"Majority" of "NBA Decision makers": Holiday "should go back to school"

by Nestor on May 6, 2009 5:10 AM PDT Comment 24 comments

Andy Katz from ESPN has a report on NBA draft. He has put together his top-10 of potential draft picks based on his questions to NBA general managers. Holiday is not in that top-10 (Derozan checks in at number 6). So he isn't exactly vowing people early on ala Westbrook.

Then this is where it gets amusing. Katz posed some addition questions to the "NBA decisionmakers" which included the following:

2. Which legitimate early-entry candidate should go back to school?

And here is the response:

Holiday was the majority choice for the second question: Which legitimate early-entry candidate should go back to school? Yet at least one team listed him as a possible late lottery choice. Holiday worked out at the IMG Academy in Florida this month in preparation for the draft. He is still enrolled at UCLA and according to the staff is working with his professors about doing his schoolwork even though he won't be in class. UCLA's academic schedule follows the quarter system and won't finish the spring quarter until June.

We will see if Holiday truly takes in the feedback he gets from NBA "decision makers." As far as"working with his professors" line and "doing his schoolwork" at a basketball academy in Florida, that sounds as convincing to me when I hear or read about high school players with interesting backgrounds (to put it nicely) working on their pre-college academics at online diploma mills.

If he was actually "testing the waters" there would be a modicum of suspense on whether he is not coming back. But if anyone wants to read the tea-leaves, a good place to start would be read up pointguard08's report from San Francisco. Holiday is not even on Coach Howland's radar these days (although I am sure someone will ask him now about Holiday in LA and he will give a classy/standard answer).

GO BRUINS.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

0 recs | Comment 24 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Gah

I wonder if him not finishing his classes is going to reflect poorly on the annual academic findings report?

Also, it only takes one team to fall in love with his skill set and physical gifts for him to be drafted top-15, so it wouldn’t surprise me at all if that happened.

by bruinhopeful on May 6, 2009 9:04 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Seniors' prospects

I wish our loyal players, DC, JS, and PAA, would get more press about their draft potential. It seems DC’s a mid- to late-first rounder, or maybe an early second-rounder. He’s certainly earned a job more than fellow guard JH has, though he may not be drafted as highly due to this abstract and ephemeral concept of “potential.”

What are the prospects for JS and PAA? Based on his surname, maybe JS is destined to become a Clipper (and sadly sink into oblivion). PAA might join LRMAM in Milwaukee and supplant another DG from UCLA…Dan Gadzuric.

by bryanucla on May 6, 2009 9:23 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Enough Holiday talk

I am so sick of talking about this guy. To second Bryan’s comment, I’d love to hear more about our seniors in the media. So much more interesting.

But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.

by tasser10 on May 6, 2009 10:18 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

If we see them in the press

We should definitely talk them up. I am all for it.

by Nestor on May 6, 2009 10:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's what I mean

The Trojan Times, the OC [doesnot] Register, they never talk about these great kids and go straight for the overhyped kid who may or may not be great but hasn’t really done anything to deserve the attention.

But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.

by tasser10 on May 6, 2009 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

LMAO

I’m with you. This boat has sailed. I’m just waiting for Fall camp now and Football season. UCLA basketball will take care of itself. And, it will be fine with or without JH.

A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment. John Wooden

by MexiBruin on May 6, 2009 2:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I understand...

that we’ve all moved on from JH. I think it is necessary to prepare like JH isn’t coming back next year. But if he did decide to come back…what would your feelings be?

Only cause I would welcome him back with open.

by HE HATE ME on May 6, 2009 3:14 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I would...

love to have him back. I think if he runs the point next year we will see a different player. He seems like the type of kid that needs the ball in his hands and can create good shots for others. If he doesn’t come back it will suck but the good thing is that with CBH taking care of the program all will be good regardless of what 4 or 5 star player is starting.

by King J77 on May 6, 2009 3:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I Want Him Back

i disagree with most who don’t care and have written about it a lot. I’m tired of doing so.

