He’s a catch and shooter with a long release. Nik was neither.
Well again, that assumes he’s a finished product after one year of playing for John Beilein, when the vast majority of our potential NBA draft picks have really improved their games in year two.
Duncan has not yet proven he can play rotation minutes. He’s played in 13 games for an 8 minute average.
Which is 13 more than I ever thought he would see. Good luck to the young man! He must be impressing at some level because the Heat gave him minutes this week in the middle of a playoff race. Spolestra seems to like his game, I think the NBA will find minutes for a 6’-8” three point shooter. I hope he sticks!
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I would absolutely take this bet on Stanley. For gods sake he got 19 min on Thursday. Someone will take another shot on him next year.
I don’t know much about Tillman outside of this article but as an outsider you’d think someone with a young family would be more likely to head to the NBA after a big tournament performance to secure their future.
2 random things watching this:
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When looking at Zion, does anyone else see a shorter Blake Griffin? Zion has a few more skills at this point - he’s a passable three point shooter, which Blake was not at this point (Blake worked really hard first to become a passable FT shooter (he was bad in college and as a young pro), and then a passable three point shooter), and maybe a little bit better of a passer. Griffin was a serious rim protector in college, something he’s never been in the pros.
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I was thinking more - when I look at Tillman, and maybe it’s just the Spartan thing, if he fits the NBA guys who keep coming into my head are PJ Tucker and moreso Draymond Green. Tillman lacks Draymond’s grab and go - but those guys accomplish what Xavier will need to - being an elite 4/5 defender while undersized at both. If Xavier can pull that, I think it’s his best path. I don’t ever see him developing an offensive game sufficient to be anything more than passable in that regard.
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I seriously don’t understand why Cassius can’t be a late first-rounder.
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Don’t see the dray comp. more like Keneth Faried.
Faried quietly sucks really bad at D. Really, at anything that’s not rebounding.
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Why is Winston never included in mock drafts? I don’t understand it. He’s an elite shooter and passer- you’d think there’d be some role for him in the league. Even if it’s as a backup.
He’d be the best player in CBB if he comes back I think and by a decent margin.
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He literally just had the season that Jalen Brunson won POTY with last year, and parlayed into an early second round selection in a much better draft…except his assist/to ratio is better. He’s the same height as Brunson, he’s just a bit slighter.
Basically, he should be an early second rounder.
Brunson went early 2nd, 33rd overall but I do think that’s an apt comparison. I think Brunson is a little taller and definitely has a stronger build but Winston compares reasonably well to him as a player. Brunson has had a very nice rookie season especially since he moved into the starting lineup after they traded away Smith Jr.
I’m sure Winston’s measurables and lack of athleticism will be used against him but he operates out of ball screens better than any player in the country, is a very good passer and a high level shooter. Don’t know if he will leave after his junior year (Brunson did) but no reason not to tests the waters. Doubt his stock is going to increase after another year. But, I’m sure there’s some appeal to coming back as well.
I think the comparison for Cassius is a better shooter version of Tyus Jones. Plays at his own pace and gets even the most athletic guys off balance. He’s extremely athletic but not in the Russell Westbrook kind of way but in the change speeds and change direction kind of way. He completely controlled the game last night and made Tre Jones look bad (just like he did vs. Zavier and UM’s pick and roll defense).
Ultimately, he’s a winner and guys like him are hard to find.
Jones is more athletic though not a better player at this juncture.
Spoke to a nba exec last week about Winston. Described him as a career backup “but there is money to be made.” He expects he will submit his name for evaluation and that there is a decent chance he will not return. The agents will be burning his ears. “What’s there to improve on by returning to college?”
Prior to that conversation I never would have considered it a possibility. But frankly that’s my short-sight. NBA these days takes what’s best available from the colleges, not necessarily because they will eventually be studs but because they have to draft bodies.
Winston is a bright young man. If I’m his pops I want him to get that degree. Wouldn’t surprise if he isn’t close to graduating after 3 years.
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Please!
I can’t imagine a world where the only point guard on Izzo’s roster is a sophomore Foster Loyer
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I wasn’t quoting “terrific” from your post, dude. I was quoting it from the scouting report that I was originally commenting on. You might want to go back and actually read what I was responding to before you accuse me of dishonesty.
I won’t hold my breath waiting for an apology.
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Exactly. How many true freshmen under Beilein have stepped right in and done as well as Iggy did this year? He will almost certainly be better next year.
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Rocket Watts too
If Winston was at Michigan there’d be a 0% chance he comes back.
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