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

[Niastri]

One thing we have to see consistently to go along with running and jumping is catching passes thrown his way. No Dr. Strangeglove please.

Well, at least his highlight reel doesn’t show him dropping a dozen passes out of bounds…

 

[grepal]

Well, at least his highlight reel doesn’t show him dropping a dozen passes out of bounds…

What if his HIGHLIGHT REEL actually showed that?

 

[Niastri]

What if his HIGHLIGHT REEL actually showed that?

Right, which is why it’s funny.

Starling’s highlight reel would have him looking like a terrific three point shooter… If they had me put his reel together, the five threes he made that one game would be back to back.

My point is, nobody knows how Kyle’s hands are without watching a lot of UCLA games… They only put the shots you made and the passes you caught in the highlight reel.

I’ve watched a lot of his video, his hands look really good, but <shrug>

 

[cusefan88]

He's some serious bounce.

 

[Giants1973]

He's some serious bounce.

Can he shoot a jump shot or jump hook?

 

[RF2044]

Can he shoot a jump shot or jump hook?

It does appear [from game film] that he has a little jump hook. But what he does best is dunk, run the floor, screen and roll, and finish on feeds from teammates.

he isn't a versatile offensive player. But he doesn't mess around when he gets the ball in the paint, and he has the "ups" to pound it over people, even through contact.

 

[McCuse]

It does appear [from game film] that he has a little jump hook. But what he does best is dunk, run the floor, screen and roll, and finish on feeds from teammates.

he isn't a versatile offensive player. But he doesn't mess around when he gets the ball in the paint, and he has the "ups" to pound it over people, even through contact.

The dunk is a very high percentage shot! Not including Cuffe...

 

[jordville]

 

[CuseMan4]

Yeah I’m not worried about the athleticism on this team at all. We have the most athleticism and length we’ve had in awhile. Just gotta see if Autry can put it all together. Once again offense won’t be a problem, I don’t think rebounding will be either. Once again the big question mark is the defense. If we are even average at defense this year, like a top 90 team defensively. One that is a huge step forward and two we’ll be dancing

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Ceiling seemed low for that one drill.

 

[RyanCuse44]

Yeah I’m not worried about the athleticism on this team at all. We have the most athleticism and length we’ve had in awhile. Just gotta see if Autry can put it all together. Once again offense won’t be a problem, I don’t think rebounding will be either. Once again the big question mark is the defense. If we are even average at defense this year, like a top 90 team defensively. One that is a huge step forward and two we’ll be dancing

How can you assume the O won't be an issue. They hardly run any plays and it's a lot of ISO ball. Besides Freeman who else can we count on down in the low post to score.

 

[Zelda Zonk]

Ceiling seemed low for that one drill.

That’s what I was watching, too.

Where is this? Does that S&C coach have a resumé?

 

[hoopsupstate]

Try to picture our two bigs last year trying to make those 4-5 quick jumps over the hurdles. I think Kyle is going to be our biggest surprise next year. Betsy might be a close second.

 

[Zelda Zonk]

Try to picture our two bigs last year trying to make those 4-5 quick jumps over the hurdles. I think Kyle is going to be our biggest surprise next year. Betsy might be a close second.

Ouch. I think I just pulled a hippocampus trying to imagine that…. Not sure how to apply Bengay.

 

[Franz69]

He's working on his jump throw.

 

[IthacaMatt]

I thought the jumps over the hurdles were impressive. I just hope he's strong enough not to get pushed around down low.

 

[hoopsupstate]

I thought the jumps over the hurdles were impressive. I just hope he's strong enough not to get pushed around down low.

He was listed as 230 pounds last year. He might be heavier next year.

 

[IthacaMatt]

He was listed as 230 pounds last year. He might be heavier next year.

That last kid they signed from Africa is good insurance. Biggest guy on the roster, offers 5 more fouls if we're getting bullied in some game.

 

[cusefan88]

 

[721Comstock]

Dude put in some WORK.

That’s hella impressive for 7 weeks.

Can we hire his trainer for the entire hoops team?
Yesterday?!!

 

[Niastri]

Dude put in some WORK.

