Re-Introduction to Jamal Branch

I think Branch is vital to where this team goes this year.  Just thought a little refresher might be appropriate.

4 star PG ranked 65 overall and 14th best PG in his class. 

Ht:6'3"
Wt:170 lbs
Shooting:Outstanding
Rebounding:Outstanding
Handle:Good
Passing:Outstanding
Strength:Developing

Here are the PG rankings for his class.  The bolded guys are the ones Rivals felt most comparable to Branch.  All stats are this year unless otherwise noted

1- Marquis Teague- NBA
2- Josiah Turner- Somewhere haha
3- Tony Wroten- NBA
4- BJ Young- 18.0ppg, 3.4 apg, 1.1 tpg
5- Myck Kabongo- NCAA hell after going for 9.6ppg, 5.2 apt, 3.0 tog
6- Ky Madden- 6.1ppg, 2.3 apg, 2.0 tpg
7- Jahii Carson- 18.6ppg, 5.4 apg, 4.1 tpg
8- Quinn Cook- 10.9 ppg, 5.7 apg, 2.9 tpg
9- Ryan Boatwright- 14.4 ppg, 4.6 apg, 2.2 tpg
10- Chris Jones- JUCO
11- Tyrone Johnson- 3.3 ppg, 2.0 apg, 1.8 tpg last year and transferred
12- Shannon Scott- 6.0 ppg, 4.7 apg, .7 tpg
13- Tracy Abrams- 11.6 ppg, 3.6 apg, 3.0 tpg
14- JAMAL BRANCH- 4.4 ppg, 2.5 apg, 2.2 tpg
15- Cezar Guerrero- 5.6ppg, 1.6 apg, 1.3 tpg last year and transferred
16- Shane Larkin- 16.3ppg, 3.7 apg, 3.0 tpg
17- Deville Smith- 4.2 ppg, 1.9 apg, 1.4 tpg last year and transferred
18- Kedren Johnson- 17.0 ppg, 2.9 apg, 3.3 tpg
19- Naadir Tharpe- 4.0 ppg, 2.0 apg, 1.4 tpg
20- Jabari Hinds- 7.6 ppg, 1.9 apg, 1.1 tpg
21- Jerome Seagers 3.4 ppg, 2.4 apg, 1.7 tpg
22- Myles Mack- 15.4 ppg, 2.6 apg, 2.3 tpg
23- Darwin Davis- 12ppg, 3.9 apg, 3.0 tpg
24- Brett Kingma- 3.4 ppg, .4 apg, .2 tpg last year before transferring from ORE to WSH St
25- Spencer Dinwiddie- 16.2 ppg, 2.4 apg, 2.1 tpg
26- Trey Burke- 16.9 ppg, 7.4 apg, 2.4 apg

Some other notes-

Jerry Meyer serves as a national scout and recruiting analyst for Rivals.com. He played at Lipscomb University where be became college basketball's all-time career assist leader. Meyer earned Mr. Basketball honors in the state of Tennessee as a high school junior and senior. He has served as an assistant coach at Vanderbilt and also co-authored the book, "Basketball Skills and Drills."

A silky-smooth combo guard who possesses an athletic burst, Branch is developing into a high-level point guard. A natural scorer, he can also play the role of a distributor. On defense, Branch gets his hands on the basketball quite a bit with his athleticism and anticipation

Rivals picked him as 2nd best perimeter defender- The Buzz: Branch, who is headed to Texas A&M, has held down some of the top point guards in the country. http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1191392

He actually used to play football- The Buzz: The Texas A&M signee was actually known as a pretty good football player early on in his career before giving it up to focus on roundball. A versatile guy, he could probably play on either side of the ball. On offense, we could see him as a running quarterback. But because of his great hips, range and closing quickness, he projects nicely as a defensive back.

Nice Moose! BTW, #26 worked out ok!

Off topic, but found this interesting re: ratings;

“@_chrisbradley: 38 quarterbacks in the class of 2011 were ranked higher than Johnny Manziel. Yes, 38.   He didn't even come close to making the ESPN150.”

He's 11 on white.  Check out 2:12 mark for some fast break action

Aggie Hoops Scrimmage 8-6

Nice left hand passing ability.

