Which Former Players Do Our Current Players Remind You Of?

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Here are a few comparisons that have come to my mind from time to time, just to get things started.

Justin - Reggie Bullock
Seventh - Dexter Strickland
Kenny - Leslie McDonald
Isaiah - Ed Davis
JoelB - Raymond Felton
Nate - Melvin Scott
Kennedy - Sean May

I have heard comparisons between Tony and Brad Daugherty, but I don't quite see it.

Who have you got?

 

[heelmanwilm]

Luke-tyler hansbrough
Berry-dave colscott
Britt-mike pepper
Meeks-geoff crompton
White-ty lawson
Hicks-mike okoren
Bradley-joe wolf

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Luke-tyler hansbrough
Berry-dave colscott
Britt-mike pepper
Meeks-geoff crompton
White-ty lawson
Hicks-mike okoren
Bradley-joe wolf

I'd love to hear the thoughts behind those picks.

 

[Steat]

Sorry to change it up some.

Justin - Mike Okoren
Seventh - Dexter Strickland
Kenny -Donald Williams
Isaiah - Ed Davis
JoelB - Phil Ford
Nate - Leslie McDonald ( Peter Principle)
Kennedy - Sean May
Bradley- No UNC comparison ( Tim Duncan otherwise)

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Sorry to change it up some.

Justin - Mike Okoren
Seventh - Dexter Strickland
Kenny -Donald Williams
Isaiah - Ed Davis
JoelB - Phil Ford
Nate - Leslie McDonald ( Peter Principle)
Kennedy - Sean May
Bradley- No UNC comparison ( Tim Duncan otherwise)

No need to be sorry. I like some of your changes.

I have said before that Tony reminds me of Tim Duncan.

The more Justin drives, the more he will remind me of O'Koren, He's getting there, but O'Koren was more willing to bang.

Kenny and Donald may be a better comparison. Part of my reason for going with Leslie is that Kenny and Leslie (before his injury) are both very smooth players. They have a bit of that Silky Wilkes glide to their movement. And both at this stage were promising but still inconsistent outside shooters. Kenny looks like he has more quickness on D.

It's hard for me to compare anyone with Phil Ford. He will always be the best to me. Berry will need to improve his handle and drive through traffic better to merit that comparison. He might get close. But he has work to do. As good as he is, he has work to do to catch up to Felton or Lawson, too.

 

[Steat]

No need to be sorry. I like some of your changes.

I have said before that Tony reminds me of Tim Duncan.

The more Justin drives, the more he will remind me of O'Koren, He's getting there, but O'Koren was more willing to bang.

Kenny and Donald may be a better comparison. Part of my reason for going with Leslie is that Kenny and Leslie (before his injury) are both very smooth players. They have a bit of that Silky Wilkes glide to their movement. And both at this stage were promising but still inconsistent outside shooters. Kenny looks like he has more quickness on D.

It's hard for me to compare anyone with Phil Ford. He will always be the best to me. Berry will need to improve his handle and drive through traffic better to merit that comparison. He might get close. But he has work to do. As good as he is, he has work to do to catch up to Felton or Lawson, too.

Berry will not top Phil Ford from a performance standpoint but I didn't take that from your question. Phil may be the best player ever to play for UNC. I didn't pick Felton or Lawson due to the lack of "quickness" by Berry. Felton and Lawson were speed demons. Ford was more precision-like on how he played. I think Berry is similar in that regard...IMHO.

 

[Butterbutt44]

Berry-Felton
Jackson-Idk
Bradly_idk
Maye-Jordan/Carter
Hicks-ed davis
Meeks-May
Britt-idk

 

[Heelicious]

I'd say Bradley is more like ed Davis than Hicks is.

No way should people compare Meeks to May. May was twice the player even as a junior. The unstoppable core of that team. Can you say the same about Meeks who can give us a good 20 minutes tops per game and right now gets largely owned in the post on both ends?

I wonder if stilman whote could fill a Wes miller sort of role for us.

Hoping Theo pinson can be our Jackie manuel or David Noel or even George lynch. Maybe a Marcus ginyard glue guy type.

 

[Heelicious]

Justin Jackson: Wayne Ellington?

 

[DSouthr]

Here are a few comparisons that have come to my mind from time to time, just to get things started.

