By Marcus Shockley

Hyping players has become an industry unto itself, and it goes beyond mixtapes and ESPN highlight clips. Whenever someone releases player rankings, there are arguments over which player should be rated higher than another, and while some of the arguments might be valid, usually it’s meaningless.

Often coaches will take it personally when their own player is ranked lower than another, and I’ve heard some coaches disparage another player and I know the root of it isn’t based on objectivity but on personal bias. This isn’t true of all coaches, but it definitely happens a lot.

There’s also the grassroots world where some ‘coaches’ will try and hype their players because if people think they have the top players, they’ll get the shoe sponsorships and other trappings that come along with it. Of course, there are many AAU and high school coaches who work with their players and actively try to help them land college scholarships. That’s not what I’m referring to. I’m talking about the guys who only promote players that they see as an ‘investment’.

The problem for the players is that hype ultimately means nothing. It doesn’t matter who the #1 junior or #1 senior is in high school. It’s a nice accolade but a player’s high school ranking is erased the moment he steps off of the floor of his last high school game or AAU game. That’s when hype no longer matters and players have to be able to prove they can actually play. Ask anyone in grassroots basketball who the #1 player in the country is and you’ll get different answers. How many #1 players are there, anyway?

But once players get to a high enough level, they have to be able to do more than just be more athletic than everyone else. There will come a day where fundamentals and understanding how to play will matter. It’s like the 6’5 post player who dominates at the high school level, but would struggle at the college level when he has to play other post player who are 6’8 or 6’10.

Here’s what players need to know: there are different meanings behind a player evaluation, and you should consider the source. That’s not just a lesson for basketball, it’s a lesson for life. Let’s say that we have a player who is a 6’3 shooting guard and is a high school freshman. He’s evaluated as the #1 high school freshman in the country. Consider that an AAU coach might say that about their player because they want people to think they have the next Dwight Howard (not all AAU coaches are like this). A parent might say that because they really believe it, or because they also want their child to be the next Lebron James (not all parents are like this, either).

A media outlet or recruiting guru might say this because they want subscribers/page views, which means money. How many mixtapes have you seen where the title says a player has ‘crazy bounce’ or ‘goes OFF!!!’…these are just hype machine tools. Thinking back over the past thirty years, I can name only a handful of players who actually had so much bounce that they made people gasp. You can dunk? Great. Can you go left? Can you stop your man from getting off a shot? Can you break the press with your dribble? Where’s that video?

Does it matter that Chris Paul wasn’t the #1 recruit coming out of high school? Blake Griffin – not #1. Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, not #1.

#1 high school recruit in 1999? Donnell Harvey. In 2001? Eddy Curry. 2005? Josh McRoberts. In 2006 Kevin Durant was considered the #2 player in his class behind Greg Oden. Yeah, there are guys who rank #1 and become great pros (2004 – Dwight Howard), but that’s the whole point. You have to look for those guys. If a high school ranking at the end of your senior year is not a guarantee of All-Star, HOF success, how accurate do you really think being the #1 high school freshman is? And middle school rankings – forget it. I won’t even look at those and you shouldn’t, either. How much will that awesome mix of you in high school matter when nobody can remember if you played in the NBA?

Forget the rankings. As I always say, have fun, but stay grounded. Focus on being the best basketball player and student of the game you can be, and get some honest input from a good coach on what you need to work on to become better. If Tim Duncan, Jason Kidd and Steve Nash still have things they are working on getting better at, after playing in the league for years and winning like crazy, it’s a pretty safe bet that no matter what level you are at, you can get better at something.

Oh, and Chris Paul was ranked #6 as a high school senior, behind Kendrick Perkins, Ndudi Edi and Shannon Brown. But the #1 player that year was pretty decent. He plays in Miami now but he used to play for Cleveland.

By James Blackburn

Clemson Wins 78-58
Box Score

Game Recap/Thoughts

1st Half

• Clemson is establishing its post game early- going at Walker 2 straight possessions and scoring on both.
• Wake Forest is struggling to find its groove offensively early against Clemons man to man defense.
• Wake Forest is showing a 2-3 zone for the first time with 12:00 minutes left in the 1st to try to control Clemson’s dominant inside play. Clemson does not have any shooters on the floor with Tanner Smith on the bench.
• Trevor Booker just had a ferocious dunk and got a technical for slapping the backboard with 8 minutes to go in the half.
• Wake is back to man with Smith back in the ball game for Clemson. Wake is losing the loose ball war early on.
• Wake is controlling the tempo and has the lead 20-17 with 7 minutes left.
• Clemson is really struggling with fouls and FG%
• Wake cannot handle Booker on the block.
• 3 fouls in less then 10 seconds on Wake
• Devin Booker with the tip in with 2 seconds left to push the lead to six- 42-36

