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Joined: Nov 2017
My initial thoughts on the Men's team after one game.
After such a great ending to the season last year. Well, at least the final two games of it. I have been looking forward to seeing what the Stanford men could put together for this new year. With Harrison Ingram coming back. And Jayden Delaire not, what magic could Jered Haase bring.
Well, the first game showed us some new things. And some old things. But overall things are looking up. And with the recruiting news of the day, definitely looking forward to the season.
Some thoughts on the individuals after one game.
Harrison: Harrison is going to be the star. But maybe not the type of star we think. He has a great all-around game when he stays within himself. He can score inside. He can score outside. He can rebound. He can dish the dimes. And he can play decent defense. But he has to remember that he is not the fastest on the court and at this level he can't dribble from the top of the key through the paint to the basket. But when he plays the all-around game, so sweet.
Spencer: We didn't get to see Spencer in this first game. I hope that his injury is not too bad. We know what he will bring to the table. High-end shooter with excellent 3 pt. capability. Excellent defender as long as he moves his feet. And he can get you the rebound when you need it. He needs to learn how to not make silly fouls and stay on the floor.
Michael OC: Michael is the non-point guard, point guard. He is not the flashiest and not the most exciting. But he is steady. He showed even in this game his ability to control the tempo of the game and get his people where they need to be. And he still has the ability to drive when open.
Michael Jones: The new guy. And what a debut he had. It's clear that he brings another level of maturity and aggressiveness to the team. I liked that he didn't get down when Pacific made a run. He just kept putting the pressure on. He will be a great influence on the rest of the team.
James: James is the guy who shouldn't be playing but still is. He is not the most talented but just enough to be able to do all the little things. His biggest hurdle is his limited range on offense. But when you need the hustle play or the scrappy play, that's him. I see him as a great balance with Maxime.
Maxime: Maxime had a break-out game. He was able to score at all levels, get rebounds, and play some decent defense. The question with him will be can he sustain it. Both in a given game, and over time. I like him as a balance to James.
Brandon: Brandon seems to be a bigger Spencer with almost as good 3 pt shooting, better around the basket work, and a knack for making the tough shot. But he is not the defensive stalwart that Spencer can be. And he showed in the game that he still has a tendency to make silly fouls. But his continued growth will give us another player who can come in at any time and perform.
Max: Max is hard to figure out. He has such potential. With his skillset, he should be starting on this team. He is tall and rangy. He moves well for a big man. He can shoot at all 3 levels. He can defend and block shots. But, he always seems a little bit out of his element. Even in this first game, he flashed both aspects of his world. I can't wait to see if he can pull things together.
Isa: Isa should be the starting PG. He is the more skilled play than Michael. He is quicker, a better shooter, can make the fancy pass, and has additional size. But he doesn't yet have the intangibles that Michael brings. So, for now he serves as the skilled backup. Once he gets it together, lookout.
Jarvis: We finally were able to see Jarvis in a game. It was interesting that he didn't come in right away. He looks to have some skills but we have not yet seen anything from him. Should be fun to learn more.
Ryan: Ryan was the only freshman to play in the first game. And he looked like a freshman. He looked like he know what he was supposed to be doing, but was not yet able to do it. A little behind speedwise. But it was nice to see him get on the court, especially early. That shows that he has been able to share something in practice. More to come from him.
No one else played.
