Luke Maye a wasted scholarship, better check again

[IDUNK4HEELS]

I can not speak for anybody but myself but I am a Luke Maye fan. He reminds me of Kurt Ram bis when he was with the Lakers. Kurt was surrounded by stars but he knew his job was to rebound, score when the opportunity arose but hustle his rear end off to help his team win. Luke like Kurt is not the best player on his team but his lunch pail type attitude is something you can't teach. Luke knows his strengths and his limitations but the best thing about him he is a solid teammate and a winner.

 

[Archer2]

Yeah, but don't try to gloss it over Dunk. You can put lipstick on a pig... But he's still only a 3* player.

 

[UNC&ME]

he is playing better basketball than Hicks--as of now he is helping the team more..3 point threat and 3 pt maker..defense and on the court longer since Hicks is fouling then sitting..this confident Luke we need each game esp with Williams gone

 

[Archer2]

Unfortunately, Isaiah has a tendency to self check by fouling like there's no tomorrow. He has an extremely low basketball IQ and it's costing him a lot of money because he has the skills to make a team at the next level if he could stay on the court long enough to display them. It makes Luke's ability to contribute even more valuable.

 

[UNC&ME]

if this was beginning of ACC -first game..I would start Maye..have a few screens set for him to shoot the 3 in the offense..Hicks would have time to earn starting berth...of course RW not going to do this now...I would have laughed at such thinking months ago

 

[Archer2]

A career high 13 points and 7 boards(4 offensive) in a mere 23 minutes. Luke knows he can play at this level now and his confidence is growing. And isn't everyone happy that he was offered a chance to walk on now? I know I am. Of course, I was confident all along that he could be a solid player for us, based on his dad's character and Luke's work ethic in high school.

I almost fell out of my chair when he pump faked his man and went in and threw down the two handed slam. Love that kid.

 

[HeelFan58]

The same crowd that rags on Luke also thinks Platek , Manley and Huffman are really 5*'s and the recruiting gurus just don't know what they are doing. SMMFH

 

[Archer2]

The same crowd that rags on Luke also thinks Platek , Manley and Huffman are really 5*'s and the recruiting gurus just don't know what they are doing. SMMFH

I don't think they're the same crowd at all. I think the ones who ragged on Luke and said "if he ever played serious minute we were in big trouble", are the same ones who think we're in big trouble because we recruited Manley, Huffman, and Platek. I look at Manley and Huffman and I don't see 3* players. And I know your post was hyperbole, but I haven't seen a single person say they thought any of those guys was a 5* player. There was talk that Huffman, and possibly Manley, might work their way up to the 4* category with really good senior years. I don't think that is out of the question.

 

[mikeirbyusa]

Luke-Woods-BRob-Tony PROUD of the development in all those guys this year.

BRob has a little "attitude" to his game, LOVE IT!

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

I can not speak for anybody but myself but I am a Luke Maye fan. He reminds me of Kurt Ram bis when he was with the Lakers. Kurt was surrounded by stars but he knew his job was to rebound, score when the opportunity arose but hustle his rear end off to help his team win. Luke like Kurt is not the best player on his team but his lunch pail type attitude is something you can't teach. Luke knows his strengths and his limitations but the best thing about him he is a solid teammate and a winner.

I was mocked yesterday for suggesting that Luke next year could be something like Matt Doherty was on the 1982 team. Not the same position, obviously, but similar role on a team of stars (the discussion was about what kind of team we'd have if we got Knox and Berry stayed for his senior year - Berry, Theo, Knox, Luke, Tony).

 

[Steat]

Many (including me) need to eat some crow here. The kid is special. His outside shot is getting better and better each game. Just knowing that we have this kid for two more years is making me smile more and more each day.

 

[gunslingerdick]

Luke Maye is a great addition to any team. He doesn't need to be a star yet he has the confidence and self assurance that he can get the job done and he plays his role well. Super happy that he is a part of our team.

With that said, the first foul on Hicks last night was bullshit. he swatted that shit from DSJ yet Smith got the NBA star treatment with that weak foul call. The next 3 fouls on Hicks were all legit and just poor decision making on Isaiah's part. But I attribute some of that to his missing the last game and just being amped to get some game action. He's been a lot better this year with regard to senseless fouls.

 

[mikeirbyusa]

Spot-on gun.

 

[gary-7]

The same crowd that rags on Luke also thinks Platek , Manley and Huffman are really 5*'s and the recruiting gurus just don't know what they are doing. SMMFH

 

[gary-7]

I can not speak for anybody but myself but I am a Luke Maye fan. He reminds me of Kurt Ram bis when he was with the Lakers. Kurt was surrounded by stars but he knew his job was to rebound, score when the opportunity arose but hustle his rear end off to help his team win. Luke like Kurt is not the best player on his team but his lunch pail type attitude is something you can't teach. Luke knows his strengths and his limitations but the best thing about him he is a solid teammate and a winner.

