Tyler Smith expected to forgo senior season

#26
#26
Yeah, but depending on how he matched up against him in pre-draft camps, Tyler could possibly move ahead of him. They are basically the same exact player, although Sam might have a better jump shot.
 
#27
#27
Shadowboxer said:
Yeah, but depending on how he matched up against him in pre-draft camps, Tyler could possibly move ahead of him. They are basically the same exact player, although Sam might have a better jump shot.
Click to expand...
Sam Young is 10 times more athletic than Tyler Smith. Tyler has exactly zero chance of going ahead of Young.
 
#28
#28
I wouldn't say that. Tyler was struggling with back pain all year long and that was something that was never put out in the public. If you look at the difference of Tyler his sophomore year and junior year in terms of athleticism, there's a huge difference.

He's gotten a lot of rest and treatment though, so should be ready for whatever comes his way next year.
 
#29
#29
Shadowboxer said:
I wouldn't say that. Tyler was struggling with back pain all year long and that was something that was never put out in the public. If you look at the difference of Tyler his sophomore year and junior year in terms of athleticism, there's a huge difference.

He's gotten a lot of rest and treatment though, so should be ready for whatever comes his way next year.
Click to expand...

I would have to agree with Hat on this one. I still think Young is the superior player and athlete.
 
#30
#30
Shadowboxer said:
I wouldn't say that. Tyler was struggling with back pain all year long and that was something that was never put out in the public. If you look at the difference of Tyler his sophomore year and junior year in terms of athleticism, there's a huge difference.

He's gotten a lot of rest and treatment though, so should be ready for whatever comes his way next year.
Click to expand...
At 100% healthy and rested, Tyler Smith still isn't in Young's league athletically.
 
#31
#31
hatvol96 said:
At 100% healthy and rested, Tyler Smith still isn't in Young's league athletically.
Click to expand...

and he failed to step up and be a leader this year. It was his job, and he failed. This team was enormously inconsistent, and it starts with pearl and his staff, with Smith next in line.
 
Last edited:
#32
#32
Shadowboxer said:
Tyler didn't get officially evaluated last year. Wayne did though.

So technically he can declare for the draft and remove himself as long as he doesn't hire an agent.
Click to expand...

I think I was actually thinking of Wayne Chism. I wasn't clear on the actual rule anyways, thanks.
 
#33
#33
It wasn't Tyler's fault that this team wouldn't respond to leadership. I attended probably close to 30 practices and he would do everything necessary to try to rub off on his teammates (i.e. run sprints during drills even when he wasn't supposed to, show up early and stay late after practice to get extra shots, and was a vocal leader).

For whatever reason this team wouldn't respond to that or Coach Pearl. Hopefully next year will be a different story, but with Wayne Chism as the leader, I doubt we will see any improvement till 2010.
 
#34
#34
Shadowboxer said:
It wasn't Tyler's fault that this team wouldn't respond to leadership. I attended probably close to 30 practices and he would do everything necessary to try to rub off on his teammates (i.e. run sprints during drills even when he wasn't supposed to, show up early and stay late after practice to get extra shots, and was a vocal leader).

For whatever reason this team wouldn't respond to that or Coach Pearl. Hopefully next year will be a different story, but with Wayne Chism as the leader, I doubt we will see any improvement till 2010.
Click to expand...

Smith's failings as a leader, in my opinion, occurred in clutch situations during games. He might have been a great leader on the practice floor, but multiple times this season, he was noticeably absent during big games.
 
#35
#35
I don't think Smith shoots well enough to be a NBA shooting guard or small forward. I'm not sure what his percentage was this year, but that's my impression. It's also my impression--haven't checked the numbers--that Young of Pitt is a better player and a more dependable scorer. Tyler plays hard, but he is a tweener in size and not sure he does anything exceptionally well--but I hope he proves me wrong. As for his leadership and the Vols in general this year, the team's biggest problem was weak guard play.
 
#44
#44
I think tyler will have a decent NBA career........ he reminds me very much of Trevor Ariza - high energy, explosive to the hoop, great defender, but a below average shooter
 
#45
#45
I really hope to see Tyler back for his senior season....mostly selfish reasons. I think we need him. But regardless, I really wish him best luck whatever he chooses. Classy young man.
 
#47
#47
I hope Tyler does what is best for Tyler.....If that's staying another year then stay...If it means going pro then go pro.....Personally, I didn't see much to say he will be a factor in the NBA....People talk about his jumpshot heck he wasn't hitting layups at the end of the year....Seemed to me he was one of the ones playing more for draft position than Tennessee this past season....
 
#50
#50
JZVOL said:
Really. If can't shoot after a year in prep, year at Iowa and two at UT you never will.
Click to expand...

That isn't true. There are lots of guys who got to the NBA and then learned to shoot. I'm not saying Tyler will end up as a long range assassin in the NBA, but he can improve his shot. His shooting form certainly isn't Ray Allen-esque, so I would definitely put a ceiling on how good of a shooter he can be. But I definitely think that it isn't too late for him to improve this aspect of his game.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top