UAAP Season 88

[athleticmind2005]

Class of 2025 has a lot of solid incoming 6'5 and above local players. Koji Buenaflor, Cabs Cabonillas and Migs Palanca are at the top. Then theres the injured Alfred Loreto, Drei Lorenzo, Marc Burgos, Hans Castillejos and the Adamson boys that already committed.

In the ncaa they have 6'7 bigs james daep and aries borja, ex batang gilas player basti reyes, and couple more 6'5 bigs who
i think are also graduating, One of the deepest when it comes to size in recent memory. The boys today are really getting taller

Cabonillas and Buenaflor look like sure locks to stay in their respective schools.

It’s the Daep sweepstakes that’s worth watching.

[athleticmind2005]

Mason Amos still has no closeout dribble, and he supposedly wants to play as a wing. Good luck with that.

[gospursgo]

Mason Amos still has no closeout dribble, and he supposedly wants to play as a wing. Good luck with that.

At this point, i think its only an excuse that made once he left ateneo. Even before he never shown any sign that he can play wing. Even in dlsu i dont see him playing as one.

[lem0nadi]

Class of 2025 has a lot of solid incoming 6'5 and above local players. Koji Buenaflor, Cabs Cabonillas and Migs Palanca are at the top. Then theres the injured Alfred Loreto, Drei Lorenzo, Marc Burgos, Hans Castillejos and the Adamson boys that already committed.

In the ncaa they have 6'7 bigs james daep and aries borja, ex batang gilas player basti reyes, and couple more 6'5 bigs who
i think are also graduating, One of the deepest when it comes to size in recent memory. The boys today are really getting taller

And to think we could have had all these big/wings guys on that U18 2024 team. Losing Andy wouldn't have meant missing out on the U19 WC right away, but anyway, that's in the past.

You also forgot to include the ADC boys, Rota, and that white guy—forgot his name. Both are 6'6. Also, that Solomon from NU.

We really have a lot of tall guys; it's just that most of them tend to be late bloomers. I don't know, but being a late bloomer is just a thing in PH basketball that can't be avoided.

[gospursgo]

And to think we could have had all these big/wings guys on that U18 2024 team. Losing Andy wouldn't have meant missing out on the U19 WC right away, but anyway, that's in the past.

You also forgot to include the ADC boys, Rota, and that white guy—forgot his name. Both are 6'6. Also, that Solomon from NU.

We really have a lot of tall guys; it's just that most of them tend to be late bloomers. I don't know, but being a late bloomer is just a thing in PH basketball that can't be avoided.

For me its a step in the right direction when it comes to the ph basketball landscape. Before we only had 6'2 maybe 6'4 bigs only handful of 6'5 and above guys. Today with kids growing taller and taller, my hope is these kids start playing down a position. One thing i also noticed is that theres also a growing number of skills coaches and clinics around the country. So someday i hope we'll have loads of 6'5-6'6 wings and maybe more 6'9 above guys to complement the national team.

Playing in fsa reinforced league like the uaap helps, exposing them earlier in the hs level should just further their development.

[dubidub]

Class of 2025 has a lot of solid incoming 6'5 and above local players. Koji Buenaflor, Cabs Cabonillas and Migs Palanca are at the top. Then theres the injured Alfred Loreto, Drei Lorenzo, Marc Burgos, Hans Castillejos and the Adamson boys that already committed.

In the ncaa they have 6'7 bigs james daep and aries borja, ex batang gilas player basti reyes, and couple more 6'5 bigs who
i think are also graduating, One of the deepest when it comes to size in recent memory. The boys today are really getting taller

Would you know when AHS's Leal is graduating HS? He's pretty good. Don't think he's a wing but might be a good finesse 4/5 in college.

[Sikatrix]

Paul Diao of Gilas is also graduating

[gospursgo]

Would you know when AHS's Leal is graduating HS? He's pretty good. Don't think he's a wing but might be a good finesse 4/5 in college.

I think he's only 17, will prolly graduate in a year or two.

[gospursgo]

Paul Diao of Gilas is also graduating

Is he planning to play locally?

