[LeroyJenkinsParticipant]

Arinze Onuaku and Rick Jackson get none of the attention joseph,johnson and lately rautins get but i think they can be solid role players in the nba. Im not so sure about dashonte riley i honestly thought he would be a monster shot blocker right out the gate but i was wrong about that so far…he has thrown a few nice passes(he had good ball handling and passing skills in high school) but he is still pretty weak and is anybody sure about his height? ive seen 6’10 to 7’0ft tall

[sammybuckeye13Participant]

I think Jackson is athletic enough to make the transition to the pros, but Onuaku simply doesn’t have the requisite agility or versatility to play at the next level. Jackson is a solid 6-9/250, moves well in the paint, is a terrific rebounder (7 rpg) and shot blocker (2.1) and makes the most of his time on the court (25.8 mpg). As a Syracuse student I go to every game, and while I love Onuaku with all my heart, he just isn’t a pro player. He won’t be able to bully NBA big men like he does college centers, and he’s averaging 2 less rebounds and 1 less block than Jackson despite being 30 pounds heavier and perhaps an inch taller. He doesn’t move well at all, and doesn’t consistently contribute across-the-board like Jackson. I think Riley has only been a disappointment since Boeheim narrowed the rotation down to only 7 players, and he never gets a chance to play; when he does, he is a dynamite shot blocker, averaging 1.3 swats in just 10 minutes a game (he’s only appeared in 12 games). He is at least 6-11, and will be a major contributor over the next few years.

[LeroyJenkinsParticipant]

do you think he will be able to get the starting 5 spot over melo? or will he be a defender off the bench?

[Dhamp2Participant]

As the self-proclaimed Mr. Syracuse, let me answer this. If Jackson plays better, he will be drafted after his senior season…..Maybe. He scored 28 points during his last game, but there’s 30 games in a season. He needs to have those performances every night. Also, Arinze Onuaku has been a good player, but his stats have dropped this year. The emergence of Wesley Johnson has hurt his rebounding and scoring stats. He lead the nation in field goal percentage last year, but it was offset by having the worst free throw percentage in NCAA history. He’s a good athlete and whoever said he isn’t agile is crazy. But he won’t be drafted. He was a borderline pick entering the season, but he’s off the boards now. He’s too inconsistent. As far as Deshonte Riley, he was barely a top 75 player and hasn’t played in many games. He came to SU as a good shot-blocker but hasn’t shown it yet. He also hasn’t had the chance.

Dhamp2…do I really have to tell you the name. You must admit though, I’m right most of the time.

[tonyl33Participant]

Next year Cuse will have three 7 footers. Do you think Jim B. will ever use all 3 in the back line of his zone? I doubt it but they would cover sideline to sideline with their arms reached out. Next year will be the year they have the most height that they ever had since I’ve seen Cuse played.

I think maybe, Rick Jackson could be drafted next year but both will not get drafted this year. Maybe Rautins in the late 2nd round.

[quinceyhodges]

it wouldnt suprise me if he went second round or undrafted. there are some many other big men who are just like him. hes not a bad big man but college is full of those to be honest

[WildDudeParticipant]

Syracuse has a chance of making it 4 7 footers… I mean Enes Kanter who decommited from Washington has Syracuse on his top 4 and I’m hoping Jim Boeheim trys to get him because you can never have enough big men! Syracuse’s starting 5 does not look bad next year either…

Losing Rautins is a HUGE blow tho! I really don’t see anyone who can make 3s consistently any time soon and Rautins has been on FIRE as of late and wouldn’t be surprised with a great tourney he sneaks his way in Mid-second.

G. Brandon Triche
G. Scoop Jardine
F. Kris Joseph
F. Rick Jackson
C. Deshonte Riley

Thats with starting NO freshmen… and I see Deshonte Riley with all the potential in the world as a top-notch defender.

[sammybuckeye13Participant]

To respond to Dhamp2, I guess Onuaku is agile. All Division 1 basketball players are agile. But in the NBA, he would be in the bottom 3% in terms of agility.

I see next year’s lineup as:

PG – Brandon Triche
SG – Dion Waiters
SF – Kris Joseph
PF – Rick Jackson
C – Fab Melo

With Scoop Jardine, Mookie Jones, DaShonte Riley, and James Southerland highlighting a great bench. Triche and Scoop cannot start together, they’re both true point guards, and Scoop is much more effective off the bench; Waiters is a 5-star recruit ready to step in immediately, and he has real superstar potential. Melo is also a potential future lottery pick, and I think he’s somewhat viewed as the future of Syracuse basketball (though some recruiting authorities have Waiters ranked higher). I agree with WildDude, in that it doesn’t matter than Riley wasn’t so highly touted out of high school, as he’s proved to be a most capable defender and has a very high ceiling, and also little pressure with Melo coming in. James Southerland will also be very good one day; he’s a 6-8 forward who can really spread the floor, and is probably one of our top 4 shooters right now. Next year’s team will certainly be deeper than this year’s, and might boast as many as six or seven future NBA players.

[Adi Joseph]

Next season, when Jackson plays a bigger role, I think he could slip into the first round. But only if he’s in good shape.

Onuaku is too slow to be drafted.

[Dhamp2Participant]

Brandon Triche is not a “true” point guard!!! As a matter of fact, this is the first season he’s EVER played point guard!!! Also, Jardine is better than Triche, who only starts because of his height, which adds to the zone’s length! Had Jardine gotten 30 mins a night, he would lead the league in assists.

Dhamp2…do I really have to tell you the name. You must admit though, I’m right most of the time.

[Dhamp2Participant]

What up Adi! I spoke with your boy yesterday. Did he tell you?

Dhamp2…do I really have to tell you the name. You must admit though, I’m right most of the time.

[quinceyhodges]

if wishes were fishes no one would go hungry…no one knows what he would do if he had 30min..lol

[JNixonParticipant]

Rick Jackson has a few good games, and then some games (Georgetown game for instance) where he looks like he’s never played basketball a moment in his entire life. Travels, tries to create his own shots from the mid-range area when he’s strictly a low post guy, throws the ball to fans in the stands. He is a mid 2nd rounder at his absolute best.

Onuaku isn’t nearly tall/long enough or a good enough athlete to play in the NBA. He also is a terrible shooter, which he’d need to be good at in the NBA at his size. He was the NCAA’s worst foul shooter if I’m not mistaken. He also is very foul prone in college because of his lack off foot speed, just imagine him in the NBA.

[Lodzio20Participant]

Onuaku will be very good player in NBA.

[Cusemen727Participant]

AO wont get drafted, Rick might get drafted, but i dont see either one of them as contributors on the NBA level, 6-9 guys with a decent skill set are not to hard to come by.

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