ESPN Inside Article about SJU from Media Day

Quote from: Marillac on October 21, 2012, 12:37:04 PM

Quote from: Dave on October 21, 2012, 11:34:36 AM

Quote from: Marillac on October 21, 2012, 10:33:55 AM

Better athleticism than Pointer and Garrett?  There is more to athleticism than a vertical.  If we get 15 minutes of physical play out of this kid, I will be thrilled.  Relax people.  He will not even be considered for PT at the three this year.  He averaged six boards a game in high school. 

He is bigger, stronger, faster, and can jump higher. It is plain to see that he is more athletic than they are.

That being said I don't know if he is any better/worse than them at the game of basketball.

I call that alligator athleticism...awesome in straight lines.  Pointer would own Jones in a race and it wouldn't be close.  Jones' agillity isn't on the same planet as Pointer or Garret.  I think people are getting carried away with Jones.  I don't see much of a difference between him and Sean Evans, and I don't think that is a badi thing.  We need a banger really bad and it looks like he could fit that bill. Jones was a huge addition for this team.  In time Jones could be a big player for us when his skill develops.  I'm not only posting this to you, Dave. I just find the general tone of the Jones posts to be unrealistic and unfair.   

Also, FWIW, any thought of redshirting GG is laughable.  I think he'll be a nice bench piece for us, but the kids Lavin is looking at are on a different level.  I think Jones as a soph will be better than a fifth-year senior GG.  That scholarship will be used for a top 50 player.

Marillac, you've lost it with this Alligator athleticism.

You've got to give Marillac credit. I've heard a lot of things on these boards over the last almost 15 years and I dont think I've ever heard the term alligator athleticism

Jones can dunk from the FT line?

Jones can dunk from the FT line?

Duh

redshirting gg only makes sense to me if sanchez is projected as a one and done. 

Who was that poster in the "prediction" thread that said Jones would be the top freshman?

Who was that poster in the "prediction" thread that said Jones would be the top freshman?

I believe it was only the Blue Ribbon Preview that said he's a one and done talent. He still be might be the best freshman on the team. That's possible, and no nowhere near as crazy as saying he's an NBA player after one year.

Quote from: Marco Baldi on October 22, 2012, 07:33:39 AM

Who was that poster in the "prediction" thread that said Jones would be the top freshman?

I believe it was only the Blue Ribbon Preview that said he's a one and done talent. He still be might be the best freshman on the team. I fought it, but that possible, and no nowhere near as crazy as saying he's an NBA player after one year.

Truths that we really don't know.  The only known quantity is his off-the-charts athleticism.  Other than that, only the staff knows what they have.  I doubt he's in any way an NBA ready prospect, but maybe he has tons of potential to get to that level?  Dont know, but maybe he can be an x-factor for us this season and really impress.

The thing I was impressed with more than his athleticism is his jumper.  Admittedly havent seen enough of it, but In the scrimmage he sank a long jumper with ease.  From the marillac school of highlight analysys, i watched his highlight video on YouTube from 10-11" and he is making that same jumper quite a bit, and several in the same game.  If he can develop that midrange jumper into a consistent weapon, he'll have a very unique skill that most big PF's in the college game don't have.  I'm not expecting the world, but I think he'll be more serviceable that most think. 

For a player that wasnt highly recruited, its amazing that people are talking about him like he has top 100 talent. Sounds like he ll be a pleasant surprise. Time will tell .

For a player that wasnt highly recruited, its amazing that people are talking about him like he has top 100 talent. Sounds like he ll be a pleasant surprise. Time will tell .

They're talking about him like he's a top 5 recruit.

Quote from: ras on October 22, 2012, 11:53:50 AM

For a player that wasnt highly recruited, its amazing that people are talking about him like he has top 100 talent. Sounds like he ll be a pleasant surprise. Time will tell .

They're talking about him like he's a top 5 recruit.

I think Jones has officially overtaken Nuri as the most highly anticipated great unknown recruit of the Lavin era.  I have no idea what we have in him or how he will pan out but it's encouraging to hear such positive quotes from people like lavin and Nate Blue and others who have seen him and know talent.  All I know is that Lavin had a limited number of Scholly's left and wasn't planning on using another one for the 2012 class BUT...that all changed immediately when the staff scouted Jones. 

