Khadeem Lattin

[AdaSooner]

Am I the only one who thinks Khadeem played with a lot more confidence in last night's game? For one thing, he was 3 for 3 from the field, with a dunk and a spin move across the lane followed by a baby hook that was poetry in motion.

Seems to me he played more within himself. He didn't have one of his patented double digit rebounding nights, but 6 points, 3 boards, a steal and a block is not bad for the 13 minutes he was on the floor. I also feel he did a good job defensively. He was aggressive, but he didn't commit any silly fouls.

Maybe he's starting to "get it." Hope so, because we're going to need him down the stretch.

 

[BigTime]

Am I the only one who thinks Khadeem played with a lot more confidence in last night's game? For one thing, he was 3 for 3 from the field, with a dunk and a spin move across the lane followed by a baby hook that was poetry in motion.

Seems to me he played more within himself. He didn't have one of his patented double digit rebounding nights, but 6 points, 3 boards, a steal and a block is not bad for the 13 minutes he was on the floor. I also feel he did a good job defensively. He was aggressive, but he didn't commit any silly fouls.

Maybe he's starting to "get it." Hope so, because we're going to need him down the stretch.

Thought he looked really good. Still learning how to defend a high ball screen.

I am telling you guys - the man has offensive game like LL. That one post move was a thing of beauty.

He and Bennett give us our best post duo off the bench since Pattillo and Wright of '09 (and we only had Pattillo for part of that year).

 

[SoonerinNC]

I think Lattin has more offensive potential than Longar. Also a better rebounder.

 

[BigTime]

I think Lattin has more offensive potential than Longar. Also a better rebounder.

I'm not ready to go that far. LL had some serious offensive game. But I think they are comparable.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

Khadeem Lattin will be better in February than he is now. The young man is skilled, smart, and works hard with a great attitude. He could be special by the time he is a junior.

If I was a 2016 or 2017 guard recruit, I would love to come in and play with the big men that OU is assembling on the roster. Jamuni McNeace is also athletic, smart, and works hard with a great attitude. He gets to practice every day against the likes of Spangler and Thomas.

The future potential is there for OU to be loaded in the post position, with really good players that are taller and longer than Spangler and Thomas. Then there is Junior College transfer Akolda Manyang (7-0, 240, Indian Hills CC).

I'm glad I have my season tickets. There are fun times ahead at the LNC.

 

[DenverSooner]

I'm not ready to go that far. LL had some serious offensive game. But I think they are comparable.

I agree. Longer put up some big numbers his freshman year the one or two times he got to play significant minutes. But Lattin looks just as athletic if not more than Longar and he has descent form on his shot. He just needs to learn some post play. I have high hopes for the guy.

 

[pnkranger]

Maybe not a post, but I am also incredibly excited about Buford. I think he will be a match-up nightmare like Georges Niang for a lot of big men -- or like Osby or Ace McGhee. The thought of Lattin and Buford running the floor together in transition is really exciting.

 

[Stikboy]

Early on it looked to me like Lattin was almost disappointed that Thomas' waiver was approved because he knew it would cut his minutes. Now, I have no way of knowing that, and assuming he's a team player I'm sure he was happy for T. But all the same, it meant his minutes were drastically cut. If T had been denied then it would have forced tons of minutes on Lattin and I'm sure he would have progressed faster. But we're all of course happy with what's happened.

In the exhibitions I was actually kind of surprised by his rebounding prowess in his limited minutes. Then the approval came and down went his minutes, at the same time his confidence, attitude, and performance also dropped. But I agree, it looks like the week before UM he had some good practices and an attitude adjustment. And Lon probably reaffirmed to him that he'd be getting more playing time. I, too liked his game against MU and was quite impressed with the turnaround jump hook. I hope they keep looking for him down on the block because it looks like he has some offensive skill and potential. His defensive prowess has gotten him to this point but even though he's a bean pole down there they need to feed him to see what he can do. More girth will help him so much. There are going to be many more ups and downs this year, but there's a reason he was offered by the likes of Georgetown, UT, Arizona, etc...

 

[BCSooners]

I'm ecstatically to see what him, mcnease & manyang do when Lattin is a junior. No one will have an easy layup. If you bring one of them away from the basket there's still one more, mix in Buford and we will have a block party every game.

 

[AdaSooner]

Maybe not a post, but I am also incredibly excited about Buford. I think he will be a match-up nightmare like Georges Niang for a lot of big men -- or like Osby or Ace McGhee. The thought of Lattin and Buford running the floor together in transition is really exciting.

You have every reason to be excited about Buford. If you'll recall, he was picked early on as the most likely incoming freshman to start or play starter minutes.

He was also said to be the heir apparent to Cam Clark in that he had the ability to swing from the wing to the four if need be. With Thomas winning his appeal, that might have changed. But one thing seems certain, if Dante had not been screwed over by his prep school, he would have played and played a lot this season. I

'm on board with you in being excited to see him play next year!

