Class of 2022 C William Kyle (NE) TRANSFERRING TO SYRACUSE (3/27/25)

[IthacaMatt]

He can also erase defensive lapses on the perimeter…you beat JJ of the dribble…ok….now what..

Somebody's probably already posted this highlights clip from last year at UCLA. You can see this guy is athletic, a rim runner and a shot blocker. His best offensive play is diving to the rim off a pick toward the top of the key.

He catches and flushes alley oops well. He works hard on the offensive glass. He does some things really well, but he is very raw on the low block. In this 4 minute + highlight clip, you see he attempt a basket probably 50 times.

I only counted 3 low-post moves with his back to the basket. His dribble wasn't great, nor was his footwork. This guy is a talented, but he's not a low post scorer. He's a clean up man. That's how Jesse Edwards started out, of course, before he developed a decent (not great) low post game after a couple years.

Very solid player, but I still see something important missing in our tool box. And that is a low post scorer from a middling conference with a wide body, some guy like that 6-8 240 Drexel kid who just signed with Providence. We need a guy like that. Not a million dollar guy, a big body.

 

[Niastri]

Somebody's probably already posted this highlights clip from last year at UCLA. You can see this guy is athletic, a rim runner and a shot blocker. His best offensive play is diving to the rim off a pick toward the top of the key.

He catches and flushes alley oops well. He works hard on the offensive glass. He does some things really well, but he is very raw on the low block. In this 4 minute + highlight clip, you see he attempt a basket probably 50 times.

I only counted 3 low-post moves with his back to the basket. His dribble wasn't great, nor was his footwork. This guy is a talented, but he's not a low post scorer. He's a clean up man. That's how Jesse Edwards started out, of course, before he developed a decent (not great) low post game after a couple years.

Very solid player, but I still see something important missing in our tool box. And that is a low post scorer from a middling conference with a wide body, some guy like that 6-8 240 Drexel kid who just signed with Providence. We need a guy like that. Not a million dollar guy, a big body.

I posted a video similar to this one upthread… But it was from when he was transferring to UCLA last year. He actually has a decent baby hook type post move. He wasn’t just bigger, stronger and more athletic than the low major kids trying to guard him. He has a little skill in the post. At least enough to finish if he can’t dunk right away.

 

[McCuse]

Somebody's probably already posted this highlights clip from last year at UCLA. You can see this guy is athletic, a rim runner and a shot blocker. His best offensive play is diving to the rim off a pick toward the top of the key.

He catches and flushes alley oops well. He works hard on the offensive glass. He does some things really well, but he is very raw on the low block. In this 4 minute + highlight clip, you see he attempt a basket probably 50 times.

I only counted 3 low-post moves with his back to the basket. His dribble wasn't great, nor was his footwork. This guy is a talented, but he's not a low post scorer. He's a clean up man. That's how Jesse Edwards started out, of course, before he developed a decent (not great) low post game after a couple years.

Very solid player, but I still see something important missing in our tool box. And that is a low post scorer from a middling conference with a wide body, some guy like that 6-8 240 Drexel kid who just signed with Providence. We need a guy like that. Not a million dollar guy, a big body.

Gotta love a good dunk!

 

[funkysoul77]

Somebody's probably already posted this highlights clip from last year at UCLA. You can see this guy is athletic, a rim runner and a shot blocker. His best offensive play is diving to the rim off a pick toward the top of the key.

He catches and flushes alley oops well. He works hard on the offensive glass. He does some things really well, but he is very raw on the low block. In this 4 minute + highlight clip, you see he attempt a basket probably 50 times.

I only counted 3 low-post moves with his back to the basket. His dribble wasn't great, nor was his footwork. This guy is a talented, but he's not a low post scorer. He's a clean up man. That's how Jesse Edwards started out, of course, before he developed a decent (not great) low post game after a couple years.

Very solid player, but I still see something important missing in our tool box. And that is a low post scorer from a middling conference with a wide body, some guy like that 6-8 240 Drexel kid who just signed with Providence. We need a guy like that. Not a million dollar guy, a big body.

Could Rashaun Agee fill that need, if he were to decide to commit here? Perhaps even be the starter, pushing Kyle to first big off the bench(still getting 15-20m between PF&C). Souare would then be 3rd string big with more limited minutes, allowing him more time to develop without as many expectations/pressure or be insurance if injuries happen or others don't live up to their promise.

 

[IthacaMatt]

I posted a video similar to this one upthread… But it was from when he was transferring to UCLA last year. He actually has a decent baby hook type post move. He wasn’t just bigger, stronger and more athletic than the low major kids trying to guard him. He has a little skill in the post. At least enough to finish if he can’t dunk right away.

Yes, he's good on the offensive boards. He gathers himself well and he works hard to get to the rim.

 

[Niastri]

Yes, he's good on the offensive boards. He gathers himself well and he works hard to get to the rim.

I’ll also point out that he averaged three points a game and still had more dunks than our entire team last season….

