Borges: Breaking down UConn's 2023 class with Adam Finkelstein

[Scrutineer]

There is no way Ross is 180-185 lbs. That has to be this time last year. My guess is 200/205lbs. I also doubt him at only 6'7. His team roster lists him at 6'8 and he looks all of that on the court matched up against bigs.

Does this mean you're ready to Karabanize him?
I'm looking at a bigger Lamb when I see how he looks and plays.
I can dream right?

 

[gtcam]

AJax is a pure athlete that is gaining a bit in his basketball skills.
Castle is a pure hoopster who happens to have a decent degree of athleticism.
A bit in common but there is a huge difference.
Castle can shoot the 3, get to the hole and distribute the ball with good vision. He is going to be fun to watch.

 

[gtcam]

I think Jimmy Butler is the best comparison stylistically.

If Castle could find a mid range game that even approaches JB's he will be lethal

 

[husky429]

If Castle could find a mid range game that even approaches JB's he will be lethal

I doubt it's something he'll be working to develop to JB's level at all. Our offense (and the NBAs) doesn't prioritize the mid-range shot. For better or worse, I'm sure Castle will be developing his finishing at the rim and 3-ball much more than an advanced mid-range game.

 

[Palatine]

I doubt it's something he'll be working to develop to JB's level at all. Our offense (and the NBAs) doesn't prioritize the mid-range shot. For better or worse, I'm sure Castle will be developing his finishing at the rim and 3-ball much more than an advanced mid-range game.

What made Alleyne so valuable was his mid-range game. For all the talk about basketball being a three and lay up game, mid-range is still very, very important. It is a very important weapon for three point shooters whose shot isn't falling and need to see the ball go through the net.

Castle should have a great mid-range game. He can speed up and slow down to get his own shot. If he is knocking down threes, getting mid range jumpers and also getting to rim, he will be impossible to guard.

In the NBA, the thing that makes Trea Young so great is his mid-range game is sensational.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Every single superstar player in the NBA has an elite mid range game. Kevin Durant is on record of how important the mid range game is.

The mid range game is absolutely important to develop. Our very own Kemba Walker is proof of what having an elite mid range game can do.

 

[ibleedhuskyblue]

There is no way Ross is 180-185 lbs. That has to be this time last year. My guess is 200/205lbs. I also doubt him at only 6'7. His team roster lists him at 6'8 and he looks all of that on the court matched up against bigs.

Agreed. I tried to search some of his opponents for comparison, but size listings in HS are dicey at best. Either way, there is no chance he is 185.

If this kid keeps growing (as often happens), he could play at 6'9" 225. If he keeps his coordination, and slightly improves his skill level (remember, he was a 1/2 guard until a couple years ago when he grew about 6 inches) !!!

He has a pretty jumper from 3. If that falls, he will get playing time right away. He may make rotation mistakes defensively, but it will not be for a lack of effort. If i had to guess, i'd bet that Alex will be mentoring him. He's a good mentor to have.

 

[Deleted at users request]

What made Alleyne so valuable was his mid-range game. For all the talk about basketball being a three and lay up game, mid-range is still very, very important. It is a very important weapon for three point shooters whose shot isn't falling and need to see the ball go through the net.

Castle should have a great mid-range game. He can speed up and slow down to get his own shot. If he is knocking down threes, getting mid range jumpers and also getting to rim, he will be impossible to guard.

In the NBA, the thing that makes Trea Young so great is his mid-range game is sensational.

Trae Young, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Embiid, Kawhi.

You know who has no mid range game? James Harden. It’s why he disappears every year in the playoffs. You have to be a three level scorer if you want to be a high level player.

 

[husky429]

What made Alleyne so valuable was his mid-range game. For all the talk about basketball being a three and lay up game, mid-range is still very, very important. It is a very important weapon for three point shooters whose shot isn't falling and need to see the ball go through the net.

Castle should have a great mid-range game. He can speed up and slow down to get his own shot. If he is knocking down threes, getting mid range jumpers and also getting to rim, he will be impossible to guard.

In the NBA, the thing that makes Trea Young so great is his mid-range game is sensational.

I'm done arguing about mid-range shots on the board. You should know my opinion by now. It's a tired argument, and 90% of the people having it don't understand how the game of basketball works to begin with.

I'm telling you facts: The NBA and our offense in Storrs don't value the mid-range shot, except as a counter to a drive and a 3 being taken away. A mid-range shooter isn't going to get drafted. Even then, a drive to the 15 feet and a kick to a shooter is valued more than a mid-range shot. Whether you like it or not, that's a fact both at UConn and in the NBA. If we want Castle to go to the NBA, and if we want to continue to recruit kids pursuing a career in the NBA, this is how we will need to play and develop players' skills.

