He's an undersized spot up shooter at this point in time. The rules of him making it haven't changed. He's got to do it as a point guard/combon guard -- and he is thusfar lacking more of those skill sets than he possesses.
Printable View
Players leave to end up getting undrafted every year. I agree that he isn't ready to go, but it's safe to say that a very large percentage of players who come out early aren't ready to go either. You can't just automatically assume that he is going to do the wise thing just because he's a Bulldog. These kids these days rarely do the wise thing.
He's not ready, for sure. He should come back, for sure. It's common sense to us, but that doesn't matter. Howland has said from the beginning that he was a one-and-done player, and I think that's probably the expectation at this point.
He could put together three big games in the SEC tournament and shoot up everyone's draft boards. Those things are very fluid.
Please don't put that pressure on Lamar before he gets here. He's played exactly like Malik did in HS. He's going to have to adjust to not just being able to pull up 25 footers & learn to run an offense. He does have a better handle than Malik so that helps but he's not a big kid either 6' 165-170lbs so he's going to have growing pains too. I think Lamar is going to be a great player for us but I'm not sold he comes in & dominates Day 1 in the SEC.
I just hoped he hasn't stopped going to class. He's gonna need to stay eligible if he wants his options to be open, regardless of his final decision.
I sincerely hope after Horatio preached "lottery pick or stay in school" they don't change their mind. He is in no way a 1st round pick anymore. He has no choice but to come back or they are stupid.
He gone. And that's ok. Howland wants to show that a one and done can be a one and done at MSU. It's all up to Malik at this point, but it's very very very likely he goes pro. Which I am totally fine with bc that was his plan all along. If he decides to come back (which I hear right now is not likely), then it is just icing on the cake. I just appreciate the guy choosing MSU and showing that it IS cool to come to State. He is THE reason we have the incoming class we'll have next year.
But when he goes 2nd round it will used against us as "if he had gone to Kentucky or whomever he would be a 1st rounder"...that will be the spin
he is leaving a lot of money on the table if he leaves
I hope he is successful whatever he does. I'm grateful he came to State for however long it ends up being. I'm not real big on all the negative things being said about him here.
Malik just seems like the type of guy that can make a huge jump in production in year 2. If he can get a little better at getting open looks he can be lethal. I agree I'll be happy regardless of what he does.
The problem with coming back, NBA execs may figure out that his ceiling has been reached, if he leaves now some exec will think that he hasn't reached his full potential.
There are just as many risks in coming back as there are going pro. The longer you play in college, the more the pros can pick apart.
There were 13 freshman drafted in first round, 5 sophomores, only 1 sophomore in lottery last year.
If the new NBA draft rules are in effect this year, this seems pretty simple. He will declare, go through the combine, and work out for some teams. If he gets good feedback, he's gone. If not, he can come back to school or take his chances.