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DeBlueDevil
04-03-2010, 12:14 PM
So while trying to pass time until tonight's game.....I was thinking about some different topics I'd like to hear people talk about and I came up with this.

I thought about how well this years team has played together and grown together throughout the year and how pleased I am with all of the players...starters and bench players. But being as to how crucial this years freshman will be going into the near future I wanted to speak a little on that.

:rolleyes:I feel we all know Andre's story, overcoming tragedy and hitting some big shots in some crucial games this year...true definition of clutch. Then, we have Mason and him overcoming his injury and putting together some solid performances here and there and showing the next year will prove to be a BIG year for Mase....but then I came to Ryan Kelly.

I like Ryan and I think once he gets on the floor a little more he'll be able to prove he can shoot a little but I'm unsure as to the following:

- what to expect going forward?
- how we'll even use him?
- will he even be a factor?
- Can anyone even remember a past player to compare him to?

I just feel this season may have been a little disappointing for him and I just don't know what to think...I like having him on the team but I wish I knew what his role would be...when I think of a player from the past I guess Lee Melchionni? I don't believe anyone ever expected much from Lee but atleast he had extreme passion and always brought energy...I don't get this from Ryan and unsure if this a good comparison.....with that said.....please....have at it....thanks

CDu
04-03-2010, 12:25 PM
I like Ryan and I think once he gets on the floor a little more he'll be able to prove he can shoot a little but I'm unsure as to the following:

- what to expect going forward?
- how we'll even use him?
- will he even be a factor?
- Can anyone even remember a past player to compare him to?

I just feel this season may have been a little disappointing for him and I just don't know what to think...I like having him on the team but I wish I knew what his role would be...when I think of a player from the past I guess Lee Melchionni? I don't believe anyone ever expected much from Lee but atleast he had extreme passion and always brought energy...I don't get this from Ryan and unsure if this a good comparison.....with that said.....please....have at it....thanks

I think much more is still expected of Kelly than was ever expected of Melchionni. Kelly was a top-tier prospect who just needed time to develop physically. Furthermore, the two play different positions. Melchionni was a 3 in high school who was asked to play 3/4 in college. Kelly was a 4/5 in high school who was asked to play 4/3 this year.

Skills-wise, I see more of Shavlik Randolph in Kelly's game coming into college. He was a guy who could score with his back to the basket but preferred the face-up game and had very good shooting touch and dribbling skills for a big man.

I think that Kelly will over the next two years develop into a very good player for us. With his height/length, shooting ability, passing ability, and basketball IQ, it's just a matter of getting physically stronger and more ready for the size/strength/speed of major college basketball. I think he'll make a terrific combo with the Plumlees.

The big "if" is whether or not he ever gets strong enough to make it at this level. But the player I could see him developing into (and this is the type of player I had hoped Randolph would become) is a Tom Gugliotta type.

So to answer your four questions:
- I think he'll be the third big (first off the bench) and play15+ mpg next year
- we'll use him primarily as a face-up 4, but we might also play a lot of switching high-low with him and the Plumlees
- If he gets a little stronger, he'll absolutely be a factor
- As I said, Randolph/Gugliotta

Dukeknights
04-03-2010, 12:25 PM
don't forget Carrick Felix and Seth Curry are also part of this class! I do think Ryan will be a very big contributor by his junior season. If he keeps in it and continues to work hard without transferring, he wil be a big piece by his junior year.

rthomas
04-03-2010, 12:27 PM
You gotta like what he says:

"At this point I do whatever Coach [Mike Krzyzewski] asks of me, like I've done all season," Kelly said. "Everybody wants to be the guy that hits the game-winning shot in the national championship game. But that's not my role right now, and I accept that completely. That's what pushes me to get better every day in practice, to work hard, to push my teammates in any way I can and just be ready to get on the floor whenever that opportunity comes.

