2009 BU commitment- Jordan Prosser

[Da Coach]

Prosser's 32 lifts Eureka past Rantoul

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2009/01/09/scholastic/doc49683420d11c4437016639.txt

[CABUFan]

How much can we expect from Prosser next year?

All this talk about Sam coming back next year and what his role will be has me wondering what we will get from our freshman bigs next year. Based on everything I've heard about Prosser (mostly from this board) my impression may be the rare big who can contribute--possibly even start?--as a freshman. Obviously, its impossible to know for certain how quickly anyone will transition to D1, but I know that a lot of you have seen a lot of JP... Am I being unrealistic in thinking he will be a factor right away?

I'm asking only about JP and not Milos 1) because my impression is JP is probably more likely to be an immediate impact guy and 2) because I doubt anyone on here has enough first hand info on Milos to make any accurate predictions about him.

Thanks.

[Big Mike]

I hve only seen JP play 3 times this year and will go to his game WED night against Manual, but I see him getting some good minutes next season....I also see a 3-headed monster at the 5 next season with JP-WE-SS splitting time....but there are still some questions!
1-WE's knee will be fully healed in time for next season but how long it takes to trust it in game situations is another thing!
2-how long will it take JP to adjust to D1 ball....he is used to playing pretty tough AAU schedules and plays pick-up with current Braves already so lets hope it won't take long!
3-Right now the odd man out would be AT unles they move him to a 4 with TB or maybe CR?
4-Where will MK fit in....never seen him play so is he a 3 or 4?
5-In my perfect world the Braves would play any combo of JP-SS-WE-AT-MK-TB at the same time causing some match-up problems yet still having depth for fouls!

[BradleyBrave]

Expect Prosser to be a solid contributor down low off the bench, similar to what Sam Singh has given us this year. Prosser has better post fundamentals than anyone currently on the roster, and will give us something that we haven't had in a long time.

[SFP]

JP will develop into our first real 4 player since Donald Powell! I expect to see him coming off the bench a bit more then what we have seen TB this year! MK will probably see the floor a bit more then DN has seen it this year. I do not see AT as an odd man out. He will be needed early on next year even with SS at the 5.

[BradleyBrave]

JP will develop into our first real 4 player since Donald Powell! I expect to see him coming off the bench a bit more then what we have seen TB this year! MK will probably see the floor a bit more then DN has seen it this year. I do not see AT as an odd man out. He will be needed early on next year even with SS at the 5.

If players develop the way they're supposed to, SS's minutes should decrease next year...unless we decide to actually play with 2 posts in the game at once. I think it would be wise to explore that option with our current and incoming personnel.

[lefty]

I see JP getting 10-12 minutes next year tops ,which I think will be good. He's going to have a huge adjustment ahead of him. Going from being doubled by smaller guys to being guarded by someone bigger and stronger than him most likely...

[BradleyBrave]

I see JP getting 10-12 minutes next year tops ,which I think will be good. He's going to have a huge adjustment ahead of him. Going from being doubled by smaller guys to being guarded by someone bigger and stronger than him most likely...

I'm not so sure there will be a lot of players bigger or stronger than JP. Yes, he has some maturing to do, but he's already pretty big and strong, especially in his lower body. I don't think strength will be a problem. However, he will need to learn how to properly use that strength against guys bigger than the typical 6'5" Class A post players he's been facing.

[Stryker]

My one hope or thing about Prosser that may be true is his ability to finish around the rim. Really DC is the only player we have had since Zach Andrews that has the ability to consistently hit a good post shot. SS does ok, but more often then not gets a shot blocked or throws up a brick. DC has that smooth shot from 6 ft. out he almost always hits but doesn't take often because we don't get him the ball. Salley would NEVER dunk because he was always outsized under the basket.

Hopefully all the double and triple teams that Prosser has gotten this year and still scored on have helped him toughen up given him the ability to finish around the hoop, kind of like what Wilson is so good at and why TB will be a BEAST once he does it.

In no way to expect Prosser to start next year at any time, but you never know until you see him play, so who knows maybe by the end of next year he will be starting.

[pfunk880]

If players develop the way they're supposed to, SS's minutes should decrease next year...

That's the key.

[BradleyBrave]

My one hope or thing about Prosser that may be true is his ability to finish around the rim. Really DC is the only player we have had since Zach Andrews that has the ability to consistently hit a good post shot. SS does ok, but more often then not gets a shot blocked or throws up a brick. DC has that smooth shot from 6 ft. out he almost always hits but doesn't take often because we don't get him the ball. Salley would NEVER dunk because he was always outsized under the basket.

Hopefully all the double and triple teams that Prosser has gotten this year and still scored on have helped him toughen up given him the ability to finish around the hoop, kind of like what Wilson is so good at and why TB will be a BEAST once he does it.

In no way to expect Prosser to start next year at any time, but you never know until you see him play, so who knows maybe by the end of next year he will be starting.

That's something that JP does better than any post player on the roster right now, and that's finish around the hoop. He can go up in either direction with either hand, and tries to dunk just about everything. I am not saying he's the Second Coming or the Messiah, but he is the most skilled interior recruit we've had in a long time, dating back to the Molinari era.

[CABUFan]

BB, I'm curious, if you don't think strength will be an issue, and you think he is already more skilled than anyone we have, why do you see him coming off the bench? Who do you see playing ahead of him? I suppose WE is the front runner to start at the 5 next year, considering he had the job before he got hurt, but given how little game experience he actually has I'm not sure why he would necessarily be ahead of JP. (Not trying to bad mouth WE at all here, as I expect great things from him, as well as JP; if all these guys progress well our front court could be stacked in a couple of years.)

[Big Mike]

From what I've seen....JP is more natural to the post, action -wise than anyone presently on the Braves(never seems to rush his shot or just throw it up to the rim)...there is no hesitation with him once he receives the ball...more like he has a real purpose down low and some really nice post moves! JP has a real soft touch in his shot...he can dunk it and rarely misses a lay-up....and has been working hard to get open underneath for every possesion(he really wants the ball and knows what to do with it when he gets it) ...even without screens or picks...he never gives up! He will be fine....trust me!

[Buesch N Chips]

If players develop the way they're supposed to, SS's minutes should decrease next year...unless we decide to actually play with 2 posts in the game at once. I think it would be wise to explore that option with our current and incoming personnel.

Not a bad idea. Prosser is a great passer, maybe some Bill Self high/low?

[BradleyBrave]

BB, I'm curious, if you don't think strength will be an issue, and you think he is already more skilled than anyone we have, why do you see him coming off the bench? Who do you see playing ahead of him? I suppose WE is the front runner to start at the 5 next year, considering he had the job before he got hurt, but given how little game experience he actually has I'm not sure why he would necessarily be ahead of JP. (Not trying to bad mouth WE at all here, as I expect great things from him, as well as JP; if all these guys progress well our front court could be stacked in a couple of years.)

He is more refined and polished as a true post than anyone on the roster. And yes, strength should not be an issue. But I think that the transition from Class A hoops in Illinois to the MVC is a very big one, and that it would be unreasonable to expect JP to come in and have a major impact from the onset. Very, very few freshmen in general have been able to do that successfully for a team with title aspirations (which I think we should have). Strength-wise and skill-wise JP will be fine and will be able to play, but he is going to have to get used to a whole new level of athleticism and speed. I think using him like we've used Taylor Brown, and maybe Sam Singh would be appropriate.