Yakwe & Bright SJU Future

[GardenCity62]

Defensively there are definite comparisons but Berry had such great hands and somehow could always get a shot off in traffic coupled with a soft shooting touch that we can only hope that Yawke can develop some of these skills.
Berry had probably played ten times the basketball that Yawke has when they entered SJU so there is plenty of time for Yawke to develop.

 

[Amaseinyourface]

Yakwe has hit a 15 foot jumper in 3 straight games. Looked good doing so as well. Its not his release that is the problem, its the amount of time it takes.

 

[redken]

For the guys lucky enough to witness Walter Berry while at sju; (a) is Yakwe reminding you more of him as he continues to improve and (b) do you think he become that type of player?

I never saw him play at sju and I realize his numbers were o u t s t a n d i n g, but at least characteristically there are comparisons. Undersized pf, lefty, unorthodox release, freak athlete.

I like Yakwe but that is like comparing the Outback to Peter Luger's or Smith & Wollensky's

Not too bad -- over the years, we've had more than our share of front-court players who were on level of Tad's.

 

[MainMan]

Stacey Augmon? Anybody?

He was lefty. And played basketball.

 

[we are sju]

Yakwe has hit a 15 foot jumper in 3 straight games. Looked good doing so as well. Its not his release that is the problem, its the amount of time it takes.

Has a soft touch and would not shock me if he could develop a nice mid range game. Said in past reminds me of Kenny Battle on those "flying Illini" teams with Nick Anderson and Kendall Gill

 

[beast of the east]

For the guys lucky enough to witness Walter Berry while at sju; (a) is Yakwe reminding you more of him as he continues to improve and (b) do you think he become that type of player?

I never saw him play at sju and I realize his numbers were o u t s t a n d i n g, but at least characteristically there are comparisons. Undersized pf, lefty, unorthodox release, freak athlete.

I like Yakwe but that is like comparing the Outback to Peter Luger's or Smith & Wollensky's

but but but Yakwe is doing more as an 18 year old freshmen at sju then Walter ever did

But seriously, the kid just had 16 and 15 as a freshmen. Hes a PF. Russel was a wing player correct?

Russell played the 4. Russell was really good. Yakwe is a better rebounder / shotblocker and Russell was a way better offensive player. Both lefty and both jumped to the moon.

Didn't mean to make fun of your question but Berry just might have been the best player I have seen here, including Mullin.

I would say at this point Yakwe appears to play bigger, and appears to have a much higher ceiling as a shot blocker and rebounder than Russell. Russell was a very talented player, but didn't earn his keep in the paint defending and rebounding.

 

[we are sju]

For the guys lucky enough to witness Walter Berry while at sju; (a) is Yakwe reminding you more of him as he continues to improve and (b) do you think he become that type of player?

I never saw him play at sju and I realize his numbers were o u t s t a n d i n g, but at least characteristically there are comparisons. Undersized pf, lefty, unorthodox release, freak athlete.

I like Yakwe but that is like comparing the Outback to Peter Luger's or Smith & Wollensky's

but but but Yakwe is doing more as an 18 year old freshmen at sju then Walter ever did

But seriously, the kid just had 16 and 15 as a freshmen. Hes a PF. Russel was a wing player correct?

Russell played the 4. Russell was really good. Yakwe is a better rebounder / shotblocker and Russell was a way better offensive player. Both lefty and both jumped to the moon.

Didn't mean to make fun of your question but Berry just might have been the best player I have seen here, including Mullin.

I would say at this point Yakwe appears to play bigger, and appears to have a much higher ceiling as a shot blocker and rebounder than Russell. Russell was a very talented player, but didn't earn his keep in the paint defending and rebounding.

Led the team in rebounding his Junior and Senior year

 

[MJDinkins]

Stacey Augmon? Anybody?

He was lefty. And played basketball.

That's probably who he would remind me of more than anything, if I was to give a comparison. Yakwe seems to have good feet (and a lefty) ala Berry, but that's about it, IMO. Yakwe still has a ton of time left at St. John's, and could be on his way to being a heckuva player, but I just can't mention him in the same breath as a Berry (at least, not at the moment). Even as a youngster, there were times I thought Berry was better than Mullin during their only year playing together.

As, WASJU stated, I think Berry is the best player I've seen (at St. John's) since I became a Johnnies fan back in '84. No offense to anyone, as I'm not being snide about it, but Yakwe reminds me of Yakwe, as I once stated.

 

[beast of the east]

For the guys lucky enough to witness Walter Berry while at sju; (a) is Yakwe reminding you more of him as he continues to improve and (b) do you think he become that type of player?

