My Mea Culpa on Taylor Brown

[doug shank's crossover]

I know that one game, one data point, isn't sufficient to draw definitive conclusions about the upside of a player....but, after the Wofford game, I'm beginning to think that I was completely wrong about my assessment of TB after last season. I had TB pegged as one of those "try hard" guys who's always in the right place at the right time for loose balls and rebounds, but not necessarily a player with any significant upside or athleticism. In fact, I believe that in a post last year I compared him to Bobby Ford (a 6'4" forward who played for Versace, for those of you under 45 yrs old). After watching the Wofford game, I'm convinced that he's going to be much better than that. He's more than just a try hard guy. He's got decent athleticism and nice shooting form out to about 15-18 feet. He's instinctive, not lucky. He's also got NBA bloodlines. I'll go out on a limb here and say that if he can develop a consistent perimeter jump shot to go with his "in the paint" abilities, he'll end up closer to Harold McMath than Bobby Ford. And that bodes well for a BU team that desperately needs that hybryd forward presence in the lineup.

 

[tornado]

If TB can develop his outside shot, he can be a great player...a mid-major version of Carmelo and could help BU a ton!

 

[lake Camelot]

I'll go out on a limb here and say that if he can develop a consistent perimeter jump shot to go with his "in the paint" abilities, he'll end up closer to Harold McMath than Bobby Ford.

Harold McMath is probably my all time favorite Brave for hard work and hustle. He was playing when I first started watching BU. It hurts me to says this but I would hope he would be a lot better than Harold McMath. I already think he may be better. He has an offensive game that Harold never had. He is not quite the rebounder and needs to work on D, but I hope he has a much higher ceiling.

 

[Braves4Life]

I'm beginning to think that I was completely wrong about my assessment of TB after last season. ..... I believe that in a post last year I compared him to Bobby Ford .......if he can develop a consistent perimeter jump shot to go with his "in the paint" abilities, he'll end up closer to Harold McMath than Bobby Ford.

You're not alone doug. I think I said the same thing.... "a man without a position". I think I will be proven wrong as well.

Oh, and I agree with Camelot. I loved McMath but hope TB becomes a much better player; I think he will.

 

[houstontxbrave]

I really liked watching McMath as a player at BU but TB is far better right now then McMath. Yes McMath could board and played d but Brown has overall game something McMath didnt have.

Old School, TB reminds me somewhat of Robert Jenkins. But honestly we have not had a versital, inside outside player, do it all forward in a long time, I guess Deon was the last. But Deon didnt board like TB and did not have the ball handling that TB has.

 

[mrcoachdude]

I owe a bunch of people "I told you so" ...... but will reserve that after a few more games....

 

[doug shank's crossover]

I really liked watching McMath as a player at BU but TB is far better right now then McMath. Yes McMath could board and played d but Brown has overall game something McMath didnt have.

Old School, TB reminds me somewhat of Robert Jenkins. But honestly we have not had a versital, inside outside player, do it all forward in a long time, I guess Deon was the last. But Deon didnt board like TB and did not have the ball handling that TB has.

I agree with all your points...except that Robert Jenkins was ridiculously athletic. Had hops like crazy!

 

[houstontxbrave]

I agree with all your points...except that Robert Jenkins was ridiculously athletic. Had hops like crazy!

I think I say that about Jenkins because they look a little similar, long, look a bit layed back, go and get the ball off the rim. Brown has a better overall game, I can not think of a player who I have seen at BU with a game in line with Brown's.

 

[real fan]

I really liked watching McMath as a player at BU but TB is far better right now then McMath. Yes McMath could board and played d but Brown has overall game something McMath didnt have.

Old School, TB reminds me somewhat of Robert Jenkins. But honestly we have not had a versital, inside outside player, do it all forward in a long time, I guess Deon was the last. But Deon didnt board like TB and did not have the ball handling that TB has.

Taylor is much better then Harold and Robert ever were, Taylor is a better scorer and is only a sophomore, he has a chance to become a very special player at BU the next 3 seasons and the body to play in the NBA.

 

[thefish7]

Taylor is much better then Harold and Robert ever were, Taylor is a better scorer and is only a sophomore, he has a chance to become a very special player at BU the next 3 seasons and the body to play in the NBA.

He'd be very very small in the NBA, unfortunately.

 

[amckillip]

I think I say that about Jenkins because they look a little similar, long, look a bit layed back, go and get the ball off the rim. Brown has a better overall game, I can not think of a player who I have seen at BU with a game in line with Brown's.

Theron Wilson and Sommerville are the two most similar IMO. My knowledge is limited the last to decades, but I would say that TB is VERY much like TW. I don't see him be a true PF - like TW - but in the MVC you can excel despite, maybe even because of, that. TB has two inches on TW, but TW had better hops. Obviously there are ways the two are different, but I think TB has great potential.

I'd also like to point out that I see great potential in not only WE, but AT. I am always here championing SamM (which I will not stop), but something changed in AT this summer, maybe natural maturation, but last season I was secretly writing him off in my mind, and I'm glad I didn't voice that too strongly because I think he can be a real impact player this season.

Now, if we can just get our guards and bigs to have a good game, at the same time, we might just surprise OKSU/U of I/IASU...

 

[houstontxbrave]

Theron Wilson and Sommerville are the two most similar IMO. My knowledge is limited the last to decades, but I would say that TB is VERY much like TW. I don't see him be a true PF - like TW - but in the MVC you can excel despite, maybe even because of, that. TB has two inches on TW, but TW had better hops. Obviously there are ways the two are different, but I think TB has great potential.

