*** Monte Morris NBA Analysis/Assumptions ***
- Thread starter Cydkar
- Start date
I've mentally prepared myself that this is his 'senior' year. If he has the opportunity to go to the NBA, he will. I wouldn't blame him one bit.
Too early to assume he's gone after this season. But whenever he does leave, scouts will love his quickness, decision making, and leadership. What's going to go against him is that he doesn't possess outstanding size or athleticism (relative to the NBA game, anyway) and he has yet to prove himself as a consistent shooter or a guy who can carry the load offensively if necessary. Some of that could change this season, but if he ends up playing more of a distributor than scorer then it's very possible he could come back for his senior season.
I just laugh at people who say he doesn't take enough chances. His turnover ratio isn't good because he is a pensive player, it's because he's elite. His vision is amazing, his handle is world class, his passing is two steps ahead of the offense, and his speed is great. 40% from 3 isn't good enough? Lebron needs someone to feed him the rock he can't take it out every time.
I think we're missing a huge piece of the equation. How will Prohm use him this year? Maybe Prohm wants MM to be more of a scoring threat? Maybe Prohm wants to highlight and focus more of the offense through MM? Maybe he has a new defensive philosophy that puts MM in better defensive positions?
DGs game changed completely under 1 year of CFH. Maybe we see MM as an upperclassman take much more of a lead role which could put him into better position to test the draft waters?
My opinion is MM needs to show he can be a scorer. But I hate the NBA and couldn't name more than a few PGs...
If he goes, and then decides to come back, what would fans' reactions be?
I can't tell if this would make college basketball better (it needs something), or dilute it further.
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-bas...-draft-rule-allow-underclassmen-return-school
I can't tell if this would make college basketball better (it needs something), or dilute it further.
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-bas...-draft-rule-allow-underclassmen-return-school
And those who understand basketball laugh at people who don't understand the difference between being more aggressive offensively and taking enough "chances". Nobody on this board thinks Monte is pensive, on the contrary, most see that his great instincts and vision are what will allow him to be MORE assertive offensively. Every player has room for growth in their game, Monte has room to get stronger physically and more assertive/aggressive offensively. This is not because he is weak or tentative, but because improvements in those areas can take him from a maybe 2nd round draft pick to a certain first rounder.
As for shooting, he has shown great range and strong improvement in his shooting from his freshman to sophomore seasons. His high percentage stems, in part, from his selectivity in shooting from outside. The next step in his "shooting" evolution...at least his outside shooting...relates to improvement in creating space more frequently and hitting shots that are more closely contested (not taking bad shots, just with less space between himself and a defender).
MM may yet be the greatest point guard in ISU history...he seems to have that kind of talent. But playing regularly and well in the NBA requires some skills he still needs to develop. Given his personal character and professional drive, it seems likely he will achieve most if not all of his goals.
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Morris has done everything, and more, asked of him by his coaches. I believe that he will declare after this next year unless he feels like he has unfinished business here. I believe that he will go to the pre-draft workouts and absolutely blow all of them away. I don't care what the talking heads have him projected at, he will be a high draft pick when he leaves, whether that be after this next season or after his senior year. He hasn't scored at ISU in volume because he hasn't been asked to score in volume. I am excited to see what he does this summer and what sort of role Prohm sets for him next year, but he is a straight-up baller. Hard-working, team-first baller.
My hope is that we make a long tourney run, and Monte's efforts are such that he leaves and is a first-rounder. There have been several references to Tyus Jones. His production in the tourney certainly had to be key to his decision to go pro. He was good all year but hadn't heard much of him going pro til that tourney run where he played so well. Heck, Derrick Williams parlayed a huge tourney game against Duke into being the #2 pick in the draft... Oh, the Wolves...
Those doubting Monte - I can understand that he's not "there" yet, but look at the kid's trajectory. He's been a big-time winner since his freshman year in h.s. and has been leading the charge at PG, other than his frosh year with Kane at the helm. He'll continue his yearly improvement. I also expect Prohm to put the ball in his hands to make plays much more than Freddie did. I think the team will be better off for it as well. Georges is a unique talent, but I'd like to see Monte driving more of the O than Georges. Georges has too many off halves/games for me to want to drive so much of the O through him. With Prohm's background with PGs, I'm hoping he'll balance it out better.
Those doubting Monte - I can understand that he's not "there" yet, but look at the kid's trajectory. He's been a big-time winner since his freshman year in h.s. and has been leading the charge at PG, other than his frosh year with Kane at the helm. He'll continue his yearly improvement. I also expect Prohm to put the ball in his hands to make plays much more than Freddie did. I think the team will be better off for it as well. Georges is a unique talent, but I'd like to see Monte driving more of the O than Georges. Georges has too many off halves/games for me to want to drive so much of the O through him. With Prohm's background with PGs, I'm hoping he'll balance it out better.
I usually go to 3 Bulls games a year. And a few Iowa energy games. Monte all ready gets chewed up when he tries to drive to the hole. IMO he is no where close to being ready to step on the court with those athletes. He would get eaten alive.
Most pro point guards must make threes. College line is closer than pros. 45 per cent would be the goal to go pro at end of the year.
You do realize that there were only 6 players in all of Div 1 that shot enough of them to make the NCAA stat lists and shot 45% or higher last year, right?
http://www.ncaa.com/stats/basketball-men/d1/current/individual/143
He's about the same size as Steve Nash was and I don't think Nash was any more athletic than Monte. Nash was successful because of his ability affect games through his ball handling and decision making. Monte certainly has the potential to develop these abilities and, as far as ball control, his A/TO numbers are certainly comparable to Nash's college numbers. In FOUR years, Nash averaged: 14.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 4.5 apg, and 3.1 turnovers/gm. Based just on their stats, Monte is already comparable, and that after only 2 years.
Bottom line: people who say with absolute certainly Monte will never play in the NBA have no more clue than people who say that he will. At this point, anything can happen and the lack of size/athleticism, although an obvious plus, can be offset with other skills. That he has up to two more years in which to improve his game certainly improves his chances.
