Nice read on Isiah Cousins in the Oklahoman

[AdaSooner]

http://newsok.com/ou-basketball-soo...new-york-guard-isaiah-cousins/article/3661515


As I've learned more about Isiah Cousins, I'm beginning to think that OU may be getting a player who could turn out to be one heck of a find in the late signing period. Much of what the article in this morning's Oklahoman contains is a repeat of an article posted earlier. But there are a couple of noteworthy gems deserving of more attention.

Cousins can score:

Cousins received only mid-major offers heading into his senior season. His stock soared after he put together a string of 30-point games at the famed IS8 basketball tournament.

He has good ball skills, handles, stamina and footwork:

“People slowly started to notice,” Konchanalski said. “It's not that he's a freak. But there aren't many 6-foot-4 point guards who can dribble as well as him, shoot as well as him and who are gym rats. He's the complete package.

“Of all the kids there, Isaiah Cousins had the best footwork by far. He just had the best feet and he had really good stamina.”

I take notice when a kid's coach mentions him in the same sentence as Ben Gordan:

“I've never had a senior explode like this,” Mount Vernon coach Bob Cimmino was quoted last week in the Westchester County (N.Y.) Journal News. “He's been recruited as high as any player I've ever had.

“Jabarie (Hinds) was a gradual climb. Ben (Gordon) it was a gradual climb. With Isaiah it was overnight.”

 

[vbdad]

He will compete for the starting point guard spot next fall. Sam had better improve his shooting or he will lose the battle. We will be better at the point next year starting and on the bench. I think Sam is going to improve a bunch over the summer. He seems to have a solid work ethic and desire to play well.

 

[TEvans4Three]

Very excited to see what this kid can do next year. I bet he doesn't start in non-conf but could see some starting games once we pick up conf play if he continues this path.

 

[garyeb2]

He will compete for the starting point guard spot next fall. Sam had better improve his shooting or he will lose the battle. We will be better at the point next year starting and on the bench. I think Sam is going to improve a bunch over the summer. He seems to have a solid work ethic and desire to play well.

It looks like to me that there is alot to learn to play point guard for Kruger. But, by mid-season or so if defenses are still not trying to guard him, I would certainly hope Cousins has come along far enough to displace him.

An I would also agreee that that Grooms is not exempt from the general rule that JUCO's tend to improve their 2nd year.

 

[AdaSooner]

I think you guys may be right about Grooms. I have a feeling he will be a much better shooter next season, providing he does not put any undue pressure on himself if he misses a few shots. His stroke is not so far off that a lot of hard work this summer can't cure.

 

[CoachTalk]

Lon said yesterday on the radio that he has already been in the gym working on getting a ton of shots up! Sounds like work ethic to me. We need him, starting or back-up. I would rather him improve and not rely on a Frosh to come in and start at point.

 

[garyeb2]

I think you guys may be right about Grooms. I have a feeling he will be a much better shooter next season, providing he does not put any undue pressure on himself if he misses a few shots. His stroke is not so far off that a lot of hard work this summer can't cure.

ADA, I have a theory on that. Of couse, I could be wrong. I believe that weight training has a negative impact on some shooters. Not all, but some.

There are alot of examples of golfers loosing their putting touch after bulking up alittle. Colin Montgomery and David Duval are a couple. Grooms couldn't have always been a bad shooter. I read that he averaged 30 in HS.And by just looking at him, you can tell he hit the weights hard. Clark regressed after his 1st off season weight program.

 

[campbest]

ADA, I have a theory on that. Of couse, I could be wrong. I believe that weight training has a negative impact on some shooters. Not all, but some.

Agreeing with something gary has said...wow.

 

[AdaSooner]

ADA, I have a theory on that. Of couse, I could be wrong. I believe that weight training has a negative impact on some shooters. Not all, but some.

There are alot of examples of golfers loosing their putting touch after bulking up alittle. Colin Montgomery and David Duval are a couple. Grooms couldn't have always been a bad shooter. I read that he averaged 30 in HS.And by just looking at him, you can tell he hit the weights hard. Clark regressed after his 1st off season weight program.

