Aggie Big Men

[Aggie77]

bigboy said:

From what I saw their first year Webster is a better player than Porter. Is Webster from Orlando Fla.?

Williams (I think that's his name) was from Orlando, he's no longer with the program. Webster is from Durham. Webster was injured early in the season. I would think he would be a medical redshirt candidate.

[JayBee]

aggie77 said:

I have never seen Webster play, but there is hope that Porter will be a contributor. But is he willing to work on his game himself. He has decent footwork, good mobility, a soft touch, respectable hands and good size. The question is, is he willing to increase his agility, develop a low post move (jump hoop w/ either hand), shoot a couple hundred free throws and jumpers a day and pump some iron? Which is what it would take to be "Player" and take it up a couple move levels.

I think Porter runs the floor very well, but he does need to work on the tangibles you mentioned. With his size, I think beefing up will help him a lot too. Maybe this will be a possibility for this year, since we have a Strength Coach now. And a couple hundred free throws everyday should be a required regiment by coach for everyone...from looking at last year's FT percentages!

[4XLAGGIE]

raleighaggie said:

So are you saying those guys should be yanked?

I am not the coach, but having coached, I know that there is a time when you cut your losses and move on. Whether now is the time depends on how much patience you have and if you can envision dramatic improvement down the line.

[sammiz]

I ran through Corbett about three o'clock this afternoon. Amber and Tweet were on the floor gettin' their practice and workout on. I didn't see any of the men working out. Not a Porter, Webster, Johnson, Ewing or Wills. I guess my point is, there's gonna be some competition coming to the men and women squad soon. If you got a free ride take your arse to the Gym and hone up. Other wise, all fair in love and basketball.

[hawkeye]

Here is what Eaves had to say about the kid from Florida he just signed:

“I think I stole one with Kam coming in,’’ said Eaves. “When he comes in, he will be the most skilled big man we have. He can catch the ball off the rim and dunk it, he can play at the top of our press and he can really score the basketball. He can really do it all – dribble, pass and shoot.”

www.ncataggies.com/Mensbasketball/2006-07%20articles/aggiesvrecruits.htm

If that's how he really feels about this recruit, then I think that says alot. We're going to have a freshmen that's the best big man we got.

[SixtiesAggie]

hawkeye said:

Here is what Eaves had to say about the kid from Florida he just signed:

“I think I stole one with Kam coming in,’’ said Eaves. “When he comes in, he will be the most skilled big man we have. He can catch the ball off the rim and dunk it, he can play at the top of our press and he can really score the basketball. He can really do it all – dribble, pass and shoot.”

www.ncataggies.com/Mensbasketball/2006-07%20articles/aggiesvrecruits.htm

If that's how he really feels about this recruit, then I think that says alot. We're going to have a freshmen that's the best big man we got.

If memory serves me correctly, didn't Eaves expouse those very same sentiments about, Williams (who left the program), Porter and Webster? None of whom so far or in the past have ever displayed any real talent. Perhaps, Webster, who is really a fine young man will recover from his injury and show some latent talent for the game. Let's hope that he will. Let's also hope that finally Eaves has found and signed some quality players the can play solid basketball. After so many misses, the law of average may be working in his favor. Keep your toes crossed.

[Aggie77]

sixtiesaggie said:

hawkeye said:

Here is what Eaves had to say about the kid from Florida he just signed:

“I think I stole one with Kam coming in,’’ said Eaves. “When he comes in, he will be the most skilled big man we have. He can catch the ball off the rim and dunk it, he can play at the top of our press and he can really score the basketball. He can really do it all – dribble, pass and shoot.”

www.ncataggies.com/Mensbasketball/2006-07%20articles/aggiesvrecruits.htm

If that's how he really feels about this recruit, then I think that says alot. We're going to have a freshmen that's the best big man we got.

If memory serves me correctly, didn't Eaves expouse those very same sentiments about, Williams (who left the program), Porter and Webster? None of whom so far or in the past have ever displayed any real talent. Perhaps, Webster, who is really a fine young man will recover from his injury and show some latent talent for the game. Let's hope that he will. Let's also hope that finally Eaves has found and signed some quality players the can play solid basketball. After so many misses, the law of average may be working in his favor. Keep your toes crossed.