I just hope if he does come back he is welcomed with open arms.

sjh

by Class of 66 on May 6, 2009 9:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

As far as I’m concerned, he is welcome back. If he doesn’t choose to come back, I understand and wish him the very best.

As I pointed out in another post, Jrue had to attend college for at least one year before going pro—that’s the rule. He chose to attend the finest university in the nation, with the best coach. For that choice, I can only commend him.

(I’ve already written about comments coming out of “camps” in my other post. That’s like “…sources close to ________ say…” If I had a “camp,” I’m sure I’d be mortified by at least half of what they said, most of the time.)

He is doing what any responsible person in his position would do: he is weighing his options. He is not “holding up a scholarship.”

JS tested the waters for the NBA last year. He was not “holding up a scolarship,” either.

Love My Bruins

by Bruingirl83 on May 7, 2009 9:42 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Even at his best

Holiday seems like the Darrick Martin type of player to me.

by Htse005 on May 6, 2009 9:03 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

JH is a very talented PG

and it will show — here if he comes back and plays the point, or in the pro’s — after a long development period.

I’m more confident that if he comes back here, he will hit his full potential.

I think if he turns pro, he may not.

Whichever choice he makes, I like JH and wish him well.

sjh

by Class of 66 on May 6, 2009 9:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I've only had the time to be a lurker these last few weeks

But just so ya know that you’re not alone, sjh: I support everything you’ve written re: Jrue Holiday 100%.

by insomniacslounge on May 7, 2009 12:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good to have you back, insomniac

Hope all is well.

by Fox 71 on May 7, 2009 4:05 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

things could be better

but I suppose most of us would say that.

by insomniacslounge on May 7, 2009 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The problem is

I can’t bring myself to care…if we were talking about Aboya, it would be another story!

Here’s the thing, as far as I’m concerned: once you’re the kind of person who makes excuses, that’s how it remains. Say JH comes back next year, and doesn’t have his “breakout” as many of you predict. What will it be then? Howland makes him play too much defense? His teammates aren’t good enough? The ball wasn’t round enough?

Anyway, of course I would welcome him back, but I would expect him (just as I expect any other player) to be a Ben Ball Warrior, and not someone who is just using UCLA to showcase his skills. If he shows me that he is here for the team and that it’s not the other way around, then I will start caring!

But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.

by tasser10 on May 7, 2009 10:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

My moratorium on Holiday comments still stands.

I do not have a moratorium on great lines, and this one was great: “The ball wasn’t round enough?” Very nice, tasser.

by Fox 71 on May 7, 2009 3:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

We rugby players

have a thing against round balls…

But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.

by tasser10 on May 8, 2009 10:13 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Insert Manny Ramirez joke here

by Barnes2JJ on May 8, 2009 11:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ouch Barnes!

You’d think having a new daughter would soften you up…I’m glad that’s not the case…it’s reassuring for me!

But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.

by tasser10 on May 8, 2009 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ha ha

Well, it does soften you up but in different ways.

I can’t recall—do you know the sex of yours yet?

by Barnes2JJ on May 8, 2009 1:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

A little Josephine

is in the works for us. I am going to be outnumbered…and I already have no pull!

But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.

by tasser10 on May 9, 2009 8:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Daughters are great

Don’t worry—you will only be outnumbered in numerical terms. They don’t call them “daddy’s girls” for nothing. :)

by Barnes2JJ on May 9, 2009 10:50 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

in complete agreement with c/o 66 on this one

the part of the article that rang out to me was the line that at least one nba team had him as a possible late lottery pick. and that’s where we are at- he probably should come back to school, but he still stands a pretty good shot of getting drafted where he wants.
as far as coverage of our seniors and there draft prospects, it seems to me that there isn’t much to write on the issue. shipp and the prez aren’t likely to be drafted and collison’s draft stock kinda dipped- i think he’ll be a 2nd rounder unless he puts on a great showing at these workouts

Across The Face

by rb bruin on May 7, 2009 12:16 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs