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Let's keep in mind he is not another Okafor, but in the little video I have seen, he is worth the stretch. Can't see any way he's not a 4 year player (which is good), and will be a project to start with. No doubt he will improve in Duke's system.Originally posted by Skeelow22:
Looks like he is listed as a 3 star and at 6 foot 11 and 275 pounds. Welcome to Duke!
To be fair (and I just noticed that when I watched his Sr. video), that was from his soph. year in high school. He's really transformed his body a lot in the last couple years. In the one basketball highlight from his Sr. year, he's shown easily throwing down an alley-oop.Originally posted by pisgah101:
Zooooo 2? Lol he didn't dunk at all in that video
He should...I think so.Originally posted by Duke It Out:
Is he redshirting or no?
Great stuff.Originally posted by aah555:
With the current scholarship situation, he's clearly going to help us in practice over the next few years. However, by any standard, he's a real sleeper and it's hard to see him amounting to more than a backup role player here (I think UGA is only other high-major offer) -- that is unless we've really stumbled across a late bloomer. Would seem to be heading towards a Matt Christienson-type role from the past -- i.e., a big body off the bench who can give you some minutes here or there. I think it's a good addition as long as he has realistic expectations about his role.
I've included a video from Antonio's Sr. year, which I found to be pretty interesting. He's clearly gotten into much better shape than the 2013 youtube video that's also been linked in this thread.
This post was edited on 4/15 9:47 PM by aah555
This is what makes me a bit more optimisitic about him. K's west point coaching (with D1 practice competition) and his smarts with a red shirt year could be pretty good. When Amile graduates, he'll either start or back up a bigger recruit.Originally posted by youngman42:
Great stuff.Originally posted by aah555:
With the current scholarship situation, he's clearly going to help us in practice over the next few years. However, by any standard, he's a real sleeper and it's hard to see him amounting to more than a backup role player here (I think UGA is only other high-major offer) -- that is unless we've really stumbled across a late bloomer. Would seem to be heading towards a Matt Christienson-type role from the past -- i.e., a big body off the bench who can give you some minutes here or there. I think it's a good addition as long as he has realistic expectations about his role.
I've included a video from Antonio's Sr. year, which I found to be pretty interesting. He's clearly gotten into much better shape than the 2013 youtube video that's also been linked in this thread.
This post was edited on 4/15 9:47 PM by aah555
He's certainly a smart kid - the potential schools on his list included Brown, Dartmouth, Yale, and Vandy.
I like his size and he appears to be progressing in getting in better shape. Seems pretty clear he has academics as a priority as much as basketball.
But, he also has some talent and shows decent hands. Could be a really good rebounder as well. Glad to have him aboard.
Big Statement...knowing your role at the school you are at. Everyone is not going to accept that, and that can bring many problems and issues that will effect the chemistry and goal. It may never be said, but I would bet the Austin and Parker years had some of those concerns.Originally posted by LastWaltz:
Part of me thinks this represents a little bit of a roster construction refinement by K. You can recruit the OAD's but you have to have a group of mature role players to provide an influence. The freshman won the title but without guys like Amile and Mason it doesn't happen. You have to have a mix. I say this knowing that K may have thought the same about Semi, Olek, etc. I guess the main thing is the guy your bringing in must be accepting of the role.
I'm still waiting for Marshall to learn that.Originally posted by uwgbluedevil:
He'll have to learn to keep the ball up. He brings the ball down to the floor on nearly every highlight. But he has a nice touch around the basket. Look forward to seeing what he can do.
