I know you and MattD and maybe others are pretty down on Johns, but he’s still a composite top-50 guy who Izzo is going pretty hard after. Doesn’t he also have a Purdue offer? Painter has had some pretty good bigs and big wings. And a guy with some size and athleticism who can shoot would seem to always have a role under JB. But I haven’t seen him a bunch live like you probably have.
Correction sorry not fewer minutes than this year but fewer than most project meaning a non starter and still a role player as best
It’s hard to play PG as a freshman, harder when you have a senior in front of you that JB is going to default to at every turn. Obviously a huge 2nd half of the season and offseason ahead for X, but too early to give up on him.
5 Likes
No longer a top 50 composite player, 247 just hasn’t updated their composite rankings. Not going to reiterate my view on Johns because I assume most know what it is at this point. That said, his rankings are sliding from every site at every rankings update. I’m not a rankings guys at all, but when you see a universal increase or decline its probably a sign of something.
Could be. He’s 37 on 247, 42 Rivals, 44 on espn, 97 on scout. I don’t know that I’m a “rankings guy,” but it’s a data point. Sometimes the offer sheet is more telling. He’s got Izzo putting forward a fair amount of effort, although of course that’s a home town thing too. The other offers don’t fly off the page, but Purdue, Pitt, Iowa isn’t bad (to go along with UM and MSU). There’s a long way between top 30 where he was and a substantial step below our guard/wing prospects. Again, though, I haven’t seen him like you and others have.
For me its not about film, its about live evaluation. Brandon Johns had a lot of hype surrounding him after 9th grade…due in large part because he was a man amongst boys dominating poor competition in the Lansing area and 2nd and 3rd rate AAU clubs playing with Triple Threat. It was obvious to me the first time I saw him play EYBL this spring that he simply wasn’t a top 20 player, and being candid, not even close.
If you want to go the offer route, it is quite odd that a player with those rankings (declining as they may be) has the offer sheet that he does, while Jerome Hunter (70-125 type by current ranking) has a more impressive and extensive offer list.
I don’t go by either criteria exclusively, but when live evaluation, declining rankings, and non-matching offer/ranking correlation are in harmony…that’s pretty strong evidence that said player isn’t what everyone may have initially thought.
3 Likes
Yeah, sometimes early developers don’t end up being as good as it seems when others catch up physically. I mean, who would’ve thought that Easley would’ve ended up at VCU a couple years ago.
1 Like
I’m not down on Johns as much as I am up on other targets. Johns just seems redundant with Livers while all of the guard targets add elements not currently on the roster. I see Johns a rotation guy who wouldn’t start until year 4 after Livers left vs guard targets who have pro potential.
1 Like
I see Johns and Livers through the same lens as you. I think Livers is a better shooter and a more fluid athlete. Neither are good rebounders.
2 Likes
Who would you compare Hunter to from previous teams?
Yup, Johns is not going to create much offense for himself IMO and the team should use open slots on creators.
I view him him as Deshawn Sims like but with less ball handling ability. I think CJ Fair from Syracuse is a reasonable comparison
Johns does seem a lot like Livers. Livers seems to have a better handle, although Johns is a year younger. Doesn’t have to be a bad thing, especially if their both multi-tool guys, but could be redundant if they’re not. Depth with some size can be important. I guess I don’t come out that strong on either side at this point.
I’ll be honest and say that I’m fearful Johns picks UM by default because he doesn’t have better options.
1 Like
My take on Johns is we don’t need him with Livers already in the mix. That said, I will never ever complain about winning a head to head against Izzo (which happened with Livers also by the way)
How tall is Cormac Ryan?
Legit 6’3. Definitely not 6’5
1 Like
I really like his film, excellent pull up and crossover, but he is thin and slow footed so I’m trying to figure out how he isn’t redundant with J Poole?
Been saying for months that he’s JP with more bounce
1 Like
Can we wait a year and decide if we want 2 JP’s? lol
1 Like