Wild Wings Classic Basketball 2013

By James Blackburn

Ardrey Kell HS, Charlotte, NC

Day 1

Ardrey Kell vs Charlotte Christian

Ardrey Kell wins 68-41

Charlotte Christian struggled with turnovers through out this game which Ardrey Kell turned into easy baskets in transition. Ardrey Kell shot the ball and moved the ball extremely well and they had the game in hand entering the 4th quarter up over 25 points. With junior Santa Ana handling the scoring load for Ardrey Kell and junior big man Josh Freund controlling the boards, Ardrey Kell was able to get the first round win 68-41. Trey Phills is a D1 guard who did what he could by scoring the ball but it wasn’t enough in the end.

Ardrey Kell HS

Markel Pollard (2014, 6’4”, G/F)
Tremendous defender who stays between his man and the basket. College ready build with good length and high shoulders. Throwback player who plays well out of the mid post.

Steven Santa Ana (2015, 6’3”, G)
Good sized guard who can really shoot the ball from the perimeter- gets good elevation and can hit the 3. Does a great job of attacking the rim. Aggressive on both ends. Has a high motor is an active defender- drew several charges and blocked some shots. Not afraid to talk on the court- talked a few times to the opponents and to officials which I did not like. Has the potential to play at the D1 level when his HS career is complete.

Josh Freund (2015, 6’4”, F/C)
Undersized big man who does a good job of protecting the rim and rebounding the ball. Showed good patience in the post and is a good passer. Has a nose for the ball wand was the best rebounder I saw this game. Good motor and strength. D2 and D3 schools should keep an eye on him.

Charlotte Christian

Trey Phills (2015, 6’1”, G)
Good quickness- great first step. Good passer and is an unselfish player. Not a bad shooter but needs to improve range a bit- has a high release. Is an excellent 1 dribble pull-up shooter going either direction, but when he moves out further he gets a little hitch in his shot. Played more off the ball this game. Smart player who gets in correct defensive position- good help side defender. Was asked to guard bigger players today and he did a solid job. Holds offers from UC Irvine and The Citadel as well as interest from a host from other LM programs. Would like to see him make the move to the PG position over the summer, which I think he can do. If he can play the lead guard successfully I could see him increasing his offers.

South Atlanta (GA) vs Montverde Academy (FL)

Montverde wins 98-39

Montverde entered the game with 7 D1 commits and a number 1 national ranking. They jumped out to an early 24-5 first quarter lead and never looked back. South Atlanta struggled with a half court traps and the overall size and athleticism Montverde presented. Montverde led 53-21 at the half and 85-30 after the 3rd before winning 98-39.

Montverde is up there as one of the best HS teams I have ever seen play. They are similar to a college program with their size and athleticism. LSU commit Ben Simmons has the potential to be a one and done player and its scary that he is only a junior. I was very impressed with Ohio State commit D’Angelo Russell. He has a tremendous feel for the game and is very smooth. He is a very good 3-point shooter with good touch.

Derrick Byrd played his heart out and was the most impressive player on South Atlanta’s roster. He is a true PG who is an excellent ball handler. He is an unsigned senior, but that should change soon.

South Atlanta

Derrick Byrd (2014, 5’11”, G)
Undersized but extremely quick lead guard who has excellent footwork. Needs to improve his 3-point shooting. Might be the best ball handler in this game- has the ball on a string. Has the ability to break the press by himself. Active defender who has a ton of energy. Got to the rim almost at will- Changes speeds and slithers his way through traffic. Best player on his team and competed till the end even with the blowout score. If Byrd can get a little bigger and improve his 3-point stroke, he would be sure fire D1. He will be playing at the next level as a PG. I was very impressed with him this game. Finished with a tam high 9 pts. Byrd has zero offers at this point, D2 and D3 schools should be all over him.

Devontae Dean (2016, 6’2”, G)
Came out this game attacking from the start and was not intimidated with Montverde’s size and athleticism. Took the ball to the rim aggressively where he finished in creative ways and drew fouls. Good length. Only a sophomore, Dean has a ton of potential. Will be playing at the next level- which level depends on his development.

Montverde Academy

D’Angelo Russell (2014, 6’4”, G/F)
Ohio State commit. Has one of the quickest releases I have ever seen- great shooting touch. The lefty guard has the ability to make next level passes. Passes are direct and quick. His passing ability was probably was what I was most impressed about this game. Directs traffic and played both guard positions this game. Has a tremendous feel for the game and is smooth. Didn’t put a lot of energy in the defensive end this game- came out of stance too often. Does have extremely quick hands. Finished with 17 pts, 5 assists, and 4 steals in 21 minutes off the bench.

Makinde London (2014, 6’9”, PF)
Terrific length and athleticism. Might be one of the longest players I have seen this year. Active defender. The Xavier commit plays on both ends, but needs to improve his perimeter jumper. Settled for many shots from 3- needed to attack the rim more. Finished with 9 pts and 5 boards.

