Is Thomas Bryant a one and done?

[jdailey1981]

Thoughts?

http://hoosierstateofmind.com/2016/01/15/indiana-basketball-thomas-bryant-one-done/

[KingPG21]

It would be a dumb decision for him to leave after one year, and this is coming from someone who thought it would have been idiotic for Vonleh to come back.

Vonleh's strengths, being a stretch player, benefitted him in the NBA. Bryant's doesn't really translate that way in the NBA.

[GnarlyNormEllenberger]

A couple of things to keep in mind about the linked article...

 

1) The writer is using statistics as the basis of why Bryant will leave. Almost exclusively. Nowhere does he mention about Bryant's lateral quickness, positioning, strength, mid-range game, timing, stamina, etc. There are more things that scouts look at besides points per game and field goal percentage.

 

2) I don't see any credentials about the writer other than "staff writer." I'm curious if he's any closer to the program than your average BTown Banners member.

 

I don't know if Bryant is one-and-done or not, but I'm not sure I buy the reasoning in the article.

[Walking Boot of Doom]

I doubt it, but I bet he'll test the waters with the new NCAA eligibility change. And he should. It'll just suck for a couple months for Crean trying to plan for next year.

[Miller'sTheMan]

I think he'd be better served coming back for another year. As to whether he will though no one knows. 

[Old Friend]

If he thinks he is, he's listening to the wrong people.  He is nowhere near physically strong enough or quick enough laterally to have any chance for success in the NBA.  He's at least 1 more year to get him ready, and maybe two.  He's still a little soft (and I just mean like a young man...not yet fully developed), and needs some polish.  I'd hate for him to end up like Vonleh, who was more polished and more developed.  He played just 25 games his rookie season and less than 260 minutes the entire season.  Even in year 2, he's averaging just 3 points a game.  I don't know why a guy would leave early to be at the end of a bench or in the developmental league, but I'm not even sure Bryant would have the opportunities Vonleh has so far, which have been limited.

 

If he's desperate to get paid immediately, he can go be a late 1st or early 2nd rounder and spend time as a Mad Ant or something.  AJ Hammons is far more developed and far more ready.  He is currently projected as the last pick in the first round, and there are currently 15 players listed in the first round of the mock draft 6'9" or taller.   I hope he gets good advice.

[lucel15]

My thoughts. Great potential if he stays for 2-3 yrs. love his enthusiasm. However can get the best of him as well lol. Oh and to go along with the strength part. Yeah he still looks like a baby giraffe. Needs to work on some skills somewhat to get drafted. However im just a 22 year old who would love to be a pro scout or college scout lol. I could be wrong. But yeah still a baby giraffe.

[Crimson and Cream]

My thoughts. Great potential if he stays for 2-3 yrs. love his enthusiasm. However can get the best of him as well lol. Oh and to go along with the strength part. Yeah he still looks like a baby giraffe. Needs to work on some skills somewhat to get drafted. However im just a 22 year old who would love to be a pro scout or college scout lol. I could be wrong. But yeah still a baby giraffe.

2nd to last sentence is the exact same for me man haha, dream job

[BtownBanner6]

If he thinks he is, he's listening to the wrong people. He is nowhere near physically strong enough or quick enough laterally to have any chance for success in the NBA. He's at least 1 more year to get him ready, and maybe two. He's still a little soft (and I just mean like a young man...not yet fully developed), and needs some polish. I'd hate for him to end up like Vonleh, who was more polished and more developed. He played just 25 games his rookie season and less than 260 minutes the entire season. Even in year 2, he's averaging just 3 points a game. I don't know why a guy would leave early to be at the end of a bench or in the developmental league, but I'm not even sure Bryant would have the opportunities Vonleh has so far, which have been limited.

If he's desperate to get paid immediately, he can go be a late 1st or early 2nd rounder and spend time as a Mad Ant or something. AJ Hammons is far more developed and far more ready. He is currently projected as the last pick in the first round, and there are currently 15 players listed in the first round of the mock draft 6'9" or taller. I hope he gets good advice.

Not saying Vonleh has done much but he was injured for most if his rookie season, I'd give him Atleast a couple years before you write him off as a player on the end of the bench.

