Potential sleepers

thamadkant · Post #1221 » by **thamadkant** » Wed Feb 28, 2018 7:24 am

Stackey wrote:I watched Ajdin Penava many times when he played for U18 Spars Sarajevo and for U18 Bosnian national team. He was far from a leader, both in Spars and Bosnian team he played together with Edin Atić who was a true "star" on that level. But I always liked Penava.

I heard stories that he trained less days during the weak than the rest of the team when he was in Spars, because he was very focused on education and basketball was a secondary thing for him. As much as I heard, he is sort of "Lisa Simpson" type of
personality.

This is his best game for the Bosnian U18 national team. Ended with 13 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks. White jersey, number 13:

(At 1 : 12 : 55 he scored 3 + 1)

Watch on YouTube

Well, thats actually a good thing. He knows basketball may not be his final calling and simply preparing for a professional job.

But if he's putting up ridiculous numbers for someone who's half-hearted playing... imagine if he was motivated.

I think once he gets an agent (if he has already) and he realize he is almost certain to be a millionaire before he's 23... he may actually postpone his education and focus on becoming an NBA player.

doordoor123 · Post #1222 » by **doordoor123** » Wed Feb 28, 2018 2:53 pm

shakes0 wrote:
doordoor123 wrote:
shakes0 wrote:
I don't see it at all with Alkins. Would be surprised if he ever plays in the NBA.

I wouldn’t at all. He’s a scout darling. Last year scouts loved him and he got a lot of positive feedback before he decided to return to college. He’s a better prospect than Isaiah Whitehead, who was two years older when he was drafted. Personally I’m a huge fan of his. He has a great body, huge hands, excellent first step, potentially great finisher and I think he’s only going to be better with NBA spacing. He reminds me a little of an underdeveloped Tyreke Evans.

To me he's just bigger than everyone else. I don't see him as an NBA player at all and definitely not as good as Whitehead who was a much better player in college.

He's nothing like Evans, no where near that class.

He’s two years younger than Whitehead was, he’s stronger than Whitehead, he’s a better shooter than Whitehead and is more athletic than Whitehead. He’s also just as quick as Whitehead and a better passer. Numbers don’t translate as well as ability.

Negrodamus · Post #1223 » by **Negrodamus** » Wed Feb 28, 2018 5:36 pm

The Martin Twins at Nevada. At least one of them will be a major contributor in the NBA.

Sinceday1 · Post #1224 » by **Sinceday1** » Fri Mar 2, 2018 2:37 pm

SeattleJazzFan wrote:
Sinceday1 wrote:Has anyone watched Jerome Robinson of Boston College? He’s one of my sleepers in the 2018 draft.
Would love to know how others feel about him.

Personally, I love him on the offensive side of the ball. This kid gets buckets. He can play with or without the rock. Not so sure about the defensive end. Will he be able to stay on the floor at the next level??

https://www.a1squad.com/single-post/2018/02/25/Jerome-Robinson-Set-Miami-On-Fire-But-Boston-College-Comes-Up-Short

https://accsports.com/acc-analytics/jerome-robinson-all-american/

one of the best 3pt shooters in the country, but the more I watch the more I'm reminded of Rip Hamilton. Just a killer inside the arc. underrated passer, ballhandler. can score at all three levels. solid defender, plus athlete. mid-first rounder in my mind.

Thanks for the feedback! Much appreciated. Good stuff

kingjawn100 · Post #1225 » by **kingjawn100** » Fri Mar 2, 2018 9:39 pm

Anyone onto Matisse Thybulle at Washington? Intriguing 3&D guy. Tons of steals/blocks etc and a good 3-point shooter even though his percentage is down from a season ago. Probably the Pac-12 defensive player of the year. He does play exclusively zone at Washington but there is a ton of next level defensive potential.

Notanoob · Post #1226 » by **Notanoob** » Sat Mar 3, 2018 2:29 am

kingjawn100 wrote:Anyone onto Matisse Thybulle at Washington? Intriguing 3&D guy. Tons of steals/blocks etc and a good 3-point shooter even though his percentage is down from a season ago. Probably the Pac-12 defensive player of the year. He does play exclusively zone at Washington but there is a ton of next level defensive potential.