Justin - Reggie Bullock
Seventh - Dexter Strickland
Kenny - Leslie McDonald
Isaiah - Ed Davis
JoelB - Raymond Felton
Nate - Melvin Scott
Kennedy - Sean May

I have heard comparisons between Tony and Brad Daugherty, but I don't quite see it.

Who have you got?

Justin - Reggie Bullock - I see Reggie as more a lock down defender and A quicker shot release. How about Jawad Williams

Nate - Melvin Scott - I see you a Melvin Scott and raise you a Brian Morrison

Seventh - Dexter Strickland - 7th is a much more athletic version, John Virgil maybe for those folk that go back a ways

Kenny - Leslie McDonald- Nah, can't go with that one, Lmac did not do defense IMO and took way to many heat check bad shots, I would go with Brian Reese.

Isaiah - Ed Davis - I am thinking more James Michael McAdoo, similar body types, both seem to have all they should need but there always seems to be something missing that is hard to identify.

JoelB - Raymond Felton - Yeah, OK, I can see some of that

Kennedy - Sean May - No sir, has to be Deon Thompson

Luke Maye - Pat Sullivan

B Robinson - Reggie Bullock

Tony Bradley - Big Brad Daugherty, as a freshman it is to me eery how similar, Brad filled out that big frame really well. The 2 big things is Brad like Tony learned before getting to us to keep the ball high and not give up his length advantage. Both are/were very patient when the ball comes in to them in the paint, do/did not rush themselves. Both were long but not great leapers. I don't really see much Tim Duncan in Tony.

Theo - George Lynch

 

[GoNtheDistance]

Nate Britt is Larry Drew 2.0. King of the lateral dribble.

Joel reminds me a lot of Raymond Felton. Hicks is JM McAdoo.

 

[gary-7]

Justin - Reggie Bullock - I see Reggie as more a lock down defender and A quicker shot release. How about Jawad Williams

Nate - Melvin Scott - I see you a Melvin Scott and raise you a Brian Morrison

Seventh - Dexter Strickland - 7th is a much more athletic version, John Virgil maybe for those folk that go back a ways

Kenny - Leslie McDonald- Nah, can't go with that one, Lmac did not do defense IMO and took way to many heat check bad shots, I would go with Brian Reese.

Isaiah - Ed Davis - I am thinking more James Michael McAdoo, similar body types, both seem to have all they should need but there always seems to be something missing that is hard to identify.

JoelB - Raymond Felton - Yeah, OK, I can see some of that

Kennedy - Sean May - No sir, has to be Deon Thompson

Luke Maye - Pat Sullivan

B Robinson - Reggie Bullock

Tony Bradley - Big Brad Daugherty, as a freshman it is to me eery how similar, Brad filled out that big frame really well. The 2 big things is Brad like Tony learned before getting to us to keep the ball high and not give up his length advantage. Both are/were very patient when the ball comes in to them in the paint, do/did not rush themselves. Both were long but not great leapers. I don't really see much Tim Duncan in Tony.

Theo - George Lynch

C'mon Dave... Nate and Melvin Scott? Yep... but Brian Morrison? Off by a mile. Morrison was a freak athlete who unfortunately played outta control too often. Theo and Lynch? No. And LMac played damned strong D as a senior, for all the unfair bashing he took around here.

Seriously, I'm giving you a hard time because comparisons limited to our former players are a crap-shoot. We haven't had anyone resembling Justin, for example. Even the Tony/Daugherty thing is a bit of a stretch, other than keeping the ball high. Duncan is more appropo. People forget Tim came in raw and just kept getting better, and it's easy to tell Tony modeled his game after him.

Hell, I'd like to say BRob is like Walter Davis --- there's the movement and build --- but we can only hope he gets close to Sweet D. Yes, I've often compared 7th to Dex --- might be the most on point comparison --- and don't underestimate Dex's athleticism. Dude could fly.

As for JB, I've said since he got here he isn't the "second" anybody --- he's the first Joel Berry. Now as for his attributes, yeah, you can take a slice of Phil Ford, a bit o' Ty, and a healthy dose of Ray mixed in with some dog DNA.