For those who want to see game video against us from last year....

Texas A&M@St. John's 1st Half (18-11-2011)

Texas A&M@St. John's 2nd Half (18-11-2011)

We havent at edge at point guard against any decent team since Omar Cooke. Can't wait for branch.

The thing I like most about what is written about him by the recruiting services is his high marks as a defender. 

This should free Dom to go up against a scorer.  This could make a real difference on the other end.

Im really looking foward to him. It is clear we could use a true PG.

The thing I like most about what is written about him by the recruiting services is his high marks as a defender. 

This should free Dom to go up against a scorer.  This could make a real difference on the other end.

In Moose's reveiw here, he chose to use the Rivals description of Jamal as "the 2nd best Perimeter Defender in the 2011 class".    Just a reminder that SCOUT.COM deemed him the BEST Defender, period, in the 2011 class (any position).

Quote from: Tiznow on December 09, 2012, 06:10:50 PM

The thing I like most about what is written about him by the recruiting services is his high marks as a defender. 

This should free Dom to go up against a scorer.  This could make a real difference on the other end.

In Moose's reveiw here, he chose to use the Rivals description of Jamal as "the 2nd best Perimeter Defender in the 2011 class".    Just a reminder that SCOUT.COM deemed him the BEST Defender, period, in the 2011 class (any position).

I'm trying to temper expectations CR.  Because our Kentucky Wildcat fans errrr will want him to leave the second a guy gets past him on the dribble

Quote from: crgreen on December 09, 2012, 06:31:57 PM

Quote from: Tiznow on December 09, 2012, 06:10:50 PM

The thing I like most about what is written about him by the recruiting services is his high marks as a defender. 

This should free Dom to go up against a scorer.  This could make a real difference on the other end.

In Moose's reveiw here, he chose to use the Rivals description of Jamal as "the 2nd best Perimeter Defender in the 2011 class".    Just a reminder that SCOUT.COM deemed him the BEST Defender, period, in the 2011 class (any position).

I'm trying to temper expectations CR.  Because our Kentucky Wildcat fans errrr will want him to leave the second a guy gets past him on the dribble

Does branch start right away on your team moose?

Quote from: Moose on December 09, 2012, 06:33:09 PM

Quote from: crgreen on December 09, 2012, 06:31:57 PM

Quote from: Tiznow on December 09, 2012, 06:10:50 PM

The thing I like most about what is written about him by the recruiting services is his high marks as a defender. 

This should free Dom to go up against a scorer.  This could make a real difference on the other end.

In Moose's reveiw here, he chose to use the Rivals description of Jamal as "the 2nd best Perimeter Defender in the 2011 class".    Just a reminder that SCOUT.COM deemed him the BEST Defender, period, in the 2011 class (any position).

I'm trying to temper expectations CR.  Because our Kentucky Wildcat fans errrr will want him to leave the second a guy gets past him on the dribble

Does branch start right away on your team moose?

First game no.  And arguably 2nd game no.  I give Phil benefit of doubt in those two games.  I'm on record saying I'd start Branch vs. Cincy unless he comes in and rips it up.  And frankly a start is nothing to me.  Its who finishes.

Quote from: Chilleb on December 09, 2012, 06:46:55 PM

Quote from: Moose on December 09, 2012, 06:33:09 PM

Quote from: crgreen on December 09, 2012, 06:31:57 PM

Quote from: Tiznow on December 09, 2012, 06:10:50 PM

The thing I like most about what is written about him by the recruiting services is his high marks as a defender. 

This should free Dom to go up against a scorer.  This could make a real difference on the other end.

In Moose's reveiw here, he chose to use the Rivals description of Jamal as "the 2nd best Perimeter Defender in the 2011 class".    Just a reminder that SCOUT.COM deemed him the BEST Defender, period, in the 2011 class (any position).

I'm trying to temper expectations CR.  Because our Kentucky Wildcat fans errrr will want him to leave the second a guy gets past him on the dribble

Does branch start right away on your team moose?

First game no.  And arguably 2nd game no.  I give Phil benefit of doubt in those two games.  I'm on record saying I'd start Branch vs. Cincy unless he comes in and rips it up.  And frankly a start is nothing to me.  Its who finishes.

