1. Have you been offered by any schools, or are you talking with any schools?

I havent recieved any offers yet, VCU is recruiting me. I have talked to UNCW and also VCU.

2. What do you think are the strongest parts of your game right now?

I think the strongest part of my game is my offense. I’ve developed a left handed hook. That really helps my offense a lot.

3. What areas of your game are you working on, or want to work on?

Weakest part of my game would be talking on defense and not getting around my defenders.

4. Do you have a player (at any level, college or pro) that you admire?

I admire Austin Rivers.

5. A lot of sites have you listed at 6’8″, some even at 6’9″ but you recently said you were 6’6″, and you are listed on several recruiting sites as a center. So here’s your chance to set the record straight. What’s your height and what position do you see yourself playing in the future?

I am 6’6″ but I play like a 7 footer. And I see myself as a starting Center.

6. Do you have any visits planned, or have you already taken any?

I plan to visit VCU and NC State during the summer.

7. If you could tell people one thing about you that you wish they knew, what would it be?

That basketball is my life. Besides God And my family, that’s the only reason I put effort in keeping good grades and a healthy body.

By James Blackburn

USA wins 88-77
Box Score

Game Notes

First Half

• The USA is lacking a play making PG- has mostly scoring guards on roster
• Sloppy game early- USA is turnover prone
• USA is really struggling- giving up open 3 pointers, not getting back on defense, and allowing too many straight line drives to the hoop- poor help defense too.
• Brazil is doing a great job with the pick and roll, which the United States is having a difficult time defending.
• The United States roster is filled with mostly NBDL players- showing it early- too much 1 on 1, no ball movement, and poor shot selection.

Second Half

• Chippy half- skirmish broke out at end of game- no ejections though or technical fouls- the NBA should take note.
• The USA is doing a much better job of defending- they are pressuring the ball and causing problems for Brazil’s guards. End result… USA moves to 2-0 with the win and Brazil drops to 1-1.

Scouting Reports

Jerome Dyson (Tulsa 66ers, 6’4”, G)
10 TP, 4 steals, 26 min

Strengths

Good defender- strong, fights through screens well, contests shots, smart defender, quick hands, pressures the ball well. Attacks the rim hard- strong, physical guard- can get to basket and finish- tough to guard when going right- has a effective through the legs, crossover move. Showed an improved 3 point shot from his days at Connecticut- had feet set, showed good mechanics. Draws fouls at a high rate.

Weaknesses

Poor FT shooter- gets to line a lot- needs to capitalize better there. Virtually no midrange game- either a lay-up or a 3. Struggles with dribbling against pressure. Needs to improve decision making, especially in open court situations. Loves to go right- needs to improve left hand. Takes some plays off- doesn’t play as hard as he can every play.

Overview
Not a true PG- in between positions. Needs to develop a midrange jump shot and/or floater. Also needs to develop ball handling and play making skills if he hopes to make it to the NBA as a PG. Not a consistent enough shooter to play the 2 at the next level. His defensive tenacity will definitely translate to the NBA. Full of potential.

Lance Thomas (Austin Toros, 6’8”, F)
8 TP, 12 reb, 23 min

Strengths
Long, length helps with perimeter defense. Energy guy- great rebounder, especially on the offensive end. Attacks rebounds with 2 hands and goes and gets the ball, rather than waiting on it to come to him. Hustle player- works hard.

Weaknesses
Raw offensively. Looks over anxious/hurried in post and with post moves-lost control of ball several times and needs to finish better.

Overview
Same type player that made him a co-captain from his days at Duke. Probably a D-League lifer- but has the energy and rebounding skills to surely get him several call up and summer league opportunities in the NBA

Blake Ahearn (Erie Bayhawks, 6’2”, G)
21 TP, 2 assist, 21 min

Strengths
Great FT shooter- set the record in college for best percentage. Great shooter in general- can hit the set 3 with consistency. Difference maker in 2nd half- made all the right plays and decisions. Moves well with out ball. Great catch and shoot guy off screens.

Weaknesses
Slow. Not able to get by man offensively. Hurts him defensively as well.