 

[Stikboy]

You think it's possible if Heild goes pro that Buford mans the 3 in the starting lineup?

 

[usedtobe1]

You think it's possible if Heild goes pro that Buford mans the 3 in the starting lineup?

It will be interesting to see if Buford can guard quick wing players. I think he can play the position offensively.

 

[DenverSooner]

Early on it looked to me like Lattin was almost disappointed that Thomas' waiver was approved because he knew it would cut his minutes. Now, I have no way of knowing that, and assuming he's a team player I'm sure he was happy for T. But all the same, it meant his minutes were drastically cut. If T had been denied then it would have forced tons of minutes on Lattin and I'm sure he would have progressed faster. But we're all of course happy with what's happened.

In the exhibitions I was actually kind of surprised by his rebounding prowess in his limited minutes. Then the approval came and down went his minutes, at the same time his confidence, attitude, and performance also dropped. But I agree, it looks like the week before UM he had some good practices and an attitude adjustment. And Lon probably reaffirmed to him that he'd be getting more playing time. I, too liked his game against MU and was quite impressed with the turnaround jump hook. I hope they keep looking for him down on the block because it looks like he has some offensive skill and potential. His defensive prowess has gotten him to this point but even though he's a bean pole down there they need to feed him to see what he can do. More girth will help him so much. There are going to be many more ups and downs this year, but there's a reason he was offered by the likes of Georgetown, UT, Arizona, etc...

Do you think Lattin is stupid? He would need to be stupid to think it mattered if Thomas played this year or next.

 

[BCSooners]

Do you think Lattin is stupid? He would need to be stupid to think it mattered if Thomas played this year or next.

I think anyone would rather play more as a sophomore than a freshman. As a freshman you can sell the idea of a learning curve and transforming your body. But to play 25 minutes as a frosh and then 10 minutes as a sophomore could really mess with a kid's morale.

 

[jaymOU]

Lattin, to me, is more active defensively - at least on the perimeter than LL. My son and I always count the number of deflections he has when he is in the game and it's remarkable. His wingspand and active hands are going to really lead to a bunch of turnovers. I'd love to see him at the top end of a 1-3-1 half court trap, which OU has employed some in the past - or even a full court press like back in Billy's day. Might have a Harvey Grant-like presence.

 

[Stikboy]

Do you think Lattin is stupid? He would need to be stupid to think it mattered if Thomas played this year or next.

Stupid... What do you mean? Of course it matters. Riding the pine a whole year vs playing meaningful minutes like he was in the exhibitions, and maybe even growing into a starting role had Thomas not gotten the waiver? Thomas may not have even played at OU next year, which his dad even brought up in an interview. Young players these days want instant gratification(instant playing time) whether right or wrong, and he looked disappointed when he went from stuffing stat sheets to stuffing the bench, that's all i'm saying.. Is that concept really that hard to understand?

 

[vbdad]

Lattin has a very nice offensive game and will be shooting the 3 at OU before his career is over. He may even get minutes at the wing position in the future. The staff loves his game. McNease is also going to be very good once he matures.

Everytime Buddy dribbles his draft stock goes down. Hopefully he stays for his senior year and we have a special team.

 

[jerry]

Lattin has a very nice offensive game and will be shooting the 3 at OU before his career is over. He may even get minutes at the wing position in the future. The staff loves his game. McNease is also going to be very good once he matures.

Everytime Buddy dribbles his draft stock goes down. Hopefully he stays for his senior year and we have a special team.

Really agree on Buddy. His ball handling especially with the left hand is way below average.

 

[AdaSooner]

Lattin has a very nice offensive game and will be shooting the 3 at OU before his career is over. He may even get minutes at the wing position in the future. The staff loves his game. McNease is also going to be very good once he matures.

Everytime Buddy dribbles his draft stock goes down. Hopefully he stays for his senior year and we have a special team.

Interesting about Lattin's future as a three point shooter, vbdad. I had an idea he wasn't acting on his own when he took those threes early in the season. No way he would continue to put up shots from behind the arc if LK had not given him the green light.

Have you seen anything to suggest that Khaeem has the ability to do more than take shots from the perimeter? In other words, does he have the handles to drive on a defender if someone moves out to guard his shot?

 

[jaymOU]

My son and I talk about this all the time with Buddy and his handles. This is something he can work on, for sure, but I wonder how good his hands are, really. He seems to fumble some passes too. Some of what gets him in trouble, to me, is trying to go too fast. Sounded like in his post-game interview after one of the Bahamas games, Lon asked him to speed up, so that might be something coming from the coaches too. Just seems to get a little out of control at times.

As I think about it's almost like he is too explosive for his own good sometimes.

I, too, hope he returns next year. Fun to watch him play and his personality, smile and attitude are infectious.