole lot taller.
- Baptiste is ripped. I want him to play, not redshirt. We could use him.
- Luke was a different specimen last season with the addition of ~ 40 lbs. You could see on his drives and in his shot blocking that he was getting used to moving that new, 7 foot tall body around last season and to very good effect at times. I cannot wait to see him this year. Talk about a high ceiling.
- We'll have five guys who could handle the 5 spot, if needed (and if no one redshirts.) That is rare. Hendo has been working out hard, BTW. However many or few minutes he gets, having him (for a 6th season!) is a big time bonus. He will work hard and never complain. It will only push the others.
- We will have a big, strong, aggressive tank of a power forward to enjoy for the next four years in Sehic. We've not had that type of guy much, instead going with thinner guys like Odom, Goulbourne, and Siakam at the four. And unlike those guys, Sehic has an excellent post up game.
- We lost 2 non-shooters and added 4 shooters. That gives us NINE very good to elite level shooters. Justice and Cressler are elite. Sehic is a great shooter for a PF. And Toye has developed a great looking stroke. Daaaaaang!!!
This year's class comes in with some skill as well. But they are physically more college ready. All four of them seem physically developed beyond what is typical of an incoming freshman. Sehic and Justice were early bloomers. Sehic was a beast in the paint as a HS freshman. And Justice has played 6 years of HS ball at a high level. Baptiste and Toye step onto campus packing a big time athletic punch. Toye really blossomed this past year after looking like a typical HS guy as a junior. And Baptiste has an NBA body. Add to those four, 4th year Cressler, and we are adding five big and strong guys (all of them college sized) from guard to post.
Other roster thoughts:
- We were one of the tallest teams in the country last year...we just got a whole lot taller.
- Baptiste is ripped. I want him to play, not redshirt. We could use him.
- Luke was a different specimen last season with the addition of ~ 40 lbs. You could see on his drives and in his shot blocking that he was getting used to moving that new, 7 foot tall body around last season and to very good effect at times. I cannot wait to see him this year. Talk about a high ceiling.
- We'll have five guys who could handle the 5 spot, if needed (and if no one redshirts.) That is rare. Hendo has been working out hard, BTW. However many or few minutes he gets, having him (for a 6th season!) is a big time bonus. He will work hard and never complain. It will only push the others.
- We will have a big, strong, aggressive tank of a power forward to enjoy for the next four years in Sehic. We've not had that type of guy much, instead going with thinner guys like Odom, Goulbourne, and Siakam at the four. And unlike those guys, Sehic has an excellent post up game.
- We lost 2 non-shooters and added 4 shooters. That gives us NINE very good to elite level shooters. Justice and Cressler are elite. Sehic is a great shooter for a PF. And Toye has developed a great looking stroke. Daaaaaang!!!
