Yeah he had always had to play center at his high school. His AAU team didn't have much of a center either so he jumped in and played that on that team. He then switched positions to a more natural position and killed it. Got tons of offers, even Kansas Offered. Reminds me of Bob Johnson, Mr. Basketball in 1987 from Des Moines Lincoln. Played Center his whole high school career, showed up at Iowa State being 6'4 6'5? and had no skill to play what he needed to play. At least the coaches saw Zion play a different position.
Caleb Grill
- Thread starter Psiclone
- Start date
Yeah he had always had to play center at his high school. His AAU team didn't have much of a center either so he jumped in and played that on that team. He then switched positions to a more natural position and killed it. Got tons of offers, even Kansas Offered. Reminds me of Bob Johnson, Mr. Basketball in 1987 from Des Moines Lincoln. Played Center his whole high school career, showed up at Iowa State being 6'4 6'5? and had no skill to play what he needed to play. At least the coaches saw Zion play a different position.
If I'm those guys, I'm working my ass off at two things: I'm going to be the biggest ************ on the wing at the defensive end and I'm going to rebound my balls off. Then, I'm going to shoot. There's a HUGE hole for three of those things and they are things you can control and can get better through reps, especially when you're those guys. Lewis could still be a very effective player with his length and his shooting ability. Griffin hasn't been seen as much but he has the body to be a real asset, especially on the defensive end.
That could, in theory, offer some opportunities to put him on the block against smaller wings/guards who are not as used to defending a big man.
I know Griffin is not a big man at the Big 12 level, but if he has a back-to-the-basket game from the experience described above, it could be a little niche for him, if we ever tried the "invert the offense" type of stuff, putting a stretch big man on the perimeter.
Griffin is big and long for a 3 man. He could abuse on the block. Run a few weaves/picks to get him switched onto a smaller 1-2 guard and then let him go to work.
I think the team chemistry could be better without the hero ball, Haliburton and Conditt are the epitome of glue guys as far as their on court demeanor goes and I think Jacobson will be the vocal leader in the huddle from the start next year.
Lewis could make a big step if he just gets his confidence together, he reminds me a lot of Moss for Iowa; Not gonna be the guy for the cyclones, but could certainly provide some offense if he gets hot from outside and with his bounce people should have to respect him going to the paint.
Would love to see Grill join the good guys though.
Lewis could make a big step if he just gets his confidence together, he reminds me a lot of Moss for Iowa; Not gonna be the guy for the cyclones, but could certainly provide some offense if he gets hot from outside and with his bounce people should have to respect him going to the paint.
Would love to see Grill join the good guys though.
Ala Kenny Pratt. Had just enough of a jump shot to make the other team guard him with a guard but then abuse the crap out of them on the block. He was almost unguardable unless the other team had a 6'7 wing with athletic ability and even then Pratt was super crafty.
Imo Griffin’s skills are a couple seasons away from going to work and abusing any Big 12 defender. Hopefully he can be a 3&D guy next year, but that too will take some improvement.
Zion is such an interesting player to me. You can see the potential, but he’s got such a long ways to go. I am so curious what the staff thinks of him. I think the goal for him should be Dustin Hogue by his junior year. If he can play passable perimeter defense and hit 30-35% of his 3s I think he could play a lot next year.
I am curious that we seem to be focusing on guards rather than looking for a 3/4 tweener type. It gives me hope they have a role planned for Zion.
A lot of what people call “hero ball” is also called good defense by the opposition. We don’t play in a vacuum where the outcome of games or even a single possession is determined by just what we do. That’s why it’s sports.
That was a staple of the offense with DeAndre Kane.
Melvin, Georges, and Dustin being credible shooters gave him 1v1 on the block.
We also posted up Hogue quite a bit, especially when he was playing the 3 his junior year. It was easy. Two dribbles, reverse pivot, bucket.
True, but getting the ball with 15+ on the shot clock and jacking up a contested step back 3 isn't good basketball.
So you’re telling me a guy that was also offered by Kansas will be lucky to see the floor by the time he’s a senior?? Ugh
I can respect this but disagree.
Weber Grills>Caleb Grill>Bear Grylls
I like my BBQ and, until we know for sure Caleb Grill isn't going to ISU, I'd put him above Bear. Please note that this ranking is subject to change.
Sure, if the shot clock is nearing zero. But there were consistently bad shots early in the possession by some of our players throughout the season. Maybe just attributable to low bball IQ, but maybe some hero ball too.
It’s just hard to get shots sometimes. These guys don’t want to take bad shots at the end of the shot clock, but sometimes you gotta be the guy that at least gets a shot on the rim. That’s a team play.
Until any of the others survive a 16,000 ft fall and a broken back in 3 places I'll rank Bear Grylls first.
I agree I just think people throw around “hero ball” with the negative connotation of they are just trying to “get theirs” when that’s probably not the case. We usually have 4-5 guys on the court at all times with full green lights and the type of players we have have really good offwnsive feel. Sometimes the rhythm feels right and watching it on tv outside of the mindset of a player on the court is totally different.
Teams are setting up to stop what we do well. If they succeed in disrupting our flow or an action the players aren’t thinking “I’m going to be the hero” they are frustrated and making a poor decision caused by what the other team is doing not by their selfishness. Sometimes it feels like it’s either get a shot up and see what happens or we’re going to take a SC violation or turn it over and get run out on or any other number of things.
Getting a shot up and at least getting an o rebound opportunity or fall back and get set on D and go again the next time down and keep some flow. At best the shot goes in.
Les Stroud > Bear Grylls
