Real Scout Family Vol.3 "This is life

Real Scout Fam Introduces Mike Poole (Video)

Real Scout 2011 Pre-Summer Top 25 Rankings (Who's #1)

Pictured: Jermaine Saunders

RealScout.net Editor Nathan Blue, takes a look at the Top 25 players who have impressed me from NYC (or LI) in the 2011 class.


There are a lot of lists out there, but after watching and doing my research on workout habits and other factors, the list was smoother than I previously thought. This 2011 is loaded with point guards and shooting guards with good resumes.

No long profiles, just take my word, no bums on this list, check it out.


Photo's courtesy of www.fiveborosports.com


RealScout.net 2011 Pre-Summer Rankings

#1. Jermaine Saunders 6'5 New Heights (Rice) SG - Big Time Lefty, the 2007/08 RealScout.net Rookie of the Year is the best player in the 2011 class. Simple


2. Maurice Harkless 6'7 Juice All-Stars (Forest Hills) SF- Finally turning 16 years old. Harkless has improved alot since losing to Jefferson in the psal playoffs. His small forward skills and improved body strength make him a big time prospect in the 2011 class. Harkless had a excellent showing at Boo Williams, Big Shots (VCU), and Hoop group Top 100 camp.

3. Davontay Grace 5'11 LI Lightning (Jefferson ) PG- The number 1 pg in the class, grace has been having a solid spring, leading the lightning to the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions Final.

4. Mike Taylor 6'2 Metro Hawks (Boys & Girls) SG- The best shooter in the class, taylor has been receiving alot of hate amongst his peers. But, his mvp showing at Gym Ratz was a nice way to shut up his city critics.

5. Corey Edwards 5'10 New Heights (Christ the King) PG- The best passer in the class, corey will be forever labeled as a defensive stopper/leader. I've been watching him play for 3 years and hes impressed me 99.9 percent of the time. A true winner.

6. Ashcraf Yacoubou 6'4 Rich Soil (LI Lutheran) SG- Not visible, but not invisible. yacoubou has recently just got into the aau side of things. Spending most of his spring working out in LI with Jerry Powell (Basketball Results)

7. Jabari Hinds 6'0 Westchester Hawks (Mt. Vernon) PG- Tough

8. Sidiki Johnson 6'7 LI Lightning (St. Raymonds) PF/SF- Johnson's talent is scary. If he stays around the basket could be similar to Jason Fraser (in High School)

9. Angel Nunez 6'7 NY Gauchos (Cardinal Hayes) SG/SF-Fransico Garcia?

10. Kamari Murphy 6'7 LI Lightning (Bishop Ford) PF/SF- When his desire for that #1 slot kicks in, he's going to climb the charts.

11. Eric Turpin 6'4 Juice All Stars/Lightning (Jefferson) SF/SG- Gritty NYC Combo, reminds me of a smaller dave imes.

12. Daryl Lucky 5'8 NY Gauchos (Paul Robeson) PG- high scoring pg from bk, who's a must see pg.

13. Dohntay Payne 6'4 Juice All Stars (Jefferson) PF- rebounder, excellent around the basket

14. Shaquille Stokes 5'10 Juice All Stars (Lincoln) PG- scoring pg

15. Evan Conti 6'3 Rising Stars (Holy Cross) PG/SG- underrated

16. Edison Avila 6'8 Juice All Stars/Lightning (Jefferson) PF- read #15

17. Jose Rodriguez 6'4 NY Gauchos (St. Raymond's) SG- keep a close eye on this BX combo

18. Travis Gill 6'4 LI Lightning (Xaverian) SF- Athletic

19. Tyler Harris 6'7 Westchester Hawks (Hills West) SF- Holds more scholarship offers than any player in the class

20. Aaron Williams 5'10 NYABC (Christ the King) PG/SG- really impressed in Spring fling and Big Shots (VCU)

21. Chris Gayot 5'10 New Heights (Cardozo) PG- solid

22. Joey Delarosa 6'9 New Heights (St. Raymond's) C/PF- Should be 15 slots higher if he puts in the work.

23. Kareem Canty 5'11 LI Lightning/Metro Hawks (Loughlin) PG- The man of mystery. I like his game so much I moved him to 23. I think either nyc is blind or my vision is crystal clear. I needd to watch him play more, he could be a real big time player.

24. Manny Thomas 6'3 NY Gauchos (Xaverian) SG- If he shoots, he scores

25. Codion Becker 5'10 Juice All-Stars (Lincoln) PG- Imagine if Buddah played the point? Meet Codion Becker.

Manhattan College Signs a One Hand Center

Jaspers help fulfill Laue's hoops dream

Associated Press

NEW YORK -- Kevin Laue knows what would happen if a college basketball team took a chance on him and he didn't pan out. Fans would wonder what the coach was thinking in using a scholarship on a center missing his left hand.

"It's a business," the 6-foot-10 Laue said. "Their jobs are all on the line. It's much safer to take a two-handed guy my size that got beat by me."

But Manhattan College's Barry Rohrssen figures coaches take chances all the time. He'd rather take one on Laue, whose left arm ends just past the elbow. So last week, the Division I school signed the center, and Rohrssen is confident his work ethic will rub off on other players.

"We take chances on kids who have poor academic histories, who have disciplinary problems both on the court and off the court," Rohrssen said Tuesday. "We give opportunities to players who don't appreciate them, who take them for granted. For all the right reasons, Kevin deserves this chance, and he should make the most of this opportunity."

A native of Northern California, Laue played a postgraduate season for Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia this year, hoping to impress college recruiters. Coach Fletcher Arritt said Laue averaged about 10 points and five rebounds, competing against many Division I prospects.

When Laue was born the circulation in his left arm was cut off by the umbilical cord. He uses his upper arm to help receive passes, and his large right hand allows him to easily palm the ball.

"He can run as well as anybody," Arritt said. "He can jump as well as anybody. You don't need two hands to block shots around the basket."

As the weeks went by, Laue was starting to wonder whether he would ever realize his dream of playing Division I basketball. He said Wofford and Colgate expressed interest but neither had an available scholarship.

"I still had faith," Laue said. "But I was at the point of being like, 'Man, when is this going to happen?' "

Rohrssen had been aware of Laue before he enrolled at Fork Union. The coach needed to recruit size with the graduation of the Jaspers' starting center, but what really worried him after wrapping up offseason workouts this month was his returning players.

"Some coaches may say, 'We need a shooter,' " he said. "My feeling was our team needed a stronger work ethic."

Manhattan contacted Laue just over a week ago. He signed with the team Wednesday.

"He possesses certain skills as a basketball player that are very good," Rohrssen said, "and he demonstrates qualities that will make him successful off the court in terms of in the locker room, on campus and in the classroom."

The Jaspers went 16-14 last season, 9-9 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

Baseball's Jim Abbott, born without a right hand, forged a successful major league pitching career. Basketball, though, demands far more actions requiring both hands than pitching.

"Playing hard is a skill," Rohrssen said. "Doing it consistently is another skill."

Laue's story has already inspired many, and he knows that coming to New York will provide him with an even bigger stage. But he's confident his impact will be felt on the court, too.

"I'm a risk. Coach Rohrssen was willing to take it," Laue said. "He has no reason to worry."


Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press

Trinity Catholic's Tevin Baskin to play basketball at Quinnipiac

By JOHN NASH

Times Sports Editor

and LAURIE LAWLESS

Times Correspondent


STAMFORD -- Trinity Catholic senior Tevin Baskin, the latest in a long line of Crusader basketball stars, will take his hardwood talents to Quinnipiac University in Hamden in the fall.

Baskin made the decision public during a noontime press conference at the school on Wednesday.

He said the biggest reason for picking the program was because it was close to home and it was comfortable for him.

"It's big, but it's not huge," said Baskin. "It's small, but it's not tiny."

Baskin also said the coaches made him feel comfortable during his campus visit.

"I'm just happy I got this process out of the way and now I just can just relax," Baskin said.

The 6-foot-6 forward had been one of the most highly recruited players to come out of the prestigious Trinity basketball program, joining the likes of Rashamel Jones (UConn), Torey Thomas (Villanova), David McClure (Duke) and Craig Austrie (UConn) as Division I players.

Baskin found the recruiting process a challenge.

"It's not easy to pull a school out of a hat," he said. "There's a lot more to it."

In the end, though, Trinity head coach Mike Walsh said Baskin made the best choice for him.

"It came down to who he felt comfortable with," said Walsh.

After leading the Crusaders to an FCIAC championship and a Class LL runner-up finish during his junior season, a lot was expected from Baskin during his senior year and he didn't disappoint.

The Crusaders finished with a 24-2 record in his senior season as he averaged more than 20 points and 11 rebounds per game.

The Crusaders appeared in the FCIAC final, but lost a double overtime thriller to arch-rival Stamford.

During the state tournament, the top-seeded Crusaders were "upset" by No. 25 Bulkeley in the quarterfinals, though the Bulldogs eventually won the State Class L championship.

Baskin had been highly recruited by a number of high profile schools.

