[valentine]

The people who write on this message board are so afraid of being wrong about a prospect that they’ll never put their cajones on the line and announce that a High School player is going to be the "Next Big Thing". 

But these guys come around more than once-a-decade, and it seems most of you are the last to accept that some young ballers are straight-out prodigies. i.e. they’re clearly better than even the best of their peers. 

Ben Simmons fits this mould. You can say that 

 

[Rip255]

 

Ben Simmons is the best High School player that I’ve ever seen, and I’m certain he’ll be a multiple NBA MVP winner and franchise cornerstone. I hear people talking about Jaylen Brown and Thon Maker etc…but that’s still all upside.

If I were a betting man, I’d say that he will also win the John Wooden award at LSU next year and if high school players were eligible to be drafted, he’d go #1 in 2015.

So don’t waste your effort argueing with me on Simmons cos you can’t change my opinion…I’d much rather hear you tell me why Mudiay, Okafer, Maker  or someone else will be the next once-in-a-generation player. 

 

 

[OneAndDoneParticipant]

This site is to spark intelligent conversation about current topics regarding college and professional basketball. It seems as though you are looking for an argument to me. Ben seems like an incredible talent, but lets not get ahead of ourselves. He is 17.

[OneAndDoneParticipant]

This site is to spark intelligent conversation about current topics regarding college and professional basketball. It seems as though you are looking for an argument to me. Ben seems like an incredible talent, but lets not get ahead of ourselves. He is 17.

[Rip255]

 

Ben Simmons is the best High School player that I’ve ever seen, and I’m certain he’ll be a multiple NBA MVP winner and franchise cornerstone. I hear people talking about Jaylen Brown and Thon Maker etc…but that’s still all upside.

If I were a betting man, I’d say that he will also win the John Wooden award at LSU next year and if high school players were eligible to be drafted, he’d go #1 in 2015.

So don’t waste your effort argueing with me on Simmons cos you can’t change my opinion…I’d much rather hear you tell me why Mudiay, Okafer, Maker  or someone else will be the next once-in-a-generation player. 

 

 

[AdamJCallejaParticipant]

 If you’ve guys seen Josh Jackson this season, he is definitely that wing prospect that come around every once in a while. Just makes plays that only few can make.

[AdamJCallejaParticipant]

 If you’ve guys seen Josh Jackson this season, he is definitely that wing prospect that come around every once in a while. Just makes plays that only few can make.

[Jdean24Participant]

 While I believe Josh Jackson is a very good player and intriguing prospect. A once in a generation prospect he is not. I mean we are talking Kobe or Duncan like players. I don’t believe we can predict that with high school players with any accuracy. But I really like Jaylen Brown. Think the kid has the killer instinct too be great along with the god given talent. Probably not Kobe but a Dwayne Wade like talent. And RIP..upside means a lot I’m not sure Simmons has the room too grow like others. Although I understand they have too live up too it and work too become great. I’d agree Simmons is the best now but I’m not sure that will be the case in 3-5 years..

[Jdean24Participant]

 While I believe Josh Jackson is a very good player and intriguing prospect. A once in a generation prospect he is not. I mean we are talking Kobe or Duncan like players. I don’t believe we can predict that with high school players with any accuracy. But I really like Jaylen Brown. Think the kid has the killer instinct too be great along with the god given talent. Probably not Kobe but a Dwayne Wade like talent. And RIP..upside means a lot I’m not sure Simmons has the room too grow like others. Although I understand they have too live up too it and work too become great. I’d agree Simmons is the best now but I’m not sure that will be the case in 3-5 years..

[OneAndDoneParticipant]

 I try to keep up on the up and comers in the high school ranks, and the guys that have been mentioned are definately deserving of consideration along with Harry Giles. Ben Simmons is an unbelievable talent that can from a young age play a legit point forward similar to lebron. watching josh jackson he makes every aspect of an incredibly difficult sport look effortless. Harry Giles in my opinion would be considered as an other worldly prospect had his knee injury not occured but still even after that has come back with a chip on his shoulder to prove to people that he is still elite. With all of that being said i think Thon Maker can transcend the game. For his size i have never seen anything like him. he has the skills to dominate the paint, yet the skills and athleticism to step out and hit jumpers. the ball handling skills and versatility he displays are unheard of at his age. i do though question his decision to head to canada for high school. we will see how that plays out. i cant wait to see all these guys in college and how their transition to the league plays out. the future is bright…

