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PF/C Micah Potter (transfer to Wisconsin)

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My evaluation is from watching both of them play (Ward live, Potter 3-4 times on TV). Like I said, maybe he's improved significantly since his HS season ended (which is what some reports seem to be indicating), but every scout and college coach had Ward ranked well ahead of Potter out of HS. Ward was quicker and lighter on his feet and has a better low post game. Potter is a better shooter. I don't expect either to be too good on defense this year. We play MSU twice so I suspect we'll get to see them match up head to head at some point.

I can't find anything to confirm this definitively, but I believe the Montverde MVP is always a senior and most of their best players were underclassmen (all the ones you listed were juniors and sophs). Di Sousa looked like their best player by far in the games I watched.
 
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Ward was the better player and most likely still is the better player. Definitely more ready to contribute in the post and is definitely going to get more opportunity to do that as a frosh than Potter since Ward's got like no legit comp for that this season with MSU's injuries to Carter and Schilling.

The one area I think Potter is definitely better than Ward is outside shooting. His conditioning might also be a little better due to the year at Montverde.

In time I could see Potter perhaps becoming a bit more prolific of a scorer than Ward. But Ward is going to have a lot of points and rebounds to his name by the time he's done at MSU (especially given he's a 4 year player and he's going to play a ton for them right off the bat).
 
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Looks like Potter is slightly favored over Bell and Thompson. Congrats to Micah. Started and got sixteen minutes in the scrimmage. Exciting things ahead, but I don't know how many shots he can average with this squad staying healthy. He's probably option 5 or 6 at this point.
 
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Potter: The 6-foot-9 center not only brings a vocal presence, he brings a skill set that was missing from Ohio State's roster. He can shoot the 3-pointer as a big man, and while his low post game is still developing, that shooting ability can be a real weapon for the Buckeyes.

In the exhibition against Walsh, they put Potter into a few pick-and-pop situations. He shot 1-of-3 from deep, but his shot looked smooth.

"Micah brings the inside-out effect," assistant coach Dave Dickerson said. "He's an excellent defender. He picks up on things quick and I think he has a high ceiling."

It's possible that Potter starting in the exhibition was used a wakeup call for Trevor Thompson, a junior who by now should have left no doubt who the starter should be. But either way, Potter is going to play. Thompson, Potter and David Bell are the only centers on the roster. All three will play, and Potter will see big minutes.

"Micah brings a lot of energy, he's got the kind of attitude you love to be on your team and you hate to play against because you're gonna hate him," guard Kam Williams said.
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http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index....basketball_season_p_2.html#incart_river_index
 
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Potter scored 0 points and grabbed 2 boards in 21 min against Navy. Ward scored 9 points and had 4 boards in 13 minute against Kansas. So its only one game, but I really don't think there is much of an argument to be made for who is currently the better player. Ward is just much more polished in the post. Athletically, there probably isn't much of a difference.
 
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"pre-judging" means doing so without any knowledge or basis for forming that opinion. We have information with which to judge based on HS performance and now a few pre-season and regular season games. Ward is simply the better player right now.
 
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wigmon said:
"pre-judging" means doing so without any knowledge or basis for forming that opinion. We have information with which to judge based on HS performance and now a few pre-season and regular season games. Ward is simply the better player right now.
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You missed my point.. Ward was never going to come to Ohio State so why keep trying to compare him to Potter or any other Ohio State recruit. It just not make any sense..
 
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LitlBuck said:
You missed my point.. Ward was never going to come to Ohio State so why keep trying to compare him to Potter or any other Ohio State recruit. It just not make any sense..
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True enough, but I brought up the comparison in the first place, and with people mentioning that Thad is struggling to recruit in Ohio, it's a pertinent topic. Both Ohio bigs in the same class going to B1G rivals. I will give Ward some credit, he looks better in his first two games than I expected. He will be another good one that "got away", but I don't think his game is too much different than Wesson's, so it's just one of those things where you aren't going to get them all.

I still stand by what I said about Potter from his training videos, high school growth, and the fact that he is earning more minutes than Thompson....he is a top-50 type of player, and, like wigmon said, if Ohio State figures out how to attract the defense and dish it out to Potter, I don't see why he can't be good for 3 threes a game with his stroke and athleticism for a big. The question is, do the other Bucks around him want to do that?
 
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