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LSU Basketball lands 7 footer

Posted on 5/16/24 at 10:16 am
Posted by landmanner
Louisiana
Member since May 2006
3205 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 10:16 am
Posted by tigersham
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2023
156 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 10:23 am to
Perfect replacement for Hunter Dean at that walk on spot. This should be the last move of our offseason.
Posted by landmanner
Louisiana
Member since May 2006
3205 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 10:23 am to
Posted by CatfishJohn
Member since Jun 2020
13785 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 10:27 am to
I know not everyone thought we needed a traditional big man, but I'm happy we got him.

Roster is actually pretty solid going into next year if some younger guys develop. That's a big IF, but we have a decent chance to continue improving as a team and make the tournament.
Posted by Bert Macklin FBI
Quantico
Member since May 2013
9083 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 10:29 am to
He look like exactly what we need. A guy that can rebound and block shots.
Posted by BigShowGeaux
USA
Member since Jan 2021
135 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 10:30 am to
He moves really well for a big man. And he looks like he can actually handle the basketball
Posted by GeauxHouston
Houston,TX
Member since Nov 2013
4474 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 10:32 am to
Offers from schools like Baylor, and Ohio State. Very nice get.
Posted by SemiNoblePursuit
Baton Rouge
Member since Jul 2016
1531 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 10:33 am to
That is the cleanest uniform in college basketball that he's wearing in that pic
Posted by nicholastiger
Member since Jan 2004
43237 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 10:53 am to
Purdue and UConn prove how big men are still needed and can be effective in the college game
Posted by Relham10
Ridge
Member since Jan 2013
15886 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 11:36 am to
Nice addition
Posted by Alt26
Member since Mar 2010
28568 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 11:40 am to
quote:

Perfect replacement for Hunter Dean


I think one of the biggest mistakes McMahon made last year was not realizing sooner Dean was probably a better option for THAT particular team than Baker. Or at least worthy of getting slightly more minutes.

Outside of a few games where Baker was hot shooting the ball, he didn't really fit what LSU, I guess, wanted to do. You can't want to be an "up-tempo" team, the waste half of the shot clock dumping it into post where if Baker took more than 3 dribbles it was likely a TO. It's also difficult to defend and rebound when you have a guy with bad hands and little explosiveness getting off the floor.

Dean may not have had the offensive bag Baker had, but he could rim run, catch, and provide a physical presence inside. This guy may be able to do that (to a lesser degree) as well. Perhaps the biggest negative I've seen in McMahon's coaching is his reluctance to deviate from whatever plan he has going into a game/season.

I get it. It's difficult in this era of CBB to fully know what you have going into a season when, often, 1/2 the roster or more are new. But at some point after 10 or so games you should start to get a feel for your team's strengths and weaknesses. I just think McMahon has struggled for getting a "feel" of his teams.

Fortunately, this will be the most players he's returned at LSU. So you hope that, plus now two years through an SEC gauntlet, will allow him to be more confident in adjustments and provide a better sense of what he has
Posted by tigersbb
Member since Oct 2012
10414 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 12:35 pm to
He is very fluid and great footwork for his size. He looks physically like Shaq did when he firs arrived on campus. Now i he can be just half as good a Shaq was he will be a great addition to what is a fairly solid roster.
Posted by Alt26
Member since Mar 2010
28568 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 12:55 pm to
quote:

He is very fluid and great footwork for his size. He looks physically like Shaq did when he firs arrived on campus. Now i he can be just half as good a Shaq was he will be a great addition to what is a fairly solid roster.


Good Lord! We can complement a guy without resorting to absurd, hyperbolic comparisons! About the only thing physically he has in common with Shaq is they are both (purportedly) 7 feet tall. Hell, so is Will Baker. But Shaq, even has a true freshman, had exceedingly rare strength, athleticism and explosiveness for a man that size. That's why he went on to be a dominant college player and one of the most physically dominant centers in NBA history.

He's a seven foot guy with what looks to be some degree of athleticism. But any comparisons with Shaq, even minimally, are ridiculous. If he were physically comparable to Shaq he would have never made it to the JUCO ranks or, frankly, LSU. Every powerhouse in the nation would have wanted him badly.

It seems to be a nice pickup. But remotely comparable to Shaq in any way
Posted by timlan2057
In the Shadow of Tiger Stadium
Member since Sep 2005
17027 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 12:57 pm to
Seems to move well for a traditional aircraft carrier center.
Posted by Horizon Imperial
Member since Sep 2019
114 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 12:58 pm to
He can move pretty well and alter some shots. He also has a decent midrange shot and isn’t afraid to take it strong to the basket. I didn’t catch his weight but he seems to fit the athletic type of big that McMahon likes.

One thing I didn’t notice, however, is any attempts from long range. Let’s hope that signals that he’ll leave the perimeter play to others and that he’ll focus on rim protection, garbage baskets and an occasional 10-footer now and again.

It appears this is a solid pickup that at least to me comes out of the blue. Given that it’s our 13th spot when technically we had 12 to play with, seems to be a great addition

Posted by CBP3110
Member since Aug 2012
6599 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 1:01 pm to
Chose LSU over Oregon and Wisconsin
Posted by SoloTiger
Member since Aug 2016
9563 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 1:20 pm to
Like the addition, but he doesn't appear to have any game outside of 5 feet of the basket based on thread highlights. Definitely won't be used like Baker. Even Dean had more offensive game.

Still happy to have a 7 footer that can rebound a bit and give you put backs and an occasional blocked shot.
Posted by Mats86
Member since Mar 2021
3697 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 1:55 pm to
quote:

Like the addition, but he doesn't appear to have any game outside of 5 feet of the basket based on thread highlights.

The whole highlight reel was him taking advantage of smaller players. If you can get to the rim with relative ease, there is no reason to shoot a mid range. I don’t think we can tell much about him yet. To me he looks like taller Derek fountain.
Posted by SoloTiger
Member since Aug 2016
9563 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 3:55 pm to
Maybe, but I would lean towards him not being proficient in those areas rather than having them and not using them at all.
Posted by Mats86
Member since Mar 2021
3697 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 5:55 pm to
quote:

Maybe, but I would lean towards him not being proficient in those areas rather than having them and not using them at all.

That’s a reasonable assessment.
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