Brady Manek has committed to OU

[CoachTalk]

Always fun to go back and read.

 

[StatGeek]

Lol, good read.

 

[red recluse]

great, great necro bump...

 

[SoonerTraveler]

What's not to like? He's a big guy who can put the ball on the floor and take it to the hole, can put a smaller defender on his butt in the post and score down low, and who can shoot it pretty freely from 3. He's got a quick release and drains it. He was dribbling past smaller defenders and dunking over them. How is Kruger lowering his standards? It's pretty obvious that he can really play. Specifically, what did you see that you didn't like?

The guy's a stretch 4 who gets rid of it quickly and drains it from 3 and will go right around any taller, slower defender and hit a floater in the lane. Guys who are 6'8" and can do all that don't just grow on trees. The guy's a ballplayer and there's not a doubt in my mind that Kruger will figure out how to use him.

Prophetic.

 

[vbdad]

He has grown for sure height and weight. He was so skinny when I saw him in high school. He has put on 15 pounds since he started summer school. No idea how much since he committed but it is a bunch. He is also taller. He is about an inch taller than Khadeem now. A legit 6'9".

Last night he shot it well but the most impressive thing was the two catches he made in traffic under the basket. He is going to have a great career. His career will be better by March than Tyler's was in four years.

 

[Darwin]

For those that have watched him in high school. If his man closes on him too much, can he drive to the rim effectively?

 

[skyvue]

I was especially impressed by the play shortly before halftime: He had to reach back and high to snag a nearly misfired pass and then, having secured the ball, he quickly drove to the basket for a reverse layup off the glass. It all happened in the blink of an eye.

 

[BoulderSooner]

For those that have watched him in high school. If his man closes on him too much, can he drive to the rim effectively?

yes

 

[OUHoops]

Manek...

https://twitter.com/ouhoops/status/930976989573468160

 

[skyvue]

Manek...

https://twitter.com/ouhoops/status/930976989573468160

That's the one I was posting about! Thanks OUH. Great play.

 

[NYC-Fool]

After watching the last 2 games — color me impressed. Who sees Gordon Hayward upside?

 

[oudna]

Way better than I was expecting.

Doolittle will have his hands full. Good problem to have

 

[AdaSooner]

Way better than I was expecting.

Doolittle will have his hands full. Good problem to have

Yes, he wii. But Doolittle brings us that physical toughness we need inside right now.

Manek has the toughness. He, Lattin and Muni are just too light in the britches to bang down low with bigger, stronger post players. Muni doesn’t even try. He has an unbelievably high ceiling. But if he doesn’t develop a mean streak and a more determined effort inside, he may never realize his potential.

 

[CoachTalk]

I'm going on record saying Manek is an NBA type kid. 6'10 can play the 3 in the NBA. Shoot it well enough.

 

[usedtobe1]

I'm going on record saying Manek is an NBA type kid. 6'10 can play the 3 in the NBA. Shoot it well enough.

You may be right coach. I'm anxious to see Brady and Doolittle on the court at the same time. I think Brady is a more natural 3 whereas Doolittle is more physical and can bang at the 4.

A rotation of Trae, James or McGusty, Manek, Doolittle, and with Lattin or McNeace would be pretty potent offensively.

 

[AdaSooner]

You may be right coach. I'm anxious to see Brady and Doolittle on the court at the same time. I think Brady is a more natural 3 whereas Doolittle is more physical and can bang at the 4.

A rotation of Trae, James or McGusty, Manek, Doolittle, and with Lattin or McNeace would be pretty potent offensively.

Usedtobe1, I agree with you about Manek and Doolittle. Their skill set should compliment each other perfectly at the three and four, on both ends of the floor.

I also like Trae and Shep on the floor at the same time, with McGusty playing the three. Lon went with those three when WSU closed the gap on Saturday. It gives us another good ball handler/decision maker/free throw shooter in Shep at crunch time.

 

[MercedeSooner]

Manek is a much better player at this level then I was expecting - here here for OU Preps B-ball.

 

[OU92Grad]

Coachtalk thank you for reviving this thread. Some of the comments crack me up. JacksonSS and WTS look silly with their comments about Manek. I guess they had an agenda or axe to grind. He sure looks Impressive and athletic enough to me! So glad LK knows talent and is the head coach.

 

[chuckb]

He is becoming better faster than I thought when I first saw him on video. I thought he'd play as a freshman but didn't think he'd start. And then Doolittle got suspended and I thought he'd get some regular minutes but still never thought he'd be as important as he already is.

I anticipated a small role as a freshman, growing into a regular role w 15-25 mpg as a junior or senior. He's so much better so much faster than I ever imagined. It pays to be conservative with our expectations, especially when watching HS kids on video, but this dude can really play at this level. I still like Doolittle better but that's more about how I feel about Doolittle than it is negativity toward Manek. They're both really good, and 1's a sophomore & the other's still just a freshman.

 

[chuckb]

Usedtobe1, I agree with you about Manek and Doolittle. Their skill set should compliment each other perfectly at the three and four, on both ends of the floor.

I also like Trae and Shep on the floor at the same time, with McGusty playing the three. Lon went with those three when WSU closed the gap on Saturday. It gives us another good ball handler/decision maker/free throw shooter in Shep at crunch time.

This could be a deadly lineup. It would all depend on whether or not Doolittle or Manek could guard the other team's 3 but, if they could find a way to make it work, that lineup would be so hard to defend.