Replacing Ron Harper Article
- Thread starter HeavenUniv.
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Bottom line there is no replacement for Harper on the current roster that will provide comparable scoring and clutch shooting at crunch time.Recruiting a prototype power forward that can score and rebound has been a challenge for decades.
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If youre talking about a Charles Oakley type PF, the game has changed.
Ron scored and rebounded for years for us at the 4
Ron scored and rebounded for years for us at the 4
Most teams don't have a 6'6'' power forward with Harper's skillset.
That’s true. But Hyatt comes the closest in terms of size and athleticism. The Harper role is set up for him on a platter. Pike needs to give him a long leach and see if he can develop some confidence.
There doesn't need to be a replacement, this is a 5 player sport. The only item that matters is what percentage of Harper's production are you looking to get??
It is really not a matter of just replacing the production.....it is replacing the "go to" aspect moreso.
The key is going to be asking Aundre Hyatt to be a "certain percentage of" Harper. His numbers will be pretty close to Harper's IF he is able to stay on the court and avoid foul trouble.
Hyatt has these stats in 12.8 MPG, vs Harper's 34 MPG
4.3 PPG
2.8 RPG
35.3 FG%
63.4 FT%
27.1 3 PT %
If you do a double of his minutes to 26 MPG and use a modest increase in all of his shooting percentages based on playing more and getting better opportunities, here is what I would look for.
Hyatt
28MPG
11.5 PPG
7.5 RPG
42 FG%
32.3 3 PT%
72 FT%
That gives RU around 80% of the Harper production.......what you absolutely cannot replace until Hyatt gets more comfortable and knows he is going to be on the floor, will be taking and making tougher shots.
Shot selection in the framework of the offense is the #1 item that impacts a shooting percentage.
I see Hyatt having a Eugene Omoyuri type of jump from his sophomore to junior season, just without a lot of the Eugene "dominating the ball or slowing down the movement of the ball".
Eugene's 2018-19 numbers are my baseline for Hyatt. I think Hyatt has more physical tools and skill set than Eugene's did entering his junior year. Eugene's huge step forward was based on his monster work-ethic and his real desire to be coachable....Hyatt has to prove he can grind at that level, but Hyatt and Eugene's numbers should be similar.
Eugene's 2018-19
29.1 MPG
13.8 PPG
7.2 RPG
44.5 FG%
31.1% from 3 PT
Hyatt in this offense if he can defend and stay out of foul trouble, can definitely project to a Eugene production level. It is not RHJ level, that's not going to happen, especially in terms of key shot taking/making.
I think the goal of targeting a grad transfer like Kyle Lofton would have been ideal to have him as your "under 10 shot clock guy". RU doesn't have an on the ball offensive player that is 1 on 1, it will have to rely on more player movement and extra passes to find the open man......whomever has the ball at under 5 on the shot clock, can make the extra pass to find the open man, whether it's Hyatt or allowing Mulcahy the freedom to improvise with Cliff and better spacing with Caleb, Spencer and Hyatt.....there should be open looks to have shots available, Hyatt, Caleb and Spencer should really have plenty of opportunities.
It is really not a matter of just replacing the production.....it is replacing the "go to" aspect moreso.
The key is going to be asking Aundre Hyatt to be a "certain percentage of" Harper. His numbers will be pretty close to Harper's IF he is able to stay on the court and avoid foul trouble.
Hyatt has these stats in 12.8 MPG, vs Harper's 34 MPG
4.3 PPG
2.8 RPG
35.3 FG%
63.4 FT%
27.1 3 PT %
If you do a double of his minutes to 26 MPG and use a modest increase in all of his shooting percentages based on playing more and getting better opportunities, here is what I would look for.
Hyatt
28MPG
11.5 PPG
7.5 RPG
42 FG%
32.3 3 PT%
72 FT%
That gives RU around 80% of the Harper production.......what you absolutely cannot replace until Hyatt gets more comfortable and knows he is going to be on the floor, will be taking and making tougher shots.
Shot selection in the framework of the offense is the #1 item that impacts a shooting percentage.
I see Hyatt having a Eugene Omoyuri type of jump from his sophomore to junior season, just without a lot of the Eugene "dominating the ball or slowing down the movement of the ball".
Eugene's 2018-19 numbers are my baseline for Hyatt. I think Hyatt has more physical tools and skill set than Eugene's did entering his junior year. Eugene's huge step forward was based on his monster work-ethic and his real desire to be coachable....Hyatt has to prove he can grind at that level, but Hyatt and Eugene's numbers should be similar.
Eugene's 2018-19
29.1 MPG
13.8 PPG
7.2 RPG
44.5 FG%
31.1% from 3 PT
Hyatt in this offense if he can defend and stay out of foul trouble, can definitely project to a Eugene production level. It is not RHJ level, that's not going to happen, especially in terms of key shot taking/making.
I think the goal of targeting a grad transfer like Kyle Lofton would have been ideal to have him as your "under 10 shot clock guy". RU doesn't have an on the ball offensive player that is 1 on 1, it will have to rely on more player movement and extra passes to find the open man......whomever has the ball at under 5 on the shot clock, can make the extra pass to find the open man, whether it's Hyatt or allowing Mulcahy the freedom to improvise with Cliff and better spacing with Caleb, Spencer and Hyatt.....there should be open looks to have shots available, Hyatt, Caleb and Spencer should really have plenty of opportunities.
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Harper will be hard to replace.
But can't count out someone on roster now playing well enough to overcome the loss.
Every year programs lose good/great players and sometimes playera on the roster help the team overcome the loss by stepping up their game and becoming a player that will seem hard to replace when it's their turn to leave.
But can't count out someone on roster now playing well enough to overcome the loss.
Every year programs lose good/great players and sometimes playera on the roster help the team overcome the loss by stepping up their game and becoming a player that will seem hard to replace when it's their turn to leave.
Your point about key shots is huge. It's one thing to can your good looks that open up because the D is focusing on Harper or Baker. "Replacing" their production has to factor that in.
Harper hit some amazing clutch shots but was not consistently dominant for prolonged stretches within the game. The combination of Hyatt and McConnel finding the offensive switch he turned on for the Notre Dame game will be our best bet to replace his scoring.
I just don’t see a replacement on current roster(even with Caleb coming back). We have some interesting pieces coming back but no one has the star power of RHJ and the ability to score at a high level. I’m not sure if a power forward is feasible in the portal that fits our culture. It should be interesting to see how the void is filled.
The same way we “replaced” JY, the team will adapt and play a different style.
Also - has it already been announced or something that Woolfolk will be redshirting? It’s not like we don’t have a 250 lb 6-8 frosh joining the team.