[jjj10manParticipant]

 Is it me, or has the NCAA hype machine for college prospects gotten ridiculous the last few years?

Here are the most popular comparisons for best player in college the last 4 years:

 2016 Ben Simmons (Lebron)

2017 Lonzo Ball (Magic)

2018 Trae Young (Steph)

2019 Zion Williamson (Lebron)

also worth noting Brandon Ingram was compared to Kevin Durant.

Like every year these people build up these players just to hate on them their rookie year for not being "as good as avertised". The same thing will happen to Zion; not one person will discuss his weaknesses – it’s just OMG HE CAN JUMP HIGH. 

Next year when he’s shooting 20% from the 3 point line and averging "only" 16 ppg they will hate him though

[ChrispyParticipant]

 Ben Simmons is a 6’10" PG with a man’s body and elite vision. Of course he will be compared to LeBron. Trae young is a relatively unathletic PG with shifty handles and unlimited range. Of course he will be compared Steph. Zion…is well, the most physically dominant NCAA player since…Shaq, maybe? We’ve never seen anyone like him, so of course people will throw out anyhting they can think of.

I will grant you, however, that the Lonzo-Magic comps were, are, and will always be ridiculous. Really really silly.

[jrrider_34Participant]

 Just look at some of the examples from this website in the past;

Hasheem Thabeet : Dikembe Mutombo

Jordan Hill : Chris Bosh

Wesley Johnson : Shawn Marion

Joe Alexander :Shawn Marion

Jerryd Bayless : Gilbert Arenas.

 

For the most part the compairisons both on this site and others have gotten much less hyperbolic over the years.  

 

Also Zion is like Larry Johnson with 10 extra inches of vert.

 

 

[mrwehbeParticipant]

"Larry Johnson with 10 extra inches of vert" it’s not larry johnson for sure 😀

[SeattleSuperChronicsParticipant]

 Zion is a more athletic Charles Barkley. 

[MkadozaParticipant]

 I’d say theres always been a lot of hype for top ranked players. Yes, many times fans and scouts overlooks certain weakness (Jabari Parkers lack of quickness, Derrick Williams true tweener status), but sometimes the hyperbole is wannanted. And sometimes injuries derail situations. Players I remember being the face of teh tourney before it started are Durant, Oden, Beasley, Blake, Rose, Wall, Kemba, Steph… theres a mix of injury busts, players with the wrong mentality, very good players, and a couple of hall of famers. 

Its just like any draft clas in any sport. Certain players stand out in the regular season, they get hyped, and we have yet to see what they do in the league.

Regardless of the Zion comparisons, I expect him to come in to the league and drop 16 pts, 8 rebounds, 3 ast, 1 stl and 1.5 blk a game, and thats his baseline for his first ten years. I see a prime number two scorer and stat -sheet stuffer, 19-11-4-1.7-1.9 with percentages like 52% 32% and 68%. Thats easily worth a #1 pick.

[OhCanada-Participant]

 He’s gonna average like 65% or higher from the floor.

Theres no way to stop him. Hes still gonna be the strongest guy on the court especially when he grows more. Hes a top 10-20 athlete immediately .How can you stop him Im actually asking?

You cant double him because he can pass. The help defender doesnt work because if it comes far from the rim it opens up the floor and he can pass and if it comes close to the rim hes gonna jump over or through you and probably finish. Theres also way more space, courts are spread out nowadays so he has more room to operate down low and hes so quick down there.

Rookie year 17-ppg 62%FG 11-rpg 3-apg 1.5-spg 1.5-bpg. I think he will struggle shooting though.

As for his prime, wow its impossible to predict how he develops. If he continues to be a savage he could be getting 15 rebounds a game. I hope he doesnt decide he wants to be a perimeter player.

[ChewyParticipant]

 1. Guard him with a smaller/ stronger defender. A Jimmy Butler/ Marcus Smart/ Kahwi type player. Don’t use any slim athletic wings like Otto Porter/ Middelton ect. (This can allow the long, atheltic type players to be helpside/secondary defenders and cover more ground)

2. Play off him and force him to shoot (best case senario is Zion shooting a jumpshot)

3. On drives, use the guards/wings speed to stay in front of him. Make him shoot over the primary defender without getting past the primary defender.

4. Use a shot blocking big to come over on helpside. Leaving Zion 1v1 will kill you. Even if you stay in front of him, he’s shown he can knock down contensted floaters pretty easily. You need a 2nd defender.

5. Really hope he doesn’t figure out a way to consistently pass the ball off to his teammate who is now open because you ran a 2nd shot blocking defender at him.

 

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