timmyboy wrote:

craigoscarson wrote:

Plummeted stock as NCAA POY? It is hardly "well documented" that he is staying due to career motives.....The guy wants a championship first and foremost (which actually is well documented); and aside from his obvious enthusiasm when he plays (and Trents complete lack of enthusiasm) Tylers stock won't improve by returning next season....... not much more you can do to top beating out Michael Beasley for POY.

His biggest problem is that he plays like a big man but most NBA scouts think he is only 6' 6" or 6' 7" at best http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/06/sports/ncaabasketball/06sidebar2.html

If he's that small, he needs to be athletic to survive in the NBA. There are lots of questions about that as well.

NBADraft.net had him in the late second round before he declared that he was returning.

DraftExpress had him at 29th.

Here is one of the most optimistic: #19 http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/chi-17-smith-britemar17,0,6005516.column

POY of the year means nothing to the NBA. Nothing. It's like winning the Heisman. Ask Troy Smith how much that helped him get a good draft spot.

On another note, I have seen several articles questioning the championship angle because few people are giving UNC a chance after so many of their key players are jumping in the draft. I'll have to see if I can find those.

Actually UNC is one of the best bets to win it all next year and didn't lose many players to the draft.
Hansbrough is a beast of a player and if effort guys like Luke Walton, Linus Kleiza, Eduardo Najera and even Matt Harpring can carve out careers in the NBA, so can Tyler. I also have much respect for the guy that he stayed. He actually was considered a lottery pick after his freshman year, but didn't take the money grab. His stock has gone down since, but who cares he's a great college basketball player and Trent Plaisted was just a great waste of a scholarship.

This rumor is now almost 3 days old with no confirmation by normal media outlets. I think it is safe to say that the individual who started it is not an insider as he claims. The safe bet is still that Trent will return next year.

NorCalBlue wrote:

I don't disagree with you in the least. What I said focused solely on his development as a player. I get sick of people saying a person isn't NBA ready and needs another year to improve for the NBA- well guess what- there are plenty of guys developing in the NBA or developmental leagues and another year at BYU won't help his development more to be a better NBA player- though, you are right- if BYU does really well it could help his draft stock- what I said was I figured he did that analysis and determined his stock would not go up next year. I don't know if I would disagree with that conclusion either.

I have enjoyed Trent athleticism. He runs the floor well for a big man and he has quick feet.

IMO, he needs to develop a higher release for his shot in the post (it seems to me he hucks up too many shots from just above shoulder level while leaning toward the basket which reduces his height advantage).

If he decides to go pro, maybe the NBA or Europe will help him develop his free throw shooting as well. But its hard for me to believe he couldn't work on those two things in Provo.

I hope to see him back at BYU, but I only wish him the best if he is able to make a career in basketball here in the US or in Europe/South America.

domanater wrote:

timmyboy wrote:

craigoscarson wrote:

Plummeted stock as NCAA POY? It is hardly "well documented" that he is staying due to career motives.....The guy wants a championship first and foremost (which actually is well documented); and aside from his obvious enthusiasm when he plays (and Trents complete lack of enthusiasm) Tylers stock won't improve by returning next season....... not much more you can do to top beating out Michael Beasley for POY.

His biggest problem is that he plays like a big man but most NBA scouts think he is only 6' 6" or 6' 7" at best http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/06/sports/ncaabasketball/06sidebar2.html

If he's that small, he needs to be athletic to survive in the NBA. There are lots of questions about that as well.

NBADraft.net had him in the late second round before he declared that he was returning.

DraftExpress had him at 29th.

Here is one of the most optimistic: #19 http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/chi-17-smith-britemar17,0,6005516.column

POY of the year means nothing to the NBA. Nothing. It's like winning the Heisman. Ask Troy Smith how much that helped him get a good draft spot.

On another note, I have seen several articles questioning the championship angle because few people are giving UNC a chance after so many of their key players are jumping in the draft. I'll have to see if I can find those.

Actually UNC is one of the best bets to win it all next year and didn't lose many players to the draft.
Hansbrough is a beast of a player and if effort guys like Luke Walton, Linus Kleiza, Eduardo Najera and even Matt Harpring can carve out careers in the NBA, so can Tyler. I also have much respect for the guy that he stayed. He actually was considered a lottery pick after his freshman year, but didn't take the money grab. His stock has gone down since, but who cares he's a great college basketball player and Trent Plaisted was just a great waste of a scholarship.

If Lawson and Ellington stick in the draft (most people believe they will), no one is giving UNC a shot. That's 2 of their big 3 gone.

Hansbrough is a good player and has a shot at being a good player in the NBA. I never disputed that.

If you really believe that "Trent Plaisted was just a great waste of a scholarship," then you have a very poor understanding of basketball. The guy comes to BYU and leads the team in rebounding and scoring his freshman (not counting his injury year) year. He then comes in second in both categories to the MWC player of the year his sophomore and junior years.

By pure coincidence, the team is 9-21 the year before he starts to lead the team and 20-9, 25-9, and 27-8 in the three years mentioned above. Those three seasons only had two things in common: Dave Rose as head coach and Trent Plaisted as one of the team leaders. A head coach can't do it on his own. To call Trent Plaisted anything short of one of the key elements to BYU's success these last three years is sheer folly. Don't get me wrong, the guy has his flaws. But that doesn't warrant stupid statements like yours.

Perhaps the most overrated thing in all of sports is staying in school to develop your game. The NBA rarely drafts based on how polished a player is, but based on what their upside is. There are very few players ready to be successful in the NBA from day 1. The NBA knows that. That's why most draft picks spend a large amount of time on the bench or in the D-league before they are ready to contribute in a couple of years.

Look at the Lakers. Bynum's potential was undeniable. It took 2 full seasons before he really became a player in the league. Jordan Farmar bounced back and forth from the D-league to the NBA THIS SEASON. And now, he's a contributor.

If the question is development, there is no question going pro will give you the best chance for development if you are drafted. If you may not be drafted then going back to school may be your best bet since there are no guarantees.

Honestly, I think this rumor is true, and that Trent is not coming back. He almost didn't come back last year. There is enough noise about his problems with the coaching staff over the last couple of years to make me think that at least some of it is true.

Trent has finished his degree, has a wife, and maybe just actually wants to get on with his life. Sadly, the best year for him to go may have been after his Freshman year. He hasn't improved much since then, but teams draft on potential. Now scouts have more info on him, and see that he hasn't improved much the last couple of years, thus limiting the perceived potential in some peoples minds.