ESPN basketball coaches Jay Bilas

College Basketball Analyst Jay Bilas Leads Conversation

ESPNU will televise The Experts: Coaching Legends on Thursday, Oct. 30, at 7:30 p.m. ET featuring Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim, Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski, Louisville’s Rick Pitino and North Carolina’s Roy Williams. Hosted by ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas, the four Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coaches will participate in candid discussion about college basketball in a half-hour special.

Among the topics expected to be discussed:

  • Their first job in college basketball
  • How the sport has changed over the years and how those changes have impacted their profession and the play on the court
  • Power conferences and autonomy
  • Compensating players

The Experts: Coaching Legends is part of ESPNU’s extensive ACC media day coverage. Today, ESPN’s dedicated college network will televise a three-hour ESPNU College Basketball Media Day Special (1 p.m.), and two editions of The Experts: ACC Coaches Roundtable (7 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.), which features conversations amongst the conference’s other 11 head coaches.  ESPNU College Basketball Media Day Special will also feature reports from Tim Welsh at the American media day in New York City

NC Phenom 150 Basketball Showcase Session 2

By James Blackburn

I was able to scout session 2 of the NC Phenom Camp held once again at Proehlific Park in Greensboro, NC. Tons of talent was on display including numerous D1 prospects. Here are my scouting notes on some of the players who stood out today broken down by class.

2015


Aiden Richard Gaston Day NC

Aiden Richard
Aidan Richard (Gaston Day, 6’10″, C) Long player who showed good patience in the post. Caught a big dunk off the backboard in the 2nd game of the day. Needs to get stronger with the ball, but has D1 potential.

Landon Yarbrough (North Lincoln, 6’3″, F) Strong undersized big who finishes in traffic. Willing to set screens and bang in the post. Physical and tough. More athletic than one would think. Solid rebounder who is a lefty. D3 schools should give him a look.

Cheikh Diallo (Cape Fear Christian, 6’4″, PG)
Quick guard who showcased an excellent handle. Terrific crossover move he used repeatedly to get into the paint. Excellent runner. Needs to improve shooting consistency but showed he could create his own shot.

Hunter Dotson (Trinity Academy, 6’1″, G)Aggressive player who is a good slasher. Good use of the glass on bank shots. Loves contact and is strong. High motor. Needs to improve left hand and take better angles on the defensive end. Schools at both the D2/D3 level should watch him this season.

Justin Reid (Cardinal Gibbons, 6’4″, F) Athletic wing who has a good basketball IQ. Really played well here today. Underrated passer who can shoot the ball from the perimeter with consistency. Definitely a college prospect.

2016


Emmanuel Ugboh ELite Prep NC

Emmanuel Ugboh
Emmanuel Ugboh (Elite Prep, 6’10″, C) – Was one of the top players overall in attendance today and top big in my opinion. Solid big man who takes up space inside. Solid athlete who had numerous 2 hand rim-rattling finishes on the day.  Can score with his back to the basket but needs to continue to improve in this area. Footwork is a little raw but he does a good job of keeping the ball high. Strong and solid build. Good rebounder on both ends. Influences shots on defense.  Does a lot with 2 hands- finishes and rebounds w/ 2 hands. HM prospect who will only continue to improve.
Ray Kowalski (Northside Christian, 6’3″, G) – Underrated athlete who can hit the set 3. Solid scorer.  Needs to improve first step quickness and his left hand.

Quentin Jackson Jr (Carlisle School, 6’4″, G) Bouncy player who can catch and finish lobs. Can rebound the ball and push it transition. Good handle for size.

Malcolm Evans (Elite Prep, 6’7″, SF) Malcolm is an athletic player with a good wingspan. Is still raw in a few areas, but showed he can put the ball on floor for a dribble or two and finish above the rim. Needs to improve defensive intensity and shot selection. Showed good form on his jumper. Could develop into a MM+ prospect- has a high ceiling.

Josh Handy (North Rowan, 6’4″, G/F) Handy has a solid wingspan and is a good one on one scorer. One of the best looking one-dribble pull-ups I saw today.

Malcolm Evans Elite Prep NC

Malcolm Evans
Michael Melvin (Freedom Christian, 5’11″, PG) Unselfish player who runs the offense and controls tempo. True PG’s are tough to find, and Melvin is a PG who can play P/R and score the ball when needed as well. Did a good job of feeding the bigs on his team- unselfish. Schools at all three divisions should track.

Trejon Jacob (Millbrook HS, 6’4″, G) Long player who has the ability to handle the ball and made good decisions. Had a couple of nice bounce passes to the roll man coming off the ball screen. Has nice arc on his 3 ball and good footwork.  Plays hard and understands the game.

Thank God Msughter Freedom Christian NC

Thank God Msughter
Thank God Msughter (Freedom Christian, 6’6″, F) Loved his game today. Explosive player who has a high motor and defends/blocks shots. Loves the spin move in the post. Rebounds and shows a ton of emotion on the court. D1 prospect.

