James Bouknight is good at basketball

[Milo65]

I’m a ‘91 Alum, as a kid I watched Corney, McKay and Kelly. Was there when Cliff ran the show and the dream team took UConn to new heights. Watched as an adult Rip, Rudy, Caron, Lamb, Kemba, Shabazz, Ben, Ray, Okafor, and others shine.
This kid has the potential to be the best of the best. Easily the most explosive and athletic.

I just feel as a UConn fan cheated. Shortened season last year, injury/COVID schedule this year. I’m just going to enjoy all that I can while he’s here.

 

[RichZ]

I just feel as a UConn fan cheated. Shortened season last year, injury/COVID schedule this year. I’m just going to enjoy all that I can while he’s here.

My sentiments exactly.
He always said the plan was two seasons of college, then the league. Unfortunately, in these two particular seasons, we will only get to enjoy him for about one seasons worth of memories.

 

[Dogdeacon]

I will grant you that Rip was an exceptionally talented scorer and a fierce competitor, but from an athletic standpoint and pure upside, I don't thing he was on par with those four. I actually considered Ray, Deandre and the other Hamilton before Rip

Zendon?

 

[Waquoit]

Apropos of nothing, I was just remined of the fact that our two favorite towns when we visited New Zealand a few years ago were named after UConn champions. Hamilton and Napier.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I'll put this out there.

Bouk reminds me a bit of a taller Allen Iverson (Cue the "practice? we talkin' 'bout practice?").

No way am I suggesting Bouk is better than a HoF guard. At least not yet. He's also about 4" taller than Iverson and can obviously has a much higher top height when he jumps.

But..............

Much like Iverson, Bouk has a way of creating space when he gets to the rim to get off his shot against bigger players. He knows how to use his body, shield the ball and how to use the opposite side of rim to negate taller players.
Bouk has a good pull up game where he gives a hard dribble to the rim and pulls up for J's. Bouk has a much higher percentage of clean looks on pull up J's in the half court than most other players. The defender has to respect the ability to get to the rim and the hard jab step and dribble creates space.
Bouk is a good rebounding guard and has no problem getting a defensive rebounding, navigating through the transition and finishing at the rim.
They are both lithe in build and get knocked down a bunch near the basket. It's the nature of their game.
Both have the combo of old school and athleticism to change pace, throw a hedge or get defender off balance and then use superior athleticism to finsih the play. Once they get the advantage on a defender their athleticism prevents any recovery from the defender.
Both finish strong at rim for And 1 opportunities

Iverson is a 4-time scoring champ and a HoF player so obviously he is more accomplished. Averaged

As most have posted in this thread, it's tough to nail down a perfect Bouk comp, but every comp we have tried to make is that of elite, generational talents.

 

[Umami Zen]

Was always fun to watch AI go to the hoop vs bigger guards wondering how he was ever going to get a shot off. Let alone putting it in. Kemba's ability to create space to get shots off always reminded me of AI.

Quite a compliment to compare Bouk to AI at this stage in his CBB career but there are parallels in their game. Bouk's change of pace with the ball/off the dribble and vertical explosiveness gives him such an advantage to get his shot off.

To my eye. I think Bouk doesn't always have a premeditated move in mind once he's decided to score and it looks to me like he surprises himself sometimes with some of his crazy acrobatics.

Creativity for both was/is off the charts. Provocative call Chin. I like it.

 

[Lefty2one]

I'm not huge into ranking our players vs past greats but Bouk is in the same class as our great perimeter alumni. I don't watch a ton of non-UConn college hoops anymore besides highlights but I've yet to see a player his equal in terms of pure talent this season. He is by far the best player in the Big East.

He's going to be a steal in the 8-12 range. With the way he slithers through defenders and finishes around the rim he is going to be very good with a spaced floor at the next level. If his jumper continues to develop he'll be an All-Star. Though biased, I'd take him 5th or 6th in the draft. I think he'll be a better version of Jamal Murray.

 

[stevesancho]

Lamb didn’t just take over a game the way Bouknight can.

