What's up with Esa Ahmad?

[VaultHunter]

Really disappointing so far. After having great games during exhibition play and being a top 50 recruit he has not been very productive for WVU at all. Can only imagine if he was scoring in double figures how much he would help this team. Would really like to know from people who understand basketball more than me what is going on.

 

[mounty99]

I'm no basketball expert either but he seems to be ok of defense but is rushing everything on offense....I would imagine at some point things will really slow down for him and he will play to his potential.

 

[WVRON]

Really disappointing so far. After having great games during exhibition play and being a top 50 recruit he has not been very productive for WVU at all. Can only imagine if he was scoring in double figures how much he would help this team. Would really like to know from people who understand basketball more than me what is going on.

Nothing is wrong with Esa. He's just a true freshman. He'll end up being a very good player for us.

 

[HammEERman]

YOUTH! He will be fine!

 

[The Bell Tolls for Thee]

Really disappointing so far. After having great games during exhibition play and being a top 50 recruit he has not been very productive for WVU at all. Can only imagine if he was scoring in double figures how much he would help this team. Would really like to know from people who understand basketball more than me what is going on.

Big jump to top 25 NCAA basketball from high school. Confidence seems to be part of it as well as he passes on open looks from mid range that I think he is capable of converting. He has to be given a chance to grow, I just hope he does enough this season in time for contribution during the dance.

 

[Low Mountains Drifter]

He hasn't found his niche in the offense yet. He's a wing player who is not a 3 point threat; we don't seem like we try much to get him mid-range shots, and he might not be strong enough yet to rebound well or take it to the basket in the half court. Some of it might just be lack of confidence with the huge step up in competition, and being the "new guy" and a little unwilling to assert himself in the offense.

He is 3rd on the team in assists and TO:Assist ratio; 3rd in blocked shots; 4th in steals.

 

[HurdyGurdyEer]

Uh ... he's a freshman?

 

[KeatonsCorner]

Huggins specifically ran plays for Ahmad in the TCU game.............. and Esa passed out of them immediately. That is why he sat. We wanted to work a mismatch on him in the post, and he rejected it. He wouldn't even enter the paint.

His reluctance to attack on offense and his hesitation to sprint to help and trap on defense is very concerning. He seems very uncomfortable in our systems, and that usually means transfer..............

Youth cannot be used as an excuse for a recruit that was so highly touted. Right now, if he was just slumping......... it would be one thing......... but his effort is lacking and his confidence is non existent. We need to keep playing him so that we don't lose him to transfer, but WVU cannot afford to have him in the game when it actually matters at this point.

 

[The Bell Tolls for Thee]

Huggins specifically ran plays for Ahmad in the TCU game.............. and Esa passed out of them immediately. That is why he sat. We wanted to work a mismatch on him in the post, and he rejected it. He wouldn't even enter the paint.

His reluctance to attack on offense and his hesitation to sprint to help and trap on defense is very concerning. He seems very uncomfortable in our systems, and that usually means transfer..............

Youth cannot be used as an excuse for a recruit that was so highly touted. Right now, if he was just slumping......... it would be one thing......... but his effort is lacking and his confidence is non existent. We need to keep playing him so that we don't lose him to transfer, but WVU cannot afford to have him in the game when it actually matters at this point.

Hope you're wrong as even great recruits cannot always just jump into D1 basketball and play great. But you are right that we have seen this behavior before transferring in the past.

 

[locustwv]

Very few freshman play like a senior. I think he's shown signs of greatness. He'll be fine.

 

[EnginEER 89]

Huggins will keep getting him opportunities as in the TCU game. He will learn to follow instructions.

Lgm!

 

[Mtneer001]

He is getting the opportunity for playing time. He is getting the ball. So he has every opportunity to flourish if he so chooses.

I hope he doesn't transfer. He seems to have a good work ethic.

The game is played a lot faster with better athletes at the college level. He is still getting up to speed. We are playing some of the best players in the country. He has a chance to be a real star and a great pro if he decides to do the work.

 

[eers1foru]

I wasn't aware Esa was in trouble. He doesn't score 25 a game so there is something wrong with him? Not sure I follow that logic. He plays very hard but has had shoulder issues that keep him from jacking up 20 shots a game. And if he did jack up 20 a game Huggs would prolly be sitting him. He plays team ball, is a good passer, rebounder, defender and from all accounts team mate. Not sure what else you want from a freshman? Especially on a Huggins' team. Hugins routinely pushes the ball through the older more experienced guys on his roster. This is nothing new!

