Jeffress line

[Sean Miller Fan]

Armoni Foster would start for Pitt at the 1, have Burton at the 2 and Femi 3. Then you might have something here

OK.

PG - Foster
SG - Femi
SF - Burton
PF - Need a transfer
C - Hugley

6th/7th - Horton/Sibande

Pitt may not need to go far for its next PG. Put Route 43 to good use and maybe it finally will justify its cost. The California to TJ expressway has not exactly been a boon to the area unless TJ football is secretly stocking up on ballers from California and Brownsville.

I have been meaning to check out Cal's D1 arena. Maybe this gives me an excuse.

Correction: Foster is the IUP guy. Still seems like both can be gotten relatively easily. IUP guy at PG, Cal U guy at the 4. NCAAT here we come?

 

[DT_PITT]

Collier has made a few plays (just a few) plays this season that give you hope he could be something. Jeffress hasn't made 1 in much more PT.

I'm not sure what more he can be. (meaning I don't really know).

But he's come in and held his own at times, even if he doesn't produce. He's even been OK for his extended periods like at Louisville. But as a player who generally might receive 6-8 minutes, I just can't understand why he getting the attention he is getting from a few on this board.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

I'm not sure what more he can be. (meaning I don't really know).

But he's come in and held his own at times, even if he doesn't produce. He's even been OK for his extended periods like at Louisville. But as a player who generally might receive 6-8 minutes, I just can't understand why he getting the attention he is getting from a few on this board.

As a player ranked 150ish, you hope for more. You hope that he could be an "important" player on a bad team but he hasn't really contributed in 2 years. That said, he does do some things that make you think that maybe he could be something some day.

 

[DT_PITT]

As a player ranked 150ish, you hope for more. You hope that he could be an "important" player on a bad team but he hasn't really contributed in 2 years. That said, he does do some things that make you think that maybe he could be something some day.

I don't disagree with any of this but my point is it's OK to have role players on your team, even if that's what they do for four years. And if they can fill their role acceptably for 6-8 minutes a game, I'd rather we appreciate them rather than lament them.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

I don't disagree with any of this but my point is it's OK to have role players on your team, even if that's what they do for four years. And if they can fill their role acceptably for 6-8 minutes a game, I'd rather we appreciate them rather than lament them.

Well, as a fan of a struggling program, its difficult to appreciate role players who came in as highly rated recruits. I mean Collier wasnt super highly rated but high enough that gave you hope that he could be an important 4 year contributor, maybe 3 year starter, maybe a solid ACC starter by year 3-4 but he doesn't have that look.

The same goez for Jeffress. Had he come in as an unranked player like Santos, we're not really complaining because there were no expectations. But when he comes in as a Top 75 that you beat several National Champs for him and he ends up looking like an NEC recruit, its really frustrating for fans of this struggling program. Notice nobody is knocking Santos.

 

[Fsgolfdr]

Well, as a fan of a struggling program, its difficult to appreciate role players who came in as highly rated recruits. I mean Collier wasnt super highly rated but high enough that gave you hope that he could be an important 4 year contributor, maybe 3 year starter, maybe a solid ACC starter by year 3-4 but he doesn't have that look.

The same goez for Jeffress. Had he come in as an unranked player like Santos, we're not really complaining because there were no expectations. But when he comes in as a Top 75 that you beat several National Champs for him and he ends up looking like an NEC recruit, its really frustrating for fans of this struggling program. Notice nobody is knocking Santos.

It’s important to remember these kids don’t rate themselves , blame the rating services not the kid unless he’s dogging it . For the record the kids giving it all he has .

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

He sets great screens and can finish from 1 foot

He has made some nice cuts to the hoop. He is starting to give much more now in his role than he did earlier. What is concerning is Jeffress doesn't seem like he is getting comfortable in any role so far.

 

[PittPharm2002]

Collier helps with pick and roll
He has good footwork but is too light in the ass to hold position .
He’s a pf playing center .

he’s a decent depth piece .

jeffress plays decent defense and rebounds well out of his space .
He needs to work on dribble drives.
He’s not a spot up shooter and frankly shouldn’t shoot from 3 .

