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Hoosier Hoops Report » Recent Posts http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/ Hoosier Hoops Report » Recent Posts en Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:51:37 +0000 Joey E on "Scout ’11: G/F Darrell McIntyre" http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=207#post-285 Sat, 24 Jul 2010 18:49:29 +0000 Joey E 285@http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/ <blockquote>Today I spent some time watching the Vegas of the Midwest event at the Fieldhouse in Fishers. The event wasn’t loaded with talent, but there were a few bright spots, including 6’2 Manual Senior Darrell McIntyre. He hasn’t played much AAU basketball, and was playing for a team recently assembled so that several IPS players could get a chance to play AAU. Position-wise he’s a shooting guard or small forward. The lefty’s biggest strength is definitely his athleticism. He finished several contested plays at and above the rim using athleticism and decent length. His athleticism also helps him to be a contributing rebounder from the 2/3 spot. He can shoot the ball very well from the mid-range, knocking down jump shots off the dribble and the catch and shoot. He was able to get to the rim well and finish with either hand. He’s got nice quickness which makes him a formidable defender, he just needs to keep the motor going every play. His biggest weakness has to be poor shot selection at times. He’ll try to dunk plays that could easily be converted as layups, and will occasionally shoot ill-advised jump shots. He’s not a big time three point shooter, but the great mid-range game makes his three point shooting look promising. He was able to get to the rim today, but he will need to continue to improve his handling to score off the bounce in college. I think the biggest thing for Darrell is to play with a big-time motor to match his big-time athleticism. Right now Darrell projects as a Low D1/High D2 player. His athleticism and shooting ability make him a viable D1 option, but his size may turn some suitors off. </blockquote> <a href="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/2010/07/scout-11-gf-darrell-mcintyre/">Scout ’11: G/F Darrell McIntyre</a> Joey E on "Recruiting 101: Beachem Holds High Major Offer" http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=206#post-284 Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:12:57 +0000 Joey E 284@http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/ <blockquote>V.J. Beachem is a 6’6 rising sophomore wing currently playing AAU basketball with All-Ohio Red. During the high school season, V.J. plays for Paul Harding High School in Fort Wayne, and averaged 12 points per game as a freshman in 2009-2010. “AAU has been going really well with All-Ohio Red,” Beachem said. “We went down to Little Rock, Arkansas for AAU Nationals, and it was a really fun experience. We came in second place down there.” V.J. most likely projects as a small forward or a big shooting guard. “I think my strengths are my ability to shoot, rebound, and handle the ball,” he said. “I’ve also got really good length.” Beachem is quick to note though that his game has room to improve. “My weakness right now are my strength and my defense,” said Beachem. “I’m working really hard to improve on my weaknesses and build on my strengths.” Beachem’s talents on the court have caused College coaches to take notice, earning interest from all over the country. “Purdue, Ohio State, Indiana, Xavier, Notre Dame, Illinois, Florida, and Syracuse are the schools recruiting me,” V.J. said. “Purdue is the only school to offer so far.” It’s early in the process, and Beachem doesn’t yet have a leader or favorite, and isn’t in a rush to make a decision. “Right now I’m not really leading towards any schools or coaches,” he said. “Right now I would like to make my decision before my junior season.” So far V.J. has taken visits to Purdue, Indiana, Ohio State, and Xavier. Beachem knows what he’s looking for in a college, and will use those factors to help him make a decision. “The three things that I look for in a college are a great academic background, a great coaching staff, and a place where I can play immediately,” the talented sophomore said. “Another thing I look for is a school rich in tradition.” Until the high school season starts in November, Beachem is working on his game and finishing up AAU play with All-Ohio Red. “From now until the school season I will work on every part of my game, and try to improve on my weaknesses.” </blockquote> <a href="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/2010/07/recruiting-101-beachem-holds-high-major-offer/">Recruiting 101: Beachem Holds High Major Offer</a> Joey E on "Recruiting 101: Griffin Makes the Call" http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=205#post-283 Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:57:54 +0000 Joey E 283@http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/ <blockquote>Wednesday morning was the start of the second evaluation period, but it also produced a commitment from an Indiana player. 6’5 Avon Guard Kendall Griffin Committed to Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. “Wright State just felt like the right fit. I was comfortable there. It’s close to home and with all my games in the Horizon League my family can come to most of them,” Griffin said. “I really value the education there as well.” Kendall chose Wright State over offers from Evansville, IPFW, Belmont, Northeastern, Eastern Kentucky and Florida Gulf Coast University. He also had interest from Ball State and Eastern Illinois. “I called Head Coach Billy Donlon and told him I wanted to commit to Wright State,” Griffin said of breaking the news. Wright State liked Kendall’s ability to hustle and play hard on both ends of the floor. “They really like how hard I work on both ends of the floor, they like that I can score in several ways, and they like how I play Defense,” Griffin said. “They said I can come in and work hard and have a chance to play early. Coach Donolon said he’s really excited to get to work with me,” Griffin said. “They want me to work on shooting the ball with more consistency.” Griffin also stars on the gridiron as a Wide Receiver for Avon’s football team. “I think once I’m done with football I’ll really be able to concentrate on basketball and improving,” Kendall said of working on his game. “I do plan on playing football this year though.” Is Kendall glad to be done with the recruiting process? “Yeah, it is a relief to commit to a school, but I did enjoy taking visits and comparing schools,” said Griffin. Kendall has plans for after basketball as well, and is thinking over his academic options. “I want to major in Chemistry or Bio Medical Engineering,” He said. “Eventually I want to go into Pharmacy, so once I’m done with my first four years I’ll have another two.” Kendall and his Spiece Select 2011 team open play today in Kansas City at the Hoop City Classic.</blockquote> <a href="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/2010/07/recruiting-101-griffin-makes-the-call/">Recruiting 101: Griffin Makes the Call</a> Joey E on "Recruiting 101: Osborne nets MAC offer" http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=204#post-282 Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:37:56 +0000 Joey E 282@http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/ <blockquote><img class="alignleft" src="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/OsborneNic.JPG" alt="" width="200" height="250" /> Nick Osborne is having a great summer playing AAU basketball with the Eric Gordon Central Stars 16u team. During the school year, the 6’8 athletic power forward plays for Muncie Central, but right now he’s focused on AAU basketball. Speaking of AAU season thus far, “It’s really good, I’m having a lot of fun,” Osborne said. Nick plays on a very talented team featuring versatile 6’7 wing Jeremy Hollowell, and lightning quick 5’9 point guard Ronnie Johnson. Nick holds down the paint for his team, defending the post and scoring buckets down low. “My strengths are my rebounding, physicality, my defense, finishing, and I’m a team player,” said Osborne. In watching Nick several times, I can attest that all those things are true. He’s a player who will really hustle and get after it to help lead his team to victory. He fights for a lot of tough buckets down low, and isn’t afraid to do the dirty work necessary for a win. Osborne isn’t quick to forget he still wants to expand his game however. “I need to work on my perimeter game,” he said. Osborne has shown the ability to knock down the mid range jumper, and expanding his game out to the 3 point line would add a versatile scoring punch to his arsenal. Nick’s talents on the court have begun to impress college coaches, leading to him being recruited by a number of schools. “I’m being recruited by Butler, Ohio, and Miami (Ohio),” said Osborne. “Ball State has offered me,” he added. Nick said he has taken unofficial visits to Ball State, Butler, Ohio, Iowa and Purdue. Although Ball State is his hometown school, Osborne has no leader or favorite right now. “I like all the coaches I’ve met with so far,” Osborne said of the schools recruiting him. Nick is unsure of when he will make his college decision. “I’m not sure yet, I’m just going to take my time and think it over with my family and take my time,” he said regarding a potential decision timeline. The earliest Nick could sign a National Letter of Intent is November of 2011, so he has plenty of time to think about his college decision and be recruited by new schools. When he does make his decision, Nick said a couple things will come into play. “The coaches, campus, the school’s academics, and my family”, Osborne said of the factors in his future decision. As Nick continues his play throughout the summer, expect for more offers to come his way. He’s had a good summer, and is showing coaches he’s fully recovered from a back injury he suffered during the high school season. The Eric Gordon Central Stars 16u team is set to play in Las Vegas starting Thursday. They’ll be participating in the Adidas Super 64 Invitational.</blockquote> <a href="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/2010/07/nick-osborne-enjoying-summer-and-talking-recruiting/">Recruiting 101: Osborne nets MAC offer</a> Joey E on "Cody Zeller’s Dunk at the Adidas Invitational" http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=203#post-281 Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:49:56 +0000 Joey E 281@http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/ <blockquote>Here’s a nice dunk we recorded from the Adidas Invitational. Austin Etherington throws a great pass to Cody Zeller for a nice one-handed slam. Cody had a big tournament at Adidas, opening up with a 27 point performance in his first game. Cody’s showing the skill, athleticism, and toughness necessary to be a great big man. The school that lands him will be very fortunate and will be bringing in a big time player. Enjoy! <object width="425" height="344"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1t5qkyi7FvI&color1=d6d6d6&color2=f0f0f0&border=0&fs=1&hl=en&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&iv_load_policy=3&showsearch=0?rel=1" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <embed wmode="transparent" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1t5qkyi7FvI&color1=d6d6d6&color2=f0f0f0&border=0&fs=1&hl=en&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&iv_load_policy=3&showsearch=0?rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed> <param name="wmode" value="transparent" /> </object> </blockquote> <a href="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/2010/07/cody-zellers-dunk-at-the-adidas-invitational/">Cody Zeller’s Dunk at the Adidas Invitational</a> Joey E on "RJ Hunter Recruiting Update (Adidas Invitational 2010)" http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=202#post-280 Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:13:42 +0000 Joey E 280@http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/ <blockquote>I caught up with RJ Hunter after one of his games at the Adidas Invitational last week. I’ve watched RJ a couple times throughout the last 2 years, and I have to say his game is really expanding. When I first watched him as a freshman he barely stood 6 feet tall and didn’t do much other than shoot the ball. Well fast forward roughly 20 months and RJ Hunter has grown about 4 inches, added a dimension of toughness to his game, and improved his game off the bounce. Not only can RJ knock down the 3 pointer with consistency, but he’s shown the ability to take opponents off the dribble for buckets, and be a defensive pest using his length. His length also makes him a good rebounder from the guard spot, allowing him to impact the game when his shots aren’t falling. He still needs to add strength to his frame, but RJ has improved a lot since I first watched him as a freshman. Below is an interview I did with RJ, mainly concerning his experience in the recruiting process. Q: Can you describe the improvement of your game from a shooter to more of an all around player? A: It gets boring shooting all day, so I began to work on my rebounding and other things that can help me impact the game. Q: What schools have offered you scholarships? A: IUPUI, Cincinatti, and Oregon State. Oregon State just offered me yesterday morning. The other schools recruiting me are Michigan State and Michigan. Q: Do you have a timetable for your decision? A: No, I’m just taking it in right now and want to take visits. Q: What is it like with your dad (IUPUI Head Coach Ron Hunter) sitting there watching your games? Does it feel like he’s your dad or more of a coach? A: As I get older it feels like he’s more of a coach. He just lays off and doesn’t say as much these days. I look over there from time to time, just to see if he has stuff to say, so I definitely like having him here. Q: What does your dad tell you about the recruiting process? A: He just says take it in. He also says don’t get too cocky or confident with the coaches watching you. Q: When you see a coach there to watch you play does it excite you? A: Before the game yes, but I try to keep myself from getting too excited. Q: What would you say to one of these coaches if he asked you why you should play for him? A: I can shoot the ball, I can distribute, I just want to win, so I’ll do whatever to win. Q: When you do make your college decision, what’s going to come into the decision making process? A: The coach definitely, so if I love the coach I’ll probably love the school. Q: So your dad might have an advantage there? A: Yeah, definitely, but I do love Coach Cronin from Cincinatti, and Coach Beilein from Michigan, and Coach Izzo from Michigan State. Q: What does your dad say to you about potentially playing for him at IUPUI? A: We’ve had some serious talks about it, and we’ve joked about him buying me a car and stuff, but we do talk about it sometimes. I don’t want to say I’m definitely going to do it, but it’s up there in terms of my choices. </blockquote> <a href="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/2010/07/rj-hunter-recruiting-update-adidas-invitational-2010/">RJ Hunter Recruiting Update (Adidas Invitational 2010)</a> Joey E on "2010 IBCA Top 100 Showcase Notebook" http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=201#post-279 Tue, 13 Jul 2010 03:00:09 +0000 Joey E 279@http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/ <blockquote>The 2010 IBCA Top 100 Underclassmen Showcase brought out some of the top players and college coaches in the state. Some of the notable players attending the event were Washington’s Cody Zeller, Park Tudor’s Yogi Ferrell, and Hamilton Heights’ Austin Etherington. Some college coaches