Freshman Julian Phillips is a “Dream”

#29
#29
TheMookieMonster said:
Man, I just cannot wait for this basketball season. So much good stuff happening on Rocky Top right now. What an exciting time to be a fan.
Click to expand...

No kidding. Football finally looks to be back, basketball is as good as it’s ever been, baseball is as good as any program in America, and women’s basketball is a legit final 4 contender. All 4 are coached by people who want to be at Tennessee and consider it a dream job.

We really have a shot in the next few years to make a CWS, both Final 4s, and the CFB playoff in the same academic year. That would be incredible.
 
  • Like
Reactions: volinokc, DuckInAPen, HeadVol77 and 3 others
#30
#30
GregAmsler said:
No kidding. Football finally looks to be back, basketball is as good as it’s ever been, baseball is as good as any program in America, and women’s basketball is a legit final 4 contender. All 4 are coached by people who want to be at Tennessee and consider it a dream job.

We really have a shot in the next few years to make a CWS, both Final 4s, and the CFB playoff in the same academic year. That would be incredible.
Click to expand...
Golf is fantastic now, men’s tennis was 2nd in the nation, track and field, swimming and diving…..one heck of a year. Of course, football is the engine for all Tennessee sports, so hopefully our progression continues.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DuckInAPen, HeadVol77, tennrich1 and 1 other person
#32
#32
Listening to Barnes, the tea leaves seem to be reading .... JP making a run at a starting role?!?!? Sounding more like JJJ and JP at the 3 and 4.
However, ...."I know NOTHING, I know NOTHING!"
 
#34
#34
TheMookieMonster said:
Man, I just cannot wait for this basketball season. So much good stuff happening on Rocky Top right now. What an exciting time to be a fan.
Click to expand...

It is like this athletic department was wandering in the wilderness and it just broke out of the treeline and can feel the sun on its face for the first time in many years. Feels good.
 
#36
#36
Stoked said:
No because that means he's not the player he's hyped up to be.
Click to expand...

What has he been hyped up to be? Nobody is claiming this kid is a lock for the top 10 in the NBA draft or some sort of elite instant impact program changer. So I’m not exactly sure what your expectations are (or where they came from) but we should have all learned by now that not all 5 star recruits are created equal.

This idea that he might be here longer than one year has more to do with his mindset than his talent level. KC was hellbent on getting to the NBA as quickly as possible. Phillips isn’t like that so if he doesn’t have a first round promise from a team he will more than likely stay. He also has the chance to improve his draft stock by staying another year whereas KC was still going to be an undersized PG regardless of when he declared. Trying to claim that Phillips would be a disappointment if he came back for year 2 is just bad process and logic.
 
#37
#37
Vols8086 said:
What has he been hyped up to be? Nobody is claiming this kid is a lock for the top 10 in the NBA draft or some sort of elite instant impact program changer. So I’m not exactly sure what your expectations are (or where they came from) but we should have all learned by now that not all 5 star recruits are created equal.

This idea that he might be here longer than one year has more to do with his mindset than his talent level. KC was hellbent on getting to the NBA as quickly as possible. Phillips isn’t like that so if he doesn’t have a first round promise from a team he will more than likely stay. He also has the chance to improve his draft stock by staying another year whereas KC was still going to be an undersized PG regardless of when he declared. Trying to claim that Phillips would be a disappointment if he came back for year 2 is just bad process and logic.
Click to expand...
Some people have been tossing the idea around of him being a lottery picky after one year (unfairly), I think that’s likely what @Stoked was going off of.
 
  • Like
Reactions: VOLINVONORE and Stoked
#38
#38
Vols8086 said:
What has he been hyped up to be? Nobody is claiming this kid is a lock for the top 10 in the NBA draft or some sort of elite instant impact program changer. So I’m not exactly sure what your expectations are (or where they came from) but we should have all learned by now that not all 5 star recruits are created equal.

This idea that he might be here longer than one year has more to do with his mindset than his talent level. KC was hellbent on getting to the NBA as quickly as possible. Phillips isn’t like that so if he doesn’t have a first round promise from a team he will more than likely stay. He also has the chance to improve his draft stock by staying another year whereas KC was still going to be an undersized PG regardless of when he declared. Trying to claim that Phillips would be a disappointment if he came back for year 2 is just bad process and logic.
Click to expand...
He’s 1 and done.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Stoked
#39
#39
Vols8086 said:
What has he been hyped up to be? Nobody is claiming this kid is a lock for the top 10 in the NBA draft or some sort of elite instant impact program changer. So I’m not exactly sure what your expectations are (or where they came from) but we should have all learned by now that not all 5 star recruits are created equal.

This idea that he might be here longer than one year has more to do with his mindset than his talent level. KC was hellbent on getting to the NBA as quickly as possible. Phillips isn’t like that so if he doesn’t have a first round promise from a team he will more than likely stay. He also has the chance to improve his draft stock by staying another year whereas KC was still going to be an undersized PG regardless of when he declared. Trying to claim that Phillips would be a disappointment if he came back for year 2 is just bad process and logic.
Click to expand...
He was seriously thinking about skipping college and going to the G-League or Overtime Elite. His one goal is to play in the NBA.

