Is Solo Ball joining UConn teammates on path to the NBA?

[navery12]

He is though, we all watch the games.

Driving and finishing is not a part of his game at this point. I don't remember a single attack of the rim for a dunk in the halfcourt so he's basically getting about two shots at the rim per game and he makes about one of them a game.

I liked that he drove some yesterday even though it didn't go too well.

I'm not disagreeing that it's not a part of his game, my only point is that when he does he's shooting it well. I started out by saying it's a really small sample size of shots at the rim

 

[navery12]

Oh they back it just fine. You also have uncontested layups included in those numbers. Numerous other people are disagreeing with you on this for a reason. I love the kid but it’s an area of his game that can be improved.

So far it's only 2 people disagreeing with me, and anytime I find myself agreeing with either one of you I have to take a step back and re-evaluate my life decisions

 

[giddyup]

Him and Andre Jackson are enigmas. Incredible athletes with great physical profiles, yet really struggle finishing at the rim. It’s very confusing to me.

Not sure anybody goes into Andre’s category… ultimate athletic freak

 

[TheHorde]

So far it's only 2 people disagreeing with me, and anytime I find myself agreeing with either one of you I have to take a step back and re-evaluate my life decisions

Omg same! I’ll take my eye test comment over your petty insult, which automatically means you lose the debate. But I’m sure you need to reevaluate plenty lol. So what did Castle, Newton, and Hawkins shoot at the rim?

 

[TheHorde]

So far it's only 2 people disagreeing with me, and anytime I find myself agreeing with either one of you I have to take a step back and re-evaluate my life decisions

And there are more than 2 people on this thread that have the opinion Ball is not a great finisher. Perhaps two have gone back and forth with you, that might be true. But the thread has more than that that feel that way.

 

[huskyinfl]

he has the celebrating part of the NBA down

 

[navery12]

Omg same! I’ll take my eye test comment over your petty insult, which automatically means you lose the debate. But I’m sure you need to reevaluate plenty lol. So what did Castle, Newton, and Hawkins shoot at the rim?

Castle shot 61.2%, Newton shot 50.6% and then 59.7%, and Hawkins shot 44.1% and 54.8% at the rim

 

[ctchamps]

I'll go on record saying that future performance is not predicated on past results for Ball. IMO he is just beginning to feel comfortable playing at the college level. It takes some players longer to get to this point. When he feels real comfortable we'll get to see their athleticism.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I don’t understand why he just doesn’t dunk more.

I think this is part of the perception we have. We see that muscular, body, we know he has great hops, and long arms, so naturally when he attacks the rim we kind of expect Dwayne Wade. We expect him to get up and posterize guys, even bigger guys.

The only thing I can come back to on that also ties into his relative lack of rebounding, I don't think he likes contact very much. Strength aside, he's just not a very physical player.

 

[superjohn]

He exponentially improved his shooting from last season to this season. I haven't seen him on any NBA mock drafts, so fair to assume it won't happen this year

If he makes half that exponential improvement next year on driving/finishing, then I see a lot of NBA value in a freak athlete built like a tank who is lights out from three and can get to the paint. He's undersized but the wingspan helps

Yep, I don't think his height will be detrimental to him. His arms are really long and he has huge hands.

 

[ctchamps]

I think this is part of the perception we have. We see that muscular, body, we know he has great hops, and long arms, so naturally when he attacks the rim we kind of expect Dwayne Wade. We expect him to get up and posterize guys, even bigger guys.

The only thing I can come back to on that also ties into his relative lack of rebounding, I don't think he likes contact very much. Strength aside, he's just not a very physical player.

He was doing a pretty good job with contact rebounding in the DePaul game. It was the first game that I felt his timing was decent as to when to stay with his player and when to leave and help out with rebounding.

His lateral and backwards movement was significantly improved as well on defense. For the most part he stayed in front of his player. He just has to improve on his timing on the up and under fakes and learn how to body the players making it more difficult to drive on him. There is a long way to go in this season before I can proclaim what his NBA chances will be.