"When the season is over we can talk about stuff like that. But right now I'm enjoying the ride. Not many people get the opportunity to be in the Final Four and that's certainly going to be a goal for years to come. But as we've seen, even at Duke, guys that are seniors now had never gotten to this point. So you never know what's going to happen. You've got to take advantage of the opportunity."

"All I know is that I've become a much better player," he said. "I don't think back to specific moments in games. I know I've become a lot better player than I was a year ago. I know I have a bright future ahead of myself and I'm going to become an even better player. Right now I'm enjoying the moment being here in the Final Four and ready to do anything the coach asks."

Read more: http://blogs.newsobserver.com/accnow/dukes-kelly-enjoying-the-moment#ixzz0k3TmlN3k

Dukie@Wake
04-03-2010, 12:27 PM
I'm all about today and hopefully Monday but looking ahead to next year I'm afraid Ryan could be the odd man out next season. If Singler returns (which IMO is 50/50) he and Felix offer the 6-6 to 6-8 inside/out type guys. The back court will be stacked with Irving, Thornton, Dawkins, Curry, and Smith leading that pack. Up front we will have 3 athletic bigs who will be willing to get physical with the Plumlees and Hairston. That's 10 guys right there and there can only be 5 on the court at a time with one ball to go around. Granted Thornton and Felix may not see that many minutes in their respective first seasons and Singler could leave opening up more court time for Kelly. I foresee Kelly in the Singler\Felix category and competing for time as a hybrid big for defense and rebounding and utilize his shooting range on offense to create mismatches. I hope he can find a niche next year and be patient within the system. He could possibly be like Lee Melchionni in terms of someone who stuck with the system and became a integral part of teams his junior and senior years.

basket1544
04-03-2010, 12:32 PM
Ryan will get alot more playing time next year. He's a good, smart player.

CDu
04-03-2010, 12:37 PM
Ryan will get alot more playing time next year. He's a good, smart player.

Yup. Note as well that there will be 43 minutes opening up at the 4/5 spots (where he was recruited to play). Obviously, the Plumlees will absorb some of those, and Singler/Hairston may absorb some as well. But there are going to be 20+ minutes available for Kelly to take if he's physically ready to do it.

Height-wise and skills-wise, there's no reason he can't be an impact player next year. It's just a matter of catching up physically for him.

TheRob8801
04-03-2010, 12:37 PM
Ryan will get alot more playing time next year. He's a good, smart player.

I just hope his lack of playing time doesn't lead him down the same road of Czyz, King, Boykin, Boetang, etc...

Lord Ash
04-03-2010, 12:45 PM
Ryan Kelly is an AWFUL good ballplayer. I don't think any of the new guys are going to beat him out for too many minutes, to be frank... he is a very good basketball player. And no, he isn't going anywhere.

TheRob8801
04-03-2010, 12:50 PM
Speaking of playing time...

...you know who I miss?

This Guy (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/player/profile?playerId=27024)

Saratoga2
04-03-2010, 01:00 PM
I'm all about today and hopefully Monday but looking ahead to next year I'm afraid Ryan could be the odd man out next season. If Singler returns (which IMO is 50/50) he and Felix offer the 6-6 to 6-8 inside/out type guys. The back court will be stacked with Irving, Thornton, Dawkins, Curry, and Smith leading that pack. Up front we will have 3 athletic bigs who will be willing to get physical with the Plumlees and Hairston. That's 10 guys right there and there can only be 5 on the court at a time with one ball to go around. Granted Thornton and Felix may not see that many minutes in their respective first seasons and Singler could leave opening up more court time for Kelly. I foresee Kelly in the Singler\Felix category and competing for time as a hybrid big for defense and rebounding and utilize his shooting range on offense to create mismatches. I hope he can find a niche next year and be patient within the system. He could possibly be like Lee Melchionni in terms of someone who stuck with the system and became a integral part of teams his junior and senior years.

