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Anthony Booker

CYCLONECORY

CYCLONECORY

Member
Mar 24, 2009
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Huxley, Iowa
I have been reading a lot of on-line article, posts on the message boards etc. No one is hardly even mentioning Mr. Booker? I think he will find himself playing a bulk of the minutes by season's end. I think he brings toughness and the ability to bang, somethign Ejim doesn't really have playing at the 4 position. He was a top 50 player coming out and had some really big offers, but chose to stay commiteed to SIU. I know that some people think he's soft because he shoots a lot from the perimiter, but man this guy certainly has a Big 12 body on him! I did not have a chance to see him play this summer. If someone did watch Anthony, tell me a little about his game?
 
Anthony is someone I am actually really excited for. This summer he seemed to be an athletic shot blocker. He will knock down the 3 if you give him space.
 
I am excited for Booker as well. I think he will start as we will need his size when we enter Big 12 play. He was a four star recruit on Rivals, Scout, and ESPN. I think he was rated right along the Morris twins. He has bulked up and I read somewhere that he is almost as strong as Royce as they have been doing a lot of lifting. I can't wait for this season.
 
The play in the CCL is definitely not stuctured for big men to be evaluated very well. It's mostly guys launching 3 pointers. I saw Booker play about 3 times and he definitely has the body to play in the Big 12. He had some games where he would have only 2 or 3 rebounds, though. I think the only way Booker starts is if Fred puts RW at PG, which sounds absurd but he is our best PG. I did really like the way Booker would block shots so I'm excited to see his game when the season starts. Don't expect him to be shooting 3 pointers like he does in the CCL.
 
Booker will start, IMO. He's strong, athletic as hell for his size, and let's the game come to him (meaning he plays smart). For whatever reason, he did not produce like he was suppose to at SIU. No idea why, because he's got all the tools. Maybe it was the system, maybe he wasn't mentally right. Either way, I think he's ready to break out and play like the top 50 guy he was supposed to be. I'm as excited about him as anyone on the roster.

In CCL, he showed a smooth stroke from the perimeter. A very smooth stroke. He didn't spend much time on the block and when he did, he scored pretty easily and often finished aggressive moves to the hoop with very powerful dunks. Gotta remember though, it's the CCL, few can guard someone his size in this summer league.
 
definately think Booker will contribute significant minutes off the bench and am looking forward to seeing him in action. I really don't think there is any way he starts this year though. or next year. I think Anthony Booker will be a great contributor off the bench his whole cyclone career.
 
No matter where Booker ends up, I'm much happier with having him rather than Railey (foul machine) and JVB (who I loved, but a guard in a 6'11 body)
 
If Railey sticks, as in stays out of trouble, he has playing time advantage in the Big 12. It helps Booker to have been on the team for a year, but his production at SIU certainly doesn't jump off the page at you. I will be disappointed if he isn't an upgrade, but I won't be shocked. He certainly has the body-let's hope he has the head.
 
DrewCo said:
definately think Booker will contribute significant minutes off the bench and am looking forward to seeing him in action. I really don't think there is any way he starts this year though. or next year. I think Anthony Booker will be a great contributor off the bench his whole cyclone career.
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I agree. While you can't judge everything off of what happens at CCL, it appeared to me that he was not a banger or liked to play inside. I think that was the knock on him at his old school (banger body, but doesn't like playing in the paint and would rather play on the perimeter and shoot 3s) and I didn't see anything to change that. He will get minutes off the bench but until he gains a Homan attitude he won't be starting.
 
CyberJJJ said:
If Railey sticks, as in stays out of trouble, he has playing time advantage in the Big 12. It helps Booker to have been on the team for a year, but his production at SIU certainly doesn't jump off the page at you. I will be disappointed if he isn't an upgrade, but I won't be shocked. He certainly has the body-let's hope he has the head.
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Booker will play more than Railey and it won't even be close.
 
Cydkar said:
Booker will play more than Railey and it won't even be close.
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I think Percy Gibson could play more than both. Gibson has way more polish on his offensive game in the post than either of those guys, and has the same strong body as Booker.
 
brett108 said:
Gibson has way more polish on his offensive game in the post than either of those guys, and has the same strong body as Booker.
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Um, no he doesn't. And it is not even close. Booker has an overall more polished game (skillset) for a post that we haven't had in a long time. Booker has the athleticism similar to a 3 and the size and strength of a 4. Unless something mentally holds him back, Railey and Gibson are not near his level.

Edit: I didn't even see the second part of your sentence. Gibson's body is YEARS away from Booker's. Booker is the most cut player on the roster, and he's ~245...

Gibson has a bright future and I'm excited to see him fill out his frame but his offense is far from polished. Railey has size and we'll need that presence but his offensive game is even further behind Percy's. He literally doesn't know he has a left hand yet or what a 'post move' is.

To clarify on the CCL, few bigs play down low. White didn't. Booker didn't. When they did, they dominated, because there's really no one to guard them. Booker hung around the perimeter and made a ton of jumpers and made aggressive moves to the hoop on dribble drives, showing good handle for his size and good finishing ability with either hand. Again, it's a summer league. If he doesn't want to play the 4 at Iowa State when the season comes around, then he won't play as much and he won't reach his potential, an example of something 'mentally' holding him back.
 
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Cloned4Life said:
Um, no he doesn't. And it is not even close. Booker has an overall more polished game (skillset) for a post that we've in a long time. Booker has the athleticism of a 3 and the size and strength of a 4. Unless something mentally holds him back, Railey and Gibson are not near his level.

Edit: I didn't even see the second part of your sentence. Gibson's body is YEARS away from Booker's. Booker is the most cut player on the roster, and he's ~245...

Gibson has a bright future and I'm excited to see him fill out his frame but his offense is far from polished. Railey has size and we'll need that presence but his offensive game is even further behind Percy's. He literally doesn't know he has a left hand yet or what a 'post move' is.

To clarify on the CCL, few bigs play down low. White didn't. Booker didn't. When they did, they dominated, because there's really no one to guard them. Booker hung around the perimeter and made a ton of jumpers and made aggressive moves to the hoop on dribble drives, showing good handle for his size and good finishing ability with either hand. Again, it's a summer league. If he doesn't want to play the 4 at Iowa State when the season comes around, then he won't play as much and he won't reach his potential, an example of something 'mentally' holding him back.
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I totally agree. Booker can post up & score in the paint, get rebounds/block, and also be able to shoot threes. Have you seen Railey do any of that without fouling?
 
CycloneErik said:
Probably more than Percy and Railey together.
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No doubt about it. I went to a few CCL games and as someone mentioned above, big men can't do much in that league. The spacing is poor and compact. A lot of times when the ball went down low, two or three guys would converge and hack. Just not a big man's league. Even though his stats didn't jump off the page, his athletic ability stood out. I agree with the OP, I think Booker could be the biggest surprise of the transfers when you take into account the hype around some of the other guys.
 
Percy has a lot of potential. When its all said and done, I bet he will have had a more successful college campaign than Booker.
Percy was considered the best big man in the state of Michigan. He's no slouch.
 
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