[JNixonParticipant]

#10- Baylor Bears

Frontcourt- With no significant loss, we can get right into the headliner, Soph. Perry Jones. Jones is a 6’11 230 PF/C at the college level, and he’s one of the most naturally gifted players out there. Jones can score from 18 feet and down low well, is a great overall athlete with high level speed for his size, and can rebound and shot-block alright. Jones also is a decent passer and a good ball-handler for his size. Still, he is getting more polished and he lacks a degree of aggressiveness right now. Jones needs to get tougher on the glass and on D, as well as getting more awareness on both ends. He has big potential and talent, and is a hard worker. He’s not Anthony Randolph, he’s actually working on his body and game, has a position, and it’s noteworthy that he really doesn’t have a huge ego at all (he probably won’t ever be a real “star” because of that, though). I expect him to be a 15 or 16 ppg scorer who gets 7 rpg, 2 apg, 1 spg and 1 bpg next season. Jones, of course, is a virtual lock for a top 10 pick in 2012. Beside him is a 6’10 210 Sr. SG/SF/PF in Anthony Jones, who still remains an intriguing player but with relatively modest production. Jones has the perimeter skills, athleticism and length that intrigues me. Jones was a 8.5 ppg scorer last year, an underachiever relative to his talent, and a guy who floats around a lot more than he should during games. The guy has a nice shot and the ability to finish above the rim, he needs to get aggressive and work on his handle. He’s a sleeper NBA prospect though, due to his physical tools and interesting skill set for his size. He is effortless offensively to a fault right now, but he will make “wow” plays a good bit too. He reminds me of Omri Casspi (less motor), to give an idea of how he plays, but he might not emerge as a Sr. due to the other guys on the squad and his reserved nature. Another addition to the wing is the very highly touted incoming Fr. Quincy Miller. The 6’9 220 Miller is definitely a gifted prospect who combines size, skills, and a real cocky demeanor that makes his potential exciting. He can create off the bounce, stick the jumper, and he has an inside-out game. He has the kind of physical tools that jump out from the TV screen, the smooth athleticism and type of skills that are intriguing. Miller needs to work on getting stronger, competing on the glass and on D, and polish his shooting mechanics. He has big talent and a star like demeanor, but he’ll have to wait his turn to really stand out at Baylor. He could use polish to his game, and Baylor won’t rush him with their other players being in the fold. The PF/C spot also has “The Cookie Monster” in 6’7 235 Sr. Quincy Acy. The 6th man (plays legit starter time though, around 30 mpg) is an athletic and tenacious bulldog who dunks literally everytime he can, has a monster wingspan (seems to be around 7’3-ish), and routinely makes momentum-changing plays. The guy will literally try and break the rim when he dunks, he’s that fierce and explosive at the rim. Acy is a solid rebounder as well. He has fairly pedestrian offensive skills outside of dunking (did show improved ability to score around 12 feet though), but he provides CRAZY intensity when he’s on the floor. Acy, despite his energy on offense, isn’t a very good defender in Baylor’s zone, showing a lack of awareness and positioning that often leads to holes in the back end of the zone and open shots on the wings too. He’ll get 2nd round NBA looks due to his energetic, athletic play, but he won’t be taken seriously if he doesn’t carry his energy to the defensive end. The C position has Acy and Perry Jones figuring to see time, but the starter probably will be the 6’11 250 Sr. J’Mison Morgan. Morgan, who transferred from UCLA last summer, is definitely physically gifted but he provides virtually nothing when his sheer size isn’t enough to overwhelm his matchup in small spurts. Morgan struggles on both ends when he faces even halfway decent bigs. He’s basically a starting C who plays reserve minutes to give Coach Drew frontline flexibility. This group has VERY intriguing talent, and I think Anthony Jones will be a prospect a lot of people will be intrigued by, the Fr. Miller has huge upside, Acy will have another valuable impact as the energizer bunny, and Perry Jones should have a nice year too. This is a top 3 frontline in college basketball.

