Meeks for sure to enter the next NBA draft?

[DSouthr]

Prior to this season, read a lot of comments suggesting Meeks would enter the draft after this season, personally I didn't see that and still don't but realize he would love to. I can not even consider the notion that he is any more than a 4yr guy until I see him begin to dominate games inside the paint consistently. Consistent just is not a word I can apply to Meeks, one game he will be solid and the next he will box out but not go get the rebound and the next he will forget to box out? I mean, he is all over the place and the effort that you have to have to be a champion is there at times, at other times it just isn't. In that respect reminds me a ton of Brice last season, some games were special and some just we not. Brice strikes me as being more consistent this season, still drives me nuts with the silly fouls that get him in foul trouble but our starting power forward does play above the rim, Meeks can see the rim, you kinda like your starting center to be able to play above the rim, ours just does not have that ability.

Not taking a shot at Meeks, he does a lot of good things but can't lie, I love the days when UNC's center played above the rim, those fellas that were able to play over the top of their defenders. Pure and simple truth is we do not have that right now and have not had that since Henson & Zeller left. That really hurts our half court attack because UNC is always a program that feeds its bigs for easy inside the paint scores and owns the glass,

I see a lot of folks prefer to talk about a lack of tuffness on this team, both last season as well as already this season. I don't agree it is a lack of tuffness, to me is is a lack of verticallity from either of our centers, our power forwards get off the ground really well but our 2 centers (Meeks and James) are pretty much below the rim guys and opponents are playing over the top of them. I think that is a problem, I think that is actually THE problem and has been THE problem since Zeller & Henson left. I see strong improvement in our guard play and our wings, I see solid improvement in our power forwards but our centers I see very little improvement from last season and in truth severly less than I had expected from freshman season to now one's Jr season and one's senior season.

IMO, Meeks should get any thoughts of the NBA out of his head and think of nothing more than becoming the best player he can be at this level, I don't see him drafted at this point and James, love the kid but he may need his degree for his employment options. Not dumping on either kid, just taking a real look at what we have right now and wondering if folks are still calling Meeks to the NBA after this season? He could for sure blow up this season, it is still really early so there is still time for Meeks to show but IMO he has to show more than I expect for his name to be called in the next NBA draft, just IMHO...

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

As I suggested before the season started, the main question about Kennedy is his motor.

That's still the main question.

Good kid, nice moves, great hands, delightful personality. But where's the grit?

 

[Heelicious]

There is NO PLACE for Meeks in NBA, playing like he does right now. None. Look at JMM, who can do more defensively / offensively, and is in better shape and is more of an athlete than Meeks. And I'm happy JMM is in the NBA, but he is on borderline of NBA / NBDL. If Meeks plays smaller / softer than his size and skill and frequently gets owned / stuffed by lesser opponents in college, including some middle of the road competition, he will get embarrassed if he heads to college. No way he'd even get drafted IMO. I like him when he is on.... but when is the last time he contributed significantly THROUGHOUT the four quarters of a game. Seems like he's good for a 5-7 minute scoring spurt somewhere in the game..... but then disappears for so much of the game, especially in the second half. Look at the UNI game.... first 8 points, then had 0 or two in the final 36 game minutes.

What NBA team needs that?

 

[UNCGridironFanatic]

One can only hope he goes early....

 

[Spacegrass]

Length and bigger guys bother him. Didn't see the game last night but right now doesn't look like he is much more than a bigger version of Deon Thompson.

 

[UNCGridironFanatic]

Length and bigger guys bother him. Didn't see the game last night but right now doesn't look like he is much more than a bigger version of Deon Thompson.

No reason to insult Deon Thompson like that. Meeks has NEVER shown up on the big stage; Deon set the tone in the 09 natty title game vs God Izzo's bunch.

Meeks should wake up and apologize if he even ever DREAMS he's as good as Deon Thompson.

 

[Spacegrass]

No reason to insult Deon Thompson like that. Meeks has NEVER shown up on the big stage; Deon set the tone in the 09 natty title game vs God Izzo's bunch.