He has nice potential, but I doubt he'll come out this year.

Josh Reaves is a guy who should be getting some buzz. He's a wing who plays great defense and gets tons of steals. He shoots decently, is a really good finisher and can handle and pass. I don't want to talk up his offensive skills too much since he's basically Penn State's 4th option, but he seems capable of doing a little bit of everything while being extremely disruptive on defense.

No-Man · Post #1227 » by **No-Man** » Sat Mar 3, 2018 10:29 am

Negrodamus wrote:The Martin Twins at Nevada. At least one of them will be a major contributor in the NBA.

100% agreed, Jordan Barnett is another guy I like, Tookie Brown and Shamorie Ponds are good also

Cameron Johnson is my sleeper pick this year though

doordoor123 · Post #1228 » by **doordoor123** » Sat Mar 3, 2018 6:28 pm

Fischella wrote:
Negrodamus wrote:The Martin Twins at Nevada. At least one of them will be a major contributor in the NBA.

100% agreed, Jordan Barnett is another guy I like, Tookie Brown and Shamorie Ponds are good also

Cameron Johnson is my sleeper pick this year though

I second all these guys. I like Cameron Johnson as a sleeper too. After you mentioned him at the start of the season I’ve been tracking him pretty closely. Super smart player, but great rhythm shooting. He also has great size. My only thing with him is defense. He does well defending in small spaces, but there are less small spaces in the NBA. Not a lot of one-on-one basketball anymore. Reminds me of RJ Hunter.

Post #1229 » by **DeBlazerRiddem** » Sun Mar 4, 2018 1:20 am

I kind of like Kevin Hervey for a second round pick. I know he is older and has a significant injury history, so it would take a clean bill of health, but he checks a lot of boxes for sleeper.

Good size+length, athletic enough, good shooter (little bit clutch), looks like an above average passer (often brings the ball up and initiates for his team). His defense is a little soft inside (low blocks) but has good anticipation (steals) and does well picking up guards. He seems to play more of a SG/SF despite his size/speed putting him more SF/PF, but he has a lot of skill to work with and in the modern NBA a big player who can switch up positions is definitely valuable.

SeattleJazzFan · Post #1230 » by **SeattleJazzFan** » Sun Mar 4, 2018 9:37 pm

sam hauser of Marquette. shooting numbers are off the charts at 6'8' 225. 52% from three on the season, scoring 15 ppg. TS% is 68%.

Post #1231 » by **Duke4life831** » Sun Mar 4, 2018 9:43 pm

Tyus Battle if he declares is my sleeper. I like his size and athleticism. Even though his jumper does have a little hitch to it, I like the potential with it.

No-Man · Post #1232 » by **No-Man** » Sun Mar 4, 2018 11:03 pm

Duke4life831 wrote:Tyus Battle if he declares is my sleeper. I like his size and athleticism. Even though his jumper does have a little hitch to it, I like the potential with it.

what do you see him at? tough shot maker from the bench? I like his size for the 2 but not sure about his shooting and defense, he is a weird guy to really evalaute

Post #1233 » by **Duke4life831** » Sun Mar 4, 2018 11:09 pm

Fischella wrote:
Duke4life831 wrote:Tyus Battle if he declares is my sleeper. I like his size and athleticism. Even though his jumper does have a little hitch to it, I like the potential with it.

what do you see him at? tough shot maker from the bench? I like his size for the 2 but not sure about his shooting and defense, he is a weird guy to really evalaute

Ya not saying hes going to be an all star or anything. I personally see him as a spark plug off the bench. Hes not going to bring much facilitating but I do think he has some potential defensively, just so hard to really gauge individual defense in that Syracuse zone. I think hes just going to be a solid gunner off the bench. Unlike most guys in that position who tend to be undersized 2 guards, he has legit size and athleticism for the 2 position.

