Yakwe Transferring
- Thread starter paultzman
- Start date
While I know the consensus here is that Yakwe is not a BE caliber player, I disagree. I think we saw enough of him his Freshman year to see that he had potential and could perform at this level. His lack of progress and improvement (and outright regression) is a mystery to me, and I believe that it was reasonable to expect that he would progress given what he did as a freshman. Heck, he was on the all BE freshman team.
Since he is gone, it just leave you to wonder what happened. Is it in his head? Lack of proper coaching up?
He may not have been the most polished basketball player, and he had poor hands, but there was enough there that could have been developed to be very serviceable, and with what we have on the table for next year, could have been very valuable to us.
Since he is gone, it just leave you to wonder what happened. Is it in his head? Lack of proper coaching up?
He may not have been the most polished basketball player, and he had poor hands, but there was enough there that could have been developed to be very serviceable, and with what we have on the table for next year, could have been very valuable to us.
[quote="Happy" post=280645][quote="Tom in Salem" post=280643]He'd easily be next season's starting center, which shows how far this program has fallen,[/quote]
If you are talking about Yakwe then I think you are severely underestimating Seedee Keita. The kid can play.[/quote]
Hope you are right. He looked good in the two minutes I saw him play in the Elite Eight and I am being serious. Both that South Carolina team and their opponent Florida were small teams and he stood out. Actually knew who he was when he transferred here.
If you are talking about Yakwe then I think you are severely underestimating Seedee Keita. The kid can play.[/quote]
Hope you are right. He looked good in the two minutes I saw him play in the Elite Eight and I am being serious. Both that South Carolina team and their opponent Florida were small teams and he stood out. Actually knew who he was when he transferred here.
Happy wrote: If you are talking about Yakwe then I think you are severely underestimating Seedee Keita. The kid can play.
Happy, glad to hear that Keita should be a solid contributor. Will he provide rim protection as well as rebounding?
Happy, glad to hear that Keita should be a solid contributor. Will he provide rim protection as well as rebounding?
[quote="NCJohnnie" post=280648]Happy wrote: If you are talking about Yakwe then I think you are severely underestimating Seedee Keita. The kid can play.
Happy, glad to hear that Keita should be a solid contributor. Will he provide rim protection as well as rebounding?[/quote]
He isn't the shot blocker Owens is but he isn't a under the rim player either. Shot blocking is overrated to me.. its fine to go after every ball that goes up if you have weak side rebounding help but we never seem to have anyone who cleans the boards up. Id prefer to have our big men box out and clean the glass as opposed to trying to send any shot that goes up into the first row.
Happy, glad to hear that Keita should be a solid contributor. Will he provide rim protection as well as rebounding?[/quote]
He isn't the shot blocker Owens is but he isn't a under the rim player either. Shot blocking is overrated to me.. its fine to go after every ball that goes up if you have weak side rebounding help but we never seem to have anyone who cleans the boards up. Id prefer to have our big men box out and clean the glass as opposed to trying to send any shot that goes up into the first row.
Happy wrote: He isn't the shot blocker Owens is but he isn't a under the rim player either. Shot blocking is overrated to me.. its fine to go after every ball that goes up if you have weak side rebounding help but we never seem to have anyone who cleans the boards up. Id prefer to have our big men box out and clean the glass as opposed to trying to send any shot that goes up into the first row.
Thanks. Agree shot blocking can be overrated if you are getting killed on offensive boards. Hopefully his not being an under the rim player doesn't mean he won't mix it up under the boards and rebound well as we definitely will need that from him.
Thanks. Agree shot blocking can be overrated if you are getting killed on offensive boards. Hopefully his not being an under the rim player doesn't mean he won't mix it up under the boards and rebound well as we definitely will need that from him.
SJU14
Well-known member
[quote="Happy" post=280651][quote="NCJohnnie" post=280648]Happy wrote: If you are talking about Yakwe then I think you are severely underestimating Seedee Keita. The kid can play.
Happy, glad to hear that Keita should be a solid contributor. Will he provide rim protection as well as rebounding?[/quote]
He isn't the shot blocker Owens is but he isn't a under the rim player either. Shot blocking is overrated to me.. its fine to go after every ball that goes up if you have weak side rebounding help but we never seem to have anyone who cleans the boards up. Id prefer to have our big men box out and clean the glass as opposed to trying to send any shot that goes up into the first row.[/quote]
I agree. A shot blocker leaves you vulnerable if they don't get a good deflection. I'd much rather have a guy play decent defense with a weak side rebounder. It rarely seemed like those blocks actually led to points on the other end.
