SO PROUD of all 3 and the contributions they are making.
Woods-Robinson-Bradley
- Thread starter mikeirbyusa
- Start date
Robinson and Bradley are ready to go now players, seventh shows signs of greatness and don't do that all in the same possession ...
I know on 7th. Yesterday my son was loving 7th's spin move for a layup. I was glad it went in because it was really fast and athletic, but I said, that play was 50% excellent, and 50% out of control. He just needs to find a way to slow down a bit, and play under control.
Unlike high school, kids are a lot faster, more athletic defenders at this level. He can't just put his head down and burn by people. But he does have the quicks and overall athleticism to be really good driving to the hoop. Not sure if he can shoot outside or not.
As I and Heelicious and others have said, Seventh just needs to slow down a degree or two. He'll be okay, coach is sure high on him...odd, at 6'1" he is a bit of a slasher and in our break he could score bunches and he can get up for rebounds...lots to like in the guy, he just needs to slow that 10 speed down to an 7-8...
They are fun to watch, and all three getting quite a bit of burn early in their freshman season. Think they're going to prove to be an impact class when it's all said and done.
I really enjoy this freshman class, I see so much potential for them, in many ways it reminds me of our Jr class. Consider, Tony is our Justin Jackson, different positions of course but what I see is a kid that seems to be right there on the cusp of being a great college player but there is a little something missing and it is that little something that is missing that may make it harder for him to leave as early as many expect. Just enough that tips the scales to see him coming back to UNC rather than enter the draft is not a bad thing at all for we fans.
BRob is our mini Theo, not the same player but in some ways similar. Both give you all they have while in the game, both seem to find a way to be around the ball at all times. Both guys just do not seem to disappear in games and neither are shy about having the ball in their hands. As I described Theo as a freshman, he just seems to effect the game when he is in there, I see some of that in BRob. BRob IMO is a better shooter and yet he is not a physically developed as Theo so booth kinda add to what we do in different ways. But both play with a passion, a joy, that defies talent, that is hard not to love as a fan.
OK, so someone hog tie gary so he doesn't just thru my puter and try to strangle me for this next one. LOL In 7th Woods we have our version of Joel berry for this freshman class. Blasphemy I know, hear me out on this one. Joel is a great player now, Joel was a more ready PG as a freshman, let me get that out of the way right now. Hope the knots are tight on gary cause here it comes, I think 7th has more upside than Joel, right now I am not sure who has the most upside on this team but to me is come down between 7th and Tony.
7th has to learn the same thing Ty Lawson had to learn, to slow down to be faster and it does you no good to get no where quick fast or in a hurry. 7th has after burner speed folks, not sure if you have really seen it to the extent that it is there, Roy has and in his words 7th has Ty Lawson speed with the ball. But he has to learn to pick his spots, when to hit those after burners and when to dial it down so that he can control. He tries to do to much and most times that ends up achieving nothing but a turn over. But let him find his groove, where he feels he fits and begin to be able to play and not feel like he has to do it all now. He is Danny Green like, as a freshman, Danny as a freshman used to try to do to much and would look over at Roy knowing he was about to get pulled again, try to make up for his mistake before getting pulled and make another. Danny worked out pretty darn good, so will 7th Woods.
BRob is our mini Theo, not the same player but in some ways similar. Both give you all they have while in the game, both seem to find a way to be around the ball at all times. Both guys just do not seem to disappear in games and neither are shy about having the ball in their hands. As I described Theo as a freshman, he just seems to effect the game when he is in there, I see some of that in BRob. BRob IMO is a better shooter and yet he is not a physically developed as Theo so booth kinda add to what we do in different ways. But both play with a passion, a joy, that defies talent, that is hard not to love as a fan.
OK, so someone hog tie gary so he doesn't just thru my puter and try to strangle me for this next one. LOL In 7th Woods we have our version of Joel berry for this freshman class. Blasphemy I know, hear me out on this one. Joel is a great player now, Joel was a more ready PG as a freshman, let me get that out of the way right now. Hope the knots are tight on gary cause here it comes, I think 7th has more upside than Joel, right now I am not sure who has the most upside on this team but to me is come down between 7th and Tony.
