Aaron Craft and Mike Gesell

I

ICHAWK

Well-Known Member
Aaron Craft came in right away as a freshmen and made an immediate impact in terms of defense, intensity, and distributing the basketball (ie.. getting the ball to the proper players).

Craft obviously stepped into a situation with WAY, WAY more talent than Iowa will have during Gesell's freshmen year. Craft had the advantage of not really having to create at ton of plays or be a primary scorer.

I was actually very impressed with Craft as a defender as a freshmen as lots of freshmen take the longest time to learn to play defense. I am guessing he was well coached in high school, is smart, and has the desire to play defense.

I think Gessell might be a step quicker than Craft and be a bit more explosive just by looking at highlights. Hard to say how Gesell's athleticism plays at the Big 10 level but I just get the impression he is a better athlete than Craft.

Craft was rivals 3 star, ranked 28th best PG and 111th best overall player in the 2010 class. Craft is listed at 6 ft 175.

Gesell is a rivals 4 star, ranked 21st best PG and 96th best overall player in the 2012 class.

The more I think about it Iowa might have a very nice player in Gesell. I don't know if he is a 16 ppg game guy which Iowa probably could really use next year but I am kind of excited about him more and more.

The more weapons Iowa can put around Gesell the better he will look. I am excited about watching him run things next year.
 




Craft is an amazing on the ball defender, when he is guarding the player with the ball they turn it over 24.7% of the time. That is a ridiculous stat.
 






I love Craft...basing it on "how much he pisses me off"...dude's better than the 3* ranking they put on him and that was obvious his freshman year...you can't put a * on someone's motor.
 


Very fair comparisons. I didn't realize that craft and sullinger were teammates. We just need to get through this year without major injury or defection and we should be good moving forward.
 




Craft and Gesell have similar type builds, but their style of play is a little different. Craft is defense all the way, where I think Gesell will be looking to score more. Now, here is where they are just alike, both are tough kids. Gesell isn't afraid of things and no moment is too big for him, that is what could make him a special player.
The impact on Iowa could be greater with Gesell than with Craft where I think Iowa needs more help on the offensive end than the defensive end. Other than Creighton, the defense hasn't really mattered. Iowa looks lost on offense when they start getting down and needs a player to run the show that can be in control. The defense will improve with the new recruits as the older players leave the program, I think that goes without saying. It will be nice to see a couple guys like Clemmons and Ingram to play alongside Marble and play some real perimeter defense, not knocking Gesell because he has the capability to play good defense, certainly better than Cartwright does now from day one.
I like everything that I read about Gesell and have from day one, even when the previous staff was there, so for a while now. He seems to be a player that really is a smart basketball player and will be a major contributor his freshman season.
Gesell is the best PG to walk into Iowa since Horner.
 




the lack of a true post is what causes the perimiter defense to look bad
to many time a outside defender go inside to help inside defense which causes to many outside wideopen looks
Woodbury and Olaseni will fill that void as well as Meyer at 6'10
finally we will have size in the middle rather than relying on 6'7 players trying to play center
we will also have 2 pg's in Gesell and Clemmons rather than plaers either carrying the load or a player playing out of position
 


Gessell will be a much a better offensive player than Craft. Craft is a great defender but he's not anything special on the offensive end of the court and greatly benefits from the talent around him.
 


fufred said:
Craft is an amazing on the ball defender, when he is guarding the player with the ball they turn it over 24.7% of the time. That is a ridiculous stat.
Click to expand...

Link? I have a hard time believing that. According to this SI article he was forcing 8.84 turnovers per 100 possessions. If that 24.7% was right that would mean Craft's guy only handles the ball roughly 32 times a game, and as he is usually guarding the point that is an incredibly low number and also assuming all of his forced turnovers come from on ball situations.

Ohio State Buckeyes knock North Carolina Tar Heels out of top spot - Luke Winn - SI.com
 


hawkfan33 said:
Gessell will be a much a better offensive player than Craft. Craft is a great defender but he's not anything special on the offensive end of the court and greatly benefits from the talent around him.
Click to expand...

Craft is one of the best finishers at the rim in CBB.
 






Aaron Craft was rated as high as #45 in the country on Rivals in his senior summer,but did fall down by the final ratings. He is actually more like that #45 rating as it turns out.

Honestly,I think he is probably the best pg in conference so far. Jordan Taylor of Wisky is the pre-season All American but has not played great and I give it to Craft at this point. He will be the best pg in the league the next couple of years due to overall game, defense,BB IQ, decision-making, toughness.

If Gesell is anywhere close to Craft,he is way underrated. Craft is a football player strong,and Gesell looks more like a greyhound. Defense is the difference.
I like Gesell,but Craft is the gold standard right now.
 


JHHawk said:
Aaron Craft was rated as high as #45 in the country on Rivals in his senior summer,but did fall down by the final ratings. He is actually more like that #45 rating as it turns out.

Honestly,I think he is probably the best pg in conference so far. Jordan Taylor of Wisky is the pre-season All American but has not played great and I give it to Craft at this point. He will be the best pg in the league the next couple of years due to overall game, defense,BB IQ, decision-making, toughness.

If Gesell is anywhere close to Craft,he is way underrated. Craft is a football player strong,and Gesell looks more like a greyhound. Defense is the difference.
I like Gesell,but Craft is the gold standard right now.
Click to expand...

Craft is have the better year right now, but I'd still take Taylor over any PG in the conference.

That said, I hope Gesell can even come halfway close to having the kind of impact of Craft. Defense is definitely the question mark. Craft is like Chris Kramer with an offensive game. Deadly combo for a PG.
 


Comparing Gessell, a kid not even on campus, to one of the best pgs in the nation....wow....we're starting to sound like ISU fans....
 


Gessell will be good though and a major improvement over what we have. He is very very good, but not Craft good.
 


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