According to some reputable online scouting sources, some of those schools included Xavier, Auburn, Virginia Tech, Rutgers, UMass, St. John's, Seton Hall, Providence and Fairfield.

By the end of the process, Baskin had finalized his choices of schools to include Quinnipiac along with New Orleans, Manhattan and Binghamton.

Earlier this week, Baskin announced in the media that he Binghamton had been taken of that list.

Quinnipiac plays in the Northeast Conference and last season finished 15-16 overall, losing to top-seeded Robert Morris in the conference semifinals.

The team, coached by former UConn assistant coach Tom Moore, loses just two seniors from last year's team.

Story Link

http://www.thehour.com/story/469906

Nike MDC: Final Rundown

Written By Eric Bossi
Scout.com

SUWANNEE, Ga.– As if there were any other options based on the way the first two days went, championship day at the Nike Memorial Day Classic featured plenty of drama. Tyler Lamb and California Supreme scored a one point win over Each 1 Teach 1 in a thrilling title game.

Meanwhile, the host Georgia Stars won a championship in the 15 and under division while the Arkansas Wings wiped out a double digit deficit in the second half to beat the Southern Kings in overtime to claim the 16 and under division.

Before moving on, let’s take a look a little closer look at that wild 17 and under final game. A close tilt throughout, the final 15 seconds were as crazy as a game could get.

In a flurry of action filled with incredible shots and questionable calls, California Supreme’s Tyler Lamb drained an incredibly tough running three from the right corner to give his team a one point lead with .7 seconds to go. The shot, set off a wild celebration and after meeting near halfcourt for a bit, the referees decided to hit them with a technical foul for running on the court.

The technical sent Brandon Knight to the line for two of the loneliest free throws a player could ever shoot. Having already pumped in 30 points during the championship game, Knight stepped up and calmly rattled home the first of the two freebies. But, overtime wasn’t to be as his second fell a little short and then his desperation heave from half court at the buzzer went wide left as the Cali Supreme sideline erupted into a wild celebration.

While our words don’t do the game near enough justice, just believe us when we write that the final game was one of the best finishes to a major championship we’ve ever seen.


2010 Checklist

Tyler Lamb, SG, California Supreme- When you hit a shot like he did, you get top billing. After a quiet weekend, Lamb came alive in the final netting 19 points while chipping in with five steals and two blocks on the defensive end. It’s true that Brandon Knight finished with 31 points, but Lamb (who guarded him most of the game) made him work his tail off to get those points and actually defended the Floridian quite well. He’s a kid who plays a very mature game, doesn’t get rattled and makes basketball plays that don’t always show up in the stat sheet. He looks to be a perfect fit for UCLA.

Keith Shamburger, SG/PG, California Supreme- While he isn’t the biggest guy in the world, this 5-foot-11 combo guard has a huge heart. Nicknamed “little big shot” by his teammates he hit clutch jumper after clutch jumper the entire weekend. A speedy combo who can score and takes pride on the defensive end, mid level programs should be giving him a hard look this summer.

Brandon Knight, PG/SG, E1T1- It certainly didn’t end the way he’d hoped, but Knight left it all on the floor during the final. Going for 31 points, he really had to work for it and did so by hitting deep jumpers, pull-ups off the dead run and using his strength to score in the lane. Maybe most importantly, Knight was making a lot of plays for others and was as unselfish with the ball as we’ve seen him be all spring. He was only credited with three assists, but he was looking to make plays for others and is a gifted playmaker when he balances his offense and setting up others.

Justin Jackson, PF, E1T1- This is one competitive dude who plays a lot bigger and stronger than his 6-foot-7 and 200 pound or so frame suggests that he should. A high level athlete with long arms and big hands, he attacks the rim for dunks whenever possible and can really motor up and down the floor. Had a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds in the championship game.


2011 Checklist

Kevin Johnson, C, California Supreme- A physical player in the paint, Johnson isn’t an above the rim kind of guy. He’ll elevate for some slams, but his game is more about power and positioning when he’s got it rolling. A big and strong kid, he was good for 17 points and 13 rebounds in the final and his toughness in the lane was a major part of his team’s success throughout the entire weekend.

Austin Rivers, PG/SG, E1T1- Prior to fouling out in the fourth quarter, Rivers was again on his way to a huge outing. He still finished with 24 but had to sit stretches because of foul trouble. A confident kid, his bread and butter looks to be a little inside out dribble than he can do with either hand. It freezes defenders allowing him to raise and fire for jumpers or blow by them and get to the rim where his underrated athleticism allows him to finish over bigger players.

Dai-Jon Parker, SG, Southern Kings- It was a very good weekend for this young and athletic wing. A fan of pulling up and shooting jumpers after one or two dribbles, his shot looked good all weekend long as he hit between 12 feet and the three point stripe. He’s got high level quickness and a nice frame to go along with his shooting and slashing ability.

Shannon Scott, PG, Southern Kings- You have to like this sophomore’s speed, size and feel for the point guard position. A heads up dribbler who snaps off crossover dribbles before speeding into the lane he can penetrate just about whenever he wants to. He slides well on defense, pushes the tempo and is developing quite nicely. He needs more strength and continued work on his jumper, but his high major future is quite easy to see.

Ky Madden, SF/PG, Arkansas Wings 16’s- He’s not yet the scorer that 2010’s Jelan Kendrick is, but you can see some similarities to their games. He’s got excellent length and athleticism and spends most of his time running the show for the Wings. A good passer, he’s pretty right hand dominant and can get sped up a little by smaller and quicker guards. Doesn’t get too rattled in close games, though, and is a playmaker with some size.

Hunter Mickelson, PF, Arkansas Wings 16’s- A quick and fluid big man who can really run, Mickelson is in constant motion on the offensive end. That activity level helps to make up for his obvious lack of strength and bulk. He had a major tip dunk that helped change the tide of the championship game late and can score with some skill. From here on out, it’s going to be all about how much strength he can add.

Scouts Seat

Few, if any, players elevated their stock as much over the weekend as Cali Supreme’s Keala King. The slinky lefty can really create off the dribble, is a creative passer and also brings offensive punch to the table. At the least he can be a combo on the next level and we’re starting to think that he may have the potential to play as a tall point guard. If his July is anything like the way he finished May, it’s going to be tough to keep him out of the national rankings. …

It’s easy to see that Julian Royal is going to be a high level prospect in the class of 2011. He’s long, he’s fluid, he can run and the 6-foot-8 sophomore has some pretty good skill facing the basket. However, he’s still most effective when he’s active around the cup but chose to spend long stretches roaming around the perimeter where he becomes much easier to defend. … Finally, we’d like to extend a special thanks to Georgia Stars program director Norm Parker. Parker and his staff did a great job all weekend and were quite hospitable hosts. …

Nike MDC: Day Two Rundown

Written By Eric Bossi
scout.com

Suwanee, Ga. -- While Saturday’s opening day action at the Nike Memorial Day Classic in Suwanee was impressive, things kicked into another gear on Sunday. On a day filled with last second wins, huge comebacks and big time performances, things got downright special during an incredibly competitive quarterfinal round in the 17 and under division.


In games taking place at the same time, on courts lined up one after the other California Supreme bested Boo Williams by one at the buzzer in a double overtime thriller while I-5 Elite beat the Albany City Rocks at the buzzer (in overtime) and Each 1 Teach 1 survived yet another overtime thriller with a two point win over the Arkansas Wings. The only non overtime quarterfinal was won by Louisiana Select over Baltimore Elite in a two point game that didn’t get decided until the final five seconds. Wow!

As if that wasn’t enough, the day allowed us time to drop in some action in both the 15 and 16U divisions.



2010 checklist

Terrence Jones, PF/SF, I-5 Elite- It’s been a huge spring for the highly versatile and skilled forward from Portland. Point blank, the kid is a winner who causes mismatches whenever he’s on the floor. The lefty can handle, passes at a high level, knocks down some perimeter shots and is dangerous in the post. He’s already got two state titles under his belt on the high school level and he’ll be looking to add a major grassroots crown on Monday. His runner at the buzzer in overtime of I-5’s win over the City Rocks crawled around the rim for a good two seconds before dropping through the net and setting off a massive celebration for the crew from Portland.

T.J. Taylor, SG/PG, Team Texas- Oklahoma scored themselves a solid recruit in the Texan. A solidly built combo guard, he isn’t flashy, but he’s certainly effective and contributes all over the floor. He’s got the strength to absorb contact and finish on nifty drives and floaters in the lane, is capable of getting after it on defense and knocks down just enough jumpers to keep defenders honest.

Jordan Latham, PF, Baltimore Elite- Will Barton and Josh Selby had big days again and are going to get lots of headlines, but don’t sleep on Latham. An athletic insider who has added some muscle mass, he gets off the floor quickly to convert on slams, drop in jump hooks and snare rebounds with two hands well above the rim.

Brandon Knight, PG/SG, E1T1- Pushing the 40 point barrier in the quarterfinals, Knight did what he does best all day. Using his superior speed off the dribble, he attacked defenses in straight lines and scored on a dizzying array of pull-up jumpers from three, strong finishes at the cup and all points in between. A very capable playmaker and defender, he did jack some shots at times. Thanks to his added strength, he’s capable of bulldozing anybody who gets in his way when his speed and ability to change directions on the fly fail him.

