North Carolina’s Wright Enters NBA Draft: North Carolina’s Brandan Wright announced his intent to enter the NBA draft in June. But he currently has no agent and was torn about making the decision. The chances of Wright’s return to Chapel Hill are slim, and averaging 12.8 points and seven rebounds per game makes some think he is a top 10 pick. [4/27/07]
Singletary Declares for NBA Draft: Virginia guard Sean Singletary leaves the possibility open to return for his senior season but has declared for the NBA draft. Singletary expressed his intent to explore all of his options and learn more about the process. The junior averaged 19.0 points and 4.7 assists per game this past season. [4/27/07]
Young to Declare for NBA Draft: Georgia Tech freshman Thaddeus Young will enter the NBA draft. His father has reported his intent and that he will not sign with an agent. Young averaged 14.4 points per game with the Yellow Jackets. [4/27/07]
Nation’s Top Scorer to Enter Draft: Reggie Williams will skip his senior season at Virginia Military Institute to enter the NBA draft. Leading the nation in scoring, Williams averaged 28.1 points per game and feels ready to explore his options at the next level. The 6-5 forward does not plan on hiring an agent. [4/27/07]
Lofton to Stay for Senior Year: Tennessee guard Chris Lofton announced that he will stay for his senior season. Knowing that he was not projected to go until the second round, his decision to stay with the Vols was easier. Lofton led the SEC in scoring with 20.8 points per game and three-pointers per game with almost 3.5. [4/27/07]
Nevada’s Fox Reprimanded for Conduct: Nevada coach Mark Fox was reprimanded by the Western Athletic Conference for unsportsmanlike conduct with referees during two games in March. He will most likely not face any further fines or penalties, but if a future incident occurs, harsher punishment will follow. Both Fox and the WAC issued statements emphasizing good sportsmanship. [4/27/07]
Colorado State Forward Accused of Pointing Gun at Teammate: Colorado State forward Xavier Kilby was arrested after allegedly pointing a gun at teammate Ronnie Aguilar in an apartment. Aguilar and Kilby were arguing in the living room, and Kilby pointed the gun at Aguilar’s head and then the couch. No one was injured and Kilby will not be allowed to participate in team activities until further notice. [4/27/07]
Former Princeton Captain Sydney Johnson Named Head Coach: Former Princeton captain Sydney Johnson was named head coach at his alma mater. Johnson was an assistant at Georgetown last season, when the Hoyas went to the Final Four. Johnson replaces Joe Scott, who led the Tigers to a disappointing 11-17 record, including a 2-12 Ivy League record. It was the first last-place finish for the Tigers in Ivy League history. Johnson was a three-time captain while at Princeton and was Ivy League Player of the Year in 1997. [4/25/07]
Baylor’s Bruce Enters Draft But Is Expected to Return: Baylor guard Aaron Bruce will enter the NBA draft but will return unless he is projected to be a first-round pick. The Australia native is likely to return for his senior season. He has averaged 14 points per game during the course of his Baylor career while shooting 40 percent from three-point range. [4/25/07]
Rhodes Joins Mississippi State Exodus; Declares for Draft: Charles Rhodes, Mississippi State’s second leading scorer and rebounder last season, has announced he will enter the NBA draft. Rhodes will not hire an agent, so the possibility remains that he will return to school. Previously, three sophomores on the team — Richard and Reginald Delk, along with Bernard Rimmer — have announced they are transferring. [4/25/07]
Iowa’s Smith Expected to Transfer Closer to Home: Despite being second on the Hawkeyes in scoring, freshman Tyler Smith was unhappy being so far away from his family at Iowa. The Tennessee native was granted his release by Iowa coach Todd Lickliter. Smith also led the team in rebounds per game and was second in total assists. [4/25/07]
Lil’ Romeo to Play For Trojans: Between O.J. Mayo and Lil’ Romeo, USC is going to get a lot of publicity the next few years. Lil’ Romeo, real name Romeo Miller, is a junior who has committed to play for the Trojans, according to his record label. The young rapper’s father is Master P, who twice tried out for the Toronto Raptors in the 1990s. The 6-1 guard plays for Beverly Hills High School. [4/25/07]
Utah State’s Carroll Enters Draft: Jaycee Carroll, the leading scorer in the WAC last year with 21 points a game, is entering the NBA draft but is not hiring an agent. If Carroll is not a first-round pick, he will return to Utah State. [4/25/07]
Ohio State’s Oden Goes to NBA, Conley and Cook to Follow: Ohio State star and likely No. 1 pick Greg Oden announced he’d declare for the NBA draft, along with teammates Mike Conley Jr. and Daequan Cook, although the latter two will not hire agents and will retain the possibility to withdraw and return to school. Oden, a 7-foot freshman, overcame offseason wrist surgery to average a team-best 15.7 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. Along with the 6-1 Conley and 6-5 Cook, Oden led the Buckeyes to the NCAA championship game, where they fell to Florida. Oden, who hired an agent, had 25 points in that game. Conley’s stock rose during Ohio State’s run through the NCAA tournament, where he averaged 16.0 points and 4.8 assists per game. Cook, a top reserve, averaged 9.8 points per game on 45 percent shooting. [4/23/07]
Nevada Juniors to Test NBA Draft Waters: Nevada junior guards Marcelus Kemp and Ramon Sessions will make themselves available for June’s NBA draft but not hire agents, giving them the option to withdraw before the June 18 deadline and return to school. The 6-5 Kemp made the all-WAC first team after averaging 18.5 points per game last season. Sessions, a 6-3 second-team all-league averaged 12.3 points and 4.7 assists per game while helping lead Nevada to a 29-5 record – the most victories in school history. Nick Fazekas, the Wolf Pack’s superstar who has already declared for the draft, had a similar experience a year ago as a junior. After he came to the conclusion that there was no guarantee he’d be a first-round pick, he returned to school. [4/23/07]
