[ChrispyParticipant]

So, at the USA 2019 camp, Zion Williamson again proved tha he is a man amongst boys, absolutely imposing his will against the other best players fromthe high school level. However, he also cemented his position as a controversial pro-prospect due to his, um… unique measurements. Zion apparently measured 6’5” barefoot (so about 6’6”-6’6.5” in shoes) and a whopping 272 lbs. 272!!! Givony and Schmitz said he was out of shape, but other scouts said he was dominant and that his frame is part of what makes him unique, with 247 scouting director saying that Zion proved that he is Barkley 2.0. I personally believe that his mix of size and ball-handling matched up well with Barkley. Let us not forget that Barkley too years to develop a jumpshot. I also believe that Zion is a more capable and willing defender than Barkely as well. That said, Barkley was at his best keeping his weight under 275 and won his MVP in the 255-260 lb range. I think that while his frame is part of what makes him special, guy with that sort of thickness need to be careful both not add fat, but also not to add too much muscle. Some dudes just put weight on easily, good weight and bad weight, and I think Zion is one. I think 265 should be his aim as a pro. Thought on his measurements? Hurt or help, or no difference to you? Barkley comp good, bad? 

[ChrispyParticipant]

 Please excuse typos. I use a Spansih language keyboard, so writing in English sometimes screws me up! 2017, not 2019 for example. My bad.

[kikikikiParticipant]

 Chrispy, you do a grat job!

[IlladelphParticipant]

 The kid has never worked out, or been on a nutrition plan.  When he gets to college he will get his weight and fitness level where it needs to be. He has a natural field for the game and his athleticism is off the charts.  Not sure about the Barkley  comparison though. He is kind of a combination between a Barkley physique but with Shawn Kemp level of athleticism.  If he winds up at Kentucky like everyone thinks he will he will be forced to get into NBA shape.

[whiteflashParticipant]

 You do realize that Barkley was an absolute freak of nature athletically, and was probably the better overall athlete than Kemp, right?

[IlladelphParticipant]

Well, I watched both play during the ’90s and I can unequivocally state that while Barkley was a great athlete, Shawn Kemp was a true athletic freak.  Not sure how you can possibly think otherwise.  And I never said that Barkley wasn’t athletic.  It’s just that when looking at Zion Williamson, I think that he has more hops and refined movement than Barkley had.  This is not to say that Barkley wasn’t athletic, as obviously he was.  But compare Kemp cutting to the basket and dunking to Barkley cutting and dunking.  It’s not close.

[whiteflashParticipant]

 Kemp was at least 5 inches taller and had considerably longer arms. Barkley was outjumping centers for rebounds, dribbling past guards and dunking on entire teams. He was also dunking with two hands in traffic from a complete standstill. Kemp was doing some acrobatic things, but I’d bet the keys to my truck that Barkley would have better combine numbers in their primes. 

[Lotto StudParticipant]

 As for a player comparison, I believe Zion is closer to Larry Johnson than Barkley or Kemp.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 Hopefully he does well.  I like the explosive, power guys — guess I grew up on guys like Sir Charles, Shawn Kemp, C Webb, and Shaq.  Too many finesse guys now?  

Zion doesn’t sound too big, but, right now, one of the best interior (and all-around) defenders is Draymond Green.  He isn’t HUGE although he is long, strong, and crafty.

COULD be one of the better (smallish) big men matchups in the league.  

Zion could show us how far "small ball" can go, even though the league is sneaky deep at center — but maybe not so much at power forward with a top heavy talent distribution at small forward.  

Zion is a glorified YouTube sensation now, and looks like a guy who COULD be a BUST — if everyone is expecting a sure-fire All Star.  Lots of upside though.

I can also see him being one of the last one-and-done’s.  I think that the NBA will allow players to go straight to the NBA soon.  Probably after Zion’s class.  You can NEVER get money out of recruiting, BUT if you takeaway the BIG profit motive — allowing the TOP HS players to go straight to the pros (either NBA or G League) — then that would lessen the amount of big money sloshing around.

Then you have to say, hey, sign a shoe deal in High School?  Cool.  But, you are no longer eligible to play high school ball or even AAU.

I would set limits on AAU.  Maybe you can’t even play AAU summer ball until after your sophomore season?  College recruiters can’t even talk to a kid until his junior season?  Or maybe even after his junior season as a basketball player is over?

You let kids go pro out of HS — what it does is it takes away the college recruiting shenannigans away from chasing those top 3 guys every year who can go straight to the NBA.  Then, it also takes away some more of that money that goes to the second tier one-and-dones — guys who can probably go straight to the G League, plus that random kid who is tempted to take that big money in China.  So, maybe 8-10 of the top HS guys don’t ever set foot in college.  Then colleges have the same amount of money to throw at recruiting but the PROFIT/UPSIDE guys aren’t there.  The unicorn HS guy isn’t there.  More than likely, you are looking at a core of guys who can get you to a Sweet 16 as an ensemble cast in year 3 — and maybe an Elite 8 in year 4.  

So, what is likely to happen?  Zion has a good year next year, lives up to MOST of the hype, continues to win YouTube, a bunch of blue chip programs throw attention at him, and Nike and Addidas fight over him for a shoe deal.  "Air Zion" does a "hand shake deal" and winds up at Kentucy/UNC/Duke/Kansas, spending two semesters in basketball, and about 6 weeks of academics.  Zion takes the team to the Final Four and the boosters for a ride.  Zion skips out on school, hires an agent, signs a shoe deal, does some meet-and-greets at the draft camps, and college basketball begins its Brave New Post-Zion World.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Lotto StudParticipant]

 I don’t want to completely knock Zion, because he’s a next generation type of player on the high school level, but once he gets to the collegiate level, he’s going to have to showcase himself as being more than just a run and jump athlete on the offensive end of the floor. Depending on what school he signs with may or may not hurt him due to the type of system being ran. If he wants to hide his flaws, he most definitely has to sign with a program that has a run and gun style of play for him to be a top 3 pick in the draft.

[SubZeroParticipant]

Considering how often he and Quickley have stated they’d like to play together, it seems like we have a pretty good chance at getting him in Kentucky. If there’s any coach that knows how to make players look good for NBA scouts, it’s Cal, and he’ll know how to get him in shape as well if that could be an issue

[Lotto StudParticipant]

 I wonder if he’ll be just as dominate as Julius Randle was under Calipari.

[sheltwon3Participant]

 What if Zion is still growing.  He could still wind up being 6’7" 6’8" when it is all said and done

[HitsterParticipant]

I’d be interested to see what Zion’s wingspan is compared to taller and leaner guys in his year. If he is anything near to that then his lack of height won’t really be an issue. His width and strength will make up for anything he loses in height as he can use his lower centre of gravity and strength to back them up.

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