Most impressive play from last night...

[Louie&Bouie]

Was Fab hustling down the court for that lob after starting the break on the other end.

For the first time last night, I turned to a friend, and said "he looks like a gazelle." Man that kid has worked his ass off this year. Literally growing with every game.

 

[Scotch]

His dunk on the break (not the alley oop, the little dish from scoop) was absolutely absurd. He took off from WAY out, and displayed coordination/athleticism you simply don't see out of a 7 footer. He has rare physical skills.

 

[JrodCuse]

For people fooling themselves thinking hes not a lottery pick, name me one other 7 footer who can run the floor as quickly as the guards who are in a full out sprint. Everyone, please enjoy the next 2 months we have of Fab because there is a .00001% chance he returns next season. Kid is good as gone. So let's stop wearing the orange blinders and saying its better for him to return next year. It's just not happening. Hes way too athletic for someone in a body that big.

 

[RF2044]

His dunk on the break (not the alley oop, the little dish from scoop) was absolutely absurd. He took off from WAY out, and displayed coordination/athleticism you simply don't see out of a 7 footer. He has rare physical skills.

Just think of how good he's going to be when he masters a low post move or two!

He really has a lot of offensive potential--and we've really benefitted from his DEFENSIVE potential he's actualized this year. Hope we get to see him take the next step next season--sky is really the limit for this kid.

 

[cliftonparksufan]

Just think of how good he's going to be when he masters a low post move or two!

He really has a lot of offensive potential--and we've really benefitted from his DEFENSIVE potential he's actualized this year. Hope we get to see him take the next step next season--sky is really the limit for this kid.

Because I like the Jazz, I watch Enes Kanter in all the games, who was the #3 pick last draft. Kanter doesn't get a ton of minutes since he is behind Al Jefferson, but in his limited minutes, you can really see the potential of why he was chosen where he was. When I watch him, I obviously want to compare Fab to him since he went 3rd last year. I'll go on record and say that Kanter deserved to be the #3 last year and Fab deserves to be the #3 this year. NBA scouts have to be drooling in his progress.

It's funny, cause they probably came to the early Cuse games this season to see Kris Jo. Then they "discovered" Dion. Now they are probably tripping all over themselves to see the Fabulous one.

 

[djcon57]

For people fooling themselves thinking hes not a lottery pick, name me one other 7 footer who can run the floor as quickly as the guards who are in a full out sprint. Everyone, please enjoy the next 2 months we have of Fab because there is a .00001% chance he returns next season. Kid is good as gone. So let's stop wearing the orange blinders and saying its better for him to return next year. It's just not happening. Hes way too athletic for someone in a body that big.

...and he hits FTs at a better clip than like 80% of the centers in the NBA

 

[iommi]

I've told this story before. I was sitting directly behind two NJ Nets scouts at the Stanford game at MSG...Khalid Greene and Bob Ferry (Danny's father). I spoke to Khalid Greene periodically the whole game. He was very impressed with Fab's development and weight loss. He also said they liked Dion's development as a play-maker. But Khalid seemed to be very focused on Fab.

 

[SUintheVille]

Was Fab hustling down the court for that lob after starting the break on the other end.

For the first time last night, I turned to a friend, and said "he looks like a gazelle." Man that kid has worked his ass off this year. Literally growing with every game.

I still find it amazing the difference from last year to this year with Fab. Are we absolutely certain that this is the same Fab and not a twin brother or some pro player reincarnated into Fab's body? And he still has a lot more upside to go.

 

[NailstheCusefan12]

I'd also say that Fab's better suited to play the NBA game than guys like Zeller, Hensen, or even Davis because of his bulk.

 

[Flacusian]

Bernie sculpted him to be the ultimate collegiate and pro center.

 

[jordoo]

His dunk on the break (not the alley oop, the little dish from scoop) was absolutely absurd. He took off from WAY out, and displayed coordination/athleticism you simply don't see out of a 7 footer. He has rare physical skills.

Agreed that play was crazy for a big guy. He had to slow down to catch the pass and he still took off on two feet that were both inside the "BIG EAST" logo in the lane.

 

[jordoo]

Every GM that passes on Fab in the draft this year will be kicking themselves in about 3 years. he is the best big prospect in the draft bar none IMO. He will be a great pro and he is really just beginning to grasp basketball.

 

[reedny]

Just think of how good he's going to be when he masters a low post move or two!

He really has a lot of offensive potential--and we've really benefitted from his DEFENSIVE potential he's actualized this year. Hope we get to see him take the next step next season--sky is really the limit for this kid.

OMG, yes... Fab with a baby hook would be unstoppable.

 

[MyMeloMyMan]

Enjoy it now...because Fabulous will be on the Bucks next season...

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Because I like the Jazz, I watch Enes Kanter in all the games, who was the #3 pick last draft. Kanter doesn't get a ton of minutes since he is behind Al Jefferson, but in his limited minutes, you can really see the potential of why he was chosen where he was. When I watch him, I obviously want to compare Fab to him since he went 3rd last year. I'll go on record and say that Kanter deserved to be the #3 last year and Fab deserves to be the #3 this year. NBA scouts have to be drooling in his progress.