Chicago State Makes Taylor Their Main Man: Chicago State has made former Tulane assistant coach Benjy Taylor their new head coach. Taylor, who has never head coached at the Division I level, replaces Kevin Jones – fired after last season ‘s 9-20 record. Taylor was also an assistant at Northern Illinois, Indiana State, Pepperdine, Cornell and the Citadel. Taylor is the Cougars’ 10th coach in 41 years. [4/23/07]
UCLA’s Wright to Transfer: Because of a likely decrease in already-limited playing time, UCLA center Ryan Wright has decided to transfer following the spring semester. The 6-9 sophomore played 434 minutes in two seasons with the Bruins and scored 110 points. Last season, however, both statistics went down as the Bruins added James Keefe to the roster and also gave more minutes to Lorenzo Mata and Alfred Aboya. Wright’s future destination is yet to be determined as no formal announcements have been made. [4/23/07]
Boilermakers Shrink Even More, Vandervieren Leaves: Purdue 6-10 freshman Dan Vandervieren will follow former teammates Chris Lutz and Johnathan Uchendu’s footsteps out the Boilermakers’ door. The big man played limited minutes as a true freshman this season before undergoing shoulder surgery, something that would have possibly prevented him from playing as a sophomore. His departure, along with Uchendu’s, will leave Purdue with only one big man, recruit JaJuan Johnson, for the 2007-08 season. It also gives coach Matt Painter a third scholarship to offer this spring or a fourth to give to his 2008 recruiting class. [4/23/07]
Gonzaga’s Davis to Do Community Service After Marijuana Arrest: Suspended Gonzaga forward Theo Davis, arrested for misdemeanor marijuana possession, agreed to community service and life skills classes, a move that could drop the charge. Davis was arrested with teammate forward Josh Heytvelt – who was also suspended — Feb. 9 after police found a partially burned marijuana cigarette in Davis’ pocket. After a hearing, the 6-9 freshman agreed to do 10 hours of community service and take life skills classes. A continuance until May 2008 was also issued, meaning his case will be dismissed should he avoid arrests on similar violations until then. Davis redshirted last season because of a shoulder injury. [4/23/07]
Kingwood Classic Recap
HOUSTON – It’s often said that everything is bigger in Texas. The 13th edition of the Houston Kingwood Classic certainly fits that with 300 teams in the 17-under portion alone. All told, there were 753 teams in the tournament, which had nine divisions going from 9-under all the way to the main portion, the 17-under. Winning it is also a unique challenge in that a team must win four games on Sunday, the last of which comes with only a very brief rest following their semifinal win.
Numerous Division I coaches came out, including a number of head coaches. Our unofficial count stood at over 40, though it may have been appreciably higher.
On Saturday, there was a delay in the final pool play games due to a brief power outage at Westfield High School. One game was relatively unaffected as light coming into the gym was sufficient to keep the game going while the lights came back on. Take that away, and for the most part the tournament ran according to schedule and without issue.
The 17-under final was a little like those in other recent years in that it didn’t have much drama. Indiana Elite rallied late in the first half after it looked like California-based Pump N Run Elite might break the game open, trailing by just two at halftime. They then took the lead for good early in the second half and dominated the latter frame, outscoring Pump N Run 49-27 en route to a 78-58 win. Tyler Zeller (7’0″ Jr. C, Chicago (IL) Washington HS) had 21 points and eight rebounds to lead four players in double figures for Indiana Elite. Emmanuel Negedu (6’7″ Jr. PF, Wolfeboro (NH) Brewster Academy) added 15 points and DeAndre Liggins (6’6″ Jr. SG-SF, Chicago (IL) Washington HS) had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Jrue Holiday (6’2″ Jr. SG, Chatsworth (CA) Campbell Hall HS) led Pump N Run with 18 points.
Player Notes
Charles Abou (6’4″ Sr. SF, Logan (UT) High) Solidly built wing is a warrior who plays bigger than his size. He’s not tremendously skilled and won’t score a great deal, but he’ll get points off stickbacks and loose balls as he’s around the ball often. Mid-major prospect.
Ben Aird (6’9″ Jr. PF-C, Bountiful (UT) High) He didn’t get a lot of touches on offense, so he didn’t get to show what he can do at that end. He has a good body for the post and grabbed some rebounds, so some fundamentals are certainly there.
Juan Alverio (6’5″ Jr. SF, Miami (FL) Calusa Prep) Active wing plays bigger than his size, getting rebounds and not being afraid to operate inside against bigger players. He didn’t score much through the offense, but went for 10 points in one game we saw.
Al-Farouq Aminu (6’8″ Jr. SF-PF, Norcross (GA) High) In his team’s win over Pump N Run on Friday night, he was the best player on the floor in the second half. He owned the glass, which he is capable of doing, and he ran the floor and finished to the tune of 16 points. His ball skills looked better as well. Big-time prospect.
Jerime Anderson (6’1″ Jr. PG-SG, Anaheim (CA) Canyon HS) Athletic guard was active in a pool play game and contributed, showing a little touch from long range. The championship game was another story, as he didn’t’ do much there. His combo guard skills and how he plays make him potentially a very good prospect.
Chris Bass (6’1″ Jr. PG, New Orleans (LA) Capitol HS) Brandon’s younger brother is a well-built guard who can shoot it from long range and capably run the show. He’s not overly quick and not the truest point guard.
Damen Bell-Holter (6’9″ Jr. PF, Ketchikan (AK) High) Though not the most mobile player, he has a mature body with some strength and used it well. In going for 22 points in a playoff loss, he scored with some stickbacks, a couple of jumpers around the foul line and other close field goals.
Tyreese Breshers (6’7″ Jr. PF, Los Angeles (CA) Price HS) Bulky post player had a growing reputation leading up to this event, and perhaps we caught him in a bad game as he wasn’t really a factor in a playoff win for his team. There’s a question of whether all the weight he has is good weight, and we didn’t really get to see what he can do offensively because he didn’t get many touches.
