Lattin dominates in big win

[garyeb2]

After trailing by 6 at the half, Khadeem Lattin's Redemption Christian squad rallied for a 20 point win over a good Flower Mound team. Lattin led the way with16 points.

Lattin's production came from an efficient 7 for 9 from the field and 2 of 3 from the line despite fighting double and triple teams. He showed big time ability with 3 explosive spin moves and flushes from the low block. His range was on display while hitting 2 of 3 from the 10/12' distance.

He filled out the stat sheet with 13 rebounds, 6 blocks, 5 assist, and 2 steals. He displayed good energy and activity throughout. He was a defensive menace and displayed big boy passing ability.

 

[Boomer-D]

Thanks again Gary! you the man!

 

[AdaSooner]

Heck of a stat line for a kid who was double and tripe teamed the entire game. Clearly he has skills to go with his size.

It's also obvious you were impressed with Khadeem's performance this time, Gary. If he continues to improve, can he come in and help us next year?

To be clear, I'm not asking if he can dominate in games like he did against Flower Mound. I know the answer to that question. But if he is capable of contributing to our OU's success and to our post depth next season, that's all anyone can ask of a freshman who hasn't played a minute at the D-1 level yet.

One more question. Did Flower Mound have any post players with size?

 

[garyeb2]

Heck of a stat line for a kid who was double and tripe teamed the entire game. Clearly he has skills to go with his size.

It's also obvious you were impressed with Khadeem's performance this time, Gary. If he continues to improve, can he come in and help us next year?

To be clear, I'm not asking if he can dominate in games like he did against Flower Mound. I know the answer to that question. But if he is capable of contributing to our OU's success and to our post depth next season, that's all anyone can ask of a freshman who hasn't played a minute at the D-1 level yet.

One more question. Did Flower Mound have any post players with size?

He was defended by a 6' 5" kid by the name of Devonte Patterson. He is just a soph. He is going to be a really good player. He got into foul trouble pretty early and that is when the game changed.

Lattin was a lot better tonight. When the game was tight, the free wheeling guards started getting him the ball instead of jacking it up. He scored several times when they needed a basket. After they got the lead in the second half the guards went back to business as usual and were bombing away. They started hitting and the game got out of hand.

I didn't like his energy level and aggressiveness last night. He was much better tonight and got better results. He is no project or red shirt candidate. I'm sure he will play some and do a good job. He will look like a completely different kid by the time Nov. rolls around.

 

[garyeb2]

One other thing. I know that different people will make a lot of different comparisons as time goes along. I may change my perception. But, tonight he sort of reminded me of a young down sized Longar Longer.

 

[AdaSooner]

One other thing. I know that different people will make a lot of different comparisons as time goes along. I may change my perception. But, tonight he sort of reminded me of a young down sized Longar Longer.

Coach Kruger and his staff can win a lot of games with a young down sized Longar Longar.

Great report, Gary! Thanks!!!

 

[KBaden145]

This is good to hear.


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[ksSooner13]

Gary, as I watched him tonight, the Longar comparison is exactly what I thought as well. He's going to get boards, buckets, and going to frustrate the hell out of the opposing team. I mean, that was one of the chippiest high school games, 3 Ts, I have been to in a while and he seemed to improve the rougher it got tonight

 

[CoachTalk]

More athletic than longar don't you think? Not saying LL wasn't athletic.

 

[ksSooner13]

Right now...No....after 4 years with YoYo absolutely!

 

[garyeb2]

More athletic than longar don't you think? Not saying LL wasn't athletic.

Maybe. Lattin can handle the ball and get it up the court when he isn't being defended hard.

 

[bocabull]

Fair enough. At least you guys have come around to reality. Longar was a career 7 point 4 rebound guy who gave us virtually nothing his first 2 years.

I hope Lattin is better but those are realistic expectations.

 

[garyeb2]

Fair enough. At least you guys have come around to reality. Longar was a career 7 point 4 rebound guy who gave us virtually nothing his first 2 years.

I hope Lattin is better but those are realistic expectations.

There is no reality to come around to. A kid like Lattin will score points, get rebounds, and blocks for no other reason than he is 6'10' and everyone else is 6'5" and below.

I was underwhelmed the first night because he wasn't getting much past what he should have because of his size advantage. Last night was different. He out athleted smaller players to get some good results. He displayed Woodard caliber court vision and passing ability several times. He was more than just the biggest player, he was the best player.

I don't know if Lattin will have the toughness and hard edge that he will need when up against players close to his size. These HS kids can't test him.

I can render a comparison based on limited information. I have seen Lattin play in person twice and I saw the Morris kid from Edmond play on TV twice last year. Lattin is a much much better HS player than Morris was.

 

[AdaSooner]

Fair enough. At least you guys have come around to reality. Longar was a career 7 point 4 rebound guy who gave us virtually nothing his first 2 years.

I hope Lattin is better but those are realistic expectations.

Boca, I went back through four pages of the Lattin stats thread and didn't find a single post that I would put in the unrealistic category. Are posters excited about the numbers he is putting up? Absolutely. Why shouldn't they be? I have been part of that excitement. But I didn't find anything like the can't-miss, program-altering talent posts you keep talking about.

I'm not ruling out the possibility that someone might have said Khadeem has a chance to be special. I didn't find anything like that either. But saying a kid has a chance to be a special player is a far cry from anointing him with that lofty status before he steps onto OU's campus this summer.

If Khadeem can use his size and athleticism to block or change shots and improve our post depth next season, I'm not sure we can expect much more out of a kid who has yet to play his first minute of college basketball. If he turns out to be "special" at some point in his career, that will be a bonus. Nothing unrealistic about that or anything else posters have been saying that I can find.

If you have evidence to the contrary, kindly point us to it. Again, I'm not saying a post like that is not out there somewhere. What I'm saying is that has not been the consensus of the opinions expressed by the posters you continue to direct your comments to, as if we're not capable of drawing our own conclusions about Khadeem Lattin.

 

[CoachTalk]

Lattins team lost today and I think lattin got thrown out late.
Not sure why the 1st one...
2nd tech was for an elbow to a kid. Via twitter.

Lattin ranting on twitter now. 9techs given to his team this weekend.

 

[garyeb2]

Lattins team lost today and I think lattin got thrown out late.
Not sure why the 1st one...
2nd tech was for an elbow to a kid. Via twitter.

Lattin ranting on twitter now. 9techs given to his team this weekend.

From what I saw, Lattin is not above planting an elbow in a defender's chest to get open.

 

[pnkranger]

Lattins team lost today and I think lattin got thrown out late.
Not sure why the 1st one...
2nd tech was for an elbow to a kid. Via twitter.

Lattin ranting on twitter now. 9techs given to his team this weekend.

I wouldn't call it a rant. Pretty level-headed tweets after what sounds like a frustrating game.

 

[KBaden145]

From what I saw, Lattin is not above planting an elbow in a defender's chest to get open.

Good thing I'm a "not above planting an elbow" kind of guy. Basketball IS a contact sport and you need a little nasty to really be effective inside.


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[garyeb2]

Good thing I'm a "not above planting an elbow" kind of guy. Basketball IS a contact sport and you need a little nasty to really be effective inside.


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I agree. Lattin has some nasty in him and that is a good thing.

 

[CoachTalk]

I wouldn't call it a rant. Pretty level-headed tweets after what sounds like a frustrating game.

Meant venting... Poor choice of words. I'm all for some elbows!