Tobias Harris, PF, Albany City Rocks- A self described face up four man, Harris brings a wealth of skill and savvy to the offensive end of the floor. He plays the angles, anticipates rebounds and is extremely dangerous in the high post. When he decides to mix it up, he’s got an underrated ability to finish and draw trips to the line despite what a relatively lean build.

Andre Dawkins, SG, Boo Williams- Few, if any, players in the class of 2010 are armed with a more structurally sound and effective jumper than Dawkins. Not only does he smoke jumpers from deep, he hits them in clutch situations. His three in the final seconds of a first round playoff game moved Boo into the quarters where he put together a masterful 34 point outing in a gut wrenching loss. A big time athlete, his leaning one handed jam during the final minutes of a double overtime thriller had to be seen to be believed. As his game off the bounce catches up to the rest of his skill set, look out.

Gary Franklin, PG, California Supreme- The thing that Franklin really looks to be understanding is that can always find ways put the ball through the net. With that in mind, he’s become much more proficient as a distributor and has really developed as a leader on the floor. He’ll still launch a head scratching 24 foot set shot from time to time, but they are a lot easier to swallow when he’s doing so much to lead his team and they are winning with consistency in tight ballgames.

DeMarcus Harrison, SG/SF, Carolina Ravens- He’s got length, a stroke that is good to the three point line and high level athleticism. Mixing in a few drives, Harrison also showed more ability to score off the bounce and through contact than in past viewings. As he adds confidence and consistency, there’s plenty of room for him to grow as a prospect.

Kendall Marshall, PG, Boo Williams- After a rough stretch during the afternoon, he showed some serious onions during Boo’s quarterfinal loss. His jumper is being delivered much quicker and with a higher release point. Speaking more specifically, he’s mastered two particular skills that we wish more point guards would focus on. One, he advances the ball with the pass instead of the dribble as well as anybody in the country. Two, he comes to hard jump stops in between 10 and 17 feet and looks off defenders before burying mid range jumpers.

Gerard Coleman, SG, BABC- He and his team lost a tough one to Baltimore Elite in the first round of the playoffs and nobody took it harder than Coleman. A natural scorer,he combines athleticism and crafty shot creating off the bounce. When the jumper is falling, he’s a load on the offensive end and clear high major talent.



2011 checklist

James McAdoo, PF, Boo Williams- A studly hybrid four man, the work McAdoo has put in developing his body is clear. Much more physical on the interior than even just a few months ago, he’s ripping down boards on both ends and finishing through contact and above the rim. While he’s got the skill to put in work facing up out to 15 feet, it’s his growing focus on setting up inside first that is really serving him well. During some rough stretches, he was the entire offense.

Angel Nunez, SF, Gauchos 16’s- While his team didn’t have quite enough in the tank to pull off a tightly fought battle with a solid Arkansas Wings squad, this lengthy wing was electric at times. A fine handler with near 6-foot-7 size, Nunez is quick off the dribble, can finish above the rim, shows some skill as a passer and shoots a pretty high arcing shot when he sets his feet and gets a clean look at the hoop. Quick and agile for his size, he’s bonafide high major prospect.

Rod Days, PF/SF, Team Florida 16’s- A superb run and jump athlete who can sky above the tin and finish with slams, Days shows plenty of promise. He hustles from one end of the floor to the other, is quite quick along the baseline and looked good while knocking down a few medium range jumpers. The skinny athlete is already drawing long looks from high majors and deservedly so.

Austin Rivers, PG/SG, E1T1- We wrote on Saturday that things could get ugly once he and Knight got on the same page and it was something to see during those stretches that they did on Sunday. Before fouling out in the quarters, Rivers pushed the 30 point mark and crushed one Arkansas Wings defender so badly with a hesitation, crossover, floater combo that was so nasty anybody watching needed ice for their ankles. A big time scorer, his skill with the ball in his hands is without question. Now, it’s just a matter of working on shot selection and getting the big guys involved just a little more.

Aaron Ross, PF/SF, Arkansas Wings 16’s- Being cautious, we’re still going to list Ross as a combo forward. However, the early Arkansas commitment played exclusively on the wing Sunday and looked quite good doing so. He rained in pretty looking jumpers from beyond the three point line, used his strength to finish drives and dominated for long stretches on the offensive end.


2012 checklist

Isaiah Austin, PF, Team Texas Elite 2012- We were able to drop in on his afternoon game just long enough to verify what we learned a few weeks ago at the Jayhawk Invitational, this kid is a potential big timer. Incredibly long, agile and skilled for his size and age, his size changes the game even when he isn’t directly involved in plays. As he learns to compete on every play and adds strength it’s going to get ugly for those looking to slow him down.

Nerlens Noel, PF, BABC 15’s- It’s good thing that this toothpick skinny insider was inside hooping because one of the stiff breezes of the afternoon’s thunderstorms could have blow him away. Lack of bulk aside, this youngster can run, has terrific hands and already scores with a pretty good amount of skill on the interior.



News & Notes
Next weekend Harrison Barnes will be in California for the Pangos camp. While he’s on the west coast, Barnes told us that he’ll be fitting in unofficial visits to both UCLA and Stanford. … Today will be the last time that we list South Carolina wing DeMarcus Harrison under our 2010 checklist. According to South Carolina Ravens program director Dion Bethea, the 6-foot-4 wing has completed paperwork to enroll at the Christ School in Arden, N.C. and will be reclassified as a member of the class of 2011. …


Scouts Seat
It’s with extreme caution that we list anybody from the class of 2013 in any of our reports, but it’s impossible not to notice the advanced size and perimeter game of Houston Defenders twins Aaron and Andrew Harrison. Joining them as an advanced 2013 talent on that squad is 6-foot-6 combo forward Derek Griffin who is already a very high level athlete. … Yet another young big man catching our eye was Darion Atkins of Team Takeover’s 16 and under crew. A lean and agile 6-foot-8 power forward, Atkins can motor up and down the floor, moves fluidly in the lane and did an outstanding job on the glass while we watched. Would have loved to have seen what he could do with a few touches on the offenisve end. … We’re pretty sure that west coast high majors are going to keep a very close eye on the development of Friends of Hoop newcomer John Gage. New to the grassroots circuit, the slender and skilled 6-foot-9 forward was much more aggressive on Sunday after a quiet day on Saturday. He lacks strength and is adjusting to playing against guys who are as big and athletic as he is, but he’s got a picture perfect stroke to the three point line, moves extremely well and looks to have a very high basketball IQ. …

There’s no secrets when it comes to what Team Texas PG Phil Pressey can do while running a team. However, it’s hard not to be encouraged by the steps he’s taking on the defensive end where he’s learning to use his exceptional quickness and fast hands to cause major problems when he really locks in. … While they don’t feature any “star” players, the Arkansas Wings 17’s group is an awful lot of fun to watch. They scrap, play together and employ a frenetic style on both ends that is similar to the one that Mike Anderson’s Missouri squad used to work their way into the Elite 8 during the NCAA Tourney. It’s hard not to enjoy watching them play and they are going to attract a lot of regional coaching staffs come July. … I-5 Elite PG Kenny Acker is positioning himself to have a very interesting July. A speedy ball handler who doesn’t make very many mistakes, the six foot floor general is establishing himself as a priority mid to upper mid level prospect who is going to draw some looks from BCS conference programs. There’s little that he does that doesn’t have a purpose and he’s emerging as a sleeper prospect. …

Thanks to his bucket at the buzzer -- courtesy of a GREAT look from Keith Shamburger -- athletic wing Clifford Sims moved California Supreme into Monday’s semifinals. A super energy guy, the 6-foot-4 wing is a high level athlete who has some serious fight and scrap in his game. Cali Supreme went small and quick to claw their way back into their quarterfinal game against Boo Williams and his effort level didn’t go without notice. … Perhaps the dunk of the weekend was thrown down by Josh Selby who rose from just outside of the lane off of one foot and posterized a BABC defender while hammering home a powerful right handed jam while being fouled. The dunk sent fans dancing onto the court and changed the momentum of the Baltimore Elite crew’s comeback win against BABC. …



School Lists
Team Texas wing Ricky Scott rattled off a school list that included Texas Tech, Baylor, Missouri, Kansas State, Memphis, SMU and others. … Gerard Coleman is listing Clemson, Providence, Connecticut, Louisville and Marquette. … Jordan Latham mentioned Xavier, Marquette, Penn State, Virginia Tech, and Arizona as those most involved with his recruitment. … Versatile Boo Williams wing Brian Richardson mentioned Clemson, Arizona State, UNC Wilmington, Auburn, South Carolina, Virginia and Missouri as suitors. …



Faces in the Crowd
Atlanta Hawk and Portland native Thomas Gardner was on hand Sunday to cheer on Portland based I-5 Elite. Also dropping in to catch the Mac Irvin Fire during a consolation game was Miami Heat forward Shawn Marion.