[Metta]

For me its a step in the right direction when it comes to the ph basketball landscape. Before we only had 6'2 maybe 6'4 bigs only handful of 6'5 and above guys. Today with kids growing taller and taller, my hope is these kids start playing down a position. One thing i also noticed is that theres also a growing number of skills coaches and clinics around the country. So someday i hope we'll have loads of 6'5-6'6 wings and maybe more 6'9 above guys to complement the national team.

Playing in fsa reinforced league like the uaap helps, exposing them earlier in the hs level should just further their development.

Having bigger FSAs as early as possible is a key factor. It's unrealistic to expect pinoy coaches to let their tallest players play as wings/guards if they're the biggest/strongest in the team. Although the kid may have the necessary guard skills, he won't get to fully hone it in games unless he has bigger teammates.

I think in terms of height, we're heading towards matching east asian countries like Japan/Sokor and widening the gap against asean countries (which is supposed to be our comparison).

[lem0nadi]

Is he planning to play locally?

He doesn't have much of a choice but to play locally anyway. Looking at it, it seems like he doesn't have any D1 offers yet, though I'm not sure about D2 or D3.

Even Edryn Morales, who plays as a guard at 6'6" and led his team to the state playoffs with 19 PPG as a senior, also doesn't seem to have any D1 offers yet. He does have D2 offers, and I'm pretty sure he has D3 offers as well.

Diao would have a hard time getting an offer in the U.S. if he continues to play as a big at 6'6". He was our center in the U17 Gilas team, and he plays the same position even in his U.S. high school team. It's either he transitions to a lower position or sticks to being a big and plays here in the UAAP. With his credentials from the youth team, he shouldn't have any trouble getting a spot on a UAAP team, and it would be even easier with NCAA teams.

[alfrancis]

I agree he is polished but collegiate game is a whole different ballgame, especially in the uaap. Everyone, is faster, stronger and even more determined so he has to prepare himself. I like his chances tho since he's coming from a reputable program but last year's new fsa's like agunnane and balogun flopped big time and became a cautionary tale of recruiting fsa's.

I think he'll stay with NU, diassana will take the year off to continue his recovery while john will prolly play his last year for NU. Dont believe NU will let akowe walk off that easily.

Any of these kids still eligible for the U18 next year?

[WinningGuy]

He doesn't have much of a choice but to play locally anyway. Looking at it, it seems like he doesn't have any D1 offers yet, though I'm not sure about D2 or D3.

Even Edryn Morales, who plays as a guard at 6'6" and led his team to the state playoffs with 19 PPG as a senior, also doesn't seem to have any D1 offers yet. He does have D2 offers, and I'm pretty sure he has D3 offers as well.

Diao would have a hard time getting an offer in the U.S. if he continues to play as a big at 6'6". He was our center in the U17 Gilas team, and he plays the same position even in his U.S. high school team. It's either he transitions to a lower position or sticks to being a big and plays here in the UAAP. With his credentials from the youth team, he shouldn't have any trouble getting a spot on a UAAP team, and it would be even easier with NCAA teams.

That is a bummer.

Kids around that height may train to be ball handlers and have guard skills, but its very difficult to develop their guard IQ without actually playing that position in games. But for a majority of kids, they wont get that opportunity. Even in the US, if a kid is 6'5" hes probably one of the tallest kids in his school.

[Metta]

That is a bummer.

Kids around that height may train to be ball handlers and have guard skills, but its very difficult to develop their guard IQ without actually playing that position in games. But for a majority of kids, they wont get that opportunity. Even in the US, if a kid is 6'5" hes probably one of the tallest kids in his school.

That may be true for a lot of US public schools, but private and powerhouse high schools is where prospects are. That's why joining club/travel teams is unavoidable, that's the quickest way to compete/play with prospects. Joining them before HS is also how you get into those powerhouse/private schools.

Just going to regular schools and not being proactive is not feasible anymore. Top kids are too skilled and the path to elite levels start really early.

[Metta]

The uaap boys football invited 2 guest teams for the season. And one of them, Southridge, made it to the final four. This might be an interesting concept to apply also in basketball.

Have guest teams that are subject to relegation.