MUScoop

...according to the combine results.

Chad Ford (ESPN) writes:

"The NBA released the testing results from the Orlando pre-draft camp on Monday. For the fifth straight year Insider has obtained this confidential report from a league source.

Maryland guard D.J. Strawberry ranked as the draft's best athlete followed by Notre Dame's Russell Carter and Marquette's Dominic James. Ohio State's Mike Conley ranked fourth, Purdue's Carl Landry ranked fifth, Temple's Dustin Salisbery was sixth, Georgia Tech's Thaddeus Young was seventh, Colorado State's Jason Smith was eighth, Ohio State's Ron Lewis was ninth and Eastern Washington's Rodney Stuckey ranked 10th."

That's pretty cool, good to hear he impressed some people, but who here doubted DJ's athleticism?

If this NBA-thing doesn't work out, I'm pretty sure DJ could seriously compete in track and field. High jump, triple jump, discus?

Quote from: MarquetteVol on June 05, 2007, 09:20:46 AM
If this NBA-thing doesn't work out, I'm pretty sure DJ could seriously compete in track and field. High jump, triple jump, discus?

And the decathelon!!

I think he'd be a great member of the Jessie White tumbling team as well.  The great thing about this is he'd realize his dream of performing in NBA arenas.   :)

Quote from: shaquilvaine on June 05, 2007, 10:43:41 AM
I think he'd be a great member of the Jessie White tumbling team as well.  The great thing about this is he'd realize his dream of performing in NBA arenas.   :)

LOL!!!  ;D

DJ is a superior athlete, that is for sure.

However, he is not a superior basketball player, and that is what matters.  Bobby Knight recently said something to the effect of "give me basketball players, not great athletes:, and it is true.

DJ, come back to Marquette.  Play for two more years, earn your degree, and then try the NBA.

Are rumors true of a James return = Cubillan transferring? I sure hope not. If so, what would be better? James for 1, maybe 2 years? Or Cubillan for 3 more? I love Cooby and his energy, that would hurt losing him.

I don't know,
That rumor started circulating around here last week or so and I haven't heard anything concrete...only rumors and "I heard"

Name

Height w/o Shoes

Height w/Shoes

Weight

Wingspan

Standing Reach

Body Fat %

No Step Vert

Max Vert

Bench Press 185 Lbs

Lane Agility

3/4 Court Sprint

Score

Rank

Dominic James

5' 10.5''

5' 11.75''

175

6' 2''

7' 9''