Meeks should wake up and apologize if he even ever DREAMS he's as good as Deon Thompson.

Deon was great as the 4th or 5th option on a really good team. In 2009-2010 when we needed him to step up more as a scorer he faded against better competition because his go to move was a turn around fade away from the post/mid post. Along with him being a finesse 6'8 PF. Deon was being projected as a late 1st round pick going into his Jr and Sr seasons like Meeks was being projected by some. But once he was put in a position to carry a team more his draft stock dwindled. Not an insult just the reality of him as a player.

 

[UNCGridironFanatic]

Deon was great as the 4th or 5th option on a really good team. In 2009-2010 when we needed him to step up more as a scorer he faded against better competition because his go to move was a turn around fade away from the post/mid post. Along with him being a finesse 6'8 PF. Deon was being projected as a late 1st round pick going into his Jr and Sr seasons like Meeks was being projected by some. But once he was put in a position to carry a team more his draft stock dwindled. Not an insult just the reality of him as a player.

No argument w/ your assessment of Deon. But all that being accurate, he was still better than Meeks.

 

[WoadBlue]

Meeks is not tough enough, not active enough, to be worth much in the NBA. Meeks tends to fade away into nearly nothing when it is toughest.

 

[grUNC86]

Meeks/James..............two non-centers. I wish Roy would go small and use Hicks more. We have athletes that can run but Roy runs the show.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Meeks/James..............two non-centers. I wish Roy would go small and use Hicks more. We have athletes that can run but Roy runs the show.

I think this is a viable option now that both Brice and Isaiah have put on some muscle. Not sure it would be our best lineup, but it's certainly worth playing more. And against smaller teams, it certainly might be our best lineup. Assuming they can stay out of foul trouble.

Until I hear otherwise, I'm giving Kennedy the benefit of doubt against Texas. He may have been one of those affected by the stomach bug. In other games, he has moved better - whether it was a good game for him or not - so it's plausible that he was under the weather. He still had more rebounds and more blocks than anyone else on the team.

 

[GoNtheDistance]

There's a lot of bigs in the nba that are 6'9, play below the rim, lack explosiveness, struggle to defend athletic bigs and can't shoot from 3.....

Wait nevermind. Stay in school Kennedy.

 

[IDUNK4HEELS]

Meeks is not ready for the NBA yet but he is doing what it takes to get better as proven by the weight he has lost during the last two off seasons. If there is one area I would like to see a improvement would be just some good old backyard meanest to his game. I son's expect him to be a David Noel or George Lynch time of player but if a guard comes into the paint let him know he would not do it again without consquences. Use his backside to make room for himself under the basket. So a little emotion like Johnson and Hicks. Most importantly do what it takes to let both teams know he is on the floor. No more disappearing for long periods of time. There are NBA scouts at every game so show them what you can do.

 

[ChiShankCity]

There's a lot of bigs in the nba that are 6'9, play below the rim, lack explosiveness, struggle to defend athletic bigs and can't shoot from 3.....

Wait nevermind. Stay in school Kennedy.

He's never going to develop those traits in college IMO.

My take on borderline NBA players leaving early is typically this... If you're ready to be a professional, where your JOB is to play basketball as a JOB, then go. You're going to get better as long as you're committed to since there's no limitations on practice, you're going to be practicing against players several times better than your college teammates and the coaching in the NBA is far superior as well.

But you have to be ready to devote all that time to basketball. If you want to have fun and be a college kid (nothing wrong with that), then stay in school and have fun.

I think Meeks is kind of screwed for the next level. It's a heavy ball screen and stretched game, and he has little chance succeeding in that kind of basketball. But in college, he is who he is.

 

[Spacegrass]

No argument w/ your assessment of Deon. But all that being accurate, he was still better than Meeks.

It's because Meeks is the player you are seeing now. He is fresh in your memory. So he seems worse right now.

