Hopson at the Combine

#1
TNHopeful505

TNHopeful505

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2009
Messages
11,454
Likes
20,608
#1
Experts on ESPN said that General Managers are now telling their coaches to be very cautious with Scotty. They said "When you see him in the gym, he will pass the eye test, and you'll fall in love with him. But go back and watch the tape." They blasted his inconsistency.

I mean, we all knew this, but even GM's are picking it up. I wish Scotty well, but I do not see him being a first rounder, and IF he makes it in the second, he should consider himself lucky.

All in all, he should have stayed another year.
 
#2
#2
If he had tried to come back to UT, he would have been academically ineligible. He quit going to class and started workouts to prepare for the draft as soon as UT was eliminated from the NCAA tournament.
 
#3
#3
Besides, next year's draft will be much deeper than this year's. If he can't get in the first round this year, he sure as Hell couldn't do it next year.
 
#4
#4
SGMVols said:
If he had tried to come back to UT, he would have been academically ineligible. He quit going to class and started workouts to prepare for the draft as soon as UT was eliminated from the NCAA tournament.
Click to expand...

I saw him in vol hall during finals so he was back for finals at least...
 
#7
#7
Hopson would have massively improved his stock if he stayed and worked hard with Martin. His choice is endemic of an entire group of lazy and spoiled McDonalds AA's who want to get paid like Lebron without 1. The ability or 2. The work ethic.
 
#8
#8
I agree with the work ethic, but the ability is there if he was willing to work hard to cultivate it.
 
#9
#9
Some of athletes are permitted to take part in the draft workouts and take online classes by the university. This allows for them to go the workouts wherever and then still get their classwork done. If they leave then it doesn't really matter, but if they don't they have been able to do the work while testing the waters.
 
#11
#11
Besides the mental aspect for Hop, his release is slow and he has to gather himself often. He'll have to learn to dribble at some point because I don't know that he can get his shot off from 15 and out with somebody on him. JMO. Not a hater. I hope he steps up in every way.
 
#12
#12
It's speculation to say he quit on his school work. We don't know that.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#14
#14
Getting his shot off is the least of my concerns with Hopson. He is tall, lengthy, and has a high release point not to mention elite elevation on his jump shot. Some people keep making the same inaccurate point that he wasn't enrolled or didn't attend classes this spring no matter how many times it is pointed out that there were several articles in the media saying he was keeping in contact with his professors and he was participating in class online.

I still say Hopson will have more success in the NBA vs the college game. His game is better suited for the NBA similar to Rondo but in differing facets.

Good luck and lets all hope that Scotty gets drafted and does well to reflect UT in a good light.
 
#15
#15
IPorange said:
It's speculation to say he quit on his school work. We don't know that.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
Click to expand...

He quit going to class, that's not speculation. If there were other ways to complete his school work (internet) we don't know.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#16
#16
EZE said:
Most likely will go undrafted IMO. Does not have an NBA-type game.
Click to expand...

How do you figure? He is great at slashing, has a reliable and pretty mid-range game, and is a threat from the 3pt line. With more spacing and illegal defense that should result in less TO's. He has elite athleticism, and is a good scorer. I don't see how his game isn't "NBA-type"

Please explain why you think this if you don't mind. I am not being a jerk, I just want to know what led you to this conclusion.

Thanks, and GO VOLS!!!
 
#18
#18
DaDuRkEr said:
How do you figure? He is great at slashing, has a reliable and pretty mid-range game, and is a threat from the 3pt line. With more spacing and illegal defense that should result in less TO's. He has elite athleticism, and is a good scorer. I don't see how his game isn't "NBA-type"

Please explain why you think this if you don't mind. I am not being a jerk, I just want to know what led you to this conclusion.

Thanks, and GO VOLS!!!
Click to expand...

I agree that he has NBA athletic ability. The only real question about Hopson, is he willing to put in the work to achieve consistently to his ability level.
 
