Practice Report: New Mexico Lobos
Tuesday, February 4 | 3:30 p.m. MT | The Pit (Albuquerque, NM)
— Practice #74 of New Mexico’s season. It will host the University of Wyoming tomorrow at 9 p.m. MT. All players participated.
Craig Neal (Head Coach): 505-917-3561 (cell)
Lamont Smith (Associate Head Coach): 480-784-7236 (cell)
Craig Snow (Assistant Coach): 505-715-0771 (cell)
NBA Prospects
Alex Kirk (JR): C, 7-0, 250
Cameron Bairstow (SR): PF, 6-9, 250
Kendall Williams (SR): G, 6-4, 180
Next Tier
Cullen Neal (FR): PG, 6-4, 186
Obij Aget (FR): C, 7-0, 220
Hugh Greenwood (JR): G, 6-3, 205
Deshawn Delaney (JR): SG, 6-5, 190
—–
Alex Kirk — C, 7-0, 250
Junior, 22 years old
Season (32 mpg): 14 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 2.8 BPG
Notes: Kirk’s combination of size and shooting make him an intriguing prospect.
Kirk made shots from all three ranges in practice — interior, mid-range, and 3-point. He converted 9-of-10 threes in a shooting drill, scored facing up in the high post, and finished hook shots with either hand down low. He has a strong upper body which allows him to seal his man in the paint, and quick bounce off the floor to finish with a dunk. He’s quicker than I first realized, in terms of constantly moving without the ball and also leaving the ground. The threat of his jump shot pays dividends for his entire team, because Kirk stretches the defense and thus opens up the floor for his teammates.
Kirk had two dunks through traffic as well—he’s not an elite athlete, but he finishes above the rim when given space. Nice vision from the high post, and can pass out of double teams in the low post.
Defensively, Kirk moves his feet well, but I’m not sure how well because Kirk wasn’t challenged defensively in practice. I’m also curious to see Kirk’s shot blocking ability. On paper he’s an elite shot blocker, but he’s merely an average athlete, so I’m curious.
Good stuff overall. Kirk finished with power and touch at the basket, and was a catch-and-shoot machine from the high post. He could enter the draft after this season, or he could stay for his redshirt senior year, when he’ll be the focal point of New Mexico’s offense.
Cameron Bairstow — PF, 6-9, 250
Senior, 23 years old
Season (32 mpg): 20 PPG, 7 RPG, 1.8 APG
Notes: Bairstow has been one of the biggest “breakout” players in college basketball this season. He’s evolved from a solid power forward into one of the most productive and reliable big men in the entire nation.
Quick look:
2012-’13 (24 MPG): 9.7 PPG, 5.9 RPG, .06 BPG, 45% FG
2013-’14 (32 MPG): 20 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.4 BPG, 56% FG
Firstly, Coach Neal claims Bairstow is one of the hardest working kids ever to come through UNM. He said that after every home game, Bairstow immediately heads to the weight room for a post-game weightlifting session.
That work ethic has helped Bairstow improve every part of his game since last season, transforming a bevy of “good’ attributes into “near-elite” attributes. Offensively, his comfort zone is the mid- to-low post. He uses his strength to carve out space down low, where he can seal his man deep into the paint. Though not particularly skilled with his back to the basket, Bairstow can finish over either shoulder, and he gets to the line at a solid rate (7.4 fouls drawn per 40 minutes; 24th nationally). He is aggressive in the low post, intentionally trying to draw—and finish through—contact. He compensates for average athleticism with crafty finishes and a “punch first” physicality. Not many back to the basket moves, but his strength and tenacity allow him to set up anywhere he wants.
Bairstow is most dangerous facing up out of the post, where he can put the ball on the floor and attack the basket, as well as knock down a 15-footer. He’s square to the basket on his jump shot, has a high release point and a good follow-through. His form is a little awkward, as his off hand stays completely straight in the air through his shooting motion, but it works for him. Bairstow’s first option is facing up to either shoot from the high post or drive right and attack the basket. He also has pick-and-pop potential from the high post, as his strong frame is a good base for setting screens.
One observation I had today was that Bairstow forced the issue with his right hand. He often drove left only to force a reverse layup with his right hand. No good here.
Defensively, Bairstow is strong to maintain position in the low post, but his average athleticism and average wingspan make it difficult to contest shots.
He’s also slow on his feet in face-up situations, so quicker and more athletic forwards can get by him on the perimeter. This is problematic. Bairstow is strong, but improved foot speed will be the key defensively.
Overall, Bairstow has dominated the opposition this year, and it’s a credit to his work ethic. He can do it all on the college level—make a jump shot, get to the line, drive it right, pass out of traps, score from the low post. He’ll be 23 years old in June—and a part of me wonders if he’s already realized his ceiling—but Bairstow’s physical nature and polished interior skills make him worthy of NBA consideration. He sort of reminds me of Luis Scola.