Colin Molden (Apex, 6’0″, PG) Smart and poised player who is patient and waits for the ball screen before he puts the ball down. Excellent passer and ball handler. Best set 3 point shooter I saw today- great looking form. Does the little things- fundamental.

Eli Lake (Blythewood, 6’5″, F) Smooth and fluid. Good looking stroke from 3. Solid defender who uses his length.

David Caraher

David Caraher
David Caraher (Chapel Hill, 6’6″, SF) (Chapel Hill, 6’6″, SF) David was a top 3 performer on the day, regardless of position or class. He is an extremely versatile player who scores the ball, defends, and can handle the ball. Defends the ball well by moving his feet and he also had numerous blocks inside. Runs the floor and finishes in traffic with either hand. Unselfish player who understands the game. High basketball IQ. Good ball handler. Is a MM+ prospect in my eyes.

Kristopher Monroe (South Granville, 6’5″, F) Provided the best dunk of the day- a big poster in the afternoon segment.

Rashad Dixon (Southern Durham, 6’3″, G) Athletic slasher who moves well with-out the ball. Scrappy. Great frame. Needs to improve jump shot, has a little hitch in it.

Franklin Ugochukwu (Cape Fear Christian, 6’10″, C) Talks on the floor- most vocal player I saw/heard today. Big bodied player who rebounds. Unselfish. Needs to improve mobility and offensive skills, but is a college prospect.

DeVontae Shuler (Irmo, 6’2″, PG) Shuler is excellent in transition thanks his explosion and quickness. Athletic guard who can finish above the rim and also had a huge block off the backboard. Needs to improve shot selection some.

Morgan McKay (Christ School, 6’8″, C) Big man who showed good touch from midrange with a high release. Solid defender who can guard other bigs 1 on 1 in the post without the need to have guards or anyone double.

James Blackburn scouts players at the high school, college and pro level. For more scouting notes and insight, follow James on Twitter @jamesjunior21

US Elite Hoops Showcase 2014

By Marcus Shockley

I had a chance to drop by the US Elite Hoops Showcase held at Gaston Day School last week and was able to see several solid prospects and catch up with a few players who I hadn’t seen in a few months. I recommend the events organized by US Elite Hoops and be sure to follow them on twitter @USELITEHOOPS so you can keep up with their future events.

Trevor Anderson (PG, 6’1″, 2015) Gaston Day School – Anderson is one of, if not the, fastest guard end-to-end with the ball in the state of NC, comparable only to Derek McKnight, another Gaston Day guard. Anderson is a strong, high motor player; one of the first things I noticed when watching him play a couple of years ago was his ability to play through contact. At last Spring’s NC Top 80, Anderson was one of only a handful of players who seemed to go harder and faster as the games wore on, while other players started feeling fatigue. The knock on Anderson is that coaches see him as a ‘score first’ guard, but he’s dedicating himself this year to work on every aspect of the point guard position; he knows he can score but he also understands he needs to get his team involved. I see Anderson as a definite Division I level guard who is under recruited at this point; he can break the press with the dribble, shoot from deep and already has the physical strength to play the college guard position. We’ll be broadcasting Gaston Day this season as they host powerful rival Northside Christian on January 16, so be sure to tune in to watch the matchups.

Michael Baez (G/F, 6’5, 2015) Charlotte United – Baez continues to show high-octane game and has an ability to take over any game he’s in. Quite frankly, Baez should be considered one of the top natural unsigned talents in the class; He has a high, quick, deep release that is extremely hard to defend; he can bring the ball up and slash to the hoop, with an array of quick moves to finish in traffic; he likes to play way, way above the rim and is an explosive dunker. The knock on Baez in the past has been his consistency, but in this event he got into the flow quickly and didn’t let up. As I’ve said before, when he’s locked in, he will flat-out light up the opposition. Baez continues to be one of my top sleepers for his class.

Chris Price (G, 6’3″, 2015) West Mecklenburg HS – Price is a versatile player who does a lot of things coaches like; most notably, he plays defense. Had at least 5 open court steals and has good length and foot speed to guard the 2 spot effectively. He also hit over 60% of the 3 pointers he shot while I was watching his games and had multiple assists. Good size and is now back 100% from an injury that had limited his play this past summer.

Aiden Richard (PF/C, 6’11”, 2015) Gaston Day School – Richard is a true big with excellent hands, nimble feet and an array of offensive post moves. It’s become a mantra that big men at every level would be more effective if they could just develop a go-to move and a counter-move. However, Richard has far more than two moves; during today’s event, he was pretty much impossible to guard as he got off shots in a dizzying array of deft moves. He also had several open court dunks off of alley-oops from breaking guards. Will need to add strength to move his game to college, and show consistent aggressive play, but he’s made huge strides in his game over the past year and he’s another player who I think coaches should be watching during the January 16 broadcast on NetCast Sports against Northside Christian.

