Some mid-season intel...

[Archer2]

I agree Dave. How much player development do you actually see in OAD'S? Very little, IMO. guys like Anthony Davis or Jalil Okafor are goiñg to be dominant wherever they matriculate. After the initial acclimation to college ball, which is minimal for guys of that talent level, they excel strictly off God given talent. And because of their immense talent and the likelihood that they're OAD'S, most coaches will feature them in their offense, further enabling them to excel.

What really impresses me is to see a kid with talent, but not uber talent, progress over a 3-4 year period and become a completely different player due to hard work and good coaching. Brice is a very good example of that, as is Marcus.

I will add that my favorite players are the one who stay in school 3-4 years and make steady progress towards the players they want to become. The Dancing Bear came to UNC with almost no basketball IQ or experience and very limited skills. Through hard work and good coaching, he is now a serviceable player who contributes when he's in the game. But even more impressive to me is his infectious personality and how great a teammate he's become. It's why guys like him are some of my favorite players.

You just can't develop that type of fan-player relationship/bond with OAD's, regardless of their immense talent. Most people expect me to say Michael Jordan when asked who my favorite UNC player is. They're surprised to learn that he's way down on my list, even though he may be the G.O.A.T.. Give me a Marcus Paige, Tyler Zeller, Tyler Hansbrough, George Lynch, or Hubert Davis any day.

 

[uncfanatic]

BTTT

 

[notashelbyfan]

I'm pretty sure he said at the first of this thread that Jackson was leaving, that's horse SHIT!

 

[imajericho]

Meeks aint leaving either.

 

[bleeduncblue]

Meeks aint leaving either.

Did he even play this evening? Seriously, all I remember of him was a terrible box out that ended in with an "and-one" for LV. He needs some bigtime off season work on his face up game so he can be an impact player next season.

 

[UNC Blue Hup]

I hope all the young men come back that can next year--I love this team man! They'll focus down the stretch and win the ACC--have some Carolina Blue faith in these guys!

 

[heels05champs]

Meeks and especially Jackson have hurt their stock this year. Both would be lucky to be second round picks at this point. Paige is another that has his stock dropping. However, brice has made $$ by his play.

 

[Heelicious]

Did he even play this evening? Seriously, all I remember of him was a terrible box out that ended in with an "and-one" for LV. He needs some bigtime off season work on his face up game so he can be an impact player next season.

Agreed.
OK, so this is crazy.... but at times it seems like maybe even Joel James gives us more on the inside. Joel surely has more intensity, seems to try / work harder, people just don't move him off the block when he's on defense, and he finishes above the rim.

The fact that after 3 years, Meeks can get zero lift (except for occasional garbage time when it doesn't matter) - is so disturbing. He gets outworked, outjumped, embarrassed by guys 4 inches shorter than him.

He does have decent offensive finishing / shooting skills, if he can get a shot off in a quirky or fast way that avoids some jumper of feeding it back into his face.

But I know of no NBA guys with the skill set and athletic makeup of Meeks right now. None.

 

[Hark_The_Sound_2010]

But I know of no NBA guys with the skill set and athletic makeup of Meeks right now. None.

It is frustrating when he seems to play the opposite of draymond green. Draymond being 6'6" but playing like he's 6'10. Kennedy is 6'10" but plays like he's 6'6

 

[wilsinnc]

It is frustrating when he seems to play the opposite of draymond green. Draymond being 6'6" but playing like he's 6'10. Kennedy is 6'10" but plays like he's 6'6

Drymond green=charles barkley. Meeks play=myles charkley

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

The part I bolded above is what I think is a little over the top. You're saying that if we bring back
1) Berry, 2) Hicks, 3) Jackson, 4) Maye, 5) Pinson, 6) Williams, 7) Britt,
incomers 8)Bradley, 9) Woods, and 10) Robinson (three top 100 guys),

and players we have a chance yet to get..... we have "no depth?" Oh boo hoo! Say that to any other school in or out of the ACC, and they'll roll their eyes. Most would kill to have that amount of depth.

This is the right way to respond to a post you don't agree with. Literally list your reasons.

That looks like a fine roster to me. Although, to be fair, UNCbeliever did specifically say he was talking about depth in terms of players we have seen prove they are able to playt at that level. Since we haven't seen that level of play from several of those guys yet, his depth comment makes more sense.

