Reported Portal Visit: Fairfield PG Jalen Leach

[GatoLouco]

Unfortunately, it's not always a matter of just walking it up the court. Sometimes you need a guy with the handle and strength and quickness to defeat full-court pressure. Witness Purdue in the semi's (or many not-so-distant-past NU teams).

Bringing the ball up is the least important part of the PG role. Anyone can do that with no pressure. Beating pressure if that exists is far more important. But the most crucial part is calling plays and making sure people are where they are supposed to be.

 

[gocatsgo2003]

Bringing the ball up is the least important part of the PG role. Anyone can do that with no pressure. Beating pressure if that exists is far more important. But the most crucial part is calling plays and making sure people are where they are supposed to be.

Point guards don’t call plays in modern basketball. That comes from the bench.

 

[GatoLouco]

Point guards don’t call plays in modern basketball. That comes from the bench.

I am not going to argue what percentage of teams have plays originated by players or coaches. I don’t know those numbers.

But you still need a player, PG or not, to call it on the floor. It does not go bench to entire team.

 

[gocatsgo2003]

I am not going to argue what percentage of teams have plays originated by players or coaches. I don’t know those numbers.

But you still need a player, PG or not, to call it on the floor. It does not go bench to entire team.

“Ability to shout to teammates” isn’t really a skill.

 

[GatoLouco]

“Ability to shout to teammates” isn’t really a skill.

In a vacuum that's true. In the context of what we are talking about, it reveals not understanding any dynamics on the floor.

 

[AdamOnFirst]

The Cats are not going to lack for floor leadership next year, this entire conversation is the least of our concerns

 

[SmellyCat]

According to the first post on this thread, Leach is coming to Evanston today. For those who care, weather is sunny and in the 50s/60s. Thank you Chicago for cooperating. Let's reel him in!

 

[EvanstonCat]

How did the visit go?

 

[CoralSpringsCat]

How did the visit go?

Heard he loved Mustard’s Last Stand.

 

[NUThump]

If VT is the competition, they already have two other guard transfers coming in.

 

[gocatsgo2003]

If VT is the competition, they already have two other guard transfers coming in.

Kind of interesting he would even take a visit there then.

 

[Katatonic]

Bringing the ball up is the least important part of the PG role. Anyone can do that with no pressure. Beating pressure if that exists is far more important. But the most crucial part is calling plays and making sure people are where they are supposed to be.

There were times BMac struggled bringing up the ball in his frosh season against the press, so CC subbed in Sobo.

 

[Katatonic]

If Clayton is sticking around, I think he'll be ok. He may have looked lost this year, but freshmen point guards who are NOT studs will always struggle with their first game action, especially if it's inconsistent. He was never going to beat out Boo, but as it stands now, he's the best PG on the roster*, and I have faith he is working with that mindset.

If you have a freshman playing point guard, thats usually not good.

Sort of a moot point after landing Leach, but the Cats did have a pretty good run with frosh PGs in TJ, Juice, Sobo and BMac.

Sobo wasn't a "stud" but was, at the very least, a steady hand in his frosh season.

 

[Skunkpilot]

If we land Blackmon are we a better team on paper than last years squad fully healthy?

 

[freewillie07]

If we land Blackmon are we a better team on paper than last years squad fully healthy?

Deeper? Yes. Better? Hard to say after losing the NU G.O.A.T.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

If we land Blackmon are we a better team on paper than last years squad fully healthy?

No, you don’t loss the steadiest and most clutch player in school history and be better.

It “could” be better than the final team which didn’t have Ty and Big Matt, but that is asking a lot,

 

[AdamOnFirst]

If we land Blackmon are we a better team on paper than last years squad fully healthy?

No. It will still take solid development from basically the whole roster to replace our first team all American and best guard in the conference.