He needs to take a page out of Grants book. Grant was so decisive with his shot on Monday. Yes, all his shots went in not expecting that with Kuany. But if Kuany can get that mindset, I think he will take that next step. He's thinking too much and hesitating.

On a related note, I loved Sam's energy. He was all over the place and playing with no fear. It didn't show up in the box score but his hustle was apparent. Seems like Fox likes him, he got a lot of minutes.

BC Calfan said:

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He needs to take a page out of Grants book. Grant was so decisive with his shot on Monday. Yes, all his shots went in not expecting that with Kuany. But if Kuany can get that mindset, I think he will take that next step. He's thinking too much and hesitating.

On a related note, I loved Sam's energy. He was all over the place and playing with no fear. It didn't show up in the box score but his hustle was apparent. Seems like Fox likes him, he got a lot of minutes.

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Good observation - Fox really admires his effort level and told a story where Grant was a bit frustrated in practice when Sam guards him, since Sam gets right into his "grill" and gives him no space to operate. Fox said sometimes they/staff needs to tell Sam to rachet it back some, as his energy level is extremely high.

KoreAmBear said:

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4thGenCal said:

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stu said:

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From what little I've seen of Celestine I'd say he has bona fide guard skills. I think he could play either SG or SF and possibly PG in a pinch.

If he's now listed at 6'7" that would explain why he looked a little taller than Alajiki and Anyanwu at the CSULA game.

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Definitely not a PG and not a true SG either - excellent shot, and skilled/crafty with ball, but lacks the handles and the explosiveness for those positions. He is 6' 6" 215lbs - all the players list in shoes/etc. Coach wants him to play with less caution and attack the rim when its there. Jalen still not all the way back mentally from his surgery - physically very close. Love his shot, but coach will make him earn his minutes in practice. With Kuany and the freshmen along with Bowers, he will need to outplay them in practice. He is very talented and hopefully earns 20 minutes/game+-

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It's very early, but just in the CSULA I didn't see anything really different from Kuany. I think he also needs to just express himself on the court and max out his athleticism. There were a couple of bursts last year where he he went baseline and exploded to the rim. But that was few and far between (not that he got to play a ton of minutes). I think with more minutes we will see that athleticism come out, which we desperately need.

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Well, he made a really nice bounce pass in traffic in the paint to Lars for a dunk, which might show he understands the game a little better. Now if everyone else could make their passes to Lars in a spot where it is easiest to catch the ball, Lars would begin to look like a better player.

4thGenCal said:

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BC Calfan said:

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He needs to take a page out of Grants book. Grant was so decisive with his shot on Monday. Yes, all his shots went in not expecting that with Kuany. But if Kuany can get that mindset, I think he will take that next step. He's thinking too much and hesitating.

On a related note, I loved Sam's energy. He was all over the place and playing with no fear. It didn't show up in the box score but his hustle was apparent. Seems like Fox likes him, he got a lot of minutes.

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Good observation - Fox really admires his effort level and told a story where Grant was a bit frustrated in practice when Sam guards him, since Sam gets right into his "grill" and gives him no space to operate. Fox said sometimes they/staff needs to tell Sam to rachet it back some, as his energy level is extremely high.

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Yes on first look Sam and Obinna both look like they can play and not overwhelmed by the pace at this level (well the level on Monday was CSULA but they didn't look out of place). I was hearing how Sam was more of a project, but while everyone not named Jaylen Brown is somewhat of a project coming in, he looked pretty skilled and athletic already and so far (I know just one game) has exceeded my expectation. I'm looking forward to seeing Roberson, if he is at the same level.

KoreAmBear said:

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Yes on first look Sam and Obinna both look like they can play and not overwhelmed by the pace at this level (well the level on Monday was CSULA but they didn't look out of place). I was hearing how Sam was more of a project, but while everyone not named Jaylen Brown is somewhat of a project coming in, he looked pretty skilled and athletic already and so far (I know just one game) has exceeded my expectation. I'm looking forward to seeing Roberson, if he is at the same level.

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IMHO Jason Kidd is the only Cal freshie who didn't look like somewhat of a project. Maybe Abdur-Rahim too.

stu said:

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KoreAmBear said:

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Yes on first look Sam and Obinna both look like they can play and not overwhelmed by the pace at this level (well the level on Monday was CSULA but they didn't look out of place). I was hearing how Sam was more of a project, but while everyone not named Jaylen Brown is somewhat of a project coming in, he looked pretty skilled and athletic already and so far (I know just one game) has exceeded my expectation. I'm looking forward to seeing Roberson, if he is at the same level.

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IMHO Jason Kidd is the only Cal freshie who didn't look like somewhat of a project. Maybe Abdur-Rahim too.

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True.

I'd say there are some that came here -- and even with flaws -- who looked pretty turnkey:

David Kravish and Theo come to mind. They seemed to be ready for Pac-12 play right away.

Lamond Murray was more than ready as a freshman.

TilWeWobble said:

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Lamond Murray was more than ready as a freshman.

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I recall Sir Richard Midgely was good to go. Was he older already?

Of course Leon Powe was a beast from the start. Ryan Anderson and Amit Tamir (again might have been older).

KoreAmBear said:

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TilWeWobble said:

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Lamond Murray was more than ready as a freshman.

