Chinyelu declares for the draft with option to return

Pack your bags, we're going to Lithuania and Serbia

 

How did I miss this news?

Nonetheless, one of the things that the NBA will probably tell both Chinyelu (58.2%) & Condon (60.0%) is to improve their free-throw percentages to 75% and above.

 

They are going to say: “son, get some offense then talk to us”.

The funny thing is he was our best post player. Didn’t have much (or any) arsenal on offense, but got to be passable at a jump hook. Which for our purposes is all we need. I started joking through the season that Chinyelu needs to teach Condo his jump hook move!

Hopefully both these guys are back. If not, or we just needed to replace 1 (not both), getting a high % paint finisher could actually help Florida. Esp if our guard play can’t hit the crazy high bar we just enjoyed.

 

Chin’s game kind of reminds me of that transfer from Georgetown who played for BD back in the day. He played a lot like Chin but was a bit better on offense and had a nice little jump hook. Can’t remember that guy’s name…and no it was not Egbunu….

“Wes Chandler was Percy Harvin before Percy Harvin was born.”

 

Vernon Macklin

 

The deadline to withdraw from the NBA Draft for those wishing to return to college is June 15. The 2025 NBA Draft will be held on June 25-26 in Brooklyn.

 

Macklin similarly had limited offense, but man was automatic on that jump hook his sr year. That was his one move but it was solid. Maybe thats my memory having some rose tinted goggles. His FG% stats aren’t spectacular or anything.

 

Pretty sure the last day they’re able to withdraw and return to school is the 28th, by midnight. June 15th would be the last day they can withdraw from the draft and retain their draft eligibility for the following year, but they would lose academic eligibility on the 29th of May.

 

Did he even take an 8 foot jump shot all season?

 

"I dont fear the man who has practiced a million kicks one time. I fear the man who has practiced one kick a million times" -Bruce Lee

 

Maybe not, but why should he or Golden not try to take him to the next level, for the benefit of his pro career and the team this season? Maybe, he doesn’t have the skill sets to be like Broome or Queen but perhaps he does given proper coaching and intense practice and repetition. He seems pretty athletic; teach him offensive moves near the basket, hit the weight room and it might surprise us. I personally don’t believe he is anywhere good enough to be in the NBA but he could be.

 

His short hook in the lane was very reliable, giving us a nice scoring option. He also defended and rebounded well.

 

Yep, if you merged him with Condon, it'd be the perfect big.

 

looking at his stats for the year, he was 7th on the team in minutes per game (19.0), but committed by far the most personal fouls (113).

Not sure if that is function of the position he plays, conditioning or technique, but that is an area where improvement is needed.

2024-25 Men's Basketball Cumulative Statistics - Florida Gators

 

His foul rate was actually down from last year (9.5 per 100 possessions at WSU, 8.4 for us). Still better than Handlogten, but an area where he could continue to improve.

 

No clue if he is good enough to be in the NBA, but if he is, it won’t be because he developed a mid range jumper or more post moves. It will be because he is a monster rebounder, rim protector, and help defender who can switch on smaller players. That’s what he has to maximize.

 

Neither he or Condo are ready.
I saw a podcast where some draft folks spoke about Condo crushing his stock with his bad tourny showing.

Both will be back.

 

He would be hilarious as a doctor. The guy is a complete cut-up. He would have me rolling.

 

Vernon macklin?