By James Blackburn

Kevin Giltner
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.

By Justin Byerly

Olympic HS vs Harding University HS

The atmosphere for the much anticipated match-up between Harding HS (Charlotte) and Olympic HS (Charlotte) was like a prize fight.

Coaches from Villanova (Jay Wright), College of Charleston (Bobby Cremins), NC State (Gottfried), Virginia Tech, Liberty University, High Point University and Clemson (Brad Brownell) were in the gym while the girl’s game was still going on. The temperature at Harding’s gymnasium was close to ninety degrees inside and Harding jumped out to a quick 6-2 lead with just over five minutes to go in the first quarter. Jarvis Haywood (a 6’4″, 180lb guard) who recently de-committed from Winthrop University, missed his first four shots of the game, but found Jalien Byers (2013) open in the corner for a three-pointer to make it 9-2 Harding with 4:59 to go in the first quarter. Sean Anthony (17 points) of Olympic sets the pace of play for the Trojans, if he is running and creating the offense seems to operate a lot better. Emmanuel Patton scored 7 points for Harding during that span. Olympic responded with a basket by Clemson commit Josh Smith (2012 6’8″ center) and a three pointer by ESPN #9 2013 Allerik Freeman to make the score 14-14 after one quarter. John Brown (2012) of Olympic almost took the twenty plus year old rim down with an attempted dunk near the end of the first, that got the Olympic side of the gym rowdy.

The second quarter featured Emmanuel Patton (2013 Harding) throwing down a nice dunk on one of Olympics’ defenders, to make the score 20-18 Harding HS with 3:44 to go in the first half. Afar a few traded baskets, Josh Smith got fouled on a made lay-up and made the extra shot, to make the score 27-21 at halftime with Harding leading (outscoring Olympic 13-7 in the quarter). Olympics’ Freeman (5 points in first half).

Jarvis Haywood (being recruited by Virginia Tech, Jacksonville University, College of Charleston) came alive, getting to the basket with his nice crossover and change of direction almost at ease. Allerik Freeman, as he has done time and time again this year, also got hot in the third. After a John Brown dunk and Sean Anthony lay-up for Olympic to make it 31-27 Harding with lead, Allerik hit a half-runner from six feet off the glass to make it 31-29 with 4:38 to go in the third. Josh Smith tied it up for Olympic with a rebound and put-back, 31 all. Allerik would knock down another three to match his output in the first half. Olympic got a break on a blocking call on Harding’s Aaron Linton (2013) as John Brown was driving to the basket and the score 38-35 Harding with the lead. Freeman would use a stutter step-crossover-step back move to create separation and knock down another three to make it 38 all with just over forty seconds to go in third quarter.

Patton would get a break-away dunk mid-way through the fourth quarter to put Harding up 54-52, Josh Smith responded with a lay-up to tie it up at 54 with 3:33 remaining in fourth quarter. After a Harding turnover Sean Anthony of Olympic gets blocking call while going to the basket, goes to the line and misses first shot but makes second to make it 55-54 Olympic with 2:56 remaining. An Emanuel Patton runner in the lane makes the gets Harding within 2 at 58-56. Another costly turnover for Harding gives Anthony a lay-up to make it a four point game with just over two minutes to play. Jarvis Haywood gets to the basket again for a lay-up to make it 58-60 Olympic still leading. Olympic finds Freeman open for a jumper, he misses it on a nice look and Harding with the rebound. Haywood takes it in for a nice turn-around jumper to make it 6o all. On Olympics’ next trip down the floor, on a great entry pass to Josh Smith, he scores and gets fouled (making the free throw) to make it a 63-60 game with just under a minute left.

After a quick shot from Harding, Olympic gets the rebound and calls timeout with forty-two seconds remaining. Olympic tries to run the clock out but Sean Anthony is fouled (could have had around 24, if FT’s fell) who misses the front end of a 1& 1 allowing Harding to get the rebound with 29.4 seconds remaining in the game and call timeout. After the timeout, Jarvis Haywood takes the ball up and goes to the basket with a nice move and basket to make the score, 62-63 Olympic still leading. Harding fouls Olympics’ Brown who misses the 1&1 and 6.4 seconds remaining in the game. Harding calls timeout, inbounds the ball and is fouled with 2.3 seconds to go. Olympic had a foul to give and with 2.3 seconds to go inbound to Jarvis Haywood, who dribbled to baseline and just misses the game winner and Olympic gets out alive in MEGA 7 Conference play.

