A couple of thoughts on Avery Bradley and Jordan Hamilton

Is whether they’ve qualified or not public yet?

I have seen Jordan talking stuff to NBA players and then reel off 4-5 baskets to back it up during several open gyms in LA. This kid believes that he can score from any part of the court against anybody. Jordan then will do it. Keeping his interest in the game can be a problem during AAU games. But he take no shit from anybody.
Bradley does not talk much but he just rams it down your throat when he wants to score, and if someone scores on him, Avery takes it to heart to stop him as much as he can.
Both of them can and do take over games for several minutes to keep his team from losing.
Does your AAU coach know what Jordan is doing this high school BB season? I have not heard a thing about where this kid is at right now.

Hamilton isn’t playing this year because he’s out of high school eligibility. His family appealed, but they were denied. This has no effect on his college eligibility.

Sky / that’s allsome.

I keep hearing different stuff about next year. My feeling is that no way do these guys not start next year. But where do you put Lucas or Mason?

I assume our lineup will be:

PG: Lucas or best of Ward/Balbay
SG: Bradley/Mason
Wing: Hamilton/Shawn W
PF: Gary/Wang
C: Dexy/Chapman/Hill

Just an awesome choice of 12 players, I can’t imagine them all staying here.

Can they pass the ball into the post?

Gary Johnson will be the biggest beneficiary of the arrival of the 3 playmakers on the perimeter. GJ can focus on finishing instead of creating his own shot.

I agree Trips, but I have liked what I have seen from GJ on the offensive end. His ability to consistently make the shot from just a step or two inside the three point line, and especially at the free throw line extended range, is valuable. Now if he can just learn to not take that shot when he has someone inches from his face. When he has just a little space, it is a great shot.

To me, GJ has been the most improved player this season.

Hook ’em!

This is the most uplifting thing I’ve read all week. Thanks.

There’s a nice article on espn about Shawn Williams. He sounds like a solid competitor as well.

I’m not giving up on this season. I still think there’s a chance at FF if certain players return to form, and one or two of the PGs keep developing.

However, I’m drooling at the thought of the next couple of years. Amazing talent coming in to compliment some emerging stars, i.e. Dex and Gary.

Kevwun I am aware of Hamilton’s eligibility, I was wondering if Hamilton is working out with anyonein LA.
GJ has to develop a quick JAB step to create space from the defender to get his shot. The defender then will be easier to move if and when GJ drives to the rim.
Hamilton will look for his shot firt but he has a very good handle and passes very well into the post, Avery is a very complete defensive player as well as great on the offense, has not passed much into the post that I have seen. He is a slasher and burner and will jump tall buildings in a single jump when provoked to do so.
Next year maybe Barnes will let them run a little more then they do now. All the BB players that really run , like Mason, GJ, DJ, Smith, AJ, Balbay, Ward have to slow down to play in Barnes scheme or lack of schemes to earn PT. I can only hope for more tempo…

I think Barnes will let them run when dex is out of the game and Balbay is in the game. If OU is an indication, Barnes has realized he needs to let Balbay push it because that is where he is most comfortable.

I agree with the General… Pittman is the brake.

I don’t buy it. The good quick outlet is essential and that takes practise. Dex can rebound, outlet and trail for the 1/2 court offense if the 4 on whatever fails. He is also back to defend if there is a quick score which also reduces his mileage up and down the court.
I love Rick Barnes, but Roy Williams he isn’t.

I too love the uptempo game, but it is all about outlet, advancing the ball and running the floor. Just haven’t seen it like NC so do not think it is a priority in Barnes’ system.

A couple of thoughts:

1) skymonkeyhorn would be a great addition to barking carnival if you’re looking for someone. He makes it a priority to get out and see basketball players coast to coast. The great thing is that he’s a Longhorn fan, but more so he’s a fan of basketball. He never claims to be an expert, but IMO his evaluations are incredibly spot on, and he’s willing to give his opinion on a wide range of players, not just Longhorn affiliated. Anyway, just a thought. From a Longhorn perspective, I don’t think anyone has a chance of competing with Gerry Hamilton and BurntOrangeBeat, but from a layman’s perspective, I haven’t seen anyone with the depth and breadth nationwide that skymonkeyhorn has. And he’s not a complete and utter asshole like the rest of us are.

2) I still like Bradley/Hamilton’s ability to create off the bounce more than their toughness. They’re also playmakers for their teammates, which is just as important.

In addition, I like the idea that AJ Abrams will finally be gone, so the team/staff won’t even be tempted by the asinine idea of revolving the offense around him. He’s terrific at what he does, but his style of play is not one that’s going to make his teammates better. He would have been better served heading to some mid major program like VCU/Tulsa, even UH, where he would have been allowed to take over games with his perimeter shooting. I truly believe Abrams is at the heart of what is keeping this team from achieving its potential. Even though he’s a great scorer, and that’s what this team has a hard time with, if he wasn’t around the players on the floor wouldn’t be standing around so much waiting for him to do something, knowing that when he gets the ball there’s a small likelihood it’s coming out of his hands.

3) skymonkeyhorn asked who Hamilton is working out with, if anyone. The last I heard he’s actually working out with his high school team, and attending games in street clothes.

I’m not sure I’d call Abrams a scorer, much less a great one, but I understand what you’re saying. I’m surprised you didn’t mention Justin Mason becoming a shell of himself as a player because he’s forced to play lead guard most of his minutes on the floor. I’d also add the dearth of perimeter shooting this team has coupled with a lack of playmakers as another problem offensively, but that will be taken care of when Lucas, Bradley, and Hamilton arrive.

Thanks for the post.

At this stage Bradley is more of a mid range scorer than a perimeter shooter - but he’s so good at it, whatever lack of outside shooting he has doesn’t matter.