7th has to learn the same thing Ty Lawson had to learn, to slow down to be faster and it does you no good to get no where quick fast or in a hurry. 7th has after burner speed folks, not sure if you have really seen it to the extent that it is there, Roy has and in his words 7th has Ty Lawson speed with the ball. But he has to learn to pick his spots, when to hit those after burners and when to dial it down so that he can control. He tries to do to much and most times that ends up achieving nothing but a turn over. But let him find his groove, where he feels he fits and begin to be able to play and not feel like he has to do it all now. He is Danny Green like, as a freshman, Danny as a freshman used to try to do to much and would look over at Roy knowing he was about to get pulled again, try to make up for his mistake before getting pulled and make another. Danny worked out pretty darn good, so will 7th Woods.
Love everything you said except for the more upside than JB! It depends on what you mean by upside I suppose. 7th clearly has some tangibles that are potentially great (speed, aggressiveness, athleticism), JB has intangibles that are hard to measure. (leadership, will, inspiration, Doggedness, etc.) JBs tangibles are not too shabby either (strength, shooting, handles, D) whereas 7th's intangibles are not exceptional as yet. Hard to compare them since they only have position in common to me.
G-7 could probably say it with more passion, lol and I can't wait!
G-7 could probably say it with more passion, lol and I can't wait!
TP, I love Joel, would be hard to find a bigger advocate of Joel than I am. But here is the thing I am getting at, those intangibles that you describe in Joel are as well in 7th. I realize they have not yet been seen in 7th as they have been in Joel. But I also recall a time when Joel was a freshman and I pounded that drum about those intangibles in him that folks had not seen at that point either.
In terms of upside, 7th has as much as any Tar Heel I have seen in a long time, Tony does as well. 7th has the potential IMO to be a future star not just at the college level but at the next level as well.Right now it is a learning process, it is regaining that confidence he has always played with. Almost a right of passage at UNC and especially for UNC PGs but that challenge for 7th is even greater than it is for most, maybe other than Dexter his challenge is greater than our past PGs. Kid is not only having to learn to be a UNC PG but he is having to learn the position of being a PG. It is almost to much to ask from the kid honestly but 7th does not know how to back down from a challenge, just not in his make up. That is the kind of intangible that forges greatness. I am not saying we will see what I am talking about this season, far to often fans want it all now and 7th game is not able to show that now, the kid is but his game isn't.
This is not a JP type of deal, all athleticism but not much basketball skill, 7th has the athleticism, the basketball mindset and skill set is there as well, it just needs a little tweeking right now. He is so freakin close, the talent is there, the athletism is there, the desire and will is there, the experienced understanding of what he is stepping up to is not there just yet, it is a learning process that he has to go thru and he is behind others that have had to face this same challenge, he will catch up and when he does watch out!
About a year ago this time folks didn't see much value in Kenny Williams either, I am thinking most have changed their thinking on him by now, I have not but I bored you guys all summer talking about what I saw in Kenny, I may have to bore everyone to tears talking about 7th next summer but wait and see why.
I hope you are 100% correct! I agree that 7th is a real talent with the potential to be great also. I love his toughness to go with his physical gifts. I worry a bit about putting too much pressure on the young man by comparing him to The Nasty Dog. If he even can learn a portion of JBs leadership and nastiness, UNC is set for a while! (I'm not worried about him learning PG skills)
JB and Seventh different players entirely. Seventh clearly has as much as or more athletic potential than anyone else on the roster. I'm comfortable calling him a bit of a freak in that regard. JB reminds me more of Shane Larkin, and Seventh reminds me more of Russell Westbrook, with JB being significantly more talented than Larkin and Seventh obviously nowhere near the finished product of Westbrook. Either way, I think Seventh has potential to develop into a very good Carolina point guard, but as everyone else has pointed out, he's got to slow down a bit. He will in due time. Question for Seventh will be whether Berry stays on next year, and if so, whether Felton is already more ready to be the backup point guard for a year than Woods. It's entirely possible Felton doesn't require the same type of adjustment to pace as Woods - I have no idea and none of us will know until he steps on the floor. But, if that's the case, then Woods has to be willing to step into a Dexter Strickland type combo guard role for the Heels. Anyways, these are all good problems to have.
Yeah... that was a big ol' swing-and-a-miss there by my friend Dave. There is really no comparison there.
First, JB was ready to play and excel at Carolina when he got here... hell, he was probably ready as a Sophomore in HS... and second, 7th has a world of athleticism and a world of potential --- but not likely as a PG, which is one reason he is struggling. He may well have the intangibles, but the bottom line is he's not in his best position.
