Locke went over VJ today. As someone who is pretty high on him, I think he's actually spot on with the criticisms. Handle concerns are overblown. Shooting is fine when set, but no off the dribble shooting and that is problematic. Can disappear on full game film, which does not happen if you are watching condensed games. Kind of alluded to the fact that his game is more risky than Tre, which I would agree with if we are only talking about offense. Offensively, Tre is more ready and it's not a guarantee VJ ever even gets to the level Tre is currently on. But VJ has plenty of avenues to improve and he's not a lost cause.
Following Potential 2025 Draftees
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I think I may be overrating VJ and Jase because I've watched so many condensed games and those two really shine in that format. Could argue that I feel for the low usage -> higher usage trap with Sheppard last (I still believe)....but Castle and McCain were both rookies who had a higher usage in the NBA vs the NCAA where they played on rosters loaded with upperclassmen.
HadAnEffectHere
Well-Known Member
The handle concerns are not overblown at all for VJ, he disappears because he can't dribble while moving quickly.
Whenever he tries to do an even semi advanced move when moving quickly, he looks like he wants to look down at the ball.
He has to become an elite shooter to be a star and end up like Jalen Williams or Derrick White where he can be a super role player who impacts winning despite his shot creation skills being extremely bleh.
Whenever he tries to do an even semi advanced move when moving quickly, he looks like he wants to look down at the ball.
He has to become an elite shooter to be a star and end up like Jalen Williams or Derrick White where he can be a super role player who impacts winning despite his shot creation skills being extremely bleh.
Nique Clifford Film Review at Lunch today. I watched quite a few of his games in season, but this was a nice review:
- Very complete offensive game, he can basically do everything you would want a wing to do. dribble/pass/shoot. He can score at all 3 levels. Is a good passer and is generally smart with the ball. He gets his shot off whenever he wants, but isn't playing the most athletic guys in general in the MWC.
- Defensively he is good, but I would project him to be average in the NBA. He will have to guard much more athletic players in the NBA. He generally plays hard and has good awareness.
He's just so much more advanced than most prospects, which of course he should be since he is much older. It's hard for me to imagine him not working out in the NBA, yet it seems every year older guys with great all around games seem to miss in the NBA. Historically 23+ year olds haven't been super successful.
- Very complete offensive game, he can basically do everything you would want a wing to do. dribble/pass/shoot. He can score at all 3 levels. Is a good passer and is generally smart with the ball. He gets his shot off whenever he wants, but isn't playing the most athletic guys in general in the MWC.
- Defensively he is good, but I would project him to be average in the NBA. He will have to guard much more athletic players in the NBA. He generally plays hard and has good awareness.
He's just so much more advanced than most prospects, which of course he should be since he is much older. It's hard for me to imagine him not working out in the NBA, yet it seems every year older guys with great all around games seem to miss in the NBA. Historically 23+ year olds haven't been super successful.
I haven't watched, but I seems like some see him as the next Josh Hart?
I would say some similarities but hart has that insane motor.
I'm not sure. He plays a completely different role in college where he is a legit number one scoring option. He'll obviously need to pair down his usage when he gets to the NBA, but what that looks like I'm not sure.
Yeah, I don't think anyone can be expected to have that kind of motor. But Hart is also a nice player to have just on the basis of his all around skillset and versatility on both ends. Hart minus the generational motor is still a decent player IMO.
Chargers Jazz Angels
Well-Known Member
It is interesting how many of these players have good year ones then seem to disappear. They move back into role player positions. Very few ever become stars.
Josh Hart was the similar in college. Was the leading scorer on a Nova team with a bunch of future NBA scorers on his team. When looking for a role player, it might be a good strategy to look for a player who is overqualified for the role you're projecting him. Do you think his offensive role will be larger than Hart's?
Could be, I think he can do more off the dribble than Hart, but I might not know what I'm talking about.
