West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[IUP Extra Mile]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Hill may be a better shooter when he's wide open but at just 5'10" he would struggle getting shots off at the high D1 level. The 6'8" guys who can launch are a nightmare to defend. By the time he gets to Albany he'll probably put on 20 pounds and maybe grow an inch (it's possible). But, yes, his frame as of now is way to fragile to play at a high level. In the P5 the guards will be more talented and faster in addition to being physically superior. Not a good combination.


In my opinion, I've seen very few players (I'll just use the past decade for reference) in the Atlantic who could have been legitimate contributors at the P5 level. And, this is based on the player they became by their senior season.

Seger Bonifant (although it would likely have been as a guard)
Cobo Diaz
Brandon Norfleet
Thomas Wimbush
Haywood Highsmith
Dustin Sleva
Amir Hinton
Darryl Webb
Patrick Smith

Maybe Monteroso as a d1 hoop player...he played d1 football, not sure his jumper is D1 worthy, his athleticism was easily thpugh.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Maybe tyree gaiter from notre Dame or chance from iup? No one could handle tyree in the summer league. Big reason they won the championship

Tough question. They'd be both on the short list for sure. Adam Blazek from Gannon was real good.

We get so in to a particular season and as years go by things get foggy.

[Columbuseer]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Maybe tyree gaiter from notre Dame or chance from iup? No one could handle tyree in the summer league. Big reason they won the championship

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Add a PG to my list and that could be the All-Atlantic, All-Decade team. Imagine THAT as a D2 team all together. Wow.

[Columbuseer]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Hill may be a better shooter when he's wide open but at just 5'10" he would struggle getting shots off at the high D1 level. The 6'8" guys who can launch are a nightmare to defend. By the time he gets to Albany he'll probably put on 20 pounds and maybe grow an inch (it's possible). But, yes, his frame as of now is way to fragile to play at a high level. In the P5 the guards will be more talented and faster in addition to being physically superior. Not a good combination.


In my opinion, I've seen very few players (I'll just use the past decade for reference) in the Atlantic who could have been legitimate contributors at the P5 level. And, this is based on the player they became by their senior season.

Seger Bonifant (although it would likely have been as a guard)
Cobo Diaz
Brandon Norfleet
Thomas Wimbush
Haywood Highsmith
Dustin Sleva
Amir Hinton
Darryl Webb
Patrick Smith

There are others who could have made the team and been deep bench guys, but I think those guys were all legit D1 players (and all had the coveted size, etc.). Many of them were 'late bloomers' per say and got overlooked coming out of high school.


And, I'm sure I missed a few so hold off on the attacks !!!! LOL

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

I would not be surprised if Hill shot better than Robinson of Michigan from 3.

Unfortunately,mid to high major D1 (and NBA) puts a significant value on size and strength. NBA players are first determined by DNA, then they are made through hard work. A 5-10, 150 lb guard just does not fit the DNA profile.

Robinson was 6-8 with very high basketball IQ, which is required (and further developed in Beilein's system). Despite playing at Michigan, he was not drafted, but was a free agent. What helped him was his size and the recent emphasis on 3 pt shooting in the NBA. Robinson is only making 1.3M and was guaranteed that just late in the summer. What also helped him is that his team needs bodies and they have no cap money.

IMHO, Hill's pro feature is overseas (and perhaps Robinson too). WL would have given him experience in the non-dribble drive, team based game of Europe. I hope it works out for him to play overseas.

Hill may be a better shooter when he's wide open but at just 5'10" he would struggle getting shots off at the high D1 level. The 6'8" guys who can launch are a nightmare to defend. By the time he gets to Albany he'll probably put on 20 pounds and maybe grow an inch (it's possible). But, yes, his frame as of now is way to fragile to play at a high level. In the P5 the guards will be more talented and faster in addition to being physically superior. Not a good combination.


In my opinion, I've seen very few players (I'll just use the past decade for reference) in the Atlantic who could have been legitimate contributors at the P5 level. And, this is based on the player they became by their senior season.

Seger Bonifant (although it would likely have been as a guard)
Cobo Diaz
Brandon Norfleet
Thomas Wimbush
Haywood Highsmith
Dustin Sleva
Amir Hinton
Darryl Webb
Patrick Smith

There are others who could have made the team and been deep bench guys, but I think those guys were all legit D1 players (and all had the coveted size, etc.). Many of them were 'late bloomers' per say and got overlooked coming out of high school.