2nd Half

• Back to Jennings- 1st play in second half- he scores on block.
• Just like that Clemson is back up 13 on a Andre Young 3 and a Smith lay-up.
• Ty Walker injured 3 minutes into half going up for lay in.
• Wake Forest is really having a difficult time defending the long ball- I have lost count how may wide open 3’s they have given up this game- part of the reason Clemson’s lead has ballooned to 18.
• Wake is going to get back into this game with foul shots- Wake is already in the bonus with 12 minutes remaining.
• Wake Forest’s offense is in disarray with CJ Harris on the bench.
• Wake must improve defensively- with 9 minutes left in game- Clemson is shooting over 66% from the field and has made 7 three pointers, Wake has also given up 32 points in the paint.
• CJ Harris is the only player who showed up today for Wake.
• With Clemson up 20- the LJVM is dead- people are already leaving with 8 minutes left.
• CJ Harris just missed an open lay-up with 3 minutes to go- it has been that kind of day today for Wake Forest.

Scouting Reports

Wake Forest

Ty Walker (C, 7’0”, SR)
Extremely long- tries to block everything with in his area. Has a bad habit of bringing the ball down and gets it stripped or tied up frequently. Very Raw offensively- has a hard time scoring with back to basket-even when guarded 1 on 1. Must get stronger- gets bumped off lack and gets knocked out of position for rebounds and in the game in general too easy.

Nikita Mescheriakov ( F, 6’8”, R-SR)
Does a great job utilizing ball fakes. Is a decent shooter- but is still inconsistent in this area- much more effective attacking the rim. Very versatile player who can play and guard several positions. Plays below the rim. Crafty left hander. Reminds me of a thinner Boris Diaw. Tends to get out of control at times.

Chase Fischer (G, 6’3”, FR)
Excellent set shooter- gets feet set and square and plants on inside foot. Underrated passer. Must get quicker. Automatic from the stripe. Needs to be more aggressive offensively. Patient.

Clemson

Tanner Smith (G, 6’5”, SR)
Good size for the off-guard position. One of the best 3 point shooters in ACC- automatic from beyond the arc with feet set- very simple stroke- doesn’t get any lift on shot- but has a quick release. Basketball savvy- had a really nice back door cut for the lay- in first half. Also showed the ability to shoot the 1 dribble pull-up when defender plays too close. Smooth- finished around rim several time with a finger role lay-in. Seems to be in the right spot at the right time to score and rebound this game. Had the ball in his hands a lot today and because of height and ability to see over the defense he can hit the open cutter and open teammates. Makes good decisions with ball in his hand- only 1 TO and 5 assists while playing over 30 minutes. Has struggle creating own shot. Lack of quickness and athleticism is going to hurt his chances of playing at next level. Solid all-around effort today to lead Clemson to the big win. Great attitude and demeanor. Should get some NBA workouts because of size and shooting ability- but he is more then likely going to wind up overseas to play professionally- with a chance to return the states to play in the D-League.

Milton Jennings (F, 6’9”, JR)
Nice Touch around basket. Soft touch shooting FT’s too- calm and collected on line- good arc and rotation. Solid back to basket post game. Can stretch defense with the ability to shoot the 3. Good body control and balance around basket. Had no problem finishing around the basket today.

Devin Booker (F/C, 6’8”, JR)
Physical player who uses his strength to his advantage. Has an effective right hook shot. Foul prone because of his defensive aggressiveness. Good shot blocker. With his size, strength, athleticism, and skill set- he should be doing more stat wise- he tends to disappear for stretches. Good rebounder. Undersized at center position- but makes up for it with strength- needs to extend range and show the ability to defend on the perimeter to improve chances of playing in the NBA after next season. Scouts are going to monitor how well he can make the transition to the PF position his senior year.

By Marcus Shockley

I get some grief now and then for assessments of players; this is not unique to any scout or writer. Whenever you try to evaluate a player, there is room for error and there are so many intangibles; how much the player is going to work, how much you’ve actually seen a player, and so on. The reality is, even if you are almost always right, you are going to make mistakes. You are going to be wrong sometimes. That’s one of the reasons I put out the Right-Wrong Awards at the end of the year sometimes to showcase that yes, we did get many things right but we own up to things we got wrong as well.

But I also don’t like the ‘adjusting’ of assessments and rankings that happens based on what’s going on with a recruit. Many people have complained over the years that if UNC, Duke, Kentucky or Kansas offer a player, suddenly that player gets bumped up in the rankings. But I would also point out that the opposite is true, which no one wants to hear.

Just because someone has offered a player, it should not change the assessment of that player.

Let’s say that a player is evaluated as a low-major DI prospect by several scouts. Then suddenly, a high major pops up and offers him. Now, there are only two scenarios here. Either the player has proven something to the high major that the scouts overlooked or the player really is a low major prospect but the college recruiter’s evaluation is off.

Just because a player was offered by a high major does not automatically make him a high major prospect. It means that ONE college thought he was a high major prospect and is acting on it. There’s nothing wrong with that. But it doesn’t change the player – if the college has guessed wrong, they have guessed wrong. It happens all of the time.

