Including Daryl Macon, the 6-3 SG and 1st-team juco AA who is already committed, here is how I rank the prospects who have Hog offers (and who I believe we have a legit chance to sign) in the Class of 2016 ...
1. Jaylen Fisher, 6-1 PG, 4-star and Top 50 prospect ... simply put, he makes everybody better when he's on the floor because he sees where everybody is and where they are going no matter where he is on the floor, thus he can beat you from 94 feet away from the basket. He reminds me of a smaller, poor man's Jason Kidd, and I think we'd have him for at least 3 seasons, and probably all 4. This guy knows how and when to set the table, his timing is already NBA-level good, and he can finish it himself when necessary.
2. Malik Monk, 6-4 SG, 5-star and Top 5 prospect ... his mission is to be a 1-and-done, and he is an offensive machine with extraordinary athleticism. Handles and defense are behind the rest of his game, and the fact that he is looking to be in the NBA in a year drops him down my list a bit. Still, he's the best high school player ever from Arkansas, IMO, and will be one of the most electric college SGs in 2016.
3. Cameron McGriff, 6-7, SF/PF, 4-star and Top 100 prospect ... the more I watch, the more I like. I see some Chris Jefferies, Chris Porter, and Andre Igoudola mixed in his game. Not saying he'll be as good as any of those guys, but he's got the potential to be very good in a Hog uniform. He's improved his perimeter game, and he is a fantastic, fearless one-legged jumper who looks to home everything, but has enough agility and skill to adjust to finish when he can't dunk it. Strong kid who can help at either the 3 or 4, and I love that versatility. Hogs are the team to beat here, and you can bet they're selling him on being the next Michael Qualls. McGriff is ahead of where Qualls was at the same stage, and no reason to think our staff can't help develop him into a future NBA draft pick.
4. Jaylen Barford, 6-3, CG, honorable mention juco AA in 2015 and Top 10 juco prospect in 2016 ... strong and athletic, can score and facilitate, and could probably defend 3 positions. Reminds me of a more athletic, more fit Marlon Towns. A bull with some skill. Would fit in nicely with Whitt, Macon, Hannahs, Manny ... and Fisher.
5. Arlando Cook, 6-8, PF, Top 10 juco prospect in 2016 ... of the several 6-8ish post players that the Hogs are after, this one is more physically developed/stronger than the others, he's the most athletic, and he seems to be more comfortable banging than the others. With Kapita gone, this guy seems like a similar type athlete/banger combo who can make an immediate impact inside the lane and around the basket.
6. Daryl Macon, 6-3, SG, 1st-team juco AA in 2015 and Top 10 juco prospect in 2016 ... old-school smooth operator who does not need to have the ball in his hands to create offense. Adept at hiding/slipping behind perimeter defenders, and off-setting to set up for quick, smooth catch-and-shoot perimeter shots (reminds me of a smaller version of Scotty Thurman in this regard). Can also put it on the deck and finish in the mid-range. His 3-point FG, 2-point FG, and FT percentages are all very good to great. Could be the sleeper of the class because he is so efficient and is very difficult to guard.
7. Eric Curry, 6-8 PF, 4-star and Top 100 prospect ... I was not as high on him 2 months ago as I am today. When I watched him match up with some worthy in-state bigs 4-5 times in the last 6 months, his ball skills were lacking inside and his slender build did not lend itself to rough, physical play at the next level. What has changed for me? Well, his PRODUCTION against elite level talent in the Nike EYBL over the summer was a testament to his motor, quickness, and desire, and though he is slender and appears to lack strength, he just finds ways to get the job done inside. Has a great knack for tracking the ball in traffic and outworking other bigs. If he improves his shot facing from the high post, and develops a couple of pet moves down low where he can use his quickness to beat slower, bigger forwards and finish, then he can be a real asset at the next level.
8. Tyler Cook, 6-7 PF, 4-star and Top 80 prospect ... he's got the post moves that I wish Curry had. Bball IQ and talent are there for a big, but his motor and athleticism are concerns for me. Still, he's solidly built with post skill. If anybody can get a kid to play hard for 40 minutes, it's MA, so this kid is one I'd love for us to land. Upside is there, just want to see him play hard at both ends at all times.
9. Mitchell Smith, 6-9 PF, 3-star prospect ... lots of skill, prefers facing the basket and can get the job done with either hand off drives inside, Bball IQ is solid, and athleticism is good, but is not active enough, slender and weak, shies away from physical play / contact inside, and lacks mental toughness. All of the negatives have trumped the positives, and you can tell that by simply looking at the production against similar talent. I will say I saw some improvement in the negative areas the last time I saw him, but not enough to say that I believe he will be a good high-major player. Still, with his skill, height, and athleticism, I'm good with his offer because again, I believe in MA's ability to get guys to play hard and develop.
