Geo Baker
- Thread starter MadRU
- Start date
As far as competition goes, if you had the top nj HS, they would beat Geo Bakers HS team by 25 points.
Just saying, competition is far less up there.
Geo Baker will help the team a lot,though.
Unlike Mike Williams in HS, Geo Baker can shot off the dribble. That means a lot. If this kid from JUCO can keep his turnovers down, Geo Baker can score 5-6 points a game and 2 assist his freshman year.
I'm sorry, but the JUCO PG signing is a head scratcher for me.
If he can limit his turnovers, its a decent pickup.Best pickup?No, but serves a purpose.
As mentioned, Geo Baker can shoot off the dribble. Thiam will be bigger next year. Williams will have his last year.
The Juco Pg has mastered the kick out to perimeter pass.
It is not the best pick up, but it is not the worst either.
I have to trust the coaching staff here. We have a need for a back up point guard to play 8-10 minutes per game. Also there has to be a contingency plan in place if Sanders goes pro.
I think Pikiell sees Mensah and says "I like the kids game a lot but I have my work set out for me in making him a better player"
He is up for the challenge and Mensah has great potential. His vision is better than anyone we have on the team now. Anyone.
I highly doubt Sanders goes pro after this year. At the next level though, athleticism is more valued than anything else. Even if the Knicks lose, fans show up to get on their feet after a KP putback. Fans in the NBA aren't lovers of the game like NCAA fans are.
That is Sanders chance. I still feel confident that he stays here.
In the game and you will see that players visions are not always great.
Baker is a shooter off the jump. Williams will be found in his spots. Thiam will be ready at this level next year with an additional 10-15 pounds.
I am not saying they will be a lethal shooting team, but Mensah has the court vision you need to find players in their spots. They will be better than this year, absolutely.
Remember, WIlliams was a touted shooter coming in. He was a touted set shooter though. Baker can contribute 5-6 points as a freshman. He will help.
Mensah will find them when they need him. His game has weaknesses, but Pikiell knows that. He is taking a risk with high reward.
The guys who dedicate themselves between April and October. Could be Thiam, could be Williams, could be Johnson, could be Laurent, could be Eugene, could be Sa, won't be Shaq.
Your response is spot on but will remain unanswered because consistent shooters aren't on the current squad.
what we have to hope is that the young guys we have can, over time, get better, esp on offensive end. Good programs have guys who their first 1-2 years don't play or do much--likely haven't earned it and doesn't put pressure on them--and then as juniors, blossom. Look at Matt Farrell at ND. Had he come here and struggled initially, we would have been on EJ and staff for taking him, esp late, that he couldn't play at this level. Obviously that is not the case at all and is the kind of player we desperately need. It may take Baker time to adjust, and that is ok, and we shouldn't write players off so quickly when they don't come in and instantly do well. Junior Etou, last I checked, is averaging almost 12 ppg and 5-6 rebounds for a Tulsa team near first place in the American.
As this is the "Geo Baker" thread, I'd imagine there's some expectation that it'd be him, at least in some part.
Relying on a freshman for that, though, isn't usually a great strategy.
Next year's "shooters" will likely be:
1. Mike Williams - Senior year, full year under Pike's system to understand where he fits in the offense
2. Issa Thiam - Sophomore year, full year of S&C to help him weather the college schedule, better understanding of the offense and his place it in. Also risk of "sophomore slump"
3. Nigel Johnson - Same comments as Williams.
4. Geo Baker - We'll see how well his HS performance translates at the next level.
Does that mean any of them will be noticeably better than what we have this year? Not really. Hoping there is some improvement, but I'd imagine we'll still primarily be looking to pound the ball inside.
Hopefully the offseason can also allow the coaches to spend some time on his shooting mechanics, too.
Thiam, Sanders and Johnson all NEED work here. Sanders and Johnson's shots mechanically are a mess and Thiam needs work with release point. These are easy fixes. Time is required.
If he comes in ready to go, Pikiell will use him and give him minutes. One is realistic, but he will be used and given a chance to contribute.
I think the staff believes there will be improvement up and down the roster if they can get a PG that can distribute the ball appropriately. Let's be clear - we are not going to be a good outside shooting team (like we saw from MD last night) for some time, but there can be a tangible difference between a Mike Williams' effectiveness catching and shooting in rhythm vs. not.
I also think Baker will exceed expectations very quickly.
I sure hope Geo can knock em down. I love Mike, but he's had 3 years to show us that he's streaky at best. I have SERIOUS doubts about Thaim. Those who think 10-15 lbs of muscle will get him on the court are mistaken. He's lost out there and well behind the curve of other B1G 2 guards.
Pro doesn't always have to mean NBA. Really hope Corey stays. Could be tremendous next year
Corey is not shooting well enough to be drafted, though he may again go through the process--why should he not? Proctor Academy seems to play largely other private schools in New England so the level of competition is dicey. But shooting is shooting. He made 5 3's in a game, and don't care if it was against St Trinians. Still going to be an upgrade to the crew that couldn't shoot straight.
Anybody know what is going on with Bullock? Last time he was mentioned, there was some talk about a medical red shirt.
TL
Anybody know what is going on with Bullock? Last time he was mentioned, there was some talk about a medical red shirt.
TL
Although Thiam's shot is much too long and slow, IMO, his lack of explosion is much more of a concern. This is a kid who i feel will only be an impact player here if he is lucky enough to grow into his body. He needs serious performance training and some biological luck. Expecting this too happen by next year is wishful thinking IMO. Hopefully progress is made in that department but the start of his junior year.
Corey could play pro but realistacally he is not developed enough skill wise to make an impact on the European circuit either. He would make up any salary he is handed by improving an earning a bigger one rather than signing a contract a year to early. Anyway, I believe he will be back. Much harder to leave when an entire team comes back than the following year when all of your friends leave.
But to be fair and , not attempting to be argumentative, but the top 5-6 teams in New jersey would defeat all the other teams in our state by 25 also
Good point. The top five teams could probably beat most high school programs in the country by 25. I have a good feeling what Geo Baker will contribute next year.
Updated new england rankings. Baker is rated ahead of some very good players
http://www.newenglandrecruitingreport.com/rankings/new-england-class-of-2017?platform=hootsuite
http://www.newenglandrecruitingreport.com/rankings/new-england-class-of-2017?platform=hootsuite