Backcourt- Lace Dunn left Baylor as the all-time leading scorer in Big 12 history. His unorthodox shot and scoring skills made him a fun player to watch, and he really was great player his 1st 3 years. Last year, his selfish style of play and inability to create offense against good athletes and defenders efficiently made the team pretty bad. The loss of Tweety Carter, the most underrated player in the country in 09-10 IMO, made the team struggle worse than anyone could’ve thought. No one in the backcourt will replace Dunn’s scoring ability though. It all starts at PG though, with Jr. 6’2 190 A.J. Walton. Boy, this guy looked very ordinary as a Big 12 PG last year. He has not impressed in his 1st 2 years at Waco. He’s got alright athleticism, size, spot-up shooting skills, and quickness, but he’s not a steady pure PG, and he has a real mediocre IQ for a lead guard. Walton is unselfish and can play off the ball a little too, but he really needs to get smarter with the ball. He was way too TO prone last year and didn’t really run the show very well. The Bears brought in Jr. Pierre Jackson, a JUCO recruit, to push Walton or possibly even wrestle the position away by the end of the year. The 5’10 170 Jackson is said to be an explosive athlete who finds the way to the hoop and has a decent shot. He’s also said to be a combo guard, and the Baylor offense really needs a flow general. He probably will have to adjust to the speed of the game, and work on his D as well. He’ll definitely play legit time though, especially with Stargell Love gone and A.J. Walton being, well, A.J. Walton. The SG spot will be interesting, with Sr. Fred Ellis, touted Fr. swingman Deuce Bello, and Soph. Gary Franklin who transferred in from Cal and will have to sit out until after the fall semester, all in the fold. The 6’6 Ellis was a rotation guy last year who will have the most experience of the 3. He is a high IQ player with a decent shot when open and OK athleticism. He stands out nowhere though. The 6’4 175 Bello is a long, super athlete who plays more like a SF than a SG right now. He’s very fast, quick, and explosive, and was among the top 3 transition players in the 2011 class IMO. He will be a demon in the open floor at Baylor too in time, but his skills are pretty raw. He needs to work on his jumper and handle. The 6’2 180 Franklin is an aggressive scorer on the wing who can play some PG in spurts, but he needs to work on his shot and playing more under control. He will have time to adjust as he’s been practicing with the squad and will continue to until he’s eligible. If Baylor chooses to go big, both Anthony Jones and Quincy Miller could play very limited minutes at SG too. The PG situation is still a question, and the SG spot will use a committee approach in replacing Dunn.

Overview- Hard to find a more underrated coach than Scott Drew, but he’s finally starting to get the credit he deserves. He’s recruited as well as any coach in the country over the past 5 years or so. He’s also instilled a family-type environment with the squad. All the guys on the team act like brothers to each other, as opposed to simply teammates. The program is great. Baylor will once again be ultra-athletic and long, and that frontline promises to be super good. A PG will have to grow up and emerge, and they won’t be asked to do more than be a caretaker, make open shots, and be active in the unique 1-1-3/2-3 D they run. I do think the offense will run more smooth with Lace Dunn not force shots anymore. Last year was basically horrible for them, but I think they’ll be hungry next year and they’ll be a very good team. I see them as a Sweet 16 team.

[orangeshadow83Participant]

 I will be really interested to see how these two play together, i think if they can build on eachothers strengths not only could they both be top 10 picks, baylor could also be a possible final four team

[orangeshadow83Participant]

 I will be really interested to see how these two play together, i think if they can build on eachothers strengths not only could they both be top 10 picks, baylor could also be a possible final four team

[Hi its BenParticipant]

 Hey Iggy nice job but I have a couple questions.. When do you think Deuce Bello will come out of school?

 

Oh and you said you were gonna do a prospects list of all the non "Big 6" conferences players who have intrigue for the draft next year and Im not sure you did.. are you gonna?

 

[Hi its BenParticipant]

 Hey Iggy nice job but I have a couple questions.. When do you think Deuce Bello will come out of school?

 

Oh and you said you were gonna do a prospects list of all the non "Big 6" conferences players who have intrigue for the draft next year and Im not sure you did.. are you gonna?

 

[JNixonParticipant]

I think Bello either comes out as a Jr. or Sr. Probably as a Jr. though, if I had to guess.

I was going to do the non- Big 6 list, but I just wasn’t familiar with alot of guys. Like Damien Lilliard for instance, and some other names so I just thought I’d leave it alone. I didn’t get a chance to watch alot of mid-major ball, so I decided against it.

 

[JNixonParticipant]

I think Bello either comes out as a Jr. or Sr. Probably as a Jr. though, if I had to guess.

I was going to do the non- Big 6 list, but I just wasn’t familiar with alot of guys. Like Damien Lilliard for instance, and some other names so I just thought I’d leave it alone. I didn’t get a chance to watch alot of mid-major ball, so I decided against it.

 

[Chilbert arenasParticipant]

 Bello reminds me of Hassan Adams, a world class athlete but not a great basketball player

[Chilbert arenasParticipant]

 Bello reminds me of Hassan Adams, a world class athlete but not a great basketball player

[The White MambaParticipant]

There positions 3-5 could be the deepest in all off college basketball.

 

[The White MambaParticipant]

There positions 3-5 could be the deepest in all off college basketball.

 

[inukawaii8Participant]

 gary franklin transferred to Baylor so he can become a PG even though he might stilll play minutes in the SG position.

[inukawaii8Participant]

 gary franklin transferred to Baylor so he can become a PG even though he might stilll play minutes in the SG position.

[Chilbert arenasParticipant]

 Gary Franklin thought he was a one and done hahahaha

[Chilbert arenasParticipant]

 Gary Franklin thought he was a one and done hahahaha

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