Adidas Super 64 in a nutshell
The 15 and under division was won by Playaz Basketball Club White as they beat M33M CIA Bounce 75-63. The MVP was awarded to Myles Mack .
The 16 and under division was won by the DC Assault. The Assault defeated New Heights NYC 72-55. Tyler Thornton of the Assault was awarded the MVP.
The 17 and under gold division was won by Net Gain Sports. They defeated the Student Athletes Broncos 76-56. The MVP was awarded to Cole Stephan.
The 17 and under division was won by Grassroots Canada Elite. The Elite defeated Pump N Run Elite 79-55. Texas commit Tristan Thompson was awarded the MVP.
Numbers of interest from the tourney
- Derrick Favors had 18 points, his Atlanta Celtics defeated The Ohio Basketball Club 84-75
- Derrick Favors had 24 points as his Celtics defeated Playaz Basketball Club Gold 63-52.
- Derrick Favors had 28 points in a Celtics win over Texas D-1 Ambassadors 99-80.
- Jon Hood had 20 in a 96-66 win for the Nashville Celtics over Oakland Rebels 17S .
- Jon Hood had 24 points as his Nashville Celtics defeated Houston Select Black 80-65.
- Jon Hood had 15 points in an 83-42 win over Arizona Premier Blue.
- Rakeem Buckles had 21 in a 98-76 win for his Florida Rams team over the AZ Warriors.
- Trae Golden had 21 points in a 66-64 win as the Atlanta Celtics beat the Playaz Basketball Club.
2010 Big Man Myers Leonard Commit's to Illinois
According to Evan Daniels of Scout.com Leonard has chosen the Illini over Louisville and Purdue. Kentucky had been turning up the heat lately on the big fella. Leonard is widely considered to be among the top centers in the 10' class. His performance in Vegas last week might have catapulted him into the 5 star echelon.
09' Name to Watch: Thomas Robinson
Robinson (center) is a 6'8 forward from Washington D.C. Despite posting respectable numbers as a junior (17 points 14 rebounds and 5 blocks per game) Robinson's recruitment was surprisingly quiet. Well not anymore. This summer Robinson has become that player that seemingly every coach in the nation is pursuing. Robinson averaged 17 points and 12 rebounds per game on the summer circuit. The talented forward has offers from no less than 17 schools including Kentucky and Louisville. Robinson's most recent list does have Pitt and Virgina at the top however he has stated that he will not make a decision for a few months.
"A Washington, DC native, Robinson continued to show why he’s become so highly regarded; Thomas dominated, particularly on Sunday, where he displayed his total package in both drills and games, including paint play, defending, and the occasional long jumper. Robinson, a 6’8” long armed, rising senior frontcourt player, has worked on his outside game, and will continue to do so, along with open floor ball handling." - link
Card's pick up another Verbal
Josh Langford who is considered to be a solid top 100 prospect in the class of 2010 has verbally committed to play for the University of Louisville. Langford plays his AAU ball for the Alabama Lasers and was recently in town for the Hoopfest.
Also here is a video of a 10 year old kid scoring 41 points. His name is Cory Barrios Jr. out of Castro Valley, Ca. Found it on You Tube just thought that I would pass it along.
Dicky Lyons: Has a Dream
Dicky Lyons Jr. does not shy away from attention. If you haven't heard about his run in at media day then take a moment to read what happened. I think that Mr. Dawson over at the Courier site has the full article.
When Lyon's first approached the podium he swallowed a fly, and had to cough and gag for a couple of minutes before regaining his composure. Lyon's then went on to tell a story about how he has been having some weird dreams about his fiance leaving him. In the end of the dream Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford punches Lyon's in the face.
Needless to say Lyons had the entire media cracking up as he told his story.
Last Name Recruitology
Article by Brad King
I have this theory when it comes to recruiting. Certain players have certain names that fit certain schools. For example, Abdul Gaddy, completely an Arizona name. I don't know why but it sounds like it. Kenny Boynton. Duke name. Liggins really seemed like a Kansas name to me to go with Chalmers, Rush, and Collins. However, if a player commits, then by this theory, his name automatically becomes a name of the school he committed to... and now, Liggins is a Kentucky name.
Orton - Kentucky name. It just fits
Barnes - Richie Farmer, Sean Woods, Jeff Sheppard, Harrison Barnes - Kentucky name
Brandon Knight - Florida name
John Wall - An NC State name
Samardo Samuels - Due to the several nicknames his name could provide, A UL name lock. Though, since he committed, of course it's a UL name.
Jon Henson - Brandan Wright name like name in feel, UNC name
Olek Czyz - White guy with eastern European name = Duke name lock
Glen Rice Jr - A name associated with big city basketball in Glen Rice Sr., GT name lock
Renardo Sidney - UCLA name
Dominic Cheek - a Big East name
Karron Johnson - Cincinnati Name
Farrakohn Hall - Images of Louis Farrakohn, stays in south, Alabama name.
Shawn Kemp? - A Kentucky name
Kenny Boynton - A Duke name
This system is foolproof, I tell you.
Kentucky's Backcourt Quagmire
Article by Brad King
Much has been made in the off season about Kentucky's lack of depth in the backcourt. After losing Ramel Bradley, Joe Crawford, and Derrick Jasper; Kentucky is left with having to fill the void left by the loss of UK's 2 most prolific guards and perhaps the most reliable ball handler on the team in Jasper. However, it's not all bad for the UK guards. Assuming they will both become eligible (which as reported by AlleyOopScoop.com's David Money is probable), Kevin Galloway and DeAndre Liggins are a step in the right direction.
