If you were starting a team today who would u take?

[Doris Burkes Thong]

The current Vander Blue or the Jerel McNeal that was an HM All-American his senior year?

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

That is an interesting question. McNeal was a great scorer, but it seemed like his decision making never improved. Vander has improved at a much more remarkable rate, but I'd still rate him a notch below Jerel.

[RushmoreAcademy]

At this point, I would say Jerel, but that is no knock on Vander, I just had an extremely high opinion of Jerel.   You could definitely make arguments for both sides though.  Jerel was the guy for that team and those teammates, and Vander is the guy for this team.

[Goose]

Know I am in the minority on this, but Vander by long shot. Vander is an athlete and talented basketball player with great feel for the game. If he is back next year I believe he has chance to have one of the all time great senior seasons.

[GGGG]

Know I am in the minority on this, but Vander by long shot. Vander is an athlete and talented basketball player with great feel for the game. If he is back next year I believe he has chance to have one of the all time great senior seasons.

Agreed.  Vander and not even close.

[NickelDimer]

Pre-tournament; Jerel. Now, Blue easily.  He has grown leaps and bounds with a year to go. He hit that floater in the lane last night and I thought, who the HELL saw this player coming based on what we saw the previous two years?! Crazy.

[bilsu]

Vander, I never liked McNeal. He would never give the ball up on a fast break and got several charges called on him when he could of passed it off to James or Matthews on the break.

[avid1010]

depends on who the other players are...but vander is a better team player on both offense and defense.

[bilsu]

The last dozen games the player Vander has reminded me of the most is Jimmy Butler. Butler amd Vander both had the ability to step up and hit the game winning shot. Maybe he did, but I cannot ever remember McNeal actually hitting a game winner. Even when he had the best game of his career against Stanford McNeal missed the game winner at the end of regulation. It even hurt more because Lazar was breaking to the basket, but McNeal took an outside jumper instead of giving it to Lazar.

[patso]

Vander

[flash]

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I would take Vander Blue.  He's a proven winner, excellent defender, and has improved immensely from last season to this season.  I can't wait to see how good he becomes next season.  He just has something that Jerel didn't have, he's got "it".  I don't know what "it" is, but he's got "it". 

[dwaderoy2004]

The last dozen games the player Vander has reminded me of the most is Jimmy Butler. Butler amd Vander both had the ability to step up and hit the game winning shot. Maybe he did, but I cannot ever remember McNeal actually hitting a game winner. Even when he had the best game of his career against Stanford McNeal missed the game winner at the end of regulation. It even hurt more because Lazar was breaking to the basket, but McNeal took an outside jumper instead of giving it to Lazar.

McNeal made a game winning layup @USF his junior(?) year.  

[MauraDay]

Jerel McNeal