 

[4Mark_Marty]

He has made some nice cuts to the hoop. He is starting to give much more now in his role than he did earlier. What is concerning is Jeffress doesn't seem like he is getting comfortable in any role so far.

I think jeffress is just a huge miss. God bless him

 

[BballinsiderfromPitt]

I think jeffress is just a huge miss. God bless him

The sad part is he didn’t have to be. They could’ve let him stay the course in HS, play an AAU season where he actually PLAYED instead of sitting behind Earl Timberlake and actually develop some guard skills instead of forcing him to go to school early having never played good competition int he perimeter.

But for Pitt, it was the correct play. I don’t believe that Baylor or Virginia were committable as a 17 year old. Would they have taken him in the next class? Maybe. Although that was the first of many effed up classes because of Covid. But at the time it seemed like the smart play for Pitt to take him as he could’ve blown up in the next year. It’s more of a miss on the evaluators who saw him, didn’t see a good jump shot, elite skills or athleticism and still ranked him high just because he’s young. The crazy part is he was top 5 in the country as a freshmen.

 

[4Mark_Marty]

The sad part is he didn’t have to be. They could’ve let him stay the course in HS, play an AAU season where he actually PLAYED instead of sitting behind Earl Timberlake and actually develop some guard skills instead of forcing him to go to school early having never played good competition int he perimeter.

But for Pitt, it was the correct play. I don’t believe that Baylor or Virginia were committable as a 17 year old. Would they have taken him in the next class? Maybe. Although that was the first of many effed up classes because of Covid. But at the time it seemed like the smart play for Pitt to take him as he could’ve blown up in the next year. It’s more of a miss on the evaluators who saw him, didn’t see a good jump shot, elite skills or athleticism and still ranked him high just because he’s young. The crazy part is he was top 5 in the country as a freshmen.

He’s just not an athlete. He can jump, but he has no quickness, balance or hands. His shot is broken.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

The sad part is he didn’t have to be. They could’ve let him stay the course in HS, play an AAU season where he actually PLAYED instead of sitting behind Earl Timberlake and actually develop some guard skills instead of forcing him to go to school early having never played good competition int he perimeter.

But for Pitt, it was the correct play. I don’t believe that Baylor or Virginia were committable as a 17 year old. Would they have taken him in the next class? Maybe. Although that was the first of many effed up classes because of Covid. But at the time it seemed like the smart play for Pitt to take him as he could’ve blown up in the next year. It’s more of a miss on the evaluators who saw him, didn’t see a good jump shot, elite skills or athleticism and still ranked him high just because he’s young. The crazy part is he was top 5 in the country as a freshmen.

And I saw a Top 20 Sophomore class with him in it. Plus he played for Team USA. I mean he may go down as one of the worst evaluations of all time. To go from Top 20 as a sophomore in HS to potentially an 8 PPG in the NEC as a senior would be remarkable

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Collier helps with pick and roll

On defense? Good lord, he plays the pick and roll on defense ridiculously poorly. Sometimes he looks as if he's never seen the pick and roll before. He gets stuck half way between the guy with the ball and the roll guy, meaning that he isn't actually guarding anyone, more than anyone I've ever seen.

He plays the pick and roll much, much worse than Hugley does.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

He’s just not an athlete. He can jump, but he has no quickness, balance or hands. His shot is broken.

But I remember one play....it was when he was truly a 1st year FR, early in the season, against Northwestern where he was fed a pass as he was cutting down the lane and just through down an emphatic, almost chin up dunk. It showed hops, quickness, agility and aggression. And as quickly as they came, it went. I don't understand why.

 

[DT_PITT]

But I remember one play....it was when he was truly a 1st year FR, early in the season, against Northwestern where he was fed a pass as he was cutting down the lane and just through down an emphatic, almost chin up dunk. It showed hops, quickness, agility and aggression. And as quickly as they came, it went. I don't understand why.

Confidence.

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

I hope Jeffress and Collier each average 45 minutes a game next year.

So do I because if they do, it will be at iup and not Pitt.