Lamb was honorable mention all American and averaged 18 a game but overall I agree. Just don't think Lamb should be left outside the conversation.

 

[stevesancho]

He's better than Lamb, probably better than Rudy too.

I agree better than Lamb...Idk if better than Rudy but we are splitting hairs here.

 

[stevesancho]

Most athletic/talented Soph wings:

1. Caron
2. Bouk
3. Rudy
4. Lamb

Idk how i did not mention Caron! Bouk and Rudy real close for me but I'm not fighting your list.

 

[ju6381]

I am constantly thinking about the fact that Rip came back for a third year. It’ll never happen but imagine this kid in his third year?

Would be the same final result that Rip had, a Big East and NCAA champion.

 

[BGesus4]

Idk how i did not mention Caron! Bouk and Rudy real close for me but I'm not fighting your list.

I find Rudy tough to rate. He had some physical tools that we’ve never seen combined in one player, size, athleticism, shooting touch... but he could never seem to quite put it all together (maybe needed a little better handle idk)... Bouk on the other hand looks like he came out of the womb with the game in the palm of his hand

 

[Com'rGordon]

Was curious about NBA comparisons for Bouk, thought these were pretty fair and there numbers stacked up pretty good.

Bouk's wingspan is right around 7'0 also so he has the longest of all of these guys.

 

[Waquoit]

I find Rudy tough to rate. )... Bouk on the other hand looks like he came out of the womb with the game in the palm of his hand

I think Rudy was a top athlete playing basketball. Bouk is an athletic basketball player.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Idk how i did not mention Caron! Bouk and Rudy real close for me but I'm not fighting your list.

Except Lamb, I don't really think those guys are even the right comparison. Bouk is a shooting guard. His best UConn comps are Ray and Ben. He has a comparatively much better handle than Rudy or Caron. Rudy is listed as a power forward in the NBA. Caron was 6'7 and built like a big NFL safety.

As for Lamb, better shooter than Bouk, nowhere near the hops or handle, not as crafty as Bouk.

 

[husky429]

Bouks 3PT%, assists, and turnovers are definitely a big concern for his potential in the league. He draws fouls at such a ridiculous rate though, and I wouldn't be surprised if he shot better in the league after a season with more coaching and better spacing on the floor.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Bouks 3PT%, assists, and turnovers are definitely a big concern for his potential in the league. He draws fouls at such a ridiculous rate though, and I wouldn't be surprised if he shot better in the league after a season with more coaching and better spacing on the floor.

I think his best attribute is awareness and an understanding of how players will move in response to other moves. It's fairly chess-like, or perhaps like football. He reads the defense. He is starting, just starting, to apply that on the defensive end, which leads to steals. I think he's a player who will benefit more than most from playing with better talent around him. His shooting and assists should go up in the league.

 

[jibsey]

Bouk is crafty around the hoop but Kemba was stronger. Still concerned about Bouk's overall strength and durability because he really lays himself out there. Can he stay next year?

 

[auror]

Bouks 3PT%, assists, and turnovers are definitely a big concern for his potential in the league. He draws fouls at such a ridiculous rate though, and I wouldn't be surprised if he shot better in the league after a season with more coaching and better spacing on the floor.

His FT% should ease concerns about 3pt%. He takes a lot of off the dribble, somewhat contested 3's for us. FT% is more predictive anyways.

His overall turnover % is fine, but he needs to revert his recent play which has definitely been turnover heavy.

I agree that passing remains an area of improvement for him. I think he's got the ability, just has to do it more.

 

[UconnU]

Was curious about NBA comparisons for Bouk, thought these were pretty fair and there numbers stacked up pretty good.

Bouk's wingspan is right around 7'0 also so he has the longest of all of these guys.

This is not true. Bouk’s wingspan is about 6’8(UConn S&C number). His slender build gives him the appearance of a longer wingspan. He’s likely an NBA combo guard, maybe a microwave scorer off the bench early in his career.

 

[UconnU]

He’s also electric in post game pressers