Judah Mintz to test NBA Draft waters

[PauliePeppas]

Im expecting it to happen at 11:59

 

[walsh2012]

For 109 pages I have kept quiet because like everyone else I don't really have a clue as to what Judah is going to do. But looking objectively at this here are my two cents- because that's about all it's worth when it comes to his decision.

Judah came to SU with a lot of hype. The season started slowly for him, as he learned a new system and played with players he hasn't played with before. The first half of the season was gone before you could see the team was finally getting comfortable. They won a few close games, lost a few close games. Then about 3/4 of the way through the season it was like a light-bulb clicked in his head. It was almost like a mid-range shot developed out of thin air, and shortly after he started to make a few threes as well. Suddenly he had the look of a true NBA prospect.

He did the right thing by entering his name in the draft while retaining his college eligibility. He put in the work through the combine and did whatever was asked of him. It remains unclear as to how many workouts for individual teams he had, we know of at least one. But the one team has multiple picks available to them. His metrics we average overall-he excelled in a couple areas but was average in others. The question is overall is was the last quarter of the season and his combine showing enough to convince a team to take a chance on him? His growth was nothing short of phenomenal and we have no reason to doubt that growth is over.But is it enough?

I suspect that he is being told he may be better off showcasing his growth and leadership one more year in college. He could indeed get picked very late, but with no guarantees. Or he could go undrafted and hope for a free agent contract. Unfortunately for Judah that will likely relegate him to the G-league. Although that will allow him to focus more completely on his game, it will not really allow him to be the star as he will be going up against guys with similar ability.

Or he could come back to school for another year. Here he would be the lead guard on a brand new team, the first of the Red era. This alone etches his name in history. He could easily showcase his skills and show for an entire year he can sustain the success he has built. He will continue to grow as a player, as a leader. So why hasn't he decided?

I suspect there are two dynamics at work. First is he wants the NBA. What kid who has played his short life focused on basketball doesn't? It is a dream and he is this close to fulfilling it. Second is NIL. Love it or hate it the thing is here. The longer he withheld his decision the more NIL collectives may have been able to offer him to return. After all, if he has to return to school, why not maximize what he can actually make?

I hope by the end of the day he will come back. And not just because I am a selfish fan, but because I think coming back maximizes his future potential. I think if he has been told he is a guaranteed pick he should go, but I don't think he has or he would have already announced he is staying in. I admire his confidence in himself if he decides to stay in, and I hope it works out like he hopes it will. I truly think the best thing for him would be maximizing his return for one more year. But I am not him, trying to live his dream.

Good luck Judah, whatever your decision may be.

Well said

 

[walsh2012]

Best of luck to Judah and his family- regardless of how this ends up

 

[walsh2012]

People like to forget kids have to still go to class in college as well. I know this is a reason why few come back as well. Not saying in Judahs case but also something we tend to forget

Eh, do they really?

 

[pwong]

No Mintz in this morning’s Givony Mock Draft

 

[heresjohnny88]

idk if this is a crazy take but i'm a lot less concerned about this announcement than i was a month ago. i like our roster and our foundation for future seasons.

 

[Cusefan0307]

idk if this is a crazy take but i'm a lot less concerned about this announcement than i was a month ago. i like our roster and our foundation for future seasons.

Same.

*shrug*

 

[pwong]

I feel like this tweet was made for Syracuse fans today.

Things might be BAD for Kentucky. They need a filled out roster before their July Toronto trip.

 

[Orangezoo]

No Mintz in this morning’s Givony Mock Draft

Surprised at this honestly. He was 55 before but didn't see anything that would have changed that based on the combine

 

[IthacaMatt]

Quinerly does not have time on his side. I don't see him going to a school with a log jam at guard if he's trying for his final pro audition.

I think he's the likely starter if he comes here.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Looking at that long list of names - I don't see any likely 1st rounders. They are all kids with an NBA dream leaning to stay in the draft, believing they will defy the odds as a 2nd rounder or undrafted free agent and have an NBA career.

Also looking at the list of names that people are waiting for decisions from, Judah doesn't even make the top half-dozen names to lead off an article. Dude, you're unlikely to get drafted this year. If you go, which seems likely, good luck in the G League. It's always better for Cuse for our kids to make it rather than not.

So, I'll be rooting for him, but I think we'll actually be a better team if we can get Quinnerly over Judah. I think it will make for better chemistry. Judah will probably be all "hero ball" NBA audition next year, anyway. I might prefer a new mix like Autry has put together, where everyone has to earn it.

