SF/PF Wenyen Gabriel (Kentucky Commit)

[ctchamps]

most polarizing UConn player ever

I wouldn't characterize these comments about Brimah as vitriol. There is debate about his ability to get into the NBA. There is debate whether he will learn to understand the nuances of the game, develop better footwork on offense, adjust timing on defense to know when to block and when to position for rebounding. IMO it's a valid debate and people are presenting their arguments in a relatively measured manner.

I don't see any criticism of AB's game bleeding into a target of his character. He seems to be universally liked. That was not the case for Taliek or Jerome. Those guys were easily the most polarizing players.

 

[aceboon]

I wouldn't characterize these comments about Brimah as vitriol. There is debate about his ability to get into the NBA. There is debate whether he will learn to understand the nuances of the game, develop better footwork on offense, adjust timing on defense to know when to block and when to position for rebounding. IMO it's a valid debate and people are presenting their arguments in a relatively measured manner.

I don't see any criticism of AB's game bleeding into a target of his character. He seems to be universally liked. That was not the case for Taliek or Jerome. Those guys were easily the most polarizing players.

This thread has nothing to do with Brimah, yet his name and his game has entered the conversation and the same tired ol responses that we see again and again are now filling up the thread. We're talking about the player here, and in that case Brimah is certainly not universally well liked.

 

[Husky1]

I read most of the recruiting posts on BY since many do a great job with info but I am constantly dismayed at some of the lack of knowledge, stupid comments and anger that seem to come from various posters. AB is a great kid and the reason KO made him captain. He is always the first one up to congratulate other and to support a teammate. He has come a long long way from his freshman year and IMHO will only get better. He is a fantastic athlete for his size and is incredibly intelligent. Does he have flaws yes, but he continues to address them and move forward. How about we talk about Gabriel?

 

[mauconnfan]

I read most of the recruiting posts on BY since many do a great job with info but I am constantly dismayed at some of the lack of knowledge, stupid comments and anger that seem to come from various posters. AB is a great kid and the reason KO made him captain. He is always the first one up to congratulate other and to support a teammate. He has come a long long way from his freshman year and IMHO will only get better. He is a fantastic athlete for his size and is incredibly intelligent. Does he have flaws yes, but he continues to address them and move forward. How about we talk about Gabriel?

Lack of knowledge, stupid comments and anger? Didn't see much of that but I did see some who expressed some opinions.

Having said that moving on to Gabriel is one of the smartest things on this post.

 

[BUConn10]

Maryland fans have been awfully cocky/confident that they will be landing Gabriel the last few weeks. Nothing would make me happier to take that from them.

 

[Rocktheworld]

Maryland fans have been awfully cocky/confident that they will be landing Gabriel the last few weeks. Nothing would make me happier to take that from them.

Worse than VCU's fans. At least, at the time, VCU had a decent coach and had actually been to a Sweet Sixteen since 2003. Can't say the same about U of UA.

 

[Jaker]

I have a good feeling, stay tuned!

 

[mauconnfan]

I have a good feeling, stay tuned!

Any insight or just the Ouija Jaker?

 

[DOZE860]

so do we know if gabriel coming for his visit

 

[Kembacity]

ugh, Kentucky..


NEXT!

I guess Calipari told Wenyen his dream goal of having an NBA Allstar team of all Kentucky alums, who wouldn't want to be a part of that big dream?

 

[James]

yuck. Maybe he can go be the next marcus lee or poythress.

 

[UConn990411]

Blame DogMania.

 

[UConNick]

Hope he enjoys becoming a 2nd round pick in a platoon instead of being a featured player and a potential lottery pick here (or just about anywhere else)

 

[upstater]

NEXT: Diallo and Zach Brown please.

 

[8893]

Good luck to the kid.

If he likes snake oil we're not the place for him. More telling than choosing UK over us is choosing it over Duke, the morning after a visit with Coach K.

Next!

 

[HuskyBballFan]

Hope he enjoys becoming a 2nd round pick in a platoon instead of being a featured player and a potential lottery pick here (or just about anywhere else)

Did you watch last year's NBA draft?

 

[James]

don't want to throw rocks out of a glass house, we haven't had a lotto sf since rudy gay i think. But jeez , he must have been enamored with squid and his pitch, because there is no way he is getting serious tick this year...nor will he be a featured option on a team with first round hopefuls residing in the backcourt.

 

[upstater]

He sounds like a very nice kid. Good luck at Kentucky.

 

[Kembacity]

Good luck to the kid.

If he likes snake oil we're not the place for him. More telling than choosing UK over us is choosing it over Duke, the morning after a visit with Coach K.

Next!

Seriously, that's a good point. So was it between Duke and Kentucky all along and the rest of us were just there to make him seem like less of a bigger-better-deal-er fully set on picking the 'highest profile' team that offered?

Maybe Cal told him his offer came off the table tonight at midnight so he jumped on the chance

 

[tcf15]

Welp, I'm just happy he didn't go to Maryland.

 

[Zionn]

So.........

 

[upstater]

Kentucky does actually have playing time for him.

 

[James]

So....

always yearning for credit when you make vague estimations if a player is going to commit or not. Don't even recall the last inside info you dropped other than 'next' on recruits when we clearly weren't in contention

 

[superjohn]

Look forward to beating him in the tournament. He's a high motor kid with developing skills but I don't see him as the can't miss talent many others do, not a one and done.

 

[UConNick]

Did you watch last year's NBA draft?

Yeah, I saw Harrison's and Johnson go from lottery picks to struggling to stay in the league. And those were too 10 kids. Gabriel, as good as he is and as badly I wanted him, isn't top 20.

 

[Silk31]

 

[HuskyBballFan]

don't want to throw rocks out of a glass house, we haven't had a lotto sf since rudy gay i think. But jeez , he must have been enamored with squid and his pitch, because there is no way he is getting serious tick this year...nor will he be a featured option on a team with first round hopefuls residing in the backcourt.

How do you know he won't get serious playing time as a freshman? Kentucky will lose a bunch of guys like they do every year.

And who exactly was a "featured option" on Kentucky last year besides Towns? Was Trey Lyles a featured option? Cause he was still a lottery pick.

This kid is a 5-star, 6'10'' kid with perimeter skills. He's good enough to play for Kentucky.

 

[ctchamps]

So....

You called this one. Kudos. Was it you or someone else who brought up Gabriel's handlers?

 

[Zionn]

Thanks James. What more inside info do you want when I shared with yard weeks ago this was not going to happen. An OV set up sure had a lot thinking otherwise. I took my lumps and movers on. I'll be sure to upload the MP3 of the recruitment pitch for you next time.

 

[HuskyBballFan]

Yeah, I saw Harrison's and Johnson go from lottery picks to struggling to stay in the league. And those were too 10 kids. Gabriel, as good as he is and as badly I wanted him, isn't top 20.

OK, and what about the other 4 guys who went in the first round? Booker and Cauley-Stein weren't top-20 guys either.

If your argument is that somehow Kentucky is BAD for a 5-star recruit's NBA prospects, then I don't know what to tell you.