Athletes

[rabbit_boy]

I read last year on draftexpress.com that average NBA player was 6'7 225 lbs and had a 34 in vert. Average NCAA player is 6'5 with a 30 in vert. Kai is 6'6 and I figure has a 36 in vert which puts him as an NBA type athlete. Do you think we have any other players that are in the NCAA range as average athletes? Beran? Berte? Cordova?

[bballfan54]

Re: Athletes

How right you are about his vertical

[JimmyJack]

Re: Athletes

How right you are about his vertical

Kai's vertical looked like about 60" on that play at home against NDSU where he took off at about the foul line, clunked an NDSU player in the head with his knee, and landed about at the end line. I happened to be standing on the floor when that happened. Wow.

[bballfan54]

Re: Athletes

You know it would be interesting to see if his vertical has gotten any bigger when he was training for the Canadian Jr National Team his trainer measured his vertical he could jump and touch from standing still 11ft 4 inches at that time but that was two years ago at least.

[Haldersham]

Re: Athletes

You know it would be interesting to see if his vertical has gotten any bigger when he was training for the Canadian Jr National Team his trainer measured his vertical he could jump and touch from standing still 11ft 4 inches at that time but that was two years ago at least.

I am so glad Kai chose SDSU over NDSU and others. He is not doubt going to be one of SDSU greats. Those summer seasons with team Canada can only make him develope more as an athlete. I sense he has a great family support system too. I think many of the fans have high hopes for him. I wonder too if the aggressive play and specifically the play involving 4 TO's did not help bring our guys out of a funk that most teams would experience given the results of this season. :

[jackmd]

Re: Athletes

If we could have had an upper classman with Kai's ability on this years teams many of these close games probably would have gone our way. Priority should be on building around Kai. I don't doubt his vertical has improved. Mine peaked about my Junior year of college (28 inches, not quite Kai material), point being he is probably yet to reach his prime.

I invision a Jacks team with a JUCO center (stretch I know), Beran/Berte/Loney/Cordova in the frontcourt, Kai as the featured swing man with Callahan maturing at the point and Cadwell as the shooting guard. Bassett and Engen have a lot of improving to do. I think Nagy is going to have to consider playing both Sargent and Moss as true freshman. That would give us a solid backcourt to build on. Maybe I'm crazy.

[JACKGUYII]

Re: Athletes

It will be interesting to see what happens with Sargent and Moss. I know in the past I have been a proponent of redshirting the incoming freshman, but if these two prove in practive to be good enough to contribute right away than let's get them ready for that all important 2008/2009 season when we are eligible for the Big Dance!

[jjbballfan]

Re: Athletes

I think it will depend on a number of factors if they are to be redshirted, first will be if they want to be red shirted. second will be the actual roster size, I believe you are allowed to play like 3 games and still redshirt? correct me if im wrong, but if they play those games and then they can judge weather or not they are ready to play as true freshman or if a redshirt would be best for them. The wing is probally the depest position on the jacks team so unless they are going to contribute I wouldn't be against redshirting them.

[1bunnies]

Re: Athletes

I think it will depend on a number of factors if they are to be redshirted, first will be if they want to be red shirted. second will be the actual roster size, I believe you are allowed to play like 3 games and still redshirt? correct me if im wrong, but if they play those games and then they can judge weather or not they are ready to play as true freshman or if a redshirt would be best for them. The wing is probally the depest position on the jacks team so unless they are going to contribute I wouldn't be against redshirting them.

I am not 100% sure, but I think in D1 if they play in a game, they cannot be redshirted. They are allowed to play in exhibition games. Nicole Helspar on the women's team only played in the exhibitions. Correct me if I am wrong.

[Jacks#1Fan]

Re: Athletes

If we could have had an upper classman with Kai's ability on this years teams many of these close games probably would have gone our way.  Priority should be on building around Kai.  I don't doubt his vertical has improved.  Mine peaked about my Junior year of college (28 inches, not quite Kai material), point being he is probably yet to reach his prime.

I invision a Jacks team with a JUCO center (stretch I know), Beran/Berte/Loney/Cordova in the frontcourt, Kai as the featured swing man with Callahan maturing at the point and Cadwell as the shooting guard.  Bassett and Engen have a lot of improving to do.  I think Nagy is going to have to consider playing both Sargent and Moss as true freshman.  That would give us a solid backcourt to build on.  Maybe I'm crazy.

