Seems to have the potential to be a hybrid of both or even better depending on how he develops. The best thing about him is that he is unlikely to dissuade top prospects from choosing the Big Blue since he will be projected as a project.
Tai Wynyard the next Trey Lyles or Josh Harrellson?
- Thread starter CatBallou252
- Start date
That's a possibility as well, although Willis is more of a shooter in a big man's body and Wynyard is more of a inside banger who needs to develop some of Willis' shooting skills to complete his game. I see Wynyard bringing a strong enforcer type presence to a team of skill players much in the mode of Chuck Hayes and Jared Prickett. He should fit in beautifully in Cal's system.
This post was edited on 1/26 7:42 AM by CatBallou252
Top three attributes are strength, defense and rebounding. Likes moving people out of the lane. Sounds a little like a Magloire type.
His game seems to be a lot like Josh's was after a few years here. Big, strong guy, who will no doubt be bigger and stronger by the time he gets here. He can knock down an outside shot if he has to but is mostly a strong guy inside. From the small amount of video I have seen on him though, he appears to be a much better athlete.
He's 6'9" 230 and physically strong now and only 16. Both his parents are world champion woodchoppers, a sport that requires immense physicality, so you know the potential is there for world class strength.
He's already improved a lot in the last year from all reports, and he is a guy who could benefit greatly from practicing daily against higher caliber players.
By the time he gets here and starts playing in two years, he should be even bigger and stronger. After a couple of years in the strength & conditioning program, better still. Lots of physical inside play in the SEC - it will be nice to have a guy like this to put in there when one of our tall skinny OAD freshmen types are getting manhandled.
Plus, Anthony Davis apparently worked with him a couple of weeks this Summer at an Adidas camp in Asia, so I'm sure AD was probably able to give Cal a pretty good insight into this kids potential.
He's already improved a lot in the last year from all reports, and he is a guy who could benefit greatly from practicing daily against higher caliber players.
By the time he gets here and starts playing in two years, he should be even bigger and stronger. After a couple of years in the strength & conditioning program, better still. Lots of physical inside play in the SEC - it will be nice to have a guy like this to put in there when one of our tall skinny OAD freshmen types are getting manhandled.
Plus, Anthony Davis apparently worked with him a couple of weeks this Summer at an Adidas camp in Asia, so I'm sure AD was probably able to give Cal a pretty good insight into this kids potential.
LOL at the Harrellson comparisons . Jorts had basically no talent but worked so damn hard he made himself a very good player . This guy has oodles of talent apparently and just needs refining . I think the Kanter comparison is closer although he is an inch or two shorter . 6'9 not 6'11 like Kanter.
Josh actually had a lot of talent. He was overweight, but he had talent . He always had a nice stroke from 17 feet and because he didn't play doesn't mean squat.
Now I know u are one of the "cal is God" guys and think he was the reason jorts had a big year . Lol
Truth is this guy isn't very athletic. A lot like jorts
I thought of him way before I heard that comparison
Now I know u are one of the "cal is God" guys and think he was the reason jorts had a big year . Lol
Truth is this guy isn't very athletic. A lot like jorts
I thought of him way before I heard that comparison
No one has any idea one way or another, and it may be two years before we even get the first glimpse of him in a uniform. We'll have analyzed the last seven decades of wood chopping competitions by that point, watched tons of short youtube clips and made fun of every analyst who doesn't move him up each time their rankings come out.
Everyone's mind will be made up before he even gets here, and the reaction to his career will play out accordingly. My guess is he's a fan favorite for lots of reasons that have virtually nothing to do with basketball. Interesting parents, from New Zealand, cool accent, name you guys can make lots of puns about, etc. Heaven help us if he's a "knock down shooter" or "has a high motor and BBall IQ."
Everyone's mind will be made up before he even gets here, and the reaction to his career will play out accordingly. My guess is he's a fan favorite for lots of reasons that have virtually nothing to do with basketball. Interesting parents, from New Zealand, cool accent, name you guys can make lots of puns about, etc. Heaven help us if he's a "knock down shooter" or "has a high motor and BBall IQ."
Speaking of Kanter.....any reason the NCAA could keep him from playing just like they did to us with Kanter?
None. He's on the amateur training squad of the club he plays with, doesn't even travel with the team for games to avoid complications like that.
I've said it once in another thread about the kid and I'll repeat it here, he isn't a project, he is going to be an elite 1 and done lottery pick type player. Cal has only offered 5 or 6 guys for 2016 and they are the elite players in the class, and you think he is just like f it, I'm going to take a commitment from some kid who may or not be a Josh Harrellson or as others have said a Derek Willis type player? Hell no, he thinks he is a monster only reason to take him, especially considering he, Harry Giles, and Thon Maker all play the same position.
I think he has some Patrick Patterson in his game............ Patterson wasn't the most athletic guy out of high school but was skilled and tough....Billy G had him living on the block.....didnt step out of the post much until Cal got here his junior year...
Well, first off, Kanter is not 7', instead he measured just a tad over 610" at the combine and has never been listed above
6'`11". And Wynyard is only around 16 years old, he could very easily end up around the same proportions as Kanter in a couple years.
As for the OP's question, I think it's WAY too early to play the comparison game here. This kid is extremely raw and young, not even close to the player he'll eventualy develop into. Wait a couple years and see what he looks like then.
Tai said he never has taken any money or done anything to jeapordize his amateur status. Focused on playing college ball.
Let's all agree that Cal is a great talent evaluator. He also has friends and confidants all over the globe like Frischella and probably the head referee in the New Zeeland. church league. Most importantly he had input from AD. He knows the kid's family athletic pedigree and DNA. He had a chance to watch his foot movement , hands,agility and touch up close and personal. Cal isn't going to waste time on a stiff like Tubby often did,He will develop into a fine player.
Has anyone seen this kid play other than a couple YouTube vids??? Seems a little premature to start comparing him to players when we've never even seen him play before. I watched Harrellson play for 3 years. I've watched Wynyard play for 3 minutes... It's different with top level American recruits that we see play on ESPN from the time they are sophomores and juniors, but I literally know nothing about this kid except what I can find on YouTube. Maybe I'm missing something though.
We should be as positive and supportive as we can be very EVERY recruit ... just like we should be supportive of players.
I think Wynyard has a ton of upside. He is big and strong, has good hands and good feet, and has a desire to play with the best. It seems he also is very competitive, and is eager to learn from Cal. I think he will find play here to be an adjustment, but given the time I think he will excel. Not every player has to be able to jump like WCS. Heck Boogie is not a leaper, and he is a beast in the NBA.
I think Wynyard has a ton of upside. He is big and strong, has good hands and good feet, and has a desire to play with the best. It seems he also is very competitive, and is eager to learn from Cal. I think he will find play here to be an adjustment, but given the time I think he will excel. Not every player has to be able to jump like WCS. Heck Boogie is not a leaper, and he is a beast in the NBA.