December 2012

By Marcus Shockley

I’ve had the good fortune this season to already have seen both Wesleyan Christian Academy and Christ School in person, and this Friday both teams collide in a huge early season high school match up.

Wesleyan is currently ranked #1 in North Carolina by Rivals for 3-A private schools, while Christ School is right behind them at #2.

Nationally, PrepNation.com does not have Wesleyan ranked (a massive oversight), but they do have Christ School listed at #7 on the East Coast.

Private school basketball in North Carolina is one of the hotbeds of collegiate talent right now, and that’s one of the reasons this game is a hidden gem that scouts and a few college coaches will be paying attention to.

Theo Pinson

The biggest names in this game are Wesleyan’s Theo Pinson (SG, 6’5″, 2014) and Christ School’s Shannon Hale (PF, 6’8″, 2013). Pinson holds several big name offers and is well known among mixtape aficionados, while Hale has committed to Alabama and will play his college ball in the SEC. But the game is loaded with future college players and several key match ups. Neither team is a one-man-show.

To break down this game you have to start in the backcourt, with the point guard match up. Running the point for Christ School is Jon Elmore, 6’3″ combo who is adept at handling the offense. Elmore can score effectively and is a really good rebounder at the guard position. Originally, Elmore was listed as an off-guard, and he moves well even when he’s not the ballhandler. Elmore is the type of player who is going to have his hands on the ball at some point in almost every possession – either facilitating from the point, or getting his hands on second chance points.

Going against Elmore is Wesleyan’s JaQuel Richmond, a player with his own handful of big collegiate offers. Richmond is quick and one of the best passers in high school. He throws bullet precision passes and handles pressure extremely well. He’s a tough-minded player who handles almost all of the floor general duties. Richmond is a pass-first point guard but his ability to get into the lane with his speed is his best asset; he’s also a one-man-fast-break several times a game, getting rack-to-rack, in traffic, for the score.

Although I see Theo Pinson as a collegiate SG with good size, he currently plays the SF spot quite a bit for Wesleyan. Pinson has a loose, laid back game and he often looks as though he’s going half speed; however, he is a high major athlete who can burn teams with the deep shot. He’s also a great cutter and uses his athleticism to finish around bigger players on the move. There are two aspects to Pinson’s game that won’t show up on a mixtape – he takes defense seriously, actively defending on the perimeter, and he is a very good passer from the SG or SF spot. It’s also key to note that there has been a lot of hype on Pinson, starting from his early high school days, but it doesn’t appear that he’s trying to prove anything and is working on just being a valuable player on a potent team.

Shannon Hale is a nimble power forward – runs the floor extremely well and can catch and score with ease. But calling him a big man kind of downplays just how nimble he is – Hale can slash from the perimeter a bit and on occasion will take the ball coast to coast. He’s very effective playing the high-low with center Lloyd Burgess, a 6’10” junior, and is always a threat to put the ball on the floor from the top of the key and get to the rim.

Wesleyan will look to take advantage of the athleticism they have on the wings; unlike Christ School, they really don’t have pure post players like Hale and Burgess, but they do have a stockpile of wings who can jump out of the gym, starting with freshman Harry Giles (SF, 6’8″, 2016). The hype on Giles rivals that which has been lavished on Pinson, but so far in his high school career, the affable forward has proven he’s got all the trappings of a phenom – he’s led the team in scoring on most nights, has several dunks over older players and in a recent tight game against QEA, showed a passion and desire to win that will serve him well in the years to come. Giles is an explosive, fluid athlete, plays way above the rim and has a very high ceiling. His most effective move is a running one-handed slasher that is almost impossible to defend. Complementing Giles is Deshaunte Carelock (SF/PF, 6’6″, 2014), another explosive athlete who is overlooked but can also play way above the rim on both ends of the floor. Trey Chapman (SF, 6’6″, 2013), committed to play at VMI, is another solid forward with length, and one who can consistently hit the mid range or deep shot. Teams have a tendency to overlook Carelock and Chapman far too much.

Meanwhile Christ School has a couple of solid wing athletes as well, starting with Jaylen Allen, a pure scoring guard, 6’3″, who is really solid slashing to the bucket. However, a key aspect of Allen’s game is his passing lane defense; he has a knack for darting out from seemingly nowhere, poking the pass away and getting down the court for a quick layup or slam.