Jordan Caroline (2014, 6’6”, F)
Caroline was one of the most impressive players on the floor tonight. Is a bit undersized height wise for his position, but is very strong and physical. Work horse of the team. Loved his aggressiveness and explosion. One of the best finishers inside I have seen this year- highly efficient player. Southern Illinois got themselves a good one in Caroline, tough player who will contribute right away. Scored 19 pts on 9-12 FG shooting in 15 minutes.

Ben Simmons (2015, 6’8”, SF)
Best player on the floor tonight. Crazy upside as a player. Plays like a guard- is smooth and fluid. Can rebound the ball and advance it up court with the dribble. Plays the game above the rim- big time athlete. Runs the floor well. Although Simmons is a big time athlete, he must improve his finishing ability- he missed 3 dunks this game. Tremendous 2nd jump. Has NBA size and athleticism as he plays the SF. Good ball handler for size. LSU got a steal with this kid. Finished with 28 pts on 11-14 shooting and 6 rebounds in 19 minutes.

Jean Marc Christ Koumadje (2015, 7’4”, C)
Got limited PT but still managed to block 3 shots and grab 3 rebounds in 8 minutes. Excellent length. Needs to gain muscle but is mobile and runs the floor well for a 7’ plus player. Raw offensively but is a game changer with is size. HM prospect.

Olympic vs Victory Christian

Olympic wins in OT 63-58

Victory Christian and Olympic played contracting styles this game with Olympic wanting to speed things up and Victory wanting to slow things down. Victory did an excellent job controlling the tempo and running their offense. They took care of the ball and led at each break. The first half of this one was a little sloppy. Victory led at the half 31-21 thanks to some good outside shooting which continued into the second half. Olympic used full court pressure defense throughout and was able to pull within 6 after CJ Jackson starting catching fire from the field. The 4th quarter was back and forth and Olympic was able to cut into the lead several times in the 4th. CJ Jackson tied it up with a big 3 and then hit FT’s to put them up 3. Brenton Davis came down and buried a wing 3 to put it into OT. In OT it all belonged to CJ Jackson who was the MVP of the game in my opinion- he hit the FT’s needed to secure a 63-58 come from behind OT win.

Victory Christian

Ebuka Izundu (2016, 6’10”, C)

Very good defensive player who defends well on the perimeter. Excellent length. Needs to get stronger but is a D1 prospect. Lefty who draws contact and got to the FT a decent amount. Needs to improve FT shooting.

Brenton Davis (2015, 6’4”, SF)
Smart and versatile player. Does it all on the floor- scores, rebounds, and defends. Good length. Good defensive instincts-communicates on the floor. Fundamental player who can really shoot the ball. Has a low release but is a knockdown shoot from beyond the arc. Was one of the most impressive players on the floor tonight. Excellent poise. Is in the right place at the right time. Can spread the court with consistent 3-point shooting. Can put it on the floor and score off the bounce. LM and MM schools should track. Finished with 22 points. Hit some big shots down the stretch.

Olympic

Malik Constatine (2015, 6’5”, SF)
Malik entered the game averaging a double- double on the year. He is a good rebounder on both ends and has a high motor. He can hit the 3, but it needs improvement. Shot is simple but effective- shoots from side of the head. Versatile inside/out threat. D1 prospect. Finished with 13 points and 8 boards.

CJ Jackson (2014, 6’1”, G)
Big time scoring guard who can play either guard slot- played PG majority of this game. Perimeter shooting is streaky but when he gets hot, watch out. Shot was off this game but he still was able to get to the paint where he could score with floaters and pull-ups. Confident player who wants the ball in his hands at the end of the game. Made some huge shots and plays in the 4th quarter and OT of this one. Good FT shooter. Is always in scoring and attack mode and got to the line often in this one. Is very quick and athletic. Highlight reel with the ball. Energetic defender- good shot blocker for his size. I was impressed with his passing ability today as well. Has a tendency to get out of control at times and is TO prone. The unsigned senior would be a great fit at multiple programs and would be a steal for a D2 school. Finished with a game high 29 pts this game.

Arlington Country Day (FL) vs Northside Christian (NC)

Northside wins 100-90

Back and forth game in the 1st half. Northside was the aggressor and seemed like they wanted it more. They were excellent defensively and led at the half by 11. Northside pushed their lead to 20 in the 2nd half with transition points. Kevin Maura for ACD ignited a run that brought them back to 9 in the 3rd.

Northside led throughout and was in control from the opening tip to the end. They handled ACD full court pressure remarkably and really took care of the ball which led the 10 point win.

