2023-2024 College Basketball / NBA Draft

mjkvol · Post #21 » by **mjkvol** » Thu Nov 30, 2023 4:41 pm

elchengue20 wrote:Vols fans, what is your opinion on my fellow countryman Santiago Vescovi?

Seems he has little to no chance of making the NBA, but at least hes been very solid there.

Interestingly, Santi has actually regressed a bit so far this season, but he has been a notoriously slow starter and great finisher in his time at UT. Next level is really hard to say. He's an incredibly streaky shooter, and while I could see him being a Strus type bench player in the right system, he would need to become more consistent. I'll hate to see him go, he's such a gamer.

Speaking of UT, just heartbroken seeing Dalton Knecht go down last night when he was about to break the all-time scoring record for an opposing player at North Carolina. He has been a monster this year, I just hope it isn't as serious as it looked and he's back at some point. Kid will certainly be a 1st round pick next summer.

Negrodamus · Post #22 » by **Negrodamus** » Sat Dec 2, 2023 10:44 pm

Rob Dillingham == Terq Smith. Same streetball craziness with some questionable shot selection and a rail thin frame.

Negrodamus · Post #23 » by **Negrodamus** » Sat Dec 2, 2023 10:46 pm

Also, Reed Sheppard is probably the best player on Kentucky right now. Does everything unbelievably well so far.

Kobblehead · Post #24 » by **Kobblehead** » Sat Dec 30, 2023 11:14 pm

Negrodamus wrote:Also, Reed Sheppard is probably the best player on Kentucky right now. Does everything unbelievably well so far.

How does this guy:

...have a 5.6% steal and 3.9% block???

His numbers are wild.

Negrodamus · Post #25 » by **Negrodamus** » Thu Jan 4, 2024 10:21 pm

Damn, Bryce Hopkins blew his ACL. Was hoping he'd take the next step this year, but will likely need to return and prove it next year.

Negrodamus · Post #26 » by **Negrodamus** » Thu Jan 4, 2024 10:21 pm

Kobblehead wrote:
Negrodamus wrote:Also, Reed Sheppard is probably the best player on Kentucky right now. Does everything unbelievably well so far.

How does this guy:

...have a 5.6% steal and 3.9% block???

His numbers are wild.

He's just really smart as a player. Calipari will wait till almost March to decide that he's this year's Shai and he needs to bench Wagner.

Kobblehead · Post #27 » by **Kobblehead** » Fri Jan 5, 2024 2:03 pm

I think Sheppard can be a natural Melton replacement for us. While he doesn't have the athleticism or arm length of Melton, he's a far more advanced shooter and similarly is a steal and block beast.

I'm seeing him mocked Top 10, though. So that's probably way out of our reach.

Kobblehead · Post #28 » by **Kobblehead** » Sat Jan 6, 2024 3:10 pm

I like this Bobi Klintman guy.

https://www.tankathon.com/players/bobi-klintman

Watch on YouTube

At 6'10" 225 with some shooting ability, he seems like he would be a great offensive fit in various lineups for us. And bring some much needed size and youth.

Negrodamus · Post #29 » by **Negrodamus** » Sat Jan 6, 2024 7:09 pm

If Aaron Bradshaw goes in the draft, any team would be foolish to take him at this stage of his career. Completely unprepared for the NBA. His HS ranking was way overinflated

Kobblehead · Post #30 » by **Kobblehead** » Sun Jan 7, 2024 7:58 pm

@Negro

You're a fan of Tyler Kolek, if I recall.

Do you think he'd be a good fit in Nurse's system as a backup PG? I'm starting to compile a list of upperclassmen I want at pick #50, and he's on it.

Negrodamus · Post #31 » by **Negrodamus** » Sun Jan 7, 2024 8:09 pm

Kobblehead wrote:@Negro

You're a fan of Tyler Kolek, if I recall.

Do you think he'd be a good fit in Nurse's system as a backup PG? I'm starting to compile a list of upperclassmen I want at pick #50, and he's on it.

I’ve been bad about prospects this year, but he was the best combo of floor general, defense, and shooting in last year’s draft, so I imagine he’d still be killing it this year. At 6’3, he’s not tiny either. I think he’ll stick around in the league.