[OneAndDoneParticipant]

 I try to keep up on the up and comers in the high school ranks, and the guys that have been mentioned are definately deserving of consideration along with Harry Giles. Ben Simmons is an unbelievable talent that can from a young age play a legit point forward similar to lebron. watching josh jackson he makes every aspect of an incredibly difficult sport look effortless. Harry Giles in my opinion would be considered as an other worldly prospect had his knee injury not occured but still even after that has come back with a chip on his shoulder to prove to people that he is still elite. With all of that being said i think Thon Maker can transcend the game. For his size i have never seen anything like him. he has the skills to dominate the paint, yet the skills and athleticism to step out and hit jumpers. the ball handling skills and versatility he displays are unheard of at his age. i do though question his decision to head to canada for high school. we will see how that plays out. i cant wait to see all these guys in college and how their transition to the league plays out. the future is bright…

[trelos6Participant]

 No offence to Jahlil Okafor, who is a stud, but Karl Towns Jr can be similar to Anthony Davis (who in my opinion is a once in a generation player).

Ben Simmons seems more like a do it all star, but not a superstar, IMO.

Finally Joel Embiid has the potential.  I think he has a higher ceiling than Wiggins and Parker, both of whom could end up top 50 nba players of all time when they’re done.

 

 

 

[trelos6Participant]

 No offence to Jahlil Okafor, who is a stud, but Karl Towns Jr can be similar to Anthony Davis (who in my opinion is a once in a generation player).

Ben Simmons seems more like a do it all star, but not a superstar, IMO.

Finally Joel Embiid has the potential.  I think he has a higher ceiling than Wiggins and Parker, both of whom could end up top 50 nba players of all time when they’re done.

 

 

 

[lalailaParticipant]

 yeah imo it’s Joel Embiid too..7’1 260-270 7’6 wingspan super quick and athletic for this pretty huge size, exellent touch and fast improving that makes you believe he will have the best post moves plus really good jumpshot one day.. also can pass..and can be GREAT defender

[lalailaParticipant]

 yeah imo it’s Joel Embiid too..7’1 260-270 7’6 wingspan super quick and athletic for this pretty huge size, exellent touch and fast improving that makes you believe he will have the best post moves plus really good jumpshot one day.. also can pass..and can be GREAT defender

[HitsterParticipant]

 Kobe has turned out to be one of the greatest NBA players ever but he was only drafted 14th so he wasn’t viewed that highly then even if it was a loaded draft. Tim Duncan, Shaq, LeBron were viewed as more once in a lifetime players in more recent drafts.

Greg Oden was considered a cannot miss prospect and KD was very close behind during their pre draft years.

D-Rose, Beasley and Mayo were seen as very much hyped prospects, also Rubio had a lot of hype from an early age.

John Wall was a clear consensus top pick for most of his college career.

Wiggins and Jabari had hype for a few pre-draft years and Embiid was a huge buzz last year.

2015 Class looks good but maybe without the star quality of this years.

Ben Simmons I’ve seen very little of so I cannot comment too much on him. Aran has him top of his 2016 mock draft and I respect Aran’s views so clearly the guy is a top prospect but I cannot say he is the next superstar this far off. I will comment further on him when I’ve seen more footage/analysis of him.

Josh Jackson is a new name to me in recent weeks so I’ll not comment on him at all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[slimgoodyParticipant]

 I don’t think you can say that Kobe wasn’t viewed very highly.  And before I go on let me make it clear that I’m no Kobe super fan just an unbiased basketball enthusiast.  But Kobe came out in the mid 90’s.  It was a different time in the NBA landscape.  If Kobe were to come out now with the exact same skill set he had coming out of high school he would be a top 3 pick.  No doubt about it.  But he was in an area where there was no Youtube mixtapes, high school games on ESPN, or Slam Magazine.  We got a Street & Smith mag once a year and thats pretty much it.  And during that era young players weren’t drafted so much on potential as their are now.  Players with proven skills sets (2 to 4 years of college experience) were more coveted during this time period.  I agree with the rest of your post spot on.  Just had to comment on the beginning.