Arlington Country Day

Dante Buford (2014, 6’8”, F)
Oklahoma signee who was watched this game by an assistant coach from OU. Plays the game above the rim. Was all over the offensive boards this game. College ready build. He relies on his athleticism too much and needs to improve overall offensive skill set.

Ladarius Chester (2015, 6’1”, G)
One of the best leapers I have seen all day. Head was at the rim during warm-ups. Explosive combo guard who showed off several scoring moves inside including a floater. Can score with contact. D1 player.

Brandone Francis (2014, 6’6”, SG)
Excellent shooter with a good looking stroke. One of the best looking shooters I have seen today. Was a local leader on the floor too. Fouled out of this one. Strong upper body. Committed to Florida.

Northside Christian

James Demery (2014, 6’6”, F) 25
Attacks the rim hard and is excellent in transition. Excellent athlete. Very efficient scorer inside. Good FT shooter who gets to the line at a high rate. High arc on his shot. Always in attack mode- aggressive. Moves well with out the ball and made him self available repeatedly to the guards . Sticks with his misses and has a quick second jump. Well conditioned player. Good rebounder who battles on the glass at both ends. Would like to see him improve his 3-point shooting, looks to drive every time. Looked great this game. St. Josephs got a steal with Demery. Looked every bit of a HM player this game. My pick for MVP of the contest.

Desean Murray (2014, 6’5”, F) 2
Explosive undersized forward who is a tremendous rebounder. Physical player who has a nose for the ball. Active player who really attacked the offensive glass nearly every possession. Energy player. Picked up his 3rd and 4th fouls in the 3rd quarter. Committed to PC.

Ray Kowalski (2016, 6’2”, SG)
Tremendous 3 point set shooter. Smart player. Needs to improve defensively but is one of the best shooters in his class. Is a player to keep an eye on as his shooting ability will get him college looks.

Frank Spencer tournament 2013

(Mt. Tabor HS- Champion Bracket)

Glenn vs Winston-Salem Prep

Prep wins 83-61

This one was never a question from the start as Prep jumped out to a 22-8 1st quarter lead and never looked back. Coye Simmons controlled the boards and on both ends, and Prep’s full court defense caused 28 TO’s which led to multiple easy baskets. Mike Hughes (13 pts) did a good job of finishing in the open court and Aaron Lipscomb used some hot shooting to hit 4 threes on his way to 16 pts. Daquan Clemons led Glenn with 24pts.

Glenn

Yiannis Bowden (2014, F, 6’6”)
Strong and chiseled frame. Does a good job of pump faking and finishing at the rim. Solid length. Disappears too much at both ends and is foul prone. Runs the floor very well. Bowden would be a steal for a junior college program at this point.

Daquan Clemons- (2014, G, 5’9”)
Clemons was the lone bright spot today for Glenn. The senior guard is a good 3-pt shooter, especially from the corners. Smooth player. Decent upper-body strength. Solid defender.
Scored 24 pts to lead team.

WS Prep

Coye Simmons (2014, F, 6’7”)
Offensive game has improved since last year. Showed off a nice double spin move in the paint and showed the ability to hit the midrange pull-up. Very high release. FT shooting has improved, but still needs to get better. Very strong physically. Does everything with 2 hands- rebounds and finishes w/ 2 hands. Best rebounder I have seen this year at HS level. Finishes strong above the rim. Needs to improve ability to finish over right shoulder. Finished w/ 24 pts/ 14 rebounds. UT-Martin got a steal with Simmons.

Mike Hughes (2014, G, 6’4”)
Excellent open court finisher. Dribble is a little loose and he tends to over dribble at times. Versatile guard who committed earlier this year to Georgia Southern.

Mt. Tabor vs North Forsyth

Mt. Tabor wins 77-60

After trailing North at the half, Tabor came out with a ton of energy in the 2nd half and took the lead, ultimately winning the game by double-digits. North led at the half by 1 by getting easy baskets in the open floor but struggled to get stops in the 2nd half. Austin Hatfield carried the way for the Spartans by scoring 23 points. App State commit Kedrick Flomo led North Forsyth with 16 points.

Mt. Tabor

Taylor Hatfield- (2014, PG, 6’0”)
Struggled to get by smaller quicker defenders today- Is not a pure PG in my opinion- more of a combo. Smart- high basketball IQ. I really like his perimeter defense. Right handed player. Needs to improve his change of speed dribble. Plays hard and with a ton of energy. Good rebounder for size and position. Schools at the D2 and D3 levels should be actively recruiting Taylor.

Austin Hatfield- (2014, SG, 6’0”)
Strong upper body. Lefty. Solid pull-up shooter off the dribble. Loves the spin move. Solid active defender. Can take the bumps and finish. Good 3 pt shooter especially from the corners. Good overall scorer. The senior guard had a big game today and should have multiple college offers by the end of this school year.