As you know I don't have much tolerance for the "Maye is a glorified walk-on" crowd. But hey, opinions are what they are.
However, here is one thing I know for a fact: Our players --- you know, the guys who actually play and practice with him and play summer pick-up and/or Pro-Am with him --- flat-out respect Luke's game.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

The next 3 fouls on Hicks were all legit and just poor decision making on Isaiah's part.

I'm curious whether you or some of our other gurus think he would be having these fouling problems if he were playing for a zone team like Syracuse? Or a slow-down team like UVa (which would at least mean fewer possessions and therefore fewer opportunities to commit a foul). Or maybe Miami (which plays slow and also plays more zone).

 

[Archer2]

He's played well this year. Obviously my avatar has made a yuge difference in his play this year. He read the board, noticed my avatar and wanted to make sure he lived up to my expectations.

Your marching orders are to maintain your avatar mojo until we win the title this year.

I was mocked yesterday for suggesting that Luke next year could be something like Matt Doherty was on the 1982 team. Not the same position, obviously, but similar role on a team of stars (the discussion was about what kind of team we'd have if we got Knox and Berry stayed for his senior year - Berry, Theo, Knox, Luke, Tony).

I don't think it was your comparison of Luke to Matt, that was a good comparison. I believe it was your comparison of the other four players to those of the '82 team that was generally disagreed upon.

With that said, the first foul on Hicks last night was bullshit. he swatted that shit from DSJ yet Smith got the NBA star treatment with that weak foul call. The next 3 fouls on Hicks were all legit and just poor decision making on Isaiah's part. But I attribute some of that to his missing the last game and just being amped to get some game action. He's been a lot better this year with regard to senseless fouls.

I don't see this. I wish I could say I did.

 

[gunslingerdick]

I'm curious whether you or some of our other gurus think he would be having these fouling problems if he were playing for a zone team like Syracuse? Or a slow-down team like UVa (which would at least mean fewer possessions and therefore fewer opportunities to commit a foul). Or maybe Miami (which plays slow and also plays more zone).

I think his fouling issues have been slightly overstated throughout his career. Don't get me wrong, he needs to do a better job of standing his ground and going vertical instead of always bringing his arms down but a lot of times (especially in past years), his fouls occur because a man on the perimeter beat his defender and Hicks was the last man back. It's against a competitor's instincts to let someone score even when that's the more prudent thing to do.

Like I said though, he's been much better this season both down low and out on the perimeter.

 

[gunslingerdick]

He's been a lot better this year with regard to senseless fouls.

I don't see this. I wish I could say I did.

In 23 mpg this year, Hicks has had 3 games where he DQ'd and 7 games with 4 fouls.

In 18 mpg last year, he had 3 games where he DQ'd and 16 games with 4 fouls.

In 14 mpg his soph year, he had 3 games where he DQ'd and 7 games where he had 4 fouls.

I'd say that he is definitely improving.

 

[keysersosay#1]

I love Luke and am glad that he has progressed like he has and is really a solid contributor to the team. As an aside, the latest comments from Dave about Manley are NOT encouraging to say the least

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

In 23 mpg this year, Hicks has had 3 games where he DQ'd and 7 games with 4 fouls.

In 18 mpg last year, he had 3 games where he DQ'd and 16 games with 4 fouls.

In 14 mpg his soph year, he had 3 games where he DQ'd and 7 games where he had 4 fouls.

I'd say that he is definitely improving.

Just needs a couple more years.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

I don't think it was your comparison of Luke to Matt, that was a good comparison. I believe it was your comparison of the other four players to those of the '82 team that was generally disagreed upon.

I acknowledged up front that the Worthy-Knox comparison fails (unless Knox is a lot more awesome than expected), but the other comparisons look very close to me - assuming ordinary improvement for our guys over the summer.

I wasn't suggesting that we would necessarily be as good as that 82 team, but that we would have a very good team built along similar lines. And, more to the point of the thread, that there's a place for a guy like Maye on a team like that.

 

[Archer2]

And, more to the point of the thread, that there's a place for a guy like Maye on a team like that.

Without a doubt. There has always been a role for those types of players on UNC teams and I hope that will never change. It's the American success story, a walkon who overachieves and goes on to become an integral part of a championship calibre team.

 

[tarheel0910]

In 23 mpg this year, Hicks has had 3 games where he DQ'd and 7 games with 4 fouls.

