How far Caris has come
Tonight, Michigan basketball strength and conditioning coach Jon Sanderson posted a great video of Caris performing a jumping drill during his freshman year. He first turned the wrong way, and then slipped on the jump. The link is here:
Also, if you click on the "campsanderson" in the upper right corner, assuming you are on a computer (lower left corner on a phone), there are many other videos of our guys doing strength and conditioning type stuff, including the famous GR3 12'3" vertical jump.
It's become clear over the years that our staff does a great job at developing players, and Sanderson is an underrated part of that. The work he did this past summer with Nik and Caris was obviously fantastic and paid huge divedends. Next year look for Donnal to play a big role due to the time he's put in with Sanderson this year.
though, especially when you cross the state line coming north and the sun comes out and the people walk upright...
It also must be strange for them to see people breathe through their noses.
http://nbadraft.net/2015mock_draft
I think he could play his way into being a lottery pick for sure, but #4 is ridiculously high. If he plays like a top 4 pick next year, expect another elite 8/final 4 season.
I know we've all got some "homer" to us, but that's way too much.
I hate saying he doesn't have shot...but realisically, it's a "yea right."
IMO, he's close to his ceiling talent wise, he's just got to get bigger physically, get more experience, and learn to control his body and his game.
His strengths are the fact that he's long, wirey and unorthodox.
I don't see him dripping with potential and talent like say...GRIII. HOWEVER. That doesn't mean he can't be a better basketball player or a higher draft pick or have a longer NBA career.
LeVert's game is VERY much like James Harden and Manu Ginobli. The biggest difference is they're in control of their "out of controlness" and LeVert hasn't learned that yet. When he does, he'll almost be unguardable because you don't see guys like that very often. Guarding Harden and Manu can be maddening for defenders, they draw so many fouls and side step so many helpside defenders that they're impossible to contain (think Manu in his prime).
To me LeVert will end up in the late first round like THJ. I see him having a decent career as a 6th/7th man.
I also think he should only stay for a year if he wants to maximize his draft stock. However, as a homer, I hope he stays 2. But if Nik, GRIII and Mitch come back for one more year...hell, I'm not going to shed a tear if we lose 5 guys to the NBA draft in 2015.
I absolutely disagree with basically everything in this post. In a nutshell, LeVert is not close to his potential, reminds me of nothing like the 2 you mentioned, and is still learning/growing so much, he has enourmous room to get even better and based on his work ethic, will reach it.
LeVert will easily lead us in scoring next year, will be our defensive stopper, and as long as McGary comes back - Michigan will basically mirror the season we just had with LeVert as the star.
It may be hard for people to imagine him as the #4 draft pick, but i also bet no one imagined him having the year he had this year, based on what he did last year.
And you dont see him dripping with potential like ..... GRIII? Are you serious? LeVert is better than GRIII right now, and is improving at a MUCH greater rate.
What is this potential you see in GRIII? Is it because he can jump high? Then Petway should be in the NBA hall of fame. GRIII is what he is.
Sorry but i just disagree with your post from start to finish.
Caris is definitely shifty and great at using those long stride euro steps like Manu and Harden but I think he is more a weird blend of Brent Barry and Jamal Crawford.
although keep in mind that GR3 is playing out of position right now. I don't think we can judge exactly what GR3 is capable of until he switches to his natural position, particularly since he looked very impressive in each offseason prior to playing.
But I'm telling you right now Caris isn't going to get THAT much better.
Not NBA top 10 better. I'm already calling him a pick around #20, so that's a pretty damn good basketball player.
But there is nothing that says "oh yea...he's going to get significantly better and be a top 5 NBA player." Just like Stauskas right now if he came back.
Can both guys improve? Sure. But neither is going to turn himself into a top 5 pick.
And everyone is saying that you're wrong.
I know we've all got some "homer" to us, but that's way too much.
I hate saying he doesn't have shot...but realisically, it's a "yea right."
IMO, he's close to his ceiling talent wise, he's just got to get bigger physically, get more experience, and learn to control his body and his game.
His strengths are the fact that he's long, wirey and unorthodox.
I don't see him dripping with potential and talent like say...GRIII. HOWEVER. That doesn't mean he can't be a better basketball player or a higher draft pick or have a longer NBA career.