in attendance I saw were Indiana’s Tom Crean, Purdue’s Matt Painter, Butler’s Brad Stevens, IUPUI’s Ron Hunter, Ball State’s Billy Taylor, and several assistants from schools such as North Carolina, Purdue, Michigan, Illinois, Creighton, Ball State, and Evansville. Just as a disclaimer, there were plenty of other coaches that I’m sure I missed or failed to mention. Personally I really like this event because it focuses on Indiana High School basketball players, and gives the college coaches a chance to evaluate kids solely from Indiana. Below is my recap from today’s events. Cody Zeller (Washington)- Zeller certainly lived up to his recent North Carolina playing offer in front of North Carolina assistant coach C.B. McGrath. In the game I watched, Zeller had 14 points and 12 rebounds, not once even allowing an opponent to contest for a rebound. When Zeller goes up for a rebound, his combination of height, effort, hands, length, and athleticism make it an easy task most of the time. Outside of rebounding, Zeller showed the usual versatility in his offensive game. He slammed in two dunks (one an impressive poster quality reverse one handed jam), scored from second chance opportunities, and knocked down a few mid range jumpers as well. Defensively, there was just no one who could frustrate Zeller. Cody was dominant even against several opponents close to him in size, rejecting shots and giving up no room in the paint. Each time I watch Zeller, he solidifies his reputation to me as a player. We all know he needs to add strength, but his skill, motor, and versatility makes Zeller a big time player. Bryson Scott (Fort Wayne Northrop)- This was my first time watching Scott, and I was impressed. Bryson scored 14 points in the game I watched, but also had 22 and 23 in other games. I didn’t see him shoot a jump shot, but he didn’t even need to to be effective. The first thing that stands out about his game is his ability to get to the rim as a ball handler. He’s good tight handles and a nice first step that allows him to get by defenders. Once he gets by an opponent, he’s got the strength, craftiness, and body control to finish plays after contact. On three straight possessions Scott took an opponent to the rim and scored using either a contested floater or layup. He’s tough and strong, although his 6’1 170 pound frame could hardly be described as bulky. This ability to take opponents to the rim strong allows him many opportunities at free throws. Once at the line, Scott can knock them down at a proficient rate. One possession he had that really impressed me was when Scott fought for an offensive rebound and scored on a contested reverse layup. It’s hard for me to rate him as a defender or shooter at this point, but he didn’t play bad defense, and I didn’t see him shoot enough. Glenn Robinson Jr. (Lake Central)- This was my second time watching Robinson, and it was an impressive outing. The first thing that sticks out about Robinson is his explosive athleticism. Add in nice length and a great motor, and he throws down dunks that other players would normally lay in. He’s a good but not great ball handler, allowing him to get by most opponents and draw contact or score an easy two points. He’s got a nice stroke from the foul line, so if defenders are really hassling him he can score points one at a time. His length, athleticism, and motor also make him a good rebounder out of the backcourt. At 6’5 I see him as more of a small forward with the ability to slide over to the “2″ as his game becomes more skilled. He had my favorite play of the day when he grabbed an offensive rebound and came back up with a clean one handed slam over a defender. Brenton Scott (Fort Wayne Nothrop)- Brenton isn’t as heralded as his twin brother Bryson, but showed that he’s still got plenty of game. During one game I watched, he knocked down 3 three pointers in a 2 minute span. He’s definitely got the ability to take the ball off the dribble, but may not be quite as good of a handler as his twin. From what I watched, Brenton is a little more likely to look to set up opponents first off the dribble, whereas Bryson looks to score at the rack. He’s a smart passer, and has the ability to get teammates the ball in the right situations. V.J. Beachem (Fort Wayne Harding)- Beachem isn’t always the most productive player on the court, but he shows you those flashes that make you realize how good he could be. He’s 6’6, has great athleticism, great length, quickness, and is smooth with the ball in his hands. He still needs to improve consistency as a shooter, but you can see the potential from the tip of the game. Also, he needs to add strength as he is very skinny, but he has the kind of length that could make him a factor inside as well. His length and quickness allow him to project as a versatile defender, potentially able to guard the 2, 3, or even 4 with added strength. He’s a player that might not be as productive as others right now, but could become a standout basketball player in the state of Indiana. Alex Pritchett (Bedford North Lawrence)- Pritchett is a solid post player. He gets the ball on the block and uses a great arsenal of footwork and post moves to create separation from defenders. Today he showed a nice drop step and spin move in the low post. He’s very strong with the ball once he gets two hands on it. Once he gets separation from the defender he can score using the glass or a nice hook shot over his shoulder. Even if he misses the shot, he still looks good doing it. I didn’t get to see him shoot the ball much, so I can’t comment on his shooting touch outside the paint. He’s not the fastest guy on the floor, but he’ll hustle and run his hardest on both sides of the ball. He’s a rugged rebounder, and although he’s not a great leaper, he’ll out hustle less motivated players on the glass. Jeremiah Jones (Merrillville)- I only watched Jeremiah for one half, but I saw some nice things out of him today. What first stuck out to me was he was comfortable dribbling the ball to his right or left, not allowing his opponent to predict his next move. He wasn’t looking to shoot first, taking the ball to the rack and scoring in the paint. He took opponents off the bounce for a couple of baskets, and then slipped out past the defense to knock down a three pointer on one posession. I believe his best work is done when he creates off the dribble and cuts without the ball, leading to high percentage shots and using his athleticism to his advantage.</blockquote> <a href="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/2010/07/2010-ibca-top-100-showcase-notebook/">2010 IBCA Top 100 Showcase Notebook</a> Joey E on "Q&A With Yogi Ferrell (Adidas Invitational)" http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=200#post-278 Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:22:49 +0000 Joey E 278@http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/ <blockquote>I recently caught up with Yogi Ferrell at the Adidas Invitational. He updated me on several things, such as the schools recruiting him, his game as a player, and a timetable for his college decision. Yogi is one of the top point guards in the country, and is showcasing a complete game with the ability to defend, score, and distribute. Q: How do you see yourself as a player, and why do you think a college coach would want you to be his point guard? A: I can lead the team and get guys the ball where they need to get it. When I play with specific guys, I know who can do what on the court. Q: You seem to have improved your confidence and consistency in shooting the ball, is that something you’re really working on? A: Most definitely, a point guard has to be able to shoot, and that’s one of the main things that I have been working on. Q: As a point guard, does it make it easier playing with big guys like Marshall Plumlee and Cody Zeller? A: Yeah, it makes it much easier, because I can just penetrate and I know they’re going to be on either block, and I can just kick it to them where they finish well. Q: What’s the team goal or mantra as you guys keep playing through the summer? A: Really just to win, just win everything we can. We want to come together as a team and share the ball. Q: With national sites like Rivals and Scout ranking you pretty high in their new national rankings, does that excite you? Do you check out the rankings? A: I do look at those, and when I get out I want to play well and keep my ranking high. Q: What colleges have offered you scholarships so far? A: IU, Illinois, Butler, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Purdue, Washington, Virginia, Michigan, and Florida. Q: Is there anyone on top, or a list of favorites for you? A: Not right now I don’t. Q: What school is recruiting you the hardest so far? A: Michigan. Q: What does Austin (Etherington) say to you at all about IU? Does he try to give you the pitch to come to Bloomington? A: Yeah, he really tries to. Q: What’s a realistic time frame for you for a college decision? A: After next summer, so heading into my senior year of high school. Q: When you sit down and make that decision, what are going to be the most important factors? A: Knowing that when I come in as a Freshman that I can start. I’ll see who is coming in before and after me to that school. I also want to play with a good team and play for a coaching staff I feel comfortable with. Q: Do you notice all these coaches out here when you’re doing warmups or when you’re on the bench? A: Not really, I try to not worry about the coaches being here, I just want to get out there and play. </blockquote> <a href="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/2010/07/qa-with-yogi-ferrell-adidas-invitational/">Q&A With Yogi Ferrell (Adidas Invitational)</a> Joey E on "NWI Division One Tournament Day 1 Recap" http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=199#post-277 Fri, 09 Jul 2010 23:49:15 +0000 Joey E 277@http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/ <blockquote>After a long 3 days at the Adidas Invitational, I decided I hadn’t had enough basketball and headed up to Higland for a weekend long event. The two Indiana teams I watched tonight were Spiece Indy Heat 17U and Eric Gordon 15U. Here is a recap of tonight’s events. It was a tough night for Spiece as they lost two games, one to the Franchize All-Stars, and the other to the Illinois Wolves. Eric Gordon on the other hand got a tough victory over a great Meanstreets team. (2013) Anthony Johnson Eric Gordon 15U- Anthony had a huge performance in a 5 point win over Meanstreets 15U. He scored 26 points, knocking down 6 three pointers and scoring a few more points in the lane. He just wasn’t missing from behind the arc, and hustled to earn points in other ways. Anthony is a 6’2 guard at Warren Central High School. I’ll definitely keep an eye on him the rest of the weekend. (2011) Nic Moore Spiece Indy Heat- Nic had a big night tonight, scoring 14 and 20 in his two games. He knocked down the three ball with consistency and showed the ability to get into the lane and draw fouls. He’s a great shooter, but Nic looks for open teammates and will make the smart pass to set up easy baskets. He also possesses a nice mid range game and uses that to score as well. (2012) DeJuan Marrero Spiece Indy Heat- Marrero worked hard today, something he always does. If there’s a player that works as hard as Marrero, tell me about him and I’d love to watch him. He’s been knocked for being a one dimensional (offensive rebounder/put back machine) offensive player, but tonight he did show a few nice moves off the dribble. He had a great move where he blew by a defender to his right, and then spun left finishing off the glass with his left hand. Even at 6’5 he’s still a great rebounder, and if he can take opponents off the dribble consistently, he’ll become an even more productive player. (2013) Basil Smotherman Eric Gordon 15U- Basil only scored 4 points tonight, but both of his buckets were key to his team’s victory. Basil grabbed a defensive rebound and then took the ball coast to coast for a layup with less than two minutes to go. He also knocked down a deep jumper late in the game to help keep the momentum going for Eric Gordon. He didn’t have the best night shooting the ball tonight, but Basil made a few plays to help his team win. (2013) Devin Davis Eric Gordon 15U- Devin had a great night tonight, doing a little bit of everything to help his team win. He tallied 8 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and a blocked shot. Devin scored two buckets off the dribble and knocked down four free throws to earn his 8 points. While he didn’t have a huge scoring performance, Devin had a nice all around game and contributed to a great win for his team. (2012) Austin Burgett Spiece Indy Heat- Austin showcased his ability to knock down three point jumpers tonight, hitting four in his first game. He’s got a nice skill set for a big man, but he tends to float on the three point line too much at times. Burgett is at his best when he plays the game in the post and is able to slip out past the defense to knock down a few jumpers. He scored 12 and 6 in two games today. (2012) AJ Hammons Spiece Indy Heat- AJ got caught in traffic and was only to make it to the second game, but he showed some good things. He only scored 7 points, but he showed off nice footwork and post moves, something unique for a young post. He used a nice move in the post where he spins to the right of his defender and is able to create separation. I like the way he uses the glass to finish plays, making sure his shot has the best chance of going in. </blockquote> <a href="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/2010/07/nwi-division-one-tournament-day-1-recap/">NWI Division One Tournament Day 1 Recap</a> Joey E on "Adidas Invitational Day 2 Rundown" http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=198#post-276 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:34:01 +0000 Joey E 276@http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/ <blockquote>(2011) Cody Zeller Indiana Elite Team Indiana- Cody had another big day for Indiana Elite in two very important wins. He started off the day with a 16-point performance against the Riverside Hawks. Zeller imposed his will down low, scoring the majority of his points in the paint or at the line. Zeller was big defensively, blocking three shots and hustling on the glass. In his second game Cody scored 23 points in his second game, continuing his productivity. Roy Williams sat courtside for Cody’s games, so it will be interesting to see if North Carolina does indeed offer. (2011) Austin Etherington Indiana Elite Team Indiana- Austin brought a great all around game today, knocking down triples, grabbing rebounds, getting to the foul line, and setting up teammates. Austin knocked down shots off the catch and off the dribble, once again showing his ability as a shooter. One part of his game that I believe is really overlooked is his passing, as he looks to set up teammates and make the smart pass. (2011) Jeremiah Davis Indiana Elite Team Indiana- Jeremiah played better today than he did yesterday, attacking opponents off the dribble and knocking down tough buckets in the lane with both hands. Davis was also able to get to the foul line, where he is a reliable shooter. He did a nice job defending opponents, and has the strength to give smaller guards a tough time. Jeremiah needs to improve his shooting consistency, but it’s clear he is able to score buckets off the dribble. (2012) Ronnie Johnson Eric Gordon 16U- Ronnie continued his stellar play as a set up man, but also showed he is increasing his shooting consistency. He twice knocked down his patented left-handed floater, a shot many opponents aren’t expecting. Ronnie scored 10 and 8 points in his two games today. While he didn’t score a ton of points, Johnson showed his ability to set