Andrew Brommer (6’9″ Jr. PF, Rosemount (MN) High) Fundamentally sound post player didn’t score much, but showed plenty of tools to help a team. He has the tools to score inside, while running the floor and showing a little passing ability when facing the hoop, and he also got a couple of baskets on offensive rebounds. Mid-major prospect.
J’Covan Brown (6’0″ Jr. PG-SG, Port Arthur (TX) Memorial HS) Although he seemed to be slowed a bit by a knee/thigh injury, he just kept scoring as he usually does. He had a relatively quiet 19 points in one game, showing he still puts up points even when it doesn’t seem like he’s a major factor. High-major prospect.
Jonathan Brown (6’7″ Sr. PF, Houston (TX) Jersey Village HS) Lanky post player did well in his role off the bench in being around the ball. He got several offensive boards, a few after running the floor, and stuck a few of them back en route to 12 points in one game.
Raphael Brown (6’0″ Jr. PG, Kansas City (MO) Hickman Mills HS) He’s a capable ball-handler who quietly ran his team, but made his mark more with his shooting. He made three from long range, including one from very deep to force overtime, in one game we saw. Mid-major prospect.
Rotnei Clarke (5’11″ Jr. PG, Claremore (OK) Verdigris HS) Although he has point guard size and some ability at that spot, he really made his mark shooting the ball. He made shots from mid-range and long range, both off the catch and on the move.
Will Creekmore (6’9″ Sr. PF, Tulsa (OK) Edison HS) Impressive post scorer put up 27 in one playoff game we saw late Saturday night. He showed good footwork and used his mature body well, finished consistently and took a lot of contact and kept scoring. For good measure, you can’t sleep on him away from the basket as he knocked down shots from the foul line and a three-pointer. Mid-major plus prospect.
Josh Crittle (6’8″ Jr. PF, Chicago (IL) Hales Franciscan HS) Mainly a post presence, he has a good body and is active inside. He rebounded well in the action we saw, not getting many offensive touches. High-major minus/high-major prospect.
Victor Davila (6’8″ Sr. PF, Boonville (NC) Starmount HS) Post player has a good body and quietly played well on a team loaded with bigger names. He scored several post field goals, using moves and his body to score.
Laron Dendy (6’9″ Jr. PF, Kings Mountain (NC) Hope Christian Academy) One-time Clemson commit (he has re-opened his recruitment), he looked more athletic and showed some better skills overall since last year. He finished well and had a more offensive mindset, reaching double figures twice.
DeMar DeRozan (6’5″ Jr. SF, Compton (CA) High) There was speculation that this athletic scorer committed to USC, and the picture wasn’t very clear after the tournament. He finishes very well when he gets to the basket, and looks to have a jumper out to long range that must be respected at the very least, using all of that to go for 31 points in a playoff win for his team. High-major prospect.
Larry Drew (5’11″ Jr. PG, Woodland Hills (CA) Taft HS) The son of a former NBA point guard, we weren’t impressed much by his play in one game, then he got injured during the playoffs and didn’t play later on. He has a mature body for his position but struggled at the offensive end.
Devidas Dulkys (6’3″ Jr. SG, Las Vegas (NV) Findlay Prep) Impressive wing shot the lights out from long range in a 16-point effort leading to a victory for his team. He has a relatively mature body and runs the floor well, and if he can shoot it like he did on this night, he’ll be a nice pickup for someone. High-major minus prospect.
Mike Floyd (6’2″ Jr. SG, St. Paul (MN) Cretin-Derham HS) This athletic guard impressed with how he played the game. He has a good body and uses it, as he’s aggressive and plays bigger than his size and also returned after turning his ankle in one game. Although he’s mainly a slasher, he did show a little touch from mid-range en route to 19 points in a good win for his team. Mid-major prospect.
Greg Foster (6’1″ Jr. PG-SG, Indianapolis (IN) Howe HS) Athletic lefty showed good scoring ability, going for 14 points with some three-pointers and later a couple of driving scores.
Jeff Francis (6’8″ Sr. PF, Cleveland (TX) Westbury Christian Academy) We were impressed with how he did one job very well, which was rebounding. He was constantly around the basketball at the defensive end when a shot went up, and although he’s athletic and has a good body, he played well as a blender on offense. The body to be a post scorer is almost there, as he could probably use a little more strength, but he’s also skilled enough to face the basket a little.
Keith Gallon (6’9″ So. PF, Houston (TX) Timberwood HS) Wide-bodied post player has the fundamentals and moves well for his weight. He’s not the most mobile right now, but with a little better conditioning that will change.
Troy Gillenwater (6’7″ Jr. SF-PF, Boston (MA) Stoneridge Prep) It’s obvious that this well-built forward is trying to make the transition to the wing and play away from the basket, and the results seem mixed at best thus far. The ball skills still need work as well as his jumper, but when he goes back inside as he did a few times here, he’ll score often. High-major minus/high-major prospect has committed to Oklahoma State.
Drew Gordon (6’9″ Jr. PF, San Jose (CA) Archbishop Mitty HS) He didn’t get many touches in a game we saw, and as a result scored just six points and wasn’t much of a factor. When he got the ball, he did show some good post moves and he’s an athletic power forward.
Delwan Graham (6’6″ Jr. SF, Dunwoody (GA) High) Lefty athlete looks to have the tools to be a nice small forward. He has a good body and will drive often, drawing fouls and finishing.
JaMychal Green (6’8″ Jr. PF, Montgomery (AL) St. Jude Institute) Last year, he impressed as an active rebounder inside. This year, he really impressed at the offensive end as he consistently scored big with inside baskets. He’s well-built and has good post moves, showing the ability to go right (stronger) or left, and he frequently got to the foul line and just looked too tough for opponents to handle. High-major prospect.
Beas Hamga (7’0″ Jr. C, Decatur (IL) Christian HS) There is a rumor surfacing that he could wind up in the class of 2007 when it’s all said and done, then be on a college campus in the fall. He’s mainly a defensive presence right now, blocking shots inside and being an enforcer, although he does show some offensive ability. High-major prospect.