Nike MDC: Day One Rundown

Written By Eric Bossi
Scout.com

Suwannee, Ga.- The Nike Memorial Day Classic kicked off Saturday and it turned out to be a very entertaining and intense day of competition. Triple overtime here, pressure free throws there and a monster performance from Baltimore Elite’s high energy tandem of Josh Selby and Will Barton put an exclamation point on the day.

2010 Checklist

Will Barton, SG, Baltimore Elite- He may be skinny, but it’s easy to overlook when the dude produces like he does. Simply scintillating in a 36-point assault on Howard Pulley, he did it all. The 6-foot-6 do it all wing attacked off the dribble for floaters and jams, caught and fired from three and got himself to the three point line. His enthusiasm is infectious and he’s a high level prospect in the mold of a young Larry Hughes or Jamal Crawford.

Josh Selby, PG/SG, Baltimore Elite- Playing mostly off of the ball, Selby went right at scout.com’s #1 player Harrison Barnes and used his quickness to his advantage. A slippery ball handler who specializes in converting high degree of difficulty shots, Selby was channeling his energy positively in a dynamite 25 point outing. A high level athlete, he’s easy to like when he’s attacking like he did on Saturday.

James Johnson, PF, California Supreme- A native of Canada who is attending high school in San Diego, this 6-foot-8 insider will get plenty of high major looks. He’s skilled, plays hard and has some athleticism on the interior. Plays hard on both ends and really likes to fight on the glass. Excellent debut at a national level event.

Keala King, SG/PG, California Supreme- One of the biggest eye opener’s of the day, King was terrific in both of his outings. Playing the role of distributor in a buzzer beating win over the Georgia Blazers, the lean lefty made several gorgeous dishes off the dribble. In his second game of the day against D-One, he turned scorer and sliced up defenders off the dribble while keeping them honest from deep. He said that he gained a lot of confidence during his junior year and it certainly showed on Saturday.

Roy Marble, SF/SG, The Family- His team struggled a bit on Saturday, but the 6-foot-5 wing showed some flashes. A smooth athlete, he’s a slender wing who plays under control and picks his spots. When his jumper is dropping, it really opens up the rest of his game.

Joe Harris, SG, Friends of Hoop- Pacific Northwest high majors have been lurking while the mids hope he remains a secret and it’s easy to see why. A skilled offensive player who can attack off the dribble or bury deep jumpers, we really like this 6-foot-5 wing’s feel for the game. He’s got a body that can be worked with and will likely be a hot commodity come July.

Alandise Harris, SF, Arkansas Wings- His energy and effort completely turned around an afternoon game against Rotary Select as the Wings rallied for a comeback win. A fine athlete with strength, he blocked some shots, hit a few high arcing jumpers and did a ton of dirty work in the lane. He’s a high level athlete who goes all out.

Jeremy Lamb, SG, Georgia Stars- The host team pulled out a hard fought win over Team Takeover and this skinny wing’s performance had a lot to do with it. A good ball handler, Lamb did a little bit of everything as he knocked down deep jumpers, attacked the lane and shared the ball in a solid all-around outing. He needs more strength, but could be a sleeper prospect who deserves some ACC and SEC looks.


2011 checklist

Quincy Miller, PF/SF, D-One Sports- The debate over whether or not this slender forward is more of a four or a three continues to rage. What isn’t up for debate is that he’s a pretty skilled kid with a significant ceiling as a prospect. Shoots it well with pretty good range, is a fine run and jump athlete and has room to grow. Has to become a little more physical and consistent, especially on the glass where his length could be a huge asset.

Kentavious Caldwell, SG, Georgia Blazers- Spent a lot of time bringing the ball up the floor for the Blazers, but he’s no point guard. A wing scorer deluxe, this long and lean sophomore has deep range and a quick trigger. His improved ball handling and added strength have really allowed him to diversify his game offensively. Clearly headed for a high major future.

Nino Johnson, PF, Memphis YOMCA- A high school teammate of another highly regarded 2011 kid, Adonis Thomas, Johnson is no slouch. A well built 6-foot-7 insider with long arms and a nasty disposition in the lane, he’s a warrior on the glass. Runs well, uses his length to score and is a developing athlete who will draw looks on the upper mid to high major level as he grows into his body and upgrades his skill level.

Andre Hollins, SG, Memphis YOMCA- Hollins was feeling it in a morning game against Team Texas. The 6-foot-2 wing was burying deep jumpers, getting to the free throw line and displaying surprising athleticism while finishing drives with dunks. Relatively quiet during the high school season while teaming with Joe Jackson, Hollins brought it strong and produced at a high level on Saturday.


2012 checklist

Ricardo Gathers, PF, Louisiana Select- We should all be so lucky to have a body like this young man does. Just finishing his freshman year, the insider has a chiseled frame and high level athleticism to go along with it. Impressed with a few jump hooks, his activity level and ability to crush home slams in traffic.

T.J. Bell, SF, Meanstreets- The production is only coming in flashes at this point, but he’s a young guy with a very promising future. A big time athlete who explodes for jams, he can run the floor, has some competitiveness and gets on the glass. His jumper looks workable and his dribbling shows promise.



News & Notes

2010 super recruit Brandon Knight showed up in Suwannee to run with Team Stat -- or Each One Teach One if you prefer. Once he and 2011 stud Austin Rivers get on the same page they could develop into the single most devastating backcourt in grassroots basketball this summer. … Doron Lamb said that he’s trying to line up June visits to Oklahoma, Kansas, Kentucky and perhaps even Arkansas. … An alarm clock snafu meant that we missed it, but Harrison Barnes dropped a cool 41 points for Howard Pulley in an 8am loss to the loaded Boo Williams squad. … Joe Harris mentioned that he got a recent offer from new Washington State head coach Ken Bone. …


Scouts Seat

Mike Theus’ Louisiana Select squad is absolutely dripping with athletes in the 6-foot-3 to 6-foot-6 range. They cruised to two lopsided victories and had lots of guys chipping in including guys like freak show wing athlete Brian Williams, perhaps even freakier wing athlete Markel Brown and solid combo guard Langston Galloway. Both Williams and Brown are elite level athletes who should get some high major looks while Galloway is a bubble mid to high level combo who can shoot it and squares quickly. … When D-One Sports Stargell Love gets the ball, there’s a pretty good chance that he’s going to attack the rim. At 6-foot-2, he’s an athletic and quick guy who is relentless in his attack of the rim. As he mixes in some pull-up jumpers and keeps his head up to spot more open teammates he’s got room to develop into a pretty nice player. … Because of his ability to run and the fluid athleticism he has in his 6-foot-8 frame, 2011 PF Tim Dixon of the Georgia Blazers is going to get lots of chances at the high major level. The skinny forward has some skill to his game as well but we’d like to see him assert himself a bit more on the interior. …

Let’s give it up for California Supreme’s Gary Franklin. The 6-foot-1 floor general was terrific in back to back outings on Saturday. He’s always been able to score it, and did so again on Saturday, but his improved shot selection and involvement of others was duly noted. … Although he was relatively quiet on Saturday, we can see why Oklahoma moved quickly to lock of T.J. Taylor. Rolling with Team Texas, the near 6-foot-3 combo guard is a well built lefty who plays under control and has plenty of versatility. … Warning, you aren’t misreading what’s coming next. … Phil Pressey of all people was trying to dunk everything in sight Saturday. The 5-foot-9 PG is finally over a nagging ankle injury and has some serious bounce. …

His gigantic knee brace looks like something out of a sci-fi movie, but the contraption didn’t hold back Baltimore Elite’s C.J. Fair on Saturday. He bounced around the lane for jams, stuck a few jumpers and was extremely active on the glass. … Friends of Hoop PG Aaron Bright is one competitive dude. A high level shooter from deep, he specializes in using changes of speed to lull defenders to sleep and then split double teams. Point guards are getting harder and harder to come by and he’s a pure one who brings the added dimension of his long range bombing. Those factors and his competitiveness are going to get him long looks this summer. …

Alandise Harris got plenty of help in the Arkansas Wings comeback win and playing a huge role was SG Deshone McClure. A tough kid who plays much more physically than his slender frame would suggest, the 6-foot-2 off guard took over offensively late as the Wings finished the comeback. He’s got the look of a solid mid level prospect. … Several of his Team Takeover teammates are more highly touted, but we really like the way Mikael Hopkins goes about his business. A long and slender 6-foot-8 power forward, the 2011 prospect has soft hands and pretty good feet. He gets a little sped up at times and can be pushed around, but his skill level should serve him well as he fills out his frame. …


School Lists

Keala King listed Oregon State, Stanford, Kentucky, Arizona, USC and others. … Underrated big man prospect Jordan Raley of I-5 Elite has a wide range of interest and rattled off Colorado State, Utah State, Santa Clara, Fresno State, Portland, Portland State, Gonzaga, Washington State, Washington and others as showing interest. … Also listing a healthy number of suitors was I-5’s point forward Terrence Jones. Jones listed Kansas, North Carolina, Washington, California, Washington State, Georgetown, Oregon, Oregon State, Arizona, Maryland, Florida, Oklahoma, Indiana and Texas while claiming to be wide open. … Roy Marble is hearing from the likes of Michigan, Dayton, Buffalo, Oregon, Indiana, Iowa and Providence. … In addition to Washington State Joe Harris mentioned San Diego, Eastern Washington, Montana, Portland, Gonzaga, Oregon State, Washington, St. Mary’s, Utah and BYU among others.

