Mbakwe to the NBA

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MaroonGopher

MaroonGopher

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With the emphasis on weight-training and just the raw physical nature of the athletes, it's a rarity in Division I basketball to have a player such as Trevor Mbakwe who is just so much bigger and stronger than his teammates. Let's say he averages 11 points, 8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game this year, will he leave for the NBA? Honestly, I am slobbering over him after what I saw last night. I WOULD RATHER​
HAVE TREVOR MBAKWE THAN ROYCE WHITE. PERIOD!

What NBA player(s) does he remind you of? Kenyon Martin?
 

MaroonGopher said:
With the emphasis on weight-training and just the raw physical nature of the athletes, it's a rarity in Division I basketball to have a player such as Trevor Mbakwe who is just so much bigger and stronger than his teammates. Let's say he averages 11 points, 8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game this year, will he leave for the NBA? Honestly, I am slobbering over him after what I saw last night. I WOULD RATHER​
HAVE TREVOR MBAKWE THAN ROYCE WHITE. PERIOD!

What NBA player(s) does he remind you of? Kenyon Martin?
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Yes
 


I'm in northern Minn. and couldn't be at the tip-off. My question is, did Trevor score from beyond 2 feet last night?

I think he is a terror around the basket too. But, unless he developes a shooting touch without his hand in the basket, he will be around for 2 years.

Tubby has mentioned on more than one occasion that Trevor has a ways to go with his offensive game.

When he gets a consistant jumper, he'll be NBA material. Until then I put him in the same boat with Rodney.
 

figi said:
I'm in northern Minn. and couldn't be at the tip-off. My question is, did Trevor score from beyond 2 feet last night?

I think he is a terror around the basket too. But, unless he developes a shooting touch without his hand in the basket, he will be around for 2 years.

Tubby has mentioned on more than one occasion that Trevor has a ways to go with his offensive game.

When he gets a consistant jumper, he'll be NBA material. Until then I put him in the same boat with Rodney.
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I think he had 1 or 2 jumpers go in. He maybe has range out to the free throw line
 


he reminds me of paul milsap with Shawn Kemp athleticism. A lot like a J.J. Hickson
 

JJ Hickson is the comparison I made last night. He's got basically the same body as Hickson. And he did hit at least 1 mid-range jumper last night that looked very natural
 

He looks to be a very solid FT shooter from the games I've watched and he had at least one nice jumper last night. He also had a sweet play where he did a power move to the inside and then pivoted and went under Colton
 

Lets calm down a little bit he hasn't played a division 1 minute in 3 years, I agree he looks the part but as the original posted stated would 11pts and 8 rbs get him drafted in the first round? The simple answer to that is no unless the Gophers make a magical run in the tourney. I believe that there is a role in the NBA for him as rebounding specialist ala Dejuan Blair or as previously mentioned Paul Milsap or Hickson, but to worry about him and the NBA before the season is getting a little a head of ourselves. Lets all remember (and me included) how excited we were about Rodney after the first few non-conf games and we were all asking if he would be a lottery pick. By all means I am excited after watching him this summer and hearing the reports from last night but lets see him play in the Big Ten or hell even against North Carolina in Puerto Rico.
 



rivergopher said:
Lets calm down a little bit he hasn't played a division 1 minute in 3 years, I agree he looks the part but as the original posted stated would 11pts and 8 rbs get him drafted in the first round? The simple answer to that is no unless the Gophers make a magical run in the tourney. I believe that there is a role in the NBA for him as rebounding specialist ala Dejuan Blair or as previously mentioned Paul Milsap or Hickson, but to worry about him and the NBA before the season is getting a little a head of ourselves. Lets all remember (and me included) how excited we were about Rodney after the first few non-conf games and we were all asking if he would be a lottery pick. By all means I am excited after watching him this summer and hearing the reports from last night but lets see him play in the Big Ten or hell even against North Carolina in Puerto Rico.
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Amen. Very, very happy he's playing but he has done nothing of note since leaving high school.
 

I think that Trevor could get drafted after this season with those numbers as long as he shows some of that athleticism and potential that has taken Rodney to a projected NBA draft choice. I didn't go to Tubby's Tip-off, but from what I hear, Trevor is a beast and did show quite a bit of that athleticism. So I think that his athleticism combined with the results he would produce in your scenario (11 points, 8 rebounds, 1.5 blocks) would be enough to put him in the NBA. Whether he takes another year to up his stock and develop his game is another question though.
 

as Mike Tice would say "Enjoy the season". We can worry about the NBA draft in April.
 

Relax

Paul Milsap with a little Shawm Kemp.??????? Put the pipe down people!

How about some Rich Coffey/ J'son Stamper with a lil Michigan St attitude with him?:clap:
 



Shawn Kemp comparisons are about as off as the J'son Stamper comparisons.

Mbakwe is much larger and much more athletic than Stamper. I'm not going to go as far to call him the next Kemp, but there has to be a more apt comparison than Miles Tarv...ahem...J'son Stamper.
 