Forsyth Country Day vs West Forsyth HS

FCD wins 62-52

FCD struggled to get anything going early and didn’t score 1st points until 4 minutes gone by in the quarter but ended the quarter tied with West at 14. The first half was a foul fest with over 20 fouls called between the 2 teams.
The pace really slowed down in the 2nd half while both teams struggled to score the ball. West Forsyth really slowed down FCD offensive scoring attack with a 1-3-1 zone in the 3rd quarter. FCD’s guards came alive in the 4th and this ultimately the reason the Furies were able to pull out the win 62-52.

West Forsyth HS

Darian Slade (2016, PG, 6’0”)
Excellent ball handler. Fast with the ball. Has a high release. Good FT shooter. Solid overall perimeter shooter. Tends to get out of control too often and does too much with the ball but is the go-to guy on the squad. Can get to the rim at will and has a variety of flip shots and creative finishes once he reaches the basket. Finished with a team high 19 pts on an efficient 5-10 FG and 7-9 from the FT line. Slade is also the starting QB on the football team.

Forsyth Country Day

Cory Hanes (2015, SF, 6’5”)
Strong player who can finish at the rim with contact. Had several above the rim finishes this game- all with 2 hands. Needs to improve his perimeter shooting. Has a tendency to reach in and pick up some cheap fouls. Has been dominant this year so far and should see some college offers come his way soon. Colleges from all 3 divisions should have their eyes on him. Finished with a game high 20 pts and 8 rebounds.

KJ Henry (2018, F, 6’4”)
Strong player who rebounds well. Built like a tight end- good frame and size for grade. Good overall scorer from 12’ and in. Has potential to be a good player in the next few years. Finished with 8 pts.

Colton Bishop (2014, PG, 6’2”)
The Loyola (MD) commit struggled for the most part this game, but controlled tempo and hit some big shots. He is an excellent passer and playmaker and the assist numbers don’t come close to tell how good of passer he is. Rebounded the ball well. Came alive in the 4th quarter and led the team. Finished with 12 pts and 8 rebounds.

Darriel Brown (2017, G, 5’11”)
Quick lefty guard who is tough to stop in the open floor. Can get to rim almost at will. Made some huge plays in the 2nd half of this game. Good ball handler. Is definitely a player to keep an eye on for next few years. Had 12 pts, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals.

East Forsyth vs Reagan

East Forsyth wins 60-53

Reagan looked like it had the game in hand in the first half as they dominated the backboards. East Forsyth hung around however and Larry Curry (18 pts) hit a big 3 to end the half to keep East within single digits. The second half was sloppy as neither team gained control. Fouls again marred the half and it become a FT shooting contest. East Forsyth showed a ton of energy in 4th quarter and tied the game with 2:30 minutes left. They then took the lead on another big 3 by Curry. East Guards came up big in the 2nd half with Sophomore Brandon Childress (12 pts) and Junior Drew Cone (9 pts) making plays. Riley Larue (8 pts)a big rebound and knocked down 2 FT’s to put the Eagles up 4 with 30 seconds left. Curry and Cone each knocked down FT’s at the end to seal the win for East.

Reagan

Jonathan Martin (2014, F, 6’4”)
Came out strong and was really battling inside. Versatile player who has a good frame and is an underrated athlete. Finishes well inside and is efficient. Good passer and rebounder, especially on the offensive end. Not afraid of physical play. Unsigned senior who can help a team at the next level. D3 coaches should be all this unsigned senior. Finished with 8 pts and 7 boards.

Jacob Hartle (2015, F, 6’4”)
Smart player who is solid on both ends. Fundamental player with good size. Really battles and plays hard. Finished with 11 pts and 5 rebounds.

Zach Hartle (2015, F, 6’6”)
Smooth outside/inside threat who can shoot the 3 as well as post up. Has improved his rebounding and inside play since last year. More athletic than given credit for. Is a player that colleges should begin to track. Finished with a team high 14 pts and 8 rebounds.

East Forsyth

Larry Curry (2014, PG, 6’2”)
Excellent size and strength for a lead guard. Lefty slasher who is an above average athlete. Rebounded the ball well today. Hit some big 3’s today and was confident with the ball in his hands. Curry is an unsigned senior and has flown a bit under the radar as far as college recruiting goes. Curry would be a solid get for a variety of programs at the next level. Finished with a game high 18 pts.

United Faith at Quality Education Academy basketball 2013 scouting
12/20/13

United Faith visited QEA for an early Friday night game. This one wasn’t close from the start as QEA used pressure defense to jump out to a 16 to 6 1st quarter lead. The Pharaohs didn’t look back and eventually got the 64-40 win.

Here are some of the standout players for both teams.

