Labeling him as the four on Holmes team, and saying he is a post player are two completely different things.

 

I agree they are 2 different things but right now his abilities and skill sets are those as a post player. Until he show's he is more versitile the mid-majors and D-1's are going to stay away from him. Why recruit a 6-4 kid with the same skill set as a 6-7 or 6-8 kid you can get at that level.

 

Trust me I like the kid, I like him alot but right now he is not a big or mid-major division 1 ball player.

I agree they are 2 different things but right now his abilities and skill sets are those as a post player. Until he show's he is more versitile the mid-majors and D-1's are going to stay away from him. Why recruit a 6-4 kid with the same skill set as a 6-7 or 6-8 kid you can get at that level.

 

Trust me I like the kid, I like him alot but right now he is not a big or mid-major division 1 ball player.

Except the mid-majors are not staying away from looking at him as a 2-3 combo player...

My one question on Pittman is his ability to do something other than shoot the 3 or the dunk. I've yet to see him consistently put the ball on the floor and make a play. If he's going to end up in the 6'6 to 6'8 range that would be a must at a high D1 school unless they plan on him being an undersized post player.

 

See Pittman in the state tournament last year.

 

How many times have you seen him this year? He actually scores a lot off the dribble. Very rarely does he post up and actually doesn't really shoot the three that much; maybe 2 or 3 a game from out there. Almost all of his points are taking his man off the dribble from 15 feet in. He also gets a lot of offensive rebounds which leads to the dunks. I believe he's leading NKY in offensive rebounds right now.

My one question on Pittman is his ability to do something other than shoot the 3 or the dunk. I've yet to see him consistently put the ball on the floor and make a play. If he's going to end up in the 6'6 to 6'8 range that would be a must at a high D1 school unless they plan on him being an undersized post player.

 

He is already 6'7 and he is 16 years old. He has potential to be in the 6'8 to 6'10 range. Also his has come a long way since last year, yes he is a Jr. but he didn't play much last year until the state tournament. He has about 20-25 games of real varsity experience. He is still maturing as a player.

Except the mid-majors are not staying away from looking at him as a 2-3 combo player...

 

Why would a mid-major recruit a kid at a position that is not natural and that he hasn't shown that he can produce from yet when they can recruit a kid that plays that position naturally? Its a gamble, he may get that look but he isn't getting those looks as of right now from the information I have obtained. I would love to see him get that chance but honestly I don't see him getting that look from those schools. Small D-1 maybe, D-1AA more than likely but MAC or anything bigger is a little bit of a reach IMO.

I agree they are 2 different things but right now his abilities and skill sets are those as a post player. Until he show's he is more versitile the mid-majors and D-1's are going to stay away from him. Why recruit a 6-4 kid with the same skill set as a 6-7 or 6-8 kid you can get at that level.

 

Trust me I like the kid, I like him alot but right now he is not a big or mid-major division 1 ball player.

 

JJ is usually one of the 3 that helps bring the ball up when the opposing team presses. He is a pretty good ball handler. He actually plays the 2 during the summer on his AAU team, but because of the offense that Holmes runs, he often has to play the 3 or 4 when in reality he'll be a 2-3 combo in college. His athleticism and length makes him a very tough player to defend and go up against.

 

Except the mid-majors are not staying away from looking at him as a 2-3 combo player...

 

Exactly...

Why would a mid-major recruit a kid at a position that is not natural and that he hasn't shown that he can produce from yet when they can recruit a kid that plays that position naturally? Its a gamble, he may get that look but he isn't getting those looks as of right now from the information I have obtained. I would love to see him get that chance but honestly I don't see him getting that look from those schools. Small D-1 maybe, D-1AA more than likely but MAC or anything bigger is a little bit of a reach IMO.

 

There are MAC schools keeping close tabs on him. Nothing bigger at this stage. I get the feeling you don't know much about the types of talent that lands in the MAC. JJ would be one of very many in the same mold...

I agree they are 2 different things but right now his abilities and skill sets are those as a post player. Until he show's he is more versitile the mid-majors and D-1's are going to stay away from him. Why recruit a 6-4 kid with the same skill set as a 6-7 or 6-8 kid you can get at that level.

 

Trust me I like the kid, I like him alot but right now he is not a big or mid-major division 1 ball player.

 

You haven't watched them at all if you think his skill set is that of a post player. Just because he rebounds and plays defense doesn't make him a post player. He's an athletic wingman who has a decent jumpshot. I'd look for him to improve his three-ball and be more aggressive with it next year, and he will no doubt be a solid d-1 prospect.

You can't really pin down his role for Holmes for one very simple reason. He's a very talented, but selfless kid that does whatever is asked of him to make the team better.

 

Just curious here marc. Did you see how lost Holmes was against the Scott County press when he was on the bench with cramps???