One more report from being one of only seven SDSU fans to see the game in Fargo. I've got to tell you that Mark Engen played very good and showed me way more than anything seen earlier. He played Smith's tough, and at least twice denied him getting to the basket with a move, followed by a spin mood -- and Engen stayed with him and he had to pass the ball. He played 13 minutes, had three rebounds and was 2 for 2 from the field. We do have to remember that he was out for six weeks also. Bassett also played pretty good during his time in the game. That said, I will agree they both have a ways to go, but we might be suprised next year if they continue to improve between now and then.

[rabbit_boy]

Re: Athletes

Just adding to what is already posted, average NBA player has a 6'11 reach and can touch 11'6. Kai is right there in terms of athletic ability. We haven't had many that good.

[bballfan54]

Re: Athletes

I really do not notice how high he jumps ..but his Dad and brother noticed that he is jumping higher, next year I just know things will be different.....I want to see the 4,000 plus fans back in Frost Arena..........

[SUPERBUNNY]

Re: Athletes

I really do not notice how high he jumps ..but his Dad and brother noticed that he is jumping higher, next year I just know things will be different..... I want to see the 4,000 plus fans back in Frost Arena..........

Mrs. Williams,

I am very excited about next year and think things will be entirely different for a number of reasons.

SDSU has been a basketball school for years and the fans are itching to get better and compete in the Mid-Con and ultimately for a spot in the NCAA's. If nothing else, the fact that conference games are scheduled on better nights of the week will make a big difference.

With the nucleus of players here and those returning along with a few new faces, next year could be a major turnaround. We just need to avoid any suprises in the offseason and get these kids fired up again because this season has no doubt been tough.

Your son is going to have a great career here and he is really a nice young man. You should be very proud of him!

SUPERBUNNY

[filbert]

Re: Athletes

[quote author=bballfan54 link=1172435595/0#11 date=1172585367]I really do not notice how high he jumps ..but his Dad and brother noticed that he is jumping higher, next year I just know things will be different..... I want to see the 4,000 plus fans back in Frost Arena..........

Mrs. Williams,

I am very excited about next year and think things will be entirely different for a number of reasons.

SDSU has been a basketball school for years and the fans are itching to get better and compete in the Mid-Con and ultimately for a spot in the NCAA's. If nothing else, the fact that conference games are scheduled on better nights of the week will make a big difference.

With the nucleus of players here and those returning along with a few new faces, next year could be a major turnaround. We just need to avoid any suprises in the offseason and get these kids fired up again because this season has no doubt been tough.

Your son is going to have a great career here and he is really a nice young man. You should be very proud of him!

SUPERBUNNY[/quote]

I think it's worth emphasizing, especially to our young players like Kai who are coming to the end of a difficult and trying year. They haven't yet really seen the full expression of SDSU basketball fandom. Even the big, loud crowds at the USC and NDSU women's games only gave a taste of the latent fan energy that's out there, looking for a reason to emerge again.

I think the Jackrabbit Nation is ready to explode with pent-up men's basketball energy. It's been a long, hard road for everybody since the move to D-I. We're starting to get hungry. Very, very hungry.

Expectations and hopes of men's game attendances of 4,000 are too low. Double the number.

If our young players keep developing, keep working hard in the off-season, and keep the faith, their reward will be a Frost Arena that will be as loud and enthusiastic as any venue in college basketball. (Even without the cowbells, if and when the Mid-Con cracks down on us ).

The Rabbits will rise again!

[jackmd]

Re: Athletes

If our young players keep developing, keep working hard in the off-season, and keep the faith, their reward will be a Frost Arena that will be as loud and enthusiastic as any venue in college basketball.  (Even without the cowbells, if and when the Mid-Con cracks down on us   ).

The Rabbits will rise again!

Filbert is on the money here. Believe it or not, one of the reasons we returned to SD was to be closer to SDSU. With the Mid-Con affiliation, retention of players like Kai, and continued support from admin. SDSU will return to prominence in Men's basketball. I have no doubt about that. With that return you will see the fans come back. Let Kai and the other players know that the fans are here.