 

[pwong]

Surprised at this honestly. He was 55 before but didn't see anything that would have changed that based on the combine

Guys like Seth Lundy (Penn St) and Hunter Tyson (Clemson) had better combines which pushed Judah down. But guys that are projected late 2nd rounders / undrafted could come back to college so who knows

 

[PauliePeppas]

No Mintz in this morning’s Givony Mock Draft

Hmmmm

 

[AZOrange]

Surprised at this honestly. He was 55 before but didn't see anything that would have changed that based on the combine

These mean absolutely nothing in the decision making process fwiw

 

[Orangezoo]

Hmmmm

I wonder what Givony's hit rate is on his mocks

 

[FrancoPizza]

Also looking at the list of names that people are waiting for decisions from, Judah doesn't even make the top half-dozen names to lead off an article. Dude, you're unlikely to get drafted this year. If you go, which seems likely, good luck in the G League. It's always better for Cuse for our kids to make it rather than not.

So, I'll be rooting for him, but I think we'll actually be a better team if we can get Quinnerly over Judah. I think it will make for better chemistry. Judah will probably be all "hero ball" NBA audition next year, anyway. I might prefer a new mix like Autry has put together, where everyone has to earn it.

Making a big assumption that we can snag JQ in a NIL war.

 

[Orangezoo]

These mean absolutely nothing in the decision making process fwiw

Oh I know. Purely speaking from a surface level. Just from a talking heads standpoint don't see where much would drive change in the editorial view.

 

[UpstateSM]

I hope my interviewer at 11 is a Cuse hoops fan because it is safe to say I am not locked in

 

[RF2044]

People like to forget kids have to still go to class in college as well. I know this is a reason why few come back as well. Not saying in Judahs case but also something we tend to forget

"Have to."

 

[Nicknack]

So, I'll be rooting for him, but I think we'll actually be a better team if we can get Quinnerly over Judah. I think it will make for better chemistry. Judah will probably be all "hero ball" NBA audition next year, anyway. I might prefer a new mix like Autry has put together, where everyone has to earn it.

Why wouldn't Quinnerly do the same? As for Judah, I don't think he will resort to hero ball. In the combine scrimmages, he played really well under control. I think he'll come back and do more of that as well as working to get a higher percentage from 3.

 

[cali315phan]

Quietly is almost 25 years old. Why do we assumed we'd be a player for him? I'm under the impression that whether Judah comes back or not, we're done recruiting new guys for the upcoming season

 

[PauliePeppas]

I wonder what Givony's hit rate is on his mocks

Very high

 

[Orangezoo]

Quietly is almost 25 years old. Why do we assumed we'd be a player for him? I'm under the impression that whether Judah comes back or not, we're done recruiting new guys for the upcoming season

NJ kid, we offered, wouldn't impact future recruits and a last minute potential portal addition with Judahs decision coming today. So it was more of a plausible possibility all things considered. Additionally the top freshman pg left went to Louisville. Again it's all speculation based on those overlaps.

 

[MDCuse]

Quietly is almost 25 years old. Why do we assumed we'd be a player for him? I'm under the impression that whether Judah comes back or not, we're done recruiting new guys for the upcoming season

Why are you under that impression? They would have open schollys.

 

[Melancer46]

I wonder what Givony's hit rate is on his mocks

I looked back to 2021 and 2022, but 2021 was different in that the withdrawal date was like a week before the draft so you'd expect the mock to be more accurate that late in the cycle.

2021:

• Correctly predicted 27 of the 30 first round picks (not nailing the spots/teams, but getting them in his first round)
• Correctly predicted 21 of the 30 second round picks (and had 3 others in the 2nd round of his mock that ultimately went in the 1st round)
• Biggest misses in each direction were that he had Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Santi Aldama projected 58th and 55th respectively; they went 32nd and 30th in the real draft; and on the other end, he had Sharife Cooper #23 in his mock and he ultimately went 48th (I think most people had him in the first round at the time...that was a really shocking draft slide).

2022:

• Correctly predicted 25 of the 30 first round picks
• Correctly predicted 15 of the 28 second round picks (and had another 5 projected second rounders that ultimately went in the first round)
• Biggest misses in each direction: had EJ Liddell going #23 in his mock; he ultimately went #41 (was another surprising slide for most people); had David Roddy projected 47th and he went 23rd.