Austin Nichols official visit rumors...

#127
#127
DaDuRkEr said:
BTNO, one could have said exactly the same thing about Renaldo Woolridge. I am hopeful Davis is a good player for us, but still have a bitter taste in my mouth as far as Woolridge's progression. As a person I really liked him, but he never really had the skill set to match the size he grew into.
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Really, the biggest difference was that Swiper honestly wanted to play the perimeter game. He didn't start really looking at post moves until his junior year in college. Orlando really wasn't a "back to the basket" type of forward anyway and slashed the baseline a lot and dunked A LOT so its not like Swiper was going to learn and develop a lot of post game moves from his father. Swiper was always more perimeter oriented. I do understand he played the post in HS, but he floated a lot on offense.

Davis on the other hand is intentionally working on his post presence and knows that's where he'll project in college. Antonio was a true forward and was known for his hustle and tenacity. In essence, AJ is in good hands in learning how to play the post from his father. Antonio's old school style and demeanor is just what Cuonzo is looking for. I understand the comparison, but at this moment with AJ looking to intentionally develop a post game, they are on two different paths.
 
#128
#128
bleedingTNorange said:
This is a fun topic to think about and discuss, atleast IMO.

Stokes, Hubbs and Nichols most would consider NBA guys. As you mention there's always the chance of bust, but for arguments sake, if you look through recent classes most guys rated top 20 make the league...so that gives us 3.

McRae, Golden, and Maymon are the question marks on the team. Jordan we all know has the ability, and the frame, it's just a matter of does he put it together. Golden has a chance if he continues to progress as a PG, and I fully expect him to. Maymon is the one who's going to have trouble, simply because of his measurables, and now probably questions will arise about his knees. He undoubtedly will make a summer team and get a chance to make a roster, with his work ethic you never know.

IMO atleast one of those 3 guys makes the league, I really don't know which one I'd pick...obvious choice is probably McRae but that's assuming he gets his act straightened out, will be fun to watch.

Here's another twist, I think there's a pretty decent chance AJ Davis could be in the league...I know, 3* right??? He just recently sprouted to 6'9"...so this is a guy with a guards skill set, who's just now learning to play the post because of his recent growth spurt. With his dad being a NBA all star post, not a bad guy to get some advice from...if he can continue to improve his post game, coupled with his good perimeter shot and handles, and he could definitely be a force. This is a guy who I think by sophomore year will see major minutes, and could end up being a starter his 2nd year here depending on his position depth.
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5*s don't automatically become NBA guys. I think Hubbs is the only one that's 100% and will be a starter somewhere. Nichols is probably close to 100% but I think he'll be more of a role player in the league. I think Stokes gets drafted early but he's going to struggle unless he develops a mid range shot. I mean he's got an NBA body style but he's a little short for a 4. He can do it.....Barkley did but he's (Stokes) not a natural. The other guys all have a shot IMO but it's just sort of where they catch on. Some guys that you think would never make it catch on with a team and last for years there.
 
#129
#129
bwings said:
5*s don't automatically become NBA guys. I think Hubbs is the only one that's 100% and will be a starter somewhere. Nichols is probably close to 100% but I think he'll be more of a role player in the league. I think Stokes gets drafted early but he's going to struggle unless he develops a mid range shot. I mean he's got an NBA body style but he's a little short for a 4. He can do it.....Barkley did but he's (Stokes) not a natural. The other guys all have a shot IMO but it's just sort of where they catch on. Some guys that you think would never make it catch on with a team and last for years there.
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Correct they're not automatic, but ad I said most top 20 guys do make it into the league.
 
#130
#130
On Saturday afternoon, the pregame pandemonium stirring around Neyland Stadium in anticipation of Tennessee's football game with Alabama was in its early stages. Inside Pratt Pavilion, meanwhile, Austin Nichols was sitting in on an intense, inspirited basketball practice.

Cuonzo Martin was Cuonzo Martin. He paced. Gnawed on a whistle. Directed traffic. Clapped. Scowled.

It was business as usual.

On the sidelines, Nichols, Martin's top target for a lone remaining scholarship next season, watched on with his family.

Prior to the official visit, Mark Nichols, Austin's father, told the News Sentinel, "I don't know if (UT) would be a good fit for him, you know because Tennessee has a grind-out style type of play and I think a more open offense would be more conducive to Austin now."

A weekend sales pitch was aimed at this notion.

The UT staff put together a video production mapping out how Nichols' game correlates to Martin's motion offense. The Vols think they're a match.

But it doesn't matter what the Vols think.