The Kentucky backcourt consists of three point guards and a shooting guard. . Liggins at 6'6 and Galloway at 6'7 will inevitably create a barrage of mismatches for just about any opponent the team will see next season. Both are highly athletic players and good defenders due to their quickness and size. Michael Porter returns for his 3rd season at Kentucky, and while he might be a role player, it's very possible he could receive a good amount of playing time at shooting guard filling in for Jodie Meeks.
The biggest probalem this team faces is rooted in the backcourt. Kentucky has one reliable outside shooter in Jodie Meeks, who could very well face more injuries in the future. After Meeks, Kentucky's perimeter shooting is on the shoulders of players such as Liggins and Galloway (who are not good outside shooters by any stretch of the imagination), Darius Miller, Ramon Harris, and Michael Porter. The shooting contribution of the new comers, in this light, could very well mean the difference in 20 wins or 25 wins.
In short concerning the backcourt,
the good:
Size
Athleticism
Ballhandling
Defense
Rebounding
The Bad:
Untested freshman and JUCO transfers
Lack of shooting prowess
Ferguson and Hood Looking Good in Vegas
Kentucky commit Dominique Ferguson played very staunch against a very big French Hoops team. The core group of 2010 five-star talent definitely played the part very well.
Ferguson’s Indiana Elite LNO colleague Terone Johnson was also exciting in triumph. The 6-foot-2 shooting guard from the class of 2010 posted 16 in the game. His recruitment is booming at the moment as he gave a long and inspiring list that consisted of Kentucky, Louisville, Indiana, Purdue, Marquette, Ohio State, Tennessee, Miami-FL, Butler and Cincinnati (offer).
Also highly coveted offensive lineman Sam Simpson who attends Henry Clay in Lexington has said that in the next few weeks he will narrow his list in the next few weeks. With Jordan Whiting (Trinity) and Justin Greene (Male), two of the top 09' prospects in Kentucky committed to Ohio State, the local schools can ill-afford to whiff on Simpson.
2009 Names to Watch
Karron Johnson (Center) and Bawa Muniru (left) are both 2009 prospects that are starting to get a lot of attention. Both play for Team Vigilance out of Alabama on the AAU circuit.
I was able to watch this team win a game 62-54 recently and was impressed with Johnson he posted 22 points had multiple assists and a good feel for the game.
Muniru is about 6'10 and is an athletic freak. During warm ups he was doing reverse dunks in one fluid motion. Bawa certainly has the size and athleticism to succeed. Even to the untrained eye it is clear that Muniru game remains largely unpolished. Muniru had 2 fouls in the games first couple of minutes and was sent to the bench. In the second half Muniru had 8 points on 4 huge dunks and blocked a couple of shots. He has drawn the attention of a large list of high major programs including Louisville. Travis Ford was in attendance at this game. Scout.com has him rated as a 2 star prospect.
We were able to catch up with the leading scorer of the game Karron Johnson.
Where is Team Vigilance out of
"Huntsville Alabama."
You looked pretty composed out there on the court, the team looked like they were familiar with one another?
"This team has gone through a lot. We have been together for a couple of years. We have played against each other so we all know how each other tick. I mean it's easy to be composed with guys that you know how to play with."
Do you have any schools looking at you at this point?
"I recently gave a soft verbal to Belmont. If other offers come up I am willing to at least look them over."
What do you think about these facilities?
"Man, these things are amazing. There is nothing like this in Huntsville Alabama. It's just great to have an opportunity to play in something like this with all of these coaches it's a great opportunity."
Josh Childress Bolts For Greece
Childress signed a 3 year deal with Olimpiakos in Greece. Childress averaged 11.1 points and over 5 rebounds a game last season as the 6th man for the Atlanta Hawks. This move is a common one but usually among lower tier foreign born players. Earlier this month hoops prodigy Brandon Jennings opted to go play ball in Europe for a year rather than try to qualify academically at Arizona. This promoted Lute Olson to say that he was done pursuing "one and done players".
Usually the offers form foreign clubs are just used for leverage but this could be a trend that has more young men born on American soil jetting overseas for big time contracts.
Tracy Webster: One Cool Dude
When coach Gillispie was introduced as the head coach last season Kentucky had officially hired their third member of the Henry Iba tree. These coaches tend to play very physical man to man defense and put a strong emphasis on moving the ball on offense. Years of being tutored by some of the most knowledgeable men in the game and a head coaching job at a top tier university are among the things needed to succeed. However their is one thing that you can't teach, coach or instill that some men have.
Players that are blessed with the gift of gab are also a nice addition to the team. Dwight Perry may not contribute much on the court. but his ability to relate to other young men is second to none. This is stated clearly here.
On a side note Mfon Udofia has committed to Georgia Tech.
The Quick Moving Recruiting World
Inside the Rivals.com Recruiting Ranking
In the modern day recruiting game, in an age where the Internet is king, perhaps the site most frequently referenced list by any recruiting, is that of the Rivals' recruiting rankings. It is in these rankings that fans and media determine the whose who of the high school ranks. These same rankings donned the coming of Lebron James, the elite talent of Michal Beasley, and surely enough, the incoming talent of players such as Samuardo Samuels* (Louisville) and Tyreke Evans (Memphis) for the upcoming season.
Yet, while fans glimpse at these rankings, more often than not, little thought is placed into exactly how are they contrived, and as Rivals.com Senior Analyst Justin Young would attest, it is not an easy process. There are ten's of thousands of high school prospects in the country. It is the work of two people at Rivals.com to weed the best from the best, and in the end, produce what is the most accurate list of the top basketball players in America. “Jerry Meyer [Rivals.com Senior Analyst] and myself watch as much basketball as humanly possible, mesh our brains together and come up with a list of players that we believe is the correct order of players.” Young said in a recent interview.
