You are so far off on why this "AAU mindset" is now a problem, that I can't even begin to respond. I thought you knew more than this, but I guess I'm wrong.

I'm wrong that Oak Hill had a big part in opening the door? Comical...

I won't be jotting down notes on our discussion, I'm pretty sure I already know all I need to know about the matter.

So you know about the prep mill ban, and think Oak Hill isn't involved? If you say so...

Actually, Oak Hill isn't a target of the NCAA in this prep-school purge. Oak Hill is actually much more above-board than a lot of these "schools" ... a good portion of the ones that have sprung up in recent years are as fly-by-night as they come.

 

By the way, where is Beasley playing now?

Where is Beasley playing now?

I have yet to hear where he landed..

I have yet to hear where he landed..

I've heard Beasley could end up at the same prep school in Nevada that Scott County's Rodney Haddix went to ....

So you know about the prep mill ban, and think Oak Hill isn't involved? If you say so...

 

Like I said, I know all I need to know.

I'm wrong that Oak Hill had a big part in opening the door? Comical...

 

Yeah, you are wrong. Way, way, wrong on this part.

The whole point of this thread is the wisdom of Steve Smith in turning down Mayo, and Smith's comparisons between Mayo and other recent marquee players. If Mayo succeeds in the NBA as I believe he will, Smith's doubts will be nothing but a speed bump, and Mayo will indeed have the last laugh.

Just asking a question because I really dont follow the NBA much anymore, but do you think that Mayo has the size and the speed to really excel in the NBA in the age of 6'7" point guards and the such. Seems as if the smaller players that do make it are the one's that basicly have an unlimited shooting range or are lightening quick penetrators or defenders. Where do you really see OJ fittting in? Do you think that he fits into either of the aforementioned categories? I dont know that even with all the hype and the constant #1 player in the nation references that he is an upper 1st round selection. When was the last time a 6'4" player was deemed a franchise type player. You need to remember that come draft day that there are countless foreign players that the average Joe has never even heard of, that get drafted way before a lot of our own national treasures . Most NBA teams generally look for size and potential in what I have witnessed in the last few years. It's just like major league baseball. These frachises dont look for 5'10" pitchers that can throw 90 MPH. They look for 6' 5" pitchers that throw 90 MPH and have the bodies that they can potentionaly develope to the point of throwing 96MPH. It seems that most of the process of selecting a player revolves in how projectable a player actualy is, rather than what he can do at the present moment. How far is OJ from peaking , talent wise? Is he that 12 year old little league phenom that never really develops that much further?

 

What would you do if you were an NBA franchise, draft a 6'4" player with maybe not much more of a developement upside or draft this 6'10" kid out of Lithuania that has just now begun to blossom with the sky being the limit when it comes to potential developement. It's a great big world out there when it comes to the NBA. Can OJ make it at 6'4" ?

Just asking a question because I really dont follow the NBA much anymore, but do you think that Mayo has the size and the speed to really excel in the NBA in the age of 6'7" point guards and the such. Seems as if the smaller players that do make it are the one's that basicly have an unlimited shooting range or are lightening quick penetrators or defenders. Where do you really see OJ fittting in? Do you think that he fits into either of the aforementioned categories? I dont know that even with all the hype and the constant #1 player in the nation references that he is an upper 1st round selection. When was the last time a 6'4" player was deemed a franchise type player. You need to remember that come draft day that there are countless foreign players that the average Joe has never even heard of, that get drafted way before a lot of our own national treasures . Most NBA teams generally look for size and potential in what I have witnessed in the last few years. It's just like major league baseball. These frachises dont look for 5'10" pitchers that can throw 90 MPH. They look for 6' 5" pitchers that throw 90 MPH and have the bodies that they can potentionaly develope to the point of throwing 96MPH. It seems that most of the process of selecting a player revolves in how projectable a player actualy is, rather than what he can do at the present moment. How far is OJ from peaking , talent wise? Is he that 12 year old little league phenom that never really develops that much further?

 

What would you do if you were an NBA franchise, draft a 6'4" player with maybe not much more of a developement upside or draft this 6'10" kid out of Lithuania that has just now begun to blossom with the sky being the limit when it comes to potential developement. It's a great big world out there when it comes to the NBA. Can OJ make it at 6'4" ?

When Dwyane Wade was deemed so. 6'4", 212 lbs. I'd say he's more than qualified as a franchise player.

......Pull..........Bang!.......yep, another argument with a hole shot in it!

What would you do if you were an NBA franchise, draft a 6'4" player with maybe not much more of a developement upside or draft this 6'10" kid out of Lithuania that has just now begun to blossom with the sky being the limit when it comes to potential developement. It's a great big world out there when it comes to the NBA. Can OJ make it at 6'4" ?

