Odds that shabazz returns?

[pj]

Bazz is terrific, he'll go pro, he's better prepared for the NBA than 90% of the players who will be drafted and his weakness - height - is something he can't do anything about. He'll be taken mid to late first round and he'll be a steal.

 

[Ricky1Moore]

As much as I look forward to emmert's inevitable canning, I am hopeful that he's still in charge next year, Napier returns, and we make that final four run, and stick it up his ass one more time. I always like to point out that I am obviously a homer, but if everyone is back, and at least one of the incoming bigs is better than advertized... We have a shot at the whole thing. Reason is partially talent, and partially that we are uconn. This is how we roll

 

[Huskybass]

Some of you guys really underestimate Shabazz. This overseas talk is just silly. He is an NBA talent all the way.

 

[Huskybass]

I love Shabazz, and he is having a great year. But there is no way he a mid to late first round pick this year. He would get drafted in the 2nd round. Look how many guys his size have gotten picked in the first round in the last 10-15 years.

Ty Lawson and Nate Robinson are both smaller. There are plenty of others too.

 

[Danzz]

As a fan of the program I want him back next year. As a parent, if I were looking out for the absolute best long term interests of the kid, I would likely try to convince him to turn pro.

If what many recent articles have claimed are true, that he will be a mid-late first round pick in this year's draft, and put himself in position to be a long term #2 point guard on a solid team, while if he returns for his senior year, with little opportunity to improve his stock (and possibly risk hurting it) while the (supposedly) stronger draft class may push him to an early second round pick, sticking around one more year may make little sense.

From the reports I've heard Bazz is projected mid second round and I haven't seen anything that projects him in the first round. If he does have solid chance of going in the first round and sign a guaranteed contract then he should go. If not, he should return.
The coaches (including Calhoun) will be in touch with NBA scouts and Bazz should have a reasonable idea of his status by the time the NBA draft rolls around.IMO it is 50/50 right now.

 

[BFieldHusky]

Ty Lawson and Nate Robinson are both smaller. There are plenty of others too.

Ty Lawson and Nate Robinson were a lot more athletic than Shabazz.

 

[DMW88]

50/50 moving slighty to 60/40 he leaves. But i think he's a 2nd rounder. I think he could developer into a nice backup point guard. ie AJ I'd love to see him stay for his SR year and get this team to the NCAAs and see what happens

 

[Chief00]

I would be very surprised if he stays - I hope I am wrong.

 

[mauconnfan]

Moxy, balls, the need to win, the will to win, the need to go out a winner - officially!

He's coming back with a chip on his shoulder!!

 

[HuskyBballFan]

The beat writers have talked to scouts all year, and there hasn't been a single one who has said Napier is a 1st round pick. Not sure where some of you are getting this from.

Doesn't mean he won't leave, but he's not going in the 1st round.

 

[Chief00]

He is a much better shooter this year. Also last year there were questions regarding his interaction with teammates which have been quieted this year. He is not very big or super NBA fast for a guy his size so those two things will hurt him.

 

[willie99]

in the next 4 games, if he continues to play at the extremely high level he's played the last two games, his chances of leaving early improve dramatically.

it's what CB, MSG and CV all did, finish on a sensational run

CB & MSG included great tournament runs which projected them into the lottery

if Bazz plays like this next year and UConn makes post season noise, he will be a lottery pick

 

[NHUConnfan]

Am I the only one around here that thinks Bazz is never going to play a game in the NBA? He's been a great college player, but so was Jacob Pullen (yes I know Bazz is a little better, but same build, same game style). Bazz is the prototypical European star, but if he ever gets to play in the NBA, I fear it will be mostly as a benchwarmer.

Not trying to be negative--it's honestly what I think.

 

[Perspective]

Love the Bazz. Very much. Loyal and ballsy and clutch. A rare combination of traits.

But when I picture him in the NBA, I don't think about his O, which I think would be fine, but rather his D. And I think about the top 10 point guards in the league and I can't imagine SN staying in front of any of them. Love to be wrong, but his D is going to be what keeps him out of the league, or severely limits his PT there.

 

[aceboon]

Am I the only one around here that thinks Bazz is never going to play a game in the NBA? He's been a great college player, but so was Jacob Pullen (yes I know Bazz is a little better, but same build, same game style). Bazz is the prototypical European star, but if he ever gets to play in the NBA, I fear it will be mostly as a benchwarmer.

Not trying to be negative--it's honestly what I think.

Pullen was a SG, he didn't really play PG until Clemente graduated and even in that year Spralding was getting alot of minutes at PG. Their games aren't similar at all, Bazz has much better vision and PG insticts then Pullen.

 

[Huskybass]

Am I the only one around here that thinks Bazz is never going to play a game in the NBA? He's been a great college player, but so was Jacob Pullen (yes I know Bazz is a little better, but same build, same game style). Bazz is the prototypical European star, but if he ever gets to play in the NBA, I fear it will be mostly as a benchwarmer.

Not trying to be negative--it's honestly what I think.

Personally, I think you are nuts. I would be shocked if Bazz never played a game in the NBA. The kid has improved so much since he arrived at UConn. I see him having at least a 3 to 5 year career in the NBA as a backup point guard.

 

[babysheep]

I don't understand why some of you believe Bazz can really only hurt his stock by coming back next year; as if there's no chance of him becoming a better player. I'd love to hear the justifications rather than people just saying so.

