Nov 15: Updated: Cliff Alexander Picks Kansas
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dylans- reposted what?
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The Cliff post gives me optimism.
From what I picked up on Cliff, he’s an intelligent guy, and I doubt he’d be laying down his hand before 3pm, and it would be if the FiveStarRecruits Predictions are true. I’m thinking he is getting a chuckle right now as all the media flies are swarming around his tweet and already proclaiming him gone to Illinois.
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Kip - Here is the link on your breaking news:
http://www.cardchronicle.com/2013/11/15/5107574/quentin-snider-signs-with-louisville
Read something interesting in the comments below. Something about UL running out of scholies so they might not be able to sign Myles Turner.
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drgn - thanks for doing the dirty work. I just copied and pasted Doug Gottlieb’s retweet.
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If anyone has a good link on info concerning Turner, please post it. I heard a while back that we had him wanting to sign but now he’s looking at Texas hard.
I know CS was licking his chops on Okafor, but maybe Turner is the better pick as a Jayhawk. He seems to be on the bubble as to being an OAD or TAD, and that means more wiggle room for PT and a player seeking out development. Turner is built more like Withey and JoJo… so we have experience with this type of 5 and he seems like a natural to become a major shot blocker at Kansas.
Our defensive structure is built around having a solid shot blocker on the post. We like an aggressive man-to-man with guards going high to limit the trey, and in doing so, opens up drives to the lane where we keep our shot blocker. It wasn’t all Jeff Withey who earned those blocking records… it was a combination of Withey and our defensive structure that allowed him to rack up those numbers.
If I’m a 5 built like Turner, I’d want to be at Kansas. And Kansas should want a guy like Turner!
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Factoring who may or may not leave, Oubre and Alexander would be a great compliment to the players that we will likely have coming back. If I were a betting man, I would call Alexander to KU and Okafor and Jones to Kentucky.
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@JayHawkFanToo - I see you changed it, I thought maybe you were predicting something from way out in left field!!!
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Cliff Alexander
Positives - The first thing that stuck out to me is how long his arms seem. Sounds weird, but it was something that was noticeable. That wingspan makes him bigger than he is. VERY strong. Dunks a ton. Blocks lots of shots. His long arms allow him to high point the ball without jumping as high, allowing him to wait on the shooter. Finishes through contact with no real issues, mostly because he is violently dunking over that contact.
Negatives - Didn’t see him shoot much, which is a worry. His mechanics look okay, but I wonder if he has the ability and confidence to step out to 15. Didn’t see him really handle the ball at all. He’s a post up PF, which is fine, but don’t expect him to start knocking down 15-17 footers.
Overall - I don’t know if he can hit jump shots with any sort of consistency. What I do know is that if you get him the basketball within 8 feet of the hoop, he’s probably going to drop step and dunk. He also has a useful jump hook and a reasonable turnaround from that area, so its not all just power. But there is a TON of power. Like his defense more than Okafor. To me he’s the better shot blocker. My only worry for him collegiately is that he won’t be able to get the kind of position offensively that he gets in high school, so he will need to extend the range on his secondary shots (jump hook, turnaround).
Of all these guys, Cliff A is the one I want at KU the most. He is basically TRob 2.0 and potentially a 2 year guy. Like you, the wingspan was the first thing I noticed, and if his DraftExpress.com measurements are correct, that TRob 2.0 comment is literally true. Same height (6’9" in shoes), same wingspan (7’3"), same weight (240lbs), and same beastly athleticism. He could be our best defender if he comes and Embiid leaves. Although TRob wasn’t our best defender on the 2012 squad, he did show what he could do on a number of occasions, especially when he was FBOTB in 2011 (remember that time he blocked a shot, fell down, got up, and blocked the second attempt? I know, it was some cupcakey school, but I’d never seen that before or since). Cliff has that kind of length and quickness.
As for worrying about his positioning and shooting, KU excels at teaching bigs how to gain position when the ball reverses, so I don’t think there’d be any problems for him there. And if he stays 2 years, he’d have time to work on his jumper. He’s not an automatic OAD like Oakafor, so that’s not out of the question if NBA GMs agree.
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Cliff to Kansas? Rumor Mill
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Gheez… now there is a 247 rumor trying to cover their bases. Isn’t this the site that basically guaranteed he was going to the Illini because they did some kind of statistical regression from all the sports media from around the country, and the majority of them had him going to the Illini?
I bet none of these guys even know he’s dating someone at Kansas… not that that will be a factor, but it could be.
I think he picks Kansas because:
- Our CS hi/lo offense was built for his style of play.
- We develop big men better than anyone else, including strength training.
- He seems to have hit it off with the existing players well.
- Jerrance Howard.
- Girlfriend in Lawrence.
- And I can go on and on…
I don’t even factor in who goes and who stays because I believe Cliff will get floor time regardless of who is here. The best combo punch would be him playing beside Perry…
I don’t have a crystal ball, and neither does 247 (or an inside source). And I was wrong with Randle… but I’d put my prediction record up against the media fluff any day of the week!
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This is actually no rumor-Goodman just stated that he has been covering cbb recruiting for TWELVE whole years & that in his estimation this is a “mediocre to average class.” How is Heaven’s name do these guys remain employed as experts with 12 freaking yrs of experience vs coaches that have been recruiting & teaching at the college level their entire lives? What on Earth could he be smoking?