1.) This year we used Zoubek, Thomas, and the two Plumlees to fill the 4 & 5 spots with Kelly only getting a few minutes. Next year there will be room for at least 4 players to share the 4 & 5 and we have 4 guys slated for those positions.

2.) In addition, Hairston will be a freshman and he is not ranked all that highly coming in. I think Kelly will be first off the bench with Hairston being the second with respect to the 4 & 5. A lot will depend on how well each player shows, but we already know that Kelly has some good skills and only needs to get stronger to be very effective.

True that we probably have Singler, Dawkins and Felix at the 3 and we are also loaded at guard with Smith, Curry, Irving and Thornton to fill those spots. I would guess coach K will use our numbers to speed up the game with presses and fast breaks.

Our numbers will also help us deal with injuries, should they occur.

dukebluelemur
04-03-2010, 01:01 PM
He reminds me of Nick Horvath (the twig-thin freshman Horvath, not the bulked-up-like-Carrot-top senior.)

Welcome2DaSlopes
04-03-2010, 01:01 PM
Speaking of playing time...

...you know who I miss?

This Guy (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/player/profile?playerId=27024)

LOL why?

dukeimac
04-03-2010, 01:15 PM
Other than Kyrie, no other freshman coming in is being claimed as a contributor. Felix maybe a very good player but i'm concerned how he will adjust to academics at Duke. Many players that go the Junior / Community College route usually do for not so good academic reasons. That could weigh on him next year, thus reducing his on the court performance.

Kelly, Mason and Miles off-season will be critical to Duke's success next year. Can Miles play every bit as good as Zo has down the stretch? Can Mason fill in for Lance? Lance is an important 6'7" guy who can guard a wide variety of players.

If anything, I see Kelly as being a guy who can replace Lance in this role with some scoring punch.

The good thing is Kelly can talk with Lance and Zo about their slow start at Duke to where they are now. Zo and Lance have come a long long way since their freshman year but they stuck to it. They didn't jump and they have gained a great experience by sticking around. I use King as a great example of what not to do. Nova got yo the the final four last year but he wasn't playing. This year they fell short and the next few years they will not show as well with the loss of some very good players. Boykin is another good example of what not to do. They won the PAC10 tourney but nothing close to a final four. With him Duke has a good chance to go deeper last year in the tourney.

I do believe it will be Kelly's junior year when he will get some really good playing time and being a real contributor for Duke.

DeBlueDevil
04-03-2010, 01:16 PM
Thanks everyone for your replys by the way...this is why i love the forum...

Anyways, I agree with every single comment so far that is why I thought it'd be a good topic to talk about. CDU...I respect your comments very much so because most of the things you say typically tend to be very accurate and on point. But I kinda lean towards what Dukie@Wake said...

basically Kelly could be the odd man out...With Hairston coming in and IF and IF Kyle comes back that would limit Ryan very much so...I agree with the amount of talent at the guard position next year we will definitely be throwing more guards on the floor then forwards and unless Ryan makes huge strides in all the areas mentioned so far (strength most notable) I think he may be stuck having to wait until his Junior year to make an impact. Until then he may just be just eatin up space for fouls.

COYS
04-03-2010, 01:33 PM
Thanks everyone for your replys by the way...this is why i love the forum...

Anyways, I agree with every single comment so far that is why I thought it'd be a good topic to talk about. CDU...I respect your comments very much so because most of the things you say typically tend to be very accurate and on point. But I kinda lean towards what Dukie@Wake said...

basically Kelly could be the odd man out...With Hairston coming in and IF and IF Kyle comes back that would limit Ryan very much so...I agree with the amount of talent at the guard position next year we will definitely be throwing more guards on the floor then forwards and unless Ryan makes huge strides in all the areas mentioned so far (strength most notable) I think he may be stuck having to wait until his Junior year to make an impact. Until then he may just be just eatin up space for fouls.

