Kunc
- Thread starter kougkurt
- Start date
For the best for him? For us? Clears room for a recruit?
This is another hard one to me. As well as he played the last 10-ish game it wasn't enough to make me think he had any shot to become a starter next season. I think a lot of programs will want him with 2 potential years to play since this year doesn't count. I just hope he finds a place where he can not only play but has a clear path to become a prominent starter.
This is another hard one to me. As well as he played the last 10-ish game it wasn't enough to make me think he had any shot to become a starter next season. I think a lot of programs will want him with 2 potential years to play since this year doesn't count. I just hope he finds a place where he can not only play but has a clear path to become a prominent starter.
Ok, l'm not saying Kunc is good or bad. The reality is Kunc is between good and bad.
Kunc is a STREAKY, semi bad to semi average shooting mechanics that can often cause him to make a string of shots, and then badly miss, even airball miss even wide open shots.
Kunc also has a lower, slow release point on his shots, getting shots blocked.
Kunc also is semi laterally semi slow, semi average, that can occasionally beat players off dribble, and can semi often be beat, driven on off the dribble.
Kunc also doesnt jump high, is not that athletic, and can get pushed around in the post.
BUT THAT SAID, Kunc has a High Bball IQ, Lunch pail, works hard, hustles, has defensive and positioning technique for defense, rebounding. He takes charges, gets steals, loose balls.
Because of his both strength and weaknesses, Kunc is a #1, #2,#3 back up at both the Stretch 4, 3/Wing Spot at 6ft 7.5 inches.
So will it hurt losing Kunc? Maybe a wee little tiny bit.
But AJ who is 6ft 8 inches, is BETTER then Kunc. AJ SHOOTS better. He is a wee little tiny bit laterally faster then Kunc. And AJ has played against European competition that WOULD OWN, DOMINATE KUNC, and has done well against that European competition, and turned down a pro contract.
When AJ got enough minutes, or started, AJ got about 6 to 11 ppg, and 6,7,8 rebounds, and 1,2,3 Assist, and 1 steal, 1 block, 1 took a charge, 1 got a looseball, 1, 3 pointer, about 73% to 83% Freethrow shooter, works hard, passes well, leader, glue guy.
Basically he is a better version of Kunc, a Kunc 2.0, but better.
I know he struggled at times, but even Motum, Baynes struggled at times when they were freshmen.
Also European guys are kind of like JC guys, in that they often times takes some time to adjust to the USA, Collegiate game, kind of like JC.
AJ probably will get about 16 to 24 minutes per game between stretch 4 and 3/Wing.
4/Stretch 4: Efe/AJ and Miller tied. Efe the starter, AJ and Miller sub in, when want to go standard or small.
3/Wing: If Noah doesnt play at the SG, PG spots, Noah starts here. Otherwise Carlos Rosario, if he is ready, Starts here. If Rosario is not ready, then either AJ or Bamba start here, then Rapp.
AJ will probably get plenty of time, and will probably develop, gradually do well, be just fine.
If not then even without AJ:
You have Dischon Jackson and Vova, Efe, at Center
And Efe, AJ, Miller at the 4/PF/Stretch 4 spot
Thats Dischon, Efe, Vova, AJ, Miller, 5 good forwards at the 4 and 5 spots.
And at the 3/Wing/G/Small F spot: You have Noah, Rosario, AJ, Bamba, Rapp.
So really WSU is going to be just fine without Kunc, tho it might hurt a wee little tiniest bit.
And losing Chatfield, Warren is NOT bad.
Chatfield is, was likely the 6th, 7th, last place big man, and probably wasnt going to get hardly any minutes.
And since Warren plays PG, With Jefferson Koulibaly, Tyrell Roberts, Bonton, Myles Rice, Rapp, 5 players at the PG spot, Warren wont get much playing time, if any playing time.
So really losing Kunc, Warren, Chatfield, isnt a bad thing.
Its a semi ok, semi good thing, because Kunc leaving frees up a MUCH needed scholly for Tyrell Roberts, The Transfer's Recruiting class.
That class can now have 3, instead of 2:
1. Tyrell. 2. A CENTER. 3 Best player avallable as long as not a 3/Wing(WSU is loaded at the 3/Wing Spot).
Getting that 3rd recruiting scholly spot(Especially with Smith's recruiting ability), is way better, more Valuable then keeping Kunc at WSU on a scholly.
