Tyler Neal... the biggest surprise of the class?

[thebigabd]

Tyler Neal, 6'7'' 209. Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year.

• 42% 3pt shooter
• 80% foul shooter
• Voted best dunker on team
• Voted third best overall athlete on team

I got the impression when OU signed him that he would strictly be a shooter off the bench, and be a guy with limited athletic ability but lots of hustle, etc.

Then I watched the practice videos, and I kid you not the guy looks more athletic than Cameron Clark. Then he gets voted by his teammates as the best dunker on a team with Romero Osby (a big athlete), Cameron Clark (a big time athlete), and some other pretty athletic guys.

Im not sure what to think of him or his future here now... What will his role on this years team be?

 

[SoonerNorm]

Tyler Neal, 6'7'' 209. Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year.

• 42% 3pt shooter
• 80% foul shooter
• Voted best dunker on team
• Voted third best overall athlete on team

I got the impression when OU signed him that he would strictly be a shooter off the bench, and be a guy with limited athletic ability but lots of hustle, etc.

Then I watched the practice videos, and I kid you not the guy looks more athletic than Cameron Clark. Then he gets voted by his teammates as the best dunker on a team with Romero Osby (a big athlete), Cameron Clark (a big time athlete), and some other pretty athletic guys.

Im not sure what to think of him or his future here now... What will his role on this years team be?

Abd, right after he committed to OU I talked to a coach at PC West who told me that Neal has the tools to be a really nice college player. He is athletic, works hard, is smart, and very coachable. I think most coaches would love to have a kid like that on a 13 player roster.

 

[ksSooner13]

Then he gets voted by his teammates as the best dunker on a team with Romero Osby (a big athlete), Cameron Clark (a big time athlete), and some other pretty athletic guys.

Ya, I don't buy that he was truly voted the best dunker on the team, I've seen Neal and TJ Taylor in a dunk competition and Neal frankly wasn't that impressive... also, look at the OUhoops video on Cam Clark when he does his windmill dunk, Neal is not the best dunker on this team.

However, I do agree that he has a very bright future and that he very far under the radar. I am excited to see what he does to help this team in his 4 years on the squad.

 

[Edmond_Sooner]

I see him much like I did Cade Davis as a freshman...

an athletic hustling type of guy that will earn some minutes because he is smart and doesnt make mistakes...not gonna give us a whole lot offensively but does have the ability to knock down the open shot...

also, Cade was a very nice jumper in high school as well when you look at him in some dunk contests but that doesnt always translate to the court in games...i hope Tyler has more "game" hops but am not holding my breath...

Looking for progression out of him and a guy that will contribute as a starter by the time he is a Junior, with playing time sprinkled in this year and more next year...

 

[campbest]

Abd, right after he committed to OU I talked to a coach at PC West who told me that Neal has the tools to be a really nice college player. He is athletic, works hard, is smart, and very coachable. I think most coaches would love to have a kid like that on a 13 player roster.

The great equalizer in college basketball, this guy will be better than advertised over time due to those qualities.

 

[thebigabd]

Ya, I don't buy that he was truly voted the best dunker on the team

They lied?

also, look at the OUhoops video on Cam Clark when he does his windmill dunk, Neal is not the best dunker on this team.

Are you saying Neal can't do a windmill?

 

[coolm]

I remember a few people made positive comments about his athleticism after the first tapes we saw. He can certainly get up and throw it down.

WHat would be nice would be to see him pressing the matter and wearing himself out getting up and down the floor. With that length, that athleticism, and that court sense he could make himself into a Big-12 terror right out of the blocks.

 

[trueou]

I think he and TJ Franklin will be fighting for the highest GPA on the team.

 

[Sam]

They lied?



Are you saying Neal can't do a windmill?

I think what KS is implying is that it might have been a bit of a joke on the T Neal voting. I've seen Tyler Neal and Cameron both dunk in person and I would say that Cameron is a much more impressive dunker. So unless things have changed a lot in the past few months I would suspect that Clark is better than Neal at throwing down.

Lets compare videos.
Cameron
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGYbGqgGLNs[/ame]
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bjlqu6EUVqs&feature=fvw[/ame]

Tyler
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fk-SQIjE4mM&feature=related[/ame]

 

[sybarite]

It could be that they are basing their conclusions on what they have seen in preseason practice rather than on highschool.

 

[Sam]

If that is the case than Tyler has progressed rather quickly in his athletic ability and guys like Cameron and Osby aren't as explosive dunkers as previous signs had indicated.

 

[thebigabd]

I think what KS is implying is that it might have been a bit of a joke on the T Neal voting.

Why would they do that?

 

[gracefor24]

A kid like Neal could and probably has made huge progress in the strength and conditioning program.

 

[ksSooner13]

Why would they do that?

Abd, did you never play a practical joke on a guy in college?? As much as our team is talented on the court, they are a bunch of goofs, as seen personally from the social events they have partaken in on campus.

 

[thebigabd]

Abd, did you never play a practical joke on a guy in college?? As much as our team is talented on the court, they are a bunch of goofs, as seen personally from the social events they have partaken in on campus.

So, we are to assume that these are not actual votes?

Tyler Neal is not the best dunker?
Nick Thompson is not the best vocal leader?
Romero isnt the best overall athlete?
Calvin doesn't have the messiest locker?

I just don't know what to believe now. How are we supposed to know whats a joke and whats real?

 

[BanjoCharley]

ksSooner13 is actually a joke, he was made up by the team to play a joke on you (joking, of course - maybe)

 

[SilliSooner]

If Tyler is a better dunker than Romero Osby, that's saying something. A 42% 3-point shooter with some lift can play D-1 ball.

That being said, the team is shaping up. I'm moving us up from 8th in B12 to 5th.

 

[campbest]

If Tyler is a better dunker than Romero Osby, that's saying something. A 42% 3-point shooter with some lift can play D-1 ball.

That being said, the team is shaping up. I'm moving us up from 8th in B12 to 5th.

lol based on what? Who the players voted for certain categories?

 

[coolm]

lol based on what? Who the players voted for certain categories?

...and what's wrong with that?

I moved them up based on a banana bruise I saw this morning that looked like Top Dawg.

 

[Max Power]

...and what's wrong with that?

I moved them up based on a banana bruise I saw this morning that looked like Top Dawg.

What a coincidence, I saw one that looked like Billy Tubbs this morning