True, but it's not as if we didn't have issues this year as well -- i.e., Sheed and Semi. I ultimately think the difference was that our overall talent level was much higher, the pieces on the roster fit better together (i.e., we really didn't have any areas of obvious deficiency by when we got to the NCAAs), and our young guys played with far more poise than traditional freshman. While the 13-14 never seemed to come together like we would have hoped, I do think -- in the end of the day -- those squads were more plagued by roster deficiencies than chemistry. The absence of a true 5 on both ends and Parker's weaknesses as a defender at the 4 made our interior defense incredibly poor and prone to long scoring draught, and that -- moreso than anything -- consistently killed us in close games. As for the 11-12 team, once Ryan got hurt, we were just a bit too limited -- i.e., we became really small 1-4 and our drive and kick offense predicated on Austin driving became far less effective, as teams could suddenly sag into the lane and make us try to beat them with jumpers by Josh Hairston, Tyler Thornton and Quinn Cook.Originally posted by jamsession3:
Big Statement...knowing your role at the school you are at. Everyone is not going to accept that, and that can bring many problems and issues that will effect the chemistry and goal. It may never be said, but I would bet the Austin and Parker years had some of those concerns.Originally posted by LastWaltz:
Part of me thinks this represents a little bit of a roster construction refinement by K. You can recruit the OAD's but you have to have a group of mature role players to provide an influence. The freshman won the title but without guys like Amile and Mason it doesn't happen. You have to have a mix. I say this knowing that K may have thought the same about Semi, Olek, etc. I guess the main thing is the guy your bringing in must be accepting of the role.
Well, two things. One, no doubt that chemistry matters. Never would suggest otherwise. But, I tend to think we overstate those kind of issues whenever a Duke team underperforms. Beyond some frustration with Sheed, I've never really heard or seen anything to suggest that the 13-14 had any really problematic internal dynamics, and, as much as people like to pin blame on Rivers for poor chemistry in 11-12, that team still won 27 games, went 13-3 in conference, and had two of the most amazing comeback performances in Duke history -- the finish at UNC and the 20 pt. 2nd half comeback against State. If those teams had real chemistry problems that were significantly impacting team performance, you would have seen real signs of that before the first round of the NCAA tourney -- i.e., that 11-12 team showed incredible fight on a number of nights when it could have folded. In the end of the day, I think those teams were vulnerable to upsets b/c of roster issues and then got tight under pressure.Originally posted by LastWaltz:
This team was more talented with Sheed than without. This team was better in March than January. Chemistry is extremely important in basketball.
Yes, high school basketball. Ignoring the intended snark, my point again is that great chemistry is helpful, but, unless there's something really unusual going on, the differences in results are typically the byproduct of random volatility, talent, and on-court compatability. Anyone who watched the Laettner documentary, for instance, clearly saw how much internal discord there was between Laettner (who was by far the most important player on our team) and the rest of the guys, including our other star players. If Duke could go to 4 final fours and win 2 titles with Laettner constantly grating on all his teammates, the notion that the mere presence of Rivers and Parker can be blamed for what happened in 11-12 and 13-14 seems a bit overdone.Originally posted by Crank_it_loud:
Aha, did you play team sport at a competitive level, say collegiate?
Lol. I'm sorry that complete sentences are proving challenging to your sensibilities. Never suggested that Sheed wasn't causing problems --- but whatever. I think the explanation is too complicated for you.Originally posted by Crank_it_loud:
First off, loosen up your panties Mr. Sensitive. I do realize that you have an insane amount of free time given your extensive, random, incoherent rambling, but there's no need to get too upset over what was a legitimate question.
You obviously cannot grasp the fact that Sheed was causing problems for the staff and the locker room, amongst other things. But go ahead, get back to your rambling; it's obvious that you have it all down in your mind.
Hopefully, if Marshall does indeed come back, K will give consideration to redshirting him. With Marshall we should have enough big bodies, plus Antonio would still be able to practice, and that extra year would really benefit him and Duke.Originally posted by denniden:
I wouldn't count on him red shirting. Duke currently needs the bodies available. I think it all depends on what Marshall ends up doing.
From what we know Sheed caused some type of discord, but I don't think anyone here really understands the specifics of that. But it's not as if Sheed's supposed effect on team chemistry was causing real problems. With Sheed they were 17-3, having handily beaten #2 Wisconsin and #6 Louisville, in true road games, and #18 MSU (a final four team), on a neutral court. They had a crappy four-day stretch while Sheed was on the team. Otherwise, they looked freaking phenomenal in his 20 games.Originally posted by Crank_it_loud:
First off, loosen up your panties Mr. Sensitive. I do realize that you have an insane amount of free time given your extensive, random, incoherent rambling, but there's no need to get too upset over what was a legitimate question.
You obviously cannot grasp the fact that Sheed was causing problems for the staff and the locker room, amongst other things. But go ahead, get back to your rambling; it's obvious that you have it all down in your mind.