In Reply to: I agree Perry has made a dramatic step up. posted by wanabbruin on January 16, 2026 at 10:09:01
I don’t think he’s a completely different player. We’ve seen flashes of this going back to last season. There’s a reason Cronin let others walk but was willing to step up with NIL money to keep him.
Too often, people fixate on a player’s high school ranking and accolades, then start comparing him to peers at other programs. When the numbers don’t line up, the player is suddenly labeled a bust. To me, that ignores the bigger picture—context matters. You have to consider the program, the role, the minutes, and what’s being asked of him.
In Trent’s case, he’s been a capable shooter from the start. He's shooting 47% this year. His history supports that, and his form has always looked solid. At first glance, his body type might raise questions about quickness, but when you actually watch him move, it’s clear he moves well. Compare him to someone like Freeny, who has a similar build, Freeny doesn’t move nearly as fluidly (that's not a jab at Freeny, I saw some things recently that have given me pause to want to throw him out with the bathwater also)
Then there are the intangibles: court awareness, willingness to make the extra pass, and overall feel for the game. Those qualities have been there all along. Nothing about Trent changed overnight. Just last week there was a thread criticizing him, with many saying he wasn’t a piece worth retaining. Now he gets hot, scores 30, and suddenly he’s a completely different player? I don’t see it that way.