Bouknight

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

I can't remember the last time UConn had a freshman who was as good as this kid is. Maybe Jeremy Lamb, but I think he is better than Jeremy Lamb. As far as having an impact as a freshman, Khalid El Amin comes to mind, and Emeka Okafor, and then you have to fast forward to when Shabazz and Lamb were freshmen on that team in 2010-11. Since then, he is the best freshman UConn had had, although I like the other 2 freshman Akok and Gaffney. All 3 of these kids can play.

 

[the Blades]

Ray...I mean this is way to early... but Ray even as a FR always seemed under control and didn't take bad shots...that's what I've seen so far and he looks like he's a great rebounder too.... but I know I have to tone it down ... James so far is shooting 72.7 on FG's and 2-3 3pts



ps. as far as need.. the first exhibition game I saw KEA and just the poise and leadership at running the PG which wasn't really Ricky Moore's strength....
I turned my buddy at Gampel and said " Uconn is going to a FF with this kid"

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Ray was before KEA and he was very good as a freshman but as a freshman KEA could really score (he averaged at least 15 ppg I think) and his impact on the team was immediate. In fact UConn would have gone to the Final his freshman year except the Elite 8 game was against North Carolina in North Carolina which UNC won by not a lot. As far as impact as a freshman I am going to equate Bouknight to KEA.

I can't remember if Ray Allen started as a freshman, but I do remember a game his freshman year in which UConn beat Bobby Knight and Indiana by 40 points and he had the most ridiculous dunk which I had never seen a UConn player make a dunk like that, let alone against Indiana. When I saw that I knew he was going to be really good.

 

[CaNOLEE]

I’m starting to worry that he could be one and done. Which would be a shame for us, because if he stays 3 years, he could win a ring.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Isn't it fun when recruits turn out to be as good as advertised? We have lived through Ajou Ajou Deng and Ater Majok, both of whom were more highly touted than Akok Akok, and neither one was anywhere near as good. Bouknight was touted as an immediate impact player, and he was just that in all 3 Charleston Classic games. But for every recruit UConn had come to them touted like this, they more often ended up with the likes of Deng, Majok, Doug Wrenn, Darius Smith, Nate Miles, Omar Calhoun, Justin Brown, and on and on and on.........

 

[CaNOLEE]

How about the Ferrari in the garage? Problem was the driver was senile and drunk all the time.

 

[Dominicfrank]

Good news is that Bouk is amazing but I think Jackson comes right in next year if he leaves and is just as good with a LOT more around him.

Next Years team looks stacked especially if Bouk stays which I think he will. Cole/Bouk/Jackson/Akok/Brown would be amazing. That would leave Gaff/Polly/Carlton/Adams on the bench. WELCOME TO THE BE!

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

I doubt Brown will send Carlton to the bench and the talk about Bouknight being one and done is a bit premature. Also where is Richie Springs in your analysis? He is not a walk on type. He is a legit rebounder and don’t forget about Whaley!

 

[the Blades]

Speaking of Jackson and Brown..here's a little news/ update/highlight....Jackson so far isn't known to be the shooter James is, but a great passer ....and regarding the bigman is this his namesakes, Denham Brown (Mr. 101) moment in CAN... (he comes up short though )

 

[the Blades]

 

[the Blades]

 

[the Blades]

"Bouknight is on another level. That is clear already. He is as talented with the ball and possesses as much potential as any UConn freshman in recent memory......Bouknight is not Lamb, who was a good defender. Lamb could hit an open shot and had that signature runner from the lane. Bouknight breaks down defenders better, rises with the ball, hangs there, converts softly in potentially violent crowds....... He’s not (Rip) Hamilton, who moved without the ball as well as any UConn player, sprinting circles of miles to get free. Bouknight doesn’t do that yet. But he can take the ball on the perimeter and wind up scoring from anywhere on the court by hesitating, stepping back, pivoting.... from DH....“The game slows down for him. Some guys beat that initial defender and they go faster, or they can’t slow down. When he makes that first move and gets by somebody, it slows down for him. The finish slows down."

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Mike, that’s what I have been saying!!!! I have seen all those guys and was watching UConn hoops before you were born probably .......

 

[the Blades]

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

He will probably make the All Conference Freshman Team but I think Wiseman and Achiuwa will be 1-2 in Rookie of the Year

 

[Dominicfrank]

Springs to me is an unknown. minutes guy that comes off the bench BUT would LOVE to be wrong. Whaley wont see the floor much next year and that is just as it should be. The kid is a crowd favorite and an energy guy that you can throw in to get the energy back up but thats the most it will be.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Whaley isn’t going to be more than a 15-20 minute a game guy unless there is serious foul trouble but he has been fairly solid and played very well against Miami the other day. You don’t need every guy on the bench to be a star. If he understands his role, plays D, grabs a few rebounds and blocks shots and reasonably clogs up the lane when Carlton is in foul trouble, he does his job. You win games with poor man’s Rodman types coming off the bench. Winning teams all have players like this in a “dirty work” role; they either embrace it or not, and Whaley seems to be embracing it.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Steering this thread back to Bouknight- how long before he is inserted as a starter? I feel like Polley is the guy who should come off the bench although I know some other people would say Gilbert or Vital. I feel like Polley is best candidate for 6th man. I thought that before the season and still think so. I don’t think rebounding will be effected at all. Polley doesn’t help much in that department and Bouknight looks like he will grab at least as many rebounds as Polley did just by sneaking in and following plays. I would experiment with this against Maine and see what happens.

 

[Dominicfrank]

Bouk does need to start or at least have starters minutes. He should be there for Vital no doubt but Vital is such a head case I think he does more harm as a 6th man so let him start and get Bouk in asap for vital or Polly whoever needs the bench. then you can move Vital and Polly around while keeping Bouk out there the longest.