Assessment of this years players

Harkless-better than advertised, should be a beast next year.
Harrison-better than advertised, big time shooter and scorer, tough as nails, leader, will be big time scorer for years to come.
GG-needs to get tougher on the boards, needs to be more of a shot blocking threat on defense although he has done a great job drawing charges, needs to refine offensive moves and game.
Green-better than advertised, good all around player, needs to get stronger so he will be stronger with the ball. With a little improvement will continue to be a big contributor for years to come.
Pointer-like his all around game and hustle but did expect more offensively. Needs to improve handle and work on shooting and offensive moves, love his defense.
Garrett-great and loyal kid, plays hard and tough, rangy defender, needs to work on his shooting and offensive moves.
All in all a very good nucleus for next season and with the addition of Branch and hopefully a shooter and a couple of bigs we should have a sweet team next season.

Assessment of this years players: they're really really young.

Everyone needs to play a lot of ball this summer. Sir, Amir and GG need to shoot jumpers until they drop.
Greene needs to work on his ball handling. Moe needs to get stronger. Harrison needs the least amount of work.
He's going to put up 20+ ppg next year. I think he's also the strongest player we have.

GG needs the most work, which is unfortunate because he he has the least amount of time. An up and under ala Ty Grant is a nice idea. Also, he could learn that players can actually score behind you in a zone.

Assessment of this years players: they're really really young.

Everyone needs to play a lot of ball this summer. Sir, Amir and GG need to shoot jumpers until they drop.
Greene needs to work on his ball handling. Moe needs to get stronger. Harrison needs the least amount of work.
He's going to put up 20+ ppg next year. I think he's also the strongest player we have.

GG needs the most work, which is unfortunate because he he has the least amount of time. An up and under ala Ty Grant is a nice idea. Also, he could learn that players can actually score behind you in a zone.

GG has been a huge disappointment,  I thought he would be a much better player.

With GG it's all size related. Started out 6'9 wound up 6'6. We need some legit size, as always.

With GG it's all size related. Started out 6'9 wound up 6'6. We need some legit size, as always

He is a fine forward off the bench which is what he was recruited to do. Despite people claiming Wes Unseld was able to play center at 6-6 that was an exception not the rule. Does anyone else remember back early in the season how people responded when I questioned how GG would fare against bigger comp. Someone should dig those posts up becuase Iam sure some of those same people are criticizing him now.

It's not just about size. He. Has no up and under. Ty Grant would have dropped 20 and 20 on GTown

My impression of Gift is that the game moves faster for him in the BE more so that the freshman. He would have been a very good backup 4 this year.

It's not just about size. He. Has no up and under. Ty Grant would have dropped 20 and 20 on GTown

20 and 20???  Ty averaged 8.6ppg and 7.7 rpg.  God's Gift is averaging 9.4ppg and 5.7rpg and he's massively disappointing?   He was a below the radar JC player.  How in any way have his numbers indicated a disappointment?  Not many JC players come into the Big East and average 10ppg their first season.  No, he's not Amare, but c'mon people.  The absurd expectations here are pretty funny.  If anything I'd like to see a few more boards per game from him but hes putting up solid numbers.  No reason to suspect Ty Grant would have dropped 20/20 vs Georgetown though.  That is fantasy.

Quote from: Poison on February 14, 2012, 09:39:25 AM

It's not just about size. He. Has no up and under. Ty Grant would have dropped 20 and 20 on GTown

20 and 20???  Ty averaged 8.6ppg and 7.7 rpg.  God's Gift is averaging 9.4ppg and 5.7rpg and he's massively disappointing?   He was a below the radar JC player.  How in any way have his numbers indicated a disappointment?  Not many JC players come into the Big East and average 10ppg their first season.  No, he's not Amare, but c'mon people.  The absurd expectations here are pretty funny.  If anything I'd like to see a few more boards per game from him but hes putting up solid numbers.  No reason to suspect Ty Grant would have dropped 20/20 vs Georgetown though.  That is fantasy.