I never saw him play at sju and I realize his numbers were o u t s t a n d i n g, but at least characteristically there are comparisons. Undersized pf, lefty, unorthodox release, freak athlete.

I like Yakwe but that is like comparing the Outback to Peter Luger's or Smith & Wollensky's

but but but Yakwe is doing more as an 18 year old freshmen at sju then Walter ever did

But seriously, the kid just had 16 and 15 as a freshmen. Hes a PF. Russel was a wing player correct?

Russell played the 4. Russell was really good. Yakwe is a better rebounder / shotblocker and Russell was a way better offensive player. Both lefty and both jumped to the moon.

Didn't mean to make fun of your question but Berry just might have been the best player I have seen here, including Mullin.

I would say at this point Yakwe appears to play bigger, and appears to have a much higher ceiling as a shot blocker and rebounder than Russell. Russell was a very talented player, but didn't earn his keep in the paint defending and rebounding.

Led the team in rebounding his Junior and Senior year

You're right. I would have guess him at about 6 rebounds per game. Good call.

 

[monte]

Yakwe has hit a 15 foot jumper in 3 straight games. Looked good doing so as well. Its not his release that is the problem, its the amount of time it takes.

Has a soft touch and would not shock me if he could develop a nice mid range game. Said in past reminds me of Kenny Battle on those "flying Illini" teams with Nick Anderson and Kendall Gill

+ Marcus Liberty and one other future pro whose name escapes me.

 

[we are sju]

Yakwe has hit a 15 foot jumper in 3 straight games. Looked good doing so as well. Its not his release that is the problem, its the amount of time it takes.

Has a soft touch and would not shock me if he could develop a nice mid range game. Said in past reminds me of Kenny Battle on those "flying Illini" teams with Nick Anderson and Kendall Gill

+ Marcus Liberty and one other future pro whose name escapes me.

Stephen Bardo. Real good team that battled the Fab 5 in Big Ten

 

[monte]

Yakwe has hit a 15 foot jumper in 3 straight games. Looked good doing so as well. Its not his release that is the problem, its the amount of time it takes.

Has a soft touch and would not shock me if he could develop a nice mid range game. Said in past reminds me of Kenny Battle on those "flying Illini" teams with Nick Anderson and Kendall Gill

+ Marcus Liberty and one other future pro whose name escapes me.

Stephen Bardo. Real good team that battled the Fab 5 in Big Ten

Right, Bardo! Can't believe that escaped me. Having to many senior moments and I'm not yet a senior. Pretty good announcer. FWIW, right now I cringe when I see Yakwe take any shot that's not within a few feet of the basket. I know he's hit a few jumpers, and I know he's got to keep the defense honest, but I still think it's a very low % shot for him at this point.

 

[MJDinkins]

Yakwe has hit a 15 foot jumper in 3 straight games. Looked good doing so as well. Its not his release that is the problem, its the amount of time it takes.

Has a soft touch and would not shock me if he could develop a nice mid range game. Said in past reminds me of Kenny Battle on those "flying Illini" teams with Nick Anderson and Kendall Gill

+ Marcus Liberty and one other future pro whose name escapes me.

Stephen Bardo. Real good team that battled the Fab 5 in Big Ten

Right, Bardo! Can't believe that escaped me. Having to many senior moments and I'm not yet a senior. Pretty good announcer. FWIW, right now I cringe when I see Yakwe take any shot that's not within a few feet of the basket. I know he's hit a few jumpers, and I know he's got to keep the defense honest, but I still think it's a very low % shot for him at this point.

Lowell Hamilton also was on that team. I don't believe he made it professionally (from an NBA standpoint), but he was a very, integral part of that team. He was also a McDonald's AA when he came outta high school.

 

[westchesterjoe]

Walter Berry was among the best players ever for the Redmen but, played only 2 great years. was he better than Mullin? NO! was he better than Sonny Dove? That may be a pick em !

Yakwe is still a kid growing in the Game. Lots of potential, Berry was already at the NBA level when he played for us as a JUCO transfer.

 

[jr49]

Ellison and Jones will both see time next year

The better we are the less time they will see IMO. The more time they see would be a bad omen for how good we will be, kind of inversely proportional to how many wins next year's squad attains.

I disagree. Unless there is a fifth year grad transfer coming in that can grab boards, jones will probably see 8-10 minutes a game because he's a big body. And also unless there is a guard coming in we don't know about that is above 6 feet, Ellison will get minutes. Ellison is good enough to get minutes. And I think both of these guys can play minutes and we can still be a good team next year.

