Summer Practice to Now

[BAMARICH]

Back in the summer, I watched about a week's worth of practices - would have been late July. Several observations then included:
* Best shooters were #1, #2, and #3
* Was impressed with physicality of #4, #11, and #22; #22 was a beast, but raw
* Guys who appeared to be in over their heads were #95 and #24
* #35 looked impressive but was finding his way into the offense
* #0 looked like he had a lot of potential, but didn't look like a big contributor

After two games, here's my take:
* Best shooters on the team in order are likely #1/#3, #0, #2, and #95. LOT more shooters than last year!
* #0 is biggest surprise to me by far. Go back last night and check out his body/hand control. Possible one & done.
* #35 still struggling to find place in offense, but is a really good one-on-one player. Likely can be leaned up in crunch time when defenses tighten down.
* #95 appears as if his playing time each game will be determined if he's "on"; if he hits early shots, he'll play more in that particular game.
* Physicality of this team is going to be impressive; #4 and #22 will bolster efforts of #11 and #15.
* Speaking of #15, he better play good defense and/or hit threes or he might find himself with little PT.
* We're absolutely loaded beyond anything I've ever seen in college BB.

 

[imauafan]

Here is the decoder ring:

0	Labaron Philon	Guard	6' 4''	177	Fr.	Mobile, Ala. / Link Academy
1	Mark Sears	Guard	6' 1''	190	Gr.	Muscle Shoals, Ala. / Hargrave Military Academy	Ohio
2	Aden Holloway	Guard	6' 1''	180	So.	Charlotte, N.C. / Prolific Prep	Auburn
3	Latrell Wrightsell Jr.	Guard	6' 3''	190	Gr.	Omaha, Neb. / Omaha Central HS	Cal State Fullerton
4	Grant Nelson	Forward	6' 11''	230	Gr.	Devils Lake, N.D. / Devils Lake HS	North Dakota State
8	Chris Youngblood	Guard	6' 4''	223	Gr.	Tuscaloosa, Ala. / East Coweta HS	South Florida/Kennesaw State
10	Mouhamed Dioubate	Forward	6' 7''	215	So.	Queens, N.Y. / Putnam Science Academy
11	Clifford Omoruyi	Center	6' 11''	250	Gr.	Benin City, Nigeria / Roselle Catholic HS	Rutgers
15	Jarin Stevenson	Forward	6' 11''	215	So.	Chapel Hill, N.C. / Seaforth HS
22	Aiden Sherrell	Forward	6' 10''	240	Fr.	Detroit, Mich. / Prolific Prep
24	Naas Cunningham	Forward	6' 7''	175	Fr.	West Orange, N.J. / Southern California Academy
35	Derrion Reid	Forward	6' 8''	220	Fr.	Grovetown, Ga. / Prolific Prep
45	Max Scharnowski	Forward	6' 6''	205	Gr.	Elgin, Ill. / Wheaton Academy
95	Houston Mallette	Guard	6' 5''	200	Sr.	Alameda, Calif. / Pacifica Christian HS	Pepperdine

 

[dtgreg]

Back in the summer, I watched about a week's worth of practices - would have been late July. Several observations then included:
* Best shooters were #1, #2, and #3
* Was impressed with physicality of #4, #11, and #22; #22 was a beast, but raw
* Guys who appeared to be in over their heads were #95 and #24
* #35 looked impressive but was finding his way into the offense
* #0 looked like he had a lot of potential, but didn't look like a big contributor

After two games, here's my take:
* Best shooters on the team in order are likely #1/#3, #0, #2, and #95. LOT more shooters than last year!
* #0 is biggest surprise to me by far. Go back last night and check out his body/hand control. Possible one & done.
* #35 still struggling to find place in offense, but is a really good one-on-one player. Likely can be leaned up in crunch time when defenses tighten down.
* #95 appears as if his playing time each game will be determined if he's "on"; if he hits early shots, he'll play more in that particular game.
* Physicality of this team is going to be impressive; #4 and #22 will bolster efforts of #11 and #15.
* Speaking of #15, he better play good defense and/or hit threes or he might find himself with little PT.
* We're absolutely loaded beyond anything I've ever seen in college BB.

It's truly insane! I love it!

 

[BamaHoopsBoi]

#0 Philon, I agree may end up doing well enough that he gets some draft interest. By the end of it I think he'll surpass Sears. He's got a lot of ball to play first though.

 

[Coach D]

After the first two pre- season games to me Philon looks like he could get comfortable enough to pass Holloway for PT at the 1 and 2 by conference.

I think others here have said it before but Stevenson unless he improves the rest of his game besides shooting looks like he could slip down too.

Top to bottom this roster is very talented and should be experienced enough to get over humps. Just about gelling and getting injured guys back.

Excited to see Young and Sherrel when they get back.

