After watching Paul Harris (billed at Carmelo 2.0) playing during garbage time with walk-ons last night...it got me thinking.
ND Academy had 3 pretty highly touted guys (Harris, Caracter at UL and our own LH).
LH seemed to be the least heralded of the 3...but if you're drafting knowing thenm what you know now...for their freshmen years alone, wouldn't you take LH #1?
i would.....LH has shown nice improvement in the 2H of the season as well. he'll have a really good career at MU. Harris is not in the best system for his skills -- in hindsight I'm surprised he landed up at the Cuse. Caracter -- too unpredictable.
When Caracter is playing like he is capeable of playing, he is a special player
I would:
Take Harris first: explosive and can score.
Then Lazar, size and touch.
Caracter last...he lacks his "namesake". Too much trouble to deal with...
I would take Caracter first, and then for me it is a toss up with Harris and Hayward. Harris is a better athlete with more explosiveness of the two so I think this would make me give him the nod. I like Lazar, but he lacks explosiveness and quickness. He reminds me of the way Alando Tucker plays - in that they both are undersized and can play very well around the basket. I would like to think that he will more than likely end up being a better perimeter shooter than Tucker. The thing though is he will never have Tuckers type athleticism. I still think Hayward will be a very nice player for us.
Quote from: MUFanInGreenBay on February 27, 2007, 03:19:31 PM
I like Lazar, but he lacks explosiveness and quickness.
Same can be said for Jerel last year, and his year to year improvement in explosiveness and quickness has been pretty good, let's give TC and staff this off-season to work w/ Lazar and see how things change. Remember, LH got a late start on working out with the team this year.
Hard not to take Caracter first... yes he has some issues with his ego and weight, but Louisville's run right now has a lot to do with Caracter playing.
Quote from: Djgoldnboy on February 27, 2007, 03:48:07 PM
Quote from: MUFanInGreenBay on February 27, 2007, 03:19:31 PM
I like Lazar, but he lacks explosiveness and quickness.
Same can be said for Jerel last year, .
Jerel as in Mcneal? The one from our team? Are you seriously comparing his quickness as a freshman to lazar's? He was able to drive at will last year.
I didn't see any lack of quickness or athleticism from McNeal coming into MU last year. Jerel did imrpove his strength over the summer which helped himself gain some more explosiveness. But McNeal has much more raw athletic ability(speed, quickness, hops) than Hayward. I guess what I am saying is Hayward doesn't have a lot of God given athleticism(speed, quickness, explosivenes). And his lack of athleticism has nothing to do with a late start to the season like he had. Of course he can improve his athleticism in some areas, but he has much less to work with than a guy like McNeal who has much more natural ability that can be tapped into. Just like no matter how much I train on my explosiveness it will never be as good as Dominic James. Obviously, this is because he has more God-given ability than me. So Hayward can no doubt can improve his athleticism, but it's not like he is going to come out next year and look like some great athlete.
Quote from: Mayor McCheese on February 27, 2007, 08:09:03 PM
Hard not to take Caracter first... yes he has some issues with his ego and weight, but Louisville's run right now has a lot to do with Caracter playing.
Except he has no consistency. And his attitude isn't good and he can be really lazy at times. I love having Lazaaaaaarrr on this team.
I haven't heard anything about Lazar being lazy or having a bad attitude. Where did you get that info? I have pretty much put his ups and downs to being a freshman which I think is enough for most of these kids or anybody for that matter. I really do like LH and I am glad he is on the team. Lazar just had his best game of the season in my book against Villanova and I would hope he gained some confidence from that game. When he improves his stroke from the outside and with the ability he already has around the basket he has a TON of upside.
I believe he was referring to Caracter.