storminspank
Justin VanLaere
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viKn7sYjYhg"]YouTube- Lenzelle Smith and Ben Brust[/ame]
37 seconds in. Wowsa.
37 seconds in. Wowsa.
Ben Brust vs Lenzelle Smith Highlight Vid
- Thread starter storminspank
- Start date
FreddyBrown
Moderator
Interesting video. Have seen Brust before, but not Smith. Is Smith listed as a guard? He's more of a tweener/swingman type, but he can handle it okay and appears to shoot well. Built like Ray Cowles, who I saw play for SClara the other night.
This video highlights Brust's high-schoolish outside shooting form, reminds me of Troy Skinner. However, Brust is an athlete and I believe he'll get that shot off even in college. He'd better shoot it quickly, though, as low as his release point is. When he's creating shots off the dribble that doesn't seem to be a problem for him. By college standards he has pretty good hops, pretty good quickness, a pretty good handle, and is a good passer. The things that stand out about him are hustle, shooting and overall knack for scoring. He will be a step up for our backcourt next season.
This video highlights Brust's high-schoolish outside shooting form, reminds me of Troy Skinner. However, Brust is an athlete and I believe he'll get that shot off even in college. He'd better shoot it quickly, though, as low as his release point is. When he's creating shots off the dribble that doesn't seem to be a problem for him. By college standards he has pretty good hops, pretty good quickness, a pretty good handle, and is a good passer. The things that stand out about him are hustle, shooting and overall knack for scoring. He will be a step up for our backcourt next season.
NewMexHawk
Well-Known Member
First time I have seen him play this season and it is difficult to judge someone after only seeing them play once.
I did notice that he did not shoot under pressure. Give most shooters time and they will score. He might as well forget about the uptempo style of play that he now plays. He will need to adapt to a Iowa's style of play, which means he won't be shooting as often as he does now. Some players need to shoot get into a rhythm. With the way Iowa plays, he will be required to shoot less but make the same percentage, which also might be difficult at the college level. I doubt Lickliter turns him loose to shoot whenever he wants witht the other players we have on the floor? How will that affect his shooting? In college he will also have as big a guards or bigger guarding him closely, which could affect his shooting. And as Freddy said, he seems to have a low release point, which also might affect affect him at the college level.
Utube didn't show him going one on one...just him basically shooting a lot of open shots and passing against some very suspect defense. It will be interesting to see how he develops.
I did notice that he did not shoot under pressure. Give most shooters time and they will score. He might as well forget about the uptempo style of play that he now plays. He will need to adapt to a Iowa's style of play, which means he won't be shooting as often as he does now. Some players need to shoot get into a rhythm. With the way Iowa plays, he will be required to shoot less but make the same percentage, which also might be difficult at the college level. I doubt Lickliter turns him loose to shoot whenever he wants witht the other players we have on the floor? How will that affect his shooting? In college he will also have as big a guards or bigger guarding him closely, which could affect his shooting. And as Freddy said, he seems to have a low release point, which also might affect affect him at the college level.
Utube didn't show him going one on one...just him basically shooting a lot of open shots and passing against some very suspect defense. It will be interesting to see how he develops.
2good2btru
Well-Known Member
Doubt coach is there for all of Ben's playing days.
Last nite vs Stevenson HS, Mundelein went down to defeat by one point.
Star of the game was Stevenson 6'3'' forward Nate Johnson,who had 15 pts and 10 rebounds and guarded Ben Brust,holding him to 9 points,6 assists,3 rbs and 7 turnovers. Johnson rallied Stevenson late when he blocked a Brust shot and took it the length of the court to give them their first lead in the game.
Not sure how good Nate Johnson is, but clearly, Mundelein,who is (3-7) in their conference, is struggling, and Johnson shut down Ben. I worry that fans think Ben will be an immediate impact player at the Big Ten level, which is full of better defenders than Nate Johnson. With Brusts low release on his jumper...I worry he will get it blocked in the Big Ten,at least initially. The calvary is coming ,but they will not save the day next year,imo. We sink or swim with our top 6 from this years team.
Star of the game was Stevenson 6'3'' forward Nate Johnson,who had 15 pts and 10 rebounds and guarded Ben Brust,holding him to 9 points,6 assists,3 rbs and 7 turnovers. Johnson rallied Stevenson late when he blocked a Brust shot and took it the length of the court to give them their first lead in the game.
