Your Views About Michael Frazier?

[KendrellJones]

Next year we'll lose Rosario and Boynton.

We'll get really nice big man help I feel. Even if Young leaves (hope not) we seem to be ok there.

I wanted to get people's view of Frazier. He seems to be someone who could help us nicely.

Can he play the kind of defense Donovan likes? Can he shoot and even do some nice distributing like Boynton has shown he can do?

Also, this is not at all a fishing attempt for digs at or negatives about Frazier. It is quite the opposite. But, if he has something to really work on that's ok.

Your views please?

[rserina]

Good question. This year he has been playing the three mostly, where he has a good quickness advantage, while his strength mitigates the size disadvantage he can have at times (same as it was with Beal). He has been surprisingly solid defensively and outstanding both shooting and rebounding the ball. He has also gotten much more comfortable knowing where to go with the ball when his shot isn't there.

Next year will be a different story. He will spend most of his time at the two, where he loses a quickness advantage, but gains a size and strength advantage. While the responsibilities of the two and three are pretty similar, we will have fewer ball handlers to run our ball screens, so he will have to step into that role and it is a far less familiar one for him. I suspect we will run more plays to free him up and you can expect to see him develop a little mid range shot to go with his perimeter shot.

In the end, I see him as a double digit scorer next season who spaces the floor well with his shot. He will be a solid defender, too, though his rebounding statistics should go down somewhat at the two. If he can improve his handle enough to get his shot off the ball screens, he could be really, really good. Otherwise, I see him as something of a mix between Weeks and Humphrey.

[jjenkins5]

Love his shot and his defense isn't too bad either - and he'll only get better. It will be fun to see how Billy utilizes him next year!

[UFreak]

Love the fact that he will likely be here for four years too. He will be someone who will one day get a huge ovation on seniors day.

[ThePlayer]

Down goes Frazier...into Gator basketball history!!

Probably the 2nd biggest surprise of this BB season.
(Scottie's confidence & maturity clearly the biggest).
Michael Frazier has an NBA body with a game to match.
He'll be a bigger force for us in the next two years to follow.

[GatorNation850]

Kid has a sweet shot. Most of the time he is pretty smart with his shots with a few wild ones but he's a freshman he will grow out of that. He is definitely a leader the future is bright in Gainesville. I absolutely love this team.

[ncgatorfan]

Been impressed by his play both offensively and getting in position for defensive rebounds. Seems to show quite a bit of emotion when he hits dagger 3's.

It will be interesting with Hill in the mix how the back court looks. MF2 could be splitting time at the 2 and 3 depending on how the rotation goes at PG.

[wci347]

I see right now Harris, Walker, Smith, Fraizer and Wilberkin (Hill)

2nd team Yeguette, Prather, Walker, Graham Ogbueze (Hill, Wilberkin)

Fraizer has to start. With him and Smith in the lineup at the same time, it opens the inside game for Walker and Harris for short shots. It also allows Wilberkin and Hill to penetrate for layups or to dish off.

[ApexNC]

Frazier's productivity and development is the single thing that has me most optimistic about next year. We had to have one of the freshmen step up this year to claim that SG role next year. I think pretty much all the other positions are solid. I now think SG will also be solid, thanks to Mr. Frazier!

[bogator]

I see right now Harris, Walker, Smith, Fraizer and Wilberkin (Hill)

2nd team Yeguette, Prather, Walker, Graham Ogbueze (Hill, Wilberkin)

Fraizer has to start. With him and Smith in the lineup at the same time, it opens the inside game for Walker and Harris for short shots. It also allows Wilberkin and Hill to penetrate for layups or to dish off.

If Young decides to stay and you add him to this equation it would be a crazy lineup. It would make for some interesting decisions by Donovan about playing time. Good problem to have.

[gator_nica]

He´s a baller. Stone cold

[rserina]

If Donovan has proven anything, it is that newcomers have to beat out returnees for spots. I suspect Yeguete is a starter next season at one of the post spots. Harris will be returning from injury, Walker will be an incoming freshman, and Finney-Smith will be adjusting to an entirely new position and set of responsibilities. Personally, I think you see both Walker and Hill starting out as reserves, but they will play starter minutes and likely end up getting the spot to boot.