Will Regan rattled off a list of Virginia, Stanford, Arizona State, Providence and Maryland while mentioning that he felt pretty comfortable with those schools. … Team Stat’s Adam Jones is an underrated power forward who is being courted by Fairfield, Old Dominion, South Carolina, George Mason, Iona and Siena. … The New York Gauchos Doron Lamb listed Pittsburgh, Marquette, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Kansas, St. John’s, Connecticut, Syracuse, Louisville and Arkansas. … Finally, Lamb’s Gaucho teammate Jason Morris listed Georgia Tech, Clemson, South Carolina, Virginia, Auburn, Wake Forest, Xavier, Arkansas, Arizona, Stanford and Georgetown among others on his lengthy list.

Real Scout 2010 Pre-Summer Top 25 Rankings (Yeah I did it)

RealScout.net Nathan Blue, takes a look at the Top 25 players who have impressed me from NYC (or LI) in the 2010 class.


You heard the names before, no long Profiles, and think of the hundreds of kids not in the Top 25 and so be happy, but at the same time strive for that #1 slot.


Most Pictures are from Fiveborosports.com , check out their site.


RealScout.net 2010 Pre-Summer Rankings


#1. Doron Lamb (Pictured) 6'4 NY Gauchos (OakHill VA) SG

Like Harris and Pinkston, can be a McDonald's all-american if they can keep riding their spring success




#2. Tobias Harris 6'7 Albany City Rocks (Half Hallow Hills West) SF
Eventhough he's lost some games, he's showed his improvement in conditioning, and turned from a 4man into a capable 3man.

#3. Jayvaughn Pinkston 6'5 New Heights (Loughlin) SF
Shooting the ball very well, and his inside game is still the best out there.

#4. Joel Wright 6'7 Juice All-Stars (Jefferson) Fordham Verbal PF
JAM Fest MVP, plays the game with passion and desire not found in most.

#5. Russ Smith 6'0 NY Gauchos (South Kent CT) SG/PG
Too much game. Scorer, creator, and soon a great defender

#6. Shane Southwell 6'6 NY Gauchos (Rice) SF/PG
Smart point forward who plays unselfish.

#7. Mike Alvarado 6'1 LI Lightning (All Hallows) PG
He's the best PG in NYC, nobody even close

#8. Fatty McMillian (Pictured) 6'0 New Heights (Uniondale) Hofstra SG/PG

The best defender in this class, Hofstra got a steal



#9. Maurice Barrows 6'5 Positive Direction (CK) SF/PF
Multi-purpose player

#10. Dave Cooley (Pictured) 6'0 Juice All-Stars (Jefferson) PG

No stronger PG in the city




#11. Justin Exum 6'2 Metro Hawks (Xaverian) SG
Scoring 30 in the spring, easier than most

#12. James Stukes 6'5 Juice All-Stars (South Kent CT) SF
All City Player committed to Albany

#13. Brandon Goode 6'10 Lightning (Monroe) C
The Biggest player in the city and will go unknown except on realscout.net

#14. JJ Moore 6'5 NY Panthers (Brentwood) SF
Super athletic, will be recruited at the highest level.

#15. Branden Frasier (Pictured) 6'2 New Heights (Loughlin) SG

The best shooter in the class


#16. Dwayne Brunson 6'7 LI Lightning (Cardozo) PF
A solid 4-man with a good baseline jumper, athletic.

#17. Karim Rowson 6'4 Abysinnian (Wadleigh) SG
Sleeper of the class, will be playing big time ball one day, keep an eye on him.

#18. Dashawn Wiggans 6'3 NY Panthers (Wings) SG
Lefty who scores as easy as you breathe.

#19. Jamel Fuentes 6'2 Real Scout Exp. (Winchendon Mass) PG
Pure Point guard, a great defender, and a winner.

#20. Malik Thomas 6'6 JR All-Stars (Wadleigh) SF
Great Ball Handler, finishes above the rim, and plays under control.

#21. Harold Mcbride (Pictured) 6'1 New Heights (St. Rays)PG

Developing into a solid PG, pure scorer

#22. Naquan Pierce 5'8 Metro Hawks (JFK) PG
I haven't heard from the kid since MSG, hopefully AI is back doing his thing

#23. Kadeem Jack 6'8 NY Gauchos (Rice) PF
Good size, should be ranked higher but hasn't been visible all spring. Did see him get a little playing time in Boo Williams.

#24. Sonny Kadisha 6'4 LI Lightning (Forest Hills) SF
Hardworker, undersized, gets things done

#25. Ryan Rhomes 6'7 NY Panthers (Cardozo) PF
Good around the basket

Duke's Henderson to skip senior season

DURHAM, N.C.(UPI) -- Gerald Henderson, who led the Duke Blue Devils in points per game last season, has signed with an agent and will forgo his final season of eligibility at Duke.

Henderson signed Monday with agent Arn Tellem, a release from the Duke Athletic Department said.

He leaves the school in 39th place on the all-time points list (1,262) after a season in which he led the Blue Devils with a 16.5 points-per-game average. He was second on the team in rebounds (4.9 per game) and assists (91) and third in blocked shots (28) and steals (46).

Henderson was a 2009 Wooden All-America selection and was also voted to the All-ACC and All-ACC Tournament teams.

He will be eligible for the June 25 NBA draft.

Story Link

http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2009/05/19/Dukes-Henderson-to-skip-senior-season/UPI-25751242759902/

Jefferson star Spellman commits to Morgan State

Written By Zachary Braziller
fiveborosports.com

Keith Spellman is without a school no longer.

The Thomas Jefferson star, who had been hampered by a debilitating back injury, verbally committed to Morgan State of the MEAC Wednesday afternoon, ending months of waiting and debating.

“He’s on the court, going to college, the kid seems happy right now,” Orange Wave coach Lawrence Pollard said. “I’m happy the kid is going to college, has a chance to get out of Brooklyn and mature and get ready for manhood. He can pursue his dreams.”

The all-time leading scorer in the East New York, Brooklyn school’s history, the 6-foot-3 Spellman shined for four seasons, averaging 19 points, eight rebounds and five assists last year before a back injury cost him several games toward the end of his senior season. That included the Orange Wave’s PSAL Class AA semifinals loss to John F. Kennedy and the Jordan Brand Regional Game at Madison Square Garden.

He held offers from Rutgers, St. John’s and Hofstra at this time last year, but opted to wait. The interest dried up toward the middle of this past season, almost in conjunction with the injury, which Spellman characterized as severe back spasms. His vertebrae were offset, created by several hard falls on his spine.

He had offers from mid-major programs, causing Spellman to consider prep school. But Morgan State, coached by Todd Bozeman, who mentored Jason Kidd at California, entered recently. They needed a scoring guard with athleticism, Pollard said, and Spellman felt comfortable there.

“This is a good look for Keith – Coach Bozeman is a proven winner. He’s coached a lot of great players. He’s been successful everywhere,” Pollard said. “When Keith saw the blue and orange, he knew it was a fit.”

Talent evaluator Tom Konchalski thinks it is a good match. Spellman is joining a winning program – Morgan State made the NCAA Tournament last year in Bozeman’s third season behind the bench – where he can find his niche.

“He has the potential to be a terrific player there,” Konchalski said.

My Super Sweet Sixteen (All Ohio Edition)

Recapping the Nike All-Ohio Super Sixteen.

Written by Rodger Bohn

Slam Online

The Nike All Ohio Super Sixteen was slated to bring some of the elite players from the Midwest to Columbus for a short, two day shootout. Teams not showing up (Boo Williams), schedule clarification issues (Spiece Indy Heat), and college visits (Adreian Payne for the first day) left the event without the star power that was expected. Regardless, it still offered a solid group of youngsters who will be playing at a high-major program near you.

The host All-Ohio Red program swept the event, snagging championships in the 14-U, 15-U, 16-U, and 17-U age groups respectively. Their 17-U group is tops in the country, losing only 3 games in the last 3 AAU seasons. This dynasty was missing top 50 recruit Jordan Sibert (Ohio State verbal) for 2 of those games, so you have an idea how loaded their squad is. Their only other loss came to Mike Duncan’s Ohio Basketball Club, an Adidas based team that has produced over 20 NBA players.

Here is a look at some of the top ballers the event had to offer

Jared Sullinger, 6-8, Power Forward, Columbus Northland (OH), 2010: Another tournament, another championship for Sullinger’s All-Ohio Red unit. The big fella was dominant in the paint, but also showed an improving J from beyond the arc. Simply put, he was a man amongst boys and left no doubt in anyone’s mind why he’s amongst the five best seniors in the country. The Ohio State recruit still has a ways to go with his body and athleticism before he will be a guy we are talking about on NBA Draft lottery shows, but there’s no denying the productivity he brings to the table.

