njcoug wrote:

from DH's blog

There is a very good chance Trent Plaisted will decide to turn professional, likely for play in Europe, and that will make two scholarships open for fall.

http://deseretnews.com/blogs/1,5322,19,00.html
As has been noted he graduates this April. So unless he wants to go through the rigors of a graduate degree, he would not be eligible next year.

Not neccessarily. Fulfilling the requirements to graduate in your major does not mean you are forced to graduate. Trent has the legitimate option of adding a minor or a second major, and he could even just take more classes. While most people want to get out as soon as possible, staying around a year to polish your education is not out of the ordinary.

And, FWIW, take note that this tidbit about Europe is coming from DH's blog, so there is a very real chance that the comment about leaving for Europe was more an editorializing comment on Trent's prospect than it was a revelation of Trent's plan for the future.

Plaisted reminds of Russ Larsen - he did not significantly improve after his freshman year. It seems to be the curse of many BYU basketball players, such as Bigelow, Jared Jensen, and Matt Montague.

However, having said that, anyone who suggests Miles is a decent replacement for Plaisted is delusional or a Timpview homer (providing there is a difference). Miles is perhaps the only other person on campus who shoots worse than Plaisted. Furthermore, he doesn't have the athletic ability of Trent. I highly doubt that Miles will ever average over 6 points/game. Those are just the facts. Trent is a really good college player. However, he doesn't seem to be blessed in the touch department. If he had Raffa's shooting ability he would be an NBA player. I hope he develops it for his sake.

If Trent can find a good situation in Europe, he would be wise to take it as athleticism is usually the first thing to go, and that is his natural advantage. However, I think the best deal he may find next year is free tuition, with a chance to make a little more.

Go Cougs!!!!!!

Hawkeye-Coug wrote:

Plaisted reminds of Russ Larsen - he did not significantly improve after his freshman year. It seems to be the curse of many BYU basketball players, such as Bigelow, Jared Jensen, and Matt Montague.

However, having said that, anyone who suggests Miles is a decent replacement for Plaisted is delusional or a Timpview homer (providing there is a difference). Miles is perhaps the only other person on campus who shoots worse than Plaisted. Furthermore, he doesn't have the athletic ability of Trent. I highly doubt that Miles will ever average over 6 points/game. Those are just the facts. Trent is a really good college player. However, he doesn't seem to be blessed in the touch department. If he had Raffa's shooting ability he would be an NBA player. I hope he develops it for his sake.

If Trent can find a good situation in Europe, he would be wise to take it as athleticism is usually the first thing to go, and that is his natural advantage. However, I think the best deal he may find next year is free tuition, with a chance to make a little more.

Go Cougs!!!!!!

When you say shooting...are you saying free throws? Yes, Miles numbers this year aren't that great in comparison to Trent's, but let's take a closer look at Mile's numbers and while we do keep in mind he actually served and completed a two year mission.

Coming off a two year break from basketball Miles averaged 2.5 points/game this year. Pathetic, I know, but he only averaged 8.6 minutes a game. During Miles freshman year when he was in "better" shape he averaged 2.7 points/game and played over 13 minutes a game. So, he's averaging nearly the same points as his freshman year but playing 5 min less. I would say even with the two year break he's more productive.

Trent this year averaged 15.6 points/game at 27.4 minutes/game, that's over 3 times as much playing time than Miles. Say Trent leaves, Miles doesn't improve during the off season, Miles continues the same productivity next year and Miles sees roughly the same amount of time Trent saw (24 min/game), Miles would average 7.5 points/game. That's more than your 6 point projection and assumes Miles doesn't improve, which he likely will. In fact, the numbers suggest Miles improved even after not playing basketball for two years. Maybe Trent should try that.

In regards to free throws, yes Miles is worse than Trent. However, during his freshman year Miles shot 70 percent from the line. A precentage Trent has never even come close to in the last 3 years. Give Miles the off season to practice and work out mechanics and he'll shoot better than Trent from the line.

