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Does Cliff go pro this yr?

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Morrischiano2

All-American
Dec 3, 2019
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Cliff has been a solid, if (lately) unspectacular, center this year. He’s likely 2nd team All BiG behind Edey and likely Dickinson, who is help Jett Howard carry Michigan. That being said, I wonder if he’s a first round prospect.

A quick scan of 3 or 4 mock drafts doesn’t have Cliff in the first round.

Would he stay one more year?
 
N

NickRU714

Heisman
Aug 18, 2009
14,059
12,868
113
Copy and paste RHJ after the 2021 season or Caleb after last season.
Forget 1st round. Clif isn't really appearing on any mock drafts at all - even 2nd round.

I would assume he'll "declare" - be told his projection is "late 2nd/undrafted" and then return.

He'll likely be in the same situation after next year as well (see RHJ after last season).
To be frank - Clif isn't likely getting drafted in the 1st round ever.

The question Clif has to ask himself is ultimately "do I want to keep playing college basketball?"

He's not going to improve his projection by returning. But he's also not going to make worse.
 
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RutgersDom

All-American
Nov 18, 2003
5,972
7,405
113
NickRU714 said:
Copy and paste RHJ after the 2021 season or Caleb after last season.
Forget 1st round. Clif isn't really appearing on any mock drafts at all - even 2nd round.

I would assume he'll "declare" - be told his projection is "late 2nd/undrafted" and then return.

He'll likely be in the same situation after next year as well (see RHJ after last season).
To be frank - Clif isn't likely getting drafted in the 1st round ever.

The question Clif has to ask himself is ultimately "do I want to keep playing college basketball?"

He's not going to improve his projection by returning. But he's also not going to make worse.
Click to expand...
He can def improve his projection if he develops his mid range and some post moves. Plus with eidy and Dickensian gone he can be first team all BIG.

My son said something interesting last night.
“If Paul was 6-11 with his post moves he would be incredible. So why can’t Paul help him?”
 
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S

Scarlet1984

All-Conference
Jan 28, 2004
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Morrischiano said:
Cliff has been a solid, if (lately) unspectacular, center this year. He’s likely 2nd team All BiG behind Edey and likely Dickinson, who is help Jett Howard carry Michigan. That being said, I wonder if he’s a first round prospect.

A quick scan of 3 or 4 mock drafts doesn’t have Cliff in the first round.

Would he stay one more year?
Click to expand...

I did laugh out loud at the topic.

Not a hater. Love him as a player. But balls bounce off his hands.
 
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C

Colbert17!

Heisman
Aug 30, 2014
17,383
18,821
113
RutgersDom said:
He can def improve his projection if he develops his mid range and some post moves. Plus with eidy and Dickensian gone he can be first team all BIG.

My son said something interesting last night.
“If Paul was 6-11 with his post moves he would be incredible. So why can’t Paul help him?”
Click to expand...
Somebody has. I think his footwork on the post has improved a lot since last year. Still a long way to go but he's getting better.
 
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A

anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy

Guest
jtung230 said:
NIL can help make that decision easier. We need him back. Said it in another thread. If we don’t have Cliff this year, this team wouldn’t make any post season.
Click to expand...
I mean this in the nicest way possible because i love cliff, hes a good kid. If he goes pro next year its the corey sanders route. Cliff has ALOT of work to do before even thinking about the nba
 
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R

RU82

Heisman
Jun 7, 2001
31,338
30,725
113
NickRU714 said:
Copy and paste RHJ after the 2021 season or Caleb after last season.
Forget 1st round. Clif isn't really appearing on any mock drafts at all - even 2nd round.

I would assume he'll "declare" - be told his projection is "late 2nd/undrafted" and then return.

He'll likely be in the same situation after next year as well (see RHJ after last season).
To be frank - Clif isn't likely getting drafted in the 1st round ever.

The question Clif has to ask himself is ultimately "do I want to keep playing college basketball?"

He's not going to improve his projection by returning. But he's also not going to make worse.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately for Cliff the NBA doesn’t place a high value on players like him anymore. But that’s not to say that he wouldn’t have opportunities to play professionally outside the US and make a decent buck.
 