[Kepner]

Vonleh was at least in mock drafts his whole freshman year. Bryant hasnt appeared in any that Ive seen. I think small injuries have set Bryant back at the beginning of the year and we are starting to see his potential now. I don't think he is anywhere near ready and hope he doesn't go. 

[zinch2o]

Vonleh was at least in mock drafts his whole freshman year. Bryant hasnt appeared in any that Ive seen. I think small injuries have set Bryant back at the beginning of the year and we are starting to see his potential now. I don't think he is anywhere near ready and hope he doesn't go. 

Bryant has been in most of the mock drafts I have seen....Chad Ford has had him top 20 all year. 

 

He will go pro and he should at least test the market with the new rule. The league minimum is over half a million. That's just to sit the bench, as a rookie. A lottery pick is around $2 million, and first round is over a million besides the last 7 picks...

 

He could probably come back and develop his game and be a for sure lottery pick, but would you personally risk the chance of injury? or risk the chance of anything else and going from say a top 20 pick to not picked? 

 

I mean of course we could use him next year, and I want him back. I just don't see it happening...

 

It would be a dumb decision for him to leave after one year, and this is coming from someone who thought it would have been idiotic for Vonleh to come back.

Vonleh's strengths, being a stretch player, benefitted him in the NBA. Bryant's doesn't really translate that way in the NBA.

 

What? Vonleh can't shoot, that was his problem. Are you taking on defense?

 

And Vonleh almost fell really bad in the draft. You might not know the story. The teams that worked him out, didn't like him at all. They didn't tell the other teams of course, but then he didn't get picked by anybody and was falling in the draft. Michael Jordan had the 9th pick, and of course he had on his board the list of players to take, but he thought Vonleh would be gone. 

 

So Jordan makes the dumb decision of drafting him without working him out at all. Another bad drafting move by the guy who took Kwame Brown #1. If Jordan didn't pull the trigger who knows how far he might have fallen. 

[HoosierRob]

Bryant has been in most of the mock drafts I have seen....Chad Ford has had him top 20 all year.

He will go pro and he should at least test the market with the new rule. The league minimum is over half a million. That's just to sit the bench, as a rookie. A lottery pick is around $2 million, and first round is over a million besides the last 7 picks...

He could probably come back and develop his game and be a for sure lottery pick, but would you personally risk the chance of injury? or risk the chance of anything else and going from say a top 20 pick to not picked?

I mean of course we could use him next year, and I want him back. I just don't see it happening...


What? Vonleh can't shoot, that was his problem. Are you taking on defense?

And Vonleh almost fell really bad in the draft. You might not know the story. The teams that worked him out, didn't like him at all. They didn't tell the other teams of course, but then he didn't get picked by anybody and was falling in the draft. Michael Jordan had the 9th pick, and of course he had on his board the list of players to take, but he thought Vonleh would be gone.

So Jordan makes the dumb decision of drafting him without working him out at all. Another bad drafting move by the guy who took Kwame Brown #1. If Jordan didn't pull the trigger who knows how far he might have fallen.

and then traded him a year later. Vonleh should have stayed another year

[Old Friend]

Not saying Vonleh has done much but he was injured for most if his rookie season, I'd give him Atleast a couple years before you write him off as a player on the end of the bench.

Didn't mean it as writing him off.  Just that I think he was more ready than Bryant is, and he hasn't exactly hit the league with a huge splash.    I think he'll ultimately be a pretty good NBA player (Vonleh).  Doesn't mean I think it was in his best interest to leave after his freshman year.  Kind of funny how many young players are hurt for extended periods of time.   The rigors of an NBA season are really hard on a body.   And one that's not yet ready?   Brutal.

[KingPG21]

Bryant has been in most of the mock drafts I have seen....Chad Ford has had him top 20 all year. 

 

He will go pro and he should at least test the market with the new rule. The league minimum is over half a million. That's just to sit the bench, as a rookie. A lottery pick is around $2 million, and first round is over a million besides the last 7 picks...

