1. You probably read an article on DX where they mentioned that "he meaused shorter than advertised" when in fact he measured at 6'9.5" barefoot. He just was in thin shoes and measured at 6'10.25" with them. Give him normal for bigmen 1.25" or 1.5" shoes and he magicly becomes as tall "as advertised". Also he measured at very solid 9'1" standing reach.
2. If you follow draft.net closely you must have read an article where they denied this rumor stating that Pecherov and Armstrong were equally impressive in that workout. Not sure why they still haven't changed the original article.
3. Shelden Williams was destroyed much more by every NBA wannabe.
1 - Fair enough.
2 - I'll take your word for it
3 - How is that a positive for Hilton Armstrong? Isn't that more of an argument against Shelden Williams?
Now, I've been anti-Hilton based in statistics. As much as history can tell us, basketball is not subject to all of the rules of money-ball. Physical attributes and matchups mean far more than in a baseball game which is much more static. However, statistics make Armstrong look terrible. Aside from the stats and history mentioned already, the two biggest pluses mentioned for Armstrong are that he averaged 3.1 blks/game as a senior and that he was the Big East Defensive Player of the Year. So I looked at the official Big East site at a little more hisotry. Even if we grant Armsrong 3.1 blks/game as a four year average (like the other player on the blks/game list who are measured based upon career stats) take a look at the list of blks/game leaders and past D Players of the Year:
NAME SCHOOL CAREER YRS. GP BLK AVG.
Emeka Okafor Connecticut 2001-04 3 48 207 4.30
Patrick Ewing Georgetown 1981-85 4 62 247 3.98
Dikembe Mutombo Georgetown 1988-91 3 48 184 3.83
Etan Thomas Syracuse 1996-00 4 64 232 3.63
Alonzo Mourning Georgetown 1988-92 4 62 224 3.61
Jason Lawson Villanova 1993-97 4 71 216 3.04
Ruben Boumtje Boumtje Georgetown 1997-01 4 52 143 2.75
D’or Fischer West Virginia 2003-05 2 31 84 2.71
Samuel Dalembert Seton Hall 1999-01 2 32 86 2.69
Donyell Marshall Connecticut 1991-94 3 54 141 2.61
Herve Lamizana Rutgers 2000-04 4 48 123 2.56
Ryan Humphrey Notre Dame 2000-02 2 31 77 2.48
Charles Smith Pittsburgh 1984-88 4 64 158 2.47
Marcus Douthit Providence 2000-04 4 63 151 2.39
Rony Seikaly Syracuse 1984-88 4 64 151 2.36
Derrick Coleman Syracuse 1986-90 4 64 146 2.28
Eric Mobley Pittsburgh 1991-94 3 53 119 2.25
Constantin Popa Miami 1991-95 4 72 160 2.22
Conrad McRae Syracuse 1989-93 4 60 133 2.22
JOSH BOONE Connecticut 2003- 2 31 66 2.13
Ed Pinckney Villanova 1981-85 4 61 129 2.11
Jeremy McNeil Syracuse 2000-04 4 60 121 2.01
Kareem Shabazz Providence 1999-01 2 32 64 2.00
Dan Schayes Syracuse 1979-81 2 20 40 2.00
Tim James Miami 1995-99 4 72 144 2.00
Mike Sweetney Georgetown 2000- 3 48 93 1.94
RANDALL HANKE Providence 2004- 1 15 29 1.93
Atilla Cosby Pittsburgh 1997-99 2 35 66 1.88
Tom Greis Villanova 1986-90 4 64 115 1.80
2004-05 Josh Boone (Connecticut)
2003-04 Emeka Okafor (Connecticut)
2002-03 Emeka Okafor (Connecticut)
2001-02 John Linehan (Providence)
2000-01 John Linehan (Providence)
1999-00 Etan Thomas (Syracuse)
1998-99 Etan Thomas (Syracuse)
1997-98 Damian Owens (West Virginia)
1996-97 Jason Lawson (Villanova)
1995-96 Allen Iverson (Georgetown)
1994-95 Allen Iverson (Georgetown)
1993-94 Donyell Marshall (Connecticut)
1992-93 Jerry Walker (Seton Hall)
1991-92 Alonzo Mourning (Georgetown)
1990-91 Dikembe Mutombo (Georgetown)
1989-90 Dikembe Mutombo (Georgetown)
Alonzo Mourning (Georgetown)
1988-89 Alonzo Mourning (Georgetown)
1987-88 Gary Massey (Villanova)
1986-87 Mark Jackson (St. John’s)
1985-86 Harold Pressley (Villanova)
1984-85 Patrick Ewing (Georgetown)
1983-84 Patrick Ewing (Georgetown)
1982-83 Patrick Ewing (Georgetown)
1981-82 Patrick Ewing (Georgetown)
First, in the blks per game list, even if we inflate HA's stats by giving him credit for 3.1 blks/game for his career instead of just senior year, he falls much closer to Jason Lawson, Rouben Boumtje Boumtje, and D'or Fischer, than Okafor, Mourning, and Etan Thomas. In other words, while the totals look good in college, plenty of players have accomplished it and haven't amounted to jack.
Second, while some of the D players of the year in the late 80s and early 90s look impressive, they were concensus top players, most were #1 picks except for Mutombo who refused to play for some of the 1-3 teams and went #4 (though LJ may have gone #1 anyway). However, besides concensus top players, the rest of the list is comprised of Jason Lawson, Damien Owens, Etan Thomas, John Linehan, and Josh Boone. That's not impressive at all.
Some of those players are guards and you can't really compare to Armstrong, but everyone knows about Boone and Lawson is certainly very similar, except he's one inch taller and 5 pounds heavier.
Jason L. Lawson
Position: C
Height: 6' 11'' Weight: 240
"Despite this NBA scouts still see a lot of potential in the 6-11 Lawson, who has beenan excellent shot blocker (3.0 bpg)."
http://www.databasebasketball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=LAWSOJA01
"Posted career averages of 11.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.87 blocked shots per game. Started in 131 consecutive games in his four-year career. Named Big East Defensive Player of the Year as a senior after recording 105 blocked shots, setting a Villanova single-season record. "
http://www.nba.com/dleague/players/jason_lawson.html
Has long arms to block shots and get rebounds but needs more strength and better moves around the basket. He was the Big East defensive player of the year and is a very hard worker but is not a scorer.
http://www.sandlotshrink.com/bkbcollege.htm
