UConn’s Ryan Boatright Expects to be “totally different player” as Sophomore

[Clockshop]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/nba-pm-nash-says-bryant-sealed-deal-to-la/

Scroll down to the Boatright part:


“I’d be a liar if I said I didn’t think about it but I try not to make that my main focus,” Boatright told HOOPSWORLD. “I just try to get better and get my team ready for this year and if I’m blessed to be able to go [to the NBA] next year, then I will. If not, I’m going to stay until I’m ready. ”

 

[Kitaman]

Maybe making too much of something but I cringe seeing "I" and "my" so much from any player in team sports. I just hope that he uses the other 4 players on the court to help get him to the NBA, if he's blessed to be able go. I'm so glad Ollie is on staff.

 

[aboogieee]

Yes, you may be making too much out of it ...

 

[Burnsbros23]

Read the article when they ask him about the team it's all we's and we're. I'm sure he was asked about his personal goals for the season don't know what u want him to say.

 

[calamity17]

Also getting some pub in this article about the top dunkers to watch in 2012-2013: http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/62440/rising-literally-stars-in-2012-13

"Ryan Boatright (Connecticut) -- The 6-foot guard doesn’t look the part of a high-flier, but Boatright gets up. The second-year Huskies guard is one of the most explosive guards in the country. He can beat defenders with his speed and ballhandling, and he's not afraid to climb and go to the bucket."

 

[Kitaman]

Read the article when they ask him about the team it's all we's and we're. I'm sure he was asked about his personal goals for the season don't know what u want him to say.

good advice. I should have read it and not only the OP extracted quote.

 

[Tenspro2002]

Maybe making too much of something but I cringe seeing "I" and "my" so much from any player in team sports. I just hope that he uses the other 4 players on the court to help get him to the NBA, if he's blessed to be able go. I'm so glad Ollie is on staff.

When we use "putting players in the League" as a major selling point with recruits, it shouldn't be a surprise when that becomes their #1 focus. I share your hope that Boat channels that drive properly in the context of the team game.

 

[Clockshop]

I only quoted that because to me it seemed in contrast to the article I posted earlier from the Beacon News in regards to him declaring he's going pro sooner rather than later.

 

[Kitaman]

I only quoted that because to me it seemed in contrast to the article I posted earlier from the Beacon News in regards to him declaring he's going pro sooner rather than later.

Nothing wrong with your post, and it was a good find. Your instructions were clear. I sometimes take shortcuts and have a long personal history of not following instructions well.

 

[HuskyBballFan]

“I just try to get better and get my team ready for this year and if I’m blessed to be able to go [to the NBA] next year, then I will. If not, I’m going to stay until I’m ready. ”

If he's lucky enough to be ready to go, he'll go. If he's not ready, he'll stay in college. Sounds like a pretty reasonable plan to me.

 

[ktuck911]

Wouldn't surprise me if he left after this season, with the way we've been recruiting guards as of late.

 

[EricLA]

I admire the kids' moxie and appreciate the fact that we put so many kids into the pros. I'm sure he will sit down with JC at the end of the year and see what his professional prospects look like before making any decision. Kemba stayed 3 years and was one of the top players in the nation the year he jumped. I'd expect that Ryan would need to be viewed similarly before considering a jump. If he's viewed as one of the top 5 players in the nation this year, then he will have accomplished something incredible for sure...

 

[Waquoit]

UConn guys always give good preseason quote. Let's wait until the games count.

 

[champs99and04]

I criticized Boatright a couple weeks ago for basically coming out and saying he had plans to go pro after the season, because I thought it was generally unhealthy for a 5'11 PG to be thinking about anything other than helping his team win. This quote, however, is a lot more reasonable, because you're never going to blame players for thinking big, and wanting to conquer their dreams. One of the old sayings is that if you make the team your #1 priority, your individual goals will fall into place. I think that applies here.

The bottom line is I think Boatright needs two more years in college. It became clear to me from the minute Boatright stepped on campus that he was glaringly similar to Kemba. Both are incredibly quick, deadly in transition, and streaky from deep. Much like Kemba, Boatright played out of control at times during his freshman year, but ultimately showed me that if he could harness it, he could be a special player. As Boat begins to become the focal point of the offense (much like Kemba his sophmore year) I expect some growing pains, and I expect him to try to do too much at times instead of letting the game come to him. That's all part of the growing pains, but by his junior year, he's going to be one of the more dynamic players in the country, and I believe he will be a lot more appealing to NBA scouts despite his lack of size.

 

[Burnsbros23]

I think Boatright is a much better shooter than kemba at the same stage in their career. Ryan shot 37 percent from 3 last year compared to 27 for kemba.

 

[Clockshop]

FWIW:

Ryan Boatright PG 6’0” UConn So. -- 5g, 20.6 mpg, 7.4 ppg, 5.4 apg, 15-35 fg, 42.9 fg%, 6-8 ft 75.0 ft%, 21 to

Boatright really struggled against the competition as his size is definitely an issue. He scored the ball well and did record a lot of assists, but struggled with turnovers. He's quick and dynamic but lacks the strength to absorb contact and easily gets knocked off balance and out-muscled for position. He had a few games where he really struggled. He averaged 5.4 ppg in just over 20 mpg. Really struggled shooting from outside 1-10 3p, but was a more solid 15-35 overall from the floor. He gets strong reviews from coaches at UConn but failed to impress here.

http://nbadraft.net/2012-adidas-nations-ncaa-player-recap

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

Wouldn't surprise me if he left after this season, with the way we've been recruiting guards as of late.

He'll have trouble getting publicity without a postseason, that's where a lot of draft stock shuffling goes on. Don't have to look very far to find a good example of it.

More importantly, I want to see how he progresses with a full uninterrupted season. Can't undervalue how much those "breaks" hurt his ability to progress as a player in his first year.