Omax declares

[Jockey]

I don't think anyone who watched him throughout his time at Marquette is surprised to see him be able to attack a closeout and get downhill attacks.  I think he just didn't get many hard closeouts because you'll live with the OMax three over his straight line drives to the rim.  That's where he struggled, was teams scouted that he was a straight line driver and then got stuck once they cut the drive off.  He'd stop with the ball in the middle of the lane and not really have anywhere to go with it.

Would be interesting to see if he could develop a secondary move out of the straight line drive and develop the 3 point jumper to be consistent enough to get those hard closeouts consistently, where would he wind up being drafted next year?

Developing a consistent 3 point shot makes him a solid rotation guy. Doing that plus having more moves on the drive makes him a solid NBA starter.

[avid1010]

I don't think anyone who watched him throughout his time at Marquette is surprised to see him be able to attack a closeout and get downhill attacks.  I think he just didn't get many hard closeouts because you'll live with the OMax three over his straight line drives to the rim.  That's where he struggled, was teams scouted that he was a straight line driver and then got stuck once they cut the drive off.  He'd stop with the ball in the middle of the lane and not really have anywhere to go with it.

Would be interesting to see if he could develop a secondary move out of the straight line drive and develop the 3 point jumper to be consistent enough to get those hard closeouts consistently, where would he wind up being drafted next year?

I think it is easier for the casual fan (me) to judge offense than defense.  PJ Tucker can hit a corner 3 and a layup...on a good night...nothing else.  I have no clue how well O-Max can guard in the NBA, but if he can do it at a PJ Tucker level...he won't need to improve anything on offense.  We are all talking about his needed growth on offense, but becoming truly elite on defense is likely what he will need to improve to.

[Warrior Code]

I think it is easier for the casual fan (me) to judge offense than defense.  PJ Tucker can hit a corner 3 and a layup...on a good night...nothing else.  I have no clue how well O-Max can guard in the NBA, but if he can do it at a PJ Tucker level...he won't need to improve anything on offense.  We are all talking about his needed growth on offense, but becoming truly elite on defense is likely what he will need to improve to.

But is his shoe game as cold as PJ's?

[wadesworld]

I think it is easier for the casual fan (me) to judge offense than defense.  PJ Tucker can hit a corner 3 and a layup...on a good night...nothing else.  I have no clue how well O-Max can guard in the NBA, but if he can do it at a PJ Tucker level...he won't need to improve anything on offense.  We are all talking about his needed growth on offense, but becoming truly elite on defense is likely what he will need to improve to.

This is true.  I think OMax will have to live in the weight room if he's going to defend like PJ Tucker.

Also, PJ was a pretty big time scorer in college.

[lawdog77]

This is true.  I think OMax will have to live in the weight room if he's going to defend like PJ Tucker.

Also, PJ was a pretty big time scorer in college.

He averaged 13 pts a game in college

[wadesworld]

He averaged 13 pts a game in college

Yup.  He averaged 16.1 his junior season (last year in college).  I'd consider that to be a pretty big time scorer in the college game.  Just like I'd Kam to have been a pretty big time scorer last year at 15.1 ppg.

[avid1010]

This is true.  I think OMax will have to live in the weight room if he's going to defend like PJ Tucker.

Also, PJ was a pretty big time scorer in college.

For sure...that type of physical development is likely more important to his ability to have a long career than being able to get to the rim off the dribble, etc.  He's going to be able to have to guard 3 to 4 different positions on any given night at a high level.  He has the athleticism and length, seems to have the desire, will need to improve his strength.  Seems like he's off to a solid start...great for him and for MU.

[lawdog77]

Yup.  He averaged 16.1 his junior season (last year in college).  I'd consider that to be a pretty big time scorer in the college game.  Just like I'd Kam to have been a pretty big time scorer last year at 15.1 ppg.

I guess you and I have different definitions of "big time"

[Tyler COLEk]

Pretty obvious at this point, but O-Max all but confirms he's leaving in this new interview clip: https://twitter.com/BryanKalbrosky/status/1661798974657818626

Speaks as if it's a foregone conclusion he'll be in the league next year.