Sean Anthony 5’9″ PG Olympic HS- 17 points in win. Super quick guard, who has a great ability to finish in the lane and seems to make good decisions when under defensive pressure. Olympics’ meter stick for how they are playing, Anthony plays well, Olympic usually does.

Allerik Freeman 6’4 190 G Olympic HS- Scored 14 points, did not take many shots during the game in first half, but then in the second half showed why he is ranked so high by many publications, by knocking down the open shot and creating off the dribble with his size. By far the most muscular kid in the gym. Has a great cross-over, that will the defender and allow separation for him to get a clean shot off.

Josh Smith 6’8″ 260 C Olympic- Scored 12 points, all in the paint. Very good free throw shooter also. Made the big free throws when he was put on the line. He has a nice post game, with great up and under move that he has almost perfected. He is a solid rebounder also, as I had him with close to 8 rebounds.

Trey Mitchell 6’4″ 170 Olympic- Scored 6 points, but were the biggest shots of the game. Knocked down two three pointers when Olympic really needed them and when you thought Harding might be smelling the upset.

John Brown 6’4″ 175 Olympic- Scored 8 points, but by far the most athletic kid on the floor, can just flat-out jump out of the gym and does so effortlessly. Good defender who can alter shots with his leaping ability.

Jarvis Haywood 6’4″ 175 Harding- A solid all around work horse. I had him for 26 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists. This kid makes plays, he didn’t start out great, but he keep working and working and the game finally came to him. He can get to the basket with ease, even against a very strong defending team like Olympic. He is definitely a Davison One basketball player. Had a great look at the end for the win that would have had all 8 D1 coaches in the building offering him a ride.

Emmanuel Patton 6’7″ 185 Harding- If not just as athletic as Olympics’ Brown, he is right behind him. Patton can get to the rim with his leaping ability and is great from about 8-10 ft from the basket. Not a great shooter, but can rebound, run and score in the post with his athleticism with the best of them. Scored 19 points.

Steven Burrough- Scored 8 points in the game, but with his size, is a factor for most of the teams in the MEGA 7 conference. He gets to the basket, makes good defensive plays and should only get better over the next year and a half.

A few highlights:

By Marcus Shockley

When watching the documentary Gunnin’ for That No. 1 Spot, directed by Adam Yauch (forever known to me as MCA of the Beastie Boys), one statement from the movie made me cringe and has stuck with me ever since. It wasn’t because I haven’t heard similar statements before, but because it so perfectly encapsulates the myth behind college basketball recruiting.

As the players are walking out on the court for the first time at the Elite 24, the emcee announces “these players will all be millionaires in a few years”. Make no mistake about it; in high profile college basketball recruiting, these players are in demand and many of the stories people think happen are true, such as the current “Player X” story on ESPN from our man Jason Jordan. This is not to say Jason’s story isn’t true. The type of things listed in his article do happen, just like the way that some big time colleges use the “unofficial visit” as a way to funnel money to a recruit. But that’s only a few cases, and the reality for the vast majority of high school basketball players is much different.

I know there are some great articles available from people who I know and recommend like Tim Ryerson of Student Athlete Word like College Recruiting Myths which break down many of the misconceptions of how high school players get noticed and recruited by colleges, and our pal Al Woods of Woods Recruiting has many articles on the subject as well. So I’m not going to delve into those aspects. What I’m going to cover are some of the myths about high school basketball players and the difference between reality and people’s perception.

1. Not all D1 athletes are going to the NBA.

There are so many basketball players who want to go to a D1 school, and it makes sense on some levels; pride in being able to say you were a D1 athlete, the possibility of more exposure for some programs, and the ability to network with former players/coaches. Players also want to show they can play against D1 talent, because D1 talent is overall closer to pro talent.

But the reality is that almost none of the Division 1 basketball players playing today have a future playing in the NBA, and very few even have a future playing overseas. So even if you land a D1 scholarship, there’s very little chance it will turn you into a lottery pick. The types of players who go from unknown to NBA picks include Jimmer Fredette, Steph Curry and Kemba Walker. In other words, players who started for schools that made the NCAA tournament, were considered possibly the best player in the nation, and had incredible performances in front of national television audiences during the NCAA tournament.

And the kids from the movie? They did all make the NBA, but two weren’t drafted until the second round, hardly equal to the brash guarantee made about their games.

