Mfiondu Kabengele

[EvanZ]

Seems similar as a prospect to JJJ

NO, not even close. And I like Kab a lot.

[clyde21]

Seems similar as a prospect to JJJ

NO, not even close. And I like Kab a lot.

i KINDA get the comparison...both will play the same role in the NBA, similar length, JJJ a better shot blocker but Kab is good in his own right, Kab a better rebounder, stronger, but JJJ is two years younger, both shot around the same percentage from 3, they even play(ed) the same amount of minutes and JJJ himself came off the bench for the Spartans a good amount of time.

obviously JJJ is greater prospect just by virtue of his age but i kind of get the comp. similar archetypes.

[EvanZ]

It's not just his age lol. JJJ is a generational prospect. You are doing a disservice to Kab to make that comp.

[clyde21]

It's not just his age lol. JJJ is a generational prospect. You are doing a disservice to Kab to make that comp.

saying someone is similar doesn't mean they're saying they're as good

again, I get it from an archetype standpoint.

[EvanZ]

It's not just his age lol. JJJ is a generational prospect. You are doing a disservice to Kab to make that comp.

saying someone is similar doesn't mean they're saying they're as good

again, I get it from an archetype standpoint.

With JJJ you're getting a guy who can switch onto pretty much anyone. Pretty sure Kab does not have that ability and that alone makes him a very different prospect. Also Kab is a complete black hole on offense where JJJ has some vision and passing capability. I haven't really seen that yet from Kab.

Don't get me wrong, I like Kab. Clearly, I started this thread and it took over a month for anyone else to get in on him. But let's not get carried away here. There's a fairly slim chance he declares and if he does it's highly unlikely he's a lottery pick, although I may rank him there on my personal board.

Unless he just completely blows up in the tournament and takes FSU to the Elite 8 or something.

[clyde21]

It's not just his age lol. JJJ is a generational prospect. You are doing a disservice to Kab to make that comp.

saying someone is similar doesn't mean they're saying they're as good

again, I get it from an archetype standpoint.

With JJJ you're getting a guy who can switch onto pretty much anyone. Pretty sure Kab does not have that ability and that alone makes him a very different prospect. Also Kab is a complete black hole on offense where JJJ has some vision and passing capability. I haven't really seen that yet from Kab.

Don't get me wrong, I like Kab. Clearly, I started this thread and it took over a month for anyone else to get in on him. But let's not get carried away here. There's a fairly slim chance he declares and if he does it's highly unlikely he's a lottery pick, although I may rank him there on my personal board.

Unless he just completely blows up in the tournament and takes FSU to the Elite 8 or something.

i don't know, I've seen Kab switched onto the perimeter and back into the post quite a few times. IIRC even Alexander-Walker had trouble against him on the perimeter. not saying he's as good as JJJ here, but he's clearly capable.

another place they differ is on the boards, which was actually a weakness of JJJ's, while Kab's a menace in that department (helps that he's stronger/older, too).

again clearly JJJ is the better prospect, but I don't think that should disinclude that there some archetype similarities there

we'll see what happens in the tourney like u said

[GimmeDat]

Seems similar as a prospect to JJJ

NO, not even close. And I like Kab a lot.

i KINDA get the comparison...both will play the same role in the NBA, similar length, JJJ a better shot blocker but Kab is good in his own right, Kab a better rebounder, stronger, but JJJ is two years younger, both shot around the same percentage from 3, they even play(ed) the same amount of minutes and JJJ himself came off the bench for the Spartans a good amount of time.

obviously JJJ is greater prospect just by virtue of his age but i kind of get the comp. similar archetypes.

How's about this based off the few minutes of footage I've watched - an in shape, bigger/longer Omari Spellman.

[clyde21]

NO, not even close. And I like Kab a lot.

i KINDA get the comparison...both will play the same role in the NBA, similar length, JJJ a better shot blocker but Kab is good in his own right, Kab a better rebounder, stronger, but JJJ is two years younger, both shot around the same percentage from 3, they even play(ed) the same amount of minutes and JJJ himself came off the bench for the Spartans a good amount of time.

obviously JJJ is greater prospect just by virtue of his age but i kind of get the comp. similar archetypes.