It is possible that the player is better than the scouts think. But there are a lot of players every year who go to play college basketball and soon run into problems. I don’t want to paint with a broad brush, but college coaches make mistakes, too. Even Duke and UNC have had players who were offered scholarships and ended up not being able to compete at the elite level once they arrived on campus. So, let’s take a step back here. If players are sometimes incorrectly evaluated by UNC, Duke or Kentucky, doesn’t it make sense that other players can be incorrectly evaluated at hundreds of other colleges as well? If you were to ask any college coach with several years of experience, it would be rare that one would claim all of their recruits worked out as well as they had hoped.

It also explains how you have high major programs in major conferences who only have one or two elite players, but that’s an aside for another day.

The reality is that evaluating players at any level involves some risk of being wrong and a large amount of subjective work. This doesn’t end at the high school level. Even NBA teams get it wrong a lot. We all can name off bad first round picks over the years, players who someone on an NBA team thought was a big time prospect but ended up out of the league or being a bench player before long. So why would high school be any different?

When I saw Kwame Brown in high school, I thought he was a really good prospect, but was a couple of years removed from the pros at best. I thought he would be good in college, work on his game, and then probably be a first round pick. I was stunned when he was taken as the #1 pick out of high school – I did not even think he was ready to make the move to the NBA at that point. And I wasn’t alone in this – there were a lot of scouts who thought the same thing. Did Kwame Brown getting drafted at #1 suddenly make him better than we thought? I don’t like to slam Kwame, who was never a bad player, but he wasn’t a #1 lottery pick either, and Michael Jordan’s gamble on taking him was a huge, public mistake.

But in the world of college recruiting, that’s the equivalent of a lower evaluated player getting a suddenly high offer, and then his ratings go up. I’m not going to change my assessment based on recruitment. Of course, watching a player multiple times over the course of their careers is the best way to assess his talent. When Harrison Barnes arrived at UNC, he was considered the top player in the nation. But he struggled early on in his freshman year, and many fans starting calling him a bust. But they hadn’t seen enough – flash forward to today, where he’s absolutely one of the best college players and a big time pro prospect. If fans had only had the first 10 games of his freshman season to evaluate him, it wouldn’t give the whole picture.

The point is that a player is at a certain level, regardless of who has offered or not. We all know players who should have gotten DI offers but ended up playing DII, and there are DII players who ended up playing DIII and there are even DI prospects who ended up playing nowhere. So if colleges can be wrong about players who should get offers, of course they can be wrong the other way as well, offering players that won’t pan out. This isn’t news to them; they know they are taking a risk by offering any player, no matter how much of a sure thing they seem to be.

By James Blackburn

Kevin Dillard (G, 6’0”, RS JR) Game Scouted: Dayton @ St. Louis Stats 2-10 FG, 7-9 FT, 3 reb, 2 assist, 11 TP, 1 steal, 1 TO, 30 min. Box score St. Louis wins 58-50

Photo: DaytonFlyers.com

Strengths

Lightning quick guard who uses his size to his advantage to get to the rim. Very difficult for defense to stay in front of. Has the ball on a string and is an above average ball handler- effective right to left crossover move that froze several St. Louis defenders this game. Excellent P/R player with ball in his hands- seemed to always make the right decision off this action- knew when to turn corner- which he has the ability to do, knew when to shoot pull-up, and knew when to hit screener with pass either when he rolled or popped.

Excellent passer who keeps his head up when dribbling- makes the right pass. Very explosive going to his right- especially the P/R. Has an above average pull up jumper. Can get to the rim and paint area at will, where he can pull up, lay it in with contact (draws contact and fouls at high rate) or kick to an open teammate. Split the double team and had an old fashioned 3 point play for a much needed basket with about 3 minutes to go in the game. Gets to the line and makes defenses pay- shoots over 80% from line- automatic FT shooter- shots rarely hit rim. Makes good decisions overall- 2 to 1 assist to turnover ratio. Leads team in assists with over 6 a game. Only had 2 today but should have had many more- gave teammates a lot of open looks, but Dayton had a tough time shooting the basketball- at one point in first half, they had only made 2 FG in an 11 minute stretch. He really distributes the ball well- throws passes all over the HC set- knows spacing and where teammates are.

Good defender. Excellent help defender- is aware where his man and where the ball are at all times- not once did I see him out of position. Leads teams with 38 steals for the season.