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scarletrat

All-Conference
Aug 28, 2003
10,990
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I’ll play devils advocate here a bit. IMO, his game is more suited to a Jarrett Allen (stupid Nets) or Nic Claxton, Clint Capela, maybe Keval Looney. An Uber athletic 5 who defends, rebounds, and blocks shots. He may not be there now, and may need time at RU and G League, but I think that’s his route to the association. I don’t think he is that far off to get there.
 
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anon1753890747

All-Conference
Sep 29, 2006
3,891
3,679
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Cliff needs a year of AJ Moye School
1 year with AJ would make him a first rounder.
I know he has worked with guys at RU
Cliff if you are reading this call AJ now!!!
 
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N

NickRU714

Heisman
Aug 18, 2009
14,059
12,868
113
RutgersDom said:
He can def improve his projection if he develops his mid range and some post moves. Plus with eidy and Dickensian gone he can be first team all BIG.

My son said something interesting last night.
“If Paul was 6-11 with his post moves he would be incredible. So why can’t Paul help him?”
Click to expand...

Not likely. Maybe from "Undrafted/late 2nd" to "likely 2nd round". But that isn't exactly improving draft projection much.

Generally, upperclassmen dont return and improve draft stock.
He's 21 and will be 22 before the 2023 season starts.
Next year he'll be 22 for the 2024 Draft and turn 23 before the season starts.
That's really old for the draft.


College accolades mean just about nothing with regards to NBA draft projections.
Luka Garza was 1st Team All Big multiple times, National POY and he was barely drafted in the 2nd round (52nd overall, 22th is the 2nd roune).

This isn't even anything personal with Clif.
I don't know why people get so defensive when NBA draft projections are discussed. Same with RHJ.

There's only 60 picks. Nobody is saying he can't play his way into the NBA or isn't a good player. Just being realistic about his situation.
 
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njxchange

All-Conference
Aug 27, 2007
1,029
1,177
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NickRU714 said:
Copy and paste RHJ after the 2021 season or Caleb after last season.
Forget 1st round. Clif isn't really appearing on any mock drafts at all - even 2nd round.

I would assume he'll "declare" - be told his projection is "late 2nd/undrafted" and then return.

He'll likely be in the same situation after next year as well (see RHJ after last season).
To be frank - Clif isn't likely getting drafted in the 1st round ever.

The question Clif has to ask himself is ultimately "do I want to keep playing college basketball?"

He's not going to improve his projection by returning. But he's also not going to make worse.
Click to expand...
I agree with everything you said but I also think if he does come back, he can improve his projection. One more year to really work on things that he lacks. He really dominates B1G and even competes for B1G player of the year, he will get himself in the conversation of late 1st around or early 2nd round.

- I think his help defense is improving as the season goes, thats why he is getting more blocks lately. He still needs to work on his one on one defense, where he gets beat to a spot more times than none.
- He really really needs to work on his mid jumpers and stop taking those stupid 3s. If you cant make mid jumpers consistently, why make your ranger longer? this is so dumb...
- he needs to be able to make more moves facing the defense. (his dribbling skills needs to improve). jumpers off the dribble also.
- athletically, he is a freak! lets really work on his basic skills
 
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T

TDIrish27

All-Conference
Aug 2, 2001
4,438
2,666
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Scangg said:
Cliff isn't NBA ready but the worst argument people make is his lack of post moves. Not all centers are low post scoring threats. Cliff would be a rebounder defender lob threat.
Click to expand...

Agreed

At worst he's on a 2 way contract if he goes pro IMO.
 
K

Knight Owl

All-Conference
Jul 27, 2001
3,536
2,580
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Cliff would really benefit staying. Griffiths coming means Cliff will have more room in the paint to perfect some moves (as he will in the NBA someday since the NBA will have shooters on the floor with him). Good floor spacing with two 40+% 3pt shooters would benefit Cliff more than anyone.
I believe visa issues would prevent a large NIL deal but I believe he is a serious student so there’s that.
 
