Mustang's Jakolby Long offered by Iowa State

[CoachTalk]

I'm not sure, if I were him, I would want to come to OU after they pulled out on him. I think he's going to surprise a lot of people. The kid was a top scorer through the EYBL and through the Peach Jam. Also, he was an original invite to the Nike Global Challenge where Doolittle was a replacement ad-in (not taking anything away from the kid at all). And from what I read, OU backed off at that time because he was still involved with football at the time - not because "he couldn't play".

I agree that OU needs a PG badly at this point... But to say he won't be a difference maker on the next level is a bit of a stretch... Besides, other than Buddy - OU doesn't have a guy who has been "off the charts" on the wing. McGusty can play and if he signs, it'll be a good addition! But if anyone thinks Doolittle is going to play the wing in the Big 12 (and be effective), you have never watched him play.

I think he'll be a good D1 player. Long wanted to play college football before basketball but no offers came from football. So basketball it was.

Lets not get carried away with his EYBL stats....

He took the 2nd most shots in the entire league and shot 34% from the field. 64% from the FT line and 34 from 3pt (151 attempts)... Avg 15.9

DOOLITTLE- 52% from the field, 100 less shots than long, 72% from FT line, and 30% from 3's (10 attempts) Avg. 15.6

 

[BCSooners]

Doolittle was also top 10 in rebounding

 

[2LeftShoes]

I think he'll be a good D1 player. Long wanted to play college football before basketball but no offers came from football. So basketball it was.

Lets not get carried away with his EYBL stats....

He took the 2nd most shots in the entire league and shot 34% from the field. 64% from the FT line and 34 from 3pt (151 attempts)... Avg 15.9

DOOLITTLE- 52% from the field, 100 less shots than long, 72% from FT line, and 30% from 3's (10 attempts) Avg. 15.6

He NEVER intended on playing college football. He had been on the national circuit playing basketball since 4th grade. He only played football 4 yrs in his life (7th / 8th / 10th / 11th). I agree let's not get carried away, but let have context. The kid played with a swollen / injured wrist since about the last week of the regular season in HS ball. However, over time as it improved, so did his numbers (you can look session to session to Peach Jam). Also, I would expect Doolittle's % to be higher because he took NOTHING but shots from the paint. To add to that, the team was so void of talent / experience this summer (loosing Trier) that could compete on that level that Long and Doolittle had to take a majority of the shots for them to remain competitive. Again, I'M NOT TAKING ANYTHING AWAY FROM DOOLITTLE. The young man has earned what he has earned. However, I think to take a shot at Long (out of context and without full knowledge of all the moving parts) is wrong.

Again, I DO NOT think Doolittle is a bad player at all - I Just don't think he is a wing. As far as "moving his feet" on the parameter, not only did he struggle mightily against bigs at the Peach Jam - he lasted about 2 possessions guarding Tatum (same exact size / body) on the parameter because the footwork is light years away. Offensively, he can handle the ball for a kid his size. But he is at least 2-3 years away from being able to contribute for OU on the wing. Best bet is to play him at the 4. He will be of MUCH MORE VALUE AND PRODUCTION for OU.

 

[2LeftShoes]

Doolittle was also top 10 in rebounding

He should have been... He was only one of 3 bigs (only 2 really played) on the team and he played just about every minute possible. LOL...

 

[BigTime]

He should have been... He was only one of 3 bigs (only 2 really played) on the team and he played just about every minute possible. LOL...

Sounds like he had a lot of opportunities with all of Long's bricks...

 

[2LeftShoes]

My point is this... Long will do well at the next level. I think he will do really well - I just think given the situation (recruiting / offer / withdraw / whatever else), it's probably best for OU to wish him well and him to wish OU well and for them to both find a better fit. That's all...

 

[BCSooners]

He NEVER intended on playing college football. He had been on the national circuit playing basketball since 4th grade. He only played football 4 yrs in his life (7th / 8th / 10th / 11th). I agree let's not get carried away, but let have context. The kid played with a swollen / injured wrist since about the last week of the regular season in HS ball. However, over time as it improved, so did his numbers (you can look session to session to Peach Jam). Also, I would expect Doolittle's % to be higher because he took NOTHING but shots from the paint. To add to that, the team was so void of talent / experience this summer (loosing Trier) that could compete on that level that Long and Doolittle had to take a majority of the shots for them to remain competitive. Again, I'M NOT TAKING ANYTHING AWAY FROM DOOLITTLE. The young man has earned what he has earned. However, I think to take a shot at Long (out of context and without full knowledge of all the moving parts) is wrong.