Weaknesses

Shooting is still inconsistent, especially from 3 where he is shooting barely over 30% for the year. Gets good elevation on shot and has decent form, but tends to fade at times and his misses are erratic and he often misses short. Needs to improve ability to go left. Not near as explosive going left as he is going to his right off the pick, is a bit hesitant. In 15 P/R situations that I tracked, he went to his right 9 of the 15 and he shot or went for a lay up in over half of those. Of the 6 times he went left he passed the ball or pulled it out 4 times and shot it the other 2- only once did he completely turn the corner and get to rim going to his left (got fouled on this play). Tends to pull up or pass going left and get to paint going right. Tends to jump in air to make passes at times, does so because of size and he is not able to see over bigger defenders- got caught in the air on baseline once this game for his lone TO. Even though he has over 68 TO’s for the year, he has over twice as many assists and if you account for the fact he plays over 30 minutes a game and he has the ball in his hands more then anyone on the team, that number does not seem as bad. Though he is a good defender- he is a better off ball defender then on ball- at his size in order to show he can play in the NBA, he must hound the ball more and keep his man from getting by him- did not see that from him today.

Overview

Kevin struggled for the most part today shooting the ball against a very good defensive-minded Rick Majerus team that has held 5 teams under 50 points so far this season. He still showed the ability to get to the basket almost at will and got to the line where he hit 7-9 FT’s. His teammates did not help with his assists numbers as they struggled to hit shots, many of which were open looks set up by Dillard. Dayton relies heavily on Kevin for his scoring and his playmaking skills, putting the ball in his hands the majority of the time and allowing him to create off of picks. He is leading the team in points and assists in a very deep A-10 conference that boasts 9 teams with an RPI of 100 or better. Has 1 year left of eligibility. Turned his ankle with 30 seconds to go in game and did not return. Was Mr. Basketball in state of Illinois coming out of HS in Chicago.

As far as Kevin’s NBA prospects, he has several things going for him. For one, he has an ability that transfers from college to the pros and that is speed. NBA GM’s love PG’s that can get into the paint, because that is what NBA offenses are predicated off of and Kevin can do that. Dayton also runs an NBA style offense by spreading the court and setting a lot of ball screens which the NBA does a lot of. His size will hurt him some but not a ton. His game reminds me of other smaller framed PG’s who are quick and can get to the rim- names like Ty Lawson, Ish Smith, and Kemba Walker come to mind. He is not the explosive scorer like Walker, but is almost as quick as these players. I believe with another year of playing at a high level, he would be a good mid second round pick for a team needing a solid back up PG.

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By James Blackburn

Photo: Flikr/compacflt

James scouted UNC last year against Wake in February.

In this report, James takes a look at how each of these players improved in their respective weaknesses from last season.

UNC wins 68-53

Box Score

(Reports from UNC @ Wake game on January 31, 2012)

Harrison Barnes, 6’8”, F, SO
Strengths
Showed grit and toughness on the boards (4 rebounds in first 6 minutes). Rebounding numbers per game are down a bit from last season, 5.8 to 4.6 so far this year- but strong performance shown tonight. Hard to get rebounds when you have Henson and Zeller feasting on the back boards. Form is picture perfect. Excellent physique and NBA level build.

Weaknesses
Must improve defensively- watching this game- seems to have almost taken steps backward in this area- poor close outs- had a tough time defending Nikita Mescheriakov. Slow release- won’t be able to be a player who gets shots off in the NBA coming off curl screens or cuts with an NBA 3 guarding him.

Overview
Looked focused in warm- ups. His straight away set 3’s looked good- strongest spot and shot. He also shot a lot of 1 dribble pull ups going to his left. Has a high release, but it has not seemed to speed up any from last year. Hard worker- will be a true professional- a player you won’t have to worry about both on and off the court. Will be a top 10 pick- speed and athleticism are average compared to an NBA SF, which is what he will play- better shooter though than average 3.

Tyler Zeller, 7’0”, F/C, SR

Strengths
Had a nice pass to Barnes out of double team- improved passer from last year. Great rebounder- sticks with it- physically dominated Wake Forests bigs inside. Does a great job of absorbing contact and takes advantage on the FT line (over a 75% FT shooter)- nice touch on FT line. Very strong base. Hook shot is pro-ready.

Weaknesses
Limited offensively- back to the basket offense only- hasn’t showed me the ability to step out or face up yet. Questions about his ability to stop pro-level guards from turning the corner.

Overview
Warm-ups- His right hook shot over his left shoulder looked good- shot over 30 of them from multiple angles- even looked good from 3rd hash mark. He also practiced a spin into a left hook shot that banked in. Went to Zeller a lot early. Averaging almost 10 rpg and shooting almost 60% from the field for the season ( both career best). Did very well against Wake Forests post players, but I still question how he will do against NBA centers. He is a safe first rounder.

John Henson, 6’10”, F, JR

Strengths
Left hand hook is pro ready. Athleticism allows him to shade on screens and get back to man quickly. Influences every shot taken in his vicinity. His midrange game looks better, but he will need to continue to work on it. Excellent defensive rebounder- chins ball every time (154 def. boards for season- leads team- averages 9.9 rpg- also leads team)

Weaknesses
Must improve perimeter defense- stands up instead of getting low in defensive position. Brought ball down too low when in post. FT’s are very inconsistent. Has added muscle (220lbs), but must continue to get stronger- got pushed too deep several times.