How's about this based off the few minutes of footage I've watched - an in shape, bigger/longer Omari Spellman.

much tougher on D and on the boards than Spellman...id say a guy like Naz Reid is closer to Spellman than Kab.

[GimmeDat]

i KINDA get the comparison...both will play the same role in the NBA, similar length, JJJ a better shot blocker but Kab is good in his own right, Kab a better rebounder, stronger, but JJJ is two years younger, both shot around the same percentage from 3, they even play(ed) the same amount of minutes and JJJ himself came off the bench for the Spartans a good amount of time.

obviously JJJ is greater prospect just by virtue of his age but i kind of get the comp. similar archetypes.

How's about this based off the few minutes of footage I've watched - an in shape, bigger/longer Omari Spellman.

much tougher on D and on the boards than Spellman...id say a guy like Naz Reid is closer to Spellman than Kab.

Guess I was thinking more physical/tools wise. I don't think I ever percieved Spellman as weak on the boards/D though, good event rate on D and 11 boards per 40, just to pull up some face value stats. Just figure Kab would be a supercharged, better version of his sort of archetype.

[EvanZ]

Spellman is a much better passer/playmaker. Also a better 3pt shooter. Right now Kab has exactly 2 skills: getting buckets and blocking shots. And he can really do those two things at an elite level I believe. But let's not make him into something he's not.

[clyde21]

Kab should be looked at almost strictly as a C IMO, and that actually makes him even better as a prospect

[Ruzious]

Just saw him for the first time, and I was floored. This guy is really good, and I haven't seen him in any mocks. It's crazy to compare him to JJJ - he's a completely different kind of player, not built the same way, is much older, and JJJ was/is an absolute phenom. But just because Kabengele isn't JJJ, doesn't mean he isn't a really good talent. He moves really well for a guy as strong as he is - which is as strong as most NBA bigs. And he's a quick leaper - which allows him to play aggressively - which he does. He is a center, but I'd still like to see if he can play PF. I saw a glimpse of very good ball-handling. And he's got swag - maybe a little much, but he seems to have the skills to walk the walk. This guy has lotto talent and not just talent - he produces.

[EvanZ]

Welcome to the fold! He’s been in my mock for a while.

[GimmeDat]

Okay, say he declares.. is he a guy that NBA teams are going to identify as a clear 1st round talent, or is he going to be some sleeper someone's going to steal in the 2nd round?

[Ruzious]

Okay, say he declares.. is he a guy that NBA teams are going to identify as a clear 1st round talent, or is he going to be some sleeper someone's going to steal in the 2nd round?

You don't see many FLaSt backups picked in the first round, and he's going to have to do well in team workouts, but my view is he's a clear 1st rounder. Fwiw, he's great in interviews - which may or may not effect his draft status.

[GimmeDat]

Okay, say he declares.. is he a guy that NBA teams are going to identify as a clear 1st round talent, or is he going to be some sleeper someone's going to steal in the 2nd round?

You don't see many FLaSt backups picked in the first round, and he's going to have to do well in team workouts, but my view is he's a clear 1st rounder. Fwiw, he's great in interviews - which may or may not effect his draft status.

Yeah, everything I've seen so far suggests he's a 1st rounder, heck, probably a mid-1st level talent. As a team with an early 2nd (Bulls have MEM pick at #36 right now), I can only hope Kab's limited college role and lack of draft hype push him in to a range where we could possibly take him.

We obviously have Lauri/WCJ with Otto playing some 4 minutes, but in terms of actual big men backups, we're limited (no backup PF at all, RoLo is a UFA and Felicio is a bum who is not an NBA rotation player). Could be a decent opportunity to round out our front-court.

[Ruzious]

Okay, say he declares.. is he a guy that NBA teams are going to identify as a clear 1st round talent, or is he going to be some sleeper someone's going to steal in the 2nd round?

You don't see many FLaSt backups picked in the first round, and he's going to have to do well in team workouts, but my view is he's a clear 1st rounder. Fwiw, he's great in interviews - which may or may not effect his draft status.