No area is left neglected. Year in and year out, Young and Meyer attend high school games across America. In the off season of the high school leagues, the AAU circuit winds into full motion, stocked full of America's top talent. At events such as Bob Gibbons' Tournament of Champions (Durham, NC), Tyson's The Real Deal on the Hill (Fayetteville, Arkansas), Nike Peach Jam (North Augusta, GA), and the Las Vegas Summer Jam; it is not unusual to see Billy Gillispie sitting next to Rick Pitino, Jim Boeheim sitting next to Billy Donovan, or Tom Crean sitting next to Ben Howland. Of course, included in this crowd is either of the Rivals.com senior analysts, Justin Young or Jerry Meyer.
While the AAU tournaments often, by nature, gather the best talent in the country all in one gym, the high school games are also an integral part of the process. The AAU teams, often consisting of players thrown together temporarily or guided by lower-quality coaches, generally play with much less passion for their team. “There seems to be much more pride on the line [in high school games]. The games have much more meaning. I believe you really find out about the great ones in high school due to that.”
Yet, the AAU tournaments and high school games are not the only way talent is picked up by Rivals, and for the elite of the elite that are lucky enough to be ranked and noticed by Rivals, there are many more who wish they could be ranked. “I get more calls and emails from players' parents and coaches than anything else. I'd say I receive roughly 20 a day about a player. More times than not, the player is a non Division I player.”
So what are the criteria which separates the good from the great? As Young observes players, three main qualities are looked for in determining their skill level. “I'm an athleticism guy. I'm a size guy. Those are the two things that I look for first... Then, of course, skill set.” Yet, Justin Young also cautions that talent is not the end all of scouting and ranking prospects. “The biggest thing that turns me off about a player is his attitude. If you are a problem on the court or with your coach, I can promise you that will be one of the first things that comes out of my mouth to a college coach if I'm asked about that player.”
It is by these observations, that Young and Meyer slowly, but surely, order and rank the prospects scouted. As the final list is placed and published, there are always those fans ready to disagree and take arms with the rankings. Generally, and with out fail, fans always believe their players should be ranked higher. “Fan is short for fanatic. I realize that.” Said Young regarding to fan opposition to the rankings. “For the most part, they don't watch the games. They speak out of ignorance and a lot of times that is dangerous. They raise the bar way too high and in turn a lot of the kids read the message boards and believe to be as fact. In turn, when I'm giving my professional opinion and it doesn't match the thoughts of the fan base, I'm perceived to be the villain. I don't mind that. That same player usually sits instead of plays (or transfers) and the fans have already moved onto the next great star. It's a continual cycle of overzealous expectations.”
While disgruntled fans knock the lack of high rankings for their own players, it does not detract from the confidence of the Rivals gurus. “I think what we do is on point. That's why we do them. We put in more time than people realize trying to get them right. We don't always get it right but more times than not, we do. But at the end of the day, a ranking has never signed a scholarship paper. Never has, never will.”
A special thanks to Rivals.com analyst Justin Young for contributing information in this article.
Article by Brad King
A Year Later, UK's Weakness Becomes Biggest Strength
Article by Brad King
365 days ago, the number one problem facing the Kentucky basketball roster was painfully evident. With All-World Freshman Patrick Patterson anchoring the frontline along side a raw and young Perry Stevenson, true freshman AJ Stewart, an unheralded project in Mike Williams, an injury-proned bean pole named Jared Carter, and walk-on Marc 'Flurry' Coury; Kentucky's front court was overmatched in just about every match up verse a worthy opponent.
That very front line was used, abused, and mutilated for a great deal of the season. Marc Coury and his 2 points and 1.7 rebounds became the starter in the middle. Mike Williams got playing time in five games all season. Jared Carter was both unprepared and injured. And AJ Stewart tended to be lost defensively.
However, by halfway through the SEC season, things began to change most largely due to the fact that Perry Stevenson had become a player. Not just a player, but a very good player. In the last 15 games of the season, Stevenson averaged 8 points and 7 boards per game; including a 14 point performance verse Tennessee and an 18 point performance verse Florida. The Patterson/Stevenson duo became a formidable one in the high-low set, and often the front court became the most reliable facet of the Kentucky team.
Going into the 2008-2009 season, UK definitely does have holes to fill on the roster, yet the frontcourt is the strongest it has been since the 02-03 season. For 5 years, UK fans have been clamoring for a respectable front court. Finally, that problem has been eased. The addition of 6'9 270 lbs Josh Harrellson, a player known for his soft hands and physical prowess finds himself in a role which he can instantly contribute and thrive.
Jared Carter, now healthy, is the lone senior on this team. After a successful summer tenure in Africa with the Athletes in Action (where he became the leading scorer for that team), there is reason to believe that his 4th season will be much improved from the past. While many UK fans have always doubted the big guy, he always has one thing going for him. You cannot teach 7'1 height. Expect Carter to be a crucial part of Kentucky's success from here forward.
AJ Stewart might be the most athletic player on the Kentucky roster. With this arsenal of gravity defying dunks displayed in several showcases prior to his college career, there is no doubt that Stewart has some real potential to be something special at Kentucky. It is a popular notion that the biggest improvement a player makes in college is between his freshman and sophomore year. Judging by Gillispie's comments at his most recent press conference, the theory seemingly holds true for AJ Stewart, who could find himself as one of the first players off the bench.
While Marc Coury remains on the roster, Gillispie has alluded to the fact that the junior walk-on is fishing around for a scholarship offer. Yet, if Coury remains around, it is a good thing. Marc Coury is now one of the most experienced walk-on players in the NCAA due to UK's lack of front court talent from last season.