Aaron Craft, 6-2, Point Guard, Findlay (OH), 2010: Craft has been the catalyst of All-Ohio Red’s winning efforts this spring with all of the things that don’t show up in the box score. The Tennessee verbal puts the clamps on people defensively, draws charges, and controls the tempo of the game on the offensive end. It’s always rare to see a 17 year old kid play with the poise of an NBA vet, so we give props to Bruce Pearl for seeing this and offering Craft a scholly early on when he was only hearing from mid-major programs.

Adreian Payne (Pictured), 6-10, Power Forward, Dayton Jefferson (OH), 2010: While Sullinger is the model of productivity with restricted upside, his frontcourt teammate Payne is the polar opposite. Standing 6’10 with a 7’4 wingspan and great athleticism, you’re looking at a kid who offers a physical package that most power forward’s prepping for next month’s draft don’t offer. Unfortunately for Payne, he doesn’t always put these tools to use, as seen by his scoreless performance in the championship game.

In his defense, the long post player was listening to Coach Calipari’s pitch on a visit to UK the day before and arrived late to the tournament on Sunday. You’d still like to see a top ten player in the country give you more then a goose egg in the finals, though.

Lenzelle Smith, 6-3, Point Guard/Shooting guard, Zion Benton (IL), 2010: An Ohio State recruit, Smith fell to his future Buckeye teammate Sullinger in the 17-U finals. The husky combo guard threw his weight around and abused smaller defenders in the post, while also showing gorgeous court vision. As long as he is able to keep his weight under control, he should see some immediate playing time in Columbus as a frosh, given the Buckeye’s desperate need at the point guard position.

Ben Brust, 6-3, Point Guard, Mundelein (IL), 2010: Brust continued his surprising play this spring all the way through this event and into the championship game. Showing off a nice jumper from beyond the arc and some sneaky athleticism, he caught a couple of defenders sleeping a banged a couple of dunks in half court sets. Sporting offers from schools such as Iowa and Northwestern, Brust really has the opportunity to blow up in the July evaluation period if he keeps this level of play up.

Michael Chandler, 6-10, Center, Lawrence North (IN), 2011: Following in Greg Oden’s foot steps, Chandler is the next big thing to come out of Lawrence North. Unlike most young big guys at this state, the Louisville recruit already has a number of moves on the offensive end and can finish with both hands. Throw in his big body and athleticism and it’s easy to see with Rick P offered him a scholarship so early. Chandler also had the dunk of the tournament, posterizing a number of helpless Friends For Life defender’s on a monster tip dunk on day one.

Hart Thinks Ll Prospect Will Be A Pro Someday

Written By Mike Sullivan
Publisher ScoutNYPreps.com

Reporter Mike Sullivan had a chance to speak to Albany City Rocks program director Jim Hart about Tobias Harris and his individual game ... Hart spoke some positive words when describing Harris and his game ...

Albany City Rocks program director Jim Hart rarely associates the word "pro" with any high school basketball players. Today, in an interview via the phone, Hart was confident enough to toss out such a word when discussing Tobias Harris' future.
"He does so many things well on the court," said Hart. "He has such a great basketball IQ too. I think he's going to be a pro someday because of the many aspects of his game that are good enough."

Harris helped the Albany City Rocks in the state qualifying round this past weekend, helping his team go 6-0.

"While it wasn't his best shooting performance," Hart said. "He did so many other things well such as rebounding, playing defense, distributing the ball."

Tobias Harris, a 6-foot-8, 220-pound swingman from Half Hollow Hills West High School in Dix Hills, New York, has a top 11 list in no particular order -- Syracuse, Connecticut, Georgia Tech, Rutgers, Maryland, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Louisville, Notre Dame, Tennessee, and Oklahoma.

"Here's something to remember," said Hart. "He's 16 years old and is playing against a lot of 18 year olds. So the best is yet to come with his game too. And since he works so hard, he'll improve every year."

PREP SCHOOL EXIT INTERVIEW: VINCENT COUNCIL

Written by Pat Stevens
http://www.patstevensbasketball.com/

Providence get another from Brooklyn, N.Y., in former Lincoln H.S. guard Vincent Council who prepped at Patterson School in North Carolina.

This summer…

I get there (Providence) May 26th for the first session of classes. I’m back in New York. I’ve been working out hard right now on my jump shot and strength.

Picked Providence over…

Rutgers, Central Florida, Arkansas, and South Florida.

Positives from Prep School…

Learned how to play against older kids, how to be a leader, how to win, how to be off the court and on it.

Got better or different opportunity this year…

I got better, stronger, and more patient.

On playing next year with fellow Providence guard recruit Johnnie Lacy…

I think it’ll be fun. He’s somebody I never knew about. It’s nice because we’re from different places.


Best game of the year…

Against Hargrave for No. 1 in the country (in December). In the first half I had foul trouble but the second half I took over the game.

Toughest matchups…

Guarding me - Yves Jules (Hofstra/Winchendon). We know each other’s games from back home and he was talking a lot of junk before the game. Who I had to guard would be Freddie Riley (UMass/Hargrave). He can really score.

Thoughts on November’s National Tip Off…

We were one of the top prep schools in the nation and wanted to prove a point and we showed that. Everyone was excited. There were a lot of coaches there. Everyone came in prepared.

On January’s Hoop Hall Classic…

We lost to Winchendon. We had been on break and all came from home out of shape. We weren’t ready for that game.

On February’s National Prep School Invitational…

We wanted to play everyone we hadn’t played that would make the playoffs. We wanted to get revenge and not lose like the last tournament.

On the National Championship Tournament…

Even though we were down 20 (vs. Bridgton Academy), we came back and showed a lot of character and just lost at the end.

Regrets…

Not winning the championship.

On other prep school Big East recruits…

Omari Lawrence (St. John’s/South Kent): Strong, explosive, smart

Dan Jennings (West Viriginia/St. Thomas More): Strong, powerful, left-handed

Sean Kilpatrick (Cincinnati/Notre Dame Prep): Can really score

James Southerland (Syracuse/Notre Dame Prep): Athletic, long, can shoot.

Pat Stevens has been around the basketball recruiting and reporting scene for several years. Since 2004, Pat has covered the Prep School ranks, New York City AAU events, and the top All-American camps primarily for Hoopmasters.com. He launched CSTV.com’s recruiting coverage in 2006 as its Recruiting Editor and has additionally contributed to Scout, Rivals and MaxPreps. You can also see more of his recent reporting at Pat Stevens Basketball in anticipation of his launching a new national site in the coming weeks.

Clippers hit the lottery, get No. 1 NBA draft pick

Written By Lisa Dillman
LA times

Danny Manning, Michael Olowokandi . . . and now Blake Griffin.

The Clippers have twice had the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft, and will get it again for a third time, having won the league's draft lottery Tuesday night at Secaucus, N.J.

"Clearly, we're taking Blake Griffin," Clippers General Manager and Coach Mike Dunleavy said in a telephone interview from Barcelona, Spain.

"This guy is the No. 1 pick. We're extremely excited. He's the guy."

There wasn't much of a question the Clippers would do anything other than take the dynamic, explosive forward from Oklahoma. Dunleavy, though, wasn't about to be coy in the wee morning hours in Spain and erased any shred of doubt about the team's intention in the draft June 25 in New York.


They moved up from third to first -- armed with a 17.7% chance of winning -- and their upward progression had international reverberations for a beleaguered, hard-luck franchise.

Memphis will pick second, moving up from sixth, followed by Oklahoma City and Sacramento, which had the league's worst record. The Kings, represented by Chris Webber, had a 25% chance of winning. Washington dropped from second to fifth, and Minnesota and Golden State will pick sixth and seventh, respectively.

At the NBA Entertainment Studio, the league and ESPN put on quite a production, which had the look of a sports event morphed with a quiz show.

Webber joked the Kings' owners, the Maloofs, wouldn't let him come back to Sacramento if he didn't get the top pick. And Mr. October, baseball legend Reggie Jackson, tried to become Mr. May, joining the Knicks' effort as a guest on a late whim, more or less.

Clippers team representative, President Andy Roeser, looked jubilant on the ESPN broadcast, having gutted it out through a long commercial break before the drama of the final three. He doesn't consider himself to be superstitious, but his wife had a Clippers No. 1 sewn into his jacket.

"We had a tough season. There's no hiding from it. Not only did we have a tough season, we didn't perform well on top of it. We needed some good news and this is a great day for us," Roeser said later on a conference call.

Said Griffin, in an ESPN interview: "I was obviously excited. . . . Just to play in the NBA has been a dream for so long. It's a great feeling I'm going to try to make the best out of whatever situation I'm put in. Hopefully I can make a big impact. I'm going to try to come in and learn as much as I can on the fly, and hopefully help the team out in any way I can."