Kunc really came along this season and dude balled out.
...does this mean Marjon Beauchamp is in play? 👀
...does this mean Marjon Beauchamp is in play? 👀
Also having that 3rd scholly spot instead of 2, via Kunc Transfering, also helps BALANCE the recruiting classes, and prevents a situation where WSU loses 3,4,5,6 seniors, amd has to start out again with 3,4,5,6 freshmen again.
This way WSU only loses 2,3,4 Seniors, and only has to get 2,3,4 freshmen, instead of 3,4,5,6,7 freshmen.
Also if Kunc didnt transfer, who was going to be encouraged to transfer?
AJ, no
Rosario: No
Bamba: No
Miller: No
Koulibaly: No
Only other person who would make sense either transfering or being encouraged to Transfer, if not Kunc, then Rapp.
2.5 star player Rapp and Kunc, are the only ones on Scholly, that would make sense to have 1 or both of them transfer to free up 1 or 2 schollies.
Kunc played very well at times, he was steady most of the time, he started off fine, tailed of and came on at the end the season, when we needed him due to injuries, you could see his confidence grow. He probably wouldn't be a starter next year but would get his minutes, if he wants to market himself to the European leagues he needs more playing time, so I get why he is moving one. Fortunately this is a position of depth as Smith as recruited well. Kunc did a great job while here, good work ethic, always hustled, and you knew you could also count on him, disappointed to see him go, but I get, it's they way things are these days. Kunc was a great Coug and I wish him nothing but the best, he was one that helped turn this program around, he was recruited by Ernie, but stuck with it and kept working hard, and he is one of the reasons the Cougs have had two winning seasons in a row. He is a good basketball player and I wish him nothing but success where ever he goes, unless it's in the pac 12.
About 1/3 to 2/5's of the time, your right that Kunc balled out, was a baller.
But Kunc only averaged about 13 to 23 minutes in the games he played.
And he only had about 1,2,3,4 games where he BALLED OUT.
And there was between some to almost a lot of games that Kunc did NOT play in, where he was NOT injured, DURING those times, games.
Your only remembering the GOOD, and not the BAD.
There are 2 EXTREMES.
1. Those who wrongly think that Kunc is ONLY BAD, never good.
2. Those that wrongly think Kunc is ONLY GOOD, not bad.
Somewhere between those 2 extremes is the Truth, Fact that Kunc was a both good and bad player, that had both strengths and weaknesses, that he was a semi below average to semi average SEMI ROLEPLAYER, SEMI KIND OF SEMI KIND OF SEMI DEEP BENCH PLAYER, that averages about 13 to 15 to 17 to 19 minutes per game in the games he played in, and played in about 1/3 to 2/5's, to 1/2, to 3/5's, to 2/3 rd's of the games.
Thats nothing to SNIDE at.
There is nothing wrong with that.
And WSU needs those kind of players.
Rapp or Kunc needed to transfer to free up a scholly
And that doesnt mean Champ is in play(Doesnt mean he is NOT in play)
(Also I thought Beauchamp was in last class, that WSU offered, made his list of colleges, considerations. But didnt Champ commit to someone else? Thats what I thought. Or did Champ reclassify to this recruiting year?)(Also wouldnt put it past Smith to be able to get Champ, wouldnt Surprise me, as thats how good of a recruiter Smith is.)
By "balled out," I just meant he brought it and gave it his all. Some games his game was elevated.
Beauchamp, from my understanding, is not going pro anymore, and is looking at schools for this class year.
Beauchamp, from my understanding, is not going pro anymore, and is looking at schools for this class year.
Ok thanks for clarifying.
And your right about Kunc, that he definitely gave it his all, and had a couple, few ELEVATED games.
Since Champ is still apparently available, I could see Smith offering him again, and Champ commiting to WSU.
I think its about a 19% to 29% to 39% chance that he could end up at WSU.
Wouldnt surprise me if Smith got him.
And WSU does need to go after Champ HARD as a plan A, and needs a plan B, and C, and D, etc, and needs a scholly spot for Champ, or someone else.
Part of the Reason why either Kunc or Rapp, or Even Miller, one of those 3, needed to transfer to free up a scholly, for Champ, someone else, etc.
