Max Abmas (and Kevin Obanor!) 2020-21 Honors (...and beyond?)

[Dr. Cornelius 401]

39 minutes ago, Ting said:

Gonna be a great summer with the extra nba draft buzz and experience for the guys. With such a a loaded 2021 draft would be really surprised if max got first round guarantees from a team. He is such a positional player in the nba a team really would need his game/position in order to spend a 1st round pick. 

I think the player comparison that makes the most sense for Max is VanVleet. Max is already a better scorer than Fred was at this point in his career at Wichita but Fred was a better defender (and had ~20 lbs on him).

Max Abmas

Season	School	Conf	G	GS	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	2P	2PA	2P%	3P	3PA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS		SOS
2019-20	Oral Roberts	Summit	31	31	29.5	5.1	12.4	.411	2.3	4.7	.486	2.8	7.7	.366	1.4	1.7	.830	0.4	1.8	2.2	1.4	1.0	0.2	1.0	1.6	14.4		-1.58
2020-21	Oral Roberts	Summit	28	28	37.0	8.0	16.8	.478	4.4	8.5	.521	3.6	8.3	.433	4.9	5.5	.890	0.4	2.8	3.2	3.8	1.5	0.2	2.3	2.2	24.6		-0.07
Career	Oral Roberts		59	59	33.1	6.5	14.5	.448	3.3	6.5	.508	3.2	8.0	.399	3.1	3.5	.875	0.4	2.3	2.7	2.6	1.2	0.2	1.6	1.9	19.3		-0.82

 

Fred VanVleet

Season	School	Conf	G	GS	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	2P	2PA	2P%	3P	3PA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS		SOS
2012-13	Wichita State	MVC	39	0	16.2	1.5	3.9	.386	1.0	2.7	.375	0.5	1.3	.408	0.7	1.0	.725	0.3	1.5	1.8	2.3	0.9	0.1	1.2	1.1	4.3		6.09
2013-14	Wichita State	MVC	36	36	31.7	3.7	7.7	.484	2.7	5.2	.516	1.1	2.5	.418	3.1	3.8	.830	0.7	3.1	3.9	5.4	1.9	0.1	1.3	1.9	11.6		1.74
2014-15	Wichita State	MVC	35	35	31.5	4.3	10.0	.430	3.2	6.8	.464	1.1	3.2	.357	3.8	4.8	.796	1.2	3.3	4.5	5.2	1.9	0.1	1.7	1.4	13.6		3.68
2015-16	Wichita State	MVC	31	31	29.0	3.8	9.8	.390	2.5	6.2	.396	1.4	3.6	.381	3.2	3.9	.817	0.4	2.9	3.2	5.5	1.8	0.1	1.7	1.7	12.2		4.24
Career	Wichita State		141	102	26.8	3.3	7.7	.426	2.3	5.1	.447	1.0	2.6	.386	2.6	3.3	.805	0.6	2.7	3.3	4.5	1.6	0.1	1.5	1.5	10.2		3.94

 

 

[ORUalum 517]

 

[eagle88 26]

If Max and KO return next year which is likely combined with our other returners and new players it will be one exciting season! This team has tasted a high level of success and will want to build on it. All of this combined with a coach that is instilling the mindset of being in the final four is a dream come true! Cant wait for next season!

[Old Titan 880]

Max Abmas is Third Team on this “Who’s Who” list of college talent. Virtually everyone else listed is declaring for the NBA draft:
 

 

[Old Titan 880]

23 hours ago, ORUTerry said:

I saw that too. That’s kind of a gut punch. Hope they find his car - or maybe not depending on the condition it might be in. 

If Kevin was a rank-and-file ORU student, his classmates or his church (or even we) could take up donations or set up a GoFundMe page toward a new set of wheels.

But, as a so-called "student athlete" under the auspices of the NCAA, we can't even give him $25 without violating the rules and risking his eligibility.

And some people wonder why college athletes are fighting in the courts as we speak to own their own likenesses - you don't think Kevin could make a little extra bank right now making personal appearances for sponsors or selling autographs on eBay?

[Old Titan 880]

 

[ORUalum 517]

25. Los Angeles Clippers: G Max Abmas

Ht./Wt: 6-1, 165 lbs | Class: Sophomore | Oral Roberts: 24.5 ppg, 3.8 apg

Abmas was the leading scorer in all of college basketball this year, putting up 20 or more points in 20 games this season. He is the first player with three 25-point games for a double-digit-seeded team since Stephen Curry in 2008. If that’s not impressive enough, Abmas is only the fourth player to score 25 or more points in three consecutive NCAA tournament games since 1985. He has such great speed and body control in the lane, it’s hard to defend his shot. As a playmaker, he’s just as deadly. Abmas has dished out seven or more assists in five games this season and is averaging only 2.3 turnovers per game as the primary ball-handler.

