OT: The Next Shawn Kemp? Zion Williamson

[Patman]

Kemp didn't have handles like that.
That's a Lebron clone. High praise, but good lord. Fluid, huge, hops, handles, defensive tenacity.
A franchise stalwart.

How can he be a LeBron clone when he's missing the main attribute: passing.

Looks more like Larry Johnson to me.

Watch on YouTube

What do you know about his passing skill? I have been trying to figure this out. He has a few nice clips but it's too hard to figure out without some non highlight stuff. BTW he is way more athletic than Johnson. His timing is spectacular and his block highlights look better to me than anyone who's ever played the game. That block at 6:22 in the first vid is without comparison.

*chastises poster for making conclusions from highlights*
*makes conclusions from highlights*

Anyways, here are his high school numbers: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/high-school/article112797658.html

Sure, the accuracy of high school ball statistics is questionable, but they usually INFLATE stats for prep superstars, not deflate them. He's barely averaging 3 APG in high school. Not saying he's selfish, but he's nowhere near LeBron level in passing. LeBron could probably get 5-7 APG in high school when he was in 7th grade.

The kid has huge upside, but let's not resort to hyperbole and forget about high school superstars that came before Zion (and remember that footage was more rare back in the KG/VC era, so I'm sure a lot of highlights were not caught on tape):

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

These are guys that were able to translate their game to the NBA, but there are also numerous who peaked in high school (though some career derailments were due to off-court issues):
http://uproxx.com/dimemag/25-most-hyped-high-school-basketball-recruits/
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2544114-ranking-college-basketballs-biggest-5-star-busts-of-the-past-decade

[Son Goku 25]

Looks like a 12 year old Shaq

[Veggamattic]

How can he be a LeBron clone when he's missing the main attribute: passing.

Looks more like Larry Johnson to me.

Watch on YouTube

What do you know about his passing skill? I have been trying to figure this out. He has a few nice clips but it's too hard to figure out without some non highlight stuff. BTW he is way more athletic than Johnson. His timing is spectacular and his block highlights look better to me than anyone who's ever played the game. That block at 6:22 in the first vid is without comparison.

*chastises poster for making conclusions from highlights*
*makes conclusions from highlights*

Anyways, here are his high school numbers: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/high-school/article112797658.html

Sure, the accuracy of high school ball statistics is questionable, but they usually INFLATE stats for prep superstars, not deflate them. He's barely averaging 3 APG in high school. Not saying he's selfish, but he's nowhere near LeBron level in passing. LeBron could probably get 5-7 APG in high school when he was in 7th grade.

The kid has huge upside, but let's not resort to hyperbole and forget about high school superstars that came before Zion (and remember that footage was more rare back in the KG/VC era, so I'm sure a lot of highlights were not caught on tape):

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

These are guys that were able to translate their game to the NBA, but there are also numerous who peaked in high school (though some career derailments were due to off-court issues):
http://uproxx.com/dimemag/25-most-hyped-high-school-basketball-recruits/
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2544114-ranking-college-basketballs-biggest-5-star-busts-of-the-past-decade

I didn't chastise you...it seems a little strange you would think that from what I wrote...I was honestly just curious if you had any knowledge to share. I didn't even have outside hopes that he would be the passer James is or was, so you know. I am freaked out by his shot blocking and I only talked about his shot blocking highlights. I can't think of anybody I've ever seen with shot blocking timing and speed like him. Can you?

[Patman]

What do you know about his passing skill? I have been trying to figure this out. He has a few nice clips but it's too hard to figure out without some non highlight stuff. BTW he is way more athletic than Johnson. His timing is spectacular and his block highlights look better to me than anyone who's ever played the game. That block at 6:22 in the first vid is without comparison.

*chastises poster for making conclusions from highlights*
*makes conclusions from highlights*

Anyways, here are his high school numbers: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/high-school/article112797658.html

Sure, the accuracy of high school ball statistics is questionable, but they usually INFLATE stats for prep superstars, not deflate them. He's barely averaging 3 APG in high school. Not saying he's selfish, but he's nowhere near LeBron level in passing. LeBron could probably get 5-7 APG in high school when he was in 7th grade.

The kid has huge upside, but let's not resort to hyperbole and forget about high school superstars that came before Zion (and remember that footage was more rare back in the KG/VC era, so I'm sure a lot of highlights were not caught on tape):

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

These are guys that were able to translate their game to the NBA, but there are also numerous who peaked in high school (though some career derailments were due to off-court issues):
http://uproxx.com/dimemag/25-most-hyped-high-school-basketball-recruits/
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2544114-ranking-college-basketballs-biggest-5-star-busts-of-the-past-decade

I didn't chastise you...it seems a little strange you would think that from what I wrote...I was honestly just curious if you had any knowledge to share. I didn't even have outside hopes that he would be the passer James is or was, so you know. I am freaked out by his shot blocking and I only talked about his shot blocking highlights. I can't think of anybody I've ever seen with shot blocking timing and speed like him. Can you?

Sure. You gotta remember that high school and college is the peak for a lot of guys in terms of pure athleticism. Paul Pierce was doing dunk contests in high school. You're probably trying to picture guys in the NBA, and yes, they're slower.

But if you look back at their younger years... Young Hakeem was an athletic freak. David Robinson. Zo. Two guys I mentioned above, Anthony Davis and KG. Jarvis Varnado. Tyson Chandler was a shotblocking machine in high school. Dwight Howard. Emeka Okafor. Shaq before he put on weight. T-Mac in high school. Andrei Kirilenko in his early years. Again, a guy named LeBron James.

