Will Baker at USA Tryouts

[PatrickYates]

https://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/news/usa-basketball-what-the-coaches-saw-on-saturday

Above is a link to a writeup about USA tryouts. Baker started out iffy, but came on fairly strong. He has a 33 inch vert leap, and shot well.
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But he measured out at 6-6 in shoes. So, he's not really big enough for PF, and nowhere near the 6-8 he'd been listed at. His game is more of a Combo F, and mostly SF.
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Essentially, he's a less talented version of both Cam and RJ. So, a red shirt might be in store. Cam and RJ need to be playing 30+ mpg, each. Throw in some AOC/Jack White, and let Zion play some nominal SF in a big lineup, and there just aren't any minutes available. A RS year would be great for Baker, and I hope that is the option he chooses.

 

[sgrooms]

Joey?

 

[Jake1985]

^ This is definitely not Will Baker, but Joey.

 

[crazyduke3]

I thought he was 6’5 so I’m happy to hear he’s 6’6 lol. He’ll be fine.

 

[PatrickYates]

I thought he was 6’5 so I’m happy to hear he’s 6’6 lol. He’ll be fine.

I thought he was 6-8, so I'm very disappointed. This basically locks him into SG or SF, which means he won't play much next year.

 

[Buzzooka Joe]

He definitely needs to redshirt next year.. I’d hate him to waste a year of eligibility just to play “garbage minutes” and not get a lot of real experience.. he will learn almost as much by just being with the team and practicing with them.

 

[PatrickYates]

He definitely needs to redshirt next year.. I’d hate him to waste a year of eligibility just to play “garbage minutes” and not get a lot of real experience.. he will learn almost as much by just being with the team and practicing with them.

Agree. Guarding Cam and RJ in practice will be great for him. And them. A lack of quality defnders in practice is a real problem for Cam and RJ. White and Baker will provide solid defenders in ractice.

 

[Buzzooka Joe]

Agree. Guarding Cam and RJ in practice will be great for him. And them. A lack of quality defnders in practice is a real problem for Cam and RJ. White and Baker will provide solid defenders in ractice.

Yep. And I think being at Duke for a redshirt year will prepare Baker more than staying another year at High School and just dominating against lesser competition.

And maybe he’ll grow an inch or 2 while redshirting..

 

[DukeDenver]

6’6 and smart beats 6’9 and dumb. Let’s hope he has it between the ears.

 

[PatrickYates]

6’6 and smart beats 6’9 and dumb. Let’s hope he has it between the ears.

6-9 and smart is better than 6-6 and smart.
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He floated the idea of a RS at the event. Baker will RS next year, I'm all but certain. Unless one of the injuries is worse than we currently know or suspect, or if someone else on the perimeter goes down.