Fab 5
The Duke freshman trio of Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett and Cam Reddish is very good. It is unfair to compare these talented freshmen to Michigan’s Fab 5. Who was the Fab 5 you ask, they were Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson. This team of freshman played far beyond what many believed possible. John Calipari much later would start a nearly all-freshman team at Kentucky.
The Duke freshman trio of Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett and Cam Reddish is very good. It is unfair to compare these talented freshmen to Michigan’s Fab 5. Who was the Fab 5 you ask, they were Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson. This team of freshman played far beyond what many believed possible. John Calipari much later would start a nearly all-freshman team at Kentucky.
Coach Steve Fisher did this in 1991 and
his Fab 5 would come within an eyelash of winning the 1991 NCAA
Championship. They were unconventional
and unorthodox, their swagger including baggy shorts and black socks upset a
great number of folks. Before we begin
making comparisons the crop of Duke freshman must at least play for the NCAA
Championship, although they didn’t win it, they managed to reach the final
round. It should be noted this team had
a reserve guard Rob Pelinka who would go on to become a sports agent and today
is general manager of the Lakers.
Pushing the envelope
It’s been awhile, we haven’t covered the remaining Ball brothers and their PR dad. LeMelo Ball has returned from Lithuania and enrolled at the Spire Institute near Cleveland to finish high school. He can be applauded for that move as for the other moves they are questionable at this point. He wants to play college ball at a major university. LaVar claims his sons received no financial compensation playing in Lithuania so LeMelo should be eligible for college with a gigantic question mark on my part.
It’s been awhile, we haven’t covered the remaining Ball brothers and their PR dad. LeMelo Ball has returned from Lithuania and enrolled at the Spire Institute near Cleveland to finish high school. He can be applauded for that move as for the other moves they are questionable at this point. He wants to play college ball at a major university. LaVar claims his sons received no financial compensation playing in Lithuania so LeMelo should be eligible for college with a gigantic question mark on my part.
The other issue the NCAA might not take
kindly to according to reports is the shoe deal. You remember LeMelo had a
signature shoe released by the Big Baller Brand. In today’s “amateur basketball” he
might get by on the “I wasn’t paid plea”,
the shoe might be another matter. I
believe I’ve made it known several of my concerns regarding the archaic rules
of the NCAA. Let’s see how they rule on
this matter once LeMelo graduates from high school.
Grey’s Anatomy or Chicago Med
This is not a critique of medical television programs however it is medically related. In Philadelphia the Sixers trainer is claiming Markelle Fultz is “still not healthy.” He makes this claim after the off-season shoulder surgery Fultz underwent last season. On the other end of the spectrum Fultz is disputing the trainers claim. Whose word should we take as valid, I have no idea your guess is as good as mine.
This is not a critique of medical television programs however it is medically related. In Philadelphia the Sixers trainer is claiming Markelle Fultz is “still not healthy.” He makes this claim after the off-season shoulder surgery Fultz underwent last season. On the other end of the spectrum Fultz is disputing the trainers claim. Whose word should we take as valid, I have no idea your guess is as good as mine.
96 road miles east in New York City
medical questions exist there as well.
The Knicks Kristaps Porzingis is sidelined from last winter’s ACL
surgery. Recently coach David Fizdale
questioned about his status said, “He’s
not made much progress.” What is the
response from Porzingis, he decided to post two Instagram photos of him
sprinting up and down the court. You
figure this one out too, that completes today’s medical report.
He committed
At this point commitments are verbal, next week prospects can begin signing letters of intent if they desire. Most times they wait till the spring signing period before making it official. Texas and Shaka Smart received a commitment from Rivals 5-star prospect Will Baker. Baker is a 7-foot 240-pound center and get this he will remain at home. Remaining home in a technical sense, the university is located in Austin and Baker is also from Austin. He could have left the State of Texas if he desired several schools had offers on the table. Duke, UCLA, Kansas and North Carolina were just a few of the number seeking his services for their program.
At this point commitments are verbal, next week prospects can begin signing letters of intent if they desire. Most times they wait till the spring signing period before making it official. Texas and Shaka Smart received a commitment from Rivals 5-star prospect Will Baker. Baker is a 7-foot 240-pound center and get this he will remain at home. Remaining home in a technical sense, the university is located in Austin and Baker is also from Austin. He could have left the State of Texas if he desired several schools had offers on the table. Duke, UCLA, Kansas and North Carolina were just a few of the number seeking his services for their program.
My story
I tuned into an Indiana game desiring to see their standout player Cody Zeller. At the end of the game I found myself more impressed with a teammate. I had not heard the name Victor Oladipo until this game, by the end I said to myself “I’ve got to keep an eye on him.” In 2013 the Magic made him the second pick in the draft after a few honors while in college. He made the NBA Rookie Team in 2014 and played great basketball for the Magic until 2016 when he was traded to the Thunder. All I can do is look at his numbers while a member of the team which appeared good, but he was on the move once again.
I tuned into an Indiana game desiring to see their standout player Cody Zeller. At the end of the game I found myself more impressed with a teammate. I had not heard the name Victor Oladipo until this game, by the end I said to myself “I’ve got to keep an eye on him.” In 2013 the Magic made him the second pick in the draft after a few honors while in college. He made the NBA Rookie Team in 2014 and played great basketball for the Magic until 2016 when he was traded to the Thunder. All I can do is look at his numbers while a member of the team which appeared good, but he was on the move once again.
The Thunder traded him to the Pacers in 2017, Oladipo
returned to Indiana where he first distinguished himself on the court. Whether it was just a scenery change or
something else Oladipo made the NBA All-Star team for the first time in his
career. The dawn of the 2018-19 season
witnessed Oladipo continue his upward all-around play. He’s one of those glue guys especially good
on the defensive side of the ball. He
was the steals leader and made the NBA All-Defensive First Team. Funny how this turned out for me, wanting to
see one player and being more impressed with another.
