Operation Beast: Prospect Thread II

[Whiz Kid]

I am very excited to see that JaJuan Johnson is entering the draft.

#1 - As a Gopher fan, they should have a better shot of beating Purdue from now on
#2 - I think he's a very good player that the TWolves could target with their Utah pick
#3 - I want to compare his combine measurements, athleticism and quickness to Favors to see what kind of an athlete Favors really is.

http://www.sportingnews.com/college-basketball/article/2010-04-12/purdues-jajuan-johnson-enter-nba-draft

This is insane. I was at the Barn when Johnson got dominated by Ralph Sampson III. RALPH SAMPSON THE THIRD for god's sake. JaJuan doesn't have a chance in the NBA.

[Klomp]

This is insane. I was at the Barn when Johnson got dominated by Ralph Sampson III. RALPH SAMPSON THE THIRD for god's sake. JaJuan doesn't have a chance in the NBA.

And yet in supposedly getting dominated, he still put up 14 points, 10 rebounds

[Biff Cooper]

I am very excited to see that JaJuan Johnson is entering the draft.

#1 - As a Gopher fan, they should have a better shot of beating Purdue from now on
#2 - I think he's a very good player that the TWolves could target with their Utah pick
#3 - I want to compare his combine measurements, athleticism and quickness to Favors to see what kind of an athlete Favors really is.

http://www.sportingnews.com/college-basketball/article/2010-04-12/purdues-jajuan-johnson-enter-nba-draft

This is insane. I was at the Barn when Johnson got dominated by Ralph Sampson III. RALPH SAMPSON THE THIRD for god's sake. JaJuan doesn't have a chance in the NBA.

I assume you are talking about the game where Hummel got hurt and they were playing JaJuan and 4 other guys all shorter than 6'-4", and still managed to win the game?

[Worm Guts]

He was probably talking about the game where the Gophers won by 30.

[Biff Cooper]

Could be, but he did say it occurred in the Barn. I read something this morning where JaJuan is backing off of having already declared. Hope he does still even if Whiz Kid isn't a fan.

[Worm Guts]

You're right, I missed that part. He wouldn't be terrible with the Utah pick, but I'd be much happier if we got him in the 2nd round.

[dunkonu21]

Why the hate on Ralph Sampson III? I think he's a pretty good gopher.

[cpfsf]

May 18th is the Lottery. Why does Stern have to torture us this way?

[Klomp]

Its fun to look back. This post was from August 24, 2009:

I dunno. I worry I am going to be obsessed with Evan Turner all year. I liked the kid a lot last year.

[PeeDee]

Check out how awesome I am, December 08 baby!

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=866193

[Klomp]

I actually can sorta see the Grant Hill comparison...(pre-injury, I assume).

[Devilzsidewalk]

Check out how awesome I am, December 08 baby!

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=866193

You kicked their asses, everybody else was making threads about Sucky McCrappyface and you're like "hey, Evan Turner, trust me"

[PeeDee]

I should get to be his agent by default I think.

[Whiz Kid]

I am very excited to see that JaJuan Johnson is entering the draft.

#1 - As a Gopher fan, they should have a better shot of beating Purdue from now on
#2 - I think he's a very good player that the TWolves could target with their Utah pick
#3 - I want to compare his combine measurements, athleticism and quickness to Favors to see what kind of an athlete Favors really is.

http://www.sportingnews.com/college-basketball/article/2010-04-12/purdues-jajuan-johnson-enter-nba-draft

This is insane. I was at the Barn when Johnson got dominated by Ralph Sampson III. RALPH SAMPSON THE THIRD for god's sake. JaJuan doesn't have a chance in the NBA.

I assume you are talking about the game where Hummel got hurt and they were playing JaJuan and 4 other guys all shorter than 6'-4", and still managed to win the game?

Yes, that game. Where Purdue was up by ~13 when Hummel got hurt, then the Gophers (led by Ralph III) stormed back over the next 20 minutes to take an 8 point lead, before Purdue took it back down the stretch. Where JaJuan put up 14 points in 40 minutes in a game in which their other top scoring threat didn't play for 30 minutes. Where Ralph III put up a career high 21 points on 7-11 shooting. Where Ralph III backed JaJuan down whenever he felt like it, and JuJuan couldn't do anything about it.

