ITM, Hawk continues to fly high

[HailUConn]

Cannot find the other thread, but boy, he will flourish with nba spacing and style of play.

 

[HailUConn]

Amazing stats as non starter.

 

[HailUConn]

 

[Palatine]

JH all around game continues to shine. No TOs in 33 minutes. 6 boards. 3-5 from two and 5-12 from three.

 

[businesslawyer]

Here's the thing about Hawkins. He made a remarkable jump forward in 22-23 from 21-22, seems to be making another large jump from 22-23 to this year, and there is little reason to think he's going to level off any time soon.

I know it won't happen, but the Boneyard needs to remember, when judging the future of other freshmen, how little impact Hawk had on the team his freshman season.

 

[AllHusky]

Here's the thing about Hawkins. He made a remarkable jump forward in 22-23 from 21-22, seems to be making another large jump from 22-23 to this year, and there is little reason to think he's going to level off any time soon.

I know it won't happen, but the Boneyard needs to remember, when judging the future of other freshmen, how little impact Hawk had on the team his freshman season.

I remember how disappointed I felt watching him frosh year.

 

[PAHusky]

I remember how disappointed I felt watching him frosh year.

He couldn't dribble. Hilarious to look back on now

 

[tzznandrew]

Here's the thing about Hawkins. He made a remarkable jump forward in 22-23 from 21-22, seems to be making another large jump from 22-23 to this year, and there is little reason to think he's going to level off any time soon.

I know it won't happen, but the Boneyard needs to remember, when judging the future of other freshmen, how little impact Hawk had on the team his freshman season.

He did look great until the Auburn disaster...and then he started playing well and Georgetown concussion ended his season and lowered the team's ceiling. They don't lose to NMSU with a healthy Hawk.

 

[EZPass]

 

[husky429]

I know it won't happen, but the Boneyard needs to remember, when judging the future of other freshmen, how little impact Hawk had on the team his freshman season.

It was pretty obvious how much potential he had after freshman season though. I certainly wasn't disappointed. There's a reason why he was on mock draft boards and pre-season lists despite only averaging 7ppg as a freshman--it was clearly he was bursting with talent.

I see that same potential with Solo. He isn't there yet, but the pieces are apparent. Not to the same extent as Hawkins, but it's there.

The concern will be if Ross and/or Stewart don't show those pieces by the end of the season. Right now, they're basically just on the court existing. It's rare that a kid goes from 9th/10th man to a serious, starting caliber player.

 

[businesslawyer]

It was pretty obvious how much potential he had after freshman season though. I certainly wasn't disappointed. There's a reason why he was on mock draft boards and pre-season lists despite only averaging 7ppg as a freshman--it was clearly he was bursting with talent.

I see that same potential with Solo. He isn't there yet, but the pieces are apparent. Not to the same extent as Hawkins, but it's there.

The concern will be if Ross and/or Stewart don't show those pieces by the end of the season. Right now, they're basically just on the court existing. It's rare that a kid goes from 9th/10th man to a serious, starting caliber player.

Donnie Marshall, Kevin Ollie, Andre Jackson, Nels Giffey and a host of players in between would beg to differ.

 

[Tenspro2002]

Donnie Marshall, Kevin Ollie, Andre Jackson, Nels Giffey and a host of players in between would beg to differ.

I was in preschool during Marshall and Ollie's freshman year so don't remember that, but Giffey started 10 games and got major run early in the year and in the championship game, while Jackson was a 6th/7th man and played 16 mpg.

Especially lately, you don't see guys go from afterthoughts to major contributors.

 

[HailUConn]

 

[aburks41]

He's going to be a 25PPG scorer either next year or the season after that. Been saying it all along that he has a $200M jump shot

 

[husky429]

Donnie Marshall, Kevin Ollie, Andre Jackson, Nels Giffey and a host of players in between would beg to differ.

I don't know much about Donnie or Ollie--I was very young--but I do know that Andre and Niels don't apply here. Niels started a bunch of games and was one of the best 6th-men in the country by tourney time. Andre started games and averaged 16 mpg. He was another clearly high potential player.

Also, can we consider you named FOUR players--two of whom don't even apply--out of the past, what, 30 years of basketball? How many deep bench players have we had--30 40? 50? You're actually kind of proving my point.

 

[mbt0512]

Albeit early, over/under a 50% chance he can make first team all-rookie?

 

[jibsey]

Freshman handle was bad but boy can he shoot. Good for him.

 

[HuskyFich]

He's going to be a 25PPG scorer either next year or the season after that. Been saying it all along that he has a $200M jump shot

Klay Thompson reincarnated. But more athletic. Crazy to think.

 

[PAHusky]

It was pretty obvious how much potential he had after freshman season though. I certainly wasn't disappointed. There's a reason why he was on mock draft boards and pre-season lists despite only averaging 7ppg as a freshman--it was clearly he was bursting with talent.

