Is it probable our incoming freshman

[RF2044]

The guy dunks and catches lobs off no steps at 6'8 all the time? That's being athletic and bouncy. He's constantly leaping high to block opponents shots. Last night he guarded and held a skilled 7-footer who averaged 18 points a game to ZERO points. Brown didn't do that against a bigger man without having strength, athleticism, elite-level defensive instincts and tenacity - all desirable skills in the NBA.

Maliq isn't asked to score from outside of the paint in this offense so he rarely does. But the fact that he's a solid free throw shooter with good form demonstrates that he CAN shoot from at least 15 ft in, he just isn't asked to right now.

A smart athletic player who rarely makes mistakes, impacts winning and defends at high level can make a living in the NBA for a long time - see Taj Gibson.

I compare Maliq to CJ Fair as a sophomore [I get that they play different positions, but are similar in terms of having an exceptional feel for the game / unusually high hoops IQ]. Both play within themselves, don't force, don't try to do too much, and generally make the right play and are in the right place at the right time.

CJ's sophomore year, there were several posters insisting that he couldn't score / shoot outside of 10 feet. Then his junior year, he shifted into the starting lineup, proved to be an outstanding mid-range shooter, and shot ~50% from three point range.

I'd expect that Maliq is similar in the sense that he CAN hit jump shots, but plays within himself. Now that he's getting established [and it's important to note that he's still a sophomore], he's earned the green light to take those shots if they are there. But unlike Benny -- just for example -- he doesn't take many, because he plays within the structure of the team's offense and doesn't "force."

 

[Grbac]

The guy dunks and catches lobs off no steps at 6'8 all the time? That's being athletic and bouncy. He's constantly leaping high to block opponents shots. Last night he guarded and held a skilled 7-footer who averaged 18 points a game to ZERO points. Brown didn't do that against a bigger man without having strength, athleticism, elite-level defensive instincts and tenacity - all desirable skills in the NBA.

Maliq isn't asked to score from outside of the paint in this offense so he rarely does. But the fact that he's a solid free throw shooter with good form demonstrates that he CAN shoot from at least 15 ft in, he just isn't asked to right now.

A smart athletic player who rarely makes mistakes, impacts winning and defends at high level can make a living in the NBA for a long time - see Taj Gibson.

In the 80’s and 90’s Brown would be an NBA prospect. In todays NBA he is not. The NBA doesn’t have 6’8 power forwards that live in the paint anymore.
You have to be super long, super athletic, and shoot the 3.
Brown has great defensive instincts and can do great against other college fowards. He would get eaten alive by NBA forwards and centers.

 

[Sbucketball]

Elijah Moore and Donnie Freeman will have big roles next year, and I think it's very possible Donnie starts at the 4 and Moore comes off the bench but plays important minutes. I'm thrilled about both of them and it's the perfect recruiting style for today's game -- low quantity but high quality; ready for immediate impact.

However, I hope the gameplan isn't to rely heavily on freshmen (and not the Melo type of freshmen) and cross our fingers that they'll be ready immediately. Red needs to get a wing and a center from the portal who can do everything, including shoot, in order to balance the load.

 

[boog7]

In the 80’s and 90’s Brown would be an NBA prospect. In todays NBA he is not. The NBA doesn’t have 6’8 power forwards that live in the paint anymore.
You have to be super long, super athletic, and shoot the 3.
Brown has great defensive instincts and can do great against other college fowards. He would get eaten alive by NBA forwards and centers.

He lives in the paint at SU because he's essentially playing out of position. But based on the limited times he's shot from outside and based on the form of his shot at the free throw line, there are indications that Maliq can shoot. And he still has two years to prove that he can.

But what I see in Maliq and why I'm speculating that he can develop into a NBA player are all the intangibles in his game - the deflections, the steals, the post passing, the footwork, the rebounding, and just the overall high basketball IQ and natural feel for the game that he repeatedly demonstrates. He makes winning plays now as a college soph playing out of position. As he gets stronger, matures and expands his offensive repertoire, I can see a defensive minded Coach like Thibs wanting Brown as a second unit "glue guy" type. Will he be a lottery pick? No. But I can see him developing to the point where he makes a NBA roster and becomes a glue guy that sticks.

 

[MikeSU02]

will be the two best players on the team next year?
Does the recruiting success of HCFB indicate to us that HCAA should move on from one of his assistants and bring in a proven, great recruiter, or does the incoming class give hope that he can recruit at a high level?

Maliq by a country mile.

 

[two3zone]

I’ve stopped having expectations for freshman. 9-10 seemingly forget how to play basketball when they get here.

