RE: Blazer Victory Podcast ($): UAB Basketball Recruiting Update 4/24
As much as I've dogged him, I also fully acknowledge that 75+% of his deficiencies as a player simply revolve around correcting mistakes and playing smarter. If he did that, and didn't even improve one other aspect of his game, he would probably be getting drafted 100%. Sure, he needs to add weight, get stronger, improve his jumper, be a more efficient scorer, and finish better at the rim, but if he simply corrected most of the basic, rudimentary mistakes he makes, he would be so, so much better.
There's an important point I think a lot of people gloss over in this debate about him, though - his age. He's 22 already, and played THREE full seasons in college at high level programs. That is an old college player. Pro sports definitely factor in break out age in a major way. A 3-4 year, 22-year-old college player who is still raw and making the mistakes of an unproven freshman (to be fair, I haven't even seen a lot of freshmen make the mistakes he does), is a major red flag. Sure, he can improve. But to be that raw and that mistake prone at his age and level of experience is a major red flag.
People love to compare him to Ja Morant. Compare Ja in year TWO of college to EG at year THREE of college. Light years difference.
Pro players surprise me all the time. I never thought in a million years that Kenny freakin' Lofton would drop a 40 piece in a legitimate NBA game. But the cards are still stacked against EG IMO. You can be the best athlete in the world, but he is still an "old," raw, undersized, position-less, and incredibly mistake prone player at this time. His best bet is to come back to UAB, ball out, improve his well-known issues, and then get drafted next year. I could be wrong, but I just don't see it going well for him this year if he decides to stay in the draft.
If he's willing to come back, put the work in, be coachable, and improve his decision making, I would welcome him with open arms.
He's been the hardest player to watch and understand for me in 25 years of watching and playing basketball.
Best of luck to him whatever he decides. I think we will have a good team regardless.
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