While I appreciate your optimism I'm not there yet. I'd like to see him face some formable competition. I still have concerns on speed of play.
I think you mean formidable, but yes, I agree. He’s still a project. I’m not expecting more than 7 and 5 out of him in conference play. I’m just fantasizing about him being an elite rebounder, and being able to take stiffs off the dribble, like Ron did. That doesn’t mean I think he’s gonna be Ron Artest. I’m not insane, but I’m two years, but I could see Champagnie being a SF/PF depending on who we are playing. He has a good jumper as a freshman. He finishes in a variety of ways - that is why he can play against high majors. Over time, he be very hard to guard if he continues to put the work in.
Artest played center in the carrier dome in the 98-99 season because surprise, Etan Thomas was destroying Albert Richardson. Against Duke, he brought the ball up. No coach can teach the incredible instincts that Artest came to St.John’s with, but Champagnie can already do many of the things we’d hope a player will learn in their first couple of seasons.
It’s amazing that he was so overlooked, but as NYC basketball fans, we all know how many players go unnoticed, and then end up at some low level D1 program like Norfolk State. But when the ball goes up, they’re a BE player.