We'll have to see how things develop. We will have more guard depth next year, but if this year has demonstrated anything, it's that a team can go far on tough defense and rebounding. Kelly will have a year in the system and another summer to add strength. With Nolan and Kyrie driving to the hoop and Seth and Andre bombing away from three point range, we will need completely different spacing on offense than we've seen this year. As long as Kelly proves willing to dedicate himself to rebounding and playing tough on the defensive end, I think he fits perfectly into our likely offensive look, next season. A lineup with Mason, Kelly, Singler (possibly), Nolan and Kyrie means that we can really open things up. Kelly's defender will have to follow him out to the three point line to prevent drive and kicks for three which will pull shotblockers away from the basket and make things easy for drives by Kyrie and Nolan. Mason and Miles are both still foul prone and while that will hopefully improve over the off-season, I think fouls alone keep their minutes around 22-25 at most. Kelly will definitely get his chances. Add in his free throw shooting (which was better in high school than what he showed in limited action this year) and you could see him in at the end of games.

He would also be an ideal big for a second unit with Curry, Dawkins, Mason/Miles, and possibly Felix. He would help spread the floor on offense and provide size on defense. Basically, as long as he puts in the work during the offseason and his body allows him to pack on a bit more mass, he's almost guaranteed to get minutes next season. Add the fact that his offensive skills may even be more suited to our offense next season and I think we will see Kelly become an essential contributor.

CDu
04-03-2010, 01:48 PM
Thanks everyone for your replys by the way...this is why i love the forum...

Anyways, I agree with every single comment so far that is why I thought it'd be a good topic to talk about. CDU...I respect your comments very much so because most of the things you say typically tend to be very accurate and on point. But I kinda lean towards what Dukie@Wake said...

basically Kelly could be the odd man out...With Hairston coming in and IF and IF Kyle comes back that would limit Ryan very much so...I agree with the amount of talent at the guard position next year we will definitely be throwing more guards on the floor then forwards and unless Ryan makes huge strides in all the areas mentioned so far (strength most notable) I think he may be stuck having to wait until his Junior year to make an impact. Until then he may just be just eatin up space for fouls.

Personally, I just don't see Kelly being the odd man out. I don't see Hairston coming in and playing ahead of Kelly at the 4. Felix is more of a 3, and I also don't see him playing major minutes next year (unless Singler leaves). Both will have the disadvantage of not having a year's worth of experience in the Duke system. And don't discount the fact that Kelly is a really good prospect. He was a more highly-valued prospect than either Hairston or Felix coming in.

I think Kelly will get his minutes at the 4, largely regardless of Singler's return. I think the guys that will be most affected by Singler's decision next year will be Hairston and Felix, because both appear more suited to the 3 (Hairston is more of a 3/4) than Kelly. And both are less experienced in the Duke system. I think the tendency people have is to expect too much from the recruits (especially the frontcourt recruits) and undervalue the guys with experience.

Cisco
04-03-2010, 02:01 PM
Other than Kyrie, no other freshman coming in is being claimed as a contributor.

Joshua Hairston is 6-9 220lbs , plays the same position as Kelly, and is ranked 18th in the ESPN top 100 . He will be a contributor in his freshman year.

CDu
04-03-2010, 02:05 PM
Joshua Hairston is 6-9 220lbs , plays the same position as Kelly, and is ranked 18th in the ESPN top 100 . He will be a contributor in his freshman year.

Ryan Kelly was a 6'10", 210lb, plays the same position as Hairston (actually more of a 4/5 than a 4/3 like Hairston), and was ranked #14 in the nation last year. There's no reason to assume that Hairston will play more than Kelly next year.

DukieInBrasil
04-03-2010, 02:09 PM
Martynas Pocius had one year of eligibility left and decided to take his game to Europe instead. He could have been very useful this year, given that we only have 3 guards, and none of them are really pure slashers the way he is. His defense was always what kept him off the court, maybe he could have improved some.