Updates From Abroad
Lakeem Jackson has committed to South Carolina. Coach Horn seems to be doing a good job early on. Here are some things passed along to us via e-mail as well
John Wall, the No. 1 Rivals recruit in the Class of 2009, says he plans to be one-and-done or two-and-done for college in order to help support his family, including his mom and two sisters.
“My dad (John Sr.) passed when I was 10,” Wall told SI.com.
“After he passed, I was the man of the house. I realized I wanted to go somewhere and get my family in a better situation.”
“If I go one-and-done or two-and-done,” Wall added, “I’m going back to school and finish regardless. I promised it to my mom.”
Memphis, Kansas, Oregon, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Baylor and N.C. State are listed as Wall’s leaders at the moment.
Xavier Henry, the No. 2 prospect in ‘09, will visit Kansas, Memphis, UCLA and Texas but we hear it will come down to Kansas and Memphis.
Word is the 6-6, 214-pound Henry favors Memphis even though both his parents attended Kansas.
Kentucky is the favorite for Daniel Orton, a 6-10, 260-pound center from Oklahoma City (OK) Bishop McGuinness listed as the No. 2 center in the class.
Villanova and Georgetown are still recruiting 6-5 Montrose Christian small forward Terrell Vinson, but Duke is not.
Despite one recent newspaper report, Lance Stephenson is not considering Indiana and North Carolina is not recruiting him.
6-7 Birmingham (Ala.) forward Christian Watford likes Memphis and Louisville, but Kentucky, Indiana and Alabama are also in his Top 5, according to Jody Demling.
**Onetime Rutgers target Ricardo Ratliffe, a 6-8 power forward from Hampton (VA) Kecoughtan, is headed to prep school.http://www.zagsblog.net/
New Heights director Kimani Young checked in today to give an updated list of schools recruiting his top juniors.
JayVaughn Pinkston, Bishop Loughlin – Villanova, Rutgers, St. John’s, Fordham and Xavier have all offered.
QUOTE: “I feel like St. John’s and Villanova are doing the best job right now,” Young said.
Devon Collier, St. Anthony — Rutgers, St. John’s, Villanova, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Fordham
Ashton Pankey, St. Anthony — Rutgers, St. John’s, DePaul, Virginia, Fordham
QUOTE: “They’ll wait until next summer before deciding. They’re all continuing to improve. We’re going to be patient with this.”
USA DISMANTLES PUERTO RICO KEMBA SCORES 15
The 2008 USA Basketball Men’s U18 National Team (3-0) rolled over Puerto Rico, 106-64, Wednesday night at the 2008 FIBA Americas U18 Championship in Formosa, Argentina.Five players scored in double digits, including University of Oregon freshman-to-be Matt Humphrey (Hales Franciscian H.S / Chicago, Ill.), UCLA freshman-to-be Malcom Lee (John W. North H.S. / Riverside, Calif.) and University of Connecticut freshman-to-be Kemba Walker (Rice H.S. / New York, N.Y.), who each scored 15; Travis Wear (Mater Dei H.S. / Santa Ana, Calif.) notched his third double-digit game with 13; while University of Alabama freshman-to-be JaMychal Green (St. Jude H.S. / Montgomery, Ala.) finished with 12 points.
The USA advances to the medal semifinals and will play Canada (2-1) today at 6 p.m., while Argentina (3-0) will play Puerto Rico for the right to advance to Friday’s gold medal game. All four of the medal semifinalists have qualified to compete in the 2008 FIBA U19 World Championship, slated to be played in New Zealand.In the day’s other games host Argentina defeated Canada 74-64, Venezuela (1-2) captured an 85-64 victory over the Bahamas (0-3), and Uruguay (1-2) earned a 63-51 win over Mexico (0-3).
“What really pleases me is that so many guys contributed to this,” said USA and Davidson College head coach Bob McKillop.
“Every guy on this roster played a role, had a part and was very instrumental to our success. It was a 40-minute effort. Our guys went from the opening tap to the end once again. For a coaching staff, we could want nothing more.”
TEAM USA ROUTS BAHAMAS ECHENIQUE POSTS 25 & 15
Team USA beat the Bahamas, 115-51, to win its second straight game at the FIBA Americas U18 Championship in Formosa, Argentina. 6-foot-10 Duke commit Mason Plumlee had a double-double of 14 points and 14 boards and North Carolina-bound forward Travis Wear was the leading scorer for the second straight game, scoring 15 points. Alabama freshman big man JaMychal Green tallied 13 points, Kansas freshman guard Travis Releford 11 and Villanova commit Maalik Wayns and UCLA frosh Malcolm Lee had 10 apiece. St. Anthony senior wing Dominic Cheek had 6 points on 3 of 7 shooting to go with 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 turnovers.
“Our teamwork and our toughness was there from start to finish,” said USA and Davidson College head coach Bob McKillop.
“We distributed the ball very well, we defended very well and the guys have really accepted the concept that defense wins championships.”
Next up for the USA is a date with Puerto Rico on Wednesday.Meantime, 6-9 Rutgers freshman Greg Echenique put up 25 points on 8-of-12 shooting to go with 15 rebounds and six blocks in a 94-76 loss to Puerto Rico.
