loweyecue wrote:Failed 3 schools? Says something about his IQ doesn't it? Anthony Randolph waiting to happen.

AR, what could've been,

He does have the physical size/abilities that would allow him to play in the NBA as a lottery pick

Watching his highlights of this type of competition is like watching Lebron vs a 5 foot nothing high school baller, it just can't be compared and very misleading

Still, I think its a great find and someone the Knick's scouts should keep an eye on

Bynum/Vucevic are some recent finds that Briggs has high praise prior to the draft of as he does have an eye for talent
He liked both of them because of their size/skills/athleticism as well as Bynum's SATs/high free % and Vucevic's high IQ and genes of both parents
How they develop in the league and their worth ethic cannot be predicted

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaab-the-dagger/blooming-aj-matthews-trying-leap-division-iii-nba-151458165--ncaab.html

http://www.farmingdalesports.com/sports/mbkb/2012-13/bios/05%20aj%20matthews

wanted to post the article but I couldn't copy and paste it without glitches due to photo images and other links

@ 7'1 and possibly still growing, about 22/23 years of age, born in BKLY, NY.
AJ Matthews is extremely RAW but will be likely climbing in mock drafts after he participates in the combine with his combination of size, length, athleticism, speed/quickness/mobility for a big, and be drafted based on "potential" which he has plenty of

Currently playing in division III, at Farmingdale State, and would be a huge jump to the NBA, especially different competition/skill level/game to adjust to

GP
14

PTS/G
23.1

FG %
58.7
3PT %
-

FT %
64.7

REB/G
14.1

"AJ is a 2007 graduate of Harry Van Arsdale High School. He played five seasons of AAU basketball for Team Odom. AJ averaged a double-double his senior year with 25 ppg and 22 rpg. Selected to play in the Wheelchair Classic All-Star game. In a game versus Automotive High School, he posted 38 points and 36 rebounds. He was also named to the HSBI Elite 200.

Junior year...Led the Nation in Rebounds per game (16.3) and Double-Doubles (26), while finishing 3rd in Blocked Shots per game (3.67), 11th in Scoring (22.4) and 12th for Field-Goal Percentage (61.4). Named a 2012 NABC DIII All-American and All-District Player of the Year, DIII News First Team All-American, D3Hoops.com All-Atlantic Player of the Year, ECAC DIII Metro Player of the Year, All-Met DIII Player of the Year, Skyline Player of the Year. Set 10 single-season school records and broke six All-Time career records at Farmingdale State.

Sophomore year...Played at Broward Community College. Named All-FCSAA/NJCAA Region VIII; All-Southern Conference Player of the Year and All-Southern Conference First Team, after averaging 19 points and 11 rebounds. The Sporting News selected him 3rd Team All-JUCO Sophomore Team and ranked him #15 nationwide.

Freshman year...Played at Monroe Community College, where he averaged 13 points, seven rebounds and blocked 83 shots. Named First Team All-Region XV and the All-Region Tournament Team MVP."

BRIGGS wrote:

RonRon wrote:high risk/ high reward player

He does have the physical size/abilities that would allow him to play in the NBA as a lottery pick

Watching his highlights of this type of competition is like watching Lebron vs a 5 foot nothing high school baller, it just can't be compared and very misleading

Still, I think its a great find and someone the Knick's scouts should keep an eye on

Bynum/Vucevic are some recent finds that Briggs has high praise prior to the draft of as he does have an eye for talent
He liked both of them because of their size/skills/athleticism as well as Bynum's SATs/high free % and Vucevic's high IQ and genes of both parents
How they develop in the league and their worth ethic cannot be predicted

I know nothing about this guy hes just an unusual prospect for div 3 --he has the size coordination and athletic ability of a 1st round pick.

Yeah, I don't think anyone really does, but I think by the combine/draft, he will get a lot more attention with scouts keeping a eye on him
In term's of size/length/athleticism/speed he is right up there with the some lottery projected players like Plumlee, Noel, Zeller, although much more raw but also more upside

Hard to determine where AJ would be now in the mock draft but how would you rank him next to Patric Young and Kelly Olynyk *which I am not as high on*

He is Anthony Randolph 2.0, without the injury to his knee, with very high potential, playing in competition that does not allow us to fairly evaluate how he would do vs much higher levels of competition
Regardless he will likely need time to develop as he would need much time to adapt to the NBA,
Had he produced the numbers he did for 2-3 years in Georgetown on Florida, he would be a lottery pick in this draft for sure, maybe even top 5 due to "potential"

1- with the combination of strength, size, length, athleticism, speed, etc

2- 82 games season, durability, and preparing his body both mentally and physically for the years ahead of him

3- likely needs to add weight but at the same time NOT lose his athleticism, speed/quickness, and work on his shot/foot work/anticipation/ability to read OFFENSE and DEFENSE sets

4- pick a position in which to develop in, pay attention to who to guard and how to do it, using his length/athleticism and his own body built
It would likely be the PF in the NBA in my opinion

5- With Woodson, he doesn't trust rookies, even with Copeland (who like Pablo is not a REAL rookie since they are much older and have been playing major minutes in Europe) that had consistently produced and demonstrated he can AT LEAST provide much scoring, in addition to the improvements he had made all year with effort, ability to post up, facilitate, and even drive when defender tries to defend his shot off the dribble *although lacking speed/has a good handle*, but we need to add YOUNG legs/players on cheap contracts that could become asset's in the future and he would fit that need
If he works hard and dedicates himself in training, he has the chance to be the shot blocking PF that we have been needing, that can also be used the push the tempo with fast breaks either with grabbing a rebound or/and finishing with his physical abilties

6- I would love to add Rasheed Wallace to our development/mentor staff, his ability to post, defend, shoot 3ptr's spread the floor, and command the respect as well as provide his experience/knowledge/IQ to many players and the team, it surely helped in the development of Chris Copeland
We already have Hopla in the shooting department, Hakeem as a part time trainer *not sure if he will be helping us this year outside of STAT going to him to develop, and if we added Wallace in it would make much sense, especially with the way the PF position has evolved and Wallace has the abilities/skills to play both styles

loweyecue wrote:Failed 3 schools? Says something about his IQ doesn't it? Anthony Randolph waiting to happen.

That says nothing. He made it to college a lot of people never finish college and accomplish a lot. If the guy knows what he wants which is probably to play basketball why can't he just do what he likes to do. Personally I would rather he practice his turn around jumper than worry about some elective course. Bottom line if the man can play basketball than he can play on my team as long as he brings it night in and night out.

muscala vs matthews!?!?!?