Austin Reaves

[ARShocker]

You guys have Kyle Lindsted to thank for Austin. I sent him the info on Austin as I did a lot of other schools and he saw in Austin what I already knew. Came to watch one practice and immediately knew what he was looking at. Brought Coach Marshall back to Arkansas just a couple weeks later. They were traveling to MO St for a game, dropped the team off then flew down to Forrest City and drove to Marianna (look these places up lol) to watch Austin play a road game.

I was in Jonesboro watching my team and Lindsted text me and said "Austin has played 1 quarter so far, Coach is about to call you."

I barely had the text read before I was getting a call. It was Coach Marshall asking me how Austin was still available and that he had an offer from Wichita St. We talked for about 15 minutes and I had a feeling right then that WSU would be the spot. They just believed in him so much.

Kyle Lindsted had been a friend of mine for awhile. We were gonna be friends regardless of if he believed what I was telling him about Austin or not. But Kyle Lindsted is the reason Austin Reaves is a Shocker.

I had very little doubt Austin would make an immediate impact. I'm happy for him that he has such a strong backing from the Shocker Faithful. Thank you guys for taking him in so quickly. There aren't many better kids than Austin Reaves. I'm proud to own some Shocker gear!

[Aargh]

I always thought "diamond in the rough" was taken from golf. Get off the path that most take, go to where youve got to look a little harder to even fid your ball - and then you hit it sweet by finding the "diamond in the rough".

[1972Shocker]

I think @Shocker-maniac has a reasonable point in that a "Diamond in the Rough" often refers to someone with great potential but is unrefined or has rough edges that need some polish. He is right in that Austin's game really did not have too many rough edges although there were questions about his physical stature and his shoulders. Apparently, the shoulders are still a concern based on 3G's comments. Austin was an off-the-beaten path gem with a couple of possible or perceived flaws that might or might not be a problem going forward.

In any case I think we all agree that Austin has been quite a find thanks to Coach Lindsted. With Austin playing so superbly and with Asbjorn committed perhaps Coach Lndsted will be looking at a nice raise soon (or at least a very nice Christmas bonus). Superb work Coach Lindsted. So happy the 3G is willing to think outside the box on guys like Tekele Cotton, Ron Baker and Austin Reaves.

[Aargh]

You guys have Kyle Lindsted to thank for Austin. I sent him the info on Austin as I did a lot of other schools and he saw in Austin what I already knew. Came to watch one practice and immediately knew what he was looking at. Brought Coach Marshall back to Arkansas just a couple weeks later. They were traveling to MO St for a game, dropped the team off then flew down to Forrest City and drove to Marianna (look these places up lol) to watch Austin play a road game.

I was in Jonesboro watching my team and Lindsted text me and said "Austin has played 1 quarter so far, Coach is about to call you."

I barely had the text read before I was getting a call. It was Coach Marshall asking me how Austin was still available and that he had an offer from Wichita St. We talked for about 15 minutes and I had a feeling right then that WSU would be the spot. They just believed in him so much.

Kyle Lindsted had been a friend of mine for awhile. We were gonna be friends regardless of if he believed what I was telling him about Austin or not. But Kyle Lindsted is the reason Austin Reaves is a Shocker.

I had very little doubt Austin would make an immediate impact. I'm happy for him that he has such a strong backing from the Shocker Faithful. Thank you guys for taking him in so quickly. There aren't many better kids than Austin Reaves. I'm proud to own some Shocker gear!

I was skeptical. There have been a lot of players who've put up some ridiculous numbers in small high schools. Most of them make decent JuCo role players. Even the highlights didn't convince me. Unknown speed, quickness, or agility of the defenders.

Then he missed practices all summer. then he was slow getting started in the fall. There is a history with Fr PG's, and it doesn't favor optimism.

Then AR got on the court. He made D1 defenders look just like the HS defenders in the highlight videos. I hadn't been aware of his confidence or accuracy with 3-point shots. His passing and court vision look like that of a Jr or Sr. He plays defense!

I think all WSU fans agree that VanVleet's BBIQ is off the charts. Reaves seems to be ahead of where VanVleet was (early in their first years) at picking up Marshall's rather complex system. On top of that, Reaves is playing two positions! Most new players take at least a semester just trying to be adequate at 1 position. Playing two positions generally takes an entire year.