I see that same potential with Solo. He isn't there yet, but the pieces are apparent. Not to the same extent as Hawkins, but it's there.

The concern will be if Ross and/or Stewart don't show those pieces by the end of the season. Right now, they're basically just on the court existing. It's rare that a kid goes from 9th/10th man to a serious, starting caliber player.

Ball just has "it". He gets to the rim sometimes and can't finish but once he gets used to running into 6'10 dudes in the paint instead of hs kids he'll be fine. He cuts well, his shot looks decent (when he's not rushing his feet and actually gets set) and he defends very well.

Agree completely on Ross and Stewart. We need one of them to step up and be able to contribute or the bench depth is not going to be enough. Diarra is a good leader and a pretty good defender but his lack of offense lowers the ceiling.

 

[Deepster]

I am super curious about his ceiling. You’re seeing immediately he belongs there right now and is exceeding expectations.

I “think” he “could” have that special killer instinct to take over big games as he develops. I hate to say the way Jordan had a drive to win but that next level the really special ones have.

 

[Gutter King]

He's going to be a 25PPG scorer either next year or the season after that. Been saying it all along that he has a $200M jump shot

I agree with this. His ability to drill it with a hand in his face, in addition to the speed of release, makes him truly unique. I can't believe how many open threes he's missed though. If he'd nailed the 6-7 wide open looks he's had, the national hype train would be something fierce.

Proud of Hawks passing and rebounding as well, he's acclimated and integrated about as seamless as he could into that offense.

Side note: Zion needs to STFU about the "taking a back seat" and "trusting the process" BS. The franchise literally went and got him the perfect complimentary player. He should be working on winning basketball plays like setting decent screens for Hawk, rather than airing whatever delusional gripes he has. Some guys just can't help themselves. He must be an absolute pleasure to work with.

 

[Inyatkin]

Maybe I'm misreading things, but we had a meh game against a terrible team and now people are ready to write off half our freshman class, plus Samson Johnson? Is that about right?

 

[Excalibur]

I don't know much about Donnie or Ollie--I was very young--but I do know that Andre and Niels don't apply here. Niels started a bunch of games and was one of the best 6th-men in the country by tourney time. Andre started games and averaged 16 mpg. He was another clearly high potential player.

Also, can we consider you named FOUR players--two of whom don't even apply--out of the past, what, 30 years of basketball? How many deep bench players have we had--30 40? 50? You're actually kind of proving my point.

Giffey played under 10 minutes/game and shot 32% from beyond the arc. He was advanced defensively from day 1, but there was no sign of him becoming the offensive contributor that he ended up being. Even his junior season, he shot under 30%.

Jackson was an athletic freak, but looked completely lost as a freshman. Again, little sign that he would end up developing as he did. It was in question even halfway through his junior season.

We are also not even four games into the season. In his first four games, Andre played a total of 33 minutes and scored 4 points, all in his first game against CCSU..

I really think some of us were spoiled by how naturally the pieces fit together last year.

 

[Palatine]

Ball just has "it". He gets to the rim sometimes and can't finish but once he gets used to running into 6'10 dudes in the paint instead of hs kids he'll be fine. He cuts well, his shot looks decent (when he's not rushing his feet and actually gets set) and he defends very well.

Agree completely on Ross and Stewart. We need one of them to step up and be able to contribute or the bench depth is not going to be enough. Diarra is a good leader and a pretty good defender but his lack of offense lowers the ceiling.

Ball rushed everything last night. The game was a little too fast for him and he responded by playing a little too fast. Forcing the issue. Of course, MVS had a bunch of little quick guys out there. Still...

Hurley, in the presser, simply said that Solo was "uncomfortable." To me it looks like it may take a little time for the game to slow down for SB. But it will. Maybe sooner, maybe later. If he lets the game come to him, it will happen quicker. He is a guy who could do more by doing a bit less. It will happen, you have to be blind not to see the talent.

 

[caw]

It was pretty obvious how much potential he had after freshman season though. I certainly wasn't disappointed. There's a reason why he was on mock draft boards and pre-season lists despite only averaging 7ppg as a freshman--it was clearly he was bursting with talent.

I see that same potential with Solo. He isn't there yet, but the pieces are apparent. Not to the same extent as Hawkins, but it's there.

The concern will be if Ross and/or Stewart don't show those pieces by the end of the season. Right now, they're basically just on the court existing. It's rare that a kid goes from 9th/10th man to a serious, starting caliber player.

I wouldn't write off Ross and/or Stewart yet. Hurley is giving them some decent minutes. But we all wont really know much until they play real competition. They seem pretty far ahead of where Diggins, Samson and Yarin were on the pecking order though.

Samson showed way less as a freshman.