Mitch Henessey said:
BUCANDOIT82 said:
historian said:
Ewalker80 said:
My guess is that the guys decided to space out their announcements. That way the media and fans can have some time to focus on each one individually. After all there is no rush. Davion was first. Macio this week. Jared next week or the one after. Makes sense to me but just a guess.
Jarred made it very clear he was close to leaving last year and then he accomplished everything he set out to do. I would give anyone 100 to 1 odds he is leaving.
They may not have planned it out quite that way but I'll be surprised if Butler returns. Mark Vital has made it clear that he's not returning. However, I do expect Matthew Mayer will. It would be a wonderful blessing for Butler to return. Even without him we will have a strong foundation for another deep run in the next tournament.
Sic 'em Bears!!
Drew said on the Matt Mosley Show today about Mayer and his other early entries the goal is to get guaranteed money. Otherwise the goal is to come back and get the degree. Mayer is gone. Have you watched any Baylor games this year? Every time he was on the floor Baylor was better, except against Gonzaga, when his teammates jumped on top of them and beat them down.
Mayer is 6'9" tall and can create his own shot, shots for others, and shoot from the perimeter. Outside of Cade Cunningham name another layer with size who can do this in this draft.
Mayer is fantastic. We all wish him well, whatever his decision may be, and the vast majority of us want him to do what's best for him. You are making some of us sound like we're rooting against him, however, when we have to rebut the ridiculous hyperbolic things you throw out there.
To note, here are the players above Mayer in the ESPN top 100 rankings who are 6'7" - 6'10" that possess the traits you listed (either because I've seen them play, or it's listed in their prospect profile):
#1 Cade Cunningham (listed at 6'8", which is why I moved the height requirements, as you said he was 6'9")
#5 Jonathan Kuminga
#9 Franz Wagner
#12 Corey Kispert
#27 Marcus Bagley
#39 Roco Prkacin
#47 Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
#48 Matthew Hurt
#49 Kessler Edwards
#50 Johnny Juzang
#53 Isaiah Livers
And those are just the guys ahead of him in the rankings. He has a rare skillset, but you're talking about him like he's in lottery conversation.
In my opinion, he will be if he comes back next year. He isn't yet. But, as I've said all along, if he gets a first round grade or guarantee from a team, he should go. I don't think that will currently happen, as there are far too many guys in the 6'4" - 6'6" range who are more highly regarded in draft circles.
Remember, the hang up on Mayer is how could a player be this good and not start. Well, the team was this good. Most analysts thought Gonzaga was the best team, not Baylor. He backed up fifth year Senior and glue guy Mark Vital. The team had four outstanding guards.
That said, thank you for this list.
#1 Cunningham: I would take him number one.
#5 Kuminga: Great athlete and two years younger than Mayer. Can't shoot, but may learn to shoot. An out of the playoff team may see a higher ceiling and take him. That is what is widely expected.
#9 Wagner: Not nearly as athletic as Mayer. Not as skilled, even though he is very skilled.
#12 Kispert: Watch him drop on draft night. Did not have a good Tournament, in which he shot 28% from the three point line. Cannot create off the dribble, or for others.
#27 Bagley: He is a project. Not very skilled offensively.
#39 Prkacin: I have never seen him play, probably no one on this message board has, but let's say he is better than Mayer.
#47 Robinson-Earl: He is a power forward, but not a stretch power forward with wing skills. Not a good comparison.
#49 Edwards: Not the athlete Mayer is. He averages 1.2 steals per 40 minutes whereas Mayer averages 3.5.
#50 Juzang: Gonzaga is not a good defensive team and made UCLA look like it had a couple of Stars. He was not on the radar until the Tournament. He is also 6' 6" tall, not 6' 9" tall.
#53 Livers: Not the athlete Mayer is.
The workouts and Draft Combine will make all of this obvious. And Mayer has spectacular tape against top NCAAM competition. How many 6" 9" guys can steal the ball off the dribble of a starting guard like Mayer did in the Arkansas game when he not only thwarted the fast break, but through the ball ahead for an assist. If that wasn't the play of the Tournament, then Maybe it was when Mayer fed Vital for the one handed Monster Dunk.
Please everyone, go back and watch him play.