Alex Wnuk of Christ School is a 6’6″ small forward who has a versatile game and stays involved on both ends. Josh Level is a small forward with great athleticism and upside as well. Level has been suffering an injured ankle so it’s not clear how much, if any, he’s see court time in this one.

The bench is relatively strong for both teams. DJ Harvey And Timothy Walker are both solid prospects for Christ School and freshman Michael Buckland of Wesleyan has given them solid minutes all season, as has Harrison White, who is committed to Brevard.

This should be a solid game with both teams looking to work their roster to their advantage; both teams are good in transition but Christ School may try to play a more traditional post game with Hale and Burgess; meanwhile Wesleyan can look to create mismatches on the perimeter which will allow their explosive dunkers to get a step on their man and get loose. Three point shooting – as in, which team is able to use the deep shot most effectively – may be a factor as well.

Although this won’t decide the entire season by any stretch, it will be an excellent litmus test for these two teams.

—

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Full game replay of Christ School at Forsyth Country Day School on December 8, 2012 in Lewisville, NC. Features Alabama commit Shannon Hale, Colton Bishop, Jaylen Allen, Lloyd Burgess, Cory Hanes, Jon Elmore and DJ Harvey.

Note: This game will play all four quarters – once each video ends, the next will load automatically.

Fuquan Edwin Seton Hall

By James Blackburn

Game Scouted: Seton Hall vs. Wake Forest

Seton Hall wins 71-67

Box Score

Fuquan Edwin (G/F, 6’6”, JR)

Stats
39 min, 8-16 FG, 1-4 3pt FG, 7-9 FT, 7 rebounds, 4 TO, 2 steals, 24 TP

Strengths
Long and athletic frame- passes the look test. Edwin hit a three on Seton Hall’s first possession- less then 30 seconds into game. After coming out with a bang, Edwin struggled offensively most of the first half, but he got it going in the second half and finished with 24, 6 points higher then his average. He attacked the basket and got himself to the FT line in the second half, where he cashed in on 7 of his 9 attempts. He made 2 big FT’s with 7 seconds left this game to put his team up 3. Edwin is shooting just a shade under 60% from the line this year so far, but made them count this game. Offensively, Edwin gets the majority of his points from being active- he runs the floor hard in transition and attacks the rim. He has a quick first step and has the ability to make difficult shots. He is shooting over 54% from beyond the arc this season, even though he was 1 for 4 from 3 point land this game. His shooting form is unconventional, but he has a very quick release and doesn’t have a problem getting his shot off. Versatile and smooth player who is a solid all-around athlete.

What really impressed me about Edwin this game was his activity on the defensive side of the ball. He is an active defender and looks to make plays on defensive side of floor. He is averaging just about 3 steals a game, and he does a tremendous job poking the ball away from players with quick hands. He also uses his length to punch the ball loose from behind when he is beat- he did this several times this game. He hustles and gets back defensively- even when he turns it over- he doesn’t complain but gets back down the court and defends. He is versatile and showed the ability to defend multiple positions and was able to stay in front of Wake’s guards. He moves his feet well and has good lateral quickness. Rebounding is one of his strong points and he boxes out most possessions. His off the ball defense isn’t bad either as he does a good job of jumping to the ball as the help defender. Defensively he should be fine at the next level with a combination of quickness and length. Edwin played a team high 39 minutes this game and shows great endurance on the court, averaging close to 30 minutes a game so far this season. He didn’t show any frustration, even when team was down double digits in the second half. Is a solid teammate and is one of the leaders of the team- pulled players together on dead balls.

Weaknesses
Although Edwin is long, but he needs to put on some more weight and get stronger (barely over 200 lbs). This manifested itself several times in this game as he had the ball taken right out of his hands a couple of times and he struggled to finish at the rim with contact. Hitting the weight room hard this summer to beef up his frame will help tremendously in these areas.