Regarding what Dukie@Wake said; Ryan is 6'10, so he's a bit taller than the 6'6-8 type players you're thinking of. Ryan is a college 4 with outside shooting skill, he should not be confused with a 3. He's not a powerful player but he is not a wing or SF.

K has only ever complemented Ryan's b-ball IQ and thinks he'll be a very good player soon, so I'll take K's word for it.

Welcome2DaSlopes
04-03-2010, 02:12 PM
Ryan reminds me somewhat of John Henson

basket1544
04-03-2010, 02:19 PM
I think that Ryan and Hairston will earn all playing time that they get. (I can't wait to see how much Ryan and Mason bulk up this summer.) Either way I don't see either of them starting ahead of either Plumlee.

cptnflash
04-03-2010, 02:43 PM
Ryan reminds me somewhat of John Henson

I was thinking the same thing. Henson has a better handle and Kelly is a better shooter, but in a lot of ways they're similar. And remember Henson looked totally lost on the court until he started getting serious minutes after Davis got hurt. Who knows what Kelly could deliver next year? He might take a major step forward and surprise us all.

gumbomoop
04-03-2010, 02:46 PM
Personally, I just don't see Kelly being the odd man out. I don't see Hairston coming in and playing ahead of Kelly at the 4. Felix is more of a 3, and I also don't see him playing major minutes next year (unless Singler leaves). Both will have the disadvantage of not having a year's worth of experience in the Duke system. And don't discount the fact that Kelly is a really good prospect. He was a more highly-valued prospect than either Hairston or Felix coming in.

I think Kelly will get his minutes at the 4, largely regardless of Singler's return. I think the guys that will be most affected by Singler's decision next year will be Hairston and Felix, because both appear more suited to the 3 (Hairston is more of a 3/4) than Kelly. And both are less experienced in the Duke system. I think the tendency people have is to expect too much from the recruits (especially the frontcourt recruits) and undervalue the guys with experience.

I agree with this, dissenting from CDu only a little on impact of possible KS return. The only scenario in which RK's minutes will be somewhat limited is if KS returns. Call it 50/50 right now. Because Duke will have so much perimeter talent next season, if KS returns, he might spend some time - a little, when Duke "goes small" - as a big. But even if KS returns, RK will play 10-15 mpg.

In KS's absence, almost certainly RK becomes the 3d big, first off bench, 18-20 mpg. He's ahead of incoming JH because he now knows the system, and he has better court sense than JH right now. RK was just too far down in the bigs' depth-chart this season, but next year is a different story, with much less depth among bigs. RK will presumably gain some muscle, but he is no weakling right now. He's smart, with good shot, potentially superb high post passer, surprisingly good rebounder, occasional shot blocker. RK can play, will do so next season, and lots more in '11-'12 and '12-'13. Needs to work on handle [as do the MPs].

ChicagoCrazy84
04-03-2010, 02:52 PM
I guarantee that the staff going into the season was using this year as a prep year for Ryan. I think they probably knew that coming in, he just wouldn't be ready physically for ACC play, but in the long run, he could work himself into a very very good player. I still look at Ryan and think he has worlds of potential, I just don't know when or if we'll see all of it come out. Come to think of it, I wonder if they thought about redshirting him at all with all of the size we have on this year's team. Just a thought is all.

I don't like how already some people are saying Ryan will be the odd man out next season. You don't know how the off-season will pan out. Coming into this season, people were asking for Miles and Mason to start and carry a lot of the frontcourt minutes (including myself) and look what has happened? Zoubek and Thomas have played themselves into one of the best frontcourt tandems in the tournament. You can't make assumptions like that already. I believe Josh will be a great player, but I will not for a second buy that he has already earned his 10-20 minutes a night based on potential.

northernduke
04-03-2010, 04:25 PM
You gotta like what he says:

"At this point I do whatever Coach [Mike Krzyzewski] asks of me, like I've done all season," Kelly said. "Everybody wants to be the guy that hits the game-winning shot in the national championship game. But that's not my role right now, and I accept that completely. That's what pushes me to get better every day in practice, to work hard, to push my teammates in any way I can and just be ready to get on the floor whenever that opportunity comes.

