Elmarko Healthcheck
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I am curious about Elmarko. Patellar tendon tear and .300 fg% and underwhelming contribution across the board in 18 mpg season 1 with KU leaves room for skepticism, certainly.
But he was a mcd aa, 19th overall in class.
Can we rehash a few things?
How was his fg% in HS?
Has he been working on his shooting and handling?
Will Bill use him on ball or off? I am assuming off mostly, as with Diggy, leaving room for stud transfer PG to be ball dominant.
Is that correct? Do Elmarko and Diggy need to handle to find their rhythm?
Any insights appreciated as Elmarko seems like a certainty on the roster next year and could be either obstruction or valuable piece.
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I heard coach say he was going off one ft. He should be full strength by august, I think. He’s been working on all those other things. My son tore his about a yr before Elmarko, terrible injury, long recovery.
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Here’s what Bill said recently.
“Well, he’s not practicing by any stretch but he’s doing individuals and one-on-zero,” Bill Self said. “So, he’s not going to be in contact until the season’s over. But he’s making really good progress. He’ll be 100% unless he has a setback you would think by March or so.”
I’m cautiously optimistic. He had a serious knee injury so you wonder about full recovery, and then the mental side of it. He’s missed a year of skill development. I did see something published that he’s bulked up a bit and has taken to watching and learning from the coaches from their POV on the sidelines.
He’s an on-ball guy I think. I think he can exist with another ball handler if his outside shot/playmaking improves. He had shown good touch at the FT line so it’s a developing skill you hope for consistency. His midrange jumper was probably his best impact on offense. He showed glimpses of driving and finishing/ or creating opportunities for teammates but it was flashes. The size and athleticism are there to be good. Defensively, he probably has more room to grow there than anywhere else, not uncommon when playing here. The good thing is Peterson is coming and he’s the most dynamic combo guard we’ve signed. He’s going to make others look really good.
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Thanks guys.
Regarding DP @BeddieKU23, is he a good enough handler to press break? Elmarko has the size and athleticism agreed, and I think I recall some nice passes, and some questionable ones.
I dont trust Diggy on ball in pressure situations, at least recently. It would be nice to know that the rock will be taken care of next year.
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Bill was willing to keep him around and him returning seems to have at least played a part in scaring off Philon, so those are both points in the column that he was moving in the right direction this offseason. He may be missing a year of skill development, but I assume he has still been around the team learning how Self wants to play and gaining basketball knowledge.
I didn’t get to watch the team as much last year, but he reminded me a bit of Tyshawn when I did catch games (in some good ways and some bad lol).
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His biggest issue last year was his lack of confidence. Once in a while, we would see bursts of potential and athleticism. All we can do is wait and see. These types of injuries are so lethal. Many players never recover psychologically. Others improve because their survival instincts takeover.
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I think one part of this issue - - - won’t be an issue , a I truly don’t think diggy will be back. With El Marko being here and with what we got coming in , diggy won’t be back.
DP definitely can handle the ball in pressure, NBA people ay he si ready and drooling. Just a complete ball player, petty well has it all. drains three’s could be some better but , Hits mid range, can create , rebounds well , can dish the dimes- -he is a man. enjoy him for the year w got him.
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Yeah Peterson is dynamic with the ball. We definitely need another steady option there so I think it’s something you get from the portal to pair with Elmarko and Peterson.
Is there something out there about Diggy? How would he have another year?
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@BeddieKU23 Diggy will be able to use the JuCo waiver
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@FarmerJayhawk not going to matter if he does or not- - - he is not coming back
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@SlimShaddy54 way too early to say definitively one way or another but I’d say better than even money he’s back.
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@SlimShaddy54 diggy? He’s gonna be starting next year if hcbs is still here