Most mocks have him going in the 1st round and some in the lottery. His size will have teams salivating at his potential to be a 3 & D player in the league. He will be a better prospect than KC, Springer, and Keon who were all one and done.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MinisterofDef#92, Stoerner Fumbles and Franklin_Vol09
#40
#40
Stoked said:
He was seriously thinking about skipping college and going to the G-League or Overtime Elite. His one goal is to play in the NBA.

Most mocks have him going in the 1st round and some in the lottery. His size will have teams salivating at his potential to be a 3 & D player in the league. He will be a better prospect than KC, Springer, and Keon who were all one and done.
Click to expand...
Before getting here, everyone raved about his off ball potential. I’ve been surprised to hear that he handles the ball, and creates. That wasn’t in the early reports at all. I can’t imagine him staying past a year. If the early reports are to be believed, he’s the best NBA prospect of Springer, Keon or KC.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DuckInAPen, GenRRN, Stoked and 1 other person
#41
#41
Stoked said:
He was seriously thinking about skipping college and going to the G-League or Overtime Elite. His one goal is to play in the NBA.

Most mocks have him going in the 1st round and some in the lottery. His size will have teams salivating at his potential to be a 3 & D player in the league. He will be a better prospect than KC, Springer, and Keon who were all one and done.
Click to expand...

Most NBA mocks just mock kids based on their HS rankings with the foreign eligible kids sprinkled in. Also at this time in the year, both Springer and Keon were mocked higher than I’ve seen Phillips listed so far. So projecting him at this point as a better pro prospect based on his NBA draft projection doesn’t exactly add up for you.

Back to your original post and my original question to you that you’ve totally danced around: what is the hype? Just that he is one and done? And if he comes back it will be an indictment on a bad season? That’s just not true at all.
 
  • Like
Reactions: VOLINVONORE
#42
#42
Stoerner Fumbles said:
Before getting here, everyone raved about his off ball potential. I’ve been surprised to hear that he handles the ball, and creates. That wasn’t in the early reports at all. I can’t imagine him staying past a year. If the early reports are to be believed, he’s the best NBA prospect of Springer, Keon or KC.
Click to expand...

He is easily a better prospect than Springer and KC just on athleticism, length, and clear fit at the next level (3 and D wing).

Not sure about Keon. He is more polished offensively than Keon, but the NBA drafts on potential and ceiling. It’s hard to say Phillips has a higher ceiling than Keon at this stage.
 
#43
#43
Vols8086 said:
He is easily a better prospect than Springer and KC just on athleticism, length, and clear fit at the next level (3 and D wing).

Not sure about Keon. He is more polished offensively than Keon, but the NBA drafts on potential and ceiling. It’s hard to say Phillips has a higher ceiling than Keon at this stage.
Click to expand...

Keon is an amazing athlete. I think the staff sees Phillips as an easier early fit in the NBA, and lots of early mocks have him very high on the board. Potential is a variable in the draft, but not the only one that effects position. It’ll be interesting to see him play, and see where he goes.
 
#44
#44
Someone who has played with the guys this summer a bunch, frequents practices and talks with the coaches regularly told me Phillips reminds him a lot of KD. No, that’s not to say he is KD or will be a Top 5 pick, or 1st team All-American etc etc. just his game and how he goes about things. He’s a legit 6’9” and still growing, he’s slender but not weak, he won’t get pushed around and will go inside. He has the handle to play on the perimeter in more than just a catch and shoot role, will pull from well behind the line, but also a slasher too. His work ethic is among the best on the team and he’s not a loud guy, head down go to work type.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DuckInAPen, JelloPuddinPup, 67Vol and 8 others
#45
#45
bleedingTNorange said:
Someone who has played with the guys this summer a bunch, frequents practices and talks with the coaches regularly told me Phillips reminds him a lot of KD. No, that’s not to say he is KD or will be a Top 5 pick, or 1st team All-American etc etc. just his game and how he goes about things. He’s a legit 6’9” and still growing, he’s slender but not weak, he won’t get pushed around and will go inside. He has the handle to play on the perimeter in more than just a catch and shoot role, will pull from well behind the line, but also a slasher too. His work ethic is among the best on the team and he’s not a loud guy, head down go to work type.
Click to expand...
I alluded to this a couple of days ago. I’m hesitant to say he’s KD, of course, but he has a rare skill set, and apparently an evolved one beyond his HS role.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JelloPuddinPup and TC 83
#50
#50
bleedingTNorange said:
Someone who has played with the guys this summer a bunch, frequents practices and talks with the coaches regularly told me Phillips reminds him a lot of KD. No, that’s not to say he is KD or will be a Top 5 pick, or 1st team All-American etc etc. just his game and how he goes about things. He’s a legit 6’9” and still growing, he’s slender but not weak, he won’t get pushed around and will go inside. He has the handle to play on the perimeter in more than just a catch and shoot role, will pull from well behind the line, but also a slasher too. His work ethic is among the best on the team and he’s not a loud guy, head down go to work type.
Click to expand...
Love to hear it! Do you know if Phillips will start at the first of the year? Im assuming whether he starts or not, he will get close to starter minutes or am I wrong?
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top