Freshmen comparisons

[tower912]

Who would you compare this year's freshmen to?

Greg Elliott:  More athletic Joe Chapman.    A do-everything guard.   Has some size, can defend.
Jamal Cain:   A skinnier Jamil Wilson.   Has the skills, needs to develop the body.    Picturing Cain's skill set at 220 instead of 190.   Yes, please.
Theo John:  I am racking my brain for a MU big to compare him to, and going back to Copa, I can't remember a freshman big with his size and strength.  Potenial Maurice Lucas if he puts in the work?  Taller Faisal Abraham?  The hardest to compare because of the lack of physically dominant MU bigs over the last 30 years. 
Eke:  Ooze.   

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Since before we landed him I have heard Theo compared to Faisal Abraham. I think it's a fair comparison

[We R Final Four]

Theo can dunk the basketball, so that alone makes the comparison to Tom Copa unfair.

[zcg2013]

I see a bit of Jamil and JaJuan in Jamal. So much athleticism, I can't wait to see what Todd Smith does with him over this upcoming off-season.

[tower912]

Theo can dunk the basketball, so that alone makes the comparison to Tom Copa unfair.

LOL.   I have vivid memories of Copa coming in for a huge dunk, throwing it off of the back rim, and it landing in press row.    But, he, too, was a 6'9, 250 lb kid from Minnesota.   

[We R Final Four]

 

[real chili 83]

Didn't Copa get a cup of coffee?

[tower912]

Yes.  San Antonio, IIRC.

[MerrittsMustache]

Didn't Copa get a cup of coffee?

33 games and 132 minutes of coffee!

[Bo Ryan's Massage Therapist]

Not a freshman, but Froling reminds me of Brad Lohaus with his inside out game.  Theo John reminds me of Faisal Abraham

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

I see a bit of Jamil and JaJuan in Jamal. So much athleticism, I can't wait to see what Todd Smith does with him over this upcoming off-season.

Awww, you're making me blush.

[GooooMarquette]

Theo reminds me much more of Faisal than Copa.  The chiseled build, the athletic blocks.  Better offensive game though.  And - although this isn't saying much - I imagine he's a better FT shooter...

[Lennys Tap]

Who would you compare this year's freshmen to?

Greg Elliott:  More athletic Joe Chapman.    A do-everything guard.   Has some size, can defend.
Jamal Cain:   A skinnier Jamil Wilson.   Has the skills, needs to develop the body.    Picturing Cain's skill set at 220 instead of 190.   Yes, please.
Theo John:  I am racking my brain for a MU big to compare him to, and going back to Copa, I can't remember a freshman big with his size and strength.  Potenial Maurice Lucas if he puts in the work?  Taller Faisal Abraham?  The hardest to compare because of the lack of physically dominant MU bigs over the last 30 years. 
Eke:  Ooze.

Greg Eliott is more athletic than Joe C, but not near the shooter.

Cain has some Jamil W in him, maybe (fingers crossed) a little Earl Tatum. Unlimited potential.

Theo could be better than Faisal (I'd be thrilled) but I don't remotely see Maurice Lucas.

For me, anyway, Eke is a big ? I wouldn't compare to anyone.

[GooooMarquette]

Greg Eliott is more athletic than Joe C, but not near the shooter.

Agree completely.  I see more of the early Dameon Mason - lanky and athletic with lots of potential and so-so shooting.  The transfer and battle with migraines derailed his career, but he could have been very good.

Greg has a higher level of athleticism though....

[Dr. Blackheart]

Greg Eliott is more athletic than Joe C, but not near the shooter.

Coach Nelson needs to break down Greg's shot like he did JJ's. His free throws last night were tough to watch. This kid could be dynamite by his junior year if he gets that in line. I am a bit surprised as he was a scorer in high school but there is a reason he slipped. Diamond in the rough. He could be special.

[94Warrior]

GE=MCW (as a frosh) minus stealing laptops.

[DCHoopster]

Theo really looks like he is progressing very nicely, I think he has a big upside.   He has the body of Maurice Lucas but does not have the offensive game like him.  Lets
see if he develops that.  The other two are so skinny not sure who they compare to.  Maybe Earl Tatum is Jamils body wise but no where close to his talent.  He will need
a few more years to develop as he is a toothpick.  He might have trouble getting off the bench next year with the Hauser boys there.  He might get lost in the shuffle.
Elliott is just a player.  Not sure you can not recruit over him this spring.  Long and skinny, does not shoot the ball particularly well.  Bailey if any good could start next
year at the 2, or a grad transfer combo guard.  Elliott reminds me of Marcus Washington.  Not as good.  He would be a weaklink next year if he starts, needs 20 pounds
to his frame,  not sure that can happen.

[manny31]

Yes.  San Antonio, IIRC.

Tom is a good dude. Saved my life in St. Louis once.

[Silkk the Shaka]

Tom is a good dude. Saved my life in St. Louis once.

Crazy... sounds like a story there...

[mayfairskatingrink]

Coach Nelson needs to break down Greg's shot like he did JJ's. His free throws last night were tough to watch. This kid could be dynamite by his junior year if he gets that in line. I am a bit surprised as he was a scorer in high school but there is a reason he slipped. Diamond in the rough. He could be special.

Why wouldn't his shot be broken down already?  Why waste freshman year with a shot as poor as his is?

That should have begun the first day of practice.

[GGGG]

Why wouldn't his shot be broken down already?  Why waste freshman year with a shot as poor as his is?

That should have begun the first day of practice.

I'm sure it has been.  He's contributing how they want him to at this point.

[Herman Cain]

Why wouldn't his shot be broken down already?  Why waste freshman year with a shot as poor as his is?

That should have begun the first day of practice.

Typically, they work on those kind of major changes in the off season with thousands of reps. The first year is one of acclimation to school and college basketball.

[DCHoopster]

Why wouldn't his shot be broken down already?  Why waste freshman year with a shot as poor as his is?

That should have begun the first day of practice.

Air balled a three yesterday.  Missed 2 out of 3 free throws and did not look good, looked nervous.  He must have been a volume shooter in high school.  Long way to
go, right now just a player.  Will have to grow in a year as he has a chance to start next year.  As a lot to work on but needs to spend a year in the
weight room and having protein shakes like 10 times a day.

[oldwarrior81]

Elliott reminds me of a young Michael Wilson.

Similar build, around 6-4 175 with long arms.

When paired with Worthen, a young Wilson averaged about 6-8 points a game. Usually the 5th scoring option on offense.

When paired with Rivers his last two years, Wilson handled the ball a bit more and built up some decent assist numbers.  About 4 rebounds and 4 assists per game and scoring increased to 12 and then 16 his senior year. Not a great outside shooter, but a very effective shooter making over 50% of his shots his last two years.

Plus many remember he brought down the rim against Memphis.

[MerrittsMustache]

Admittedly, every player's "Best-case" is Dwyane Wade and every player's "Worst-case" is Greg Clausen so maybe Ceiling/Floor would have been better, but you get where I'm going. By their senior year, this is where I could see the current frosh.

Greg Elliott
Best-case: Jerel McNeal
Worst-case: Dameon Mason


Theo John
Best-case: Angel Delgado*
Worst-case: Chris Otule


Jamal Cain
Best-case: Jimmy Butler
Worst-case: Mike Bargen


Ike Eke
Best-case: Ousmane Barro
Worst-case: Lawrence Blackledge



* - Marquette just hasn't had a guy with Theo's build and athleticism so I was forced to go intraconference instead.