 

[plm]

Berry is a one of my favorites on this team and a really good player for us but I don't see him in the same category as ty, Kenny smith and Phil ford. I think Felton was more talented but they share some similarities in their competitive spirit. Berry sort of has his on class. He definitely more talented than the jimmy blacks, Derek phelps (at least offensively) but not quite equal to those top tier guys

 

[gary-7]

Berry is a one of my favorites on this team and a really good player for us but I don't see him in the same category as ty, Kenny smith and Phil ford. I think Felton was more talented but they share some similarities in their competitive spirit. Berry sort of has his on class. He definitely more talented than the jimmy blacks, Derek phelps (at least offensively) but not quite equal to those top tier guys

It's easy to look back at the greats and undervalue the guy who's currently performing at that level in the here and now. Of our former PGs Ray is my second favorite next to the GOAT Phil, but tell me how Ray has Joel's shooting chops? Ray was a great pure Point creator, but Joel has a bigger offensive arsenal. They're both nasty dogs on the defensive end. There's no talent deficit there. JB is an elite PG and already fits in with our legends.

 

[DSouthr]

It's easy to look back at the greats and undervalue the guy who's currently performing at that level in the here and now. Of our former PGs Ray is my second favorite next to the GOAT Phil, but tell me how Ray has Joel's shooting chops? Ray was a great pure Point creator, but Joel has a bigger offensive arsenal. They're both nasty dogs on the defensive end. There's no talent deficit there. JB is an elite PG and already fits in with our legends.

The converse is also true gary, it is easy to look back at past great players and not recall them as freshmen that had their struggles as well. For example, if I am going to look at a soph and try to compare him to a former player I am going to try to do so soph to soph rather than soph to the finished product senior.

For example I compared Nate to BMo, BMo played for us what, 1 season wasn't it, very casual with his handles, out of control a lot, lil guy that did not do much defense, lot of Nate as a frosh & soph there. Big Brad beefed up big time while with us but when he came in as a frosh he was Tony Bradley the freshman. The problem I have with the Duncan comparisons is that Duncan was a more flexable exploisive athlete, many attributed that to his swimming back ground that developed his core strength. Duncan had this unique ability to add skill moves very quickly and not just add them but use them very effectively. Brad had to work much more to refine skill moves, Tony has to do that as well, the raw ability is there for Tony, the skill does lag a little bit, same was true of Brad. What really rocketed brad was his adding strength and weight, same IMO will be true of Tony, has to get stronger and not just out length opponents. Love Tony's developmental arch, it isn't a finished product yet but he is on the path in the right direction.

 

[Spaceytoyz]

I have no comparisons for Luke Maye ( for former Heels, Hes just not as versatile as Joe Wolf) I have seen him a million times on Davidson or Gonzaga or Butler and said Damn we need that guy, now we do and I am happy about it..

 

[gunslingerdick]

I think the Hicks/Ed Davis comparison is way off. Davis was a monster on the glass and as a rim protector. Hicks struggles in both of those areas.

 

[plm]

It's easy to look back at the greats and undervalue the guy who's currently performing at that level in the here and now. Of our former PGs Ray is my second favorite next to the GOAT Phil, but tell me how Ray has Joel's shooting chops? Ray was a great pure Point creator, but Joel has a bigger offensive arsenal. They're both nasty dogs on the defensive end. There's no talent deficit there. JB is an elite PG and already fits in with our legends.

your right about outside shooting felton vs berry but i'll never forget at the 5 minute mark of the 2005 ncaa championship game when felton hits the big 3 pointer with the score tied 65-65 (i think illinois had come back from 15 down to tie) and billy packer yapping about deron williams being such a shut down defender. felton just stuck in in his face, man what a big shot at a big moment.

 

[gunslingerdick]

your right about outside shooting felton vs berry but i'll never forget at the 5 minute mark of the 2005 ncaa championship game when felton hits the big 3 pointer with the score tied 65-65 (i think illinois had come back from 15 down to tie) and billy packer yapping about deron williams being such a shut down defender. felton just stuck in in his face, man what a big shot at a big moment.

That was Felton's crowning moment. That shot was deep and in the face of two Illinois defenders. That play doesn't speak as much to Felton's shooting as it does his toughness and grittiness though. The only thing tougher and more gritty was his steal with about 30 seconds left in the game. It's for those reasons that Felton is on my top 5 favorite Tar Heel legends.

