VCU to A-10 Billboard
Actually my post has absolutely nothing to do with Dayton or Dayton fans. It had to do with a VCU player and a Xavier player going to the same camp, which was the "subject matter." You had noted it for the VCU player, I was noting for our player, and attempting a small amount of humor that obviously fell flat. I do not see any connection in the subject matter or my comments to any other school besides VCU.Even then, I'm not condemning your post, just pointing it out for what it is which is just you using an opportunity to insert Xavier into subject matter that had nothing to do with Xavier. I guess all the Dayton fans now know that one of your players is doing pretty well. Just on virtue of who you are as a non-league fan that will be viewed differently than a fan of a league-member making a similar comment.
Simple. Subject matter. In this case it was a common camp; in earlier discussions it was a common comparisons of arenas...Siegel, Robins, Cintas. This is a message board forum, open to the public, to talk about basketball I think. And as I have adopted the Spiders (my daughter's team) and will be following them this year, I hope to have a lot to bring up as they compete in the A10.Right, but why bring up Xavier or your player in this thread at all?
That's NBADraft.net's eval from the LeBron James Skills Academy.Juvonte Reddic 6-9.5, 248 lbs., 6-11.5 wingspan, PF/C, VCU, Sr.
Reddic has an intriguing combination of strength and athleticism. He's a more fluid athlete than McGary, but lacks McGary's feel on the offensive end of the floor. Reddic played well, showing a willingness to hustle and run the floor, where he was rewarded with numerous dunks. He battled hard in the paint and appears to be a guy with a shot at the first round if he can put together a strong senior season.
12. Terrance Shannon (Florida State to VCU): Finally healthy, Shannon has a chance to be very productive.
And today they finally met in person, as Virginia Commonwealth Men’s Basketball coach Shaka Smart met Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan at training camp practice.
“I read about [Smart] when I first came in [to Washington]. I was really, really kind of awed by what he’s done since he’s been here,” Shanahan told the media. “He’s got a great record. You can see how quickly he’s turned the program around.
“Any time you go to the Final Four and accomplish what he has, you’ve got to have something special to you. I’m sure the college is very excited to have him, and rightfully so.”
The respect was clearly mutual, as Shaka Smart told Redskins Nation’s Larry Michael that Mike Shanahan’s success transcends all sports.
“No question. I think coaching is coaching,” he said. “Obviously the X’s and O’s are different depending on the sport, but in terms of motivating players, creating a connected environment on your team, creating unselfishness—I think that goes across the board.
“Coach Shanahan is one of the best.”
On 2012 ESPN100 newcomer Jordan Burgess who sat out last season:It’s sound reasoning. Weber showed considerable improvement from his freshman season when backing up Theus last year. He started in place of an injured Theus in a win at Old Dominion on Dec. 7 and provided an 8-point, 9-rebound, 10 assist, 5-steal performance. He turned the ball over just once in that game. Weber averaged 5.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.7 steals per game last season and posted a point-guard friendly 2.4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
But Weber hasn’t played the position in college for any extended period of time. The excitable ballhawk has been something of a hybrid in college, a defensive disruptor with opportunistic tendencies on offense.
The only “true” scholarship point guard on the roster will be well-regarded incoming freshman JeQuan Lewis from Tennessee. Classmate Jairus Lyles played a fair amount of point guard in high school, and Smart says he’ll also be in the mix.
While Weber may be most obvious choice, Smart says the Chesapeake native is taking the necessary steps to win the job, rather than assume the role by default.
“He’s had his best summer in terms of work ethic,” Smart said. “I think he’s been learning more and more that, in order to make withdrawals, you have to make deposits first. That’s been a big emphasis with him.”
It’s August, so Smart is under no pressure to commit to a starting lineup or a rotation, but that doesn’t mean he’s not actively considering the possibilities. He said he recently drew up a list of the players that could see time at each position. At point guard, Smart says he wrote down seven players: Weber, Rob Brandenberg, Melvin Johnson, Lewis, Lyles, Treveon Graham and Torey Burston. Although Smart listed Brandenberg at the top because of seniority, he made it clear that Weber is the clubhouse leader at this stage.
“Again, maybe one of those other guys earns the spot,” Smart says. “It’s certainly not set in stone, but it’s certainly his to lose. If we played a game today, he’d get the lion’s share of the minutes.”
Weber should also benefit from a stay at Chris Paul’s invitation-only CP3 Elite Guard Camp Aug. 9-11 in Winston-Salem, N.C.
“The list of guys going is pretty impressive,” Smart said. “It’s pretty much all-league guys from the biggest leagues, and I think just being around those guys, Chris Paul’s at the camp, there’s a few other professional guys there, there’s professional coaches that help coach the camp, so great people to be around.”
The more he talks, the more it’s clear how much Smart likes redshirt freshman Jordan Burgess. Ruled a partial qualifier by the NCAA last season, Burgess was able to practice with the team in 2012-13, but could not play in games.
