bb recruiting

[falafel]

My gut feel is that Mika is going to struggle at the next level more than people think. He's a monster 5 at the D1 level if he's 6'10-6'11. But I think he's closer to 6'7-6'8. I don't think he'll be a bust, but I don't think he'll be immediately the second or third best player on a tourney team.

I just watched the clip about LP and they said Mika is 6-10. I know those numbers can be inflated, but that came from either Emery or the coach (can't remember which), not a press guide. Any chance he's actually that tall?

[jay santos]

I noticed LP beat Bingham 92-57 last night in a game Emery was ejected from. Seems like Bingham usually puts a pretty good team out there. Does anybody in the state have even the slightest chance of beathing LP?

With no shot clock and in a one game setting, anything can happen. But no one on paper is within 20 points of LP. Orem's probably the second best team in the state and LP beat them by 20 earlier this year.

Think of it this way. Besides the one game they lost to arguably the #1 team in the nation, they are 6-0 against teams ranked in the top 100, with an average victory margin of 20 points. Any of those six teams would coast to a Utah state championship.

[smokymountainrain]

I just watched the clip about LP and they said Mika is 6-10. I know those numbers can be inflated, but that came from either Emery or the coach (can't remember which), not a press guide. Any chance he's actually that tall?

Came from Lewis. I can see him exaggerating an inch or two, but not from 6'7" to 6'10". If Lewis says he's 6'10", I'm thinking he's got to be at least 6'8" or 6'9".

[MarkGrace]

I just watched the clip about LP and they said Mika is 6-10. I know those numbers can be inflated, but that came from either Emery or the coach (can't remember which), not a press guide. Any chance he's actually that tall?

He's 6' 170 lbs. I've stood next to him.

[jay santos]

I just watched the clip about LP and they said Mika is 6-10. I know those numbers can be inflated, but that came from either Emery or the coach (can't remember which), not a press guide. Any chance he's actually that tall?

No way. I know I'm the official height buzz kill guy on CUF, but I've seen him play a few times and walked next to him. I guessed 6'7, but I can give him 6'8 because most height listings are a little padded. He looked eye to eye with Aaron Gordon from the game on TV on Monday, who is listed at 6'8.

[smokymountainrain]

With no shot clock and in a one game setting, anything can happen. But no one on paper is within 20 points of LP. Orem's probably the second best team in the state and LP beat them by 20 earlier this year.

Think of it this way. Besides the one game they lost to arguably the #1 team in the nation, they are 6-0 against teams ranked in the top 100, with an average victory margin of 20 points. Any of those six teams would coast to a Utah state championship.

Makes sense.

[smokymountainrain]

He's 6' 170 lbs. I've stood next to him.

Okay, I'm wrong. Grace has stood next him.

[jay santos]

This article dated Sep 28. 2011 refers to him at 6'7
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/7...ed.html?pg=all

This article dated Dec 17, 2011 refers to him at 6'8
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/cougars...-lone.html.csp

Maybe he's still growing? My reference point was the spring/summer of last year.

[Goatnapper'96]

Came from Lewis. I can see him exaggerating an inch or two, but not from 6'7" to 6'10". If Lewis says he's 6'10", I'm thinking he's got to be at least 6'8" or 6'9".

Lewis holds a TR. Mika is 6"10'!

[jay santos]

It seems silly for grown men to be arguing over two or three inches of height in a high school basketball player. But really it is a big deal, if you want to project what kind of player he will be at BYU, especially immediately. At 6'10, with his current skill set, he can step in and be a very imposing starting center as a frosh. At 6'8, he's the shortest center BYU has had since I can remember, and that's not to say he won't succeed, but throw in a height disadvantage along with experience disadvantage as a frosh, and it's more doubtful he'll be an immediate impact guy.

[Goatnapper'96]

It seems silly for grown men to be arguing over two or three inches of height in a high school basketball player. But really it is a big deal, if you want to project what kind of player he will be at BYU, especially immediately. At 6'10, with his current skill set, he can step in and be a very imposing starting center as a frosh. At 6'8, he's the shortest center BYU has had since I can remember, and that's not to say he won't succeed, but throw in a height disadvantage along with experience disadvantage as a frosh, and it's more doubtful he'll be an immediate impact guy.

BYU listed Jared Jensen at 6'8. Then we had two years of 6'10 Aurajo. Then back to another year of Jensen followed by 6'10 Plaisted follwed by 6'10 Miles followed by Davies at 6'9. I think they all fudge their heights a bit.

[jay santos]

BYU listed Jared Jensen at 6'8. Then we had two years of 6'10 Aurajo. Then back to another year of Jensen followed by 6'10 Plaisted follwed by 6'10 Miles followed by Davies at 6'9. I think they all fudge their heights a bit.

The way Mika jumps, he'd be equivalent to a 6'8 Jared Jensen at about 6'2. So that's a good thing. I'm high on Mika. I'm just not sure how much he'll have to adjust his game. He overpowers the crap out of shorter guys at the high school level. But he's been doing well against all these national teams that likely have tall centers. I'd like him better if he wasn't leaving for a mission after a year.

[Goatnapper'96]

The way Mika jumps, he'd be equivalent to a 6'8 Jared Jensen at about 6'2. So that's a good thing. I'm high on Mika. I'm just not sure how much he'll have to adjust his game. He overpowers the crap out of shorter guys at the high school level. But he's been doing well against all these national teams that likely have tall centers. I'd like him better if he wasn't leaving for a mission after a year.

That mission will set a great example for your sons!

I am going with a true basketball height of 6'9!

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

How tall is Nick Emery, and how tall is Mika's head? Because it looks like Emery comes up to the bottom of Mika's chin.

[YOUTUBE]v25ioIKb3c4[/YOUTUBE]


And if Mika suddenly lost 2" and is really 6'8", doesn't that mean the dunks he puts up in that video suddenly became more impressive and that he gained 2" on his vertical? And maybe instead of being a short-ish center he'll be a bullish 4. Does being 2" shorter mean we should feel better about his skill level based on how well he's done against elite high school talent?

However tall he is, I agree with the others that have said it, that what we can comfortably say about Mika is that at this point he projects as being better than Brandon Davies. Projection won't equal production, but if Mika keeps up the work ethic he's had to this point, it should happen. I'll happily take that for his Cougar career.

[MartyFunkhouser]

I hate that you bastards have that damn LP JV team. Your former players need to stop having children.