Tidbits on Alexis Wangmene and Damion James

by Barking Carnival Staff on May 16, 2009 11:20 AM CDT in Texas Longhorns and Other Basketball

As reported by texassports.com, Alexis Wangmene has been granted a medical hardship waiver from the conference making him the power forward from Cameroon a redshirt sophomore next season. This outstanding news considering the steep learning curve Wangmene showed over the course of his freshman year. Alexis' bread is buttered on the defensive end as well as on the glass given his size, length, and athleticism. Even more encouraging was his offensive play towards the end of the 2008 season, when the freshman displayed a nice turnaround jumper and midrange game to go along with athletic power post moves around the basket.

On a macro level, Wangmene is such a dynamic defensive player that he adds some elements that Texas was sorely lacking last season, which was the ability to guard big athletic power forwards like Dante Cunningham and Blake Griffin with his quick feet and tremendous length. Alexis is strong enough to hold out back to the basket posts and not get shoved under the bucket (see Chapman), yet he's quick enough to play face up forwards 15 feet and in. Something that Pittman struggles with.

Alexis also becomes Texas' only candidate to be a competent weakside shot blocker or eraser on dribble penetration. The latter shot blocking attribute is huge for a team like the 2009 Horns who will most likely pressure the perimeter guys like Bradley, Balbay, and Hamilton, and invite dribble penetration as the only means to defeat pressure.

The extra year of eligibility is also huge because Wangmene is your prototypical 5 year player, in the mold of Klotz and Atchley, in that he's just scratched the surface of how good he can be. Kid will be a defensive monster right away, and a dynamic offensive player by the time he's a senior. Again, great news.

Moving on to Damion James, who is perhaps the key to Texas' prospective National Championship run, I found the last blurb of Mark Rosner's update on the James at the NBA Combine very interesting.

During the week, James has focused on finishing the spring semester of school.

Kids have a hard enough time going to class as it is, much less kids that are rationalizing their decision to make the jump to the NBA. Granted, it's prudent for James to keep his options open by making sure his grades are in order, but the academic effort with things like agents, combines, and draft camps looming, is a good sign in my opinion.

Alexis and James in the fold will give the Horns one of the best frontcourts in the nation to go along with true center Dex Pittman. James can play some 4 alongside Wangmene if the Horns want to go small to combat teams with small, athletic frontcourts like 2008-2009 Villanova, Memphis, or even Kansas. Slide James to the 3 in a frontcourt that includes Wangmene and Pittman if you want to counter bigger frontcourts. What a terror a combination of James and Wangmene would be on the offensive glass attacking defenses that have sold their sole to stop Pittman in the post. Nasty. I can't wait.

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Trips, I would imagine that James hitting the books is as much a commitment to Barnes and the UT APR as it is keeping all options open.

I was over at Hoops World, because a friend of mine now is a writer over there, and their latest draft projections, among four first rounds, had only one listing James, and with the last pick.

I would understand if James hit the door, just because I doubt that he thought of himself as a four-year player when he signed. He has enough physical talent to entice some team, I suppose.

I’m a little selfish, though, as a fan. I wonder when Barnes is going to be able to wring every legitimate pre-jump drop out of some of these uber talents that he recruits.

As for Wangmene, I guess I’ll never be a good scout. I’ve just not seen enough of him to be as positive about him.

I agree he would that he will benefit from five years on campus, that it’ll be good that he won’t be expected to play a ton next season, and that he could be a weakside shot-blocker like Atchley was in 2008.

by Bob in Houston on May 16, 2009 12:05 PM CDT reply actions

Bob,

I am between you and Trips on Wangmene. Defensively, he has NBA caliber shot blocking and Defensive skills. He can rebound out of his area.

On his offensive skills, he needs game minutes badly. He has some skills (a nice jump hook, a turnaround jumper with a little touch), but they are not game ready (much like Dexter’s interior skills at the beginning of the season and what I believe we will see from his perimeter jumper next season). Also, I believe he has the skills necessary, but just lacks confidence to show them in a game. Unlike, Damian James’s ball handling where he does not have the skill and he has to fashion the ability out of practice and repetition.

Only game minutes will give him the confidence to display these consistently.

by The General on May 16, 2009 12:57 PM CDT reply actions

I had a class with James this year and he came every day. He wore sunglasses and headphones, but he still showed up to a class that pretty much everyone else skipped 5 or 6 times.

by BOC on May 16, 2009 2:41 PM CDT reply actions

Tidbits? Seriously? What are you utx?

That aside great stuff.

by Minnesotahorn on May 16, 2009 3:51 PM CDT reply actions

Nit picky but Cunningham is not a big PF at all…great work though.

Hope Damion comes back, he’s not close to ready for the League (though he may never be). If he does return, Wang gets completely healthy and back in form, and J’Covan gets on the team, we are a favorite to make it to the Final Four easily.

by GoHornsGo90 on May 16, 2009 5:39 PM CDT reply actions

Wang is set on the defensive side and on offense he needs reps and a little time, he appears stronger to me which will make him tougher on the off.boards.
Wang has a nice little drop step but he needs to go to the drop step hard and quick with strength.The 15 footer is nice and the form is there add that to his jump hook = 6-9 points on limited shots, 5-7 rebounds per game. He is going to surprise some people.He also runs well.
Wang will be better then Klotz/Atchley even if you combine them. Wang is going to have a good year and as a JR. he will be outstanding.

Does anyone know how the Final 4 tickets where handled for 2003 or will I have to start looking right now.

by SkyMonkeyHorn on May 16, 2009 9:28 PM CDT reply actions

Damion received 2 academic awards at the recognition banquet on 21 April. One was for having the highest GPA on the basketball team.

by torre on May 17, 2009 10:47 AM CDT reply actions

Looks like a very cluttered team, a good problem to have after last year’s shortages. If the players buy into the team mentality and don’t sulk about playing time then this will be a special team.

As a third or fourth offensive option Damion is absolutely devastating around the rim. Guys like Balbay and Ward will likely see a large dropoff in playing time but can be the guys that come in and finish off the opposition’s second teamers.

I fully expect Barnes to push the pace and run teams out of the gym, none of that grind-it-out slowdown ball we have to resort to with our less talented teams. I’m more than ready for hundred point games like we had with TJ running the show. This team won’t have the experience of that one, but is more athletic and deep.

Here’s to hoping that we will push the pace and play with a lot of movement.

by EggNog on May 17, 2009 9:50 PM CDT reply actions

Wangmene has shown me great form at the charity stripe. Considering his hard nose play, he should be able to get to the line with some consistency.

by Jimmer on May 19, 2009 12:21 PM CDT reply actions

“sold their sole”

Sole = something on the bottom of a foot. Or a type of fish. Are they fish mongers?

by bigdukesix on May 20, 2009 7:10 PM CDT reply actions

This team will have an embarassment of — riches? — if Damion comes back. Wang, DJ, GJ, Pitt, the incoming class, etc. No super blues except for the new guys but outrageous, effective depth.

by jimmyjazz on May 23, 2009 1:27 AM CDT reply actions

This team will have an embarassment of — riches? — if Damion comes back. Wang, DJ, GJ, Pitt, the incoming class, etc. No super blues except for the new guys but outrageous, effective depth.

by jimmyjazz on May 23, 2009 1:27 AM CDT reply actions