Jordan Hamilton (6’8″ So. SF, Los Angeles (CA) Dorsey HS) Forward has good size and athleticism, and although he’s thin, he dominated in stretches. He scored often in transition with a number of dunks, but also showed a touch from long range. He went for 33 points in one game and was a consistent offensive force that should be an elite player in the class of 2009.
Gordon Hayward (6’7″ Jr. SF-PF, Brownsburg (IN) High) Scrappy role player did some dirty work, as he was around the ball often at both ends. He did a little scoring, including a three-pointer, but he looks best playing a role that doesn’t focus on scoring.
Kedrick Hogans (6’7″ Sr. PF, New Orleans (LA) Edna Karr HS) Good complementary player works inside, as he has the frame and body to compete there. He scored inside and also hit from about foul line distance as well at the offensive end.
Jrue Holiday (6’2″ Jr. SG, Chatsworth (CA) Campbell Hall HS) Widely regarded as one of the elite players in the class of 2008, he didn’t have the best of games when we saw him. His jumper wasn’t going and he seemed frustrated, then tried to do too much and it didn’t help. He’s athletic and very active, and he can handle the ball well for a wing.
Richard Howell (6’8″ So. SF, Lawrenceville (GA) Central Gwinnett HS) One of the more promising underclassmen here, he’s athletic and skilled and has a good body. He shows some combo forward ability, although he seems more suited to the small forward spot with his touch from long range and ability to pass on the move. We saw him go for 19 points in an impressive effort on Sunday.
Matt Humphrey (6’5″ Jr. SG, Chicago (IL) Hales Franciscan HS) After not getting many touches the last time we saw him, this shooter got his chances and was knocking his shots down. He had a big second half against the Atlanta Celtics en route to 22 points, although that unfortunately included him picking up a technical foul for taunting after he nailed a tough, clutch three-pointer from the corner and was fouled. He also picked up a key offensive foul late in the game where his team was eliminated. Overall, a good showing for this high-major prospect, who is also an excellent student.
Lewis Jackson (5’9″ Jr. PG, Decatur (IL) Eisenhower HS) Quick slashing floor leader really made his team go in keying their run to the championship, especially in the title game. He showed the ability to pass and score on the move, making a number of nice passes and leading their transition attack.
Brandon Jennings (6’2″ Jr. PG, Compton (CA) Oak Hill Academy) One of the elite players in the class of 2008, he’s very quick and athletic and will get to the basket pretty much any time he wants to. He can score plenty of points and finish with the best of them, but he also looked to be less of a point guard here. He lit up one team for 30 points. Big-time prospect.
Terrence Jennings (6’9″ Jr. PF, Sacramento (CA) Mt. Zion Christian Academy) One of the more underrated players in his class, he’s a good size post player who’s efficient inside and runs the floor well. He went for 35 in one game we saw, consistently finishing close and also stepping out to knock down a couple of three-pointers.
Angelo Johnson (6’1″ Jr. PG, Simi Valley (CA) Stoneridge Prep) Scoring point guard will drive to the basket all day and won’t be deterred by anyone. He’ll take the physical contact and still finish and still drive again fearlessly. We saw him go for 18 in a big quarterfinal win. High-major prospect has committed to USC.
Noel Johnson (6’7″ So. SF, Lovejoy (GA) Fayette County HS) Thin wing has the tools to be a good small forward, but we also saw him have to guard a good inside player a couple of times and get overpowered. That’s a good sign that he’ll have to get stronger, but right now his shooting stroke and size make him a good prospect to keep an eye on.
Garland Judkins (6’5″ Jr. SG-SF, Houston (TX) Cypress Christian HS) Versatile scoring guard will drive the ball all day, all night, and he will find a way to the basket via gaps and occasionally using quickness. His body is relatively mature and he’s not overly quick, but he’ll find gaps and score or get to the line and he can handle the ball well for a wing. He went for 20 points in one game, and save for some ill-advised deep three-pointers he hoisted up, was quite impressive.
Jeremiah Kelly (6’2″ Jr. PG, Chicago (IL) Boys to Men Academy) One of the more underrated point guards in the class, he has a maturing body and was lighting it up from long range in one playoff game we saw en route to leading his team to the Gold championship. He has above-average quickness and made some clutch baskets and free throws, and made five three-pointers en route to 24 points. High-major minus/high-major prospect is a sleeper.
Desmond King (6’6″ Jr. SF-PF, New Orleans (LA) Peabody Magnet School) Physical, aggressive forward has a solid body and is a plus athlete. He doesn’t take a play off while out there, and after scoring mainly close to the basket, we saw him later knock down a couple of jumpers and a three-pointer. He went for 24 points in one game and 14 in another, and is a solid mid-major plus/high-major minus prospect.
Malcolm Lee (6’5″ Jr. SG, Riverside (CA) J.W. North HS) Although he plays the off-guard spot, he showed some real combo guard capability with his passing. He’s solid at scoring the ball, whether from long range or on drives, as illustrated by a nice 17-point effort without taking many shots in one game. High-major prospect.
Travis Leslie (6’5″ SG-SF, Decatur (GA) Columbia HS) Active wing has a good body and is around the ball a good deal. He showed a little mid-range touch on offense in limited opportunities, but was dogged by foul trouble in one game. Mid-major plus/high-major minus prospect.
DeAndre Liggins (6’6″ Jr. SG-SF, Chicago (IL) Washington HS) Very long and athletic guard is very adept at getting to the basket and making things happen. We saw him make several quick drives and weave through the defense, almost seeming unstoppable. He did knock down a three-pointer, but that’s not his forte as he’s so good at getting to the basket. At his size, it’s not a surprise that he’ll get his fair share of rebounds. High-major prospect.
Kelvin Martin (6’4″ Jr. SF, Adel (GA) Cook County HS) Athletic forward plays like a combo forward but did his best work inside and close to the basket. He scored a number of close field goals and rebounded, while also running the floor and getting some transition baskets.