Isaiah Lowe (PG, 5’11”, 2015) Kennedy Charter – Lowe is a guard who completely understands the game; he knows where he is supposed to be at all times. When the ball moves around the perimeter, he knows when to slide down into the deep corner or move out; he can run the team and plays eyes-up, and has the ability to break the press with the dribble. Passes players open in the half court and can push the ball on the break. Makes great decisions with the ball. Made several smart defensive plays where his angles and footwork made the difference.

CJ Miller (SF, 6’5″, 2015) Kennedy Charter – big time athlete with a great first step and explosive finisher. While many high flyers need the open court to show off their skills, Miller is extremely effective in the half court, and he can get explosive plays whether he’s slashing with the ball or moving without it. One of the best slashers I’ve seen in the half court this year, he has the ability to get a step on his man and finish so effortlessly and above the rim it’s hard for the big man to rotate over in time to defend him without fouling. He also knows that he doesn’t have to dunk everything to get the job done, but make no mistake, he’s a rim-rocker when he gets the chance.

Lucas Johnson (SF, 6’5, 2015) Kennedy Charter – great passer from the 3 spot, good size, excellent slasher. One of those rare players who have great ability to find teammates from the small forward position while also being a danger to slash and score at any time. Can shoot from deep as well, which makes defenders have to make tough choices on how to guard him.

Jordan Ruth (G/F, 6’5″, 2016) Comenius School – Ruth is another explosive above-the-rim player who has great strength and size for the wing spot. One thing I’ve liked about his game is he makes an impact all over the floor from the moment he steps into the game, whether it’s grabbing loose balls or finding open teammates with the pass. Definitely a versatile player who just ‘gets’ team basketball in a way that makes his team better. He can score, he can dunk, but he always looks for the best play for his team over his own highlight film. And the best part is, he gets his highlights anyway.

Cameron Holmes (G, 6’3″, 2016) Nations Ford HS – Excellent passer in the transition game; always seemed to make the right pass or play at full speed. Long guard who has good bounce and some upside. Quick first step and poise, definitely a player who looks like he could make big strides this year during the high school season.

Alex Van Dyke (SF/PF, 6’8″, 2015) Union Grove HS (WI) – Van Dyke has a great build and plays way above the rim – plays high school ball in Wisconsin but is looking to go to school in North Carolina. I love Van Dyke’s natural ability and his fluid game. He already has the look of a college small forward and has excellent size and athleticism. An inspiring person who was diagnosed with childhood cancer (leukemia acute lymphocytic), he beat the disease and made a full recovery and is now looking to make his mark on the court. I think the upside on Van Dyke is tremendous. Right now he is still working on being more proactive as opposed to reactionary, but there is so much natural ability to his game I can’t wait to see his progression. I’d really want to see him become really aggressive with the slash or shot when playing against bigger defenders because of his quickness and athleticism. I think he could be a real match up nightmare at the 3 in time. Definitely a player I want to see multiple times.

Ryder Mansfield (PF/C, 6’7″, 2015) Charlotte United – A hard working post player who doesn’t shy away from contact and showed a couple of nifty post moves. Good hands, seals in the post and defends. Runs the floor and makes himself a target for the guards, and boxes out for the rebound every time. Doesn’t get knocked off the blocks easily.

Josh Nork (G, 6′, 2016) York Prep – Hard nosed player with a high motor; good at finding space in transition and making himself a target. Had to play off of the ball due to the abundance of guards in the game but even slid down to the 3 when needed. Moves well without the ball and another solid player who understands how to play in the team concept.

Trevonte Diggs (G, 6’3″, 2015) Charlotte United – Diggs is a player I meant to add to my report from the CIBL fall league, and in this event I quickly remembered why. A high flying guard with great strength who can play with anybody in the state, Diggs gets the job done by moving without the ball, slashing with the dribble and can bring down the house with posterizing dunks when he gets a step on the defender. Plays above the rim and another under recruited player who should be getting looks; definitely has college athleticism but has a well rounded game on both ends. Really like how he plays off of the ball – so many guards need to have the ball in their hands to make something happen, but Diggs is a player who can make his impact even when cutting or setting picks.

Keeshon Phillips (PG, 5’9″, 2017) East Mecklenburg HS – A deft ballhandler with some flash, Phillips can work over a defense with the dribble or the pass. A crafty, elusive guard who rarely turns the ball over and has a rock solid handle.

Jonathon Paramoure (G, 5’10”, 2015) Charlotte United Christian Academy – Paramoure is a player who can scorch the deep shot and should be considered a combo guard at this point. He has good strength and speed and can create his own shot, whether with the dribble or moving without the ball.

Marcus Shockley is a member of the US Basketball Writers Association and scouts high school, college and pro players for multiple outlets. You can get latest scouting notes by following him on Twitter @M_Shockley

Southeastern Challenge 2014

By James Blackburn

I had the opportunity to scout the SAG Sports Southeastern Challenge in Greensboro, NC over the weekend. The event was held at the Greensboro Sportsplex and attracted some of the top Prep Schools and Junior Colleges in the southeast. Multiple college coaches from D1, D2, and NAIA programs were there to scout the talent on hand. With over 30 teams in attendance and with 8 courts running at a time it was nearly impossible to see every team and player play. Here are some of the top players and prospects I had a chance to scout yesterday.