I think your memory is doing you a disserve or maybe it’s mine. I don't recall that type exuberance being expressed for neither Webster nor Porter in fact I recall the words “potential”(translation: project) being used and speaking more about their character than their athletic skills. I do recall a certain level of high expectations in his comments about Williams, but not to the level expressed here.

[4XLAGGIE]

sammiz said:

I ran through Corbett about three o'clock this afternoon. Amber and Tweet were on the floor gettin' their practice and workout on. I didn't see any of the men working out. Not a Porter, Webster, Johnson, Ewing or Wills. I guess my point is, there's gonna be some competition coming to the men and women squad soon. If you got a free ride take your arse to the Gym and hone up. Other wise, all fair in love and basketball.

That doesn't mean that those guys are not working out. I know that 3pm is their weightlifting and conditioning time. Working with the strength coach...

[DECKS]

aggie77 said:

sixtiesaggie said:

If memory serves me correctly, didn't Eaves expouse those very same sentiments about, Williams (who left the program), Porter and Webster? None of whom so far or in the past have ever displayed any real talent. Perhaps, Webster, who is really a fine young man will recover from his injury and show some latent talent for the game. Let's hope that he will. Let's also hope that finally Eaves has found and signed some quality players the can play solid basketball. After so many misses, the law of average may be working in his favor. Keep your toes crossed.

I think your memory is doing you a disserve or maybe it’s mine. I don't recall that type exuberance being expressed for neither Webster nor Porter in fact I recall the words “potential”(translation: project) being used and speaking more about their character than their athletic skills. I do recall a certain level of high expectations in his comments about Williams, but not to the level expressed here.

A77 you are correct. I think both those guys were recruited based on potential and the fact that you can't coach height. I don't think either one averaged more than 7 pts and 6 rbs per game in high school. It was an understandable risk.

[SixtiesAggie]

A77,

I admit my memory isn't what it use to be, but it is (memory) able to recollect many things quite well. I sat in meetings and listen to the coach talk about the big men recruited as well as other players. So it is an issue of what you heard and what I've heard and even read. However, it serves no real purpose to debate this issue. The real question should be, will the new recruits become productive immediately? He desperately needs an inside presence for scoring and defense. Another question should be, will Webster be able to come back with improved skills after a year of not playing any basketball?? Let's also hope that he stays healthy, because he is a better player than Porter.

[Aggie911]

If memory serves me correctly, didn't Eaves expouse those very same sentiments about, Williams (who left the program), Porter and Webster? None of whom so far or in the past have ever displayed any real talent. Perhaps, Webster, who is really a fine young man will recover from his injury and show some latent talent for the game. Let's hope that he will. Let's also hope that finally Eaves has found and signed some quality players the can play solid basketball. After so many misses, the law of average may be working in his favor. Keep your toes crossed.

I had the same conversation with coach about Williams his freshman year. I also was informed this past year(after the injury) Webster would have played more minutes than Porter because he could get up and down the the court faster.

[truthseeker]

let's be for real.... ain't no coach in their right mind is going to tell somebody porter & webster were franchise players!!! they are projects... period... the coaching staff is trying develope their potential because you can't teach size!! it usually takes big men longer to develope.... i remember serge zwikker at unc it took him 5yrs before he was able to contribute.... but he was 7-4... dean took a chance.... if eaves & his staff can make monsters out of porter & webster it could open up doors to other kids with size....

[hawkeye]

www.aroundosceola.com/index.php?option=news&task=viewarticle&sid=14844

Shooting Star
Osceola’s Kam Shepherd signs grant with NC A&T

19 Apr 2007
By Rick Pedone
News-Gazette Staff Writer

Osceola High’s Kamiren Shepherd, at 6-8, is used to being a big man on campus.

Next August he’ll be moving to a bigger campus, the one at North Carolina A&T State University at Greensboro, N.C.


Shepherd, a three-year varsity starter, signed a basketball grant with the Mid-East Athletic Conference school recently, where he will play for Coach Jerry Eaves.

“I liked the coach, he tells it like it is,” said Shepherd, who averaged 12.5 points and 8.5 rebounds for OHS last season.

