After rewatching the Louisville game

[Henny & Coke]

and for the second time watching Fab Melo make two plays in particular: 1.) start the fast break on defense and then sprint down the court to get the ball back and jam from the Big East logo and 2.) receive inbounds pass in corner, take a dribble towards the hoop, jump, stop, and then lay it up all while twisting towards the basket (even though the shot was blocked) and then get the loose ball rebound, my mind automatically wonders how good he can be. I have not seen many (any?) players his size that are able to make such plays. I've almost never seen a man his size move as well as he does. For a 7 foot tall man, he has such great body control, athleticism, "quick twitch" muscle ability (something sought after in football for defensive line players), hand-eye coordination and even basketball insticts...to think that Fab only began playing basketball 7 years ago at the age of 14 is astounding. When he does make the occasional "dumb play" like a goaltend or simple mistake, I think people tend to forget that he has all of 7 years basketball experience, while other college players started playing basketball at what age...6? 7? Not only beginning that early, but often getting the best instruction and teaching from talented and experienced people at camps and leagues, ect. Besides the almost 2 seasons he has played for Syracuse, Fab played one year of US High School ball, a few summers of AAU camps, and a stint with the Brazil team last summer. And that's it for major basketball experience.

Take a guy like DaJuan Coleman for example. He is what, 17, 18 years old maybe? He was winning NY State Championships & getting recruiting looks his freshman year of High School, at age 14-15! So at what age must he have started playing then? And what age do they get these kids into AAU ball?

And to think, if Fab can continue to progress in his shooting range, what kind of threat could he be then? Because the guy does have decent form, as evidenced by his free throw percentage lately (and the jumpers he hit against UCONN, that I believe are not just luck). It's really been fun to watch him grow and become more comfortable playing at this level, and I still don't think he's truely showing his full ability.

It's scary to think that Coach Boeheim may not have been exaggerating when he said earlier this year about Melo, "I don't think he's 20 percent of where he'll be someday." I thought that may have been hyperbole from Coach...now, I'm not so sure.

 

[jordoo]

Fab is the best BIG MAN prospect out there right now IMO. He isn't the best big man yet but he is the best prospect and has the ability and potential to be able to do the most things on a bball court.

It seems I see him do one or two things a game that make me have the reaction that you do.

 

[tbonezone]

i think one big key to fab's development (or any of our bigs for that matter) is the quality of the competition they face down low in practice. something we've lacked in years past. fab's battling the likes of r.jax,rak and the mooseman.

 

[LennX6]

It's scary to think that Coach Boeheim may not have been exaggerating when he said earlier this year about Melo, "I don't think he's 20 percent of where he'll be someday." I thought that may have been hyperbole from Coach...now, I'm not so sure.

He came back from the 3 games off a different player.

 

[rstone7727]

By the end of the year Fab will be ready to sign on the dotted line. There are only so many 7 footers that can run the floor and can catch the ball, let along toss up a 10 footer and block a few shots. Enjoy him this year because he won't be here next year.

 

[sufandu]

Fab's definitely the big man with the highest potential that we've had here. It's too bad we won't get to see him close to where he'll eventually be. It is a bit of hyperbole to suggest he's the most athletic 7 footer ever though. David Robinson could've played the 3 if he had come along a decade later. Early in his career Kevin Garnett described himself as 6 foot 12 because he didn't want to say he was 7 feet for fear that he'd be lumped in with back to the basket centers. And although he may not appear as smooth, Drummond jumps higher and runs at least as fast as Melo carrying 25 lbs more muscle. He was abusing Melo early in the second half of our game until he rolled his ankle. I'm not trying to rip him apart. Just giving a little perspective. I hope we get to see him for one more year.

 

[HarrisonJBounel]

Fab is the best BIG MAN prospect out there right now IMO. He isn't the best big man yet but he is the best prospect and has the ability and potential to be able to do the most things on a bball court.

It seems I see him do one or two things a game that make me have the reaction that you do.

It depends how one defines "prospect". I like Melo, but to be objective, I'd rather have Anthony Davis. Just sayin'.

 

[pfister1]

i think one big key to fab's development (or any of our bigs for that matter) is the quality of the competition they face down low in practice. something we've lacked in years past. fab's battling the likes of r.jax,rak and the mooseman.

What? No respect for Sean Williams? I bet if you asked DC he'd tell you Erik Rogers was a handful down low... eerr maybe it would be Bernie that would tell you that.

 

[All4SU]

Rony Seikaly was a heck of an athlete too.

 

[HarrisonJBounel]

Rony Seikaly was a heck of an athlete too.

His recruitment and subsequent in retrospect was a huge step up for our program. He was the first legit big man we ever had, and arguably still our best. And a program has to have legit big men to go deep in the Dance.