United Faith

Ty Gadsden (6’0”, PG, 2016)

Was the most important player for United Faith tonight. QEA started denying him the ball starting in 2nd quarter. The lefty PG is quick and speedy in the open floor and has the ball on a string. He is a good passer who dribbles with his eyes up. He is poised and does not get rattled. Ty is a leader and an extension of the coach. Has potential to be a D1 guard.

Nehemiah Mabson (6’6”, PF, 2014)
Mabson struggled tonight for the most part, but is still a solid prospect. He showed decent ball handling abilities on the perimeter, but is still at his best on the block. Strong and physical player who is a tweener. Is unselfish and is an excellent rebounder. Has nice touch and is scrappy. Should be on most LM schools list.

Benjamin Bennett (6’4”, SF, 2015)
Good defensive player who has active hands. Can knock down the 3 and has a high release.

Ben Eke (6’7”, C, 2016)
Young and growing player with potential. Good length.

Quality Education

Jerrelle DeBerry (6’5”, SF, 2014)
Impressive game for DeBerry as he came off the bench to score 10 points in the win. Excellent athlete who had a huge poster dunk with the foul tonight. Very strong upper body. Already holds a couple of D1 offers and should probably have a few more.

Marsellis Purvis (6’6”, F, 2016)
It’s hard to believe that Purvis is only a sophomore in HS, because he is a beast inside the paint. He loves physical play and is very strong. He is an unselfish true back to the basket player who plays much bigger than 6’6”. He rebounds the ball well with 2 hands and showed he could defend on the perimeter with some surprisingly good lateral quickness. Has solid footwork and finishes inside. MM+ D1 caliber prospect.

D’Marques Tyson (6’5”, SG, 2014)
Best shooter in this game and one of the best shooters I have seen this year at the HS level. Has a D1 shooting stroke. Can hit three’s as well as the mid-range. Doesn’t force shots and defends as well. Had 10 pts tonight. LM target.

Ibrahima Diallo (6’10”, C, 2014)
Mobile big man who can finish above the rim. Controlled the defensive boards tonight. A player who D1 schools should familiarize themselves with if they aren’t already.

Andell Cumberbatch St. Bonaventure basketball scouting

By James Blackburn

Game Scouted: St. Bonaventure @ Wake Forest
Wake wins 77-62
Box Score

Andell Cumberbatch (G, 6’4”, JR)

Stats
36 min, 8-16 FG, 3-7 3pt FG, 0-3 FT, 7 reb, 2 assist, 3 TO’s, 6 steals, 19 TP

Strengths
Andell has many strengths and is a versatile player. One of the things about him that most impressed me this game was on the defensive end. Very good overall defender who is smart and anticipates the actions of the offensive player well. Good lateral quickness who makes the opponents shoot tough shots. Plays the passing lanes well and has quick hands. Hustles and is willing to dive on the floor for loose balls.

Offensively, he attacks the rim well going to his right and is smooth and under control. Can handle the ball well and is a good passer- better than his stats would indicate. Has sneaky athleticism and finds gaps in the defense. Is a good rebounder- especially on the offensive end. Showed he could hit the 3 ball. Could see him becoming more of a combo guard.

Weaknesses
Is not the quickest player on the floor or a big time above the rim athlete. Needs to get stronger- has a slight frame. Gets bumped off his driving path too easily. Can he use his left hand and how well can he finish with his left?

Can hit the 3- but is an inconsistent shooter from beyond the arc. Has a tendency to rush his 3 pt shot and drop his hands- not hold follow through- has a low release. Not a good FT shooter. Poor shooter off the dribble- better w/ feet set.

Overview
JUCO transfer from Barton CC in Kansas, where he averaged 14.2 ppg and 8.2 rpg last year. Not a lot to dislike about the way Andell played tonight. Lead his team in minutes, points, rebounds, and steals. Is the 3rd leading scorer for the year on the team. Looks a legit 6’4” and has good length. Handled the ball a good bit for the game and could see him playing some PG if he continues to tighten dribble and get comfortable playing in more P/R situations.

Definitely has a career in basketball in his future- doubt its going to be in America, unless he wants to go to the D-League where I think he could help a team and that might be a good fit for him. Is a 2 guard which is not great for his overseas prospects but he could definitely play there- would like to see him play the PG position more which could improve his stock. You will be hearing his name again as his team is poised to possibly break into the NCAA Tournament this year by winning its conference.

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By James Blackburn

Game Scouted: St. Bonaventure @ Wake Forest
Wake wins 77-62
Box Score

Coron Williams (G, 6’1”, SR)

Stats
27 min, 3-8 FG, 2-4 3p FG, 6 reb, 2 assists, 0 TO, 1 steal, 8 TP

Strengths
Coron’s most obvious and best asset is his shooting ability, which gives him the ability to stretch the defense. He didn’t shoot the ball great in this game, but he has an excellent stroke with a quick release and he hit two big three pointers at a crucial part of the game in the second half. Excellent form. Every time he shoots you think it’s going in. Capable of coming in cold off the bench and knocking down 3’s.

