kamoshika
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- Jun 20, 2008
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...I only posted this one video, but there are several more out there, and the most common theme I found was Springer’s ability to finish through contact at the rim. That’s an area where his size is absolutely an advantage. He’s quick enough to get his man on his hip and strong enough to absorb the blow and hit the shot. He’s also athletic enough to hang in the air, wait for the defender to clear and release. He’s right-handed, but looks comfortable changing direction and attacking left, especially once he gets near the free-throw line. You don’t see much of his jump shot in the videos, but it looks like he’s got good lift and balance on his jumper. I think scoring inside the arc will come naturally, but how well his 3-point shot develops will be critical to how consistently he can make an impact offensively at Tennessee.
...I think what impressed me most is how Johnson flies in the open floor. If he gets the rebound, he’s going to glide down court for a layup on the other end. While he looks a bit lanky, or spindly maybe, in highlights, he uses his looooong arms and good hands to his advantage on defense. Really — the potential for both these guys defensively is just through the roof.
What Tennessee is getting in five-star guards Keon Johnson and Jaden Springer
...There’s not one specific skill I can pick out after watching Walker’s videos. The kid does everything. He handles the ball, he scores, he rebounds, he plays defense. He shoots from the outside, and he shoots from the inside. He scores off the dribble or off the catch. At the two-minute mark, he brings up the ball against the full-court pressure of a smaller, quicker opponent and finishes at the opposite end of the court with a layup. I usually don’t do player comparisons just because I don’t really like to pigeon-hole myself into it. But, I’m gonna make an exception in this case because when I first heard of Walker’s commitment many months ago, I came to the same conclusion I’m coming to now: he reminds me of former Vol Tyler Smith.
...EJ played his first three seasons at Sacred Heart and will have one season of eligibility left at Tennessee. Just a note — his minutes, scoring and rebounded increased incrementally in each of his first three seasons of college basketball. He’s also in the 6-foot-7 neighborhood, but at 245 you can watch his tape and see the advantage he’s got inside. He’s just a bully in the paint. He averaged nearly 16 points and 12 rebounds last year at Sacred Heart and looks like he’ll bring a dimension of toughness to the Vols that didn’t much exist last season beyond John Fulkerson. As impressive as Springer, Johnson, Walker (and Wideman) are, I think Anosike is poised to have the biggest impact next season for the Vols.
What Tennessee is getting in Corey Walker, Malachi Wideman and EJ Anosike
Given ample playing time, there’s enough statistical evidence to be excited for Bailey’s potential offensive contributions to next year’s team. He can score and hit open 3s, and Tennessee’s offense was lacking both of those traits last season. The Vols’ offense dipped to just 67 points per game in 2019, hit just 6 3s per game and ranked 271st in the country in 3-point field goal percentage. Plenty of room for improvement.
...I expect Springer, Johnson and Walker to all make impacts, but a proven 40 percent, volume 3-point shooter should be invaluable to this team. I don’t know how it will work out, but if Bailey is ready to play, on both ends of the court, he might just be the most important new face on the team outside of EJ Anosike.
What will Victor Bailey Jr. bring to Tennessee?
...I think what impressed me most is how Johnson flies in the open floor. If he gets the rebound, he’s going to glide down court for a layup on the other end. While he looks a bit lanky, or spindly maybe, in highlights, he uses his looooong arms and good hands to his advantage on defense. Really — the potential for both these guys defensively is just through the roof.
What Tennessee is getting in five-star guards Keon Johnson and Jaden Springer
...There’s not one specific skill I can pick out after watching Walker’s videos. The kid does everything. He handles the ball, he scores, he rebounds, he plays defense. He shoots from the outside, and he shoots from the inside. He scores off the dribble or off the catch. At the two-minute mark, he brings up the ball against the full-court pressure of a smaller, quicker opponent and finishes at the opposite end of the court with a layup. I usually don’t do player comparisons just because I don’t really like to pigeon-hole myself into it. But, I’m gonna make an exception in this case because when I first heard of Walker’s commitment many months ago, I came to the same conclusion I’m coming to now: he reminds me of former Vol Tyler Smith.
...EJ played his first three seasons at Sacred Heart and will have one season of eligibility left at Tennessee. Just a note — his minutes, scoring and rebounded increased incrementally in each of his first three seasons of college basketball. He’s also in the 6-foot-7 neighborhood, but at 245 you can watch his tape and see the advantage he’s got inside. He’s just a bully in the paint. He averaged nearly 16 points and 12 rebounds last year at Sacred Heart and looks like he’ll bring a dimension of toughness to the Vols that didn’t much exist last season beyond John Fulkerson. As impressive as Springer, Johnson, Walker (and Wideman) are, I think Anosike is poised to have the biggest impact next season for the Vols.
What Tennessee is getting in Corey Walker, Malachi Wideman and EJ Anosike
Given ample playing time, there’s enough statistical evidence to be excited for Bailey’s potential offensive contributions to next year’s team. He can score and hit open 3s, and Tennessee’s offense was lacking both of those traits last season. The Vols’ offense dipped to just 67 points per game in 2019, hit just 6 3s per game and ranked 271st in the country in 3-point field goal percentage. Plenty of room for improvement.
...I expect Springer, Johnson and Walker to all make impacts, but a proven 40 percent, volume 3-point shooter should be invaluable to this team. I don’t know how it will work out, but if Bailey is ready to play, on both ends of the court, he might just be the most important new face on the team outside of EJ Anosike.
What will Victor Bailey Jr. bring to Tennessee?
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