Cowboy Junky
Well-known member
I like the bigs we have but none of them will be confused with a center. Sellers has the body but lacks the skills.
I'm as excited about Johnathan Barnes as I've been about any big we've signed in 20 years. I think he's got the body and athleticism to dominate the college game, although he's green as a Colorado license plate.
Erik Leckner had the best skill set I've witnessed as far as Wyoming centers are concerned. He had the drop step, the turn around, great body control, and he used the glass. He was a weapon in the post.
I wonder if we could get Erik to take a year or two off from his current career and come to Laramie to mentor Mr. Barnes. We could call it the Erik Leckner internship.
You don't have to have a lot of basketball experience to play great defense or to get rebounds. Defense is all about position and want to. Learning some switches and helpside defense is an artform, but isn't as difficult to pick up as offense. You have to have a keen eye as a rebounder to see where the rebound is going to come off the rim when the shot leaves the shooters hand, but it isn't something you can work on. You have it or you don't. It takes time as a rebounder to learn to tip the ball when you can't pull it down, but other then that, you just have to great work ethic. I think Barnes will be good at those aspects of the game straight out the gate.
Still, after watching the Cowboys for years, I sure would love to see a true center with an offensive game similar to Erik's. Erik is a special guy. It makes you appreciate how special when you watch 25 years of basketball without seeing another guy close to his skills.
Therefore I propose a two year crash course for Mr. Barnes courtesy of Erik. I'm sure Erik won't mind putting his life on hold to mentor the next great Wyoming center.
I'm as excited about Johnathan Barnes as I've been about any big we've signed in 20 years. I think he's got the body and athleticism to dominate the college game, although he's green as a Colorado license plate.
Erik Leckner had the best skill set I've witnessed as far as Wyoming centers are concerned. He had the drop step, the turn around, great body control, and he used the glass. He was a weapon in the post.
I wonder if we could get Erik to take a year or two off from his current career and come to Laramie to mentor Mr. Barnes. We could call it the Erik Leckner internship.
You don't have to have a lot of basketball experience to play great defense or to get rebounds. Defense is all about position and want to. Learning some switches and helpside defense is an artform, but isn't as difficult to pick up as offense. You have to have a keen eye as a rebounder to see where the rebound is going to come off the rim when the shot leaves the shooters hand, but it isn't something you can work on. You have it or you don't. It takes time as a rebounder to learn to tip the ball when you can't pull it down, but other then that, you just have to great work ethic. I think Barnes will be good at those aspects of the game straight out the gate.
Still, after watching the Cowboys for years, I sure would love to see a true center with an offensive game similar to Erik's. Erik is a special guy. It makes you appreciate how special when you watch 25 years of basketball without seeing another guy close to his skills.
Therefore I propose a two year crash course for Mr. Barnes courtesy of Erik. I'm sure Erik won't mind putting his life on hold to mentor the next great Wyoming center.