Offensively, Edwin struggled in the first half, forcing shots and turning the ball over. To his credit, he looked like a totally different player in the second half and played much better. In the first half, he didn’t show the ability or speed to get around any of Wake’s defenders and he struggled to create his own offense (did attack rim in second half), didn’t create his own shot until 15 minutes remaining in second half. I would like to see more consistency in his play on the offensive end through out the entire game. Really struggled to find the feel for the ball early on- doesn’t have great hands. Must improve ball handling skills and get a tighter handle. He struggles to go left or finish going left.

As I alluded to previously, his form on his jump shot is awkward. His release is behind his head and his elbow sticks out to a degree, which leads to inconsistency when shooting. His feet are together and not square to rim and there is not much rotation on the ball when he shoots. He does get good elevation on his shot- but is very inconsistent from the perimeter.

Edwin is not nearly as explosive as he looks and is not an over-the-top or over-the-rim athlete, but is a solid athlete none the less. He is turnover prone with the ball, but does get back defensively after turnovers. He didn’t have any assists this game and didn’t create shots or offense for his teammates. He has 18 assist and 19 turnovers through 9 games so far this season, which are not good numbers.

Overview
Edwin enters this game as the Pirates leading scorer (18.4 ppg) and second in rebounds (6.5 rpg). As I have said several times, he was a much better player in second half then first half and finished with a quite 24 points.

Edwin is considered a tweener at this point, playing both the SG and SF positions. Talking to Edwin after the game, he said he sees himself playing the SG at the next level. He is not quite big enough or strong enough to play the 3 at the next level and doesn’t have the shooting or ball handling ability to play the 2 at next level. I agree with Edwin though, and I see him having his best shot at playing in the NBA if he markets himself as a 2. He wouldn’t have a problem defending an off guard at the next level. I see him being drafted late in the second round next season, after playing his senior year. 6’6” scoring guards are not difficult to find and pro teams will be monitor his progress with his shot and handle. He would be a good D-League prospect if he is drafted late in the draft next season, as it would give him a chance to prove he could play at that level and be consistent night in and night out.

Note: printable brackets will be available soon.

Frank Spencer Holiday Classic
Champion Bracket

Quarterfinals (Dec. 26)
(At Mount Tabor)
No. 1 Mount Tabor vs. No. 8 Glenn, 2 p.m.
No. 7 Reynolds vs. No. 2 W-S Prep, 3:45
No. 6 East Forsyth vs. No. 3 North Forsyth, 5:30
No. 5 West Stokes vs. No. 4 Reagan, 7:17

Semifinals (Dec. 27)
(At Joel Coliseum)
Glenn-Mount Tabor winner vs. West Stokes-Reagan winner, 7 p.m.
East-North winner vs. Reynolds/W-S Prep winner, 8:30

Championship (Dec. 28)
(At Joel Coliseum)
Semifinal winners, 8:45
Pepsi Bracket

Quarterfinals (Dec. 26)
(At East Forsyth)
No. 1 West Forsyth vs. No. 8 Atkins, 2 p.m.
No. 7 Carver vs. No. 2 Forsyth Country Day, 3:45
No. 6 Parkland vs. No. 3 McMichael, 5:30
No. 5 Starmount vs. No. 4 North Davidson, 7:15

Semifinals (Dec. 27)
(At Joel Coliseum)
Starmount-N. Davidson winner vs. West Forsyth-Atkins winner, 4 p.m.
Carver-FCD winner vs. Parkland-McMichael winner, 5:30

Championship (Dec. 28)
(At Joel Coliseum)
Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.

Note: Consolation-bracket games will also be played Dec. 27-28 at Mount Tabor (Champion Bracket) and East Forsyth (Pepsi Bracket)

Dakari Johnson basketball
Dakari Johnson’s Monteverde come in at #2 this week.

