better than Chris Wilcox, period. He is more highly touted but, he couldn't hold Wilcox's jock right now!!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" />

well, for as much of a terps fan as i am.. i hate to say it.. but i disagree.

<small>[ April 04, 2002, 08:29 AM: Message edited by: PoohTerp ]</small>

Lets see, running all over high school players or manhandling the best upperclassmen, soon to be NBA prospects, that the college game has to offer?

Sorry Pooh, but I think I have may have a huge point. I'm not convinced on James yet... a lot was said about Koeleone Young as well and we know where he is not. Also, the same token on Kwame Brown and he may not be going very far either.

The college game helps you grow mentally, very few have what it takes to come right outta high school and make any kind of impact, for that reason. I can't think of 10 high school players that have made a serious impact, altogether, to date. <img border="0" alt="[NoNo]" title="" src="graemlins/nono.gif" />

I've talked to too many people that know this kid and have seen him play. I am not an advocate of going straight from high school to the pros, but no one has been able to convince him otherwise. And even the NBA commissioner said last week on ESPN that if he was eligible this year, he would likely be a number one pick over Jason Williams this year. What number pick is Chris Wilcox going to be? I feel like I'm busting on Chris, which I don't want to do. However, you are comparing the athleticism of these two guys. Chris Wilcox was not playing as well as this kid at his age... and Chris still lacks a certain consistency and maturity on the court today. Lebron only is lacking the latter, which is why I wish he would give college two years before making the decision to go pro, but the kid hasn't had a great life and the keys to what he perceives to be the castle will be handed to next year.

Just a little FYI, Kwame has been playing really well for the Wiz and so has Tyson Chandler for the Bulls. Contary to what you said after 3 or 4 years in the league all the High School guys have become stars. I would rather see some of them play College Ball but the guys that come out early are freaks with no position in the college game. Where would Kevin Garnett or Kobe Bryant play on a college team? No doubt a coach could find a place for them on the team but he wouldnt be able to maximize their abilities. Kobe is a shooting guard but he would have played small forward or maybe even Powerforward on a college team just out of necesity.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Terpy:
Contary to what you said after 3 or 4 years in the league all the High School guys have become stars.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">This I totally disagree with...

maybe had you said the ones that do make it take about 3 or 4 years...

Yes but not what you said..

There are plenty of kids who jumped either early from college or from HS who do not make it every year...

I think we're getting off the point here, it is not a dispute on whether a kid should leave for the NBA or not, that I will never argue. My sole discrepancy here is that I think I would over-rate an accomplished, meaning against valid competition, player over one who has faced more sub-par talent-that couldn't take me to the hole much less anyone in a D1 college program. Do I think Lebron can make it in the NBA? Sure but, do I forsee Chris Wilcox being in an actual better position to succeed? Absolutely. As far as I'm concerned, please go make millions if you can, we all could use that opportunity, if not already there.

no, your argument was who is a better player. i said lebron and i gave my reasons for saying so. the fact that the nba also thinks so was just one of the reasons i cited to prove my point.

gmaniac, get off of your high horse.

Have you ever seen LeBron James play? Michael Jordan himself said in ESPN magazine that if anyone could follow in his footsteps, it would be LeBron. This isn't your average hyped up high schooler. There is something special about him; He has something others don't. Wilcox right now needs to work on his range outside 10 feet if he wants to be compared to LeBron.

I'm 100% with Pooh on this one.

One area in which there is a HUGE gap between the two is PASSING. LeBron has been called the best passer in high school right now, counting guards like Telfair, Curry, Dockery, Brown, Ingram etc.... Wilcox is not that great of a passer by any means.

Plus, you would be surprised how little of a gap there is between the two athletically. LeBron is a skinnier McGrady.

First of all, I don't even own a horse... secondly, nateJ quit kissing up dukie <img border="0" alt="[NoNo]" title="" src="graemlins/nono.gif" /> ... we terps stick together, even if we disagree!!! nuff said.

Sorry Pooh, the way I read it seemed that we were getting into the players shouldn't go early argument. Anyhoo, on paper I agree with you, however on paper, alot of teams were considered better than Maryland and we seen how that turned out. Case in point, I think they both should not enter the NBA at this time because they need to work on their game... Wilcox needs to work on his shot and James on his mental game.

As far as McGrady, Bryant, and Garnett go... they all worked out wonderfully but more times than not it has worked against others, even the, ehem, great ones.

quit kissing up? If that's what you wanna call it, be my guest. More like, "logical minds think alike".

<small>[ April 06, 2002, 10:38 AM: Message edited by: nate jonesacc ]</small>

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by nate jonesacc:
quit kissing up? If that's what you wanna call it, be my guest. More like, "logical minds think alike".</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">nateJ... ignorance is bliss and your arrogant manner has not so much with you being a dukie as it is with you being a total a$$. Again, the " logical minds" comment is a kiss up... end of story.

SHADDUPPP

gmaniac, who do I have to kiss up to? I have argued with pooh more times than I have with you.

Lebron has proven himself at summer camps, not crappy high school competition. He has dominated highly touted seniors . I ask you again, have you seen him play?

Nate is right on this one, it's not like Lebron is beating up on crappy high school players, he was the best player at every AAU event he was in this summer against some of the nation's top players, and as he is such a high profile player he earns his team invitations to national high school tournaments against some of the best teams in the country. I think he dropped something like 38 on Carmello Anthony and Oak Hill Academy.

Lebron is the real deal. The only thing he has going against him is the fact that so much hype is being placed on him, he's going to have to be an immediate contributor in the NBA or he'll be labeled a "bust".

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by neal990:
The only thing he has going against him is the fact that so much hype is being placed on him, he's going to have to be an immediate contributor in the NBA or he'll be labeled a "bust".</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Great point. LeBron has tremendous pressure on him. He is tight with Antoine Walker and others; that just shows how much exposure he already has. A lot of experts say that he has something special; something that leads them to believe that he won't bust. The next Michael? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

I think it will be kind of funny if he busts but maybe I'm just sick and twisted.

Michael was a great player in the league from his rookie season on, but it took a few years before he became the totally dominant player and huge marketing icon that he is today. Lebron, on the other hand, is going to be under the microscope from day one- I hope he can handle it.

I 49% agree with you Terpy. I don't think it will be funny, but it will restore balance. There have to be busts or else the NBA would never work as a basketball organization. But, I never wish anyone I don't know bad luck. Maybe Osama, but that's an aberration.