SSR #2 Austin Wiley

[Denim Vest]

When you talk about hulking teens there are very few more hulking in the history of humanity than our #2 specimen, Austin Wiley.

A 6’10” 260lb freak show of a child with muscles bulging, popping, striating from all areas, this behemoth of a youngster has the size and pedigree to dominate the college game on the interior. Absolutely abused youngsters of the same age from all over the globe for Team USA this summer. That experience coupled with getting in school early last year should prepare him to take his game to another level this season.

Strengths: Size, size and more size. And size matters folks. Has a nice array of post moves and knows how to get in position for thunderous slams and soft bunnies.

Weaknesses: A little slow footed positioning on D and for rebounds. Seems to be injury prone. Kind of a brick fest at the charity stripe.

Contribution: Starting 5. At full strength and a full complement of mins I’d expect him to be top 2 in both scoring and rebounding. He’s really missed some quality time between Italy and all of preseason practice. I fear we’ll struggle to incorporate him in the O again and then you factor in this FBI issue. If all goes well though, this is a teen with the size and ability to be one of the most dominant big men in the country this season.

The GREG ranking: #2

 

[ShenaniganZ]

Furst

 

[MomentInTheSun]

Tears of joy will stream down my face if he’s deemed eligible

 

[jeramye]

Tears of joy will stream down my face if he’s deemed eligible

He and Heron are the ones I want to see on the court so I can feel a huge sense of relief.. If I have to deal with 1 kid being gone I can live with it being Danjel because while his potential is insane his actual on the court product is not key to our success. I know we're screwed without Mustapha and I'm pretty sure we're screwed without Wiley because you need as many talented bigs as you can get.

 

[JB0401]

He and Heron are the ones I want to see on the court so I can feel a huge sense of relief.. If I have to deal with 1 kid being gone I can live with it being Danjel because while his potential is insane his actual on the court product is not key to our success. I know we're screwed without Mustapha and I'm pretty sure we're screwed without Wiley because you need as many talented bigs as you can get.

No reason to fret, Jeramye. News from the boog board this morning is that they "expect" Purifoy to play tomorrow and Wiley to be eligible once he is healthy.

 

[CowardlyToaster]

OP, what are your thots on this young stud's draft potential at the end of the year?

 

[Denim Vest]

No reason to fret, Jeramye. News from the boog board this morning is that they "expect" Purifoy to play tomorrow and Wiley to be eligible once he is healthy.

That's encouraging but I'll remain skeptical until we so who's available tomorrow.

 

[Denim Vest]

OP, what are your thots on this young stud's draft potential at the end of the year?

Late first seems to be where he's projected. I don't love how his game translates to the lig so that sounds about right considering his immense physical attributes. Wouldn't shock me if he fell to the 2nd round.

 

[Docdumpsta]

Late first seems to be where he's projected. I don't love how his game translates to the lig so that sounds about right considering his immense physical attributes. Wouldn't shock me if he fell to the 2nd round.

I juzt don't see it wit WILEY. Luv da kid. Grate reebounder BUT I don't see ware hiz azz fitz in the NBA. The NBA haz gone to moe of a LONG, LEEEN, ERRYBODY KAN SHOOT LEAGUE. You don't see da big guyz like da WILEY'S out thare az much.

 

[Gran_Polla]

I juzt don't see it wit WILEY. Luv da kid. Grate reebounder BUT I don't see ware hiz azz fitz in the NBA. The NBA haz gone to moe of a LONG, LEEEN, ERRYBODY KAN SHOOT LEAGUE. You don't see da big guyz like da WILEY'S out thare az much.

You have the Greg Monroe's of the world who still have a place in the NBA.

 

[MomentInTheSun]

I juzt don't see it wit WILEY. Luv da kid. Grate reebounder BUT I don't see ware hiz azz fitz in the NBA. The NBA haz gone to moe of a LONG, LEEEN, ERRYBODY KAN SHOOT LEAGUE. You don't see da big guyz like da WILEY'S out thare az much.

He ain’t gonna be no superstar. But he still has a place in the league. Joakim Noah and Brook Lopez are still collecting fat stacks and Noah is fuggin terrible

 

[Fatz Geronimo]

where to begin with AUSTIN...

I like to start on the right block... a lot of post players are comfortable on 1 block or the other - usually dependent on which hand is their dominant hand... if you’re right handed, it’s remedial level stuff to catch the ball on the left block, turn, and shoot a hook or fall away over your left shoulder because it naturally clears space and due to your length the defender basically has to come through your body and foul you to really challenge the shot... Austin is one of the rare hulking teens who is already comfortable on either block, turning and shooting over either shoulder... watch him on the right block, turn left into the lane, rise up, and drop in a feathery 8 footer fall away over a helpless defender... some Centers go their entire life without coming close to being able to hit that shot... AUSTIN made it within minutes of stepping into a colleg court for the first time as a teenager who should have still been in high school...