[Veggamattic]

*chastises poster for making conclusions from highlights*
*makes conclusions from highlights*

Anyways, here are his high school numbers: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/high-school/article112797658.html

Sure, the accuracy of high school ball statistics is questionable, but they usually INFLATE stats for prep superstars, not deflate them. He's barely averaging 3 APG in high school. Not saying he's selfish, but he's nowhere near LeBron level in passing. LeBron could probably get 5-7 APG in high school when he was in 7th grade.

The kid has huge upside, but let's not resort to hyperbole and forget about high school superstars that came before Zion (and remember that footage was more rare back in the KG/VC era, so I'm sure a lot of highlights were not caught on tape):

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

These are guys that were able to translate their game to the NBA, but there are also numerous who peaked in high school (though some career derailments were due to off-court issues):
http://uproxx.com/dimemag/25-most-hyped-high-school-basketball-recruits/
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2544114-ranking-college-basketballs-biggest-5-star-busts-of-the-past-decade

I didn't chastise you...it seems a little strange you would think that from what I wrote...I was honestly just curious if you had any knowledge to share. I didn't even have outside hopes that he would be the passer James is or was, so you know. I am freaked out by his shot blocking and I only talked about his shot blocking highlights. I can't think of anybody I've ever seen with shot blocking timing and speed like him. Can you?

Sure. You gotta remember that high school and college is the peak for a lot of guys in terms of pure athleticism. Paul Pierce was doing dunk contests in high school. You're probably trying to picture guys in the NBA, and yes, they're slower.

But if you look back at their younger years... Young Hakeem was an athletic freak. David Robinson. Zo. Two guys I mentioned above, Anthony Davis and KG. Jarvis Varnado. Tyson Chandler was a shotblocking machine in high school. Dwight Howard. Emeka Okafor. Shaq before he put on weight. T-Mac in high school. Andrei Kirilenko in his early years. Again, a guy named LeBron James.

Almost every guy you mentioned doesn't have a career block highlight reel like this guy accomplished in just a few months as a high school junior. There are about 3-4 in that clip that are top 100 all time that I've ever seen.

[Patman]

I didn't chastise you...it seems a little strange you would think that from what I wrote...I was honestly just curious if you had any knowledge to share. I didn't even have outside hopes that he would be the passer James is or was, so you know. I am freaked out by his shot blocking and I only talked about his shot blocking highlights. I can't think of anybody I've ever seen with shot blocking timing and speed like him. Can you?

Sure. You gotta remember that high school and college is the peak for a lot of guys in terms of pure athleticism. Paul Pierce was doing dunk contests in high school. You're probably trying to picture guys in the NBA, and yes, they're slower.

But if you look back at their younger years... Young Hakeem was an athletic freak. David Robinson. Zo. Two guys I mentioned above, Anthony Davis and KG. Jarvis Varnado. Tyson Chandler was a shotblocking machine in high school. Dwight Howard. Emeka Okafor. Shaq before he put on weight. T-Mac in high school. Andrei Kirilenko in his early years. Again, a guy named LeBron James.

Almost every guy you mentioned doesn't have a career block highlight reel like this guy accomplished in just a few months as a high school junior. There are about 3-4 in that clip that are top 100 all time that I've ever seen.

I'm gonna put my Capt. Obvious hat for a sec. The thing about highlights is... that somebody has to film it. These days, prospects like Zion have all their games filmed. You can't miss a highlight. But yes, he's one of the most visually impressive shot-blockers in a while. Will need to do more scouting to see if his defense will translate to the next levels, or if he's going to be a block-hunting, fouling machine after high school. All those gifts don't mean squat if you have the ball IQ of an Andre Drummond.

[chuckerz]

Hopefully he learns how to use a condom and not have as many kids as Kemp did.

[JYD]

Not quite on the level of Lebron's HS clips imo, but pretty close in terms of size/strength/athleticism. I'm not sure I can recall seeing such a large, explosive booty before. RIP number 24 on the white team.

[Veggamattic]

Sure. You gotta remember that high school and college is the peak for a lot of guys in terms of pure athleticism. Paul Pierce was doing dunk contests in high school. You're probably trying to picture guys in the NBA, and yes, they're slower.

But if you look back at their younger years... Young Hakeem was an athletic freak. David Robinson. Zo. Two guys I mentioned above, Anthony Davis and KG. Jarvis Varnado. Tyson Chandler was a shotblocking machine in high school. Dwight Howard. Emeka Okafor. Shaq before he put on weight. T-Mac in high school. Andrei Kirilenko in his early years. Again, a guy named LeBron James.

Almost every guy you mentioned doesn't have a career block highlight reel like this guy accomplished in just a few months as a high school junior. There are about 3-4 in that clip that are top 100 all time that I've ever seen.

I'm gonna put my Capt. Obvious hat for a sec. The thing about highlights is... that somebody has to film it. These days, prospects like Zion have all their games filmed. You can't miss a highlight. But yes, he's one of the most visually impressive shot-blockers in a while. Will need to do more scouting to see if his defense will translate to the next levels, or if he's going to be a block-hunting, fouling machine after high school. All those gifts don't mean squat if you have the ball IQ of an Andre Drummond.

The filming thing is a good point and I did take that into consideration...it is so nice to know that never again will there be a generation of players that we won't have a history we can watch in high def. I heard him interviewed and he sounded well spoken and fairly impressive for such a young kid. He also has that twinkle in his eyes that you see in many great players...like he gets it. In one interview he was talking about his love for the history of the game and that's not something just anyone says at that age has a taste and understanding for.

[VintageVince]

I made that Shawn Kemp comparison, but I can also see him be like a Josh Smith type of player as well, but hopefully he'll be better.