[themistocles]

If Donovan has proven anything, it is that newcomers have to beat out returnees for spots. I suspect Yeguete is a starter next season at one of the post spots. Harris will be returning from injury, Walker will be an incoming freshman, and Finney-Smith will be adjusting to an entirely new position and set of responsibilities. Personally, I think you see both Walker and Hill starting out as reserves, but they will play starter minutes and likely end up getting the spot to boot.

I'm with you rserina.

Thinking that Hill and Walker will start given the experience and quality in front of them means you think this is Kentucky, where all of the positions change each year.

Fraier has played very well, but rserina makes excellent points about his likely changed role next year. The other frosh are developing.

Projecting starting lineups for next year now is nothing but foolishness if for no other reason than one doesn't know yet who will or will not be on the team. Recruiting isn't finished, Young may jump to the NBA, and one or more of the freshman may transfer.

[mikechap93]

I still see Frazier playing a good amount of three next year. Kasey hill is a starter from day one. So billy will have to figure out who takes point between kasey and Scottie.i think Scottie does the majority because of experience. But kasey is quicker and a bigger blow-bj threat. I love the team this year but I think it will be equally fun to watch for two more years

[UFreak]

But kasey is quicker and a bigger blow-bj threat.

We are still talking hoops right? :)

[rserina]

I still see Frazier playing a good amount of three next year. Kasey hill is a starter from day one. So billy will have to figure out who takes point between kasey and Scottie.i think Scottie does the majority because of experience. But kasey is quicker and a bigger blow-bj threat. I love the team this year but I think it will be equally fun to watch for two more years
The great thing about Wilbekin is that he can play off the ball or on it and he can defend three positions, so you can literally play him anywhere you want. He can play with Hill, start over him at the one or sub for him there. But you are still going to have a good 20-25 minutes to fill in the backcourt. If Graham and/or Ogbueze step up to take those, it definitely frees Frazier to play the three.

But then you have a minutes logjam there. Assuming Harris, Yeguete, and Walker fill out the post spots, with limited minutes at the four from Finney-Smith and/or Prather, you are left with Frazier, Finney-Smith, Prather, and Walker all left to divide up forty total minutes at the three.

Good problems to have, no doubt. If Frazier starts at the three, which is entirely plausible if you have a Hill-Wilbekin starting backcourt, I still think we want his shooting and size at the two.

[xenythx]

Don't forget that Frazier played with Hill in high school (and AAU, I think) so that combination should have some nice chemistry playing together.

[InstiGATOR1]

My view on Frazier is:

1. Nice perimeter shot. We sort of knew this after he was described as having the best shot form at the NBPA Top 100 camp last summer, but it is nice to see it converted into made shots at UF.

2. The surprise with him is that he rebounds so well.

3. His defense is at least pretty good or he would stick out like a sore thumb with this group and he does not.

I view the two deep next year as:

PG: Wilbekin, Hill
SG: Frazier, Graham
SF: Finney-Smith, Prather
PF: Yeguete, C.Walker
C: Harris

We shall see what happens with Young. As for the issue what Frazier really has done this year in my mind is solidify the one unknown position for 2013-14. That was the 2 guard. Since we now think that UF's 2 guard next year will be no worse than Frazier, UF is solid at every position again next year.

As for how long Frazier is at UF, that will depend on a number of factors. For now I am not interested in speculating past next season.

[GatorLurker]

My view is "poor man's Beal". He isn't Bradley (who is?), but has plugged in to supply much of what we got from him: scoring and rebounds.

[Go2gtr]

Everything you need to know is the PT Billy is giving him. This kid is doing it the right way and is loaded with talent.

[GatorLurker]

Everything you need to know is the PT Billy is giving him. This kid is doing it the right way and is loaded with talent.

+1

Exactly.

(I tried to "rep" you but was denied. Sorry about that. I guess that I need to "rep" some other folks first.)

[madgator]

My view is "poor man's Beal". He isn't Bradley (who is?), but has plugged in to supply much of what we got from him: scoring and rebounds.

very good comparison


If Frazier has a 3-4 inch growth spurt he is an NBA player.