Brunswick Community College

Najee Pritchett (F, 6’3″, SO)
Strong and athletic player who plays with a high motor. Is a tremendous rebounder who throws on target outlet passes.

Eric Crawford (PG, 5’9″, FR)
Excellent ball handler who played the back up PG role for team. One of the quickest players baseline to baseline at the event. Solid playmaker who can score at the rim.

Kevin Rowell (F/C, 6’8″, SO)
A top 3 player in attendance in my opinion. Kid is MM+ with his combination of size, strength, and agility. Runs the floor very well and plays with a ton of energy. Brings in on both ends and defends inside and on the perimeter. Excellent back to the basket game with solid footwork. Utilizes the up and under move and pump fake well. Has a good feel for the game and is an underrated passer.

Cortel Busby (PG, 6’2″, SO)
Aggressive and strong guard who ran the team- tough. Can finish through contact. Solid help defender as well.

Taylor Buffkin (G, 6’2″, SO)
Athletic guard who is a good passer. Aggressive slasher.

Combine Academy

Jure Span (PG, 6’4″)
One of my favorite players I saw on the day and a top 5 player over all. Span who is from Slovenia, is as crafty as they come. Makes great decisions out of the P/R and was able to use solid change of pace dribbling to get to the basket. Lefty who can knock down the open perimeter jumper as well. Ball pressure doesn’t phase him and he always has his eyes up seeing the floor. Smooth PG who was the best passer at the event. Holds a couple of LM majors, but is a LM+/MM- player.

Jan Novak (G, 6’4″)
Jan, who also is from Slovenia, played solid all day. Does the little things that help the team win. Is athletic and guards people. Attacks the rim and plays hard. Would be a solid D2 player.

Billy Biyombo (F, 6’4″)
The younger brother of Charlotte Hornets forward Bismack Biyombo, Billy was all over the boards today. Plays with good energy and is a solid athlete.

Davidson County CC

Oshon West (G/F, 6’4″, SO)

Is a junkyard dog in the paint. Very strong player who doesnt really have a natural position but is a versatile player who plays bigger than he is. Rebounds the ball and is a solid inside/outside threat. Can hit the 3 when open, but needs to improve consistency. D2 and LM players should track him this season.

Faith Assembly Christian Academy

Jordan Riley (F, 6’7″, FR)

Big bodied forward who knows how to battle inside. Good rebounder who has potential.

Louisburg College

Raekwon Harney (PG, 5’11”, SO)

The D1 transfer did a great job of running the team and getting teammates involved. Tremendous ball handler and on-ball defender.

Keyshaun Williams (F, 6’7″, FR)

Williams is long and athletic and runs the floor well. Needs to get stronger with the ball but has good upside.

Jamarcus Hairston (F, 6’7″, FR)

Is a strong 4 man who is solid 12′ and in. Good rebounder who would be a good fit at some D2 programs.

Moravian Prep

Ricky Council II (G, 6’4″)

Arguably the most talented player in the gym, Council did it all today. He was on fire from beyond the arc and showcased deep range. Rebounded the ball and showed he was unselfish getting his teammates involved. Tremendous athlete who can finish above the rim with ease. HM player.

Isaac Thomas (F, 6’7″)

Mobile and fundamental big man who rebounds the ball on both ends and plays with 100% effort. Keeps the ball high after rebounds and showcased a nice hook shot. D2 should be all over him.

Pa Pa Ndiaye (C, 7’0″)

Long and mobile big man who is still raw but has potential. Had a big finish above the rim at the end of one game and showed glimpses of what he can become with some work.

Spartanburg Methodist College

Nate Motley (PG, 6’0″, SO)

Motely game stood out even amongst a loaded roster. He is super fast with the ball in his hands and can get to the rim at well. Has a tendency to get out of control at times. Competes and plays with a high motor. Has deep range on his shot and can score in bunches.

Jeremy Summers (F, 6’4″, SO)

Plays much bigger than 6’4″. Is long, scrappy, and athletic. Has a high motor and rebounds the ball with the best of them.

Warren Vinson (PG, 5’11”, FR)

Poised PG who can score with contact. Good shooter from 3. Showcased some nifty footwork on the break.

New Hope Christian Academy

Benjamin Pittman (PG, 5’11”, JR)

Pittman showcased his unbelievable speed and was at his best in transition. Super quick crossover dribble move. Really competes on the court.

Shooting 4 Greatness Academy

Chan William-Bey (G, 6’6″)

The super athletic wing from Hartford, CT was one of my favorite players to watch in the tournament. He is a solid defender who uses his wingspan to get deflections. Can handle the ball well and attacks the rim. Has good grades and schools at NAIA, D2, and D1 schools should monitor.