1. Jaylen Fisher, 6-1 PG, 4-star and Top 50 prospect ... simply put, he makes everybody better when he's on the floor because he sees where everybody is and where they are going no matter where he is on the floor, thus he can beat you from 94 feet away from the basket. He reminds me of a smaller, poor man's Jason Kidd, and I think we'd have him for at least 3 seasons, and probably all 4. This guy knows how and when to set the table, his timing is already NBA-level good, and he can finish it himself when necessary.
2. Malik Monk, 6-4 SG, 5-star and Top 5 prospect ... his mission is to be a 1-and-done, and he is an offensive machine with extraordinary athleticism. Handles and defense are behind the rest of his game, and the fact that he is looking to be in the NBA in a year drops him down my list a bit. Still, he's the best high school player ever from Arkansas, IMO, and will be one of the most electric college SGs in 2016.
3. Cameron McGriff, 6-7, SF/PF, 4-star and Top 100 prospect ... the more I watch, the more I like. I see some Chris Jefferies, Chris Porter, and Andre Igoudola mixed in his game. Not saying he'll be as good as any of those guys, but he's got the potential to be very good in a Hog uniform. He's improved his perimeter game, and he is a fantastic, fearless one-legged jumper who looks to home everything, but has enough agility and skill to adjust to finish when he can't dunk it. Strong kid who can help at either the 3 or 4, and I love that versatility. Hogs are the team to beat here, and you can bet they're selling him on being the next Michael Qualls. McGriff is ahead of where Qualls was at the same stage, and no reason to think our staff can't help develop him into a future NBA draft pick.
4. Jaylen Barford, 6-3, CG, honorable mention juco AA in 2015 and Top 10 juco prospect in 2016 ... strong and athletic, can score and facilitate, and could probably defend 3 positions. Reminds me of a more athletic, more fit Marlon Towns. A bull with some skill. Would fit in nicely with Whitt, Macon, Hannahs, Manny ... and Fisher.
5. Arlando Cook, 6-8, PF, Top 10 juco prospect in 2016 ... of the several 6-8ish post players that the Hogs are after, this one is more physically developed/stronger than the others, he's the most athletic, and he seems to be more comfortable banging than the others. With Kapita gone, this guy seems like a similar type athlete/banger combo who can make an immediate impact inside the lane and around the basket.
6. Daryl Macon, 6-3, SG, 1st-team juco AA in 2015 and Top 10 juco prospect in 2016 ... old-school smooth operator who does not need to have the ball in his hands to create offense. Adept at hiding/slipping behind perimeter defenders, and off-setting to set up for quick, smooth catch-and-shoot perimeter shots (reminds me of a smaller version of Scotty Thurman in this regard). Can also put it on the deck and finish in the mid-range. His 3-point FG, 2-point FG, and FT percentages are all very good to great. Could be the sleeper of the class because he is so efficient and is very difficult to guard.
7. Eric Curry, 6-8 PF, 4-star and Top 100 prospect ... I was not as high on him 2 months ago as I am today. When I watched him match up with some worthy in-state bigs 4-5 times in the last 6 months, his ball skills were lacking inside and his slender build did not lend itself to rough, physical play at the next level. What has changed for me? Well, his PRODUCTION against elite level talent in the Nike EYBL over the summer was a testament to his motor, quickness, and desire, and though he is slender and appears to lack strength, he just finds ways to get the job done inside. Has a great knack for tracking the ball in traffic and outworking other bigs. If he improves his shot facing from the high post, and develops a couple of pet moves down low where he can use his quickness to beat slower, bigger forwards and finish, then he can be a real asset at the next level.
8. Tyler Cook, 6-7 PF, 4-star and Top 80 prospect ... he's got the post moves that I wish Curry had. Bball IQ and talent are there for a big, but his motor and athleticism are concerns for me. Still, he's solidly built with post skill. If anybody can get a kid to play hard for 40 minutes, it's MA, so this kid is one I'd love for us to land. Upside is there, just want to see him play hard at both ends at all times.
9. Mitchell Smith, 6-9 PF, 3-star prospect ... lots of skill, prefers facing the basket and can get the job done with either hand off drives inside, Bball IQ is solid, and athleticism is good, but is not active enough, slender and weak, shies away from physical play / contact inside, and lacks mental toughness. All of the negatives have trumped the positives, and you can tell that by simply looking at the production against similar talent. I will say I saw some improvement in the negative areas the last time I saw him, but not enough to say that I believe he will be a good high-major player. Still, with his skill, height, and athleticism, I'm good with his offer because again, I believe in MA's ability to get guys to play hard and develop.