I don't consider 8-10 minutes significant. If either is 15 minutes or above we aren't an ncaa tourney team. Still not convinced that Jones is a 5th year player for us next year, but we will see. I actually think that on a good team in the right circumstance, Mussini may have more value, but right now he is really struggling.

He's averaging 25 minutes per game this year. With Yakwe, Sima, Owens, and Freudenberg out there, my guess is he averages 12 minutes per game actually.

Ellison on the other hand should see 15+ minutes per game. We need a guard who can get to the hoop using their body and he's our best shot other then Ahmed who will probably be a 3

He has to use his body. Starts far away from the basket and is easy to read. Always be a crowd waiting under the basket. If he is not gonna give it up, a stop and pop in the lane is needed. I don't see guard skills. Telegraphs everything and is robot like. I read that he is a big time worker. That gives him a shot.

 

[simplyred]

For the guys lucky enough to witness Walter Berry while at sju; (a) is Yakwe reminding you more of him as he continues to improve and (b) do you think he become that type of player?

I never saw him play at sju and I realize his numbers were o u t s t a n d i n g, but at least characteristically there are comparisons. Undersized pf, lefty, unorthodox release, freak athlete.

I like Yakwe but that is like comparing the Outback to Peter Luger's or Smith & Wollensky's

but but but Yakwe is doing more as an 18 year old freshmen at sju then Walter ever did

But seriously, the kid just had 16 and 15 as a freshmen. Hes a PF. Russel was a wing player correct?

Russell played the 4. Russell was really good. Yakwe is a better rebounder / shotblocker and Russell was a way better offensive player. Both lefty and both jumped to the moon.

Didn't mean to make fun of your question but Berry just might have been the best player I have seen here, including Mullin.

I remember seeing Berry playing one on one against Russell in CA (Alumni Hall). It looked like Michael Jordan going against one of his sons. Walter Berry was an amazing offensive talent. With all due respect to Yakwe, he is not even in the same stratosphere.

 

[Anthony Mattia]

Really seems like Yakwe has worked on his game all season. His free throw shooting is much better. Even the misses look better and like they have a chance to go in. He is really quick, and gets ff the ground quick and high. I would love to see him learn to be effective with a face up 2 dribble pull up and on his handle. He is so quick, and can elevate that if he could hit the pull up on a regular basis from the baseline/wing he would be unstoppable because if another 4 tried to play him tight he could blow right by him for a dunk.

 

[Andrew]

Have to agree with Dinkins on this one. In my 30+ years of watching St. John's I don't think we have ever had as good a shot blocker with some offensive game as Yawke. If he can continue to improve, he could be a special player.

Berry was the National Player of the year(as a Junior) and if he had been eligible his freshman year might have been our all time leading scorer if he played four years. He was a star coming out of high school and did not need to play at San Jacinto to come in and be a big time scorer as a Freshman.

 

[Sherman Sheridan & Grant]

Have to agree with Dinkins on this one. In my 30+ years of watching St. John's I don't think we have ever had as good a shot blocker with some offensive game as Yawke. If he can continue to improve, he could be a special player.

Berry was the National Player of the year(as a Junior) and if he had been eligible his freshman year might have been our all time leading scorer if he played four years. He was a star coming out of high school and did not need to play at San Jacinto to come in and be a big time scorer as a Freshman.

1.I thought he - Walter - needed JC route because he was not eligible out of HS?

2.related to Berry I recall a Sports Illustrated article entitled " There's a Berry in the Bush" which from what I recall dealt with Georgia, SJU & others seeking this amazing JC player - one who'd go on to be our second consecutive John Wooden Award winner after CM!!!

Now those were good times AND these are becoming good times.

thanks!

 

[Sherman Sheridan & Grant]

Stacey Augmon? Anybody?

He was lefty. And played basketball.

That's probably who he would remind me of more than anything, if I was to give a comparison. Yakwe seems to have good feet (and a lefty) ala Berry, but that's about it, IMO. Yakwe still has a ton of time left at St. John's, and could be on his way to being a heckuva player, but I just can't mention him in the same breath as a Berry (at least, not at the moment). Even as a youngster, there were times I thought Berry was better than Mullin during their only year playing together.

As, WASJU stated, I think Berry is the best player I've seen (at St. John's) since I became a Johnnies fan back in '84. No offense to anyone, as I'm not being snide about it, but Yakwe reminds me of Yakwe, as I once stated.

Thanks MJD
I'm glad you did add " at least not at the moment"... let's give Yawke a little time here...he's a freshman...Walter was not a freshman but was older and had a year of JC under his belt...


I also like your comment - was it you Dear Sir - let's let Yawke be Yawke...he doesn't need to be Walter to help in a big way

All the best