V.J. King
- Thread starter ShortCreek
- Start date
Well, if he's not all-in L1C4, he might. Color me skeptical about any 5-star kids we sign...
One thing I always pay attention to is emotion, energy on the sidelines from guys on the bench. I remember watching Shaqquan Aaron, a guy I was extremely high on out of high school, pout on the bench, not cheer, etc. When I watch VJ he cheers his teammates on and is consistently showing support. That to me is a key indicator.
I could obviously be way off, but I think VJ will develop and be here until he either declares for draft or graduates. He needs to add strength more than anything else, as has already been said, and once he gets that I think he will be a very, very good player for us.
I could obviously be way off, but I think VJ will develop and be here until he either declares for draft or graduates. He needs to add strength more than anything else, as has already been said, and once he gets that I think he will be a very, very good player for us.
I think King will be fine - remember, he was a 5 star but was at the very tail end of the top 25 (25th in composite rankings.) Most guys in that range don't have an expectation of being able to jump to the NBA or dominate the ball as freshmen (there are exceptions of course.)
For ease of comparison, look at a guy like Killeya-Jones, ranked 4 spots ahead of King - he's averaging just 8 minutes and 3 PPG and isn't even on the radar of NBA scouts right now. Give King some time to grow, especially in Pitino's system, and he will be a star.
He's one of the better offensive players we have. He only gets to play in 3-4 minute stretches and never is able to get in the flow of the game.
King will be fine. I thought he would be a little further along at this point, but I think he will be fine. The talent is there.
I do think this team needs more production from King and Hicks to reach that "next level" and provide even more quality depth. Let's watch how he develops over the next 5 to 10 games.
I do think this team needs more production from King and Hicks to reach that "next level" and provide even more quality depth. Let's watch how he develops over the next 5 to 10 games.
I do get what you mean, but keep in mind that VJ stayed committed during the most uncertain days of KatrinaGate. That's not insignificant.
I agree. There is no similarity between VJ and Aaron other than fan expectations. VJ is getting the opportunity to learn the other facets of the game like defense and rebounding, against the best teams in the country, and he appears to have a good attitude about that. His offense will help us and he will get the more time as he matures.
Our first Mc D All-American in four years and he's not a factor. This is why we get "projects" and not 4 & 5 stars.
Our first Mc D All-American in four years and he's not a factor. This is why we get "projects" and not 4 & 5 stars.
I think VJ will be very good before he's done. But he is completely lost a lot of times on defense right now.
Projects on the team IMO are/were the guys in the center position and Ryan McMahon. There are 12 guys on scholly.Our first Mc D All-American in four years and he's not a factor. This is why we get "projects" and not 4 & 5 stars.
If VJ ain't cutting it, he shouldn't be playing. The way I look at things, he's under MORE scrutiny because he's a 5-star player. Not because he might be a project. Those kids are here because they're willing to work hard, committed to a long term plan to reach their goals, and feel no sense of entitlement. L1C4 stuff...
He needs more miutes. PeriodOur first Mc D All-American in four years and he's not a factor. This is why we get "projects" and not 4 & 5 stars.
With the injury to Adel, V.J. had a great opportunity today to prove he deserves more minutes. I like the kid, but I've seen nothing today to suggest that's true...
Great win. I hope pitino gives vj more minutes. Especially if pitino wants a certain hoosier prep star to give him a sniff.
Vj should have been getting minutes against podunk u so he would be better prepared.
Mango has been here 5 years and is still learning pitinos system.
Great road win. Hope we build on it and continue to improve.
Vj should have been getting minutes against podunk u so he would be better prepared.
Mango has been here 5 years and is still learning pitinos system.
Great road win. Hope we build on it and continue to improve.
That's not true. You don't earn PT by getting PT to work on your game. That's done OUTSIDE of the game.
And if that's Romeo's mindset, he needs to look elsewhere...
That is why we have a team full of beau zack smiths and mathiangs.
Exactly and I'm afraid that's not going to change.
I don't want coach playing guys just for recruiting purposes. If you can't see that Adel is the better player, then there's no need in us arguing.
There's a school to the east that seems to fit your likings better, I want coach playing who he feels makes this current team better.
I didnt graduate from uk i graduated from louisville. I love pitino. Will love him more when he playes king more.
If that makes me something subpar in your eyes, i can live with that. But every fan has favorite players......
I like Kings game.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news to you sir, but every school is recruited to because of playing time.
Hopefully with the adel injury, king will play a few extra minutes.Our first Mc D All-American in four years and he's not a factor. This is why we get "projects" and not 4 & 5 stars.