 

[5OutFred]

A few questions to pose at the '24-'25 team for sake of exercise, in what will be a fascinating case of roster development, given Red had two years of evaluating this massive soph class and where he wants to take the program:

- Who departs (Carey, Taylor, Benny)? Bell? The numbers will work themselves out

- Is Copeland the guy at PG? and/ or does Red try to bring in a high - level PG transfer (See: Malik Mack)

- Does Red go outside for a transfer big to pair with Brown and Freeman (see: JP Estrella)

Thoughts?

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

Maliq Brown will be our best player assuming he doesn't go pro. Freeman is good though. Moore has a chance to be our best shooter.

The Westry discussion is nuts. He shot 31% from the field when he did play last year. We aren't even sure he's better than the guys playing now.

Go pro? Can’t make a NBA living at his size shooting from the paint. He is a nice college player.

 

[djcon57]

Go pro? Can’t make a NBA living at his size shooting from the paint. He is a nice college player.

His shot from range looks nice to me when he tries a 3. Just because he doesn't take it often doesn't mean he can't make it. I would expect him to add that into his game in the next 2 years

 

[CuseFaninVT]

His shot from range looks nice to me when he tries a 3. Just because he doesn't take it often doesn't mean he can't make it. I would expect him to add that into his game in the next 2 years

Can’t be done. Jerami Grant proved that. Right???

 

[DilemaCuse]

will be the two best players on the team next year?
Does the recruiting success of HCFB indicate to us that HCAA should move on from one of his assistants and bring in a proven, great recruiter, or does the incoming class give hope that he can recruit at a high level?

Possibly but not likely. Although I think if Moore is the shooter we think he is he could push guys and cut into minutes of JJ, Bell, Taylor etc. similarly Freeman as a forward could affect Benny, Bell, Taylor.
I don't think the football side has any bearing on staff changes for the basketball side. I think Straughn was brought in for his recruiting ability.

 

[DilemaCuse]

I think Brown and Cope will be our best players. Westry has a shot also.

Westry will have a lot of rust to scrape off

 

[kingtidge]

Maliq Brown will be our best player assuming he doesn't go pro. Freeman is good though. Moore has a chance to be our best shooter.

The Westry discussion is nuts. He shot 31% from the field when he did play last year. We aren't even sure he's better than the guys playing now.

Based on the recent buzz I've seen on X and his prep team games, the numbers he's putting, etc... he's having a breakout year and lots of chat about him getting re-evaled from a 4 to 5-star player by the recruiting sites by season's end.

Looks like a man among boys...

I think he will be a standout player for us by his sophmore season at least (if not sooner).

 

[Hopkins16]

I think next year's team will be really good and much better than the current team. The core players should be: Maliq, Freeman, McLeod, Bell and Taylor on the back line. In the front, Copeland, Starling, Choppa and Cuffe.

If Westry, and one of Hima or Patterson can give us a few solid minutes, that would be great. Perhaps even a transfer forward/center (Estrella?).

 

[NorSyr66]

Data is from Cerebro Sports | Revolutionizing basketball recruiting its a bit of a pain to calculate since they dont give exact numbers just games played, 3 pointers made, and percent so you have to do a bit of math. From my count, Taylor was 23/109(21.1%) and Bell was 71/226(31.4%).

...and I assume the numbers for Moore come from this same source?

 

[CuseMan4]

I think next year's team will be really good and much better than the current team. The core players should be: Maliq, Freeman, McLeod, Bell and Taylor on the back line. In the front, Copeland, Starling, Choppa and Cuffe.

If Westry, and one of Hima or Patterson can give us a few solid minutes, that would be great. Perhaps even a transfer forward/center (Estrella?).

Ehhhh we aren’t gonna win any big games with Bell and Taylor being main guys.

Next years core should be Maliq, Copeland, Westry, Freeman, Starling, Benny, Bell and Moore (shooting purposes) those should be the main guys. I think we add a starting center in the portal and another shooter that can also take his guy off the dribble. McLeod gets spot minutes as the back up center, Patterson still takes some time to develop and Cuffe gets spot minutes in the guard rotation.

But our main guys should be: Starling, Westry, Copeland, Brown, Benny, Freeman, Moore, Bell, Transfer starting center…that should be the rotation next year barring nothing crazy happens

I would be fine moving on from Carey, Taylor, Hima and Mintz goes into the NBA

 

[DilemaCuse]

Ehhhh we aren’t gonna win any big games with Bell and Taylor being main guys.

Next years core should be Maliq, Copeland, Westry, Freeman, Starling, Benny, Bell and Moore (shooting purposes) those should be the main guys. I think we add a starting center in the portal and another shooter that can also take his guy off the dribble. McLeod gets spot minutes as the back up center, Patterson still takes some time to develop and Cuffe gets spot minutes in the guard rotation.