up teammates and knock down a few jumpers. (2012) Patrick Ingram Eric Gordon 16U- Patrick really stepped up his aggressiveness today, scoring 22 points in his first game of the day. He showed more willingness to take opponents off the dribble and was rewarded so by scoring tough buckets and getting to the foul line. He fought through fouls and physical defense to knock down a couple floaters and several contested layups. He’s capable of knocking down the mid range jumper, but still needs to work on expanding his shooting range out to the three point line. (2012) Jeremy Hollowell Eric Gordon 16U- Jeremy had a big time performance Wednesday night, scoring 24 points in a one point loss against dream vision. He knocked down 4 three pointers, and scored contested buckets at the rim. Plain and simple, when Jeremy’s aggressive, he can truly be unstoppable. Today was an example of how much potential Hollowell has, and how good he can truly be. (2012) RJ Hunter D3 Heat- Hunter played well today when I watched him, knocking down several triples and hitting mid range jump shots off the dribble. He also did a nice job of mixing it up down low, grabbing a few offensive rebounds and going up into bigger defenders. He had a couple nifty finishes at the rim, and scored 23 points in the first game I watched. It’s fun to watch RJ transform from just a shooter, into more of a complete player. (2012) Jacobby Bledsoe D3 Heat- Jacobby had a nice day shooting the ball, and is proving to be a reliable shooter. He did a nice job setting up teammates, but also isn’t afraid to take the ball to the rim himself. Although he only stands 5’9, Jacobby took the ball straight at the defense and scored in the paint on several possessions. When he’s knocking down jumpers he’s dangerous as a set up man or a scorer. (2013) Zak Irvin Eric Gordon 15U- Irvin had a nice showing today as he scored 14 points in the game I saw, doing a little bit of everything. He knocked down several mid range jumpers, scored from the free throw line, and made two very tough layups. His mid range game is great, especially for a player his age. Basketball fans often talk about the lost art of the mid range game, and quite frankly Irvin is an exception to that rule. Zak’s got great length, which helps him to rebound and defend at the shooting guard/small forward position. My best wishes go out to Zak as he went down with a concussion in today’s game. He’s doing fine, but will likely miss some games in the foreseeable future. (2013) Devin Davis Eric Gordon 15U- Devin is a player who does a little bit of everything, and does anything necessary to win a game. He grabbed offensive rebounds and scored on second chance opportunities, but also scored off the dribble and got to the foul line. Devin tallied 14 points, but also made his impact felt on the glass pulling down several rebounds and blocking two shots. His ball handling is becoming a strong point in his game, and as he continues to improve his shooting he’ll improve as a player. (2013) Collin Hartman Indiana Elite Stars- I’m just flat out impressed with Collin Hartman. He’s a 6’6 rising sophomore with the ability to handle the ball, shoot the ball, guard multiple positions, and is athletic enough to provide “wow” moments. Hartman had two games with 20+ points, and scored all over the court. He knocked down some three-point shots, but also drove to the basket and scored in the paint off the bounce. He does need to get a little bit stronger, but his ability is extremely impressive for a 15-year-old player. His best work is done when he attacks off the dribble and slips away from the defense on occasion to knock down the deep jumper. </blockquote> <a href="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/2010/07/adidas-invitational-day-2-rundown/">Adidas Invitational Day 2 Rundown</a> Joey E on "Adidas Invitational Day 1 Rundown" http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=197#post-275 Tue, 06 Jul 2010 23:26:25 +0000 Joey E 275@http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/ <blockquote>After a long day of basketball, we aren’t even half way done with the Adidas Invitational. If we’re talking Indiana kids, the star of today’s show was Cody Zeller. He was huge in helping Indiana Elite in a victory over two nationally talented teams. Below is a summary of today’s action. (2012) RJ Hunter D3 Heat- RJ left the morning game in the second half with an illness, but not before he made his presence known. RJ was showing off his mid-range jump shot this game, knocking down several intermediate jumpers. He showed a couple nice moves with his back to the basket, even nailing a mid-range fade away. Hunter made his presence known on the defensive end, blocking two shots and using his length to play solid man-to-man defense. In his second game he knocked down 6 three pointers, showing off his shooting touch. His ball handling is really improving, and while he does need to add strength, he’s proving to be more than just a shooter. (2012) Jacobby Bledsoe D3 Heat- Bledsoe is a quick 5’9 point guard with the ability to knock down the 3 pointer at a high rate. He’s a good ball handler and is quick enough to break down defenses and find teammates for open buckets. Sometimes he can force the issue, but his ability to create for teammates is good. You can tell the point guard was missing superstar teammate Gary Harris who’s at the King City Classic in Ohio. (2012) Jeremy Hollowell Eric Gordon Central Stars- Hollowell showed me something a little different in today’s early game, earning several of his 15 points on second chance points. He used his length to grab offensive rebounds and convert on second chance opportunities. In his second game of the day Jeremy was successful scoring off the bounce and showed off his athleticism on several nice finishes. For Hollowell the key is to play his game, and be aggressive in every outing. (2012) Ronnie Johnson Eric Gordon Central Stars- As I continue to watch Johnson, the more I believe he’s an undervalued player. He lacks ideal size at the point guard (5’9) position, but makes up for it with blazing speed, extraordinary passing and vision, and an improving jump shot. In his morning game Ronnie knocked down 3-5 three pointers, and showed that he shouldn’t be left open. His passing is really off the charts, throwing passes that most people don’t see coming. Defensively he does well at this level, but will need to improve his strength to handle bigger guards at the college level. (2012) D.J. Ballentine Eric Gordon Central Stars- D.J. played well today, consistently knocking down three pointers and mid-range jump shots, scoring 18 points. He’s a point guard but plays more of an off the ball role when playing with Ronnie Johnson. When he had the ball, D.J. showed the ability to break down the defense and set up teammates for easy baskets. He’s not quite as quick as Johnson, but is a better shooter and is a little bigger. (2012) Nick Osborne Eric Gordon Central Stars- Plain and simple, Nick Osborne produces on the glass and in the paint. Nick showed today that he’s a solid offensive rebounder, and will fight for any offensive rebound and turn it into two points. He’s got great athleticism, and the motor to be a great rebounder. His offensive game is still pretty raw, although he can knock down the short to mid range jump shot. They key for Osborne is to expand his offensive game and continue to get stronger. (2012) Patrick Ingram Eric Gordon Central Stars- Ingram is a top shelf athlete, but is beginning to show improvement in various parts of his game. Today Patrick showed he is expanding his shooting game, knocking down a couple mid range jump shots off the bounce. He showed the ability to cut and move without the ball, scoring some easy baskets as a recipient of great passing. Several mid major schools (including St. Louis and Southern Illinois) have offered scholarships, and expect more offers to go his way as he expands his game. (2011) Cody Zeller Indiana Elite Team Indiana- Zeller may have had the performance of the day in a 27 point outing against Dream Vision from Las Vegas. Zeller showed off the complete offensive package by knocking down mid range jumpers, getting to the line and converting, and scoring on second chance opportunities. In his second game, Cody also played big (18 points). He helped lead his team to an 11-point comeback win over the Dallas Mustangs. Cody also hustled on the defensive end, pulling down boards and blocking a few shots. Zeller played extremely tough today, and as he gains strength his game will only continue to improve. (2011) Marshall Plumlee Indiana Elite Team Indiana- Plumlee was very tough today, blocking shots and pulling down loads of rebounds. Plumlee plays very hard and will hustle for rebounds on every possession. He had a few nice offensive moves, including a nice hook shot, showing flashes of what could be a very good post player. His athleticism helps him to score around the rim, as he threw down several impressive dunks. He needs to gain more strength, as he is rather slender, but you can see the potential in Plumlee’s game. (2012) Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell Indiana Elite Team Indiana- Ferrell had limited minutes coming off the bench in his first game, but was in the game at the end, which is all that matters. Ferrell came up with a big steal to set up a Marshall Plumlee basket, putting Indiana Elite up 5 points. This big play by Ferrell helped seal the deal in an Indiana Elite victory over Dream Vision. Ferrell knocked down a few jump shots and helped his team win the game, which is all you can expect from your lead guard. In his second game Ferrell played quite a few more minutes, and had a huge impact on the game. He, along with Zeller and Etherington were huge in the comeback win for Indiana Elite over the Dallas Mustangs. He played solid defense on the opposition, and knocked down 2 key three pointers down the stretch. (2011) Austin Etherington Indiana Elite Team Indiana- Austin struggled in his first game of the day, scoring 0 points, but came back with a big 18-point performance in the night game against the Dallas Mustangs. Etherington knocked down 3 three pointers and hit at least 6 free throws. If the right plays are run for Etherington, he has the ability to knock down jumpers from all over the court. Don’t sleep on him off the dribble, as he’s able to pull up and knock down the j, or draw the foul and get to the line. (2012) Hanner Perea Indiana Elite Team Indiana- Perea continues to impress as he shows that he might be the most athletic player in the country. I counted 5 dunks in one game before he went down with an ankle injury. On three straight possessions Perea had a put back dunk off a teammate’s missed jumper. Athletically he’s really in a class of his own, blocking shots and throwing down dunks game after game. His offense is solely predicated on athleticism, and if he were able to improve his ball handling or shooting, he would be an even more dangerous player. (2011) Chane Behanan Ohio Basketball Club- Chane is an out of state player, but with IU and Purdue involved with him I wanted to watch him and see how he plays. Chane is an undersized power player who is very productive. He does a great job of getting to the foul line, and has a nice free throw shot once he gets there. He’ll scrap and fight for any offensive rebound, allowing him plenty of second chance points. Chane had an impressive possession where he grabbed a loose ball at half court and threw down a nice one handed slam with a defender trailing. I think that Behanan needs to polish his offensive game a little bit, but he’s got nimble feet and good hands, giving him the potential to be a good post scorer, even at the “short” height of 6’6. </blockquote> <a href="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/2010/07/adidas-invitational-day-1-rundown/">Adidas Invitational Day 1 Rundown </a> Joey E on "Hollowell Fielding New Calls and Interest" http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=196#post-274 Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:05:57 +0000 Joey E 274@http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/ <blockquote><img src="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/HollowellJeremy.JPG" alt="" width="200" height="250" /> When the June 15th contact period opened up, it was only a matter of time before Lawrence Central star Jeremy Hollowell received interest from new schools. Before this period it was well known that the 6’7 wing player was offered scholarships by, Ohio State, Lousiville, Indiana, Tennessee, and several other high major schools. I caught up with Jeremy and asked him about the new schools recruiting him. Since the contact period opened up in mid june, 6 new schools have contacted Hollowell. He hasn’t added any offers, but schools are showing strong interest in him. “Wake Forest, Dayton, Florida, Michigan, Miami (FL), and Southern Illinois are new schools that have called,” said Hollowell. Hollowell recently went on an unofficial visit to Dayton, where he played in an open gym with several AAU teammates. Although he likes the schools that were recruiting him before the open contact period, Hollowell was excited to here from several new schools. “I was real excited when Wake Forest, Florida, and Michigan called,” Hollowell said. “Because it was the head coach calling.” In case you aren’t up to date on the current head coaches of those schools, that means he talked to Jeff Bzdelik of Wake Forest, Billy Donovan of Florida, and John Beilein of Michigan. <div>As the summer rolls on, Jeremy will be playing with his Eric Gordon Central Stars AAU team. They open up July play in the Adidas Invitational, held at several Indianapolis schools, including North Central. The scouting report on Hollowell is that he’s a versatile small forward with the ability to change the game in many ways. He can shoot the three, score out of the post, or take the ball off the dribble for a bucket. He makes a difference on the glass and is a versatile defender, able to guard 3 positions on the court. Below is a video of Jeremy from some recent summer games.