Mika is Elite

Ok, so we all already know that, right? Well, even taking the blue goggles off, here are some stats to back up his awesomeness that I pulled from another site (a sports sim site) that I participate in:

In real life over the past 3 seasons, here are the players that have been in the top 100 in scoring and are either over 6'9 or listed as a center (or both):

Year Rank Ht   Player
 1 2017   32 6'10 Eric Mika

 2 2016   20 6'10 Kyle Wiltjer
 3 2016   46 6'09 Nathan Boothe
 4 2016   50 6'10 Ben Simmons
 5 2016   52 6'08 Chris Horton
 6 2016   67 6'10 Majok Deng
 7 2016   97 6'10 Tim Kempton

 8 2015   44 7'00 Frank Kaminsky
 9 2015   51 6'11 Jahlil Okafor
10 2015   55 6'11 Bobby Portis
11 2015   75 6'08 Alan Williams
12 2015   85 6'10 Jarell Martin
13 2015   99 6'10 Kyle Wiltjer

Mika is THE only player that is 6-9 or taller in the top 100 in scoring this season! Pretty crazy. Scoring bigs are just getting rarer these days it seems.

Do you think these stats mean he has a chance at going pro after this year.

hawkwing wrote:
Do you think these stats mean he has a chance at going pro after this year.

I would say so, yes. Only thing keeping him back is if he's emotionally tied to BYU and his friends there.

Mika would not get drafted if he leaves college after this year. He is not physical enough on defense and his jump shot is suspect. Everyone criticizes this team for their weaknesses, if Mika was NBA ready, we would not have lost some of the games we have.

I'd question your comment about toughness on D. He's surrounded by weenies who don't play tough. But he has to also avoid his nemesis-foul trouble.

This wrubel tweet below suggests he would be drafted. Maybe tail end but he would be orat least be picked up undrafted. His speed up and down court and athleticism would be bonuses. NBA would help his shot development. But his friends, need for a better developed outside shooting, drive to bucket, AND an improved draft stock will keep him here at least one more year.



Eric Mika is WCC's pts/reb/blks leader in all games; 2nd in pts, 1st in reb/blks in league play. Top 10 FT% overall and in league. #RMVP

Mika could get drafted this year. If he left, though, it'd be in the 2nd round at most. He needs more of an outside shot. Bigs that can shoot are all the rage.



Now, if Mika wants to go in the 1st round of the draft, he should wait a year, get another year to develop, and hopefully generate some hype via a tourney run.

It looks like his outside shot is pretty good. We don't know if can hit a 3.

If you watch how physical and athletic NBA 4's and 5's are (which is where Mika would need to play), you would see that at this point in his career, he has no chance at making an NBA roster and would not get drafted (at least in the 1st round). Mika is a really good college player and I am thrilled to have him at BYU but he is not NBA ready. Jimmer dominated the college game like no one in college basketball his SR year (offensively) and yet couldn't get playing time in the NBA despite being a lottery pick. Mika is no where near as dominant as Jimmer was (Mika playing lesser competition). I am not bagging on Mika, I am stating reality. If Mika wants to get drafted and be successful in the NBA he is going to need to figure out how to use his athleticism more effectively, play more physically on defense without getting in foul trouble and develop a reliable 18 foot jumper.

frdbtr wrote:
If you watch how physical and athletic NBA 4's and 5's are (which is where Mika would need to play), you would see that at this point in his career, he has no chance at making an NBA roster and would not get drafted (at least in the 1st round). Mika is a really good college player and I am thrilled to have him at BYU but he is not NBA ready. Jimmer dominated the college game like no one in college basketball his SR year (offensively) and yet couldn't get playing time in the NBA despite being a lottery pick. Mika is no where near as dominant as Jimmer was (Mika playing lesser competition). I am not bagging on Mika, I am stating reality. If Mika wants to get drafted and be successful in the NBA he is going to need to figure out how to use his athleticism more effectively, play more physically on defense without getting in foul trouble and develop a reliable 18 foot jumper.

I agree that Mika is not ready for the NBA. Right now the closest NBA comparison is a slightly taller Kenneth Faried.



IMO the adjustment for Mika into being a role player (rebounding, defending big) will be difficult. His best NBA attribute is his rebounding and specifically his motor on the offensive boards. But defensively he can't guard 5's without more strength. He won't be much of a rim protector at the NBA--he is simply too small. He would struggle with most NBA 4's without much better footwork and a little best lateral quickness.



Offensively, NBA 4's are expected to shoot at least the corner 3. Mika isn't close to this. His finishing around the rim is going to have become a lot more diverse but that could happen.



Mika's ability to run into dunks and layups is pretty good and fits the role playing big man role well. So for his Pro career I would advise Mika to focus on physical development to benefit his defense/rebounding, defensive footwork and his jumpshot.



I think he has a real chance to get there but his best NBA chance will come after at least once season past this one at BYU.

. But defensively he can't guard 5's without more strength. He won't be much of a rim protector at the NBA--he is simply too small.

