AP Niang Article

**TurbulentEddie** · 01-16-2013, 03:31 PM

If Niang can get his body to match his outstanding basketball IQ, look out. Yeah, he's pretty great now, but... B12 POY candidacy in his future?

**VeloClone** · 01-16-2013, 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by drednot57

Isn't that the point of any basketball program? To build a player to be the best basketball player they can be? Larry Bird was never an elite athlete, but his hard work made him an elite, HoF basketball player. I don't believe one needs to be an elite athlete to be elite player in any sport; just put in the work demanded to become an elite player.

That was exactly my point. He may not be an elite athlete, but who cares? He can be an elite player and that is what matters.

Well, maybe some of the marketing people in the NBA might care, but the guys who try to win games won't care.

**Rural** · 01-16-2013, 05:27 PM

Originally Posted by drednot57

Isn't that the point of any basketball program? To build a player to be the best basketball player they can be? Larry Bird was never an elite athlete, but his hard work made him an elite, HoF basketball player. I don't believe one needs to be an elite athlete to be elite player in any sport; just put in the work demanded to become an elite player.

But this is wrong, he was obviously an elite athlete.

If it was all "I'll just work hard", a heck of a lot more people would be NBA millionaires.

**VeloClone** · 01-16-2013, 05:31 PM

Originally Posted by Rural

But this is wrong, he was obviously an elite athlete.

If it was all "I'll just work hard", a heck of a lot more people would be NBA millionaires.

Okay, how about not the most gifted athletically. There are many receivers with all of the measurables who get outplayed by receivers who don't look the part or measure for the part but just are players.

**Aclone** · 01-16-2013, 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by VeloClone

Okay, how about not the most gifted athletically. There are many receivers with all of the measurables who get outplayed by receivers who don't look the part or measure for the part but just are players.

He might not have had much in the way of "run and jump" skills, but he did have superior hand-eye coordination and kinesthetic sense.

**CyBri** · 01-16-2013, 05:47 PM

Paul Pierce isn't an amazing athlete and look what he accomplished

**Cincyclone** · 01-16-2013, 06:55 PM

Originally Posted by VeloClone

Yes, but when we evaluate players in any sport at any level they are evaluated against their peers. A player may be a better shooter, ball handler, putter, pitcher or goalie than the world in general, but that doesn't mean that they can't be a poor shooter at the NCAA level, a poor ball handler in the NBA, a poor putter in the PGA, a poor pitcher in MLB, or a poor goalie for the NHL.

I think that a year in the ISU S&C program will help to allay some of this talk as he has a more muscular physique and improves some of his jumping ability. Will he ever be an elite athlete at this level? Probably not. Does he have the potential as a whole package to become an elite basketball player at this level? Absolutely.

Well said, you're spot on.