He has enough potential. NBA drafts mostly on potential, not performance.
Illini in the Pros
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illini80
- Forgottonia
Unfortunately I’m with you. Hawkins has great length and athleticism. People talk about him being a 3 and D guy. He’s half of that and it’s not going to land him in the NBA until the other half comes thru. He’s had 2 good games from 3 where he got hot. Take those 2 games out and he’s shooting 22% for the season from deep. He’s also shooting 61% from the line.
Travis Tate has said scouts look at FT % as a gauge of what a guy’s shooting potential is. Love the guy, but he looks to me like he’s a long way from being ready. I’m certain he could make a nice living playing ball if he chooses to leave, but these mock drafts continually show me why they they are worth their weight in photons. I hope we can offer him a nice NIL package and he sticks around another year or two.
Goillinikobd
- Southeastern US
Coleman is 21. Potential is a depreciating asset. Every month, every year it loses value.
ESPN Daily with Pablo Torre covered the Meyers Leonard slur incident, subsequent events, and his hopes to play in the NBA again. Pablo does great work and in general I think this was a pretty nuanced conversation he held with Jeremy Schapp, who recently interviewed Meyers.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Evidently, Trent's on Zenit now:
He's gonna need a warmer coat. Moving up the food chain.
He's gonna need a warmer coat. Moving up the food chain.
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Feels like the beginning of a PR push before a team signs him. Guessing we’ll see a few more articles before he signs with the Lakers around the all star break.
I hope he gets a second chance and makes the most of it.
I think most people are ready to forgive/move passed it with Meyers. Certainly any "moral outrage" went out the door with the League's blatant hypocrisy regarding the Kyrie situation. He shouldn't have done what he did, but Meyers does seem genuinely remorseful and has made tons and tons of efforts to make amends, reach out to the Jewish community and become a better and more well-rounded person. I think it was immature and stupid given he was live streaming himself, but I do not genuinely believe that he is a bad person based upon this incident and how he handled it (I don't know him on a personal level so I can't vouch for his character generally).
With him, it's really just a question of whether he can still play and contribute at an NBA level coming off injury and being out of the League a few years.
With him, it's really just a question of whether he can still play and contribute at an NBA level coming off injury and being out of the League a few years.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Welcome, Trent! | Zenit basketball club
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What you say may turn out to be true. But if the Bulls have any finger on the pulse of Chicago ball and Chicago fans they will do everything they can to find a place for Ayo going forward.
Ayo may not have reached his ceiling as a player yet. But even if he has... the skills he has already shown in The Association and his invaluable asset of personal character needs to be accommodated in his home City.
Illini Nation will always wish the best for Ayo regardless of where his career might take him. But the primary reason for finding a new home for him should be only if HE decides he wants that. Or if he can bank more green.
The Bulls just can’t continue to be so clueless in running their Organization. But if the Chicago White Sox are any indication (based upon their common Ownership)... then maybe the Bulls ARE that clueless.
The Bulls are like the Chicago Blackhawks for the last 75 years. You aren’t a fan of theirs because of their organizations. You are a fan IN SPITE OF their Organizations and Owners.
Not sure what his ceiling is, but he's improved a lot. IMO he's got some NBA level attributes both natural and skill-wise, but agree that 1) The shooting is a long way from where it needs to be, and 2) he doesn't flash NBA athleticism, so his skills need to carry him. No idea if he'll stick around for another season, but I hope he gets good feedback and if he stays, wants to play here.
Ayo lighting it up tonight. 8-9 from the field for 20 so far
LGIllini
- La Grange, IL
Just Ayo doing Ayo things.
Love to see him with a great game on Illini night at the UC!
Love to see him with a great game on Illini night at the UC!
Oh man, I forgot it was "Illini Night", that's awesome! Playing with urgency. Hopefully the Illini bit gave him that extra juice for the game.
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- North Aurora
Ayo may never be an all star, but he sure is showing that he can be a cornerstone starter in this league for a long time. I despise this current Bulls team but I can't get enough of Ayo with them!
I go back to the Flying Illini days. We have had a lot of good players in my time. Ayo is absolutely my favorite. He was a 17 year old with lots of options. Even though the program was at the lowest point in my memory, he chose U of I. He said he wanted to help the in-state school back to where it once was. It’s one thing to say that when you are seventeen. It’s another to put in the hard work it takes to get ‘er done. And he did it with class. I am not an NBA guy. I don’t know what it takes to succeed at that level but I hope he does for a long time and I would never bet against him. Love ya Ayo!
LGIllini
- La Grange, IL
Totally agree. I would definitely be taking a pass on watching this Bulls team if they didn't have Ayo. Hope he gets a major payday this summer!!
LOVE that Ayo calls out his team yesterday and follows it up with a team-leading offensive display. He is no longer a rookie, but has earned the respect of his teammates.
Really hope the Bulls hang on to him. Too many shooters float around the NBA looking for opportunities to shoot.(Cough, cough...Kyrie Irving...cough).
In my mind, he was a top ten Illini because of his leadership qualities, and will provide the same in the pros. Not many like him...
Ayo just gotta stay healthy and not have anything crazy happen a bit longer to get some sort of contract that will make him rich for life. You love to see it.
I see Ayo having a coaching or front office career once he is done playing. He will continue to earn. Hope he gets rewarded in the off season.
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