Those aren't true numbers-- against the better teams he has , for the most part, stunk up the court.  He had some good games early against the mid majors.  To say he hasn't been disappointing is just not true.  When he puts the ball on the floor it's a turnover,  he doesnt have soft hands,  I was expecting more

It's not just about size. He. Has no up and under. Ty Grant would have dropped 20 and 20 on GTown

Limited moves for sure,  he has to get better

Quote from: MCNPA on February 14, 2012, 09:49:52 AM

Quote from: Poison on February 14, 2012, 09:39:25 AM

It's not just about size. He. Has no up and under. Ty Grant would have dropped 20 and 20 on GTown

20 and 20???  Ty averaged 8.6ppg and 7.7 rpg.  God's Gift is averaging 9.4ppg and 5.7rpg and he's massively disappointing?   He was a below the radar JC player.  How in any way have his numbers indicated a disappointment?  Not many JC players come into the Big East and average 10ppg their first season.  No, he's not Amare, but c'mon people.  The absurd expectations here are pretty funny.  If anything I'd like to see a few more boards per game from him but hes putting up solid numbers.  No reason to suspect Ty Grant would have dropped 20/20 vs Georgetown though.  That is fantasy.

Those aren't true numbers-- against the better teams he has , for the most part, stunk up the court.  He had some good games early against the mid majors.  To say he hasn't been disappointing is just not true.  When he puts the ball on the floor it's a turnover,  he doesnt have soft hands,  I was expecting more

.

How much more were you expecting 15ppg 12rpg?  He's overmatched at times because we have nobody else in the post to help him.  He's actually performing quite well for a first year JC big man. 

I was expecting about 10 and 8 after his role got larger with no Pelle or Sampson.

I'm not a basketball expert, I just love St. John's and our kids, so take this with a grain of salt.  I'm gonna pick the one biggest thing I believe each player needs to work on.

Harkless - Certainly didn't expect this kind of production right away.  Sure he could work on his shot, or add some more moves to his offensive game, but I think the most important thing for him to do this off-season is put on about 15 pounds of muscle.

Harrison - A more consistent shot would be nice, as would about 2 inches of height and 8 more inches on his vertical, but I'll go for a more realistic option of having better shot selection.  Some of it has been forced upon him because of the lack of developed offensive talent around him, but there are times where he just makes you scratch your head.  This might be naturally rectified next season with new players and improved returning players.

Greene - Greene was thrust into a position that wasn't expected of him and has performed admirably given the circumstances.  Next year he'll be able to go back to being a combo guard, but I think his highest ceiling might actually be as a point.  That being said, I'll say improved court vision is his biggest need.  He needs to stop getting his pocket picked from behind.

Pointer - Defensive stud.  Offensive wart.  While obviously a shot would be nice, I think the first thing he needs to work on is improving his handle.  He's never going to be a 4, and if he wants to see significant minutes at the 3, he needs to make us not afraid of him dribbling.

Achiuwa - At the start of the season, he looked great (albeit against weaker competition for the most part).  He shows flashes, but overall seems to be a little lost and/or overwhelmed.  He had hands and a shot and the beginning of the season; I'm not sure where they went.  I don't expect greatness out of him, but I think if he can work on his confidence, it could go a long ways towards improving his overall production.

Garrett - Not as much of a body of work to critique, and it's hard to tell where he'll be at the end of the season given how much improvement he has shown.  Plays hard all the time on both ends (now that he's not completely lost offensively).  Hard to criticize his game as I think he may unknowingly (to myself) be turning into one of my favorite players on the team.  I'll go with an improved shot; more out of team necessity than anything else.


It makes me giddy to think how much improvement we could possibly see next year if the players work hard.  Can't wait.

I was expecting about 10 and 8 after his role got larger with no Pelle or Sampson.

Sorry Ted, but to expect a 6'7" first year JC player to come in and average a near double-double in Big East play is crazy.  Those are overblown expectations IMHO.  I think he's playing on par with what I expected impact-wise. He's averaging probably double the points I expected.  Most of us really thought we'd just get some defense and rebounding. 

I'm not a basketball expert, I just love St. John's and our kids, so take this with a grain of salt.  I'm gonna pick the one biggest thing I believe each player needs to work on.

Harkless - Certainly didn't expect this kind of production right away.  Sure he could work on his shot, or add some more moves to his offensive game, but I think the most important thing for him to do this off-season is put on about 15 pounds of muscle.

Harrison - A more consistent shot would be nice, as would about 2 inches of height and 8 more inches on his vertical, but I'll go for a more realistic option of having better shot selection.  Some of it has been forced upon him because of the lack of developed offensive talent around him, but there are times where he just makes you scratch your head.  This might be naturally rectified next season with new players and improved returning players.