What I have always liked about Frazier is his willingness to do whatever is needed for team success. Here was a guy that was a top 50 recruit after his sophomore year. He commits to us early and transfers to Monteverde Academy. He takes a secondary role and sees his star decline. Drops all the way out of the top 100. This would really effect a lot kids egos.

He is definitely a team first guy

[67walkon]

Great shooter, 4 year player, solid all SEC type guy by year 3 or 4. His shot is probably the best of any freshman we've seen in a while, including Beal. Freshman Frazier shoots better from outside the arc than Freshman Beal did. Beal did a lot of other things, but Frazier is a great shooter. He'll be a great Gator! Actually, he already is a great Gator.

[Go2gtr]

+1

Exactly.

(I tried to "rep" you but was denied. Sorry about that. I guess that I need to "rep" some other folks first.)
Gracias. I've had other posters tell me the same thing. Not sure what that's all about.

[mikechap93]

We are still talking hoops right? :)

Lol yesb blow-by apparently isn't in my phones dictionary.... And blow-bj is for some reason... Well this is awkward

[gatorjjh]

+1

Exactly.

(I tried to "rep" you but was denied. Sorry about that. I guess that I need to "rep" some other folks first.)

not to worry I took care of the rep :)

[GatorLurker]

not to worry I took care of the rep :)

Good man.

I see that you have no need of my "rep". :^)

[GatorRade]

My view is "poor man's Beal". He isn't Bradley (who is?), but has plugged in to supply much of what we got from him: scoring and rebounds.

Poor man's Beal is exactly how I've described him since the Georgetown game. But you know what? This kid's shot is a serious step above Beal's from a success perspective. And now he is flashing some rebounding - not Beal rebounding, but super guard rebounding. He certainly can't get to the rim like Beal, but with his shot, I'm thinking he's evolved past "poor man's Beal".

Maybe "lower middle class man's Beal"?

[madgator]

Poor man's Beal is exactly how I've described him since the Georgetown game. But you know what? This kid's shot is a serious step above Beal's from a success perspective. And now he is flashing some rebounding - not Beal rebounding, but super guard rebounding. He certainly can't get to the rim like Beal, but with his shot, I'm thinking he's evolved past "poor man's Beal".

Maybe "lower middle class man's Beal"?

the way people talk about Beal's shooting last year, it's like the kid was throwing rocks off the backboard. C'mon, it wasn't THAT bad.

Frazier is still a poor man's Beal....but thats not really a knock now is it? Beal was the 3rd pick in the NBA draft and is showing serious play so far.

I really don't think that Frazier would average 16 points per game in the NBA next season.

[rserina]

How about a blue collar Beal?

[madgator]

How about a blue collar Beal?


Beal was way too strong a rebounder and defender to imply that Frazier is working harder

[sec1]

he has all the tools , he is gna be a good one...

[ThePlayer]

How about a blue collar Beal?

Upper eastside Beal.

[dawny]

Better shooter than Beal. hopefully Billy will let him play one night on his God giving ability,30pts or more?

[tampajack1]

Better shooter than Beal. hopefully Billy will let him play one night on his God giving ability,30pts or more?

What???? The kid has been getting as many minutes as the starters. He is what he is. He is great at knocking down the open shot. He is not real good right now at creating his own shot. He needs to bust his butt to get open (ala Marshall Henderson ). What more can you expect of Billy?

[UFSECKINGS]

Kasey Hill WILL start. This isn't even up for argument.

[GatorRade]

the way people talk about Beal's shooting last year, it's like the kid was throwing rocks off the backboard. C'mon, it wasn't THAT bad.

Frazier is still a poor man's Beal....but thats not really a knock now is it? Beal was the 3rd pick in the NBA draft and is showing serious play so far.

I really don't think that Frazier would average 16 points per game in the NBA next season.

I didn't intend to sound like I was diminishing Beal's game. I love that guy - especially in the tournament. And of course I don't think that Frazier would equal Beal's success in the NBA at the age of 19, but this message board is about college basketball. And in college, Frazier has shown something that is quantifiably better than Beal in college: outside shooting, Beal's supposed strength.

