Offseason Thread: Zak Irvin

I thought this thread is about Zak Irvin? His end of season eruption was what I had expected to see all year long. It looked to me that he decided to be a lot more aggressive over the last few weeks of the season. This seemed to be a big difference maker in his rebounding and getting to the hoop. I wonder if his fall against Villanova, the undercut during the 'Cuse game, and I think it was against Eastern Michigan when he went down hard again caused him to become a little gun shy going to the hoop?

Anyway, I expect him to continue rounding out his game, become a leader and catalyst of next year’s team. One of the biggest improvements I think he made is in his ball handling, he looks WAY more comfortable and smoother handling the ball. I am happy he ditched 3 point celebrations and love the way he always seems to enjoy playing.

I think 16pts, 6 boards, 2 assists is a real possibility for him next year especially if he can find his 3 point form.

I thought this thread is about Zak Irvin? His end of season eruption was what I had expected to see all year long. It looked to me that he decided to be a lot more aggressive over the last few weeks of the season. This seemed to be a big difference maker in his rebounding and getting to the hoop. I wonder if his fall against Villanova, the undercut during the 'Cuse game, and I think it was against Eastern Michigan when he went down hard again caused him to become a little gun shy going to the hoop?

Anyway, I expect him to continue rounding out his game, become a leader and catalyst of next year’s team. One of the biggest improvements I think he made is in his ball handling, he looks WAY more comfortable and smoother handling the ball. I am happy he ditched 3 point celebrations and love the way he always seems to enjoy playing.

I think 16pts, 6 boards, 2 assists is a real possibility for him next year especially if he can find his 3 point form.

Agree that he lost his confidence early – the falls hurt but getting stuffed at the rim for the game at Nova didn’t help.

He didn’t just get his confidence back down the stretch though… He actually learned how to pass. That was the big difference and it meant that teams couldn’t just take away the drive because he was so one dimensional.

I look at Zak and basically see THJ with a delayed development. THJ displayed the same type of passing ability out of PnR in the late stages of his freshman year (at PSU comes to mind). Zak’s stats will look better next year than a sophomore THJ because he will be presumably surrounded by more talent, but I think the trajectory is the same. Think Zak will improve next year, but wouldn’t expect him to handle a press like THJ vs VCU. If Zak sticks around for his senior year, which I think is likely, think he can be a REALLY good player

I hope you are right about him sticking around, but I did see his name on the 2016 draft board.

I hope you are right about him sticking around, but I did see his name on the 2016 draft board.

Projected 2nd round…not likely he leaves if his stock is that low.

He wouldn’t be the first guy to leave early with a second round projection.

He wouldn't be the first guy to leave early with a second round projection.

2 of those former players(Manny, GR3) didn’t necessarily see eye to eye with JB at various points in their tenures…don’t think that issue exists with Zak.

GR3 had a 1st round Projection.

He wouldn’t be the first guy to leave early with a second round projection.

2 of those former players(Manny, GR3) didn’t necessarily see eye to eye with JB at various points in their tenures…don’t think that issue exists with Zak.

GR3 had a 1st round Projection.
He wouldn't be the first guy to leave early with a second round projection.

2 of those former players(Manny, GR3) didn’t necessarily see eye to eye with JB at various points in their tenures…don’t think that issue exists with Zak.

Simply not true. When GR3 declared he was universally considered a 2nd rd pick

Simply not true. When GR3 declared he was universally considered a 2nd rd pick

Fortunately, this is easy to prove. Here are the top two mock drafts that showed up in my quick Google search. They both have GRIII in the first round.

http://www.nbadraft.net/2014mock_draft

Universal huh? he declared 4/15/14 What date do you think he declared? These Mock Drafts were updated in June.
http://www.sportingnews.com/list/4592753-nba-mock-draft-2014-lottery-joel-embiid-andrew-wiggins-jabari-parker-cavs-76ers/slide/242670


http://www.nbadraft.net/2014mock_draft

GR3 had a 1st round Projection.
He wouldn't be the first guy to leave early with a second round projection.

2 of those former players(Manny, GR3) didn’t necessarily see eye to eye with JB at various points in their tenures…don’t think that issue exists with Zak.

Simply not true. When GR3 declared he was universally considered a 2nd rd pick

My apologies, as he obviously wasn’t universally considered a 2nd round pick. That being said, I certainly know some sites, such as ESPN and SI had him going in the second round.

And it was reported OKC planned to take him 1st round in place of Josh Huestis but GRIII did Not want to be stashed Overseas

The Advisory Committee grades aren’t public… So we won’t know what his ‘grade’ was… but I believe they give a grade like top 5, lottery and then something in the late first to early second range.

That is a tough gray area because 1st round you have the guaranteed contract, second you do. But if someone tells anyone they are 20-40… they are going to to hear the ‘late first round’ part, not the ‘early second round’ because they are confident 20 year old college bball players.