I was watching the draft last week and got to thinking, why couldn't he be a late second round pick with a little more seasoning? He has NBA small forward size, NBA frame with room to grow (IMO), adequate NBA athleticism. He just needs to refine his game and keep improving (left hand, 3 point shot, post up). I assume he's so raw and came to KSU because he was a multi sport athlete, and can now focus on basketball. What do you guys think his ceiling is?

He has room to grow. Just not NBA style room to grow. He'll always be one of the better players in this conference.. He just won't be one of the better players in the nation.

Markeith has some of the physical attributes to be an NBA player, but so do about 200 other current D1 basketball players. It will be up to Markeith to decide if he wants to play after college. If he wants to be one of the best college players, I think he can be, but it will require him putting in the work. Everyone wants to be great, but rarely are people willing to sacrifice to be great. Markeith will have to sacrifice to be great, it won't just happen because he can jump high.

All I have heard about with Markeith is that he has a great work ethic, so we will see how he progresses. If he truly works on his game, then the proof will be on the court. It was evident last year that he could only go to his right. That seems like a very tangible skill that we will be able to some improvement from this year. It doesn't mean that he has to be great going left this year, but we should see some improvement. He is definitely the most talented player on the team, but that isn't going to get him a contract after he graduates.

Markeith has an outside shot to make to 'the league'. I don't think there's any question that he's far and away the most talented player in the league; though I wouldn't say he's the best player in the league--not yet anyway.

Markeith has a great deal going for him. Most notably are his size and guard skills. All of our players who have had outside NBA shots the last few years have been undersized. Markeith does not have that problem; he has an NBA-ready body and could play the '2' at the next level.

While it's hard to make this comparison because of the gulf between the leagues, I think Cummings is every bit as good as Scotty Hopson at Tennessee. Like Cummings, Hopson is a long guard. Hopson, however, is soft and frail physically. Hopson, incidentally, is said to be an NBA prospect in next year's draft.

If Cummings is coachable and willing to work, I could see him having a shot at the NBA by his senior year.

(07-02-2010 08:20 PM)Bucfaithful Wrote:  Markeith has an outside shot to make to 'the league'. I don't think there's any question that he's far and away the most talented player in the league; though I wouldn't say he's the best player in the league--not yet anyway.

Markeith has a great deal going for him. Most notably are his size and guard skills. All of our players who have had outside NBA shots the last few years have been undersized. Markeith does not have that problem; he has an NBA-ready body and could play the '2' at the next level.

While it's hard to make this comparison because of the gulf between the leagues, I think Cummings is every bit as good as Scotty Hopson at Tennessee. Like Cummings, Hopson is a long guard. Hopson, however, is soft and frail physically. Hopson, incidentally, is said to be an NBA prospect in next year's draft.

If Cummings is coachable and willing to work, I could see him having a shot at the NBA by his senior year.

I think this is right on. At this point in most college player's careers it is almost fruitless to talk about the NBA. Markeith has so many things to work on before he would be ready, that it is almost silly to talk about. However you cannot deny the physical gifts. Physical gifts + sacrificial work ethic has the potential to equal great success.

One thing I have seen with our team, that I think bodes well, is that Markeith and Spencer seem to be our defacto leaders, and both seem to be young men that desire greatness, and desire to see greatness in their teammates. We start instilling that kind of attitude and this team could do amazing things over the next few years, and our individual players could end up getting recognition that they never dreamed possible.