I am not saying Beal was Boynton from 09' (ugh), but he is certainly not hitting with Frazier's success rate. Currently, Frazier is hitting 44.3% of his threes on the season. Beal finished with a 3pt hit rate of 33.9%. This comes out to a difference of about 31 points per 100 shots, a non-trivial difference.

Again, I am not saying that he has more talent than Beal or even that he is producing more than Beal did in college (I did call him a lower middle class Beal, after all). But I am saying that the difference between their college production rate isn't as large as I thought would be or as large as the term "poor man's" implies.

[keypox]

What???? The kid has been getting as many minutes as the starters. He is what he is. He is great at knocking down the open shot. He is not real good right now at creating his own shot. He needs to bust his butt to get open (ala Marshall Henderson ). What more can you expect of Billy?

wrong

18.4 minutes per game. He is probably our best player. Dont state your opinion as a fact. Use facts to base your opinion. And dont try to make up your own facts.

[gtr2x]

wrong

18.4 minutes per game. He is probably our best player. Dont state your opinion as a fact. Use facts to base your opinion. And dont try to make up your own facts.

Best player??? Based on what. Maybe tonight when everybody else left their game at home, it would be him or Rosario, but in general he is right where he should be, coming off the bench for some instant offense.

My opinion and that's all that it is - good shooter, and surprisingly pretty good rebounder, got work to do on passing and most importantly, defense.

[BLING]

He's the only one of our Freshmen that looks like a "sure thing" so far.

Walker has FREAKISHLY long arms, but he looks a little timid out there. He might be 1 or 2 years away. I could see him blowing up though and shocking everyone in two years. But to do that this kid needs to hit the weight room and come back with a mean streak. Don't know how he practices, but he looks timid in game action.

Haven't seen enough of the other guys to even comment, not so sure they will be starter material but in Florida offense how well a guard does has alot to do with 2 things... what kind of shooting % you have from the 3, and how do you play defense.

Back to Frazier: he has a sweet shot, not so great a driving to the basket (he had 2 missed layups in a short span tonight). I wouldnt say he's a great defender at all yet, but he seems to be a good rebounder and has good size for a guard. He's not quite there yet, but I think next year his game is ready to explode and be a team leader... he looks to already have the attitude of a team leader as a true freshmen (i.e. he was the only guy attempting to charge the team up today and make a run even when we were down 20... he got in Patrick Young's face when Young was getting frustrated, etc). I like what I see for a true freshmen.

[tommyuf21]

Most of our guys make huge jumps between their freshman and sophomore seasons. It usually takes a year to get used to what Billy wants out them, unless they are a great talent (like Beal).

Frazier is definitely ahead of the curve as a freshman. I didn't expect him to contribute at this level this quickly. We are very fortunate to have him.

[GatorPlanet]

Frazier II is getting better each game. He also showed leadership against Arky; when Pat was beside himself with frustration and close to getting a technical, F2 was right there with him telling him to let it go and not worry about it.

[madgator]

He's the only one of our Freshmen that looks like a "sure thing" so far.

Walker has FREAKISHLY long arms, but he looks a little timid out there. He might be 1 or 2 years away. I could see him blowing up though and shocking everyone in two years. But to do that this kid needs to hit the weight room and come back with a mean streak. Don't know how he practices, but he looks timid in game action.

Haven't seen enough of the other guys to even comment, not so sure they will be starter material but in Florida offense how well a guard does has alot to do with 2 things... what kind of shooting % you have from the 3, and how do you play defense.

Back to Frazier: he has a sweet shot, not so great a driving to the basket (he had 2 missed layups in a short span tonight). I wouldnt say he's a great defender at all yet, but he seems to be a good rebounder and has good size for a guard. He's not quite there yet, but I think next year his game is ready to explode and be a team leader... he looks to already have the attitude of a team leader as a true freshmen (i.e. he was the only guy attempting to charge the team up today and make a run even when we were down 20... he got in Patrick Young's face when Young was getting frustrated, etc). I like what I see for a true freshmen.


Walker could be an interesting guy down the road......I wouldn't give up on him just yet. Yes, he looks lost and overwhelmed now. But college is a 4 year deal. There is potential there.