And, I'm sure I missed a few so hold off on the attacks !!!! LOL

[Columbuseer]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

This is the opposite side of the Yahel Hill discussion. Had that kid stayed down in the bush leagues of D3 (or even D2) he very likely would not be on the Miami Heat right now. He'd have been stereotyped as just a star player in a low-talent level (NBA-wise). Once he proved he could do it at Michigan that changed the whole outlook and caught the attention of the big leagues.

Obviously Hill isn't going anywhere near a Michigan level school, but you see the theory that moving up can work for some of these guys.

Amir Hinton would have benefited greatly from moving up and playing one year at the D1 level (not bush leagues D1).

I would not be surprised if Hill shot better than Robinson of Michigan from 3.

Unfortunately,mid to high major D1 (and NBA) puts a significant value on size and strength. NBA players are first determined by DNA, then they are made through hard work. A 5-10, 150 lb guard just does not fit the DNA profile.

Robinson was 6-8 with very high basketball IQ, which is required (and further developed in Beilein's system). Despite playing at Michigan, he was not drafted, but was a free agent. What helped him was his size and the recent emphasis on 3 pt shooting in the NBA. Robinson is only making 1.3M and was guaranteed that just late in the summer. What also helped him is that his team needs bodies and they have no cap money.

IMHO, Hill's pro feature is overseas (and perhaps Robinson too). WL would have given him experience in the non-dribble drive, team based game of Europe. I hope it works out for him to play overseas.

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

This is the opposite side of the Yahel Hill discussion. Had that kid stayed down in the bush leagues of D3 (or even D2) he very likely would not be on the Miami Heat right now. He'd have been stereotyped as just a star player in a low-talent level (NBA-wise). Once he proved he could do it at Michigan that changed the whole outlook and caught the attention of the big leagues.

Obviously Hill isn't going anywhere near a Michigan level school, but you see the theory that moving up can work for some of these guys.

Amir Hinton would have benefited greatly from moving up and playing one year at the D1 level (not bush leagues D1).

Yes...true for so many players! Of course, that is assuming he performed at the big time D1 level. Quite a few players that play D1 that never get a sniff from the NBA OR the G-League.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Great story. 6-8 who played for former beilein assistant at Williams college. Deadly 3 point shooter (but not as good as bonifant). Beilein originally offered walk on role but gave him scholarship after seeing him play during recruiting visit. Other power 5 schools were very interested too so Robinson had leverage.

I could be wrong but since there are no athletic scholarships in d3 there are no transfer restrictions. Robinson did redshirt his first year at Michigan.

This is the opposite side of the Yahel Hill discussion. Had that kid stayed down in the bush leagues of D3 (or even D2) he very likely would not be on the Miami Heat right now. He'd have been stereotyped as just a star player in a low-talent level (NBA-wise). Once he proved he could do it at Michigan that changed the whole outlook and caught the attention of the big leagues.

Obviously Hill isn't going anywhere near a Michigan level school, but you see the theory that moving up can work for some of these guys.

Amir Hinton would have benefited greatly from moving up and playing one year at the D1 level (not bush leagues D1).

[Columbuseer]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Duncan Robinson went from D3 to Michigan a few years back on scholarship and now on the Miami Heat, quite the story

Great story. 6-8 who played for former beilein assistant at Williams college. Deadly 3 point shooter (but not as good as bonifant). Beilein originally offered walk on role but gave him scholarship after seeing him play during recruiting visit. Other power 5 schools were very interested too so Robinson had leverage.

I could be wrong but since there are no athletic scholarships in d3 there are no transfer restrictions. Robinson did redshirt his first year at Michigan.

[Layton]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

If you go straight from D2 to D1 you have to sit a year. He could have done that had he had an offer and it would essentially been his redshirt season.

[Layton]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Duncan Robinson went from D3 to Michigan a few years back on scholarship and now on the Miami Heat, quite the story

[Columbuseer]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

If you go straight from D2 to D1 you have to sit a year. He could have done that had he had an offer and it would essentially been his redshirt season.

A coach had better have a long term contract if they give a scholarship to a D2 player and also pay for him to sit out during his transfer year. I think the risk is just too great. I just cannot see that happening, especially in this case, where a player's ability to succeed at D1 level is not guaranteed.

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

If you go straight from D2 to D1 you have to sit a year. He could have done that had he had an offer and it would essentially been his redshirt season.

I would imagine that he still could go...that is if he has an actual offer from Albany. Somthing tells me the offer is more in his head than an actual real thing!!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Yes, he would have 3 years to play 2 at the new school

If you go straight from D2 to D1 you have to sit a year. He could have done that had he had an offer and it would essentially been his redshirt season.