Think head coach Fred Hill isn’t excited about putting the St. Benedict’s big man on the floor with McDonald’s All-American Mike Rosario of St. Anthony?
http://emekanadavandcorny.blogspot.com/
Summer Roundup UConn incoming freshman Kemba Walker and hotly-recruited Class of '09 shooting guard Dominic Cheek have both made the cut and will play on the USA National Team that will compete in the FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship tourney in Argentina later this month.Walker, the point guard from New York's Rice High, has developed a good rapport with Cheek, a 6-foot-5 shooter out of St. Anthony's High in New Jersey who's the No. 3-ranked shooting guard in his class, according to scout.com. The two know each other pretty well and have been teamed up quite a bit together during the U-18 trials.UConn is hot on the trail of Cheek, who has made an unofficial visit to North Carolina. Wake Forest and Villanova are thought to be high on Cheek's list, as well. Meanwhile, out at the LeBron James Skills Camp in Akron, Ohio, UConn commit Alex Oriakhi has raised some eyebrows with his intensity.
"His slide into the scout.com Top 25 was no accident, and he's bound and determined to remain there," wrote the website's national recruiting director, Dave Telep.
I Really Like Harrison Barnes...
The sensation of the AAU summer circuit this year has been none other than Harrison Barnes. With Kentucky, Indiana, and Iowa State leading the pack, and rumors that Duke, Kansas, and others are sure to follow, his recruitment is definitely one to keep an eye on.
Last week at the Kentucky Hoopfest, Barnes had some interesting words for Jodie Demling (as reported on his blog) that has instantly placed Barnes near the top of my most likeable recruits of all-time.
When asked about Indiana, Barnes responded:"With Indiana , I talk to coach (Tom) Crean a lot. We talk about Dwayne Wade and about how personally I stopped liking him. But he wants me to become a big fan."
Strong words, indeed! Any player that can tell a coach to his face that he stopped liking his franchise player, gets high marks in my book.Oh yeah, and by the way, Barnes also told Jody Demling, "I communicate with Kentucky frequently because I like talking to their coaches," Barnes said. "Coach (Tracey) Webster, he's a real good guy.Check the rest out on the Jodie Demling blog.
Thanks to contributing writer Brad King for some of the updates!
Indiana Elite: A glance at 2011
After a hard fought 61-66 loss by Indiana Elite 15AU team. I still thought they looked good. The roster is currently host to a who's who of the sophomore to be class.
6'3 Spencer Turner who finished with 24 is a heck of a player and should continue to develop over the next couple of seasons. All three local schools have watched Turner play. Marshall Plumlee, Cody Zeller and Jeffersonville High School's Evan Maschmeyer also grace the roster.
The 6'7 Zeller (above) had 16 points and 8 boards and looked pretty mobile. Zeller is very coordinated and makes the game easier for his teammates. If he draws a double team he kicks it out and if he doesn't then it usually ends in 2. Should be a high four star player by the time his senior season rolls around. UK has watched the kid play.
After the game we caught up with the kid from Washington High school
Could you tell folks a little bit about your game?
"I just work hard every game to help my team win. Depending on what the team needs I can drive if I got a big guy on me and if I got a smaller guy on me I can post up. I just do whatever the team needs."
What do you think about the facilities here at Hoops?
"Their really nice. This is a really nice facility and hopefully we can get one close to home."
Have you even started to think about college?
"no not really, just filled out some questionnaire's."
Plumlee (45) looks like a great defender at this point, but his offensive skills do leave something to be desired, but the kid is going into his sophomore season so he has time. I am sure that his older brothers will help the kid quickly develop.
Evan Maschmeyer of Jeffersonville High School is expected to make a lot of noise this season. Maschmeyer is considered one of the top 2011 prospects in the state of Indiana.
Max Landis, who attends Perrin Meridian High is also a solid player. Landis plays point guard and was playing with an injured thumb (that was hurt at the Take5) and it was clearly hampering his play. His father played college basketball and is a major influence in his life. Butler is intrigued by the fundamentally solid youngster.
Another solid kid from the Tri-State area is Michael Nesbit from Evansville Memorial. We caught up with him as well.
Mike could you sums today's game up for folks who didn't get a chance to see it?
"We came out early played really well. In the end we didn't rebound, didn't block out. Me a little bit, but the whole team though. We just lost it after that."
What about you, what have you been working on this summer?
"I have mostly played as a post player so far in my career, but I have been working on my moves and being able to step out onto the wing and handle the ball a little bit. I have also been working on post moves and rebounding."
Have you even started to think about college?
"Evansville right now there sorta talking to me but that is pretty much it."
Year in and year out the Elite are among the top teams in the country. One thing that I do know is that Indiana,Purdue, Baylor, Indiana St. and Evansville are at almost every game played by the elite.
Aaron Cosby at the Hoopfest
We were able to watch a couple of Cosby's games and he looked pretty good. Having the ability to get to the rim and finish. Cosby had 16 and 20 points respectively. A huge group of coaches (mostly from mid majors were on hand at both of the games). Cosby did not shy away from the big shot, that is one thing that I noticed about the kid. Cosby also looked very composed and mature on the court.
Player Intro: 2010 Prospect Ralph Hill
Hill is a 6'7 smooth prospect he spends most of his time in the post for his C-BIZ AAU team but is capable of playing the wing as well. Hill is considered one of the top 2010 prospects in the state of Ohio and he has been contacted by a slew of schools including Bowling Green, Akron, Ohio, Minnesota, Penn State, Purdue, Iowa, Virginia, Xavier.
Last season as a sophomore at Westerville North High, Hill averaged over 18 points and around 8 rebounds a game.
Hill had 22 points and 9 rebounds while Tubby Smith was on hand to watch C-BIZ play personally. C-BIZ cruised to a 10+ point win.
2009 Intro: Daniel Miller
Miller will have to become more mobile but does have a ton of upside.
Updates From Abroad
I heard a couple of things from very good sources today.
DeAndre Liggins- will most likely be ruled eligible. Barring something crazy from the NCAA.
