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Christian James plans to follow in Buddy Hield's footsteps
- Thread starter OUHoops
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He was the #1 rated shooting guard in Texas as a junior in HS. I'm not sure OU would have signed him if he hadn't had that awful injury the summer before his senior year. He signed with the Sooners partly because they stuck with him thru his recovery. He also turned his ankle in the middle of B12 play last spring and it slowed him down for 2-3 weeks. He's a big, strong kid with a lot of potential. I expect big things from him next season.
James is interesting in that he is a guard but has the physicality and athleticism to even play a small forward type as he's a plus rebounder even at 6-4.5. I think they even spot-played him at the 4 in the NCAAs last year. Will be interesting to see if Kruger utilizes that and posts him up on smaller guards on occasion. I don't have a true feel for his ball handling right now. Even though a small sample he shot 50% from 3. I believe even with an inevitable shooting slump that will come, he will be a good to very good outside shooter.
Zimwillett
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The similarities between the two are pretty obvious. So much so, that when James hit a 3 in one of the exhibition games, the announcer mistakenly did the Buudddyyyyy Hield thing.
However, I think James has some talents that set him apart from Buddy (not better, just different). In particular, I think James is bigger, stronger, and better around the rim/in traffic than Buddy was at the same point in his career. We'll see where it goes, but I'd love to see James continue to develop this unique part of his game.
However, I think James has some talents that set him apart from Buddy (not better, just different). In particular, I think James is bigger, stronger, and better around the rim/in traffic than Buddy was at the same point in his career. We'll see where it goes, but I'd love to see James continue to develop this unique part of his game.
tmeyer3307
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How athletic is James? I wouldn't say he's a great athlete right now by any means. He's not as quick or bouncy as Hield.
Zimwillett
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I think that's a fair observation so far, but James was just coming off a devastating leg injury last season, so I'm curious to see if he shows improved athleticism as a sophomore. Every recruiting profile described James as "athletic" so I think its reasonable to expect him to improve in that area once he fully trusts his recovery.
I sat with his dad at a practice before the Iowa State game last fall. His dad is a big man ~6' 2" he used to play for the Oakland Raiders. He now works in law enforcement in Houston. James has a very good vertical that is comparable to Buddy's.
furge
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It would take me a while to fully trust my dominant leg if the femur in it cracked nearly in half, too. Hell, I had turf toe in my off foot ten years ago and I STILL do not plant on it to jump. I imagine Christian will show some people this year with the mental and physical spheres of his recovery meshing.
It depends on the categories you consider athletic. In basketball, most of the time the context is jumping ability. And James has it. Last year before the season on twitter, Odomes, James, Buford, and McNease were basically putting on a show dunking it any way you wanted it. I remember James in particular jumping over somebody and dunking on a leg he considered about 80% healed. So if we're talking about vertical leaping ability you can check that off for James. Now I would say quickness and strength factor into athletic ability also, and you can definitely check the strength box off for James too. I guess we'll have to see if he can stay in front of people and break any ankles...
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