Trey McDonald

[dw3dw3dw3]

Anyone know if we put an offer out to this kid, per NBE I believe there was an in-home.

This has to be the worst highlight video in some time... I know its only one game, but it wasn't a good one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sOBlMCVHLc

He seems to be a project but rated in the top 100 (per NBE).

[Lighthouse 84]

hopefully he just had an off day when that video was shot.

[jeffreyweee]

It looks like someone was trying to make him look bad and put up all the bad parts of the game.

[MarkCharles]

Yes, we have offered McDonald.

That was less a highlight video, more a compilation of every time he touched the ball in a particular aau game. He has a nice array of post moves. Unless this was a majorly off day though, I question his finishing ability.

Still, I'd love to for MU to sign him. He looks legitimately 6'9+ with nice athleticism, and could be a very nice post presence with some seasoning.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

That was less a highlight video, more a compilation of every time he touched the ball in a particular aau game. He has a nice array of post moves. Unless this was a majorly off day though, I question his finishing ability.

Looks like a kid who is used to just being bigger than everybody and just spinning and getting whatever shot he wants.

That probably happens to a lot of bigger kids who don't develop true post moves/feel until they practice everyday against somebody their own size.

His turnaround jump hook is probably awesome against 6'3" guys. Needs some work/experience against taller/stronger guys.

[TheRock]

This guy is NOT good.

[MUBurrow]

you know, I'm glad I saw that video - it implicitly proves to me how much I trust Buzz. 

If we end up signing McDonald, i will kind of sigh and think "If you think so Buzz."  Its a really nice reality check on how I feel about the coach/program.  Not even necessarily meant to be a slight to the kid, he would even probably admit that video would serve as a bad first impression.

[Jacks DC]

you know, I'm glad I saw that video - it implicitly proves to me how much I trust Buzz. 

If we end up signing McDonald, i will kind of sigh and think "If you think so Buzz."  Its a really nice reality check on how I feel about the coach/program.  Not even necessarily meant to be a slight to the kid, he would even probably admit that video would serve as a bad first impression.

There is enough here to indicate that this kid probably would not contribute anything meaningful until his junior year at the earliest.  Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Given our history with recruiting big men, it will be a long time before I say "if you think so Buzz" just because a kid is 6'9".  Keeping my fingers crossed for Miller or Shaw.

[TheRock]

Whoever he was going up against stuffed him twice in that video....what's that other guys name?

[reinko]

you know, I'm glad I saw that video - it implicitly proves to me how much I trust Buzz. 

If we end up signing McDonald, i will kind of sigh and think "If you think so Buzz."  Its a really nice reality check on how I feel about the coach/program.  Not even necessarily meant to be a slight to the kid, he would even probably admit that video would serve as a bad first impression.

CBB: Well, if we did sign this kid, and later on someone else came along who was better, we could always Newbill the kid...
Lennys/Ners/ATL MU: God CBB, why do you always have to sabotage MU B-Ball
CBB: Well, in 5 years, I will know whether or not this will be a good hire.
Lennys/Ners/ATL MU: Man CBB, you must never be wrong.  How is your butt boy TC?
CBB: TC never did something like this....
L/N/ATL: Everything always comes back to TC with you.
CBB: You brought it up, and yes it's fact, TC never signed a kid and then pulled his letter...
4ever: Fart or poop joke.

And repeat...

[Cooby Snacks]

CBB: Well, if we did sign this kid, and later on someone else came along who was better, we could always Newbill the kid...
Lennys/Ners/ATL MU: God CBB, why do you always have to sabotage MU B-Ball
CBB: Well, in 5 years, I will know whether or not this will be a good hire.
Lennys/Ners/ATL MU: Man CBB, you must never be wrong.  How is your butt boy TC?
CBB: TC never did something like this....
L/N/ATL: Everything always comes back to TC with you.
CBB: You brought it up, and yes it's fact, TC never signed a kid and then pulled his letter...
4ever: Fart or poop joke.

And repeat...

The "Ignore" button is a pretty cool feature.  But it also gives a rude awakening as to how little actually gets discussed on this board.

