Watched:One-Shot-Overtime-Elite on Prime. I am no longer high on Jahki Howard.

[Ute Dub]

The immaturity is too much. The mental weakness is too much. The bad body language is too much. Alex has a big job in front of him with Jahki. If he can do it, he has the largest talent in all of NCAA, potentially.

Jahki is #3 in the corner sulking while his teammates celebrate each other.
https://x.com/blutman27/status/1855058185150718125?s=46

[Roy Rangum]

Interesting points. But as they say “you can’t teach height”: the reality is the dude is an athlete, and hopefully Alex can help him with everything else (although if you are right, Alex could have his hands full).

[EagleMountainUte]

NBA is full of that mentality. I would say I am optimistic.

[Ute Dub]

You really should go watch the docuseries before making such an uninformed comment.

[Ute Dub]

He quit and left his team in the championship game. Walked right off the floor. He was kicked out of the OTE league for being such a rule breaker and cancer.

[JGore]

I’ll have to try and catch an episode of the show mentioned by the OP but as far as the link provided: I’m not gonna make any assumptions about an 18 year old kid, his mental makeup, coachability, and emotional maturity based off 30 seconds of condensed video clips.

[Ute Dub]

Episode 1, 2, and 3 are full of Jahki. You’ll have plenty to go on after episode 1 alone

[Utah#1]

Will have to give AJ and coaching staff a chance to see what they can do with the current and incoming players. No one wants a difficult or troubled person, but let’s see what AJ can do. Gotta give him a chance before we jump to conclusions. Hopefully a fresh start in a new environment. New culture new team new coach can make a positive difference.

[Uteanooga]

I’m glad the world did not video capture my worst adolescent moments.

Every college coach has a big job in shaping these, dare we say it, frequently spoiled youngsters.

I hope it works out. Jahki has enormous potential.

[Ute Dub]

Watch the prime special and get back to us. The kid is a head case. I hope he can turn it around. He plays awesome sometimes… but miss a pass to him when he’s open and he’s a mental midget the rest of the game.

[Rick Walker]

In my experience I find that most teenage boys are head cases. Now you add money and ego to the mix and it’s bound to get worse. You could very well be right about him and we could easily regret having him on the team, but right now beggars can’t be choosers and the chance at upside and success with the bball program it’s a risk I’m fine with.

[Uteanooga]

Nah. I’ll watch him play next year and will be rooting for the entire team to succeed.

[AZUTE]

He definitely has some maturing to do.

Alex will give him an opportunity but make no mistake he won’t be a distraction.

The risk reward is worth it. Howard might be the best athlete in college basketball.

Alex is going to be a disciplinarian.

[TomahawkCruise]

Well said, sir.

Agree 100%!

[Trailgoat]

This late in the portal game, Utah BB has little choice to fill a roster. AJ’s going to take some risk with bad attitude talent. He’s dealt with plenty of mental hopscotch with players in the G league and NBA. He will set expectations with players and not tolerate toxic behavior. Probably a last chance for this kid. Alex and his staff have deep connections to the NBA. Howard screws this stent up he won’t have a chance in the NBA. Next couple seasons are full rebuild. AJ may have a bigger challenge dealing with the dysfunctional athletic and school leadership getting in the way. Hopefully the new BB GM tells Harlan to keep his mouth shut and focus his time on going to tennis matches, and having lunch with the golf team.

[Fred]

Reading through posts on the Auburn board, there are perceived issues with behavior and attitude, but here’s a kid that was All-Everything going to a team full of All Everythings and had trouble adjusting to that. This just has a feel of going one of 2 ways. Either the centerpiece of our team and maybe all All-League performer to being no longer on the team by January. As stated earlier, definitely worth the risk/reward. If it doesn’t work out are we really going to be that much worse off in what is going to be rebuild?

[MontanaBear]

Obviously our new coach, that we all begged Harlen to hire, is incapable of doing his due diligence in recruiting players – at least if many here are to be believed. To that end, I’m mystified by the continuing Harlan hate. I think he’s done an excellent job as AD when looking across the board at the entire department and program. Women and men’s programs are doing very well and yes, he exhibits some passion at times – kind of like what I occasionally say and wish I could do. Go Utes!

[UtesRule]

I trust the coaching staff!

[TomahawkCruise]

Concerns about his attitude? Possibly.

Worth the risk? Definitely.

I’ll trust AJ and the staff to mold him into a team player better than Pearl & Co. did.

[Utefanbybirthandchoice]

Attacking a kid before he arrives is always good look.

[Walkman]

I think we have some keen talent evaluators on staff now – I was pretty hyped watching some of the film on this kid – his raw athleticism seems off the charts

BUT

I had no idea he was on that overtime show and once I watched it I have to believe that the OPs reservations could be valid. In the course of a season the kid had more than just ups and downs he had suspensions and was eventually removed from an incredible opportunity. Follow that up with an altercation at Auburn and we can only hope he has gotten some help, counseling and is ready to be part of a TEAM.

If he is we are getting an amazing talent – if not he may be the basketball version of Tavion Thomas. Interestingly enough his last coach at Overtime Elite is now on staff in Provo – I was impressed with the Overtime program and seems like having a guy like that in Provo can’t hurt.

Go Utes

[Ute Dub]

When Jahki was playing like s**t in the championship game and got subbed out and threw a baby fit and left the game …wow! In the championship game, you leave your teammates. This, right after you got suspended for doing the same thing, and then came back and apologized. Whew!

My only hope is that this kid realizes he only has a couple more chances to get into the NBA, and he better shape up or ship out. Maybe Andre can get to this kid or someone. He is an Amazing talent. He’s not a hard nosed talent at the moment. Pretty soft mentally.

[Author]

Posts