</div> <div></div> <div> <object width="425" height="344"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/K5N37bu2nbQ&color1=d6d6d6&color2=f0f0f0&border=0&fs=1&hl=en&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&iv_load_policy=3&showsearch=0?rel=1" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <embed wmode="transparent" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/K5N37bu2nbQ&color1=d6d6d6&color2=f0f0f0&border=0&fs=1&hl=en&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&iv_load_policy=3&showsearch=0?rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed> <param name="wmode" value="transparent" /> </object> </div> <div></div> </blockquote> <a href="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/2010/07/hollowell-fielding-new-calls-and-interest/">Hollowell Fielding New Calls and Interest</a> Jim R on "USSFA: Hamilton Southeastern" http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=195#post-273 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 10:48:47 +0000 Jim R 273@http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/ <blockquote><img alt="Gary Harris" src="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/HarrisGary.JPG" title="Gary Harris" class="alignleft" width="200" height="250" />It’s only June, but Hamilton Southeastern is laying the foundation for a strong 2010-2011 season. After winning their first sectional in school history in 2009, the loss of their best player Charlie Duffy didn’t dampen spirits heading into the 2010 season. Gary Harris was a big part of that, but winning the toughest sectional in the state, according to the Sagarin Ratings, isn’t an easy task. Harris was impressive this past weekend, and it was more than just the display of his physical talents and scoring ability. It was about leadership and decision making. At 6’4” he has the skills to play the point, and while HSE also has Jacoby Bledsoe, there are many key possessions in a game where the offense doesn’t just end with Harris, it begins with him too. It doesn’t hurt to have another wing who has earned high major offers from Indiana and Illinois, Zak Irvin. The 6’4” sophomore played all JV last year, and thus far has stepped into a bigger role on the varsity with flair. Finishing strong in transition, Irvin has also shown consistent 3pt range and a great mid range game. He doesn’t rebound with the tenacity that Harris does, but he make plays on both ends due to his length. Bledsoe showed an improved jump shot this past weekend, and for the most part, he does initiate HSE’s offense. Quick with the ball, he’s usually keenly aware of where Harris and Irvin are. He had some tough possessions late in games on Sunday, which was bracket play, where he put himself in situations he just isn’t strong enough to succeed at yet, mostly handling double teams. Defensively he’s quick, and while he is undersized at 5’7”, he does play with toughness. Oddly enough, aside from finding depth, an X-factor to their success next year could be the play of Randy Gregory. A tremendous athlete, the 6’5” power forward has committed to play football at Purdue as a defensive end. When he’s active, he’s a presence on the board, but this past weekend there were long stretches as he got tired where he watched. There isn’t much size on that roster, and what length they have is in the form of perimeter types like Harris and Irvin. Of course, in the final few minutes against Bloomington South in the championship game on Sunday, Gregory showed what he could do, affecting plays on both ends with his athleticism and energy. </blockquote> <a href="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/2010/06/ussfa-hamilton-southeastern/">USSFA: Hamilton Southeastern</a> Jim R on "USSFA: Carmel" http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=194#post-272 Tue, 29 Jun 2010 14:41:49 +0000 Jim R 272@http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/ <blockquote>It was definitely a “get to know you” week at Carmel. Five days and two practices into their new coach, Scott Heady, Carmel was on the floor competing for the first time for their new coach. The wake of the public off court issues that dogged the program late last season continues on in the court system. All players suspended and/or expelled were seniors, so on the court, the program has moved on. The big name player is AJ Hammons, and while most defenses focused on collapsing on him this past weekend, Hammons played the role of a distributor. He still needs to play with a more consistent motor, but when he does, he’s a high major talent. His body has changed a great deal since coming to Carmel, and as he puts on muscle weight and starts to carve out space, he could be a man child even on Carmel’s schedule. Carmel rotated 14 players all weekend, even in bracket play, subbing four to five guys at a time at almost every rotation. It’s hard to tell who will get a bulk of the minutes this winter aside from Hammons, but Ben Gardner and Josh Baldridge will likely anchor the back court as they did down the stretch for Carmel last year. The two biggest benefactors of the coaching change will be Alec Peterson and Matt Howard. Both senior front court players, both were mostly bypassed squeezed between a senior class that had struggled to win big games and sophomores that were mostly football players than basketball players. Peterson is a 6’10″ center, who has developed a strong low post game, but is skilled enough to play from the mid and high post alongside Hammons. Howard is a 6’5″ perimeter forward, who is probably the best shooter in the program. Wing Ruben Warshawsky and forward Shawn Heffern, both juniors, looked good during the weekend too. Carmel is actually blessed with a number of strong shooters to surround its size inside, including junior Sam Curts, who gained a lot of extra varsity time late last year, and senior guard Mark Fennerty. Still to be determined is if Coach Heady’s step son, Clayton Sanders, will be making the move over from Mount Vernon. Along with his younger brother, both played for Mt. Vernon this past weekend in this USSFA summer shootout. </blockquote> <a href="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/2010/06/ussfa-carmel/">USSFA: Carmel</a> Joey E on "Basil Smotherman Video" http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=193#post-271 Tue, 29 Jun 2010 14:04:19 +0000 Joey E 271@http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/ <blockquote>Below is recent video of Basil Smotherman from several summer games he played with his high school team. Basil is an athletic shooting guard with soft shooting touch. His ball handling is improving, but still needs to get better so he can score in other ways if his shot is not falling. Basil plays sound defense and uses toughness when guarding his man. He’s already a very good player as a rising sophomore, and it’s fun to think about how good he could get over the next 3 years. <object width="425" height="344"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-y69VtdDQvw&rel=1&color1=d6d6d6&color2=f0f0f0&border=0&fs=1&hl=en&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&iv_load_policy=3&showsearch=0" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <embed wmode="transparent" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-y69VtdDQvw&rel=1&color1=d6d6d6&color2=f0f0f0&border=0&fs=1&hl=en&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&iv_load_policy=3&showsearch=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed> <param name="wmode" value="transparent" /> </object> </blockquote> <a href="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/2010/06/basil-smotherman-video/">Basil Smotherman Video</a> Jim R on "USSFA: Bloomington South" http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=192#post-270 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 08:34:31 +0000 Jim R 270@http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/ <blockquote><img alt="Dee Davis" src="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/DavisDee.JPG" title="Dee Davis" class="alignleft" width="200" height="250" />The offseason is looking a little different than what South fans and those who follow high school basketball closely in the summer thought it would be. Gone is Matt Carlino, whose ‘commitment’ to Indiana University and subsequent move to Bloomington “to get familiar with the community” ended in the spring with an early graduation from South and a commitment to UCLA as a 2010 prospect. Absent has been TJ Bell, the 6’8″ junior enigma, who moved into Bloomington last year to reside with his AAU coach (family friend). Bell’s presence was much discussed over the weekend, and one very reliable report said his former school in Charleston, Illinois, had requested his transcript. In any transfer there is a lot of paper shuffling behind the scenes. Soon thereafter was a Tweet that his guardian/AAU coach said the report of Bell’s departure is premature, and that he would be back at South next week. Reportedly, that has been Bell’s position all summer. As of yet, no show. Despite a strong spring thus far, his play during the school season was less than spectacular and rather uninspiring. Talented for sure, but it takes more than talent to earn time at Bloomington South and compete in Conference Indiana. I’m sure Coach Holmes would say to focus what he does have, and the cupboard is far from bare. South still boasts one of the state’s best backcourts. It’s anchored by Dee Davis and Spencer Turner. The senior duo have been varsity performers since their freshmen year. This past weekend they looked like a team that didn’t miss the pretentious Carlino or Bell. Davis had stretches where he dominated play on both ends. He’s gnat guarding the ball, and while he’ll reach and lunge a bit, he’s quickly back in the play. His outside shooting has improved, and he gets to the lane with ease. The Xavier recruit is easily one of the funnest players to watch play, as he rarely plays devoid of the energy it takes to win. Turner looked like his old self this past weekend. He’s always going to be a player who thrives getting shots off screens over creating his own shot, but he’s intelligent off the screen, and playing with players who deliver the ball where and when the pass needs to be, he’s a big threat. What he lacks in quickness he makes up for in strength. Considering how tight his defender has to close out on him, running him off the 3pt line still gets most defenders at his hip as he drives. I can’t say I’ve ever seen him miss a FT. It’s happened. I just haven’t seen it. Desmond Marks will see a greater role this year. The graduation of Erik Fromm to Butler and the absence of Bell means Marks has been “it” in terms of inside presence. He’s physical and intelligent, and with a big body and great hands, he can make plays. He has 3pt range and good footwork around the rim. As well as Bloomington South played, they do have fewer play makers, and that will make a difference during the season as teams rely heavily on scouting. They will find and/or develop other role players, and if Bell does return, if he’s motivated they could challenge again come March. They struggled with Hamilton Southeastern’s quickness, and their win over Carmel in the semi-finals came against a team that rotated 14 player regularly with a coach who had been on the job for three days. Still, it’s good to see how hard South competes and the pride the players they do have take in their program and winning games in June. Edit: I still call Desmond Marks, Desmond Stephens for some reason. </blockquote> <a href="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/2010/06/ussfa-bloomington-south/">USSFA: Bloomington South</a> Jim R on "HSE wins Indiana Shootout" http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=191#post-269 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 00:13:44 +0000 Jim R 269@http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/ <blockquote><img alt="Gary Harris" src="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/HarrisGary.JPG" title="Gary Harris" class="alignleft" width="200" height="240" />An event previewed Friday, it was done with a picture of Gary Harris. It was a harbinger of things to come. Hamilton Southeastern won the Indiana Shootout with a 66-63 win over Bloomington South. While Gary Harris wasn’t the most impressive performer in the championship game in Hamilton Southeastern’s win over Bloomington South, he was certainly impressive as a whole throughout the weekend. He had help in sophomore wing Zac Irvin. Harris, an incoming junior, means for two years HSE boasts two of the best wings in the state, and on Sunday with impressive wins over Cathedral, Ben Davis, and Bloomington South, they staked their claim as one of the top teams in 4A for 2010-2011. To get to the finals, HSE nipped Ben Davis by two, as Gary Harris picked Harry Wills with less than four seconds on the clock, finishing with the game winning dunk at the buzzer. The dramatic win capped off a 17 point performance for Harris. Irvin chipped in 16. Bloomington South had an interesting win over Carmel. Trailing by 22 points early in the second quarter, Carmel chipped away and trailed by just eight at the half. They narrowed the deficit to three at the end of the three and had two brief leads in the fourth quarter. They were unable to turn the corner, and South had a nine point stretch between the two and one minutes marks. South won by nine, but Carmel has had two practices with its new coach, played all 14 players on their bench in a regular rotation, subbing five in and out at a time. Davis and Spencer Turner led South to the win. North Central followed a 10 point loss to Cathedral in pool play on Saturday by dominating the B bracket on Sunday, stomping Lawrence 80-59 in the B bracket final. As the week goes on we’ll have reviews of the top teams and players in this event. Spending all of our time at North Central and Carmel, we didn’t get to see action at Warren. If you missed the earlier post by Joey Eberhardt and his video of Gary Harris, <a href="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/2010/06/gary-harris-ussfa-indiana-shootout-video/">check out this link</a>, and know there is more video to come. </blockquote> <a href="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/2010/06/hse-wins-indiana-shootout/">HSE wins Indiana Shootout</a> Joey E on "Gary Harris USSFA Indiana Shootout Video" http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=190#post-268 Sun, 27 Jun 2010 19:18:15 +0000 Joey E 268@http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/ <blockquote><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Cqs9c914yw"> <object width="425" height="344"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4Cqs9c914yw&rel=1&color1=d6d6d6&color2=f0f0f0&border=0&fs=1&hl=en&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&iv_load_policy=3&showsearch=0" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <embed wmode="transparent" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4Cqs9c914yw&rel=1&color1=d6d6d6&color2=f0f0f0&border=0&fs=1&hl=en&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&iv_load_policy=3&showsearch=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed> <param name="wmode" value="transparent" /> </object> </a> Gary had a good showing this weekend as he helped lead his team to the tournament championship. Gary’s shooting is really becoming a strong point in his game, and his ability to create his own shot is impressive. Let it be known that he’s playing on a “80-85%” ankle, and isn’t at full speed athletically. Even with an injured ankle, he’s still the most athletic player on the court in the vast majority of his games. His defense really impressed me this weekend, using his length to disrupt plays and create turnovers for his team. Gary’s play on the court has earned him a trip to the Lebron James Skill Academy in Ohio next week. </blockquote> <a href="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/2010/06/gary-harris-ussfa-indiana-shootout-video/">Gary Harris USSFA Indiana Shootout Video</a> Jim R on "NCAA out of touch with its latest panel on recruiting" http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=189#post-267 Sat, 26 Jun 2010 08:50:08 +0000 Jim R 267@http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/ <blockquote>Wall Street has proven you can’t legislate against cheaters. The NCAA is having the same problem. With NCAA coaches violating the simplest of contact rules, the NCAA in their infinite wisdom has decided to now try and restrict what can be conveyed during communications. <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/2010-06-24-ncaa-cabinet-recruiting-proposal_N.htm">According to the USA Today article written by Steve Wieberg</a>, “A proposed rules change drawn up by the Division I Recruiting and Athletics Personnel Issues Cabinet would prohibit verbal offers before the summer following an athlete’s junior year of high school — specifically before July 1. Prospects would have to have a five-semester academic transcript on file at their high schools.” I realize the difficulty in enforcing rules isn’t an excuse to not have rules or improve rules, but the NCAA in the last three years have essentially made middle school kids fair game to NCAA D1 coaches by designating them as “recruitable athletes”. So that means within what exists and what is proposed, it’s now possible for a program to recruit a kid as a 7th grader but not offer until he/she is a second semester junior. Forget the fact that this utterly defies logic. Let’s just focus on this