Philippines Cadet/Developmental Team

[mathematicianrcg]

I see small ball as a development tool for tall wings (at least 196cm) and tweeners (at least 198cm) in the absence of bigmen. Usually, our tallest locals are 6'5"-6'8". If there is no other taller player, they'll have to play center, and sometimes not learning another position at that. We have undersized centers, fours, and wings, e. Instead of small ball, we get undersized traditional lineups in local basketball.

Now, if a team has good enough bigs that are at least 206cm (6'9") tall, they can run a lineup with a four measuring around 198-204cm (6'6"-6'8"), even taller, as well as a tall wing. If we don't use a positionless small ball philosophy in developing players, I think you need a big center to develop a big lineup. Generally, without players like big imports/FSA's, Kai, AJ, June Mar, Japeth, Blatche, or Ange manning the 5, I think it will be tougher to develop bigger forwards at 3 and 4.

I wonder if Caelum will be a part of our Gilas Program in the Future as one of our Main Combo Forwards.

We missed on Dylan Harper. Seeing that he is like second in nba mock draft next year though. It is kinda understandable, he wasn't interested at us.

But the other unrelated Harper. Jayden Harper. I think he just got his passport like few months late. Hope he gets exemption in the future. He was like a 6-7-6'8 wing

[alfrancis]

I wonder if Caelum will be a part of our Gilas Program in the Future as one of our Main Combo Forwards.

We missed on Dylan Harper. Seeing that he is like second in nba mock draft next year though. It is kinda understandable, he wasn't interested at us.

But the other unrelated Harper. Jayden Harper. I think he just got his passport like few months late. Hope he gets exemption in the future. He was like a 6-7-6'8 wing

With an undersized 4 like Tamayo and Amos, A tall wing like Jayden Harper can compensate their deficiencies.

[IPC]

Ideally, I think these are the sizes of our positions for FIBA basketball, starting from wing:

Wing: at least 193cm (6'4") if primarily a 2, at least 196cm (6'5") if primarily a 3, and at least 198cm (6'6") if a small ball four
Tweener (e.g. Tamayo, Balti): at least 198cm
"Big" four (e.g. AJ, Scola, Love, Rasheed Wallace): at least 203cm (6'8"), or at least 201cm if long and athletic
Center: at least 206cm (6'9") in general, or maybe at least 201-203cm if long and athletic

Of course, you need the necessary skills and quickness for these positions as well as size. For the 198-202cm fours, maybe be quick too, if not long or a high leaper. Ideally nga rin, some centers and big fours can defend the paint and protect the rim, some wings can defend the perimeter, and some tweeners (and the taller wings) are versatile enough to play and defend multiple positions.

I omitted guards because they can come in any size, really. But as a rule, if you're 192cm and under, you ideally have to be at least a combo guard, with some exceptions like 6'2" Abueva due to his combination of athleticism, strength, and motor. As for 6'4" Ping, ideally a guy his height would be a guard or a 2/3 in FIBA, but if you have his combination of strength, athleticism, and motor at 4, he can get away with being that short for his position in FIBA.

Hopefully, we can see some kids that have the size, quickness and skills I posted here. And I hope the positions are realistic, or become realistic, for some homegrown kids.

[IPC]

I do think that playing small ball does have its merits, especially at the youth and grassroots level. When you don't have a good bigman that's really big (I think around 206cm (6'9")), your best bet at development will have to play small. Although I myself prefer a bigger lineup (as in a lineup with a big 4 and a big 5), I'm advocating for small ball with tall players in our context (198cm (6'6")+ fours, 196cm (6'5")+ wings, every player below 193cm (6'4") should be a guard) because our tallest are around 198-203cm (6'6"-6'8"). We don't really have that many bigs that are 206cm (6'9") and taller. Hope Yap and Calanasan turn out well, though.

