Kiyan

[Bill Orange]

Is there a basketball equivalent to lacrosse players going to Canada to play box lacrosse for the summer?

It’s called the Rucker Summer League.

 

[hoopsupstate]

His form is too good to not be a consistent three point shooter. If GMAC gets him to understand what a good shot is and when he should shoot it, his percentages will really climb.

 

[McCuse]

It’s called the Rucker Summer League.

Tell them Earl "The Goat" Manigault sent ya!

 

[McCuse]

Tell them Earl "The Goat" Manigault sent ya!

 

[dasher]

On his podcast, Melo broke down Kiyan’s game and noted where he needs to show improvement. They know the assignment for this summer.

And yet Melo didn't say one word about foul shooting. KA shot 52% from the free throw line and yet before games, he didn't shoot any free throws. What I worry about with him is that he will work on the things he already does well.

 

[MG44]

It’s called the Rucker Summer League.

Agree 100% but in all honesty, if you wanna learn tough you should probably play 4 blocks off Rucker.
Whether or not you need a body a guard probably depends on who you are and what you've got to lose lol

 

[llandz]

And yet Melo didn't say one word about foul shooting. KA shot 52% from the free throw line and yet before games, he didn't shoot any free throws. What I worry about with him is that he will work on the things he already does well.

Well as someone who sat across the court from Melo and Lala in Vegas, the look on their faces every time Kiyan went to the line, tells me they know...

 

[IthacaMatt]

And yet Melo didn't say one word about foul shooting. KA shot 52% from the free throw line and yet before games, he didn't shoot any free throws. What I worry about with him is that he will work on the things he already does well.

He'll be fine from the line. He has more important stuff to work on.

 

[690West]

It’s called the Rucker Summer League.

Hahaha. Yes. The local Rucker in the 80’s and 90’s was Barry Park. And another underrated spot was our very own JD middle school with the chain nets. Even the Pearl would come to play there.

 

[Cusefan0307]

His form is too good to not be a consistent three point shooter. If GMAC gets him to understand what a good shot is and when he should shoot it, his percentages will really climb.

His balance on his jumper is awful. He needs to work on his footwork there.

 

[Brooky03]

Just popping in to say I don’t understand the sentiment that Kiyan looks like a lost cause who needs a minor miracle to become a productive player. Maybe I’m being hyperbolic, but it really seems like some fans think he just doesn’t have ‘it,’ and I struggle to see their POV. This is across multiple threads, not just this one.

Different eras and all that, but y’all remember Demetris Nichols?

 

[GHLF]

Just popping in to say I don’t understand the sentiment that Kiyan looks like a lost cause who needs a minor miracle to become a productive player. Maybe I’m being hyperbolic, but it really seems like some fans think he just doesn’t have ‘it,’ and I struggle to see their POV. This is across multiple threads, not just this one.

Different eras and all that, but y’all remember Demetris Nichols?

I think that actually might be a really good comparison, Great guy as well. He worked so hard to get better on the defensive end as well.

 

[Nicknack]

And yet Melo didn't say one word about foul shooting. KA shot 52% from the free throw line and yet before games, he didn't shoot any free throws. What I worry about with him is that he will work on the things he already does well.

Yeah, that's the concern I have. This year he came across way too confident for what he delivered on the court. I think he needs a lot of maturing and I hope this year humbled him some. I think he could be a really good college basketball player, provided he channels things appropriately.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

He finally stopped spinning the ball before he shoots his foul shots. Kiyan will be fine next year because he wants to get better.

Spinning the ball doesn’t matter. It’s just about routine.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

Just popping in to say I don’t understand the sentiment that Kiyan looks like a lost cause who needs a minor miracle to become a productive player. Maybe I’m being hyperbolic, but it really seems like some fans think he just doesn’t have ‘it,’ and I struggle to see their POV. This is across multiple threads, not just this one.

Different eras and all that, but y’all remember Demetris Nichols?

You could see that DNic had the tools, just needed some seasoning. Not sure about Kiyan. Hard to break the “me ball” habit.

 

[Hopkins16]

You could see that DNic had the tools, just needed some seasoning. Not sure about Kiyan. Hard to break the “me ball” habit.

He got it from his papa.
Problem is, he’s not his papa.

 

[50YRsofCuse]

And yet Melo didn't say one word about foul shooting. KA shot 52% from the free throw line and yet before games, he didn't shoot any free throws. What I worry about with him is that he will work on the things he already does well.

I’m also worried that Kiyan will become the focal point of any game where he has to either have the ball or the ball/play needs to go through him.

I saw this when he played at the Peach Jam games two summers ago. The team had another point guard but Anthony had to handle the ball.

Kind of reminded me when Syracuse would look for Buddy on a large number of their plays. Guess this happens when your dad controls the purse strings for the team.

If this is the case, then kiss the team and the season away.

