Roscoe Smith needs to put on 15 pounds of hard muscle

[scrappy2.0]

and we can slide him right into the 4 for the next two years. He's got the potential to be a very good rebounder and if he concentrates on the inside game--I think that would be his best niche. I dont think hes a high caliber 3--I think for both himself and the team---best way to go.

Also while we sit in waiting---we are set up with some nice players who will be very good in two years Boatright Napier Giffey Smith Olander will all be senior players and we will have Omar Calhoun --hopefully an improved Deandre Daniels--Hopefully Bradley becomes a decent player--so the missing puzzle would be a stalwart big man. I think we are set up to be a real player for it all in two years

 

[Tenspro2002]

He needs to be Terrence Jones. That is the prototypical successful college 4 these days: a guy with enough size and physicality to rebound and score off of putbacks and occasionally post up, but whose game extends to the 3 point line.

 

[CTPride]

How tall is Thomas Robinson? That guy dunks EVERYTHING and if roscoe could do that? Wow.

 

[mauconnfan]

He cannot be Terrence Jones or Thomas Robinson, they are bigger, stronger and just different players than he will ever be. Having said that I agree, with some muscle he could certainly take many minutes for the next 2 years at the 4 as long as he works his tail off to becoming a lunchpail rebounder. He does that sometimes anyway but needs to be fully concentrating on rebounding, boxing out and being a smaller version of the 2 mentioned. If he works on his strength and his 12-15 foot jump shot he can become a very nice player.

 

[ford82]

How can a guy morph into Terrence Jones or Thomas Robinson? Roscoe needs to add some muscle and continue to develop his skills, but to hope he develops a physique and game like those two over the summer is absurd.

 

[Tenspro2002]

In my opinion, the reason he needs to bulk up and play the 4 is because we simply can't have a guy like that at the 3. Could you imagine trying to break the press against Louisville with Roscoe as your third ballhandler?

 

[caw]

I guess he could go all Kevin Jones and bulk up from 25 lbs or so. I figure it's more likely he goes the Kris Joseph route. I'd be OK with either.

 

[aceboon]

Joseph came in with ability to put it on the floor and slash from day one, I can't ever see Roscoe getting to that point. I hope I'm wrong but I just envision Roscoe being a liability from a ballhandling and passing perspective for the duration of his career here.

 

[tykurez]

Roscoe Smith needs to be Roscoe Smith not Thomas Robinson, Terrance Jones, or anybody else. Just continue to work on his game and conditioning and he's going to be a nice player.

 

[boog204]

how bout hitting a jumpshot, learn not to take 3/4 court 3's with 10 seconds on the clock, and be the slasher/offensive player he was reputed to be. We all thought that Roscoe was our next great 3 man. A guy who could shoot, slash, and be a viable offensive threat. While he is a very good defensive player, solid rebounder, he really has shown no consistent offensive game. We need him to be a double digit scorer if we are going to be a winning team next year.

 

[businesslawyer]

If you thought Roscoe was a slasher, that reflects more on you then it does on him, doesn't it? Since there is nothing in watching his game that would make one think that.

 

[mauconnfan]

I guess he could go all Kevin Jones and bulk up from 25 lbs or so. I figure it's more likely he goes the Kris Joseph route. I'd be OK with either.

Both these guys shoot the ball better than Roscoe ever will it looks like...........he also doesn't handle it well enough or pass it either...............

 

[boog204]

absolutely... however, he was a 3 man at Oak Hill and ranked the 6th best incoming small forward. where did those skills go? below are 3 scouting reports/profiles from his high school days. obviously defenses are better, but he seems to have none of the skills he was reputed to have.

by Jerry Meyer - 07/18/2008 (http://rivals.yahoo.com/ucla/basketball/recruiting/player-Roscoe-Smith-68256/print)​

A good athlete with length, Smith is a slasher and active rebounder. He f“Roscoe can just flat-out shoot the cover off the ball,” Bridgers said. “In the pro-style offense [UConn] runs, they like a big wing player who can stroke the basketball and get to the rim. He’s a guy that can score from anywhere on the floor ... and he can match up with big guys with an arm reach of a 7-footer. So he can post you up, he can shoot the 3 and he can get to the rim.”inishes well around the basket and has a broad skill base which is in the process of developing. Comfortable with the ball both on the perimeter and the interior, Smith is also a versatile defender.

(http://highschoolhoop.com/recruiting-news/2009/11/roscoe-smith-still-considering-three/)
Oak Hill Academy (Va.) swingman Roscoe Smith is a hot commodity. He’s 6-7 with an accurate jump shot, a steady handle, effective driving ability and a motor that won’t be denied.... Even more impressive is his efficiency from the floor: 58 percent from the field and 45 percent from the three-point line.

Shooting star ( http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/basketball/mens/news/story?id=4316162 )
Smith is a smooth jump shooter with 3-point range. He can also knock down one or two-dribble pull-ups. He has good length, and can shoot over smaller defenders with ease. He has a good looking stroke on spot-ups in transition, deep in the corners or in the open area on dribble penetration. His trigger is quick, and he has confidence in his jumper. Smith can get on a role and hit three or four in row. He uses a shot-fake to raise the defender off the ground and set up his pull-up. He has trouble finishing at the rim at times because of his lack of strength. He must work to improve his scoring moves off the bounce, especially going to his left. Overall, Smith has excellent shooting skills and good upside.