Interesting theory, Gary, and one I never thought about before.

Most golfers know that lifting heavy weights and bulking up in certain parts of the body could adversly affect the golf swing and the putting stroke. That's something I was told forty years ago. Assuming that's true, bulking up could also have an adverse affect on shooting a basketball. It may not be the same for everyone. But your theory makes perfectly good sense to me.

 

[campbest]

Interesting theory, Gary, and one I never thought about before.

Most golfers know that lifting heavy weights and bulking up in certain parts of the body could adversly affect the golf swing and the putting stroke. That's something I was told forty years ago. Assuming that's true, bulking up could also have an adverse affect on shooting a basketball. It may not be the same for everyone. But your theory makes perfectly good sense to me.

Most notably are bicep curls, due to the excessive movement of the elbows, which is not a fundamentally sound shooting motion. This is all theory of course.

 

[AdaSooner]

Most notably are bicep curls, due to the excessive movement of the elbows, which is not a fundamentally sound shooting motion. This is all theory of course.

True. But it could explain why some muscle bound players are not good shooters (see Blake and Taylor Griffin). I never had that problem.

 

[TEvans4Three]

When I played, I never did heavy weights as they would mess up my shot. In high school we had lifting before shootaround and that was always dumb to me. I would walk out sore and basically have no shooting rhythm.

So heavy lifting for me...not recommended. Unless you are a post-player and need the weight downlow. Then by all means go for it. You are not shooting 3's anyway.

 

[NickZepp]

When I played, I never did heavy weights as they would mess up my shot. In high school we had lifting before shootaround and that was always dumb to me. I would walk out sore and basically have no shooting rhythm.

So heavy lifting for me...not recommended. Unless you are a post-player and need the weight downlow. Then by all means go for it. You are not shooting 3's anyway.

Maybe in the NBA where you have a few guards doing things from the post. But you don't see it below the highest level of guards in the NBA. The top 2 guards in OU's history have been Hollis Price who was 5-10 160 lbs soaking wet. And Mookie Blaylock who was a little bigger at 6-0 maybe 170.

 

[sdcloud9]

I was a high school assistant for a number of years and we never lifted before practice, always after and usually used lighter weights. Lifting before does affect shooting due to muscle recovery from lifting.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

Cousins recruitment sounds very similar to Calvin Newell; light offers early, play well during HS season and step up. Smart move and looking forward to him being a Sooner.

 

[SilliSooner]

There are a lot of NBA long range shooters with muskcles so I'm not sure if the theory holds. To name a few - James Harden, Derek Fisher, Stephen Marbury, Derrick Rose, Darren Williams, John Wall, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Vinnie Johnson, Joe Dumars, Ray Allen, Ben Gorden, Eric Gordon, Xavier Henry, Jarrett Jack, JR Smith.

 

[Big Old Booger]

Cousins recruitment sounds very similar to Calvin Newell; light offers early, play well during HS season and step up. Smart move and looking forward to him being a Sooner.

I thought the exact same thing.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

I thought the exact same thing.

Great minds I suppose...

 

[campbest]

There are a lot of NBA long range shooters with muskcles so I'm not sure if the theory holds. To name a few - James Harden, Derek Fisher, Stephen Marbury, Derrick Rose, Darren Williams, John Wall, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Vinnie Johnson, Joe Dumars, Ray Allen, Ben Gorden, Eric Gordon, Xavier Henry, Jarrett Jack, JR Smith.

Big difference between toned, lean muscle (high reps) and bulking up with heavy weights. Also depends on body type....Ben Gordon has been jacked since he came out of the womb.

Not sure why Derron is on your list, he has very little definition.

 

[Smash Williams]

There are a lot of NBA long range shooters with muskcles so I'm not sure if the theory holds. To name a few - James Harden, Derek Fisher, Stephen Marbury, Derrick Rose, Darren Williams, John Wall, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Vinnie Johnson, Joe Dumars, Ray Allen, Ben Gorden, Eric Gordon, Xavier Henry, Jarrett Jack, JR Smith.