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Motiejus Krivas 7'2 2023 Top international prospect commits to ArizonaTop international basketball prospect Motiejus Krivas has committed to the Arizona Wildcats, he told ESPN on Tuesday.
"Their desire to have me on the team stood out the most," Krivas said. "I felt that they really want me, and I think their style of play suits me the best."
The 18-year-old 7-foot-2 center from Lithuania is considered one of the most promising European prospects committing to the college route in the class of 2023.
He measured 256 pounds with a 7-foot-5 wingspan at the NBA's basketball without borders global camp in Salt Lake City in February, where he stood out with his excellent skill-level and competitiveness.
Full story below
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/37661297/top-international-prospect-motiejus-krivas-commits-arizona
https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/status/1658484398503915520
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Highlights
A day with Arizona's latest commit Motiejus Krivas
As our staff (specifically Chris Rounds) makes these 7-footers more athletic, our frontcourt will continue to become more and more dangerous. Welcome to Arizona, Krivas!
Welcome to the family and don't forget to BTFD!
I don't wanna sound negative but just confused krivas would be the 3rd center on the team.
4 if you henri as a center I think he will be more of a 4 though.
Which means that anderson or krivas will probably not see the court because ballo will start at center.
Just not sure Lloyd is loading up on so many bigs.
Krivas does look skilled inside looks like he has a nice post game.
I guess we will see.
Quote from: Jdmarti on May 27, 2023, 02:12:11 AMI don't wanna sound negative but just confused krivas would be the 3rd center on the team.
4 if you henri as a center I think he will be more of a 4 though.
Which means that anderson or krivas will probably not see the court because ballo will start at center.
Just not sure Lloyd is loading up on so many bigs.
Krivas does look skilled inside looks like he has a nice post game.
I guess we will see.
I'm the contrarian it seems. I believe Tommy wants to deploy Ballo at PF this year. Tommy doesn't believe in a "Stretch 4" or anyone 6'8" or taller shooting outside. Ballo is basically 6'9".
The NBA Africa camp that Ballo attended at age 15 measured him at 6'8" without shoes. He's a legit 7-footer and he isn't playing PF...although there may be plenty of circumstances where we have two post players on the floor simultaneously.
Quote from: KansasCityCats on May 27, 2023, 12:10:20 PMThe NBA Africa camp that Ballo attended at age 15 measured him at 6'8" without shoes. He's a legit 7-footer and he isn't playing PF...although there may be plenty of circumstances where we have two post players on the floor simultaneously.
He is not 7ft tall. He is barely taller than Zoo Tube and Zoo measured in at 6'8.75" I believe at the NBA Combine. I will give Ballo 6'9.5" at best. You can easily tell because he was far shorter than Koloko and even Dante of Oregon dwarfed him in their matchup @Oregon where Ballo was dominated by Dante's size and athleticism.
I assume that you're referencing the January game...not the most recent matchup in February when he ended up with 3 rebounds (as Ballo pulled in another double double).
Quote from: KansasCityCats on May 27, 2023, 05:28:11 PMI assume that you're referencing the January game...not the most recent matchup in February when he ended up with 3 rebounds (as Ballo pulled in another double double).
Obviously @Oregon means @Oregon. When Dante was the 2nd coming of Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell according to Bill Walton. Ballo was not starter-worthy after his illness around New Years. I don't really know what happened. If it wasn't covid, it was nasty enough to effectively end his season. Tommy just didn't want to admit it and go to a platoon. Something that really stuck with me throughout that entire conference play was Tommy's stubbornness. It took way too long for Pelle to get yanked from the starting lineup too. Tommy has no more leash. He has had 2 full years to develop. Just like any youngster, he has had his time to grow and now it's time to put it all together.
Ballo had seven double doubles and never fouled out during conference play. Only four players in the PAC-12 had more double doubles throughout the entire SEASON.
Despite having obvious health issues, he was still the best post player on the roster, notwithstanding Tubelis.
In our house, Dante couldn't even penetrate the lane against Ballo. He settled for mid range shots, a few free throws and barely any boards.
Quote from: KansasCityCats on May 27, 2023, 09:39:04 PMBallo had seven double doubles and never fouled out during conference play. Only four players in the PAC-12 had more double doubles throughout the entire SEASON.