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P

Perricone7

All-Conference
Jan 26, 2015
1,492
2,107
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The “cliff to the nba” discussion has been a head scratcher for years. He’s literally never been on a mock draft list and is already past the prime first round age. The nba is unbelievably difficult to make. He’s a really good college player that needs to develop touch to even think about the league.
 
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D

dbegleiter

Senior
Dec 15, 2010
253
445
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kyk1827 said:
I mean this in the nicest way possible because i love cliff, hes a good kid. If he goes pro next year its the corey sanders route. Cliff has ALOT of work to do before even thinking about the nba
Click to expand...
Do you think he has more of a pro game than a college game? He may be more equipped to be a rim protector, rebounder, and dunker at the pro level in a faster paced game
 
A

anon1753890747

All-Conference
Sep 29, 2006
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RedChucken123 said:
This times 10x.
The amount of times balls bounce off his hands is certainly frustrating. I don’t know what it takes to fix that, but if he can get that polished up, he’d easily add a handful more buckets and rebounds.
Click to expand...
He needs to move his feet to the ball,
Fixed!!!! There are some other issues but it will solve a majority of the problem. Easier said than done
 
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MiloTalon13

All-American
Jun 3, 2022
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Griffiths spaces the floor and gets him more alley oops and more offensive rebounds

Cliff gets the ball in the post plenty now he not very good there
 
D

daveo13

All-Conference
Jul 24, 2013
1,078
1,654
88
His jump hook shots are flat and short. He needs to put more arc on the shot which will be a better percentage.
 
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JonathanAlan

All-American
Jan 14, 2002
6,351
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Cliff should stay at Rutgers another year and work on his mid-range shot and ball handling. I think he enjoys the college game and experience and if he gets decent NIL money I think he stays.
 
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satnom

All-American
Jun 28, 2002
6,974
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If Cliff can work on his low block moves spinning out to use the glass and moving into the paint with a consistent 5-8 ft make, he’s a walking 20/10 player. BIG player of the year.

Cliff needs to stay away from taking threes and fade away shots. Keep improving on Defense which is the strength of his game and improve his FTs , Cliff is NBA draftable. He needs another year at college level.

GO RU
 
R

RUJMM78

Heisman
Jul 25, 2001
26,206
12,468
113
The only way another year of college would help Cliff is if he went to a summet camp for centers that would teach him post moves prior to next season.I don't see that happening but also don't think he will return to Rutgers.I see him following Harper playing in the G league or playing as a professional overseas.
 
M

mjjoyce51

All-Conference
Mar 29, 2012
912
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kyk1827 said:
I mean this in the nicest way possible because i love cliff, hes a good kid. If he goes pro next year its the corey sanders route. Cliff has ALOT of work to do before even thinking about the nba
Click to expand...

Not saying he leaves but Cliff would at least get a two way contract. No chance all 32 teams ignore that raw size and athleticism.
 
K

Knight Owl

All-Conference
Jul 27, 2001
3,536
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Interesting that Mark Gasol didn’t really start shooting threes until age 32. During his time in Toronto he shot 40% from 3. Interesting that he’s still playing at age 37, but in Spain.
 
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RUTrack94

All-American
Nov 15, 2008
11,411
5,215
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RedChucken123 said:
This times 10x.
The amount of times balls bounce off his hands is certainly frustrating. I don’t know what it takes to fix that, but if he can get that polished up, he’d easily add a handful more buckets and rebounds.
Click to expand...
Part of the perception is because Myles had very strong hands.
 
S

Scangg

Heisman
Mar 19, 2016
25,448
49,369
113
Does anyone know if Cliff is interested in becoming a US citizen?

Not sure how all that works, but if he can get citizenship it would open up NIL opportunities. It's quite a long process though. I remember my Egyptian roommate finally got his in college and he was here since he was like 5
 
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bsh75

Junior
Dec 6, 2006
388
296
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I have watched some of Indiana's game this past week. Trace Jackson-Davis has all kinds of postup moves that Cliff can't do at this point.
 
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