Available Juco PG

[TenaciousD]

Just saying.

Rank Name Height School Position
18 Justice Hill 6'0 Salt Lake CC PG
29 Reaudale Williams 6'3 Northeastern OK A&M PG
39 Tae Hardy 6'2 Pearl River CC PG
45 Jalen Moore 5'10 Olney Central PG
49 Junior Farquhar 6'2 South Plains PG
51 Eric Hester 6'4 Tallahassee CC PG
54 Eric Boone 6'3 John A Logan PG
89 DeAnthony Tipler 6'0 Northeast Mississippi PG
97 Demaree King 6'0 NOC - Tonkawa PG

https://www.jucorecruiting.com/2020-junior-college-basketball-player-rankings-top-100

 

[TxRdKiller]

Any shooters on that list? We desperately need someone who can shoot besides Williams. It's great to have "athletes" but we need guys who can put the ball within the confines of the rim.

 

[TenaciousD]

We really don't need shooters, IMO. We really need someone who can create for himself or take his man off the dribble for opportunities for others. Our offense consists of getting down to 10 seconds on the shot clock, a high pick and pop, or pass to someone on the wing and make them try to take a forced jumper. Rarely do we see a guard who can penetrate and kick to an open guy.

You tend to make more shots when you catch and shoot vs. dribble and shoot.

 

[MineroFanatico]

We really don't need shooters, IMO. We really need someone who can create for himself or take his man off the dribble for opportunities for others. Our offense consists of getting down to 10 seconds on the shot clock, a high pick and pop, or pass to someone on the wing and make them try to take a forced jumper. Rarely do we see a guard who can penetrate and kick to an open guy.

You tend to make more shots when you catch and shoot vs. dribble and shoot.

Agree with everything you said, except the bolded statement above. It’s not an either or situation in my opinion. We desperately need both. If I HAD to choose one over the other, like you, I’d take a good PG though.

 

[Lil_Train]

We really don't need shooters, IMO. We really need someone who can create for himself or take his man off the dribble for opportunities for others. Our offense consists of getting down to 10 seconds on the shot clock, a high pick and pop, or pass to someone on the wing and make them try to take a forced jumper. Rarely do we see a guard who can penetrate and kick to an open guy.

You tend to make more shots when you catch and shoot vs. dribble and shoot.

Great comments TD. This team would look completely different with a guy that was able to get the other guys catch and shoot opportunities. It would be optimal if that same guy is also a scoring threat. A good example is the Gibson kid from UNT (who we ended up defending pretty well). We have other weaknesses, but that spot needs to be addressed. Right now, assuming everyone comes back, Terry has a true freshman (McGriff), as well as Lathon and Hawkins. Keeping Williams on board needs to be priority number one for Terry; not far behind is bringing in a dynamic veteran back court player or two.

 

[TenaciousD]

Agree 100%. Personally I think Bryson needs another year. He’s shooting around 20% from 3 in conference play and while he is solid post is not a creative wing scorer and has trouble clearing out and getting the ball in the post. Opponents have learned they can back him down. If a college player can do that then any 6-8 240 pound 4 in the NBA will do the same. I’m not knocking him, he’s a really nice college player but not sure he’s NBA ready If he wants to go to Europe then that’s a different story. I would hope Terry has him call Vince Hunter and get his advice first.

With a solid PG, If we swap 4-5 possessions a game vs today where we get an easy bucket or a open look vs a forced jumper we’re talking about 8-10 points a game. And that’s been the difference in close games where other teams are getting those easy buckets and we struggle to score.

I don’t think we all (including the staff) expected such a step back from Lathon vs last year so I can’t fault them for not getting a PG. Now that has to be a priority

 

[miner1liner]

Agree 100%. Personally I think Bryson needs another year. He’s shooting around 20% from 3 in conference play and while he is solid post is not a creative wing scorer and has trouble clearing out and getting the ball in the post. Opponents have learned they can back him down. If a college player can do that then any 6-8 240 pound 4 in the NBA will do the same. I’m not knocking him, he’s a really nice college player but not sure he’s NBA ready If he wants to go to Europe then that’s a different story. I would hope Terry has him call Vince Hunter and get his advice first.