 

He could probably come back and develop his game and be a for sure lottery pick, but would you personally risk the chance of injury? or risk the chance of anything else and going from say a top 20 pick to not picked? 

 

I mean of course we could use him next year, and I want him back. I just don't see it happening...

 

 

What? Vonleh can't shoot, that was his problem. Are you taking on defense?

 

And Vonleh almost fell really bad in the draft. You might not know the story. The teams that worked him out, didn't like him at all. They didn't tell the other teams of course, but then he didn't get picked by anybody and was falling in the draft. Michael Jordan had the 9th pick, and of course he had on his board the list of players to take, but he thought Vonleh would be gone. 

 

So Jordan makes the dumb decision of drafting him without working him out at all. Another bad drafting move by the guy who took Kwame Brown #1. If Jordan didn't pull the trigger who knows how far he might have fallen. 

Chad Ford is a freaking joke when it comes down to it. Dude should have just about no credibility when it comes to pre-draft stuff, and chances are he'll end up changing his mocks years after the draft ends up happening anyways. And no, Bryant isn't anywhere ready for the NBA. Like he is well behind Vonleh at this point.

 

I'm probably one of the biggest, if not the biggest NBA fans on this site, you don't need to tell me anything about the Vonleh draft stuff, and really the only team that came out with was the Celtics. No other team was really reporting anything of the sort, don't know where you're getting multiple teams from. 

 

Vonleh shot about 50% from three as a freshman, even if it was a limited sample size it showed he had the ability to shoot that shot. Coming out of college he showed he could shoot the ball. Not to mention Bryant hasn't even shown to be able to touch Vonleh when it comes to rebounding. 

[MartintheMopMan]

Not saying Vonleh has done much but he was injured for most if his rookie season, I'd give him Atleast a couple years before you write him off as a player on the end of the bench.

Vonleh is the starting power forward on a middle of the pack team in the West. He's not even on the bench much less the end.

[USMCHoosier]

I think TB showes flashes of the ability to be one and done but here is why I believe he is not.

1. He is 6'10", undersized for a center and he is not yet skilled enough to be a power forward.

2. He needs to develop a little more quickness in and around the block. He has the skills in the block but he is a little slow going to the correct move at times.

3. He is still learning how to properly hedge at the top of the key.

 

Bottom line, someone may draft him but it would be purely on perceived upside. He could be dominant next year and if so, he will be gone. I don't see him staying longer than next year unless he decides he wants to stay while finishing his degree, the option to go pro will likely be his as I believe he will be a lottery pick.

[JaybobHoosier]

He's been playing a lot better as of late, but he needs to be at IU for at least two years.  He still has quite a few things to work on before leaving.  However, if he is a top 20 pick in the first round this coming draft, I wouldn't blame him.  Still, I think he needs to come back to work on more of his game.  Get his mid-range/outside shot more consistent, along with getting more physical in the post.  Been great to watch him so far :)

[lucel15]

Sticking with my baby giraffe comment lol

[Kepner]

Bryant has been in most of the mock drafts I have seen....Chad Ford has had him top 20 all year. 

 

He will go pro and he should at least test the market with the new rule. The league minimum is over half a million. That's just to sit the bench, as a rookie. A lottery pick is around $2 million, and first round is over a million besides the last 7 picks...

 

He could probably come back and develop his game and be a for sure lottery pick, but would you personally risk the chance of injury? or risk the chance of anything else and going from say a top 20 pick to not picked? 

 

I mean of course we could use him next year, and I want him back. I just don't see it happening...

 

Out of ten of the most recent mock drafts I just looked up, Bryant is only mentioned in Chad Ford's top 20 prospects (is that technically even a mock draft). 

Its a similar situation to Williams the lats couple of years, he isnt even listed as a first round and people are assuming he is a lottery pick already. Bryant is a talented player but hasnt shown enough consistency to be a lottery pick right now. I have no doubt he can become that though. All he has to do is look at Vonleh's situation

[chitown hoosier]

There's just no way. When he committed, he stated that he wanted to play at least 2 years of college ball. I think he's a smart kid and knows that there's just no way he would compete at the NBA level right now. Bench players in the NBA would embarrass him right now.