Thomasville Prep

Lukas Ganas (PG, 6’1″)

Absolutely loved his will to win and his competitiveness. Was the most vocal player in the gym today and was a leader on the floor. Floor general who is tough and looks to get others involved. Attacks the rim and defends the ball as good as anyone. Depending on what year he is in school, I would label him as a LM target.

Fayetteville Flight

The Fayetteville Flight of the ABA have announced their 2014-15 roster. This year the Flight will be playing in the larger Crown Arena in Fayetteville, NC.

“We are so excited about the players we have signed to our team,” said Mike Dixon, Flight’s CEO. “I believe we have the makings of a championship squad. Coach Alonzo Lunsford has assembled an incredible group of young men who will impress fans on and off the court.”

The roster includes:
1. Bruce Brown – Hampton University
2. Billy McDade – Methodist University
3. Jeff Early – Southern Illinois State
4. McKinley Bethea – SW Oklahoma State
5. Frank Young – Elizabeth City State
6. Vincent Parnell – Marlboro High School/FIBA
7. Cornell Holmes – Brunswick Community College
8. Vincent Jones Jr. – South Robeson High
9. Jesse Mitchell – Fort Bragg
10. Will Mcrae – St. Pauls High School
11. David Early – Rockbridge County
12. Jason Norman – Bluefield State
13. Jade Belt – Frostburg College
14. Dane Williams – Trinity
15. Pat Lewis – Cape Fear CC
16. Brandon Andrews – Elizabeth City
17. Keith Isbell – Lakeview High School
18. Tremaine Roberts – Elizabeth City

For more information, visit www.fayettevilleflight.org.

Anta Basketball Shoes NBA Partnership

Chinese sportswear company Anta has reached an agreement with the NBA to become an official marketing and merchandising partner of its NBA China division.

Under the wide-ranging deal, Anta will launch a line of co-branded NBA league and team footwear and accessories across its network of more than 2,000 Chinese stores and online retailers Tmall and JingDong.

Additionally, Anta will collaborate with NBA China at a number of official events designed to boost the profile of basketball in the country including NBA Nation, NBA All-Star Balloting, and the title-sponsored Anta Power Is Priceless Intramural League.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said: “The NBA and Anta share a common goal to grow the game of basketball and inspire a healthy, active lifestyle. This partnership will provide our fans in China with NBA branded footwear and accessories and more ways to connect with their favourite teams.”

More than 300 million people are said to play basketball in China, making it the most popular team sport in the country.

Anta Sports chairman and chief executive Ding Shizhong added: “This partnership will give us a chance to elevate our brand awareness and increase consumer confidence in the competitive athletic footwear market. We will also be able to fully utilise our extensive experience to accelerate the growth of basketball throughout China.”

Terms of the deal between Anta and the NBA were not disclosed.

ESPNU College Basketball Coverage

Five Specials; Live from American, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12 and SEC Media Days; Three-Hour ACC and American Program

ESPNU will cover six college basketball conferences’ media days, over the course of two weeks and five specials, in advance of the upcoming 2014-15 season. ESPNU College Basketball Media Day Special programs will begin with four one-hour episodes (3 p.m. – 4 p.m. ET) around the Big 12 (October 15), Big Ten (October 16), SEC (October 22) and Pac-12 (October 23).  ESPNU College Basketball Media Day Special will expand to three hours (1 p.m. – 4 p.m.) when it hosts the ACC coaches and players at the ESPNU studios in Charlotte, N.C. and covers the American media day (October 29).

ESPN college basketball analysts will be on-location as the conferences hold their annual tip-off events, providing interviews and insight for each ESPNU College Basketball Media Day Special.  Fran Fraschilla and Miles Simon will travel to Kansas City (Big 12), Seth Greenberg and Jeff Goodman will be in Chicago (Big Ten), Roxy Bernstein and Corey Williams will report from San Francisco (Pac-12), and Tim Welsh will head to New York City (American).  Coverage from Charlotte (SEC) will include hosting men’s coaches and student-athletes from all 14 schools in-studio, with select content during ESPNU College Basketball Media Day Special and more expansive programming on SEC Network.

Andy Katz (Big Ten, SEC and Pac-12) and Brendan Fitzgerald (Big 12) will anchor the studio coverage.

The three-hour ESPNU College Basketball Media Day Special will include analysts Shane Battier, Jay Bilas, Greenberg and Jay Williams in-studio with Welsh reporting from the American media day.  Matt Schick, Cory Alexander and Dino Gaudio will also be in-studio.  Highlights include:

  • Deep Discussion: Bilas will hold a roundtable with ACC head coaches
  • Insight: Interviews with various head coaches
  • On the Court:  ACC student-athletes will join former players turned ESPN analysts Battier and Williams on the court
  • Coaches Clicker: ACC head coaches will watch and break down game film with Greenberg and Gaudio providing an insight into the X’s and O’s of the game
  • Live from New York City: Welsh provides reports and interviews from the American Conference media day

 

ESPNU College Basketball Media Day Special Plans:

