Joel Goodson
- it's all ball bearings, nowadays
not that it matters much (for us, anyway), but:
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
- Status
Other than Morillo, possibly Brown.
The average height of men worldwide is 5'7"-5'9".
In the US it's 5'9"
In every one of those countries it is 6'+
Montenegro (Mirk's home) is #2 in the world. (Netherlands edges them by about half a centimeter)
They are all among the top dozen countries in average height globally. The average woman over there is basically the same height as the average man here.
Vaaks' home, Estonia, is #5.
It's good to have friends in TALL places...
Joel Goodson
- it's all ball bearings, nowadays
This is not true. This perfectly illustrates LaTulip’s point on a recent pod… if he were 6”2, everyone would’ve called him a point guard.
PG isn’t based off of height. It’s based off of ball skills and PnR ability. Keaton always had that ability and simply being a point guard.
Now… he wasn’t thought to be THE TEAM’S point guard (which is a completely different point) because Kylan and Petro were said to be very good.
Boswell still was, Petro was a bust, and Wagler was just a generational Illini freshman.
Yes Morillo is very strong with the ball
Everybody needs to Relax .. this is partially a result from the power 4 Conferences dominating the Tourney since NIL started
It's not perfect but some really good Bubble teams get left off every year . This ends that conversation until it doesn't
I think Ethan Brown and Lucas Morillo have good handles as well
So 5 Lead Guards. Yet not 1 True PG .. Only issue without one .. Last year both MSU and Wisc
guards lit us up b/c we didn't have anybody quick enough to stay in front of them
So 5 Lead Guards. Yet not 1 True PG .. Only issue without one .. Last year both MSU and Wisc
guards lit us up b/c we didn't have anybody quick enough to stay in front of them
This is becoming Meanstreet high…..
Joel Goodson
- it's all ball bearings, nowadays
much better comp, can't blame him
hope he spends as much time as possible this summer at Ubben
Vaaks is a true PG. Everyone else is a secondary ball handling option.
The only reason you think he isn't a PG is because he's 6"7. That's it. Nothing more, nothing less.
His screen navigation and PnR ability (which by basketball norms defines a point guard) is terrific.
.....
For those still confused about point guard, please listen to this portion of the MLT interview:
24:53
Last edited:
1m4tr
Cliffmas
Someone give Izzo the house elf a sock so he can run off to retirement.
You play better competition in AAU. This EYBL league has 20 teams. This Kansas City Monarchs will be a brand new prep team and first year in the EYBL league. There were only 9 out of 20 teams that had winning conference records. You play 14 conference games out of a possible 30-40 game schedule so you aren't playing the best teams all the time. He'll even Oak Hill Academy was terrible in this league. I never understand kids leaving after playing 3 years at their high school where you are the top dog and play at a prep school where you may get limited minutes. Each is own. Waukegan and East Peoria could have schedule any good teams throughout Illinois and the Midwest and still played a better schedule than this EYBL schedule. We all know most of the teams only have 4-5 Power players anyway.. Hell the teams with the losing records have an average one Power 4 player on the roster. You telling me these guys are going for better competition. If they are getting a bag theb say that is the situation.
But that's kind of the point. He is 6"7, but that's a disadvantage because he isn't a traditional PG with superb quickness TO STAY IN FRONT OF OPPOSING TEAM'S quick guards.
Offensively we'll be fine, since we have so many creator options (and of course Vaaks).
Defensively, we don't have someone who can matchup with the quick PGs on other teams.
Last edited:
But that's kind of the point. He is 6"7, but that's a disadvantage because he isn't a traditional PG with superb quickness TO STAY IN FRONT OF OPPOSING TEAM'S quick guards.
Offensively we'll be fine, since we have so many creator options (and of course Vaaks).
Defensively, we don't have someone who can matchup with the quick PGs on other teams.
Fair enough.
But to that I'd argue "staying in front" has nothing to do with being 6"1 instead of 6"7. It's about being a good defender.
We had Petro last year who was 6"1, but was unplayable defensively. Keaton, who was 6"6, was a lot better.
Why would Vaaks get the assignment of that particular archetype? Andrej/Coleman are far better suited for that.
The fact is that no team has a defensive player who can stay in front of really quick PGs with a handle. But you can keep them from running a layup drill with good team defense and making them do what they are least effective doing. After watching "Kooleymon", he likely will be as effective as Boswell...some day... though not likely today. However, as coachable and determined as he seems to be, it will be sooner rather than later. The real challenge will be teaching Vaaks exactly what is expected. My greatest hope, and I am sure also BU's, is that he is determined to do is best on both ends. The two starting guards will be the newcomers, and Jake will add some experience if not foot speed when he is in. What he lacks in foot speed he will make up with leadership, confidence, and knowledge...I am hoping.
Joel Goodson
- it's all ball bearings, nowadays
pure coincidence!
It is true, you just don't agree with it lol Brad trusted him to run the offense and trusted his ability to score. Also, nobody ever said PG is based on height, at least I didn't. I view it as the ability to run the offense and get your team involved.
Well then there's no reason for you to say "Keaton wasn't known to be a ball handler coming into last season at all."
He always had "ball handler" ability coming out of HS. It was whether or not he could get on the court and earn the staff's trust.
and a certain point forward.....
- Status