 

[James]

I don't understand why some of you believe Bazz can really only hurt his stock by coming back next year; as if there's no chance of him becoming a better player. I'd love to hear the justifications rather than people just saying so.

Because he's one year older ? because this years draft is very weak compared to next years ? those are facts not to mention he's playing at a really high level.

Bazz a prototypical euro star? What does that even mean?

 

[babysheep]

Those only work when you assume he won't get better next year...

 

[NHUConnfan]

Because he's one year older ? because this years draft is very weak compared to next years ? those are facts not to mention he's playing at a really high level.

Bazz a prototypical euro star? What does that even mean?

Bazz is a great shooter, and a good PG with vision. His size is going to be an extreme disadvantage in the NBA where it is not as much of an issue with European leagues.

But I also don't think Bazz will translate as a PG in the NBA. He may have PG duties depending on who's on the court, but with his build, I honestly think he'll only get a decent shot to play if he's a backup SG--the catch and shoot type. I just find it hard to believe he'll be able to create moves against PGs who have 6-8 inches on him.

 

[aceboon]

Bazz is a great shooter, and a good PG with vision. His size is going to be an extreme disadvantage in the NBA where it is not as much of an issue with European leagues.

But I also don't think Bazz will translate as a PG in the NBA. He may have PG duties depending on who's on the court, but with his build, I honestly think he'll only get a decent shot to play if he's a backup SG--the catch and shoot type. I just find it hard to believe he'll be able to create moves against PGs who have 6-8 inches on him.

6-8 inches on him? WTF NBA are you watching where teams are trotting out 6'6"-6'8" PGs? Between the Pullen comparison and now this you're exposing your lack of bball knowledge.

 

[Huskybass]

6-8 inches on him? WTF NBA are you watching where teams are trotting out 6'6"-6'8" PGs? Between the Pullen comparison and now this you're exposing your lack of bball knowledge.

Must be the extra tall league. It is all kept very hush hush.

I may be way off base, but I always thought most NBA point guards were in the 6' to 6'3" range with a few taller.

 

[ctchamps]

IMO, he's NBA ready but may elect to stay one more year to bridge the program.

It's hard to really know the real SN because his freshman year he rightfully deferred to KW, his sophomore year he played with a broken foot and with a sulking co captain who was the opposite of Rashamel Jones, and his junior year there are too many missing parts, players playing out of position and lots of inexperiences players needing to play key roles. What type of games could SN have had this season with more experienced team mates and with skilled players at the four and five? That is the major difficulty in projecting what SN can do.

Not only is SN playing too many minutes, he's also required to help out on defense with rebounding on every play. That is taking a toll on him. And yet he's still managing to put up incredible numbers. How many assists has he lost because guys like TO and DD can't finish strong on the offensive end? My guess is if JA or AD was on this years team, most of the scouts would be putting him in the first round. And my guess is that some scout will have the balls to approach his team and advocate for SN in spite of some intangibles.

What SN lacks in athleticism he makes up in incredible high BBIQ. He is an American player with European attributes and there are European players selected without athleticism.

 

[Tenspro2002]

I just find it hard to believe he'll be able to create moves against PGs who have 6-8 inches on him.

I didn't realize Magic Johnson had come out of retirement.

 

[NHUConnfan]

Must be the extra tall league. It is all kept very hush hush.

I may be way off base, but I always thought most NBA point guards were in the 6' to 6'3" range with a few taller.

A little hyperbole, I admit, but Bazz is not 6 feet tall.

 

[NHUConnfan]

6-8 inches on him? WTF NBA are you watching where teams are trotting out 6'6"-6'8" PGs? Between the Pullen comparison and now this you're exposing your lack of bball knowledge.

All I know is Bazz is shorter than me and I'm stretching it when I call myself 6 feet. But I was indulging in a little hyperbole. He's still undersized though and I wound venture than his armspan compared to that of some NBA players is 4-6 inches less (thinking people like Westbrook).

I dunno--I never saw Bazz as an NBA-bound player just based on his build. All I've read from independent sources on Bazz's NBA hopes are none too positive. And when you live in an area outside of Connecticut, you don't hear the praise sung on this board about his skills.

He's been an excellent player for UConn, but to me, he's not to the level of Kemba Walker in most facets of the game. I personally believe Bazz will never be a starter in the NBA if he does make it and I think his career will be at most 5 years and mostly relegated to garbage time.

There are a lot of good...no...great college basketball players who never make it out in the NBA. It's always for a variety of reasons, but one of the most common is being undersized. The NBA is full of freaks of nature, refined from the best players in the game around the world. I just have a difficult time envisioning Bazz being in that group.

I'm just telling you my honest thoughts. I find that the Boneyard tends to get a little bullish on our products in pro leagues. The same thing happens in football too (see Brown/Todman). I'll be delighted if Bazz proves me wrong, but I'm not sold on his NBA prospects and in the end, I think it's best he returns next year so he gets his degree (assuming he's not on the accelerated pace that Kemba was).

 

[TracerBullet]

When i think of Bazz in the NBA, I think of DJ Augustin. If DJ can find a place in the NBA, I don't see why Bazz can't. Their stats for their last and current year in college are very similar. DJ might have Bazz with quickness a bit, but Bazz has the toughness. I don't think Bazz will be a star, but I see no reason why he can't be a very serviceable backup pg. Do I see Bazz going in the lottery, no. But who knows. Given that, for selfish reasons obviously I want him to return. It would be great to continue to watch him grow as a player. Wish him the best either way.

 

[Jluc]

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