There are MAC schools keeping close tabs on him. Nothing bigger at this stage. I get the feeling you don't know much about the types of talent that lands in the MAC. JJ would be one of very many in the same mold...

 

Trust me I know about the talent that lands in the MAC, I know quite a bit about the game and I just don't think JJ is going to land there. Not unless something changes from this year to next. I can tell I am not very popular on this subject but just know I am trying to be 100% honest. I like JJ, I want him, Eli, and Rico to all play big time ball somewhere but the reality of the topic is he is not being recuited by Miami right now and he is not on they radar, as far as Akron and Wright St I dunno, if his AAU coach says he is then maybe they have reached out to him for information on him and maybe they are interested. But from the information I have obtained he is not being recruited by any major or mid-majors currently for the reason's I have previously mentioned. Hopefully I am wrong

You can't really pin down his role for Holmes for one very simple reason. He's a very talented, but selfless kid that does whatever is asked of him to make the team better.

 

Just curious here marc. Did you see how lost Holmes was against the Scott County press when he was on the bench with cramps???

 

 

I was at the game, and I am not doubting what he brings to the table, the kid is a very good player. There are a lot of really good players in the country though. I love the kid and wanna see him do well but I don't think he is ready for Major of Mid-Major consideration right now. I have seem him and Holmes play several times this year, I am familiar with his skills, as well as the rest of the guys.

You haven't watched them at all if you think his skill set is that of a post player. Just because he rebounds and plays defense doesn't make him a post player. He's an athletic wingman who has a decent jumpshot. I'd look for him to improve his three-ball and be more aggressive with it next year, and he will no doubt be a solid d-1 prospect.

 

If he improves it is possible but today he is not a d-1 player. I have watched them a ton, I was at the Lloyd Memorial for all the games there, I was at the second Bryan Station game, I was at the Ballard game, I was at the Scott Co game, watched Largo on TV, and I will be there monday again. I keep up with this team.

 

Also if you would have read my earlier post I said everyone from 2-5 on this team is interchangable. I said on this Holmes team he would have to be considered the 4 though due to the players roles. They don't have a true post player on they roster (Pittman is closet thing and he plays away from the basket alot to be considered a true post player at this point), they all move with out the ball, they all handle the ball at some point, they all can get shots off the dribble.

I was at the game, and I am not doubting what he brings to the table, the kid is a very good player. There are a lot of really good players in the country though. I love the kid and wanna see him do well but I don't think he is ready for Major of Mid-Major consideration right now. I have seem him and Holmes play several times this year, I am familiar with his skills, as well as the rest of the guys.

It's my job these days to know how to identify talent levels. JJ is a MAC level recruit, and the coaching staffs at that level seem to agree with me. If he doesn't continue to improve that level slides, but I don't see that as an issue knowing the work ethic of the player in question...

If he improves it is possible but today he is not a d-1 player. I have watched them a ton, I was at the Lloyd Memorial for all the games there, I was at the second Bryan Station game, I was at the Ballard game, I was at the Scott Co game, watched Largo on TV, and I will be there monday again. I keep up with this team.

 

Also if you would have read my earlier post I said everyone from 2-5 on this team is interchangable. I said on this Holmes team he would have to be considered the 4 though due to the players roles. They don't have a true post player on they roster (Pittman is closet thing and he plays away from the basket alot to be considered a true post player at this point), they all move with out the ball, they all handle the ball at some point, they all can get shots off the dribble.

This post seems spot on from what I have seen of them.

I can see where you see JJ as a four because he is usually in the 4 spot on defense, and most of his scoring is roughly 15 feet in and off the offensive glass. He can handle the ball a little but I don't see him as a kid that can create from the 2-3 spot at a mid major level.

 

Clyde mentioned Pittman as only having game from the 3 line to the post. I can see that as well. He is not explosive from the perimeter, and the only drives I see from him are off the baseline or catching from the high post.

Pittman has probably the highest ceiling of anyone on that team. He is probably a decent handle away from being big time.

 

RJ is just a solid player,nothing flashy. He is very strong.

If he improves it is possible but today he is not a d-1 player. I have watched them a ton, I was at the Lloyd Memorial for all the games there, I was at the second Bryan Station game, I was at the Ballard game, I was at the Scott Co game, watched Largo on TV, and I will be there monday again. I keep up with this team.

 

Also if you would have read my earlier post I said everyone from 2-5 on this team is interchangable. I said on this Holmes team he would have to be considered the 4 though due to the players roles. They don't have a true post player on they roster (Pittman is closet thing and he plays away from the basket alot to be considered a true post player at this point), they all move with out the ball, they all handle the ball at some point, they all can get shots off the dribble.

 

I read that, but again like I said before, you are saying he is a post player which he isn't at all.

 

Like GT says, he is a MAC level recruit as long as he continues on the path he is on.