 

[Tru Blu Tar Heel]

Prior to this season, read a lot of comments suggesting Meeks would enter the draft after this season, personally I didn't see that and still don't but realize he would love to. I can not even consider the notion that he is any more than a 4yr guy until I see him begin to dominate games inside the paint consistently. Consistent just is not a word I can apply to Meeks, one game he will be solid and the next he will box out but not go get the rebound and the next he will forget to box out? I mean, he is all over the place and the effort that you have to have to be a champion is there at times, at other times it just isn't. In that respect reminds me a ton of Brice last season, some games were special and some just we not. Brice strikes me as being more consistent this season, still drives me nuts with the silly fouls that get him in foul trouble but our starting power forward does play above the rim, Meeks can see the rim, you kinda like your starting center to be able to play above the rim, ours just does not have that ability.

Not taking a shot at Meeks, he does a lot of good things but can't lie, I love the days when UNC's center played above the rim, those fellas that were able to play over the top of their defenders. Pure and simple truth is we do not have that right now and have not had that since Henson & Zeller left. That really hurts our half court attack because UNC is always a program that feeds its bigs for easy inside the paint scores and owns the glass,

I see a lot of folks prefer to talk about a lack of tuffness on this team, both last season as well as already this season. I don't agree it is a lack of tuffness, to me is is a lack of verticallity from either of our centers, our power forwards get off the ground really well but our 2 centers (Meeks and James) are pretty much below the rim guys and opponents are playing over the top of them. I think that is a problem, I think that is actually THE problem and has been THE problem since Zeller & Henson left. I see strong improvement in our guard play and our wings, I see solid improvement in our power forwards but our centers I see very little improvement from last season and in truth severly less than I had expected from freshman season to now one's Jr season and one's senior season.

IMO, Meeks should get any thoughts of the NBA out of his head and think of nothing more than becoming the best player he can be at this level, I don't see him drafted at this point and James, love the kid but he may need his degree for his employment options. Not dumping on either kid, just taking a real look at what we have right now and wondering if folks are still calling Meeks to the NBA after this season? He could for sure blow up this season, it is still really early so there is still time for Meeks to show but IMO he has to show more than I expect for his name to be called in the next NBA draft, just IMHO...

If Meeks is NOT a 4 year player, I think it will be to his detriment. He is just not built to excel at the next level. He's a tweener at the next level. Not tall enough or athletic enough to play center in the NBA. His best shot is going to be to expand his range to be a stretch 4 at the next level, which he hasn't fully shown yet at Carolina.

 

[32TheEnigma]

There's a lot of bigs in the nba that are 6'9, play below the rim, lack explosiveness, struggle to defend athletic bigs and can't shoot from 3.....

Wait nevermind. Stay in school Kennedy.

Meeks is actually closer to 6'7" than he is to 6'9". That's really the issue. He's undersized and it shows anytime he matches up against a "legit" 6'9" opponent. With that said, he really overachieves night in and night out battling against taller and longer opponents. If we had a true 6'10'/6'11" banger at center (ala Zeller) and Meeks was paired with him in our frontcourt, he'd be and All American as a PF.

 

[gunslingerdick]

1 - Meeks will not be a draftable player at the end of this year.

2 - Meeks will have trouble making an NBA roster at any point.

3 - Meeks is more skilled than Deon Thompson.

4 - Meeks can help us win a championship.

 

[Tru Blu Tar Heel]

1 - Meeks will not be a draftable player at the end of this year.

2 - Meeks will have trouble making an NBA roster at any point.

3 - Meeks is more skilled than Deon Thompson.

4 - Meeks can help us win a championship.

All 4 are SPOT ON!

 

[UNCGridironFanatic]

If we had a true 6'10'/6'11" banger at center (ala Zeller) and Meeks was paired with him in our frontcourt, he'd be and All American as a PF.

IF my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle. Therefore, our team isn't set up for Meeks to be very effective. Then, compound that w/ a limited skillset, a lack of desire, no heart, and a general laziness of effort, and you have what you have in Meeks: an ineffective player in the clutch.