 

Few NBA franchises would choose potential development over potential ticket sales. OJ has enough name recognition to sell tickets. No one buys tickets to see a 6'10" Lithuanian kid improve his game. Remember, most Cleveland Cavs games (home and away) were sold out before Lebron even took the court.

 

And by the way, OJ is reported to be 6'5". I don't know his true height, but a few years back there was a 6'6" guard who could probably be considered a franchise player - I think his last name was Jordan. Sure, he had an extra inch or two, but it was his gameplay and style that made Jordan great - not his height.

Just asking a question because I really dont follow the NBA much anymore, but do you think that Mayo has the size and the speed to really excel in the NBA in the age of 6'7" point guards and the such. Seems as if the smaller players that do make it are the one's that basicly have an unlimited shooting range or are lightening quick penetrators or defenders. Where do you really see OJ fittting in? Do you think that he fits into either of the aforementioned categories? I dont know that even with all the hype and the constant #1 player in the nation references that he is an upper 1st round selection. When was the last time a 6'4" player was deemed a franchise type player. You need to remember that come draft day that there are countless foreign players that the average Joe has never even heard of, that get drafted way before a lot of our own national treasures . Most NBA teams generally look for size and potential in what I have witnessed in the last few years. It's just like major league baseball. These frachises dont look for 5'10" pitchers that can throw 90 MPH. They look for 6' 5" pitchers that throw 90 MPH and have the bodies that they can potentionaly develope to the point of throwing 96MPH. It seems that most of the process of selecting a player revolves in how projectable a player actualy is, rather than what he can do at the present moment. How far is OJ from peaking , talent wise? Is he that 12 year old little league phenom that never really develops that much further?

 

What would you do if you were an NBA franchise, draft a 6'4" player with maybe not much more of a developement upside or draft this 6'10" kid out of Lithuania that has just now begun to blossom with the sky being the limit when it comes to potential developement. It's a great big world out there when it comes to the NBA. Can OJ make it at 6'4" ?

I don’t have time to research the exact numbers at this time, but the last time I did look into it, the average height for all NBA players was about 6’ 7”. The average height for guards was somewhere around 6’ 2 1/2” and about 190 lbs.

 

Perennial All-Star Allen Iverson is listed at 6’ 0” 165 lbs. (more realistically about 5’ 10”)

Two time league MVP Steve Nash is listed at 6’ 3” 195 lbs (maybe 6’ 1” actual)

Perhaps the best of all time, John Stockton was listed at 6’ 1” 175 lbs

One of the best ever, Jason Kidd is listed at 6’ 4” 210 lbs.

Mike Bibby is listed at 6’ 1” 190 lbs.

 

could go on, but the point is at 6’ 5” and probably 210 lbs. O.J. Mayo would be among the taller stronger guards in the NBA.

 

The player universally acclaimed to be the greatest of all time, Michael Jordan is listed at 6’ 6”. Hall of Famer Charles Barkley was also listed at 6’ 6”, but anyone who’s seen him in person would know that he may have been 6’ 4” at best. Barkley regularly dominated players half a foot taller. In terms of physical size, Mayo will fit right in.

 

The number one factor any NBA team looks for in a guard is his ability to make good decisions with the ball and to lead the team on the floor... this is perhaps Mayo's greatest strength.

Few NBA franchises would choose potential development over potential ticket sales. OJ has enough name recognition to sell tickets. No one buys tickets to see a 6'10" Lithuanian kid improve his game. Remember, most Cleveland Cavs games (home and away) were sold out before Lebron even took the court.

 

And by the way, OJ is reported to be 6'5". I don't know his true height, but a few years back there was a 6'6" guard who could probably be considered a franchise player - I think his last name was Jordan. Sure, he had an extra inch or two, but it was his gameplay and style that made Jordan great - not his height.

 

 

When asked to appraise Mayo as a prospect, Steve Smith did not sound overwhelmed. "He's not Lebron James, " the Oak Hill coach said. "He's not Carmelo Anthony. He's not Kevin Durrant. He's a 6'4" guard. If he's making his shots , he's very good. I dont know how well he'll adjust on down the line.

 

 

And now your comparing him to Jordan?

You can't blame OJ for wanting to play at Oak Hill. They have the best program in the nation. You also can't blame Smith for turning him down. But I think it had more to do with the company OJ keeps than his talent or past disciplinary problems.

6'5" 210 won't sniff the "strongest biggest guards in the NBA!!!" Especially since OJ is not a point guard. That's maller than Kobe, Wade, LeBron, Melo, and it's smaller than most of the bad to average 2 guards in the NBA.

6'5" 210 won't sniff the "strongest biggest guards in the NBA!!!" Especially since OJ is not a point guard. That's maller than Kobe, Wade, LeBron, Melo, and it's smaller than most of the bad to average 2 guards in the NBA.

OJ is a PG....