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He may hurt himself though.Originally posted by Downes Van Zandt
You could come out and display a whole lot of weaknesses that could stick in people's minds whenever you enter the draft. If he came in and absolutely could not shoot a lick--worse than Briscoe and Fox--then that's something that could linger over him even if he played at Kentucky next year.
It might be just better to get that high-level instruction from the UK staff and wait it out until next season.Comment
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Coaches teach more than shooting.
This is what this whole thing is about, though. His people have said that he doesn't want to stay in prep school and wants to practice with a college team under a college staff. Really smart move and it's exactly what I would do were I in his shoes. Playing is secondary but Cal clearly wants him to stay next year. That seems to have at least given him and his family some pause.
But regarding shooting instruction, the staff hasn't had Fox long enough to overhaul his shot. Briscoe has made uncanny improvement. Guy shoots 75% at the foul line, 32% from three. If you would've told me the player we saw last year could put up those numbers I would laugh in your face.
But some guys just can't shoot. Even NBA staffs can't work with some of these guys. It's just not in them for whatever reason.Comment
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But that was the point you brought up: "If he came in and absolutely could not shoot a lick..."
I've no defense for my Briscoe comment. I knew his FT percentage was much improved but I guess I hadn't noticed he'd hit a few threes - though six on the year for a guard still isn't anything to brag about.
I don't buy the "time" thing with Fox, though. When a player has as glaring a weaknesses as Fox's shot, I'd think the staff would make that item #1 on the player's agenda until he improves. I've seen players from junior pro through eastern Kentucky high school become better shooters over the course of a season thanks to a simple tweak or two from a coach; if those kids could do it, I have a hard time believing someone as adept as Fox can't do it, too (if there's a shot in him to fix).Comment
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That isn't the only thing he'll need coaching on. This is a high school kid. He'll not have any base of skill other than his talent. That's why people come to college, and generally the staff at UK remolds these players--and, maybe just as importantly, it markets them effectively. It's why you don't see players going overseas after high school. College is still by far the best bet.
Diallo seems more concerned with instruction, and I respect that. Again, it's exactly how I would play it. Shooting seems to be his biggest weakness, but his whole game is going to need work.
Regarding Fox...I can't think of any Kentucky player who came in as a poor shooter and wasn't a poor shooter after thirteen college games and three months of practice. I've seen high school players get better too in short bursts of time, but this is a different deal entirely. The level of play and speed of the game is radically different. Rajon Rondo couldn't improve in two years, John Wall couldn't really in his season, Briscoe has on the free throw line, MKG still hasn't...these guys who have bad form and who aren't natural shooters take a lot of time*. Some get it, most don't. It certainly doesn't happen by January.
It did happen with Marquis Teague and Andrew Harrison, two guys who couldn't hit that 17-footer in the regular season. But when they got it, it was March. I'm still hoping for that from Fox.Comment
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* Fox isn't as bad form-wise as somebody like Briscoe. I think the speed he plays at is his biggest problem, i.e. the inability to go 150 miles an hour and then just stop into a jumper. It has to do with pace of the game more than form and it's clear he's indecisive a lot of times when he shoots.
That's more like Wall. It's very hard to play this game at a full tilt and then just stop on a dime and shoot a 17-footer, which is arguably the toughest shot in basketball.
But the reason Calipari urges him to shoot it--and still is, according to his coach's show last night--is because if he could hit it he could become a virtually unguardable player. It's worth the risk of four to seven misses a game if by March we're getting a guy who can keep the defense honest with that shot.Comment
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Per at least one UCONN writer, we may hear something from Diallo today.
The fact that a UCONN guy tweeted that seems to suggest that he may be leaning toward the Huskies? I haven't seen anything specific but it seems to be clear at this point that he doesn't want to take that Arizona visit.Comment
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Ben Roberts says he expects Diallo to commit to Kentucky and remain here next season.
Would be one of the greatest selling jobs for Cal to date if it happens.Comment
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Sounds like Jerry Meyer feels the same as Roberts.
247Sports national analyst Jerry Meyer told the Herald-Leader on Wednesday that he expects Diallo to take that route, which could put him on a college campus as early as this weekend.
Meyer said he also expects UK to be Diallo’s destination.
“That’s what the intel is saying,†he said. “Connecticut was the team trying to make (early enrollment) happen, and then once Kentucky started to make it happen, that made Kentucky the school.â€
Diallo took official visits to UConn and Kentucky late last month, and UK Coach John Calipari had an in-home visit with Diallo two days after his trip to Lexington. Diallo, who has been quiet about his recruitment in recent days, has also been considering an official visit to Arizona, but Meyer said Wednesday he didn’t think that trip would happen.
The first day of second semester classes at UK is Jan. 11, and the late registration period for new students ends Jan. 18. Spring classes at UConn begin Jan. 17.
Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...#storylink=cpyComment
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Adam Zagoria says that Diallo will only "train and practice" this season and not play.
If he plays on this team it's freighted with all kinds of risk. Every blunder and missed shot will get a think piece from the experts, the mock drafts will update themselves, etc.
Much better to wait. The only downside for UK is if he ends up jumping into the draft, but I'm sure Cal will have gotten some kind of guarantee that he won't. Because he is definitely closing off all hope of landing another guard for next year if he does commit.Comment
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I just think this team has such great chemistry that I don't want to see it change. I mean maybe I have my blue sunglasses on but it seems this team enjoys other player's successes more than I have ever seen.Comment
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