(02-24-2013 08:24 PM)MemphisTigerPawr Wrote:  If I'm DJs agent I get him a gig with the Harlem Globe Trotters. The young man is a freak of nature. He has a great smile and personality and athletically is simply incredible. I think he could make a great living and preserve his body with the Trotters.

Skywalker, Helicopter, Freakshow, DrJams, Anti-gravity, Energizer bunny...I just cant find adequate words to describe his play but maybe the Globetrotters will. One dunk against USM he just levitated, and hung in mid air for what seemed like forever...it was incredible.

I'm so glad he is a Tiger. I love this young man! Gonna be an awesome senior day next Saturday!

I am beginning to believe that DJ can make a roster, even if he's a 6 minute per night guy. He would make Sports Center Top Ten once a week, and if that didn't work out, he might be the most exciting player to EVER play in Europe.

A smart coach would forget the size/position crap and put him in in spots to cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war.

It's not just the height of his jumping, it's the explosiveness/quickness with which he jumps, and the intensity with which he plays every second.

I don't think anyone is expecting him to be a first round pick or to come in and average 10 minutes a game.

But if I'm an NBA coach I'd like to have him on the roster to at least give him a shot at being a spark, a momentum changer.

Is DJ Stephens one of the top 500 basketball players in the world ? Of course not

(02-25-2013 10:07 AM)salukiblue Wrote:  

(02-25-2013 09:51 AM)memtigbb Wrote:  For 4 seasons now, people (especially on this board) have been telling me what DJ cannot do.
After 4 seasons not one of these many people have stepped up to say "ok, I was wrong about DJ".
I certainly don't expect anyone to admit being wrong about him now. I will stick to the same thing I have always said (since his very first minute played) DJ is a special player and I for one will not start putting limitations on what he is capable of.

I will always love the "he can't guard the 3" quotes and the "he can't dribble" quotes and the "he can't shoot" quotes and the "all he can do is jump" quotes.

I was wrong.

Some of it too, (wait for it...) has to be on the staff for not getting him more minutes earlier in his career.

DJ's last three years, his points per 40 minutes is essentially the same: 13, 12 and 13 and his rebounds per 40 have been 9, 8 and 12 which is a good improvement. His shooting % has always been high.

He had a really good sophomore year, but the staff didn't play him as much last year went from 11 mins/game to 8 mins last year. Probably should have at least gotten 11 last year, too.

He only broke double digits in minutes one time in the first 15 games last year--I guess he lost minutes due to Adonis.

Played 2 mins in the game vs. St. Louis last year.

He couldn't play more earlier in his career. He lost minutes to asthma , not Adonis.

Cons- "NBA Ready" body, elite ball handling skills
Pros- other wordly athleticism (not just leaping, he's quick and has great timing), good hands, decent shooter, work ethic, coachability, heart (those last two might not impress owners as much as coaches).

Yeah, his asthma was a real problem and certainly limited his minutes. I do believe that there were more minutes DJ could have absorbed but a larger part of his lack of time was due to medical reasons.

He has improved, no question, anyone who spends 3-4 straight years doing something is going to improve. You can't help but learn. Yet the thing that stuck out to me was IMO he was one of the most productive players per minute played we had on the team. Especially in ways that didnt show in a boxscore, but even in ways that shows in a boxscore DJ produced.

(02-25-2013 12:02 PM)memtigbb Wrote:  Yeah, his asthma was a real problem and certainly limited his minutes. I do believe that there were more minutes DJ could have absorbed but a larger part of his lack of time was due to medical reasons.

He has improved, no question, anyone who spends 3-4 straight years doing something is going to improve. You can't help but learn. Yet the thing that stuck out to me was IMO he was one of the most productive players per minute played we had on the team. Especially in ways that didnt show in a boxscore, but even in ways that shows in a boxscore DJ produced.

He does on the court what Pastner does on the recruiting trail. When you outwork everyone else you are usually going to succeed.

DJ has NBA level athleticism -- Heck lets be honest, he has elite level NBA athleticism - like he could win the dunk contest right now.

He could also be a lock down defender and leading shot blocker from the small forward position.

His shot has really improved and I see him getting better, a late bloomer.

The Griz have 3 second round picks. If they don't snag him up with one of them, I'll be SHOCKED.

This has nothing to do with him being a tiger. This has to do with him being an exceptional athlete, having a great work ethic, a desire to be great, and being the most exciting player to watch in all of college basketball.

I would pay money to watch him play beyond this year.

(02-25-2013 11:54 AM)tigerjeb Wrote:  Is DJ Stephens one of the top 500 basketball players in the world ? Of course not

Was Casey Jacobson? How about Junior Harrington?

That list could go on for as long as the sun remains in the sky.

(02-25-2013 11:54 AM)tigerjeb Wrote:  Is DJ Stephens one of the top 500 basketball players in the world ? Of course not

You're going on the assumption that all 500 of the world's best players are in the NBA and no one who ISN'T on that list of 500 is.

Was Earl Barron one of the 500 best? I already know the answer. "No, but he was 7ft". He still was likely not one of the best basketball players in the world.

You guys are doing it again.

(02-25-2013 07:58 AM)tigerjeb Wrote:  all they have to do to skinny leapers like DJ is get into their legs and push them away from the rim.

Which is exactly why I would go the Globetrotter route, unless he can get a guaranteed $$$ here or overseas..

(02-25-2013 02:23 PM)MemphisTigerPawr Wrote:  

(02-25-2013 07:58 AM)tigerjeb Wrote:  all they have to do to skinny leapers like DJ is get into their legs and push them away from the rim.

Which is exactly why I would go the Globetrotter route, unless he can get a guaranteed $$$ here or overseas..

He would get paid, guaranteed, more overseas than on the Globetrotters. He would be a valuable player on quite a few European teams.

Amazing to think he was almost redshirted this year.

(02-25-2013 11:54 AM)tigerjeb Wrote:  Is DJ Stephens one of the top 500 basketball players in the world ? Of course not

I get to about 50 and stop counting. If you are referring to the NBA.

(02-25-2013 03:29 PM)MM4Memphis Wrote:  Amazing to think he was almost redshirted this year.

His request...not the coaches.

I am glad he didn't redshirt, but I think he was smart by seriously considering it. That would have been one year of exclusively working on improving his perimeter skills. Then one full season to exhibit them. He is definitely showing more of his capabilities this season, he dribbles much more for instance, one more season of ball and he would have made it easier for scouts to decide.

Does DJ even have the dribbling and other trick skills required to make it on the Globetrotter team? I don't think so.

His bucket o' confetti throwing skills are awful.

(02-25-2013 09:51 AM)salukiblue Wrote:  

(02-24-2013 09:02 PM)mairving Wrote:  Check out the Globetrotters schedule. Travelling all over the world with a game every day might not be the best thing for raising a family.

...but playing in Turkey would be?

DJ would only have to play 1-3 years to take care of his family (assuming he makes over $500,000 a year overseas)
He is not someone I would see 'blowing' all of his money if he got a nice payday.