FanNation

There is only one Michael Jordan.

  Recently I have noticed people comparing different people with Michael Jordan. Constantly, I have seen statements such as:

"Kobe Bryant would be as good as MJ if he had supporting cast. "

"Lebron James just needs a Scottie Pippen and than he will be as good as MJ"

And of course "Lebron James and/or Dwyane Wade have a great chance at being the next Jordan."

Let me make this clear. NO ONE IN THE NBA RIGHT NOW WILL BE AS GOOD AS MJ OR HAS THE SAME AMOUNT OF TALENT.

RIP Skip Prosser - You Will Truly be Missed

Skip Prosser - "Coaching isn't wins and losses. It's teaching. That's the reason I got into coaching and the reason I've stayed in coaching".

Skip Prosser will be missed greatly at Wake Forest, not only as a coach but as a person. When he wasn't in the Miller Center coaching and teaching the Men’s basketball team, he could be found running on the track, strolling around the quad, and even watching the Women’s basketball practices. He would often wave to people as the walked by him jogging on the track, his smiling face quite different than the faces he gave when on the sidelines of a game at the Joel Coliseum. I only met him once, when I was playing on the practice squad against the women’s team (don't ask) but I still immediately saw why big name players wanted to come to tiny Wake Forest instead of the basketball powerhouses of UNC and Duke only an hour and a half away. He hit me as being a true father-like figure. If you read quotes from everyone from Chris Paul, the best player Prosser ever recruited to Al-Farouq Aminu, his latest high profile recruit who hasn't even played under Prosser yet, you will repeatedly hear about how much Prosser cared and wanted to see his players succeed in life. He laid down strict academic standards, continually checking up on all his players academic status. This constant emphasis to succeed not only on the court but off it as well was obvious by his recruiting principles of “good players, good academically, and most importantly good people”.

Team USA will be back on top

That's right I said it. Three years from now as Team USA goes back to the Olympics I think they will take the gold, assuming all the players currently on the team stay committed. And there is one reason why I think that. Jason Kidd. Well ok there are more but he is the main reason. I personally think he is the best point guard the NBA has seen since Stockton (yes not Steve Nash) He defends, rebounds, passes, and most importantly leads. Team USA needs an undisputed leader, not 3 different young captains like last year. Kidd brings that leadership along with stellar perimeter defense and the ability to control both a fast break and half court offense. Kidd commands the respect of everyone in the league, even Kobe who happens to be the second reason why the USA will win.

Wake Forest on the Rebound... UNC and Duke watch out

Two days ago Wake Forest received verbal commitments from the 3rd best and 18th best (rivals) high school players from the class of 08. Aminu and Tony Woods join Ty Walker (10th best) to form arguably the best recruiting class of 2008. Combine this powerful frontcourt with the decent recruiting class of this year - a four star PG, 4 star SF, and 3 star SG-- and the numerous freshmen and sophomores of last year and Wake Forest will be a force to be reckoned with in two years. Granted next year will be full of frustrating losses and boneheaded plays but knowing that there is hope is enough for now. Players such as Ish Smith, LD Williams, David Weaver, Harvey Hale, and Jamie Skeen showed flashes of brilliance in between maddening underclassmen mistakes. However, because last year there were only two seniors and zero juniors on the team these players I mentioned get the benefit of loads of playing time so by the time they are juniors and seniors should be solid players. Next year them and the up coming freshmen will receive loads of playing time so they should develop quickly with no pressure to really do well. Ishmael Smith is the floor general who did as good of a job as he could being a freshman point guard in the ACC. While not as highly recruited as Ty Lawson or Crittenton he still lead the ACC in assists per game. He is one of the quickest players in the ACC, so once he learns to control his speed and develop a half court game he should be extremely dangerous. Harvey Hale is another name that could become much more popular in the next 2 years. If anyone watched the Wake Forest Georgia Tech Acc playoff game they know exactly what I am talking about. In one of the most exciting games of the season he scored 21 of his 22 points in the last 2 minutes of the game and the two overtimes. Of course he followed that game up by scoring 5 points in the Virginia Tech loss. All of these players will develop consistency with time, and playing time is exactly what Prosser will be giving them so I am confident that, for several years after this one Wake Forest will be competing with the likes of Duke and UNC, not only the ACC title, but national recognition as well. The times of Tim Duncan, Chris Paul, and Josh Howard are on there way back.

The Charlotte Bobcats will be good... one day

Soon enough, charlotte basketball fans we will have a decent basketball team again. the bobcats are on the right track. they got a young pg who is pass first but can score when needed in felton. it will take a few years but pg is the hardest position to get used to in the nba unless your name is chris paul. okafor just needs to stop getting hurt. hes already proven hes one of the best shot blockers and rebounders in the nba. him anchoring the interior D with felton, knight, and wallace playing the passing lanes gives the bobcats a chance to stay in games until the end. offense is the main problem but with young shooters like morrison and esp. carroll the court should open up. if the bobcats can get one more offensive slasher type player like nick young and a big guy who can stretch the D with his shooting the bobcats will be for real. they are a young team with a bunch of players who know how to win so soon enough charlotte will have an NBA playoff team.