Good thread. Comparisons to well known players always fall short but they're still fun. I've racked my brain trying to think of the best possible comparisons but it's tough.
I like the comparison of Labissiere to Chris Bosh. I think it's a fair comparison. I actually think Skal may be a bit further along at this age than Bosh was. Both are good fundamentally. Both are long with excellent reach. Both are good, but not elite, athletes. Both have an excellent jump shot- great form, very smooth.
I like the Briscoe comparison to Deron Williams. Both elite ball handlers. Both see the floor well. I don't know if Briscoe is as good seeing the floor yet. Both can score the ball well. Neither was/is an elite 3 pt shooter at this stage of their careers but they are both a legit threat. Similar build- strong, good length, bulldogs out there. Both have a great attitude for leading and great confidence at this age.
Regarding Matthews, I'm gonna go back just a few years to a Florida player, Casey Prather. I wouldn't compare him to the senior version of Prather, but probabky more the sophomore version. I think Matthews is a bit more polished than Prather was as a frosh but not close to as good as Prather was as a senior. Both are very athletic, high flyers, above the rim finishers. They're not gonna beat you shooting the ball from 3 but they have the ability to handle well, to play well in the open floor, to slash to the rim and hit the short jumper or dunk in your face.
Regarding Zimmerman, I've not seen as much of him as the others. But what I've seen is impressive. At 7 feet he can handle the ball well. He can catch the ball in the open floor and finish. He can face up and drive by people. The Tyler Zeller comparison isn't bad but I think Zimmerman is better right now than Zeller was coming in. He can shoot with range, too, all the way out to the 3. He seems like a good leader out there, a very smart guy who knows how to utilize his abilities well. He can also pass the ball well for a big man and appears to like getting teammates involved. I think he could play either the 4 or the 5 at UK if he comes. He can face, he can play back to the basket too, but he seems better facing. Reminds me a bit of Frank Kaminsky with his footwork and some of his moves around the basket.
Great thread.
