about potential. Height, height, height. AND the fact that he could actually play basketball (unfortunately he didn't have much of a low-post skillset or mentality going into college, though).
He actually had quite a few critics along the way in those early years. As well as many instate & BYU people who tried to calm the crazy expectations that came w Shawn.
Shawn's big & likeable personality also added quite a bit to the hype as well.