Kendall Williams — G, 6-4, 180
Senior, 22 years old
Season (35 mpg): 17.6 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 5.3 RPG, 2 SPG
Notes: The reigning Mountain West player of the year, Williams is a wiry combo guard with excellent speed and a good first step. Due to his speed, it’s difficult to keep him out of the lane. He can score in a variety of ways in the lane, using either hand to finish at the rim. He’s also showcased a developing mid- and long-range jumper, though not with consistency.
Williams can play on or off the ball. In transition, he can push the ball or run the wings; in the half court, he can run the pick-and-roll, or use off-ball screens to free himself. He’s a dynamic weapon on the college level, as he can go for 46 points one game, then 17-and-10 the next.
But, at 6-4 and 180 pounds, Williams is a tweener. He lacks the lateral foot speed and the strength to defend NBA shooting guards. Too slow and too small to defend NBA shooting guards.
If he’s going to make it, it’ll be as a point guard. But—and to my disliking—Williams played off the ball in practice. His jump shot, which has been hit or miss throughout his career, was out of sync on this day. I enjoy his game, but quite frankly, he looked out of place on the college level, let alone within the context of the NBA.
One aspect he did excel in was his communication and leadership. Williams constantly communicated on the court, calling out screens and defensive assignments. Terrific leadership here.
Overall, Williams was solid—made a few jumpers, finished at the rim, changed direction in the lane—but nothing special. Maybe that’ll change in the game tomorrow.
Other Players
Cullen Neal — PG, 6-4, 186
Freshman, 20 years old
Season (21 mpg): 8 PPG, 2 RPG, 2 APG
Cell: 505-506-9381
Notes: Neal has excellent size for a point guard, though this season he’s playing off the ball alongside Kendall Williams and Hugh Greenwood.
Offensively, Neal best attributes are his court vision and jump shot. He can pass with either hand, with impeccable timing and the ability to thread the needle in traffic. In practice, he consistently threaded the needle on pick-and-rolls, hitting the rolling screener at the precise moment. Although he’s a freshman, Neal can already create his own shot off the dribble, using a quick release and good elevation to see over the defense.
Neal can lead the fast break, but right now he struggles to “run the offense” in the half court. He doesn’t always do the little things at full speed—for example, running full speed to receive a hand off, or re-posting the big man with a sense of urgency. His game is more freestyle than structured right now, preferring to break his man down then make a play. He also needs to tighten up his handle—he keeps the ball too high for too long. He must tighten his handle to maximize his passing skills.
Neal is leading New Mexico’s second unit this season. With good size, court vision and deep range, he should be the point guard of the Lobos for the foreseeable future. Under the tutelage of his father, his upside as a 17 point/10 assist point guard is promising.
Obij Aget — C, 7-0, 220
Freshman, 21 years old
Season (7.5 mpg): 1.5 PPG, 2 RPG, 0.3 BPG
*Aget originally signed for the 2012-13 season, but he tore his ACL and did not enroll in the fall of 2012, thereby not starting his eligibility clock.
Notes: Right now, Aget is as raw as they come.
Strengths
— 7-footer with a 6-10 (estimated) wingspan
— Tries to dunk everything inside the foul line
— Decent timing on blocks
Defects/Areas of Improvement
— No offensive moves
— As raw as they come (raw dribbling, passing, moving his feet, blocking shots)
— Stick skinny (only 220 pounds!)
— Already 21 years old
Aget has good size and athleticism for a PF/C, but he is very raw right now. In other words, the first observation anyone would have is that he’s still learning the fundamentals of playing basketball.
He can dunk the ball from a standing position, but clearly struggles to put the ball on the floor. Defensively, he’s a work in progress as well. During practice, Coach Neal lamented Aget’s inability to cover ground in the zone. He works hard and loves playing basketball, but right now there’s no semblance of skill present.
Hugh Greenwood — G, 6-3, 205
Junior, 22 years old
Season (31 mpg): 6 PPG, 5 RPG, 3 APG
Notes: Greenwood is the ultimate utility player. He doesn’t excel in any facet of the game (save for rebounding, maybe), but he has a high basketball IQ and won’t make many mistakes. You can count on him to set up the offense in the face of pressure, come up with a rebound when you need it, and make the correct “basketball play.” Greenwood has around 5 “hockey assists” every game. Not an NBA-caliber player, but he’s a winner and the “glue” holding New Mexico together.
Deshawn Delaney — SG, 6-5, 190
Junior, 21 years old
Season (17 mpg): 4.6 PPG, 3.5 RPG
A JuCo import from Vincennes (IN), Delaney is a good athlete with size and length for the position. He can attack the basket with powerful drives, but needs to improve his ball skills to initiate offense from the perimeter. He’s more of a cutter/slasher/energy player/athletic defender right now. He has the focus, speed and athleticism to be a terrific defender.
Delaney has a few tools to build upon, but he needs to develop his handle, and gain about 20 pounds. If his offensive game develops over the next eight months, we can revisit him as a fringe NBA prospect.
*Ages calculated at time of 2014 NBA Draft