Overview
In warm-ups FT’s looked better then last year, but still must improve in that area (shooting 45% from line this year). His off hand placement needs to be more consistent, sometimes it floats on top of the ball and when this happens his misses are all over the place. When he keeps his hand on the side it looked good. Henson has improved every season- he has put on muscle, developed a solid post game, and continues to influence the game defensively in the paint. In my opinion he is on the verge of being a lottery pick in a deep upcoming draft. Will fit in nicely with a team who needs a long, athletic PF, full of upside.

Kendall Marshall, 6’3”, PG, SO

Strengths
Moves the ball with precision, accuracy, and quickness against man 2 man and zones. Hit an open in game set 3- good arc, rotation- looked just like warm-ups. Knows exactly where teammates are going to open up, cut, etc. and gives the ball in perfect scoring position. Passes the ball up-court better then any PG in America. Quick hands defensively- deceptive.

Weaknesses
Slow lateral movement defensively- really struggles to keep opposing guards out of paint. Needs to develop a shot off the dribble. Too passive offensively (shooting only 43% from field on barely over 5 shot attempts per game)

Overview
In warm-ups his set 3 ball was not near as flat as it was last season- his arc is better. In Marshall you know you are getting a poised, pass first PG (over 200 assists 21 games into season). I question how well he is going to do in the pros because of his defensive woes. A team will and should take a chance on him in the second round- I don’t know if his skills warrant a first round selection.

By James Blackburn

Photo: TexasTech.com

Game Scouted: Kansas State @ Texas Tech
Box Score
Kansas State wins 69-47

Jordan Tolbert (F, 6’7”, FR)

Stats
6-8 FG, 6-9 FT, 10 rebounds, 4 PF, 3 blocks, 18 TP

Strengths

Very active- full of energy- high motor- scrappy. Long- runs the floor hard- plays very hard throughout game. Good active shot blocker. Tremendous bounce- big time athlete and leaper. First time he touched the ball on offense (several minutes in b/c State was fronting the post and Techs guards struggled to get it to him) he dunked it. Did a good job of fighting for post position and drawing fouls and getting the State bigs in foul trouble trying to defend him inside fronting him. Good rebounder on both ends- leads team in that category with 6.3 a game. Keeps the ball alive on offensive end. Had a big alley-oop dunk off an out of bounds play in first half. Free throws looked solid tonight- solid stroke- good arc- soft touch- shooting 70% for year from line. Stronger than he looks. Highlight reel dunker. Showed a nice slide dribble to the middle into a high extending right hook. Doesn’t show frustration when teammates can get him ball- keeps playing hard and battles. Rarely misses close range shots but when he does- he gets his own rebound. Strong finisher- dunks everything.

Weaknesses

Gets caught out of position defensively- getting beat back door/watching the ball and losing man/ late recovering- freshman mistakes. Struggles to get through, around screens- gets screens too easy. Tends to be over anxious at times which leads to him getting into foul trouble- picked up 2 offensive fouls in first 12 minutes of first half. Stands too tall and doesn’t get low enough defensively when playing perimeter defense.

Overview

One of the few bright spots on a very young and struggling Tech team. Athletic and hard working freshman who leads team in PPG (12.5) and RPG (6.3) while playing only 23 MPG. You have to love his aggressiveness, energy, and intensity. He goes after all the loose balls, tries to block everything, and wants the ball. As he gets more experienced he will become learn how to be a better defender with defensive rotations and positioning. Played tonight with back to basket mostly- but showed signs that he could be a good P/R player at next level. Techs guards really struggled with TO’s tonight and had a hard time getting Tolbert the ball in the first half even though he did a good job pinning his man- did a better hob in second half. Has a high ceiling- even though he only played 10 minutes in first half because of foul trouble- there was a lot to like about Tolberts game. Will need to make the move to the perimeter at next level. Even though he stands up too much defending the perimeter- he has the quickness and athleticism to guard a 3 at the NBA level. He has the ability and want and will to defend- the positioning and other things will come. The struggle is not going to come on the defensive end, but on the offensive end- has not shot a 3 all season and never handles the ball. Somewhat of a tweener- undersized at 6’7” to be primarily back to basket player- but has great length, athleticism, and strength. I can see him being a first round pick in a year or 2, to play the 3 or may be the 4 in the NBA. With his work ethic I can see him developing a jump shot (seeing his FT stroke- he can develop a perimeter shot) and ball handling. Future NBA draft pick.

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By Marcus Shockley & James Blackburn

Theo Pinson is currently ranked as the #2 sophomore prospect in the nation by some publications

The MLK Classic in Greensboro, NC is one of the more elite gatherings of high school teams in the nation, this year bringing in teams like storied Oak Hill, Quality Education Academy and Wesleyan Christian Academy.

