Progression Tracker: Amir Garret

Kid is a hard worker, I am sure he can handle both for 4 years. I think his future is in basketball even if that means Europe. He won't close any doors on himself until he expires his basketball eligibility. 

I guess if the choice was to play for the Mets and Randolph and Mortimer Wilpon someone might choose to play basketball with Geno in Khakistan instead. But the kid is clearly a better baseball prospect.

Kid is a hard worker, I am sure he can handle both for 4 years. I think his future is in basketball even if that means Europe. He won't close any doors on himself until he expires his basketball eligibility. 

I guess if the choice was to play for the Mets and Randolph and Mortimer Wilpon someone might choose to play basketball with Geno in Khakistan instead. But the kid is clearly a better baseball prospect.

I am not really sure of that, he has upside in both sports for sure, pitching professional ball even with a plus fastball may be difficult Kid has not pitched in a game in like 3 years.

Quote from: boo3 on January 24, 2012, 09:41:37 AM

Its easier to develop a jump shop than a slider, don't you think?


 Harder sport to be a professional?  Baseball or Basketball? 

Tough to say since Amir is already a pro base player. And you got the minors in base and The World in bball.

If you just talkin MLB and NBA and go the most simple of analysis:

30 MLB teams x 25 man roster = 750 players

30 NBA teams x 15 man roster = 450 players

  True Choz, makes sense.

 I guess my rationale was that there are more kids in the country/world that play high level baseball than basketball.  Thus making it more difficult to get the call for professional baseball.  I may be totally off.

 It's hard to tell where his future lies.  Did anyone really think that Charlie Ward would end up playing hoops for in the NBA for ten years?   He was a 4 year, 2 sport star also. 

But the kid is clearly a better baseball prospect.

Don't know how you can say that as he hasn't played organized baseball nearly as much as basketball.

And if he was THAT good regardless of his STJ standing some team would have drafted earlier and threw even more money at him.

Don't know how you can say that as he hasn't played organized baseball nearly as much as basketball.

And if he was THAT good regardless of his STJ standing some team would have drafted earlier and threw even more money at him.


Um they gave him a million dollars. He wouldn't get a happy meal to play basketball at this point. Pretty much makes him a better baseball prospect.

He hasnt been here long enough to evaluate his BB. Is he a 1 and done, NO. But lets see how he does his JR. year.

He has already made more money playing baseball then he would probably make in 4 - 5 years of hoops if he had to go to Europe/NBADL to play hoops after St. John's.

As it has been pointed out...   6'6 left handed pitchers that throw that hard are a much rarer find then 6'6 wing players who can jump through the moon.

Allen Watcon was certainly not in the same basketball league as Amir Garrett but he was no slouch either and turned down Div I offers to play hoops for a baseball future and he didn't throw 96mph coming out of high school.

Garrett is obviously a very rare atheltic talent but today his potential to reach the highest level is much greater in baseball then basketball.

Dribble - too high
Defense - reaches way too much
Jumper - has nice form but needs to get inside the 3 pointer.  would love to see him at the foul line against zone

Good points.  I agree his dribble is way too high (very common) and a bit loose, but I really like the way he attacks the basket and how he can finish.  This kid really reminds me a lot of Paris Horne.  I must be in the minority here, but I think his shot is fine.  He will be a good set shooter for us just like Paris was from the corner.  Unlike Paris (who's biggest weakness was his ability to drive in the half court), I think Garrett will excel taking people off the bounce.  Once he starts knocking down shots, making good passes from the wing, and learns the Lavin shot-fake dribble drive, he'll be a very good option for us out there.


Paris was a kid that, even more than Hardy or DJ, I wanted on the floor in close games because he just made things happen...poking balls away, skying for boards, steals, loose balls, blocked shots...keeping offensive possessions alive, etc.  I think this will be Garrett's best asset as well. 

I'd like to see Garrett and Pointer just take what is given to them by the defense.  Lavin loves the weave and passing around the perimeter, because if you pass and screen enough, you are going to catch a defender straying too far or closing out too recklessly, and that gives space for open jumper or shot-fake then dribble penetration.  We very well could have five guys on the floor shooting 30% or more from three, that can all take their man to the whole if given the space.

Don't know how you can say that as he hasn't played organized baseball nearly as much as basketball.

And if he was THAT good regardless of his STJ standing some team would have drafted earlier and threw even more money at him.


Um they gave him a million dollars. He wouldn't get a happy meal to play basketball at this point. Pretty much makes him a better baseball prospect.

