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

[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.

 

[Fan1978]

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.

Exactly, it’s insane. They do not use their vertical leap.

 

[Fan1978]

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.

His defense sucks, they require that in NBA.

Without massive improvement he won’t sniff NBA

 

[RuffRuff]

His defense sucks, they require that in NBA.

Without massive improvement he won’t sniff NBA

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.

 

[Fan1978]

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.

And absolutely last week n defense

 

[JesusAllen11]

His defense sucks, they require that in NBA.

Without massive improvement he won’t sniff NBA

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

 

[Huskyforlife]

I think Hurley would spit out his Bai if you told him Solo didn't have a finishing problem.

 

[auror]

Last year his finishing problem was accuracy. This year it's his number of rim attempts for his minutes. Related but separate issue.

 

[Umami Zen]

Solo is taking the shots that his coaches want him to and what the offensive sets are designed to provide for him. At a very high percentage. The next level of his development is working on the improvisational part of his game when the offense breaks down and/or when the defense breaks down on an obvious coverage/rotation mistake. His spacing on the perimeter allows the lane to be open for others. Since Maui-I'd say its been working pretty good for us.

 

[HuskyHawk]

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.

Yeah, I think he's absolutely working on this stuff. He became a really good shooter. Ok, now do those other things, as Hurley said. I think he's a worker, I'm sure he's working on defense, rebounding, ball handling and attacking the rim.

 

[Kembacity]

These guys are basketball players on full rides to the best college basketball team in the nation? What are you on about here? Layups are hard now?

PS, I’ve played basketball for 20 years and was on a club team in college. I understand how to play. And yeah, I get disappointed when a guy like Solo misses repeatedly at the rim, sue me.

Oooooh everyone’s VERY impressed

Have you considered submitting an application to join the coaching staff?

 

[Kembacity]

Solo Ball is shooting 60% on shots at the rim this year, he is certainly not struggling in that area, even if it's a small sample of his shots

Nope, he missed some shots so clearly he stinks at basketball and 45 year old dudes could do better.

I was watching the Celtics vs Wolves last night. In the last minute Edwards got a wide open drive to the hoop, layup rolled off the side of the rim. I guess he completely stinks and he’ll be jobless by June. Or, it’s impossible to make every shot

 

[ctbro1999]

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

View attachment 105929

Lol holy crap, his fingers almost go down to his knees!

 

[ctbro1999]

I really hope next game Solo pump fakes a guy into the 3rd row and then drives and completely posterizes someone on a huge dunk so people can stop arguing about whether he's a good finisher at the rim or not.

 

[IndyLives]

If Solo listens to Danny, he's a lottery pick next year. The kid wants the ball and is a natural scorer. Just needs another year of development. But, I think he has more upside than Karaban at the next level.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Oooooh everyone’s VERY impressed

Have you considered submitting an application to join the coaching staff?

You made a stupid statement originally, now you’re just being a jerk. Good stuff my man.

 

[gtcam]

Ball, if he reaches the next level will be a 1 or 2. Does he have the handle to do this at this point? Does he grab those rebounds and is in there fighting for those rebounds? If he can't get a 3 off, is he looking to make a move and drive to the hoop?
Castle may have been suspect with his outside shooting, but he could clamp down on D and he could drive to the hoop. Cam, Newton- both were more than one dimensional.
When Ball works on these things next season at UConn, perhaps we can talk playing at the next level.
He can shoot the 3 for sure but just doing that is not going to make it, CV was/is a more complete player and he can't sniff the league.

I really hope next game Solo pump fakes a guy into the 3rd row and then drives and completely posterizes someone on a huge dunk so people can stop arguing about whether he's a good finisher at the rim or not.

If he does I will he elated but he needs to do that on a consistent basis - one time does not make anyone sure that it can happen again.

 

[6Nattys4Us]

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.

Since the dawn of college hoops, fans have bemoaned the drive the the rim only to miss:
1) player caught between dunk and layup delivers neither.
2) player worried about contact gets neither the harm nor the bucket.

For Solo (and really everyone else) season stats should only include games since returning from Hawaii. If you get elbowed in the head and get a foul called on you, how confident are you going to the rim? Besides, early home games were against below Quad I talent, so who doesn't look - hence why DePaul looked great on paper early but against better talent not so much.

 

[dennismenace]

Man, it's cray just how good our team was last year. Our starting 5 (Newton, Spencer, Castle, Karaban, Clingan) all ranked in the top 20 overall on Evanmiya.com, and Clingan, Newton, and Spencer were top 7. Diarra was 43rd for good measure.

This year Evanmiya's rankings aren't nearly as kind...only Diarra and Karaban are top 50 (47th, 49th). McNeeley is 52nd and no one else in the top 100.

Uconn being disrespected again? Bring it on. Bulletin board. Our guys look good because they are a team more than anything else. Run you silly on offense. The defense has become a priority to the staff. "Better get us now".

 

[dennismenace]

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 think he will be fine when he learns how to harness his gifts of speed and leaping. He has off the charts athleticism and is quickly developing into a deadly distance shooter. This is just the midpoint of his second season. Give the kid a break and a little patience. His facial expressions on the floor show that he cares and is trying. He could be gone after this year if he finishes strong just based on potential alone. So maybe year three at Uconn or the G league. Let's watch the kid grow. I don't find him to be nearly as frustrating as "the Ferrari." Having Kimani on our bench a huge plus for perfect balance with Dan Hurley. Remember how this worked out with Hawkins. And think what Dan Hurley and Kimani
et al can do with the tribe of warriors coming next year.

 

[TheChamps990411]

Wrote the following about Solo an hour ago:

This season he's an integral part of the offense. They have him running around the court, setting picks for him to free him up. It appears they are now pushing Solo to drive to the basket and not worry about getting blocked. He did this more in this game than any I can recall. He failed at every attempt but it's obvious, at least to me, they never told him to stop. I believe once he gets proficient at this they'll work on his playmaking.

Now that hes going to the basket thats a good start hes not worried about getting blocked. Next he has to get the mentallity that hes going to throw it down hard so no one can block it. When he gets that aggression in his game he can really be something special on the court.