[Slim]

There is no way that video is indicative of McDonald's ability. He should do whatever he can to have it removed from youtube. It must be very embarrassing for him. BW has found several diamonds in the rough, but this looked exceptionally rough.

How many offers do we have out there?

[ATL MU Warrior]

CBB: Well, if we did sign this kid, and later on someone else came along who was better, we could always Newbill the kid...
Lennys/Ners/ATL MU: God CBB, why do you always have to sabotage MU B-Ball
CBB: Well, in 5 years, I will know whether or not this will be a good hire.
Lennys/Ners/ATL MU: Man CBB, you must never be wrong.  How is your butt boy TC?
CBB: TC never did something like this....
L/N/ATL: Everything always comes back to TC with you.
CBB: You brought it up, and yes it's fact, TC never signed a kid and then pulled his letter...
4ever: Fart or poop joke.

And repeat...

Is this me?  I don't know that I should be grouped in with that crowd 

[MarkCharles]

This guy is NOT good.

Just based off this video? Or have you seen him before/know something we don't?

Seems a harsh judgment based off of one youtube clip where he was clearly having an off night finishing. To me, he looks as good as any high school big man we have signed in a long time. (although that says more about our program than McDonald)

I think guys like Thad Matta, Buzz Williams, Bob Huggins, Tubby Smith, Jeff Bzdelik (Wake Forest), and the raters at NBE (#87 overall) and Scout and ESPN (top-25 center) would all disagree that he is simply not any good.

http://www.nbebasketball.com/w3/2010-0921/visitors-lining-up-to-woo-trey-mcdonald-this-week/

[TheRock]

Just based off this video? Or have you seen him before/know something we don't?

Seems a harsh judgment based off of one youtube clip where he was clearly having an off night finishing. To me, he looks as good as any high school big man we have signed in a long time. (although that says more about our program than McDonald)

I think guys like Thad Matta, Buzz Williams, Bob Huggins, Tubby Smith, Jeff Bzdelik (Wake Forest), and the raters at NBE (#87 overall) and Scout and ESPN (top-25 center) would all disagree that he is simply not any good.

http://www.nbebasketball.com/w3/2010-0921/visitors-lining-up-to-woo-trey-mcdonald-this-week/

I have a very scientific way of determining if a player is good.  It's called the "eye test."  If he looks like he can play and plays well, I think he's good.  If he's a top 25 center but can't make easy put backs and layups, then I don't think he's good.  It's that simple.  I don't want players that are not good getting scholarship offers from MU, its just stupid.

[MarkCharles]

I have a very scientific way of determining if a player is good.  It's called the "eye test."  If he looks like he can play and plays well, I think he's good.  If he's a top 25 center but can't make easy put backs and layups, then I don't think he's good.  It's that simple.  I don't want players that are not good getting scholarship offers from MU, its just stupid.

Now that is some valuable insight.

I'm a believer in the eyeball test, but a 2 minute youtube clip from one game is hardly a fair examination. In this case, I'll trust the coaches and evaluators who make their living judging basketball talent instead of a reactionary on a message board.

[TheRock]

Now that is some valuable insight.

I'm a believer in the eyeball test, but a 2 minute youtube clip from one game is hardly a fair examination. In this case, I'll trust the coaches and evaluators who make their living judging basketball talent instead of a reactionary on a message board.

If he can't dominate that smaller player he was up against, how do you expect him to dominate guys like Fab Melo.  His shot looks terrible, and he looks like a terrible finisher.  I understand its only a short 2 minute clip, but I would rather seem him at his worst when trying to determine his potential success.  If he can look that bad, then a lot of work would be needed by him and the coaches to get that amount of bad out of his system.  In other words, he looks like quite the project.

