Yakwe & Bright SJU Future

[redmannorth]

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!

General Walter finished high school in 1982 and was in eligible to play. He attended SJU from 82-83 in the hope of gaining college eligibility which was unfortunately denied. He then went to San Jacinto from 1983-84 and you are correct again as SI published the article on him " There's a Berry in the Bush. "
Had he played in 82-83 no way we loose in the sweet 16 to Georgia. Had he not got injured in the 1986 NCAA Tournament we don't loose to AUburn.
Back to Yakwe he reminds me far more of Russell than Berry. Both Russell and Berry were great players at SJU and I have no doubt that Yakwe will develop into a great but very different player.

 

[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.

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!

I was not saying that he could play at St. John's out of high but that he was already a great player. It's not that he was older than Yawke it was that he was way better than Yawke.

 

[redken]

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? ...

Walter came directly to St. John's from HS, but was ruled academically ineligible and had to sit out a year. He was hoping to play as a soph, but at the end of his freshman year, the NCAA ruled that he still failed to quality, so he went the JC route for one year. When he returned to SJU, the NCAA deemed him eligible for three years of Division I play; he left after two of them.

 

[rcatalano]

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

Walter Berry was a man among boys!

 

[Amaseinyourface]

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

Walter Berry was a man among boys!

I had never seen a player out work the other 9 guys on the court by such a large margin as I saw Yakwe do against the Hall. He looked like a man among boys. And hes a senior in high school.

Theres a few ways we can be real good next year. One is Yakwe averaging close to double double.

 

[ccnobz]

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

Walter Berry was a man among boys!

I had never seen a player out work the other 9 guys on the court by such a large margin as I saw Yakwe do against the Hall. He looked like a man among boys. And hes a senior in high school.

Theres a few ways we can be real good next year. One is Yakwe averaging close to double double.

Agree, every loose and 50/50 ball was his.

 

[OLV72]

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.

Russel finished two years before Walter played. Was this the year Walter was attending the school and not eligible?

Both had great success here. Berry played a lead role on back to back 31 win teams and Russell was a key player on a 28 win team that was an all time favorite Redmen squad for many of us. He also played on a 24 win team.

Yakwe is in such a different situation it is not even comparable. While he's on this expansion team Russell and Berry joined experienced teams.

Yakwe's performance in the second half was off the charts. He took over that game and was up against a good front line. Who knows where his ceiling is.

 

[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.

Russel finished two years before Walter played. Was this the year Walter was attending the school and not eligible?

Both had great success here. Berry played a lead role on back to back 31 win teams and Russell was a key player on a 28 win team that was an all time favorite Redmen squad for many of us. He also played on a 24 win team.

Yakwe is in such a different situation it is not even comparable. While he's on this expansion team Russell and Berry joined experienced teams.

Yakwe's performance in the second half was off the charts. He took over that game and was up against a good front line. Who knows where his ceiling is.

I believe it was. I attended from 79-83. Same years Russsell did.

 

[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

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.

Russel finished two years before Walter played. Was this the year Walter was attending the school and not eligible?

Both had great success here. Berry played a lead role on back to back 31 win teams and Russell was a key player on a 28 win team that was an all time favorite Redmen squad for many of us. He also played on a 24 win team.

Yakwe is in such a different situation it is not even comparable. While he's on this expansion team Russell and Berry joined experienced teams.

Yakwe's performance in the second half was off the charts. He took over that game and was up against a good front line. Who knows where his ceiling is.

I believe it was. I attended from 79-83. Same years Russsell did.

Russell was a senior during the '82-'83 season (when we won the BE tournament; think of Billy Goodwin sitting on the rim of the basket), which was the same season that Berry was a freshman but deemed ineligible by the NCAA.

 

[Knight]

Liked Mel Davis' game a bit more than Berry's. Mel was a beast on the boards.

 

[OLV72]

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.

Russel finished two years before Walter played. Was this the year Walter was attending the school and not eligible?

Both had great success here. Berry played a lead role on back to back 31 win teams and Russell was a key player on a 28 win team that was an all time favorite Redmen squad for many of us. He also played on a 24 win team.

Yakwe is in such a different situation it is not even comparable. While he's on this expansion team Russell and Berry joined experienced teams.

Yakwe's performance in the second half was off the charts. He took over that game and was up against a good front line. Who knows where his ceiling is.

I believe it was. I attended from 79-83. Same years Russsell did.

The good years.

Walter and St John's got screwed. He completed a year of college courses and they ruled against him. Now, he would have a lawyer and an editorial in the NY Times behind him. They screwed kids like him while UNC pulled off academic fraud for 15 years.

To Walter's credit he remained loyal to us while Tark was making a strong play to get him to join UNLV.

At the very least, SJU owes this man the next bobble head night.

 

[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

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.

Russel finished two years before Walter played. Was this the year Walter was attending the school and not eligible?

Both had great success here. Berry played a lead role on back to back 31 win teams and Russell was a key player on a 28 win team that was an all time favorite Redmen squad for many of us. He also played on a 24 win team.

Yakwe is in such a different situation it is not even comparable. While he's on this expansion team Russell and Berry joined experienced teams.

Yakwe's performance in the second half was off the charts. He took over that game and was up against a good front line. Who knows where his ceiling is.

I believe it was. I attended from 79-83. Same years Russsell did.

The good years.

Walter and St John's got screwed. He completed a year of college courses and they ruled against him. Now, he would have a lawyer and an editorial in the NY Times behind him. They screwed kids like him while UNC pulled off academic fraud for 15 years.

To Walter's credit he remained loyal to us while Tark was making a strong play to get him to join UNLV.