Smart has said previously that Burgess would have been one of the Rams’ top seven players last season, and it’s obvious the VCU coach sees the 6-foot-4 swingman as a difference-maker on the court and off.
“Jordan’s someone that’s been around our program for a long, long time because of his family and he’s someone that’s wise beyond his years, so I think he can provide leadership for us as well, once he gets his feet wet and gets acclimated to game competition,” Smart said.
Smart continued.
“He was the toughest guy in our practices last year,” he added. “And when we had a hard time with guys like Dwayne Evans at Saint Louis, we’d watch the tape and look around as coaches and say, it’s Jordan, Jordan. Not saying if we had him we’d have won that game, but certainly he helps you with a guy that’s physical on the wing.”
On what NBA scouts are saying about Juvonte Reddic:
“Just that he’s got to get better. He’s got to get in unbelievable shape. He’s got to continue to improve his midrange shooting. He’s got to rebound at a higher level. They typically look at what they call rebounding interval, which is your minutes divided by your rebounds. … If you play 30 minutes and get 10 rebounds, that’s a 3.0. That’s kind of the standard that they look for. Ju was a 3.4 or 3.5 last year. That’s a measurable that he can attack and get better at.
“If he can average a double-double, it just stands out. There’s not a lot of guys who do that. I called a bunch of guys who I know at that level and I asked them, ‘Where does he need to improve?’ I made a whole sheet of areas where he needs to improve, things that can separate him from other guys. I shared that with him.”
On Reddic teaming with Terrance Shannon:
“I’m excited about not just those two. I’m excited about more frontcourt depth overall. Based on this summer, Jarred Guest is improved. Mo Alie-Cox is going to be able to help our team. Antravious Simmons is coming, but he’s a freshman. He’s got a lot to learn.
“When you look at Juvonte, Terrance Shannon, Jarred Guest and Mo, I think that gives you four guys who, at least going into the first day of workouts on Aug. 22, you feel like can compete with one another. … It was kind of Juvonte by himself for much of the year last year and the previous year, although D.J. (Haley) had a better sophomore year than he had a junior year.
“Any time you have competition at a position, it should make everyone better. It adds to accountability. … My biggest emphasis for those four guys is getting in unbelievable shape, and then competing with each other at a high level.”
Tons of good stuff from Shaka at this link.On what things he addressed with Melvin Johnson going into the offseason:
“Just consistency as a person and continuing to get better there. Melvin, like a lot of guys, didn’t understand when he first got here the connection between who he is as a person and who he is as a player. He’s come a long way physically and mentally and emotionally. Just getting him to understand (that) continuing to make progress in our core values off the floor is going to help him as a player.
“His work ethic has been tremendous. He has just been killing himself in June and July, working so hard we almost had to kick him out of there. He really wants it. Now it’s just a matter of him understanding in the team setting how he can integrate himself and be a bigger part of what we do. I’m excited for him. I think he’ll take a big step. Most really good players do from their freshman to their sophomore year. The key with him is all going to be mental. How does he respond when something doesn’t go his way? He’s a guy who has worked so hard, I sense that he wants it almost too much. He’s got to kind of let it come and understand that basketball is a game of mistakes. Sometimes there are going to be games when you miss your first couple of shots. Just keep going, keep playing, and good things will happen.”
I’m excited about the guys we signed. They all can have their moments and have had their moments throughout the summer. But they’ve had a rough go of it as well in relation to our older guys, which is how it should be. If you have a program that you feel like you’re going to be successful, then usually that’s mostly dependent on your older guys, unless you’re Kentucky
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – One thing is for sure. Treveon Graham won't have any problem filling out the "what did you do with your summer" essay that some professors request.
Graham's busy summer on the hardwood continued as the rising junior will join classmate Briante Weber at this weekend's CP3 Elite Guard camp in Winston-Salem, N.C.
"It's really been an incredible summer that has been a great experience for me. It's definitely been humbling to be around all these great players all summer and something that I'm looking forward to learning a lot from," Graham said. "Any chance I get to better myself is something that I know will help our team back at VCU."
The CP3 Elite Guard Camp is an invitation-only camp for the top high school and collegiate point guards from North Carolina and across the country, held in CP3's hometown of Winston-Salem, NC. This will be an opportunity for some of the rising stars in the game of basketball to learn on the court from one of the game's best floor leaders. Fresh off another outstanding NBA season, CP3 is bringing his experience, as well as an elite group of instructors to help a new group of guards.
Graham is coming off a breakout year with a team-leading 15.1 points per game average and 5.8 rebounds per game, which ranked second on the squad. His outstanding play earned him All-Atlantic 10 Second Team honors and VaSID All-State First Team accolades.
The Temple Hills, Md. native scored in double-figures in 31 of VCU's 36 games, including seven 20-plus point performances.
Gabe DeVoe is handing Michael an NBA 2K beat down. Pangos and Hairston no help at all. pic.twitter.com/Q741ceS3Fa