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I recall Sir Richard Midgely was good to go. Was he older already?

Of course Leon Powe was a beast from the start. Ryan Anderson and Amit Tamir (again might have been older).

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You could say that Midge's defense was a bit of a project as a frosh, but you could tell right off the bat he belonged. Wallace as well. And of course Bradley.

We've actually had quite a few players arrive ready for Conference play as first year players. We just haven't had many years where we've had several on the same roster. Here are a few more

Russ Critchfield, Kevin Johnson, Leonard Taylor, Brian Hendrick, Sean Lampley, Dave Butler, Ricky Hawthorne, Larry Friend (soph xfer), Bill McClintock (soph xfer), Tremaine Fowlkes

Here is the 1971 roster, which was loaded: Charlie Johnson, Phil Chenier, Jackie Ridgle, Ansley Truitt, John Coughran

Civil Bear said:

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KoreAmBear said:

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TilWeWobble said:

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Lamond Murray was more than ready as a freshman.

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I recall Sir Richard Midgely was good to go. Was he older already?

Of course Leon Powe was a beast from the start. Ryan Anderson and Amit Tamir (again might have been older).

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You could say that Midge's defense was a bit of a project as a frosh, but you could tell right off the bat he belonged. Wallace as well. And of course Bradley.

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Midge was a fearless shooter and confident with the ball in his hands, but definitely was not a finished product and had plenty of room to grow as a player, especially as a PG. Wallace exactly the same (well, not the shooting). Both were good scoring PGs, but not really good facilitators. Kidd was all of the above (except shooting, but developed that in the NBA). KJ and Randle were two that I thought more highly of as freshmen than most Cal fans did, But then I liked Circus King more than most too.

SFCityBear said:

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We've actually had quite a few players arrive ready for Conference play as first year players. We just haven't had many years where we've had several on the same roster. Here are a few more

Russ Critchfield, Kevin Johnson, Leonard Taylor, Brian Hendrick, Sean Lampley, Dave Butler, Ricky Hawthorne, Larry Friend (soph xfer), Bill McClintock (soph xfer), Tremaine Fowlkes

Here is the 1971 roster, which was loaded: Charlie Johnson, Phil Chenier, Jackie Ridgle, Ansley Truitt, John Coughran

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OK, I stand corrected. I think your standard of "arrive ready for Conference play" is more reasonable. And yes, that 1971 team was loaded. Too bad it lacked a competent coach.

calumnus said:

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Civil Bear said:

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KoreAmBear said:

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TilWeWobble said:

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Lamond Murray was more than ready as a freshman.

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I recall Sir Richard Midgely was good to go. Was he older already?

Of course Leon Powe was a beast from the start. Ryan Anderson and Amit Tamir (again might have been older).

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You could say that Midge's defense was a bit of a project as a frosh, but you could tell right off the bat he belonged. Wallace as well. And of course Bradley.

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Midge was a fearless shooter and confident with the ball in his hands, but definitely was not a finished product and had plenty of room to grow as a player, especially as a PG. Wallace exactly the same (well, not the shooting). Both were good scoring PGs, but not really good facilitators. Kidd was all of the above (except shooting, but developed that in the NBA). KJ and Randle were two that I thought more highly of as freshmen than most Cal fans did, But then I liked Circus King more than most too.

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Perhaps, but neither Midge nor Wallace were considered as projects, and every player has room to grow out of HS.

Midgley's frosh season was rather impressive considering how dialed back he was from his HS years. He was rather flashy and often reckless with the rock. I recall one cyberbear(.org) poster even thinking he resembled Kidd after watching him in his State Championship game. But he played within himself his frosh year at Cal and did just what was needed to let the big 3 (Shipp, Wethers, & Tamir) run the show.

Civil Bear said:

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calumnus said:

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Civil Bear said:

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KoreAmBear said:

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TilWeWobble said:

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Lamond Murray was more than ready as a freshman.

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I recall Sir Richard Midgely was good to go. Was he older already?

Of course Leon Powe was a beast from the start. Ryan Anderson and Amit Tamir (again might have been older).

---

You could say that Midge's defense was a bit of a project as a frosh, but you could tell right off the bat he belonged. Wallace as well. And of course Bradley.

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Midge was a fearless shooter and confident with the ball in his hands, but definitely was not a finished product and had plenty of room to grow as a player, especially as a PG. Wallace exactly the same (well, not the shooting). Both were good scoring PGs, but not really good facilitators. Kidd was all of the above (except shooting, but developed that in the NBA). KJ and Randle were two that I thought more highly of as freshmen than most Cal fans did, But then I liked Circus King more than most too.

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Perhaps, but neither Midge nor Wallace were considered as projects, and every player has room to grow out of HS.

Midgley's frosh season was rather impressive considering how dialed back he was from his HS years. He was rather flashy and often reckless with the rock. I recall one cyberbear(.org) poster even thinking he resembled Kidd after watching him in his State Championship game. But he played within himself his frosh year at Cal and did just what was needed to let the big 3 (Shipp, Wethers, & Tamir) run the show.

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True. They were great players for Cal as freshmen (and throughout their careers). If anything their freshmen years lead to some disappointment that they did not develop much beyond their freshman skill level.