I'm pretty sure he didn't play baseball his senior year. He just picked it up and decided to hurl it in front of scouts to see what happened. He threw 96

While Amir will not be "practicing" basketball this summer with the team and coaches which would help develop some of his skills to a better level, he is not going to be sitting in an office eating donuts.  He will be under the watchful eye of professional trainers besides his baseball coaches.  Not every pitcher has the "standing out" build of CC.  Pitchers get a lot of their power from the lower body so that will be strengthened; maybe he won't be as easy to back down on the court.  their will also be conditioning for his upper body.  Thus while his skills will not get the development he needs over the summer, he at least will have perfected the baseline to baseline pass for next season.  Now will any of his teammates get some practice with our baseball team's coach of catchers?

Don't know how you can say that as he hasn't played organized baseball nearly as much as basketball.

And if he was THAT good regardless of his STJ standing some team would have drafted earlier and threw even more money at him.


Um they gave him a million dollars. He wouldn't get a happy meal to play basketball at this point. Pretty much makes him a better baseball prospect.

Funny WASJU, but I agree with you.  A close friend of mine was a minor league pitching prospect. He doesn't think that Amir's pitching will affect his bball development all that much. Pitching workouts during the basketball offseason involve a lot of core conditioning, stretching and cardio vascular exercises, which won't hurt Amir.  Also, as a young pitcher, he's not supposed to throw too much outside of controlled conditions for fear of taxing his arm.

A friend of mine who I went to St. John's with was drafted my junior year. He received a $600,000 signing bonus as a lefty pitcher. He's 26 right now and is retired from baseball. After taxes and agent cut there wasn't much left over of that signing bonus.

Um they gave him a million dollars. He wouldn't get a happy meal to play basketball at this point. Pretty much makes him a better baseball prospect.

Um he couldnt get a happy meal playing basketball right now because he's not allowed to get money.  But Shirley you knew that.

He didn't play baseball as much and again I ask if his 96 will hold up as he continues to throw as opposed to sporadic throwing.

Who does he remind you of?

David Russell. As an 8th grader.

David Russell. As an 8th grader.

Russell's Senior year I was 10 I believe but he was my first favorite player. Again I was only 10 but I thought he could have played in NBA. From what I remember he had a nice jumper to go with his crazy hops. Wht round was he drafted in and why didn't he ever make it?

Um he couldnt get a happy meal playing basketball right now because he's not allowed to get money.  But Shirley you knew that.

He didn't play baseball as much and again I ask if his 96 will hold up as he continues to throw as opposed to sporadic throwing.


I watched Blue Chips and that Fab 5 documentary. Kids can get all sorts of things. Just ask Abe Keita who btw should not have warranted a happy meal either.

David Russell. As an 8th grader.

Russell's Senior year I was 10 I believe but he was my first favorite player. Again I was only 10 but I thought he could have played in NBA. From what I remember he had a nice jumper to go with his crazy hops. Wht round was he drafted in and why didn't he ever make it?

IIRC correctly he was drafted in not the first round by someone out west. I don't remember him having a jump shot at all. Nor do I recall him improving: as a senior he was as he was as a freshman. One of those great players Louie turned into a good one.

http://www.thedraftreview.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2079

Nice stats and it looked like he improved every year statistically until his senior year. Drafted in mid 2nd round. I thought he had nice form as I remember him shooting baseline jumpers. Again I was young and my memory of those early SJU teams is I am sure skewed very positively. In fact I am pretty sure I would vote for Walter Berry for President.

http://www.thedraftreview.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2079

Nice stats and it looked like he improved every year statistically until his senior year. Drafted in mid 2nd round. I thought he had nice form as I remember him shooting baseline jumpers. Again I was young and my memory of those early SJU teams is I am sure skewed very positively. In fact I am pretty sure I would vote for Walter Berry for President.

Bill Goodwin and Kevin Williams also drafted from that team - about the most disappointing of all Lou's disappointments. Bobby f'reaking Kelly.

Bill Goodwin and Kevin Williams also drafted from that team - about the most disappointing of all Lou's disappointments. Bobby f'reaking Kelly

I mentioned this before but worth repeating. I was the ball ball for the USBL Staten Island Stallions and Kevin Williams was on the team and was the leading scorer in the whole league. Averaged 33 points a game. Hot Rod Williams waiting to be reinstated by NBA after Tulane scandal. Ken Bannister. this guy from Georgia U Joe Ward who had the most ridiculous hops I had ever seen and Turner a point guard from Mich ST that played with Skiles were all on the team. Billy Goodwin barely played for the Long Island team.

As a side note I mentioned to Goodwin that I was a huge SJU fan during warmups and he spent the whole warm up time talking with a 14 year old kid. Really nice guy. Kevin Williams on the other hand was a jack off.  Maybe that is why Louie started Kelly over him.