Dunleavy, who was in Spain to scout guard Ricky Rubio, got a flood of e-mails and congratulatory text messages, starting with his sons. Rubio, in fact, had gotten injured 12 minutes into the first game Dunleavy watched. He did come back with a strong performance in the second game of the Spanish playoffs, scoring 16 points.

Now it appears Rubio will land in Memphis. Griffin, who led the nation in double-doubles last season, could have had an up-close-and-personal look at the Clippers in April. On the same night he received the Wooden Award in Los Angeles as the college basketball player of the year, the Clippers were playing Sacramento a few miles away, fighting for better lottery odds.

The Kings lost that night. But it hardly mattered, as it turned out.

"It's very positive for us because most people feel the draft is not a good draft," Dunleavy said. "There's a big difference between us going No. 1 and being No. 6. That's clearly a big positive. Last year, we knew we'd get a good player at six or seven."

Still, the Clippers are not through with decisions. Griffin's addition will raise questions about what to do with the big men currently on the roster: Zach Randolph, Marcus Camby and Chris Kaman.

Dunleavy spoke about Griffin as a major asset.

Said Roeser: "It's not a good problem. It's a great problem."

Words not often heard by Clippers fans before Tuesday night.

lisa.dillman@latimes.com

Breaking News! John Wall makes a Choice!

Reports: No. 1 recruit John Wall picks UK

Written By Jerry Tipton / jtipton@herald-leader.com

Quoting sources, Slam magazine put on its website early Tuesday morning that John Wall had committed to Kentucky.

Later Tuesday morning, Rivals.com quoted Wall’s advisor Brian Clifton as confirming the decision.

Kevin Washington, the athletic director at Raleigh (N.C.) Word of God Christian Academy, the school Wall attends, noted that nothing had been announced officially. Washington said he could neither confirm nor deny Wall’s commitment to UK.

“We had an at-length conversation last night,” Wall’s travel team coach and advisor Brian Clifton told Rivals. “He felt that the risks that were at Kentucky were acceptable risks for him.”

Rivals noted the risk for Wall is the point guards already in UK’s fold: sophomore DeAndre Liggins and freshman Eric Bledsoe. Bledsoe is considered one of the most talented point guards in the high school class of 2009, as was Liggins in the class of 2008.

“It’s not like John is a guy who wants to take two or three years to figure it out and get things together,” Clifton told Rivals. “He needs to hit the ground running in short order. But John said to me, ‘When I came to your program, I wasn’t the guy. I had to listen to you and turned it around. It doesn’t matter to me who is there.’

“I believe in John Wall as a person, forget basketball. If he believes in the situation, then I trust him and respect him. If he believes he can do it, that’s all I need to hear.”

Rivals.com rates Wall as the No. 1 prospect in the high school class of 2009. He’s considered the final piece of the puzzle to complete Kentucky’s revamped lineup. He would be the point guard to lead a potential lineup that would include holdover stars Patrick Patterson and Jodie Meeks, sophomore Darius Miller and freshman big man DeMarcus Cousins.

John Wall Youtube below

Real Scout Articles

Read some of these articles online

*Gilchrist, Epps, Sterling Gibbs, and Lance http://www.zagsblog.com/2009/05/18/lance-gilchrist-favors-honored-by-espn/#more-16742

*New conference home is what Hofstra needs to take hoops program to the next level http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/college/2009/05/16/2009-05-16_new_conference_home_is_what_hofstra_needs.html

*Iona Hoping Jayhawk lands in New Rochelle http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/basketcase/2009/05/iona-hoping-jayhawk-lands-in-n.html

*Nick Calathes "Ill be at the Top of my game at workouts" http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Nick-Calathes-Iall-be-at-the-top-of-my-game-at-workouts-3215/

Panthers win IS8

Written BY: Marc Ramondi
Fiveborosports.com

The seconds were winding down when Chaz Williams caught a breaking Lance Stephenson out of the corner of his eye. Leading the run-out on the right flank, Williams lobbed a pass up with his left hand and Stephenson rose, throwing down a two-handed tomahawk jam to bring the standing-room only crowd to its feet.

“Lance – undecided!” IS8 founder and PA announcer Pete Edwards boomed into the microphone.

Normally, Edwards follows a player’s name with the school he’ll be attending for college. There was plenty of that Sunday when the NY Panthers-Seniors beat the Playaz Club-Sophomores, 78-65, in the IS8/Nike Spring H.S. Classic in South Jamaica.

For the Panthers, Chaz Williams is going to Hofstra, Omari Lawrence is headed to St. John’s, Kevin Parrom will play at Arizona, Lamar Patterson is bound for Pittsburgh and Jackie Carmichael is going to Illinois State.

Stephenson is, well, still undecided, as Edwards aptly put it.
The Lincoln phenom poured in 25 points to win the most valuable player award Sunday, but didn’t have much to say afterward – at least not about his pending recruitment or his court date Tuesday for allegedly sexually assault a female classmate outside the Coney Island school.

“I’m not talking,” Stephenson told FiveBoroSports.com, rather matter-of-factly.

He did most of his talking on the court, as has been his way for the last four years, leading Lincoln to an unprecedented four PSAL city championships. That career came full circle in a way Sunday. Stephenson won IS8 as an eighth grader with Gary Charles and the Panthers then and he did it again in his probable final appearance as New York City schoolboy.

“We started together and we finished together,” said Charles, the Panthers’ patriarch.

There was a scary moment with 1:38 left in the first quarter. Stephenson went up for a monster blocked shot and came down hard. He lay motionless, face down, for about two minutes before coming out of the game. His father, Lance (Stretch) Stephenson, said he jammed his wrist in the fall, but he didn’t seem any worse for wear. He helped the Panthers build a big lead after halftime, one they wouldn’t relinquish.

“Lance is Lance,” Parrom said.

Parrom said he didn’t know if Stephenson was planning on coming to Arizona and he wasn’t trying to force the issue – “I’m a player, not a recruiter,” he said – but he did say he enjoyed his time playing with Stephenson for the first time.

Winning at IS8 was a big deal for Parrom, who scored 14 points in the final.

“I was telling Pete before, I always get to the semis and always lose,” he said. “I’ve been coming here since I was in the sixth grade.”

Charles was all smiles after the victory. He posed for photos with his players and their nearly 8-foot, gold trophies. Both Parrom and Lawrence said it was a good thing they were driving home to the Bronx and not taking the subway. For both, though, it was the feeling of winning the prestigious event and not the hardware they obtained.

“It’s the biggest tournament in New York,” Lawrence said.

Added Charles: “It means that we’re the best in the metropolitan area. We take a lot of pride in that.”

Notes: While Stephenson was the championship game MVP, Jayvaughn Pinkston of the New Heights-Juniors was named player of the tournament. Kyle Anderson, a 6-foot-7 swingman out of Paterson (N.J.) Catholic, was chosen as freshman of the tournament. … Saint Peters (N.J.) HS sophomore Myles Davis led the Playaz with 23 points and Myles Mack, out of Paterson Catholic, added 15 points. Patterson and Williams each had eight points for the Panthers.

Juice Wins Jam Fest

Written BY: Jay Gomes
NJHoops.com Editor

Two of the favorites emerged to battle it out for the championship of the Hoop Group Spring Jam Fest Sunday evening at Hoop Group Headquarters in Neptune. The 32 team 17 & Under division came down to the Playaz from NJ and Juice from NYC.

The NYC team came out with a hard fought 81-75 victory. Juice took an early lead and went in at halftime with a 49-38 advantage behind 15 first half points from 6-foot-5 Rice NY Sr. James Stukes . The Playaz made their run mid way through the second half before Juice pulled away late.

Stukes finished with 23 points and 9 rebounds. 6-foot-6 Paterson Catholic Jr. Fuquan Edwin led the Playaz with 28 points.

6-foot-7 Fordham bound Thomas Jefferson Jr. Joel Wright had 14 points in the championship and was named Tournament MVP.

CATCHING UP ON DORON LAMB

2010 shooting guard Lamb Getting Plenty Of Big East Love

Written By Zach Smart

NBE Basketball Report

Doron Lamb plays at a smurf-small school, far away from home, in the woodworks of Mouth of Wilson (VA).

While the Brooklyn native is no longer under the pressure-cooking, microscopic media magnet of New York City, the school situated in the Appalachian Mountain community on the cusp of North Carolina holds an elite, traditional basketball bloodline.


Oak Hill has launched the likes of Stephen Jackson, Carmelo Anthony, Rajon Rondo, DeSagana Diop (a tree-tall big who arrived at the school sushi-raw) and Josh Smith to careers that sooner or later landed them in the NBA.

The gym seats only about 250, comfortably, but the national exposure is second to none. Perhaps the most storied NBA factory in the country, Oak Hill is a perennial power. Year after year, Oak Hill plays a national schedule that features trips across the nation.

It didn’t take long for Lamb to register his presence in the New York City basketball culture.

His coming out party occurred while he was a spindly sophomore playing for Bishop Laughlin HS (Brooklyn, N.Y.). At Loughlin (lawk-lin) , Lamb played alongside vaunted West Virginia forward (and Long Island City native) Devin Ebanks.