Yeah, everything I've seen so far suggests he's a 1st rounder, heck, probably a mid-1st level talent. As a team with an early 2nd (Bulls have MEM pick at #36 right now), I can only hope Kab's limited college role and lack of draft hype push him in to a range where we could possibly take him.

We obviously have Lauri/WCJ with Otto playing some 4 minutes, but in terms of actual big men backups, we're limited (no backup PF at all, RoLo is a UFA and Felicio is a bum who is not an NBA rotation player). Could be a decent opportunity to round out our front-court.

I'm thinking Boston - with 3 mid 1sts, and the could use a thumper - especially as Horford's getting older and Williams doesn't seem like a very reliable character. Then again, I think Boston might target Jontay Porter.

[GimmeDat]

You don't see many FLaSt backups picked in the first round, and he's going to have to do well in team workouts, but my view is he's a clear 1st rounder. Fwiw, he's great in interviews - which may or may not effect his draft status.

Yeah, everything I've seen so far suggests he's a 1st rounder, heck, probably a mid-1st level talent. As a team with an early 2nd (Bulls have MEM pick at #36 right now), I can only hope Kab's limited college role and lack of draft hype push him in to a range where we could possibly take him.

We obviously have Lauri/WCJ with Otto playing some 4 minutes, but in terms of actual big men backups, we're limited (no backup PF at all, RoLo is a UFA and Felicio is a bum who is not an NBA rotation player). Could be a decent opportunity to round out our front-court.

I'm thinking Boston - with 3 mid 1sts, and the could use a thumper - especially as Horford's getting older and Williams doesn't seem like a very reliable character. Then again, I think Boston might target Jontay Porter.

Yeah I could see Boston taking a swing at him. This is a long-shot, but I wonder whether the Yabusele reach might dissuade them from another 'less-proven' big. Jontay's another guy where I have no clue where he'll actually go.

[clyde21]

Okay, say he declares.. is he a guy that NBA teams are going to identify as a clear 1st round talent, or is he going to be some sleeper someone's going to steal in the 2nd round?

You don't see many FLaSt backups picked in the first round, and he's going to have to do well in team workouts, but my view is he's a clear 1st rounder. Fwiw, he's great in interviews - which may or may not effect his draft status.

Yeah, everything I've seen so far suggests he's a 1st rounder, heck, probably a mid-1st level talent. As a team with an early 2nd (Bulls have MEM pick at #36 right now), I can only hope Kab's limited college role and lack of draft hype push him in to a range where we could possibly take him.

We obviously have Lauri/WCJ with Otto playing some 4 minutes, but in terms of actual big men backups, we're limited (no backup PF at all, RoLo is a UFA and Felicio is a bum who is not an NBA rotation player). Could be a decent opportunity to round out our front-court.

he's a first rounder for sure

the only thing that MIGHT make him drop is that 2nd half of the first round there's a lot of PF/C talent, so that might push someone down

[GimmeDat]

You don't see many FLaSt backups picked in the first round, and he's going to have to do well in team workouts, but my view is he's a clear 1st rounder. Fwiw, he's great in interviews - which may or may not effect his draft status.

Yeah, everything I've seen so far suggests he's a 1st rounder, heck, probably a mid-1st level talent. As a team with an early 2nd (Bulls have MEM pick at #36 right now), I can only hope Kab's limited college role and lack of draft hype push him in to a range where we could possibly take him.

We obviously have Lauri/WCJ with Otto playing some 4 minutes, but in terms of actual big men backups, we're limited (no backup PF at all, RoLo is a UFA and Felicio is a bum who is not an NBA rotation player). Could be a decent opportunity to round out our front-court.

he's a first rounder for sure

the only thing that MIGHT make him drop is that 2nd half of the first round there's a lot of PF/C talent, so that might push someone down

That's true. If you're drafting on draft night.. do you take him over say PJ Washington/Grant Williams/Rui Hachimura/Brandon Clarke/Daniel Gafford/Goga Bidagze/Bruno Fernando/Jontay Porter?

Personally, from what I've seen, I'd take him over PJ/Grant/Rui and maybe Gafford. It might be the case that teams prefer the more proven commodities over Kab, though. Maybe I'm just being hopeful.