[TimeForNineParticipant]

 Watching the first half of the UK-USC game and I’ve been extremely impressed with Devin Booker. He’s been absolutely lights out from deep over the past several games, shooting over 70 percent. He’s at 50% on the year, and this is with an extremely cold start to the year.

His stock has been going through the roof lately. He’s not an elite athlete, but is a fluid, "sneaky" athlete who can dunk on someone. John Calipari has given high praise for his defense as well.

He’s definitely my favorite guard on the team, and I think if he keeps it up he can be a lottery pick this year. He’s flashing the potential of a super 3 and D player, and with guys like Jimmy Butler and Klay Thompson stepping up this year, everyone is going to want a chance to grab the next one. Not saying he is as good as those guys, but I think he has the potential to be Klay Thompson-lite.

What do you think?

 

 

 

 

[Mad MaxParticipant]

I was about to post a thread saying I think Booker is the best prospect at UK, I don’t see him as a top 10 prospect currently but just outside and in the top 15, and part of that reason is with UK platoon he doesn’t get full chance to really show what he can do. Obviously he’s a great shooter at the college level, and a good scorer (I think kentucky’s best and most consistent.) I agree with what you said, looks a lot like Klay Thompson, by appearance and in his game.

[Mad MaxParticipant]

I was about to post a thread saying I think Booker is the best prospect at UK, I don’t see him as a top 10 prospect currently but just outside and in the top 15, and part of that reason is with UK platoon he doesn’t get full chance to really show what he can do. Obviously he’s a great shooter at the college level, and a good scorer (I think kentucky’s best and most consistent.) I agree with what you said, looks a lot like Klay Thompson, by appearance and in his game.

[JoeWolf1]

 I think he can sneak into the lottery. He’s a 6’6” shooter with a strong frame, and plenty of room to grow as a player. Plus he’s a capable defender, and could have real appeal as a floor spreader. I think he’s in the conversation in the late lottery at this point. Guys like LaVert, Dekker, Cliff Alexander and others have taken themselves out of lottery conversation for the most part, and I think Booker is a guy who can step up and get taken in the 12-17 range. 

I have him at 14th in my current mock.

[JoeWolf1]

 I think he can sneak into the lottery. He’s a 6’6” shooter with a strong frame, and plenty of room to grow as a player. Plus he’s a capable defender, and could have real appeal as a floor spreader. I think he’s in the conversation in the late lottery at this point. Guys like LaVert, Dekker, Cliff Alexander and others have taken themselves out of lottery conversation for the most part, and I think Booker is a guy who can step up and get taken in the 12-17 range. 

I have him at 14th in my current mock.

[reanimatorParticipant]

 Ehhh He is the 4th best shooter after Russell, Levert and Hunter but he does not have great length and most of his shots come off the catch. Also, I would like to see him as the guy against the focal point of defenses. I don’t see him ever being the defender that Klay Thompson is and I have Booker slotted around 20-22. 

[JoeWolf1]

I get Hunter’s foundation is great, but the dude is in the midst of a nasty shooting slump and is shooting 40% from the field on the season, and 29% from 3 point range. I know he didn’t wake up and forget how to shoot, but I think his slump has to drop him a bit.

LaVert is done for the year. I don’t think he’ll even declare, to be honest. If he did he was shooting a lower percentage from both 3 point range, and at the line.

Russell is a better player, and I think is in the conversation, but again Booker is shooting better percentages.

I just have a hard time viewing a guy who’s shooting 50/50/81 through 19 games as the 4th best shooter in this class.

 

[reanimatorParticipant]

 Levert and Hunter shoot "lower percentages from 3" because they take a higher volume of them, first and foremost, and they take way more of them off the dribble. Add in that they are the guy on their teams and this isn’t rocket science.

[JoeWolf1]

LaVert took 79 threes this year, or 4.4 per game. Caris made 32

Booker 68 or 4 per game. Devin made 34

Not really much of a volume difference there, honestly. 

Hunter is a different animal, he’s taken 150, and made 44.

I wouldn’t consider either LaVert ot Hunter "the man" for their respective teams either. LaVert was part of a 1/2 scoring punch which Zach Irvin, and Hunter is a part of the same type of dynamic with Ryan Harrow. In fact, Ryan Harrow takes the most shots on that Georgia State team, not Hunter, and Harrow is GSU’s leading scorer.

LaVert is, or was now that he’s done for the year, Michigan’s leading scorer, but it was the difference between 12.3 shots per game for him, and 11.8 for Irvin. 

Booker can shoot the ball, and has done a better job than those three on the year thus far. Hands down.

