Jordan Hawkins vs Braylon Mullins

[uconntoatl]

Mullin takes a beating in BE play. I would not come back either.

Opposing teams literally hit him with forearms in the chest. He is not strong enough to prevent the beat down back downs. This is not the typical back your man down, he s getting punched. Maybe he needs to start flopping. When he is held, he cannot move or create space.

In a game like yesterday, IMO you cannot have Mullins and Solo on the floor at the same time. Thats 2 guys everyone has to help on D. Solo loses focus and Mullins reaches. I don’t think either can see the floor well on D and freeze. I do not think Solo does a better job on D when he is backed down, he is stronger.

Both need to play the 2.

I counted 14 St John’s points on solo ball losing his man on cuts and not boxing out

 

[Henry]

Let's see how Braylon does in the tournament where all the bumping and grabbing he's put up with in the BE may finally be called as fouls. He will still likely be abused on defense b/c of his frame.

 

[HW611]

NBA scouts focus on Mullins potential ceiling. It is very high. They don't care about his college production or if he had a good or bad game.

Here is a indisputable factoid from the first round of last year's draft. The first round of the 2025 NBA Draft was heavily dominated by teenagers, with 19-year-olds making up the largest single group. Out of the 30 first-round selections, 24 players (80%) were aged 19 or younger.

The NBA did NOT -and does not- draft the best or most productive college players. They drafted based on their perceived potential ceiling as future NBA players.

That’s cool when the draft is full of potential.

But Mullins may be the only young guy in the first round who if he declared, would be mostly going off potential.

Even the sophomores who are fringe first round picks are absolutely killing it this year.

 

[djct1999]

Still 3 weeks and it's the most important 3 weeks of the season for NBA scouts, but at this point I would say the odds have shifted to 50/50 on him leaving. I think there's a legitimate argument for him coming back now

The argument from whom? UConn fans? Yeah that seems definite. From the Mullins family? Not sure those odds have even shifted 1%

 

[HW611]

Let's see how Braylon does in the tournament where all the bumping and grabbing he's put up with in the BE may finally be called as fouls. He will still likely be abused on defense b/c of his frame.

Being able to play in the tough Big East used to be seen as a badge of honor that you can play anywhere.

Now our coach has led our fanbase to whine about playing in this conference and excuse our players for not being able to handle how tough it can be.

 

[bendm]

IIRC Mullins was our highest rated recruit ever…so that makes him a relatively big disappointment. Def did not live up to the hype.

Replace him with a frosh castle profile and the roster construction issues disappear. disappointing and a bad fit makes for an even worse combo.

 

[Leebo]

IIRC Mullins was our highest rated recruit ever…so that makes him a relatively big disappointment. Def did not live up to the hype.

Huh? He was #17 in his class. You only have to go back... One year... To #9 Liam McNeeley to eclipse that, but I doubt even Liam was the highest rated ever.

Edit: looking at ESPN, but we've had high rated recruits plenty...

 

[giddyup]

Mullins simply hasn’t reached any level of physical maturity to compete with grown men. He can’t really handle a physical BE let alone great players that are men. Plus, he needs to be able to shoot contested 3s. When he is pressured or rushes to get up a 3, he’s just not very accurate.

 

[UCfor3]

Steph, Rudy, CV, Khalid, Drummond, Caron(although not ranked in some places because of prep at MCI) to name a few more...

 

[FightOnCT]

Personally there’s a line between potential and on-court results that indicate whether or not a player should stay or go.

Mullins has the potential, but none of the projected qualities have fully been realized, that’s on top of the fact that he’s not a physically strong player. I don’t think he’s not trying out there, but it is what it is.

There are so many viable candidates this year that it’s hard to see how he stands out at this time. Ideally he should come back, gain 10 lbs or so and ride out a weaker draft. His stock can definitely be higher, with legit upside, and I’m not the person to tell players to go as soon as there is any semblance of being drafted.

 

[bendm]

Huh? He was #17 in his class. You only have to go back... One year... To #9 Liam McNeeley to eclipse that, but I doubt even Liam was the highest rated ever.

Edit: looking at ESPN, but we've had high rated recruits plenty...

I said rating not ranking. Ranking is relative to the class, and this was a super strong class so his ranking isn’t as high as others but his rating is. You have to look at his player rating on 247sports.

 

[Nameless]

See this is where the perception of Mullins to me doesn’t really match the facts. Release, yes. Kid has a beautiful shot. Athleticism? He’s rail thin, has trouble getting open, and last night again I watched him struggle at the rim finishing as he’s not really an explosive athlete (remember him trying to reverse layup using the rim for protection and missing rather than just flushing it). Court vision? He averages fewer APG than everyone else in the starting lineup. His defense has been fine but not notable.

I like Mullins. I think he could go nuts in this tournament and propel this team on a deep run. I could also see him disappearing for a game or two and having a quiet end to the season. Selfishly would love him back next year and think the depth of the draft may help make that argument easier

People talk about his athleticism because he does seem to be one of those guys that is really fast twitch. In other words, he's quick and bouncy. Keep in mind he had an ankle injury to start the season and has still shown that bounciness.

In terms of him not banging on people, I would attribute that to his lack of muscle. He can get up high enough to dunk on someone but if he does he's not strong enough to go through them. As his body develops I think this will change.

