2025-26 Preseason Practice | Page 4 | Syracusefan.com

2025-26 Preseason Practice

Betsey is interesting as a prospect and as a player.

He came out of high school in the 2024 class ranked 45th overall. Sometimes rankings are wrong (nobody remembers Benny Williams, do they?), but sometimes players just take a while to live up to their rankings.

His high school rankings were for a 6'8" 185 lb wing player with guard skills and a very nice looking 3 point form. As recently as September 2023, ESPN had Betsey listed as a 6'6" 185 small forward. Several others had him at 6'8, but agreed he was 185.

I have mentioned this before, but Betsey was listed at 225 as a true freshman at Cincinnati before last season. The accuracy of heights and weights taken anywhere but the NBA combine are extremely suspect, but let's just say Betsey gained 40 lbs in a little more than a year. Looking at his highlights from high school and Cincinnati, he definitely gained a ton of weight. Maybe 40 lbs, it's hard to guess on a 6'8" guy.

That kind of weight gain will definitely affect your game. He looked slower and less explosive.

Fast forward a year, he's still listed at 225 lbs, and had a summer working with Rob Harris, who looks like he can scare a herd of cows into fine condition.

I think Betsey is going to look like the full grown version of that skinny kid from 2023 this year. Athletic, long limbed, agile and skilled, but now strong enough to defend power forwards in the post. He's going to sub in at both the 3 and 4, giving us a shooting and dribble penetration threat from the bench.

I think Betsey will be at least a regular on the floor, having averaged 12 minutes with Cincinnati, he's primed for a sophomore leap.
 
Last edited:
The problem for him is being stuck behind Donnie. Hate to be that guy, but maybe he forces Autry to go small to get them both on the court. I’ve heard Kingz is the real deal too. He’s going to command a lot of minutes.
Go small? He is 6’8” Donnie is 6’10”
 
Go small? He is 6’8” Donnie is 6’10”
Can't remember which thread but I think either Bulldog04 or CuseMan4 mentioned when they saw Donnie and Sadiq in person (at a football game maybe?) that Sadiq was actually taller than Donnie.

Donnie and Sadiq are listed on the roster at 6'9, and Donnie looks to be a legit 6'9. So if Sadiq is an inch or two taller that's crazy.
 
Go small? He is 6’8” Donnie is 6’10”
Most top teams have guys that are both taller and heavier. It's hard to guard a guy who is a couple inches taller and twenty pounds heavier.

I think this team is going to be great, but I also fear a really good season is going to be cut short in March because we only have 6'9 230-240 lb centers.

Diawara might be a solution for this problem, but I wouldn't count on it
 

The one thing I always look for in these photos or videos are players in a defensive stance? Most of the time they appear to be too high. They need to get their butts down. The offensive players always appear to have an advantage. It’s picky, but important.
 
I’m going to need a Facebook for this team. Outside of Donnie, JJ and Kiyan I can’t keep them all straight
A definite work in progress for me. I have them all down when they are standing still, I think.

But if it's practice clips, I sometimes need to watch three times to be sure.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
174,540
Messages
5,167,191
Members
6,139
Latest member
Cusebanwago

Online statistics

Members online
223
Guests online
2,953
Total visitors
3,176


...
Top Bottom