Andre McFarland (6’6″ Sr. SF-PF, Wolfeboro (NH) Brewster Academy) Well-built forward was a definite factor in one game we saw, working inside and a little outside. He’s active and scored some close field goals in leading his team to a win.
Emmanuel Negedu (6’7″ Jr. PF, Wolfeboro (NH) Brewster Academy) Solidly built forward plays with plenty of energy and really gets after it. He showed some quick post moves and finished strong in close, while also knocking down a shot off the dribble near the elbow to show a little extra skill offensively. High-major prospect.
Reeves Nelson (6’6″ So. SF, Modesto (CA) Christian HS) One of the better prospects in his class that we’ve seen, he has a relatively mature body and is very athletic. He runs the floor and finished several fast breaks, rebounded well and just generally went to work.
Roberto Nelson (6’4″ So. SG-SF, Santa Barbara (CA) High) Aggressive, well-built wing impressed with how he went to work against bigger players. He went to work inside at both ends, playing bigger and scoring 27 points against a very good Southern California All-Stars team.
Ronald Nored (6’0″ Jr. PG, Homewood (AL) High) Well-built point guard is energetic and can drive to the basket all day with good quickness. He didn’t score a lot, though his jumper appears good enough to be respected, and at times his body control looked to be a question mark.
Walter Offutt (6’3″ Jr. SG, Warren (IN) Central HS) Complementary wing player did well in that role in helping his team to the title. He has a good body and knows how to score, doing so on drives and in transition often, and knocking down a long jumper along the way.
Jeremy Olsen (6’10″ So. PF-C, Suwanee (GA) Collins Hill HS) Role-playing big man showed some promise overall. His body isn’t fully mature yet, but he showed a touch on jumpers out to about foul line distance and a little beyond, and was also active on the offensive glass.
J.P. Olukemi (6’6″ Jr. SF, Simi Valley (CA) Stoneridge Prep) This athletic wing will drive to the basket all day, using his good body and strong finishing ability to score. He handles the ball passably for the wing and will get out in transition to finish and occasionally lead a break.
Jesse Perry (6’7″ Jr. SF-PF, St. Louis (MO) Gateway Tech) We list him as a combo forward, but he looks to be a tweener at the moment as he has some skills for each position. He rebounded well and was around the ball often in one game, going for 10 points along the way.
Steve Peterson (6’5″ Jr. SG-SF, Columbus (GA) Jordan HS) Lanky wing played well in helping his team reach Sunday without two key players. He has a thin upper body but is athletic and can finish close to the basket, and has some skills for both wing positions.
Andy Poling (6’11″ Jr. C, Portland (OR) Westview HS) The big man didn’t play well in the first game we saw in the tournament. He often went up too strong and also has an awkward release on his jump shot and at the foul line, and struggled to just seven points. His body still needs some maturing, which will come. High-major minus prospect has committed to Gonzaga.
Jelani Polston (6’6″ Jr. SF-PF, Chicago (IL) Boys to Men Academy) Athletic forward has a good body and runs the floor well, looking like a 4/3 combo forward. He’s undersized for the power forward spot, but that appears to be his better position as he scored mainly close to the basket and also blocked a few shots. Mid-major plus/high-major minus prospect.
Willie Reed (6’11″ Jr. C, Shawnee Mission (KS) Bishop Miege HS) Long post has a thin upper body and didn’t spend much time inside. In going for 13 points in one game we saw, he scored on a few jumpers around the foul line and wasn’t a major factor inside at either end, although the potential is there with his length.
Laquinton Ross (6’8″ SF, Jackson (MS)) Just an eighth grader, he showed plenty of promise in a 15-point effort against a very good TMAC All Stars team. He’s physically immature as you might expect, but he wasn’t timid and showed a touch on his jumper out to long range.
Torres Roundtree (6’4″ Jr. SG, St. Louis (MO) McCluer North HS) Athletic guard has a mature body and looks to be clearly more of a scorer than a shooter. He scored a couple of driving field goals, including a clutch one late in a game.
Victor Rudd (6’9″ So. PF, Sylmar (CA) High) Promising forward has a good frame and a body that’s not mature just yet. He has long arms and looks to be trying to develop a game away from the basket, but his stroke looks questionable at the moment.
Mirza Sabic (6’10″ So. PF-C, Tucson (AZ) Ironwood Ridge HS) Although he’s listed at 6’10″, he doesn’t look quite that tall, but he still has nice size and showed some good offensive skills. He had a good touch on long range jumpers and later added in a nice driving field goal en route to 14 points in one game.
Sam Schaffer (6’8″ Jr. PF, Oregon City (OR) High) Thin post player looks like he might not be the 6’8″ he is listed. A complementary post player on his team, he got better as the game went along but wasn’t a major factor.
D.J. Seely (6’4″ Jr. SG, Lodi (CA) Tokay HS) Scoring wing found several ways to get to the basket and score the ball en route to 17 points in one game we saw. He doesn’t appear to wow you with skills, but finds a way to score.
Shannon Shorter (6’4″ Sr. SG-SF, Houston (TX) Westside HS) Scoring wing doesn’t appear to have much of a long range stroke, but to his credit we didn’t’ see him take many of those shots en route to 19 points in one game we saw. He’s a good, not great, athlete who seems to excel in transition, where he can finish and find another man running the floor, can finish with his left (off) hand and will get his share of rebounds from the perimeter position.
Michael Snaer (6’5″ So. SG-SF, Moreno Valley (CA) Rancho Verde HS) Well-built wing seems especially adept at driving to the basket and getting layups, as he got a couple of those on the baseline and he knows how to finish. He later knocked down a three-pointer in a 19-point effort, but his forte clearly seems to be scoring on drives right now.
Andrew Steele (6’3″ Jr. SG, Birmingham (AL) John Carroll HS) Ron’s younger brother isn’t a floor leader like he is, but is a well-built wing who had a solid showing. He shot it well from long range and got some offensive boards, going for 20 or more twice and getting at least two more games in double figures that we know of. High-major prospect.