Furthermore, I think grassroots programs here should start by training every kid they take in as guards and maybe play a positionless offense where everybody has the opportunity to take the role of the guard, and have everyone guard the perimeter on defense. Encourage switching, especially among the taller players, and discourage zones until the senior high school level. As for rebounding, gang rebound na lang, and everybody should learn to screen and box out, as well as guard skills. By playing a smaller position early on, we increase our possibility to have taller players at the 2 (combo guard if 192cm or shorter; otherwise, OK as a 2/3), 3 (196cm+), and 4 (198cm+ if athletic; otherwise 201cm+) spots.

I see small ball as a development tool for tall wings (at least 196cm) and tweeners (at least 198cm) in the absence of bigmen. Usually, our tallest locals are 6'5"-6'8". If there is no other taller player, they'll have to play center, and sometimes not learning another position at that. We have undersized centers, fours, and wings, e. Instead of small ball, we get undersized traditional lineups in local basketball.

Now, if a team has good enough bigs that are at least 206cm (6'9") tall, they can run a lineup with a four measuring around 198-204cm (6'6"-6'8"), even taller, as well as a tall wing. If we don't use a positionless small ball philosophy in developing players, I think you need a big center to develop a big lineup. Generally, without players like big imports/FSA's, Kai, AJ, June Mar, Japeth, Blatche, or Ange manning the 5, I think it will be tougher to develop bigger forwards at 3 and 4.

Just to consolidate this, I think positionless small ball should be used as a development tool by grassroots and amateur programs that don't have sufficient size at 5, 4, or even 3. Start by training kids as guards, and teach everyone dribbling, passing, perimeter defense, running, shooting, screening, positioning for rebounds, and bully ball. There might be occasions where you have to teach your taller players to not always rely on their bully ball and strength, and more of their quickness and perimeter skill.

[IPC]

Just to consolidate this, I think positionless small ball should be used as a development tool by grassroots and amateur programs that don't have sufficient size at 5, 4, or even 3. Start by training kids as guards, and teach everyone dribbling, passing, perimeter defense, running, shooting, screening, positioning for rebounds, and bully ball. There might be occasions where you have to teach your taller players to not always rely on their bully ball and strength, and more of their quickness and perimeter skill.

As for the NT level, I'll take the posts of sir live_evil and sir ccharmed into consideration here. So here, we ideally have players with sufficient size (and senior team potential), especially for the 3 (at least 193cm if 2/3, at least 196cm if a 3/2, at least 198cm to be able to play small ball 4) and 4 positions (at least 198cm for tweeners and at least 201cm (if athletic and long) to 203cm for "big" fours) at least. If we have a FIBA-capable center that's at least 206cm, we can play big. Otherwise, use a four at that spot.

Also, I think versatility and defense should be an emphasis. Versatility on offense, defense, or both is always beneficial, and versatile players can fit into a lot of teams.

[JAMSKIE]

I wonder if Caelum will be a part of our Gilas Program in the Future as one of our Main Combo Forwards.

We missed on Dylan Harper. Seeing that he is like second in nba mock draft next year though. It is kinda understandable, he wasn't interested at us.

But the other unrelated Harper. Jayden Harper. I think he just got his passport like few months late. Hope he gets exemption in the future. He was like a 6-7-6'8 wing

I just hope that Caelum Harris develops into a natural small forward with decent ball handling, outside shooting & above all, exceptional defensive skills. I think Caelum is only around 6-foot-5 so he would just be undersized if he plays the four position.

[Metta]

I just hope that Caelum Harris develops into a natural small forward with decent ball handling, outside shooting & above all, exceptional defensive skills. I think Caelum is only around 6-foot-5 so he would just be undersized if he plays the four position.

He was already playing a lot as SF in high school. Natural progression for him is being a 2/3 at the next level, not much of a drastic adjustment and is pretty common. At Juco, he's playing as a wing already.

Question mark for him is if he stays on track. Juco quality can be just as good as D1 (a lot of D1 level guys with academic problems), and he's been bumping up his playing time to 20 minutes.