Despite having obvious health issues, he was still the best post player on the roster, notwithstanding Tubelis.
In our house, Dante couldn't even penetrate the lane against Ballo. He settled for mid range shots, a few free throws and barely any boards.
We can create narratives or just acknowledge that Ballo is maybe 6'9.5". He is a load of a PF by all measurables. If Tommy knew how to coach his 6'11" Centers then it would be the more unstoppable lineup. Krivas/Anderson/Henri have no business being on the bench at the same time unless it's in small stretches.
I wish I still had the ability to downvote.
I have the crazy person on ignore now. I can highly recommend it.
Yeah, Lloyd did an awful job with Koloko. He had two all-conference big men and has no idea how to utilize them.
Quote from: KansasCityCats on May 28, 2023, 01:12:50 PMYeah, Lloyd did an awful job with Koloko. He had two all-conference big men and has no idea how to utilize them.
Again, always trying to change the subject which is anyone over 6'8" is not allowed to shoot the ball in Tommy's system. You know very well the point here, but let's waste comments with going off on tangents. Miller developed Koloko. Tommy just got to enjoy the spoils. Now if Ballo can become a 70-75% FT shooter this year I will lessen my stance on that and give Tommy a couple props for forcing the Big PF to become useful on the floor instead of being a hinderance in Hack-A-Ballo.
Lute didn't allow bigs to shoot and Miller prevented guys like Ashley, Andersen and Jerrett from taking outside jumpers.
Good coaches teach their players to take efficient shots. Despite keeping our frontcourt from shooting 3's, our team finished top-3 nationally in scoring for back to back seasons. Lloyd knows what he's doing on offense.
Quote from: arxpert on May 27, 2023, 09:04:50 PMWhen Dante was the 2nd coming of Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell according to Bill Walton.
Walton also calls N'Faly Dante:
The Peanut Butter ManTop 5 nickname in the country
Quote from: KansasCityCats on May 28, 2023, 03:33:50 PMLute didn't allow bigs to shoot and Miller prevented guys like Ashley, Andersen and Jerrett from taking outside jumpers.
Good coaches teach their players to take efficient shots. Despite keeping our frontcourt from shooting 3's, our team finished top-3 nationally in scoring for back to back seasons. Lloyd knows what he's doing on offense.
No bigs took shots when Lute was coaching. That wasn't how the game was played. Now that we moved from the MJ Era to the Curry Era, Bigs are expected to be able to shoot the ball. Tommy is not preparing his bigs for their future at all. No idea why the bigs come if thats the case.
PS Bash was an excellent step out mid range shooter and everyone with half a brain knows Arizona was winning that National Title up until the moment Bash's foot injury occurred. Also no one cares about Jerrett or Ryan Anderson. LOL
Koloko took just as many mid range jumpers as Ashley. Was he the only players with size in Miller's entire 10 year run that could shoot from more than 10' out? If so, that makes Lloyd look pretty good.
Quote from: KansasCityCats on May 29, 2023, 03:33:43 AMKoloko took just as many mid range jumpers as Ashley. Was he the only players with size in Miller's entire 10 year run that could shoot from more than 10' out? If so, that makes Lloyd look pretty good.
I don't know how to answer that. Derrick Williams was able to step out and shoot during the transition from the MJ era to the Curry Era. (There was no Era in between.. Kobe Shaq Duncan Garnett Lebron were all extensions of the Jordan Era)
Solomon Hill could hit shots, Bash, Gordo, Lauri, Ayton was drilling elbow jumpers. I mean the list is good enough to justify my commentary.
Just because a shot isn't a 3 doesn't mean it's not a step out shot. Stretch 4 was a thing at one point and that was like "Bosh, KG". College is different than the NBA, but Tommy is trying to play it like the NBA. So the difference is Miller was not trying to run NBA offense and we got some good Cores together that had Chemistry roles.
Tommy is doing his best, not knocking that, but he is more fearful that he can't develop the team to play his system and make them into attractive prospects for the draft at the same time. So stashing this many bigs and not letting them shoot does them no favors. Pumping Tommy's win/loss record is not why these kids come to Arizona.
This season will feature quite a bit of an OOC slate. I am interested in seeing how Tommy handles it.