Chane Behanan

Normally, a 6'7 250 pounder would be trying to make a college football choice at this time and not a basketball choice.  Chane Behanan on the other hand is not the typical 6'7" 250 pounder, he is a physical specimen.  This absolute monster gets up and down the floor, as well as up off the floor as good as most 2 guards and wing's.  Ricky P. was quoted today about Behanan saying quote, "Explosive, he'll do some things jumping wise that I don't quite believe for his size."  Cardinal fans, picture this in your mind... Derrick Caracter with the athletic ability of a Brandon Jenkins... WOW!  With the size of an interior player and the ridiculous guard skills thatat this young man possesses, a future dominant presence in the Big East is at our hands.  After solidifying himself as one of the premier players in the bluegrass by averaging 21.2 points, 12.3 rebounds,4.5 assists, and 2.8 blocks his junior year at Bowling Green High School, Behanan didn't stop there.  This summer after being invite to the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) Top 100 Camp, a camp in which only the best of the country's best amateur players are invited, he not only attended the camp but dominated it, bringing home the honor of camp MVP.  In his upcoming senior season, he is the frontrunner for Mr. Basketball in Kentucky.  Hello Big East world, Chane's here!


Expectations- I don't see Behanan being an immediate starter with the likes of Rakeem Buckles infront of him at the 4, but leave no doubt he will see significant minutes right off the bat.  This young man is just too much of a talent for him not to solidify himself as a top 5 player on the team as a freshman. I expect him to be a 3, maybe even 4 year player for us ( NBA teams will be skeptical to take a chance on him because of his height, which is beyond me with the likes Chuck Hayes and Paul Millsap having successful careers, thats another story though) and a name that will become feared among Big East opponents.  Expect an unlimited number of double-doubles throughout his career, maybe even a record breaking number, and to average somewhere around 14 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists.


Weakness- From the start, I have a feeling that Behanan will be the player that Pitino will always talk about 'playing at a target weight', much like Preston Knowles and Juan Palacios.  At 250 pounds, the young man will absolutely make your jaw drop, can you imagine what he could do at 240 or 235?  This will be the target area that Ricky P. will constantly talk about and the weight that will make Behanan the best player he can be.  At this stage, alot of Behanan's defensive prowess is reliant on his athletic ability, which isn't the best of idea's when playing in the Big East.  His defensively footwork in the post is bad, translating into tick-tack fouls at the next level.  Defensive fundamentals, though, are an easy fix for the veteran Pitino at this point.


G's Grade- A


Comparison- Carmelo Anthony... I can hear the criticism now for the comparison.  Keep in mind though that this is a comparison of playing style.. not a measure of how good he will be.


Enjoy this clip of Chane Behanan showing of his array of skills on the floor..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOTVU0Rgdd4