If Jones turns out to be a starter-level type talent on an NCAA Touney team in the next few years then he will give Lavin his first diamond-in-the-rough recruit at St Johns and re-establish Lavin as an extraordinary evaluator of talent in addition to great recruiter.  I'm going to be rooting for this kid!

Craig Smith was an unknown recruit who led BC to several NCAA tourney as well as ended one of our seasons in the Big East tourney as a Freshmen. Another big bodied undersized powerforward

It's the one and done talk that is just so puzzling. Some of our guys might be good enough to go pro after one year, but Jones, at least on paper, added up to a 4 year guy that served as a foundation player who would keep returning to the team after kids like Sampson and Obekpa bolted.

Who was that poster in the "prediction" thread that said Jones would be the top freshman?

Haha I believe it was the dean himself

It's the one and done talk that is just so puzzling. Some of our guys might be good enough to go pro after one year, but Jones, at least on paper, added up to a 4 year guy that served as a foundation player who would keep returning to the team after kids like Sampson and Obekpa bolted.

Nobody is talking one and done except the writer of that article, and I'm not sure he knows what he's talking about.  Encouraging to hear that he might be better than a spot-duty guy though.

Quote from: ras on October 22, 2012, 11:53:50 AM

For a player that wasnt highly recruited, its amazing that people are talking about him like he has top 100 talent. Sounds like he ll be a pleasant surprise. Time will tell .

They're talking about him like he's a top 5 recruit.

Certainly doubt that he is, but it's NOT unheard of for an elite talent to get overlooked.   At UCLA Luc Mbah a Moute was almost a complete unknown.  At Virginia Tech, future 2nd team All ACC PF/C Coleman Collins was Hoopscoops #325 ranked recruit as a high school senior.  Only made it to VT because  Greenberg, who'd been recruiting him for the then Mid-D1 South Florida, got the VT job, and brought the kid along.

But at least with both those guys, you knew (in retrospect) why they were so far under the radar.   Collins, it turned out was such a high IQ kid, he'd skipped 2 years in elementary school.   He was a 6'7 200 lb post player in high school - but he started classes at VT as a SIXTEEN year old.  He was 6'9 240 when he got his degree - at age 19.    And Mbah a Moute was a relatively undernourished African kid - 6'5 185 lbs playing PG and Wing, when he was signed.  A year later he showed up for his freshman season  at almost 6'8 230...

I still have no clue how Jones could be so far off the radar.   I mean, scouts had to be watching at least his TEAMMATES on IMG, and his videos were all over YouTube - you'd think some coaches would be at least CURIOUS after seeing those!

Quote from: Poison on October 22, 2012, 12:00:39 PM

Quote from: ras on October 22, 2012, 11:53:50 AM

For a player that wasnt highly recruited, its amazing that people are talking about him like he has top 100 talent. Sounds like he ll be a pleasant surprise. Time will tell .

They're talking about him like he's a top 5 recruit.

I think Jones has officially overtaken Nuri as the most highly anticipated great unknown recruit of the Lavin era.  I have no idea what we have in him or how he will pan out but it's encouraging to hear such positive quotes from people like lavin and Nate Blue and others who have seen him and know talent.  All I know is that Lavin had a limited number of Scholly's left and wasn't planning on using another one for the 2012 class BUT...that all changed immediately when the staff scouted Jones. 

If Jones turns out to be a starter-level type talent on an NCAA Touney team in the next few years then he will give Lavin his first diamond-in-the-rough recruit at St Johns and re-establish Lavin as an extraordinary evaluator of talent in addition to great recruiter.  I'm going to be rooting for this kid!

I think Phil Greene, as a non-top 100 kid has already called "shotgun" on that "first diamond in the rough" thingy....

I like Phil Greene, but a contributor and what Blue Ribbon is talking about are two different things. Saying he's a "one and done type talent" means he'll be exceptional from day one, or a sure fire NBA prospect.