How about that guy from Iowa a handful of years ago (blanking on his name). He was a great rebounder and had a shot in the NBA. That's who Trevor most reminds me of.
 




Trevor NBA

I think Trevor could be a great college player. But he is undersized (height wise) for power forward. I wouldn't be shocked if he's 6'7" or under without shoes. He could be a good energy player off the bench. Upside would be Kenyon Martin, but just as easily someone like Malik Rose. I doubt he would get picked in the first round next year with 10pts 8 reb a game.

Rodney is a different story as at 6'7" he wouldnt be undersized for the 2 or 3. Plus he has the potential to add to his shooting and driving.
 

Not a lot of consistent range yet. Perfect guy to stay in college for the next two years, work on his game and play oversees at least. This year should be a precursor to a great gopher team next year with another year of seasoning for the Gophs should they all decide to stay.

Would hate to see another "Rickert" type decision made by RW, RSIII or TM.
 

As already pointed out, height, age, and "character issues" will unfortunately hurt Trevor's draft stock
 

underground629 said:
As already pointed out, height, age, and "character issues" will unfortunately hurt Trevor's draft stock
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Just what are the "...age. and 'character issues'...." that, in your learned opinion, are relevant to this thread?
 

hes 21? not that old. Jamario moon was a rookie at 27. he's 6'8, obivously not an average NBA pf but he is taller than your average SF
 

Name me one NBA small forward who cannot hit a 12 foot jump shot? Also Trevor cannot dribble like a small forward. I'll wait to judge his defense until I watch him. He plays in the paint.
 

Trevor will be a terrific Big 10 player this year. I wouldn't be surprised if he leads the Big 10 in rebounding, and he'll get his share of garbage baskets, and keep big bodies on other teams from getting put backs. And to me, that's huge for this team, as it would be huge for any high-D1 college team, where guards rule the game, and big, athletic bodies are a premium.

That said, he's got to improve substantially to play at the all-athlete, all-the-time level of the NBA front court. There's only so much room in the NBA, and he doesn't have the explosive scoring potential or the shut-down defense to make the leap. At least not yet.
 

Go Gophs eh? said:
hes 21? not that old. Jamario moon was a rookie at 27. he's 6'8, obivously not an average NBA pf but he is taller than your average SF
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Age I don't know about. KG was 19 his rookie year in the NBA. Granted, TM is not projected as an all-pro lottery pick.

The heigth/skills reasoning makes sense. Frankly, I hope it has some validity and increases our chances of seeing him in Maroon and Gold for two years.

The "character issues" thing arrouses my sensibilities. I thought that that had been put to bed. There is nothing that TM can do to change some peoples preconcieved opinion or to garner respect for his humanity. I have to question the physcological health/motivation of those who cannot accept that he has no record of moral turpitude and, to my knowledge, has conducted himself in an exemplary manner in all of his dealings with his family, freinds, the school, and the public.
 

I'm sure you could figure them out, but I'll tell you anyway. I'm as big of a Trevor fan as anyone. I just follow the NBA very closely and I know what hurts players on draft night. Unless Trevor has huge numbers this year, these are the reasons why I don't think he'll go in the first round... Age - unless he's extremely young for his year, he'd be a pretty old first round player. Not that older players ever go in the first round, but if they do, it's usually because they had huge numbers offensively (likely for at least 2 years), or they have great size (and therefore GM's still see a lot of potential). Have you not noticed the trend of not drafting older players unless they're extremely proven?

Character issues - 3-4 high schools (I forget which), 3 colleges (looked at a 4th), and I think you know the last part... regardless of what really happened, don't act like it plays zero role. Trevor is already a top 3 favorite player of mine on the team this year. Honestly though, unless he averages over something like 15 and 8 this year (which would be hard considering he probably won't be logging over 30 minutes a game), do you really see him getting drafted any higher than very late first round? Hmm, talking about Trevor's draft position in a thread about his draft position... I'd say that's pretty relevant.

MN1nAZ said:
Just what are the "...age. and 'character issues'...." that, in your learned opinion, are relevant to this thread?
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I agree with whoever said this is way premature. The guy hasn't played a competitive game of basketball in how long? I mean, really competitive? 3 months from now, this conversation might make sense, or not. Right now he's no more of a 1st round draft pick than 1,000 guys.
 

MN1nAZ said:
Age I don't know about.
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Age could have a huge factor in getting drafted in the first or second round. Few "older" guys get drafted in the lottery. That trend can move to the later portion of the first round depending on the teams, needs, etc.

I highly doubt Trevor would get anywhere near the lottery no matter what he does this year, but he might get some interest in the 20's if he puts-up big numbers. The odds are better that he gets drafted in the second round due to age and size though.

I still think his best bet would be to stay in school two years and prove he can do it more than once. If he does that, I have no doubt he can get in the first round.

All just my opinion of course.
 

I think Mbakwe reminds me a little of DeShawn Simms formerly of Michigan. Both 6-8, built well, rebound at a high level and have limited range.
 

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