 

[BAMARICH]

I think the player I'm most interested in seeing coming back is Sherrill. He's much more raw than Cliff, but he's bigger and seems to have a nasty streak. My impression when I saw him back in the summer was "I'm glad we have Cliff, but if we hadn't landed Cliff we'd have been ok."

 

[BamaMoon]

Good thread. We're going to be crazy good.

To me, the surprise of the exhibition season has been #10, MoDi. He's reminding me more of another left hander we had who made crazy improvement from his first year who playing in the NBA (Herb Jones)!

My sleeper prediction, months ago, who would make an impact (and he was the 1st recruit/transfer in this class, IIRC) was Mallette (#95). He's got a pure stroke and good size and we know he'll get his looks. He probably needs to make shots to stay on the floor and he probably needs to play relentless D no matter what. I think he may end up being a surprise + player.

Youngblood, when he gets healthy is going to raise eyebrows. Can't wait to see him! Dude is built like a middle LB!

Agree on how good Philon looks. Our first "tall" PG (maybe Sexton was 6' 3") but Philon looks to play longer and he's very sly with his length. He glides!

I don't think Stephenson will struggle with minutes unless he has a Soph. slump. He's probably the most freaky athlete on the floor in terms of his intangibles. He's basically a 7-footer who can guard, dribble and shoot like a 6-footer. He's probably the poster boy for CNO's "positionless player." He wasn't as good as the one and done Noah Clowney as a freshman. But remember Stephenson is, age-wise, only a true freshman this year...what Clowney was his freshman year. I'm not projecting he'll be that good, but I think his intangibles are just as good.

I could say good things about every guy on this roster, but the most exciting thing about this team is this is undoubtedly CNO's best combo of defensive capabilities and offensive explosiveness!!!!

 

[CajunCrimson]

I like the Mallette call out. He’s Rylan’s replacement.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Good thread. We're going to be crazy good.

To me, the surprise of the exhibition season has been #10, MoDi. He's reminding me more of another left hander we had who made crazy improvement from his first year who playing in the NBA (Herb Jones)!

My sleeper prediction, months ago, who would make an impact (and he was the 1st recruit/transfer in this class, IIRC) was Mallette (#95). He's got a pure stroke and good size and we know he'll get his looks. He probably needs to make shots to stay on the floor and he probably needs to play relentless D no matter what. I think he may end up being a surprise + player.

Youngblood, when he gets healthy is going to raise eyebrows. Can't wait to see him! Dude is built like a middle LB!

Agree on how good Philon looks. Our first "tall" PG (maybe Sexton was 6' 3") but Philon looks to play longer and he's very sly with his length. He glides!

I don't think Stephenson will struggle with minutes unless he has a Soph. slump. He's probably the most freaky athlete on the floor in terms of his intangibles. He's basically a 7-footer who can guard, dribble and shoot like a 6-footer. He's probably the poster boy for CNO's "positionless player." He wasn't as good as the one and done Noah Clowney as a freshman. But remember Stephenson is, age-wise, only a true freshman this year...what Clowney was his freshman year. I'm not projecting he'll be that good, but I think his intangibles are just as good.

I could say good things about every guy on this roster, but the most exciting thing about this team is this is undoubtedly CNO's best combo of defensive capabilities and offensive explosiveness!!!!

"Positionless player" - I remembered what the TAMU coach said in his presser following our game last year. He started off with saying "For starters, they have five positionless players."

 

[BamaMike05]

"Positionless player" - I remembered what the TAMU coach said in his presser following our game last year. He started off with saying "For starters, they have five positionless players."

You might not remember but, when Nate Oats was hired , I sent an article in here about "positionless basketball" and how the game is trending to that. That is what Nate Oats wants. The only exception, imo, is that he would like a true rim running, PNR center, just like Cliff O. Having a center that can knock down a 3 is a bonus. I think you will see Aiden Sherrell become that.

 

[CajunCrimson]

You might not remember but, when Nate Oats was hired , I sent an article in here about "positionless basketball" and how the game is trending to that. That is what Nate Oats wants. The only exception, imo, is that he would like a true rim running, PNR center, just like Cliff O. Having a center that can knock down a 3 is a bonus. I think you will see Aiden Sherrell become that.

Noah Clowney

 

[BamaMike05]

Sorry that I haven't been very active on here lately. In June, I was named the head football coach at New Hope High School, in the Huntsville area, so, I have been quite busy lol. I hope to be more active now that the season is over. RTR!

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Sorry that I haven't been very active on here lately. In June, I was named the head football coach at New Hope High School, in the Huntsville area, so, I have been quite busy lol. I hope to be more active now that the season is over. RTR!

Hi, neighbor. I live up on the north end of Monte Sano...

 

[dtgreg]

Sorry that I haven't been very active on here lately. In June, I was named the head football coach at New Hope High School, in the Huntsville area, so, I have been quite busy lol. I hope to be more active now that the season is over. RTR!

Congratulations!!