:skeptic:



Here's how Mika measures size-wise against 6 of the top-10 starting NBA centers when they were drafted:



Erik Mika = 6'10", 230#



DeAndre Jordan = 6'11", 250#

Karl-Anthony Towns = 7', 248#

Al Horford = 6'10", 246#

Hassan Whiteside = 6'11", 226#

Rudy Gobert = 7'2", 238#

Dwight Howard = 6'10", 240#



I don't think his size is going to be giving any teams reason to hesitate for one second, especially after you give him time to work out in pre-draft mode and put on some additional weight there.

I could see Mika being much like tyler Hansbrough from NC. journeyman nba player with a great college career.



nothing to sneeze at.

snoscythe wrote:

. But defensively he can't guard 5's without more strength. He won't be much of a rim protector at the NBA--he is simply too small.

:skeptic:



Here's how Mika measures size-wise against 6 of the top-10 starting NBA centers when they were drafted:



Erik Mika = 6'10", 230#



DeAndre Jordan = 6'11", 250#

Karl-Anthony Towns = 7', 248#

Al Horford = 6'10", 246#

Hassan Whiteside = 6'11", 226#

Rudy Gobert = 7'2", 238#

Dwight Howard = 6'10", 240#



I don't think his size is going to be giving any teams reason to hesitate for one second, especially after you give him time to work out in pre-draft mode and put on some additional weight there.

It isn't about how high your head can reach. It is about how freakishly long the arms and above average athletic ability each of the players you listed.



Based solely on my eyeballs, Mika's wingspan is roughly average for players to his height. So he standing reach will be subpar for the center position.



http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-pre-draft-measurements/?page=averages&year=All



Per DX measurement history the average 6'10" player entering the draft has a standing reach of 9'0.3" and a wingspan of 7'1.8".



Also your measurement for Whiteside is from 2010 when he was a rookie. His offical measurements per NBA.com is 7'0" 265 lbs. For reference his standing reach was 9'5".



Same thing for DeAndre Jordan 6'11" 265 lbs with a standing reach 9'5.5"



And Gobert has increased his weight to 245 lbs with a standing reach of 9'7"



Dwight Howard is listed at 265 as well and he was measured with a standing reach of 9'3.5".



I hope Mika can overcome this size disadvantage, but it is something he will have to overcome.

He plays for us so he can't be that good.



That's my best attempt at imitating a BYU fan suffering from classic chronic fanbase low self esteem syndrome.



ESPN had him rated as the #3 center in the country in his recruiting class though. He's probably not tall enough for the 5 in the NBA and has to work on some things to prepare to become a solid 4. I don't think he leaves after this year, but then again, the draft isn't really about taking players who are NBA ready. Dante Exum sure wasn't.

I can't help but think that it's this year or never for the NBA for Mika. The NBA isn't interested in older players with well polished games, they are looking for young kids with talent that they can mold. His age is a definite disadvantage and that disadvantage will get exponentially worse with each year.

Qman wrote:

. But defensively he can't guard 5's without more strength. He won't be much of a rim protector at the NBA--he is simply too small.

Here's how Mika measures size-wise against 6 of the top-10 starting NBA centers when they were drafted:

Based solely on my eyeballs, Mika's wingspan is roughly average for players to his height. So he standing reach will be subpar for the center position.

....based solely on your eyeballs--since we don't have the numbers for Mika on wingspan/reach. Gotcha.

Qman wrote:
Also your measurement for Whiteside is from 2010 when he was a rookie.

See the underlined above---all measurements were their pre-draft numbers. We are talking about the draft, right? So doesn't it make sense to look at other guys when they were drafted?

BlueK wrote:
He plays for us so he can't be that good.

There could be a nugget of truth to this...



Most truly great basketball players aren't going to be attracted to the BYU basketball program. Some may come here for the "experience" but it's not going to be a lot.

BroncoBot wrote:

He plays for us so he can't be that good.

There could be a nugget of truth to this...



Most truly great basketball players aren't going to be attracted to the BYU basketball program. Some may come here for the "experience" but it's not going to be a lot.

Mika was the #3 rated center in his class. And there is nothing in his play so far that should make anyone think he didn't deserve that. Playing at the NBA level is a different thing, and recruiting ratings are based on how they are projected to do at the college level, where he has already excelled. But the fact Mika is here isn't good enough evidence on its own that he can't be an NBA player.

Agreed. And there has to less appeal to play for other WCC teams outside of Gonzaga. BYU should be dominating the SCUs and USDs of the WCC with the #3 center in the country. There is a disconnect somewhere.

BroncoBot wrote:
Agreed. And there has to less appeal to play for other WCC teams outside of Gonzaga. BYU should be dominating the SCUs and USDs of the WCC with the #3 center in the country. There is a disconnect somewhere.

When you beat a team by 30 and then lose the second time, yes, it seems like a disconnect. It's starting to remind me a little of the Steve Cleveland years where even his best teams could beat anyone at home but lose to anyone on the road.

BlueK wrote:

Agreed. And there has to less appeal to play for other WCC teams outside of Gonzaga. BYU should be dominating the SCUs and USDs of the WCC with the #3 center in the country. There is a disconnect somewhere.

When you beat a team by 30 and then lose the second time, yes, it seems like a disconnect. It's starting to remind me a little of the Steve Cleveland years where even his best teams could beat anyone at home but lose to anyone on the road.

MWC was a conference known for road losses, even the best teams lost on the road occasionally.



WCC has 2 tiers. Those who win on the road and those who don't.