David Hume
Well-Known Member
- Cooper Flagg PF 6’7.75”️
- Dylan Harper PG 6’4.5”
- Ace Bailey SF 6’7.5”
- VJEdgecombe G 6’4”
- Tre Johnson 6’4.75”
- Jere Fears PG 6’2.5”
- Kon Knueppel SF 6’6”
- Kasparas Jak G 6’6”
- Hansen Yang C 7’1”
- Noah Essengue PF 6’9”
- R Fleming PF 6’8.25
- Khaman Maluach 7’0”
- Joan Beringer PF 6’ 11”
- Carter Bryant SF 6’6”
- Asa Newell F 6’8”
- ColinMurrayBoyes 6’6”
- CedricCoward F 6’5.25”
- Maxime Raynaud C 7’1”
- Derik Queen PF/C 6’10”
- EgorDemin SF 6’8.25”
- Liam McNeeley F 6’8”
- Nolan Traore PG 6’4”
- Jase RichardPG 6’0.5”
- Nique Clifford SF 6’6”
- Danny Wolf C 6,10”
- Tho Sorber C 6’9.25”
- Drake Powell SG 6’5.25”
- Lab Philon PG 6’2.75
- TahaadPettiford 6’0.25
- WalterClayton G 6’3”
seattlejazzfan
Well-Known Member
hart is the easy AND tbh, prudent comparison. yes, Hart has the insane motor, but you don't average 10 rebs a game from the wing spot if your motor isn't pretty elite. is it Hart's motor? maybe not, but it's as close as you'll get.
Small team and no one rebounds but him
Thee Idiotic Minivan K
Well-Known Member
What do the red diamonds mean?
- Cooper Flagg PF 6’7.75”️
- Dylan Harper PG 6’4.5”
- Ace Bailey SF 6’7.5”
- VJEdgecombe G 6’4”
- Tre Johnson 6’4.75”
- Jere Fears PG 6’2.5”
- Kon Knueppel SF 6’6”
- Kasparas Jak G 6’6”
- Hansen Yang C 7’1”
- Noah Essengue PF 6’9”
- R Fleming PF 6’8.25
- Khaman Maluach 7’0”
- Joan Beringer PF 6’ 11”
- Carter Bryant SF 6’6”
- Asa Newell F 6’8”
- ColinMurrayBoyes 6’6”
- CedricCoward F 6’5.25”
- Maxime Raynaud C 7’1”
- Derik Queen PF/C 6’10”
- EgorDemin SF 6’8.25”
- Liam McNeeley F 6’8”
- Nolan Traore PG 6’4”
- Jase RichardPG 6’0.5”
- Nique Clifford SF 6’6”
- Danny Wolf C 6,10”
- Tho Sorber C 6’9.25”
- Drake Powell SG 6’5.25”
- Lab Philon PG 6’2.75
- TahaadPettiford 6’0.25
- WalterClayton G 6’3”
HadAnEffectHere
Well-Known Member
Yang has no NBA skills other than passing, is the hype like a bit or do people have no idea how basketball is played in the NBA.
You have to dribble if you're going to be an offensive hub. He cannot dribble at all, he looks like he can barely bend over close enough to the ground.
No one is ever spending an entire possession establishing Yang on the left block.
You have to dribble if you're going to be an offensive hub. He cannot dribble at all, he looks like he can barely bend over close enough to the ground.
No one is ever spending an entire possession establishing Yang on the left block.
Jazz picks?
seattlejazzfan
Well-Known Member
yet my point holds true.
David Hume
Well-Known Member
Our current draft position
HadAnEffectHere
Well-Known Member
Watching Traore is bizarre because he's like an exact clone of Dante Exum.
Extreme burst and a good hesitation move, but literally no other ball handling or finishing moves. Just straight-line stuff always with no craft anywhere.
Extreme burst and a good hesitation move, but literally no other ball handling or finishing moves. Just straight-line stuff always with no craft anywhere.