At least in the case of Derryck Thornton he reclassified pretty late from the 2016 class to the 2015 class and came in a year early. Maybe he just wasn't ready. He'll be joining a pretty good USC squad next year after sitting out this season. We'll see if his 5 star pedigree shows through in his second go'round. Kentucky has had some notable disappointments too. Daniel Orton was a top 25 guy who got lost in the mix on that John Wall/DeMarcus Cousins team. Skal Labissiere had an inauspicious season there last year. I think these programs that bring in super classes with 3 or more top 50 players every year are really only good for the one-and-done players who have no intention of sticking around for long-term development. They get a chance to compete with fellow blue chippers, a crash course in NBA preparation, and they're on to charter flights and million dollar contracts. Everyone else is probably better off finding a smaller program where they'll get more one on one attention. Coach K is bringing in the top high school guys at every position every year-- if you don't blow the doors off the place right away you risk getting left behind.
Players to watch: 2016/17 college season.
- Thread starter bajaden
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JJ did a pretty nice job on Tyler Dorsey on Saturday night too, who arguably was the hottest offensive player throughout the tourney. Dorsey did end up scoring 21, but JJ was the primary defender that helped limit him to 3 for 11 and didn't allow many open shots or for him to get into any kind of rhythm. You can't really overstate how important that was for UNC considering they played poorly on the offensive end sans JJ and Meeks.
I hope JJ is able to do something similar tonight against the Zags.
I hope JJ is able to do something similar tonight against the Zags.
I felt like reclassifying with the right choice for Thornton. Starting off, he was supposed to be in the 2015 class.. give him 1 more year of HS, and it's just another year of dominating players younger than him.
However, he proved that he wasn't ready for college in his freshman year. He showed a lot promise, but was raw. Him transferring was a shock to me. He was getting PT at Duke. Especially on a team that had Allen and Kennard. Going into the 2017 season, it was obvious that Duke was going to need a lead guard. It would've been the perfect opportunity for him to take the job at starting PG.
I guess Duke wasn't right for him.. I think 1 sitting year will hopefully help elevate his game at USC. He's still a really talented player, but was a real disappointment.
I guess the bright side for Daniel Orton was that he still got drafted late in the 1st. You're right about Skal though. Probably the most disappointing recruit...ever. I really can't think of anyone in the top 5 who tops Skal. Yeah, Cal didn't use him in the perimeter enough..but I don't know if it was Cal's fault that Skal was rail thin and weighed as light as a feather.
However, he proved that he wasn't ready for college in his freshman year. He showed a lot promise, but was raw. Him transferring was a shock to me. He was getting PT at Duke. Especially on a team that had Allen and Kennard. Going into the 2017 season, it was obvious that Duke was going to need a lead guard. It would've been the perfect opportunity for him to take the job at starting PG.
I guess Duke wasn't right for him.. I think 1 sitting year will hopefully help elevate his game at USC. He's still a really talented player, but was a real disappointment.
I guess the bright side for Daniel Orton was that he still got drafted late in the 1st. You're right about Skal though. Probably the most disappointing recruit...ever. I really can't think of anyone in the top 5 who tops Skal. Yeah, Cal didn't use him in the perimeter enough..but I don't know if it was Cal's fault that Skal was rail thin and weighed as light as a feather.
Calapari recruited him and knew what he was getting, so I'm sure he wasn't surprised when Skal showed up weighing 195 pounds. Calapari tends to play players where they have to work on their weaknesses. He did it with Towns, who liked playing on the perimeter in highschool. It worked with Towns and by the end of the year, he turned into a pretty good post player.. Had Skal stayed in school, it might have eventually worked for him as well.
There have been a lot of highly ranked highschool players that disappointed. James McAdoo was very highly ranked and he had a terrible freshman year. Justin Jackson was another one. Antonio Blakeney was highly ranked. Of course the minute he decided to go to LSU, I knew he was doomed. I think Skal stands out more because he went to Kentucky, which is like going to the Lakers, or the Knicks. The spotlight is on you.
There have been a lot of highly ranked highschool players that disappointed. James McAdoo was very highly ranked and he had a terrible freshman year. Justin Jackson was another one. Antonio Blakeney was highly ranked. Of course the minute he decided to go to LSU, I knew he was doomed. I think Skal stands out more because he went to Kentucky, which is like going to the Lakers, or the Knicks. The spotlight is on you.
I guess they want to start their new PG off in the triangle from day one when they're too young to complain about it. 
That's going to be awkward though when Phil Jackson skips out in a year or so and now they're stuck with an offensive system that no one else seems to like very much.
That's going to be awkward though when Phil Jackson skips out in a year or so and now they're stuck with an offensive system that no one else seems to like very much.
I guess they want to start their new PG off in the triangle from day one when they're too young to complain about it. That's going to be awkward though when Phil Jackson skips out in a year or so and now they're stuck with an offensive system that no one else seems to like very much.
That's going to be awkward though when Phil Jackson skips out in a year or so and now they're stuck with an offensive system that no one else seems to like very much.
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