 

[3rdbass]

this is not meant to bash Solo because I'm more than happy with his play so far considering he barely played last season once conference play began, but when I see UConn fans rave about Solo's athleticism, where are you seeing this actually pop out during games? When Solo does shot fake or is driven off the line and drives to the rim I've yet to see him attack the rim as hard as Hawk did during some of his dunks or missed dunks. I don't see the quick twitch when he attempts to elevate.

Yeah I don't see his great jumping ability in the game too. Sometimes dunks look fugly like he isn't getting proper lift.

 

[3rdbass]

I feel like when he rebounds he jumps absurdly high. Someone else pointed out the height he releases his jumper from. Solo is athletic, it would be crazy to say he lacks athleticism. Maybe you can see he gets beat and blown by and his feet need to be quicker, but to call him not athletic is wild

I don't think he isn't calling him unathletic. Just not seeing that great lifts on drive and dunks that we saw from Hawkins.

 

[BoukofJames]

He exponentially improved his shooting from last season to this season. I haven't seen him on any NBA mock drafts, so fair to assume it won't happen this year

If he makes half that exponential improvement next year on driving/finishing, then I see a lot of NBA value in a freak athlete built like a tank who is lights out from three and can get to the paint. He's undersized but the wingspan helps

He popped up at #91 on Sam Vecenie’s big board on December 3rd. I’ll be interested to see if he gets moved up meaningfully when he next updates it. Would love to hear SV’s take on him at this stage, I was thinking of trying to get that in as a question in his next podcast mailbag

 

[aceboon]

Yeah I don't see his great jumping ability in the game too. Sometimes dunks look fugly like he isn't getting proper lift.

like even on this play here he has a wide open lane and barely grazes the rim. freak athletes at his size, which is what I've seen on here and "UConn Twitter" to describe Solo, look like young DRose and Westbrook, that ain't Solo and that's ok.

 

[mauconnfan]

Sheppard was a good ballhandler.

And he could pass the ball!

 

[mauconnfan]

I feel like when he rebounds he jumps absurdly high. Someone else pointed out the height he releases his jumper from. Solo is athletic, it would be crazy to say he lacks athleticism. Maybe you can see he gets beat and blown by and his feet need to be quicker, but to call him not athletic is wild

He rebounded yesterday like he should every game that was a first. Let’s see more of that and less of 1 rebound a game stuff.

And with his wingspan he should have a better impact on defense than he does because he is athletic.

 

[RuffRuff]

Solos shooting touch is eye popping nice. Great rotation and feathery off the fingers. If he has a chance to square up his make rate is amazing.

You can see he’s starting to try to work on other stuff. Number one for him offensively is to embrace contact around the rim. The rim game may take time as it’s more involved to practice the little moves that get space and draw contact. His three rate will find defenses overplaying him, and allow him to get there regularly.

He doesn’t play as strong as he looks right now. Would love to see a little mean streak come out, get dirty.

 

[gtcam]

Solos shooting touch is eye popping nice. Great rotation and feathery off the fingers. If he has a chance to square up his make rate is amazing.

You can see he’s starting to try to work on other stuff. Number one for him offensively is to embrace contact around the rim. The rim game may take time as it’s more involved to practice the little moves that get space and draw contact. His three rate will find defenses overplaying him, and allow him to get there regularly.

He doesn’t play as strong as he looks right now. Would love to see a little mean streak come out, get dirty.

Bingo - he needs game

 

[JesusAllen11]

Solo has been a consistent performer. He has also consistently improved throughout the season. I expect this trend to continue.

1. If solo keeps up these numbers and we make another run in march. NBA eyes will be all over him , because NBA eyes will be watching our games no what ,as Liam is battling for where he will fall in the lottery.
2. He will prob get mid to late 1st buzz and hes gone. Another Hurley development success story.

 

[RuffRuff]

Seems less and less important these days .

Solo won’t be ready this year but an offseason to continue working on the gaps, maturing and getting stronger could make him really interesting in 2026. As chiseled as he is, he’s still a little too easy to push around.

Just checked and he’s 23rd in country in 3pt %, just above Tre Johnson. Dixon is amazingly at 50% at a higher volume.

 

[JesusAllen11]

If he continues his consistent improvement i can see it. NBA drafts on potential. He is built like Donavan Mitchell and has the Uconn/ Hurley behind him. Not far fetched