The national prep rankings for the week of December 10, as published by PrepNation

#1. Chicago, Simeon (1-0), seeks fourth consecutive state crown
#2. Montverde, Fla., Montverde Academy (6-0), beat three highly regarded in-state teams last week
#3. Henderson, Nev., Findlay (12-0), F Allerik Freeman headed to UCLA
#4. Newark, N.J., St. Benedict’s (6-0), F Isaiah Watkins will play at Duquesne
#5. Huntington, W.Va., Huntington Prep, (9-0), won twice at National High School Hoops Festival in Hyattsville, Md.
#6. Santa Ana, Calif., Mater Dei (5-0), captured Ocean View Tournament of Champions in Huntington Beach, Calif.
#7. Long Beach, Calif., Poly, (4-0), led by talented soph PG Ke’jhan Feagin
#8. Highland, Utah, Lone Peak (6-0), thumped regionally ranked Denver East, 73-54
#9. Mouth of Wilson, Va., Oak Hill (12-1), loss to No. 25 Paul VI its first since April 2011
#10. Chester, Pa. (0-0), Orlando Magic PG Jameer Nelson an alum
#11. Mount Washington, Ky., Bullitt East (5-0), F Derek Willis a Kentucky recruit
#12. San Jose, Calif., Mitty, (2-0), beat regionally ranked Sheldon, 71-65
#13. Seattle, Rainier Beach, (2-0), F Shaqquan Aaron an impact transfer
#14. Richmond, Texas, Travis, (8-1), upset by Bush playing without injured Kentucky-bound G Andrew Harrison
#15. Memphis, Tenn., Southwind, (5-1), F JaJuan Johnson headed to Marquette
#16. Omaha, Neb., Central (2-0), 38 straight wins
#17. Warr Acres, Okla., Putnam City (5-0), three state titles since 2006
#18. Brooklyn, Jefferson (5-0), avenged last season’s NYC Public title-game loss to Boys & Girls
#19. Rockville, Md., Montrose Christian (5-0), jr. Therence Mayimba a highly sought swingman
#20. Iowa City, Iowa, West, (4-0), playing without injured Southern Miss-bound G Dondre Alexander
#21. Oviedo, Fla., Hagerty, (6-0), edged regionally ranked Lake Highland Prep, 98-92 in OT
#22. DeSoto, Texas (13-1), G Matt Jones a Duke recruit
#23. Washington, Gonzaga (3-1), hampered by injury to future Villanova F Kris Jenkins
#24. Gladstone, N.J., Gill St. Bernard’s (0-0), led by Northwestern-bound PG Jaren Sina
#25. Fairfax, Va., Paul VI (3-1), 1-1 vs. Top 25 teams

Northeast
#1. Newark, N.J., St. Benedict’s, 6-0
#2. Chester, Pa., 0-0
#3. Brooklyn, Jefferson, 5-0
#4. Gladstone, N.J., Gill St. Bernard’s, 0-0
#5. Philadelphia, Neumann-Goretti, 1-0
#6. Metuchen, N.J., St. Joseph, 0-0
#7. Jersey City, N.J., St. Anthony, 0-0
#8. Middle Village, N.Y., Christ the King, 1-0
#9. Jersey City, N.J., Hudson Catholic, 0-0
#10. Springfield, Mass., Central, 0-0

East Coast
#1. Huntington, W.Va., Huntington Prep, 9-0
#2. Mouth of Wilson, Va., Oak Hill, 12-1
#3. Rockville, Md., Montrose Christian, 5-0
#4. Washington, Gonzaga, 3-1
#5. Fairfax, Va., Paul VI, 3-1
#6. Charlotte, N.C., West Charlotte, 3-0
#7. Arden, N.C., Christ School, 10-0
#8. Rockville, Md., Magruder, 2-0
#9. Columbia, S.C., Irmo, 7-0
#10. Baltimore, Mount St. Joseph, 7-1

Southeast
#1. Montverde, Fla., Montverde Academy, 6-0
#2. Memphis, Tenn., Southwind, 5-1
#3. Oviedo, Fla., Hagerty, 6-0
#4. Orlando, Fla., Lake Highland Prep, 6-1
#5. Tifton, Ga., Tift County, 3-0
#6. Birmingham, Ala., Wenowah, 6-0
#7. Jackson, Miss., Provine, 9-0
#8. Pompano Beach, Fla., Ely, 5-0
#9. Memphis, Tenn., White Station, 7-1
#10. Montgomery, Ala., Carver, 0-0

Midwest
#1. Chicago, Simeon, 1-0
#2. Mount Washington, Ky., Bullitt East, 5-0
#3. Lansing, Mich., Sexton, 2-0
#4. Chicago, Young, 1-0
#5. Detroit, Pershing, 2-0
#6. Toledo, Ohio, Whitmer, 2-0
#7. Louisville, Ky., Ballard, 2-1
#8. Germantown, Wis., 4-0
#9. Indianapolis, Pike, 5-0
#10. Indianapolis, Arsenal Tech, 3-1