 

 

[reanimatorParticipant]

 69 % of Levert’s 3s were assisted as the first option

97% of Booker’s 3s are assisted as just one of the guys 

Stop looking at box scores. 99% of Irvin’s offense is created by others and Levert was clearly the guy.  Teams are keying in on Hunter, not Harrow. This isn’t rocket science. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[JoeWolf1]

Don’t look at stats because I proved LaVert isnt a significantly higher volume shooter than Booker?

Booker is no doubt used as a floor spreader, but he’s an amazing spot up shooter. That is an element of being a great shooter.

Because a guy takes harder shots, more shots, and worse shots doesn’t automatically mean that they would be better than a spot up specialist if given the same opportunity. 

Shot selection is part of being a good shooter in my opinion. Hunter has taken 150 three pointers in order to make 44. He’s still a good shooter, but in a slump, but I don’t care what kind of defensive attention he’s getting, that is a terrible shooting strategy. That slump alone is enough to drop him. Hell 77% of his threes are assisted.

 

[reanimatorParticipant]

 Dude, they all shoot well off the catch LOL

Levert has proved dependable off the bounce from that range as well. Booker hasn’t. ‘

Hunter has multiple seasons at 40 % on 7 attempts which a far larger sample then what you reactionary types are going off with Booker 

 

 

 

 

[JoeWolf1]

 Reactionary? It doesn’t take me three years to pick out a good shooter. 

The kid has a great stroke. He’s 6’6”, well built, plays D. There’s a lot to like about him despite a small sample size. 

More experience from LaVert and Hunter, yep. We’re comparing a freshman to two juniors. I’m far from a bandwagoner, but I just feel calling Booker the 4th best shooter in this draft class, and including a guy in a horrid slump, and a guy who’s out for the whole season as better options is way off.

I don’t really care what he does in a 1st option, because he wont be a 1st option in the NBA. He’s going to be used as a catch and shoot floor spreader until he develops more. I think taking a risk like that in the late lottery is not a bad move at all. I sure as hell wouldn’t draft LaVert coming off an injury that high, or Hunter, who I feel is a tad overrated. 

[agentoaktreeParticipant]

 I think what Reanimator may be trying to say is that Booker does get a lot of quality looks that some shooters on other teams don’t get because of the elite penetrators on his team. Nevertheless, you can’t complain when he knocks down more than half of those looks from 3 at that volume. Also worth noting is that he averaged 30 in HS enroute to MS state POY, All-American, and so on. If I were an NBA team and saw him in the late lottery or late teens I would grab him without hesitating, he’s proved to be elite at what he does and has the size and intangibles to potentialy be very special.

[agentoaktreeParticipant]

 I think what Reanimator may be trying to say is that Booker does get a lot of quality looks that some shooters on other teams don’t get because of the elite penetrators on his team. Nevertheless, you can’t complain when he knocks down more than half of those looks from 3 at that volume. Also worth noting is that he averaged 30 in HS enroute to MS state POY, All-American, and so on. If I were an NBA team and saw him in the late lottery or late teens I would grab him without hesitating, he’s proved to be elite at what he does and has the size and intangibles to potentialy be very special.

[JoeWolf1]

 Reactionary? It doesn’t take me three years to pick out a good shooter. 

The kid has a great stroke. He’s 6’6”, well built, plays D. There’s a lot to like about him despite a small sample size. 

More experience from LaVert and Hunter, yep. We’re comparing a freshman to two juniors. I’m far from a bandwagoner, but I just feel calling Booker the 4th best shooter in this draft class, and including a guy in a horrid slump, and a guy who’s out for the whole season as better options is way off.

I don’t really care what he does in a 1st option, because he wont be a 1st option in the NBA. He’s going to be used as a catch and shoot floor spreader until he develops more. I think taking a risk like that in the late lottery is not a bad move at all. I sure as hell wouldn’t draft LaVert coming off an injury that high, or Hunter, who I feel is a tad overrated. 

[reanimatorParticipant]

 Dude, they all shoot well off the catch LOL

Levert has proved dependable off the bounce from that range as well. Booker hasn’t. ‘

Hunter has multiple seasons at 40 % on 7 attempts which a far larger sample then what you reactionary types are going off with Booker 

 

 

 

 

[JoeWolf1]

Don’t look at stats because I proved LaVert isnt a significantly higher volume shooter than Booker?

Booker is no doubt used as a floor spreader, but he’s an amazing spot up shooter. That is an element of being a great shooter.

Because a guy takes harder shots, more shots, and worse shots doesn’t automatically mean that they would be better than a spot up specialist if given the same opportunity. 

Shot selection is part of being a good shooter in my opinion. Hunter has taken 150 three pointers in order to make 44. He’s still a good shooter, but in a slump, but I don’t care what kind of defensive attention he’s getting, that is a terrible shooting strategy. That slump alone is enough to drop him. Hell 77% of his threes are assisted.

