Lil' Ray is the epitome of a complete basketball player. I get to see him play later on this summer. I like Pressey and wouldn't mind having him. However, Ray probably would be the better interchange player with our team. In other words. He is a lead guard with good enough handles to play the point. His i.q. is outstanding and he can score the basketball if he needs to, which makes him a threat. He could come in and spell TMG or he could play the two with TMG in the game. If TJ is in the game. Lil' Ray could be the point with TJ playing the two. I'll go out on a limb and predict that we will get Pressey or Lil' Ray. BOOMER SOONER BABY!!!:clap
The problem is that I don't think Ray will want to come off the bench or play the 2. He mentioned in a recent article that he wants to play with the ball in his hands. I think OU is a tough sell because you have TMG who is likely a 3-4 year player who is a PG. It's one of those positions that is tough because unlike a forward or combo guard you only have one PG. I know that it happens sometimes (D. Williams and Dee Brown, Miles/Hinrich), but in almost every case there is still a guy who is considered the main PG.
Very valid points. I also think TMG will be our point guard for four years. However, the way you sell this to Lil' Ray is to tell him that he can come in and compete for the starting job. Competition brings out the best in most players. If he doesn't win it than he gets the back up point guard role and the time at the two guard position with the fact that he will be the man when TMG leaves. Now I know this sounds naive, but Ray is a team player. He wants to play with the best. We also know that Coach Capel is very capable of working his magic in this situation. I'm a huge TMG fan, but this is a good way of keeping him honest so to speak. This is not the first rodeo where two players and a team would have to find a way to make the situation work. I'm hoping that this will be the script that plays out with Lil' Ray. That he comes to OU despite us having TMG. BOOMER SOONER BABY!!!
Wow! Consider me impressed. If Ray has a weakness I sure didn't see it in these highlight videos. His skills are off the chart. I had no idea his handles, quickness and hops were that high level. I would love to see him back in Norman!
Thanks for posting, Sooner23.
I think Ray and TMG would work very well together. Ray could play alongside TMG, but also could push it on the break and let TMG spot up. They could work together either way.
Collins/Chalmers/Robinson is a great example of this. So was Dee Brown and Deron Williams at Illinois.
I think Ray and TMG would work very well together. Ray could play alongside TMG, but also could push it on the break and let TMG spot up. They could work together either way.
Collins/Chalmers/Robinson is a great example of this. So was Dee Brown and Deron Williams at Illinois.
I agree if Capel got Clark, Taylor and Ray it would be ok to finish out the class with two big guys that are not 4 or 5 star guys. But I'd rather have somebody like Julian Washburn or James Johnson that might develop into a good player and play 4 years at OU than two juco big guys that end up at USC Aiken or Western Kentucky after barely touching the floor at OU.
Taking two juco big men in 2001 is a lot better deal than in 2009. Juco bball is just not what it was 10 years ago. There's not a lot of Ace McGhees and Taj Grays out there right now.