Midlands
#1. Highland, Utah, Lone Peak, 6-0
#2. Omaha, Neb., Central, 2-0
#3. Iowa City, Iowa, West, 4-0
#4. Osseo, Minn., 2-0
#5. Overland Park, Kan., Blue Valley Northwest, 2-0
#6. Nixa, Mo., 2-0
#7. Minneapolis, De La Salle, 1-0
#8. Denver, East, 4-1
#9. Wichita, Kan., North, 2-0
#10. Aurora, Colo., Grandview, 2-0

Southwest
#1. Henderson, Nev., Findlay, 12-0
#2. Richmond, Texas, Travis, 8-1
#3. Warr Acres, Okla., Putnam City, 5-0
#4. DeSoto, Texas, 13-1
#5. Houston, Yates, 10-1
#6. Dallas, Jesuit, 11-0
#7. Dallas, Wilson, 7-1
#8. Las Vegas, Bishop Gorman, 1-0
#9. Laveen, Ariz., Chavez, 7-0
#10. Edmond, Okla., Memorial, 5-0

West Coast
#1. Santa Ana, Calif., Mater Dei, 5-0
#2. Long Beach, Calif., Poly, 4-0
#3. San Jose, Calif., Mitty, 2-0
#4. Seattle, Rainier Beach, 2-0
#5. Lake Oswego, Ore., 2-0
#6. Bellflower, Calif., St. John’s Bosco, 5-0
#7. Sacramento, Calif., Sheldon, 1-1
#8. Richmond, Calif., Salesian, 3-1
#9. Bothell, Wash., 2-0
#10. Los Angeles, Loyola, 8-0

By: James Blackburn

Justin Glover Basketball Winston-Salem State WSSU

Game Scouted: Wingate @ Winston-Salem State
Winston-State wins
Box Score

Justin Glover (G, 6’3”, SR)

Stats
26 min, 6-13 FG, 1-4 3 pt FG, 2-2 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals, 15 TP

Strengths
Coming into tonight’s game I knew Glover was a scorer. His assistant coach had informed me that he had scored 30 points in his last game and I also knew he led the team in that category. Glover can get his points in several different ways, although the bulk of his points come in P/R, isolation, and transition plays. He has a quick first step and doesn’t have a problem getting by his man and turning the corner off screens. He is explosive and is a superb athlete who plays above the rim. He had three dunks in this game, all in transition, and showed he can jump off of one or two feet. He gets off the ground very quickly and springs off the ground. He doesn’t have any problem creating his own shot and does most of his scoring off the bounce. He is smooth, quick, and athletic and can split defenders off screens. He has a quick release on his jump shot and knocked down a three this game. He handles the ball well for a combo guard, and does not turn the ball over much at all (less then 1 TO a game)

He does more however then just score on the offensive end, as he is a good passer, especially for a shooting guard/off guard. He keeps his eyes up when on the perimeter and even hit the roll man on the P/R. Also showed the ability to thread the needle in the half court set and had several quick hitters that eventually led to scores. He has more assists then turnovers on the year with a 1.5 assist to turnover ration.

He is even-keeled on the court and he doesn’t show much emotion and any attitude. Got taken out several times because of poor shots and didn’t show any attitude when coming out. He has a lot of confidence in his game and his ability to score and is not afraid to let it go- has confidence in his game.
Defensively, he has quick hands and he plays the passing lanes very well. He is averaging over two steals a game 7 games into the season. He had several steals this game. After showing average defense in the first half, he came out and defended better in the second half. Has the physical tools to be an excellent defender w/ good size for a combo guard and superb athleticism.