"When the season is over we can talk about stuff like that. But right now I'm enjoying the ride. Not many people get the opportunity to be in the Final Four and that's certainly going to be a goal for years to come. But as we've seen, even at Duke, guys that are seniors now had never gotten to this point. So you never know what's going to happen. You've got to take advantage of the opportunity."

"All I know is that I've become a much better player," he said. "I don't think back to specific moments in games. I know I've become a lot better player than I was a year ago. I know I have a bright future ahead of myself and I'm going to become an even better player. Right now I'm enjoying the moment being here in the Final Four and ready to do anything the coach asks."

Read more: http://blogs.newsobserver.com/accnow/dukes-kelly-enjoying-the-moment#ixzz0k3TmlN3k

Absolutely love his attitude! A ton of self confidence in believing his time will come. Could ask for nothing more from a freshman who has helped this team prepare for competition all season.

rotogod00
04-03-2010, 04:32 PM
I just hope his lack of playing time doesn't lead him down the same road of Czyz, King, Boykin, Boetang, etc...

my thoughts exactly. actually may depend on if singler declares or not. if he leaves for the nba, kelly should get much more PT. if he stays, wouldn't be shocked to see kelly transfer.

ajgoodfella7
04-03-2010, 04:36 PM
To be quite honest I really think Ryan Kelly's skill set is pretty similar to Kyle Singler's. Kelly is an extremely good ball-handler and passer for a 6'10" player and I'm sure everyone can see that he is a good shooter as well. To me, I think Duke would get the most out of Kelly if they play him at the 3 as well as the 4. But I believe he is skilled enough to be a very good small forward.

greybeard
04-03-2010, 04:54 PM
Right now the kid is the best passer that this team has had in years. He is particularly adept at getting it inside in a manner--with touch and timing--that permits, actually leads, a Big to a good scoring opportunity.

I believe that the kid will play on the exterior with both Plumlees or Kyle and one or the other of them. When on the floor, all three will be better. On rhe defensive end, he will muck up offenses for the same reason that he will advance Duke's offense--he sees several steps ahead with remarkable proficiency.

The kid clearly from what he says enjoys playing and what could be better for a guy with his talents and current physical shortcomings then to play in practice with a terrific array of players and K. I think that the kid is completely content to let the game come to him. If K sees fit to deploy him in front of the fans, fine; if not, that will be fine too. When you see the way he sees and can act upon it with his array of skills, it's all good.

In short, Ryan Kelly is an extraordinary talent who is a kid in a candy store whichever way things play out. That type of guy is a tremendous asset to have on a team; they cohese all that they touch.

roywhite
04-03-2010, 05:05 PM
my thoughts exactly. actually may depend on if singler declares or not. if he leaves for the nba, kelly should get much more PT. if he stays, wouldn't be shocked to see kelly transfer.

That's a careless reference and really doesn't belong here unless you have something to back it up.

Among other things, Ryan Kelly is an outstanding student who was on the honor roll for his first semester at Duke. His parents live in Raleigh and his father played basketball at Yale. Ryan is the type of student and young person who might well have chosen Duke even if he were not a basketball player.

mgtr
04-03-2010, 05:08 PM
Even though this season is not over (two more games!), I am optimistic about our chance for next year. We are losing a lot, but we are gaining a lot next year, too. While I am optimistic most years, I am extra-special optimistic about next year -- particularly if 2/3 of our S-boys stay!

JohnGalt
04-03-2010, 05:09 PM
Labeling Ryan "the odd man out" this early in the game is a difficult thing to do. Like others have alluded, he'll maintain an advantage, having played for a year in the system, over the likes of Felix and Hairston, even though all three actually play slightly different positions.