Many players who could start for Division 2 programs will go to a D1 school and rarely even see the floor, because they think that they have to be D1 in order to play pro ball. John Thompson, legendary coach of the Georgetown Hoyas, used to keep a deflated basketball on his desk as a reminder that it was worthless without ‘9 pounds of air’…”If you live your whole life based on nine or 10 pounds of air in the ball and your life has no other importance or significance than that, excuse me, you’re a damn fool,” he says, constantly reminding players that an education is more reliable than that 9 pounds of air.

Even all of the players on UNC, Kentucky, Syracuse and Duke don’t have futures as pro players. This is not to say you shouldn’t have dreams, and yes, sometimes players do make the pros from lesser known schools. But parents and players think that D1=NBA, means millions of dollars, and they completely ignore some of their best options.

2. Not all college recruiting is sordid.

Yes, there is truth to some of the rumors and stereotypes of big time athletics. Not all players take money, but there are all of the things people hear about: runners, handlers, cash payments, “perks”, jobs for parents, jobs for handlers, and so on.

But that’s not the norm – that’s only a situation that has to be navigated for the top athletes, the ones who can help a college team compete for a national title and probably will be in the NBA before long. For the vast majority of players, college recruiting is about trying to figure out where they can get a scholarship, where they will see the most playing time, where they will feel comfortable and what type of degree they can get while in school.

For most colleges, they don’t have million dollar budgets and the coaches are certainly not flying around the country in private jets. For many college coaches, they are desperately looking for athletes who can help them win, and who can actually get into, and stay in, school. A lot of players and parents have a complete misconception about the college recruiting process – they think if only their child were to get seen by the right college, they’d get offered right away. The reality is that most players have to work like crazy to get even a single offer from any school. That is a far cry from the glamour of the top athletes and top programs.

3. You cannot “talk” or “promote” a player into a scholarship.

I love grassroots basketball. I love driving way out into the middle of nowhere, finding my way to a gym in the dark, walking in and suddenly seeing a 6’8″ kid no one has ever heard of who can really play. But there are parents – and media – who constantly promote players beyond their abilities.

I don’t scout players in the sixth grade. No serious scout would. Sure, you can keep an eye on him if he looks like he has skill, but beyond that it’s pointless.

I’m not saying parents shouldn’t communicate how their child is doing, but the reality is that the only things that will get a player into college on an athletic scholarship is his ability and his grades, and he has to be able to play against other big time players. Nothing else. So when you tell everyone who will listen that Big State U and Giant University are all recruiting your kid, honestly, it’s obvious when that’s a line being tossed around in hopes of generating false interest.

And I love highlight films and mixtapes, after all, I’m a huge basketball fan. But a mixtape is not a scouting video, because every mixtape makes the players look like NBA all-stars. You also have to remember that any highlight video has two components: the player being featured and the competition of the event. There have been many times I’ve seen player video and the kid looks like a superstar, shooting from outside, passing, dunking, dominating. Often, seeing the player in person is a very different story.

Today’s article is penned by Madison Dulaney, a Sophomore guard for Randolph-Macon College. Madison’s team recently traveled to Puerto Rico to play a pair of games and here she shares her experiences from the trip.

By Madison Dulaney

As the wheels glided across the runway, slowing to a halt, the anticipation reached a peak. The tournament in Puerto Rico had long been anticipated but no one knew just what to expect.

Spanish covered signs with the English underneath proved to be clue number one that we were no longer in the States. The language barrier proved to be problematic throughout the trip as other signs outside the airport rarely were accompanied by its English meaning.

Madison Dulaney basketball

A seemingly ordinary school bus pulled up to the curb to take us to our hotel, but we soon found out it was more like a bus straight out of “Pimp My Ride.” They were loaded with heavyset speakers that blasted Spanish hip-hop, putting everyone in the spirit of Puerto Rico. The heads bobbed to the beat and clapped along, soaking it all in.

The hotel was the temporary home to every team in the tournament, including a few swim teams who were doing winter training. On the ground floor resided several restaurants as well as the casino. Casino games can be access and played from anywhere on site Clubvip777.com. The lobby was also decorated brilliantly with an assortment of plants and trees (which also ended up being the setting for a wedding during our trip). Although everyone was wrapped up in simply being in Puerto Rico, there were games to be played.

Before our arrival, we were told that we were playing in an “outdoor arena” for our first game. We really had no clue what to expect after hearing that description but as we pulled up to the gym, we got our first glimpse. The court was mostly enclosed but was, what they call, an “open-air” court. There were walls and bleachers, but the tops were open to the air. There was also a large opening in the wall along one of the baselines that provided a view of the ocean between the buildings. No air conditioning, just the breeze off the ocean to cool you.

