https://x.com/Ballislife/status/1948092688794096121?t=wbPQkq7x70HfCdekI7CLxg&s=19
One of my favorite Cats of all time !
One of the best non burger boy that we ever had.
Most of the relevant Miller Era has made a healthy living in Basketball.
Pretty nice list of draftees. D-Will earned a rookie signing bonus and Gordon/TJ are having solid careers.
Quote from: KansasCityCats on August 06, 2025, 08:12:42 PMPretty nice list of draftees. D-Will earned a rookie signing bonus and Gordon/TJ are having solid careers.
Too bad the Bong ruled(s) D-Will. Dude had so much potential.
Quote from: KansasCityCats on August 06, 2025, 08:12:42 PMPretty nice list of draftees. D-Will earned a rookie signing bonus and Gordon/TJ are having solid careers.
Solomon Hill played a long career. Even Stanley Johnson played a very long time considering he was a bust. Deandre Ayton hates Basketball yet is too good naturally to flat out fail and is a Top 8 Center in the World for it. It is all a matter of perspective. The consistency of generating Professional Basketball Players whether it be the NBA or a Foreign league coming from Arizona is as good as any Program, but if people only qualify someone as being worth a shit if they are a Top Tier NBA player then sure, Kentucky and Duke may have a leg up in that sense. However, making a Career of Professional Basketball and "Arizona" are certainly in the same ballpark when zooming out as one of the Top places to be associated with for a Prospect.
Solo and his family were amazing people but he and Stanley only played four seasons of 50+ games in the league. If they're the hallmark of a 12 year coaching career, highlighted by constant Top-40 recruits, Arizona's ability to prepare players for the league is pretty depressing.
Quote from: KansasCityCats on August 08, 2025, 06:35:43 PMSolo and his family were amazing people but he and Stanley only played four seasons of 50+ games in the league. If they're the hallmark of a 12 year coaching career, highlighted by constant Top-40 recruits, Arizona's ability to prepare players for the league is pretty depressing.
So do the analysis for yourself.
Arizona has been a Professional Basketball Player Factory under Sean Miller including the ones who remained after he was forced out.
Currently they are the #5 School in terms of NBA players and correlation to total Salaries and #3 Overall in Total Active NBA Players.
This does not account for Foreign Leagues or non NBA leagues.
So your hatred of the Facts shines through on this one.
I'd love nothing more than for Arizona's players to dominate the NBA. It helps recruiting and it helps the brand.
But I barely see where the developmental stage allowed our alumni to become better players at the next level. Most of the kids only spent 1-2 years in Tucson, with the exception of Pelle (who averaged 4.6 PPG last season).
Aaron Gordon didn't have a jumper or ballhandling skills until he was a veteran NBA player.
Koloko didn't develop until Lloyd's staff jumped in.
Mathurin, Markkanen, Green, Nnaji, Terry, B-Will, Stanley Johnson and Ayton spent minimal time at Arizona, although I think Mathurin matured under both coaches.
Which other draft picks contribute to our reputation? Mannion, Allen, RHJ, NJ, Jerrett or D-Will? Perhaps Solo, if he ever managed to play a full season.
The Cats had approximately 43 Top-100 recruits during Miller's tenure, which doesn't include transfers like Pinder/Allen/Baker/Brown/Kier/Akinjo/Ballo/Larsson. It's hard to believe that only THREE were NBA starters: Markkanen, Gordon and Ayton. We aren't talking about NBA HOF's or All-Stars...just guys that crack the starting five.
So much talent; nothing to show.
Quote from: arxpert on August 08, 2025, 04:05:44 PMQuote from: KansasCityCats on August 06, 2025, 08:12:42 PMPretty nice list of draftees. D-Will earned a rookie signing bonus and Gordon/TJ are having solid careers.
Solomon Hill played a long career. Even Stanley Johnson played a very long time considering he was a bust. Deandre Ayton hates Basketball yet is too good naturally to flat out fail and is a Top 8 Center in the World for it. It is all a matter of perspective. The consistency of generating Professional Basketball Players
whether it be the NBA or a Foreign league coming from Arizona is as good as any Program, but if people only qualify someone as being worth a shit if they are a Top Tier NBA player then sure, Kentucky and Duke may have a leg up in that sense. However, making a Career of Professional Basketball and "Arizona" are certainly in the same ballpark when zooming out as one of the Top places to be associated with for a Prospect.
About the best description of Ayton. So many struggle and he's got 'it' and doesn't give a rat's ass. His giving up on Phoenix was unforgivable