Weaknesses
Though Glover is an excellent scorer, he forced several shots this game and didn’t show much discipline in his shot selection. He settled for contested perimeter shots early in the shot clock, a shot he could get any time. Five games into the season he was shooting just 37% from the field, a number that should be in the mid to high 40’s with his scoring and athletic abilities. I believe this number is low because of him forcing some shots. His jump shot looks inconsistent as well, even though he did lead Winston-Salem State in three pointers last season. He went 1-4 from distance tonight. His shot is a little flat and his right elbow sticks out to a degree. He tends to miss short when he does miss and he showed a low release at the FT line. He does get shot off very quickly, minimizing the effect of his low release point. Even though he is a good passer, most of the time when he drives he puts his head down and does not intend to pass. When he drives and attacks he does so to score not to make plays for teammates (not necessarily a bad thing, because he is asked to score, but could pose trouble at next level).

Defensively he is excellent at forcing turnovers and steals but he didn’t seem to show or put in the same effort on the defensive end play after play like he did on the offensive end. He tends to gamble and reach too much on the perimeter and doesn’t bump the cutters. He is slow laterally and players went around him several times. Has hands down too much defensively and didn’t contest several shots.

Overview
Not a 30 point outing for Glover but solid scoring game non the less for him and he also pitched in w/ three steals in a good home win. As previously stated he is a prolific scorer and is the one of the best in his conference at doing so. He is currently averaging 15 ppg for the year for a 5-2 Winston-Salem State Rams team. He scored 9 pts and grabbed 8 rebounds in a exhibition loss to Duke in the first game of the year and he is
shooting over 36% from three and over 76% from the FT line.

Before arriving at Winston-Salem State he was a 1st Team All-American at Davidson County Community College and is the All-Time leading scorer at the school. Was All-Conference last year after leading the Rams in scoring as a junior and helped them win the CIAA Conference Championship.
Having said all of that, the fact is, is that combo guard scorers (especially players 6’5” and under) are a dime a dozen and pro teams have no shortage to pick from. However, I do believe Glover has the skills and abilities to play professionally next season. He would be a good candidate for a D-League team to invite to their training camp and see how he performs at that stage. He would probably be better off and will probably end up playing overseas for a 2nd division team in Europe. European teams love athletic, high scoring guards from America, especially ones who can please the crowd with highlights and dunks, which Glover can do with his explosiveness and scoring ability. European teams and select D-League teams should monitor the rest of his season and file his name for future refrence.

Mason Plumlee
Photo Source: MSN/FoxSports

By James Blackburn

Game Scouted: Ohio State vs. Duke (ACC/Big Ten Challenge)

Duke wins 73-68

Box Score

Mason Plumlee (F, 6’11”, SR)

Stats
39 min, 6-11 FG, 9-12 FT, 17 reb, 2 assist, 1 blk, 21 TP

Strengths
Another solid game for Plumlee who has had a remarkable senior campaign at Duke so far this year. Plumlee’s number one strength is his athleticism. He had several dunks this game including a big one-handed throw down that was SportsCenter “Top 10” worthy. Quick leaper. He plays the game above the rim and this will translate well to the pros. Something else Plumlee does extremely well is rebound, especially this year averaging 11 rebounds per game. He uses his athleticism to explode to meet the ball rim level and secures boards w/ 2 hands. Gets practically every ball in his area on the defensive end, and he also rebounds the ball at a solid rate on the offensive end. Something I was impressed with this game was his ability to run the floor. Reminded me of watching Tyler Zeller from UNC run the floor last year- runs hard rim to rim and gets easy baskets this way. Always beats opposing bigs down the court and beats opposing guards at times as well. He has a great build and sets hard/wide screens.

Duke uses him mostly in P/R and post ups. He excels in the short corner and showed the ability to face up and score using the jab step and spin moves. Post offense has improved- showcased a nice left handed hook. Is a better passer out of the post then his 1 assist indicates- but he jumps in the air to make most passes. He is in excellent shape as he played practically the entire game and didn’t show any signs of being tired. High motor and he never quits. Leader on the floor- gets players together in huddles.

Weaknesses
Looking solely at the stat line and box score, there is little to critique based on Plumlee’s game tonight, but there are clearly areas where he must improve. The most glaring weakness in his overall game is his shooting. His jumper is flat and his release point is low- shot is exaggerated. He doesn’t have good form and is not confident in his shot, even hesitating to take open 15’ jump shots. His free throw shooting has improved significantly and he did well from the line tonight, but I would not call him a “good” FT shooter. Is barely over a 50% FT shooter for career, but is shooting 80% so far this season. Hit most of them tonight- has changed his routine to where he doesn’t dribble the ball at all and shoots. Shot needs a lot of work overall.