But our main guys should be: Starling, Westry, Copeland, Brown, Benny, Freeman, Moore, Bell, Transfer starting center…that should be the rotation next year barring nothing crazy happens

I would be fine moving on from Carey, Taylor, Hima and Mintz goes into the NBA

Agreed and similar to the OP, I think if we want to get back to competing for conference titles we might need to recruit over not just guys on the roster but probably a few starters and guys in the rotation. I know JB called it his best class ever but it doesn't have enough high end talents. I don't think we go into next year with Bell and Taylor starting either with them here or them having left.

 

[Sbucketball]

Ehhhh we aren’t gonna win any big games with Bell and Taylor being main guys.

Next years core should be Maliq, Copeland, Westry, Freeman, Starling, Benny, Bell and Moore (shooting purposes) those should be the main guys. I think we add a starting center in the portal and another shooter that can also take his guy off the dribble. McLeod gets spot minutes as the back up center, Patterson still takes some time to develop and Cuffe gets spot minutes in the guard rotation.

But our main guys should be: Starling, Westry, Copeland, Brown, Benny, Freeman, Moore, Bell, Transfer starting center…that should be the rotation next year barring nothing crazy happens

I would be fine moving on from Carey, Taylor, Hima and Mintz goes into the NBA

IMO, we should build around Maliq, Quadir, Westry, Starling, Freeman, and Moore (assuming Judah goes pro, or else obviously build around Judah too). Give Cuffe a good role and continue his development, and guys such as Benny, Bell, Taylor can either take a diminished role or not; unload unplayable players; get a couple stud transfers; and backfill necessary depth with the portal if the depth leaves. I don't see any reason to keep Bell's, Taylor's or Benny's spot warm for them. We need to recruit over the frontcourt except for Maliq - and Freeman's a great start.

 

[Sbucketball]

Agreed and similar to the OP, I think if we want to get back to competing for conference titles we might need to recruit over not just guys on the roster but probably a few starters and guys in the rotation. I know JB called it his best class ever but it doesn't have enough high end talents. I don't think we go into next year with Bell and Taylor starting either with them here or them having left.

Exactly. Syracuse won't be a contender while relying on Bell, Taylor, Benny or McLeod, so Red should just try to recruit over them this offseason instead of wasting another year of mediocrity. I know Red badly wants to win. I think he'll do what it takes.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

Maliq Brown will be our best player assuming he doesn't go pro. Freeman is good though. Moore has a chance to be our best shooter.

The Westry discussion is nuts. He shot 31% from the field when he did play last year. We aren't even sure he's better than the guys playing now.

in What world is brown leaving for the NBA? Dude step away from the keyboard

 

[SP_Gilbs]

...and I assume the numbers for Moore come from this same source?

Correct, Moore was 141/315 based on data from the same site.

 

[baggerbob]

Agreed and similar to the OP, I think if we want to get back to competing for conference titles we might need to recruit over not just guys on the roster but probably a few starters and guys in the rotation. I know JB called it his best class ever but it doesn't have enough high end talents. I don't think we go into next year with Bell and Taylor starting either with them here or them having left.

DC, Stevie, Duncan, Hughes, Roe, and I Think Rogers was the center was his best class. That statement by JB was dumb.

 

[Cusefan0307]

in What world is brown leaving for the NBA? Dude step away from the keyboard

Are we going to pretend guys haven’t gone pro doing less?

 

[wiCuse]

Ehhhh we aren’t gonna win any big games with Bell and Taylor being main guys.

Next years core should be Maliq, Copeland, Westry, Freeman, Starling, Benny, Bell and Moore (shooting purposes) those should be the main guys. I think we add a starting center in the portal and another shooter that can also take his guy off the dribble. McLeod gets spot minutes as the back up center, Patterson still takes some time to develop and Cuffe gets spot minutes in the guard rotation.

But our main guys should be: Starling, Westry, Copeland, Brown, Benny, Freeman, Moore, Bell, Transfer starting center…that should be the rotation next year barring nothing crazy happens

I would be fine moving on from Carey, Taylor, Hima and Mintz goes into the NBA

I always appreciate your thoughts and insight. I don't see how we win any meaningful games with Benny and Bell in our main rotation. Both are too inconsistent. I can't see Bell as more than a specialist and Benny accepting a diminished role on the bench next year. The lack of production from our forwards is not acceptable.

 

[OrangeinDC]

Exactly. Syracuse won't be a contender while relying on Bell, Taylor, Benny or McLeod, so Red should just try to recruit over them this offseason instead of wasting another year of mediocrity. I know Red badly wants to win. I think he'll do what it takes.

Wow... That's what recruits wanna see, parents want to see (NOT). That would be the worst mindset and approach of a coach IMO. So, coaches shouldn't invest, develop players and build relationships? Seriously or was this in jest? I personally would never want my kid playing for that type of coach where that's the only thing he's focused on.