Andre Kelly, 2018 Power Forward from Stockton Commits to Cal

Great news - this staff has really impressed when it comes to the recruiting trail!!

Huge! Awesome.

I really like his dribbling, sometimes full court, other times simply attacking the basket.

Looks like he could play a little 3 as well.

Moves well and is well coordinated for a big. In the second video he looked more mature, and showed some passing ability, along with using his left for a shot once. He has a tendency to shoot everything with his right hand, or else the video just concentrated on his right hand shots. He was very effective just getting open while his smaller guards were able to feed him the ball, often over the top, but also some underhand feeds as well. I hope our stable of point guards (imagine that!) will be able to get him the ball in spots where he likes to shoot from. I'd like to see more of his rebounding and defense, but recruiting tapes seldom show those skills.

SFCityBear said:

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Moves well and is well coordinated for a big. In the second video he looked more mature, and showed some passing ability, along with using his left for a shot once. He has a tendency to shoot everything with his right hand, or else the video just concentrated on his right hand shots. He was very effective just getting open while his smaller guards were able to feed him the ball, often over the top, but also some underhand feeds as well. I hope our stable of point guards (imagine that!) will be able to get him the ball in spots where he likes to shoot from. I'd like to see more of his rebounding and defense, but recruiting tapes seldom show those skills.

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like most things in basketball, repetition and practice is needed to develop a skill. most players don't practice their weak hand enough. it takes a coach who teaches fundamentals or a motivated player to stop going to their strong moves, to better develop their weaknesses.

besides a layup line, I rarely see players practice shooting with their weak hand. but if they really want to play at the highest level (college or pros) they need to develop their weaknesses, as opposing coaches will scout them for their tendencies, and game plan against them. that doesn't happen nearly as much at the HS level

SFCityBear said:

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Moves well and is well coordinated for a big. In the second video he looked more mature, and showed some passing ability, along with using his left for a shot once. He has a tendency to shoot everything with his right hand, or else the video just concentrated on his right hand shots. He was very effective just getting open while his smaller guards were able to feed him the ball, often over the top, but also some underhand feeds as well. I hope our stable of point guards (imagine that!) will be able to get him the ball in spots where he likes to shoot from. I'd like to see more of his rebounding and defense, but recruiting tapes seldom show those skills.

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He showed he could use his off-hand well in the videos

I am excited for 2018.

SFCityBear said:

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Moves well and is well coordinated for a big. In the second video he looked more mature, and showed some passing ability, along with using his left for a shot once. He has a tendency to shoot everything with his right hand, or else the video just concentrated on his right hand shots. He was very effective just getting open while his smaller guards were able to feed him the ball, often over the top, but also some underhand feeds as well. I hope our stable of point guards (imagine that!) will be able to get him the ball in spots where he likes to shoot from. I'd like to see more of his rebounding and defense, but recruiting tapes seldom show those skills.

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His rebounding numbers in HS were tremendous. He also was one of the leading rebounders this Summer on the AAU circuit. His lower body is very strong. Once he has position is very difficult to move. Has excellent hands. If he were 6'9" rather than really more like 6'7" he would have been a consensus 4 star player. Another physically strong player like Matt Bradley. The days of Cal getting pushed around physically are being addressed.

The best thing I took from the videos is that he appears to make fairly quick decisions with the ball. Looks to have a nice feel for the game. It's been awhile since we've had a big like that.

I have seen Kelly at least a dozen times since his freshman year....the best thing about him is he come to play every night...a blue collar player who is willing to do the dirty work....he is a very skilled rebounder and capable scorer who will probably improve his 3 point shot since his form is solid.....I really think you can pencil him in at the 4 spot for the 2018-2019 season....a really good get for Wyking and Co......he is not a dazzling athlete but doesn't need to be as he gets the job done without flash.....

Wow. That sounds amazing. Recruiting is certainly on the up swing.

bearmanpg said:

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I have seen Kelly at least a dozen times since his freshman year....the best thing about him is he come to play every night...a blue collar player who is willing to do the dirty work....he is a very skilled rebounder and capable scorer who will probably improve his 3 point shot since his form is solid.....I really think you can pencil him in at the 4 spot for the 2018-2019 season....a really good get for Wyking and Co......he is not a dazzling athlete but doesn't need to be as he gets the job done without flash.....

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Along with the fact that he is a little shorter than ideal, his lack of flash is the biggest impediment to a higher rating from the "experts". They love athleticism and size. Basketball is still a skills game and solid fundamentals and effort really still do a long way. On offense his 6'7" height may not hurt him since he knows how to get good position and has good strength and footwork. Defensively it may hurt him some. He will need to use his girth to push guys out a few feet further than they would wish.

He should score and rebound very effectively in college. Not saying defense will be a liability but it does project to be his weakest area.

