Davante looking trim

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Looking through the Marquette strength and conditioning photos and came across this one. Davante actually looks kinda skinny in this one. Curious to see what his weight will be at the beginning of the season.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=481122171967855&set=at.298658783547529.70427.291455314267876.100000064280708&type=1&theater

[Marqevans]

Good for him.  Hope he can get drafted next year.

[UticaBusBarn]

I hate to put the ox before the cart (ahem), but it could be that next year the Warriors have three players drafted by the NBA.

Gardner, who is a unique talent. Wilson, who has prototype NBA skills. And, of course, Otule, a 6'11", 275 pound "5" who has great fundamentals and court sense.

For all the talk about Vander Blue, the NBA draft next year, for Warrior followers, should be really, really interesting ... especially after they make it to the final four.

[MU82]

Color me hopeful but skeptical on all of this.

All I heard last year was how much weight Davante had lost but he still seemed pretty large to me. He mostly used his body type to his advantage but he also did get rejected by the bottom of the rim on a couple of dunk attempts, pretty embarrassing for a 6-8 guy. I'd love to see him make major strides physically so he can be on the floor more and contribute in more ways.

As for pro prospects, this has been much discussed in many other threads. IMHO: Unless Gardner really undergoes a physical transformation, he has little chance because the NBA doesn't favor rooted-to-the-ground slow guys. Otule has next to no chance. He has zero offensive potential, he has trouble catching the ball and he will be 25 years old just a couple of months into his first pro season. Jamil needs to have an incredible senior season, which certainly is possible.

Only 60 guys are drafted each year. Factoring in the 1-2 dozen international players none of us have ever heard of, that leaves 40-45 slots for college kids. Thinking Davante and especially Otule will be among those 40-45 in the entire country shows a lot of Warrior tunnel vision.

But hey, it's always fun to talk about.

[willie warrior]

I hate to put the ox before the cart (ahem), but it could be that next year the Warriors have three players drafted by the NBA.

Gardner, who is a unique talent. Wilson, who has prototype NBA skills. And, of course, Otule, a 6'11", 275 pound "5" who has great fundamentals and court sense.

For all the talk about Vander Blue, the NBA draft next year, for Warrior followers, should be really, really interesting ... especially after they make it to the final four.

Otule to the Heat!!!!

[willie warrior]

Color me hopeful but skeptical on all of this.

All I heard last year was how much weight Davante had lost but he still seemed pretty large to me. He mostly used his body type to his advantage but he also did get rejected by the bottom of the rim on a couple of dunk attempts, pretty embarrassing for a 6-8 guy. I'd love to see him make major strides physically so he can be on the floor more and contribute in more ways.

As for pro prospects, this has been much discussed in many other threads. IMHO: Unless Gardner really undergoes a physical transformation, he has little chance because the NBA doesn't favor rooted-to-the-ground slow guys. Otule has next to no chance. He has zero offensive potential, he has trouble catching the ball and he will be 25 years old just a couple of months into his first pro season. Jamil needs to have an incredible senior season, which certainly is possible.

Only 60 guys are drafted each year. Factoring in the 1-2 dozen international players none of us have ever heard of, that leaves 40-45 slots for college kids. Thinking Davante and especially Otule will be among those 40-45 in the entire country shows a lot of Warrior tunnel vision.

But hey, it's always fun to talk about.

Hey c'mon Man! Otule=Hibbert=Joel Anthony

[Slim]

Color me hopeful but skeptical on all of this.

All I heard last year was how much weight Davante had lost but he still seemed pretty large to me. He mostly used his body type to his advantage but he also did get rejected by the bottom of the rim on a couple of dunk attempts, pretty embarrassing for a 6-8 guy. I'd love to see him make major strides physically so he can be on the floor more and contribute in more ways.

As for pro prospects, this has been much discussed in many other threads. IMHO: Unless Gardner really undergoes a physical transformation, he has little chance because the NBA doesn't favor rooted-to-the-ground slow guys. Otule has next to no chance. He has zero offensive potential, he has trouble catching the ball and he will be 25 years old just a couple of months into his first pro season. Jamil needs to have an incredible senior season, which certainly is possible.

Only 60 guys are drafted each year. Factoring in the 1-2 dozen international players none of us have ever heard of, that leaves 40-45 slots for college kids. Thinking Davante and especially Otule will be among those 40-45 in the entire country shows a lot of Warrior tunnel vision.

But hey, it's always fun to talk about.

Of which 7-9 will be from Kentucky!

[muwar2003]

I can't believe people actually think Otule has a chance to get drafted???   He is only average at best.  He might have a chance in Europe.   He has to improve %200 to even have some team look at him.

[MerrittsMustache]

I hate to put the ox before the cart (ahem), but it could be that next year the Warriors have three players drafted by the NBA.

Gardner, who is a unique talent. Wilson, who has prototype NBA skills. And, of course, Otule, a 6'11", 275 pound "5" who has great fundamentals and court sense.

For all the talk about Vander Blue, the NBA draft next year, for Warrior followers, should be really, really interesting ... especially after they make it to the final four.

The only way that MU has 3 players drafted next year would be if Jamil and Gardner were taken late in the 2nd and Mayo or one of the freshmen have a Wade-like season and leave early. I'd be the odds of that at about .01%.

[BCHoopster]

Chris is space eater on D, good college player, but really would have to take his game to the next level, you need more than a left and right baby hook, to play in the league.  He has
shown no ability to go out and shot a J.  But having an offensive center in Gardner and defensive player like Otule it adds up to a solid center position.  Lets see what happens when
they both leave next year.  

