Who knows what he'll ever produce on the court but he seems to really be working hard on himself.
Nix
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It at least provides some hope. Says a lot about the kid. That's some transformation.
Sure is. Amazing, he has to be down like 200 LBs. Now Let's see if he can walk and chew gum at the same time. Despite that huge weight loss and physical transformation Id have to think he's still lead-legged.
Hard to get the image on the left out of one's mind. He couldn't have been acquiring much skill or competing meaningfully for all the years he was in that condition. He comes to Pitt as the very definition of a project.
We'll see, I understand the concern. He doesn't lack work ethic though.
He was over 400 pounds in the picture on the left. He is down around 300 now and has said he wants to play at 285. He played for Ontario Lett down in Florida when he was in the 330 or so range and got good reviews even then. Hopefully he can be an inside stud like Lett was.
Step 1 is he is at the point where he can run up and down in the ACC. Step 2 is actually having ACC basketball skill. We'll see.
BeeJay Anya is listed at 6'9 295.... he seemed to get the job done against us (averages 24 mins per game this season)
Nix has 2 inches on Anya.
the #'s don't speak to his skill set, but he can certainly handle going up and down the court in the ACC.
You're right about that. The amount of discipline, pain, sweat, suffering and effort it had to take for Nix to transform himself from the guy on the left to the guy on the right in that photo is almost incomprehensible. Worthy of a documentary. Wish I had a fraction of that level of mental discipline.
he has every reason to be very proud of himself.
Wondering if anyone on this board has a way of finding out what he weighs right now.
Huge difference. Anya was probably always overweight but he wasn't "fat" in HS. He was very mature and very skilled for his size. There's a reason he was ranked as high as 25-30 before falling off. He could really play. Then he got really fat but still has some skills he developed while he wasnt fat.
Nix has never had a chance to play bball at a reasonable weight so its unknown whether he can contibute......ever. He could be a lottery pick or never get off the bench.
Yeah that's an apples and oranges comparison. Anya is an overweight post man who was an elite player at the highest level of HS basketball. There was never a question about his skill level. And he never looked anything like the Nix on the left sode of that photo. That is a tragically, morbidly overweight human being right there. Regardless of whether he can contribute meaningfully at Pitt he may have just saved his own life by shedding all that bad weight. I mean he looks like a totally different man, unrecognizable. It really is impressive. He is obviously fighting genetics, so it will be a lifelong struggle for him, but if he can maintain the type of discipline it took to transform himself he'll be fine.
I still expect him to be slow as hell and with the vertical of an earthworm. Hopefully he surprises everyone-again.
Cant recall where I read it but someone said that they saw NIx play against a recruit that went to Clemson and more than held his own. Hes clearly a project but Id never question a kid who has the level of desire hes demonstrated. You cant coach height and the combo of his height and bulk increases his odds of adding an element that this team needs and lacks....inside physical presence. McGee was a pretty big project when he came (yes not as ,much as Nix) but he made huge strides in the first two years and become a force on the boards and defensively. If this team had a GM type of player they'd be significantly better.
"I still expect him to be slow as hell and with the vertical of an earthworm. Hopefully he surprises everyone-again."
LOL - Vertical of an Earthworm - Priceless! Tell u what he couldn't be any worse than Maia, ANO & Co that's for sure. A seven foot tackling dummy would be better than our collection of 5's played against the Ville and NC Hate.
I remember watching Nix in warm-ups before the Pitt blue-gold scrimmage this season. A couple times he tossed the ball off the backboard and then attempted to catch and dunk the rebound. Both times he clanked the ball off the back of the rim and the ball bounced out to around the foul line...
Not real encouraging, but hopefully he develops a good bit with the coaching/conditioning he's getting this season.
I heard Jamie say on his radio show that they have monthly weight-targets for Nix and that he's doing pretty well with them. Jamie also said that Nix is not going 100% yet as far as him running up and down the court - I thought Jamie said that they were being somewhat cautious with Nix because of a foot injury...
Go Pitt.
Not real encouraging, but hopefully he develops a good bit with the coaching/conditioning he's getting this season.
I heard Jamie say on his radio show that they have monthly weight-targets for Nix and that he's doing pretty well with them. Jamie also said that Nix is not going 100% yet as far as him running up and down the court - I thought Jamie said that they were being somewhat cautious with Nix because of a foot injury...
Go Pitt.
Its hard to believe that a program like PITT is relying on a guy like this to bail us out.
We should be able to do better!
Part of the problem is we always seem to be settling for player like jamming a square peg in round hole all the time.
So I guess we'll see soon maybe he'll be a superstar!
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I don't think I've heard or read anywhere that anyone is relying on Nix to bail us out. I would imagine the intention was to get him in shape and be a complementary piece - defend the rim, rebound, get some putbacks??
There aren't a ton of skilled 7 footers walking around. I agree it would be nice to land one but often times they're going to be somewhat of a project.
There aren't a ton of skilled 7 footers walking around. I agree it would be nice to land one but often times they're going to be somewhat of a project.
It was said that he had some adjustments to make to get used to the speed of the game at this level, but had some talent.
Nix is big, both vertically and in width. He takes up a lot of space. I watched maybe a dozen full game videos of him playing with his juco team. He was a consistent double-double guy. He is not a great leaper or shot blocker, although he does get some blocks just due to his length. He is a good rebounder and boxes out extremely well. He has some decent touch in the paint and on short hook shots. There's a video out there where he dunked at 400 lbs so yes, he has more vertical than an earthworm.
His effectiveness at this level will depend on how much quickness he can add by losing another 15-20 pounds and by working out against quicker players. It may also be determined by how much the officials let him play. He was tenacious in juco at putting his body on the opposing bigs and sealing off that side of the lane. That's pretty much contrary to the free movement concept the NCAA was tryjng to create.
He has a strong work ethic. He's not inherently quick or overly athletic but he will work to get better. I think his upside is sort of like Georgia Tech's wide bodies Mitchell and Jacobs. If the refs let him play his game, his size and strength can keep the opposing bigs from just turning and dunking on us, like Louisville and NC State did recenty. He'll get a few garbage buckets inside but isn't going to be a big scorer.
He's not a game changer at the ACC level but he could add length and bulk and attitude in the paint. At worst, he gives us 5 more fouls and 10-15 minutes inside. People have to be realistic about what he actually is and not expect something he isn't. He is a "true center" ( Everybody Drink!), the kind of big guy almost everybody has one or two of. He provides a different option to Young, Jeter or Manigault in the paint for the next two seasons. And, givn his progress the past two years, the finised product might be much different than it is now.
Agree with your post he'll be on the end of the bench. Jamie will have to send a messenger to get him!
So is if worth the effort and use of a schlorship rather than go get a healthy "project" or good prospect. That's my point!
He is a project.
We are targeting other bigsaside from manigualt.
Deep breaths, wait until next year to panic about next year.
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