Agreed but I def think he's first guy off the bench in that game. We need change can't continue To play like this.

nephew, many thanks for the analysis and vids.
watch them in good health.

Quote from: Chilleb on December 09, 2012, 06:46:55 PM

Quote from: Moose on December 09, 2012, 06:33:09 PM

Quote from: crgreen on December 09, 2012, 06:31:57 PM

Quote from: Tiznow on December 09, 2012, 06:10:50 PM

The thing I like most about what is written about him by the recruiting services is his high marks as a defender. 

This should free Dom to go up against a scorer.  This could make a real difference on the other end.

In Moose's reveiw here, he chose to use the Rivals description of Jamal as "the 2nd best Perimeter Defender in the 2011 class".    Just a reminder that SCOUT.COM deemed him the BEST Defender, period, in the 2011 class (any position).

I'm trying to temper expectations CR.  Because our Kentucky Wildcat fans errrr will want him to leave the second a guy gets past him on the dribble

Does branch start right away on your team moose?

First game no.  And arguably 2nd game no.  I give Phil benefit of doubt in those two games.  I'm on record saying I'd start Branch vs. Cincy unless he comes in and rips it up.  And frankly a start is nothing to me.  Its who finishes.

Normally I wouldn't - but his first sgame is our last non-conference game.   He11s be11s, start him and play him all 40 minutes.   He needs every second we can get him on the court, with every possible combination of players to see what we've got.   Every extra minute we get him in that non-conference game is a minute of conference competition down the road we won't be "experimenting.

Quote from: Moose on December 09, 2012, 06:50:12 PM

Quote from: Chilleb on December 09, 2012, 06:46:55 PM

Quote from: Moose on December 09, 2012, 06:33:09 PM

Quote from: crgreen on December 09, 2012, 06:31:57 PM

Quote from: Tiznow on December 09, 2012, 06:10:50 PM

The thing I like most about what is written about him by the recruiting services is his high marks as a defender. 

This should free Dom to go up against a scorer.  This could make a real difference on the other end.

In Moose's reveiw here, he chose to use the Rivals description of Jamal as "the 2nd best Perimeter Defender in the 2011 class".    Just a reminder that SCOUT.COM deemed him the BEST Defender, period, in the 2011 class (any position).

I'm trying to temper expectations CR.  Because our Kentucky Wildcat fans errrr will want him to leave the second a guy gets past him on the dribble

Does branch start right away on your team moose?

First game no.  And arguably 2nd game no.  I give Phil benefit of doubt in those two games.  I'm on record saying I'd start Branch vs. Cincy unless he comes in and rips it up.  And frankly a start is nothing to me.  Its who finishes.

Normally I wouldn't - but his first sgame is our last non-conference game.   He11s be11s, start him and play him all 40 minutes.   He needs every second we can get him on the court, with every possible combination of players to see what we've got.   Every extra minute we get him in that non-conference game is a minute of conference competition down the road we won't be "experimenting.

It's funny but I thought the same thing about Sanchez.  If he gets eligible let him play as much as possible. Correct things after with a detailed tape session.

God I hope we get him to play.

A silky-smooth combo guard who possesses an athletic burst, Branch is developing into a high-level point guard. A natural scorer, he can also play the role of a distributor. On defense, Branch gets his hands on the basketball quite a bit with his athleticism and anticipation

Surprised to see a report calling him a combo and natural scorer..I always had the impression he was more of a pure point. Not that it matters...as long as he's purer than Phil. LOL

Can he make a free throw?

Quote from: Moose on December 09, 2012, 05:02:42 PM

A silky-smooth combo guard who possesses an athletic burst, Branch is developing into a high-level point guard. A natural scorer, he can also play the role of a distributor. On defense, Branch gets his hands on the basketball quite a bit with his athleticism and anticipation

Surprised to see a report calling him a combo and natural scorer..I always had the impression he was more of a pure point. Not that it matters...as long as he's purer than Phil. LOL

That quote is from an August 2008 article  http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=843390

At the time, Jamal was a 15 year old sophmore.    His game has "grown" a bit over the last 4+ years.....