I just think in a draft that I dont consider to be all that deep, I think he can have surprising value late 1st/early 2nd round. But I agree he is a weird guy to value with that jumper and playing that zone defense. Just been a fan of his since his high school days.

doordoor123 · Post #1234 » by **doordoor123** » Sun Mar 4, 2018 11:35 pm

Duke4life831 wrote:
Fischella wrote:
Duke4life831 wrote:Tyus Battle if he declares is my sleeper. I like his size and athleticism. Even though his jumper does have a little hitch to it, I like the potential with it.

what do you see him at? tough shot maker from the bench? I like his size for the 2 but not sure about his shooting and defense, he is a weird guy to really evalaute

Ya not saying hes going to be an all star or anything. I personally see him as a spark plug off the bench. Hes not going to bring much facilitating but I do think he has some potential defensively, just so hard to really gauge individual defense in that Syracuse zone. I think hes just going to be a solid gunner off the bench. Unlike most guys in that position who tend to be undersized 2 guards, he has legit size and athleticism for the 2 position.

I just think in a draft that I dont consider to be all that deep, I think he can have surprising value late 1st/early 2nd round. But I agree he is a weird guy to value with that jumper and playing that zone defense. Just been a fan of his since his high school days.

I like him, I think he has a pretty controlled handle that could make him a legit offensive threat in the future. Still think he’s a project, but Will Barton was also a project.

doordoor123 · Post #1235 » by **doordoor123** » Sun Mar 4, 2018 11:52 pm

Aaron Holiday has been really good recently. I’m starting to think there’s no way he won’t be drafted. He’s from a big school like UCLA and he definitely has a role in the NBA.

SeattleJazzFan · Post #1236 » by **SeattleJazzFan** » Mon Mar 5, 2018 12:18 am

doordoor123 wrote:Aaron Holiday has been really good recently. I’m starting to think there’s no way he won’t be drafted. He’s from a big school like UCLA and he definitely has a role in the NBA.

i see holiday as a lock to play a long time in the league as a back up PG. not saying he can't be a starter, but if you can get a 10 year guy as a back up in the 2nd round, you've drafted a steal.

Post #1237 » by **GimmeDat** » Mon Mar 5, 2018 6:29 am

Was watching Holiday's highights today, haven't watched a lot of UCLA this season, but as an NBA comparison I'd say Mario Chalmers.

twosevenstreet · Post #1238 » by **twosevenstreet** » Mon Mar 5, 2018 2:49 pm

Is Tillie still considered a sleeper (was he ever?)?

Also I think Johnathan Williams has a shot at being a Dante Cunningham / Trevor Booker style PF in the league

Zukkoyaki · Post #1239 » by **Zukkoyaki** » Mon Mar 5, 2018 6:00 pm

I like Jordan Barnett from Mizzou as a 3&D prospect in the second round. He has an NBA body, players hard and has shown great character and growth as a player in past couple of seasons.

Post #1240 » by **Ruzious** » Mon Mar 5, 2018 7:41 pm

twosevenstreet wrote:Is Tillie still considered a sleeper (was he ever?)?

Also I think Johnathan Williams has a shot at being a Dante Cunningham / Trevor Booker style PF in the league

Gotta admit I thought Tillie was just 2nd round material - he didn't seem particularly smooth or skilled and was a bit scrawny to excel defensively in the NBA, but he's showing to be a really good stretch 4 prospect - good enough for mid 1st consideration in this draft. 17 of 24 3's in the last 7 games, and he looks a lot stronger than last season.

Yeah, I think Williams has a legit chance in that mold. Obviously, if he can improve his 3 point shot, it'll dramatically help his chances.

Btw, I think teams picking after 15 will be trying to get Jontay Porter to come out. He's been tremendous in 3 of his last 4 games - the 1 exception when he got in foul trouble against Kentucky. He's getting bigger, smarter, has 3 point range, passes real well, is understanding team defense better - not an exceptional athlete but good enough considering his skills. Could develop into a Marc Gasol type.