Kobblehead · Post #32 » by **Kobblehead** » Tue Jan 9, 2024 8:13 pm

Negrodamus wrote:If Aaron Bradshaw goes in the draft, any team would be foolish to take him at this stage of his career. Completely unprepared for the NBA. His HS ranking was way overinflated

I love what I see from Dillingham and Sheppard.

Its weird how all three of Edwards, Wagner, and Bradshaw have been duds, though. Of these three disappointments, which do you think projects most useful at the NBA level?

Negrodamus · Post #33 » by **Negrodamus** » Tue Jan 9, 2024 8:25 pm

Kobblehead wrote:
Negrodamus wrote:If Aaron Bradshaw goes in the draft, any team would be foolish to take him at this stage of his career. Completely unprepared for the NBA. His HS ranking was way overinflated

I love what I see from Dillingham and Sheppard.

Its weird how all three of Edwards, Wagner, and Bradshaw have been duds, though. Of these three disappointments, which do you think projects most useful at the NBA level?

Wagner. If no other reason, I just don't trust Calipari's track record with highly regarded SFs. I think Keldon Johnson might be the last good one? MKG was highly drafted but crapped his pants in the NBA. It's pretty remarkable how bad he's been with it.

Bradshaw has a weird body and mediocre instincts/athleticism. His saving grace is his shot looks fine at 7'.

Wagner is just a little redundant with Dillingham tbh. Both combo guards but one is a more flashy handler (Dillingham) and the other is a bruiser while driving. I wonder if Dilly and Sheppard's success off the bench is messing with Wagner's head so far.

Negrodamus · Post #34 » by **Negrodamus** » Tue Jan 9, 2024 8:28 pm

If Adou Thiero becomes a legit shooter (I know, huge if), then he's one of the steals of this draft. Has grown to 6'8, built like a safety, and has some ball handling chops along with being a very good defender. I'm excited for him to get back.

Kobblehead · Post #35 » by **Kobblehead** » Tue Jan 9, 2024 9:25 pm

Wooga Poplar is interesting. Philly kid. Athletic and bouncy and can shoot his ass off.

Watch on YouTube

Pre-combine listing at 6'5" 197 so appears to have good SG size. 21 years old.

Kobblehead · Post #36 » by **Kobblehead** » Wed Jan 10, 2024 1:44 am

I've been big on the idea of getting a defensive PF with jumpshot potential. This draft seems to have a handful of good options here.

19 year old Kwame Evans seems like the big prize of this archetype. He's being mocked at the end of the first round so he definitely should be in play with our pick.

22 year olds PJ Hall and Coleman Hawkins would be interesting options with the 2nd round pick we got from the Knicks. Both these guys also have added traits of playmaking.

21 year old Trevon Brazile fits the archetype as well but has major injury history which might make him undraftable and better suited as an undrafted guy you bring in on a two-way contract.

Evans seems like the gem, though. Could be Paul Reed with offense.

Kobblehead · Post #37 » by **Kobblehead** » Thu Jan 11, 2024 1:59 am

Watch on YouTube

Jaxson Robinson seems like an awesome offensive fit. Elite level athlete with length. Projects to be a 40% shooter from three. 21 year old.

This dude would FEAST on catch and shoot threes playing off of Embiid/Maxey.

Kobblehead · Post #38 » by **Kobblehead** » Fri Jan 12, 2024 1:49 am

Is Rob Dillingham lowkey the best player in this draft?

Negrodamus · Post #39 » by **Negrodamus** » Sat Jan 13, 2024 8:29 pm

Kobblehead wrote:Is Rob Dillingham lowkey the best player in this draft?

He’s starting to look unstoppable. Was comparing him to Terq, but he’s been much, much better than that this year.

Kobblehead · Post #40 » by **Kobblehead** » Sun Jan 14, 2024 3:15 pm

Yeah, with his play right now, I'm thinking like a Darius Garland type.

I don't really see the appeal in Isaiah Collier right now. I think Dillingham is easily the top G.

And the guy sneaking under the radar is Duke's Jared McCain. I think he's going to be a stud in the league. Sharpshooter and at 197, has tremendous strength.