Hoops Post-Mortem (Part 2 of 2): What’s coming and What to hope for.

I don't think Jalen Courtney is anywhere near 6-10

 

Yeah, I know. I highlighted the stuff in Dandy Don's post that was wrong. Although if Courtney grew two inches, I would be very happy.

For the coaches it's all about recruiting now, and for the players it's all about good practicing and strength and conditioning. Frankly, it's probably hugely important right now for both sets of the equation. Is the team gelling and are their work-outs/pick up games actually developing them and helping the freshmen?

Who will start at PG? What position will Storm Warren play in his final season? Will folks like Malcolm White, Matt Derenbecker, Ludwig, Green be more consistent and surprise? How will the freshman, particularly JOB, look?

Lots of interesting questions.

 

Freshmen speak

For what it's worth, in addition to Garrett Green's news about him leaving LSU to pursue a Masters degree, the freshmen, O'Bryant, Hickey and Isaac, were finally interviewed and put in front of the media. Seems as though as with typical summers, they are bright eyed and eager.

Men's Basketball Freshmen Speak with Media - LSUsports.net - The Official Web Site of LSU Tigers Athletics

I think you're going to see each of these guys contribute in pretty tangible ways. O'Bryant obviously is a physical talent and one of Johnson's better recruit in years. But, I think that both Hickey and Isaac will be very underrated but appreciated recruits during their time here. Hickey may end up being a more complete "true point" than Bass and Isaac will be a very versatile guard to provide back up in various spots.

 

If Hickey is as good as advertised, he is the starting PG. Stringer just isn't a PG and IMO will do much better being the first guard off the bench. Hopefully having a legit PG will free up Stringer to shoot. Bass will come in as a steady ball-handler .

 

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: AN EARLY LOOK AT LSU | Eastern Indiana High School Sports Basketball | iHigh.com

 

Not preaching myself, just posting what Tigerrag posted after shall we say, a very interesting early week for LSU hoops...

TigerRag - LOVE: After Further Review

I guess it's an optimistic Trent Johnson's view. For what it's worth, certainly the team has evolved between last year and this year, and certainly every team in college basketball has some annual summertime changes to deal with. We are seemingly very much relying on the "new blood" of certain players, and let's hope for the best with that.

 

Anthony Randolph want's to help coach CTJ while the NBA lockout is going on!

"Randolph met with LSU coach Trent Johnson about volunteering to help at the Tigers’ practices to gain coaching experience. If OK’d by the NCAA, Randolph would like to assist his old team."
Out-of-work NBA players back in college - NBA - Yahoo! Sports

 

The NCAA will be a bunch of douches and not allow this.

 

I think it is allowed.

 

Frankly, I'd love to see this. With all of the negative influences of runners and AAU team runners, why not let a former student athlete, with renewed sense of interest in school and at the same time, a more mature (and current) perspective on the pro game come back and mentor NCAA athletes. Frankly, it's a better education, both on and off the court, for the student athletes to have that exposure.

It's also frankly a good thing for Trent--one, it's good that a former Butch Pierre recruit, and one and doner, harbors no ill will towards Trent and LSU program and wants to help. Two, we often forget how many pros are LSU alumn. What's a guy like Big Baby, or Brandon Bass, doing right now while the lock out is going on. Shaq' for that matter. If I was Trent, I'd be making a lot of phone calls, assuming the NCAA is ok with this.