Happy, glad to hear that Keita should be a solid contributor. Will he provide rim protection as well as rebounding?[/quote]
He isn't the shot blocker Owens is but he isn't a under the rim player either. Shot blocking is overrated to me.. its fine to go after every ball that goes up if you have weak side rebounding help but we never seem to have anyone who cleans the boards up. Id prefer to have our big men box out and clean the glass as opposed to trying to send any shot that goes up into the first row.[/quote]
I agree. A shot blocker leaves you vulnerable if they don't get a good deflection. I'd much rather have a guy play decent defense with a weak side rebounder. It rarely seemed like those blocks actually led to points on the other end.
[quote="NCJohnnie" post=280654]Happy wrote: He isn't the shot blocker Owens is but he isn't a under the rim player either. Shot blocking is overrated to me.. its fine to go after every ball that goes up if you have weak side rebounding help but we never seem to have anyone who cleans the boards up. Id prefer to have our big men box out and clean the glass as opposed to trying to send any shot that goes up into the first row.
Thanks. Agree shot blocking can be overrated if you are getting killed on offensive boards. Hopefully his not being an under the rim player doesn't mean he won't mix it up under the boards and rebound well as we definitely will need that from him.[/quote]
Failing to rebound and the resulting second and sometimes third shots killed us at times last year.
Thanks. Agree shot blocking can be overrated if you are getting killed on offensive boards. Hopefully his not being an under the rim player doesn't mean he won't mix it up under the boards and rebound well as we definitely will need that from him.[/quote]
Failing to rebound and the resulting second and sometimes third shots killed us at times last year.
beast of the east
Active member
[quote="SJU14" post=280655][quote="Happy" post=280651][quote="NCJohnnie" post=280648]Happy wrote: If you are talking about Yakwe then I think you are severely underestimating Seedee Keita. The kid can play.
Happy, glad to hear that Keita should be a solid contributor. Will he provide rim protection as well as rebounding?[/quote]
He isn't the shot blocker Owens is but he isn't a under the rim player either. Shot blocking is overrated to me.. its fine to go after every ball that goes up if you have weak side rebounding help but we never seem to have anyone who cleans the boards up. Id prefer to have our big men box out and clean the glass as opposed to trying to send any shot that goes up into the first row.[/quote]
I agree. A shot blocker leaves you vulnerable if they don't get a good deflection. I'd much rather have a guy play decent defense with a weak side rebounder. It rarely seemed like those blocks actually led to points on the other end.[/quote]
And bad shot blockers (Obekpa) play off their man resulting in wide open layups when the offense finds them open.
Happy, glad to hear that Keita should be a solid contributor. Will he provide rim protection as well as rebounding?[/quote]
He isn't the shot blocker Owens is but he isn't a under the rim player either. Shot blocking is overrated to me.. its fine to go after every ball that goes up if you have weak side rebounding help but we never seem to have anyone who cleans the boards up. Id prefer to have our big men box out and clean the glass as opposed to trying to send any shot that goes up into the first row.[/quote]
I agree. A shot blocker leaves you vulnerable if they don't get a good deflection. I'd much rather have a guy play decent defense with a weak side rebounder. It rarely seemed like those blocks actually led to points on the other end.[/quote]
And bad shot blockers (Obekpa) play off their man resulting in wide open layups when the offense finds them open.
beast of the east
Active member
[quote="Paultzman" post=280996]Visiting UConn[/quote]
Interesting.
Interesting.
Windy City Johnny Fan
Member
Reading the UConn message board talk themselves into him and it's a bit awkward - "big with a handle", "understated banger down low", "physical presence in the paint". I didn't have the heart to tell them.
He may turn out to be a better player than he showed here. Could never understand him being glued to the bench when we were undermanned. He is one player you can hold no ill will towards for transferring and wish him the best, even if it’s at UCONN. A redshirt year will be good for him.
Windy City Johnny Fan
Member
Agree. No redshirt though, he's graduating and playing right away.
beast of the east
Active member
[quote="Windy City Johnny Fan" post=281005]Agree. No redshirt though, he's graduating and playing right away.[/quote]
Or not playing right away
Or not playing right away
beast of the east
Active member
[quote="Paultzman" post=281015]Zach B
As @AdamZagoria reported, St Johns transfer Kassoum Yakwe will visit UConn this weekend. Pittsburgh, Nevada, Ohio State all involved, I’m told. #sjubb[/quote]
It would be hard to see him having a bangup senior year here. I hope the change of scenery does him good and he has a great 4th year. Good kid for certain.
As @AdamZagoria reported, St Johns transfer Kassoum Yakwe will visit UConn this weekend. Pittsburgh, Nevada, Ohio State all involved, I’m told. #sjubb[/quote]
It would be hard to see him having a bangup senior year here. I hope the change of scenery does him good and he has a great 4th year. Good kid for certain.