4.8

33.5

38.5

14

10.94

3.11

276.22

3

Mohamed Abukar	6' 8.75''	6' 9.75''	210	6' 9''	8' 7''	8.9	30.5	35	15	11.78	3.37	220.07	34
Mario Boggan	6' 5.5''	6' 7''	240	7' 2''	8' 11''	9.2	24	26.5	12	12.18	3.45	161.29	69
Craig Bradshaw	6' 8''	6' 9.75''	240	7' 1.5''	8' 10.5''	12.1	26	28	12	11.88	3.54	164.49	67
Corey Brewer	6' 6.75''	6' 7.75''	185	6' 8.25''	8' 7''	4.2	30.5	36.5	11	11.69	3.22	227.04	29
Aaron Brooks	5' 10.5''	5' 11.75''	161	6' 4''	7' 10''	2.7	32.5	39.5	6	10.57	3.2	244.23	14
Bobby Brown	5' 11.75''	6' 1.75''	170	6' 4''	7' 11.5''	6.6	32.5	41	3	11.27	3.25	215.98	38
Russell Carter	6' 3''	6' 4.5''	221	6' 8.5''	8' 1.5''	6	33	38.5	25	11.61	3.29	281.78	2
Coleman Collins	6' 8''	6' 9.75''	236	7' 2''	8' 11''	6.2	30	35	21	11.47	N/A	199.43	51
Mike Conley Jr.	5' 11.75''	6' 0.75''	175	6' 5.75''	7' 10.5''	4.2	35.5	40.5	13	11.63	3.09	268.47	4
Daequan Cook	6' 3.75''	6' 5.75''	203	6' 8.25''	8' 5.5''	7	30	34.5	4	11.12	3.22	207.91	41
Ryvon Covile	6' 7''	6' 8.5''	250	7' 1.25''	8' 11.5''	8	25	30.5	19	12.52	3.37	199.28	52
Javaris Crittenton	6' 3''	6' 4.75''	194	6' 5.5''	8' 2''	4.5	32.5	38	11	11.6	3.32	224.74	30
Jermario Davidson	6' 9.5''	6' 11''	230	7' 4''	9' 1.5''	6.9	27	30	7	12.63	3.53	137.55	77
127Justin Doellman	6' 8.75''	6' 9.5''	205	6' 8.75''	8' 9''	7	N/A	N/A	19	N/A	N/A	70.37	79
Zabian Dowdell	6' 1.5''	6' 3''	191	6' 10''	8' 4''	5.1	30	33.5	3	11.13	3.29	194.09	55
Jared Dudley	6' 5.75''	6' 7.25''	219	6' 7''	8' 6''	7.1	28	32	14	11.32	3.45	205.83	44
Kevin Durant	6' 9''	6' 10.25''	215	7' 4.75''	9' 2''	6.6	26	33.5	0	12.33	3.45	132	78
Rashaun Freeman	6' 6.75''	6' 8''	244	6' 11.5''	8' 8''	11.5	28	32	20	11.43	3.41	230.26	23
Aaron Gray	7' 0''	7' 1.75''	271	7' 3.25''	9' 0.5''	10.8	27	32.5	17	12.07	3.7	172.25	65
Caleb Green	6' 6.75''	6' 8''	238	6' 11.75''	8' 7''	10.9	28.5	36	9	11.72	3.46	187.02	57
Jeff Green	6' 7.75''	6' 9.5''	228	7' 1.25''	8' 7''	3.7	33.5	38	17	12	3.34	238.38	18
Taurean Green	5' 11.75''	6' 0.75''	173	6' 2.25''	8' 0''	4.6	29	32.5	8	11.3	3.26	208.4	40
Spencer Hawes	6' 10.5''	7' 0.75''	244	7' 0.5''	9' 2''	13	26	29	9	11.88	3.51	158.79	72
Brandon Heath	6' 2''	6' 3.75''	181	6' 7''	7' 10''	9	32	36	11	11.39	3.28	228.53	27
Herbert Hill	6' 7.75''	6' 9.75''	232	7' 2.25''	9' 0.5''	5.6	30.5	34	15	12.31	3.39	204.74	46
Al Horford	6' 8.75''	6' 9.75''	246	7' 0.75''	8' 11''	9.1	31	35.5	20	12.15	3.37	232.9	21
Quinton Hosley	6' 5.5''	6' 7.75''	215	6' 11.25''	8' 9''	5.7	28.5	34	12	12.47	3.32	194.16	54
James Hughes	6' 9.75''	6' 10.75''	209	7' 3''	9' 3''	3.5	31	33	8	13.31	3.37	159.18	71
Jeremy Hunt	6' 2.75''	6' 4.75''	198	6' 8.25''	8' 5.5''	5.2	30.5	33	10	12.11	3.29	199.58	50
Ekene Ibekwe	6' 8.5''	6' 9''	208	7' 6''	8' 8''	3.2	34.5	39	10	11	3.28	231.95	22
Dominic James	5' 10.5''	5' 11.75''	175	6' 2''	7' 9''	4.8	33.5	38.5	14	10.94	3.11	276.22	3
Trey Johnson	6' 3.75''	6' 5.75''	216	6' 5''	8' 2''	5.4	26.5	35	18	11.78	3.31	229.92	25
Joseph Jones	6' 6.75''	6' 8.75''	241	6' 11.75''	8' 10.5''	11.9	27	31.5	18	11.4	3.34	228.32	28
Rashad Jones-Jennings	6' 6.75''	6' 7.5''	235	7' 0''	8' 9.5''	5.9	25	30	20	12.18	3.29	218.04	37
Jared Jordan	6' 0''	6' 1.75''	183	6' 0''	7' 10''	7	14.5	28.5	6	11.02	3.39	155.05	75
Coby Karl	6' 3.5''	6' 4.75''	204	6' 11''	8' 3.5''	5.4	32	34.5	9	11.57	3.41	199.7	49
Antanas Kavaliauskas	6' 9''	6' 10.5''	237	6' 10.5''	8' 10.5''	7.7	25.5	30	19	11.19	3.42	221.35	33
Marcelus Kemp	6' 3.75''	6' 5''	218	6' 8.5''	8' 7''	7.8	26.5	29.5	9	11.89	3.49	162.84	68
Carl Landry	6' 7.75''	6' 8.5''	248	6' 11''	8' 6.5''	7.5	31.5	36.5	21	11.35	3.29	265.3	5
Stephane Lasme	6' 5.5''	6' 7''	213	7' 2''	8' 11''	4.9	29.5	36	17	11.73	3.22	245.41	13
