Today, Deadspin ran a story regarding Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim’s appearance on SportsCenter. Boeheim was asked about point guard Tyler Ennis, who recently declared for the NBA Draft, and Boeheim managed to say that Ennis “was a great college player” and “physically, probably could have used another year.”
Here’s the thing. Boeheim probably isn’t wrong. Ennis averaged 13 points and 5.5 assists per game, had an insane 32% assist rate paired with just a 13.8% turnover rate, and shot 35% from three. However, Ennis shot under 43% from two, and hidden in Syracuse’s zone defense, there are questions about his defense, though early reports are not favorable. On Bill Simmons’ podcast, Lakers Guard Steve Nash said that he loves Ennis’s potential, and while I will defer to one of the best point guards of his generation, there are obviously a lot of things to shore up.
Still, though, if you’re Jim Boeheim what would possess you to say something like that? I assume he is pissed that he spent all of this time and effort recruiting Ennis, a kid that most people thought would be at least a 2 year guy, only to have him blow up and leave early. This, though, should be good for Boeheim. He should be able to go into high schoolers’ living rooms and tell them about the kid who everyone thought was going to be at Syracuse for three years and Boeheim made him a lottery pick in one.
Instead, Boeheim goes on ESPN and criticizes his former player. He had no discernible motive; Ennis could technically still come back to Syracuse, but once a guy declares he’s pretty much gone. These comments aren’t about trying to get Ennis to stay as much as they are about a child whining because he didn’t get his way. A kid is going to go get paid to play basketball. The horror!
Right now Ennis is tabbed to go 14th by DraftExpress, which would have him making just under $5 million over the next three years. Ennis’s stock could rise, obviously, leading to a much higher payday (and next year’s draft should be worse than this one) but his stock could also fall, much like Marcus Smart’s did, and with just two point guards ranked ahead of him (and potentially only one depending on your thoughts about Dante Exum as a 1) some team who needs a PG could snap up Ennis earlier than expected.
Will future recruits and their families stop picking Syracuse? I doubt it. They win a lot, they’ve sent guys to the NBA lately, and after all, Coach K told William Avery’s mother that her son was going to (four letter word for sex) his program, and Duke still reels in recruits.