Not sure how good Nate Johnson is, but clearly, Mundelein,who is (3-7) in their conference, is struggling, and Johnson shut down Ben. I worry that fans think Ben will be an immediate impact player at the Big Ten level, which is full of better defenders than Nate Johnson. With Brusts low release on his jumper...I worry he will get it blocked in the Big Ten,at least initially. The calvary is coming ,but they will not save the day next year,imo. We sink or swim with our top 6 from this years team.
HawkeyeBBall
Well-Known Member
It does seem like Ben had a bad game last night, however, I have not seen a more poorly coached team with a player of his caliber In a long time.
The few times that I have went to see him at the HS level he is a different player than when he played AAU that I saw. I will say that he will be a player at Iowa, to say that the current to 6 will be the ship just shows you aren't too familiar with the incoming recruits, I have seen them all play and will say that they will help completely. it just seems like JHhawk you are one of those Debbie Downers that if everything isn't perfect you'll find something to complain about.
By the way, do a search on Nate Johnson and you'll find out he is a D-1 football prospect at WR. I'm sure he's pretty athletic. Ben scores under his 27ppg average this season in 1 game so that will translate to failure in the Big Ten.
I'm done with my tangent and I'll say since I saw that game against Lenzelle in person, a top 100 recruit by many sources out there that Ben was the best player on the court that night since Lenzelle's team lost he must be bad. (Thats bad logic though)
The few times that I have went to see him at the HS level he is a different player than when he played AAU that I saw. I will say that he will be a player at Iowa, to say that the current to 6 will be the ship just shows you aren't too familiar with the incoming recruits, I have seen them all play and will say that they will help completely. it just seems like JHhawk you are one of those Debbie Downers that if everything isn't perfect you'll find something to complain about.
By the way, do a search on Nate Johnson and you'll find out he is a D-1 football prospect at WR. I'm sure he's pretty athletic. Ben scores under his 27ppg average this season in 1 game so that will translate to failure in the Big Ten.
I'm done with my tangent and I'll say since I saw that game against Lenzelle in person, a top 100 recruit by many sources out there that Ben was the best player on the court that night since Lenzelle's team lost he must be bad. (Thats bad logic though)
FreddyBrown
Moderator
I appreciate your enthusiasm and especially your reports, HBBall, but it sounded to me like JHHawk's post was pretty reasonable. I can't recall a year in all the years I've been watching Iowa basketball when so much impact was being expected right out of the gate from an incoming recruiting class. Even Raveling's one great class wasn't expected to save the coach and the program in a year. They almost can't help but disappoint the way they're being built up, and at times I've been one of those doing the building.
I hope you're right about all of these kids, but JH's post reflected reasonable restraint about what to expect from Brust.
I hope you're right about all of these kids, but JH's post reflected reasonable restraint about what to expect from Brust.
Tmoney12
Well-Known Member
Good points both Freddy and Jhawk. However, I can't really get a read on Burst's release on the video. Is it really that low b/c it doesn't look to bad watching that video.
HawkeyeBBall
Well-Known Member
Freddy, trust me, I hope I'm right too. I hate being wrong. I feel like I am a pretty decent evaluator of talent as I have played D3 ball and coached AAU and on the varsity level for the past 9 years, being recently married I have stopped coaching, but I feel that this incoming class is special and is really flying under the radar and will have a HUGE impact on the program!
If I am wrong, I'll be the first to admit it, but I think that the Lick bashers will be the first to admit they're wrong! IMHO though!
If I am wrong, I'll be the first to admit it, but I think that the Lick bashers will be the first to admit they're wrong! IMHO though!
Cyclones17
Well-Known Member
Looked pretty solid and like a solid athlete. Jumps forward a little to much on his jump shot but other than that he looks good
Sorry but I just do not see any of our incoming recruits beating out our current starting staff,unless it is possibly Larson over Cole,but Cole is a senior next year,and a captain, so that is not a given. I am not saying the frosh class will not contribute,but I just do not see them coming in and beating out our top six and being difference-makers as frosh. Would you say Brust is better than last years Mr BB, Brandon Paul? Paul is struggling to make a big impact at Illinois ,where they lost their starting guard court last year. He is a big talent but not quite ready to be a steady presence in their lineup...next year? Yes,but not as a frosh.
