Cheatham

[Dish]

I'm sure there's been a topic on Cheatham, but I really like the player he is going to become. Outside of a known NBA type at MU, I think not since McNeal have I been this excited about a player as a frosh. I think he has the potential to be a good team leader too, count me in the Cheatham bandwagon.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I'm sure there's been a topic on Cheatham, but I really like the player he is going to become. Outside of a known NBA type at MU, I think not since McNeal have I been this excited about a player as a frosh. I think he has the potential to be a good team leader too, count me in the Cheatham bandwagon.

He frustrates me, but it is freshman frustration.  I think he's going to be very good.  The frustration comes in where he has a good shot, and he makes a move that sometimes forces a worse shot, or more challenging.  Usually it is done with aggressiveness toward the hoop, so I can't fault that at all. 

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

If HC starts getting a little more respect from the refs, he will be unstoppable. I swear he never gets a call when he drives to the hoop.

[brewcity77]

McNeal was solid as a frosh, but he was the least exciting Amigo for me that year. Dom James was the apparent star, and for me Wes Matthews looked like he had the highest upside.

Cheatham looks far more exciting to me than McNeal, who looked like a solid piece but a clear tours in his recruiting class.

[tower912]

I said it weeks ago in the Cheatham ceiling thread.    If he stays 4 years, I can see him leaving as the all-time leading scorer.    To do that, MU is going to have to play multiple post-season games.    Unless he plays the point, he is staying 4 years.   6'4 SG's have to be otherworldly to leave early.     

[WarriorFan]

He should have shot 20 FT's against Nova.

[Lighthouse 84]

Hanie had a drive today when he kicked the ball out for a 3. It's the first time I remember him doing that. Usually, he tries to force the shot. Huge step, in my opinion, in his progression into being even more of a threat. If teams don't key solely on his drive but know he may kick it, he'll be much more difficult to stop. If I was game planning for him before today, I'd be collapsing around him when he drives. We are in for a treat watching this kid for the next 3 (hopefully) years.

[Dish]

When I look back at James/McNeal/Matthews early on, if I remember right, James still had the potential of being a 2-3 yr player, Matthews development was more Soph /jr year. I felt like McNeal was going to be a 4 yr very good college player. That's how I feel about Cheatham. I agree with Tower, he potentially could be a top 5 MU all time scorer with some luck.

I think he's a strong piece of the future, something MU has (for me) lacked recently.

[brandx]

I said it weeks ago in the Cheatham ceiling thread.    If he stays 4 years, I can see him leaving as the all-time leading scorer.    To do that, MU is going to have to play multiple post-season games.    Unless he plays the point, he is staying 4 years.   6'4 SG's have to be otherworldly to leave early.   

We're on the same page, Tower.

It was after one of the early cupcake games where I said he would be the leading scorer on the team by his junior year. If that happens, your prediction should come true as well.

The good thing is that his game still needs a lot of work - no mid-range game, not a good passer, doesn't see the floor well yet.

But those are all things he can learn. And he looks like the hard-working kind of guy who will do what it takes.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

And the kid LOVES Marquette. I remember talking to him after the Italy trip and he was saying how disappointed he was that he wasn't able to play. Kid just loves the game of basketball.

[MU82]

Get something of a mid-range game, get more of a right hand, be willing to dish and kick a little more ... and he goes from nice young player to total stud.

As others have said, all of those are the kind of things a determined, talented player can accomplish over time.

Very excited about his prospects.

[forgetful]

I said it weeks ago in the Cheatham ceiling thread.    If he stays 4 years, I can see him leaving as the all-time leading scorer.    To do that, MU is going to have to play multiple post-season games.    Unless he plays the point, he is staying 4 years.   6'4 SG's have to be otherworldly to leave early.   

I agree.  I'm also on the record in the ceiling thread as him possibly being the all-time leading scorer.

He's tied with Jerel McNeal for 5th all time Freshman scoring leaders and depending on home many more games he plays this year could likely move up to 3rd, behind Dominic James and Doc Rivers (needs 40 points to pass Damon Key and Bo Ellis).

Pretty good list of people to compare him to.

He's also likely to finish top 5 in 3pt FG%, and number 1 all time for FTs made.

(of course that is all excluding Henry who is number 1 all time scoring for a Freshman and number 1 for FTs made and number 1 all time rebounding).

[AZMarqfan]

He's been outstanding since early in the year.  I'd love to see him improve his ball handling (he's a little stiff) and learn a mid-range game.  But he drives as well as anyone on the team (including JJJ) and can shoot the 3.  In recent history, I'd rank him in the tier of frosh with Burton and Mayo, behind Dom James, but ahead of Matthews (mediocre at best until breakout senior year), McNeal (broke out as soph), and Blue (broke out as jr). 

[GGGG]

He's been outstanding since early in the year.  I'd love to see him improve his ball handling (he's a little stiff) and learn a mid-range game.  But he drives as well as anyone on the team (including JJJ) and can shoot the 3.  In recent history, I'd rank him in the tier of frosh with Burton and Mayo, behind Dom James, but ahead of Matthews (mediocre at best until breakout senior year), McNeal (broke out as soph), and Blue (broke out as jr). 

