I'm not asking who will be our best player of the four. Just who will make the most improvement. Tough call since they all look good . But if I have to choose , I'd guess Ron Harper Jr....A year in the strength and conditioning program will really help him. Next to Harper I think Myles Johnson will really begin to blossom . I really like his potential.
Of the Current Freshman , who will make the biggest jump next year?
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The answer should be the player that becomes a consistent double digit scorer.Sports are results oriented and plenty of Rutgers players had potential but lacked consistent improvement.The won/loss record was the end result.
I think Johnson might make the biggest jump. He'll be entering his third year, with a full year of games under his belt. The biggest thing he needs to work on is to use his arms less to play defense and to avoid picking up fouls - which comes with experience and game reps. With more guards threatening the perimeter, there may be less clutter in the middle to get him the ball and for him to go to work.
Harper's another possibility - an offseason of practice and S&C should do him a lot of good, as well as time to break down a season's worth of game film. He's a very smart player, and having reps (and having time to look at areas to improve) should also go a long way.
Harper's another possibility - an offseason of practice and S&C should do him a lot of good, as well as time to break down a season's worth of game film. He's a very smart player, and having reps (and having time to look at areas to improve) should also go a long way.
I think a lot of this is a guess. I'll take an educated guess. I know he is a big man so the shape of the learning curve is different for him vs. others.
Right now Myles Johnson belongs in a rotation of a B1G team. I am guessing he wasn't remotely close 15-18 months ago. Something behind the scenes most have occurred for him to improve.
Another year of S&C will hopefully make him tougher and the addition of an outside shot can be the differentiator on what he can be in a half court offense.
I'll vote him.
Right now Myles Johnson belongs in a rotation of a B1G team. I am guessing he wasn't remotely close 15-18 months ago. Something behind the scenes most have occurred for him to improve.
Another year of S&C will hopefully make him tougher and the addition of an outside shot can be the differentiator on what he can be in a half court offense.
I'll vote him.
Wait... sports are results oriented? Someone let the team know!
I agree that both Harper and Myles would be likely to improve the most.
But that’s also because McConnell and Mathis have already improved so much during this year.
In the case of Mathis, he has to fix the rotation on his shot, unless he expects to be the first knuckleballer in the NBA.
But that’s also because McConnell and Mathis have already improved so much during this year.
In the case of Mathis, he has to fix the rotation on his shot, unless he expects to be the first knuckleballer in the NBA.
I'll go with Mathis. I think he has the biggest upside of the freshman as there is a bigger gap between his physical ability (which is more than the other freshmen) and his current skill level (which is still pretty good). If he develops a knockdown mid-range jump shot, better passing, and improved decision making, he could be on his way to making all-BIG.
Some of them are at different levels currently(higher than the other), so ceilings and floors are different.
I think the biggest increase will be Johnson and Harper.
Johnson has not yet reached his peak fitness level. He is a very smart kid as well, and I am sure he can spot a trend. I believe he will come back next year and will shoot a three here and there.
Harper ceiling is not yet reached. His drive is becoming a lot stronger now. Once his shot is dialed in, watch out. Confidence is not lacking, and many shots are awkwardly close.
Lots of potential on this team.
I think the biggest increase will be Johnson and Harper.
Johnson has not yet reached his peak fitness level. He is a very smart kid as well, and I am sure he can spot a trend. I believe he will come back next year and will shoot a three here and there.
Harper ceiling is not yet reached. His drive is becoming a lot stronger now. Once his shot is dialed in, watch out. Confidence is not lacking, and many shots are awkwardly close.
Lots of potential on this team.
Harper has the most room to improve his body with strength and conditioning so he could look much different physically which translates to a better player on the court. Another reason Harper has room to improve is that he was recruited as a lights out 3 point sniper and hasn't shot the 3 all that well this season. If he finds his shot next season and the threes start falling we could see some monster games when he gets hot.
He did have a recent stretch where he was shooting like 40% from 3 in conference games. I get the feeling that once the switch flips with him, he may go off and be really good.
lmao no one in this thread said he is out of shape. You are only seeing what you want to see. Delusional
Delusional? What are you blind? Three people said it in this thread alone. They've been saying it since he was in HS and all season.