Coron is more than just a shooter, however. He is an unselfish player who has a high basketball IQ and plays smart. Knows his strengths and limitations; maximizes his strengths and minimizes his weaknesses. Underrated passer who knows how to feed the post. Has become a good defensive player who slides his feet, has active hands, and gets in good position. Talks and communicates on this end and does just a good of job off the ball that he does on the ball. Good rebounder for his position and he boxes out. Good upper body and core strength.

Weaknesses
Does not possess next level speed or quickness and lacks overall athleticism. Struggles to beat his man off of the dribble and create for others by driving and kicking.

Would also like to see him be more aggressive offensively and put the ball on the floor more. Not a good finisher around the rim as he plays under the basket. Can he defend a quicker PG. Size is an issue as he is too short to play the SG at the next level and is not a pure PG at this stage yet. I believe he could develop a PG’s mindset but does he have the ball handling abilities to handle the ball under pressure and can he play in the P/R?

Overview
Transfer from Robert Morris. Is a great kid who is a team leader. Is very humble and is a hard worker. Does what he is asked and has a great attitude on and off the floor. Is one of the best shooters I have seen this year and that is an asset to many teams. Definitely has the ability to play in Europe, as he does more than just shoot the basketball. If he can continue to play well once Wake hits ACC conference play, that should raise his European and overseas stock.

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Alvin Brown basketball USC Aiken Sleeper Report

By James Blackburn

Games Scouted:
USC Aiken @ Mt Olive
USC Aiken @ UNC-P

Alvin Brown (F/C, 6’10”, SR)

Strengths
Shot blocking machine- does a great job of blocking shots from the weakside and altering or blocking his own man’s shot- good timing and showed excellent anticipation. Good help defender. Good length. Communicates and talks on both ends. Shows good energy and motor. Boxes out and calls out screens. Has some decent back to basket moves- showed a spin move and a nice drop step move. Does a good job of selling the fact that he is going one way in post, then going opposite way- has a nice slide dribble. When he takes time in post- he is not bad. Good athlete- had several big time above rim finishes. Closes out on perimeter under control and showed he could defend decently on perimeter because of decent lateral quickness and excellent length. One of the best defenders I have seen this year- all around- does more on defense besides just block shots. Able to block shots and doesn’t get a lot of fouls- only fouls when he brings his arms down- but stays straight up most of the time. Doesn’t go for pump fakes.

High Ceiling- potential filled player.

Weaknesses
Needs to get stronger w/ the ball. Needs to add more weight to frame- shouldn’t be hard to do w/ his frame. Had a better attitude when things are going his way- needs to be like that all the time- good kid off the court. Does not run the floor very well- runs better on offensive end then defensive end- always trails in transition D. Needs to improve screening and overall passing as well.

Not  a good free throw shooter- not terrible- but could definitely improve. Not a bad back-to-basket player on the offensive end because he shows good aggression, but must slow down- out of control in post- makes moves way too quickly. Needs to improve as a rebounder- gets low and boxes out decently but is so light that he can be pushed out of position and he is not very strong w/ the ball. Falls down more than he should- needs to improve balance. Does not have a jump shot- everything is post offensively- wont even look to shoot open 10-15’. Seems to space sometimes- basketball IQ needs improvement.

Overview
Top shot blocker and interior defender I have seen this year in any division. In the 2 games I saw him play, he blocked over 10 shots and influenced countless others. Is averaging over 5 blocks per game on the season. Reminds me of Tyson Chandler in this aspect. Has great length and athleticism.
Is a D1 transfer from James Madison University. Is a great kid with a good personality. If he can add about 20 lbs to his frame, he would be a beast. Has a frame that he should be able to add weight too.

Has the potential to be an impact player on the defensive end at the next level in Europe. Would be a player that if he can add some muscle weight, would be a good candidate for D-League. At his height and ability to change the game on defense, he won’t be hard pressed to find a job in Europe when he finishes the season.

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Patrick Miller basketball

By: James Blackburn
Game Scouted: USC Upstate vs Tennessee State

Box Score

Patrick Miller (G, 6’1”, SR)

Stats
37 min, 4-13 FG, 0-4 3pt, 12-15 FT, 7 reb, 3 PF, 4 assist, 5 TO, 1 st, 20 TP

Strengths
Very strong build- huge upper and lower body. Could play running back w/ his build- very strong. Above average on-ball defender who keeps the ball in front of him.

Miller played both guard positions this game, but he has a PG mentality. Didn’t attempt his 1st shot until 5 minutes into the game. Sees the floor very well and is highly unselfish-almost to a fault at times. Turned down several open shots to create and play makes for teammates. Gets to the rim at will, where he does a tremendous job of drawing defenders and finding shooters. Can play either guard position effectively.

