Jelon Hornbeak & other notes

[Sam]

I've picked up a habit of focusing on a sole player when he's on the court and I've spent a few practices focused on Hornbeak. I really like what I've seen, he's a cerebral guard that rarely looks rattled with the ball or out of place on defense. He can score from all three levels on offense, is a smart decision maker and a sound defender.

I like the potential of the "top 6" (Grooms, Pledger, Clark, Fitzgerald, Osby and M'Baye) and I think one of the keys to this season will be molding the talent around them. Hield has the look of an impressive scorer who can score in flurries and Cousins has a good flair for playmaking but Hornbeak looks more complete, polished, and in control.

This is just my personal preference, but if I'm trying to interject a freshman into a line up of experienced guys I'd rather it be a player like Hornbeak. He comes across as a player that can be trusted to limit mistakes, while also making plays. That you don't have to worry about brain farts on the defensive end. I don't suspect there will be many times that he'll be overwhelmed this year.

A few other tidbits

- I like Pledger for leading scorer this year. Similar to Hornbeak, I've been spending a lot of time watching Pledger, especially off the ball on offense. He's a smart player that understands angle and is savvy in how to set up his defender. With more talent around him he should be more efficient on the offensive end.

- D.J. Bennett has a good amount of talent, an impressive combination of length and athleticism. He's raw, but if he can pick up the defensive system he should have an impact as a shot blocker and defensive rebounder.

- I suspect M'Baye will see some minutes at the "three". It won't be a permanent thing but a lineup of him, Osby and Fitzgerald will present some problems and I don't think a lot of teams will be able to match up with them.

- Overall, this team is noticeably deeper and more talented than any other Sooner team in recent years. It's going to be an interesting to see how Kruger molds it together.

 

[WTSooner]

I suggested after Cousins signed that Hornbeak still might have the upper-hand at the backup point guard spot. Like you said, Cousins is probably more dynamic, but Hornbeak is more college-ready, I think. He'll be less turnover prone, and that is what we need from the pg spot right now, not somebody that is going to create more, but turn it over. We have some good scorers, we need our pg's to distribute. And right now, Hornbeak is more polished in that area than Cousins.

 

[BigTime]

Thanks Sam.

Im looking forward to watching the scrimmage on Saturday!

 

[KBaden145]

Thanks, Sam. I'm getting the same feeling about Hornbeak. Trust is so important for coaches to have in playing freshmen. I've got Hield and Hornbeak in the rotation with Cousins just outside the first 2 units. Defense and versatility are what is going to get these freshmen off the bench and into games.

 

[Sam]

I suggested after Cousins signed that Hornbeak still might have the upper-hand at the backup point guard spot. Like you said, Cousins is probably more dynamic, but Hornbeak is more college-ready, I think. He'll be less turnover prone, and that is what we need from the pg spot right now, not somebody that is going to create more, but turn it over. We have some good scorers, we need our pg's to distribute. And right now, Hornbeak is more polished in that area than Cousins.

The last practice I attended, Monday, Cousins played more on the ball than Hornbeak. I think Cousins will get some minutes at the PG spot, I just like Hornbeak's ability to easily be placed at spots on or off the ball. He comes across as a more malleable player than the other two with the ability to excel in multiple situations.

 

[WTSooner]

A lot can still change, I'm just not sure there are minutes to go around for all three of them. I think two of them will get more minutes than the third, and I think Hield is just about guaranteed to be one of the two getting more minutes. With the three likely starters, Neal getting a couple of minutes here and there against zone teams maybe, and M'Baye getting a few minutes at the 3, there just aren't that many minutes left.

And that isn't a bad thing. Nothing wrong with bringing them along slowly if the other guys are playing well. It's a nice problem to have.....having so many talented players on the roster. Probably the deepest roster OU has had in the last 20 years.

 

[KBaden145]

Largest roster we might have ever had, walkons included.

 

[TheGimper]

I love seeing the multiple points of view from those that have watched the practices. I should be able to go to a couple practices next week and can't wait to form my own opinions.

 

[Capel's Mustache]

I've picked up a habit of focusing on a sole player when he's on the court and I've spent a few practices focused on Hornbeak. I really like what I've seen, he's a cerebral guard that rarely looks rattled with the ball or out of place on defense. He can score from all three levels on offense, is a smart decision maker and a sound defender.

I like the potential of the "top 6" (Grooms, Pledger, Clark, Fitzgerald, Osby and M'Baye) and I think one of the keys to this season will be molding the talent around them. Hield has the look of an impressive scorer who can score in flurries and Cousins has a good flair for playmaking but Hornbeak looks more complete, polished, and in control.

This is just my personal preference, but if I'm trying to interject a freshman into a line up of experienced guys I'd rather it be a player like Hornbeak. He comes across as a player that can be trusted to limit mistakes, while also making plays. That you don't have to worry about brain farts on the defensive end. I don't suspect there will be many times that he'll be overwhelmed this year.

A few other tidbits

- I like Pledger for leading scorer this year. Similar to Hornbeak, I've been spending a lot of time watching Pledger, especially off the ball on offense. He's a smart player that understands angle and is savvy in how to set up his defender. With more talent around him he should be more efficient on the offensive end.

- D.J. Bennett has a good amount of talent, an impressive combination of length and athleticism. He's raw, but if he can pick up the defensive system he should have an impact as a shot blocker and defensive rebounder.

- I suspect M'Baye will see some minutes at the "three". It won't be a permanent thing but a lineup of him, Osby and Fitzgerald will present some problems and I don't think a lot of teams will be able to match up with them.

- Overall, this team is noticeably deeper and more talented than any other Sooner team in recent years. It's going to be an interesting to see how Kruger molds it together.

Thanks for your take

 

[luckyc1423]

The last practice I attended, Monday, Cousins played more on the ball than Hornbeak. I think Cousins will get some minutes at the PG spot, I just like Hornbeak's ability to easily be placed at spots on or off the ball. He comes across as a more malleable player than the other two with the ability to excel in multiple situations.

I personally like playing interchangable point guards at the 1 and 2. In my opinion it hurts us somewhat when pledger cannot bring the ball up the court.

Im not saying that changes this year. But in the years to come having him and cousins on the court together will be nice. We can play matchups more and it will be easier to push the ball.

 

[BigTime]

Hornbeak by the way, reminds me of a couple of the late 2000s guards from Texas A&M.

 

[WTSooner]

Hornbeak by the way, reminds me of a couple of the late 2000s guards from Texas A&M.

I've been trying to come up with an OU guard that he reminds me of, but I'm blanking. Thoughts?

 

[j2d2]

I love seeing the multiple points of view from those that have watched the practices. I should be able to go to a couple practices next week and can't wait to form my own opinions.

We shall expect full,detailed and thorough reports.

 

[AdaSooner]

Well done, Sam!

Your analysis of Hornbeak mirrors my own. I said after watching him play on television last year that he is as fundamentally sound as any high school kid I have seen in sometime. If he has a weakness, I must have overlooked it.

I was equally impressed with the his mental approach to the game. When the game was still in doubt late in the second half, it was obvious that Grace Prep's coach wanted Jelon on the floor to control the flow of game and to make the kind of decisons that gave his team the best chance at a victory.

That said, I like the reports I've read about our freshmen guards. I have a feeling they will all contribute to the team in a meaningful way as some point of the season. If nothing else, they'll give us the much-needed depth we didn't have last year. That alone could be the difference in another four or five wins by seasons end.