OTish: So people on twitter are freaking out about Shabazz actually being 20

[santeesioux]

Like hurting his draft stock and falling out of the top 10. At the old old age of 20, can you imagine him falling into our laps like that? Yeah he lied, but getting a guy of his caliber at 12 would be insane.

 

[santeesioux]

http://www.latimes.com/news/columnone/la-fi-shabazz-muhammad-inc-20130322-dto,0,3133186.htmlstory

 

[Boise Blazer]

I need to go on twitter and start spreading some more rumors about him then too. " I heard he had a fake girlfriend and ... "

 

[santeesioux]

http://basketball.realgm.com/wireta...ually-One-Year-Older-Than-Previously-Believed

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Must be a slow news day. Such a non-story. Even worse that people on twitter think it matters.

 

[crowTrobot]

moot since we are doomed to finish 13th

 

[illmatic99]

I used to be one of Shabazz's biggest supporters. His crappy season and weak attitude has made me one of his biggest detractors.

Stay away. It's sad, the two guys I thought would blow me away (Zeller and Muhammed) both have really disappointed me this year.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I don't know how much it says about his ability to play in the pros, but it sort of explains why he dominated high school competition if he was more physically mature than 95% of the guys he faced. Also, it doesn't say much about his character that he was lying about his age.

 

[RR7]

Part of me can see the discussion. A lot of the scouting on him was in HS, when he was a full year or two older than most other kids. At the same time, he's the same age as McLemore, so not a big deal.

 

[glazeduck]

This is shaping up to be a very interesting draft.

- Kentucky freshman possibly getting pushed out, while ALL have said they're not ready for the NBA
- Bazz possibly sliding due to age and sketchy background
- Perhaps the 2 best prospects in the draft - Anthony Bennett and Victor Oladipo - may slide if they don't measure near their listed height of 6'8 and 6'5 respectively (SPOILER ALERT: they won't)
- Noel's injury questions
- no consensus #1 with what looks like a phenomenal draft next year - could spark some interesting trades

Will be exciting to see how it plays out, especially with us floating right at the 12/13 pick line...

The one guy I'm going to keep an eye one is Rudy Gobert - 7'1 with a 7'9 wingspan cannot be taught and he's athletic enough that some scouts think he can be a 4.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Interesting on Shabazz. I think this draft is shaping up to be another crap shoot. I do think there is some talent and I think 5-15 could all be about the same. Just no super stars

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Also, it doesn't say much about his character that he was lying about his age.

Did the article ever indicate that Muhammad knew that he was older than was being claimed? Seems possible that Daddy started the age deception really early, before Shabazz would have been aware.

As for the theory behind the deception, it's very valid. If a kid is bigger/stronger, he probably gets more opportunity to play, more coaching, more skill development, etc. At first he excels because of his age/size, but eventually it translates into improved ability. If the job of a parent is to do what's best for his children, I give Holmes credit for figuring out a way to help his son succeed.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Yeah his whole life seems to be a very well planned out strategy by his dad. Which means his dad would be his agent. I kind of feel sorry for him. If he drops to us great. But I would no longer be willing to move up to get him. I still like him as a player, but the whole Marinovich similarity is too weird.

 

[ehizzy3]

if he falls to our pick ill cream myself

 

[tlongII]

Just one more reason for me to hate twitter. God I hate that medium!

 

[Natebishop3]

Part of me can see the discussion. A lot of the scouting on him was in HS, when he was a full year or two older than most other kids. At the same time, he's the same age as McLemore, so not a big deal.

In the case, maybe we should draft McLemore.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

In the case, maybe we should draft McLemore.

wont be there at #12

neither will bazz though so much ado about nada

 

[Natebishop3]

wont be there at #12

neither will bazz though so much ado about nada

I was talking about the rapper

 

[BlayZa]

people on twitter losing their minds over nothing? fancy that...

 

[3RA1N1AC]

people on S2 losing their minds over nothing? fancy that...

 

[BengalDuck]

the fact that he's 20 shouldn't be scaring people off.

it's the fact that he's not that good.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

the fact that he's 20 shouldn't be scaring people off.

it's the fact that he's not that good.

You're right--the fact that he was named first team all-Pac12 and a freshman all-american shouldn't fool people into thinking that he can actually play basketball.

 

[jlprk]

http://www.latimes.com/news/columnone/la-fi-shabazz-muhammad-inc-20130322-dto,0,3133186.htmlstory

That is a professionally-written article which intentionally understates its revelations. The Times correctly placed it on its front page. Good journalism.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Shabazz Muhammad addressed a report which revealed he is actually 20 years old and not 19 as depicted in the UCLA media guide.

Muhammad's birth date had long been reported as Nov. 13, 1993.

"I tell everyone I am 20. I don't even know what the big deal is,” Muhammad said. “People try to get stories these days, and it's really ridiculous. Twenty years old in college, guys are 22, 23 24. Most of those guys out there are old. I always say I am 20."

When asked if he knew that his age was known publicly as 19, Muhammad said: "No, I didn't. I have my ID all the time. I show my driver's license, it says 1992. That's just ridiculous … It's '92. I always say I am 20. People know I am 20."

link

 

[THE HCP]

Well dumbass....... it's not a big deal NOW! But when you were 19 playing against HS kids it was.

 

[ABM]

UCLA fired their coach

 

[NOVoodoo]

Part of me can see the discussion. A lot of the scouting on him was in HS, when he was a full year or two older than most other kids. At the same time, he's the same age as McLemore, so not a big deal.

You know, ages will vary all throughout a particular high school class. Being 19 years old in high school is actually not that uncommon, and players reclassify all the time or go to prep schools for an additional year. It's not uncommon for players to be 24/25 and still playing collegiately. The top player in this year's class, Andrew Wiggins, used to be in the class of 2015.

UCLA fired their coach

I think that's completely unrelated though. Howland really overstayed his welcome. For a program with as much history as UCLA has had, and with as much talent as he's had, that program has been a complete nonfactor. This year alone, he had maybe the best recruiting class in the country to go with three upperclassmen transfers from North Carolina, and the best he could do was a first round exit as a six seed. Even Calipari's got to be shaking his head at that one.