Greene - Greene was thrust into a position that wasn't expected of him and has performed admirably given the circumstances.  Next year he'll be able to go back to being a combo guard, but I think his highest ceiling might actually be as a point.  That being said, I'll say improved court vision is his biggest need.  He needs to stop getting his pocket picked from behind.

Pointer - Defensive stud.  Offensive wart.  While obviously a shot would be nice, I think the first thing he needs to work on is improving his handle.  He's never going to be a 4, and if he wants to see significant minutes at the 3, he needs to make us not afraid of him dribbling.

Achiuwa - At the start of the season, he looked great (albeit against weaker competition for the most part).  He shows flashes, but overall seems to be a little lost and/or overwhelmed.  He had hands and a shot and the beginning of the season; I'm not sure where they went.  I don't expect greatness out of him, but I think if he can work on his confidence, it could go a long ways towards improving his overall production.

Garrett - Not as much of a body of work to critique, and it's hard to tell where he'll be at the end of the season given how much improvement he has shown.  Plays hard all the time on both ends (now that he's not completely lost offensively).  Hard to criticize his game as I think he may unknowingly (to myself) be turning into one of my favorite players on the team.  I'll go with an improved shot; more out of team necessity than anything else.


It makes me giddy to think how much improvement we could possibly see next year if the players work hard.  Can't wait.

Excellent post!

Quote from: sju89tr on February 14, 2012, 10:36:04 AM

I was expecting about 10 and 8 after his role got larger with no Pelle or Sampson.

Sorry Ted, but to expect a 6'7" first year JC player to come in and average a near double-double in Big East play is crazy.  Those are overblown expectations IMHO.  I think he's playing on par with what I expected.  He's averaging probably double the points I expected.  Most of us really thought we'd just get some defense and rebounding.

I only say that because he was guaranteed 35 minutes a game.

Quote from: MCNPA on February 14, 2012, 10:43:10 AM

Quote from: sju89tr on February 14, 2012, 10:36:04 AM

I was expecting about 10 and 8 after his role got larger with no Pelle or Sampson.

Sorry Ted, but to expect a 6'7" first year JC player to come in and average a near double-double in Big East play is crazy.  Those are overblown expectations IMHO.  I think he's playing on par with what I expected.  He's averaging probably double the points I expected.  Most of us really thought we'd just get some defense and rebounding.

I only say that because he was guaranteed 35 minutes a game.

Understood, but just because a guy gets the requisite minutes doesn't mean he'll average a near double-double.  I'm curious how many first year big guys at SJU ever averaged 10/8?

Quote from: sju89tr on February 14, 2012, 10:44:39 AM

Quote from: MCNPA on February 14, 2012, 10:43:10 AM

Quote from: sju89tr on February 14, 2012, 10:36:04 AM

I was expecting about 10 and 8 after his role got larger with no Pelle or Sampson.

Sorry Ted, but to expect a 6'7" first year JC player to come in and average a near double-double in Big East play is crazy.  Those are overblown expectations IMHO.  I think he's playing on par with what I expected.  He's averaging probably double the points I expected.  Most of us really thought we'd just get some defense and rebounding.

I only say that because he was guaranteed 35 minutes a game.

Understood, but just because a guy gets the requisite minutes doesn't mean he'll average a near double-double.  I'm curious how many first year big guys at SJU ever averaged 10/8?

Walter Berry LOL

Quote from: MCNPA on February 14, 2012, 10:46:16 AM

Quote from: sju89tr on February 14, 2012, 10:44:39 AM

Quote from: MCNPA on February 14, 2012, 10:43:10 AM

Quote from: sju89tr on February 14, 2012, 10:36:04 AM

I was expecting about 10 and 8 after his role got larger with no Pelle or Sampson.

Sorry Ted, but to expect a 6'7" first year JC player to come in and average a near double-double in Big East play is crazy.  Those are overblown expectations IMHO.  I think he's playing on par with what I expected.  He's averaging probably double the points I expected.  Most of us really thought we'd just get some defense and rebounding.

I only say that because he was guaranteed 35 minutes a game.

Understood, but just because a guy gets the requisite minutes doesn't mean he'll average a near double-double.  I'm curious how many first year big guys at SJU ever averaged 10/8?

Walter Berry LOL

Exactly...lol

Gift's biggest problem is that the defense always knows where he's going. He needs an up and under.