Some of the standout players of the day:

Aaron Rountree (F, 6’8″, 2012) – Greenfield HS (Clinton, NC), a Wake Forest commit, showed off much of his versatility. Rountree is the type of player that isn’t a pure post player and isn’t a pure wing, but does some things in each of those roles and brings a lot of energy to the floor. He’s long and athletic and turned in one of the best performances on the day. We last scouted Aaron at the CP3 Elite Guard Camp.

Diante Baldwin (G, 5’11″, 2013) – High Point Christian Academy , showed incredible ability under the bright lights with the game on the line. Baldwin is deft in traffic and plays well in the open floor, cutting through the lane with reckless abandon. We last scouted Diante at the Adidas Phenom 150 camp. Has an offer from Appalachian State.

Tyler Lewis (PG, 5’11″, 2012)- Oak Hill, committed to NC State. By now, it should be well known what Lewis brings to the table, having played several games on national television with Oak Hill, but he’s still proving that he can play at the elite level without question. He’s known for flashy passes and no-look shiftiness, but the reality is that it’s not all show with Lewis; he will find whichever teammate is open at any time. We last scouted Lewis when Oak Hill played QEA earlier in the season and when the team took on Miller Grove.

Jordan Adams (SG, 6’5″, 2012) – Oak Hill, committed to UCLA. Jordan looks like he’s gotten back in season shape and was running the floor better; smooth with a good ability to slash across the lane, Adams is primarily known for being a deep threat. He has a pro jump shot and is as consistent as ever.

Brandon Bolden (C, 6’11″, 2012) – Quality Education Academy, committed to Georgetown. Bolden is athletic and has a great second bounce off of the floor. He wants to block everything and is a factor with his height and both ends of the floor. Still raw offensively but definitely a high major big.

Montay Brandon (G, 6’7″, 2012) – Wesleyan Christian Academy, committed to Florida State. Brandon didn’t have a great shooting performance but his size and ability to play at the perimeter make him a tough stop for smaller guards. Big time bounce, good ballhandling and solid potential headed to the ACC.

Theo Pinson (SG, 6’5″ 2014) – Wesleyan Christian Academy Undeclared. Although most recruiting publications don’t rank sophomores, some have ranked Pinson as the #2 sophomore in the nation behind Andrew Wiggins, who we scouted last May at the Jordan Brand Classic. Pinson has the build to play the off guard and is explosive in transition. Can shoot from deep and if he keeps working, should have a bright future.

Christian Hairston (SF, 6’7″, 2013) – Greensboro Day School Undeclared. Hairston is a smooth forward and has great awareness on the floor, definitely a player to keep up with and already has some offers. Explosive and a good defender, closes out fast on the shooters and can slash to get his own shot.

Christian Hairston is an unsigned prospect with big time potential.

James Ford (SG, 6’4″, 2012) – Quality Education Academy Ford is a big time prospect that hasn’t been on the radar as much as he should be, but this year teams are starting to take notice. He can shoot from deep, get to the rim and has all of the skills to play at the next level. Getting interest from Clemson, College of Charleston, Duquesne, Georgia State.

Shannon Hale (PF, 6’8″, 2012) – Christ School Committed to Alabama. A smooth forward, Hale makes the game look easy. He has a good high release on his shot and defends well on the ball.

Jerome Hairston (PG, 6’2″, 2012) – Christ School Committed to Towson. Showed slick ballhandling and highlight passes, Hairston showed he has some mixtape moves with the ball in his hand. Surprise talent of the day.

A.J. Hammonds (C, 7’0″, 2012) – Oak Hill Committed to Purdue. A big force in the paint, Hammonds is a half court center who can be a brutal defender in the lane, making guards and wings regret they attempted to slash to the hoop.

Sam Hunt (PG, 6’0″, 2013) – Dudley HS (Greensboro, NC) Showed he could compete at a high level as his team took on Oak Hill. The game wasn’t close, but Hunt poured in 23 points and showed his ability to score and defend on the perimeter.

Josh Level, (SG, 6’5″, 2014) – Christ School A guard with good size and vision. Level squares up on his shot, is a big time leaper and good defender. A lot to like about his game.

JaQuel Richmond (PG, 6’0, 2014) – Wesleyan Christian Academy - solid, quick point guard who throws bullet passes and runs the offense with purpose. Has an ability to get to the rim against elite competition and still has two more years to improve.

Reed Lucas (SG/SF, 6’4″, 2013) – Greensboro Day School Deceptively athletic wing who has a good first step and likes to slash to the basket, but also can shoot from range.