latest proposal by itself. To those who do follow the rules, recruiting on the side of college as well as on the side of the prospect is a battle for hearts and minds. It’s also about creating relationships. I’m not sure the NCAA “intended” for its coaches to now be camped out at middle school games, which has happened in Indiana this year, but I’m also sure trying to squeeze every athlete into the same narrow recruiting window is fair, right or intelligent for those involved. Again, that paragraph referred to those who do and intend on following every rule. How is any rule the NCAA puts up going to stop the hearts and minds of prospects? They can only legislate the coaching side of this. They can’t legislate a prospect forming opinions as he goes through the recruiting process. To those who follow rules and are sincere about the process, the recruiting process is vital to making a decision. It’s vital on both sides. The relationship side of this takes time, and it builds over time. At some point an offer provides the next logical step. A lack of an offer also provides the meaning. It allows schools to differentiate themselves from others, and in some cases, it allows prospects to prioritize their time. This rule kills programs in non-high major conferences. Kids grow up wanting to play in the Big 10, the ACC, the Big East, etc, around these parts. During a recruiting process, some take it to extremes, “big timing” colleges in non-high major conferences. While it’s not the responsibility of the NCAA to keep parents and prospects grounded throughout the process, at some point now messages can be sent that an offer from a desired college may not be in the making. With a rule restricting when any offer can be made the prospect doesn’t get much of a sense of how serious any school is. There is a process in recruiting called “keeping him warm”. To those who are sincere and honest, it’s not the same as continuing interest or truly deciding between multiple prospects. To those who aren’t very sincere, it’s about stringing along a prospect in case some other guy doesn’t work out. In the battle for hearts and minds, kids get crushed in this process. Another thing the NCAA can’t legislate is a prospect committing to a college, and with the inability of NCAA coaches of commenting on unsigned players, it’s going to create a lot of confusion, if not problems. The recruiting process isn’t truly official until a letter of intent is delivered to the school signed by the prospect. Under the current rules, offers can be made, as well as commitments. Minds can also be changed on both sides. What the NCAA will find very difficult to enforce are “nudge, nudge, wink, wink” offers. They are also going to have a hard time dealing with prospects and those around them who misconstrue offers. In my capacity many times I’ve had to tell a college prospect if they aren’t sure they have an offer, they don’t. A hard line in the sane now complicates the issue. Remember, a battler for hearts and minds. Kids are going to want to commit, and they should be able. The NCAA would have no say in a family that decides they want their child to attend what college if that child wasn’t an athlete. Even with this rule they have zero jurisdiction on that decision, as well as how it is expressed. It’s also only a matter of time too where some prospect commits to a college trying to force that school’s hand. I’m not saying it will work, but someone will try it. There will be reports of a prospect committing. Families will report that offers were “promised” when Junior becomes a junior, and you’ll be knee deep in “he said, she said” commentary. There will be stories of kids committing to a university before they are allowed to get an offer, and with schools not allowed to comment on unsigned players, what is there really to report in terms of confirming or refuting whether an offer was made. There are instances now where that happens, just as their are instances of de-commitments where there is some question how serious either side was, terms of “soft offer” and “soft verbal” have now entered the lexicon. They’re not legitimate points of view in my mind, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen…a lot. A new rules such as this will squeeze everyone within the same timetable in each class, and in reality kids and their families go about this at different speeds. For some it starts early. For some it starts late. For some it finishes quickly. For others it lasts until the fall of their junior year. It’s never an easy process, and it only gets much tougher as you try to force offers to be delayed until after five semesters of high school. There is some security for those who have the luxury of the process starting early. DeShaun Thomas, for example, committed as freshman in high school. He has stuck to his word, and for him the recruiting process was relatively short and sweet. Was that too soon? Perhaps, but there are simple solutions to this process. Eliminate any and all contact with prospects who have yet to start their freshman year. The NCAA has dead periods which prohibit any face to face contact with prospects of all ages, even on the college campus. It’s not hard to say that applies 365 days a year for prospects who have not entered their freshman year. Additionally, no phone calls. No defined “recruitable athlete” by the NCAA, which was a ridiculous and short sighted rule to begin with. No elite camps. Better yet, no camps with high school aged camps at the same time. No hiding camps behind layers of links on a website, hoping only those you intend to see them will. Underage prospects can’t get free tickets from the college program for games, nor can anyone who would bring them. Since I have to report anyone I take to a college game, I assume that’s easy to monitor if done correctly. If they come to a game, they can’t visit the locker room after the game. Basically, all the truly nice things that can be done throughout the recruiting process that allows high school aged prospects to gather information and form relationships, don’t let THAT happen until they get to high school. Don’t lump all these prospects and coaches into the same grouping just because a handful of college football and basketball coaches decided to recruit and offer middle school kids. The NCAA continues to squeeze this process to death, and it really hurts kids who are underexposed. They also make it tougher on those who follow each and every rule to letter and intent of the rule. To a vast majority of the college coaching and recruiting population, the idea would be to NOT make it tougher for those who understand ethics and follow rules. The NCAA is the leader in throwing the baby out with the bath water.</blockquote> <a href="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/2010/06/ncaa-out-of-touch-with-its-latest-panel-on-recruiting/">NCAA out of touch with its latest panel on recruiting</a> Jim R on "Indiana USSFA Shootout this weekend" http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=188#post-266 Fri, 25 Jun 2010 22:22:24 +0000 Jim R 266@http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/ <blockquote><img alt="Gary Harris" src="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/HarrisGary.JPG" title="Gary Harris" class="alignleft" width="200" height="250" />Primarily at Carmel, North Central and Warren Central high schools, school teams from New Albany, East Chicago and all points in between match up for an AAU style event. Games start at 8:15am on Saturday morning at Carmel High school, 9:30am at North Central and Warren Central, finishing at all three locations with 6:30pm games. Sunday the varsity level teams play their bracket games at Carmel, starting at 8:30am, while JV and freshmen teams play at varied locations. Check the schedule linked below. <a href="http://www.indianaboysbasketball.com/">http://www.indianaboysbasketball.com/</a> The 8:15am early bird special has Lawrence Central vs. Noblesville at Carmel HS to start the day off right. For those a little hesitant to get up that early on a Saturday, assuming all high profile players are present this weekend, 9:30am at North Central starts with the host school playing Cathedral. That’s followed by Hamilton Southeastern vs. Marion at 11:00am. Southport vs. Kokomo moves the action back to Carmel at 12:30pm, where you can camp the rest of the day with the likes of Carmel, Bloomington South, Pendleton Heights, Carroll, Jeffersonville, East Chicago Central and Heritage Christian. Bracket play goes all day at Carmel on Sunday, but check the schedule for the age division you’re interested in.</blockquote> <a href="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/2010/06/indiana-ussfa-shootout-this-weekend/">Indiana USSFA Shootout this weekend</a> Joey E on "Devin Davis Video" http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=187#post-265 Tue, 22 Jun 2010 22:41:40 +0000 Joey E 265@http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/ <blockquote>This video was shot at a recent summer league. Devin is substantially improving his ball handling, and is beginning to knock down some perimeter jumpers. He plays with a great motor and will hustle for every rebound and loose ball. His ability to get to the rim also helps him to draw fouls and create free throw opportunities. <object width="425" height="344"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Z6d9kHQLUDI&rel=1&color1=d6d6d6&color2=f0f0f0&border=0&fs=1&hl=en&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&iv_load_policy=3&showsearch=0" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <embed wmode="transparent" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Z6d9kHQLUDI&rel=1&color1=d6d6d6&color2=f0f0f0&border=0&fs=1&hl=en&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&iv_load_policy=3&showsearch=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed> <param name="wmode" value="transparent" /> </object> </blockquote> <a href="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/2010/06/devin-davis-video/">Devin Davis Video</a> Joey E on "Avon Shootout 6-11-10" http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=186#post-264 Mon, 14 Jun 2010 18:39:32 +0000 Joey E 264@http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/ <blockquote>Friday night at Avon High School we got the chance to see several prospects play. Pendleton Heights, Avon, Terre Haute North, and Lawrence Central faced off in summer games. There were some pretty good players at this event, and below is who stood out. Below each blurb there is a highlight video of the players from the event. Justin Gant (2011) Terre Haute North- Justin had a good showing last night. He scored with his back to the basket, hit several jump shots, and took opponents off the dribble to score at the rim. He had strong hands in the post and used a nifty spin move to create separation and score. Justin looked comfortable handling the ball, occasionally taking his man off the dribble and scoring tough baskets at the rim. He hit several deep jump shots including a three, showing the ability to knock down the jumper when given the opportunity. He showed good athleticism when he got the open space to throw down some dunks, even slamming down a nice put back dunk off of a teammates miss. On the defensive end Gant rebounded the ball well and blocked multiple shots in the paint. Since he projects as a power forward in college he needs to improve his quickness some to defend the “4” at that level. <div class="tubepress_single_video"> Justin Gant Highlights (6-11-10) <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/UbGnZ302QpY?rel=0&autoplay=0&loop=0&egm=0&border=1&fs=1&showinfo=0&hd=1" style="width: 600px; height: 400px"> <param name="wmode" value="transparent" /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UbGnZ302QpY?rel=0&autoplay=0&loop=0&egm=0&border=1&fs=1&showinfo=0&hd=1" /> <param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /> </object> <dl class="tubepress_meta_group" style="width: 600px"> <dt class="tubepress_meta tubepress_meta_runtime">Runtime</dt><dd class="tubepress_meta tubepress_meta_runtime">1:48</dd> <dt class="tubepress_meta tubepress_meta_views">Views</dt><dd class="tubepress_meta tubepress_meta_views">236</dd> </dl> </div> <object width="425" height="344"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UbGnZ302QpY&rel=1&color1=d6d6d6&color2=f0f0f0&border=0&fs=1&hl=en&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&iv_load_policy=3&showsearch=0&feature=channel" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <embed wmode="transparent" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UbGnZ302QpY&rel=1&color1=d6d6d6&color2=f0f0f0&border=0&fs=1&hl=en&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&iv_load_policy=3&showsearch=0&feature=channel" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed> <param name="wmode" value="transparent" /> </object> Kellen Dunham (2012) Pendleton Heights- Kellen did a great job scoring the ball last night in both games he played. He knocked down several 3-pointers, used the bounce to score in the mid-range and at the rim, and drew fouls to get to the line. In the second game we watched, Dunham was 8-8 from the free throw line. He is becoming more and more comfortable handling the ball, and last night he showed the ability to take opponents to the rim and draw contact. His most impressive plays last night were when he broke down his opponent off the dribble and pulled up to knock down the mid-range jump shot. He has a pretty thin frame, but absorbs contact well despite it. He played tough defense all game long, denying them any easy paths to the lane. Kellen’s not afraid to mix it up down low, as he fought for several offensive rebounds and rebounded the ball well for his position. He’s not the greatest athlete, but he makes up for it with his smart play and tough demeanor. He needs to add some strength to his frame, which will help him become a better defender in college. <object width="425" height="344"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jXcPxP2NR8A&rel=1&color1=d6d6d6&color2=f0f0f0&border=0&fs=1&hl=en&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&iv_load_policy=3&showsearch=0" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <embed wmode="transparent" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jXcPxP2NR8A&rel=1&color1=d6d6d6&color2=f0f0f0&border=0&fs=1&hl=en&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&iv_load_policy=3&showsearch=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed> <param name="wmode" value="transparent" /> </object> Kendall Griffin (2011) Avon- Kendall didn’t have the best night shooting the ball, but he did convert a four-point play when fouled on a 3-pointer. What impressed me most about Griffin was his ability to get to the line and convert his free throws. Kendall did a nice job of attacking off the dribble, and that was what got him to the foul line. In his first game he shot 7-7 from the free throw line and was embracing the contact his opponents gave him. He mixed it up down low and pulled down some rebounds for his team on both ends of the floor. He played tough defense, and if he can shoot the ball well he is poised for a very productive summer. <object width="425" height="344"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LGqIIZxA67I&rel=1&color1=d6d6d6&color2=f0f0f0&border=0&fs=1&hl=en&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&iv_load_policy=3&showsearch=0" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <embed wmode="transparent" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LGqIIZxA67I&rel=1&color1=d6d6d6&color2=f0f0f0&border=0&fs=1&hl=en&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&iv_load_policy=3&showsearch=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed> <param name="wmode" value="transparent" /> </object> Austin