I like Phil Greene, but a contributor and what Blue Ribbon is talking about are two different things. Saying he's a "one and done type talent" means he'll be exceptional from day one, or a sure fire NBA prospect.

My bad for not being clear - I wasn't referring to the Blue Ribbon comment in this post, but only to the poster's take "If Jones turns out to be a starter-level type talent on an NCAA Touney team in the next few years then he will give Lavin his first diamond-in-the-rough recruit at St Johns"

I think Phil over the next three years WILL be a starter level talent on an NCAA tourney team...that's the criteria I was going on for Phil as the 1st "diamond in the rough" commment.

Quote from: QueensToCali on October 22, 2012, 12:40:37 PM

Quote from: Poison on October 22, 2012, 12:00:39 PM

Quote from: ras on October 22, 2012, 11:53:50 AM

For a player that wasnt highly recruited, its amazing that people are talking about him like he has top 100 talent. Sounds like he ll be a pleasant surprise. Time will tell .

They're talking about him like he's a top 5 recruit.

I think Jones has officially overtaken Nuri as the most highly anticipated great unknown recruit of the Lavin era.  I have no idea what we have in him or how he will pan out but it's encouraging to hear such positive quotes from people like lavin and Nate Blue and others who have seen him and know talent.  All I know is that Lavin had a limited number of Scholly's left and wasn't planning on using another one for the 2012 class BUT...that all changed immediately when the staff scouted Jones. 

If Jones turns out to be a starter-level type talent on an NCAA Touney team in the next few years then he will give Lavin his first diamond-in-the-rough recruit at St Johns and re-establish Lavin as an extraordinary evaluator of talent in addition to great recruiter.  I'm going to be rooting for this kid!

I think Phil Greene, as a non-top 100 kid has already called "shotgun" on that "first diamond in the rough" thingy....

Phil Greene was certainly underrecruited but he wasn't a complete unknown.  I'd have to go back and check but I think he was considered a 3 Star prospect by espn and in the top 150-200 range.  At the time Jones was signed there wasn't a single major recruiting site that had even written him up!  Given his size, build, athleticism, and lack of looks from big time bball programs I'm suprised no one tried to convince him to try on some football pads to get looks at tight end. 

Quote from: crgreen on October 22, 2012, 05:35:10 PM

Quote from: QueensToCali on October 22, 2012, 12:40:37 PM

Quote from: Poison on October 22, 2012, 12:00:39 PM

Quote from: ras on October 22, 2012, 11:53:50 AM

For a player that wasnt highly recruited, its amazing that people are talking about him like he has top 100 talent. Sounds like he ll be a pleasant surprise. Time will tell .

They're talking about him like he's a top 5 recruit.

I think Jones has officially overtaken Nuri as the most highly anticipated great unknown recruit of the Lavin era.  I have no idea what we have in him or how he will pan out but it's encouraging to hear such positive quotes from people like lavin and Nate Blue and others who have seen him and know talent.  All I know is that Lavin had a limited number of Scholly's left and wasn't planning on using another one for the 2012 class BUT...that all changed immediately when the staff scouted Jones. 

If Jones turns out to be a starter-level type talent on an NCAA Touney team in the next few years then he will give Lavin his first diamond-in-the-rough recruit at St Johns and re-establish Lavin as an extraordinary evaluator of talent in addition to great recruiter.  I'm going to be rooting for this kid!

I think Phil Greene, as a non-top 100 kid has already called "shotgun" on that "first diamond in the rough" thingy....

Phil Greene was certainly underrecruited but he wasn't a complete unknown.  I'd have to go back and check but I think he was considered a 3 Star prospect by espn and in the top 150-200 range.  At the time Jones was signed there wasn't a single major recruiting site that had even written him up!  Given his size, build, athleticism, and lack of looks from big time bball programs I'm suprised no one tried to convince him to try on some football pads to get looks at tight end.

Interesting thought.  Anybody know if he PLAYED football?   Kids OFTEN fly under the radar when scouts THINK they're going to another sport.   Wasn't to a GREAT extent, but Amir was undervalued because a lot of scouts assumed he'd be playing baseball only....