Jerel Stephenson (6’4″ Jr. SG, Augusta (GA) Glenn Hills HS) Lefty athlete showed some nice abilities from the wing at the offensive end. Clearly a scorer, he went for double digits in two games we saw.
Don Stewart (6’5″ Jr. SG-SF, Champagne (IL) Central HS) Athletic wing is a little thin but has a frame that should fill out. He got out in transition and score a few times there.
Malik Story (6’5″ Jr. SG, Lakewood (CA) Artesia HS) What you see is what you get: he’s a guy you don’t want to leave open if you’re the opposing team. This well-built shooter once again showed great range on his jumper, even knocking in a long three off the glass at the halftime buzzer in one game. High-major prospect has committed to USC.
Calvin Thompson (6’3″ Jr. SG, Grenta (LA) Helen Cox HS) Scoring wing has a good body and reached double figures in a couple of games, going for 10 in one and 15 in another. He did his scoring with a little mix of long range shots and drives to the basket, quietly complementing his teammates.
Toby Veal (6’8″ Jr. SF-PF, Savannah (GA) Johnson HS) One of the more impressive efforts of opening night was his 24 points in leading his team to victory. Active and very aggressive, he was around the ball a lot, made some hustle plays and rebounded well. He’s very athletic and has a good body, and though his game looks to be a little more that of a power forward, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him become a small forward.
Demetrius Walker (6’5″ So. SG, Fontana (CA) High) He’s been very hyped, and we finally got a first look at him this weekend. He’s athletic and showed a nice touch on some mid-range jumpers almost out to three-point range. Although he seemed to tweak an ankle at one point, he came back before long and kept playing.
Royce White (6’7″ Jr. SF, Minneapolis (MN) Delasalle HS) Athletic, active forward was a key player in his team’s quarterfinal win over a good Mean Streets team. He has a relatively mature body and seems to score in flow, but really came through in the clutch with a three-pointer and some other key baskets en route to 21 points. High-major prospect.
Elliott Williams (6’4″ Jr. SG, Germantown (TN) St. Georges School) Lefty wing showed a nice ability to finish close to the basket and really battled inside when he tried to score. Additionally, he also showed a touch from mid-range and long range en route to 16 points in one game we saw, although most of his points came closer to the hoop. High-major minus prospect.
Jonathan Williams (6’7″ Jr. SF, El Cerrito (CA) High) Well-built wing is versatile and handled the ball a good deal, although his handle seemed barely above average. The lefty is athletic and can score, although no scoring tools specifically stood out.
Marcus Williams (5’11″ Jr. PG, Rio Rancho (NM) High) Quick point guard is like a waterbug in how he can move, and he uses it well. He showed the ability to penetrate and score, going for 14 points against a team with some good size.
Wesley Witherspoon (6’8″ Jr. SF, Duluth (GA) Berkmar HS) We already know he’s very athletic, and he certainly showed that. He had a nice game on Friday night, going for 14 points highlighted by a steal and dunk and a three-pointer.
Jeff Withey (6’11″ Jr. C, San Diego (CA) Horizon HS) The big man is a little thin, but his body will mature in time. He showed some post scoring ability and was basically a blender at the offensive end, sometimes facing the basket as part of the offense. High-major prospect has committed to Louisville.
Tony Woods (6’11″ Jr. C, Rome (GA) High) His game on Friday night was the best we’ve seen him play, as he was aggressive and making plays. He showed his mobility and finished strong when he got touches, which happened more than in some other games.
Renaldo Woolridge (6’7″ Jr. SF, North Hollywood (CA) Harvard-Westlake HS) The son of former NBA player Orlando, he certainly has some potential. He’s athletic and has long arms, but will need to get stronger at the next level. In going for 14 points in one game, he knocked down a shot from long range but that doesn’t seem to be his forte.
Andre Young (5’11″ Jr. PG-SG, Windsor (GA) High) Well-built guard has point guard size but seems to have more of a scorer’s mentality. He showed an excellent touch from long range and also scored on a few close jumpers, going for 15 in one game we saw.
Kevin Young, Jr. (6’8″ Jr. PF, Perris (CA) High) Lanky post player gave his team a good lift off the bench, especially on the offensive glass. He used his long arms well, and he’ll need to get stronger to be even more effective, especially since he has a thin upper body.
Tyler Zeller (7’0″ Jr. C, Chicago (IL) Washington HS) Active big man is a little thin but did solid work in helping his team to the title. He got after it on the glass at both ends and ran the floor well, and also showed a touch from mid-range.