Braxton has shown some potential at times as well. Obviously very quick. I like the tenacity and hustle he shows on defense as well. Kid seems to have the right attitude considering he was a top tier recruit who probably isn't used to spending a whole lot of time on the bench and probably didn't expect to spend as much time as he is this year.

not every contributor to the program is a first year stud. in fact, many top guys out of high school take a year to develop into the college game. the freshman contributor is still a rarity.

as for Frazier, like I said all along, the kid had NO BUSINESS dropping out of the top 100 recruiting lists. No question that he was top 40-50. dropping him out was the result of taking on a secondary/supporting role at Monteverde. Doing this shows that again, we have a kid with the right kind of attitude.

[tampajack1]

wrong

18.4 minutes per game. He is probably our best player. Dont state your opinion as a fact. Use facts to base your opinion. And dont try to make up your own facts.

Thanks for the lesson. Check out his minutes per game lately. By the way, is Frazier probably our best player a fact or is that your opinion. IMO, he is our 7th best player, but he has plenty of talent. However, he has a lot to learn, including how to move his feet on defense instead of reaching in.

[NorthCaptivaGator]

Beal was compared to Ray Allen, Frazier looks more like Ray Allen than Beal did but only when you look at the mechanics of the shot-smoooth- Beal was more like Ray in his ability to get open and in his basketball IQ, Frazier, so far, has only been asked to run to a spot and wait for the ball, to his credit he has knocked it down when the ball finds its way to him but he has yet to show that he can create or distribute when he is the focus of the defense like Beal was. It looks like he may get his chance to show just how good he is very soon as he or Prather will get WY's mins

[InstiGATOR1]

as for Frazier, like I said all along, the kid had NO BUSINESS dropping out of the top 100 recruiting lists.

He did not. He finished 86th in the RSCI as you can see here:

http://statsheet.com/mcb/teams/florida/recruiting

or directly:

http://www.rscihoops.com/

under 2012 final ranking.

He did drop out of ESPN/Telep and Scout's lists, but the world is more than ESPN. I do agree with you he should not have even dropped to 86th.

[GatorPlanet]

What an interesting day this will be for both Frazier II and the Gator team as a whole. An already thin frontcourt is even thinner. Mike is 6'-4", and not a frontcourt guy, but will be asked to play more and bigger.

There's no way he can replace Will's defensive presence, but I'm hoping he can at least be in proper position. We're fortunate to have landed a guy with that kind of shooting ability and confidence.

[GatorsGators]

wrong

18.4 minutes per game. He is probably our best player. Dont state your opinion as a fact. Use facts to base your opinion. And dont try to make up your own facts.Our best player? Are you kidding me? He has a great stroke and rebounds well for a guard, but don't go overboard. He has yet to show that he can create his own shot, and he hasn't been forced to handle the ball/drive into the lane at all. He's a one-dimensional offensive player at this point. He's great at his one dimension (spot-up shooting), but he'll have to show other sides of his game if he's going to get more minutes.

[madgator]

Beal was compared to Ray Allen, Frazier looks more like Ray Allen than Beal did but only when you look at the mechanics of the shot-smoooth- Beal was more like Ray in his ability to get open and in his basketball IQ, Frazier, so far, has only been asked to run to a spot and wait for the ball, to his credit he has knocked it down when the ball finds its way to him but he has yet to show that he can create or distribute when he is the focus of the defense like Beal was. It looks like he may get his chance to show just how good he is very soon as he or Prather will get WY's mins


could the fact that a lot more was asked of Beal right out of the gate was a contributing factor to his shooting issues?

I also believe that the improved point guard play in terms of timing and catch location of passes is much better this year than it's been in the past which could also account for better spot up catch and shoot players.

[rounds]

Frazier is a BASKETBALL player, not a French soccer convert, not a weightlifter, a dawn til dark hoopster who loves it. It makes a difference.
Only problem is he is a FR.
Assassin on the spot-up three.

[reyn56]

How good is Kasey Hill on defense? As long as I have watched Gator basketball under Billy D that's the end of the court you really have to play. I know he's a team player but what about his defense? Just asking.

[Gatorphilly]

Frazier II has an awesome outside shot. Can he shot fake, one dribble and shoot? Can he attack on the dribble to the hoop? Or drive and dish? I love how he carries himself on the court. I am really excited about his potential!