“My name is Dr Kihei Clark, I’ve got a PhD in Hoopsology.”
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https://x.com/draftexpress/status/1795847316806455787?s=46&t=wAzMZR-0PRGT1LpN6U5x0g
Kinda remarkable how similar things worked out for Cam compared with big brother Max. Indicative of how NBA teams are fine projecting off of just-OK college production if the potential is there. Kinda makes college recruiting of this profile of player a little more complicated…like, are Michigan St and Minnesota thrilled with this kind of one-and-done? I guess you can say you get guards to the league…
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Karaban back kinda surprises me. Thought he might gonin same range as RD: 25-40 or so
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Quick list of some major return decisions from the last day or so:
- Mark Sears back for Alabama
- Caleb Love back for Arizona
- Michael Ajayi back for Gonzaga
- Arthur Kaluma back but for team TBD
- Alex Karaban back for UConn
- Eric Dixon back for Villanova
- JT Toppin back and transferring to Texas Tech
- Wooga Poplar withdrew and is in the portal
- Malik Dia withdrew and is transferring to Ole Miss
- Baba Miller withdrew and is transferring to Florida Atlantic
- Coleman Hawkins withdrew and is transferring to a team TBD
- Jarin Stevenson back for Alabama
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#1 is probably a stretch…are they even top-5?
https://x.com/draftexpress/status/1795994789210431852?s=46&t=wAzMZR-0PRGT1LpN6U5x0g
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Probably the right decision for him, but still baffling given the reason he went to Bama in the first place was to be in the NBA ASAP
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Look at the profiles of some of these guys returning. NIL making a huge difference for these guys. It’s a shame we couldn’t have made a better effort with Reece to keep him on this year.
The NIL payments are now competitive with 2-ways. Plus I wonder if some of these guys were not certain about getting 2 ways.
All in all, though, I’m happy Reece did his 4 years, graduated, and is moving on.
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Just a different world now…. Security of absolutely no bills while getting paid well … and being able to pocket so much money if smart while in school??? Why be in a rush to go be a grown up if you can stay a kid for 4 or 5 years between 18-23? Especially for those that are fringe first rounders or later?
$500,000 in NIL is a LOT more money than $530,000 on an NBA 2 way deal …. No bills. No food costs. No car payments, no utilities,
Really the only stresser is keeping up with the academic load.
Sign me up.
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Sometimes it feels right to close a chapter and start a new one in life. And guys are motivated by different things…it’s pretty common across contexts to have people leave relative security (however you want to define it) for a new challenge that has more uncertainty and potentially stress. Chasing growth as a person is a fundamental human motivation.
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Every situation is unique. For some of these kids they have to make a difficult decision of predicting the future, while maximizing their enjoyment of the present.
Dixon and Reece are opposite sides of the same coin. Older players who did their college bid and look ahead to a future as fringe NBA players. I see it as if you legit want it and think you can make the NBA then you have to take the next step and jump because at some point age works against you. Reece made that choice. But if you’re a player with less guaranteed NBA opportunity then returning for that 5th year is a smarter business decision.
The math changes completely for the underclassmen who return to college their situation does not dictate as much to them.
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This sucks for him…
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That sucks. In front of the campers? Yikes.
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I guess there was some sort of scrimmage during Self’s basketball camp where he got hurt:
Sounds like an intra-squad scrimmage, not like a 10-year-old hurt him (article is from before they knew the severity):
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Poplar to Villanova indeed. Dixon returning probably sealed the deal.
Brickus Poplar Longino Dixon Enoch will probably be Villanova’s starting 5 vs us and ______ McKneely ______ _______ _______
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I feel like we will have the advantage in the backcourt while Nova will have it in the frontcourt. We will have the much better coach too
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Wooga’s fine…never been too impressed by him, but certainly a solid power conference starter-level of player.
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Soooo… interesting thing to wake up to… whose Brinks truck is larger?
- Dan Hurley goes to Lakers
- Dan Hurley stays at UConn
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voters
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As for the Lakers’ stars, LeBron James has been impressed with Hurley’s sophisticated offensive actions. Assuming James returns to L.A. in free agency, the possibility of using the 55th overall pick in this month’s NBA draft on USC freshman guard Bronny James makes Hurley an even more intriguing candidate. If that happens, James gets a chance to play with his son and the benefit of Hurley and his staff becoming responsible for Bronny’s pro development.
Soo…if you’re the team with pick #54, what price are you asking of the Lakers to stop you from taking Bronny? It’s probably not much, because you’d be to be willing to commit a roster spot (or two-way) to him to actually have leverage, but it’s probably not zero right? Maybe like swap rights on a second round pick a couple of years out?
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