Overview
Intriguing prospect. Showed the ability to play the 1 or the 2 guard slots. Has the IQ and ball handling ability to play the 1, but lacks the speed and athleticism to get into the paint to create for others. Tremendous shooter and is good enough in that one area to get him some 10 day contracts in the league- but lacks the size to play that position in the pros- would not be able to defend a 2 guard. Needs to improve his game off the dribble and passing skills.

Butler Bulldogs’ Ronald Nored (R) lunges for the ball with Virginia Commonwealth Rams’ Toby Veal (31) during their semi-final NCAA Final Four college basketball game in Houston, Texas April 2, 2011. REUTERS/Jeff Haynes (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

      

By Marcus Shockley

The NCAA enacted sweeping reforms this week intended to help clean up its image and stem some of the scandals that have beset the organization over the past few years. One of the reforms is the reintroduction of a stipend to the players of up to $2,000 intended to help cover the full cost of attendance:

The board approved a measure allowing conferences to vote on providing up to $2,000 in spending money, or what the NCAA calls the full cost-of-attendance. Emmert insists it is not pay-for-play, merely the reintroduction of a stipend that existed for college athletes until 1972. He also compared it to the stipends received by other students who receive non-athletic scholarships.

While some thought the numbers should be higher, it is a step in the right direction. The new reforms also solidifying a plan that was introduced in August, in which teams scoring below 900 on the four-year average would be ineligible for postseason play, unless the team averaged 930 on the two most recent years of data. Of course, this immediately sets off a lot of speculation over certain schools in recent memory who might not have been allowed to compete in the Big Dance (or, for football teams, the BCS bowls) had these reforms been in place previously. The most noticeable example is UConn:

After posting an 826 last year, a UConn official has said this year’s mark will be approximately 975. It would give Connecticut a two-year score of 900.5 and a four-year average of 888.5 — both too low to make the basketball tourney.

While these moves are a good thing, they are merely a small step in the right direction. The concept of recruiting violations and other types of pay-for-play are unlikely to be affected by these moves; the money is just too great at certain levels to stop it with the NCAA’s own conflict of interest in this area.

It’s difficult for the NCAA to balance between enforcement of rules of amateurism while at the same time raking in massive revenue on March Madness and other television deals. The NCAA has, in recent years, pursued infractions which infringe on their revenue stream (such as the attack on Rivals, Scout and 247Sports) while not going after the very same deals at other media outlets (ESPN, CBS), perhaps because of the revenue deals the NCAA has in place with those media outlets. The problem in college sports isn’t the average athlete at a mid major school. It’s the big time players who are almost certainly destined for a pro paycheck, and the NCAA makes money off of those players just like the infamous runners, agents and shoe reps that everyone says are destroying grassroots basketball.

You have to wonder if the shoe companies, who are almost directly in opposition the NCAA (but also have revenue deals with several schools) haven’t considered their own ‘minor’ league circuit to replace the college circuit, one step above AAU. It’s not that far-fetched, and that might be the biggest concern the NCAA has on the horizon.

However, for fans of the game and who understand that for many players, this is their best shot at a college education, these reforms will likely help them, and that’s good.

T.J. Warren is known for being a prolific scorer and is currently being recruited by several top college programs, including NC State, Florida, North Carolina and Georgetown. In this conversation with T.J., we get his thoughts on each of the four schools on his list, as well as what he thinks he will need to do to succeed at the next level.

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With Terry Henderson ready to make his college decision today (update: college choice made, see below), we wanted to share our recent conversation with the 2012 shooting guard, where we discussed more than just his recruiting status. In this conversation, we pick Terry’s brain about some things surrounding the world of basketball, including the NBA lockout and how this is affecting elite players in high school and college basketball.

Update: Terry has announced his decision is to attend West Virginia University.

The South East Ballers League (SEBL) has organized a great opportunity for high school and travel team coaches on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. The SEBL Coaches Clinic and Town Hall Meeting and banquet will be held from 10am-6pm at the University Annex, and will be lead by subject matter experts on basketball topics like recruiting, skill development, camps, events and much more.