This thread is exactly why this program is rising
We have FOUR frosh and redahirt Doucoure that becomes soph that all have a lot of growth in them from what we see from them on the court.
Through in young and Mulchay and their growth ...the program is legit on the rise
We have FOUR frosh and redahirt Doucoure that becomes soph that all have a lot of growth in them from what we see from them on the court.
Through in young and Mulchay and their growth ...the program is legit on the rise
It's nice there is a legit debate. You could make a case for any of them.
I think Mathis. If he can start finishing more consistently, we see a big jump from him. He misses A LOT when he penetrates.
I think Mathis. If he can start finishing more consistently, we see a big jump from him. He misses A LOT when he penetrates.
I agree . If he improves his outside shot and gets stronger he will be a much better scorer and much improved post defender.....
I don't know about Doucore? He doesn't belong in the conversation. But the freshman plus Johnson are all phenomenal. Johnson could develop into one of the strongest centers in the Big 10. He needs to understand his positioning and use the glass more but he will. His ceiling is very high; higher than any Center that's been here in the last 30 years and it's not even close. Mathis could also become a superstar and Ron Harper is going to be great. And don't forget about Caleb. I did'nt like what i saw initially but he's grown to be one of my favorite players on the team. He's got a sweet jump shot and his defense is incredible for a freshman.
If people aren't pumped about the future of this program; i don't know what you're watching?
If people aren't pumped about the future of this program; i don't know what you're watching?
Spot on--that's why it's such an interesting question. We have four freshman players all of whom look to have great potential to truly impact this program. And you can see their level of confidence rising with each game--no fear, no intimidation and the talent to back it up. Renew or get your season tickets guys !!! It's going to be an exciting next few years and this fan base is desperate for that to happen.
The media has preseason and the B1G rankings during the season.Its easy to know what is happening but some fans prefer silence.
People say the same thing about Zion Williamson. Some guys just don't look the part.. look like they could go the wrong way on the scale very easily. I do like Harper's game.. hope he goes gym rat in the offseason. I think his upside is entirely up to him.
I was and still am laughing at the Harper needs to redshirt he's too fat and out of shape comments all preseason. That doesn't mean he can't clearly benefit from a season of strength and conditioning. Arguing against that is pretty ridiculous
I'm not arguing that he can't benefit from S&C, obviously everyone can. I just keep seeing him being singled out because of his body type rather than his play. I see a kid is big and strong enough to play as a frosh and doesn't seem to have conditioning issues. Just makes me laugh that people keep bringing it up when its not an issue.
Everyone on the team has areas that they need to improve, this is not high on his list imo.
But it should be if his list is how to become the best. He's a talented workhorse, no doubt. But maybe he'd be better as a perfectly conditioned thoroughbred. He's clearly not "out-of-shape'.. but he probably knows he had room to improve in S&C and that if anything is on his list, that should be there.
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funny you should word it this way, if we look at Harpers "breeding", he has a talented papa, so
he has that going for him, as it goes with horses
that said, I would love it to be Johnson, because a really good center can help a team so much
I don't see a single person in this thread that said Harper was out of shape. Several said that he'll benefit from S&C - which he will. You seem to want to equate "will benefit from S&C" with "is out of shape", and those are two very different things.
What a fun question. My guess is Mathis. He’s only scratched the surface of his abilities this year and will benefit greatly from Mulcahy and Young who will look to push more.
No way he’s out of shape. He’s just a big body and strong as hell. My guess is conditioning for a full off season will put him in a different gear. He can drive coast to coast, post up on anyone and pop the three. I wouldn’t be surprised if he turns into an NBA prospect! He’s got the strength and he needs work but his father was a really good pro so nothing would shock me.
I think all of our kids will make big jumps because they're no longer freshmen. But with that said, I think Myles without Doorson there, can make the biggest jump. He has a really good feel around the basket.
I know one thing. Johnson is the one that we NEED to improve the most because there will be less room for error for him with Shaq Doorson out of the picture unless some other big time big man materializes in the off season. The offensive ability is there but his post defense needs to get markedly better.
