Basketball from a fans perspective

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He’s headed to BYU

The Utah school long associated with the Mountain West and West Coast Conference is now a Big 12 member. The change appears to have affected football and basketball recruiting. Of course it could be coaching which has brought about a change as well. Most familiar with high school prospects are familiar with the name AJ Dybansta, he is considered by all sites number one for 2025. Dybansta attends Utah Prep in Hurricane some 300 road miles south of Salt Lake City.

It turns out a publication I was unfamiliar with has made an interesting observation. Calvin Barrett in lawlessrepublic.com wrote “AJ Dybansta is 100% projected to commit to BYU.” This 6 foot 9 210 pound forward was born and grew up in Brockton MA, his first stop was Prolific Prep in Napa California prior to enrolling at Utah Prep. There you have it, according to Barrett, Dybansta will announce his commitment to attend BYU. Besides the coaching staff at BYU one Calvin Barrett will have his fingers crossed hoping his prediction comes to fruition.

An early look

Sometimes we fail to realize how difficult a jump it is from college or Euro basketball to the NBA, it’s early but a quick look at the top two draft picks in 2024. Zaccharie Risacher was the top pick chosen by the Hawks and Alex Sarr was the second pick by the Wizards. As you might remember both prospects hail from France, in addition should we guess the success of Victor Wembanyama might have been an influence. In any event both 19-year old’s have begun their NBA careers somewhat slowly, Risacher is scoring at a 9.2 ppg clip while Sarr is 8.0.

Talent certainly exists at a different level and as mentioned the adjustment to the NBA. We could use the teammate of Sarr as the example Bilal Coulibaly, last season the guard scored at a 9.1 ppg clip for the Wizards. This season through four games he’s doubled his scoring output (18.8), there could be factors not evident impacting Coulibaly. A portion has got to be adjustment, will he continue at this pace…check back at the end of the season. As for the two rookies profiled Risacher and Sarr unless there are serious concerns about their development we’ll see how each progresses through the season. Even that might not be a true barometer if we look at Coulibaly rookie’s season versus early year two.

The coach or the school

When it comes to college recruitment there is always a question, whether it is the coach or the school. In the instance of UConn it could be both, Dan Hurley and his team are hot commodities these days. Hurley and UConn are coming off back to back NCAA championships so that certainly aids the cause. The latest pledge comes from Jacob Furphy a 6 foot 6 inch wing from Australia if the country and name sound familiar it should.

He's got an older brother Johnny who played his freshman year at Kansas and is now a rookie on the Pacers. Jacob becomes the 4th commit for UConn for 2025 and now they have the number 2 recruiting class in the nation according to 247Sports. Furphy’s played for the NBA Global Academy and also with the Australian Youth National Team. This from 247Sports, “While he’s not the most physically gifted or athletic, Furphy uses his acumen and skillset to impact the game as a shooter, facilitator, rebounder and initiator on the court.” So it appears the coach is more comfortable at UConn over the Lakers.

“Make it rain”

There have been NBA players in the past and up to the present with the ability to shoot proficiently. It doesn’t matter whether they are starters or reserve players, it’s been said they “make it rain” as shot after shot finds the bottom of the basket. Buddy Hield is one of those players able to rain down shots since his days at the University of Oklahoma. Tuesday night with Steph Curry sidelined due to injury Hield was inserted into the lineup and did what he always does…score buckets. Hield recorded 28 points on 50% shooting from the floor and a sizzling 63.6% from three and 100% from the line.

Hield’s played for a number of NBA teams but in this instance it’s his value as a shooter that’s made him a prized player over his career. During the summer Hield was traded to the Warriors in a six team trade and was expected to perform in the same manner he exhibited on Tuesday. There have been a few players over the NBA’s history with a game similar to Hield. Hield was a starter in this game however generally he comes off the bench and shoots…and shoots…and shoots. Hield is unlikely to gain admittance to the Hall of Fame however anytime a discussion on lights out shooters in the NBA is held, we must include the name Buddy Hield.

He’s in the Hall of Fame

During a discussion at work I told Charley “I bet you didn’t realize the Kansas City Kings had an opportunity to acquire Moses Malone.” Yes, that Moses Malone, the one who led the Sixers to the 1983 NBA championship, that Moses Malone who was later honored by his selection to the Naismith Hall of Fame. Thanks to researching this issue I came across this fact, it was the 1976 ABA-NBA expansion. The best ABA players were placed in a pool and NBA teams had an opportunity to choose the best based on their won-loss record. In that draft the Bulls chose center Artis Gilmore (in the Naismith Hall) with their initial pick

Next up the Blazers would chose power forward Maurice Lucas. The Kansas City Kings, with the third pick chose 29-year guard Ron Boone, the Pistons chose Marvin Barnes. Then it occurred, the Blazers at five would select the 21-year old Malone. I have no method to prove my point but believe capital might have been the deciding factor. Although we are talking 1976 dollars the salary demanded by a young Malone was likely much higher than Boone would have commanded. Malone was only two years into his career which later resulted in an NBA championship, NBA Finals MVP and later Hall of Fame selection. I’m conducting revision history with this take, the Kings might have remained in Kansas City if ownership hadn’t been so stingy.