More Notable Players:

Colton Bishop (PG/SG, 6’1″, 2014) – Forsyth Country Day

Darryl Davender (PG, 5’9″, 2013) – Body of Christ Academy

Mike Murray (PG, 5’9″, 2012) – Norfolk Christian Academy

Reggie Dillard (SG, 6’3″, 2013) – Greensboro Day School

Jackson Kent (SF, 6’7″, 2013) – High Point Christian Academy

Tracy Gathings (SF/PF, 6’5″, 2012) – Ben L. Smith HS (Greensboro, NC)

Ibrahim Diallo (C, 6’9″, 2015) – Quality Education Academy

Joshua Woodward (PF, 6’6″, 2012) – Wesleyan Christian Academy

Jonathan Hood (G/F, 6’4″, 2012) – Body of Christ Academy

Tevin Findlay (G, 6’4″, 2012) – Quality Education Academy

Jordan Robinson (PF, 6’8″, 2014) – Quality Education Academy

By: James Blackburn

Photo Credit: TheSportsBank.net

Game Scouted: UAB @ Southern Miss
Box Score

Southern Miss wins 59-55

Cameron Moore (F, 6’10”, SR)

Stats
6-11 FG, 13 TP, 1 block, 8 rebounds

Strengths
Does not shoot a lot of threes- but hit a 3 on a baseline OB early in first that did not look bad at all-only perimeter shot taken this game. Strong upper body/physical. Good base/center of gravity. Athletic- not an incredible high flyer- but above average athlete for size. Good athletic shot blocker- especially from weak side (averages 3 blocks a game). Gets deep/solid post position- stays bodied up with his defender-Southern Miss was forced to front him. Pretty good rebounder- but there were several boards in the game that he should have had- good rebounder none the less- better defensive rebounder then on offensive end. Effective hook shot over left shoulder. Good screener-head hunts- gets his shooters open by setting hard, wide screens off the ball. Not a great passer- but did have a big assist out of double team for lay up with about 5 minutes to go with a close score. Really wants ball in post.

Weaknesses
Missed a breakaway dunk early in the first half- tried to go for the reverse highlight dunk instead of just finishing. Not a good passer out of post- doesn’t kick out of double team, or triple teams. Tends to lose track of his man at times on defensive end. Must improve P/R defense and the ability to show and slow PG down turning the corner and then was slow getting back to man- half the time he half-heartedly shows-not enough to really slow the PG down and the other half he just hangs back. Needs to improve finishing ability- with his length and strength- shooting only 49% from field for season. More of a highlight reel shot blocker then a interior defensive presence- Southern Miss was getting a lot of paint shots and buckets with Moore in the game and Moore did not seem to alter very many at all- caught him with his hands by his side way too much- needs to be more active on the defensive end this game. Must improve FT shooting. Must improve hands.

Overview
Came to UAB originally as walk on. Has improved dramatically every year- testament to his work ethic. Conference USA Preseason Player of Year. Playing in the wake of his Grandmother’s death earlier in the week. Good rebounder- boxes out and is athletic- but he doesn’t have great hands- has hard hands- several times this game he should of pulled down a board and ball just bounces off- ball just went right through his hands on several other occasions. Once he does get the ball- he secures it and keeps it. Came into today’s game averaging a team high 36 mpg, 15.5 ppg, and 10 rpg. Also leads team with 46 blocks for the year. Must improve on the defensive end of the floor- granted Moore has a good reputation on the defensive side of the floor- but did not display much this game. This was the first time I have seen him play this season. Moore is definitely a pro- not necessarily in the NBA- but I wouldn’t rule that out. Would be an excellent candidate for D-League. A player with his size, athleticism, strength, and an above average back to the basket offensive game will have his fair shot to make an NBA roster. In my opinion he will definitely get multiple invites for individual workouts with teams, and I think he deserves and will probably make an NBA summer league roster. From there it will depend on his performances but I would not be surprised if he makes a final roster as an undrafted FA. I can see him playing the PF or even a somewhat undersized Center at next level- as a 3rd post option off the bench. NBA ready size/strength/body. Showed the ability to play some perimeter defense this game- will have to continue to work on shooting consistency- especially from FT line. Much more effective on the interior on both ends of the floor then on perimeter.

By James Blackburn

Wake Forest wins 58-55
Box Score

Note
CJ Harris hit go ahead 3 to win the game for Wake.

Scouting Reports

Virginia Tech

Dorenzo Hudson (G, 6’5”, R-SR)

Strengths

Great size- NBA ready body. Good shooting form- good follow through- but struggled with his shot today. Showed a NBA ready 1 dribble pull-up. Fills his lane well on the break- can finish above rim in transition.

Weaknesses

Fades a bit on his jump shot. Settled for jumpers instead of attacking at beginning of game. Was out of position several times defensively today. Must improve ball handling- get his dribble tighter.

Overview

Really struggled with his shot and with his offensive game in general today. Is second on team in scoring with 11.8 ppg. Was quiet and was out of sync offensively most of this game. Has an NBA ready body to play the 2G and is athletic enough and strong enough to play the 3, but does not have the overall skill set needed to play at the next level. May receive a couple of workout invitations, but is most likely to end up overseas for rest of his playing career.