Look, I'm not saying JaJuan was a terrible player in that game. But if you are excited about him being a difference-making NBA player, you will be sorely disappointed. He couldn't keep RALPH III, who plays like he is tiptoing through a china shop, from pounding his way to the basket at will. So there is no chance he can play the 4 or 5 in the NBA. Maybe you see him as a 3? I guess that's not impossible, but he's 6'10" and I haven't seen anything to suggest he has the ball skills to make that move.

[Whiz Kid]

Why the hate on Ralph Sampson III? I think he's a pretty good gopher.

He is a pretty good Gopher, and I'm excited to see if you can make the leap to really good Gopher next year. But he plays very timidly, and my point was that if JaJuan gets eaten up by Ralph on the defensive end, he simply can't see the court in the NBA.

[Biff Cooper]

There is nobody at the end of the first round that I would expect to be a difference making type of player. I view JaJuan as a 4 that can play a little 5 in smallball lineups. I think JaJuan has a chance to be a very solid backup player that has a small opportunity to develop into a starter quality player.

Favors is currently labeled as a top 5 pick with potential to develop into a difference making type of player. Favors averaged 12.4 pts, 8.4 reb, and 2.1 blks. Johnson averaged 15.5 pts, 7.1 reb, and 2.1 blks. Both are 6-10. Favors is about 2.5 years younger and a little heavier, more muscular, and has two less years of college experience. Both are quite athletic.

No way would I take Johnson over Favors. Favors is obviously the better prospect. However, Johnson might be more NBA ready at the start of his career and would be able to be had at a huge discount in draft position.

[Krapinsky]

There is nobody at the end of the first round that I would expect to be a difference making type of player. I view JaJuan as a 4 that can play a little 5 in smallball lineups. I think JaJuan has a chance to be a very solid backup player that has a small opportunity to develop into a starter quality player.

Favors is currently labeled as a top 5 pick with potential to develop into a difference making type of player. Favors averaged 12.4 pts, 8.4 reb, and 2.1 blks. Johnson averaged 15.5 pts, 7.1 reb, and 2.1 blks. Both are 6-10. Favors is about 2.5 years younger and a little heavier, more muscular, and has two less years of college experience. Both are quite athletic.

No way would I take Johnson over Favors. Favors is obviously the better prospect. However, Johnson might be more NBA ready at the start of his career and would be able to be had at a huge discount in draft position.

I'm pretty sure Favors will also be much better as a rookie.

[Steve_Holiday]

from Souhan on the strib site today:

"Evan Turner? I like him, but he may be too slow to play point, he doesn't shoot the three well enough to play the 2, and he may be no more than a better-than-average 3.

His great advantage in college is he got to play point guard against smaller, lesser players. He will be a turnover machine if he has to play the point in the NBA."

I know most folks here are thinking ET or bust. From what I know, he sounds like a good fit. What would the great 'scouting minds' of this board say to souhan's take?

*Are his numbers/defensive capabilities inflated because he's dominating smaller players?
*If he was on the Wolves, would he play 2 or 3?

I'm not terribly concerned about shooting issue at this point. Tyreke can't shoot a lick, and it doesn't seem to be holding him back. This team needs talent in any form.

[Biff Cooper]

I'm pretty sure Favors will also be much better as a rookie.

I agree that over the entire season, Favors will have a better year. He's bound to be given a much better opportunity to play and get better by getting minutes and experience on the NBA court. My statement was that JaJuan's three years of college experience might make him more NBA ready at the beginning of the year.

[Esohny]

from Souhan on the strib site today:

"Evan Turner? I like him, but he may be too slow to play point, he doesn't shoot the three well enough to play the 2, and he may be no more than a better-than-average 3.

His great advantage in college is he got to play point guard against smaller, lesser players. He will be a turnover machine if he has to play the point in the NBA."

I know most folks here are thinking ET or bust. From what I know, he sounds like a good fit. What would the great 'scouting minds' of this board say to souhan's take?

*Are his numbers/defensive capabilities inflated because he's dominating smaller players?
*If he was on the Wolves, would he play 2 or 3?

I'm not terribly concerned about shooting issue at this point. Tyreke can't shoot a lick, and it doesn't seem to be holding him back. This team needs talent in any form.

I don't know if I'd claim to be a "great scouting mind" but Souhan is a douche. I don't really consider anything he writes to be particularly legit.