Jon Wall- I heard that Oklahoma St. is the most likely destination. This, like everything is subject to change, but please be prepared as this is a good possibility.
I am not the kind of person to post that this kid is going here or there, so please don't think that this is being posted for publicity. I was told this by multiple people that are connected throughout the recruiting world and I just thought that I would pass it along.
Some good action took place out at the Hoopfest today.
Harrison Barnes- had another big game today scoring over 30 points in a loss, Barnes was able to will the game to overtime but the Attack fell short. Coach Webster was on hand for the game.
We have a ton of stuff from the Hoopfest. I should have all day Monday to get some more stuff together. Cody Zeller is going to be a nice player. The whole Indiana Elite 15 and under team looks solid.
I have been attending the Hoopfest and working my other job all week, but I will get everything together as soon as I can. Thanks for stopping by it is really appreciated. If you ever need anything at all please e-mail us at alleyoopscoop@yahoo.com
Harrison Barnes day 2: Three UK coaches on hand for 2 games
Barnes was aggressive in the second half having multiple attempts from the line. With 6 minutes left Barnes hit a shot to make it 60-52, then a few moments later Zach Mcabe sank a bucket and the bonus to push the lead to 67-63. With 20 seconds left left Barnes nailed to more free throws that sealed the win.
After watching his All Iowa Attack team play 3 games and go 2-1. I have seen firsthand why there is so much hoopla surrounding the versatile young man. The final game was his best showing and his ability to shoot from long range was on display. With a couple of seasons left before he puts on a college jersey Barnes could put up numbers comparable to Beasley or Durant as a freshman.
The Kentucky Gators and Jacob Jenkins 101: From the 08' Hoopfest
We were in attendance as Coach Travis Durham and his Kentucky Gators took on Team Vigilance. I didn't see any of the UK or UofL coaches in attendance at this one although there were assistants from LSU, Nevada, Georgia, Miami of Ohio, and Tulane. Travis Ford was personally on hand for the game. On the surface the Gator team looked outgunned, but they proved to be a game foe and almost held on to the game.
At one point early on Jenkins missed a contested layup, but hustled and helped to trap on defense slapping the ball away and causing a ten second violation. With just under 6 minutes remaining in the first half Jenkins forced a carry. On the next possession after drawing the double team he kicked the ball out to a wide open Richard for a three.
(Coach Durham left, assistant Jeremy Buckman right)
Harrison Barnes at the Hoopfest
Harrison Barnes Finished the game with 13 points, at least 4 or 5 assists and a huge blocked shot. Teammate 6'8 Zach Mcabe added a game high 27 points as the Iowa Attack put on the cruise control and beat The Players 81-37. Barnes is a well rounded young man, very articulate as well. Barnes did not force the action and is a very team oriented player, but was clearly a cut above the other players on the court. After the game Barnes was kind enough to field questions from everyone.
Coach Cox was in attendance. I saw scouts from Duke, IU, Memphis and a slew of Mid Major programs.
We will have more from the Hoopfest over the next couple of days
Wildcat's assistant Jeremy Cox was kind enough to field a few questions
Some Watford News & Hoopfest Updates
I just got in from the Hoopfest and I have some updates for you guys. I will get an article or two together and hopefully can post at least one this evening. We saw Tubby Smith and had a chance to sit in on an interview with Coach Cox from UK. We have some photos of everyone as well. Tonight I will be at Louisville Male High School to watch UK target Harrison Barnes. We also got to speak with a few of today's top performers.
Thanks, as always for taking the time out of your busy days to stop by, it is appreciated.
Wildcat Hoops Targets: Summer Camp Updates
As the Summer Camp's go into full swing we have a couple of updates that were passed along to us.
1.Shawn Kemp has said that the three schools that he is currently interested in are Washington, UK and Georgia
I do know this the rumors of Golden's de-commitment have been around for some time and coincidently or not that's about the same time that Matta started to go after Anthony Johnson from Chicago very hard.What happened first is anyone's guess.
Both players are basically combo guards who may be more suited to play the 2 and it wouldn't make any sense to me for OSU to go after both,so either Matta was pro-active and started to go after Johnson or maybe Golden's recent drop in the rankings had Matta re-thinking the situation that maybe Johnson was a better fit and Golden caught wind of it an decided to open things up.
It very well may have been a mutual decision on both fronts and that is purely speculation on my part,but it would make sense OSU leads for Johnson at this point.
Tony Gonzalez saves a life & ingnites debate
When Kansas City Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez went to dinner last Thursday night, the last thing he expected to do was to brush up on his Heimlich maneuver skills.
2010 Prep Focus: Donnie Hale
Donnie Hale is a fast rising 2010 prospect playing for New Albany Bulldogs in New Albany, IN. Hale stands 6'7 and weighs 180 pounds. Five games into his sophomore season he was averaging 10 points, 9 rebounds and 5 block shots. Hale finished his sophomore campaign averaging 12 points, almost 7 rebounds and over 4 blocks per game. His Bulldog's squad finished with a 26-1 record but fell short of the class 4A title.
09' Football Update: The College of the Canyons Cougars Host a Pair of Talented UK Targets
UK recruit Ferguson aknowledges doubters
Jerry Tipton's most recent article:
Kentucky recruit Dominique Ferguson seemed to have a message on the T-shirt he wore under his jersey. “Cats are back,” it read.When asked about the T-shirt, Ferguson smiled self-consciously. It referred to his Bloomington (Ind.) Lawrence North team. He’s intent on restoring that program’s glory before moving on to UK in 2010.Ferguson acknowledged UK’s recent slippage when he said, “It’s better for me to come in and make us better.”Then he added, “I think they’ll be a lot better this year.”