That being said, Kelly's biggest obstacle will be the number of talented guards on the '10-'11 Devils. Many have commented on how Duke could very likely play a 3 guard rotation next year and really turn up the tempo. If that's the case, he may lose the minutes he would gain from the departure of Zoubek and Thomas to Curry and Irving.

If he can add some weight in the off season, he could spell the PlumTrees at the 4, but I'm not sold on the fact that he will be able to gain a tremendous amount of weight. He looks to have a skinny neck and wrists which generally doesn't bode well for putting on lbs.

I tend the think his minutes will go up, but not dramatically so. He'll get more minutes because we'll be relatively thin in the post and he's more experienced than Hairston. To me, he seems to be the kind of player who will be around for 4 years, eventually becoming a very solid role player by the time he's a senior. I have a hard time believing he'll transfer, especially after reading the quotes listed below.

Devil in the Blue Dress
04-03-2010, 05:12 PM
That's a careless reference and really doesn't belong here unless you have something to back it up.

Among other things, Ryan Kelly is an outstanding student who was on the honor roll for his first semester at Duke. His parents live in Raleigh and his father played basketball at Yale. Ryan is the type of student and young person who might well have chosen Duke even if he were not a basketball player.
Isn't Ryan's girlfriend in Raleigh? Might be another reason to stay where he is.

I haven't seen anything to suggest that Ryan is unhappy at Duke. He enjoys good chemistry with the rest of the team, a very valuable quality.

rotogod00
04-03-2010, 05:15 PM
That's a careless reference and really doesn't belong here unless you have something to back it up.

Among other things, Ryan Kelly is an outstanding student who was on the honor roll for his first semester at Duke. His parents live in Raleigh and his father played basketball at Yale. Ryan is the type of student and young person who might well have chosen Duke even if he were not a basketball player.

just my opinion. most kids want to play, bottom line. but if he's going to duke for the education as much as for the basketball, that's great. more power to him.

ACCBBallFan
04-03-2010, 05:17 PM
To be quite honest I really think Ryan Kelly's skill set is pretty similar to Kyle Singler's. Kelly is an extremely good ball-handler and passer for a 6'10" player and I'm sure everyone can see that he is a good shooter as well. To me, I think Duke would get the most out of Kelly if they play him at the 3 as well as the 4. But I believe he is skilled enough to be a very good small forward.CDU already made most of the points I was going to make on this thread and I also agree with this.

I know people tend to put halos on everybody new but Ryan Kelly has the benefit of a year in the Duke system both athletically and academically, and since he's a local RDU kid, no need to worry about him getting homesick.

Having a true PG like Irving will only make games of guys like Ryan, Andre, Seth, Kyle and Mason even better. The missing ingredient is who can play the defensive stopper role Lance vacates, besides Kyle, but 3 deep everywhere

Irving-Thornton (Curry)
Smith - Curry (Dawkins)
Singler 50% - Dawkins (Felix)
Singler 50% - Kelly (Hairston) if both Plumlees do not start
Plumlee 1- Plumlee 2 (Hariston or Kelly if fouls mount)

Coach K will have a lot of options including pairing his two seniors Nolan and Kyle with his new guys Thornton, Felix and Hairston in full court defensive pressing if he wants to shake things up a couple minutes.

ChicagoCrazy84
04-03-2010, 07:30 PM
just my opinion. most kids want to play, bottom line. but if he's going to duke for the education as much as for the basketball, that's great. more power to him.


I just think it's a bit presumptious to think that everyone who doesn't get playing time should transfer and even though you didn't say it, you are implying it based on this post. PT is important to kids, but so is an education and college experience. I would be very surprised if Kelly transferred to be honest.

gumbomoop
04-03-2010, 07:43 PM
Labeling Ryan "the odd man out" this early in the game is a difficult thing to do.