At the completion of the event, Brian Clifton will entertain the audience with his experiences and knowledge surrounding high profile teams and athletics. Brian has worked with several high profile athletes over the years such as John Wall and Quincy Miller. Brian is founder and owner of D-One Sports, a highly recruited elite summer travel team. For view more details related to traveling then visit forlorn britain site here. If you are traveling first time you need to check all the details related to packaging and traveling, At Absolute Back Packers website you will get various blogs about traveling tips. Also you have to check Avalon Beach hotel website for different hotels to stay.

The event cost is $25 per person if paid before October 26, 2011, and $35 on the day of the event.The cost covers admission, lunch and dinner, however, space is limited to the first 100 coaches.

Why Should You Attend?

  • To participate in open discussion with other coaches with common needs with understanding how to help promote and help players through the recruitment process.
  • To learn more about moving athletics to the next level through skill development and individual workouts
  • Improving your knowledge on the overall recruitment process with college coaches
  • Understanding why it’s important to build great relationships between high school and travel team coaches
  • Improving your skills on marketing your athletics

The SEBL is a basketball league dedicating to showcasing youth basketball players along the Southeast I-95 corridor, including South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and other East Coast states.


Full Details:

SEBL Coaches Clinic 2011

J.D. Lewis Fall League 2011

The J.D. Lewis Fall League culminated in a final championship played between the Celtics and the Mavs after several weeks of solid play. You can read up on some of the top performers of the entire league with our previous scouting reports here and here.

The Championship game saw the Celtics open an early lead, and the Mavs couldn’t close the gap. Powered by Rodney Moore, the Celtics pushed the ball up the floor looking for transition buckets and got back quickly on defense, which forced the Mavs to try and work the ball in the half court. The Celtics also doubled Dominique Reed, preventing him from being able to get looks in the post. Finally, the Celtics pulled away and won 91-57.

Top Performers

Mavs

Dominique Reed (C/F, 6’5”, 2012)
Solid set shooter with range to about 18’. Has a high release and good rotation on the ball- smooth. Primarily a back to the basket player. Needs to improve strength and ability to finish around rim. Did a good job several times today of getting deep position in post and was able to muscle his man under the rim with out the ball. Needs to improve perimeter defense and speed. Good rebounder- always goes after ball with 2 hands.

JD Lewis Fall League basketball
Celtics

Shaquille Dance (F, 6’4”, 2012)
Long and athletic. Very good shot blocker with good timing. Had several times where he had a flurry of blocks on the same defensive stop. One of the most athletic players on the floor. Also one of the only players who I saw set a screen in the game for either team. Needs to improve on the glass and must play hard at all times. Looked too relaxed and bored at times. Pretty good passer for a post player Has potential- was used as a post this game primarily, but I could see him making the transition to the 3, if he could develop a jump shot. Still a little raw offensively, but is right there defensively. Had a rim rocking slam dunk in the second half on the break.

Chris Clemons (PG, 5’1”, 2015) – Millbrook
Scoring machine- floaters, set 3’s, pull- ups- he can score in a variety of ways. Excellent ball handler, who showed the ability to break his man down off the dribble and get to the lane. His size limits his ability to finish, but he has an effective floater in his arsenal and is a good passer- had several drives and dump downs to the post for easy baskets. Quick release on jump shot. Quick player, who is a high light waiting to happen.
Voted MVP of the league.

Rodney Moore (G, 6’0”, 2013) – Clayton HS
Great shooter, especially from 3- very good form. Hardly ever misses when left open. Strong and patient. Stands too much on offense and needs to improve shot selection. One of the most gifted and talented players on the floor.

Javier Gonzalez (PG/SG, 5’11”, 2012) – Village Christian Academy
Good 3 point shooter. Showed active hands on the defensive end. Needs to improve ball handling.

Adidas Jr Phenom 150 2011

The Adidas Jr Phenom 150 showcase has become an established event in the Fall, this year taking place in Winston-Salem, NC. Here are our notes from the high school games, with several standout players, some of whom we’ve seen in the past and some new faces to keep our eye on as the high school basketball season is about to kick off.