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I hate waiting that last hour!
Think I’ll have a “Napalm Bomb.”
Anyone want to join me?
Recipe:
1 oz Everclear
1 oz Vietnamese Cobra “wine”
1 oz Red Bull
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Global… I have personal experience with Goodman. He’s a coffee tweaker. Sounds innocent, but it can influence your views as much as any drug!
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In warmer weather I prefer Christian Brothers, aged in oak barrels, straight with a cold chaser. Then in Winter it’s great with Starbucks med house blend also, really close to the fire…But ONLY, safe & sound at home.
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Well Okafor and Jones just took a Dook on my hopes of a sweep. Come on Cliff!
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Cliff to Kansas!
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Welcome to Larryville Cliff!
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Dang, For once we got one with the hats. It went just as I thought it would; I think we got the player that fits the system the best. Not a large class, because of the scholarships available, but a quality class. I am happy.
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I’m happily updating the links on this thread folks…
Welcome Cliff!
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I am relieved Jones didn’t come to KU.
Alexander is a perfect fit.
If Embiid stays, or we get Turner … well, that’s too much to ask for.
Self hit a slam with a two-man recruiting class. Maybe we could add a Merv Lindsay in June?
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Now here is my guess for next years rotation:
PG) Naadir Tharpe AND Frank Mason split time
SG) Andrew White III / Brannen Greene / Thare or Mason
SG) Kelly Oubre / Brannen Greene
PF) Perry Ellis / Jamari Traylor / Cliff Alexander
C) Joel Embiid / Cliff Alexander / Jamari Traylor
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I was hoping for Alexander all along and couldn’t be happier it ended up this way. Our backcourt is already stacked and Tyus not starting would simply serve as a distraction. With the speed and athleticism at every position a guy like Okafor would slow down one of the biggest advantages we have.
I feel like, regardless of departures, Alexander is the best fit and will start immediately - you cannot keep him off the floor. If Embiid leaves he can instantly be slotted in the 5. If he stays (and this would be the case if we could somehow get Turner) we have the ability to slot Alexander at his natural position of PF. This is assuming Perry stays as well - Perry’s biggest assets are his IQ and footwork which would transition nicely to the small forward position. SF is the only position Perry will be playing in the NBA so it makes sense for him to develop those techniques at KU. That leaves us with either Selden (if he stays) at the two or plug in AWIII if he leaves and Naadir at point. We’ve got Traylor, Lucas, Mickelson as front court reserves and Mason, Frankamp, Greene, and Oubre to spell our back court.
I think the reality of KU’s recent recruiting (and hopefully future) is that we are attracting NBA ready one-and-done talent. Does that mean they’ll all bolt? Hopefully not. But it is no secret that Kansas players haven’t been as successful in the Pros as other programs. This is because, in large part, Self is a system coach who puts his best 5 on the floor. Take the Morris Twins, for example, who struggled their first few years learning the position and, now comfortable in their role, are flourishing. Same with T-Rob.
If we are going to start brining in top 10 guys on a consistent basis then 1. they will start and 2. We will try to start them at their NBA/natural position because that is where they provide us with the biggest advantage. There will be times we mix and match like we did against Duke when other teams are going to 3 guard sets but can you imagine the size, length, strength, and speed of a lineup of 1. Tharpe 2. Selden (WhiteIII) 3. Ellis 4. Alexander 5. Embiid (Turner)?
Now, assuming Embiid leaves and Turner goes elsewhere we would simply shift to a smaller lineup that gets the players a bit out of their NBA position but fits Self’s best five strategy. Either way Alexander ensures that we are set to be a dominant team next year and we won’t be forcing a player like embiid to enter the draft so a player like okafor can take his position. That’s not Self, that’s not Kansas - thank god we aren’t Kentucky.
Really excited for this season and years to come. We’ve got something rolling right now!
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Man… IowaJayhawk… where you been hiding?
It’s great to have your feedback! You have something to offer so keep posting!
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Hey - thanks man! I give all the credit to my dog who is literally the cutest puppy in the world.
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Cliff’s highlight video link:
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Hey - thanks man! I give all the credit to my dog who is literally the cutest puppy in the world.
Well lets see the little guy. Mine ain’t a puppy anymore, but I wouldn’t trade him for anything. See my photo.
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Wasn’t impressed with the ‘fakeout’ grabbing of UofI hat. That lacked class. Wouldn’t be surprised if he does an about face on us, considering he didn’t sign his LOI.
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Blown I agree the fakeout move was not my fave, but ESPN is reporting that he faxed in his LOI this morning. That doesn’t mean he couldn’t ask for a release, but I don’t think he’s going anywhere. Plus, it does feel a lot better to be on the winning side of that move, having been faked out in the past.
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@konkeyDong Here’s an ESPN article about Cliff dodging the question about potentially going elsewhere. I’d prefer to give the kid the benefit of the doubt and assume he doesn’t like to be pushed into making an absolute statement, because it’s always true that anything could happen between now and next Fall.
What I do wonder though, is to how Self’s staff manages expectations of the recruits once they are signed. How much work does it involve, and how is that work divided up by the staff? Anyone have any insight into this?