Burgett (2012) Avon- Austin showed off his athleticism last night with several highlight reel dunks and some nice blocks. On two possessions he was able to beat his man on the baseline and finish above the rim. He had a couple nice drives with the ball, but at times looks a little uncomfortable handling the ball. Austin hit some jump shots last night, showing off nice versatility and the ability to score from all over the floor. I’d like to see him improve his ball handling since he’ll almost certainly play the “4” in college. I like his athleticism and shooting touch, but he does need to add strength to his thin frame. <object width="425" height="344"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-U6naYAcgZk&rel=1&color1=d6d6d6&color2=f0f0f0&border=0&fs=1&hl=en&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&iv_load_policy=3&showsearch=0" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <embed wmode="transparent" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-U6naYAcgZk&rel=1&color1=d6d6d6&color2=f0f0f0&border=0&fs=1&hl=en&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&iv_load_policy=3&showsearch=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed> <param name="wmode" value="transparent" /> </object> Jared Drew (2012) Lawrence Central- Drew was probably the most athletic player I saw last night. He did a nice job of attacking the rim off the dribble and scoring at the basket. He may have had the play of the night with a nice drive and dunk over a defender. Jared also got to the line several times and was able to knock down his free throws. His shot is inconsistent, but he knocked down several 3’s last night including a deep shot late in the game to bring his team within two. At 6’5 his length and athleticism give him good potential on the defensive side of the ball. </blockquote> <a href="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/2010/06/avon-shootout-6-11-10/">Avon Shootout 6-11-10</a> Jim R on "Scout: Indiana Meanstreets 2012" http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=185#post-263 Tue, 01 Jun 2010 10:37:51 +0000 Jim R 263@http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/ <blockquote>Nike affiliated team featuring TJ Bell, JT Yoho and Michael Ramey. <img src="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/BellTJ.JPG" alt="" title="BellTJ" width="142" height="174" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1490" />TJ Bell, 6’8″ power forward; Bloomington (South) :: Son of former IU great women’s basketball player, Quacey Barnes, he has played with this Bloomington based team for most of his AAU days. He moved to Bloomington to live with his AAU coach, a family friend, and was forced to play JV this past season at Bloomington South. The knock on Bell to this point has been his energy. With that back drop, it could easily be tabbed as an issue of motivation, but his play during the school year was disappointing. His play in the games I’ve seen this summer have not been. Bell has played with energy this spring, thus far, and it’s easy to like the combination of length and athleticism as he runs the floor, rebounds, and defends at the rim. He finishes well inside and hasn’t shied away from contact. He’s thin but looks thicker since the end of the school season. He has caught and drove well from the perimeter, but his range doesn’t stretch to the 3pt line. One could wonder if he had made better use of his time during the season if his skill set facing the basket would have developed more. Bloomington South was able to bring him up to their roster in late February, but they opted not to do so. As he develops his game more facing the basket, it’s easy to see why high major programs are interested in him. He has to keep playing with energy. June and July are a grind. It would be nice to see him carry it through the summer and into his school season. <img src="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/YohoJT.JPG" alt="" title="YohoJT" width="105" height="130" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1492" />JT Yoho, 6’5″ small forward; Bloomfield (Eastern) :: If Yoho can have the summer that he has had in the spring, he’ll be a mid major darling. He plays hard, and it’s impressive to see him rebound, bring the ball in transition and make good decisions. I haven’t seen him shoot it from the 3pt line yet, likely a timing issue. The three games I’ve seen of Meanstreets this year have all been against teams that like to get out and go. He’s played well in that setting. He has a big body, some of which will have to be trimmed down or toned a little, but I believe he had an injury during the school season. It was mentioned in passing between the school and summer seasons. If Yoho can carry Eastern Greene to March success as a junior, he’ll be known beyond southern Indiana. <img src="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/RameyMichael.JPG" alt="" title="RameyMichael" width="137" height="175" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1493" />Michael Ramey, 6’5″ shooting guard; Indianapolis (Southport) :: Ramey can be hard to figure out. He handles it well and has good bounce. He’s a streaky shooter, but his ability to get to the rim can counteract those cold spells. He just doesn’t always have a good motor when he plays. Most of his down moments come as he’s pretty hard on himself, but that frustration has caused him moments when he doesn’t play through possessions and affected his overall play. It would be nice to see him stay with this group and stay at Southport HS, as he has hopped around. That’s not always a kid’s decision though. Ramey has a lot of physical talents and a good skill set. Seeing him really commit to the process, working to get himself better instead of finding greener grass, he would be attractive to mid major programs. He’ll have to get stronger, but that comes with maturation. If he can put some power in with his bounce, he’ll be a tough wing at the college level. <img src="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/BrownDamon.JPG" alt="" title="BrownDamon" width="122" height="146" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1496" />Damon Brown, 5’11″ point guard; Bloomington (North) :: He certainly is quick. It’s been hard to get a grasp of how well he shoots it. He plays hard, but much like the comment on JT Yoho, the teams I’ve seen them play this spring, it’s been all about transition. Not sure I see him at the level of the top point four or five point guards in the class, but he plays hard and can play fast. <img src="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/HabershamShounton.JPG" alt="" title="HabershamShounton" width="125" height="163" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1497" />Shounton Habersham, 6’4″ power forward; Indianapolis (Southport) :: Strong and plays with energy, but at some point he has show more offense away from the lane. He drives the ball well when the path is clear, and he can finish inside. At this point, he’s undersized for a power forward position, and the more he can transform his game to a SF spot, the better off he will be. </blockquote> <a href="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/2010/06/scout-indiana-meanstreets-2012/">Scout: Indiana Meanstreets 2012</a> Jim R on "Preview: Adidas May Classic" http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=184#post-262 Fri, 14 May 2010 01:43:05 +0000 Jim R 262@http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/ <blockquote><img alt="" src="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/logos/amc.jpg" title="AMC" class="alignleft" width="201" height="53" />If you’re into following Indiana’s best high school players, tournaments such as the Adidas May Classic is a great place to follow them. Here is a schedule of games this weekend in Bloomington featuring some of the best: Friday: 6:00pm: Cook Hall – Men’s Court / 16U Indiana Meanstreets vs. JSA Indiana Express: The headliner is TJ Bell, the 6’8″ sophomore forward for Meanstreets. Keep an eye on Eastern Greene’s JT Yoho, a VERY overlooked prospect. The 6’5″ wing is strong and skilled. Southport’s Michael Ramey, 6’4″ shooting guard, and Damon Brown, 5’11″ point guard from Bloomington North. 7:15pm: Assembly Hall / 16U Indiana Elite One vs. Team Illinois: IE One features Ron Patterson, 6’2″ shooting guard, Broad Ripple; Kellon Thomas, 5’11″ point guard, Southport; Kellen Dunham, 6’4″ shooting guard, Pendleton Heights. Another is Ryan Webber, 6’6″ forward from Roncalli. 7:15pm: Cook Hall – Men’s Court / 16U Team Southern Indiana Red vs. Club Elite Storm: This one is actually about a 2013 kid, Daryl Baker, 6’2″ guard from Jeffersonville. He missed his freshman school season due to a leg injury. He’s not 100% yet, but he has had some impressive outings this spring. Team is coached by former Indiana Hoosier, Sherron Wilkerson. 7:15pm: Spotsplex #3 / 16U Eric Gordon Central Stars vs. Dominic James 2012: EGCS coming off its big upset in the quarterfinals of the Indiana 16U AAU State Tournament look to bounce back. Jeremy Hollowell, 6’7″ forward, Lawrence Central; Nic Osborne, 6’8″ center, Muncie Central; Ronnie Johnson, 5’10″ point guard, North Central; DJ Ballentine, 6’1″ point guard, Kokomo; headline this talented team. Keep an eye on Chandler Miller for DJ2012, 6’5″ forward from Richmond. 8:30pm: Assembly Hall / 15U Indiana Elite Stars vs. Eric Gordon Stars: Probably the night’s best matchup. IE Stars feature Colin Hartman, 6’6″ wing from Cathedral. While Hartman is part of the discussion for the class of 2013′s best player, EG Stars’ Devin Davis and Basicl Smotherman both hold Purdue offers, while Davis also just received an offer from IU. 8:30pm: Sportsplex #1 / 17U Spiece Select 2011 vs. Dayton Nets: Spiece Select is led by the foursome of Justin Gant, 6’9″ forward, Terre Haute North; Kendall Griffin, 6’5″ shooting guard, Avon; Alex Pritchett, 6’8″ forward, Bedford North Lawrence; Zac VanDeWater, 6’5″ shooting guard, Whitko. Along with Tyler Greathouse, 6’8″ forward, Columbus North, all hold multiple D1 offers. Greathouse won’t be around until Sunday, and Pritchett is still a game time decision due to an injury. 9:45pm: Assembly Hall / 15U Spiece Indy Heat vs. Indiana Elite South: Indy Heat is headlined by the Scott twins from Fort Wayne Northrop, Bryson and Brenton. Richard Freeman, 6’6″ forward, Lawrence Central and Clay Yeo, 6’4″ shooting guard, Triton, are both getting a lot of D1 looks. Saturday: 8:00am: Cook Hall – Men’s Court / 17U Spiece All Indiana vs. Southern Indiana Kings: Jonny Marlin, a 5’11″ point guard from Center Grove, is flanked by Max Landis, 6’0″ point guard from Perry Meridian, and up front they have Michael Nesbitt, 6’7″ forward, Evansville Memorial, and Andy Smeathers, 6’5″ wing from Center Grove. 9:15am: Cook Hall – Men’s Court / 15U Eric Gordon Stars vs. Ohio Basketball Club: Devin Davis, 6’6″ forward from Warren Central; Basil Smotherman, 6’4″ wing from Heritage Christian; Xavier Turner, 5’9″ point guard, Pike; Zac Irvin, 6’4″ wing, Hamilton Southeastern. 9:15am: Cook Hall – Women’s Court / 17U Indiana Elite Central vs. SW Illinois Jets: A good Franklin Central trio, Kyle James, 6’1″ point guard, Jason Riley, 5’10″ point guard, and John Goodlow, 6’2″ wing, as well as Bob Dillon, 6’4″ wing from Brebeuf. 10:30am: Assembly Hall / 17U SYF vs. Adidas Team Hustle: For SYF it’s Branden Dawson, 6’6″ forward from Gary Wallace; Jeremiah Johnson, 6’3″ shooting guard, Merrillville; Mitch McGary, 6’10″ center, Chesterton. 10:30am: Cook Hall – Men’s Court / 15U Spiece Indy Heat vs. Michigan Mustangs 11:45am: Assembly Hall / 17U Indiana Elite Team Indiana vs. Illinois Bears: IU commit Austin Etherington, 6’6″ wing from Hamilton Heights, Cody Zeller, 6’11″ forward from Washington, Yogi Ferrell, 5’10″ point guard from Park Tudor (Class of 2012), and Spencer Turner, 6’3″ shooting guard from Bloomington South. 11:45am: Sportsplex #2 / 17U Spiece Select 2011 vs. Full Package NWI 1:00pm: Assembly Hall / 16U Indiana Elite Team Indiana vs. Wabash Valley Prospects: D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera, 6’3″ guard, North Central; Travis Britt and Jermaine Myers from Culver Military Academy. 1:00pm: Cook Hall – Men’s Court / 16U Indiana Meanstreets vs. Dayton Nets 1:00pm: Sportsplex #3 / 16U Air Indiana Uptempo vs. Super Friends: Uptempo has Harry Wills, 6’4″ point guard, Ben Davis; Tyler Corley, 5’10″ point guard, Lawrence Central. 2:15pm: Bloomington North / 15U Ohio Basketball Club vs. Indiana Elite Stars 2:15pm: Bloomington South / 17U Spiece Indy Stars vs. Shining Stars Black: Indy Stars is led by Greg Dickey, 5’10″ point guard, Tipton; Spencer Comer, 6’4″ point guard, Rushville; Nate Gross, 6’6″ forward, Madison Grant. 3:30pm: Assembly Hall / 17U Southern Indiana Stars vs. Indiana Elite Team Indiana 3:30pm: Cook Hall – Women’s Court / 17U SYF vs. BA Hoyas 4:45pm: Cook Hall – Women’s Court / 16U Eric Gordon Central Stars vs. Adidas Team Hustle 4:45pm: Assembly Hall / 16U Indiana Elite Team Indiana vs. MBA Select White The first round of bracket play begins Saturday night. Winners and teams with first round byes return Sunday morning. </blockquote> <a href="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/2010/05/preview-adidas-may-classic/">Preview: Adidas May Classic</a> Jim R on "Indiana AAU 17U State Tournament" http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=183#post-261 Thu, 13 May 2010 23:01:07 +0000 Jim R 261@http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/ <blockquote>In it’s heyday, the Indiana AAU State Tournament was one of the top events of the year, certainly to watch Indiana teams and stars. It was usually a two goal event, qualify for AAU Nationals and be a state champ. Winning a state title isn’t as tough as it used to be, but the goal of qualifying for AAU Nationals, especially for the 17U division, still means a final trip to Disney World’s great venues and great exposure to coaches. SYF dominates 17U division Led by Branden Dawson, the 6’6″ forward from Gary Wallace, he showed on Sunday why the likes of Indiana, Purdue and UCLA are vying heavily for his services. The kid is winner (leading Wallace to the 3A championship game), and his perimeter skills are improving. His ability to rebound and make plays in transition is still his bread and butter. The other big name is Chesterton post Mitch McGary. He’s battle injuries the last two school seasons, but this past weekend he looked healthy. He also showed a nice short range jump shot facing the basket. Just the ability to face up and shoot will help this lefty post score inside. Brandon Clark is a quick and crafty point guard from Merrillville. The 5’10″ junior is a strong floor leader and pairs up often with Ohio point guard Travis Trice. Junior all-star and Merrillville teammate, Jeremiah Jones struggled shooting the ball on Sunday but showed athleticism and the ability to score off the dribble. They defeated Progeny, a relatively new program, in the championship game, featuring mostly Indianpolis area kids. This week they also featured Marquis Teague, whose team, Spiece Indy Heat, had the weekend off. Teague was big in spurts but mostly set up teammates throughout the weekend. Having a strong championship game, especially int he first half was Zionsville guard Demetrius Lawson. The 6’1″ junior scored 18 points in the first half. Playing well throughout the weekend was Dedric Griffin, 6’5″ wing from North Central. Here is a name for all the small state schools to keep an eye on, Seth Johnson. The 6’8″ forward from Carroll (Flora, IN) came on late for the small rural school in Carroll County. He’s long and developing skill facing the basket, though he is mostly an around the lane scorer. He showed an ability to drive from mid range. Two time defending state champ, Spiece Select 2011, played Saturday and Sunday without Justin Gant (death