In 18 mpg last year, he had 3 games where he DQ'd and 16 games with 4 fouls.

In 14 mpg his soph year, he had 3 games where he DQ'd and 7 games where he had 4 fouls.

I'd say that he is definitely improving.

This year is incomplete though. He could easily foul out of more games this year, which would mean an increase over last year. A more accurate measure would be his per 40 stats. My guess is that those will still show that he has improved, but the season isn't over yet.

 

[soap - new and improved]

Luke Maye is a great addition to any team. He doesn't need to be a star yet he has the confidence and self assurance that he can get the job done and he plays his role well. Super happy that he is a part of our team.

With that said, the first foul on Hicks last night was bullshit. he swatted that shit from DSJ yet Smith got the NBA star treatment with that weak foul call. The next 3 fouls on Hicks were all legit and just poor decision making on Isaiah's part. But I attribute some of that to his missing the last game and just being amped to get some game action. He's been a lot better this year with regard to senseless fouls.

Third foul on Hicks should never have happened. Hicks had position, went up and had his hands on the rebound, then was two-hand shoved down at his waist level putting him off balance and causing him to lose the ball to the state player who then went up, and was indeed fouled by Isiah. First foul on the state guy was obvious and blatant, like MANY of their uncalled fouls in this game. Had ref made the right call first Hicks doesn't get that frustration foul.

Woofies shot THREE TIMES as many FTs as we did, and it wasn't because state wasn't fouling. As I stated elsewhere, I thought I was watching Dwayne Wade vs the Mavericks in the 2006 NBA Finals game 6. Smith was gifted a lot of those trips to the line. He shot 50% more FTs himself than our entire roster combined.

Props to Luke on his best game yet as a Tar Heel. I loved the shot fake and jam. Funny how an unathletic player can manage a two handed flush in a live game setting.Props to Theo for scoring in the lane almost at will. Props to Robinson for not playing timid. As I have said before, I really like him because he never seems scared to be in the game.

 

[Archer2]

Props to Luke on his best game yet as a Tar Heel. I loved the shot fake and jam. Funny how an unathletic player can manage a two handed flush in a live game setting.Props to Theo for scoring in the lane almost at will. Props to Robinson for not playing timid. As I have said before, I really like him because he never seems scared to be in the game.

Saying Luke is unathletic is doing him a disservice. You don't play meaningful minutes in the ACC without being athletic. Now it is fair to say that he's not nearly the pure athlete that many in the ACC are, but he's most certainly athletic.

I realize that's quibbling a bit. But I constantly hear fans say "so and so isn't athletic" and I say anybody who can play high level basketball in the ACC is a better athlete than 80% of the people in the country. Stilman rarely plays for UNC but I certainly wouldn't say he isn't athletic. He's just not a great run/jump athlete. Sorry, but that's a pet peeve of mine.

 

[Tom79]

I remember many years ago going by a gym where some friends played pick up. Eric Kenny was there and a friend that had walked on over at NCSU and some other kids/young adults.
I thought my friend from ncsu was capable but Eric Kenny flat out schooled everyone on the floor. And that is my comparison, Luke would simply be a ferocious terror in pick up or intramural ball...so again I agree with Arch and others, the kid has shown he belongs.

 

[soap - new and improved]

Saying Luke is unathletic is doing him a disservice. You don't play meaningful minutes in the ACC without being athletic. Now it is fair to say that he's not nearly the pure athlete that many in the ACC are, but he's most certainly athletic.

I realize that's quibbling a bit. But I constantly hear fans say "so and so isn't athletic" and I say anybody who can play high level basketball in the ACC is a better athlete than 80% of the people in the country. Stilman rarely plays for UNC but I certainly wouldn't say he isn't athletic. He's just not a great run/jump athlete. Sorry, but that's a pet peeve of mine.

I was taking a Jab at those who denigrate Luke by describing him as unathletic. I agree with your post above. There are levels of athleticism, but Maye certainly has considerable athletic ability.

 

[Hark_The_Sound_2010]

I remember many years ago going by a gym where some friends played pick up. Eric Kenny was there and a friend that had walked on over at NCSU and some other kids/young adults.
I thought my friend from ncsu was capable but Eric Kenny flat out schooled everyone on the floor. And that is my comparison, Luke would simply be a ferocious terror in pick up or intramural ball...so again I agree with Arch and others, the kid has shown he belongs.

This reminds me of a contest they ran up here in Boston put on by one of the Sports Talk Radio stations. They had Brian Scalabrine on as a regular guest on the show after he retired from the NBA (he played about 10 seasons in the league, never a starter but usually got some minutes off the bench). He's fairly similar to Luke in size/stature 6'9' 235lbs that many would deem "unathletic".