It's obvious Reaves was paying a lot of attention and studying plays relentlessly during the time he was in "no contact" mode this summer and early this semester. It takes most players some time to get to the point where they just "do" things instead of thinking about what they're supposed to be doing. It seems to have taken Reaves an adjustment time of zero to reach that point.

I'm expecting some rough patches. Reaves is still a Fr, even though he hasn't looke like one. It's going to take more than a few of those for me to dampen my enthusiasm.

[KC Shox]

I'm cautiously optimistic for AR. First, I'm hoping he can escape from re-aggravating the shoulder injury this year. Every time he's on the court, I'm clinching my ass cheeks hoping some player doesn't accidentally bend his arm backward going through a screen or trying to block a shot.

He's been feasting on low tier or rebuilding programs and we are about to see how he stacks up against more athletic and skilled players. If he can hold his own against these guys as a freshman, well then, I think we have someone very special on our hands.

[im4wsu]

Current BPM from Sports-reference.com

Player	MP	OBPM	DBPM	BPM
Austin Reaves	53	13.5	7.8	21.3
Zach Brown	81	8.4	2.5	11
Markis McDuffie	73	5.8	5.2	11
Zach Bush	11	-1	11.7	10.6
Shaquille Morris	53	0.7	8.5	9.2
Daishon Smith	62	2.9	3.9	6.8
Landry Shamet	84	5.5	1.2	6.7
Darral Willis Jr.	67	0.8	4.8	5.6
Kaelen Malone	9	6.4	-1	5.4
John Robert Simon	15	-1.8	4.5	2.8
Rauno Nurger	72	-0.3	1.4	1.1
Conner Frankamp	88	-0.6	0.2	-0.4
Rashard Kelly	65	-4.8	3.5	-1.3
C.J. Keyser	26	-9.4	0.6	-8.7
Eric Hamilton	32	-15.4	4.1	-11.4
Brett Barney	9	-5.3	-9.3	-14.5

[Shocker-maniac]

So Lindsted is responsible for bringing Reeves and 7-0 Danish Asbjorn? Weren't there SN so-called (or, at least self proclaimed) "experts" that were critical of the hiring of Lindsted when it was announced?

[pogo]

So Lindsted is responsible for bringing Reeves and 7-0 Danish Asbjorn? Weren't there SN so-called (or, at least self proclaimed) "experts" that were critical of the hiring of Lindsted when it was announced?

Those were just the stoopid ones.

[double dribble]

People keep saying Austin is a diamond in the rough, but there is nothing rough about his game. He is smooth and calm beyond his years. I will say if he had gone to Arkansas he would not be a diamond in the rough but he would shine like a diamond in a goats arse, or make that a hogs arse.

[shoxlax]

So Lindsted is responsible for bringing Reeves and 7-0 Danish Asbjorn? Weren't there SN so-called (or, at least self proclaimed) "experts" that were critical of the hiring of Lindsted when it was announced?

I recall a couple as well. Too lazy to revisit their posts but you are spot on

[Ashockalypse]

People keep saying Austin is a diamond in the rough, but there is nothing rough about his game. He is smooth and calm beyond his years. I will say if he had gone to Arkansas he would not be a diamond in the rough but he would shine like a diamond in a goats arse, or make that a hogs arse.

I hate to correct but the word "rough" in the expression "diamond in the rough" does not refer to the metaphorical diamond or subject of the discussion but instead the metaphorical location where it is found. So when Austin is called a diamond in the rough it means that we found a fine jewel in a hidden or hard to find location i.e. "The rough". In this case the Arkansas back country where great players might not be plucked with the frequency of large urban areas or basketball hotbeds. It is not a slight on Austin but instead a great compliment which was also bestowed on other greats like McDaniel, Van Vleet and Baker.

[Ashockalypse]

Ok, what I said above was just wrong. Sorry. I winged it and then researched it. Apologies to double dribble.

[wufan]

Ok, what I said above was just wrong. Sorry. I winged it and then researched it. Apologies to double dribble.

I also thought your interpretation was correct. We were wrong.

[double dribble]

I believe a diamond in the rough is a gem of a stone that just needs some polishing. However a diamond in a goats arse is a magnificent gem surrounded by arse holes and turds. Hence Austin would shine like a diamond in a goats arse had he gone to Arkansas.

[Shocktoberfest]

I also thought your interpretation was correct. We were wrong.

And my wife says time on Shockernet is a waste of time. In you face sweetie!