#19
#19
BVF, I completely agree. Its all in how serious he approaches it. If he looks at it as a full time job, and treats his opportunity accordingly, the sky is the limit
 
#20
#20
supersmo18 said:
I wonder who did all his classwork up until finals then... :hmm:
Click to expand...

Hopson is a good kid and a good student with a good attitude. He doesn't have the killer instinct that would make him a great athlete, but he DOES have some character about him.

People get frustrated with his game, and take it out on him personally. He's handled his academics correctly, from what I've heard.

Frankly, I think some of his "underachieving" was due to the fact that he's a little TOO nice, and never really meshed with the Bruce in some ways.
 
#21
#21
BasketvolsFan said:
I agree that he has NBA athletic ability. The only real question about Hopson, is he willing to put in the work to achieve consistently to his ability level.
Click to expand...

Hopson is a hard worker. He's put in plenty of off-season work the past two years. Look at his shooting numbers from last year compared to this year. Heck, for that matter look at his form--he's completely changed his shot.

Last year it was one dribble and then trouble, and could only slash off the catch; this year he was able to slash off the bounce, and he could take experimental probing dribbles, change direction, etc. Granted he's still sloppy with the ball, but he's improved.

In fact, a couple of games Pearl let him bring the ball up the court towards the end when it was close just to guarantee he had the basketball in his hands (@ Vandy maybe? Don't recall which ones).

His body improved (muscle mass), his shot improved, his handle improved.

Hard work and determination OFF the court aren't his problems. His problem is energy level ON THE COURT, particularly when he makes a mistake.
 
#22
#22
StepCross said:
Hopson is a hard worker. He's put in plenty of off-season work the past two years. Look at his shooting numbers from last year compared to this year. Heck, for that matter look at his form--he's completely changed his shot.

Last year it was one dribble and then trouble, and could only slash off the catch; this year he was able to slash off the bounce, and he could take experimental probing dribbles, change direction, etc. Granted he's still sloppy with the ball, but he's improved.

In fact, a couple of games Pearl let him bring the ball up the court towards the end when it was close just to guarantee he had the basketball in his hands (@ Vandy maybe? Don't recall which ones).

His body improved (muscle mass), his shot improved, his handle improved.

Hard work and determination OFF the court aren't his problems. His problem is energy level ON THE COURT, particularly when he makes a mistake.
Click to expand...

No reason for a player with his ability to have problems handling the basketball. If he had worked hard on that aspect of his game, he should not be having the problems he has. I do agree that he is not mentally strong and just basically gives up if things aren't going his way. Lack of effort and lack of consistency is a major problem. However, the ability is there, if cultivated properly and with consistent effort and hard work. Playing hard is a reflection of how hard he is willing to work.
 
#23
#23
BasketvolsFan said:
No reason for a player with his ability to have problems handling the basketball.
Click to expand...

Eh, I dunno. Rumor is his coach played him at the post in high school because he was tall for his league and obviously athletic.

When he got here he was skinny and got pushed around; he's tall and lanky which made it hard for him to keep the ball away from short guys; and he's so athletic that he had used that as a crutch his whole life: basically one or two dribbles and then just go up and score. When no-one in HS can stop that plan, you have no reason to know it's not really a robust plan.

If you watch him dribble, he really has improved his handle a ton (and his strength). His main problem is trying to do too much--driving into traffic where little guys can hit the ball, or trying to be super-tricky and losing control, or getting in a hurry and going up before he has total control.

All those are mental mistakes, not offseason-work mistakes.

None of that makes it OK, I'm just saying it's understandable where the problem came from, and why it's not totally fixed yet.

The bad thing for him is that these tiny mental errors are going to affect his draft position. The good thing for him is that they're all fixable problems, so he CAN have success.
 
#24
#24
I heard Tony Jones was in attendance at the combine today, supporting Tobias and Scotty.
 
#25
#25
Tony Jones is likely a good man who mistakenly placed his coaching future in jeopardy due to his loyalty to an unethical, lying head coach.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top