Dear Juwan Durham: Please stay healthy

[joober jones]

Durham reminds me of a younger and still developing version of Hilton Armstrong. I think he has potential to surpass what Hilton did at UConn if he stays healthy.

 

[UC1985]

Huge Durham fan, have been asking the gods for more time and good health for a month or so now.. Tip of the iceberg I'm hoping, so much potential

 

[jdb50]

He is a quick jumper, we have lost too many rebounds the last 3 years that could have been had with some quickness and intensity, and good hands.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Durham reminds me of a younger and still developing version of Hilton Armstrong. I think he has potential to surpass what Hilton did at UConn if he stays healthy.

Hilton's frame, Charlie V's game.

 

[TheChamps990411]

If the kid develops into an all conference level it really changes the outlook of the program over the next couple of years.

 

[BUConn10]

What superjohn is to BigErnMcCracken.

This burn only took 6 minutes.

 

[mauconnfan]

Hilton's frame, Charlie V's game.

Like this!

 

[Palatine]

If you watch Durham's high school tape, he was very polished for a big guy at an early age.

He has some of the skinniest legs on the floor. And we all know his history of knee trouble. He needs to get stronger without getting much bigger so that he isn't asking his knees to do more or carry more weight.

In some ways his injuries this year may be a blessing. He hasn't been asked to do too much. He hasn't been over used or fatigued. He is building back his strength slowly over time.

 

[Waquoit]

This burn only took 6 minutes.

Hot like fire!

 

[Vuce]

This offseason will be HUUUUGE for him (and the team). Need Durham, Enoch and Diarra to all step up among the big guys.....less so for Diarra since he hasn't been exposed to the college game much but an full year in the weight training program will really help.

 

[August_West]

What superjohn is to BigErnMcCracken.

A+

 

[Mr. French]

If you watch Durham's high school tape, he was very polished for a big guy at an early age.

He has some of the skinniest legs on the floor. And we all know his history of knee trouble. He needs to get stronger without getting much bigger so that he isn't asking his knees to do more or carry more weight.

In some ways his injuries this year may be a blessing. He hasn't been asked to do too much. He hasn't been over used or fatigued. He is building back his strength slowly over time.

It's tough for people to realize, but you can DO everything you need to do after a year off on 2 ACLs, but you won't FEEL YOU on the court for about 15-18 months.

Take a couple of explosive finishes, get up ok, feel fine, psychologically get confidence in some moves, and this kid will be rolling by next year.

Thankfully, he was a fairly polished player, so he isn't going into next year raw AND off injury.

I think people will be surprised, if he stays healthy, how much that made a difference in his game this season.

 

[intlzncster]

Durham reminds me of a younger and still developing version of Hilton Armstrong. I think he has potential to surpass what Hilton did at UConn if he stays healthy.

He better. Hilton was good, but not great. Durham has AA upside if he stays for 4 years and remains healthy.

 

[methodology]

The only similarity to hilton is body type other than that their games couldn't be more different. Durham is a stretch 4 has a sweet stroke and is more explosive. Hilton never had that and never even showed the glimpses of it being a possibility of being developed. Defensively I can see durham being similar if he gets stronger

 

[methodology]

If you watch Durham's high school tape, he was very polished for a big guy at an early age.

He has some of the skinniest legs on the floor. And we all know his history of knee trouble. He needs to get stronger without getting much bigger so that he isn't asking his knees to do more or carry more weight.

In some ways his injuries this year may be a blessing. He hasn't been asked to do too much. He hasn't been over used or fatigued. He is building back his strength slowly over time.

With proper weight lifting he will develop a stronger base and legs which will allow him to bulk up and carry more weight without it being bad for his knees

 

[ctchamps]

This was the first game that he didn't look tentative on the court. Better way of phrasing it is this was the first game he looked explosive.

 

[joober jones]

The only similarity to hilton is body type other than that their games couldn't be more different. Durham is a stretch 4 has a sweet stroke and is more explosive. Hilton never had that and never even showed the glimpses of it being a possibility of being developed. Defensively I can see durham being similar if he gets stronger

If you look at videos of HA, especially in his early years, he had the same superior speed and mobility for a big that Durham does.

 

[Matrim55]

If you look at videos of HA, especially in his early years, he had the same superior speed and mobility for a big that Durham does.

Hilton never had body control, though. Once you knocked him off balance, he took a while (not as long as Amida) to gather himself and get back on track.

Durham, if he stays healthy, is just a much more fluid and balanced athlete.

Please stay healthy. Please stay healthy. Please stay healthy.

 

[August_West]

Hilton never had body control, though. Once you knocked him off balance, he took a while (not as long as Amida) to gather himself and get back on track.

Durham, if he stays healthy, is just a much more fluid and balanced athlete.

Please stay healthy. Please stay healthy. Please stay healthy.

Yes!

Nobody spent more time on his butt on the floor as a frosh than Hilton. If the wind blew he was on his butt. It was comical. Durham is light years ahead of that.

 

[Dogbreath2U]

If you look at videos of HA, especially in his early years, he had the same superior speed and mobility for a big that Durham does.

I certainly see Juwan's upside as being higher than Hilton's in terms of skill level, but Hilton was a tweener until he gained weight and could compete with the big boys. I am always surprised to see Juwan playing the 3 along side of Kentan and Amida (or whomever is at the 4 and 5). I'm not sure how he resolves the "tweener" issue...I do hope he can gain some weight and stay quick/fast. But the main thing is that he comes to play with confidence and relative abandon. He has just shown us glimpses of what he could do....but he has been very tentative for the most part.

 

[Matrim55]

I am always surprised to see Juwan playing the 3 along side of Kentan and Amida (or whomever is at the 4 and 5).

Pretty sure that's only happening because we're short-handed in the back court and on the wing. He'll spend 95% of his minutes at UConn as either the 4 or 5.