Since it seems to be hotly contested debate on the board I figured I’d give my tape analysis of KJ and Clayton.
Intro:
With Barnhizer and Leach sidelined, Clayton and KJ are now tasked with running the offense. There’s no one else on the roster capable of doing this at the moment. Neither is at the level of Barnhizer or Leach, both offensively or defensively, and they shouldn’t be expected to be. I don’t place much emphasis on who starts, as it's likely symbolic given Clayton’s redshirt status (or lack thereof). What matters is who gets the minutes and is on the court when it counts. Both players are splitting time at the point guard position.
Clayton:
Clayton has a limited ceiling, but with development, he could become a solid floor general, defender, and a fine three-point shooter. He doesn't show the ability to break down defenders off the dribble at this level and lacks the range to hit threes with limited space. At times, he forces the offense. Defensively you can tell he as an extra year in the weigh room compared to KJ, but still has work to do. His switches aren't clean, and his positioning is inconsistent. He’s not quick enough to be an elite defender at this level but has the frame and athleticism to improve into a decent one. He’s essentially a work in progress, and it's clear why he redshirted. This may be his best chance at significant B1G minutes. He did play the best of the two against Washington, although that wasn't much of a benchmark. Level of competition could also be a factor in this.
KJ:
KJ’s ceiling is higher. He’s flashed the ability to break down defenders off the dribble, second only to a healthy Leach on this team in that regard. However, he tends to hold the ball too long, causing the offense to stagnate or forcing a play. He still struggles to play within the offense and is prone to typical freshman mistakes. That said, he’s shown he can create space, hit deep shots off the dribble, and get to/finish at the rim. Defensively, he has a lot of room for improvement, his positioning and footwork need work, and he needs time in the weight room. For example, watch how Thornton drives against KJ, Clayton, and Gello, then compare it to how he fares against Berry. KJ is quick enough and has the frame to improve in these areas within a year or two and has the potential to become a very solid two-way player. Most of his negatives are just things that take time. His development will become clearer next year after a full year in the system, and I’m optimistic about his growth.
Conclusion:
KJ clearly has the higher ceiling and has been playing better recently. However, this season, the difference in play between the two isn’t consistent. We saw Clayton play better, marginally, against Washington and KJ light it up against Oregon and Ohio State. Don’t focus too much on who starts, it’s more important to pay attention to who gets the minutes and finishes the games. Clayton has made a selfless decision, and that deserves recognition. Both will log real minutes going forward, and they'll continue to split time. Hopefully, KJ keeping playing himself into more of the minutes load, even if Clayton keeps starting. Both players are liabilities defensively, but KJ has been more productive offensively and some games it’s not close. The team would be in a much better position with Leach and Barnhizer running the offense, but injuries happen, and players need to step up. There’s no planning for it. The opportunity is there for both KJ and Clayton.
Intro:
With Barnhizer and Leach sidelined, Clayton and KJ are now tasked with running the offense. There’s no one else on the roster capable of doing this at the moment. Neither is at the level of Barnhizer or Leach, both offensively or defensively, and they shouldn’t be expected to be. I don’t place much emphasis on who starts, as it's likely symbolic given Clayton’s redshirt status (or lack thereof). What matters is who gets the minutes and is on the court when it counts. Both players are splitting time at the point guard position.
Clayton:
Clayton has a limited ceiling, but with development, he could become a solid floor general, defender, and a fine three-point shooter. He doesn't show the ability to break down defenders off the dribble at this level and lacks the range to hit threes with limited space. At times, he forces the offense. Defensively you can tell he as an extra year in the weigh room compared to KJ, but still has work to do. His switches aren't clean, and his positioning is inconsistent. He’s not quick enough to be an elite defender at this level but has the frame and athleticism to improve into a decent one. He’s essentially a work in progress, and it's clear why he redshirted. This may be his best chance at significant B1G minutes. He did play the best of the two against Washington, although that wasn't much of a benchmark. Level of competition could also be a factor in this.
KJ:
KJ’s ceiling is higher. He’s flashed the ability to break down defenders off the dribble, second only to a healthy Leach on this team in that regard. However, he tends to hold the ball too long, causing the offense to stagnate or forcing a play. He still struggles to play within the offense and is prone to typical freshman mistakes. That said, he’s shown he can create space, hit deep shots off the dribble, and get to/finish at the rim. Defensively, he has a lot of room for improvement, his positioning and footwork need work, and he needs time in the weight room. For example, watch how Thornton drives against KJ, Clayton, and Gello, then compare it to how he fares against Berry. KJ is quick enough and has the frame to improve in these areas within a year or two and has the potential to become a very solid two-way player. Most of his negatives are just things that take time. His development will become clearer next year after a full year in the system, and I’m optimistic about his growth.
Conclusion:
KJ clearly has the higher ceiling and has been playing better recently. However, this season, the difference in play between the two isn’t consistent. We saw Clayton play better, marginally, against Washington and KJ light it up against Oregon and Ohio State. Don’t focus too much on who starts, it’s more important to pay attention to who gets the minutes and finishes the games. Clayton has made a selfless decision, and that deserves recognition. Both will log real minutes going forward, and they'll continue to split time. Hopefully, KJ keeping playing himself into more of the minutes load, even if Clayton keeps starting. Both players are liabilities defensively, but KJ has been more productive offensively and some games it’s not close. The team would be in a much better position with Leach and Barnhizer running the offense, but injuries happen, and players need to step up. There’s no planning for it. The opportunity is there for both KJ and Clayton.