???  Cheatham is WAY better than either Burton or Mayo were as freshmen.  He plays a much more significant role, and when his offense isn't good (like at Creighton), he still brings it defensively. 

He will get more foul calls when he drives to contact instead of trying to avoid it.

[tower912]

He's been outstanding since early in the year.  I'd love to see him improve his ball handling (he's a little stiff) and learn a mid-range game.  But he drives as well as anyone on the team (including JJJ) and can shoot the 3.  In recent history, I'd rank him in the tier of frosh with Burton and Mayo, behind Dom James, but ahead of Matthews (mediocre at best until breakout senior year), McNeal (broke out as soph), and Blue (broke out as jr).

Neither Burton nor Mayo as frosh are anywhere close to where Cheatham is as a frosh.   Playing PG for the first time, playing defense, buying into a team concept, getting his points through the offense...... yeah, all foreign concepts to Burton and Mayo.    Both are/were talented.   Neither played on both ends. 

[GooooMarquette]

Neither Burton nor Mayo as frosh are anywhere close to where Cheatham is as a frosh.   Playing PG for the first time, playing defense, buying into a team concept, getting his points through the offense...... yeah, all foreign concepts to Burton and Mayo.    Both are/were talented.   Neither played on both ends.

+1

[KenoshaWarrior]

Agreed. Very excited

[mileskishnish72]

I'm with you guys - he adds the 10ft stop and pop and the floater and look out!

[MU82]

Neither Burton nor Mayo as frosh are anywhere close to where Cheatham is as a frosh.   Playing PG for the first time, playing defense, buying into a team concept, getting his points through the offense...... yeah, all foreign concepts to Burton and Mayo.    Both are/were talented.   Neither played on both ends.

That comparison was so absurd I thought maybe he meant to put it in teal!

[4everwarriors]

Cheatham's a future pro, hey?

[HoopsterBC]

Cheatham can be a pro, but needs to work on a few more options on his offensive game.  He has a nice stroke from 3 land but has no jump shot or floater yet.  Hard
to believe he has no mid range game.  Needs to learn to drive and dish a little and realize a good drive, more under control then putting his head down and charging.
I did like yesterday he scored with his right hand, so dominant lefty.  Needs to gain 10 -15 lbs of muscle to his frame, which he will do just in maturation.  Is upside is
huge and the minutes he got this year will be beneficial to his future.  Keeps improving might leave as a junior.  But with Henry gone, the D will be tougher on him
going forward, how he handles that will decide his future. 

JJJ put in the work to improve and he is a different player this year, I can see the same improvement with Cheatham.  JJJ even took a step left yesterday as he is dominant right hand, needs to work on that next year.  These two will be the go to guys next year.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

I get excited by JJJ & HC on the wings with hopefully a sophomore traci and new frosh patrolling the point.

[AZMarqfan]

Mayo was an outstanding frosh--a spark plug.  He was a major reason we defeated Bucky at Kohl that year.  But he didn't have to play a huge role given the stars DJO, Crowder, Gardner, etc.  His athleticism and 3pt shooting gave us an exciting glimpse of what might have been. 

Burton was different.  He was unafraid to shoot, but you could see he had the potential to be a true playmaker, despite playing on a terrible team.  Very raw, very talented. 

I stand by the comparison in terms of players and the excitement their potential brings to the table.  Unfortunately Mayo had other issues and Burton opted to leave.  In hindsight, the McNeal comparison is fairly apt.  He played 3rd fiddle to Novak and Dom, but his defense and ability to drive were what had us excited.  I had to look that one up, because I remember the talk of everyone being about Dom frosh year, McNeal soph and jr years, and Wes sr year. 

[Jay Bee]

MBD's O and upside were special. Very different players and roles, however.

The great news with Haany includes...
...still a slight frame. Additional strength will help his game.
...still new to position. Additional time will help his game.
...turnover rate is poor. Has plenty of room to improve, which is generally seen with age. Can he knocked down 26% to 18%-ish next season? Perhaps. His turnover rate against decent competition is 30%+. Poor.

...at the same time.. his shooting this season doesn't leave a lot of room for improvement unless he starts shooting from deep more often... the guy is at 52% 2FG and 43% from 3 (and 80% from the line, not that it matters).. what more can you reasonably project?

Solid free throw rate.. I think for him, you want that 20% %Shots and 21% usage to grow without giving up a lot on the eFG%... and to see the turnover rate drop meaningfully. That's the path. How effective can he be when taking on a greater scoring role?

Put another way... to improve, you're asking a guy to take on a larger role while maintaining splendid shooting stats and significantly cutting back on turnovers. Can be done... and we see it often from FR to SO..

[brandx]

I'm with you guys - he adds the 10ft stop and pop and the floater and look out!

The Butch Lee type shot. He was great at pulling up in the lane for the 8' - 12' shot.