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Post by coqui900 on Jul 23, 2013 9:18:36 GMT -5
This is Jerrell Wright. If you take out two clunkers (against Temple and St. Louis, games where the whole team stunk up the joint), this is what he put up in eight of the last ten games of the season.
His stats: 14.5 PPG, 75% FG and a very respectable 65% from the line that included an epic 9 for 10 in a tourney game. He also did that as the team's lone big man for a huge part of that stretch.
If you throw in the game against St. Louis in that stretch (only leaving Temple out), JW also grabbed 8.9 boards a game for nine of the last ten.
That's completely ridiculous. It's off-the-charts, even. Did anyone in the country put up those stats in the final two months of the season, especially when they had to play with ridiculous concentration to stay on the floor (and that was a problem for him early in the season)?
I know we're a guard-oriented team but I think Jerrell is a sleeper pick for A-10 player of the year. Dare I say that, if his off-hand improves and the defense he flashed at the end of the season keeps up, we might have to worry about him as an early entry candidate?
The Steve injury might have been a blessing in disguise. I love Steve's high-IQ game. But Jerrell showed himself as a total monster down the stretch. Without him being that crazy good, we don't get into the Sweet 16 (and maybe not the tournament).
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Post by 23won on Jul 23, 2013 9:28:26 GMT -5
The only thing holding Jerrell back is the amount of time G keeps him on the bench.
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Post by broderickpresident on Jul 23, 2013 9:52:28 GMT -5
Here was a post I made after his tournament run...impressive company for JW. Really hope he's turned a corner: Every other guy on this list has at least had an NBA cup of coffee. He was unstoppable in the paint against some bigger opponents and has gotten better about not dropping his shoulder too much and getting whistled for the charge. I'm hoping he'll get some more respect from the refs on defense to not get quick fouls so often. If he can gain some consistency, he could be the key to keeping us towards the top of the A-10 next season. As we're well aware, it's a special thing to have a guy you can throw the ball into on the block and consistently get buckets... Best FG% in NCAA Tournament Since 1997, Mimimum 25 FGA 2007 Chris Richard 22-26 .846 2013 Jerrell Wright 22-27 .815 2009 Blake Griffin 46-59 .780 2011 Vernon Macklin 24-31 .774 2004 Shavlik Randolph 20-26 .769 2010 DeMarcus Cousins 23-31 .742 2008 Derrick Brown 20-27 .741 Read more: explorertown.proboards.com/thread/709/jerrell-emerging#ixzz2ZseW2nzn
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Post by coqui900 on Jul 23, 2013 10:16:57 GMT -5
If you're better than Blake Griffin in any way, shape or from than you're doing something really right.
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Post by explorerman on Jul 23, 2013 11:27:16 GMT -5
I would like him to add at least a right handed move, not only to make defenses honor it as they will begin to adjust their defense but to also help his future basketball ambitions!
Regardless, he has been great so far in his career and has been a great rep for the University! He has been a fantastic addition and was responsible for our run as anyone on our team
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Post by durenduren on Jul 23, 2013 12:19:57 GMT -5
The Steve injury might have been a blessing in disguise. I love Steve's high-IQ game. But Jerrell showed himself as a total monster down the stretch. This is something I wrote a few months back on subject, it's pretty relevant: If anything, JW discovered his most efficient form without Zack in the lineup, including maintaining the same foul rate. While I'll never want to go back to having one big option available, that crappy scenario may have taught Wright how he's most effective. Maybe the difference was those additional 6 minutes per game or so with Zack absent - I don't know if Jerrell didn't feel he needed to make as big of an impact in a shorter period, allowing him to play more intelligent, conservative ball? Post season Jerrell was clearly in a league of his own, and it easily may have been a blessing in disguise.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2013 12:34:44 GMT -5
The line-up shifts take an emotional toll on young players. I believe that jerrell plays better when he doesn't have to worry about being benched for every little mistake.