 

[Tru Blu Tar Heel]

IF my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle. Therefore, our team isn't set up for Meeks to be very effective. Then, compound that w/ a limited skillset, a lack of desire, no heart, and a general laziness of effort, and you have what you have in Meeks: an ineffective player in the clutch.

Dang man, pessimistic much? I think you're selling Kennedy WELL short of his true value.

 

[Spacegrass]

1 - Meeks will not be a draftable player at the end of this year.

2 - Meeks will have trouble making an NBA roster at any point.

3 - Meeks is more skilled than Deon Thompson.

4 - Meeks can help us win a championship.

Passer yes. What else does he do significantly better? Any of the top 9-10 guys will help this team win a natty if it's meant to be.

To the height point for Meeks. He is a legit 6'9 in shoes trust me. I have stood next to him along with Brice and Joel. What Meeks needs to do is do a better job of using angles and his butt to create space. Shot blockers don't like it when you go into their chests. Meeks needs to sit down and watch Dajuan Blair while he was at Pitt and take some notes.

 

[UNCGridironFanatic]

Dang man, pessimistic much? I think you're selling Kennedy WELL short of his true value.

Meeks' true value is just south of ZERO. The antithesis of the characteristics representative of the Tar Heel jersey...lazy, shiftless, unmotivated, and a prima donna. Meeks lends false credence to what that assclown Dakich SAID our program is about (but isn't in truth). But, Brice can't stop fouling and Isiah is about a quarter count behind the progressions offensively and the rotations defensively, so Roy has to use Meeks. He can shoot it, for sure. But he more than gives back that contribution by negative plays, multiple times over. Just a big, useless blob of space.

 

[32TheEnigma]

Passer yes. What else does he do significantly better? Any of the top 9-10 guys will help this team win a natty if it's meant to be.

To the height point for Meeks. He is a legit 6'9 in shoes trust me. I have stood next to him along with Brice and Joel. What Meeks needs to do is do a better job of using angles and his butt to create space. Shot blockers don't like it when you go into their chests. Meeks needs to sit down and watch Dajuan Blair while he was at Pitt and take some notes.

Meeks is not 6'9". just go look at him against other legit 6'9" players and he looks like a SF trying to gaurd a center. Ridley from Texas is a perfect example. Ridley is a legit 6'9" and standing next to Meeks you can see he's clearly 3+ inches taller than Meeks. Go back and look at the tape (it don't lie). Meeks is 6'7 (and a half maybe), nowhere near 6'9" and that's why he struggles against true legit 6'9" players.

 

[gunslingerdick]

Meeks' true value is just south of ZERO. The antithesis of the characteristics representative of the Tar Heel jersey...lazy, shiftless, unmotivated, and a prima donna. Meeks lends false credence to what that assclown Dakich SAID our program is about (but isn't in truth). But, Brice can't stop fouling and Isiah is about a quarter count behind the progressions offensively and the rotations defensively, so Roy has to use Meeks. He can shoot it, for sure. But he more than gives back that contribution by negative plays, multiple times over. Just a big, useless blob of space.

You should stay on the football board. Because you're showing your basketball ignorance and not really endearing yourself to many here.

 

[Spacegrass]

Meeks is not 6'9". just go look at him against other legit 6'9" players and he looks like a SF trying to gaurd a center. Ridley from Texas is a perfect example. Ridley is a legit 6'9" and standing next to Meeks you can see he's clearly 3+ inches taller than Meeks. Go back and look at the tape (it don't lie). Meeks is 6'7 (and a half maybe), nowhere near 6'9" and that's why he struggles against true legit 6'9" players.

We will see in the next couple of draft combines. Thinking Ridley will be more like 6'10-6'11. The team lists Meeks at 6'10 btw

 

[UNCGridironFanatic]

You should stay on the football board. Because you're showing your basketball ignorance and not really endearing yourself to many here.