Just sayin

[NersEllenson]

CBB: Well, if we did sign this kid, and later on someone else came along who was better, we could always Newbill the kid...
Lennys/Ners/ATL MU: God CBB, why do you always have to sabotage MU B-Ball
CBB: Well, in 5 years, I will know whether or not this will be a good hire.
Lennys/Ners/ATL MU: Man CBB, you must never be wrong.  How is your butt boy TC?
CBB: TC never did something like this....
L/N/ATL: Everything always comes back to TC with you.
CBB: You brought it up, and yes it's fact, TC never signed a kid and then pulled his letter...
4ever: Fart or poop joke.

And repeat...

Nice contribution to this thread Reinko.  That was really funny.  Are you a stand up comedian by chance?  If not, you should really consider it - you've got a gift.  I'm still laughing hysterically.  

[StillAWarrior]

I'm a believer in the eyeball test, but a 2 minute youtube clip from one game is hardly a fair examination.

He had several nice post moves in that video that resulted in baskets.  He also had a couple of rebounds.  If he'd have taken a few similar plays from each of 10 games (resulting in a video with 20-30 nice post-move baskets and 10-15 boards), thrown in a few dunks and blocks that you know a kid his size has, and left out the times he got blocked and/or missed passes we'd all be salivating over him.  Any half-way decent player can come up with a highlight video that makes him look awesome.

This video was pretty raw footage from one game and is no more helpful in evaluating this player than a highlight real edited together with all his best plays from 10 games.

[TheRock]

This video was pretty raw footage from one game and is no more helpful in evaluating this player than a highlight real edited together with all his best plays from 10 games.

How is it not more helpful than an edited highlight reel?  This is all his plays from one game.  You do realize that if he were to come to MU, we would be getting both his good and bad plays, so we might as well judge him on both of them.  Therefore, this has to be better than just a highlight reel with all good plays when trying to determine how good this guy is. 

[MarkCharles]

If he can't dominate that smaller player he was up against, how do you expect him to dominate guys like Fab Melo.  His shot looks terrible, and he looks like a terrible finisher.  I understand its only a short 2 minute clip, but I would rather seem him at his worst when trying to determine his potential success.  If he can look that bad, then a lot of work would be needed by him and the coaches to get that amount of bad out of his system.  In other words, he looks like quite the project.

Just sayin

I totally agree that he is a project. But I don't think anyone expects him to dominate guys like Fab Melo. MU isn't on that level yet where we expect dominant big men--we'll take servicable ones for the time being. Melo is a 7foot stud, future lottery pick. I would be happy with a guy who, by their soph or jr year, can hold their own on defense and the glass against most big east centers while not being a total blackhole on offense. We haven't had that in some time.

And this was taken during the King James Classic, a premier national AAU tourney. Its not like he was playing against a scrub team. The team he was playing against had a couple guys who were easily 6'8 (their own #50). I rewatched the video, and his shot isn't really that ugly for a center, as long as you don't look at results (haha, I know). But he has solid form. He needs to park himself inside 12 ft though, too many jumpers from the ft-line out.

[StillAWarrior]

How is it not more helpful than an edited highlight reel?  This is all his plays from one game.  You do realize that if he were to come to MU, we would be getting both his good and bad plays, so we might as well judge him on both of them.  Therefore, this has to be better than just a highlight reel with all good plays when trying to determine how good this guy is. 

Fair enough; point made.  I will change my opinion and say that it is marginally better than a highlight real.  In either case, we don't have much information.  This might have been his worst game in five years...or it might have been his best.  We don't know.

But, I think it is ridiculous to say that the kid isn't any good based upon this footage, just like I think it's ridiculous to get overly excited about a kid based upon a highlight reel.

[PBRme]

+1

[reinko]

Nice contribution to this thread Reinko.  That was really funny.  Are you a stand up comedian by chance?  If not, you should really consider it - you've got a gift.  I'm still laughing hysterically.  

Now I'm sure unsure, if you are making fun of me, making fun of you.  Either way, I'm gonna now go grab a beer.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Isn't this kid a 3 star and we're beneath recruiting 3 star big men?

Stepping into the time machine, I can just imagine what the response would be if we were after this kid and he had offers from Oakland, Central Michigan, DePaul, Dayton, Western Michigan and Iowa (all of which have offered this young man).  The howling that would be going on......