Good slasher- can take contact and finish- contact does not affect him. Can turn the corner and get to the paint off the screen. Gets to the FT line at a high rate where he is an above average FT shooter- but could be better. Much better mid-range shooter then 3 pt shooter.

Well conditioned player.

Weaknesses
Would have liked to see him be more aggressive offensively at times this game- didn’t get really aggressive until the past few minutes, where he made a couple of pull-ups and got to the FT line. Change of speed dribble could get better and has a tendency to drive to bad areas on the floor at times- resulting in TO’s.

At his height, he needs to improve 3 pt shooting as that will open up driving lanes for himself and teammates.

Body language was OK, but showed disagreement w/ the officials more then once this game.

Overview
Averaging over 20 ppg entering this game along with 4 assist and was able to keep up those averages after the game today. Does a tremendous job of attacking the rim, getting to the FT line, and playmaking for his teammates. Would have higher assist numbers if he had more shooters on his team. Although his team is still searching for its still win on the season, Miller has done what he can- scoring, passing, and rebounding the ball.

Miller has had a terrific overall career at Tenn. State scoring over 1000 points and is leading the team in several statistical categories this year, including points and minutes. Shouldn’t have a problem securing a PG job in Europe even at his size. He is explosive and is very strong and would be able to easily reach the painted area w/ his speed.

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Kyrie Irving NBA Cleveland Cavaliers

SiriusXM and the National Basketball Association announced yesterday that they will launch an exclusive NBA channel on Monday, December 9, that will cover the league 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and bring fans closer to the game.

SiriusXM NBA Radio on Channel 217 will debut on Monday at 7:00 am ET and will feature a star-studded lineup of exclusive interviews throughout the day including NBA Commissioner David Stern, NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, Los Angeles Lakers head coach Mike D’Antoni, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving, New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis, Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert, Detroit Pistons center-forward Greg Monroe, Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens, center-forward Kelly Olynyk and forward Brandon Bass, and Hall of Famers Chris Mullin and Bernard King. Other big guests for the opening week will include Celtics owner Steve Pagliuca, Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob, and Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler, as well as Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard and Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan. Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague will also be interviewed on the channel on Dec. 12.

Along with one-on-one interviews with the biggest names in the game, the new NBA Channel will showcase more than 14 live NBA games each week and a daily schedule of NBA-focused news and talk from an unparalleled roster of hosts.

Featured hosts include former star players and coaches such as NBA Champions and TNT analysts Kenny Smith and Steve Kerr; three-time NBA Champion center Stacey King; former NBA Champion guard and head coach Lionel Hollins; former head coaches Mike Dunleavy, Sr., and Sam Mitchell; Hall of Famer and women’s basketball pioneer Nancy Lieberman; and former NBA guard Mateen Cleaves. In addition, Ian Eagle, Frank Isola, Mark Boyle, Joel Meyers and Jason Goff will provide their expertise on a regular basis.
NBA fans can call in to discuss the latest headlines and weigh in with their opinions on the issues of the day. The channel will also feature regular interviews with NBA legends; on-location broadcasts from special events like the NBA All-Star Game, The Finals, NBA Draft, team training camps; programming and specials focused on the history of the game; and more.

“The NBA has always been an important element of our sports lineup and we’re thrilled to be enhancing our coverage with the launch of SiriusXM NBA Radio,” said Scott Greenstein, SiriusXM’s President and Chief Content Officer. “Since 2003, we’ve given our listeners the ability to follow their favorite team’s games from anywhere across the U.S. in their car, at home or on their mobile device. Now they’ll have a radio channel that will deliver a 360-degree view of the league from the people who know the game best. Starting December 9, SiriusXM NBA Radio will be must-listen radio for NBA fans.”

Listeners tuning in for the first day of programming will hear The Starting Lineup, hosted by Stacey King and NY Daily News writer Frank Isola, starting at 7:00 am ET. At 12:00 pm ET, Sam Mitchell and Jason Goff will host Off the Dribble. Steve Kerr and Ian Eagle will host Long Range at 3:00 pm ET. The channel will air live coverage of the Los Angeles Clippers vs. the Philadelphia 76ers that night starting at 7:00 pm ET, followed by the Dallas Mavericks vs. the Sacramento Kings. The following night, the channel will carry live play-by-play of the Miami Heat vs. the Indiana Pacers at 7:00 pm ET. For more information on the channel and programming please visit www.siriusxm.com/nba.

SiriusXM and the NBA recently agreed to a multiyear renewal of their broadcasting agreement. SiriusXM subscribers will continue to receive a comprehensive schedule of live play-by-play that includes every regular-season game from every team, all games from the NBA Playoffs and The Finals, and select Spanish-language game broadcasts.

