Which MU players surprised you by making it to the league?
Which MU players were you sure were going to make it, but didn't?

For me, the most obvious is Juan.  I did not see that one coming.   To a lesser degree, Sam and Wesley.   Wesley's longevity impressed me the most.   I did not think Sam was quick enough.   Oops.

I cannot think of a single MU player I was sure was destined for the league that didn't make it.

Ners.

I'd say Cain, Buycks, and Juan are three that come to mind. Their best basketball days all came after MU.

Though the way the G League is structured now as a minor league, 10 day contracts, etc., "making it to the league" isn't the same as it once was, so I guess there should be less surprises.

Quote from: tower912 on Today at 02:42:10 PMWhich MU players surprised you by making it to the league?

Juan, Amal McCaskill, Chris Crawford

Quote from: tower912 on Today at 02:42:10 PMWhich MU players were you sure were going to make it, but didn't?

By "make it" do you mean play a single minute? Maybe Roney Eford. I thought Jeronne Maymon could have done something when he left Tennessee.

But I thought Jerel would get more than six total NBA minutes.

Fair.  Around half of NBA players spend tine in the G league.

And thanks for the Cain call.  Shame on me for forgetting him.

Quote from: The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole on Today at 02:58:11 PMJuan, Amal McCaskill, Chris Crawford


By "make it" do you mean play a single minute? Maybe Roney Eford. I thought Jeronne Maymon could have done something when he left Tennessee.

But I thought Jerel would get more than six total NBA minutes.

Quote from: The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole on Today at 02:58:11 PMBut I thought Jerel would get more than six total NBA minutes.

Jerel didn't surprise for the same reason DJO didn't surprise me.  There are very few 6'2 shooting guards in the league.

Looking forward to watching Ramsey @ NBA

Henry being as bad as he was shocked me.

With DJO I thought his speed and range would get him farther than 6.5min of terrible stats.

Shocked Markus actually had decent numbers when he got long runs.

Shocked Oso has logged a minute, no range, a bit undersized, sure he can put it on the floor but he doesn't initiate contact well.

Surprised didn't make the NBA (at all):
D. James
J. Lewis
*I think both can be categorized due to unexpected injuries

Surprised didn't have a longer tenure in the NBA:
L. Hayward
V. Blue
H. Ellenson
M. Howard

Surprised made the NBA at all (and had long career):
J. Butler (just based on college trajectory)
J. Anderson (same)
S. Hauser (athleticism)

Sam being a player in the NBA doesn't surprise me.  I think he gets labeled as unathletic unfairly.  I actually never got that sense when he was here.  Quick release, got to his spots in rhythm and to the spot to get rebounds.  Yes, he's not a great defender but those other skills play quite well at the next level.

His brother, on the other hand, was none of those things, though I think he lost some of that from his injury and being a college student.

Projecting to the NBA is a tricky thing.  Lots of guys look the part in college but simply don't fit in the league.  And this goes back to the beginning of the NBA.

Guys that surprise us are sometimes a surprise because they weren't developed, such as Jamal, or are late bloomers, such as Juan.

Finally, we don't know a lot of these guys personally and it takes an attitude and desire to make the league and stay in the league.  I think we underestimate this "intangible" across all sports.

Sam's UVA anyway.

Juan for sure. Buycks and Crawford, too.

Sam making it in the league didn't surprise me at all. He is elite in a skill the NBA values highly. And he has good instincts in other parts of the game.

As others said, I thought Henry would find a role long-term.

The more I watched Henry in the G league, the more I doubted he would make it to the NBA.

Quote from: tower912 on Today at 08:55:09 PMThe more I watched Henry in the G league, the more I doubted he would make it to the NBA.

When I listed him I meant more like when he was drafted.