Three of those guys are proven starter quality. A couple more are solid benchers who could start if we need them to (and might improve to starter quality this year). The odds are that one of our incoming frosh next year will be good enough to start - but that's just playing the odds.

Point being that while I agree (and hope) that you will be right on having good depth next year, we are still counting some unhatched chickens when we project that now.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Thinking Justin would leave made perfect sense from what we all saw last year. Just an ordinary amount of year-over-year improvement would justify going pro. Maybe too scrawny to take the pounding for his first year or 2, but definitely enough talent. I'm guessing scrawniness won't scare off too many scouts.

But wile he may have improved the rest of his game somewhat (he was already good at moving without the ball and some other skills), his shooting has turned suspect. First it was his 3-point woes and more recently even those great baseline floaters have been a challenge.

You have to wonder if he's still an odds-on first-rounder if the pros start worrying about his shot. He seemed to be getting it back against Louisville. If he gets back on track shooting-wise, I assume he's back on track to go pro. If not, who knows? Probably depends on whether the pros see a real problem there, or just an easily-correctable hiccup.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

It made good sense for Kennedy to consider going pro last summer. Good hands, good feet, good passing, good positioning, good shooting touch. All on display. Slowed by weight and illness, but you could see the skill set. Lose that weight, get up and down the court quicker, bang a little harder - and he's pro ready.

His start to the season reinforced that. Trim. Still adapting to the trimmer body, but looking good. Primed to have a good season and move on.

In my mind he had just one important thing to prove: that he has a pro-ready motor.

After his illness problems last season, he just never seemed to have the same get-up-and-go. We know he put some of the weight back on, but that couldn't have been all of it, could it? Was it because the illness or some injury was lingering? Was he unhappy? Or is he just too laid bad and easy-going to put it all out there every game?

Fast forward to now, and Kennedy still hasn't answered that question. Does he have the toughness, the grit, the fire, to make it at the next level?

My own guess is that plenty of teams would be happy to have him on their bench even if he's never more than a good bench player. But how many would spend a 1st round pick on him? Or even a high 2nd round pick? He still doesn't elevate much, and maybe never will. He doesn't appear to have an impressive wingspan. He isn't that quick end-to-end. Better, but not that quick.

So he needs to show fire in the belly. That's my read. Show that and he'll be ready to go and will get drafted. Fail to show that, and he should probably return and see if he can get Hansbrough or someone to teach him that.

 

[GoNtheDistance]

spot on by WWJD. Kennedy has a solid skill set, but also some glaring limitations physically that will hinder his ability to be productive at the next level. Even more so than that, his inability to show a consistent motor, particularly in the face of adversity is an even bigger knock on him than any of his physical limitations. He just doesn't have that killer instinct on a consistent basis. That's hurting our team, and his pro prospects collectively.

 

[Tru Blu Tar Heel]

I agree Dave. How much player development do you actually see in OAD'S? Very little, IMO. guys like Anthony Davis or Jalil Okafor are goiñg to be dominant wherever they matriculate. After the initial acclimation to college ball, which is minimal for guys of that talent level, they excel strictly off God given talent. And because of their immense talent and the likelihood that they're OAD'S, most coaches will feature them in their offense, further enabling them to excel.

What really impresses me is to see a kid with talent, but not uber talent, progress over a 3-4 year period and become a completely different player due to hard work and good coaching. Brice is a very good example of that, as is Marcus.

I will add that my favorite players are the one who stay in school 3-4 years and make steady progress towards the players they want to become. The Dancing Bear came to UNC with almost no basketball IQ or experience and very limited skills. Through hard work and good coaching, he is now a serviceable player who contributes when he's in the game. But even more impressive to me is his infectious personality and how great a teammate he's become. It's why guys like him are some of my favorite players.

You just can't develop that type of fan-player relationship/bond with OAD's, regardless of their immense talent. Most people expect me to say Michael Jordan when asked who my favorite UNC player is. They're surprised to learn that he's way down on my list, even though he may be the G.O.A.T.. Give me a Marcus Paige, Tyler Zeller, Tyler Hansbrough, George Lynch, or Hubert Davis any day.

Danny Green....you can't forget Danny MF Green! Kid wen't from completely off the radar, to an integral cog in the 2009 National Championship machine, to out of the NBA in 2 seasons, to busting his butt in the D-League, earning a spot with the Spurs, to becoming an NBA Finals Champion and NBA record holder (ever be it so shortly). That, my friend, is development. That is also an example of what a quintessential Tar Heel is to me.