Patrick Rooks (G 6’3” 2013) – Charlotte Christian (NC)
Rooks is an impressive combo guard with good slashing ability and soft hands on the inside. Had a couple of nice dunks off the dribble easily beating his defender with a quick first step. Has good range on his jumpshot and has a quick pullup off the dribble. Showed good ball handling even in traffic and looked for the open man on the fast break. Has a tendency to fade when posting up or on shorter range shots even against smaller defenders. Verbally committed to Clemson.

Chuck Ogbodo (C, 6’11” 2013) – High Point Christian (NC)
Ogbodo has long arms and is an athletic shot blocker with quick feet defensively. Runs the floor well for a big man but sometimes disappears after making a mistake, must learn to play hard and have intensity on a more consistent basis. Offensive game is somewhat raw but showed potential with several quick moves with his back to the basket. Mid-range jumper inconsistent but has a soft touch on the inside. Ogbodo brings the ball down too low on rebounds and during post ups, making it easier for guards to strip the ball.

Quayshad Williams (PF/C, 6’7″, 2012) – Greensboro Day (NC)
It’s hard to believe the roster sheet, which had Quayshad listed at only 6’6″, because he works the lane like a true center, even against other bigs. Other sources have him listed at 6’7″. Great hands, great footwork, and and efficient scorer, Williams is solid and establishes position very well in the paint. Gets position for rebounds and putbacks, but also is a good target for the guards and knows how to score inside. High basketball IQ and an intelligent player.

Jon Elmore (SF, 6’3” 2014) – South Charleston (WV)
Elmore is a hardworking, tenacious player with good understanding of defensive principles. Quick first step, especially when going to his right and seems to enjoy contact at the rim. Good finisher in traffic and on the fastbreak but needs to work on the consistency of his jumper. Has decent vision and will pass to the open man, but needs to improve ball handling.

Logan Jackson (PG/SG, 5’10”, 2013) – Marvin Ridge (NC)
Jackson is a disruptive force on both ends of the floor. He plays defense like a safety, picking off defenders at midcourt and racing back to the rim. Jackson does a lot of things that drive his team; defensively, he has quick hands and is active all over the floor. Offensively, he puts the ball on the floor and gets to the rim repeatedly, leaving defenders out of position as he finishes uncontested. Jackson is effective in transition with look ahead passes that lead to full court transition layups. His top area for improvement is his outside shot.

Andrew White (SG-SF 6’6” 2012) The Miller School (VA)
Athletic wing player that is very quick on fastbreaks and always runs hard in transition. Needs time when shooting from distance but can spot up with a fair amount of consistency. Needs to take better angles when trying to stop defenders and not rely so heavily on his quickness to beat opponents to a spot. Needs to work on ball handling and passing ability but has good potential in both areas; showed good ability to finish over defenders.

Jackson Kent (SF, 6’7″, 2013) – High Point Christian (NC)
A slender player with agility, Kent can run the court and even push the ball on the break. He’s really a natural small forward right now, with above average ballhandling at his position and an ability to score that shows he might be able to make the move to play at the 2 some in the future. He wasn’t an outside threat in the games we scouted but did show an ability to get buckets and impact the game. Will need strength but has potential.

Jaiquan Lynch (SG-SF 6’4” 2012) -North Springs (GA)
Lynch, who goes by Shawn, had several dynamic plays at the Phenom camp including a monstrous tomahawk dunk over a defender on a fast break play. Lynch is a good athlete with decent range on his jumper but sometimes rushes when he has the ball and can be stripped by smaller defenders, must improve his ballhandling. He has a big body and is a strong player who doesn’t mind contact in the post and is a good finisher. Plays more like a power forward although his height would suggest he is better suited for guard or small forward duty.

J.T. Miller (PG/SG, 6’3″, 2012) – Clinton (NC)
Miller is back from a ‘jumper’s knee’ injury that he suffered in the Bob Gibbons TOC last Spring, finally at 100% and showing off his athletic prowess at the Adidas event. Miller is explosive in transition, with an ability to dunk in traffic. Definitely a college level athlete that plays as a combo guard, but looks more natural at the 2 right now. Miller races up and down the court, moving without the ball in transition and working hard on defense, with solid defensive fundamentals. Can hit from the perimeter as well. Doesn’t disappear, impacts the game whenever he’s on the floor and stays active.