It's funny, cause they probably came to the early Cuse games this season to see Kris Jo. Then they "discovered" Dion. Now they are probably tripping all over themselves to see the Fabulous one.

I'm growing into being a Jazz fan. Fun team this year.

Re: Kanter vs Fab, I think Fab has way more upside on offense than Kanter, and Fab will be a much better shot blocker, but holy crap Kanter is a beast rebounder.

 

[RoysRunts]

Keep the Agents Away in the off season:bang:

 

[arrow2arinzesknee]

For people fooling themselves thinking hes not a lottery pick, name me one other 7 footer who can run the floor as quickly as the guards who are in a full out sprint. Everyone, please enjoy the next 2 months we have of Fab because there is a .00001% chance he returns next season. Kid is good as gone. So let's stop wearing the orange blinders and saying its better for him to return next year. It's just not happening. Hes way too athletic for someone in a body that big.

Better for him personally? No, its hard to turn down big money, especially with supposed off the court and academic issues.

Better for his game to stay another year? to me that a no brainer, he could develop and perfect a strong low post move on smaller weaker competition and become supremely confident. I think he becomes more NBA ready if he is there one more year, not to mention could raise his stock to be a top 5 pick the next year.

I agree that its not happening but I don't think its orange colored blinders to think his game wouldn't benefit from another year at the D1 level, just not him personally

 

[jordoo]

Better for him personally? No, its hard to turn down big money, especially with supposed off the court and academic issues.

Better for his game to stay another year? to me that a no brainer, he could develop and perfect a strong low post move on smaller weaker competition and become supremely confident. I think he becomes more NBA ready if he is there one more year, not to mention could raise his stock to be a top 5 pick the next year.

I agree that its not happening but I don't think its orange colored blinders to think his game wouldn't benefit from another year at the D1 level, just not him personally

He may well be a top 5 pick this year. I find it hard to come up with many players that should go ahead of him at this point.

 

[jekelish]

I don't believe he will come back next year, and he DEFINITELY won't be a four year player.

However, if he were to stay all four years, I could absolutely see him putting up:

17 PPG, 11 RPG, 4 BPG, 60% FG, 70% FT

That would be easily a top five pick, and I don't think, based on his current progression (assuming he continues on this arc) those would be unrealistic numbers for a senior Fab Melo.

 

[moqui]

I think by the time the NCAAT rolls around, Fab will be a fairly consistent 12 and 7 guy (which is a lot on this team, given all the weapons).

If he comes back next year (and I don't think that he will), I think he will be preseason All American and a favorite to win national player of the year. He'll go for 17 and 10 and lead the nation in blocked shots (and charges taken) while being defensive player of the year.

but, again, he will not be back.

 

[Knicks411]

I agree that its not happening but I don't think its orange colored blinders to think his game wouldn't benefit from another year at the D1 level, just not him personally

His game is going to benefit from another year no matter where it comes; he's improving by leaps and bounds right now. It's not like he can't improve in the league.

 

[cliftonparksufan]

I'm growing into being a Jazz fan. Fun team this year.

Re: Kanter vs Fab, I think Fab has way more upside on offense than Kanter, and Fab will be a much better shot blocker, but holy crap Kanter is a beast rebounder.

Kanter will never average 20 ppg but it's unbelievable how strong he is. He is strong like bull and has the potential to score a lot of points around the hoop.

Fab is more athletic and as we have learned has nice range, but he will still make his money in the paint.

However, this is the most important:

Enes Kanter was born on 5/20/92
According to NBAdraft.net, Fab Melo was born on 6/20/90.

So, Fab is a full two years older than Enes Kanter. There is no way that Fab comes back for another season and enters the draft as a 23 year old.


BTW, as a Jazz fan, I do love the 21 and unders: Kanter, Favors, Hayward and Burks. It will be exciting to see how all four of them develop.

 

[Millhouse]

Just think of how good he's going to be when he masters a low post move or two!

He really has a lot of offensive potential--and we've really benefitted from his DEFENSIVE potential he's actualized this year. Hope we get to see him take the next step next season--sky is really the limit for this kid.

not to mention NBA trainers and NBA horsepill pharmacists.

 

[arrow2arinzesknee]

His game is going to benefit from another year no matter where it comes; he's improving by leaps and bounds right now. It's not like he can't improve in the league.

true, but you can get in a bad situation in the pro's , his off the court actions had him in trouble earlier, whose to say with a few million dollars he doesn't work as hard as he does at SU, or that he gets caught up in a new lifestyle and just simply slow down his progression, or loses confidence the first time Howard or Chandler send his shots into the third row?

At SU he gets to work in a situation we know works for him and his progression (at least on the court). He can develop a hook shot in game against competition that is shorter and slower and can get confidence in his footwork and maybe get a nice 12-15 foot bank shot going. All of this without attention going to Sullenger and Davis and maybe he is NPOY, I dunno watching the NBA game and then watching Melo I honestly think another year makes him a more viable long term NBA player as opposed to leaving and going in with his moveset as it stands.

it may be negligible long term but I think it helps his first few NBA years immensely.

But I think he has to go if he is projected lottery, its just too hard with injury concerns of staying another year to not take the guaranteed money now.

 

[bevosu]

A question...

Is Fab the best sophomore center in SU basketball history?