[live_evil]

One major problem with Caelum Harris is his attitude. Watch his first game with Batang Gilas and you will see red flags. Dribbles too high, mediocre shooting, and tantrums. Hopefully, all the flaws get addressed and he can be our athletic 3 in the future after Francis Lopez (who should learn to make free throws).

[Silent Killer]

One major problem with Caelum Harris is his attitude. Watch his first game with Batang Gilas and you will red flags. Dribbles too high, mediocre shooting, and tantrums. Hopefully, all the flaws get addressed and he can be our athletic 3 in the future after Francis Lopez (who should learn to make free throws).

aka kobe paras tantrum syndrome..

[IPC]

One major problem with Caelum Harris is his attitude. Watch his first game with Batang Gilas and you will red flags. Dribbles too high, mediocre shooting, and tantrums. Hopefully, all the flaws get addressed and he can be our athletic 3 in the future after Francis Lopez (who should learn to make free throws).

I hope that "is" is a "was" now. Or at least will become a "was."

[live_evil]

Hopefully, I got turned off by his attitude during his first game. Caelum needs proper guidance to fully maximize his talents. Yeah, Similar to Kobe Paras. With regard to Francis Lopez, he should change his free throw habits. He doesn't dribble while taking free throws to calm his nerves. He immediately shoots the moment the refs pass the ball to him. Lopez should be good as a three in Asia. He should also learn how to defend from Gabe Norwood. He cannot rely only on his chasedown blocks. He will be a Norwood upgrade if he decides to defend the way Kobe Bryant makes it his mission to give nightmares to the best player of the opposing team.

[JAMSKIE]

I'm interested with the development of Jacob Bayla. At 6-foot-4/6-foot-5, he's a good size shooting guard/2-guard & only 19 yrs old. His stats at UP may be unimpressive but that's understandable considering how loaded with talents UP is. Bayla has to share minutes with the likes of Alarcon, Chico Briones, Mark Belomonte, Francis Lopez which of course is tough.

But since he's only 19, he's bound for more improvement. Bayla's biggest upside is his defense since he's a good size 2-guard who is athletic & with decent handles. I think Bayla is more of slasher type of player in the mold of a Thirdy Ravena, CJ Perez or the legendary Vergel Meneses. But Bayla needs to develop decent 3-point shooting & medium range jumper to be an effective offensive player.

If he develops into a Chris Newsome type of a player, especially on defense, then he would be a very good prospect for Gilas. Imagine a 6-4/6-5 version of Newsome, that would be gravy.

[IPC]

I'm interested with the development of Jacob Bayla. At 6-foot-4/6-foot-5, he's a good size shooting guard/2-guard & only 19 yrs old. His stats at UP may be unimpressive but that's understandable considering how loaded with talents UP is. Bayla has to share minutes with the likes of Alarcon, Chico Briones, Mark Belomonte, Francis Lopez which of course is tough.

But since he's only 19, he's bound for more improvement. Bayla's biggest upside is his defense since he's a good size 2-guard who is athletic & with decent handles. I think Bayla is more of slasher type of player in the mold of a Thirdy Ravena, CJ Perez or the legendary Vergel Meneses. But Bayla needs to develop decent 3-point shooting & medium range jumper to be an effective offensive player.

If he develops into a Chris Newsome type of a player, especially on defense, then he would be a very good prospect for Gilas. Imagine a 6-4/6-5 version of Newsome, that would be gravy.

Hopefully he can be good enough to compete for a spot after the World Cup. We have a lot of depth in his positions. Heading, Abando, Tuffin, Gutang, and Schonny at 2, and Navarro and Lopez at 3.

He turns 22 in November 2027. That's still young.

[JAMSKIE]

Hopefully he can be good enough to compete for a spot after the World Cup. We have a lot of depth in his positions. Heading, Abando, Tuffin, Gutang, and Schonny at 2, and Navarro and Lopez at 3.

He turns 22 in November 2027. That's still young.

Gutang is FIBA eligible?

[JAMSKIE]

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