 

[TarHeelNation11]

Gonna strongly disagree that Joel Berry's offensive game is better than Felton's. Strongly disagree. Felton was an absolute beast and could drive to the bucket whenever he wanted to with that lightning speed he had. In his final season, he also become a really good 3-point shooter.

That 2005 team was something else, man. They were the best team in the country and that was one of the last seasons where the elite college teams were truly elite, with multiple multi-year stars and what not. I never saw Ford play, but Felton is the best PG we've had at Carolina in my lifetime.

 

[plm]

for berry to even have his name mentioned with felton and some of these guys speaks to how good the kid is. very glad we have him in carolina blue.

 

[gunslingerdick]

Gonna strongly disagree that Joel Berry's offensive game is better than Felton's. Strongly disagree. Felton was an absolute beast and could drive to the bucket whenever he wanted to. In his final season, he also become a really good 3-point shooter.

That 2005 team was something else, man. They were the best team in the country and that was one of the last seasons where the elite college teams were truly elite, with multiple multi-year stars and what not. I never saw Ford play, but Felton is the best PG we've had at Carolina in my lifetime.

I disagree with your disagreement. I think Berry and Felton are very comparable both offensively and defensively. Felton was the better driver but Berry is the better shooter. But it's close between the two. I think Felton separates himself a bit with his court vision and passing.

I also disagree with your second paragraph. The Florida teams that won back-to-back titles were truly elite and there hasn't been a more "elite" team than our 2009 team. Both of those were after the 2005 season.

And, lastly, while I personally would take Felton over Lawson, I might be in the minority there. I liked Felton's grittiness but Lawson was probably the better talent.

 

[TarHeelNation11]

I disagree with your disagreement. I think Berry and Felton are very comparable both offensively and defensively. Felton was the better driver but Berry is the better shooter. But it's close between the two. I think Felton separates himself a bit with his court vision and passing.

I also disagree with your second paragraph. The Florida teams that won back-to-back titles were truly elite and there hasn't been a more "elite" team than our 2009 team. Both of those were after the 2005 season.

And, lastly, while I personally would take Felton over Lawson, I might be in the minority there. I liked Felton's grittiness but Lawson was probably the better talent.

I said "one of the last seasons" but yeah. To me, Felton is just a tad better than Lawson but it's razor-thin. They were both ballers and were tough as nails. I really enjoyed watching both play.

I still think the 2005 team would beat the 2009 team, but I know I"m in the minority on that.

 

[rexerdog]

Hicks= reyshaun terry
Kenny = dudley bradley
Justin = okoren
Bradley = daugherty
Woods = dex
Berry is a mix but has some king rice toughness to his game
Theo = odemala (did i get close on spelling?)

 

[gary-7]

your right about outside shooting felton vs berry but i'll never forget at the 5 minute mark of the 2005 ncaa championship game when felton hits the big 3 pointer with the score tied 65-65 (i think illinois had come back from 15 down to tie) and billy packer yapping about deron williams being such a shut down defender. felton just stuck in in his face, man what a big shot at a big moment.

Huge moment, and yeah ol' Packer's comments made it even sweeter. I will have to give Billy props for calling out the Illinois barrage of illegal screens though.

 

[2DDIMOND]

Hicks= reyshaun terry
Kenny = dudley bradley
Justin = okoren
Bradley = daugherty
Woods = dex
Berry is a mix but has some king rice toughness to his game
Theo = odemala (did i get close on spelling?)

Don't like the 1st 2 at all but the rest are pretty good. Dudley Bradley couldn't shoot a lick. Love the O'Koren comparison for JJ, that's the best I've heard, possibly some MJ in JJ's game too. Ademola Okulaja is who you're looking for on that last one

 

[2DDIMOND]

Gonna strongly disagree that Joel Berry's offensive game is better than Felton's. Strongly disagree. Felton was an absolute beast and could drive to the bucket whenever he wanted to with that lightning speed he had. In his final season, he also become a really good 3-point shooter.

That 2005 team was something else, man. They were the best team in the country and that was one of the last seasons where the elite college teams were truly elite, with multiple multi-year stars and what not. I never saw Ford play, but Felton is the best PG we've had at Carolina in my lifetime.

