L. Washington

[carbonpoke]

I think im most impressed with the growth of washington into the manbeast that he is today. just two years ago, the kid was a shambling lunatic. he had a great season last year, but the offseason troubles I think actually helped him develop.

maybe its the fact that shyatt stood by him. made him accountable.... whatever happened this summer helped develop washington mentally.

again, just last year, washington was a liability at times due to foul trouble. now, however, his game has improved and he hasn't been in foul trouble ALL year.

his ability to d-up and dominate the paint, totally negating a player like carmichael... truely awesome. add to the fact that he has nance on his flank.

its a damn nice story for washington... to come from where he was, too THIS. So proud of him! he gets my vote for first team all conference. You better bring your A-game down low, we are starting to prove our bigs are the real deal.

 

[Wyo2dal]

Too bad he is a senior one more year under Shyatt would be amazing to see,

 

[cheypoke]

Leonard is playing much smarter this year. Not giving up the bad fouls, but actually being more effective defensively. On the offensive side he has really developed into a smart player, good basketball IQ. He looks for and makes some nice passes. And most importantly, when at times the team has struggled in games, Wahington is willing/able to step up and carry the team on his back. Big-time player.

 

[seattlecowboy]

I just said on another thread the other day that I think Washington is the best all around player I have seen at Wyoming with the way he is playing this year since Dembo/Leckner.

He can go by his man off the dribble anytime he wants and get to the basket. He is an athletic freak for his size. Last night he went by his man multiple times and actually should have had a couple more lay ups that he barely missed. I know Carmicheal might have blocked one of them but he dominated Carmichael.

His interior passing this year has been great as well. There have been a few times where he went by his man off the dribble and got down low and the other team went to double him and he made great passes to Larry for easy baskets. I know Slater was a great rebounder and Theo Ratliff was a great shot blocker but Leonard can do a little of both of those things to go along with his scoring. I'm not saying Washington is a better rebounder than Slater and he isn't a better shot blocker than Ratliff was but he brings both of those aspects to his game to go along with everything else. Dude is a beast. I honestly don't think there is a team in the MWC that will have better multiple bigs than Wyoming does this year. Wyoming can match up with anyone down low. Having another athletic freak in Cooke coming off the bench even though he is raw helps also. We are athletic this year.
Having Adams as athletic as he is also brings another dimension.

I'm very proud of the way Washington has handled himself and he seems to be a great leader on the floor. He should be 1st team this year easily and who knows maybe he has a chance at MWC player of the year? We will see.

 

[fromolwyoming]

Too bad he is a senior one more year under Shyatt would be amazing to see,

One more year undr Shyatt he would be an All-American.

But I agree. Washington is a great player and has come a long way since raising hell at USC. I guess getting out of the big city does have some good things about it (just don't tell any Aztec fans that, they get chippy about it), and especially when you are coached by a guy like Larry Shyatt.

 

[BeaverPoke]

Don't start a thread with "Leonard Washington" I was fearing the worst when I read it.

But yes Leonard is amazing, we've all said it before. He has developed his mid range and outside game a little bit and has a chance to make the NBA.

And to all of you that said he is a pure power forward, after I said he has a chance to make the NBA as a SF, when I talked to him after the CU win he said that if he makes the NBA he will be playing the 3 for sure.

So ha! lol.

But yes Leonard can take this team far in the MWC, the MWC Tourney, and even the NCAA or NIT. He is literally one of the best players in the MWC and there aren't going to be many players that are better than him throughout the rest of the country.

 

[laxwyo]

If u guys start arguing about what position he really is again, I'm going to lose it.

 

[BeaverPoke]

If u guys start arguing about what position he really is again, I'm going to lose it.

lol easy lax, I'm just saying what Leonard told me. Not to bring up an argument just a "told you so told you so"

 

[gopokes1399]

The guy is a beast and he plays intelligent basketball! You don't see many bigs like him who can block shots as well as he can that still take 4 charges in one game! He is so fun to watch, the whole team is, but he the leader out there

 

[BeaverPoke]

The guy is a beast and he plays intelligent basketball! You don't see many bigs like him who can block shots as well as he can that still take 4 charges in one game! He is so fun to watch, the whole team is, but he the leader out there

But according to a fan of anyone else (especially) CU fans, that is just horrible officiating, because they are all clearly blocking fouls and coach shyatt pays the refs...

