[ChrispyParticipant]

 What do you all think? He measured at 6’7” and 285 lbs. The height makes sense as he measured at 6’5 1/2” at USA camp earlier this year. So add 1.5” for shoes is about right. He just supposedly broke Duke’s all-time vert record. There are videos on youtube that are mind-blowing. He looks HUGE and is still bouncing higher an higher. But 285 lbs? Man. If that’s true it is shocking. He weighed at 272 at USA camp, and most of us at the time said he would need to cut to around 255-260 to really be at his best. Instead it appears he has bulked up more while getting more ripped in the process. He looks like a defensive end playing hoops. Amazing. Thoughts on if bulking up even more is a recipe for disaster or if he just has the most unique body-athletic ability we have seen maybe ever?

[HitsterParticipant]

 To break the Duke vertical record he must be a great athletic specimen and he’ll have great power in his legs with that muscle mass. In some ways that could protect him from injury but if he is keep crashing up and down with that weight it may cause issues.

Would a powerful 6ft 6ins 280lbs guy jumping up and landing have more or less pressure on his body than say a 7ft 280lbs guy or even someone like Shaq who was 325lbs listed but probably played at nearer 350lbs or more for a lot of his career.

I’ll be interested to see what Zion’s sprint times are like as his leg power would give him a potentially explosive start.

He is going to be fascinating to watch as I think his power and bulk will effectively eliminate any height disadvantage he has. His size will enable him to power past or back up taller thiner opponents. People may be able to shoot over him but his size on the perimeter would stop people driving to the basket regardless of what the defensive anchor is. Imagine him alongside a big strong defensive anchor at C!

 

 

 

[ChrispyParticipant]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyVQYl75L1g

Zion starts around 45 seconds. Pause at 54 to be amazed…

[high floorParticipant]

His chin is literally at the rim. Admittedly I haven’t done a ton of homework on him as a prospect. Did he garner a reputation for this type of explosion? I’m a huge Barkley fan, but athletically / physically this is something more than Charles or Larry…… 

Can anyone weigh in on his defense?? What type of guy is he on that end of the floor?

 

[SeattleSuperChronicsParticipant]

 Zion is the most interesting prospect I can remember in a long time. You really cant compare him to anyone. Him going to Duke is a great decision. 

[EndlessknightParticipant]

Barkely?

[CoachWyersParticipant]

 I think you can easily compare him to Grandma Ma Larry Johnson.  Both ultra athletic combo forwards.

[Jr. ROXASParticipant]

I remember when Anthony Bennett was being compared to Grand Ma Ma

[ChrispyParticipant]

Best I can try is Grandmama measuring at 6’6" and 250. At LEAST Zion is weighing in at 25 lbs more. He is 6’5.5"barefoot and 35 lbs more than LJ. He is a physical monster. Now, skill wise will he be LJ or Bennett? That is a legit question, but pyhsically…what a freak

[HitsterParticipant]

 Larry Johnson is a good call although Zion probably carries more bulk at this moment.

The slightly scary thing about Zion is he looks big but the real muscle definition may not be there yet and if he drops his body fat a bit or hits the weights even harder his physique will be scary.

 

[Lotto StudParticipant]

 He’s the Saquon Barkley of basketball; you just have to love his work ethic.

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

Julius Peppers at UNC?

 

 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 He might be one of the few guys worth tanking for.

RJ Barrett is hyped up.  Can’t wait to watch Duke.

For lineage, and basically for the skill set/talent, I am interested in watching Shareef O’Neal.

Reddish/Little/Langford will also be on my watchlist.

If combo forwards like Knox and Miles Bridges do well, and even a retro-type big man with some new age skills like Wendell Carter show out, then that should help Zion Williamson.  … especially if a guy like Mo Bamba gets dunked through the basket a few times.  Zion might be the Ayton of next year’s draft.  Maybe not the BEST player ever, but a quasi-lock as the top pick.

Probably not the year to chase centers (Bol Bol/Daniel Gafford) or point guards (Darius Garland).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[whiteflashParticipant]

 Hate to burst everyone’s bubble, but the angle that’s shot at makes him look WAY higher than he actually is. Don’t ever trust these college "combine" numbers. Duke claimed Ingram could touch the top of the backboard… which was a lie. LSU claimed Blakeny had a 45" vert…. when it was close to a foot less at the actual combine. Williamson can get up, but putting your chin at the rim is Gerald Green type bounce, and he ain’t got that.

[MopgrassParticipant]

 His wingspan looks exceptional for someone 6’6”ish. He should be as long as the average PF. His lower center of gravity should help. I usually don’t say people should go 1st based off their physical profile, but if Zion ends up with any semblance of a shot, he could dominate… especially defensively. Worse case scenario, he’s awesome in transition and on defense. 

Regarding Anthony Bennett: unlike Zion, he couldn’t create, had no handle, he wasn’t quick, and couldn’t create off the dribble. Zion is a much better prospect. Also, Bennett was brought along very poorly. He didn’t deserve the 1st pick, but he’d have become decent if he was brought along right. But Zion looks like a monster. 

 

 

[whiteflashParticipant]

 Know I’m in the minority here, but think Williamson is gonna struggle next year. He might do alright when they’re playing nobodies, but once their schedule toughens he’s gonna have problems.

[TarHeelRavenParticipant]

 I know people have seen his mixtapes and been blown away, but I don’t think Zion has gone against elite competition his entire life.  He played at a prep school in South Carolina and was a man amongst little boys, and by that I mean he was playing against slow white guys who couldn’t get a D3 scholarship.  I’m not saying Zion isn’t talented but I think he’ll find once he gets to college and realizes he isn’t just bigger, stronger, faster and more explosive than every single person he plays against that he’ll have to develop other parts of his game besides just dunking on everybody.  

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