Manyang

[MsProudSooner]

Players make their biggest improvements over the summer. AK lost all of last summer. If he works hard this summer, he can improve enough to be as asset to the team next year.

 

[DenverSooner]

You mean biggest summer of his basketball life? Obviously there are about a million things in the world and in life more important than basketball.

I don't know if I agree. He is a future professional basketball player. Perhaps (likely) not the NBA but if he wants to be paid to play basketball he will be paid to play basketball. There are very few people his size and agility level in this world. If he works super hard, he might be able to play at a professional level very close to the NBA. I am not sure what that is, maybe the top leagues in Europe (I am just guessing). However, if he doesn't work really hard, he might end up in some obscure league making $20,000 a year and never doing anything with his God given talent.

Now fast forward past his playing days whether that is three years or ten years. The higher level he plays the better chances he has to become a college coach or an announcer or many other well paying jobs associated with basketball.

Perhaps in his case, his basketball work this summer truly is the most important thing in his life.

 

[zeptrey]

Players make their biggest improvements over the summer. AK lost all of last summer. If he works hard this summer, he can improve enough to be as asset to the team next year.

This. How can a guy with his size and strength hurt the team? Defensively needs to move a little better but a lot of the polish he lacks comes with game experience. He'll be a definite asset next year. I would like to see Lattin at the four if he can develop a little better midrange jumper. Would be cool to see them on the court together against a squad like Texass.

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[BigTime]

Let this disclaimer show that I have absolutely nothing against Manyang and I wish him well in all avenues of life moving forward.

As for next year: I will be very disappointed if he plays meaningful minutes. I feel those minutes would pay much better dividends distributed elsewhere.

Respect the heck out of your opinions on here, but I don't know how you can say that? You may be right. There is a GOOD chance you are right. But, the guy is not Orlando Allen. He is big and he has skill. He showed timing on his blocks and rebounds. He showed flashes of post game. Completed alley-oops and looked competent with his FTs. Plus HE IS 7 FEET TALL.

I'm not ready to make the statement you made. Not yet. Not until Gary calls the dream dead after seeing him in practice.

 

[Darwin]

He has the ability to really help us...if the light comes on this summer.

Yes , I also see how the light may not come on. He had numerous reasons to have the season that he had but some guys find a way to succeed anyway. If Lattin wins the 4 it means Lon likes what he has at the 5. I think AK could be starter good next season if the light comes on, remember Longar's senior season compared to his junior.

 

[AdaSooner]

He has the physical ability and skills to really help us. In the middle of the season, he was getting the first minutes off of the bench. I think that he tried to hard to do something special. In most of these games he did nothing positive. He seemed rushed and lacked confidence.
Maybe he can have a great offseason and get confident.

Agreed. AK has the physical tools. He's just way behind where he should be at this point of his career when it comes to his understanding of the game and in making plays instinctively. At least that's what I saw in the limited action he got last season.

It's important to remember that he has not played much the last two seasons. He was injured his sophomore season in juco, and also left the team for a time for personal reasons. His experience was eerily similar at OU last season.

If he comes into the off season with a determined effort to fulfill his potential, I honestly believe the sky is the limit for this young man. The question is, does he want to be really good bad enough to make the effort? That's a question only he can answer.

 

[KBaden145]

LOL. From what I saw of Manyang, I believe the exact opposite is true.

There is a big difference between being fast and playing fast. If AK ever gets to the point where he can play fast within our system (be comfortable), he has the physical tools to not only help in our rotation but to be a force. It's all up to him and how he works to improve and prepare himself mentally for next season. If he's committed and puts in the time and work, our opinions of him will change drastically, IMO...

 

[TINY]

AK gonna prove some people wrong! He has the tools and the light was coming on. Most people forget he was hurt all summer and still gimpy for the first month or so. He looked like a different person athletically at the end of the season when he was healthy.

 

[SilliSooner]

I assume LK wants to play a similar style (up and down) as we played this past season. If that is the case, I really don't see how Manyang fits. I've seen slower players, I suppose, but he isn't exactly quick up and down the court. He'd do better in a Big 10 style system, I would think. He has some potential/talent, you can see that. I'm just not sure he is a good fit for what we do.

He was hurt all year. When he was finally unhurt, his foot speed was equivalent to McNease.

The question really is how dedicated he really is. Will he put in the work over the summer to correct his deficiencies? As a shot blocker he had the most blocks per minute in the league (1.4 bpg in 8 mpg). Ran out, that would've led the nation if he had played 20 mpg for 3.5 per game. Doesn't mean a lot except it shows potential.

His coordination is adequate, he has really long reach but he needs to play more, improve his jump, maybe even get stronger but the goal should be there.

 

[Big Old Booger]

To me, he looks just like Longar did as a freshman/sophomore. He's nowhere near LL's game as a JR or SR. LL was a really good college player his last year.


AK severely lacks the 6th sense on offense to know when a teammate is about to feed him with a great pass for an easy score. Seems tentative all around on offense. He did go up strong for a few dunks in the last 5 games he played (WVa or ISU -- in KC -- and VCU, I think) but prior to that wouldn't take the ball strong to the basket. Seems to have weak hands too.

IMO, the ceiling for McNeace is much higher at this point because he has 3 years left and AK has 1 year. I bet if LK could go back and foresee how this year plays out, he doesn't recruit AK.

 

[WTSooner]

When he was finally unhurt, his foot speed was equivalent to McNease.

I don't agree with that at all.