NBA programming is available to subscribers with XM Select, Sirius Premier or Sirius All-Access plans. Those satellite radio subscribers who add SiriusXM Internet Radio access to their subscription can also listen to NBA games on the SiriusXM Internet Radio App and online. Schedules with SiriusXM channel assignments can be found at www.siriusxm.com/nba.

Andrew Wiggins Kansas NBA scouting report

James Blackburn is an international scout and today he shares his breakdown of Jabari Parker vs. Andrew Wiggins from an NBA scout’s perspective.

Andrew Wiggins (Kansas)
6’8”, 200 lb, G/F

Wiggins came out passive this game, but got better as the game went on. Wiggins was clearly the best athlete on the court, and is as explosive and athletic as any player in the country. Very quick jumper who also gets up and down the floor quickly- excellent in transition. He moved well with out the ball, which was nice to see. Did a good job of being assertive in the post, demanding the ball, and getting solid position. Solid rebounder on both ends- has a nose for the ball, and uses length and athleticism to grab rebounds at its highest point before anyone else can get to it.

Where Wiggins needs to improve is on the perimeter offensively. His jump shot is not good to say the least. It looks rushed and his mechanics are not very good. He is a good FT shooter however, and I would expect him to shoot around 70% from the charity stripe this season. He needs to improve his ball handling and perimeter movement overall as well. Handle is too loose and he stays too vertical on some of his drives. He seemed bothered by perimeter pressure on more then one occasion tonight. He could stand to add some weight to his frame. His movement is not fluid, and the game just doesn’t seem to come natural to him- seemed a bit uncoordinated. He has a ton of potential, but is still raw in more then one area at this point. His defense was better then average and although he got in foul trouble tonight, several of those fouls were poor calls. Overall solid performance from the young freshman who will only continue to get better and better as the year goes on. His best basketball is still ahead.

Final Stats
25 min, 9-15 FG, 0-1 3 pt, 4-6 FT, 8 reb, 4 fouls, 1 TO, 1 blk, 22 TP

Jabari Parker Duke Scouting Report NBA

Jabari Parker (Duke)
6’8”, 235, SF

Was clearly the best player on the floor tonight as he came out hot and never really slowed down. Started off 2-2 from the 3-point line and finished the game with 4 threes. Has a high release on his shot, but he dips the ball on the catch, which takes away the advantage of his high release. Although he made 4 threes last night- I would not classify him as a pure shooter. Skill wise, Parker is remarkable. A player of his size and strength who can pass, dribble, and shoot like he can does not come along every year. He showed he was capable of putting the ball on the floor and scoring at the rim going either direction. He is more athletic then given credit for and had several above the rim finishes this game. His body is ready for the physical play of the next level, but I would like to see him turn some of his baby fat into muscle. Was all over the court early getting steals, and was being active going for shot blocks and leading the break after rebounds. Good quickness and speed in the open court for size. Loves the step back 3- impressive that he has that in his arsenal at his size and age. Fluid movement and has a quick 1st step. Looked to make plays for others. His versatility and skill set are his best attributes.

Although Parker is a well rounded player, he still needs to work on a few things, mostly on the defensive end. He needs to improve as a screener, set most of them half-heartedly and did so knowing he would get the ball off the pop, not to free up the ball handler. Is a solid rebounder because of big frame, but doesn’t box out on the defensive end. Tends to gamble a little bit too much on the defensive end and was slow rotating over on the weak side. Looked passive on the defensive on the defensive end in general and was out of stance. Needs to be more disciplined throughout shot clock. I did like the fact that he was aggressive in attempting to block shots, but he ended the game with only 1 blocked shot and fouled out- needs to know when to try to block and a shot, and when not too. Took poor angles and was often late when trying to make a play. Poor lateral quickness- Can he defend the P/R at the next level?

Final Stats
33 min, 9-18 FG, 4-7 3 pt, 5-5 FT, 9 reb, 1 assist, 5 fouls, 2 TO, 1 blk, 2 steals, 27 TP

Category Wiggins Parker
Overall Offense X
Overall Defense
Athleticism X
Potential X
NBA Ready X
Ball Handling X
Passing X
Rebounding X
Shooting X

Based soley on the game last night and their matchup, I would say Parker is clearly more NBA ready at this point, but has a lower ceiling. If Wiggins can fill out a bit and improve his perimeter game, he will be the better pro in about 3-5 years. I do not think Wiggins will be an All-Star or an All-Pro player however right when he enters the NBA, its going to take him a while. It’s been brought up before about Wiggins work ethic, and some question how good it is. Hopefully, it will improve, and if it does he will eventually become an All-Pro player, but I do not believe he will is the next LeBron James or anything like that, as some people are saying. There have been plenty of super-athletic kids who have come out before and that haven’t developed. Parker will have a long career if he can stay injury free and keep his body in check. Its going to be an interesting year watching these two and the other talented freshman out there compete and play.