With a solid PG, If we swap 4-5 possessions a game vs today where we get an easy bucket or a open look vs a forced jumper we’re talking about 8-10 points a game. And that’s been the difference in close games where other teams are getting those easy buckets and we struggle to score.

I don’t think we all (including the staff) expected such a step back from Lathon vs last year so I can’t fault them for not getting a PG. Now that has to be a priority

Any of you have a feel for why Terry apparently prefers Lathon over Hawkins?

 

[Voice of the Mosquito]

Lathon's play has been disappointing to say the least. I have never seen a player drop off from one year to the next. Odige is not far behind but he has not been given the minutes he had last year.

 

[JCorona]

Any of you have a feel for why Terry apparently prefers Lathon over Hawkins?

I get the vibe he’s a better teammate. When Lathon is on the bench he’s celebrating teammates big plays and overall seems to be a happier person. That’s just my observation from this past week of games.

 

[utep2step]

Lathon's play has been disappointing to say the least. I have never seen a player drop off from one year to the next. Odige is not far behind but he has not been given the minutes he had last year.

I just don't get Terry's offense as compared to last year. UTEP clearly at times has better weapons than some of our opponents but CRT pumps the brakes. Boum, Edwards, Hawk and Williams are jacking it up but Lathon hesitates? Seconds, get that ball into Williams, this was Rice and UNT, not a top 25 team.

 

[FeralFelidae]

I just don't get Terry's offense as compared to last year. UTEP clearly at times has better weapons than some of our opponents but CRT pumps the brakes. Boum, Edwards, Hawk and Williams are jacking it up but Lathon hesitates? Seconds, get that ball into Williams, this was Rice and UNT, not a top 25 team.

I assume Terry has told Lathon not to jack it up (unless Lathon gets the ball as the shot clock winds down, as happened Saturday). Because your point guard isn't supposed to be your leading scorer; he's supposed to be the facilitator. Although I could be wrong and it's entirely due to Lathon's lack of confidence. Maybe it's a combination of the two.

If Lathon, for whatever reason, isn't going to jack up threes, I would at least like to see him attack the basket more, although he did some of that on Saturday. He got called for a charge on one play (but so did everybody...). But overall, Hawkins has been better than Lathon at attacking the basket.

But Lathon did lead the team in assists Saturday, 4 assists to one turnover. That's the most important thing for a point guard to do, and he did that. And I do think Lathon is our best passer (really, he makes some beautiful passes to find the open shooter) and best ball-handler.

I can see either Hawkins or Lathon getting more minutes depending on the opponent and what the situation demands. They each have their own strengths and weaknesses.

 

[FeralFelidae]

Any of you have a feel for why Terry apparently prefers Lathon over Hawkins?

I don't know how you can say that, given that Hawkins has started every game since Lathon's return.

 

[FeralFelidae]

Lathon's play has been disappointing to say the least. I have never seen a player drop off from one year to the next. Odige is not far behind but he has not been given the minutes he had last year.

I do genuinely believe that Lathon's family issues have been weighing on him this season. I say that because, as I said in another thread, I saw something similar with Hunter Johnson this season with his mom battling cancer. I do think these things weigh heavily on these young men, at their age.

 

[JCorona]

I do genuinely believe that Lathon's family issues have been weighing on him this season. I say that because, as I said in another thread, I saw something similar with Hunter Johnson this season with his mom battling cancer. I do think these things weigh heavily on these young men, at their age.

I agree 100% with this. Lathon’s struggles on the court are tied directly to personal issues off the court.

 

[axingfools1]

Here's somebody we should watch out for:
Wade Taylor PG 2021 from Lancaster High in Duncanville, TX. (UTEP offered in the summer of 2019).

 

[jdubb66]

I do genuinely believe that Lathon's family issues have been weighing on him this season. I say that because, as I said in another thread, I saw something similar with Hunter Johnson this season with his mom battling cancer. I do think these things weigh heavily on these young men, at their age.

From personal experience and I know a lot of peope here have been through it, it is incredibly stressful to see someone you love go through a life-threatening illness. When my brother was battling cancer, I had panic attacks, had to check myself into a hospital one time. So it's hard on the whole family.

 

[JCorona]

This is the kind of pg UTEP men’s need.

 

[JCorona]

When was the last time or have we ever had two freshmen point guards from El Paso starting at mid major D1 teams?