In the end, the 6-foot-9 power forward ranked as the No. 26 prospect in the Class of 2013 by 247Sports, will choose between the Vols, Memphis, Vanderbilt, Duke, Virginia and Auburn.

Martin and the Vols pulled out all the stops to assure his favor.

"It was a great visit, man," Mark Nichols said. "Tennessee did a great job. The basketball staff just did a wonderful job. It was awesome."

During his 48-hour visit to Knoxville, Nichols attended football coach Derek Dooley's pregame locker room speech before kickoff against No. 1 Alabama. He was in the tunnel when the Vols ran through the "T." He toured the athletic department's deluxe facilities. He watched Martin conduct two days of practices.

"They didn't miss any opportunities to impress us," Mark Nichols said.

Then came a handshake with the Vols' most famous alum.

On the way from Saturday's basketball practice at Pratt Pavilion to the UT locker room in Thompson-Boling Arena, Nichols recognized a familiar face. Outside the arena, Peyton Manning was tailgating with teammates from UT's 1997 SEC championship team.

Nichols took advantage of the opportunity, but missed a crucial task.

Awash in shock, he forgot to snap a picture with the legend.

"He was just shocked that that was Peyton Manning," Mark Nichols said.

A memorable handshake would have to suffice.

More important than any encounter with UT royalty, though, was the Vols' Xs and Os proposal.

A blossoming all-around game makes Austin Nichols an ideal inside-outside power forward at the college level. And he's getting better.

No current player on the UT roster offers a similar skill set.

That's where the videos came in.

"We got a little insight and he'd probably be OK (at UT), but I still don't really know," Mark Nichols said. "It just depends — depends on where he plays and how good he is. And a lot of it depends on Austin."

Mark Nichols added that he came away impressed by the UT practices.

"I thought it was good," he said. "Cuonzo tells them what to do and they do it. He's not into the cussing or any of that."

After visiting Auburn next week, Austin Nichols will announce his future home in early November.

Brendan F. Quinn covers Tennessee men's basketball. Follow him at Twitter.com/BFQuinn
 
#136
#136
When's this friggin kid suppose to announce? The suspense in this thread is at a ridiculous level.
 
#144
#144
Sounds like our red carpet treatment is top notched. What are the chances of running into Peyton? Hahahahah.
 
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#146
#146
bleedingTNorange said:
Anyone?

Scout.com: Nichols takes UT trip, has one left
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Nichols enjoyed his visit to UT Was given the full tour. Was in the locker room pregame, got to meet peyton ect.

Will take last visit to Aurburn then he will wrap it up

Doesn't have an exact date set. Might do it a week after the Auburn Visit.

After he decides family will give him 72 hours to pray about it and sleep on it because its a life long decision..
 
#147
#147
Jonsson said:
After he decides family will give him 72 hours to pray about it and sleep on it because its a life long decision..
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And that's why when people were saying it's likely he'd announce this weekend, or if he didn't it was bad for UT, I was trying to tell them BS...

His family WILL NOT let him make an emotional decision, say he was full on UT after he met Peyton, and wanted to inform the staff he was committing, his family wouldn't allow him to do that.

They want to make sure he's 100% and has thought about it and slept on his decision for a few nights, this isn't a kid that'll be transferring schools.
 
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#148
#148
bleedingTNorange said:
And that's why when people were saying it's likely he'd announce this weekend, or if he didn't it was bad for UT, I was trying to tell them BS...

His family WILL NOT let him make an emotional decision, say he was full on UT after he met Peyton, and wanted to inform the staff he was committing, his family wouldn't allow him to do that.

They want to make sure he's 100% and has thought about it and slept on his decision for a few nights, this isn't a kid that'll be transferring schools.
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It sounds like his family is really handling this the right way. They're letting him make his own decision, but making sure he's well informed and spends a lot of time thinking it over.
 
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#149
#149
bleedingTNorange said:
And that's why when people were saying it's likely he'd announce this weekend, or if he didn't it was bad for UT, I was trying to tell them BS...

His family WILL NOT let him make an emotional decision, say he was full on UT after he met Peyton, and wanted to inform the staff he was committing, his family wouldn't allow him to do that.

They want to make sure he's 100% and has thought about it and slept on his decision for a few nights, this isn't a kid that'll be transferring schools.
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I don't remember anyone saying it was bad for UT if he didn't announce this weekend, as he may still do so.

But people were reporting that he was a lock to UT 2 weeks ago. If his mind was already made up, and the visit went as well as you guys think, he would've committed while here.

It just means that things may be more open than reported.
 
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