Cleanthony Early-SHOCKER!!

[RoyalShock]

And you have to figure Armstead and Baker are playing a lot together on the scout team. So those two should already have some chemistry on the court.

And I agree, Doc. I think next year will be a rebuilding year. But it will be fun to watch and see how good they become by the end of the season.

[_kai_]

And you have to figure Armstead and Baker are playing a lot together on the scout team. So those two should already have some chemistry on the court.

And I agree, Doc. I think next year will be a rebuilding year. But it will be fun to watch and see how good they become by the end of the season.

I think a lot of people thought this year would be a rebuilding year as well, but it really hasn't turned out that way.

I do think that reworking the roster with replacing Kyles, Rags, and especially Murry will be the hardest part.

Cross our fingers EO makes huge strides this year and next off season, and that Armstead is a beast at the point, and that Early can come in and be a show stopper from day 1.

[pinstripers]

Backcourt should be strong again, with DW, Cotton, Armstead, Baker, and Vanvleet.

[shockmonster]

I think a lot of people thought this year would be a rebuilding year as well, but it really hasn't turned out that way.

I do think that reworking the roster with replacing Kyles, Rags, and especially Murry will be the hardest part.

Cross our fingers EO makes huge strides this year and next off season, and that Armstead is a beast at the point, and that Early can come in and be a show stopper from day 1.

The first of next year should be rebuilding with inexperience a problem. I think that Baker and VanVleet may have higher BB IQs than some. This may help the team be better. Don't know anything about Armstead's IQ but he does have some experience too. It may help them be good sooner.

[_kai_]

The first of next year should be rebuilding with inexperience a problem. I think that Baker and VanVleet may have higher BB IQs than some. This may help the team be better. Don't know anything about Armstead's IQ but he does have some experience too. It may help them be good sooner.

I'm stoked about the possibility of Cotton at the 2 and Armstead at the 1. Armstead is the single season steals record holder at Oregon. Could you imagine the D we will have with those 2.

[wufan]

Here's Early's stats to this point in the year: 25.7 ppg (second in D-III), 11.0 rpg (20th), 1.7 apg, 3.3 bpg (10th), 3.1 topg. His percentages from FT, FG, 3FG are 77%, 57%, and 18% (attempts less than 2 per game) respectively. Sullivan is 15-1 and ranked #2 nationally.

I still see him as mainly a PF next year with Hall in the post, but we'll see.

[mumdaddy316]

Man the kid is averaging a double double seriously!!! All wsu is missing is a true small forward. Can't wait to c him and green on the same team doin work,athletically in the post (hawks,anacreon,white,hall,oruk,henry,and mr. Early) we are goin to give teams fits!!!! Go shox

[wufan]

I think we're all excited about Mr. Early (and others that are on their way), but two important things to remember about Cleanthony:

1) He plays D-III juco. No doubt he's talented, but those stats should be considered high-level high school; not JUCO D-I.
2) Cleanthony has some NBA scouts interested as he might be able to play SG or SF in the NBA (raw tools). He has not shown a good outside shot and I'm not sure how he'll do against the quicker 6-3 to 6-5 MVC SFs, so his best position is in question at WSU.

I (though I think I'm in the minority) see him as a PF due to poor 3 point shooting (though Marshall doesn't seem to mind) and due to our lack of interior depth. It is possible that Anacreon and/or White and/or Hawkins might show up next year "ready to play." If not, Early and Hall will likely see a lot of time as our front line...not that that would be a bad thing.

[wu_shizzle]

He has not shown a good outside shot and I'm not sure how he'll do against the quicker 6-3 to 6-5 MVC SFs, so his best position is in question at WSU.
I (though I think I'm in the minority) see him as a PF due to poor 3 point shooting (though Marshall doesn't seem to mind) and due to our lack of interior depth.

We have a wing player right now that can't shoot a lick from 3, yet he'll probably be a 1st team all-valley player. It would be great if Early had a respectable 3 point shot, but you can still be a huge impact player without putting up shots from deep.

[shocka khan]

I disagree with you, wufan. Show me one place where you have read he's too slow to play the SF. We don't know what his role on the team is (perhaps they need him to play Center, in which case you wouldn't want him to shoot 3's). I agree, it looks like his outside touch isn't as good as advertised, but he might do better playing a different position and I haven't seen anything in the stats that would indicate he is slow, and though I tend to agree with you about D3 Juco, one of the things you're overlooking is that these kids are getting bulk and growing.

I was 5'6" and 120 lbs when I graduated from High School. In the next 2 years I grew 6 inches and put on 60 pounds by the time I was 21. just their growth and the maturation process should make D3 juco better than high high school, unless you're talking about AAU.

[wufan]

I don't think he's slow. I think it is difficult for 6-8 kids to keep pace with 6-3 kids. It's simple mechanics.

[SubGod22]

It's also difficult for 6'3" kids to defend 6'8" kids. I think Early's size, length and athleticism could give other Valley teams fits on both ends of the court.

[wufan]

It's also difficult for 6'3" kids to defend 6'8" kids. I think Early's size, length and athleticism could give other Valley teams fits on both ends of the court.

Indeed! His speed was not a reason why I think he'll be a PF for us...it's post depth. Now, if Keith DeWitt or one of Earl Watson's team mates was to show up in Wichita next year I would say that Early is our SF all the way.

[pinstripers]

Early will play SF.

[SubGod22]

I think we'll see a lot of progress from White and Anacreon before the start of next season. Early may play some PF, but we'll be a better team and more dangerous if he's playing SF