57Acie Law	6' 2''	6' 3.5''	186	6' 6.5''	8' 2''	5.6	29	34	8	11	3.22	222.2	32
Marko Lekic	6' 9.75''	6' 10.5''	267	7' 1''	9' 0.5''	11.4	24	30.5	19	11.96	3.43	202.21	48
Ron Lewis	6' 2.75''	6' 4.5''	194	6' 6.5''	8' 3''	4.5	33	38	16	11.59	3.22	255.7	9
38Cartier Martin	6' 4.5''	6' 6.5''	218	6' 10''	8' 7.5''	5.6	27	29.5	11	12.1	3.43	173.62	64
James Mays	6' 7''	6' 8.75''	219	7' 1.5''	8' 8.5''	6.8	29.5	37	13	11.63	3.26	230.23	24
Dominic McGuire	6' 7.75''	6' 8.25''	220	6' 10.5''	8' 8''	4.7	28.5	34.5	12	10.95	3.25	234.71	20
Josh McRoberts	6' 8.75''	6' 10''	240	7' 1''	8' 10.5''	13.7	27.5	31.5	12	11.7	3.47	186.24	58
Sammy Mejia	6' 5.5''	6' 7''	218	6' 11''	8' 9''	8.3	27	31.5	7	11.87	3.49	160.94	70
Brad Newley	6' 5.5''	6' 6.5''	201	6' 8''	8' 6.5''	8	29.5	31.5	3	11.77	3.29	175.68	63
Demetris Nichols	6' 6.25''	6' 7.5''	211	7' 0.25''	8' 9''	6.2	28.5	32.5	16	10.39	3.38	242.5	16
Joakim Noah	6' 10.5''	7' 0''	223	7' 1.25''	8' 10.5''	4.8	32.5	37.5	12	11.79	3.47	206.61	43
Greg Oden	6' 11''	7' 0''	257	7' 4.25''	9' 4''	7.8	32	34	N/A	11.67	3.27	179	62
Ivan Radenovic	6' 9''	6' 10.75''	226	6' 11.75''	8' 10''	9.8	23	28	7	11.61	3.6	138.85	76
J.R. Reynolds	6' 0.5''	6' 2.75''	188	6' 3.25''	7' 11''	8.2	27.5	34.5	15	11.69	3.24	229.53	26
Chris Richard	6' 7.5''	6' 8.75''	252	7' 4.5''	9' 2.5''	7.5	26.5	30.5	15	11.39	3.29	220	35
Dustin Salisbery	6' 3.75''	6' 4.75''	208	6' 8''	8' 4.5''	6.6	34	38	11	11.07	3.12	261.26	6
Blake Schilb	6' 5.5''	6' 7''	214	6' 9''	8' 6.5''	10	26.5	33.5	11	11.63	3.36	198.44	53
Renaldas Seibutis	6' 4.75''	6' 5.75''	185	6' 8.75''	8' 5''	6.1	24	32.5	1	11.33	3.39	157.24	73
Ramon Sessions	6' 2''	6' 3.75''	185	6' 4.25''	8' 1.5''	6.2	29.5	33.5	8	11.65	3.27	203.02	47
Mustafa Shakur	6' 3''	6' 4.5''	185	6' 5.5''	8' 3''	4.1	28.5	35	11	11.82	3.27	211.65	39
Sean Singletary	5' 11''	6' 0''	180	6' 4.25''	7' 10''	3.7	N/A	N/A	17	N/A	N/A	62.96	80
Jason Smith	6' 10.75''	6' 11.5''	233	6' 10.75''	8' 10''	7.5	33.5	37.5	15	10.96	3.29	257.24	8
D.J. Strawberry	6' 3.75''	6' 5''	199	6' 6.5''	8' 5''	4.5	28.5	35	21	10.87	3.14	283.09	1
Rodney Stuckey	6' 3.75''	6' 4.5''	207	6' 7.25''	8' 4.5''	6.1	30.5	35	14	11.34	3.11	254.74	10
Curtis Sumpter	6' 6''	6' 7.75''	227	6' 9.5''	8' 8''	5.3	27.5	32.5	12	11.3	3.22	224.71	31
Sun Yue	6' 7.75''	6' 8.75''	212	6' 9''	8' 9''	5.1	29	34	9	10.68	3.45	206.73	42
jamaal Tatum	5' 11.5''	6' 0.75''	168	6' 2.5''	7' 9.5''	5	28.5	33	7	11.51	3.22	204.83	45
Reyshawn Terry	6' 6.75''	6' 7.5''	222	6' 10''	8' 7.5''	8.9	31	37.5	18	11.76	3.26	250.06	11
Al Thornton	6' 5.75''	6' 7''	221	7' 1''	8' 8''	5.8	35	41	9	11.96	3.16	238.93	17
Anthony Tolliver	6' 7''	6' 8.5''	242	7' 2.5''	8' 11.5''	5.7	28.5	30	21	11.49	3.29	243.11	15
Ali Traore	6' 8.75''	6' 9.75''	249	7' 4''	9' 0.5''	12.1	25	29	11	12.16	3.52	157.24	74
Kyle Visser	6' 10''	6' 11.5''	242	6' 11''	9' 0''	10.2	26	29	18	12.6	3.39	190.6	56
Darryl Watkins	6' 8.75''	6' 10.25''	241	7' 3''	9' 2''	6.9	26.5	31	14	11.65	3.56	181.56	60
Major Wingate	6' 8.5''	6' 10.75''	242	7' 4''	9' 1''	6.7	27.5	30.5	15	12.14	3.47	186.15	59
DaShaun Wood	5' 10.75''	5' 11.5''	167	6' 0.75''	7' 8''	5.4	31.5	34.5	13	11.4	3.23	237.29	19
Brandan Wright	6' 8.75''	6' 10''	200	7' 3.75''	9' 0.5''	5.8	30.5	35.5	2	11.76	3.31	180.1	61
Julian Wright	6' 6.5''	6' 8.5''	211	7' 2.25''	9' 0''	6.1	28.5	33.5	2	11.48	3.36	172.23	66
]Avis Wyatt	6' 8.75''	6' 9.5''	212	7' 1''	8' 11''	3.3	27.5	32	12	11.46	3.23	219.23	36
Yi Jianlian	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	0	81
38Nick Young	6' 5''	6' 6.75''	206	7' 0''	8' 4.5''	6.8	39.5	40.5	6	11	3.25	245.69	12
Thaddeus Young	6' 5.75''	6' 7.5''	210	6' 11.5''	8' 10''	4.9	34.5	37	13	11.06	3.19	259.97	7