Date Time (ET) Conference Special Conference and Commentators
Wed, Oct 15 3 p.m. ESPNU College Basketball Media Day Special (Big 12)  Studio: Brendan Fitzgerald & Dino Gaudio
From Kansas City:
 Fran Fraschilla & Miles Simon
Thu, Oct 16 3 p.m. ESPNU College Basketball Media Day Special (Big Ten)  Studio: Andy Katz & Dino Gaudio
From Chicago: Seth Greenberg & Jeff Goodman
Wed, Oct 22 3 p.m. ESPNU College Basketball Media Day Special (SEC)  Studio: Andy Katz & Dino Gaudio
From Charlotte: Jay Bilas, Sean Farnham, Darrin Horn & Kara Lawson
Thu, Oct 23 3 p.m. ESPNU College Basketball Media Day Special (Pac-12)  Studio: Andy Katz & Dino Gaudio
From San Francisco: Roxy Bernstein & Corey Williams
Wed, Oct 29 1 p.m. ESPNU College Basketball Media Day Special (ACC & American)  Studio:  Matt Schick, Dino Gaudio & Cory Alexander, along with Jay Bilas, Shane Battier, Seth Greenberg & Jay Williams
From New York City: Tim Welsh

 

John Calipari Press Conference

SEC Network, the 24/7 network devoted to the Southeastern Conference and operated by ESPN, will tipoff the men’s and women’s basketball season with coaches and players live from the network’s studios in Charlotte, N.C. on Tuesday, Oct. 21, and Wednesday, Oct. 22.

The network’s previews begin with every women’s head basketball coach and select student-athletes from all 14 SEC teams appearing in-studio on October 21 and coverage airing during SEC Now, 7-9 p.m. ET. The following day, every men’s head basketball coach and select student-athletes from each team will visit the studios. Coverage of the men’s visit will air on October 22 during SEC Now, 9-11 p.m. ESPNU will also cover the men’s coaches visit to the Charlotte studios during their ESPNU Media Days Special from 3-4 p.m.

This will mark the first time SEC basketball coaches have visited the SEC Network studios. Footage and interviews from two days will be used throughout the basketball season in addition to the previews and interviews airing in SEC Now. Highlights include:

· Coaches Roundtable: SEC coaches discuss the state of college basketball and the season ahead with analyst Jay Bilas (men’s roundtable) and Maria Taylor (women’s roundtable)
· Previews: coaches and select-student athletes sit down to discuss their upcoming season
· On the Court: SEC student-athletes join ESPN and SEC Network analysts on the basketball court to demonstrate technique
· Coaches Clicker: SEC head coaches break down game film, providing insight into the X’s and O’s of the game.

SEC Network will carry more than 70 women’s basketball games and 118 men’s games this season. The network will also nationally televise the First Rounds, Second Rounds and Quarterfinals of the SEC Men’s & Women’s Basketball Tournament.

The SEC Network
The Southeastern Conference and ESPN have signed a 20-year agreement through 2034 to create and operate a multiplatform network which will launch August 14, 2014. The new network and its accompanying digital platform will carry SEC content 24/7 including more than 1,000 events in its first year. The network will televise 45 SEC football games, more than 100 men’s basketball games, 60 women’s basketball games, 75 baseball games, and events from across the SEC’s 21 sports annually. Programming will also include in-depth commentary and analysis in studio shows, daily news and information, original content such as SEC Storied, spring football games, and more. AT&T U-verse® TV, Bright House Networks, Charter, Comcast Xfinity TV, Cox Communications, DIRECTV, DISH, Google Fiber, LUS Fiber, Mediacom, PTC Communications, Suddenlink, Time Warner Cable, Wilkes Telephone, and members of the NCTC, NRTC and NTTC and will carry the television network nationwide at launch. Hundreds of additional live events from various sports will be offered exclusively as SEC Network+ events on WatchESPN and SECNetwork.com through authenticated access from AT&T U-verse, Charter, Comcast, Cox, DISH, Google Fiber, Suddenlink, and members of the NCTC, NRTC and NTTC.

CIBL Fall League 2014

By Marcus Shockley

I had a chance to drop by the 2014 CIBL Fall League, being held at Providence High School in Charlotte, NC. Although there were 30+ players who were absent due to the Phenom 150 being held on the same day, there were still several players in attendance worth taking note of. The CIBL has been in operation for 3 years and the talent level is high; I am definitely going to add this league to my normal Fall League scouting rotation. For more information on the CIBL, follow CIBL on Twitter.

Notes from the day’s action:

Leito Holloway (G/F, 6’4″, 2015) Rocky River HS (NC) Quite frankly, Leito is a collegiate prospect that is under-recruited. Quick, versatile and explosive, Holloway is a player who understands the game and makes it look easy. Can get to the rim in traffic and several times I saw him push the ball on the break, beating smaller defenders down the court with the dribble – which is impressive. Great form, quickness and defensive hands. Good free throw shooter and gets to the line. Definitely a breakout player and one of the 2015 prospects in the state of NC that colleges should be actively scouting and getting involved with.

