Jesse needs his own thread…

[djcon57]

I always had high hopes for this kid. As a freshman, he looked like he had good footwork on the block and good hands and could score. He was just clueless on defense and needed to learn the offensive system and the zone and get stronger. I was a little mystified in January last season when JB wouldn’t play him much. Glad he really came on late in the season. And thrilled for all his success this year. Let’s go win some more games!

..and props for calling it out.

Season Non Predictions

One of my favorite aspects of college basketball is the developmental nature of it. Players improve. They are not the same from season to season, and some vastly improve over the course of the same season. Just look at last year. Early on while dealing with covid delays and absences SU was...

syracusefan.com

Jesse Edwards

Does Jesse have the ability to perhaps become a Leron Ellis-type center as an upperclassman, i.e. a functional college center who can rebound, defend the basket and score inside when necessary? Or is this more likely to be a Sean Williams 2.0 situation?

syracusefan.com

 

[tee1222]

I'm only guessing Jon Bol's two dimes was also a career high.

 

[CousCuse]

Jesse has been great, but the defenses are losing their minds trying to cover 3 40%+ shooters on the perimeter. No one will leave their man to help down low. The offense right now is hard to stop.

 

[Jake]

Jesse has been great, but the defenses are losing their minds trying to cover 3 40%+ shooters on the perimeter. No one will leave their man to help down low. The offense right now is hard to stop.

Agreed. But that dynamic changes when Jesse is matched up against good defenders. Then our dribble drive game gets exposed.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

There’s always at least one play a game where Jesse shocks me .. that behind the back pass at Duke for example . Today it was in the 1st half when he left the post to challenge a shooter at the line .. then I see someone pull down a man sized rebound … UNDER the hoop.. and somehow it was also Jesse .. for a moment I thought there were two Jesses on the court

 

[721Comstock]

I'm only guessing Jon Bol's two dimes was also a career high.

Shoulda been 3!!!

Benny blew an ez bunny off a sweet backdoor pass from JBA.

 

[HOFCeluck]

Jesse’s development is so exciting. But the prospect of his leaving makes me so scared.

 

[721Comstock]

Jesse’s development is so exciting. But the prospect of his leaving makes me so scared.

Thank you, Buzz Killington.

 

[djcon57]

Jesse’s development is so exciting. But the prospect of his leaving makes me so scared.

so like Jess(i)e?

Jessie Spano. you are so excited, so excited...so scared

 

[Jake]

Jesse’s development is so exciting. But the prospect of his leaving makes me so scared.

Btw, Billy Celuck was in the house today!

 

[Giants1973]

Btw, Billy Celuck was in the house today!

I just hope Jesse stays one more yr

 

[OttoinGrotto]

There’s always at least one play a game where Jesse shocks me .. that behind the back pass at Duke for example . Today it was in the 1st half when he left the post to challenge a shooter at the line .. then I see someone pull down a man sized rebound … UNDER the hoop.. and somehow it was also Jesse .. for a moment I thought there were two Jesses on the court

I remember that play. It was pretty crazy.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

That announcer today kept saying Jesse is their most important player but not their best player .


Umm.. yes he is .. he’s by far their best player . He’s their best defender , best shot blocker, best in traffic rebounder, best finisher, best screen setter … and we’re now seeing he’s actually one of their better passers . The only thing he’s not good at is outside shooting ..

 

[UpstateSM]

If Jesse can develop his left hand to be even slightly below average instead of almost non-existent going that way, there won’t be many college big guys who can guard him next season

 

[sufandu]

There was one point fairly early in the game he had the ball around the foul line and the whole defense up high. I was waiting for someone to cut hard so he could show off his passing and dump it off to someone for a lay up. Of course nobody cut.

 

[hoopsupstate]

Jessie has a lot of room to operate because teams don’t want to leave our shooters. He’s not going to get that kind of room next year. He will need to get stronger and be able to turn both ways in the post. He and Girard have great chemistry.

 

[Alsacs]

..and props for calling it out.