And you should GFY, popgunslinger-dick. I've forgotten more about basketball than you'll ever know.

Now, if you want to make the case that Meeks is valuable when it counts, make it and we can debate the issue. The evidence is pretty clear, and a good sample size to support my assertions. But don't come here attacking me personally and slinging insults at my posts w/out understanding that you're gonna get told what you can do w/ that bullchit.

 

[32TheEnigma]

We will see in the next couple of draft combines. Thinking Ridley will be more like 6'10-6'11. The team lists Meeks at 6'10 btw[/QUOTE
If Meeks is 6'10" that means Ridley is 7'1" or 7'2".

 

[Bur-Heel]

Meeks will make fools out of some of you guys!!

 

[gunslingerdick]

And you should GFY, popgunslinger-dick. I've forgotten more about basketball than you'll ever know.
.

lol. I doubt it. And poopslinger? Really? My 9 year old even thought that was lame.

Now, if you want to make the case that Meeks is valuable when it counts, make it and we can debate the issue. The evidence is pretty clear, and a good sample size to support my assertions. But don't come here attacking me personally and slinging insults at my posts w/out understanding that you're gonna get told what you can do w/ that bullchit.

Listen bro, don't make this ugly. Because I can assure you that I've built far more credibility here than you have or ever will. So if it gets to where this board ain't big enough for the both of us, I can promise it won't be me who's pushed out the door.

I didn't attack you personally. I simply said you're showing your ignorance with the way you're talking about Meeks. You're also showing to be on the verge of a meltdown because of it. But your mental health is none of my concern so I won't speak to this tantrum or the several times you've been called out on Blitz for your,...uh,...fervor.

Check the stats. They're better than Deon's when Deon was a junior and Meeks doesn't have the benefit of playing with a legend in the frontcourt. In addition to the numbers, to the eye test - at least to this untrained eye that obviously doesn't know as much about the game as you - it's not close. Meeks is far more skilled - better footwork, better all around post game, better passer, and a better defender.

Lastly, if you want to be critical, I get it. I am too from time to time. But don't be a jerk. Calling one of our own a big, useless blob of space, is too far.

 

[Archer2]

Meeks' true value is just south of ZERO. The antithesis of the characteristics representative of the Tar Heel jersey...lazy, shiftless, unmotivated, and a prima donna. Meeks lends false credence to what that assclown Dakich SAID our program is about (but isn't in truth). But, Brice can't stop fouling and Isiah is about a quarter count behind the progressions offensively and the rotations defensively, so Roy has to use Meeks. He can shoot it, for sure. But he more than gives back that contribution by negative plays, multiple times over. Just a big, useless blob of space.

Were it in my power, you'd be getting a timeout for your statement re: Kennedy. There's no excuse for that type of attack. I'd love to see you repeat it to his face.

 

[gary-7]

Were it in my power, you'd be getting a timeout for your statement re: Kennedy. There's no excuse for that type of attack. I'd love to see you repeat it to his face.

That is exactly why I haven't posted anything regarding Kennedy's intentions --- same reason I kept it to myself when Brice was considering transferring during his freshman season. Just brings out these uncalled for ad hominem attacks.

 

[Archer2]

It never ceases to amaze me how some who call themselves fans can be so classless when criticizing our players/staff Gary.

 

[mikeirbyusa]

1 - Meeks will not be a draftable player at the end of this year.

2 - Meeks will have trouble making an NBA roster at any point.

3 - Meeks is more skilled than Deon Thompson.

4 - Meeks can help us win a championship.

Agree 100%

 

[mikeirbyusa]

No one will be allowed to call our players-coaching staff names.

 

[Archer2]

Agree 100%

There have been a ton of players that were dominant in college but couldn't make it in the NBA, no shame in that. Kennedy is invaluable to this team.