LeVert's game is VERY much like James Harden and Manu Ginobli. The biggest difference is they're in control of their "out of controlness" and LeVert hasn't learned that yet. When he does, he'll almost be unguardable because you don't see guys like that very often. Guarding Harden and Manu can be maddening for defenders, they draw so many fouls and side step so many helpside defenders that they're impossible to contain (think Manu in his prime).
To me LeVert will end up in the late first round like THJ. I see him having a decent career as a 6th/7th man.
I also think he should only stay for a year if he wants to maximize his draft stock. However, as a homer, I hope he stays 2. But if Nik, GRIII and Mitch come back for one more year...hell, I'm not going to shed a tear if we lose 5 guys to the NBA draft in 2015.
GR3 will probably wow scouts more on measurables but I like the intangibles Caris brings - he has things you don't teach people. Just a small list from late in the year
- Rebound vs OSU in closing seconds in BTT when he was coached to "fall back" in that situation
- Steal on Stokes in closing seconds so that if Morgan didn't draw the charge we still have the ball
- Stuff of Randle... woo hoo
- Another stuff that game versus someone else (was probably a foul but hey...)
- Crazy rebound on our possession before UK's 3 pointer to win where I swear the kid was near horizontal to get a rebound, 9 feet in the air and somehow was able to get rebound and pass ball out.
Caris is able to break down more mobile guards on dribble drive thus creating his own shot... versus GR3 who has had trouble breaking down less mobile small forwards. Advantage Caris on creating your own shot.
Kid made a major jump this year and he makes plays in critical moments that about 5% of people do. He is not the same player but he reminds me of the things that Victor Oladipo did (Oladipo is more explosive I get it) but both those guys are just in the right place at the right time.
But I wasn't saying who's game I liked better.
I just said Caris isn't going to increase his stock that much and be a top 5 or 10 draft pick. You all act like being #20 is something to be mad at.
You all also fail to realize that A LOT of guys including our very own THJ LAST YEAR get passed over and outplay guys taken ahead of them.
LeVert could be that same player. But I don't think he's a lottery pick even if he has a better career than half of the guys taken ahead of him.
I didn't say he was as good as either of those guys.
Reading comprehension is key on a message board or blog. Use it.
People compare Doug McDermott's game to Larry Bird...no one has ever said he was as good as Larry Legend.
Read. Think. UNDERSTAND.
Because I think that comment was full of shit.
That site is terrible and just has a good domain name.
Draftexpress.com is more realistic every year - they have Caris at #20 which sounds right. Depending on who goes and who stays he is either going to be option #1 in an offense that loves option #1, or part of a 3 headed monster like Nik was this year. Win-win.
Nbadraft actually has a higher correct draft placement rate than Draftexpress. Draftexpress has MUCH better scouting. Nbadraft also identifies talent much earlier (they have had Caris in the first round fo much of the season) while Draftexpress takes its time identifying guys who slipped through the cracks and were less heralded. I surmise Givony of Draftexpress put Caris at # 20 as a placeholder but that could rapidly rise with more extensive scouting and the sure dissapointmet of a lot of those freshman and international prospects. Not to man 6'7'' combo-guards out there. I think an optimistic comparison is Brent Barry with a better first step and better lateral quickness.
They have him ahead of Myles Turner in 2015 - stuff like that just doesn't compute. I agree the 20 is some sort of placeholder for LeVert for DraftExpress but #4 overall is just silly. I'll be happy to come back with egg on my face if Caris is top 5!
I know if GR3 comes back next year he will have a chance to be "the man" as our top scoring option on the wing, but I think Caris's game might be better suited for that role.
as long as both stay healthy, GRIII will NOT outscore Caris next year. Caris will easily lead UM in scoring barring injury.
He's got the right height for the NBA, could play some point when needed (and someone might even draft him with the idea of making him a point), rebounds exceptionally well for a guy as skinny as he is, and a pretty good defender who always drew the toughest assignments. And he'll be a sophomore by age. If he puts on a little more muscle to help him finish in traffic and continues his development elsewhere, I think he's in the lottery, and who knows how high he could go.
His passing ability and In-Game intelligence are also greatly underappreciated. The kid does not have a weakness, outside of physical strength right now. Another successful offseason and he will be there.
His passing ability and In-Game intelligence are also greatly underappreciated. The kid does not have a weakness, outside of physical strength right now. Another successful offseason and he will be there.