But,like you say, I hope I am wrong and Brust,Larson,Marble and McCabe become Iowa's version of the Fab Four next year and beat out Gatens,Cole,May and Fuller.
HawkeyeBBall
Well-Known Member
I have never said that they were going to become Iowa's version of a Fab Four.
This is Brandon Paul's stats so far this season. If Brust would provide us with these and called struggling, I wouldn't complain, I'd be happy to take it.
19.6min/g 8.9ppg 2.5rbs 1.5assists 1.0steals
Bawinkle is a captain this year and he isn't starting so your point isn't too good regarding Cole and Larson. The 2010 recruits will bring much needed depth to this team and help immensely.
Have you watched Paul in Big Ten competition? He is erratic. His play is sporadic,he is shooting the lowest percentage of anyone in their rotation, and Weber has benched him. He is just going thru typical frosh woes, but it is an illustration of how even a top 40 player coming into an open slot on the starting lineup can still fade during league play.. Iowa returns their top 7 players, so the open playing time might not be there to start with like Paul had...and most observers would concede that Brust is not at the Brandon Paul level in high school..so I still maintain that while our incoming frosh class will give us much needed depth, I doubt they will beat out any of our top 5-6..unless it is Larson. And that might be a good thing...means our top 6 are solid,right?
HawkeyeBBall
Well-Known Member
JHHawk, it is hard to get a read from you as you haven't been hear more than a week. I'm trying to figure you out, you are here and there on topics, but I'm starting to think that you really do like what is in place currently. I really like our top 6 players as well. As much as I hate to use this term, "the system" is designed to rotate players constantly and fulfill the roles that they are given. That is why depth is needed more than anything else for us.
As for Brust and Paul, they are completely different players. Ben is a shooter that has the ability to get to the hole. Brandon is a slasher that has some ability to shoot it.
We'll return our top 7 players after finishing close to the bottom of the Big Ten and with an approximately .350 average for a record. It crazy to think that Brust, McCabe and Larson, possibly Marble won't get at least 10-20 mins a game a piece next year. In this system, those are guys that have the ability to hit the outside shots that we look for and Larson will be able to play either on the inside or out.
As for Brust and Paul, they are completely different players. Ben is a shooter that has the ability to get to the hole. Brandon is a slasher that has some ability to shoot it.
We'll return our top 7 players after finishing close to the bottom of the Big Ten and with an approximately .350 average for a record. It crazy to think that Brust, McCabe and Larson, possibly Marble won't get at least 10-20 mins a game a piece next year. In this system, those are guys that have the ability to hit the outside shots that we look for and Larson will be able to play either on the inside or out.
With 13 guys next year, I just think minutes for the frosh might be hard to come by.
I would hope that the 22yr old Archie with a year in the system might be more ready to play than the 18 yr old frosh...otherwise that redshirt might be a waste.
Listen to lick. He moans constantly after games about the players not executing as instructed. He says they do not ''get it''. That they do play like the coaches want...I just have doubts that our 4 new guys will come in and grasp it next year better than the vets already there. Lick always talks of getting a full roster so the older guys can teach the young guys...well, to me ,that implies the vets get most of the playing time. There are only 200 minutes in a game, and parceling that out to 13 guys will not leave a lot of minutes for the bottom 4-5. Lick seems to prefer a short rotation from what I have seen anyway...if you are not in his top 6-7, you sit a lot,like Davis, Palmer and Angle last year. I think there might be room for 2 frosh in the rotation,tops...just my opinion.
I would hope that the 22yr old Archie with a year in the system might be more ready to play than the 18 yr old frosh...otherwise that redshirt might be a waste.
Listen to lick. He moans constantly after games about the players not executing as instructed. He says they do not ''get it''. That they do play like the coaches want...I just have doubts that our 4 new guys will come in and grasp it next year better than the vets already there. Lick always talks of getting a full roster so the older guys can teach the young guys...well, to me ,that implies the vets get most of the playing time. There are only 200 minutes in a game, and parceling that out to 13 guys will not leave a lot of minutes for the bottom 4-5. Lick seems to prefer a short rotation from what I have seen anyway...if you are not in his top 6-7, you sit a lot,like Davis, Palmer and Angle last year. I think there might be room for 2 frosh in the rotation,tops...just my opinion.
