I thought the Lebron James comparisons were mostly because of this kid's physical stature AND talent. Telfair had talent for a high school kid but is nothing special size wise. Lebron might have been 'a Sebastion Telfair' if he wasn't such a freak of nature.
Baseball is different from Basketball. You can play basketball on athletism alone, where baseball is a skill sport. If he can't hit a major league curve ball, he will be Michael Jordan Jr or Michelle Wie.
With that kind of bat speed he's got an extremely bright future The metal bats of today aren't like what they used to be. In the college game they reduced the diameter on the bat back in 2000, and the scoring has come way down
Well, he was using a wood bat for the pro scout day part of the vid. But if you're in a HR derby where everybody else is using aluminum, it's probably a good idea to use aluminum too if you want to win.
In fairness Wie was a very good player early. She still could be again. Basketball is also a game of skill. Freak athletes don't get to be stars without other skills(Mostly because there are tons of freak athletes in the NBA.) You can't discount what can happen to a can't miss prospect. Luckily Hamilton got it turned around, but there are a number of reasons why any athlete can fail.
btw, since it came up, what exactly gave worth to the phrase "new york point guard"...? i am assuming it's just the ballhandling and playmaking that are nurtured on the playground that is exclusive to new york but really isn't that exclusive to new york... can't think of anything else. kenny anderson was sick though. maybe the best fast break dribbler i've ever seen. mark jackson had a very solid career. #2 all-time assists. kenny smith was also solid and a great prospect coming out of north carolina. became a shooter but he was actually a drive-first pg prospect. marbury was on the track to greatness his first few years in minnesota but he let his ego ruin everything and now he is pretty much a laughingstock. telfair is really the only guy that has flat out sucked in the league and in his defense, he didn't play college ball and is still learning the game.
You forgot Rafer... But seriously, some really good guards have come out of that town. To add to your list, Cousy, Rod Strickland, Lenny Wilkens, Nate Archibald, etc. also came from there. Of course so did Smush Parker. I think Jamaal Tinsley was from there. Jordan was born there - does that count?
His tools are incredible. Of course, you can't make it to the bigs on tools alone. A lot of moving parts in that swing.
Bryce Harper is dropping out of HS, getting his GED, and going to community college. This will allow him to enter either the 2010 or 2011 drafts. [rquoter]LAS VEGAS -- A 16-year-old baseball phenom dubbed the game's "Chosen One" by Sports Illustrated plans to skip his final two years of high school in hopes of entering the Major League Baseball draft earlier, his father said. Bryce Harper Bryce Harper has registered at a community college where he plans to attend classes in the fall and play next season, his father Ron Harper said. "People question your parenting and what you're doing. Honestly, we don't think it's that big a deal," Ron Harper said. "He's not leaving school to go work in a fast food restaurant. Bryce is a good kid. He's smart and he's going to get his education." Ron Harper announced his son's decision on Saturday in Oklahoma City. Harper, a 6-foot-3-inch catcher whom experts say could be a top draft pick when he becomes eligible, recently signed enrollment forms and a letter of intent to play for the College of Southern Nevada. Harper plans to take a high school equivalency test and enter the draft in 2010 or 2011, Ron Harper said. "Bryce is always looking for his next challenge," Ron Harper said. He's going to pursue his education, too. He's going to get pushed academically and athletically." Harper hit .626 with 14 homers, 55 RBIs and 36 steals last season for Las Vegas High School. His photo is on the cover of the June 8 issue of Sports Illustrated, along with a headline that compares him to LeBron James, the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball star who received superstar hype in high school before getting picked first in the 2003 NBA draft. Ron Harper said his son pushed to leave high school early. "He was thinking about it, he initiated it," the father said. "He said, 'Dad, why can't I take my GED and do this?"' Players become eligible for the draft at age 16 if they have completed high school. [/rquoter] http://highschool.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=955764