Other players who caught our attention
Chad Adams (6’6″ So. SG-SF, Albuquerque (NM) Highland HS)
Larry Anderson (6’5″ Sr. SG, Long Beach (CA) Jordan HS)
Joel Armstrong (6’8″ Jr. PF, Stillwater (MN) Area HS)
Olu Ashaolu (6’6″ Jr. SF-PF, Houston (TX) Christian Life Center Academy)
Ryan Baker (6’4″ Jr. SG-SF, Houston (TX) Cypress Christian HS)
Oscar Bellfield (6’3″ Jr. SG, Los Angeles (CA) Westchester HS)
Xavier Blount (6’3″ So. SG, Albuquerque (NM) New Hope Christian Academy)
Chris Bonham (6’11″ Sr. C, Paradise Valley (AZ) High)
John Brandenburg (6’10″ Jr. C, St. Louis (MO) DeSmet HS)
Chris Brew (6’5″ So. SG-SF, Berkeley (CA) St. Mary’s College HS)
Will Brew (6’5″ Jr. SG-SF, Berkeley (CA) St. Mary’s College HS)
Mike Broghammer (6’9″ So. PF-C, Hopkins (MN) High)
Will Brown (6’8″ Jr. SF-PF, Duncanville (TX) High)
Marcus Butler (6’3″ Jr. SG, Kansas City (MO) Washington HS)
Jackie Carmichael (6’8″ Jr. PF, Manhattan (KS) High)
Max Carrier (6’8″ So. PF, Piney Woods (MS) Prep)
Sampson Carter (6’8″ Jr. PF, Hamilton (TN) High)
Tyrell Chandler (6’8″ Jr. SF, Los Angeles (CA) Pacific Hills HS)
Brian Conklin (6’8″ Jr. PF, North Eugene (OR) High)
Lucas Devenny (6’8″ So. PF, Santa Rosa (CA) Piner HS)
Kevin Dillard (6’0″ Jr. PG, Homewood (IL) Flossmoor HS)
Brandon Duliakas (6’10″ So. C, Tucson (AZ) Ironwood Ridge HS)
Dexter Ellington (5’11″ Jr. PG, Atlanta (GA) Randolph Clay HS)
C.J. Erickson (6’4″ Jr. SG, Minnetonka (MN) High)
Ryan Evans (6’5″ Jr. SF, Chandler (AZ) Hamilton HS)
Dudley Ewell (6’4″ Jr. SG, Moreno Valley (CA) Rancho Verde HS)
Kyrs Faber (6’10″ Jr. C, Los Angeles (CA) Ribet Academy)
Jamaal Fenton (5’10″ So. PG, Houston (TX) Chavez HS)
James Fields (6’3″ Jr. PG-SG, Savannah (GA) Beach HS)
Leon Flowers (6’5″ So. SG-SF, Wichita (KS) East HS)
Edgar Garibay (6’10″ Jr. C, Compton (CA) High)
Jeremy Green (6’3″ Jr. SG, Austin (TX) Bowie HS)
Anders Halverson (6’8″ Jr. PF, Mendota Heights (MN) Henry Sibley HS)
Drew Hanlen (5’11″ Jr. PG, St. Louis (MO) Webster Grove HS)
Holton Hansaker (6’0″ Jr. PG, Woods Cross (UT) High)
Ryan Hare (6’5″ Jr. SF, Chicago (IL) John Marshall HS)
Tim Harris (6’3″ So. SG, San Jose (CA) Valley Christian HS)
Terrance Henry (6’10″ Jr. PF, Monroe (LA) Carroll HS)
Cory Higgins (6’3″ Sr. SG, Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy)
Fred Hinnenkamp (6’7″ Sr. SF, Houston (TX) Westside HS)
Garrius Holloman (6’6″ Jr. SF, Wichita (KS) East HS)
Elijah Johnson (6’2″ So. PG, Houston (TX) Chaparral HS)
Anthony Jones (6’11″ Jr. PF-C, Houston (TX) Yates HS)
Pierre Jordan (6’0″ Jr. PG, Dunwoody (GA) High)
Willie Kirkland (6’3″ Sr. SG, Graceville (GA) High)
Guy Landry (6’7″ So. SF, Sylmar (CA) High)
Brendan Lane (6’9″ So. PF, Los Angeles (CA) Rocklin HS)
Byron Maxson (6’4″ Sr. SG-SF, New Orleans (LA) John McDonough HS)
Jeremy McCarty (6’6″ Jr. SF, Houston (TX) Westside HS)
Paul McCoy (6’0″ Jr. PG, Portland (OR) Grant HS)
Phillip McDonald (6’6″ Jr. SG-SF, Houston (TX) Cypress Springs HS)
Carter McMasters (6’10″ Jr. PF-C, Chattanooga (TN) Grace Baptist Academy)
Jewlisys Noble (5’11″ So. PG, Piney Woods (MS) High)
Lavanne Pennington (6’4″ So. SG, Mendenhall (MS) Genesis One Prep)
Greg Plater (6’2″ Sr. SG, Portland (OR) McKay HS)
Corbin Ray (6’7″ Jr. SF-PF, Katy (TX) Taylor HS)
Victor Reid (6’4″ Sr. SG, El Paso (TX) Andress HS)
Jeremy Robinson (6’8″ Jr. PF, Decatur (IL) Eisenhower HS)
Zycorrian Robinson (5’11″ Jr. PG, Spartanburg (SC) High)
Omar Sanders (6’8″ Jr. PF, Spartanburg (SC) High)
Ameer Shamsud-din (6’1″ Jr. PG-SG, Portland (OR) Benson HS)
Garrett Sim (6’2″ Jr. PG, Portland (OR) Sunset HS)
Chris Singleton (6’9″ Jr. PF, Cherokee (GA) High)
Cory Smith (6’8″ Jr. PF, Birmingham (AL) Pleasant Grove HS)
Greg Smith (6’9″ So. PF, Los Angeles (CA) Edison HS)
Josh Smith (6’5″ Jr. SF, Savannah (GA) Johnson HS)
Brion Stafford (6’8″ Jr. PF, Humble (TX) Christian Life HS)
Damien Steptos (6’9″ Jr. PF, Irving (TX) God’s Academy)
Ari Stewart (6’7″ So. SF-PF, Marietta (GA) Wheeler HS)
Lucious Stewart, Jr. (6’5″ Jr. SG, Washington (GA) Wilkes HS)
Allen Tate (6’5″ Jr. SG-SF, Hobbs (NM) High)
Phil Taylor (5’9″ Fr. PG, Marietta (GA) Wheeler HS)
Steve Tchiengang (6’9″ Jr. PF, Houston (TX) Cypress Community Christian HS)
Anthony Tucker (6’4″ PG-SG, Minnetonka (MN) High)
Mfon Udofia (6’2″ Jr. PG, Stone Mountain (GA) Miller Grove HS)
DeAngelo Vasquez (6’2″ Jr. SG, Maywood (IL) Proviso East HS)
Willie Warren (6’4″ Jr. SG-SF, Ft. Worth (TX) North Crowley HS)
Ray Waters (6’2″ Sr. SG, Miami (FL) Concordia HS)
David Wear (6’8″ So. SF-PF, Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei HS)
Travis Wear (6’8″ So. SF-PF, Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei HS)
Nick Williams (6’5″ Jr. SG, Mobile (AL) Leflore HS)
Rodney Williams (6’6″ So. SF, Plymouth (MN) Cooper HS)
Although it wasn’t quite as bad as last season, this was hardly one for the books for Wake Forest. After an 82-60 blowout loss against Maryland on Thursday, the Demon Deacons finished 13-18 overall. That doesn’t seem so bad, and a few teams had worse records, but look deeper and you see a team that, quite simply, was not good.