To me, he seems to be the kind of player who will be around for 4 years, eventually becoming a very solid role player by the time he's a senior.

These 2 statements strike me, to put it gingerly, as not entirely consistent. I'm definitely with you in seeing RK as not the "odd man out." That means, surely, he's "in," i.e., going to play some next season, and more than minimally.

Therefore, it stands to reason that he will be a solid role player next season. I doubt we'll have to wait until RK's senior year to see real value. MP2 is backup 5 to MP1, and RK is backup 4 to MP2.

ncexnyc
04-03-2010, 07:56 PM
Since when has transfer become a four letter word? The man voiced an OPINION and suddenly everyone wants to tar and feather him.

A quality education was on the line for both Taylor and Olek and both of them walked away.

Several posters have mentioned Ryan needed to bulk up, well what happens if he can't as someone has already mentioned? If his lack of bulk is the primary reason his playing time has been limited, do you think he really wants to sit on the bench for four years if he can't get bigger/stronger?

Newton_14
04-03-2010, 08:05 PM
my thoughts exactly. actually may depend on if singler declares or not. if he leaves for the nba, kelly should get much more PT. if he stays, wouldn't be shocked to see kelly transfer.

I agree with Roy and CDu and those that think Ryan Kelly would transfer are way off base. He is not the type of kid to pout and run to another school if he is not getting a lot of minutes. The kid can play the game and only needs strength and adjustment to the speed of the college game.

He will absolutely earn minutes next year as the 3rd Big. I think we will see a very similar approach with bigs next year as we have this year. Kelly and Hairston will back up Mason and Miles and all 4 will get time at the 2 big spots.

As CDu alluded to, Ryan was ranked higher coming in than Hairston, and for that matter was ranked higher than Mason. He started over Mason on the Jr USA team they both played on. The guy can play. We have not even begun to see what he can bring once he gets it figured out and get's a college body. One of the big positives for him is how hard he works. Once he realized in High School that he could be better than a mid-major type player, he worked his tail off, getting to the gym everyday at 6 AM and working out hard before school. His work ethic is great and it will pay dividends before all is said and done.

No doubt in my mind Ryan will have a really good career at Duke and will be a solid 4 year player.

hedevil
04-03-2010, 08:10 PM
I highly doubt that RK would transfer. This strikes me as an issue that he and coach K would have already ironed out. His minutes will come next year. I am curious however, when a player does transfer, how soon can that void be filled?

Newton_14
04-03-2010, 08:22 PM
Since when has transfer become a four letter word? The man voiced an OPINION and suddenly everyone wants to tar and feather him.

A quality education was on the line for both Taylor and Olek and both of them walked away.

Several posters have mentioned Ryan needed to bulk up, well what happens if he can't as someone has already mentioned? If his lack of bulk is the primary reason his playing time has been limited, do you think he really wants to sit on the bench for four years if he can't get bigger/stronger?

It is a 4-Letter word to me because people toss it out there all the time with nothing to base it on other than their own perceptions and the fact that a freshman is not getting 30 minutes a game. And DBR does have a rule against rumor-mongering. I just think it is wrong to toss that word out there unless the player or someone close to him has confirmed a kid is contemplating doing so.

Not all freshman are ready to contribute right away. Yet time and time again if a player isn't getting the PT a fan thinks he should they immediately start saying he will transfer.

Players are different and they develop on different timelines. And not all of them are too impatient to wait their turn. Olek and Taylor wanted big minutes before their games were ready for it. One gave it 1 year, the other 1.5 years. Not a lot of patience in either case. That is why Marty Clark is one of my all time favorite Duke players. The guy worked hard, sat on the pine most all of his first 2 years and by the time he was a Sr he found himself a solid spot in the rotation on a team that played for a National Title. I wish there were more kids like him.

JBDuke
04-03-2010, 08:27 PM
I think we've covered enough ground in this thread, and we're drifting into bad territory, so I am closing it.