Basketball defections have begun!

[DawgatAuburn]

Not for us. That is later. There are two SEC players bolting though.

Keegan Bell leaves Vandyhttp://

Nate Rakestraw leaves Arkansas

 

[Goat Holder]

He was pretty good in HS, at least.

 

[LandArchDawg]

My vote is Augustus and Benock are good candidates to bolt.

 

[mstateglfr]

My vote is Augustus and Benock are good candidates to bolt.

</p>benock? really? the guy was a noname that actually got playing time at a top SEC school as a freshman. why would he be motivated to leave?

as for Augustus...who knows.

 

[Goat Holder]

nm

 

[gtowndawg]

Benok that is.

 

[Coach34]

we're gonna lose Augustus and Gordon

 

[DawgatAuburn]

I think Augustus is the last to decide.

If we have Gordon and Hopson, I think he will leave.
If we have Hopson but no Gordon, I think he leaves.
If we have neither or only Gordon, I think he might stay, but I would not be shocked if he left.

 

[Porkchop.sixpack]

stick his foot in the water and pull it back based on good advice --ala, Charles Rhodes?

 

[DawgatAuburn]

While I think your question was for Coach, I am replying anyway.

I always hear about marginal guys like Jamoney "testing the waters" and if they are not first round picks come back to school to "play their way into the first round." The question is: how often does this happen? Last year by my count there were five seniors in the first round (I could have missed some): Law, Thornton, Dudley, Brooks and Almond. The year before there were eight (Shelden Williams, Roy, Foye, Redick, Armstrong, Carney, Ager and Collins). Of those guys, how many would have been first round picks after their junior years? Impossible to know, but likely all but maybe Almond, Brooks, Ager and Collins. Maybe Armstrong on that list too.

So of the last two drafts, maybe five guys "played their way into the first round." I just don't think it is that easy. Even if Jamont has a great senior year, teams may pass on him in the first round in favor of untapped potential (international player, taller player, great scorer, etc). I guess the new age minimum helps the college players, but for the most part the guys who would have gone out of HS are leaving after their freshman years. Jordan at Texas A&M will be a good example. I am not sure he averaged double figures for A&M, but he is 6-11 and likely to go before Kevin Love, who was first team All American.

 

[Porkchop.sixpack]

Jamont is a first rounder, nor will he ever be.

 

[Coach34]

Jamont is a first rounder, nor will he ever be.

</p>i think he takes the money after being assured of being a 2nd rounder and takes his chances on making a team...if he doesnt make it, its D-League or Europe- but either way, he is getting paid more than he is at State

 

[Hanmudog]

With all the players leaving early. Think about Stanford, they are losing both Lopez twins as sophomores. It will take them awhile to rebound from that. Whether Gordon ever plays a second in the NBA, I am just glad that we had him for the 3 years that we did. When he came to State, I thought he would only stay for a year or two anyway. Also, not making the NBA does not equal failure. There is good money to be made overseas. Even though we like to make fun of European basketball, who on here wouldn't take $250K a year to play in Italy as a 22 year old rather than sit in a classroom and not get paid?

 

[Rebheaded Stranger]

Guys get drafted in the second round because they MIGHT become decent. Hell, if Gordon was white and from Spain, he'd be a top ten pick. I mean 8'4" Lithuanians get called "long" by Jay Bilas while Hubie Brown trumpets their "upside". Gordon will get drafted because he's a defensive matchup disaster at PG for most NBA teams and he can be a nice change of pace instant offense type guy. I doubt he'll ever become a starter or even stick with a team for any extended time. But his talent and body alone will keep him in the league for a few years provided his work ethic is halfway decent and he has an agent that never asks for too much dough.

Not to mention, they assume that in most cases, the college/international player has received ****** coaching and that they can get far more out of them than the likes of Stan Heath or John Brady.

Now, I'll stand back and let ya'll debate whether or not Stansbury has coached him up.

 

[Coach34]

"rather than sit in a classroom and not get paid?"

I wouldnt go that far

 

[patdog]

who really does have a chance to move up into the first round by coming back to school. All he really needs is to improve his outside shot and his judgment. And those are two things that can be improved. If he comes back to school and shoots 38-40% on 3-point shots and knocks a turnover per game off his average, I think he's a 1st round lock. It won't be easy, but it can be done. And sure, he could improve those same things in the NBDL or Europe and work his way into the NBA, but he if he goes that way, he'll get league mininum money instead of 1st round money and have to make a team in training camp instead of getting a guarantee. His ONLY chance at 1st round money is to come back to MSU next year. If he still can't make it, then go the NBDL or Europe route. I've never been one to tell a player to come back to school when it's not in his best interests to do so, but again I think Jamont is one of the few who really does need to come back to school.</p>

 

[Porkchop.sixpack]

nice change of pace instant offense type guy

yeah, for that team that wants the type of change of pace where somebody drives the ball up into a bunch of 7 footers and ends up looking like a fly that just got splatted against a wall.

 

[ScoobaDawg]

Put up or shut up..your hate fest of stans is already known, and now you are implying that jamont is getting paid while being at state.

if you know **** say it, but its likely just ******** since stans has been racked over the coals of the ncaa several times and come out clean.

if not, stop with your ******** antics already.

 

[ScoobaDawg]

Likely either Kodi Augustus or Phil Turner.
maybe both.