(2019) SF Keion Brooks Jr. to Kentucky

[ray]

3 hours ago, Honkyman said:

It would be nice to blame IU's woes on a couple of players who don't fully buy into the team concept.  But the real problem is that Coach isn't using his best players (Langford, Morgan & Davis) to full advantage. So let's not blame IU's poor season on a couple of knuckleheads. Even if Green and Smith were gone (and Green was banished for a couple of weeks), the team still has the same problems, i.e., unimaginative offensive scheme and extremely poor 3-point shooting.

I agree to an extent, but I also realize the team has not been healthy all year (Davis was cleared to play only recently and is fighting back into the rotation, but I would absolutely like to see him used more).  Langford is being "forced" to do things he's not comfortable or effective at because of the defensive schemes presented to him by opposing teams (and at times he likes to stand around), but I would like to see less of Romeo creating for himself and more team offensive plans to free him to drive into the lane (which is hard to do when the lane is clogged and the outside shooting is below par).  Romeo is also quite good at coughing up the ball, which is something many don't nag on him about.  Morgan plays wherever and however he's needed, (usually) quite effectively, although I wish like hell they would feed him in the paint WAY more than they do (he's a lethal weapon under the basket, but he's too often hanging around the top of the key or starving for the ball underneath with no feeding).  

What puzzles me is if Smith and Green are as cancerous as everyone claims, then why are they still playing a large percentage of minutes?  And, to take it a step farther, if they are that cancerous then why are they even on the team?  Yes, injuries have made it almost a necessity to keep them (and the bench doesn't have much experienced talent to back them up), but still...it puzzles me a bit.  When someone is diagnosed with cancer, the first step is to try to kill the cancerous cells off.

[ray]

1 hour ago, Chris007 said:

As I have been saying with our APR situation that Crean left us in, it's just not that easy. But hopefully, this being the 2nd year in a row with a good APR we can get rid of the troublemakers. 

Thanks.  This helps answer questions I made in my previous post.

[ray]

32 minutes ago, Free Jurkin! said:

Well then that sucks... Hopefully stuff gets fixed. I've been a defender of Green's this year, mostly because I think he's been better than people think, not because I think he would be an asset if we had better players. For instance, if Green transferring means we can take Beverly, that would be a great trade.

Smith is actually somebody I think could be very valuable with his defensive versatility as a bench guy getting 15-20 minutes a game. I thought he was pretty good against Purdue. He had a number of shots rim out, but his activity was good, and he's valuable if he can continue to play like that. But if his attitude is as bad as it apparently seems to be, it's better for him to move on.

I, too, see so much potential (and possible value) in Smith...which is largely why I become so frustrated with him at times.  He has areas he needs to improve on, none more so than giving full effort at all times and championing a better attitude, but he has a knack for rebounding and can be a great defender when willing.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Brooks selected to play in the Iverson Classic.  https://www.slamonline.com/college-hs/high-school/2019-allen-iverson-roundball-classic-rosters-announced/

[TXHoosierDaddy]

19 hours ago, Free Jurkin! said:

Well then that sucks... Hopefully stuff gets fixed. I've been a defender of Green's this year, mostly because I think he's been better than people think, not because I think he would be an asset if we had better players. For instance, if Green transferring means we can take Beverly, that would be a great trade.

Smith is actually somebody I think could be very valuable with his defensive versatility as a bench guy getting 15-20 minutes a game. I thought he was pretty good against Purdue. He had a number of shots rim out, but his activity was good, and he's valuable if he can continue to play like that. But if his attitude is as bad as it apparently seems to be, it's better for him to move on.

I've just about given up on Green and I was a defender of his earlier this year. The one handed alley up pass against Purdue was my final straw. Such an easy pass to grab with two hands and lay it in. He just can't make the easy play always trying to showboat. Even when he does make a great play it's almost never within the constraints of the offense. He's clearly talented but I just don't think he will ever get to his full potential since we have witnessed the same mistakes for 3 years. He can go. 

Smith is so frustrating because he clearly has the ability to be a difference maker on both ends of the court. If this guy had a motor going all the time he could be a double double machine. But he takes a lot of plays off and seems to be unhappy when the ball doesn't find him enough. That could consistently be a problem here because I don't see him as ever being THE GUY. If he could clean up his attitude and get pops out of his ear I think he could be a nice asset the next two years. But I have doubts that will happen. 

[LamarCheeks]

1 hour ago, TXHoosierDaddy said:

Smith is so frustrating because he clearly has the ability to be a difference maker on both ends of the court. If this guy had a motor going all the time he could be a double double machine. But he takes a lot of plays off and seems to be unhappy when the ball doesn't find him enough. That could consistently be a problem here because I don't see him as ever being THE GUY. If he could clean up his attitude and get pops out of his ear I think he could be a nice asset the next two years. But I have doubts that will happen. 

To be honest, I'm just starting to think regardless of attitude, Smith is just not a very good basketball player. A pretty good athlete? Yes. But the basketball skills just don't seem to be there -- at least from my observations. I've seen him get good positioning on a box out, only to just see the ball bang off his hands as he goes for the rebound. I've seen him shoot an airball from 15 feet. I've seen him shoot an airball from 10 feet. I've seen him nearly break the backboard on a 20-footer. I've seen him make a nice move to get to the bucket, then totally brick what should be a simple layup. ... Maybe he should've just tried football or track -- perhaps those are better suited to his athletic capabilities. With his skill set (or lack thereof), he is never gonna be a scorer. He could be a great defender if he played hard when he's on the court, but he pouts when he's not a bigger part of the offense. And when he is part of the offense, he can't score anyway. It's a Catch 22 for Archie. 