Chiagozie Udoh (F 6’7” 2013) – Fayetteville Christian (NC)
Udoh is a good rebounder and decent shot blocker but sometimes tries to block shots that he shouldn’t. Brings the ball down too low when posting up and on rebounds but showed some strong post moves as well as decent range to about 12-14 feet but consistency will have to improve. Gets lost on help defense at times and needs to learn to box out on a more dependable basis. Sometimes gets discouraged after a mistake and was slow to get back.

Jordan Jones (SF, 6’7″, 2013) – Durham Riverside (NC)
Jones is an agile player with length, who is effective in the transition game. He rebounds well and can play above the rim, moves well without the ball and his length causes defensive problems. Although his rebounding and length are effective, he doesn’t look like a pure post player, but more like a true small forward. He would have to add bulk and work on establishing position to play in the paint at the college level. However, the most impressive and possibly overlooked aspect of Jones’ game is his vision and passing from the forward spot. He has phenomenal vision and will throw laser passes to an open man for an assist.

Carlos Thrash (PG 5’7” 2015) – Benedictine (VA)
Thrash showed good poise and leadership at the point guard position, especially to be just a freshman. Although small, Thrash is strong with a great first step and good ballhandling ability. Thrash is not intimidated by taller defenders and is a pure point guard that is very vocal on the court and has great vision for a player so young. Thrash has an inconsistent jumper which he will have to improve since his quickness will make defenders respect his driving ability.

Trey Lofton (SF 6’6” 2012) – Winston-Salem Glen (NC)
Lofton is an athletic player with good transition skills and jumping ability. Quick feet on defense and shows intensity on defense. Inconsistent long range shot but decent shooting ability within 15 feet. Needs to follow his shot better and be a more consistent rebounder.

Tyrek Coger (C-PF 6’8” 2013) Upper Room (NC)
Coger is a big, strong player with a lot of potential. Very quick for his size and runs the floor very well. Showed good stamina for a big post player and showed some good post moves including a nice baby hook shot and has good vision in the lane. Talks a lot on defense and provides good help defense for teammates that get beat off the dribble. Hardworker that seems passionate about the game has a lot of upside but he must improve his jumpshot as well as his finesse around the basket.

Brayden Masten (F 6’8” 2013) R.J. Reynolds (NC)
Masten is a tall, rangy player with a good shooting touch from the outside and can spot up with consistency. Good shot blocker because of his length but is not tremendously athletic and must improve his strength because he got beat by stronger opponents in the post. Has the shooting ability of a guard but needs improvement in other aspects of his game, especially his passing, court vision, and ball handling. Tends to get lost on defense when there is a lot of passing by the offense and can be timid when facing a stronger opponent. Overall has good potential.

Josh Mellette (F, 6’5”, 2012) – Southern Lee
He’s long and tall, very athletic. He gets up to dunk and get rebounds. He gets blocks but he also alters shots because of his length. People are afraid to come in the paint when he’s there, and if they do shoot they are fearful of getting blocked. No one can shoot a normal shot anywhere near him. He finds the loose ball. He’s the cleanup guy on the glass and gets easy put backs because he hustles down the floor.

Diante Baldwin (SG, 5’11”, 2013) – High Point Christian (NC)
Has strength and is an active player. Athleticism allows him to get multiple opportunities but sometimes can get out of control on the break or on slashing moves.

Jeremy Wallace (G, 6’3”, 2013) – Crossroads Charter
He’s long and tall, very athletic. He hustles after the ball. He passes the ball well and looks for the best opportunity for the team to score. He hustled on defense and got steals. He’s a good shooter too. His best quality was his unselfishness with the ball, especially when many try to show off in a showcase.

Jefferie Gibson (SG/SF, 6’4″, 2014) – Gray’s Creek(NC)
To put it bluntly, Gibson is a player who catches your attention. He’s long, he’s active and he’s a showman. Active and using his length, he plays well in transition and can get above the rim easily. He does play out of control at times and will need to learn when to slow down, but he also works hard on defense and got several steals. Gibson also can shoot very well from deep, at one point hitting three 3-pointers in a row. Impacts the game. Needs to work on ballhandling to be more effective as a slasher.

