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Delano Banton is probably not a big part of Portland’s future, but he seems to be the guy who looks for DC the most consistently when he plays.
UConn in the NBA April ‘25
- Thread starter 78AlwaysHappy
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Delano Banton is probably not a big part of Portland’s future, but he seems to be the guy who looks for DC the most consistently when he plays.
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Sigh. As I wrote, Ben was another level … but there is a case to be made for Cam based on efficiency. Which isn’t a knock on Ben. It’s that Cam was a freaking unicorn. I don’t think anyone here grasps what they saw with Cam. He was a whisker from being a 50-40-90 shooter (ended up 48.5 after threatening 50). And he had a 3.5-1 assist to turnover ratio, which is insane for a 2 guard.
Not only that, he closed out his career with a 7:1 assist to turnover ratio over his last 17 games (almost a half season). He had 30 assists and 3 turnovers in his last 8 regular season games, 19 and 4 in the BET and 21 and 4 in the NCAAs. That’s 70 and 11. Absurd. Whatever the equivalent of a shooting “heater” is for decision making, we witnessed one of the greatest ones of those ever. He missed shots … but he played close to perfect basketball.
Obviously Ben was more talented and had a harder job, and it is unlikely that Cam could have been the same go to guy that Ben was with the defensive attention that entails. But Ben couldn’t touch Cam’s efficiency. And that’s in no way a knock on him. Non-unicorns can’t. Ben had 40 assists and 37 turnovers in 13 NCAA games (19 and 17 during the championship run) - which is perfectly fine. But when you compare it to Cam, it’s not a fair comparison. Because Cam was one of one.
Chin Diesel
Wild Horses couldn't drag me away
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There is so much beauty in this post.
Those jerseys are amazing. I could care less about Portland other than DC but I would seriously consider investing in a #23 Ripcity
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2 way guys aren't eligible for the playoffs
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That's stupid, another reason why the NBA sucks, well I'll be rooting for GS to destroy them then.
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Only real bummer from this season for our guys is that Tristen never really got a look. Hopefully he kills it in summer league and earns himself a bigger role in the league, because I still believe he can play at that level.Final lines for all of our guys (choosing to ignore TOs)
Tyrese - 20 points, 7 rebounds on 8-14 FG
AJax - 9 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds on 4-6
Cam - 23 points, 7 assists, 3 steals on 8-19
Castle - 20 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists on 5-16
Clingan - 12 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks on 6-10
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Yep. I’m still not sure what happened with Indiana, from reports it feels like he forced his way out and then signed with Minnesota. I thought it was a weird decision at the time since they have a few solid guards already and drafted 2 more (TSJ/Dillingham)
Spent all his time in the G League, where his team was dead last in the league. Did average 16/7/6 and had at least one triple double (maybe more but can’t remember). Did struggle with efficiency (40% FG and 30% from three) but it’s clear he can play
Hope he finds a more stable/successful situation next year
D
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If Newton wants a shot he's going to have to have better efficiency.
Part of the reason Cam gets his chances is because when he's out there he's shooting like 50% from the field.
A team isn't going to invest in him having the ball in his hands to run an offense so he has to find other valuables ways to help winning whether its defense, shooting, etc.
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Castle is 6'6 215 lbs and Clingan makes him look like a small child.
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Not bad! He just has to work hard to get that 3pt and FT percentages up and the sky is the limit for him. I would like to see him improve his rebounding as that seems low for player his size and athletic ability. His Assist rate is harder to judge as we don't know who will be on the team next year(mainly Chris Paul) and how much off the offense he will run with Fox and Wemby back in the fold.
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D
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Once he gets his midrange game up to par he's going to be unstoppable.
Right now teams give him that because its super rusty. If a team has to step up and defend it he's beating any and everyone to the rim with his size and strength. Could behoove him to even get a postgame.
Jumbo SGA loading.