Again, I DO NOT think Doolittle is a bad player at all - I Just don't think he is a wing. As far as "moving his feet" on the parameter, not only did he struggle mightily against bigs at the Peach Jam - he lasted about 2 possessions guarding Tatum (same exact size / body) on the parameter because the footwork is light years away. Offensively, he can handle the ball for a kid his size. But he is at least 2-3 years away from being able to contribute for OU on the wing. Best bet is to play him at the 4. He will be of MUCH MORE VALUE AND PRODUCTION for OU.

People who have been on the perimeter their whole life and are great defenders will look bad against Taytum. If he had a bad wrist then why keep jacking up 3s? I see Doolittle being very similar to buford, power wing who will slide to the 4 some and create mismatches.

 

[BCSooners]

He should have been... He was only one of 3 bigs (only 2 really played) on the team and he played just about every minute possible. LOL...

Guards can't rebound? If he's 6'6 and playing against posts 6'9-6'11 and outrebounding them then that's saying something.

 

[2LeftShoes]

Guards can't rebound? If he's 6'6 and playing against posts 6'9-6'11 and outrebounding them then that's saying something.

Not sure when's the last time you saw the kid - but he's not 6'6" - the kid is legitimately 6'9".. He's a four. Again, not taking anything away - just trying to give some context.

 

[2LeftShoes]

People who have been on the perimeter their whole life and are great defenders will look bad against Taytum. If he had a bad wrist then why keep jacking up 3s? I see Doolittle being very similar to buford, power wing who will slide to the 4 some and create mismatches.

You keep shooting because (a) you are a shooter and (b) you don't have many other options around you. It was indeed a two man job this summer (with Long and Doolittle)... To your point, the % wasn't great and I won't act like it was. Just trying to give a little context.

Tatum is special, but it wasn't that he was "doing moves" - it was a single dribble & gone type of situation. Now, if you're talking 4/3 hybrid-tweener action - I DO think he's your guy.

 

[CoachTalk]

He NEVER intended on playing college football. He had been on the national circuit playing basketball since 4th grade. He only played football 4 yrs in his life (7th / 8th / 10th / 11th). I agree let's not get carried away, but let have context. The kid played with a swollen / injured wrist since about the last week of the regular season in HS ball. However, over time as it improved, so did his numbers (you can look session to session to Peach Jam). Also, I would expect Doolittle's % to be higher because he took NOTHING but shots from the paint. To add to that, the team was so void of talent / experience this summer (loosing Trier) that could compete on that level that Long and Doolittle had to take a majority of the shots for them to remain competitive. Again, I'M NOT TAKING ANYTHING AWAY FROM DOOLITTLE. The young man has earned what he has earned. However, I think to take a shot at Long (out of context and without full knowledge of all the moving parts) is wrong.

Again, I DO NOT think Doolittle is a bad player at all - I Just don't think he is a wing. As far as "moving his feet" on the parameter, not only did he struggle mightily against bigs at the Peach Jam - he lasted about 2 possessions guarding Tatum (same exact size / body) on the parameter because the footwork is light years away. Offensively, he can handle the ball for a kid his size. But he is at least 2-3 years away from being able to contribute for OU on the wing. Best bet is to play him at the 4. He will be of MUCH MORE VALUE AND PRODUCTION for OU.

“I have to talk to my parents about that and see what the best decision is for me,” said Jakolby Long, who also plays football for Mustang and has been hoping for a D-I football scholarship.

“It’s really my number one thing I’ve been doing for a long time,” said Jakolby Long, who added that the lack of offers for football is a partial reason for choosing basketball, but he hasn’t made a final decision. “My whole family played ball. It’s like life for me.

He wanted to play football...