​

 

[boog204]

If you thought Roscoe was a slasher, that reflects more on you then it does on him, doesn't it? Since there is nothing in watching his game that would make one think that.

except i remember seeing him @ oak hill and he was a slasher as all the scouting reports reveal. i'm pretty sure he won a couple all star 3 point contests too. i know confidence is an issue with him, but all the skills i recall seeing and hearing about are totally absent.

 

[businesslawyer]

I can see why people would think he could shoot. I think everything is there but the confidence and rhythm.

I didn't see him play in high school, but I've seen nothing over two years that would make me think he was a slasher (as opposed to an athlete).

 

[NOTaDIME]

I love Roscoe at the 3 right now. If he can bulk up without losing speed then that is great, but I don't want him to lose his defensive speed. He can guard literally anywhere from a 2 guard to a center pretty damn well for the most part. I think next year he could blow up on the offensive side however. He does all of the little things right now that consist of hard work and desire, but that sometimes doesn't equate in a jump shot going in. Next year I wouldn't be surprised if he gained that confidence that businesslawyer mentioned and be a great player.

 

[boog204]

I can see why people would think he could shoot. I think everything is there but the confidence and rhythm.

I didn't see him play in high school, but I've seen nothing over two years that would make me think he was a slasher (as opposed to an athlete).

i agree with you... just wonder where those skills went.

 

[Danzz]

and we can slide him right into the 4 for the next two years. He's got the potential to be a very good rebounder and if he concentrates on the inside game--I think that would be his best niche. I dont think hes a high caliber 3--I think for both himself and the team---best way to go.

Also while we sit in waiting---we are set up with some nice players who will be very good in two years Boatright Napier Giffey Smith Olander will all be senior players and we will have Omar Calhoun --hopefully an improved Deandre Daniels--Hopefully Bradley becomes a decent player--so the missing puzzle would be a stalwart big man. I think we are set up to be a real player for it all in two years

He'll be playing the 4 next year . There really are no other options. The lineup next year should look like this: Drummond, Smith/Olander, Daniels, Napier, Boatright.

 

[UCONNfan1]

I hope Roscoe plays wherever the coaches think he will be most effective. against big physical strong teams, playing him for long stretches at the 4 might not work. it will be interesting to see next year how the PT pans out against different types of opponents.

in the past, it seems JC has normally tried to outwork other teams, and "impose our will" on them. he may need to try to be more flexible next year and adjust offense and defense schemes depending on the team we play. it's going to be a fun year if for no other reason than our expectatoins should be somewhat low...

 

[champs99and04]

Yeah, I'd have to say Roscoe is better suited for the four than the three at this time. He just isn't smooth enough or skilled enough to play the three. I think the kid needs to play to his strengths. Set screens, hit the glass, defend like hell, and then hit the open shot and cut to positions on the floor where you can get to the rim with just one bounce.

He's not going to be one of those kids you clear out for, but he has a lot more potential on offense than he's shown thus far in his career. For somebody who struggles so much, I feel he's shown the ability to finish at the rim, moreso than a guy like Oriakhi or even Drummond.

I think if he works his ass off this off-season he'll be fine. Great kid and somebody I love having in this program.

 

[mauconnfan]

Hope Roscoe feels like he needs to step up as a Junior and knows it starts right after the season.....if he gets it, he will be very solid and a leader as we epxect he may be......as the thread implies, 15-20 lbs of tireless work and we could have a savage on the boards and a defender on the block!! Hope so he is a good kid and easy to root for!!

 

[scrappy2.0]

I've been watching basketball long enough to know Roscoe has zero chance to be a next level player as a 3. However he has shown an ability to get the basketball and at 6-8 with long arms--has the chance to become an excellent rebounder. He does need power and 15 pounds of muscle---easy to do at 21. Its like playing a mid major there is always one 6-7 230 pound kid who grabs 10 rebounds. I think Roscoe could be a double double at the 4 with great effort and hard work in the off-season--something like a Louis Admundson but Roscoe has more skills. I'll use the Pitt game late in the season as an example--he primarily did damage inside and played well. When he was on the wing--he was awful this year. His niche is in the post as a 4 where quickness length and an improved body would change his game around quite a bit.

 

[61cygni]

I honestly can't see Roscoe faring better in the NBA as a 4 rather than a 3.

 

[mcs333]

No chance as a three. Bulk up for a 4. A three has to be one of your primary scorers. Something RS is not. He could be an excellent 4 with some bulk but keep his quickness. Needs to significantly improve his offensive game if he wants to play at the next level. With bulk hopefully he can improve on finishing around the basket.

 

[Tenspro2002]

Unfortunately, Roscoe is another 3/4 tweener at the college level, like Stanley Robinson and Rudy Gay. Those players look more or less the same, physique-wise, but what makes Rudy successful is that he has credible skills at the 3 and can play on the wing with the ball in his hands.

The other two do not have those skills, and thus were/are poorly utilized in that role. I'm also concerned that DD will fall into that same position, as an over-sized wing lacking the quickness and skill to play the 3 in college.

Why do we recruit so many of these 6'8 guys to try to get a size advantage on the perimeter when all we end up with is a skill disadvantage?