 

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 27: Max Abmas #3 of the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles takes a shot while guarded by Moses Moody #5 of the Arkansas Razorbacks during the second half in the Sweet Sixteen round of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 27, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) More

[ORUTerry 345]

 

[ORUTerry 345]

 

[Old Titan 880]

On 2/28/2021 at 2:36 PM, Old Titan said:

Folks, I'm seriously beginning to think ORU's greatest challenge this off-season may not be keeping Max out of the transfer portal; it may in fact be keeping him out of the NBA draft:

I gotta admit, I thought this possibility was a bit of a stretch back at the end of February when I posted it; but now I would venture it’s at least a 50/50 proposition that Max declares for the draft.

What a difference a month makes, huh?  Crazy..

[Keenan Henderson 63]

Of course none of us want Max to go but can he come back and improve his draft stock?  Is he going to become a better shooter, passer, etc with one more year of college? Unlikely.  He should go and use his God given talents for God given reasons, as Coach Mills always says.

[ORUalum 517]

good analysis....

the size is the big question mark.  I thought Musselman did a good job of isolating him on the defensive end in the 2nd half of the Sweet 16 game

I also agree that Max needs to strike while the iron is hot...Daum's biggest mistake was not declaring after making a splash in the tournament....you just give evaluators more tape to pick apart your game

Even if Max is assigned to the G-League -- he is being paid and can focus on ball 24/7

KO and Max have done so much for ORU.  They don't owe another minute to the school.  It's time to do what's best for them.

Max Abmas

(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Guard, 6-1, Oral Roberts (Sophomore)

Tournament stats: 26.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 4.7 apg, 1.3 spg, 40.0 3P% (3 games)

Current draft projection (best/worst): Top 45 / Back to school

It may seem like Oral Roberts came out of nowhere for an improbable tournament run but with Max Abmas on the squad, they were a sleeping giant hiding in plain sight.

Abmas led the nation in scoring with 24.6 points per game as a sophomore in 2020-21. His massive games against Ohio State (29 points), Florida (26 points) and Arkansas (25 points) were by no means out of character.

He ranked second in the nation in terms of playing time and never even stepped off the floor during the tournament.

 

But for such a ball-dominant player, he is surprisingly efficient. The 6-foot-1 prospect wasn’t a 50-40-90 guy in the regular season but he hovered in the area, shooting 47.8 percent from the field, 43.3 percent from three and 89.0 percent from the charity stripe. He is lethal on the pull-up but he can make an impact when cutting to the basket, too.

On the flip side, there are critical concerns about his size and his defensive shortcomings and his size. The undersized guard can be exposed pretty easily if you attack him at the collegiate level, which means it will be even worse in the NBA.

Regardless, his abilities as a microwave scorer will make him worth a look. After such a solid showing in the tournament, if he is willing to accept some developmental time in the G League, he may want to strike while the iron is hot and try his luck in the draft.

https://hoopshype.com/lists/nba-mock-draft-macio-teague-quentin-grimes-johnny-juzang-isaiah-mobley/

[Keenan Henderson 63]

Since Max would most likely be drafted in the second round, then it would be all about the right fit for him.  He needs a team that is looking for a back up point guard that they will also give the freedom to handle the ball and shot 30 foot threes at times.  Some coaches that fits into their system such as Steve Kerr but many others would not go for that.  If the Coach does not want a point guard with Max's style, then he will end up in the G-league or Europe.  Max would probaly fit better on a young team that is not star driven and is looking for some fresh talent (Orlando or Houston comes to mind).

[ORUJason 152]

If the G League or Europe are the most likely outcomes, those opportunities will always be there for Max. If he was taller, it is a different story.  

Makes sense to me to finish out his 4 years at ORU and continue to improve so that once he gets his shot at pro basketball he will be fully prepared to make the most of it.

[vcboy2000 87]

If he is going to be a second rounder, he will be back at 81st & Lewis next year. 

If he is going to be a first rounder (no matter where that is), he will sign with an agent. And I agree 100% with that decision. Guaranteed money is guaranteed money. Coming back to try to improve his draft stock guarantees him nothing. 

[EagleManiac 138]

27 minutes ago, vcboy2000 said:

If he is going to be a first rounder (no matter where that is), he will sign with an agent. And I agree 100% with that decision. Guaranteed money is guaranteed money. Coming back to try to improve his draft stock guarantees him nothing. 

I also think this would be best case scenario for ORU. It will be a bummer to lose such a talent, but having a first round draft pick elevates Mills' and ORU's status in a way that nothing else can in the eyes of a high school player trying to make it to the league. ORU's recruiting ceiling would elevate drastically. 

[EagleManiac 138]

Just now, EagleManiac said:

I also think this would be best case scenario for ORU. It will be a bummer to lose such a talent, but having a first round draft pick on the resume elevates Mills' and ORU's status in a way that nothing else can in the eyes of a high school player trying to make it to the league. ORU's recruiting ceiling would elevate drastically.