I love me some Felton & I love me some Berry, but I think Lawson was the best of the 3. Anyone could make an argument for any of the 3. Lawson never lost to dook as a starter. The 2 games he lost to them he came off the bench. Which reminds me that Stackhouse & Rasheed never lost "to those dudes" as Stack puts it.

 

[Heelicious]

That was Felton's crowning moment. That shot was deep and in the face of two Illinois defenders. That play doesn't speak as much to Felton's shooting as it does his toughness and grittiness though. The only thing tougher and more gritty was his steal with about 30 seconds left in the game. It's for those reasons that Felton is on my top 5 favorite Tar Heel legends.

Maybe my favorite Heels game of all time. I got to attend it so obviously certainly my favorite attended Heels game.

Super-hostile environment - basically a home game for Illinois - and an excellent Illinois team who were great in every aspect of the game - had only lost 2 games all year I think.

Recall Felton had two fouls very early and begged to stay in the game. Between late FTs, "The Shot", "The Steal", and great passing and running the break throughout the game - he just willed the team to win (with of course a monster effort from Sean May as well). I hope and believe we can get that sort of grit and championship leadership from a healthy hungry JB this year in March / April.

 

[gunslingerdick]

Maybe my favorite Heels game of all time. I got to attend it so obviously certainly my favorite attended Heels game.

Super-hostile environment - basically a home game for Illinois - and an excellent Illinois team who were great in every aspect of the game - had only lost 2 games all year I think.

Recall Felton had two fouls very early and begged to stay in the game. Between late FTs, "The Shot", "The Steal", and great passing and running the break throughout the game - he just willed the team to win (with of course a monster effort from Sean May as well). I hope and believe we can get that sort of grit and championship leadership from a healthy hungry JB this year in March / April.

Being there must have been incredible. I don't have the stones to buy Final Four tickets. Because they have to be bought so far ahead of time and then there's the possibility that your team doesn't make it. I know some people would still be cool with going to see 4 other teams play. But not me. I'd be salty. And I'd be pissed about having to shell out a bunch of money for travel, lodging, food and entertainment when it's not even my team I'm going to see.

On a side note about that 05 team, has there ever been a UNC player more underrated and underappreciated than Jawad Williams?

 

[TarHeelNation11]

On a side note about that 05 team, has there ever been a UNC player more underrated and underappreciated than Jawad Williams?

Didn't he drain that last second 3 to save us against Cleveland State in the beginning of that season? Jawad could ball.

 

[Heelicious]

Being there must have been incredible. I don't have the stones to buy Final Four tickets. Because they have to be bought so far ahead of time and then there's the possibility that your team doesn't make it. I know some people would still be cool with going to see 4 other teams play. But not me. I'd be salty. And I'd be pissed about having to shell out a bunch of money for travel, lodging, food and entertainment when it's not even my team I'm going to see.

On a side note about that 05 team, has there ever been a UNC player more underrated and underappreciated than Jawad Williams?

GSD - not to derail this thread too much, but I totally hear you. I've only attended two other Final Fours, and both of those I bought tix after the Heels had punched their ticket.

They were a few years back, so the prices weren't so obscene. Both were unmitigated disasters.

One was in Indy for the Arizona / Kentucky year with Bibby I think where Heels got up early on Arizona, and melted in end of first half, and second half.

Arizona won it all, but a friend and I watched the finals on a crappy TV in our dumpy roadside motel.

Another was in San Antonio. The year we lost to Utah - Jamison and Shammond, (and Carter?) but nobody could throw it in the ocean. Andre Miller I think from Utah.

We attempted to buy tickets on the street from a scalper - my friend did the transaction out in the open. We lost the tickets to a cop but got our money back. Watched the game from some horrendous dumpy "sports bar". We were about the only ones in the place and watched it on a fuzzy tiny TV.

Not sure whether I'd ever apply Final Four tickets again. The price is too steep, for pretty poor viewing, and usually a long shot for your team to get there. Think of MSU, UVA, UK, Dook, etc. last year. Who'd say none of those four would make it?

The first weekend and second weekend are safer bets, pretty cheap actually, and much better viewing.... with better likelihood of a positive outcome.

Regarding Jawad - totally agree. I thought of him as a sort of "project player" but he grew about as much as any Heel I can remember from frosh to senior. He really carried us a lot in both Final Four games that year, especially with some timely 3's from a somewhat unexpected source.