The real question to me is whether he would rather let his body develop in school for another year or in the pros.

 

[navery12]

I said rating not ranking. Ranking is relative to the class, and this was a super strong class so his ranking isn’t as high as others but his rating is. You have to look at his rating on 247sports.

Castle and McNeeley were both higher rated recently, as were Gay and Villanueva

 

[Leebo]

I said rating not ranking. Ranking is relative to the class, this was a super strong class so his ranking isn’t as high as other but his rating is higher. You have to look at his rating on 247sports.

I don't know how 247 does it, but the ESPN ratings (which inform the rankings) are also not comparable from year to year iirc, at least not universally.

Maybe 247 does it differently.

I would still find it hard to believe he was considered a better prospect than say, Drummond.

 

[bendm]

Castle and McNeeley were both higher rated recently, as were Gay and Villanueva

I guess I did not recall correctly. Did he drop? I swear this was discussed a lot back when he signed.

 

[bendm]

I don't know how 247 does it, but the ESPN ratings (which inform the rankings) are also not comparable from year to year iirc, at least not universally.

Maybe 247 does it differently.

I would still find it hard to believe he was considered a better prospect than say, Drummond.

espn recruiting is a joke

 

[Leebo]

espn recruiting is a joke

Link to what you're referring to then so we don't have to guess.

 

[bendm]

Link to what you're referring to then so we don't have to guess.

If You don’t know what 247 sports is that’s ok

 

[Leebo]

If You don’t know what 247 sports is that’s ok

I see, I was supposed to read your mind in that first post I replied to.

I'll check back in the morning to see if you felt like backing up the highest rated thing or not.

 

[bendm]

I see, I was supposed to read your mind in that first post I replied to.

I'll check back in the morning to see if you felt like backing up the highest rated thing or not.

Love the sarcasm and condescension you wear it well for knowing nothing about recruiting. I mentioned 247 in my first reply to you, no mind reading required just reading comprehension.

But How’s this- IIRC Mullins was one of our highest rated recruits ever so that makes him a relatively big disappointment.

 

[Lafayette]

I see, I was supposed to read your mind in that first post I replied to.

I'll check back in the morning to see if you felt like backing up the highest rated thing or not.

as noted before this is since ~2002 so you won't see Ray or Rip etc.

 

[Sonova]

Then you answered the question. Why go pro then?

Because the NBA would rather him be in their system as he develops. Full time basketball not encumbered by a college coach, league officials, etc. Just full time strength training and skill development. They’d rather have a guy practicing every day against NBA and G-League players. The NBA has changed significantly over the last 5 years.

 

[Leebo]

Love the sarcasm and condescension you wear it well for knowing nothing about recruiting. I mentioned 247 in my first reply to you, no mind reading required just reading comprehension.

I'll aspire to the level where I don't check the claims I'm making about our recruits before trashing them 🫡

 

[RuffRuff]

Let’s be honest — McNeeley last year was more impactful for us than Braylon has been, despite not being the same after his injury. But that has very very little to do with what kind of NBA prospect they are. Mullins came here to play one year. He will do what is best for him, but it’s likely he will perceive that as going to the NBA. And, frankly, I’m not sure he would be worth the money it would take to keep him here for another year.

If you asked me who's game I'd rather have on this team, I'd 100% take McNeeley. McNeeley also plays with some fire in the belly, which this team sorely lacks. When I look at AK sometimes with that kinda glazed over look, along with Solo looking confused, it's somewhat uninspiring. They aren't a team who's general body language offers a lot of confidence. The one guy that does is Ross. Overall this is a brutal body language team.

Hurley hasn't been all that sharp in comprehensively building a roster, from a skill symmetry perspective and from a personality perspective. It's this mystifying need for shooters with good families.

 

[bendm]

It's this mystifying need for shooters with good families.

I thought we could all agree on not wanting to bring in divas eg DNP or diva parents eg Toure.

 

[TRest]

NBA scouts focus on Mullins potential ceiling. It is very high. They don't care about his college production or if he had a good or bad game.

Here is a indisputable factoid from the first round of last year's draft. The first round of the 2025 NBA Draft was heavily dominated by teenagers, with 19-year-olds making up the largest single group. Out of the 30 first-round selections, 24 players (80%) were aged 19 or younger.

The NBA did NOT -and does not- draft the best or most productive college players. They draft based on their perceived potential ceiling as future NBA players.

What you’re not considering is that there is a long line of 19 year olds ahead of Mullins after this season.

 

[KingAG]

Are we going Freshman Braylon to Sophmore Hawkins? If so, why?

 

[UC0NN]

If your calling card is 3 point shooting but you cant shoot 3s well, what am I missing?

 

[UC0NN]

Are we going Freshman Braylon to Sophmore Hawkins? If so, why?

Bc Freshman Hawkins had zero chance of getting drafted. Nor did he have a high school rep to carry him on the draft boards.

 

[RuffRuff]

I thought we could all agree on not wanting to bring in divas eg DNP or diva parents eg Toure.

IDK - is sacrificing talent to avoid dealing with tough families what a coach gets paid for? The job is to put the best team on the floor.

Hurley developed a massive ego after the B2B, blew out all these philosophies that he was selling and now seems to thinks collecting angelical shooters in his system is the template. This is a pro sport, focus is on winning.