Chisom Obidike (C, 6’10”, 2017) Comenius School – A true big who runs the floor at full speed; still developing but a hard worker with some serious potential. Has size already but will be able to add muscle and with continued work on post moves, footwork and hands is definitely a player colleges should be actively tracking.

DeShawn Patterson (PG, 5’10”, 2016) Victory Christian – Sure handed guard with good speed and excellent passing vision; always plays eyes-up and loves to push the break. Finds cutting teammates and throws deft passes as he runs the offense, but also puts pressure on the the half court defense with the dribble drive.

Demetry Leake (G/F, 6’5″, 2015) Queens Grant – Leake has great form and a quick deep release, excellent size at the 2 guard spot and really makes an impact in the high octane transition game. Excellent bounce and length; a prospect I really liked from the first game and definitely will be scouting multiple times this season. Note: may reclass to 2016

Jordan Ruth (G/F, 6’5″, 2016) Comenius School – Explosive, strong wing who mixes it up and has a high motor. Takes contact and can score. Impact player. Another one to watch. Knows how to play in the ‘team’ concept very well. Looks to make the right play to win, but lets the offense come to him and still gets his buckets.

Mike Baez (G/F, 6’5″, 2015) Charlotte United Christian Academy – Big time athlete who has a fun, easy going personality but can absolutely light teams up when he locks in. High, fast release that’s hard to guard and plays above the rim – explosive, rim-rocking dunker. A lot of potential here, I would advise colleges not to sleep on this player; he’s got a great personality but he’s also the kind of player you don’t want to have to face when he’s focused in. I also think his personality is big and is a team leader; he should make the mental transition to college with ease, which is an overlooked part of the recruiting process; whatever college team he lands on will benefit from him being part of the team ‘family’ from day one.

Artur Labinowicz (SF, 6’4″, 2015) Butler HS – Labinowicz has impressive offensive awareness. An elite passer from the 3 spot, which is not common. Plays above the rim and has a deep shot, can play in the open court on or off the ball, but also cuts to get open in the halfcourt. Will need to add strength to be able to effectively transition his game to college, but that’s not unusual for high school ballers and he’s definitely a player with talent.

Tevin Heath (CG, 6’5″, 2016) Phillip O. Berry HS – Heath is a solid combo guard with great size for the position, makes things happen and really good looking shot release. Likes to get out in transition and has good understanding of spacing.

Jonathon Paramoure (G, 5’10”, 2015) Charlotte United Christian Academy – deadly deep shooter. Hit 4 of his first 6 deep shots and always looked deadly from outside. Works to get open when playing off of the ball and makes himself a target. The type of player who the defense tries to adjust to, and he still somehow finds a way to end up wide open at times by rubbing off defenders.

David Perry (CG, 5’10”) Queens Grant HS – Perry is a solid combo guard who showed a consistent ability to finish inside with contact, has great body control and is a high-octane, high-motor guard.

Matthew Morgan (CG, 6’2″, 2015) Cox Mill HS – Good slasher and can play on or off of the ball. Shot free throws well; showed a great overall game with versatility.

Tyler Rainford (CG, 6’1″, 2015) Butler HS – A strong combo guard who can play through physical contact. Excellent strength and presence.

Chaz Raye (PG, 6′, 2015) Providence Day School – Pitbull guard who likes to get into the teeth of the defense. Doesn’t back down and has good quicks and a solid handle.

Matthew Lee (F, 6’6″, 2015) Providence Day School – Can play the 3/4 even against taller players. Good strength and was able to hold his own several times against bigger posts, but also has the ability to play from the 3 spot.

Phenom 150 Session I
By Charles Clark

Jimmie Sanders (Neuse Charter School, 5’6, Point Guard, 2017)- Jimmie is a very good pass first guard that can score when he needs too, quite frankly he was one of the few players his age at that Point Guard position that really showed that they know how to play properly. He constantly is talking to teammates and always has his head on a swivel looking for teammates that are moving, has a nice smooth shooting stroke and knocks down shots from outside with good consistency.

Gerald Vaughn III (Gray Academy, 5’6, Point Guard 2016) – Gerald is a High Motor/High energy type player; I loved how enthusiastic he was to play the game. Was very successful penetrating defense and kicking it out to teammates when I saw him play, as well as knocking down the outside shot when it came back to him. Personally would love to see use less dribbles to get where he wants to go but I can’t mention how impressed I was with how vocal of a teammate he was and the excitement he brought to the game.

Austen Greene (Voyager Academy, 5’9, Point Guard, 2016) – Austen has a nice smooth game, although he has a small frame he makes up for it with a good IQ. Can really shoot it from outside and moves very well without the ball, he also knows how to play the game without over dribbling.

Andrew Ejiofor (Ravenscroft, 5’11, Guard, 2016) – Andrew is a very strong player and had a fearless attitude on the court; I loved how aggressive he was getting to the paint and how well he absorbed contact. On the defensive end he put forth a lot of effort and came up with numerous hustle plays.