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It might be difficult to get the shots since he’s playing with Wemby/Fox, but I’m not exaggerating when I say that Stephon Castle with a consistent jump shot is an instant All Star player. STAR potential
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He's a great story and a testament to hard work and following Hurley's coaching. I'm sure Hurley is using him as a blueprint to show a lot of kids he's recruiting.
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I think he's going to turn out being UConn's best NBA player when it's all said and done. It will take a lot to pass Ray but I think his future is that bright. I also think Donovan will win at least one defensive player of the year.
Edward Sargent
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Joe Dumars taking over personnel decisions at NO. David Griffin's personnel moves were a disaster. Could this be the end of Zion's reign there? What happens with Hawk we will have to see
It’s a great story, but imo the kids we are recruiting now don’t want to use Reese as a comp. They expect to be Nba players from the get go…
Testament to hard work and never giving up!
Kudos to him
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Your praise of Martin is on point, but I’d push back against the negativity towards “the kids we are recruiting now.” Ball, Stewart, and Ross are all coming back for their third seasons when it would have been easy for them to transfer out for money, a clearer path towards playing time, or any sort of empty promise. Castle was drafted higher than his preseason draft projections, partly because he worked hard to become an elite college defender. We don’t know why all of our transfers didn’t stay, but it’s reasonable to think that some of them weren’t going to crack the rotation. Maybe the kids who we recruit and don’t come here are all about playing in the NBA on day 1. We tend to get some guys who are willing to put in the work, though.
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I think the recruiting pitch is that we have a good track record of getting players to exceed expectations and maximize their potential. Some guys made it to the league who were never really expected to coming in - Martin, Newton, Jackson, Sanogo, Spencer. Some with marginal NBA potential coming in really improved their stock and became lotto picks - Clingan, Bouknight, Hawkins. And the one guy who was considered likely NBA material is soon to be Rookie of the Year.
If we just point to Castle and Clingan, a guy might think “well, I’m not a 6-6 point guard or a 7-2 rim protector”
Yeah - some of those guys didn’t stick (Bouk being a disappointment), but the message is, we can help you get there. Then it’s up to you.
D
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Think he meant more so kids want to be 1st round draft picks ready to succeed. Not so much journeymen.
Tyrese story is great and I hope he continues to have a big role in the league. He had the physical tools and its clear the work he's put in to improve.
I agree with your sentiments...my comment was more related to SJ saying Reese was the blueprint...he might have been when recruiting in 22, 23 or even 24....
Now we are recruiting guys in the top 25...the work hard/improve/we can coach story holds up anytime. The blueprint on the current path IMO is more Steph Castle....you are high ranked kid...we can make you better and be a top lottery pick. As compared to Reese whose story is, you were a 3star, you are now getting an NBA contract after busting your ass for 4 years because you listened to us.
Same slope, just different stating and end points
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Tyrese wasn’t a star name. He was a 6’6 athletic wing from a mid major who followed Hurley to UConn because he believed that if he bought in and put in the work, he would be successful. He took a back seat to be the third option, yet 2 years later he was drafted to the NBA, and now has four 20pt games this season to show for it
An athletic wing is exactly what we are looking for right now. Tyrese is 100% a great example for mid major wings that want to buy in and take the step up. Tyrese was a SF/SG and we need a SF/PF, but the point is still the same
Jaylin Stewart should also be looking at Tyrese right now. Why can’t he be the one to step up, excel in his role, and make the league?
An athletic wing is exactly what we are looking for right now. Tyrese is 100% a great example for mid major wings that want to buy in and take the step up. Tyrese was a SF/SG and we need a SF/PF, but the point is still the same
Jaylin Stewart should also be looking at Tyrese right now. Why can’t he be the one to step up, excel in his role, and make the league?
Edward Sargent
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Tyrese's story is his own and there are certainly parts of his story like working in a warehouse over the summer because his mother was laid off during Covid, that no one wants to comp. I don't know anything about "the kids we are recruiting now" but I do know that every one of them will be working very hard over the next year.
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