his offensive potential is off the effing charts - because he has an understanding of leverage and positioning and awareness that is breathtakingly advanced for a college player... he has weaknesses, sure - no baseline or midrange jumper yet and shaky foul shooting... but he’s so unstoppable from 10 feet and in, and so good as cleaning up on putbacks and rim running on the break, that he’s a truly elite front court college scoring option

defensive struggles have been covered... he’s never going to be great - he’s just not agile or quick enough - but he’s so freaking big that just getting to his spot in time and playing to his size by getting and staying vertical without reaching is more than adequate defensively

he’s never going to be a star in the NBA, but he’ll get checks as long as his health allows, because he can score against backup NBA bigs right now... he doesn’t have a prayer of playing NBA caliber defense now or any time soon, but he’s off to the league after this year and hopefully continues to develop his game... regardless, the college game is galaxies away from the NBA - it’s barely even the same sport... and there are few, if any, guys that can handle AUSTIN

a safe number 2 on the list, and a true joy to watch

 

[ThrustMaxwell]

where to begin with AUSTIN...

I like to start on the right block... a lot of post players are comfortable on 1 block or the other - usually dependent on which hand is their dominant hand... if you’re right handed, it’s remedial level stuff to catch the ball on the left block, turn, and shoot a hook or fall away over your left shoulder because it naturally clears space and due to your length the defender basically has to come through your body and foul you to really challenge the shot... Austin is one of the rare hulking teens who is already comfortable on either block, turning and shooting over either shoulder... watch him on the right block, turn left into the lane, rise up, and drop in a feathery 8 footer fall away over a helpless defender... some Centers go their entire life without coming close to being able to hit that shot... AUSTIN made it within minutes of stepping into a colleg court for the first time as a teenager who should have still been in high school...

his offensive potential is off the effing charts - because he has an understanding of leverage and positioning and awareness that is breathtakingly advanced for a college player... he has weaknesses, sure - no baseline or midrange jumper yet and shaky foul shooting... but he’s so unstoppable from 10 feet and in, and so good as cleaning up on putbacks and rim running on the break, that he’s a truly elite front court college scoring option

defensive struggles have been covered... he’s never going to be great - he’s just not agile or quick enough - but he’s so freaking big that just getting to his spot in time and playing to his size by getting and staying vertical without reaching is more than adequate defensively

he’s never going to be a star in the NBA, but he’ll get checks as long as his health allows, because he can score against backup NBA bigs right now... he doesn’t have a prayer of playing NBA caliber defense now or any time soon, but he’s off to the league after this year and hopefully continues to develop his game... regardless, the college game is galaxies away from the NBA - it’s barely even the same sport... and there are few, if any, guys that can handle AUSTIN

a safe number 2 on the list, and a true joy to watch

Do you think we have any comparable bigs in the recruiting pipeline right now? Or is this not a position of high priority for BRUCE and he'll just take one when he can find one?

 

[AU HDL]

Digging the new haircut.

 

[Fatz Geronimo]

Do you think we have any comparable bigs in the recruiting pipeline right now? Or is this not a position of high priority for BRUCE and he'll just take one when he can find one?

if Austin was from Texas or Michigan or California and had no prior ties to Auburn - I don’t want to say BRUCE wouldn’t have recruited him, but he wouldn’t have signed him and probably wouldn’t have wasted much time trying

Austin was a unicorn case of - amazing talent, from in state, with deep ties to Auburn... only a fool would have turned him down - especially when you’re trying to scratch and claw to build a program from scratch... Austin is a talent who can shortcut a program from ‘nothing’ to ‘where we hope to be’...

but he’s not the prototypical 5 for BRUCE... and I don’t think BRUCE will be out there trying to find the next Austin... the 4 is the money spot for BRUCE - which was why EJ was so exciting... we’d have gone from Danjel < Chuma < EJ... and the 5 would be manned by-

bouncy athletes like Mac and Horace...
and big bodies bruisers like the Williams kid he had at Tennessee...

scoring isn’t necessarily the main role those guys are tasked with - but it’s easily Austin’s biggest strength... so Bruce is making the necessary adjustments for last year and this year before sliding back to his more common roster construction

that’s how it appears to me at least

 

[ThrustMaxwell]

if Austin was from Texas or Michigan or California and had no prior ties to Auburn - I don’t want to say BRUCE wouldn’t have recruited him, but he wouldn’t have signed him and probably wouldn’t have wasted much time trying

Austin was a unicorn case of - amazing talent, from in state, with deep ties to Auburn... only a fool would have turned him down - especially when you’re trying to scratch and claw to build a program from scratch... Austin is a talent who can shortcut a program from ‘nothing’ to ‘where we hope to be’...

but he’s not the prototypical 5 for BRUCE... and I don’t think BRUCE will be out there trying to find the next Austin... the 4 is the money spot for BRUCE - which was why EJ was so exciting... we’d have gone from Danjel < Chuma < EJ... and the 5 would be manned by-

bouncy athletes like Mac and Horace...
and big bodies bruisers like the Williams kid he had at Tennessee...

scoring isn’t necessarily the main role those guys are tasked with - but it’s easily Austin’s biggest strength... so Bruce is making the necessary adjustments for last year and this year before sliding back to his more common roster construction

that’s how it appears to me at least

Thanks. I thought I had read somewhere from you or another knowledgeable poster about AUSTIN not really fitting the typical BRUCE role for the 5. I will admit I didn't watch a ton of CBB when BRUCE was at UT, so apologies in advance for the lack of knowledge: Is the 5 more of an "enforcer" role on the typical BRUCE team or is just a rebounding/shot block type role?