in the family and prom) and Alex Pritchett (ankle sprain). In their absence 6’10″ Alec Peterson stepped up. The junior center from Carmel plays in the shadow of AJ Hammons during the school year, but this summer he has shown to be a solid D1 prospect. His best asset at this point is rebounding in traffic. While he struggles to finish inside at times, mostly due to taking contact, he has excellent hands and footwork. Picking up the scoring load for Spiece Select were Dwight Cliff, 6’5″ wing from Ben Davis, Kendall Griffin, 6’5″ shooting guard from Avon, Zac VanDeWater, 6’5″ wing from Whitko, and Tyler Greathouse, 6’8″ forward from Columbus North. All had big scoring games over the weekend, and they helped the group reach the semi-finals before getting smacked around by SYF’s size. Evansville Basketball Club, which actually defeated Spiece Select for third place (via a coin flip), has Austin Rasche. The 6’5″ wing from Southridge is the center piece of their offense, just as he is during the winter. The lefty is an above average shooter from the 3pt, but his best asset is moving without the ball. He pretty much is a “do everything” kind of guy at Southridge, where they have been successful during his tenure. Nathan Bromm plays baseball, so his game is inconsistent in the spring. The 6’2″ versatile guard from Forest Park was present all weekend, and it showed in their performance. His presence frees up Rasche. Ryan Helfert, 6’6″ forward from Boonville, was able to finish plays in the transition and around the rim. He’s more of a slashing forward than a post. The fifth team to qualify was Spiece Indy Stars. They were led by Tipton point guard Greg Dickey, Rushville point guard Spencer Comer, Pike forward Josh Gentry, and Madison Grant forward Nate Gross. Of the teams that didn’t reach Sunday’s action, Brandon Dunaway stood out. The 6’4″ guard from Corydon Central led the short handed Team Southern Indiana Red through pool play. Playing without New Albany junior all-star, Chris Whitehead, Dunaway stepped up and carried much of the scoring load. </blockquote> <a href="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/2010/05/indiana-aau-17u-state-tournament/">Indiana AAU 17U State Tournament</a> Jim R on "Event Notes: Spiece Run N Slam" http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=182#post-260 Mon, 03 May 2010 20:44:25 +0000 Jim R 260@http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/ Not sure what to tell you on that stuff. Zeller scored a few tip in baskets, mostly scoring as perimeters didn't rotate to help bigs who were helping other perimeters who were beaten off the dribble. I'm not sure anyone is discounting how Zeller got his points. Zeller hit a 3pter on a kick back off a ball screen. Pritchett hit a 3pter on a kickback off a ball screen. Both in the first quarter. Pritchett scored 6 of our 9 first quarter points vs. Team Indiana, and while we picked up the pace in the second half on both ends, he continued to score. In the Rising Stars game, he scored 13 of his 18 in the second half, including our first 6 of the second half. I don't think a big man who gets a run out on a free throw is a bad thing, especially as one considers where he starts on that possession. Big men scoring on loose ball or transition situations is a big plus in the eyes of most college coaches. It's much about what do they do out of their comfort zone. It tells them they can contribute in ways when it isn't all about them, and on this team, just as it will be in college, nothing is all about anyone. Some comes his way with purpose. Others he has to go get. I'm also quite sure he's not being recruited to be a pound it inside, low post only player. He shot 43% from the 3pt line during the school year. I realize you don't have access to his stats, but his ability to play and score around the floor is a big asset in his game. Considering we basically run a 5-man Motion, where our bigs are all over the place, though Pritchett, like Peterson are mostly attached to lane line (low and high), it still changes where he gets his touches, and it also changes where he has to start to rebound. I don't think scoring off hustle plays or drop offs would ever be seen as a negative, especially against good competition. I would worry far more if he only had good games against much lesser teams, where he just buried people inside. That's not the case, and I consider that a positive. shock3 on "Event Notes: Spiece Run N Slam" http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=182#post-259 Mon, 03 May 2010 18:23:24 +0000 shock3 259@http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/ Yes, Pritchett had 16 against Indiana Elite and 18 against the Rising Stars. I remember him taking, at least, the first five shots of the game against IE. So, I'm going to guess his shots to points ratio wasn't very efficient. I would guess he took half the shots that Zeller did. I did note that he rebounded well against the height much better than he scored over it.I just don't remember him scoring in the post over someone. I remember him getting a couple of offensive rebounds and failing to covert the put back. Against Rising Stars, I remember 2 first half Justin Gant drives that drew Pritchett's man and he was able to get wide open layups. In the second half, he was the receiver on a similar play by Zac VanDeWater. He,also, had a run out and a couple of free-throws. That doesn't leave many points coming from post up moves or face-up jumpers. This weekend just made me realize that he is most dominant when he is able to overpower people in the post. I think he will be able to play at most mid-majors, but I was bothered by the shots he didn't convert against the bigs of IE and Rising Stars. I don't have the tape to watch though so maybe I missed a few things. Jim R on "Event Notes: Spiece Run N Slam" http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=182#post-258 Mon, 03 May 2010 17:31:29 +0000 Jim R 258@http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/ Can't say I agree with Pritchett being a stock down. He went point to point, rebound to rebound against Zeller vs. IE Team Indiana on Friday night. I have the luxury of stats in front of me, but in the three pool games he went for 16, 18 and 16. In the final game, a loss to Illinois Wolves, I'm pretty sure their coach was mostly just nutso about transition defense and wiped the whole lot of starters off the floor. I thought he also showed improvement in some of the little things, much of which is what consumes the conversations his school coach and I have. Becoming better off the ball is a big goal of his, and he has shown improvement in his defensive awareness and ability to get teammates open first, before getting himself open. It hasn't hurt his production any, which most know it shouldn't, and he fully understands, as does Justin Gant, one of the great ways for a 'big' to score is to rebound on the offensive end. There was too much watching in the Illinois Wolves game, but as noted, the starting lineup that game was wiped off the court. A motivation which served them well the final 2.5 quarters, but offensively, we just couldn't get much going. It was nice to see, however, Tyler Greathouse step up that game, and Alec Peterson continues to impress with how physical he plays. Title on "Event Notes: Spiece Run N Slam" http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=182#post-257 Mon, 03 May 2010 14:45:20 +0000 Title 257@http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/ I’d love to know burgett’s offer list. The one that Rivals uses, I’m guessing, isn’t close to accurate. shock3 on "Event Notes: Spiece Run N Slam" http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=182#post-256 Mon, 03 May 2010 13:41:41 +0000 shock3 256@http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/ <blockquote>Stock up Antonio Wilson 6’6 Fort Wayne Elmhurt (Spiece Indy Heat-Betts) PF-Tony Wilson is a ridiculous leaper and it seems like he never gets tired because he is always jumping just as high even when it was his third game of the day. He isn’t quite Chrishawn Hopkins, but he is in that realm. What else can he do? That is the question, it looks like his mid-range jumper is pretty solid/consistent. Bryson Scott 6’0 Fort Wayne Northrop (Spiece Indy Heat-Bradley) PG-I love how Bryson (actually both of the Scott twins) plays the game. He plays with great intensity that is rarely seen at the 15U level…heck, it is rarely seen at the 17U level. He drives the ball like a running back and almost always finishes when he gets to the rim. Shooting seems his weakest skill but he is at least an average shooter. Yogi Ferrell 5’11 Park Tudor (Indiana Elite 17’s) PG- Yogi completely dominated the weekend even though he is playing up an age group. He got where ever he wanted the whole weekend and when they backed off he hit shots from the outside. If he draws a double team, he always finds the open man. Austin Richie 6’1 Lowell (Mean Streets) SG-Richie didn’t play a ton of minutes for a loaded Mean Streets team, but I did see that he has better quickness than he is given credit for laterally. He didn’t handle the ball at all this weekend though. I think he will have to be a PG at the college level unless he hits a growth spurt soon. Right now, I see him as a M- recruit. Andy Smeathers 6’5 Center Grove (Spiece All-Indiana) SF-showed some solid athleticism while he knocked down shot after shot after shot. Most of it was catch and shoot off a drive, but he had a couple 1 or 2 dribble pull-up jumpers that looked good. Probably a M-/M from what I have seen. TJ Bell 6’6 Bloomington South (IN Mean Streets) PF-had a very big game when I saw him this weekend. His most impressive play was when he shot faked around the 3 pt. line which got his defender off his feet and he went around him and slammed it hard with 2 hands. He is a better jumper than I gave him credit for, still not sure if he can guard anyone. Face-up game looks pretty good although his handles are pretty poor. Definitely needs to become more comfortable handling the ball on the perimeter against pressure to be a MM recruit. Rapheal Davis 6’5 Fort Wayne North (Spiece Indy Heat-Betts) SF-Davis is a little bit better athlete than I thought he was at least in terms of jumping. Spiece didn’t play much if any man2man defense so I didn’t see him guard anyone. His shot seems consistent although he took/forced some bad shots that make him look like a worse shooter than he really is. Definitely needs to tighten up his handles against pressure. Josh Gentry 6’5 Pike (Spiece Indy Heat 17-Betts)SF-Gentry really played well defensively for Indy Heat. He is really active and has long arms that make him a menace on the defensive end. Offensively, he played within himself by moving without the ball and taking open shots when he was left alone. Defensively, he is probably a MM recruit but offensively he is probably lower. L+/M- right now because he has improved greatly from a year ago. Anthony Johnson 6’2 Warren Central (Eric Gordon 15U) SG-This is the first time I have been impressed with him. Johnson really provided EG10 with toughness against Mac Irvin Fire. He rebounded from the guard position and he converted a couple baskets inside against much taller opponents. Definitely a player to watch for the next couple years. Devin Davis,JR. 6’6 Warren Central (Eric Gordon 15U)PF/SF-The Warren Central freshmen that got all the headlines this winter. Davis is really showing off his perimeter skills this spring. He brought the ball up a few times although it wasn’t against pressure so it doesn’t matter too much. He displayed some explosive dribble moves though and his outside shooting form looks very good. M+/H- prospect. Stock Down Dejuan Marrero 6’5 Bowman Academy (Spiece Indy Heat-Betts) PF-Marrero is a Division 1 player, that has been decided a long time ago. What hasn’t been decided is what level he can play at and what position he will be at the next level. Marrero has a very good motor, has great timing for blocking shots, has a great ability to get fouled inside. At 6’5, there aren’t many power forwards in the BCS conferences at his size. He is almost certainly done growing as he has been the same height for a couple of years. His ball handling skills are that of a player who has been a power forward or center his whole career. Marrero’s shooting form is very awkward and highly inconsistent behind 10 feet. He will have to improve dramatically in both of those areas to play High Major. This weekend he played the SF position and he just didn’t look good. He excelled when he was slipping in the post and cleaning up missed shots. Brian Stolarz 6’4 Munster (Spiece All-Indiana) SF-I didn’t see a whole lot of Stolarz this weekend, but I just didn’t like what I saw in that short amount of time. Stolarz is a good shooter if left open, handles are pretty loose against pressure. He was playing more of the PF position when I saw him and with his athleticism he will have to be able to guard 4’s at the next level and he just couldn’t handle the size he was playing against. I think he is a stretch to be a contributor at the LM level. His high school teammate Joe Crisman doesn’t get as much notice as Stolarz but Crisman’s game is better for the next level. Austin Burgett 6’8 Avon (Spiece Indy Heat-Betts)PF-Burgett is playing up in the 17U age division and he is also trying to be more of a perimeter player. I think the combination of doing both is hurting his production. He just doesn’t look comfortable for one of those two reasons. His stock dropped a lot this winter when he didn’t completely dominate for Avon. I haven’t given up on Burgett because of his skill set and when it clicks for him, he is going to be really good and his stock will go back up. Jeremiah Davis 6’3 Muncie Central (Indiana Elite 17’s) SG- This one probably shocks some people because most reports have said that Davis played well this weekend. To be fair, he did play well for the most part. I have him on the stock down portion because I am lowering him as a point guard. He was really good when he was playing the off-guard. Davis is a scorer, he doesn’t want to create for others. He wants to get to the rim and finish the play himself even if people are open. All those things make him good as a SG and makes an offense stall when he is playing the point. He can guard HM pg’s though with his quickness and strength so that is a plus for him. He is HM as a SG so it isn’t that big of a knock saying he is a 2 and not a 1. Alex Pritchett 6’7 Bedford North Lawrence (Spiece Select 2011) PF-Pritchett always battles no matter if things are going well or if he is struggling. Unfortunately, he did struggle against height (6’8+) this weekend. He is still developing a full face-up game other than just catching and shooting from 14-19 feet. The good thing is that he did rebound well against the taller opponents so that is a good sign. I was beginning to believe he was MM/MM+ but I think I have to pull that back a little bit to MM-/MM. Mike Ramey 6’4 Southport (Indiana Mean Streets) SG-Ramey struggled shooting the ball when I saw him play this weekend. I understand will happen in some games for guys. What can he provide when he isn’t providing solid, outside shooting though? Players that are one-dimensional aren’t high major players. It appears he has the quickness to guard for the most part. He got blown by on a couple of drives, which is never a good sign. His handles are okay, but he isn’t going to be able to run the point for a D1 team. Ramey was able to get into the lane a few times, but was unable to finish. He is a D1 prospect, what level though? I think until he finishes consistently and defends high level athletes consistently he is a MM to MM- recruit. Kendall Waters 5’11 Pendleton Heights (Eric Gordon 16’s) PG-Waters didn’t do anything to make me go “wow, he can’t play at X level.” I