 

[Deleted at users request]

I'm done arguing about mid-range shots on the board. You should know my opinion by now. It's a tired argument, and 90% of the people having it don't understand how the game of basketball works to begin with.

I'm telling you facts: The NBA and our offense in Storrs don't value the mid-range shot, except as a counter to a drive and a 3 being taken away. A mid-range shooter isn't going to get drafted. Even then, a drive to the 15 feet and a kick to a shooter is valued more than a mid-range shot. Whether you like it or not, that's a fact both at UConn and in the NBA. If we want Castle to go to the NBA, and if we want to continue to recruit kids pursuing a career in the NBA, this is how we will need to play and develop players' skills.

I guess one of the greatest scorers of all time doesn’t understand basketball either.

Kevin Durant had a fascinating Twitter conversation about the value of mid-range shots

This is my new favorite Kevin Durant Twitter thing, even though there are so many Kevin Durant Twitter things to choose from. It began with Matt Moore, the former editor of Hardwood Paroxysm and now a writer for The Action Network. There was debate o

ftw.usatoday.com

 

[navery12]

What made Alleyne so valuable was his mid-range game. For all the talk about basketball being a three and lay up game, mid-range is still very, very important. It is a very important weapon for three point shooters whose shot isn't falling and need to see the ball go through the net.

Castle should have a great mid-range game. He can speed up and slow down to get his own shot. If he is knocking down threes, getting mid range jumpers and also getting to rim, he will be impossible to guard.

In the NBA, the thing that makes Trea Young so great is his mid-range game is sensational.

Alleyne shot 46% on his mid range shots, so no that is absolutely not what made him valuable. It was a negative value shot

 

[superjohn]

I don't know what the argument is here or how it relates to UConn but the mid-range is clearly undervalued these days. In playoff basketball the lane eventually gets shut down and you're going to have your nights where you can't make anything from three. The midrange is why the Warriors beat the Celtics in the finals last year, hell it's why they won last night. The best players in the league and guys who are killing it in the playoffs kill it from the midrange- Jokic, Embiid, Curry, Durant, Luka, Booker, Jimmy Buckets, Kawhi Derozan, CP3, Brunson...

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Every single superstar player in the NBA has an elite mid range game. Kevin Durant is on record of how important the mid range game is.

The mid range game is absolutely important to develop. Our very own Kemba Walker is proof of what having an elite mid range game can do.

Giannis? LeBron has it but doesn’t really use it too much. I’d say that’s the case with a lot of stars. They have the ability, but it’s the worst shot in the game.

 

[caw]

I'm done arguing about mid-range shots on the board. You should know my opinion by now. It's a tired argument, and 90% of the people having it don't understand how the game of basketball works to begin with.

I'm telling you facts: The NBA and our offense in Storrs don't value the mid-range shot, except as a counter to a drive and a 3 being taken away. A mid-range shooter isn't going to get drafted. Even then, a drive to the 15 feet and a kick to a shooter is valued more than a mid-range shot. Whether you like it or not, that's a fact both at UConn and in the NBA. If we want Castle to go to the NBA, and if we want to continue to recruit kids pursuing a career in the NBA, this is how we will need to play and develop players' skills.

I guess one of the greatest scorers of all time doesn’t understand basketball either.

Kevin Durant had a fascinating Twitter conversation about the value of mid-range shots

This is my new favorite Kevin Durant Twitter thing, even though there are so many Kevin Durant Twitter things to choose from. It began with Matt Moore, the former editor of Hardwood Paroxysm and now a writer for The Action Network. There was debate o

ftw.usatoday.com

This isn't exactly an either, or situation. Not everything is binary.

The NBA definitely prioritizes the close two and the three for players but the best; they have some other aspect besides a layup, or a three. Whether it's the midrange, or the post-up game, or both.

I look at it this way. In the NBA the defenses are trained to try and take away the three and the close two, but the player has to be a threat from there first, or it makes the job easy for the defense.

After those options are gone, then it comes down to the special players who can get to their spot in the midrange to get points when the offense is bogged down.

There are a few exceptions who are so good at their craft they transcend the need for one or more of the three ranges (Giannis and Stef) but they are exceptions. EDIT: to be clear Stef does have all three and then some but he would deadly as simply a three point shooter he is that good from deep.

Most of the greatest players right now have more than just the layup and three in their bag.



When it comes to UConn last year, yes the focus was on layups and threes but Alleyne, Hawkins and Newton hitting mid-range kept the train rolling when other teams ran UConn off the line and defended the paint. It wasn't often but those were key points in the run. Alleyne esp. hitting open mid-range shots was important. It's not a focus, but it is important.