Erick Green (G, 6’3”, JR)

Strengths

Smooth. Versatile scorer. Excellent in transition- good passer- keeps eyes up- looks to attack and score in fast break situations. Good defender. Great pull- up shooter- everything is in sync- shoulders square, footwork, follow through, shooting motion, elevation. Utilizes ball fakes. Has a nice floater. Solid player all around. Good size for PG position.

Weaknesses

Needs to improve body language to a degree- is too easy to tell when things are going well or poorly with him. Gets out of control at times and turns it over or tries to do too much.

Overview

Very solid performance from the junior from Virginia today. Hit shots when it counted at the end in crunch time when his team needed a bucket. Carried his team through out game and kept team in game. Is first on the team in points (15.8) and assist (3.2). Has an opportunity to make the NBA if he keeps working. At this point I would say he is deserving of workouts and possibly a summer league roster spot, but it would be in his best interest to test the waters and return to school for his senior year to continue to polish up his PG skills. Although he is a good passer, I would say he is more of a combo guard than a PG at this point- needs to continue to improve play making skills to get to NBA level.

Wake Forest

Tony Chennault (G, 6’2”, SO)

Strengths

Very quick- has the ability to break man down off dribble and get to rim. Aggressive and loves to attack rim. Does a good job of turning the corner on P/R. Fast coast to coast with ball in hands- good in transition when he stays under control. Strong upper body. Strong, hard worker. Creative finishing moves around basket. Good rebounder for size. Fearless and a competitor.

Weaknesses

Gets too much in a hurry at times- needs to slow down, get under control. Over penetrates as an undersized guard at times and gets caught/ gets in trouble. TO prone. Needs to improve shooting consistency. Must improve play making skills as a PG.

Overview

Up and down game for Chennault today. Was injured most of last season with broken foot. Fully healthy this season and has started every game. Lightning quick- more of a scoring guard than a true PG. Hit a big 3 with 3 and half minutes left and his team was struggling to find offense. Will continue to monitor his game, but at this point I would not consider him an NBA prospect, but definitely has the speed to that would carry to next level.

Ty Walker (C, 7’0”, SR)

Strengths

Good shot blocker- very active- excellent second jump. Plays above the rim- very athletic. Influences and blocks shots- protects the paint. Good FT shooter. Nice shooting touch for 7 footer. Runs the floor well.

Weaknesses

Raw offensively. Must develop a back to the basket game and a go-to move. Must get stronger and finish with contact. Rebounding is an area where he could improve on.

Overview

Missed 9 games at beginning of season because of school issued suspension. Very raw and has potential. A senior that has yet to really improve his overall game since coming on campus- still has raw offensive game and with his athletic ability you find yourself just wanting more production from him. May receive some invites from NBA teams for some workouts because of size, athleticism, and ability to run the floor, but I don’t see his NBA experience going much further than that.

By James Blackburn

Photo Credit:SoConSports.com

Game Scouted: Wofford @ Wake Forest
Box Score

Kevin Giltner (G, 6’6”, SR)

Stats
4-14 FG, 3-10 3 pt, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 TO’s, 1 steal, 11 TP, 39 min

Strengths
Great set shooter( especially from 3)- great rotation, form, arc, quick release, gets body square to rim curling off screens. Wofford ran a lot of off ball screens for him. Plays well without the ball- constantly is moving, running off screen- sets man up well to come off screen. Guarded Wakes best player in McKie tonight (CJ Harris was out)- did a decent job on him- contested his jump shot nicely- but struggled to keep him from getting to rim. Took several charges on the defensive end tonight.Good size- able to look over defense. Underrated passer- threw a beautiful no look pass in fist half for lay-up- also he was the one to throw pass in inbounds plays for Wofford (speaks of his shooting and passing). Makes the right/correct pass- made several good decisions when curling off screens, catching the ball and flipping it to screener who had rolled and Giltner had both defenders on him. Well conditioned played practically the entire game and did not slow down.

Weaknesses
Needs to be more aggressive offensively. Had several possessions in first half where Wake had to switch and he had a big man guarding him and he didn’t attack- he passed it instead. Although he did a decent job defensively on Travis McKie in the first half, but he allowed McKie to go to his right way too much through out the game- which is McKie’s strong hand. TO prone especially against pressure- must get stronger with ball. Needs to improve ball handling. Gets caught on screens too easily. Should be better rebounder at 6’6”-needs to get stronger/tougher. Really struggles to create his own shot. No speed- really slow on perimeter- both offensively and defensively. Must improve P/R offense as ball handler.

Overview
Reminds of Rip Hamilton and Kyle Korver. Plays off the ball like Hamilton and curls screens and passes like Korver. Fits into Wofford offense nicely. Is averaging 16.4 ppg and 4.2 rpg for the season. Helped lead Wofford to a big win tonight on the road to bring their record to 8-6 for the year. Leader on the court- senior- knows how to play. Good size for 2 guard- too slow to defend 2 guards at next level. Has a nice future overseas- 6’6” guard who can stroke it from deep.