Shepherd’s mother, Jeannie Wilkerson, said she is both happy and apprehensive about her son’s scholarship.

“I’m very pleased that he is going to play there. We had a connection with Coach Eaves when we were there. He treated us like family,” she said. “But, I’m going to miss having him at home. He’s my baby.”

Eaves seems thrilled to have Shepherd in the fold.

“I think I stole one with Kam coming in,’’ said Eaves on the school’s website. “When he comes in, he will be the most skilled big man we have. He can catch the ball off the rim and dunk it, he can play at the top of our press and he can really score the basketball. He can really do it all: dribble, pass and shoot.”

Osceola coaches Steve Mason and Red Johnston said Shepherd has the tools and intelligence to become a good college player.

“I had him as a freshmen, and you could see then that he had the potential to be a Division I player,” said Mason, who watched Shepherd grow up. “Yeah, I remember him playing AAU when he was eight or nine. He’s always been a great kid and very coachable. And, he’s worked really hard in the classroom, that’s what got him this scholarship.”

Johnston said Shepherd has the rare ability for a big man to understand the complete concept of a play.

“He knows where everyone on the floor should be on a play. That’s something you normally expect from the point guard, but not a post player,” said Johnston. “He’s probably one of the most skilled post players who has come through Central Florida.”

Shepherd will play center at A&T, but first he’ll have to add about 20 pounds to his 200-pound frame.

“I can’t believe he hasn’t already done that. He’s always eating. He sent me a text message the other night telling me to bring him food,” said his mother.

Shepherd has always been one of the tallest kids in his group, said his mother, but even she was shocked at his transformation in middle school.

“He went to New York for a summer, and when I went to the airport to pick him up I had to look to make sure it was Kam,” she said. “I couldn’t believe it was him because he had shot up so much.”

Johnston said Shepherd, the mild-mannered nice guy around the campus, will have to improve his intensity when he goes to college. “The coach told him that he was going to give him one year to show him what he has,” said Johnson. “The most difficult thing for a post player making the transition to college is that he is going to run into a lot of players in college just like him. You have to be at your best. You have to do the work. In high school you can get away with it sometimes because you’re so big, but not at college.”

Mason said Shepherd’s performance against Ocoee at the Great Florida Shootout in December impressed Eaves, who attended the tournament.

“That was one of the times when Kam got mad and just took over the game for the last few minutes,” said Mason. “That’s what got him this scholarship. Coach Eaves remembers that game and that’s the player he wants to see.”

Several other programs were interested in Shepherd, who recently passed his SAT. On Tuesday, Central Connecticut State called Mason about Shepherd.

“I guess I’m going to have to call them back and tell them he’s already signed,” said Mason. “I think I might be doing that a few more times.”

[SixtiesAggie]

truthseeker said:

let's be for real.... ain't no coach in their right mind is going to tell somebody porter & webster were franchise players!!! they are projects... period... the coaching staff is trying develope their potential because you can't teach size!! it usually takes big men longer to develope.... i remember serge zwikker at unc it took him 5yrs before he was able to contribute.... but he was 7-4... dean took a chance.... if eaves & his staff can make monsters out of porter & webster it could open up doors to other kids with size....

I suppose he should have gotten up and said that even though they will be redshirted their first year as projects, I don't expect them to produce until their senior year. How foolish that would have sounded. Franchise players?? That's reserved for money players. In his conversation or presentation about his big men, he was excited about the productivity they would bring to his team within a couple of years. Even though Porter and Webster will be juniors next year, it will be their fourth year. Perhaps some magical transformation will occur before next season and their game will make great strides. After a year off, maybe Webster who is the better player will come on strong and become a major contributor. Let's hope so. No more 3 or 4 minutes of playing time. Major, major contributors. I don't think anyone would want to waste scholarships on players that can only give you one year of solid play. Especially , if they have been in the program for five years. However, I must admit Webster is very optimistic about his play next season. Hope it works out for him.

Let's also hope that Eaves latest recruit from Florida is as good as projected and can give some immediate help. Remeber, we have had four big men and none have been productive so far. Hopefully, that will change next season.