It was a cold January night and the gym at Holy Cross HS (Flushing, N.Y.) was jam-packed. It was standing room only by the time the first quarter buzzer went off.

All eyes were pasted on Holy Cross’ young scoring machine Sylvan Landesberg, who concluded the 2008-09 campaign one of the top freshman scorers in the land at Virginia.

Prior to the much-anticipated match-up against Holy Cross, Laughlin thoroughly discussed strategic methods to put the clamps on Landesburg. It was a tall task that became more daunting after forward Jayvaughn Pinkston was suspended for the game.

While Landesburg turned in a titanic performance (36 points to lead Holy Cross to a gritty overtime victory) Lamb made his put his stamp on the game.

He erupted for 29 points and kept Bishop Loughlin within striking distance. Loughlin worked overtime until Holy Cross fended them off, gutting out a wild win during the waning moments.

Lamb buried crucial buckets and went eyeball-to-eyeball with Landesburg in an instant NYC classic.

“I remember he hit like seven straight shots in one quarter that night,” said James Johnson, a senior point guard at the time.

“I just kept feeding him, he kept knocking down shots. He’s a quiet assassin.”

While he may be quiet, there’s a loud ruckus being made about the 6-foot-4, 175-pound off guard’s next step.

Lamb is a highly sought after item on the recruiting marketplace, with a plethora of Big East schools competing for his services.


“I mean, everyone is after him,” said NY Gauchos’ director Mo Hicks, who is also the coach at Rice HS.

“Right now it’s really like a who’s who of high major Division-I coaches. Everyone is after him. He’s a talented kid, man, he’s going to have a lot to choose between. As of right now, I can’t pinpoint any main schools he’s considering. He’s not really going to narrow it down yet.”

Hicks added, “Kentucky is beginning to show some interest,” as he referred to newly-minted head coach John Calipari. Calipari followed the paper trail to the bluegrass, where he’s expected to revive a program that suffered a down year.

Louisville, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, and St. John’s have all presented Lamb with scholarship offers.

Syracuse, UConn, Kansas, Seton Hall, West Virginia and Tennessee are also showing heavy interest in Lamb, who’s widely regarded as one of the top-five shooting guards in the class of 2010.

Lamb made an immediate impact for Steve Smith’s 40-1 squad this year.

Lamb dropped 26 points, 14 coming in a crucial second half burst, during Oak Hill’s 84-63 first round win over Pinewood Prep (S.C.) in the National High School Invitational.

At the prestigious ESPN Super 60, Lamb set the nets ablaze to the tune of a game-high 21 points. Oak Hill rolled to a 99-57 thrashing of Ridge View (S.C.).

On March 7, Lamb turned it on before a national audience. He dropped 15 points, helping propel Oak Hill to a signature victory over Maryland perennial power Montrose Christian.

“He’s got just a great mid-range game,” said Johnson of his former teammate.

“I feel like that’s a lost art, and he has that lost art to his game. He just steps up in big games.”

Story Link: http://w3.nbebasketball.com/2009/05/15/4843/

Griz Late Picks Draft Board

Written By: Chris Herrington
Memphisflyer.com

Though all the focus is on the lottery, the Grizzlies will have two other picks in this years draft — at 27 and 35 — and plenty of open roster spots to play with, so those picks will be important.

I'm not going to do rankings for late-first/early-second prospects, but instead list players I've seen that are likely to be in that range in rough order of preference.

I'm leaving off a handful of players projected to go late lottery/mid-first round and who I don't think have a chance to last to #27, such as: Patrick Patterson, Gerald Henderson, Jonny Flynn, Jrue Holiday, Eric Maynor, Tywon Lawson, etc.


Guys I've Seen:

Sam Young/Danny Green: Here are two players who project similarly at the next level, and I'd really like to see the Grizzlies come away with one of them. NBA teams can always use those classic Bruce Bowen/James Posey/Raja Bell-style role players — lockdown wing defenders who can hit the open shot. The Grizzlies brought in Quinton Ross to play that role last season, but Ross was too slim to take on all comers on the defensive end and his shot was too shaky to be reliable. Young and Green both have a chance to be that kind of player at the pro level.

Young was a star at Pittsburgh, but at age 24 coming into the draft, he seems to lack the athleticism and upside to be a primary player in the league. His size and toughness suggests he can make his living on the defensive end while contributing on the boards and as a secondary offensive option (37% and 38% from three the past two seasons).

Unlike Young, Green was a secondary player in college on packed UNC teams and is a consensus second-round pick in the mocks, but I think I might like him even better and would be very content to take him at #27. Green is a range-y defensive specialist with a high hoops IQ and a rapidly improving three-point shot (42% last season). He got lost in the shuffle a little bit at UNC, but I think he profiles as a terrific role player in the NBA.

Chase Buddinger: His streaky shooting and generally inconsistent production at Arizona are troubling, but there's still a lot to like here: Size, versatility, athleticism, three-point range. It's easy to see Buddinger developing into a very useful pro, with Dan Majerle-like upside if he puts it all together.


Nick Calathes: I'm a big fan of Calathes as a player. Great size for a point guard, three-point range (39% last year). Doesn’t appear to be an NBA athlete, but his steal and rebound numbers at Florida show his activity, quickness, and ability to find a way. You watch him on the court and he's constantly making plays. I think he'll struggle defensively at the pro level and will be very turnover-prone as a rookie, but will eventually be a very effective playmaker/shooter. I think he ends up being somewhere between a Steve Blake and a Jose Calderon as a pro. The only reason I don't have him higher is I don't think he's a great fit on the current Griz roster: To complete the backcourt rotation, the Grizzlies don't need a big point guard to play with Mayo, they need a two-guard that will allow Mayo to get minutes at the point.

B.J. Mullens: Mullens will probably be long gone by the time the Grizzlies pick at 27, but could slide a la Deandre Jordan last year. There's a lot of bust potential here, but if he's around it'd be hard to pass him up as a high-reward pick. Center is not a need position for the Grizzlies right now, but with Darko Milicic having only one year left on his deal and Hamed Haddadi not at all a proven contributor, adding a promising center prospect to develop behind the current Gasol-Darko tandem is a viable use of the pick.

Jarvis Varnado: Great shotblocker, good rebounder, live athlete who runs the floor and finishes in transition. The primary questions are whether he can develop any kind of offensive game beyond catch-and-dunk and whether he can fill out enough to not get overpowered on the block by pro post players. I like him though. There's always room for defensive-minded big men.

Wayne Ellington: A potentially elite three-point shooter with two-guard size, which is something the Grizzlies could certainly make use of. Doesn't seem to have much upside as a defender, playmaker, or off-the-dribble scorer, though.

Omri Casspi: I loved Casspi at the Nike Hoop Summit in Memphis a couple of years ago, where his hard-nosed play made him stick out while Derrick Rose and Nicholas Batum were making the highlight-reel plays. And Casspi looked pretty decent in a pre-draft workout for the Grizzlies last summer. I wonder about his upside offensively and think he'll probably never be more than a role player, but he could be a terrific energy guy.


Jodie Meeks: Most mocks have Meeks as a mid-second-rounder, but I like him better than that. There are plenty of red flags here: He's got combo size but strictly two-guard game, and he's not an elite athlete. His sudden emergence as a college junior is also a little puzzling. But Meeks has deep shooting range and can also get to the rim. He can flat-out score. I see him as a high-volume bench scorer at the pro level, in the mold of Flip Murray.

Gani Lawal: Tough, high-energy, but undersized post player. Seems to have a strong motor, rebounds well, and attacks the basket, but not much of a refined offensive game and doesn’t seem to have a very high hoops IQ. Looks kind of like a younger Alexander Johnson to me. I like Vanardo better because his shot-blocking is a defined, translatable skill.

Dajuan Summers: Classic small-forward size and three-point range. Decent athlete who might be better than he showed at Georgetown. A true back-up three is a need, but there's a real chance that Summers is just a guy at the pro level.

Damien James: He's the same size as Summers and a better, tougher athlete, but not as good a three-point shooter. At the NBA level, he's going to have to be a three, and I wonder if he's skilled enough to play on the perimeter despite his energy and athleticism. Could be a Luc Richard Mbah Moute or could be a Ryan Humphrey. (Remember that name, Griz fans?)

Darren Collison: Super quick with the ball and has three-point range. Would be higher on sheer talent, but I think another small guard is at the bottom of the team's needs list.

Tyler Hansborough: I know he plays hard and was very productive in college, but I don't like him as a pro. I don’t think his game (driving through people, poor pure post and perimeter skills) and physical tools (undersized, mediocre athlete) are going to match up against the big boys.

Tyler Smith: I've never been able to get a good handle on Smith. He's a versatile, athletic scorer, but seems erratic and doesn’t thrive in any one area.

Guys I Haven't Seen: Marcus Thornton, Austin Daye, Patrick Mills, Derrick Brown, Michael Washington, Lee Cummard, Josh Heytvelt, Victor Claver.


Story Link: http://www.memphisflyer.com/BeyondtheArc/archives/2009/05/08/griz-late-picks-draft-board