Alternative portal point guards

6’5 is plenty big to play the 3 at this level, especially if we have normal size at the 4 and 5 instead of a undersized player or tweener at the 4. It’s obviously a bigger deal to be smaller in the backcourt if you are also getting killed in the front court.

I mean I get that the “prototype” college SF is a long Cory Brewer type at 6’7”-6-8”. But you really aren’t hurting yourself with a Kuegel in a 3 guard lineup. It’s basically same deal as Richard at the 3.

Botton line is whether we are pushing for a “starter” or a 6th man to add a last transfer piece, it’s likely intended to shore up the ball handling. So probably more of a small guard or PG. Kugel and Richard have the wings pretty well locked down (and if we want to go really big, maybe that Yale transfer can play some 3?).

 

Could we use some love?


5. Caleb Love, 6-4, SG, Jr., North Carolina Tar Heels

Despite his inconsistencies in Chapel Hill, Love is still one of the most talented guards in the country.
Averaged a career-high 16.7 points this season and showed his potential with a tremendous showing in the 2022 NCAA tournament.

 

He’s a chucker.

 

Watched him run UNC into the ground chucking shots. Once the ball hit his hands in Nov and Dec he didnt give it up. He improved later in the season in conference play but much too late to help. NOT an PG.

 

You’re a good poster, so I’m surprised to get bacon from you during a civil conversation, but that’s neither here nor there.

To your comments… my response is, “Ok… but why?”

Why go out and purposely recruit in a way that shortens our starting roster, when we seem to have made it a priority to recruit skilled taller players? In fact, this board complained about our team’s height for years, and now that Golden went out and got us height, a lot of you are suggesting pick ups that would negate this.

I think most of it stems from your perceptions that Clayton cannot play the 1. You have to get it out of your mind that he played the 2 at Iona. It’s what he was asked to do, but that was probably the only time he did that. In high school and below it seems he was always a 1.

So the question remains… we could have a shorter starting team with Clayton, Kugel, and another guard… but why should we, considering our current pickups? We need a backup SG and a depth PG. We do not need a starting PG.

 

No thank you.
Kowacie Reeves cured me of any lingering good will toward chuckers.

 

TG went hard after Tylor Perry and Ques Glover. Now he is going after another small, quick guard. Maybe Clayton will be fine at the point, but he is not likely to be a player who is going to be able to get into the paint on a regular basis without coming off of a high ball screen. I like the idea of having a lightning quick point guard on the team. Then, that lightning quick guard, plus Clayton and Aberdeen can fight it out for playing time at the point.

 

You say this, but the tape says the opposite.

 

I disagree based on the Iona games that I watched against UConn and Princeton. I am hoping that Walter is a great player for us.

 

I watched that Princeton game and I can't get why you would think it proved he can't get into the paint. Look at the skills. Either he can, or he can't. There's no in between. Getting in the paint is not even that hard to do. I feel like sometimes you make a mountain out of a molehill when it comes to basketball skills. Clayton has demonstrated every single skill relevant to PG play. I can watch a guy play 5 minutes of pickup ball and make an on the spot assessment of his skillset. It doesn't need to be in a D1 game. I'm looking for certain mannerisms, certain nuances, certain movements. Where do his eyes go? Does he keep his head up while dribbling? Passes crisp? Handles tight? It's very easy to recognize.

 

The little bit I saw of Clayton had me thinking he gets into the paint fairly easily and makes good decisions once he gets there. You definitely want him with the ball in his hands late in the game, with a lead, when you have the nations free throw percentage leader on your team……unless the 5 he missed were with the game on the line

 

Yeah, I legit don’t understand why people think he can’t play the 1. Personally, I think a guy like Clayton at the 1 gives you a double-threat bonus. You can’t guard him like you guarded Lofton. He must be respected as a scorer at all times. I really like him and Kugel as a back court. As I’ve said before, Richard coming off the bench makes the most sense for us, but I doubt that happens. I’d like to see EJ at the 3. He is very skilled and explosive.

 

I like EJ at the three also. Maybe the big lineup.
I am sure against some teams he will play the four. I imagine him with a smaller lineup and the centers alternating. CTG will hopefully figure the best way to attack all teams!

 

We should enough quality depth across the board to tinker with all sorts of lineups. Big, small, fast, slow... we should be able to play any style.

 

I'm fine with Clayton being our starting PG but really want another true PG on the team as a backup/in case of injury.

 

Aberdeen checks this box.

 

I don't think of him as a true PG but of course, I could be proven wrong.

 

FYI...

Baylor basketball lands Toledo transfer guard RayJ Dennis | kcentv.com

 

Baylor kind of came out of nowhere to become a major basketball power. And they appear to be intent on staying there. Pretty damned impressive program they've built there.