Click Here for the full article
2009, Brings Plenty of Options for the Cat's
The 2009 class is seemingly on course to be among the top 10 nationally. With commitments from Jon Hood and G.j. Vilarino already lined up, the Cat's seem poised to make the leap from fringe recruiting classes to standing in the batters box with the rest of the titans.
The Cat's have made it clear that Jon Wall and Daniel Orton are the primary targets for the class. With Lance Stephenson having an outside shot to land in Lexington or Europe or the Military? The obvious needs for the Wildcat's are at the point and in the post. Here is a look at a couple more o9' players that the staff has been in contact with.
6'10- Center Anthony Borden is a compelling prospect that the staff has scouted. Borden has ideal size and decent post moves, however his fundamental skills do leave something to be desired. Borden is from West Memphis, Arkansas and has also received some interest from the Razorbacks as well. The odds of this kid being offered have to be slim, however the big fella could possibly contribute early in his college career. Borden averaged 16 points and 10 boards as a junior.
6'2 Combo guard Ramon Galloway is also another kid that the staff is keeping in contact with. The Palm Beach Gardens, FL native plays his AAU ball for the talent laden Florida Rams squad.
The Rams roster includes talented 09' prospect Rakeem Buckles. Matt Ramker the Program Director for the Florida Rams had this to say to floridahoops.com about the kids game:
"Galloway can play both guard spots effectively as he shoots with range, makes good decisions with the basketball, and can penetrate and make plays for others or himself."
The Kentucky Hoopfest is July 9-13 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in downtown Louisville. Eddie Ford puts on one of the best tournaments in the nation right here in our backyard. For more info click here
Ferrakohn Hall Mentions 3 Schools In July
Hall played his sophomore season for the Memphis University School in Memphis (TN), Where he and guard Elliot Cole led the MUS Owls to a state title. In the title game they defeated St. George’s at David Lipscomb University in Nashville 65-54.
Jon Wall Enjoys More Success + Ferguson & Jenkins Update
At the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions recently Wall continued his hot play adding another solid performance to one at the Pagnos Camp. Wall averaged over 24 points per game and was constant spark plug for his D1 sports club. Wall recently had this to say to scout.com about his recruitment process:
Trae Golden is Still on the Market
One time Kentucky target and one of the top players in the 10' class withdrew his verbal committment from Ohio State. The 6'1 Golden mentioned Florida State, Wake Forest and Georgia Tech and Georgia according to Evan Daniels of scout.com.
Sophomore Austin Rivers Commits to Florida & DeAndre Liggins Update
I was under the impression that college coaches had agreed to stop recruiting and pursuing high school underclassmen? However, I believe that the Florida offer had been on the table before the June 19 NABC statement.
On Wednesday night Austin Rivers the son of Boston Celtics coach Doc. Committed to play for coach Donovan and the Gators. Florida had been among a handful of schools with offers on the table for Rivers according to an interview in this past Monday:
"Florida, [Central Florida], and . . . I’m going to try to go visit Memphis, Kansas, and Texas."
So now that the NABC has asked coaches to stop recruiting underclassmen, I am assuming that the players who were offered before the June 19 statement are still "fair game" to pursue? I would like to see their be some kind of concrete ruling by the NCAA or another governing body of athletics. My point is that if Coach Gillispie has agreed to stop offering underclassmen and (for example) coach Donovan ignores the June 19 request and pursues kids, then the playing field will become a truly slanted one very quickly.
Rivers was Donovan's fourth commitment by a player who has yet to play his sophomore season.
http://www.kentucky.com/276/story/452125.html
Alex Schwartz interviewed Findlay Prep's Coach Peck in July of 08:
The graduating player that I discussed with Coach Peck is 6'6 guard DeAndre Liggins '08, a Kentucky-signee. Liggins' eligibility for next year is up in the air, so I inquired of Coach Peck whether or not his star senior had qualified, to which he told me: "We're still waiting to hear." Findlay's head man does not know when he will find out about the outcome of DeAndre's situation. The top-notch guard did receive his test scores and all the information is in the hands of the NCAA.
Braketology Updated in Mid - June
Joe Lunardi's Most recent bracketology has UK as a 9 seed, I know that this really doesn't matter at this point but it's fun to look at the projections
EAST (Boston)
Greensboro
(1) NORTH CAROLINA
(16) HARTFORD / Amer East
(8) BYU
(9) Ohio State
Miami
(5) DAVIDSON
(12) SIENA
(4) Marquette
(13) CORNELL / Ivy
Philadelphia
(6) Kansas
(11) Temple
(3) Michigan St
(14) MORGAN ST / MEAC
Philidelphia
(7) Tennessee
(10) Clemson
(2) Connecticut
(15) AMERICAN / Patriot
WEST (Arizona)
Kansas City
(1) MEMPHIS
(16) BELMONT / Atl Sun
(8) Southern Cal
(9) Syracuse
Portland
(5) Miami-FL
(12) Alabama
(4) GONZAGA
(13) SOUTH ALABAMA / Sun Belt
Kansas City
(6) Baylor
(11) CREIGHTON
(3) Louisville
(14) NEVADA / WAC
Portland
(7) Mississippi St
(10) UNLV
(2) UCLA
(15) CS NORTHRIDGE / Big West
MIDWEST (Indianapolis)
Dayton
(1) PITTSBURGH
(16) Play-in Game
(8) Virginia Tech
(9) Kentucky
Miami
(5) Villanova
(12) Dayton
(4) Oklahoma
(13) CLEVELAND ST / Horizon
Minneapolis
(6) West Virginia
(11) Missouri
(3) PURDUE
(14) KENT ST / MAC
Boise
(7) UAB
(10) Mississippi
(2) Arizona
(15) MT ST. MARY'S / Northeast
SOUTH (Memphis)
Greensboro
(1) Duke
(16) AUSTIN PEAY / OVC
(8) Georgetown
(9) XAVIER
Boise
(5) Arizona St
(12) UTEP
(4) Wisconsin
(13) STEPHEN F. AUSTIN / Southland
Minneapolis
(6) FLORIDA
(11) VCU
(3) TEXAS
(14) ORAL ROBERTS / Summit
Dayton
(7) Wake Forest
(10) St. Mary's
(2) Notre Dame
(15) UNC ASHEVILLE / Big South
Jajuan Spillman Busted... Again
Every time I look up I see this kid getting in trouble. This morning, with what had to be his last chance, Spillman got busted for DUI, possession of marijuana and was in possession of a 25 caliber weapon. Spillman (21) was pulled over for not having his license plate properly illuminated a little after 12 a.m. this morning.