I'd also like to point out that I see great potential in not only WE, but AT. I am always here championing SamM (which I will not stop), but something changed in AT this summer, maybe natural maturation, but last season I was secretly writing him off in my mind, and I'm glad I didn't voice that too strongly because I think he can be a real impact player this season.

Now, if we can just get our guards and bigs to have a good game, at the same time, we might just surprise OKSU/U of I/IASU...

TB is not undersized like Wilson, he also has much better ball handling abilities, has a nice inside outside game. But yes I can see some similarities with Wilson, nack for rebounds, can play inside or outside, maybe right now there is a simliarity but in 2 years TB has a chance to be in a class all his own.

Sommerville on the other hand was most effective with his back to the basket with interior moves passing, his ball handling was not great and his d was on and off. The guy though put us on his back in the MVC tourney and was the number one reason we ever got into the 2006 NCAA's. He was a flat out man v CU and WSU in that tourney. That said I do not think his and TB games are very similar.

Id really like for someone who saw Chet Walker play compare the two?

 

[mrcoachdude]

How tall was Mitchell Anderson?

 

[SaintLouBrave22]

Sommerville on the other hand was most effective with his back to the basket with interior moves passing, his ball handling was not great and his d was on and off. The guy though put us on his back in the MVC tourney and was the number one reason we ever got into the 2006 NCAA's. He was a flat out man v CU and WSU in that tourney. That said I do not think his and TB games are very similar.

Sommerville had very small hands for his size....



Taylor does not....big hands, and great hands.


He will be a star.

 

[thefish7]

In case my earlier post was construed as anti-TB, he looks very talented and very skilled. He's not at all undersized at the 4 for the Valley, or even in college. He's certainly bigger than Cellus was and does appear to have good hands. I don't think he compares all that directly with TW though, Wilson was much quicker, I think. If Wilson had good ballhandling skills or a guard's game he was athletic enough for play the 2 or 3 in the NBA. Theron did not have the handle though, and had no chance to play a post position due to size. TB on the other hand, doesn't have the quickness or the ball handling to have a shot to play the 3 in the NBA... He might get away with it in college, though Wofford guards picked his pocket a couple of times last night. I think he will be a very very good player for us, but think he's definitely a tweener as far as the NBA would go... Skill-set of a "4" but not anywhere near enough size.

 

[houstontxbrave]

How tall was Mitchell Anderson?

I believe he was listed at 6'8.

Didnt JJ have a more drive to the basket game, with a nice mid range jump shot?

I am probably getting WAY ahead of myself asking for a comparision to Walker or even putting Browns name out there with Anderson but I think it is not wrong to put his game up against some of BU's greats. He has a very unique game, not like many others I have seen. No hype or pressure on TB just want to see what others think compared to the game Walker had.

 

[amckillip]

TB is not undersized like Wilson, he also has much better ball handling abilities, has a nice inside outside game. But yes I can see some similarities with Wilson, nack for rebounds, can play inside or outside, maybe right now there is a simliarity but in 2 years TB has a chance to be in a class all his own.

You think TB has better ball-handling abilities? TW to me played a lot like a guard and I would actually give TW the nod in ball-handling abilities right now. Agreed TB gave up height to Theron, but TW had incredible hops. I think Taylor could be much better than Wilson by his senior year, this year, I'll wait and see. TW was a gamer, and a clutch performer - TB's good, but with just one game its tough to tell. I hope and think TB will be better, but I don't want to diminish the impact TW had on the program either.

MS I agree was different, but his face up game I think is spot on with Taylor's. Sommerville was more versatile in that he could play back-to-the-basket, comparing just the SF type game. I think they compare similarly

 

[SFP]

Ampkill, I never thought TW had good ballhandling skills. He did have good shot from the 3 though and TB has yet shown that he can hit that shot. TB does a great job of hitting the mid-range.

 

[houstontxbrave]

You think TB has better ball-handling abilities? TW to me played a lot like a guard and I would actually give TW the nod in ball-handling abilities right now. Agreed TB gave up height to Theron, but TW had incredible hops. I think Taylor could be much better than Wilson by his senior year, this year, I'll wait and see. TW was a gamer, and a clutch performer - TB's good, but with just one game its tough to tell. I hope and think TB will be better, but I don't want to diminish the impact TW had on the program either.

MS I agree was different, but his face up game I think is spot on with Taylor's. Sommerville was more versatile in that he could play back-to-the-basket, comparing just the SF type game. I think they compare similarly

I think Theron Wilson had horrible ball handling skills. Go look at the number of turnovers he had last season and I am willing to bet over half were directly related to his inability to put the ball on the floor and not have it bounce off his leg, foot or have it taken from him.

For all of the things he brought to the table his ball handling, and that is either hand, were no good.

As far as Sommerville, his game got a lot better when he stopped jacking up 20 ft jumpers, went to the block and did things with his back to the rim. Browns face up mid range shot is already better at this stage then MS's.

 

[Da Coach]

I think Taylor is the better ball handler, and so do the coaches, from what I hear.
Theron was quick enough with the ball for one or two dribbles, but he almost never dribbled more than once or twice, or he'd get it stolen. He knew his limitations, and that may be why people recall him as a better ball-handler than he was. From what I have heard, that is the main reason he didn't get higher offers, and why BU got him. Everyone knew he could score, but other coaches wanted him to play a 3 position, and he couldn't handle the ball well enough for most coaches' systems.

Taylor can handle the ball very well, and he can do a lot more on a drible-drive to the basket than we've seen so far. We might not see it so much while he plays the 4 position, but eventually, I think we'll see a more of it in the future.