6956bear said:

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bearmanpg said:

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I have seen Kelly at least a dozen times since his freshman year....the best thing about him is he come to play every night...a blue collar player who is willing to do the dirty work....he is a very skilled rebounder and capable scorer who will probably improve his 3 point shot since his form is solid.....I really think you can pencil him in at the 4 spot for the 2018-2019 season....a really good get for Wyking and Co......he is not a dazzling athlete but doesn't need to be as he gets the job done without flash.....

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Along with the fact that he is a little shorter than ideal, his lack of flash is the biggest impediment to a higher rating from the "experts". They love athleticism and size. Basketball is still a skills game and solid fundamentals and effort really still do a long way. On offense his 6'7" height may not hurt him since he knows how to get good position and has good strength and footwork. Defensively it may hurt him some. He will need to use his girth to push guys out a few feet further than they would wish.

He should score and rebound very effectively in college. Not saying defense will be a liability but it does project to be his weakest area.

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He looked bigger to me than his opponents in the video links, so it would be interesting to see what he looks like against opponents of equal or greater size. It looks like he has the handles to go around a taller defender on the perimeter if his jumper is enough of a weapon.

Yogi Bear said:

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SFCityBear said:

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Moves well and is well coordinated for a big. In the second video he looked more mature, and showed some passing ability, along with using his left for a shot once. He has a tendency to shoot everything with his right hand, or else the video just concentrated on his right hand shots. He was very effective just getting open while his smaller guards were able to feed him the ball, often over the top, but also some underhand feeds as well. I hope our stable of point guards (imagine that!) will be able to get him the ball in spots where he likes to shoot from. I'd like to see more of his rebounding and defense, but recruiting tapes seldom show those skills.

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He showed he could use his off-hand well in the videos

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I was only writing about his shooting hand. As I remember it, he took all his shots with the right hand, and one shot with his left. Also as I remember, he took two shots with his right hand while he was up in the air and moving left and missed both shots badly. For the player skilled in using his left hand, even slightly or moderately skilled, it would have been a higher percentage shot to shoot those two shots with his left. The idea is to keep your eyes aware of the defender's hands and shoot the ball from where he has less chance of affecting your shot. It is something one usually learns in college, not in high school, so it is no big deal right now.

However, if he is projected as a PF, a big, it would have been nice to see some back to the basket post moves and shots, particularly with the left hand. That is something a player could have learned in high school or earlier. It is nice to see the fast break video, but PAC12 ball now is less fast break and more half court, so as a PF, he had better be able to post up inside, and if he can shoot with both hands, then he'll be all the better for it.

6956bear said:

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bearmanpg said:

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I have seen Kelly at least a dozen times since his freshman year....the best thing about him is he come to play every night...a blue collar player who is willing to do the dirty work....he is a very skilled rebounder and capable scorer who will probably improve his 3 point shot since his form is solid.....I really think you can pencil him in at the 4 spot for the 2018-2019 season....a really good get for Wyking and Co......he is not a dazzling athlete but doesn't need to be as he gets the job done without flash.....

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Along with the fact that he is a little shorter than ideal, his lack of flash is the biggest impediment to a higher rating from the "experts". They love athleticism and size. Basketball is still a skills game and solid fundamentals and effort really still do a long way. On offense his 6'7" height may not hurt him since he knows how to get good position and has good strength and footwork. Defensively it may hurt him some. He will need to use his girth to push guys out a few feet further than they would wish.

He should score and rebound very effectively in college. Not saying defense will be a liability but it does project to be his weakest area.

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I agree. I could care less about flash. We've had flash under Cuonzo, and where did that get us?

And sadly, most recruits are weaker on defense than most areas. 60 years ago, kids arriving in high school were weak on defense. We had defensive drills all afternoon long in practice. Now most recruits arrive in college weak on defense, and college coaches have their hands full trying to teach defensive fundamentals and team defense, along with complicated offenses, and still win games, all with limitations on how much time they are allowed to practice. My hat is off to anyone trying to make a living coaching college ball now.

SFCityBear said:

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6956bear said:

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bearmanpg said:

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I have seen Kelly at least a dozen times since his freshman year....the best thing about him is he come to play every night...a blue collar player who is willing to do the dirty work....he is a very skilled rebounder and capable scorer who will probably improve his 3 point shot since his form is solid.....I really think you can pencil him in at the 4 spot for the 2018-2019 season....a really good get for Wyking and Co......he is not a dazzling athlete but doesn't need to be as he gets the job done without flash.....

---

Along with the fact that he is a little shorter than ideal, his lack of flash is the biggest impediment to a higher rating from the "experts". They love athleticism and size. Basketball is still a skills game and solid fundamentals and effort really still do a long way. On offense his 6'7" height may not hurt him since he knows how to get good position and has good strength and footwork. Defensively it may hurt him some. He will need to use his girth to push guys out a few feet further than they would wish.