simply overreacted to him playing well the last time I saw him combined with a couple other 2012 point guards playing poorly. I bumped him up my rankings too far. Waters is a solid point guard, but is in the LM+/MM- range. First looks Demetrius Jackson 6’1 Mishawaka (MBA Select 2013)PG-I saw him in a non-competitive game so he wasn’t looking or needing to make plays/score/defend fiercely etc. Jackson does have a solid build for a 6’1 freshmen point guard. He looks like a fairly good athlete, not a freak, not lightning quick like a Ronnie Johnson. He is definitely behind both Scott twins for the 2013 class and probably right in front of Zavier Turner because he has such a height advantage on Turner. Bo Calhoun 6’5 South Bend Washington (MBA Select 2012) PF-Calhound had a pretty good game against Eric Gordon’s team. Calhoun is pretty explosive and is strong. He has a good motor and can play physical. Undersized post right now, needs to expand his range to be a D1 prospect. Jeff Laidig 6’3 Penn (MBA Select 2012) SF-Laidig is a very good shooter with good strength. I’m unsure of his quickness but he didn’t look overwhelmingly slow or anything like that. Mostly a catch and shoot guy, but he was able to hit shots over people as well. Definitely, a guy to watch for the next couple of years for LM+. Joe Fagan 6’4 Chatard (Indiana Elite 15’s) SF-Fagan Is a pretty good athlete, quickness wise. He had a pretty good game against the loaded Spiece Indy Heat team. I expect him to be a big time contributor for Chatard next year as a sophomore. LaBradford Sebree 6’2 Kokomo (Indiana Elite 15’s) SG-Explosive, power guard. He played in the fall league this past year and played well there. He will be very good with D.J. Ballentine next year. </blockquote> <a href="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/2010/05/event-notes-spiece-run-n-slam/">Event Notes: Spiece Run N Slam</a> shock3 on "Event Notes:Adidas Spring Classic" http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=181#post-255 Sun, 25 Apr 2010 20:10:50 +0000 shock3 255@http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/ <blockquote>Indiana Elite Team Indiana 16U Hanner Perea 6’9 PF is an absolute beast. He is basically a longer, stronger, taller version of Branden Dawson. Explosive, huge wingspan, mega large hands that help him dunk at will. He is super raw, but if he is dedicated to getting better than the sky is the limit for Perea. Rumor is he is only looking at Indiana University and Baylor at this point in his recruiting. He tries some post moves and they look decent although he needs a lot of work with his feet and touch. Obij Abet 7’0 C is obviously seven feet, can catch, punishes the rim on his dunks although he is as skinny as a pencil, rebounds well while keeping the ball up high, he will go get a rebound which isn’t always the case for a big guy, and he runs well. He will remind most of Purdue’s JaJuan Johnson with his frame and ability to run. Pete Jurkin 7’0 C is built just like Abet, but Jurkin doesn’t have the hands that Abet does. Jurkin struggles with rebounding in traffic a lot more than Abet as well. Jurkin does run well, but is super raw. Kenny Kaminski 6’8 SF Medina,OH is a really good spot-up shooter. Kaminski has the ability to put the ball on the floor, but he isn’t going to drive passed someone and get to the rim. He posted up some smaller defenders, but never showed any post moves. His quickness worries me since he likes to play on the perimeter so much. He cannot guard at SF at the high major level right now. He does have the frame to be able to guard 4’s in the future though. He could definitely be a great pick and pop 4-man. D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera 6’3 PG North Central plays a lot more as the point guard in AAU. He does it well although he doesn’t create for others that much. He will likely be able to guard most SG’s at the high major level because of his toughness and strength. He might be the best competitor in the class of 2012 and that goes a long way. His shooting continues to improve as well. Indiana Elite ONE Kellon Thomas 5’11 PG Southport really didn’t do too much in the game they lost. He had a few drives to the basket where he finished, but he wasn’t constantly setting people up. He has to be a great shooter to play at the MM level or higher. Kellen Dunham 6’4 SG Pendleton Heights is a very skilled player. I like him shooting on the move than I like him catching and shooting. He seems more comfortable shooting off the dribble. His quickness worries me at this point. That would be a non-factor if he grows another couple of inches. He doesn’t make many mistakes and he takes care of the basketball. If he stays the height he is, I see him as a solid MM player but not higher due to his lack of explosiveness. Ron Patterson 6’2 SG Broad Ripple has been on the scene forever and everyone knows about his athleticism. The question has been will he be able to play the SG position at the high major level if he is only 6’2. Most HM shooting guards are in the 6’4 to 6’6 range depending on the program. I’m starting to believe that he should be able to pull it off although I would rather him convert to a point guard. He can be a fierce defender when he wants to be. Nick Hutcheson 6’5 PF Greencastle is listed most places at 6’7. I just don’t believe it, I think he is a lot closer to 6’5 than he is to 6’7. Hutcheson didn’t play much at all in the game I saw. He did seem pretty athletic in warm-ups though. I just wanted to comment on his height for the most part. Ryan Weber 6’5 SF Roncalli has a great looking shot. Weber is pretty athletic, but not a freak by any stretch. I like his overall skill set, but he also did not play a bunch. Daniel Purvlicis 6’7 C Noblesville needs to put on 20-30 pounds of muscle immediately. He is just too thin to compete inside at the high level tournaments. I think added weight would give him more confidence and his game would make a big jump. He struggled to finish a couple of easy looks that he has to finish in order to even think about playing college basketball. Tyler Alderman 6’9 PF Fishers posts well and passes out of the post very well. In warm-ups, it looks like he shoots it pretty well but I have not seen him do anything in a game setting yet. I don’t know if he lacks post moves or just confidence but he never looks to score. IN Mean Streets T.J. Bell 6’6 PF Bloomington South came to Indiana with a ton of hype last summer and he just hasn’t lived up to it. He is fairly athletic, moves well, can run well, shooting form looks pretty good, but he doesn’t play with a very high motor and he doesn’t have many offensive skills. He needs a lot of work to be a D1 player. Mike Ramey 6’4 SG Southport can go off in a hurry. He hit 4 3’s in the first half of a game against The Ville, but then he missed badly on his next two that he attempted after that. Some of that comes from shot selection, one that he air balled was a shot from the volleyball line with guy in his face and it wasn’t as the clock was winding down. He is a good leaper and can get up and down the floor, but that doesn’t always translate to lateral quickness. He handles the ball pretty well now, but he needs to see the floor better/make better decisions/make better passes. J.T. Yoho 6’4 SF Eastern (Greene County) was probably the surprise of the tournament for me. Yoho was really good when I saw him. He does pretty much everything well. He can shoot it from the outside, drives well, handles it well, finishes inside against bigger guys, passes well. He just doesn’t excel at one thing particularly to make you say wow! Definitely a LM/MM prospect in the future. Mix and Match Alex Etherington 6’4 SF Hamilton Heights is going to be interesting to watch the next few years. He is the younger brother of IU commit Austin Etherington. Alex is definitely a solid player already. He plays with a great motor and is an above average athlete. He doesn’t have the smooth shooting stroke that his brother has although he might be more aggressive getting his shot. He has a lot of good things to work with if he wants to become a great player. Alex is currently a freshmen which is the class of 2013. Matt O’Leary 6’6 PF Terre Haute North had a very big game against Indiana Elite ONE. I remember a stretch where he had 8 points in about a minute to lead and complete the comeback when his team was down 5 late in the second half. He looks like a power forward prospect to me right now. I don’t think he will have the athleticism to play the SF spot at the college level. He has a very consistent shot from the outside. He is tough and is a competitor. I’m thinking LM/D2 prospect right now unless he grows or becomes more of a wing player. Collin Hartman 6’6 SF Cathedral struggled to get his shots to fall when I was watching him today. He did have a nice breakaway dunk in the first half. He is not going to make you jump out of your seat with his athleticism but it is adequate. He is very skilled, can shoot it from deep, and moves well without the ball which is really rare for a frosh. I like his game even when he struggles to score. Jordan Burton 6’7 PF Edinburgh did not have his best game against Indiana Elite ONE. He needs more post moves to go to and needs to be able to use his left hand more. Right now, he also needs to either grow a couple more inches or become more explosive. He doesn’t get off the floor very well right now especially when he is trying to jump multiple times in a short amount of time. Out of state Daryl Hicks 6’3 SG Louisville is a fabulous freshmen that has a lot of recruiting attention already. He is very quick, good explosiveness, good handles, and a good shooter. He was almost exclusively going right on his drives though. He probably needs to be more selfish and look to attack the rim more. No one could stop him from driving and he was settling a lot of times. Hicks plays for The Ville club team. Walter Alexander 6’4 SG Louisville is an explosive player who is also very skilled. He showed a good looking shot, made some good passes that showed off his vision, and handled the ball well. He had a nice alley-opp finish where he got way up to go get the ball. 2011 prospect from The Shining Stars team. Kevin Shaw 6’2 PG Louisville hit a lot of tough shots against IE Team Indiana. Shaw is a quick, good shooting, hard-nosed point guard. He might be more score first than looking to create for others but his team needed him to carry a lot of the scoring load. Shaw is a 2011 prospect for the The Shining Stars. Jordan Neff 6’7 PF Team Impact looked like he was bothered by a leg injury, but yet he was very effective and he was still very active. He was constantly rebounding and blocking shots even when it looked like he was in pain. His shot looks a little bit awkward, but it seems to be consistent. Neff plays for Team Impact out of Georgia. </blockquote> <a href="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/event-notesadidas-spring-classic/">Event Notes:Adidas Spring Classic</a> Jim R on "Teague’s decision leaves fans Blue (video)" http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=180#post-254 Fri, 23 Apr 2010 09:16:12 +0000 Jim R 254@http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/ <blockquote> <object width="425" height="344"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ds9nGK6SdK0&rel=1&color1=d6d6d6&color2=f0f0f0&border=0&fs=1&hl=en&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&iv_load_policy=3&showsearch=0" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <embed wmode="transparent" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ds9nGK6SdK0&rel=1&color1=d6d6d6&color2=f0f0f0&border=0&fs=1&hl=en&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&iv_load_policy=3&showsearch=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed> <param name="wmode" value="transparent" /> </object> By the time the actual announcement became official, it was already well known where Teague was committing. He was headed to the Blue Grass state to play at Kentucky. As he walked to the stage in his red shirt, there was some mumbling in the crowd, but one observer correctly noted that he was, along with his father, were wearing Pike colors. Thankfully, there was no drama, no bait and switching of the hats, just a clear cut decision and a respectful press conference that shed some insight into his decision. Having an older brother who had gone through it and now in the NBA didn’t hurt his ability to make an informed decision, and in the end, it became about Coach Calipari’s reputation for developing guards. </blockquote> <a href="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/2010/04/teagues-decision-leaves-fans-blue-video/">Teague’s decision leaves fans Blue (video)</a> Jim R on "Teague decision arrives today" http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=179#post-253 Thu, 22 Apr 2010 06:02:19 +0000 Jim R 253@http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/   <div class="ezAdsense adsense adsense-leadin" style="float:right;margin:12px;"><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></div>  <blockquote>Most probably, Pike’s junior guard Marquis Teague knows what his final decision as he wakes up this morning. The recruiting process is a long and often jagged process. And when you look at what some of his final teams have been through the last two years, coaching changes at Kentucky and Indiana, as well as the allegations brought upon Coach Rick Pitino at Louisville, even for the most coveted players, it’s rarely a smooth ride. Teague takes the first big step in officially ending it all today at 1:30pm, where at a press conference at Pike High School, he will announce his college choice. It seems to be between Kentucky and Louisville, and while a lot of the pundits are picking Kentucky, shortly after it was announced that Pitino was inking a four year contract extension, Teague let it be known his recruiting was coming to a close.</blockquote> <a href="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/teague-decision-arrives-today/">Teague decision arrives today</a> Jim R on "Tyler Bibbs, 6’5” small forward; Indianapolis (Lawrence North)" http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=177#post-251 Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:17:57 +0000 Jim R 251@http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/ <blockquote>Athletically gifted, he’s more than likely a high major wide receiver for football. His skills have improved a good amount the last two years, and he has a developing outside shot. On both ends he relies heavily on his athleticism, and while his offensive skills have improved, defensively his awareness slumps periodically. He can, however, make great plays on both ends. What’s improve the most about him in the last year or so is his motor. </blockquote> <a href="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/2010/04/tyler-bibbs-6%e2%80%995%e2%80%9d-small-forward-indianapolis-lawrence-north/">Tyler Bibbs, 6’5” small forward; Indianapolis (Lawrence North)</a> Jim R on "Silas Sims, 6’6” power forward; Hope (Hauser)" http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=176#post-250 Tue, 20 Apr 2010 13:41:12 +0000 Jim R 250@http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/bbpress/ <blockquote>After a strong junior year, Sims does nice things on the court against better competition. A blue collar player with a high IQ, he’s effective around the paint on both ends. He’s a solid rebounder due to this physical nature, and he’s an effective screener. Beyond that he loses effectiveness away from the paint. He hasn’t shown yet a mid-range shot, nor has he guarded much away from other bigs. </blockquote> <a href="http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/silas-sims-6%e2%80%996%e2%80%9d-power-forward-hope-hauser/">Silas Sims, 6’6” power forward; Hope (Hauser)</a>