JR Giddens.

[xmuscularghandix]

just figured i'd show him some love...

As a Senior at John Marshall High in OKC he was considered one of the top prospects in the nation.


Coach John Martin on Giddens:

"The first game of his senior year. He had 14 points in the first quarter. He caught another alley-oop on a backdoor play we had set up and he hit a couple more 3-pointers. A lot is made about his ability to jump and that he can touch the top of the square. But he can really shoot the ball. He was a great shooter in high school and had NBA range. "

JR was selected to the McDonalds All-american game where he played along side Leon Powe, Kendrick Perkins, and Lebron James.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmjtL-UXajI
(very first highlight JR)



After signing on with Kansas he had a breakthough season after Coach Bill Self trusted Giddens and started him from day 1. Giddens avg'd 11 points per game and was named to the All-Big 12 freshman squad.


Kansas City star says:
(going in to 2nd year)
J.R. Giddens of Kansas is already forecasting where he might be selected in the 2005 Draft, even though he has yet to play a single a game of his sophomore season.

Bill Self's staff is already expecting Giddens to play only one more season for his university before making the jump to the NBA, passing up his final two years of eligibility.

One NBA scout said "If he leaves after this year, he's a top-15 to top-20 pick at worst. You just don't see athletes like him very often. He runs well, he gets his shot off quick and he can play above the rim. He's got a long future in this league."


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoKejSN5hH4


Following an up and down sophmore season where he struggled on and off the court, JR's issues climaxed after an altercation at a bar where Giddens was stabbed. After talking it through with Bill Self and the rest of the Jayhawks, Giddens decided to transfer for a new beginning.

JR would transfer to the New Mexico Lobos.His Senior year Giddens would be suspended for being a bad teammate, then come back better than ever. Noone would question JR on or off the court for the rest of his college career.

Giddens was named Mountain West Conference co-Player of the Year. Giddens Avg'd 16.6 pts, and 8.8 rebounds as a SG, both of those stats led the conference.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b91Td5P57pE

[Rondo_is_better]

Nice post. I knew most of his story, but you filled in some gaps for me. Informative, and it gave me some insight as to why a lot of people are calling for him to play more-- he was pretty highly regarded. TP.

[xmuscularghandix]

Nice post. I knew most of his story, but you filled in some gaps for me. Informative, and it gave me some insight as to why a lot of people are calling for him to play more-- he was pretty highly regarded. TP.

Bill Walker in all rights as been overshadowed his entire basketball life, OJ getting picked as a Mac All-American but him getting the snub, then Beasley getting all the attention... If Billy had been THE star at any point he would have been picked higher and i feel that everyone knows that. But i also think that him having that "proove the world" attitude is very good for him and the way he plays.

But alot of people forget that JR was a kid that some people looked at as a BIG pick for that draft after his sophmore year. this kid has ALOT of potential.

[Cman]

Thanks -- I enjoyed the read and liked the videos, especially of his Jayhawk days.  He looks like he could be a Josh Howard - like player.  Count me as a happy man if that is who he morphs into next season 

[Greenbean]

Man I wish these kids could show what they got...its not like a few years ago when we were calling for scrubs to play...these guys were value picks where the risk wasin the injury...now they are healthy and its time to shine