On a side note: Rick Bozich reported today that Jordan Crawford will not be realeased to play for Kentucky. Bozich mentioned Xavier as a possible destination.
Bozich also reported that former IU guard Armahn Basset will most likely wind up at UAB playing for coach Mike Davis.
A Recruiting Retrospective, Tubby vs Billy G
Submitted by contributing writer Brad King
Scouring the Kentucky blogs, news sites, message boards today, it's hard to imagine that just 15 months ago those very media outlets were not concerned with the recruitment of 8th grade stand-outs or the eligibility of DeAndre Liggins. In fact, a commitment from Patrick Patterson seemed to be a long shot, Florida point guard Jai Lucas was considered the future of Kentucky's back court, and Joakim Noah was public enemy No. 1 . In the midst of all this, one central question remained at the heart of every Kentucky fan. Should Tubby stay or should he go?
Any UK fan observing this phenomena knows full well the arguments that seemed to go in circles. Tubby can't recruit. Tubby can't win close games. Tubby is lazy. Tubby can't develop talent. Kentucky basketball is slipping. Tubby can't recruit blue chip talent. The list goes on forever.
In his first season, Billy Gillispie was forced to go in to battle with a talent lacking, injury ridden roster that struggled to learn the new coach's system through out the season. However, due to the maniacal recruiting habits of Gillispie, his recruiting philosophy compared to Tubby Smith's is quite evident.
The most glaring difference between the two coach's recruiting approach is that Tubby Smith had a conservative and stringent recruiting policy. Gillispie, on the other hand, leaves no stone unturned. Rest assured, if there is a player out there that is good enough to play for Kentucky and has any interest in Kentucky, Gillispie will find him. And what does age matter? If the kid is good, the kid is good.
Tubby Smith's biggest strength was also his biggest weakness at the University of Kentucky. Loyalty. Where as Gillispie is locking up commitments 4 years in the future, Tubby Smith more often than not was left battling for late spring recruits in an effort to fill the gaps on the roster after holding out on his top prospects. Lukasz Obrzut, Bobby Perry, Shaggari Alleyne, Jared Carter, and Rekalin Sims were all spring pick ups for Kentucky. Uncoincidentally, the players that comprised these teams also contributed to 2 of the worst seasons in Kentucky's illustrious history.
This begs the question is Gillispie a better recruiter?
There is no doubt that Gillispie's wide net strategy to recruiting reaps rewards. Blue chippers such as such as DeAndre Liggins and Dominique Ferguson have committed to Kentucky due to that very philosophy. However, where as Tubby Smith was left with subpar talent due to procrastination, Billy Gillispie has now acquired seemingly subpar talent due to over-anticipation.
Of Kentucky's 7 future commitments from 2009 – 2012, 2 players remained ranked in the Rivals 150. When asked about Dakotah Euton's performance at the Bob Gibbon's Tournament of Champions, Rivals.com Justin Young said, “At this point, I can't see him starting for Western Kentucky.” Needless to say, not a very glowing endorsement from a national recruiting analyst.
KC Ross Miller, a player once thought to be the top point guard in the 2010 class when he committed to Kentucky, remains unranked by Rivals and Scout. KC does have an upside, whether he reaches the potential that the staff believes he has is a different question.
Michael Avery is so young that few have seen him play, and most that have, are skeptical that he will have the talent to play at the D-1 level. Known as a shooter at this point, and not much else.
GJ Vilarino 2009, unranked by Rivals and Scout. Yet, Vilarino is a speedy guard that can dunk the ball, which could be beneficial in his career.
Vinnie Zollo, while standing at 6'7 and having a size 18 shoe, the talent of Zollo is very raw at this point as expected for a freshman in high school. But will Zollo develop past that?
The point in all this is not to downplay the significance of Kentucky's commitments, but it's quite possible that the type of players that has doomed Kentucky in the past with Tubby Smith, could quite possibly doom Kentucky in the future with Billy Gillispie.
At the very worst, Kentucky's future commitments are role players, and there is nothing wrong with role players. Every team needs role players. Yet, a team of role players is nothing but prey for a team of All-Americans. From 2009-2012, it is essential that the staff fills in the gaps with blue chip type players or UK basketball could very well end where it ended as Tubby Smith departed.
While players such as Jon Hood and Dominique Ferguson are surefire impact players at the next level, the verdict is very much still out on Billy Gillispie and his recruiting. To this point, only Patrick Patterson and Alex Legion are the Gillispie recruited players to don blue and white. Legion split and Patterson was an established Kentucky target before Gillispie ever arrived on campus. Hence, Gillispie's talent evaluation is really yet to be seen.
How do you guys feel about this? We would love to hear your thoughts and opinions below.
