DJO will be better than Jerel

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

I believe those are Jerel's senior year stats.  And if I am correct, then I think it is unfair to compare a 4-year veteran's stats to a first year sophomore's stats.  It would be more fair to compare both of their first year stats. Therefore, here are Jerel's freshman year stats: 27.5 min 11.1 pts    4.5 reb 2.7    ast 3.8 TO.  DJO's nearly mirror those with considerably less TO and slightly more points.  Now, we can consider wondering if he will end up better than McNeal.

Fair point, but I was responding to this post.

He already is.

DJO is having a very nice 1st year, but he is not near where Jerel was last year.

As far as top 20, I think it's insane that somebody doesn't include him... but I wasn't around in the 70's, so I can't really compare... I'll leave it to you older guys.

One thing to keep in mind: Jerel went up against MU's toughest schedule (maybe ever) last season. I know MU played some tough schedules when they were an independent, but last year's conference schedule was a KILLER, and 'Rel was great. In CUSA, Jerel would have been even better.

[Lennys Tap]

At the risk of being called insane (guess 2002 has already taken care of that) here's 20 I rank ahead of Jerel:
T Flynn
Rand
Kojis
G Thompson
Meminger
Chones
L McNeil
Lucas
Ellis
Tatum
Butch Lee
Whitehead
Lackey
Doc Rivers
T Miller
T Smith
Wade
Diener
Novak
D. James

Other players whom I consider at least on a par with Jerel include Allie McGuire, Jim Boylan, Michael Wilson, Aaron Hutchins, Damon Key, Jim McIlvane, Brian Wardle and Wesley Matthews. I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting. I know some of you will howl and compare stats, but there's more to the game than stats. As much as I loved McNeal's effort his decision making on both ends of the court was often abysmal.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

At the risk of being called insane (guess 2002 has already taken care of that) here's 20 I rank ahead of Jerel:

Oh don't' be so sensitive. 

I give you older guys credit because I can only compare what I've seen, which is really from about 96-2010.

I could try a top 20 list, but it would be speculative at best.

If you say Jerel's  outside the top 20, I'm extremely surprised, but I have no basis for a debate.

I really like Travis and Steve a lot, but I'd put McNeal slightly ahead of them because he was a defensive player of the year in a uber-tough conference and was a great offensive player his senior year. He was an AP second team AA his senior year.

But, like I said, my list is really incomplete.

It starts with Wade, and then goes from there...

[willie warrior]

DJO's offensive rating as a sophomore is better than Jerel's his sophomore year.  Jerel's was 93, DJO's is 110.  DJO also has a much lower turnover rate (18.7 compared to Jerel's 25.5).  One mitigating circumstance is that Jerel's usage was 31%, which was in the top 25 for all players that year, whereas DJO's is 22.9.  Jerel's steal rate was much higher and top 10 in the nation.

With all that said, I think you can legitimately make the argument that DJO's sophomore year has been better than Jerel's.

Yeah, I remember, McNeal was a turnover machine his first couple years. He did improve his outside shooting by his senior year. I think DJO is a better shooter now, and a better penetrator.
DJO is not as good a defender, although who can forget McNeal's senior moment against Villanova in BEast tourney, when he forgot to put any d on the guy that scored the winning bunny.

[4everwarriors]

Tap has it pretty much nailed including the 7 included in the paragraph. Therefore, in this analysis, Jerel is solidly entrenched in MU's top 30 all-time.
Never saw this Murf dude play, but obviously the cat could hoop.

[JWags85]

Yeah, I remember, McNeal was a turnover machine his first couple years. He did improve his outside shooting by his senior year. I think DJO is a better shooter now, and a better penetrator.
DJO is not as good a defender, although who can forget McNeal's senior moment against Villanova in BEast tourney, when he forgot to put any d on the guy that scored the winning bunny.

It seemed like McNeal's offense and defense were inversely proportional.  As he grew into a deadly offensive player, his defense suffered.  Granted he was never a lock down defender like DJ, but he was a very disruptive force and got in alot of passing lanes.  That seemed to tail off as he began to become our #1 offensive option.

[jaygall31]

DJO has a great chance to be, but saying he's better now, is downright foolish.
Jerel was our best player since wade, Jerel had a wade ESC about him..

let's give DJO a little time.