Question... Bigs...

[Guest]

Assume for the sake of argument that Wilkins gets here by the ISU game and he is ready to play. OK, with that being said, will Wilkins take minutes from our other bigs (SS, DC & AT) or will Coach Les let more than one big play at the same time? My bet is that Coach Les plays as many guards as possible (normal pattern) and the playing time comes from the other 4/5 players (and I am not counting TW as a 4). Just a friendly question.

[tornado]

I doubt Wilkins will take PT from Singh & Collins.
JW is more of a wing, a guy that can sub for Theron and fill the gaps if Andrew Warren doesn't play for a while.

[braves12]

Good question. Has anyone on the board actually seen Wilkins play? Can he play the post or is he a big outside player?

[georgethedog]

I doubt Wilkins will take PT from Singh & Collins.
JW is more of a wing, a guy that can sub for Theron and fill the gaps if Andrew Warren doesn't play for a while.

That sounds great.

[braves12]

t,

Have you seen Wilkins play? If yes, where and against what competition? Was it the basketball camp this summer that you hinted at where your friend steered him to BU?

[tornado]

I have received reports from two coaches who have seen him play, one of whom I just talked with last night and who said he is amazed Bradley was getting the guy, considering the talent and the number of other programs who really wanted the kid.
I will send you the report I just sent to a few people privately...

[braves12]

Thanks.

I still wonder if anyone on the board has seen him play. Not questioning your sources t.

[bugregshu]

There was a tournament at ISU a while back where John Wilkins played. I know a few posters went there and reported some information back on the board, but I can't seem to find the thread when I search for it.

[brocks]

Well, 50 D-I coaches saw him play out west and offered him schollies. Good enough for me.

[Da Coach]

There was a tournament at ISU a while back where John Wilkins played. I know a few posters went there and reported some information back on the board, but I can't seem to find the thread when I search for it.

Yes, he played at Flash Flanagan's event - I believe it was at the Shirk Center at Illinois Wesleyan Univeristy in Bloominton, a couple months ago, and played well. He was already committed to BU by then.

The only other places he's played, other than Europe, is at a private workout for a couple college coaches, and at 2 AAU events while playing for the Illinois Wolves (in Orlando and Phoenix). So I don't think we'll have any of our posters who have seen him first hand.

[SFP]

Well, 50 D-I coaches saw him play out west and offered him schollies. Good enough for me.

Brocks I agree and if JL is going through all these hoops he must be special and I would take our coaching staffs insight over anyone on this board anyway.

[braves12]

Thanks, but I am not asking IF he is good enough to play at BU. I am wondering what type of skills he brings and how they will fit into the current style, or if it might cause a change in styles. He is 6' 9". Does he play the outside and thus BU still plays 4 guards, or can he play a post up power forward or both?

[shaunguth]

Thanks, but I am not asking IF he is good enough to play at BU. I am wondering what type of skills he brings and how they will fit into the current style, or if it might cause a change in styles. He is 6' 9". Does he play the outside and thus BU still plays 4 guards, or can he play a post up power forward or both?

Here is the original report that was given by someone in attendance:

I watched John Wilkins play in the first three of his four games at the Shirk Center today.
Let me start this conversation by advising you that I watch alot of basketball, but certainly don't hold
myself out as a coaching wizard. I do feel that I have enough knowledge to determine who is a good
player and who potentially might be a great player. The first word that comes to my mind in describing
him would be "athlete". He's a legitimate 6"8"-6'9". He's not a 4 or a 5. He could be a 1,2 or 3. You
might think that I'm exaggerating when I say a potential 1; however the AAU coach had him at
point some of the time and he looked very comfortable. Quite frankly, I was disappointed in the
competition. Further, it is very difficult to evaluate a player when none of your teammates try to get you
the ball and shoot the ball every time they touch it. That was the case today. He clearly was the player
with the most potential in any of the games I watched. However, due to a combination of what
appeared to be him being a little out of shape, selfish teammates, the appearances of him playing
down to the level of competition, and possibly his indifference about these games, I was somewhat
disappointd in his play. I met a gentleman with a Bradley jacket on and asked him how he thought
Wilkins looked, and rather than answering my question, he said that he worked for Bradley, and
the coaching staff thought his level of play in Las Vegas was good enough to make him a top 30 player
in the nation. He did not show that today. He likes to play on the perimeter and he's very comfortable
there. He's much better facing the basket than with his back to the basket. He kind of has a Darius Miles
game. I would further describe him as a poor man's Mitchell Anderson. I have followed Bradley basketball
for close to 50 years and quite frankly we haven't had a player like this since Anderson. He appears to
have a good shooting touch, but not yet to the extent of Mitchell. However, I would describe his
strongest abilities to be ball handling, passing and court vision. He's fundamentally very sound
offensively. He's quick and jumps very well. He could be described as a very athletic European player who
excels in the open court. Like most European and Freshman players, defense is going to be the only
thing that is going to keep him out of the starting lineup from the get go. That being said, one year in
the weight room and a summer of boot camp with CB and Westy and this kid could be very special. He's
too unselfish, but he's going to create unbelievable matchup problems offensively with his court vision,
unselfishness, ball handling skills at 6'9", and passing. The first thing I invisioned was how much easier it is
going to be against the Creighton and Drake full court pressure. Even with a double team on the ball,
this kid can see over the pressure and has the court vision to find the open man.

[SFP]

What we all have heard is that he has a classic European game which means he can handle the ball, shoot from the outside and proably not much of an inside post up game. That will mean in our system he can play the 3 or 4. Our 4s do not play the classic 4 position they act more like 3s except on D when they have to guard someone bigger.

[it's boogie time]

If Wilkins can rebound, he will play alot of minutes immediately. If not, he'll just be another guy roaming the perimeter.