[Uncle Rico]

Pretty obvious at this point, but O-Max all but confirms he's leaving in this new interview clip: https://twitter.com/BryanKalbrosky/status/1661798974657818626

Speaks as if it's a foregone conclusion he'll be in the league next year.

Sounds to me like Shaka ran him off like Shaka ran Jimmy off as an alum. 

[The Sultan]

I guess you and I have different definitions of "big time"

He was the leading scorer on a Texas team that included LaMarcus Aldridge, won the Big 12, and got to the Elite 8.

[wadesworld]

I guess you and I have different definitions of "big time"

There were a total of 3 players who averaged more than PJ Tucker's junior year 16.1 ppg in the Big East this past season.  And two of the three were at 16.4 and 16.2.  College isn't the NBA where players off the bench are averaging 20 a game.

[lawdog77]

There were a total of 3 players who averaged more than PJ Tucker's junior year 16.1 ppg in the Big East this past season.  And two of the three were at 16.4 and 16.2.  It's not the NBA where players off the bench are averaging 20 a game.

In 2005-2006, there were over 150 players who averaged more than 16.1 ppg.

https://basketball.realgm.com/ncaa/stats/2006/Averages/Qualified/All/Season/All/points/desc/2

Again we have different definitions of big time. From my recollection, PJ was tough as nails, and played bully ball, despite being undersized.

[wadesworld]

In 2005-2006, there were over 150 players who averaged more than 16.1 ppg.

https://basketball.realgm.com/ncaa/stats/2006/Averages/Qualified/All/Season/All/points/desc/2

Again we have different definitions of big time. From my recollection, PJ was tough as nails, and played bully ball, despite being undersized.

Which is why I said "pretty big time." He wasn't someone who scored 20 a game when he walked into the gym. But he was the 6th leading scorer in the Big Twelve. He was a pretty big time scorer.

[Jay Bee]

Pretty obvious at this point, but O-Max all but confirms he's leaving in this new interview clip: https://twitter.com/BryanKalbrosky/status/1661798974657818626

Speaks as if it's a foregone conclusion he'll be in the league next year.

Why would he not speak that way even if he's still on the fence?

[Markusquette]

It is unfortunate they did not talk in detail about his very bizarre blk%

[TSmith34, Inc.]

It is unfortunate they did not talk in detail about his very bizarre blk%

It's the only thing holding him back. NBA GMs can't stop discussing it.

[Herman Cain]

Pretty obvious at this point, but O-Max all but confirms he's leaving in this new interview clip: https://twitter.com/BryanKalbrosky/status/1661798974657818626

Speaks as if it's a foregone conclusion he'll be in the league next year.

https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/omax-prosper-interview-nba-draft-sleepers-marquette

[avid1010]

Why would he not speak that way even if he's still on the fence?

Are you really the guy to ask that question?

[We R Final Four]

Are you really the guy to ask that question?

Haha......whats that old saying we used to say as kids? Takes one...

[Uncle Rico]

https://twitter.com/draftexpress/status/1662077696527204352?s=46&t=QSiaGcOIKZrrpw0ciZkI5Q

He gowne

Good luck and thank you, OMax!  You'll be remembered as one of the dudes that started the Marquette basketball renaissance

[Jay Bee]

Now, we hope he gets into round 1

[MU82]

Happy for O-Max, grateful for what he did for the program, and I'll be rooting for him.

Now ...

Hey Shaka, what's shakin'?

[Jay Bee]

There are a couple in the portal that are interesting, but do you want to shake things up? Still would be fine with a limited minutes big as an add

[1SE]

Would have been fun to have him back, but I think it's been clear for a while he was gowne.

I think there are some long term benefits to this in that he has shown that you can go to MU, buy in completely, not necessarily be a star, and still make it into the 1st round (hopefully). A great example that Shaka's system and guys with NBA aspirations are not incompatible.