 

[721Comstock]

He got it from his papa.
Problem is, he’s not his papa.

Early in the season, against the directional OOC cannon fodder teams,
Kiyan was able to “get his” on the regular.

But that was because the opposing talent level was, at best, equal to the HS talent he played against,
and many likely below that level.

So he thrived, and we (myself included) said he looked like Moten 2.0.

But then as soon as the talent and athleticism of our opponents increased to P4 level -
He was nearly useless.

And worse than useless on D.

Couldn’t score, couldn’t make his FT’s when he got bailed out by a foul,
and couldn’t defend his way out of a wet paper bag.

Kiyan is gonna hafta go back to the lab, and work on his strength, speed, weight, ball handling & security,
and spend a few hours daily shooting FT’s.

Drawing fouls like Judah Mintz is almost pointless,
if you shoot FT’s like Stevie Thompson.

 

[Brooky03]

You could see that DNic had the tools, just needed some seasoning. Not sure about Kiyan. Hard to break the “me ball” habit.

Kiyan’s game is more advanced from a skill standpoint than DNic’s was as a frosh, imo. I know we’re comparing a guard and a forward, so it’s not apples to apples, but I’m not sure I agree that we saw tools in DNic that we don’t see in Kiyan. DNic was moderately more athletic, but athleticism was never what set his game apart. When he started reliably hitting threes, he became a key player; the same could be true for Kiyan (not that that’s all it would take).

I think coaching and a clearly defined role can fix the ‘me ball’ stuff. I wouldn’t call him inherently selfish on the court. When you’re inexperienced and in a dysfunctional offense, it’s easier to focus on yourself and what you can do than it is to create for others or defer to others.

 

[Brooky03]

Early in the season, against the directional OOC cannon fodder teams,
Kiyan was able to “get his” on the regular.

But that was because the opposing talent level was, at best, equal to the HS talent he played against,
and many likely below that level.

So he thrived, and we (myself included) said he looked like Moten 2.0.

But then as soon as the talent and athleticism of our opponents increased to P4 level -
He was nearly useless.

And worse than useless on D.

Couldn’t score, couldn’t make his FT’s when he got bailed out by a foul,
and couldn’t defend his way out of a wet paper bag.

Kiyan is gonna hafta go back to the lab, and work on his strength, weight, ball handling & security,
and spend a few hours daily shooting FT’s.

Drawing fouls like Judah Mintz is almost pointless,
if you shoot FT’s like Stevie Thompson.

Wouldn’t playing well against low D1 talent but just struggling with the physicality of P4 talent be a promising thing? I guess that’s what I’m getting at. He showed what he can do when he’s not physically mismatched and it wouldn’t take a Herculean effort for him not to be physically mismatched.

I’m sure his 40 time isn’t very good, but he’s not plodding around in cement shoes either.

 

[orangefog]

Early in the season, against the directional OOC cannon fodder teams,
Kiyan was able to “get his” on the regular.

But that was because the opposing talent level was, at best, equal to the HS talent he played against,
and many likely below that level.

So he thrived, and we (myself included) said he looked like Moten 2.0.

But then as soon as the talent and athleticism of our opponents increased to P4 level -
He was nearly useless.

And worse than useless on D.

Couldn’t score, couldn’t make his FT’s when he got bailed out by a foul,
and couldn’t defend his way out of a wet paper bag.

Kiyan is gonna hafta go back to the lab, and work on his strength, weight, ball handling & security,
and spend a few hours daily shooting FT’s.

Drawing fouls like Judah Mintz is almost pointless,
if you shoot FT’s like Stevie Thompson.

Kiyan puts in work, but it seems that a lot of it is working on his one on one skills with Melo. I think he needs to play on a well structured team this summer. Not some pickup league where they play bullshit AAU type basketball. I just don’t think that exists, unless he plays for a national team or possibly overseas.

 

[Newhouser]

His biggest problem is he plays way too slow in every facet of his game. No urgency. His effort needs to double if not triple. Also it sounds easy but effort is a skill and not an easy thing to develop. He doesn't play hard enough and until he does his last name is going to be a problem because he has to play.

 

[Sherman20]

I’m glad I reignited this thread, and thanks for all your opinions and observations on Kiyan’s potential and what he needs to do this off-season to improve his game, especially his defensive effort, shot selection, decision making and free throw shooting. I agree with many of your observations. I worry that Kiyan will be Gmac’s Starling, the guy that some believe helped kill Red’s career after hitching his wagon to him. But I think Gmac is a coach that will hold all his players accountable, including the son of his friend and fellow legend. So I’m hopeful that Kiyan works hard this offseason and matures and improves his game.

 

[kingtidge]

Kiyan has a whole lot of lazy baked into his game that should see him on the pine until he improves his effort.

Time to grow up and play big boy ball.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Kiyan is not the first freshman that’s struggled. I feel like he’s under the microscope even more than others because who his father is.