 

[pittjas]

Confidence.

Needs to leave at the end of the year because he’s just not developing here. Mix of expectations being too high for him and probably being thrown into roles he’s not ready for because of the lack of talent Capel’s brought in.

I think his ceiling is a lot lower than we all thought and I think he needs to restart somewhere else for his own good.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Needs to leave at the end of the year because he’s just not developing here. Mix of expectations being too high for him and probably being thrown into roles he’s not ready for because of the lack of talent Capel’s brought in.

I think his ceiling is a lot lower than we all thought and I think he needs to restart somewhere else for his own good.

He shot 23% from the field last year and 30% this year. Is that a school record?

 

[4Mark_Marty]

But I remember one play....it was when he was truly a 1st year FR, early in the season, against Northwestern where he was fed a pass as he was cutting down the lane and just through down an emphatic, almost chin up dunk. It showed hops, quickness, agility and aggression. And as quickly as they came, it went. I don't understand why.

I remember it. It did show hops and aggression. He was wide open.

 

[PittPharm2002]

On defense? Good lord, he plays the pick and roll on defense ridiculously poorly. Sometimes he looks as if he's never seen the pick and roll before. He gets stuck half way between the guy with the ball and the roll guy, meaning that he isn't actually guarding anyone, more than anyone I've ever seen.

He plays the pick and roll much, much worse than Hugley does.

Meant on offense , sorry

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

Confidence.

Unfortunately, that is a bigger deal than what people make it out to be. Because sometimes guys never get it. I think all of us can attest to this.

 

[Saboteur II]

Well, as a fan of a struggling program, its difficult to appreciate role players who came in as highly rated recruits. I mean Collier wasnt super highly rated but high enough that gave you hope that he could be an important 4 year contributor, maybe 3 year starter, maybe a solid ACC starter by year 3-4 but he doesn't have that look.

The same goez for Jeffress. Had he come in as an unranked player like Santos, we're not really complaining because there were no expectations. But when he comes in as a Top 75 that you beat several National Champs for him and he ends up looking like an NEC recruit, its really frustrating for fans of this struggling program. Notice nobody is knocking Santos.

Jeffress didn’t stuff the ballot box and over rate himself.

 

[Fsgolfdr]

I want to see the kid stick around , work hard in the gym and on his shot and prove all you talent scouts wrong !

 

[gary2]

I want to see the kid stick around , work hard in the gym and on his shot and prove all you talent scouts wrong !

Dusty Springfield

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Jeffress didn’t stuff the ballot box and over rate himself.

Yea Im sure he's a great kid and hard worker. He'll probably be a doctor or engineer and make a ton of money. Its just that from a fan's perspective, we expected much more....a potential star or at least solid ACC starter. Its not his fault everyone overrated him but it is what it is.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

Yea Im sure he's a great kid and hard worker. He'll probably be a doctor or engineer and make a ton of money. Its just that from a fan's perspective, we expected much more....a potential star or at least solid ACC starter. Its not his fault everyone overrated him but it is what it is.

And it can work out too for Jeffress. Few recruits were more overrated than Pat Bostick. But Pat is one of the best "Pitt Men" out there even though his career was not close to what was projected. More to life than just playing sports, sometimes you can do good with the program other ways.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

And it can work out too for Jeffress. Few recruits were more overrated than Pat Bostick. But Pat is one of the best "Pitt Men" out there even though his career was not close to what was projected. More to life than just playing sports, sometimes you can do good with the program other ways.

Yea, Bostick, though a different sport, is about as good a comparison as there is. I was so pumped about Bostick coming in. Semi-local like Jeffress. Beat the blue bloods for him but then when you watched him play even though he was young, he just didn't show any signs of being a top-level player.

 

[TIGER-PAUL]

They seem better right now without him.

 

[JD1976]

No one is assassinating Will’s character here. It’s obvious he is a great team player and a great kid. But in today’s college basketball being young isn’t an excuse. Either you have it or you don’t. He clearly is a limited offensive player. We all just need to reset our expectations for him moving forward and hope he can become our Levon Kendall as a junior and senior.