[Hoosierfan2017]

What is Justin Smith's wingspan? He seems to get blocked more than most players that I can remember. He can jump high but he seems to lack some other aspects of athleticism. 

[ViaSwiss]

14 minutes ago, Hoosierfan2017 said:

What is Justin Smith's wingspan? He seems to get blocked more than most players that I can remember. He can jump high but he seems to lack some other aspects of athleticism. 

I've never seen a kid miss more layups and dunks. Funny enough, Keion never tries to HAMMER his dunks for show. He basically lays them in nicely. Never once say him miss one. 

[HoosierAloha]

What is Justin Smith's wingspan? He seems to get blocked more than most players that I can remember. He can jump high but he seems to lack some other aspects of athleticism. 

Leaping ability is neutralized when you jump out instead of jumping up. We currently have a lot of players that jump out and not up. I’m hoping with TJD and possibly Keion they’ll jump more vertically and through defenders than horizontally and around defenders. That’s an easy way to get your shot blocked.


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[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Latest from Brian Snow at 247Sports

247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 23

One of the more athletic and versatile forwards in this class, Brooks has had a tremendous senior season in leading La Lumiere to an undefeated season and a No. 1 ranking in the country. The Indiana native has had one of the more talked about recruitments in the class, and while he hasn't yet reached a decision, he appears to be moving closer to one.

Currently Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan State are getting the most attention, with North Carolina and Purdue also remaining in the mix. UCLA also received an official visit, but without a head coach, they no longer are a factor in this recruitment. Brooks took a recent unofficial visit to Kentucky, and that was big for the Wildcats.

No final decision date has yet been set, but Brooks is about to be home for Spring Break with his family, and odds are a lot of discussion will happen at this time, and that is when everything will move toward a final decision.

[ray]

2 hours ago, HoosierAloha said:

Leaping ability is neutralized when you jump out instead of jumping up. We currently have a lot of players that jump out and not up. I’m hoping with TJD and possibly Keion they’ll jump more vertically and through defenders than horizontally and around defenders. That’s an easy way to get your shot blocked.


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Perhaps this explains why I’ve yet to see Smith (with his record-breaking vertical) win a jump ball, yet I believe Indiana has gained the possession to start the game each time Davis (viewed by many as not athletic) has jumped. I’ve been wondering how he hasn’t won any jump balls for Indiana. I realize it’s as much about timing as anything and Davis has a few inches on Smith (as do most of Indiana’s opponents in jump ball situations).  Still...

[cthomas]

28 minutes ago, ray said:

Perhaps this explains why I’ve yet to see Smith (with his record-breaking vertical) win a jump ball, yet I believe Indiana has gained the possession to start the game each time Davis (viewed by many as not athletic) has jumped. I’ve been wondering how he hasn’t won any jump balls for Indiana. I realize it’s as much about timing as anything and Davis has a few inches on Smith (as do most of Indiana’s opponents in jump ball situations).  Still...

Bobby Wilkerson was pretty effective at 6' 7" jumping center. 

[DChoosier]

If Brooks wants to go where he is needed I would think last nights game is yet another example of our huge need for a playmaker.  Come on down.

[yogisballin]

To be honest, I'm just starting to think regardless of attitude, Smith is just not a very good basketball player. A pretty good athlete? Yes. But the basketball skills just don't seem to be there -- at least from my observations. I've seen him get good positioning on a box out, only to just see the ball bang off his hands as he goes for the rebound. I've seen him shoot an airball from 15 feet. I've seen him shoot an airball from 10 feet. I've seen him nearly break the backboard on a 20-footer. I've seen him make a nice move to get to the bucket, then totally brick what should be a simple layup. ... Maybe he should've just tried football or track -- perhaps those are better suited to his athletic capabilities. With his skill set (or lack thereof), he is never gonna be a scorer. He could be a great defender if he played hard when he's on the court, but he pouts when he's not a bigger part of the offense. And when he is part of the offense, he can't score anyway. It's a Catch 22 for Archie. 

Smith is a volleyball player on a basketball court? Best description here?


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[JaybobHoosier]

 
I have it on multiple wise authorities beyond the open board that stuff is not being overblown. Don't PM me: if I wanted to say more I would.
Mods generally are not fans of off-court player bashing by name, but when issues are worthy of discussion...
 

PM me my lovely Stuhoo :)


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[Stuhoo]

20 minutes ago, JaybobHoosier said:

 

PM me my lovely Stuhoo :)


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You are lovely too Jaybob.

(No pm)

 

[Hovadipo]

PM PLEASE!

[Demo]

Was just watching video from the LaLumiere-Montverde game from January. Was watching for Beverly. But there was a play in the game where Precious Achiuwa commits a pretty cheap takedown of a Lalu kid. Brooks got right in Achiuwa’s face. Didn’t backdown at all. And Achiuwa is a grown man. Hadn’t pegged Brooks for that kind of kid. Impressive. 

[JaybobHoosier]

 
You are lovely too Jaybob.
(No pm)
 

Couldn’t help myself. Always respect people never telling their sources, best way to do it!


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[Alford Bailey]

I like Brooks. Just to get us back on topic.