At the very least, SJU owes this man the next bobble head night.

Great idea. Hope it gets someone's attention.

 

[MarkRedman]

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.

Berry and Yakwe are very different types of players
Berry was more of a free flowing, finesse type of player
Yakwe is a more of a power type of player
Yakwe is more like David Russell than Walter Berry
They are both very athletic and excellent rebounders with inconsistent jump shots
Yakwe is already a better defender and shot blocker IMO

 

[monte]

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.

Berry and Yakwe are very different types of players
Berry was more of a free flowing, finesse type of player
Yakwe is a more of a power type of player
Yakwe is more like David Russell than Walter Berry
They are both very athletic and excellent rebounders with inconsistent jump shots
Yakwe is already a better defender and shot blocker IMO

I loved Walter as much as anyone, but he was a lazy defender. Although he did come up with one of the biggest blocks in the history of the program.

 

[Sherman Sheridan & Grant]

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.

Russel finished two years before Walter played. Was this the year Walter was attending the school and not eligible?

Both had great success here. Berry played a lead role on back to back 31 win teams and Russell was a key player on a 28 win team that was an all time favorite Redmen squad for many of us. He also played on a 24 win team.

Yakwe is in such a different situation it is not even comparable. While he's on this expansion team Russell and Berry joined experienced teams.

Yakwe's performance in the second half was off the charts. He took over that game and was up against a good front line. Who knows where his ceiling is.

I believe it was. I attended from 79-83. Same years Russsell did.

The good years.

Walter and St John's got screwed. He completed a year of college courses and they ruled against him. Now, he would have a lawyer and an editorial in the NY Times behind him. They screwed kids like him while UNC pulled off academic fraud for 15 years.

To Walter's credit he remained loyal to us while Tark was making a strong play to get him to join UNLV.

At the very least, SJU owes this man the next bobble head night.

Plus Walter is a very friendly, modest and plain old nice human bring from the times I've met him.

 

[beast of the east]

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.

Berry and Yakwe are very different types of players
Berry was more of a free flowing, finesse type of player
Yakwe is a more of a power type of player
Yakwe is more like David Russell than Walter Berry
They are both very athletic and excellent rebounders with inconsistent jump shots
Yakwe is already a better defender and shot blocker IMO

I loved Walter as much as anyone, but he was a lazy defender. Although he did come up with one of the biggest blocks in the history of the program.

I remember watching an interview with Red auerbach just before the nba draft that year where he said exactly the same thung when asked about the POY Berry. He also said there was no place on the Celtics for Berry because of that. Berry slipped to 14 in the draft I believe, which kind 9f shocked me.

 

[redken]

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.

Berry and Yakwe are very different types of players
Berry was more of a free flowing, finesse type of player
Yakwe is a more of a power type of player
Yakwe is more like David Russell than Walter Berry
They are both very athletic and excellent rebounders with inconsistent jump shots
Yakwe is already a better defender and shot blocker IMO

I loved Walter as much as anyone, but he was a lazy defender. Although he did come up with one of the biggest blocks in the history of the program.

I remember watching an interview with Red auerbach just before the nba draft that year where he said exactly the same thung when asked about the POY Berry. He also said there was no place on the Celtics for Berry because of that. Berry slipped to 14 in the draft I believe, which kind 9f shocked me.

Ironically -- or rather, sadly -- Auerbach drafted Len Bias with the No. 2 pick, and we all know what happened a day or two later. Meanwhile, the Knicks, who had the No. 5 pick, passed on Berry and selected UK's Kenny Walker. Aside from winning the 1989 Slam Dunk contest, Walker had a brief, forgettable NBA career.

 

[monte]

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.

Berry and Yakwe are very different types of players
Berry was more of a free flowing, finesse type of player
Yakwe is a more of a power type of player
Yakwe is more like David Russell than Walter Berry
They are both very athletic and excellent rebounders with inconsistent jump shots
Yakwe is already a better defender and shot blocker IMO

I loved Walter as much as anyone, but he was a lazy defender. Although he did come up with one of the biggest blocks in the history of the program.

I remember watching an interview with Red auerbach just before the nba draft that year where he said exactly the same thung when asked about the POY Berry. He also said there was no place on the Celtics for Berry because of that. Berry slipped to 14 in the draft I believe, which kind 9f shocked me.

Ironically -- or rather, sadly -- Auerbach drafted Len Bias with the No. 2 pick, and we all know what happened a day or two later. Meanwhile, the Knicks, who had the No. 5 pick, passed on Berry and selected UK's Kenny Walker. Aside from winning the 1989 Slam Dunk contest, Walker had a brief, forgettable NBA career.

Sky Walker virtually single-handedly kept his Kentucky team in the game against us in the 85 NCAA Tourney before we eventually pulled away and won. He did it playing with one eye swollen almost completely shut. I gained an immense amount of respect for him from that one game.

 

[L J S A]

I don't want to put any pressure on him, so I'll simply compare him to Xavier McDaniel. With him, Richard "Detlef Schrempf" Freudenberg and Marcus "Kenny Anderson" LoVett we should be OK.

 

[SJU85]

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.

You are not the first to make that comparison as I've heard it from others. A "poor man's" version of Walter Berry and I consider that a compliment. Walter's offensive game was unbelievable. He invented shots in mid move. Just uncanny. And he was a great rebounder because he was a "quick jumper" which helped blocking shots. This is where Yawke has that same ability but jumps higher and is a better athlete than Walter was ( and Berry was athletic).

Yawke has gotten better and could put up some real nice numbers but overall, Walter was a Wooden Award winner and I don't see Yawke reaching that level but he could be damn good if he keeps improving.