He must not have faced any zones or collapsing d's when performing in the combine.

Plus, just imagine how much higher his numbers would be had he not been in the 'alternate pool' ! 

::)

With the release of that data, DJ's draft status has to rise----those are damn near DW numbers and DW couldn't shoot well when he left MU either.

The most impressive to me are the strength and speed numbers----we all knew he had a very good vertical----you combine all three of those qualities with his ability to distribute the ball and he's a very good NBA prospect. The only piece of the pie still not included is his shooting ability----but then TJ Ford had a worse trey shooting percentage than DJ coming out of Texas!

Quote from: ozmetal71 on June 05, 2007, 10:57:39 AM
DJ is a superior athlete, that is for sure.

However, he is not a superior basketball player, and that is what matters.  Bobby Knight recently said something to the effect of "give me basketball players, not great athletes:, and it is true.

It may be true in college, but not the NBA.
That's one of the reasons Knight's players, Isiah Thomas notwithstanding, typically fare miserably at the NBA. They may be fundamentally sound, but very few have the athleticism to compete in The Association.
The NBA is full of guys who came into the league with the "raw athlete" tag and developed into very good players. Very few guys make it in the NBA because they have good fundamentals.

T.J. Ford also won the Naismith and Wooden awards on top of taking his team to the sweet sixteen then the final four in his only two college seasons. 

If James comes back and dominates individually as well as makes his teammates better like that he'll prove worthy of a lottery pick.  Until then, all T.J. Ford comparisons are null and void.