 

[CL82]

Alleyne shot 46% on his mid range shots, so no that is absolutely not what made him valuable. It was a negative value shot

It actually would be interesting to see a shot chart along with his mid range percentage for the second half of the year.

429 says mid range shots aren’t effective except as a counter, but that is exactly what makes them effective in my opinion. If you get runoff the arch you don’t have to drive to the hoop and face a big. It gives you options, particularly to attack a zone.

 

[Chin Diesel]

This isn't exactly an either, or situation. Not everything is binary.

You're either binary or you're non-binary. Which means being binary or non-binary is binary.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Giannis? LeBron has it but doesn’t really use it too much. I’d say that’s the case with a lot of stars. They have the ability, but it’s the worst shot in the game.

Giannas doesn’t have a jumper at all and he’s one of the rare ones that gets away with it. But the Bucks couldn’t close out two games just now because of his non ability to shoot.

Jimmy, who isn’t considered a good three point shooter, took them out giving them hell from the midrange.

To say that someone should not focus on developing a midrange game is just a blasphemous thing to say if the expectations of that player is to be a star player. Literally every NBA star/superstar would tell you differently.

FWIW, Lebron’s record breaking shot was a mid range shot. Lol

 

[jibsey]

Every single superstar player in the NBA has an elite mid range game. Kevin Durant is on record of how important the mid range game is.

The mid range game is absolutely important to develop. Our very own Kemba Walker is proof of what having an elite mid range game can do.

I agree with you but many here say different. The 3 point game is essential we all know but when your player has that midrange it makes the rest of the offense more dynamic.

 

[navery12]

It actually would be interesting to see a shot chart along with his mid range percentage for the second half of the year.

429 says mid range shots aren’t effective except as a counter, but that is exactly what makes them effective in my opinion. If you get runoff the arch you don’t have to drive to the hoop and face a big. It gives you options, particularly to attack a zone.

Can only break it out by individual month, but here is January vs March. February was pretty similar to March so just used the one with postseason games

January

March

 

[CL82]

Can only break it out by individual month, but here is January vs March. February was pretty similar to March so just used the one with postseason games

January

View attachment 87821

March

View attachment 87822

Wow, that was a rhetorical statement, but thanks! That was quick!

Such a difference from January to March!

 

[navery12]

Alleyne shot 46% on his mid range shots, so no that is absolutely not what made him valuable. It was a negative value shot

I will amend this to say he was actually decent from the top of the key, but the baseline midrange drove his numbers down

 

[cohenzone]

why not...it's not overperforming if Dan Hurley saw the potential...to me that's someone who is a good judge of talent, which is repeatable

I never liked the notion of over achieving or over performing. Maximizing a skill is more like it. In sports sometimes it takes the right coach and/or circumstances to help someone to realize their potential. Hard to achieve anything you never had the potential to do. Under performing on the other hand…

 

[Huskyforlife]

If Stephon Castle is baby Kevin Durant, obviously he should take mid range shots. 99.99% of D1 players are not Kevin Durant.

 

[444JR]

I think Jimmy Butler is the best comparison stylistically.

Yes. thank you

 

[Hey Adrien!]

 

[pj]

I don't get why you posted this, isn't this thread about NBA midrange shooting? Shouldn't a Jayden Ross video go in a thread about 2023 recruits?

That said - (1) As the shot charts show, Naheim is easily upgraded and it was a good move to send him on. (2) A great shotmaker can create a shot but he doesn't generally get to choose his spot (especially when the shot clock is winding down), the defense can make him shoot from an unfavorable spot like midrange. It's good to have it in your arsenal even if you only use it in emergencies. Michael Jordan made a living off it.

 

[Deleted at users request]

I don't get why you posted this, isn't this thread about NBA midrange shooting? Shouldn't a Jayden Ross video go in a thread about 2023 recruits?

That said - (1) As the shot charts show, Naheim is easily upgraded and it was a good move to send him on. (2) A great shotmaker can create a shot but he doesn't generally get to choose his spot (especially when the shot clock is winding down), the defense can make him shoot from an unfavorable spot like midrange. It's good to have it in your arsenal even if you only use it in emergencies. Michael Jordan made a living off it.

To clear it up, the reason the mid range discussion got started was because someone said Castle shouldn’t prioritize developing that and then others jumped in to say how important that shot actually is. So that should definitely be a focus of Castle’s development.

Same way that it might be the most important part of Andre’s development at this point.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

I don't get why you posted this, isn't this thread about NBA midrange shooting? Shouldn't a Jayden Ross video go in a thread about 2023 recruits?

My #1 strategy for Boneyard off-season zen: it's fun to post, but not fun to read the threads.