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On the surface, it looks like four studs battling for two positions -- a recipe for two unhappy studs.
But the way events unfolded this year suggests that we might do well to await the unfolding of events.
For one thing, the penciling in of Alterique at PG is a show of optimism unusual for this forum. Here is a guy who in his last four games of organized basketball has twice separated his shoulder, each time requiring surgery. What is the likelihood he comes back having lost so little of his mobility and confidence that he is in any way a match for MAL? What is the chance that Rique, an indifferent shooter to date, retains any shooting touch at all?
Vitale, based on shooting alone, will find minutes in the lineup, but he is never going to be the second point KO prefers to have in his backcourt.
The likelihood? Next year's starting backcourt is Jalen and MAL, with Rique and CV coming off the bench, CV as often at the 3 as the 2.
Will these four ever be on the floor together, say in the closing minutes of a tight game? Not likely, because it means you'd be trading the 3-point threat of Vance or Larrier for a questionable shooter in Alterique. You might do it if you needed Rique's handle at point, but with Jalen and MAL as PG options, you don't.
So how does the "surfeit of guards" resolve itself? By the emergence of Jalen and MAL as clearly superior all-around choices and, the relegation, I'm afraid, of Alterique Gilbert to bench duty.
But the way events unfolded this year suggests that we might do well to await the unfolding of events.
For one thing, the penciling in of Alterique at PG is a show of optimism unusual for this forum. Here is a guy who in his last four games of organized basketball has twice separated his shoulder, each time requiring surgery. What is the likelihood he comes back having lost so little of his mobility and confidence that he is in any way a match for MAL? What is the chance that Rique, an indifferent shooter to date, retains any shooting touch at all?
Vitale, based on shooting alone, will find minutes in the lineup, but he is never going to be the second point KO prefers to have in his backcourt.
The likelihood? Next year's starting backcourt is Jalen and MAL, with Rique and CV coming off the bench, CV as often at the 3 as the 2.
Will these four ever be on the floor together, say in the closing minutes of a tight game? Not likely, because it means you'd be trading the 3-point threat of Vance or Larrier for a questionable shooter in Alterique. You might do it if you needed Rique's handle at point, but with Jalen and MAL as PG options, you don't.
So how does the "surfeit of guards" resolve itself? By the emergence of Jalen and MAL as clearly superior all-around choices and, the relegation, I'm afraid, of Alterique Gilbert to bench duty.