 

[Fatz Geronimo]

Is the 5 more of an "enforcer" role on the typical BRUCE team or is just a rebounding/shot block type role?

it’s tough to say... both?... but neither?...

Brian Williams was the guy I mentioned earlier, he was listed at 6’10”, 270 but didn’t seem that tall to me... even as a senior he only started half their games - averaged 6 pts, 7 rebs... he averaged less than 1 block a game for his career - he wasn’t an explosive athlete... very much a below the rim, rough, physical, big body in the paint, that played 15 minutes a night

http://www.utsports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=662

if you go through the rosters on sports reference - he’s the only C listed on any of them the 4 years he was there... so BRUCE didn’t really use a typical 5 at all... he had 1 on the roster that would play 15-20 minutes as a backup and could spot start when necessary...

everyone else was listed as a guard or forward... so typically he would play with a point guard, 2 wings, and 2 forwards, with a lot of overlap between the 2/3 and also the 3/4/5... you see a lot of 6’7” guards and 6’8” forwards, between 200-240 lbs... a lot of length... a lot of bounce... a lot of interchangeable parts... working around a Tobias Harris or Wayne Chism playing the 4... with the other forward/center minutes split between the Brian Williams/Duke Crews bruisers or a 2nd bouncier forward

I’m trying to think of a good football parallel... maybe a 2 back set with the primary back being Caddy at tailback - which would be the Tobias Harris/Wayne Chism role at the 4...
sometimes Ronnie Brown would play as a 2nd back - not a true fullback, almost like a 2nd Caddy... which would be like playing 2 interchangeable forwards in BRUCE’s system...
other times, they’d play with a Jake Slaughter or Brandon Johnson or Jay Prosch type bruiser... that would be the Brian Williams role - who plays part time but has a much different skill set than anyone else on the roster...
ideally you’d prefer playing Caddy and Ronnie together, without a true fullback (or center in BRUCE’s system), but you want the bruiser fullback on the roster for added flexibility

that’s a long way of saying, I don’t know... but my impression is BRUCE wouldn’t actually play with a true 5 at all in his perfect world... but would have a guy to fill that role in spots, but not as a main cog

 

[ThrustMaxwell]

it’s tough to say... both?... but neither?...

Brian Williams was the guy I mentioned earlier, he was listed at 6’10”, 270 but didn’t seem that tall to me... even as a senior he only started half their games - averaged 6 pts, 7 rebs... he averaged less than 1 block a game for his career - he wasn’t an explosive athlete... very much a below the rim, rough, physical, big body in the paint, that played 15 minutes a night

http://www.utsports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=662

if you go through the rosters on sports reference - he’s the only C listed on any of them the 4 years he was there... so BRUCE didn’t really use a typical 5 at all... he had 1 on the roster that would play 15-20 minutes as a backup and could spot start when necessary...

everyone else was listed as a guard or forward... so typically he would play with a point guard, 2 wings, and 2 forwards, with a lot of overlap between the 2/3 and also the 3/4/5... you see a lot of 6’7” guards and 6’8” forwards, between 200-240 lbs... a lot of length... a lot of bounce... a lot of interchangeable parts... working around a Tobias Harris or Wayne Chism playing the 4... with the other forward/center minutes split between the Brian Williams/Duke Crews bruisers or a 2nd bouncier forward

I’m trying to think of a good football parallel... maybe a 2 back set with the primary back being Caddy at tailback - which would be the Tobias Harris/Wayne Chism role at the 4...
sometimes Ronnie Brown would play as a 2nd back - not a true fullback, almost like a 2nd Caddy... which would be like playing 2 interchangeable forwards in BRUCE’s system...
other times, they’d play with a Jake Slaughter or Brandon Johnson or Jay Prosch type bruiser... that would be the Brian Williams role - who plays part time but has a much different skill set than anyone else on the roster...
ideally you’d prefer playing Caddy and Ronnie together, without a true fullback (or center in BRUCE’s system), but you want the bruiser fullback on the roster for added flexibility

that’s a long way of saying, I don’t know... but my impression is BRUCE wouldn’t actually play with a true 5 at all in his perfect world... but would have a guy to fill that role in spots, but not as a main cog

Thank you, I appreciate that.

 

[Torqued]

He ain’t gonna be no superstar. But he still has a place in the league. Joakim Noah and Brook Lopez are still collecting fat stacks and Noah is fuggin terrible

And Marc Gasol. wtf

 

[jeramye]

He ain’t gonna be no superstar. But he still has a place in the league. Joakim Noah and Brook Lopez are still collecting fat stacks and Noah is fuggin terrible

Set screens, play some rim protection, rebound like hell and maybe become a good outlet passer. Hell Tristan Thompson has a huge contract doing basically that minus the outlet passes.

 

[13_Seconds_Worse]

Deuces