WSU will be ok, just fine without Kunc
Well, I would take that trade. I think he would be a great fit and get for us.
Its win-win. He can get 30+ a game at a lower tier program and we get another scholarship to play with.
I think everyone appreciates the contributions Jaz made to the program over the past 3 years. He's a fine role player who would have fought to be the second or third guy off the bench. But I see Jakimovski playing the 4 more next year while Efe and Jackson will probably get in less foul trouble. Jakimovski can fill a stat sheet too, Rosario has a higher defensive ceiling, and grabbing a Drick Bernstein type who is happy to take the role of rebounder/defender/passer could really help the team.
Kunc reminds me a bit of the Simon kid who transferred to SPU. Better off the bounce and does some nice things, not as good of a shooter. Just a tad not quick enough.
WSU wants to go to the next level, it needs long athletic guys to play Smith's style of ball. Watched USF a couple times this year and that's the prototype recruit he's looking for.
Thank you for your service, Mr. Kunc.
WSU wants to go to the next level, it needs long athletic guys to play Smith's style of ball. Watched USF a couple times this year and that's the prototype recruit he's looking for.
Thank you for your service, Mr. Kunc.
Rosario is not a 4, even a Stretch 4. Rosario is(When, if he is ready) THE PROTOTYPE 3/WING, at 6 ft, 7 in.
He is also a HYBRID that can play the 2,SG,spot, and the Stretch 4 spot. But even tho thats the case, he is BEST suited at the 3/Wing Spot.
He is LIGHTNING quick, FAST, Lateral SPEED, EXTREMELY ATHLETIC, Can jump out of gym(Kind of like Capers(Also was a 3), can easily guard IVERSON types), can drive, slash, beat players off dribble to get to baskets for lay ups, etc.
Only reason he didnt play is he is EXTREMELY RAW, and he is UNDERWEIGHT, even for a SG, 3/Wing spot. He is WIRY THIN.
He was almost redshirted, and needed development.
If he is ready, and developed, he, Rosario will, would be either the starter at the 3/Wing spot, or 6th man off the bench at the 3/Wing Spot.
But he could just as easily be a #3 bench player at the 3/Wing spot, so really he is a big unknown for now.
Thats good news, I thought that WSU had just offered him once before and now again.
The first time WSU offered, last year, tho he put WSU on his list, he didnt really give WSU the time of day.
Since he zoom called with WSU, after this the another WSU offer to him, that is a step up.
That ups his chance to be a coug, from about 19% to 29% to 39%, to now about 39% to 49% to 59%.
And if he visits the campus, went to a game, keeps on talking to WSU/Smith/Etc, then the Chance goes to 49% to 59% to 69% to be a coug.
And if he puts WSU on his list again, combined with all the above, then would be about a 59% to 69% to 79% chance.
ON PAPER, he is according to recruiting services like Rivals, 247, ESPN, etc, somewhere between, borderline between a 4, FOUR STAR and a 5, FIVE STAR, recruit, that is about a Top 35 recruit in the nation.
At least thats what he was last recruiting year ON PAPER(Dont know what he is rated now.
irregardless of whether he would pan out or pans out, he would still be a amazing get since if WSU were to get him, he would be the highest rated BBALL Recruit in all of WSU history, since STUART HOUSE.
Just having WSU/Smith get him, if WSU/Smith gets him, beating out, if WSU/Smith beats out all the Dukes, Kentucky's, North Carolina's, Kansas's, etc, would be an amazing feat in and of itself, irregardless of whether he pans out or not.
Best of luck to the kid, but Iowa St was an atrocious 0-18 in Big-12 play and only beat Arkansas Pine Bluff and Jackson St this year. He'll definitely get more minutes in Ames but it doesn't look like he'll be in line for an NCAA birth in the next two years.
I think if he wants to make a living playing basketball, playing time is more important than playing minimal minutes on a NCAA tournament team. It is a credit to his hard work that he improved so much in his three years in Pullman. I hope he does great there.
Not necessarily. Think about last season for the Cougars. Coach Smith comes in and installs a new new offense and defense, and it did not hurt CJ Elleby at all. In fact, it improved his NBA stock.
Kunz is trying to improve his stock enough to catch on with a European team. He can do that at ISU.