 

[DSouthr]

Meeks' true value is just south of ZERO. The antithesis of the characteristics representative of the Tar Heel jersey...lazy, shiftless, unmotivated, and a prima donna. Meeks lends false credence to what that assclown Dakich SAID our program is about (but isn't in truth). But, Brice can't stop fouling and Isiah is about a quarter count behind the progressions offensively and the rotations defensively, so Roy has to use Meeks. He can shoot it, for sure. But he more than gives back that contribution by negative plays, multiple times over. Just a big, useless blob of space.

This is uncalled for and NOT why I started this thread. I find what you are saying about this kid ignorant, in very poor taste, and absolutely WRONG !

Meeks is very skilled, athletically he is vertically limited and that is a problem for a center, for any center. But if you can not see the great hands this kid has, if you can't see the great passing this kid can and does give us, if you can't see he hits a really nice mid range jumper then you really need to get someone to teach you about this game before you comment on it.

I have noticed that at times it doesn't seem like the kid goes full out, well now he is going to be out for the next couple weeks and we learn it is an injury he has been dealing with offering reason why he may not have been going 100%. Do you classified all injured players as "lazy, shiftless, unmotivated, and a prima donna." ?

You say "Meeks' true value is just south of ZERO", I say you as a Tar Heel fan are defined by those words MUCH more than this kid or any kid we have on our roster. You told my boy slinger that you would get in his face for retorting to your dumb comments, folks know I ain't shy and I don't sweat jerks like you are coming off as. You want to discuss something like a reasonable adult, that is what we do here but if you feel the need to act like a kid then go play with your freakin Leggos, cause grown up are talking here! ;-(

 

[JoelJamesFan1]

Meeks will make fools out of some of you guys!!

LMFAO! The thing is that we all truly root for the entire team...it's just some people tend to be realists while others want to pussy foot around player's feelings. Meeks doesn't play with a lot of passion, that can't be debated.

Deon Thompson would be a stud on this team BTW. He was a 4th or 5th option on a team that had a better player at every position compared to this year..with Marcus getting the nod at SG (MAYBE! - Wayne was a hell of a player)

Ty vs. Joel - Ty in a landslide
Wayne vs. Marcus - Toss up in my opinion. Wayne's shot was so butter..
DG vs. Justin Jackson - So much respect for Justin but I'd definitely give this to Danny
Deon vs. Brice - I liked Deon's intelligence and maturity more than Brice's athleticism and lack of maturity
Pyscho T vs. Kennedy - No discussion needed

Don't see how Meeks can possibly fit into the NBA but playing basketball for a living in Europe doesn't seem like such a bad gig.

 

[JoelJamesFan1]

This is uncalled for and NOT why I started this thread. I find what you are saying about this kid ignorant, in very poor taste, and absolutely WRONG !

Meeks is very skilled, athletically he is vertically limited and that is a problem for a center, for any center. But if you can not see the great hands this kid has, if you can't see the great passing this kid can and does give us, if you can't see he hits a really nice mid range jumper then you really need to get someone to teach you about this game before you comment on it.

I have noticed that at times it doesn't seem like the kid goes full out, well now he is going to be out for the next couple weeks and we learn it is an injury he has been dealing with offering reason why he may not have been going 100%. Do you classified all injured players as "lazy, shiftless, unmotivated, and a prima donna." ?

You say "Meeks' true value is just south of ZERO", I say you as a Tar Heel fan are defined by those words MUCH more than this kid or any kid we have on our roster. You told my boy slinger that you would get in his face for retorting to your dumb comments, folks know I ain't shy and I don't sweat jerks like you are coming off as. You want to discuss something like a reasonable adult, that is what we do here but if you feel the need to act like a kid then go play with your freakin Leggos, cause grown up are talking here! ;-(

Meeks must have been playing injured for the majority of his UNC career because this is the same Kennedy that we've seen every game.

NO ONE IS SAYING THAT THE DUDE ISN'T TALENTED, THAT'S WHAT IS SO FRUSTRATING. DUDE CAN DOMINATE BUT HE'S CONTENT WITH BEING COOL.