Offensively his post game is still raw, as he relies on his strength and athleticism to score. He has a drop step and a mini hook but that is about where it ends. Has a great build but struggled to secure deep post position this game. Also struggles to finish over athletic bigger players.
The other area of primary concern is on the defensive end. Defending the screen and roll, protecting the paint, and defending on the perimeter are areas he must improve in. He didn’t do a god job of showing on screens and getting back to his man- does a decent job hedging wide and stopping penetration- but its almost like fake hustle because he didn’t get back to his man quick enough allowing him to score. Needs to improve as shot blocker- with his athleticism should be blocking more then 1 shot- doesn’t even attempt to block the shot half the time and doesn’t protect paint like he should. He is a better on ball post defender then off the ball post defender and he struggled to defend on perimeter, which is something he is going to have to do playing the PF position at next level.

Overview
Plumlee is clearly the leader and best player on an undefeated Duke team. His rebounding and athleticism will translate well at the next level as well as his ability to run the floor. What I think scouts are over looking however is his in ability to shoot the ball and his defensive deficiencies. At the NBA level he is going to be asked to defend screens and defend on the perimeter, two areas of major concern for Plumlee. The majority of his scores come from his hustle for offensive boards, running the floor, and his athleticism. I believe he would be a solid offensive player who could get a team 8-10 points a night off the bench to go along with 6 or 7 rebounds. I see him being taken in the lottery, possibly top 10, but I do not think he is a top 10 player. I would draft him in the late first round or early second round.

—

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Jabari Parker Simeon

The national prep rankings for the week of December 3, as published by PrepNation.

#1. Chicago, Simeon (1-0), all-star F Jabari Parker hampered by broken foot
#2. Montverde, Fla., Montverde Academy (3-0), G Michael Frazier signed with Florida
#3. Henderson, Nev., Findlay (11-0), G Stanford Robinson headed to Indiana
#4. Mouth of Wilson, Va., Oak Hill (10-0), beat No. 16 Southwind, 89-73
#5. Newark, N.J., St. Benedict’s (2-0), features talented 6-10 fr. Rodney Miller Jr.
#6. Richmond, Texas, Travis, (4-0), edged regionally ranked Ballard, 78-76
#7. Huntington, W.Va., Huntington Prep, (7-0), blue chip F Andrew Wiggins MVP of Marshall County Hoopfest in Benton, Ky.
#8. Santa Ana, Calif., Mater Dei (1-0), beat Chicago-area power St. Joseph, 65-55
#9. Long Beach, Calif., Poly, (4-0), F Jordan Bell MVP of Pacific Shores Tournament in Redondo Beach, Calif.
#10. Highland, Utah, Lone Peak (2-0), thumped last year’s Illinois 4A runner-up Proviso East, 84-46
#11. Chester, Pa. (0-0), lineup strengthened by transfer jr. G Conrad Chambers
#12. Mount Washington, Ky., Bullitt East (3-0), edged state-ranked Clay, 58-55, at Mr. Basketball Classic in Lexington, Ky.
#13. San Jose, Calif., Mitty, (0-0), seeks third Division II title in a row
#14. Washington, Gonzaga, (1-0), PG Bryant Crawford one of nation’s top sophs
#15. Seattle, Rainier Beach, (0-0), defending 3A state champ
#16. Memphis, Tenn., Southwind, (4-1), 1-1 versus ranked opponents
#17. Omaha, Neb., Central (0-0), F Nick Billingsley signed with Nebraska-Omaha
#18. Warr Acres, Okla., Putnam City (1-0), 40th season as head coach for A.D. Burtschi
#19. Brooklyn, Jefferson (2-0), PG Jaquan Lynch will play at FIU
#20. Rockville, Md., Montrose Christian (2-0), NBA superstar Kevin Durant an alum
#21. Richmond, Calif., Salesian (1-0), 6-9 transfer Jonathan Galloway adds size
#22. Iowa City, Iowa, West, (2-0), coach Steve Bergman has three state titles
#23. Orlando, Fla., Lake Highland Prep, (5-0), captured Rotary Park Tipoff Classic in Winter Park, Fla.
#24. Duncanville, Texas (11-1), upset by host Timberview in championship of Mansfield ISD Spring Creek Classic
#25. DeSoto, Texas (11-1), won title in Arlington ISD Classic