The referees entered onto the court midway through warm-ups, with beer sponsorships stitched into their jerseys. We were definitely not in the States anymore. The NCAA doesn’t even allow the sale of alcohol during championships.

The biggest struggle of the game was the heat, given the open-air court. Staying hydrated was something that our coaching staff emphasized, especially since we are a small team (in number) compared to others. Our bench even spread out so that everyone could feel more of the breeze while they were resting.

The tournament included a trip to Old San Juan, as well as the El Yunque rainforest. Following our first game we took a short drive down the coast, which provided breath-taking views of the rocky coastline. We elected to go to the nearest fort, as there were several in the area. The fort sat along the top of the cliff with the ocean crashing onto the rocks below. We climbed to the highest point, which provided a view that a picture just couldn’t justify. After leaving the fort we were able to do some souvenir shopping before having our first experience with authentic Puerto Rican food.

The next day was an off day so we were able to spend the day at the rainforest. This was a favorite of many because, after a short hike, you were able to swim under the waterfall. The water was absolutely freezing but the woman who gave us our rules at the beginning assured us we would adjust and warm up quickly. Once we made it back to the bus and were on our way back down the mountain, we asked to stop at one of the lookouts that provided a view of the mountains with the ocean and white sands in the background.

As much fun as everyone was having, there was another game to be played, our final of the trip. The arena was very similar to the first, but with a hardwood floor (compared to what was more like rubber flooring for the first game). The game had a similar feel but was slightly cooler as it rained much of the game keeping the temperature comfortable.

Overall the experience was one of a kind. Who would have thought that playing for a Division III school would have provided an opportunity to play in such a unique tournament? Most people look at college sports and only see Division I, when the reality is that there are opportunities at all levels. Opportunities to travel and play the game on a stage you never even imagined.

By James Blackburn

Greg Mangano Yale basketball
Photo Credit:YaleBulldogs.com

Greg Mangano

(C, 6’10”, SR)

Game Scouted: Yale at Wake Forest

Stats
9-21 FG, 2-3 FT, 12 reb, 3 blk, 20 TP, 36 min
Box score

Strengths
Good size/build. Moves well for size and can run the floor. Played a team-high 36 minutes – unusual for the center to lead team in minutes. He is well-conditioned. Very good rebounder on both ends – active on offensive boards. Wake struggled to keep him off the boards early. Good shooting touch.
Struggled with his 3 ball today, going 0-5 from beyond the arc- but shot looks fluid and is consistent. He is shooting about 30% from 3 for the season after shooting about 36% from 3 last year. Shot a contested 3 off a jab step move in first few minutes that looked solid especially for his size. Good FT shooter as well. Loves the turn around jump shot from post- nice touch- made one from each shoulder this game. Showed ability at end of game to score over the double team. Main offensive weapon on a 8-3 Yale team. Had a nice weak side block with 13 minutes to go in first half, where he covered a lot of ground to block the shot. Finished with 3 blocks for the game.

Weaknesses
Needs to continue to improve back-to-basket offensive game. Showed a nice turn around jumper, but need to see more. I felt like he fell in love with the perimeter a little too much against Wake Forest tonight, and shot too many perimeter shots instead of going to the post. He settled. Brought his man over into a teammates driving lane early in the game – bad spacing/positioning – should have stayed or gone over the top. Needs to improve body language – was jawing with fans or arguing with officials through out game. Also showed bad emotions, poor attitude when things were not going his way. Needs to set better screens – lower, harder – must improve in that area.

Overview
This is the first time I have seen Greg play. He impressed me overall. A 6’10” post that moves well and can shoot, you do not see this everyday. Played for Team USA at the 2011 World University Games in China and was second on the team in blocked shots. Is averaging 17.3 ppg and 9 rpg. Also leads team in blocks and minutes played per game.

He got shaken up/injured with 8:40 left in game and came back in about a minute later. Was quiet offensively most of latter part of second half, but came alive at end, to lead his team back into the game.

I was impressed with Mangano performance today against a long and athletic Wake Forest team. He was able to score and rebound over two 7’ from Wake and Travis McKie, who is one of the best rebounders in the ACC. I think he is talented enough to warrant a few invitations for workouts at the end of the season for NBA teams. Would not be surprised to see him play summer league and with a good performance earn his way to a training camp invite. Will probably end up in D league or overseas.


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