If Coach Dixon had opted to bring Steven Adams to New York City for Big East Media Day, I have no doubt that he would have been the player getting the most media attention. The big kid is already the player getting the most buzz in the Big East in terms of curiosity.
Time to take a look at the interest around Steven Adams.
Over at SI.com, Seth Davis classifies Adams as the most intriguing freshman.
For intrigue, however, it’s hard to beat Pittsburgh’s Steven Adams. A seven-foot center from New Zealand, Adams is extremely skilled and agile for a player his size. He even outplayed Noel when their high school teams faced off last season. Aside from DaJuan Blair, Jamie Dixon has never recruited a player this heralded, and Adams is joining the program at the perfect time. The Panthers had a disappointing 2011-12 — it was the first time in Dixon’s nine years that they failed to make the NCAA tournament — but that was partly because early on point guard Tray Woodall sustained a leg injury that dogged him all season. Woodall is now at full strength, and the team is adding another prized freshman, 6-3 guard James Robinson, as well as Central Michigan transfer Trey Zeigler. Adams will give Pitt a unique presence in the post. If he’s fun to watch, the Panthers will be as well.
Also check out the note after Adams regarding officiating and the call of block/charge.
In an ESPN.com roundtable, Andy Katz also goes with Adams and the intrigue.
3. Between freshmen and transfers, what player are you most looking forward to seeing in his new jersey?
…
Katz: A 7-footer from New Zealand with an intriguing backstory? I’m in. Incoming Steven Adams has a quirky personality, but he’s the sort of character college basketball fans might fall in love with. And Pitt, after its worst season in years, is really going to need him. Adams might not be a superstar right away, but there’s a reason he vaulted to No. 6 in the ESPN 100 once our scouts saw him play. He has the type of talent to help the Panthers bounce back.
Jay Bilas tabs Adams as the best new player in the Big East (Insider subs).
4. Who will be the Big East’s top newcomer?
I’ll go with Adams, Pittsburgh’s incoming freshman center. He is a true center who is a very productive rebounder and shot-blocker, in addition to being a skilled passer with a great feel for the game. He is mature and fully prepared to step in and play at a high level.
Adams is physical, and he is unafraid. One of 18 children (he has a sister who competed in the shot put in the Olympics), Adams is a future pro who will be relied upon from his first day at Pitt.
As a bonus, Bilas also goes with Pitt as the “surprise” team.
3. Which team could surprise?
Can Pittsburgh be considered a surprise after a surprisingly rough season in 2011-12? Jamie Dixon hadn’t experienced real Big East adversity until last season, but to his great credit, he never changed his approach and toughed it out. The Panthers have a healthy Tray Woodall at the point and really good newcomers in center Steven Adams, transfer Trey Zeigler and physical combo guard James Robinson.
The Panthers need to get back to defense and rebounding, but I think you can expect Pitt to be Pitt again.
Another team that could surprise is Rutgers, with the experience of Dane Miller and Mike Poole, Kansas State transfer Wally Judge and guards Eli Carter and Myles Mack.
And no surprise that Chad Ford puts Adams down as the top NBA prospect in the Big East (Insider subs).
1. Steven Adams, C, Fr., Pittsburgh
Top 100 Rank: 8Adams remains an enigma for most NBA scouts. He’s ranked this high primarily on an eye-opening performance from the summer of 2011 at the adidas Nations camp.
Adams’ strength and athleticism translate into a fierce defensive presence. His brief play in the U.S. at prep school was met with mixed reviews, and now he shows up at Pittsburgh as a huge question mark.
Can the New Zealand native make the leap to Big East basketball? He’s got a pretty huge learning curve ahead of him. Will coach Jamie Dixon give him serious playing time? In the past, he’s been reluctant to play top freshmen, but then again, I’m not sure he’s had a prospect this good.
Everyone thinks he has the physical tools to be an NBA lottery pick some day. The question really is, will it be in 2013?
Hey, a “Dixon doesn’t play freshmen” comment. Everyone drink!
I agree. This team is going to turn it all the way around this season. I watched most of the players in the Greentree League this summer and it seemed like a lot of them (Wright, Zanna, Durand Johnson, etc.) really worked on their offensive arsenal in the off-season. Wright in particular stood out to me. He seemed much less complacent on offense than he did last year. I realize that it’s only summer league, but these players displayed offensive capabilities they didn’t last year. I believe this team will be deep, talented and successful. I can’t wait.
I think Pitt got a #6 rank in Big East because they really didn’t see Adams and Zeigler play for Pitt yet.
Based upon what I saw this summer… Adams and Zeigler are difference makers for the team… going from a Top 25 team to at least Top 10 team in US.
Pitt also has LOTS of Depth on the team..
link to youtube.com
seems likable! I’m a fan already!
I know, they have quality talent around them, however, they are doing things on their own, actually adding to the offense, not living off of it.
That’s two starting freshmen, at two key positions on a top 5 team.
LMAO!!!
I am hoping for more. Adams has more offense. He is taller, making him more of a shot blocker. He runs better. Most importantly, Adams has better talent surrounding him.
So long as Dixon does not try to run the offense through Patterson (who is extra solid, but not a playmaker and not good enough to take touches away from everyone else, esp Adams) we’ll be fine. Just can not replay the of the same fundamental mistakes of last year by staking too much on a player who excelled in the right circumstances of prior years (Gibbs’ great soph-junior years) then came crashing to earth when too much focus was placed on him.
The other fundamental short-comings are definitely not present this year — i) we have a legit post-presence; ii) we actually have some speed and length at the guard positions.
In light of the above, gotta think we don’t loose any pre-conf games (that’s 2+ games on last year), and will loose 2 less to the BE bottom feeders than last year.
Also expect this team to get significantly better over the course of the season as the young guys and new comers (ie arguably the 3 most talented players on the team) get accustomed to D1 major conference play.
We’ll be in the real post-season and thereafter its a crap shoot anyway (the field is pretty wide open, but for about 4 clearly very good teams, one or two of whom is bound to trip up). So its not out of the question to make a deep run. But of course, its wayyyy to early and Final 4 is a high hope for any team at the beginning of any year.
For as many injuries and problems such as Birch transferring, the team was still competitive last year. So with actual additions ofone of the top recruits in the nation and a legit very talented transfer that lots of schools wanted PLUS addition by subtraction, then you get a very dangerous and good team come March.