Robert Brown (PF, 6’7″, 2015) – Millbrook (NC)
Brown plays as a big and works in the lane, looks like he might develop into a serious banger in the middle with more bulk. Decent footwork, still somewhat raw overall but athletic and runs the floor well. Good hands, can throw it down and is very active on defense.

Stavian Allen (PF, 6’7″, 2014) – Word of God (NC)
Allen is a big who could develop into a true post. Effective shot blocker and rebounder with length. Needs to work some on establishing position on the block, but runs the floor easily and looks a player who could raise his stock over the next couple of years. Has some definite upside.

Brandon Buchanan (SG-SF 6’3” 2015) -Freedom (VA)
Buchanan is a rangy, athletic player with a good deal of potential. He is raw offensively but showed flashes of talent with slashing moves to the basket and by beating other players down court on fastbreaks. Already 6’3”, it seems likely from his body structure that he may have some growing to do but must work on his jump shot as well as his ball handling. Gets lost on defense at times but showed high energy throughout the game.

Matthew Woods (SG, 6’1″, 2014) – Swannanoa
Excellent shooter with solid, consistent form. Looks most comfortable and effective playing off of the ball right now. Solid passer, although doesn’t look like a true point right now.

Garret McCarty (PG, 5’9”, 2014) – Charleston Catholic
He has great handles and control of both his body and the ball. He’s very quick and crafty. He’s good at splitting the defense and getting to the paint. Then he creates his own shots with some strong moves. He simply makes opportunities for his team.

Derek Barnes (F, 6’5”, 2014) – Hickory High School
He’s a sound, fundamental player who plays defense well. He sees his man and the ball well. He goes hard after rebounds. He can shoot three’s and run the floor well. With his size and skill, he’s a dangerous player and difficult to have to match up against. He’s unselfish with the ball and not afraid to pass if it helps the team. He has a good attitude and hustles. He has good moves and is able to attack the basket.

Caleb Martin (F, 6’7″, 2014) Davie County (NC)
Caleb looks like he could play the PF spot effectively with an active and athletic game. Still a bit raw in some aspects, but runs the floor like a small forward and has excellent hands. Works hard on both ends of the floor but still needs to work on positioning and finishing – sometimes goes for ‘home run’ plays and misses opportunities. Needs to improve ballhandling and shooting range, but plays big, above the rim. Can slash to the basket with a decent first step – just needs to finish consistently.

Gejuan Long (F, 6’5”, 2013) – Mt. Tabor
He has good handles and moves. He is very quick. He gets steals and takes it the length of the floor and creates a shot. He gets up high on defense to get blocks and rebounds. He’s a good all around player who is very talented, especially considering his size.

Justice Cuthbertson (SG, 6’2″, 2014) – High Point Westchester (NC)
Justice continues to show his ability to shoot from outside and has strength. Was effective both on and off the ball today. Has been working on his ball handling in order to be more effective as a combo guard. Will need to continue to improve his ability to play point. Recently played well at Pangos event in Atlanta.

Trey Chapman (SF, 6’6″, 2013) – High Point Wesleyan (NC)
Chapman has good length, agile and runs the floor well. Plays solid defense and is active on both ends of the floor.

Matt Madigan (SG, 6’5″, 2013) – Reagan (NC)
Madigan still plays smart and impacts the game, but looks bigger and stronger than last season. An active player who passes well, can handle the ball and play multiple positions. Looks like he is getting to the rim more easily than the last time we scouted him. Expect him to have a solid season.

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Bakersfield Jam

While the NBA remains in a lockout, the D League is still running business as usual. This week the Bakersfield Jam will be holding their final tryout before the season, and returning coach Will Voigt only has 3 returning players from last season’s roster. That means the opportunity is wide open for players looking to land a spot in the top minor league in the United States.

Registration for the tryout camp begins at 8:30 am on October 22nd.

The tryout is this coming weekend (October 22-23rd) in Baskersfield. For more information, visit www.bakersfieldjam.com.