DJ is more athletic, just as fast, and stronger than Ford, but gives up a little height-----beyond that Ford properly saw his roll as a setup guy first and scorer second----DJ saw his roll just the opposite----plus Ford had better people to setup than DJ did this past year!

Neither were good shooters as Sophs!

Quote from: Murffieus on June 05, 2007, 02:40:13 PM
DJ is more athletic, just as fast, and stronger than Ford, but gives up a little height-----beyond that Ford properly saw his roll as a setup guy first and scorer second----DJ saw his roll just the opposite----plus Ford had better people to setup than DJ did this past year!

Neither were good shooters as Sophs!

Good points.

But Ford was a better leader on his team.

You're right, both are lightning-quick, horrid-shooting point guards.

Ford proved he could dominate and win big games at the collegiate level.

James has not.

Come back and prove that, and he will be a lottery pick.

Until then, he's no Ford.

I was surprised to see there were kids with higher standing verts than James, thats just incredible to me. 


I was also glad to see that Hawes has 13% body fat, that means Skiles and the Bulls can work him into good shape while hes coming off the bench at the beggining of next year. 

All this measurement nonsense smacks of the NFL combine crap. Hell, the question to be asked is whether not any team in the Association needs a 5'10" point guard with shooting percentage difficulties? If the answer is no, then don't give up your eligibility by staying in the draft.

Quote from: 4everwarriors on June 05, 2007, 06:24:46 PM
All this measurement nonsense smacks of the NFL combine crap. Hell, the question to be asked is whether not any team in the Association needs a 5'10" point guard with shooting percentage difficulties? If the answer is no, then don't give up your eligibility by staying in the draft.

6' with shoes on (or damn close)

Quote from: Murffieus on June 05, 2007, 12:13:05 PM
With the release of that data, DJ's draft status has to rise----those are damn near DW numbers and DW couldn't shoot well when he left MU either.

Yeah, but Wade's 6'4"...BIG DIFFERENCE!

The only similarity between DJ and Dwyane is that they both played guard at Marquette. Dwyane will be a Hall of Famer before he's through. DJ is a fine college player.

Quote from: ecompt on June 06, 2007, 03:53:24 PM
The only similarity between DJ and Dwyane is that they both played guard at Marquette. Dwyane will be a Hall of Famer before he's through. DJ is a fine college player.

I know this is a DJ thread, but I must contest the above statement.

Is Wade HOF material? Sure.
Is Wade setting himself up for the HOF? Yup.
Does he have HOF credentials? Nope. At least, not yet.

He lacks longevity. The 04-05 and 05-06 playoff and championship seasons are stuff of legend. But take the NBA championship out and you could have said the same thing about Shawn Kemp in his first two seasons in the League.

He needs to play 8-10 more years with the same level of production will really is the true hallmark of most HOFers.

On a side note, Mitch Richmond should be a HOFer. He averaged over 20 ppg in his first 10 years of a 14 year career. (He missed 11 years by 0.3 ppg.) If Wade can put up those scoring numbers and do the little things that he usually is known for...then he's a LOCK.

Good point, 77. That's why I made sure to say "before he's through." Obviously if he quits tomorrow he's not going into the Hall. One small argument: You can't take the NBA championship out. He singlehandedly won that title.

Yup, then I agree with you.

Let's get back to DJ...Just in the headlines (MSJ)...

He raised some eyebrows shortly after he arrived by stating he no longer needed a first-round guarantee to remain in the draft, a departure from his initial stance when he declared in late April.

Instead, James said he'd accept a promise from a team willing to take him in the second round.

"Guarantees are hard to come by, they really are," said Crean. "But if one comes, and he's comfortable with it, he'll get 100%, full support on that from me."

James' new stance, along with the fact he's already interviewed agents - he still has not signed with one - have led to rumors that James is unwilling to return to MU next season regardless.

"He's done an excellent job in school so there wouldn't be anything on the academic side," said Crean. "If that was the case, that would be news to me. I think he really wants to be an NBA player. That's how I would take that, that he really wants to be able to play at the next level."

Wow.

DJ's as good as gone.

For DW to be a HOFer he's going to have to become a better shooter-----his body isn't going to be able to take that punishment flying to the like he does much longer----he's already starting to feel the wear and tear!

