FanPost

Most underrated move so far? Jeff Withey.

Reading all the love for Asik has me wondering. Here we have a project big man who really had a breakout year, it came at a time he was given a starting opportunity and played 30 minutes per game too.

"Aşık is known as a prominent interior defender and outstanding shot-blocker.[10] He is an excellent rebounder and help-defender. His offensive game has improved considerably since moving to the Rockets;[11] now averaging double-digit points per game, he has been described as a "double-double machine".[12]"

He stands 7'0" with weight increased from 230 to 250 since 2010. Withey, 7'0" 230, for now.

Scouting reports for the draft compared Jeff Withey to Omer Asik for very good reasons. Both are not quick laterally, nor overly athletic in post-moves. . Both may have liabilites when stretched outside the paint in pick and roll situations. Yet Asik is viewed here as the best C available by quite a margin mostly due to his one season. http://walterfootball.com/nbascoutingreport2013jwithey.php

Most here speak of Anthony Davis and any Pelican trade for him as unobtainable yet Davis pro career is an unknown due to injury. Most draft analyses at the time made major comparisons to Jeff Withey, who only barely trailed him in many statistical categories. Davis was felt to have much more NBA upside due to athleticism and quickness in addition to defensive prowess without fouling. Yet Withey put up even more impressive numbers at points during the following year being called the most impressive defensive center in the NCAA anyone had seen for a number of years.

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/71967/jeff-withey-is-having-a-crazy-season

http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/2013/1/9/3854404/jeff-withey-kansas-basketball-player-of-the-year-locks-record-anthony-davis

So in recent memory, we have 2 standout centers both of whom are highly coveted. Both of whom in every comparison are either very much like Withey or played against Withey. That night, Anthony Davis went 1 for 10 shooting...

http://fromcollegetopros.com/2012/04/15/jeff-withey-is-underrated/

The knock on him is that he may not be aggressive. That he may mentally checkout for periods of time. He may not have much offensive upside. Yet he converted 79% of the time and was second-leading scorer on a team with T Rob and then Ben McLemore... He guards the other teams elites and shuts. them. down. I cannot think of a more dominant center in recent memory. We undervalue what his rookie season will accomplish by a large margin I believe.