[slimgoodyParticipant]

 I don’t think you can say that Kobe wasn’t viewed very highly.  And before I go on let me make it clear that I’m no Kobe super fan just an unbiased basketball enthusiast.  But Kobe came out in the mid 90’s.  It was a different time in the NBA landscape.  If Kobe were to come out now with the exact same skill set he had coming out of high school he would be a top 3 pick.  No doubt about it.  But he was in an area where there was no Youtube mixtapes, high school games on ESPN, or Slam Magazine.  We got a Street & Smith mag once a year and thats pretty much it.  And during that era young players weren’t drafted so much on potential as their are now.  Players with proven skills sets (2 to 4 years of college experience) were more coveted during this time period.  I agree with the rest of your post spot on.  Just had to comment on the beginning.

[HitsterParticipant]

 Kobe has turned out to be one of the greatest NBA players ever but he was only drafted 14th so he wasn’t viewed that highly then even if it was a loaded draft. Tim Duncan, Shaq, LeBron were viewed as more once in a lifetime players in more recent drafts.

Greg Oden was considered a cannot miss prospect and KD was very close behind during their pre draft years.

D-Rose, Beasley and Mayo were seen as very much hyped prospects, also Rubio had a lot of hype from an early age.

John Wall was a clear consensus top pick for most of his college career.

Wiggins and Jabari had hype for a few pre-draft years and Embiid was a huge buzz last year.

2015 Class looks good but maybe without the star quality of this years.

Ben Simmons I’ve seen very little of so I cannot comment too much on him. Aran has him top of his 2016 mock draft and I respect Aran’s views so clearly the guy is a top prospect but I cannot say he is the next superstar this far off. I will comment further on him when I’ve seen more footage/analysis of him.

Josh Jackson is a new name to me in recent weeks so I’ll not comment on him at all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Memphisboy14Participant]

 If anything you just try to pick who you think will be the best player from a particular draft. Those once in a generation type are guys who have a combination of skillset and physical ability that you rarely see. Hell even some of the best players in the NBA aren’t even once in a generation type players they just happen to be really great. With that being said I don’t think currently there are guys that are once in a generationn type of guys coming into the NBA anytime soon. Now some of these guys could either develop in terms of skill and physique that could cause them to become can’t miss prospects but as of right now I don’t see any. I will admit this much though those guys Ben Simmons and Jaylen Brown are the real freakin deal. I can’t quite say that they are gonna be superstars without a doubt but those guys have some serious game and talent. Can’t wait to see how they develop.

 

[Memphisboy14Participant]

 If anything you just try to pick who you think will be the best player from a particular draft. Those once in a generation type are guys who have a combination of skillset and physical ability that you rarely see. Hell even some of the best players in the NBA aren’t even once in a generation type players they just happen to be really great. With that being said I don’t think currently there are guys that are once in a generationn type of guys coming into the NBA anytime soon. Now some of these guys could either develop in terms of skill and physique that could cause them to become can’t miss prospects but as of right now I don’t see any. I will admit this much though those guys Ben Simmons and Jaylen Brown are the real freakin deal. I can’t quite say that they are gonna be superstars without a doubt but those guys have some serious game and talent. Can’t wait to see how they develop.

 

[Tedy BukasaParticipant]

Usually we are able to see surefire once in a generation players years away (ex. LeBron, KD, D-Rose, Kobe, and Anthony Davis). Sometimes you have your exceptions that creep up on you, a la Jordan — rare though. I’m not sure if we have once in a generation type players on the horizon yet, but Ben Simmons and Jaylen Brown have to be in the conversation. What I like most about these guys, is that they are smart hardworking socially-conscious kids. I leave it to these guys to piece it together and reach stardom in the future. I also like Thon Maker and Dennis Smith Jr. as game changers down the line.

[Tedy BukasaParticipant]

Usually we are able to see surefire once in a generation players years away (ex. LeBron, KD, D-Rose, Kobe, and Anthony Davis). Sometimes you have your exceptions that creep up on you, a la Jordan — rare though. I’m not sure if we have once in a generation type players on the horizon yet, but Ben Simmons and Jaylen Brown have to be in the conversation. What I like most about these guys, is that they are smart hardworking socially-conscious kids. I leave it to these guys to piece it together and reach stardom in the future. I also like Thon Maker and Dennis Smith Jr. as game changers down the line.

[Author]

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