 

[JaySU22]

Somebody's probably already posted this highlights clip from last year at UCLA. You can see this guy is athletic, a rim runner and a shot blocker. His best offensive play is diving to the rim off a pick toward the top of the key.

He catches and flushes alley oops well. He works hard on the offensive glass. He does some things really well, but he is very raw on the low block. In this 4 minute + highlight clip, you see he attempt a basket probably 50 times.

I only counted 3 low-post moves with his back to the basket. His dribble wasn't great, nor was his footwork. This guy is a talented, but he's not a low post scorer. He's a clean up man. That's how Jesse Edwards started out, of course, before he developed a decent (not great) low post game after a couple years.

Very solid player, but I still see something important missing in our tool box. And that is a low post scorer from a middling conference with a wide body, some guy like that 6-8 240 Drexel kid who just signed with Providence. We need a guy like that. Not a million dollar guy, a big body.

Couldn’t agree more, the solid 10-15 minute backup big is a needed puzzle piece. Feels like most elite teams have one (not saying we will be elite but a guy can dream…)

 

[jdubs30]

Couldn’t agree more, the solid 10-15 minute backup big is a needed puzzle piece. Feels like most elite teams have one (not saying we will be elite but a guy can dream…)

He’s starting and getting more than 10mpg, a lot more.

Your point is correct tho - on an elite team he’s a 10-15mpg backup

 

[Dmcnabbrules]

He’s starting and getting more than 10mpg, a lot more.

Your point is correct tho - on an elite team he’s a 10-15mpg backup

I think people are under selling Kyle a little bit. If he is healthy he can be an effective starter. He will be in the starting lineup with four shooters around him. Kyle will be limited to lobs and put backs in offense but who cares. He needs to protect the rim, rebound and dunk. Also his ability to guard the pick and roll should allow Autry to play a different defensive style

 

[McCuse]

I think people are under selling Kyle a little bit. If he is healthy he can be an effective starter. He will be in the starting lineup with four shooters around him. Kyle will be limited to lobs and put backs in offense but who cares. He needs to protect the rim, rebound and dunk. Also his ability to guard the pick and roll should allow Autry to play a different defensive style

He is a prolific dunker!

 

[kingtidge]

I think people are under selling Kyle a little bit. If he is healthy he can be an effective starter. He will be in the starting lineup with four shooters around him. Kyle will be limited to lobs and put backs in offense but who cares. He needs to protect the rim, rebound and dunk. Also his ability to guard the pick and roll should allow Autry to play a different defensive style

Let's see him prove it.

Not buying any hype on a 3-pts-per-game center until he shows better and proves he's a P4 starter... and yes, I know Cronin only played him sparingly.

 

[Niastri]

Let's see him prove it.

Not buying any hype on a 3-pts-per-game center until he shows better and proves he's a P4 starter... and yes, I know Cronin only played him sparingly.

Kyle’s Big Ten per40 numbers were 9.1 points, 3.0 blocks and 4.8 rebounds. He finishes very strong at the basket (.704 shooting percentage last season) and presents himself well to receive the pass. He wasn’t the focal point on offense at UCLA and won’t be here. When he gets the ball in position, he’s likely to convert a basket. That’s enough.

My bigger concern is rebounding than offense. He had a much lower rebounding at UCLA, but higher blocked shots at the higher level, so it might be a coaching decision rather than a skill issue. JB always has centers with high blocked shots and low rebound totals as well.

Kyle might wind up with 2 blocks a game next season if he continues to be aggressive challenging shots. One problem is that he averaged 5.9 fouls per 40 in Big Ten play with this aggressive play style, after averaging only 2.1 the previous year at South Dakota State.

He also recorded a 3.8 DBPM, so Kyle is a plus defender on addition to being a decent shotblocker.

I’m not really worried about Kyle, I’m worried about what happens when he’s not playing.

 

[IthacaMatt]

He’s starting and getting more than 10mpg, a lot more.

Your point is correct tho - on an elite team he’s a 10-15mpg backup

I think Jay was saying Kyle is the starter, but we still need one more back up in addition to Souare.

 

[Cusefan0307]

I think Jay was saying Kyle is the starter, but we still need one more back up in addition to Souare.

Pretty obvious after last night he’s the starter along with Donnie, Kingz, JJ and George.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Pretty obvious after last night he’s the starter along with Donnie, Kingz, JJ and George.

And that's a good lineup.

When other people come in, Kingz, JJ and George are all probably going to spend time on the bench.

The most important thing Red has to figure out this year, as you change groupings, you always need:

• 2 ball handlers out there on the floor
• 2 three-point shooters on the floor
• a rim protector and/or a defensive big body

So, if White or Freeman are going to play the 5 when we play small ball, they have to play physical defense. Tough, hard nosed, not let other guys simply grab the ball out of your hands 2 or 3 times a game.

Or else we still need that 3rd center.

 

[JaySU22]

He’s starting and getting more than 10mpg, a lot more.