 

[Sooner04]

IMO, the ceiling for McNeace is much higher at this point because he has 3 years left and AK has 1 year.

This is the camp I'm in. I think your returns are much greater with McNease because he and Manyang can be expected to provide the same production, but Jamuni's going to be around a whole lot longer.

I just don't feel that Manyang is a very good basketball player, and I'm skeptical he can become one in one summer. If he proves me wrong, cheers to that!

 

[AdaSooner]

This is the camp I'm in. I think your returns are much greater with McNease because he and Manyang can be expected to provide the same production, but Jamuni's going to be around a whole lot longer.

I just don't feel that Manyang is a very good basketball player, and I'm skeptical he can become one in one summer. If he proves me wrong, cheers to that!

I'm in the same camp. I'm a huge McNeace fan, and have been since he signed with OU two years ago. I even predicted he would be a factor his freshman season. It doesn't bother me that I was a little off and a year or two early on that one. Your point about his upside is also a good one. I, too, believe he'll be a much better player than AK before he's through.

All I'm saying about Manyang is that he has the "potential" to contribute in a meaningful way and improve our post depth this fall. I also added a question mark about his grasp of the game in general. The physical tools are there. It's that in so many ways, he's like a newcomer to the game who is still learning how to use his impressive size and athleticism to an advantage.

Can he learn to do that in one summer? I think there is a chance he can, but the jury is still out on that question.

 

[bgrch1350]

To me, he looks just like Longar did as a freshman/sophomore. He's nowhere near LL's game as a JR or SR. LL was a really good college player his last year.


AK severely lacks the 6th sense on offense to know when a teammate is about to feed him with a great pass for an easy score. Seems tentative all around on offense. He did go up strong for a few dunks in the last 5 games he played (WVa or ISU -- in KC -- and VCU, I think) but prior to that wouldn't take the ball strong to the basket. Seems to have weak hands too.

IMO, the ceiling for McNeace is much higher at this point because he has 3 years left and AK has 1 year. I bet if LK could go back and foresee how this year plays out, he doesn't recruit AK.

I agree. McNease showed at times that the future looks bright.

Manyang minutes will be similar to this season.

 

[Soonerinkc]

This is the camp I'm in. I think your returns are much greater with McNease because he and Manyang can be expected to provide the same production, but Jamuni's going to be around a whole lot longer.

I just don't feel that Manyang is a very good basketball player, and I'm skeptical he can become one in one summer. If he proves me wrong, cheers to that!

yup

 

[chuckb]

I'm in the same camp. I'm a huge McNeace fan, and have been since he signed with OU two years ago. I even predicted he would be a factor his freshman season. It doesn't bother me that I was a little off and a year or two early on that one. Your point about his upside is also a good one. I, too, believe he'll be a much better player than AK before he's through.

All I'm saying about Manyang is that he has the "potential" to contribute in a meaningful way and improve our post depth this fall. I also added a question mark about his grasp of the game in general. The physical tools are there. It's that in so many ways, he's like a newcomer to the game who is still learning how to use his impressive size and athleticism to an advantage.

Can he learn to do that in one summer? I think there is a chance he can, but the jury is still out on that question.

I agree with everything here and would add that McNeace seems to fit our system much better than AK does. This team is going to have a lot of depth next season and everyone else is going to be much more athletic than AK. AK has much more of an old-school, traditional 5 sort of game whereas the rest of the team seems to fit Kruger's plan to push the ball very quickly, shoot 3's, and attack the basket. I just don't see how AK fits except as a depth piece to play defense and rebound for 5-10 minutes per game.

He's going to play the 5, obviously, and take minutes from Lattin and McNeace. I don't see him often playing alongside either of those 2 at the expense of Freeman, Buford, Doolittle, or Odomes. So then, where are the minutes going to come from? I just don't see them available due to our depth.

 

[Dr Sleep]

I think he will play a lot, and do very well. his minutes will be limited by his fouls and that is OK as OU has good depth at the 5, allowing him to be very aggressive. I would love to seem playing with Lattin at the 4.

 

[jackson_supersooner]

I don't know if I agree. He is a future professional basketball player. Perhaps (likely) not the NBA but if he wants to be paid to play basketball he will be paid to play basketball. There are very few people his size and agility level in this world. If he works super hard, he might be able to play at a professional level very close to the NBA. I am not sure what that is, maybe the top leagues in Europe (I am just guessing). However, if he doesn't work really hard, he might end up in some obscure league making $20,000 a year and never doing anything with his God given talent.

Now fast forward past his playing days whether that is three years or ten years. The higher level he plays the better chances he has to become a college coach or an announcer or many other well paying jobs associated with basketball.

Perhaps in his case, his basketball work this summer truly is the most important thing in his life.

Yep!
Exactly what I was saying. Yes...this can be a life changer for Manyang.

 

[cowboysooner]

I disagree with most of you. No big deal, I'm usually wrong.

I think Manyang can be really good next year if he wants to be.

A few years ago, I went to a preseason scrimmage at OU. I saw a kid that couldn't dribble as well as me and shot the ball from his waist. I didn't peg him as a future star at all. I liked Cousins a lot better and thought he would be a star.

The point is that, provided the basic athletic ability is there, he can be as good as he is willing to make himself be. He will get the coaching to get there, if he is willing to accept it and make good use of his time.

I don't know him or anything about him, so I don't know his mental makeup, but if he is coachable and willing to put in the time, I think he can be special. JMO

 

[BigTime]

I think he can and WILL be very good next year. Just needs a drama free, injury free summer.