Northeast
#1. Newark, N.J., St. Benedict’s, 2-0
#2. Chester, Pa., 0-0
#3. Brooklyn, Jefferson, 2-0
#4. Gladstone, N.J., Gill St. Bernard’s, 0-0
#5. Philadelphia, Neumann-Goretti, 0-0
#6. Metuchen, N.J., St. Joseph, 0-0
#7. Jersey City, N.J., St. Anthony, 0-0
#8. Middle Village, N.Y., Christ the King, 0-0
#9. Jersey City, N.J., Hudson Catholic, 0-0
#10. Charlestown, Mass., 0-0

East Coast
#1. Mouth of Wilson, Va., Oak Hill, 10-0
#2. Huntington, W.Va., Huntington Prep, 7-0
#3. Washington, Gonzaga, 1-0
#4. Rockville, Md., Montrose Christian, 2-0
#5. Fairfax, Va., Paul VI, 0-0
#6. Charlotte, N.C., West Charlotte, 1-0
#7. Arden, N.C., Christ School, 7-0
#8. Hyattsville, Md., DeMatha, 0-1
#9. Rockville, Md., Magruder, 0-0
#10. Columbia, S.C., Irmo, 5-0

Southeast
#1. Montverde, Fla., Montverde Academy, 3-0
#2. Memphis, Tenn., Southwind, 4-1
#3. Orlando, Fla., Lake Highland Prep, 5-0
#4. Tifton, Ga., Tift County, 1-0
#5. Birmingham, Ala., Wenowah, 5-0
#6. Jackson, Miss., Provine, 8-0
#7. Oviedo, Fla., Hagerty, 3-0
#8. Marietta, Ga., Wheeler, 2-0
#9. Memphis, Tenn., White Station, 4-1
#10. Montgomery, Ala., Carver, 0-0

Midwest
#1. Chicago, Simeon, 1-0
#2. Mount Washington, Ky., Bullitt East, 3-0
#3. Lansing, Mich., Sexton, 0-0
#4. Chicago, Young, 1-0
#5. Detroit, Pershing, 0-0
#6. Toledo, Ohio, Whitmer, 1-0
#7. Louisville, Ky., Ballard, 1-1
#8. Germantown, Wis., 3-0
#9. Indianapolis, Cathedral, 1-1
#10. Indianapolis, Pike, 3-0

Midlands
#1. Highland, Utah, Lone Peak, 2-0
#2. Omaha, Neb., Central, 0-0
#3. Iowa City, Iowa, West, 2-0
#4. Osseo, Minn., 0-0
#5. Denver, East, 1-0
#6. Overland Park, Kan., Blue Valley Northwest, 0-0
#7. Nixa, Mo., 2-0
#8. Minneapolis, De La Salle, 0-0
#9. Wichita, Kan., North, 0-0
#10. Aurora, Colo., Grandview, 1-0

Southwest
#1. Henderson, Nev., Findlay, 11-0
#2. Richmond, Texas, Travis, 4-0
#3. Warr Acres, Okla., Putnam City, 1-0
#4. Duncanville, Texas, 11-1
#5. DeSoto, Texas, 11-1
#6. Phoenix, Pinnacle, 3-0
#7. Houston, Yates, 8-1
#8. Dallas, Wilson, 6-0
#9. Las Vegas, Bishop Gorman, 0-0
#10. Little Rock, Ark., Hall, 3-2

West Coast
#1. Santa Ana, Calif., Mater Dei, 1-0
#2. Long Beach, Calif., Poly, 4-0
#3. San Jose, Calif., Mitty, 0-0
#4. Seattle, Rainier Beach, 0-0
#5. Richmond, Calif., Salesian, 1-0
#6. Lake Oswego, Ore., 0-0
#7. Bellflower, Calif., St. John’s Bosco, 0-0
#8. Sacramento, Calif., Sheldon, 1-0
#9. Bothell, Wash., 0-0
#10. Mission Hills, Calif., Alemany, 0-0