So callers into the radio station would always crap on Scal and make jokes like he's probably an average player in his local YMCA games and stuff like that. So they put together a contest where people could apply to play Scal 1on1. Obviously they got a ton of applications, so they only picked the best of the best that applied. These were all guys that played some college ball at lower end D1 schools, or some D2 and D3 schools that thought they could legitimately take Scalabrine in 1on1.

I think he played something like 15 games of 1on1 up to 21. He won something like 13 of the 15 games 21-0 and the other two were like 21-2 wins. Goes to show you that it takes tremendous skill to play at the upper levels of basketball even if it doesn't look like you're super athletic.

 

[GoNtheDistance]

I'll be the first to admit he had surprised me a ton lately. I never went as far to say he was a wasted scholly but never thought he would be a player for us and he absolutely is. I think he's a good compliment to Hicks, Meeks and Bradley. His ability to stretch other 4's is huge.

 

[Archer2]

I'll be the first to admit he had surprised me a ton lately. I never went as far to say he was a wasted scholly but never thought he would be a player for us and he absolutely is. I think he's a good compliment to Hicks, Meeks and Bradley. His ability to stretch other 4's is huge.

And now it appears you're making the same mistake with Manley and our other 3* recruits.

 

[dadika13]

Luke was very good last night.

 

[GoNtheDistance]

Archer, trust me I'd love for all our recruits to be the best of the best and be amazing and lead us to titles every year. That's not realistic but one can hope lol.

To address your comment. Luke is of a different skill set than Manley as that's who you are referring to based on my assessment in the other thread. I'm not going to hijack this one and get off topic. Completely different players. Manley just doesn't cut it. As others said on that thread, he's got a Joel James or Desmond Hubert written all over him.

 

[Archer2]

What was your original assessment about Luke's ability to succeed in the ACC, just out of curiosity?

 

[Ozheelfan]

.........
However, here is one thing I know for a fact: Our players --- you know, the guys who actually play and practice with him and play summer pick-up and/or Pro-Am with him --- flat-out respect Luke's game.

Spot on Gary.
Just read a great article on GoHeels (link below) love this quote from Isaiah:
"Since last year, Luke's been killing me and Brice, being a stretch four," said Hicks. "It's hard to guard him sometimes. All it is, is his confidence. We're finally seeing it. Him stepping up, that's good for our depth."

http://www.goheels.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=3350&ATCLID=211479507

 

[gary-7]

Spot on Gary.
Just read a great article on GoHeels (link below) love this quote from Isaiah:
"Since last year, Luke's been killing me and Brice, being a stretch four," said Hicks. "It's hard to guard him sometimes. All it is, is his confidence. We're finally seeing it. Him stepping up, that's good for our depth."

http://www.goheels.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=3350&ATCLID=211479507

Yeah Oz... for whatever reason some ignored or chose not to believe the summer intel I posted on Luke that came from the guys who were playing with him. Whatever.

Fact is, the stuff we're seeing now (and the things Hicks mentioned) --- his stretch ability and face-up game in particular --- is exactly what I was talking about back in August.

 

[gary-7]

Archer, trust me I'd love for all our recruits to be the best of the best and be amazing and lead us to titles every year. That's not realistic but one can hope lol.

To address your comment. Luke is of a different skill set than Manley as that's who you are referring to based on my assessment in the other thread. I'm not going to hijack this one and get off topic. Completely different players. Manley just doesn't cut it. As others said on that thread, he's got a Joel James or Desmond Hubert written all over him.

Manley is as far from Hubert as MENSA is from Sarah Palin. Good grief.

 

[alabamaheel]

Manley is as far from Hubert as MENSA is from Sarah Palin. Good grief.

I agree. One has hit 14 fts in a row this year and two to win a huge game. The other never hit 14 in his UNC career. No slam, just not a close assessment.

 

[Ozheelfan]

Luke's success show show the folly in getting worked up about players prematurely.

I thought Maye would be a solid rotation guy by his Jnr/Snr year, he's all that already as a soph.

I reckon Manley is a promising project who'll be a solid rotation guy by his Jnr/Snr year..... he may surprise one way or the other but I find it easier to keep expectations reasonable.

 

[Spacegrass]

A career high 13 points and 7 boards(4 offensive) in a mere 23 minutes. Luke knows he can play at this level now and his confidence is growing. And isn't everyone happy that he was offered a chance to walk on now? I know I am. Of course, I was confident all along that he could be a solid player for us, based on his dad's character and Luke's work ethic in high school.

I almost fell out of my chair when he pump faked his man and went in and threw down the two handed slam. Love that kid.

Didn't know he could dunk