I love how these guys show flashes of what we will see from these guys in coming years from time to time. Reminds me of how we saw glimpses like that from Paige and Johnson.
Regarding 7th, wasn't it PG that people were hoping he'd switch over too in College? I can't recall, but I do remember some were saying he played either SG or PG and wanted to see him switch when he got here.
Regarding 7th, wasn't it PG that people were hoping he'd switch over too in College? I can't recall, but I do remember some were saying he played either SG or PG and wanted to see him switch when he got here.
OK, so I am gonna let the over the top of Joel being ready in any way to be a PG at UNC as a high school soph slide by but you know how far over the top that was. LOL
Now at this point it i shard to tell if 7th will be able to become a primary PG for us, that IMO will depend on 2 things, how long he stays and who we have that may be a better fit. If Joel leaves after this season, who is our PG next season, now I know, ya gonna tell me Jalek but a year more in our system and with off season development it is not so easy to default to jalek a freshman over a soph 7th. IN either event, once 7th gets to the NBA, very doubtful he plays anything but at the point.
"7th has a world of athleticism and a world of potential --- but not likely as a PG, which is one reason he is struggling."
^Now my friend, you got to explain what the heck this quote means? You offer it as an explanation but it is a statement and more a statement of opinion. Are you saying there is an aspect of being a PG, outside of the fact that the kid simply has not played that position until recently? Because if that is it experience can be gained, kinda the only way to gain it is by playing the position and yes, fail at times.
I would ask what tangible or intangible trait does a PG have that 7th does not? I don't see one and kinda think maybe Roy bringing the kid in as a PG feels similar? I think he does have all the traits, the issue as I see it is not that he is lacking in the traits a PG needs, it is more the experience of putting those traits together for the PG position. Kinda like having a puzzle with all the pieces but they have not been put together yet. That doesn't mean the pieces can not be put together to look like the picture on the box, it is only a concern if there are some pieces missing and I don't see that to be the case with 7th. The difference is other PGs came in as freshmen with that puzzle already part assembled and 7th is having to start from scratch but that doesn't mean the puzzle will not look as good or better than the one everyone has finished.
This isn't a JP at the 2 guard position kind of problem, JP lacked needed traits to be a 2 guard. Saw someone above refer to 7th as a Russell Westbrook type of PG, I like that comparison and who would argue that Russell Westbrook could not be a really fantastic PG?
Rose, it was 7th that wanted to be a PG at UNC because he realizes that is his NBA position in the future. He actually made the position change for the first time in summer ball and he did struggle, more so than now frankly. He has all the tools and he has the mindset, my opinion, he just is having to put it all together, and do so as a freshman at UNC, and to make matters worse he hurt both his knee and ankle last summer and came in to practice way less than 100%, he is closer to 100% now than he was at our first practice.
I think most assumed he would transition to the point quicker, there were a limited few that really did/do not like the idea of 7th at the point, notably my buddy gary, I agree some what but do believe his future will be at the point, maybe more a combo point at this level but in the NBA I see him as a PG and potential all star, he has that kind of ability.
The average starting height for an NBA PG is 6-2, 6-5 for a SG. So 7th will need to grow some more, which is quite possible, or his future will lie at the PG position, should he make the NBA. And while he's tall enough to defend the SG position in college, his jumper is very much a work in progress. I think his best position in college is at point, providing he works extra hard on improving his handle. He is way too loose with it at this stage. I would have him doing extra dribbling drills every day.
I told myself I wouldn't post this but, it's among friends right?....
I am very hopeful the athleticism of 7th is going to benefit the Heels and the young man. Mostly, I do not want him to be Adam Morrison, if the handle doesn't come along and he fails to learn what Ty L. had to learn, then we have a nice athlete.
We took JP over Bronson....guess who got the better deal there....
I am very hopeful the athleticism of 7th is going to benefit the Heels and the young man. Mostly, I do not want him to be Adam Morrison, if the handle doesn't come along and he fails to learn what Ty L. had to learn, then we have a nice athlete.
We took JP over Bronson....guess who got the better deal there....
If you asked 7th who is the last guy he thought he'd ever be compared to, I bet Adam Morrison is high on that list
We took JP over Bronson....guess who got the better deal there....[/QUOTE]
Not so. Roy wanted both. Bronson picked Wisky.