 

[CoachTalk]

My point is this... Long will do well at the next level. I think he will do really well - I just think given the situation (recruiting / offer / withdraw / whatever else), it's probably best for OU to wish him well and him to wish OU well and for them to both find a better fit. That's all...

I think he'll do well in college.

How are you related to him or how do you know him? Be honest...

 

[2LeftShoes]

“I have to talk to my parents about that and see what the best decision is for me,” said Jakolby Long, who also plays football for Mustang and has been hoping for a D-I football scholarship.

“It’s really my number one thing I’ve been doing for a long time,” said Jakolby Long, who added that the lack of offers for football is a partial reason for choosing basketball, but he hasn’t made a final decision. “My whole family played ball. It’s like life for me.

He wanted to play football...

He explored football... At the time his brother was a starting corner for Mizzou. But, the entire decision for them to come to Mustang was so he could play basketball for his father.

Jakolby, just like any other kid, tried to "say the right thing". But if you actually read the quote in context, he's saying basketball was his "number one thing". And the comment about "whole family" playing was a hoop reference. Both his parents played collegiately, as well as both of his aunts, and his brother played through till his senior yr of HS.

To be honest, as a kid, he probably tried to save face because he was being told that his offer was pulled bc he played football as well... Just a HS kid trying to enjoy HS.

 

[2LeftShoes]

I think he'll do well in college.

How are you related to him or how do you know him? Be honest...

No relation.. close family friend.

 

[CoachTalk]

He explored football... At the time his brother was a starting corner for Mizzou. But, the entire decision for them to come to Mustang was so he could play basketball for his father.

Jakolby, just like any other kid, tried to "say the right thing". But if you actually read the quote in context, he's saying basketball was his "number one thing". And the comment about "whole family" playing was a hoop reference. Both his parents played collegiately, as well as both of his aunts, and his brother played through till his senior yr of HS.

To be honest, as a kid, he probably tried to save face because he was being told that his offer was pulled bc he played football as well... Just a HS kid trying to enjoy HS.

I understand... makes sense. Like I said. I think he will be a nice player. As long as he stays committed.

 

[Section31]

You keep shooting because (a) you are a shooter

I don't mean this as an insult, because I think he's a great kid and really nice all around player, but if someone is telling him he's a shooter, they need to stop. He's a scorer IMO. He can shoot the 3 a little, but it shouldn't be his focus. He may have the ugliest shot I've ever seen.

 

[2LeftShoes]

I understand... makes sense. Like I said. I think he will be a nice player. As long as he stays committed.

I agree... It'll be interesting to see him after an off-season of work, as opposed to having been tied up with football. I've heard that recruiting wise, it's paying off already.. been told that there are several folks coming in to watch /visit in Sept.

I actually think this may be one of the deepest classes in OK in a while.
Long, Doolittle, Waters, Dickison, Haywood, McDowell, Speight, Benjamin, and maybe a few others all have the chance to possibly play Div. 1 ball

 

[2LeftShoes]

I don't mean this as an insult, because I think he's a great kid and really nice all around player, but if someone is telling him he's a shooter, they need to stop. He's a scorer IMO. He can shoot the 3 a little, but it shouldn't be his focus. He may have the ugliest shot I've ever seen.

LOL... It (form) is a bit different. I agree with your assessment that he a scorer rather than a "3pt assassin". Probably could have worded it different..

 

[BCSooners]

Not sure when's the last time you saw the kid - but he's not 6'6" - the kid is legitimately 6'9".. He's a four. Again, not taking anything away - just trying to give some context.

I saw him last at regionals last year. If he's a legitimate 6'9 then he's gonna be a problem at the next level once he gets a consistent motor.

 

[BCSooners]

You keep shooting because (a) you are a shooter and (b) you don't have many other options around you. It was indeed a two man job this summer (with Long and Doolittle)... To your point, the % wasn't great and I won't act like it was. Just trying to give a little context.

Tatum is special, but it wasn't that he was "doing moves" - it was a single dribble & gone type of situation. Now, if you're talking 4/3 hybrid-tweener action - I DO think he's your guy.

A) as mentioned he's not a shooter, he's a scorer. B) he had options on his team. He might not have big12 caliber players on his team but they had at least 5 D1 players.