MSU F Branden Dawson returning to school
Per MSU release, Branden Dawson announced his decision to remain in school for his senior season.
http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/041514aaa.html
I'm not sure any coach in the country gets more 5 star recruits to stay in school for all four years than Tom Izzo. And I'm not sure if that is a compliment or an insult.
"Defiantly fail off". Was this supposed to be "definitely falls off" ?
dear brandon:
you really haven't developed as much as you'd hoped since high school, but surely another year of my training will do the trick. stay in school!
best,
tom
is Adrien Payne, but he was a 5* recruit who developed into a more well rounded game by his senior year. Other than that, no one really.
It seems like this guy hasn't improved at all since he showed up at MSU. He is very athletic, but not very skilled. I expected him to improve to be a pretty good NBA player at some point due to his athletic abilities....Guess not.
He's improved every year he has been at MSU. He went from a 6'6 PF in high school that dominated kids with much less athleticism to a formidable defender, great rebounder, and a developing jump shot.
| Min | Pts | Rbs | Asts | Blks | FG% | |
| 2014 | 28 | 11.2 | 8.3 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 61% |
| 2013 | 27 | 8.9 | 5.9 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 54% |
| 2012 | 21 | 8.4 | 4.5 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 58% |
What nobody seems to be mentioning are all of the kids that go early and go in the 2nd round, undrafted, or even in the first round and end up in the NBADL or Europe within a couple of years. At some point, people have to realize that making a couple million is almost nothing after their handlers (accountant, agent, lawyer) get their cut. Throw some money at family and friends and these players have nothing by the time they're 25. Sad but true.
So while guys like Calipari shove kids into the NBA to make room for the next crop (all while knowing those guys are screwed) there are other coaches out there that develop players as much as possible while they earn a degree. Payne is a great example of a 4 year player that will come into the NBA much more complete. 10, 20 years ago he would be considered a top pick. Nowadays? Well, he lacks the hype and marketability. So his draft stock will fall. However, don't be surprised to see Payne and guys like Payne remain in the league while the 10 ppg "diaper dandy" freshman is out of the league within a season or two.
April 15th, 2014 at 10:20 PM ^
Payne is a great example of a player who should have gotten better before year 4. He is a great example of a 4 year player that couldn't go pro because he wasn't good enough to go until after he graduated. I'm not sure why you think that is a good job by Izzo.
Also, I love how Dawson got better every year. I mean, I guess technically he got better from 2012 to 2013 because he averaged a half point better and 1.5 rebounds better. So he's got that going for him. But when you miss the hardest part of your schedule (half of the B10 season) in 2013 because you punch a table and get your numbers because of your non-conference games, I don't think you can say he improved. He did have amazing games against Harvard and Virginia though. So he must be improved I guess because those games were at the end of the year.
April 15th, 2014 at 10:44 PM ^
Here are Payne's stats.
| Min | Pts | Rbs | FG% | 3PT% | |
| 2014 | 28 | 16.4 | 7.3 | 50% | 42% |
| 2013 | 25 | 10.5 | 7.6 | 55% | 38% |
| 2012 | 18 | 7 | 4.2 | 57% | 50% |
| 2011 | 9 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 47% | 0% |
Payne could have gone as a junior. He came back and developed a better outside shot and became a more complete player. Does it really matter if he leaves as a junior or senior? This way he has a better shot to stick around the NBA and come in well rounded. Payne's junior year stats are pretty comparable to GRIII's. Personally, I think he made a mistake going pro and should have returned. Even as a Spartan, I dislike seeing so much talent all around leave the college ranks even if it is UM.
Not every 5 star guy is a one or two and done. Some guys stick around for all 4 years and end up being great pros. Why this doesn't go reported in the media is strange to me. Perhaps it's beause it isn't flashy and doesn't sell? We seem to think if you leave early that you're going to be a great player and get drafted high. Then, as I said in my original post, those players just seem to drift away and are forgotten within a couple of seasons.
I would assume this bubble of early talent leaving will burst soon. Someone has to wake up and realize the NBADL and Europe are filled with 20 year old kids that washed out almost immediately from the NBA becuase guys like LeBron aren't just going to give up a roster spot because some kid in college that was 19 averaged 10 points a game with a few rebounds and had some "wicked cool dunks". Those guys are a dime a dozen.
April 15th, 2014 at 10:40 PM ^
typically take 4%--and that's the biggest cut. A couple of million dollars is a couple of million dollars. The fact that some may blow it is really a different issue.
He would have been nuts to leave, this doesn't really have much to do with Izzo convincing guys to stay longer. MAYBE he goes in the 2nd round if he left, but a guy with wing size with neither a jumper nor the ability to break guys down off the dribble doesn't really have anywhere to play in the NBA.
What other position would he play? The 3? He has no perimeter game.
" hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!"
Would-be second round pick this year; will be a second round pick next year. Zero incentive to stay.
Dawson isn't staying for the betterment of the program. He's staying because he's not good enough to leave.
Is Dawson gonna be pissed when Izzo takes the Pistons' job...
...and, with this, MSU gets back to the NCAA tourney. Might even get to the second round. Of course, if they get one of those pesky injuries, all bets are off. I just don't get it...how is it that MSU, unlike every other program in the nation, has to deal with injuries? It just isn't fair.
April 17th, 2014 at 11:36 AM ^
Indeed. His hand may recover, but the stupid shall linger for enternity.
April 15th, 2014 at 10:35 PM ^
That may be a big list of 4-5 star players under Izzo who disappointed (I had forgotten Marquise Gray, the original Izzo underachieving forward), but he did have Dray Green overachieve.
April 16th, 2014 at 10:58 AM ^
Although many here have denigrated Brandon Dawson's overall abilities, few have suggested he can't box out and rebound. My question:
Absent Mitch, who on M's current roster --- including incoming recruits --- is capable of contesting Brandon under the boards? The candidates are
- Max Beilfeldt 6'7" 245 lbs. Maybe, if his skillset suddenly blooms into something not heretofore seen. Max has the size, but is probably relegated to a backup role for the remaining 2 years of his M career.
- Mark Donnal 6'9" 230 lbs. A redshirt frosh with tons of upside potential but has nowhere near Brandon's rebounding experience. After Mark gets a year of experience of his own and gets the benefit of Jon Sanderson, he could be a force under the boards.
- Ricky Doyle 6'9" 230 lbs. Tall enough, but as an incoming frosh really no competition for Brandon. Again, in another year or two and another 20 pounds, look out.
- DJ Wilson 6'8" 200 lbs. Again tall enough, but so thin that Brandon would just brush him aside. DJ needs weight training at the intensive-care level.
So Brandon returns to Staee, Kaminsky returns to UW, and probably a couple of those trees at Iowa will be back. Thus if Mitch goes, M will have its rebounding chores cut out for it in 2014-2015.