 

[HurdyGurdyEer]

Youth cannot be used as an excuse for a recruit that was so highly touted.

Everything else you say may be true. But to say that youth cannot be a factor when a player is a highly regarded recruit is patently absurd.

 

[KeatonsCorner]

ESPN ranked him in the top 10 small forwards in the 2015 class......

Of all the SFs in the top 20 from that list that are active this year (2-3 are redshirting/injured), Ahmad's averages are the lowest.

If all the other SFs of Ahmad's caliber are able to produce, despite their youth........ than Esa does not get the "youth" excuse, sorry.............. Ahmad, on that list, is sandwiched between Maverick Rowan and Tevin Mack.

Rowan is putting up good numbers for NC State, albeit with 35% more playing time than Ahmad

Mack is putting up better numbers in LESS playing time for Texas.

 

[wvpaper]

Esa will be fine. Potential is obvious. Things are moving too fast for him now. Reminds me of Paige last year.

 

[Putnam10]

I think Esa keeps the ball moving within the offensive scheme and isn't a turnover machine. That's valuable. I sincerely hope his scoring mojo returns soon...it would help a LOT.

 

[MountaineerWV]

I've noticed that he is starting to look for his shot more and taking more shots. I even like the fact that he's taking some three's because he has a nice looking jump shot.

He is going to be great. The big thing is that he has conformed to the offensive scheme and hasn't gotten the "bigger than the team" mentality that some highly recruited freshman tend to get. That's a plus!

 

[TexasforevEER]

How much playing time does it take to make all these observations about a player? I have watched all the WV games thus far and haven't seen this young man on the floor all that much. My take is that he can play Huggins ball or else Huggs would not have recruited him.

 

[KeatonsCorner]

How much playing time does it take to make all these observations about a player? I have watched all the WV games thus far and haven't seen this young man on the floor all that much. My take is that he can play Huggins ball or else Huggs would not have recruited him.

I don't there's a single poster saying Esa Ahmad isn't going to be a great Mountaineer, or can't "play Huggins ball"....

But he's underperforming...... heavily.

 

[TexasforevEER]

I don't there's a single poster saying Esa Ahmad isn't going to be a great Mountaineer, or can't "play Huggins ball"....

But he's underperforming...... heavily.

We are in agreement KC. I admit that I didn't realize he is averaging 19.8 minutes per game on the year. So, you are absolutely correct.

 

[HurdyGurdyEer]

ESPN ranked him in the top 10 small forwards in the 2015 class......

Of all the SFs in the top 20 from that list that are active this year (2-3 are redshirting/injured), Ahmad's averages are the lowest.

If all the other SFs of Ahmad's caliber are able to produce, despite their youth........ than Esa does not get the "youth" excuse, sorry.............. Ahmad, on that list, is sandwiched between Maverick Rowan and Tevin Mack.

Rowan is putting up good numbers for NC State, albeit with 35% more playing time than Ahmad

Mack is putting up better numbers in LESS playing time for Texas.

This does not prove that "youth" is not an excuse. It only proves that comparably rated players are playing better.

Maybe they are better coached.
Maybe Ahmad was overrated.
Maybe Ahmad is just a little slow to catch on because of youth.
And maybe it's something different.

You've proven nothing except that his numbers are the lowest on that list.

 

[KeatonsCorner]

"Maybe Ahmad was overrated."

I think at this point, that is pretty obvious......... does Esa look like a player that should have the Miami Heat GM calling Huggins to get info?

 

[HurdyGurdyEer]

"Maybe Ahmad was overrated."

I think at this point, that is pretty obvious......... does Esa look like a player that should have the Miami Heat GM calling Huggins to get info?

By all means ... once someone has relegated your argument to the trash heap pull out another alleged piece of information in order to make yourself appear to be someone in the know.

 

[KeatonsCorner]

By all means ... once someone has relegated your argument to the trash heap pull out another alleged piece of information in order to make yourself appear to be someone in the know.

lol

ARTICLE

After that camp, the Heat checked in with Huggs once Esa signed, and have inquired a few times since

 

[TexasforevEER]

By all means ... once someone has relegated your argument to the trash heap pull out another alleged piece of information in order to make yourself appear to be someone in the know.

Careful thar ole HurdyGurdyEer................................KC is one of the 'shiny shoe' types and is in the WV sports world know. Ole Warez is one of the 'shiny shoes' types also, but only in the pickle picking world.