Ron Hunter is a terrific addition to the Colonial Athletic Association coaching ranks. That could have been said before the season given his track record and the impression he made on Media Day in October, but after the CAA Tournament it bears repeating because it was so obvious.
In theory, the next six days should be quite stressful for Drexel and head coach Bruiser Flint. As the regular season champions of the CAA, they are guaranteed a bid to the NIT, but naturally hope the NCAA Tournament comes calling. Flint doesn’t seem stressed at all about it, however, and his experience is a key factor in that.
Northeastern fought turnovers often this season, and had relatively mixed results with some streaks along the way. The Huskies should be better next season, but there is clear room for improvement and that was evident on Saturday night in the season-ending loss.
With UNCW’s season over, there’s a look toward a brighter future that was helped by this weekend in Richmond. The young Seahawks had some bright spots during the season in trying to rebuild, and capped it off with something else they can take with them.
James Madison came into the season as an interesting team to project. There was not a lack of talent, and it wasn’t a young team, but there were intangibles questions. In the end, injuries were the biggest problem, but the Dukes kept fighting right to the end no matter how demoralizing the injuries were.
Notes on the first round of the CAA Tournament, where the seeds held to form, the first 20-20 game in tournament history occurred and a team that went bowling to help get ready for the opening game of the day came out on top.
We check in with some quick hitters on a couple of America East teams, a contrast of freshmen from an earlier game, Georgia Tech’s defense against Boston College and the Missouri Valley.
The last decisive play in Harvard’s 55-54 loss to Penn on Saturday night will stay in many people’s minds. For the Crimson player who was involved in it, one hopes the college basketball gods have a better ending in store later on.
The stage is set. Saturday night at Lavietes Pavilion will be a potentially epic battle with first place on the line after Friday night’s results. Old rivals Yale and Harvard will battle for the top, with Harvard hoping for a repeat of the result the last time these two teams met.
Last Thursday, Idaho State finally made it’s choice, hiring Montana assistant Bill Evans as it’s head coach. So far, reaction has been mixed by at least one of the couple of forum posts dedicated to the decision as well as the local scribe’s feelings. Here’s the traditional “welcome to town” …
This is what the head honchos wrote on Monday: Big Sky (March 3) Top seed: Montana. The Big Sky regular-season championship came down to the final game, in which the Grizzlies avenged their only loss in Big Sky play by beating Weber State in Missoula. Tournament stakes: Although Weber State …
We take a look at the award winners, from the two-time conference Player of the Year to the Newcomer of the Year, as well as a couple of early tournament games.
Why did the Cleveland State Vikings recently have a five game losing streak? It’s simple–whenever a team loses their most valuable player, they’re going to suffer. The Cleveland State Vikings have had their fair share of above-average talent on the roster over the past few years. Cedric Jackson played briefly …
The Cleveland State Vikings and Detroit Titans squared off on Thursday evening at the Wolstein Center in a matchup with major ramifications for seeding in the Horizon League Tournament. Both the Vikings and the Titans headed into Thursday’s matchup riding drastically different five-game streaks. Picked by many preseason analysts to …
The last week of conference play has arrived in the Horizon League. Over the past few years, the battle for the top seeds in the Horizon League has not been decided until the final game of conference play. This year is no exception, with multiple teams having a legitimate chance …
The Cleveland State Vikings and Drexel Dragons squared off on Saturday morning at the Wolstein Center as part of ESPN’s BracketBusters series. Saturday’s contest marks the second straight year in which the Vikings have participated in the BracketBusters series. Last season, the Vikings dropped a hard-fought contest to Old Dominion …
Although the rivalry between the Cleveland State Vikings and Butler Bulldogs may not be as nationally known as the rivalry between Duke and North Carolina, the intensity that is in the air whenever these two Horizon League rivals square off is just as strong. In fact, the animosity between these …
The Cleveland State Vikings and Valparaiso Crusaders squared off on Thursday night at the Wolstein Center in one of the most important games of the season for both teams. While the Vikings’ season-opening victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores may have been extremely important with regards to quality wins that are …
JUST IN TIME FOR TONIGHT’S GAMES… All the news you ever wanted to know about the Big Sky, the weekly edition. YOUR WEEKLY DAMIAN LILLARD IS A STUD LINK-FEST: A Salt Lake Tribune story on his success. USA Today also jumped in sometime in the last week to talk about …
In a game with major implications for the regular season Horizon League championship and seeding for the Horizon League Tournament, the Cleveland State Vikings dominated the Milwaukee Panthers by a score of 83-57 in a game in which the Panthers never led. The Vikings and Panthers began the day in …
One team stands alone atop the standings for now, with another a little behind them and a logjam near the middle of the pack.
The Cleveland State Vikings started 2012 off on a winning note with a 69-48 victory at home on Saturday afternoon over the visiting Loyola Ramblers. In his pregame radio comments, Vikings coach Gary Waters stated that the Ramblers’ 5-10 record heading into Saturday’s matchup was deceiving and that the Ramblers were …
Opening weekend in the Big Sky Eastern Washington Record: 7-7, 1-1 Weekend: 1-1 Major superlatives: Won by 16, lost by 8; 76.5 ppg for, 72.5 against; plus-4 scoring margin; 52-112 FG; 20-53 3pt; 29-43 FT. Summary: One night, the lead stuck. The other, it didn’t. The Eagles made an early …
The Big Sky is about to dive in to conference play, and so far, the season has unfolded pretty much as expected, with Sacramento State looking like the one surprise.
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