Your point is correct tho - on an elite team he’s a 10-15mpg backup

My bad, I was referring to the comment about getting the Drexel type big that Providence got for depth for 10-15 minutes. Kyle is definitely getting 25-30 minutes and while he looks pretty good, it’s unlikely he’s worthy of a leading role on a contender.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[kcsu]

In my opinion this is what we need at the 5 i think he is a going to be very good for us. Syracuse is going to be athletic again. I like what we have done in the off season. Just need to fill in the bench and we should be set.

 

[IthacaMatt]

In my opinion this is what we need at the 5 i think he is a going to be very good for us. Syracuse is going to be athletic again. I like what we have done in the off season. Just need to fill in the bench and we should be set.

Yeah, but you aren't going to play a whole season with only 2 guys, especially at such an important position, so people can't just bully ball you if you can defend them inside.

The last 2 years, what did we have, at least 2 or 3 guys have injuries each year? Plus guys not successfully rehabbing from past injuries.

We need one more big man, just like we needed Petar Majstorovic late in the last cycle. He wasn't a star for us, but at least with him on the roster, when Eddie was hurt, or when Donnie went down for the year, we didn't have to play someone like Jyare Davis as your center for 20-30 minutes a game.

 

[Zelda Zonk]

Yeah, but you aren't going to play a whole season with only 2 guys, especially at such an important position, so people can't just bully ball you if you can defend them inside.

The last 2 years, what did we have, at least 2 or 3 guys have injuries each year? Plus guys not successfully rehabbing from past injuries.

We need one more big man, just like we needed Petar Majstorovic late in the last cycle. He wasn't a star for us, but at least with him on the roster, when Eddie was hurt, or when Donnie went down for the year, we didn't have to play someone like Jyare Davis as your center for 20-30 minutes a game.

Yes.
Also, has it ever been discussed/disclosed—what was Donnie's foot injury? It concerns me, the talk about how he might play Center minutes. The whole "positionless basketball" thing is a nice notion, but practically speaking, it seems unwise to force a perimeter/finesse player to bang against heavies in the paint, especially when he's coming back from a season-ending foot injury. We've seen foot issues derail entire careers. I'm not speculating that Donnie's is that kind of case, but we don't know that it isn't.

Is this something he played through in high school? Is it the type of thing that is typically fully resolved or one that is likely to recur? Feet and backs—tend to be persistent issues.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Yes.
Also, has it ever been discussed/disclosed—what was Donnie's foot injury? It concerns me, the talk about how he might play Center minutes. The whole "positionless basketball" thing is a nice notion, but practically speaking, it seems unwise to force a perimeter/finesse player to bang against heavies in the paint, especially when he's coming back from a season-ending foot injury. We've seen foot issues derail entire careers. I'm not speculating that Donnie's is that kind of case, but we don't know that it isn't.

Is this something he played through in high school? Is it the type of thing that is typically fully resolved or one that is likely to recur? Feet and backs—tend to be persistent issues.

Well, I certainly hope it's not a chronic injury. That buries our season if it is.

I hope that the thing Melo teaches Donnie when he talks to him, is all about having an effective game at the elbow. Melo was a master from 17 feet out at the elbow, or a little lower toward the baseline.

He had the physicality to get on the end line side of the defender on the baseline drive, and enough strength, flexibility, and talent to be unstoppable once he got that position.

From the elbow, he had the jab step, the two dribble pull-up and the drive and dunk. Teach Donnie those moves, and he will be a GREAT player.

 

[IthacaMatt]

I think people are under selling Kyle a little bit. If he is healthy he can be an effective starter. He will be in the starting lineup with four shooters around him. Kyle will be limited to lobs and put backs in offense but who cares. He needs to protect the rim, rebound and dunk. Also his ability to guard the pick and roll should allow Autry to play a different defensive style

He looks like he could be really good for 20-25 minutes a game.
But at the end of a half, or the end of a game, you need to have a bull in the low block who you can throw the ball to, and they either draw a double, get a good shot, or go to the line. You have to have that to close out games.

 

[pearl31]

He looks like he could be really good for 20-25 minutes a game.
But at the end of a half, or the end of a game, you need to have a bull in the low block who you can throw the ball to, and they either draw a double, get a good shot, or go to the line. You have to have that to close out games.

Yep the only feasible way to play basketball in the year 2025

 

[Cusefan0307]

Donnie is 100% healthy per Red and Alex Kline.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Yes.
Also, has it ever been discussed/disclosed—what was Donnie's foot injury? It concerns me, the talk about how he might play Center minutes. The whole "positionless basketball" thing is a nice notion, but practically speaking, it seems unwise to force a perimeter/finesse player to bang against heavies in the paint, especially when he's coming back from a season-ending foot injury. We've seen foot issues derail entire careers. I'm not speculating that Donnie's is that kind of case, but we don't know that it isn't.

Is this something he played through in high school? Is it the type of thing that is typically fully resolved or one that is likely to recur? Feet and backs—tend to be persistent issues.

Twas the dreaded potato toes