Both came with great reputations as shooters. But the difference I've seen is that Biggie can handle the ball out front and put the ball on the floor and drive to the basket effectively as well as shoot the ball.
Obviously I'm relying on my memory, but I don't recall Mo being very efficient in those areas when he first came here. Biggie will have to adjust to the speed of the game, but from what I've seen, he has a great upside. Could be a real steal recruiting wise for our Trojans. And from what we've heard, he's a dedicated worker who wants to be great, and that's a good sign.
Mo is a great young man and I am sorry to see him go. But, realistically, he was here for 4 years and never really developed into the player we dreamed he would become. Biggie now has 4 years to develop into "that" player.
Be interesting to see what Mo does at Texas in one of the two best DI basketball leagues. I believe James White averaged 14 minutes a game at Georgia Tech in the ACC. I wonder if Mo will top that at Texas. I have no idea what Texas has back, but I assume Shaka is building some talent there.
Mo improved a lot in areas other than shooting, and could have had an impact for us this season. I think he'll do well at Texas. How many minutes he averages, I have no idea, but he can certainly help any team. His ability and willingness to take charges impressed me. And of course he can shoot when given the opportunity. I'll be following his career. Great young man.
Mo had Steve Shields as a coach who told him he would never play the 3 and wanted to get him to 235 lbs. That's why he never handle the ball after being recruited as a shooting guard. Just like he killed a lot of other players careers. I remember when he said Josh is not a point guard but we all see how that turned out after Shields left. From what I'm hearing from about Mo during summer school it that how Texas is pleasantly surprised how well Mareik put the ball on the floor and getting it off the boards and pushing it, and also heard he is shooting the cover off the ball. Some people think that Mareik is the missing piece that Texas needs. (Shooting). He will play more at Texas than he did in Little Rock. Watch what will happen when a coach play a player for his strength not his size. I spoke to him once about 3 weeks ago and he told me that Shaka told him that he only wants him to be the best version oh himself that he can be and they need him to shoot the ball everytime he is open. Mo will surprise all of you guys because his is finally playing without all the restrictions which will breathe more confidence in him than ever. Stay tuned.
Biggie haven't played one division one game and you put him better than Mareik. Let's see if he lead the Sunbelt in 3 point percentage 2 season in a row during the conference play when it counts. I will be watching.
Glad to hear that his coach is giving him the green light to shoot. You're right that Steve had several players who could have really done even greater things if he had taken the reins off of them. If you've got a thoroughbred, you let him run. Coaches can ruin shooters by messing with their heads. You don't want them taking crazy shots, but you don't want them to worry when they take a shot that the coach might pull them out of the game because he didn't think it was a good shot, even if the player made it.
Mareik had to go through that and still led the conference 2 years in a row. Can't wait to see how it will be this year when you are encouraged to shoot!!
(07-04-2016 11:52 AM)Isolater Wrote: [ -> ]Biggie haven't played one division one game and you put him better than Mareik. Let's see if he lead the Sunbelt in 3 point percentage 2 season in a row during the conference play when it counts. I will be watching.
I'm not putting him better than Mo. I'm saying his ball skills at this point in his career seem to be better than Mo's at the same stage. That's not putting Mo down. This kid played like a point guard on his team, running the offense out front at times. At 6'9" that's very impressive. Most young kids that size haven't developed those type of skills.
Mo's strengths weren't dribbling and getting to the basket. His were shooting the outside shots, playing hard defense, and rebounding, which he developed later in his career. That's no putdown. Very few kids as tall as the two we're talking about are expected to have those type of offensive skills. And Biggie seems to have those skills.
But you're right. Biggie hasn't played a D1 game yet. And I can't compare him to Mo, who has been around D1 ball for four years.
But I will say this. If he's anywhere near as good a young man as Mo is, then he'll do fine.