Do you mean Bo didn't want both of them? If so, I find that nigh impossible to believe.
Dave, PG is an instinctive deal, even without the added responsibilities of playing it here, and 7th is a fish outta water.
And yes, I could show you JB's film as a HS soph and senior and I doubt you can tell the difference --- which of course would explain being the Florida Player of the Year an unprecedented 3 times.
7th was recruited as a Combo and is learning the Point portion of that for the good reason that we could lose all of ours next season. Ultimately though he's a slasher and a finisher and that's his ideal role. If JB leaves Jalek will need to be the main man out front.
If you asked 7th who is the last guy he thought he'd ever be compared to, I bet Adam Morrison is high on that list
I'm assuming he either means Brian Morrison or Adam Boone, and not Adam Morrison.
Edited to add - if Seventh Woods turns into Adam Morrison, I'll take it!
Tony is exactly what I thought he would be, both in strengths and needs for improvement.
And differently so is 7th, with the caveat that his shooting confidence was better this summer from what I was told.
BRob has benefitted most from Theo's absence in that he has gotten PT way beyond what he would have otherwise. I expect a big leap for him next year as he fills out physically and this bonus experience can only help.
Last edited:
Just because Koenig turned into a solid player at Wisconsin doesn't mean it would've translated here. To say we run a totally different system is an understatement. I think he'd have done well but no where near as well as he's doing there.. in fact who really thinks he would've played a ton last year on that team? Who would he have taken minutes from? I'll listen.
IMO, Koenig would have been just fine here. Bobby Frasor did OK, and IMO Koening is better than the pre-injury Frasor.
They said the same thing about Dexter and yet had it not been for that nasty knee injury I believe Dexter would have been a very solid PG for us, he was not bad as was and I think 7th has much more upside than Dexter. How many last year this time felt both Kenny and Luke were wasted schollys and basically a total miss recruiting class?
It isn't instinct 7th is missing, it is learning to be a PG at UNC he is missing on right now, the kid is not JP as a 2 guard or defacto point. That was a fish out of water because JP for all the athleticism he had did not have great basketball instincts, that does not apply to 7th. Gary, you saw the kid try to play PG for the very first time in summer play and he did struggle, I think you have let that jade you a little bit toward his chances to develop in to one. He was hurt last summer, was not 100%, had a tuff knee injury he tried to play thru, he was at most 80% when we began practice. Give the kid time, your view on him will change. He didn't play the point prior simply because he was needed to be his teams total go to scorer, it was not because he couldn't play it, he was needed elsewhere more.
You don't close the book on a kid before he has ever played in his first ACC game, we give freshmen a while to develop. 7th is going to need a while longer in part because he got a slower start due to a couple injuries from the summer and he is having to make a harder transition than most. Not saying he will blow up this season but as a soph I think you will see a much better player, we will have to see how much better.
Well D, as you know, I had no such misguided notions concerning Luke and Kenny
. Anyway...
as for 7th the reality is pretty clear, just as it was with say, Shammond or Dex when they were thrown out there as freshmen. Like 7th, neither was a natural PG (except for by size). Granted, they eventually got proficient enough to give decent backup minutes at Point as upperclassmen, but that was the extent of it. Shammond and Dex were both better off the ball and so it is with 7th --- if we get that backup PG contribution from him over time that will be a bonus.
If the past week has brought anything into focus, it's how vital the PG position is in the Carolina system. It's not something we can just get by with, it must be played a very proficient and efficient level. In an ideal world JB will come back (please!) and Jalek can ease into the successor role, but if Berry leaves Jalek needs to be the man right away. Hopefully 7th will progress to be able to give decent backup minutes there. And BTW: One piece of good news is Platek can play Point if needed ---- I watched him do it, and very well.
Yup. I was just thinking that Platek is the security blanket for the security blanket at PG! I believe 7th will get it and become a good PG, but I expect it to take a year or so. This year he will contribute in spots and we will love his frequent highlight plays!
It's funny, I was just wondering if Roy has ever seen Platek play point? --- none of the staff was at the game I saw him step in... but I'm sure they are aware. The Bobby Frasor parallel could prove quite valuable.
that's right. point guard is a mind set as much as a skill set -- running the offense and keeping everybody involved as a coach on the floor. if you're not a pass-first guy you don't belong at point guard.
Similar threads
