Keeping our pick? This might be a Lottery year

Day 1: Lottery prospects of potential Blazer interest

Holmgren: MASSIVE day from the 'Dogs' big man. 19 points, (8-13 FGs) 17 rebounds, 5 assists, 7 blocks and 2 steals, with 0 turnovers in 29 minutes. That is all without hardly a play being run for him the entire game. I get the concerns about his thin-man impersonation, but that is tremendous production on a pretty low usage rate. Dame/Ant/Nurk don't need more players who are going to demand a ton of shots. Good fit.

Murray: Good day, but most of the rest of his team didn't show up. 21 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block and 1 steal. 8-15 shooting, but 0-3 from '3' which is his calling card. Won't get to see him anymore and was hoping Iowa would go on a bit of a run to see more of him against improving competition. Also, Iowa losing didn't help my bracket any.

Duren: One of the more polarizing players in the tournament. 10 points, 11 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 assist and 1 block. Shot poorly at 4-11, but watching this game didn't change my mind from things I've seen previously with both him and the Memphis team. One, he can be a defensive terror. There were times the Tigers would press with 4 players in the backcourt or near midcourt, and leave Jalen alone with no teammate within 30' of him to help out. He only got 1 block, but that was as much from Boise State not wanting to go anywhere near the basket with him patrolling than anything else. Also, the Memphis guard play is horrific. Actually, that may not be fair.....to the term horrific. Time after time, (and this has gone on all season), they would throw him a pass in a bad spot, behind him, at his feet, or more often than not, miss him entirely. Put that man with a good point guard who can throw a lob anywhere near the basket, and he is going to explode. Watching more tape of him, he is a decent passer and has solid instincts, if not the execution. The thought process is often correct. He just lacks the confidence and experience to execute at a high level just yet. MASSIVE hands, and ridiculous wingspan. There were times he would be surrounded by Boise St players to where you could hardly see him on my small, airplane screen, yet that arm would rise up out of the crowd and clear everyone else by a good margin. I think he has one of the highest ceilings as he has a big of a face up jumper and decent touch at the FT line. Then consider this. He just turned 18 in mid November. By contrast, Holmgren will be 20 in a couple of months. He is tremendously young and raw, but is already showing skills that will translate. Would love him here behind Nurk for a couple of years. A rim protector who is a serious lob threat. Sound like anything Chauncey might like? Think Chauncey and Joe aren't getting every piece of the lowdown from Chauncey's former teammate and now assistant coach for Memphis, Rasheed Wallace, and Chauncey's former coach at Detroit and now Memphis assistant Larry Brown? Can' wait for Saturday's game between Chet/Jalen.

TyTy Washington: No one did more damage to their stock on Thursday than TyTy. Not only did he not lead his #2 Wildcats to a win over #15 St Peters, he was very bad in the process. Keegan Murray lost, but he was at least productive. TyTy had 5 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 turnovers while shooting 2-10. It was a brutal performance and he didn't do himself any favors.

Jeremy Sochan: Baylor's Kendall Brown was getting most of the attention, but quietly, teammate Sochan is putting together quality performances. 15 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 block with only 1 turnover. 6-9 from the field and 2-4 from 3-pt range. 6'9, 230 with a 7' wingspan and the ability to play multiple positions.

Honorable Mention: Oscar Tshiebwe - He is likely a later 1st round pick, but he does what he does, very well. 30 points (11-16 sh0oting), 16 rebounds. 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks. 6'9", 250+ lbs with a 7'4" wingspan.

 

One note. After Gonzaga's opponent lost their good big man, Holmgren was going mostly against guys 6'5" and smaller.

 

Re: Sochan.

I'm wary of drafting guys who don't start on their college teams in the lottery.

Zach Collins memories still fresh on my mind.

Ya I know Nas didn't start at UNC either, but he dropped to #25 for a reason.

 

Agreed, but he played the 2nd most minutes on the team. He is so versatile, they just put him where ever he is needed.

 

i still have to do more research on him, but he's got some holes in his game (30% from 3 on decent volume, only 57% from FT).

i'm not gambling on him in the lottery based on what i've learned so far.

 

Everyone has some holes in their games. He is listed as a late Lottery, mid 1st projected pic. It's not like he is going in the Top 10. Some good, and some bad, but he has the size, athletic ability, and versatility that makes him intriguing to some.

 

I personally like Eason as a similar, but better player. Eason has more of the Kawhi/Buttler bully ball mindset.... which I like.
Doesn't hurt that he's from Seattle (and played for Brandon Roy at Garfield).

 

Like him. Looking forward to seeing him play in the tournament.

 

If you want a roster like the raptors, Sochan is the guy.

Might be the best “overall” defender in college.

Don’t know if you saw my post the other day, but like you, I agree - his shot is a huge question mark.

Also don’t love guys who don’t start, but his raw tools are interesting to say the least.

I think he missed some games and practice which prevented him from starting as well

 

I don’t think they’re very similar players.
Sochan doesn’t look to score nearly as much as Tari.
Sochan seems to be a pass first player.
And Sochan is bigger.

 

i'll openly admit i haven't watched a single Baylor game. But it worries me to read that the "best defender" in college basketball can't start on his own team. We've seen this story before. With Collins... and how about Marvin Williams in the Chris Paul draft? Similar sorta championship level NCAA team and they had this supposed terrific prospect who didn't play.

 

His motor is worth exploring. He averages 15 rebs a game. I would try to buy into the late first round if he's still on the board.

 

Jabari is a taller Khris Middleton. Deadly jumper, and he can just shoot above contests because he's got long arms and his release is high. Suspect handle at the moment, but it doesn't really matter.

 

and similarly an upper classmen at draft time.

he's older than Nas and only 5 months younger than Ant.

 

Ivey is so much better than anyone else on the floor this game. If his shot is on, he's unguardable.

 

oh my

 

Meh..... just looked like a run of the mill facial to me.

 

any drives to the rim from Smith are major signs of development for me. dude is a legit handle away from being an All NBA caliber prospect who could reach that in a few years.

 

Shit dude... people are projecting him as the #1.... I would certainly hope he's an All-NBA caliber prospect.

What happened to #1 picks being bonafide stars right out the gate?