But let's not make this about G, who is very high on Jerrell and says he is one of the most talented big players he's EVER coached in 20+ years, and he said that after his freshman year. which means Jerrell is showing skills on a level at or above Steve Smith, even.
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Post by La Salle 08 on Jul 23, 2013 14:41:02 GMT -5
Agreed that the Temple and SLU games can be ignored. Jerrell spent the Temple game puking on the bench because he was sick. The Saint Louis game was on the road on senior night against a top 25 team that was absolutely rolling at the time. His second half of the season was fantastic, glad we didn't forget.
Agreed with Explorerman that one of his biggest holes in his game is a lack of a right handed post move. Ca't wait to see him progress over the next 2 seasons.
Bonus points for being a super nice and polite kid.
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Post by Shout out to my Cousin Bern on Jul 23, 2013 14:50:17 GMT -5
Agreed with all of the above.
Has Jerrell gotten bigger over the past couple years? He seems like he's gotten much stronger and looked like quite a force in the tournament.
Also, it's a joy to have a "JW" on the team that I actually enjoy watching.
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Post by SICguy84 on Jul 23, 2013 15:00:04 GMT -5
“As you can see, I can hold my own.” - JW
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Post by coachd on Jul 23, 2013 16:03:56 GMT -5
"... against two 6-10 guys."
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Post by sweat83 on Jul 23, 2013 17:05:35 GMT -5
Before the tournament, I always thought of JW as being a little tentative against guys his size or bigger. Maybe a little intimidated, or lacking a little bit of confidence. But the games he had in Kansas totally disproved that. He absolutely held his own, and going into 2013-2014 I can only imagine what his confidence level is going to be like. Great court IQ, and excellent hands for a big. Right hand move, and add a little more muscle, and I think we'll have a guy in the middle that we haven't seen at 20th and Olney in quite some time.
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MisterD
The Baptist Himself
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Post by MisterD on Jul 23, 2013 19:11:38 GMT -5
When is the last time we had a true, legit big-big? K'Zell?
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Post by thehawkisdead on Jul 24, 2013 9:06:38 GMT -5
I don't think you can consider K'Zell a "legit big-big." He was excellent defensively but I always felt he was overrated on the boards and non-existent offensively. I say overrated on the boards because he had a knack for getting position, making a perfect leap, coming down with the ball...then dropping it. I realize he was good for a double-double almost every game, but seeing that happen all the time was incredibly frustrating.
And don't get me started on James Jordan's hands...
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MisterD
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Post by MisterD on Jul 24, 2013 9:49:18 GMT -5
His last year, K'Zell was 10th in A-10 scoring and led in rebounding (followed by two guys who played over a decade each in the league). If Wright gives us close to that, we'll be thrilled.
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Post by broderickpresident on Jul 24, 2013 9:49:44 GMT -5
I don't think you can consider K'Zell a "legit big-big." He was excellent defensively but I always felt he was overrated on the boards and non-existent offensively. I say overrated on the boards because he had a knack for getting position, making a perfect leap, coming down with the ball...then dropping it. I realize he was good for a double-double almost every game, but seeing that happen all the time was incredibly frustrating. And don't get me started on James Jordan's hands... Funny, I felt that Wesson was as good of a rebounder as I've ever seen at La Salle and a pretty nice offensive player, but pretty brutal defensively (undersized, slow and a poor leaper). I seem to recall a great set of hands as well, but perhaps my memory is failing me there. In 25 or so years following La Salle, the 2 best offensive players with their backs to the basket that I've seen are Lionel and Rodney Green. Both were more mid-post guys than deep post guys, but if they caught the ball 15 feet from the hoop with their man on their back, I always felt that they would score or at least use footwork to get a very nice look for themselves or a teammate.
