McNeal taking one class....plenty of free time to practice

[ChicosBailBonds]

McNeal only needs one class to graduate and so that's what he's taking.  As such, gives him plenty of free time to practice and hone his skills.

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/goldeneagles/38732627.html

[SoCalwarrior]

Reminds me of when Leinart was only taking Dance his Senior year at USC.

[DomJamesToTheBasket]

JM is a 1st roud pick this year.  He is not an undersized SG with his 6'11" wingspan and tremendous defensive abilities. 

Size is not an issue with him at all IMO.  If anything,  It is an advantage.  I believe he'll be a big PG in the NBA.  If not,  he has the length to be a defensive force at the 2G in the League.

JM,  has had the most remarkable improvement in his game of anyone I can think of.  The shooting improvement is legendary status right now,  but he has also really improved his ballhandling and decision-making.

In the right situation JM is a good starting PG.  Dominant length and defense to go along with very good shooting.

I bet Dwyane would rather have Jerel than Mario starting right now.

[4everwarriors]

JM is a 1st roud pick this year.  He is not an undersized SG with his 6'11" wingspan and tremendous defensive abilities. 

Size is not an issue with him at all IMO.  If anything,  It is an advantage.  I believe he'll be a big PG in the NBA.  If not,  he has the length to be a defensive force at the 2G in the League.

JM,  has had the most remarkable improvement in his game of anyone I can think of.  The shooting improvement is legendary status right now,  but he has also really improved his ballhandling and decision-making.

In the right situation JM is a good starting PG.  Dominant length and defense to go along with very good shooting.





You're kidding, right? Jerel's having a terrific senior season. But, most people don't realize what it takes to not only get drafted, but also make a roster. At 6'1" and with the influx of foreign players in the draft coupled with underclassmen, McNeal will be fortunate to get drafted in the 2nd round. The pro game is played at blazing speed, the players are strong, and he's likely to be abused by the opposing guard's height. IMO, Wes has the brightest NBA future of anyone on the Warriors' roster.

I bet Dwyane would rather have Jerel than Mario starting right now.

[jce]

McNeal only needs one class to graduate and so that's what he's taking.  As such, gives him plenty of free time to practice and hone his skills.

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/goldeneagles/38732627.html

I think it is absolutely awesome that he is only taking one class because he only needs one to graduate...and not because he is screwing around.

That's what it's about.

[Rollout-the-Barrel]

That reminds me of my friends in communications senior year.  Except they spent there extra time playing beer pong and consuming jaeger bombs.  They really got good at it too!

[mu_hilltopper]

IIRC, I remember reading that DJ could graduate in 3 years .. so he should be taking an easy semester too, right?

..(One semester, I scheduled 5 classes, all on T/Thurs.   Those days were tough, but I had 5 days off a week!)

[MUBB7703]

This shows he has worked as hard in the classroom as on the basketball court.  With such a great work ethic, if he does not make it in the pros he will still be very sucessful in his life.  Congrats Jerel.

[esotericmindguy]

JM is a 1st roud pick this year.  He is not an undersized SG with his 6'11" wingspan and tremendous defensive abilities. 

Size is not an issue with him at all IMO.  If anything,  It is an advantage.  I believe he'll be a big PG in the NBA.  If not,  he has the length to be a defensive force at the 2G in the League.

JM,  has had the most remarkable improvement in his game of anyone I can think of.  The shooting improvement is legendary status right now,  but he has also really improved his ballhandling and decision-making.

In the right situation JM is a good starting PG.  Dominant length and defense to go along with very good shooting.

I bet Dwyane would rather have Jerel than Mario starting right now.

6'11, are you confusing his wingspan with Otule?  And what makes you think someone can transition into the NBA and all of a sudden become a good PG???  Its the hardest position to play in the NBA, great college PGs even struggle with it. 

I agree with you though, he will be a first round pick.

[Brewtown Andy]

This shows he has worked as hard in the classroom as on the basketball court.  With such a great work ethic, if he does not make it in the pros he will still be very sucessful in his life.  Congrats Jerel.

Summer school doesn't hurt, either.  

[spartan3186]

Hmm I wonder how he pulls that off from an insurance standpoint. Is he covered by Marquettes? I needed one class to graduate 2nd semester senior year but I had to take 4 classes (Which was still awesome class M, Tu, W with none of them starting until 12) to stay a "full-time student" and stay on my parent's health insurance plan.

[damuts222]

Question, what channel is the game on today?

[bilsu]

I would think his insurance is covered by the athletic department. Frankly, I do not think the NCAA should allow you not to be a full time student. There are other couses he could be taking to expand his knowledge.

[Warrior Forever]

I would think his insurance is covered by the athletic department. Frankly, I do not think the NCAA should allow you not to be a full time student. There are other couses he could be taking to expand his knowledge.

Let's face it.  His major is basketball.  Whether it's the NBA or Europe, he is going to make a living playing hoops.  The fact that he is earning his degree is fantastic.  Great for him and great for the university.  The Three Amigos are fantastic ambassadors for our university and have always handled themselves with class.

Go Warriors.

[MUDPT]

My father has always felt that D1 basketball players should take full schedules in the fall and summer and have their "summer school" in the spring.  Same thing with football.

[mwbauer7]

The fact that he is earning his degree is fantastic.  Great for him and great for the university.  The Three Amigos are fantastic ambassadors for our university and have always handled themselves with class.

Go Warriors.

+1, Couldn't say it any better.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I think it is absolutely awesome that he is only taking one class because he only needs one to graduate...and not because he is screwing around.

That's what it's about.

I agree entirely.  My post wasn't suggesting he was screwing around.  He's taken the class loads during Summer school, etc and he's earned this right.  It works out great for him and MU.  Another advantage of having a senior laden team is that most of their school work is done.

[MUWarrior06]

Wow this story has really been exaggerated for what it is not. People act like this kid took 20 credit semesters his first 3 years to have an easy senior year.

1- Summer school. They take the majority of the credits at this time
2- Major. Certain majors require certain number of credits. There's a reason most athletes major in communications. Not that it's an "easy" major (don't want to crap on anyone's choice of profession), but I'm willing to bet it works somehow either with available summer classes and/or difficulty of course work.


Taking no credit away from McNeal, because I think it's great they all came back for their senior year and are all graduating with degrees- that speaks of high praise for the university and the class of those 3 guys, but it's not like this kid worked his tail off ridiculously so he could just take 1 class. Knowing some communication majors when I was in undergrad, they had a pretty easy final semester.

The bottom line is that this isn't so uncommon for college athletes, especially at schools with football programs. They usually take less credits their in-season semester to avoid stress of school etc on a player's performance.

[NavinRJohnson]

Taking no credit away from McNeal, because I think it's great they all came back for their senior year and are all graduating with degrees- that speaks of high praise for the university and the class of those 3 guys, but it's not like this kid worked his tail off ridiculously so he could just take 1 class.

Not taking any credit away, huh? You know what they say about everything before but.

[jce]

Taking no credit away from McNeal, because I think it's great they all came back for their senior year and are all graduating with degrees- that speaks of high praise for the university and the class of those 3 guys, but it's not like this kid worked his tail off ridiculously so he could just take 1 class. Knowing some communication majors when I was in undergrad, they had a pretty easy final semester.

I am just happy that he worked hard to get his degree.  I don't care if he took summer classes...he still had to take them.  I also don't care if he's not an engineer.  He still earned it.