That’s hella impressive for 7 weeks.

Can we hire his trainer for the entire hoops team?
Yesterday?!!

You make a great point… Gaining 10 lbs in a summer seems like a lot, they did it in 7 weeks? Nice.

I said a few weeks ago that I would feel a lot more comfortable with our center situation if Kyle and Souare put on ten pounds each by the time games started.

Kyle: Check!
Souare: tbd

 

[CuseMan4]

I’ve been saying it, people are sleeping on this kid because he didn’t get as much run last year with 3 really good bigs on UCLA. Including him

My comp is Rakeem Christmas junior year. Senior year Christmas was an animal.
But I think Kyle has a very similar game to Christmas right before he really broke out. They play very similar, very similar body types/size, very similar athleticism. Both players are on the shorter side for being an ACC center but make up for it with elite athleticism and length.
Kyle is going to block a lot of shots, get a lot of rebounds. His offense is going to come from fast breaks, lobs and put back slams. Kyle is EXTREMELY athletic. He’s a great fit for this team.

I’m thinking 7-8 ppg, 7 rpg, 1.5 bpg

 

[cusefan88]

I don't think people realize how athletic he truly is. He's probably coming in closer to 235-240lbs with one of the best verticals on the team.

He will be able to switch on any pick and roll.

 

[Niastri]

Dude put in some WORK.

That’s hella impressive for 7 weeks.

Can we hire his trainer for the entire hoops team?
Yesterday?!!

Just looking at it further, some of those tests don’t have commonly used benchmarks.

In the other hand, several do. I’m copying from Google AI, so caveat emptor.

“But generally, participants who record a pro agility test time of 4.5 seconds and below are considered overall good athletes from agility, speed, and lateral quickness perspectives.”

For a 6’9 235lb man to do sub 4 seconds in this drill is really good. Perhaps impossibly good. For comparison, if they are doing the same test, Kyle is beating most NFL defensive backs.

“The fastest pro agility (5-10-5) time in NFL Combine history is 3.73 seconds, recorded by wide receiver Kevin Kasper from Iowa in 2001. The most recent pro agility record is 3.97 seconds, set by defensive back John Reid of Penn State in 2020.”

My guess is their drill is different, just for their trainers to get a benchmark of comparative improvement during their training period. If not, Kyle is truly a freak of nature, and maybe should play in the NFL instead of the NBA.

In spite of the lack of unrelated benchmarks for the test results, I agree, Kyle should have the agility, combined with his length, to stay in front of almost everybody if we play a switching defense.

It’s impressive to see how much he improved various metrics in such a short period time.

 

[Orangezoo]

Just looking at it further, some of those tests don’t have commonly used benchmarks.

In the other hand, several do. I’m copying from Google AI, so caveat emptor.

“But generally, participants who record a pro agility test time of 4.5 seconds and below are considered overall good athletes from agility, speed, and lateral quickness perspectives.”

For a 6’9 235lb man to do sub 4 seconds in this drill is really good. Perhaps impossibly good. For comparison, if they are doing the same test, Kyle is beating most NFL defensive backs.

“The fastest pro agility (5-10-5) time in NFL Combine history is 3.73 seconds, recorded by wide receiver Kevin Kasper from Iowa in 2001. The most recent pro agility record is 3.97 seconds, set by defensive back John Reid of Penn State in 2020.”

My guess is their drill is different, just for their trainers to get a benchmark of comparative improvement during their training period. If not, Kyle is truly a freak of nature, and maybe should play in the NFL instead of the NBA.

In spite of the lack of unrelated benchmarks for the test results, I agree, Kyle should have the agility, combined with his length, to stay in front of almost everybody if we play a switching defense.

It’s impressive to see how much he improved various metrics in such a short period time.

One of the most important things too is that when he gets on campus there is a regiment to help keep the good weight on and keep in top physical shape. Specifically on that note, it looked to me like Eddie this past year came into the summer leaner and in better shape than he was at Colorado while then as the season came about he had added that back and stayed at that weight/fitness level.
Just an example of the struggles with ongoing S and C that have been frustrating to observe.