 

[ItSucksToBeACSURam]

The guy is a beast and he plays intelligent basketball! You don't see many bigs like him who can block shots as well as he can that still take 4 charges in one game! He is so fun to watch, the whole team is, but he the leader out there

But according to a fan of anyone else (especially) CU fans, that is just horrible officiating, because they are all clearly blocking fouls and coach shyatt pays the refs...

I love all the fans that say the only reason we beat CU was because the refs. That had the game been in Boulder the refs would have been more fair. My take on it is this. The Pokes are an incredibly efficient, smart, and well coached defensive unit that put themselves in the best positions to play physical but to do it without fouling. Last night we went on the road into a very hostile arena the home team had WAY more fouls than us. That's not officiating so much as it Shyatts coaching starting to really take hold and the players are playing smart. I cannot wait for conference, with this defense we really stand a great chance to raise a banner this year!!! GO POKES!!!

 

[stymeman]

maybe the suspension did wonders for this guy in all aspects of his game/life....i've seen a totally different fun to watch person on the court....hoping all goes well for him now and in the future....

 

[Kwyo]

I truly wish him to go to NBA.

 

[Wyo2dal]

I truly wish him to go to NBA.

I really think he will have a good shot at making it into the NBA at this rate.

 

[BeaverPoke]

I truly wish him to go to NBA.

I really think he will have a good shot at making it into the NBA at this rate.

Nothing like a run in the NCAA tourney to help get you there. Think of Mario Chalmers, Kansas. National Championship that year I think.
Dwayne Wade, Marquette, Sweet 16
Gordon Hayward, Butler, Final 4

Leonard Washington, Wyoming, ???

 

[Kwyo]

I truly wish him to go to NBA.

I really think he will have a good shot at making it into the NBA at this rate.

Nothing like a run in the NCAA tourney to help get you there. Think of Mario Chalmers, Kansas. National Championship that year I think.
Dwayne Wade, Marquette, Sweet 16
Gordon Hayward, Butler, Final 4

Leonard Washington, Wyoming, ???

pippen from central arkansas

 

[BeaverPoke]

I truly wish him to go to NBA.

I really think he will have a good shot at making it into the NBA at this rate.

Nothing like a run in the NCAA tourney to help get you there. Think of Mario Chalmers, Kansas. National Championship that year I think.
Dwayne Wade, Marquette, Sweet 16
Gordon Hayward, Butler, Final 4

Leonard Washington, Wyoming, ???

pippen from central arkansas

Did they make a good tourney run?

 

[Kwyo]

I truly wish him to go to NBA.

I really think he will have a good shot at making it into the NBA at this rate.

Nothing like a run in the NCAA tourney to help get you there. Think of Mario Chalmers, Kansas. National Championship that year I think.
Dwayne Wade, Marquette, Sweet 16
Gordon Hayward, Butler, Final 4

Leonard Washington, Wyoming, ???

pippen from central arkansas

Did they make a good tourney run?

u mean pippen?

back in pippen's time

it was not even ncaa
naia school.

 

[BeaverPoke]

I truly wish him to go to NBA.

I really think he will have a good shot at making it into the NBA at this rate.

Nothing like a run in the NCAA tourney to help get you there. Think of Mario Chalmers, Kansas. National Championship that year I think.
Dwayne Wade, Marquette, Sweet 16
Gordon Hayward, Butler, Final 4

Leonard Washington, Wyoming, ???

pippen from central arkansas

Did they make a good tourney run?

u mean pippen?

back in pippen's time

it was not even ncaa
naia school.

Oh, yeah, I was implying that a good tourney run and being the leader of that team will help you get into the nba.

kawhi Leonard, SDSU, Sweet 16 ?

 

[seattlecowboy]

Don't forget that Washington was a top 100 recruit out of high school. He was very very highly touted. NBA scouts have known about him for a long time. He played in all star games his senior year with previous Kentucky star and now NBA player John Wall and some others. So the fact that he has turned out to be this good shouldn't be surprise to anyone.

Here is a clip of a dunk he had at a high school tournament. He is the #2 rated play at the 1:35 mark I think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s03hOH_gpQw