What exactly is it that you like about his game? Rephrase that...what part of his game should have him taking minutes away from Adel?
If you think adel needs 40 minutes a game then maybe we will never understand each other.
I think king should be getting 15 minutes a game. It woukd help him learn, and it would give us depth.
Same thing with q and hicks.
You're about to get your wish with King. If was able to stay in front if his man in any sort of consistent basis, he would already be getting those types of minutes.
As for Hicks, couldn't disagree more. Any minutes that he was going to get should go to RM. If a redshirt freshman is as good as a 5th year senior - common sense says that you give the minutes to the younger guy.
Adel averages 28 minutes and VJ 14, do you actually think it should be a 50/50 split?
Good point. 28 does not equal 40, sorry Beas Rocky's got you here.
I have went to bat for VJ since the beginning of the season. I love the guy because he has one of the smoothest offensive games I have seen in a UofL uniform in quite some time, not to mention stayed solid to us through rough times. I have multiple times started the #FreeVJ tweet on twitter as minutes clock by until he enters the game, as I want to see him on the court.
However, yesterdays game really opened my eyes to just how far behind he is defensively as he was given the opportunity to step in and shine with Deng going out. The biggest issue I see with VJ defensively is not his on ball defense, as he does a nice job with that, but it is his rotation and help side defensive, he just seems lost and I use that lightly.
I think he will have at least one game with Deng out, probably two, to show exactly what he can bring to the table because I expect him to start and play 25-30 mins. If he can just learn appropriate rotation he will be fine, but that is the key area he is lacking. Honestly, yesterday against GT he killed us defensively and if we would have left him in we may have left with a loss.
Love the guy and want him to absolutely kill it with Deng out. Go VJ! YOU CAN DO ITTTTT!!!
However, yesterdays game really opened my eyes to just how far behind he is defensively as he was given the opportunity to step in and shine with Deng going out. The biggest issue I see with VJ defensively is not his on ball defense, as he does a nice job with that, but it is his rotation and help side defensive, he just seems lost and I use that lightly.
I think he will have at least one game with Deng out, probably two, to show exactly what he can bring to the table because I expect him to start and play 25-30 mins. If he can just learn appropriate rotation he will be fine, but that is the key area he is lacking. Honestly, yesterday against GT he killed us defensively and if we would have left him in we may have left with a loss.
Love the guy and want him to absolutely kill it with Deng out. Go VJ! YOU CAN DO ITTTTT!!!
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We can agree there. I feel like 40 minutes will catch Up with Q. Set his threshold at 30 and develop depth behind him.
I hope he takes on this challenge and it lights a fire under him. I remember a Montrezl Harrell getting minutes because a fella named Gourgi Deng broke his wrist at the battle of atlantis.
Hope we can rekindle that flame and relish in the same results
The second semester is also where we see the defensive growth in freashmen since Pitino has been here.
The team as a whole could talk more because helpside defense is about communication.
Very true about King's defensive help/rotation being the weakest component of his game. He even tends to get lost coming back down the floor off of makes or misses.
I think some of this is just due to playing/real game experience for extended minutes and fatigue.
The college game is a lot faster in many ways.
The speed of the game is a lot for him to take in especially on the defensive end in Pitino's system.
He is learning how to play D on the job.
I am VJ fan and want to see him do well like all of us do. He is going to be fine.
I really like how he does not settle on offense and is always slashing or looking to attack the rim. Huge opportunity over the next few for him to develop and grow.
I really do think this teams success in March depends on him and some other guy or guys on the bench stepping up and providing quality minutes.
I think that if Deng is out for a game or 2, it's bad obviously that Deng is hurt, but it also helps with our bench getting more developed and let's say we need them to step up later in the season, they will have some experience to do that for us. It really helps with depth and I hope King plays 20-30 min on wednesday against Pitt. Could really boost his confidence as a whole and help him understand the defense more. It's obvious Deng will probably be out for that game. Who knows about vs Duke though.
I agree with bpghost that ryan needs more time as well.
King misses 3 or 4 shots a game and its, "That's why he's not playing"..
Yet, if you watch Louisville basketball, you'll notice EV-VER-REE-BODY is missing shots. A LOT of them. Easy ones... Hard ones..
I'm not saying he should be starting over guys, but maybe not yank him everytime he struggles in his first 4 minutes of playing time.
Yet, if you watch Louisville basketball, you'll notice EV-VER-REE-BODY is missing shots. A LOT of them. Easy ones... Hard ones..
I'm not saying he should be starting over guys, but maybe not yank him everytime he struggles in his first 4 minutes of playing time.