Legend Sees NBA Promise for Nevill
Legendary Cal coach Mike Montgomery spent two years in the NBA as the head coach at Golden State, in addition to his spectacular college career, so he can quite reasonably be viewed as an expert -- even if his Warriors team was pretty bad during his ill-fated tenure.
With that in mind, I asked Montgomery last week what he thought about center Luke Nevill's prospects in the league. Nevill is leading the Utes by averaging 18.5 points and 11 rebounds in his senior season, but has long frustrated fans with what sometimes appears to be a lack of strength or desire.
"Everybody likes size," Montgomery said. "He's obviously not as strong as you'd like him to be in the NBA, but you're going to move him away from the basket with the NBA lane.
"He'll get drafted by somebody," the coach added. "I don't know [who]. ... A lot of people in the league aren't playing with big guys. It's just not the way the game is being played so much in the NBA anymore -- unless you're just a dominating size guy that can block shots and is so strong. The game is being played with more perimeter, spread out, shoot the ball, draw-kick type of thing. But there will be a place for him, and if it's the right place, he'll have success."
With that in mind, I asked Montgomery last week what he thought about center Luke Nevill's prospects in the league. Nevill is leading the Utes by averaging 18.5 points and 11 rebounds in his senior season, but has long frustrated fans with what sometimes appears to be a lack of strength or desire.
"Everybody likes size," Montgomery said. "He's obviously not as strong as you'd like him to be in the NBA, but you're going to move him away from the basket with the NBA lane.
"He'll get drafted by somebody," the coach added. "I don't know [who]. ... A lot of people in the league aren't playing with big guys. It's just not the way the game is being played so much in the NBA anymore -- unless you're just a dominating size guy that can block shots and is so strong. The game is being played with more perimeter, spread out, shoot the ball, draw-kick type of thing. But there will be a place for him, and if it's the right place, he'll have success."
posted by www.sltrib.com @ 10:22 AM |
1 Comments:
With all due respect to Coach Montgomerie, I have to disagree about Nevill in the NBA. I just can't see that happening.... I think the poor guy would get manhandled playing in Holland.... I've always thought he was a 7-2 guy with a 6-2 game. He's a very soft, finesse player. He's got a good shooting touch, but poor court awareness, no inherent grit or toughness, and has a really tough time playing with his back to the basket. I think there's been incremental improvement for Luke during his time at Utah, but I don't think he has the mentality to succeed in the NBA. I think he's a great kid, but I think I speak for a lot of Utah fans when I say his career has been largely disappointing.
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