 

[stuckinbig11]

Rony and Roosevelt.

 

[All4SU]

Yeah, I'd have to say Rosie Bouie was the first legit big man.

 

[pfister1]

His recruitment and subsequent in retrospect was a huge step up for our program. He was the first legit big man we ever had, and arguably still our best. And a program has to have legit big men to go deep in the Dance.

You don't consider Roosevelt Bouie or Danny Schayes to be legitimate big men? I think you missed a chapter.

 

[HarrisonJBounel]

You don't consider Roosevelt Bouie or Danny Schayes to be legitimate big men? I think you missed a chapter.

True, I posted before I thought it completely through. In college, they certainly were, more Bouie than Schayes. Schayes only started for one year, after Bouie, IIRC. But Bouie never played in the NBA. Though, Seikaly was better than both, in college and in the pros. So, it depends how one defines "legit".

 

[pfister1]

True, I posted before I thought it completely through. In college, they certainly were, more Bouie than Schayes. Schayes only started for one year, after Bouie, IIRC. But Bouie never played in the NBA. Though, Seikaly was better than both, in college and in the pros. So, it depends how one defines "legit".

Are you kidding me? I'll assume you are young and give you a break. If I recall correctly Bouie was the recruit that essentially secured the job for Boeheim.

In 4 years he started every game at center. He is our 16th All time leading scorer, 7th All time leading rebounder. Was a 2x Honorable Mention All American and was drafted early in the 2nd round of the NBA draft. Those teams he started on were 26-4, 22-6, 26-4 & 26-4. True he never played in the NBA, most people feel he could have.

And the reason Schayes didn't start until he was a senior...well might have had something to do with playing behind Bouie, Marty Byrnes (1st round NBA draft pick) and Louis Orr (1st round NBA draft pick).

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

Are you kidding me? I'll assume you are young and give you a break. If I recall correctly Bouie was the recruit that essentially secured the job for Boeheim.

In 4 years he started every game at center. He is our 16th All time leading scorer, 7th All time leading rebounder. Was a 2x Honorable Mention All American and was drafted early in the 2nd round of the NBA draft. Those teams he started on were 26-4, 22-6, 26-4 & 26-4. True he never played in the NBA, most people feel he could have.

And the reason Schayes didn't start until he was a senior...well might have had something to do with playing behind Bouie, Marty Byrnes (1st round NBA draft pick) and Louis Orr (1st round NBA draft pick).

Rosie stayed in Italy because Dallas, which owned his rights, would not give him a guaranteed deal. Simple business decision.


Sent from my Vortex using Tapatalk

 

[Orange Barrel]

So, it depends how one defines "legit".

Danny's NBA career lasted about 27 years. I'd say he was legit.

 

[SoBristol]

He came back from the 3 games off a different player.

Fab has made so much progress, and has improved his conditioning so much -- is it too much to ask that he have some games (before departing) when he puts up 15 & 10 against good competition? Wouldn't that be a nice addition to the team's potential for March?
I am not denying Fab's potential, or how far he has come in only a few years of playing B-ball. And still: He ought to have enough timing & positioning to rack up 10 rebounds against smaller centers. He could start to show basic footwork for inside moves. When a two handed dunk isn't available, you'd like to see a finish other than something soft from a low release point that will get blocked as often as not. (Compare how Rick Jackson could finish strong with crafty moves, sometimes using the hoop to shield against a block.) Maybe he learns these things playing back-up in the pros?

 

[OttoMets]

When a two handed dunk isn't available, you'd like to see a finish other than something soft from a low release point that will get blocked as often as not. (Compare how Rick Jackson could finish strong with crafty moves, sometimes using the hoop to shield against a block.)

Yes. Please.

 

[HarrisonJBounel]

Danny's NBA career lasted about 27 years. I'd say he was legit.

Playing devil's advocate: How many NBA championships did Danny win, or even come close to? Some would define "legit" as being able to win a championship AND be a significant contributor to winning it. Because to many if not most fans, no one remembers who finished second.

 

[CIL]

Playing devil's advocate: How many NBA championships did Danny win, or even come close to? Some would define "legit" as being able to win a championship AND be a significant contributor to winning it. Because to many if not most fans, no one remembers who finished second.

So Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, allen Iverson, Patrick Ewing, and Elgin Baylor aren't legit?

 

[HarrisonJBounel]

So Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, allen Iverson, Patrick Ewing, and Elgin Baylor aren't legit?

When I said "being able to win a championship" I meant to contend for a championship. When a team comes close to a ring but doesn't win, it can be pretty much a matter of chance (a good shot that doesn't go in, or a bad one that does, a lousy call, an injury). That does not diminish the "legit" factor of a player, as in the examples you cited.