He should score and rebound very effectively in college. Not saying defense will be a liability but it does project to be his weakest area.

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I agree. I could care less about flash. We've had flash under Cuonzo, and where did that get us?

And sadly, most recruits are weaker on defense than most areas. 60 years ago, kids arriving in high school were weak on defense. We had defensive drills all afternoon long in practice. Now most recruits arrive in college weak on defense, and college coaches have their hands full trying to teach defensive fundamentals and team defense, along with complicated offenses, and still win games, all with limitations on how much time they are allowed to practice. My hat is off to anyone trying to make a living coaching college ball now.

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But college coaches recruit from the AAU pool of athletes. Most of whom are into flash. So these players arrive on campus feeling entitled to a certain degree. What ends up happening is only a few elite programs have the cache to keep these players somewhat grounded and work hard. Kentucky, Kansas, UNC, Duke, Arizona all recruit the very cream of the crop. These programs make up for fundamentals in many cases with elite athleticism and size. When they play hard it is difficult to beat them.

You need to win right away as a college coach and you cannot afford to build a program around the proper fundamentals in many cases. Coaches are instead trying to recruit enough good players to survive and build a culture. The one and done era has further eroded an already diminishing level of fundamental play. The success of the GSW in the NBA has helped get young players to focus some on shooting, passing and team play. Perhaps this leads to more fundamental play at the college level.

I think in every one of the clips that I saw, when he starts driving he ends up all the way at the rack. I wonder if he could learn to stop short of that destination and pull up for an 8 footer, just as the defender turns to leap and defend the rim.
Random insomnia thoughts.

still waiting for the reply on what happened to Darius mcneil----

helltopay1 said:

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still waiting for the reply on what happened to Darius mcneil----

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Are you sure you're in the right thread?

Besides the fact that he's on campus participating in team activities, what other info were you referring to?

Civil Bear said:

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The best thing I took from the videos is that he appears to make fairly quick decisions with the ball. Looks to have a nice feel for the game. It's been awhile since we've had a big like that.

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Uh Civil, does Ivan Rabb ring a bell? JK man. Just giving you a hard time.

KoreAmBear said:

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Civil Bear said:

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The best thing I took from the videos is that he appears to make fairly quick decisions with the ball. Looks to have a nice feel for the game. It's been awhile since we've had a big like that.

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Uh Civil, does Ivan Rabb ring a bell? JK man. Just giving you a hard time.

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All kidding aside, it seemed Ivan got exponentially more deliberate the further he got from the basket.

Rabb = 1/d^2

Civil Bear said:

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All kidding aside, it seemed Ivan got exponentially more deliberate the further he got from the basket.

Rabb = 1/d^2

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That's 1/e^d

Just saw Kelly walk into game

Scouting reports I've seen talk about his mid-range jumper being very solid. He may need to learn to pull up for it, but that's a skill a lot of kids don't have coming out of high school these days. I'd be more concerned about his low three point percentage if he's slotted to be a 3-4 type.

Regarding his size, the last report I saw had Kelly at 6'8" and 230 lbs. He should not have any difficulty holding his position on the low block, nor in competing for rebounds or protecting the rim. He's undergone quite a growth spurt in HS, and he may not be done growing yet. Andre is skilled and athletic. He'll be a very good addition at PF for the Bears.

puget sound cal fan said:

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Regarding his size, the last report I saw had Kelly at 6'8" and 230 lbs. He should not have any difficulty holding his position on the low block, nor in competing for rebounds or protecting the rim. He's undergone quite a growth spurt in HS, and he may not be done growing yet. Andre is skilled and athletic. He'll be a very good addition at PF for the Bears.

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Here is a recent 8-min highlight vid. Seems to be organized into sections (dunks are last).

Really like his physicality, body control, and instincts/touch around the basket. Good frame and long arms to add some significant muscle.

I see him as a guy who will be able to play the 3, 4, or 5 depending on matchups. Not much of a need at the 3 with Sueing and Gordon next year, so expect initially Andre will be used as a traditional big.

I thought that Jones is looking to play a "positionless" style of hoops, which kind of kills the debate about positions. At least, that's what I understand. It seems that it would be more about matchups, especially on d.

video shows he is not one dimensional
I think he will help right away, he will be going up against pac12 defenders which will be a different story

I don't know about "positionless" basketball, but the Bears appear to be targeting skilled and athletic players, who can play and defend multiple positions.

Regarding Kelly's height, he's listed at 6'8" and 230 lbs, which is big enough to give good account of himself in the paint against any D-1 competition. He may not be finished growing yet, either.