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Post by lwc4591 on Jul 24, 2013 10:04:28 GMT -5
When it comes to rebounding over the last 50 years only one name stands out to me and that is Michael Brooks. Kenny and L-Train also very good on boards.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2013 10:43:33 GMT -5
I don't think you can consider K'Zell a "legit big-big." He was excellent defensively but I always felt he was overrated on the boards and non-existent offensively. I say overrated on the boards because he had a knack for getting position, making a perfect leap, coming down with the ball...then dropping it. I realize he was good for a double-double almost every game, but seeing that happen all the time was incredibly frustrating. And don't get me started on James Jordan's hands... Funny, I felt that Wesson was as good of a rebounder as I've ever seen at La Salle and a pretty nice offensive player, but pretty brutal defensively (undersized, slow and a poor leaper). I seem to recall a great set of hands as well, but perhaps my memory is failing me there. Sorry, thid, but I have to agree with Broderick on this. My recollections of K'Zell were the same as his. I loved K'Zell, but he couldn't cover me. His senior year, that team could have been really good but underperformed because of poor team defense and no depth. The starting five (Wesson, Carr, Butler, Thomas, and Blanks) was as good as any in the A10. Maybe the two years you watched K'Zell was when you were going through your sneaking-beers-into-Gola phase and you were too hammered to remember anything clearly.
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MisterD
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Post by MisterD on Jul 24, 2013 10:48:17 GMT -5
K'Zell was a short 4 playing the 5 at a time when the conference had a lot of big 5s and super athletic 4s. He stepped onto the court without a chance half the time.
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bernards
Mop-Up Time
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Post by bernards on Jul 24, 2013 11:33:47 GMT -5
I will give a shout out to Truck Butts as the last very good center.
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Post by lwc4591 on Jul 24, 2013 11:45:11 GMT -5
Truck was also a very good rebounder and if he were given the extra season that team with Steve Black would have been very good.
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big5vet
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Post by big5vet on Jul 24, 2013 11:51:20 GMT -5
My recollection of K'Zell was pretty favorable and he was definitely outmanned by the A-10 bigs. I specifically recall Speedy commenting when K'Zell was recruited from JC that he "will get rebounds." Michael Brooks get my vote as the best back-to-the-basket big too.
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Post by thehawkisdead on Jul 24, 2013 14:37:10 GMT -5
Funny, I felt that Wesson was as good of a rebounder as I've ever seen at La Salle and a pretty nice offensive player, but pretty brutal defensively (undersized, slow and a poor leaper). I seem to recall a great set of hands as well, but perhaps my memory is failing me there. Maybe the two years you watched K'Zell was when you were going through your sneaking-beers-into-Gola phase and you were too hammered to remember anything clearly. That "phase" lasted roughly 12 years but is now officially over! And there was only one game at Gola my freshman year, but I had long-standing plans and couldn't go. As for Wesson, mea culpa, I guess. I seem to remember balls bouncing off his hands all the time, but memories sometimes fade. However, the memory of that 1998-99 team demolishing SJ in the A-10 tournament (82-54 I believe) will never fade. The double OT win over SJ at the spectrum earlier that year instantly made me a fan for life.
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Post by luhoopsfan on Jul 24, 2013 15:11:42 GMT -5
Somewhere I hope my ''Wesson 3:16" shirt rests peacefully.
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Post by player71 on Jul 24, 2013 16:20:04 GMT -5
It was great that someone out in LA wore the Wesson 3:16 shirt to the game...granted it was a much faded shirt...
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Post by broderickpresident on Jul 26, 2013 20:52:26 GMT -5
18-2 when Wright had 2 fouls or fewer last season
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Post by durenduren on Jul 26, 2013 21:52:56 GMT -5
24-10 when lasalle played basketball. But good facts, I had nothing else.
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Post by talkinbball on Jul 27, 2013 9:28:55 GMT -5
What I like best about JW is that he just wants to play like a big man. To this point,and I hope he never does, show any inclination to want to drift out and take that 3 pointer that most "big" men seem to inevitably want to do in today's game. He just wants to bang and score inside. (I also agree with the Truck Butts comments. We really got screwed by that decision).
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