 

[reanimatorParticipant]

 69 % of Levert’s 3s were assisted as the first option

97% of Booker’s 3s are assisted as just one of the guys 

Stop looking at box scores. 99% of Irvin’s offense is created by others and Levert was clearly the guy.  Teams are keying in on Hunter, not Harrow. This isn’t rocket science. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MopgrassParticipant]

Levert only real guy on offense in Michigan. Irvin hasn’t lived up to his hype. Levert’s percentages suffered FG% and 3PT% because everyone expects him to shoot. There’s no one else worth passing to. Unlike Levert, Booker is open often because defenders are worried about the Harrisons, Ulis, Anthony-Towns, Cauley-Stein, etc.

I think they’re pretty similar in shooting prowess. However, athletically, Levert blows him out of the water. I think Levert should be in the 5-8 range (talent-wise). I’m not sure he’ll actually get drafted that high with the injury. I still think people are mistakenly sleeping on him (not physically).

[MopgrassParticipant]

Levert only real guy on offense in Michigan. Irvin hasn’t lived up to his hype. Levert’s percentages suffered FG% and 3PT% because everyone expects him to shoot. There’s no one else worth passing to. Unlike Levert, Booker is open often because defenders are worried about the Harrisons, Ulis, Anthony-Towns, Cauley-Stein, etc.

I think they’re pretty similar in shooting prowess. However, athletically, Levert blows him out of the water. I think Levert should be in the 5-8 range (talent-wise). I’m not sure he’ll actually get drafted that high with the injury. I still think people are mistakenly sleeping on him (not physically).

[JoeWolf1]

LaVert took 79 threes this year, or 4.4 per game. Caris made 32

Booker 68 or 4 per game. Devin made 34

Not really much of a volume difference there, honestly. 

Hunter is a different animal, he’s taken 150, and made 44.

I wouldn’t consider either LaVert ot Hunter "the man" for their respective teams either. LaVert was part of a 1/2 scoring punch which Zach Irvin, and Hunter is a part of the same type of dynamic with Ryan Harrow. In fact, Ryan Harrow takes the most shots on that Georgia State team, not Hunter, and Harrow is GSU’s leading scorer.

LaVert is, or was now that he’s done for the year, Michigan’s leading scorer, but it was the difference between 12.3 shots per game for him, and 11.8 for Irvin. 

Booker can shoot the ball, and has done a better job than those three on the year thus far. Hands down.

 

 

[the I in winParticipant]

With this logic you probably think JR Smith is a better shooter than Anthony Morrow.

[the I in winParticipant]

With this logic you probably think JR Smith is a better shooter than Anthony Morrow.

[Dog_ShammdogParticipant]

 Look at the whole body of work for each of those three. Booker is most definitely the best shooter and has always been more revered for his shooting than either of those two ever were. Check their high school stats, film, form etc. booker is the best pure shooter in the draft. Russell’s giving him a run for his money though 

[Dog_ShammdogParticipant]

 Look at the whole body of work for each of those three. Booker is most definitely the best shooter and has always been more revered for his shooting than either of those two ever were. Check their high school stats, film, form etc. booker is the best pure shooter in the draft. Russell’s giving him a run for his money though 

[reanimatorParticipant]

 Levert and Hunter shoot "lower percentages from 3" because they take a higher volume of them, first and foremost, and they take way more of them off the dribble. Add in that they are the guy on their teams and this isn’t rocket science.

[JoeWolf1]

I get Hunter’s foundation is great, but the dude is in the midst of a nasty shooting slump and is shooting 40% from the field on the season, and 29% from 3 point range. I know he didn’t wake up and forget how to shoot, but I think his slump has to drop him a bit.

LaVert is done for the year. I don’t think he’ll even declare, to be honest. If he did he was shooting a lower percentage from both 3 point range, and at the line.

Russell is a better player, and I think is in the conversation, but again Booker is shooting better percentages.

I just have a hard time viewing a guy who’s shooting 50/50/81 through 19 games as the 4th best shooter in this class.

 

[reanimatorParticipant]

 Ehhh He is the 4th best shooter after Russell, Levert and Hunter but he does not have great length and most of his shots come off the catch. Also, I would like to see him as the guy against the focal point of defenses. I don’t see him ever being the defender that Klay Thompson is and I have Booker slotted around 20-22. 

[TRC1991Participant]

Booker is a few years away from contributing at the NBA level…if he goes in the lottery, it will have to be to a team that can be patient 

[TRC1991Participant]

Booker is a few years away from contributing at the NBA level…if he goes in the lottery, it will have to be to a team that can be patient 

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