[bilsu]

Gardner has improve physically ever year. Remember at the start of last summer Davante was still recovering from his knee injury, which meant he had to spend more time rehabbing his knee than getting in shape. He finished the current season with no physical issues that I know of, which means he is able to concentrate fully on getting in the best shape possible for his senior season. I would expect him to show significant improvement in his conditioning.

[GGGG]

Also remember that next year's draft is projected to be very deep. 

[Sunbelt15]

Looking through the Marquette strength and conditioning photos and came across this one. Davante actually looks kinda skinny in this one. Curious to see what his weight will be at the beginning of the season.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=481122171967855&set=at.298658783547529.70427.291455314267876.100000064280708&type=1&theater

From "Butterball" to "Mr. Ball". Looking good DG!

[willie warrior]

Chris is space eater on D, good college player, but really would have to take his game to the next level, you need more than a left and right baby hook, to play in the league.  He has
shown no ability to go out and shot a J.  But having an offensive center in Gardner and defensive player like Otule it adds up to a solid center position.  Lets see what happens when
they both leave next year.  

Otule would need to take his game up 2 levels to make it in the Assoc.

[BCHoopster]

Otule would need to take his game up 2 levels to make it in the Assoc.

I agree with you, his handicap is a true handicap.  Hope he has a good enough year to play in Europe.  He is come along way from where he began, nice college player.

[Windyplayer]

Jamil needs to have an incredible senior season, which certainly is possible.

I completely disagree. NBA drafts on potential, which is why Jamil may have been drafted this year if he kept his name in (thankfully he didn't). His length, athleticism, and developing jumper are undeniable. His draft status next year won't be dictated by whether or not he has an incredible season, but whether or not he has a terrible season.

[MerrittsMustache]

I completely disagree. NBA drafts on potential, which is why Jamil may have been drafted this year if he kept his name in (thankfully he didn't). His length, athleticism, and developing jumper are undeniable. His draft status next year won't be dictated by whether or not he has an incredible season, but whether or not he has a terrible season.

Jamil will turn 24 early in 2014-15 NBA season. Not a lot of 24-year-olds are drafted for their potential.

[MU82]

I completely disagree. NBA drafts on potential, which is why Jamil may have been drafted this year if he kept his name in (thankfully he didn't). His length, athleticism, and developing jumper are undeniable. His draft status next year won't be dictated by whether or not he has an incredible season, but whether or not he has a terrible season.

This is mostly a semantics disagreement.

Yes, the NBA drafts on potential -- and potential is best imagined if there is a body of work to draw upon.

If Jamil can show pro scouts that he can be consistently effective by excelling over the course of a rigorous college season -- something he has yet to do -- they will believe more in his pro potential.

[Windyplayer]

This is mostly a semantics disagreement.

Yes, the NBA drafts on potential -- and potential is best imagined if there is a body of work to draw upon.

If Jamil can show pro scouts that he can be consistently effective by excelling over the course of a rigorous college season -- something he has yet to do -- they will believe more in his pro potential.

Of course. All of these arguments are semantics--the use of "consistently effective" and "excelling" are semantics. But potential is in the eye of the beholder. Every NBA team has a nuanced idea of potential as it applies to every player they scout. I'm just saying that there will be NBA team(s) out there that will believe in Wilson's potential based on what he's done so far assuming he does not lay in egg next year, so to speak. The issue is hopelessly opinion-based and requires a balancing act between where NBA scouts view his potential today and how much (or little he can do) over the next year to tip the scales in his favor (or to not tip the scale against him).

[MU82]

Of course. All of these arguments are semantics--the use of "consistently effective" and "excelling" are semantics. But potential is in the eye of the beholder. Every NBA team has a nuanced idea of potential as it applies to every player they scout. I'm just saying that there will be NBA team(s) out there that will believe in Wilson's potential based on what he's done so far assuming he does not lay in egg next year, so to speak. The issue is hopelessly opinion-based and requires a balancing act between where NBA scouts view his potential today and how much (or little he can do) over the next year to tip the scales in his favor (or to not tip the scale against him).

Well stated. Of course, since neither of us is an NBA scout, we might both be talking out of our you-know-whats!

[Sunbelt15]

Of course. All of these arguments are semantics--the use of "consistently effective" and "excelling" are semantics. But potential is in the eye of the beholder. Every NBA team has a nuanced idea of potential as it applies to every player they scout. I'm just saying that there will be NBA team(s) out there that will believe in Wilson's potential based on what he's done so far assuming he does not lay in egg next year, so to speak. The issue is hopelessly opinion-based and requires a balancing act between where NBA scouts view his potential today and how much (or little he can do) over the next year to tip the scales in his favor (or to not tip the scale against him).

Not Cool shutting down debates! Let them stroke their egos and intelligence. 

[Windyplayer]

Well stated. Of course, since neither of us is an NBA scout, we might both be talking out of our you-know-whats!

When in Rome.

[Lennys Tap]

Back to Davante, I keep looking at that picture of him and wondering if it's his head on someone else's body. If not, I'm impressed.

[4th and State]

I mean this as no slight to Chris, but I believe that if he had two eyes with normal vision he would be a dominant player and even have a great chance of making it in the NBA.  I seriously can't believe all that he has achieved with only one eye.  it's truly amazing.  He has the body and athleticism needed for a big man, but the inability to catch the ball, not always seeing the double team coming (i.e. all issues related to having one eye) are things that cannot be taught.  Glad to have him back, but I don't think Chris has a chance of making it in the NBA.   

[Brewtown Andy]

I mean this as no slight to Chris, but I believe that if he had two eyes with normal vision he would be a dominant player and even have a great chance of making it in the NBA. 

Heck, just having no injury history would be a big boost for him.