Because of his athleticism and speed---DJ has a great deal of upside----his regression this past year probably has a lot to do with his ambivilance to return to Div1 ----he faced too many zones designed to stop HIM plus someone on the staff should have been able to help him with his shooting-----in Europe or the development league that won't be the case!

It's going to be awfully tough for DJ to get drafted.

The report below is from the Houston mega-workout (featuring 3 sets of 4 players (guards, wings, bigs). 

From Draft Express:

"Apparently Dominic James could not finish his workout. Any doubt that remained regarding whether or not he will be back at Marquette next year is quickly evaporating. Everyone James' people have spoken to have told him that it is in his best bet to return to school, since he is by no means a lock to get drafted."

If James comes back (which it's sounding like it could realistically happen), the question then becomes - does he make MU better? I'm no longer so sure he does, purely from a chemistry standpoint.

Everyone saw how he played after the Duke game when he obviously seemed to have a more personal agenda than a team-driven one. My fear is that continues onto this season's team.

Obviously, James has freakish-ability, but how that ability would play out next season...in D-1 ball...after his disappointing spring/summer...I'm not so sure anymore.

I've said all along, I think that team is now McNeal's team and he's the leader. It will be interesting to see how the chemistry would mesh going into next year with McNeal's PG from high school (Acker) now ready and able to take on the PG duties if need be.

Quote from: Niv Berkowitz on June 07, 2007, 08:58:24 AM
If James comes back (which it's sounding like it could realistically happen), the question then becomes - does he make MU better? I'm no longer so sure he does, purely from a chemistry standpoint.

Everyone saw how he played after the Duke game when he obviously seemed to have a more personal agenda than a team-driven one. My fear is that continues onto this season's team.

Obviously, James has freakish-ability, but how that ability would play out next season...in D-1 ball...after his disappointing spring/summer...I'm not so sure anymore.

I've said all along, I think that team is now McNeal's team and he's the leader. It will be interesting to see how the chemistry would mesh going into next year with McNeal's PG from high school (Acker) now ready and able to take on the PG duties if need be.

I'm with you. McNeal has ALWAYS made the team go. If he slumped, the team slumped.

This NBA experiment has been nothing but a failure for DJ. Sure, he found out what the scouts are looking for him to improve in his own game, but his confidence has been devastated (i.e., "lowering the bar" just to get drafted) and his ego is going to be super huge next year (to atone for his draft problems and placate his damaged confidence).

I predict...

...that next season, everyone is going to say, "Wow, is that REALLY Dominic James?" because he's going to suck it up.

This is directely specifically to 77ncaachamps and others of his ilk.   You are a true piece of work.  Might it be DJ wants to go pro becuase he is sick of hearing the hatred by losers like you? Comments like "I predict...

...that next season, everyone is going to say, "Wow, is that REALLY Dominic James?" because he's going to suck it up." 
are pathetic. 

It is clear you are a true basketball afficianado.  Despite your insight the BE coaches were stupid enough to vote him all BE 1st team  and the morons at the NBA were stupid enough to invite him as one of 60 players to the NBA camp. 

Is DJ NBA ready right now? ...no.   

Despite that he has been a huge part of MU making 2 NCAA's following 2 awful years. Set a bevy of Freshman records at MU, and was named Big east Rookie of the Year.  He struggled at times this year as he was called on to be more of a scorer and that is not his strenght.  nevertheless, he was a huge part of another solid season.  Comments like yours are pathetic.  What have you ever accomplished that compares to his accomplishments at such a young age?  i picture a loser underacheiver hating from a keyboard.   

I don't think it matters whether DJ gets drafted or not at this point. TC's comments seem to indicate he has made up his mind not to come back. He will be missed, but we will survive.

I think McNeal was already the team leader.

I also think that if DJ returns, he will be very good and prove his naysayers wrong. 

Quote from: ecompt on June 07, 2007, 09:49:57 AM
I don't think it matters whether DJ gets drafted or not at this point. TC's comments seem to indicate he has made up his mind not to come back. He will be missed, but we will survive.

Whether he agrees or not, TC has to make it appear as if he fully supports DJ's decision. If not, it will be used against him on the recruiting trail. Just ask Bruce Weber, who made the mistake of being honest when asked to assess Dee Brown's professional prospects when he thought about leaving early.