Sure, Miles shot 43 percent from the line and from the field this year, but that will improve and he's only 10 percentage points below Trent (54 percent from the field and line), meaning Trent only makes a tenth more shots than Miles. Miles shot 36 percent his freshman year, so Miles increased his percentage by nearly 10 percentage points in his first season after his mission. I think you are underestimating Miles as indicated by the numbers. He'll be around 10 points a game next year, especially if Trent leaves.

Gunk wrote:

Hawkeye-Coug wrote:

Plaisted reminds of Russ Larsen - he did not significantly improve after his freshman year. It seems to be the curse of many BYU basketball players, such as Bigelow, Jared Jensen, and Matt Montague.

However, having said that, anyone who suggests Miles is a decent replacement for Plaisted is delusional or a Timpview homer (providing there is a difference). Miles is perhaps the only other person on campus who shoots worse than Plaisted. Furthermore, he doesn't have the athletic ability of Trent. I highly doubt that Miles will ever average over 6 points/game. Those are just the facts. Trent is a really good college player. However, he doesn't seem to be blessed in the touch department. If he had Raffa's shooting ability he would be an NBA player. I hope he develops it for his sake.

If Trent can find a good situation in Europe, he would be wise to take it as athleticism is usually the first thing to go, and that is his natural advantage. However, I think the best deal he may find next year is free tuition, with a chance to make a little more.

Go Cougs!!!!!!

When you say shooting...are you saying free throws? Yes, Miles numbers this year aren't that great in comparison to Trent's, but let's take a closer look at Mile's numbers and while we do keep in mind he actually served and completed a two year mission.

Coming off a two year break from basketball Miles averaged 2.5 points/game this year. Pathetic, I know, but he only averaged 8.6 minutes a game. During Miles freshman year when he was in "better" shape he averaged 2.7 points/game and played over 13 minutes a game. So, he's averaging nearly the same points as his freshman year but playing 5 min less. I would say even with the two year break he's more productive.

Trent this year averaged 15.6 points/game at 27.4 minutes/game, that's over 3 times as much playing time than Miles. Say Trent leaves, Miles doesn't improve during the off season, Miles continues the same productivity next year and Miles sees roughly the same amount of time Trent saw (24 min/game), Miles would average 7.5 points/game. That's more than your 6 point projection and assumes Miles doesn't improve, which he likely will. In fact, the numbers suggest Miles improved even after not playing basketball for two years. Maybe Trent should have tried that.

In regards to free throws, yes Miles is worse than Trent. However, during his freshman year Miles shot 70 percent from the line. A precentage Trent has never even come close to in the last 3 years. Give Miles the off season to practice and work out mechanics and he'll shoot better than Trent from the line.

Sure, Miles shot 43 percent from the line and from the field this year, but that will improve and he's only 10 percentage points below Trent (54 percent from the field and line), meaning Trent only makes a tenth more shots than Miles. Miles shot 36 percent his freshman year, so Miles increased his percentage by nearly 10 percentage points in his first season after his mission. I think you are underestimating Miles as indicated by the numbers. He'll be around 10 points a game next year, especially if Trent leaves.

I would much sooner lose Plaisted than lose Lee Cummard. I think Plaisted is a good player, but as said before, if he goes it is basically saying that he doesn't really respect the program at BYU. Whatever, I am looking forward to Football season.

Go Cougs

njcoug wrote:

from DH's blog

There is a very good chance Trent Plaisted will decide to turn professional, likely for play in Europe, and that will make two scholarships open for fall.

http://deseretnews.com/blogs/1,5322,19,00.html
As has been noted he graduates this April. So unless he wants to go through the rigors of a graduate degree, he would not be eligible next year. No doubt you can make some money over in Europe playing b-ball (especially with the situation of the dollar) but once over in Europe he will be branded a European player and won't ever come to the NBA.
IMO his stumbling blocks to becoming a better player are mental. At the beginning of the year he was hustling and using his right hand to finish. By mid season it seemed like he had lost confidence and was hustling less. At the end of the season he had stopped all together using his right hand and every time went to that ugly "hook shot."
Well if he does go best of luck.

Has he graduated? If not, he does not have the start a graduate degree, does he? Can't he pick up a(nother) minor or take some other undergraduate classes?