Wusu’s emergence setting up hard decisions for St. John’s

[IDRAFT]

[quote="Beast of the East" post=403866]Wusu's play is zero surprise to staff. He had been killing it in practice, and quietly they are saying he will be a stud by sophomore season - a bonafide star on this team. I mentioned this previously about 2 weeks ago.[/quote]

I remember that post and at the time I was both surprised and suspicious of that assertion. It’s early but surely less so now. Good call.

 

[beast of the east]

[quote="IDRAFT" post=403906][quote="Beast of the East" post=403866]Wusu's play is zero surprise to staff. He had been killing it in practice, and quietly they are saying he will be a stud by sophomore season - a bonafide star on this team. I mentioned this previously about 2 weeks ago.[/quote]

I remember that post and at the time I was both surprised and suspicious of that assertion. It’s early but surely less so now. Good call.[/quote]

Well, I was really only repeating what I had heard to be honest. I'm not very good at watching someone play against inferior competition and asserting how good a college player they would be, or watching a practice and doing same. I've been around very good coaches who can just look at a kid and know he is a player, or watch them play and know if that kid would fit into their system. I have a feeling that with CMA we won't see many (or any) kids who are problem children or who can't follow rules. I do think he has a great eye for what kind of player will fit in his system. Lavin, though a great recruiter would sign any top player he could, regardless of position, background, etc. As a result his teams here were cobbled together with a bunch of very good guards if you don't listen to him tell you how good they'd have been if Harkless and Sampson had stayed.

What I did see about Wusu is that he has effortless range of 27-28 feet on his jumper, and the staff did not discourage him from shooting from there in scrimmages.

I don't think this is a hard decision at all. If he is one of the top 5, he will get commensurate playing time. In an era of one and dones you must play your best players and no one waits in line.

 

[monte]

Mostly because of his size/physique, Wusu is a unique player. He doesn't fit any of the traditional roles or positions, but there's no doubt he has talent, heart and a very good understanding of the game. I expect he'll be a 4 year(+/-) contributor here. I'd just like to see more of a sample size, and against better comp, before passing judgment on how good he can be. Regardless of what the staff feels, I do think it's a bit premature to label him a star in waiting.

 

[beast of the east]

[quote="Monte" post=404028]Mostly because of his size/physique, Wusu is a unique player. He doesn't fit any of the traditional roles or positions, but there's no doubt he has talent, heart and a very good understanding of the game. I expect he'll be a 4 year(+/-) contributor here. I'd just like to see more of a sample size, and against better comp, before passing judgment on how good he can be. Regardless of what the staff feels, I do think it's a bit premature to label him a star in waiting.[/quote]

My feeling is that if he is that good he won't stick around and will make money somewhere.

 

[MCNPA]

Wusu reminds me a bit of a poor-man’s Rashad McCants. I think Wusu just needs more confidence and to get up to High major speed like many of our young guys. He’s a good shooter, gets to the hole and protects the ball well. Does a lot of little things.

 

[monte]

[quote="Beast of the East" post=404057][quote="Monte" post=404028]Mostly because of his size/physique, Wusu is a unique player. He doesn't fit any of the traditional roles or positions, but there's no doubt he has talent, heart and a very good understanding of the game. I expect he'll be a 4 year(+/-) contributor here. I'd just like to see more of a sample size, and against better comp, before passing judgment on how good he can be. Regardless of what the staff feels, I do think it's a bit premature to label him a star in waiting.[/quote]

My feeling is that if he is that good he won't stick around and will make money somewhere.[/quote]

It's only 2 games. Him leaving to go pro is not something that I'm remotely worried about right now. I hope it's something that I need to worry about in the future.

 

[paultzman]

[quote="MCNPA" post=404061]Wusu reminds me a bit of a poor-man’s Rashad McCants. I think Wusu just needs more confidence and to get up to High major speed like many of our young guys. He’s a good shooter, gets to the hole and protects the ball well. Does a lot of little things.[/quote]

After seeing Dylan in a number of HS streamed games, I chatted with several hoops guys including JPM114. The gist of their opinion re Big East level, was that he was not yet a consistent perimeter shooter, but with good coaching should develop nicely and refine his overall game. Talking to John a few days ago he felt Dylan is getting off to a good start and as such a hard practice worker could carve out reasonable minutes this season.

I am pleased with hustle, rebounding and poise in small sample. He seems potentially a good defender as well. Success to me is him becoming a solid, dependable player over four years. Star status is something I can forsake, but welcome, if it occurs down the road. It will be nice to have him alongside Posh and Pinzon in next few years, solid foundation imo.

 

[beast of the east]

[quote="Monte" post=404070][quote="Beast of the East" post=404057][quote="Monte" post=404028]Mostly because of his size/physique, Wusu is a unique player. He doesn't fit any of the traditional roles or positions, but there's no doubt he has talent, heart and a very good understanding of the game. I expect he'll be a 4 year(+/-) contributor here. I'd just like to see more of a sample size, and against better comp, before passing judgment on how good he can be. Regardless of what the staff feels, I do think it's a bit premature to label him a star in waiting.[/quote]

My feeling is that if he is that good he won't stick around and will make money somewhere.[/quote]

It's only 2 games. Him leaving to go pro is not something that I'm remotely worried about right now. I hope it's something that I need to worry about in the future.[/quote]

Not that far back I spoke to one of our assistant coaches about kids leaving early. I asked if our kids who are moderately successful playing college ball feel like failures if they stay four years, and his response was "definitely". I wasn't commenting so much about Wusu, but the general feeling among players to leave not just for the NBA but where they can get paid to play.