Season Non Predictions

One of my favorite aspects of college basketball is the developmental nature of it. Players improve. They are not the same from season to season, and some vastly improve over the course of the same season. Just look at last year. Early on while dealing with covid delays and absences SU was...

syracusefan.com

Jesse Edwards

Does Jesse have the ability to perhaps become a Leron Ellis-type center as an upperclassman, i.e. a functional college center who can rebound, defend the basket and score inside when necessary? Or is this more likely to be a Sean Williams 2.0 situation?

syracusefan.com

https://syracusefan.com/threads/bucknell-game-thread.148568/page-4#post-3188581

 

[SUintheVille]

Now he’s showing more of his game by kicking passes back out to open shooters.

On a couple of those kick outs, it seemed (given Jesse’s emerging ability and confidence) that he could have easily just taken it to the hole and I wondered why the kick out. I think on at least one of those he ended up with an assist anyway. The transformation in his game this season is remarkable.

 

[JOC44]

I agree Jesse’s thread needs its own song. Jesse, I will cut fresh flowers for you, oh Jesse!

 

[realorange]

Jesse truly had a great game today. But we have to remember he had nobody that was going to give him much trouble under the basket.

I'm anxious to see him against Duke again where he will get some serious competition. He's capable of doing well, I just hope he believes it, stays out of foul trouble and plays well.

I believe he'll be back next season. As has been said, he needs to gain strength, especially in his hands. Another 15-20 pounds would look good too.

 

[syrBossHogg]

Much much bigger, Rak always had an offensive game simmering.

Jesse was a rebounder/shot blocker center. I think many of us thought Jesse could be a Fab Melo type presence. I don’t think many could have expected this type of offensive game

When Jesse joined the team I had hope he would develop somewhere between Keita and Fab in terms of defensive skill, but still be reliable on the offensive end. Never though he would be averaging 12 and 7 as a Junior and 3 blocks a game.

Just imagine he gets a little stronger and adds that little jump shot to his repertoire

 

[djcon57]

When Jesse joined the team I had hope he would develop somewhere between Keita and Fab in terms of defensive skill, but still be reliable on the offensive end. Never though he would be averaging 12 and 7 as a Junior and 3 blocks a game.

Just imagine he gets a little stronger and adds that little jump shot to his repertoire

Good call on Keita, much better comp

 

[TinyManInside]

I am at the point where I am no longer banking on him being on the team next year. There is literally a 100% chance that he can play for money somewhere next season. He has differentiating attributes that will allow him to play at a semi-pro to pro level immediately if that is what he wants to do: 1) his lateral agility is bonkers good for a guy his size, 2) his vertical quickness is bonkers good for a guy his size, and 3) he ALWAYS keeps the ball high on the catch. He doesn't need a dribble or two to get himself set. This is a HUGE asset and extremely difficult to teach. His catch-and-react is already pro level. He doesn't waste time with a tempo or rhythm dribble, it's straight to the basket as soon as he catches.

Number 1 priority for next year needs to be to set him up with NIL to combat the overtures from agents that are probably already being made. We need to re-recuit him a la UCLA/Johny Juzang after last year's tourney and load up his NIL payout.

[I know that people will immediately chime in with the "he needs to get stronger!" mantra, but i believe this is 100% overblown. With his frame and wide shoulders scouts will be looking at him as where he can be physically in 2-3 years, not where he is physically now.]

 

[Fly Rodder]

but i believe this is 100% overblown. With his frame and wide shoulders scouts will be looking at him as where he can be physically in 2-3 years, not where he is physically now

Definitely, some pro training and vitamins will give him the weight. He’s skinny - but he’s already pretty big compared some of our previous beanpoles.

I can’t see him leaving early for some euro gig, that hasn’t happened yet. NBA? Sure, but he’s not there yet.

 

[ar inj]

Number 1 priority for next year needs to be to set him up with NIL to combat the overtures from agents that are probably already being made. We need to re-recuit him a la UCLA/Johny Juzang after last year's tourney and load up his NIL payout.

I believe because Jesse is a foreign student he cannot earn NIL money. Not an NCAA rule; I believe it is student visa rule