Blake Harris (Carlisle School, 6’3, Point Guard, 2017) – Was one of the best player at camp in my opinion, has good length and ball handling skills which he uses to keep defenders off balance. The attribute that stood out the most to me was his passing ability, although some passes were a little dangerous he definitely looks like he enjoys sharing the ball and has a gift of putting the ball right on target for teammates especially in transition.

Darriel Brown (Forsyth Country Day, 6’0, Point Guard, 2017) – Darriel is a very strong player; he got to the basket at will throughout camp and created opportunities for teammate by his ability to penetrate the defense. There were a lot of player that had strong bodies at camp but the difference is that Darriel knows how to use his physique properly to get to where he wants on the court.

Robert Colon (Northside HS (Jacksonville, 6’0, Guard, 2016)- Robert Started off the 1st half of his 1st game of camp pretty slow but once he settled down he showed what type of player he truly is. This young man can score in bunches in a blink of eye, in the 4th quarter he of his 1st game he scored 8 straight points on 3 consecutive possessions. Scoring is not all that he can do though; he has great court vision and is an outstanding passer. Robert also has good footwork and showed that on the defensive end, he is a under the radar prospect that is on track to have a breakout year this season.

Cameron Corey (Sun Valley HS, 6’1, Point Guard, 2015) – Cameron Has a Euro Style Point Guard flavor about his game; he has good length and looks to get teammates involved. He’s a very talented passer that has good vision and a good understanding of how the game is supposed to be played. No matter the circumstances he played the game at the pace that he was comfortable playing at and did not allow anything to speed him up. Good Teammate!

Osinachi Smart (New Garden Friends, 6’8, Forward/Center, 2016)- Osinachi was One of the more intriguing prospects that I saw at camp, he doesn’t say much on the court and has a very business like demeanor but understand how to play the game. What caught my attention first and foremost was his college ready body, he already the physique of a player that has spent plenty of time in the weight room on a college campus. Although he was matched up with taller player he used his strength and IQ to rebound the ball at a very high rate. The defensive end of the floor was where he really shined; there was not one single time that a shot went up that I did not see him find an opponent to set a hard box out on. On the offensive side of the floor he scored on put-back dunks and layups mostly as well as a few plays where he simply ‘‘ went into the chest of the defender’’ his play reminds me somewhat of Dejaun Blair when he was at Pitt , maybe undersized in the Post but makes up for it with strength.

Rob Whitfield (Wake Christian, 6’1, Guard, 2016)- The last time I saw Rob Whitfield was NC Top 80 Camp, he played decent but I wasn’t overly impressed. Well that definitely changed when I saw him at Phenom 150 Camp, He scored at will against just about any player that guarded him. He knocked down shots all day and showed that he knows how to finish in multiple ways when he gets to the basket. Has good length and Athleticism for a player his size and he used both of those attributes to get rebounds on both ends of the floor. Out of all the players at camp he had some of the best scoring performances of the day; simply put Rob Whitfield is a scoring machine.

Jalen Morgan (New Hope Christian, 6’4, Guard, 2018) – Jalen was one of the younger players at camp but I was very impressed with his talent level, his passing ability and natural feel for the game definitely caught my attention. Although his jumpshot could be more consistent he still impacted the game in so many ways by using his length to get to the basket or by forcing turnovers with very soli defense. Jalen has very good footwork and seems to take pride on the defensive end of the floor; I believe with continued progress he has a chance to be a very special player

Kendrick Baird (Jacksonville HS, 6’6, Forward, 2016) – Kendrick basically came into camp as an unknown player but turned numerous heads with his performance on Sunday. He gets up and down the floor very well and does the dirty work that gets overlooked. Kendrick contested and blocked shots, grabbed rebounds and was very active on the offensive glass and finished well when catching the ball in the paint.

Aaron Cash (North Raleigh Christian, 6’7, Forward, 2017) – Aaron was one of the most versatile player at camp that I saw; he looked very comfortable playing inside and knows how to finish around the basket. Aaron knows to use the rim to protect his shot from defenders using the reserving layup throughout camp. On the perimeter he was very efficient knocking down numerous catch and shoot threes, I would love to see to continue to improve his ball handing but overall has a very versatile player that has a chance to be really good.

Josh Helton (Kings Mountain H.S, 6’8, Forward/Center, 2017) – Josh had a very productive day at camp; he kept the game simple and finished well inside using his size to score easy points. His ability to rebound the ball was very impressive as he was able to provide his team with extra scoring opportunities by cleaning up the offensive glass. One attribute that I really liked about Josh was his unselfishness; he moved without the ball, set screens for teammates and didn’t force anything.

Walker Miller (Greensboro Day, 6’8, Forward/Center, 2016) – Walker has a very tall but slender frame; he’s still somewhat raw but definitely has potential to be a very good prospect with continued work and development. He has good hands and showed that can finish with the right and the left, once he adds more muscle to his frame he will be even tougher to stop inside the paint and will cause problems for defenders. On the defensive end he contested and blocked shots, did a good job of not leaving his feet before the shot is taken or before the offensive player leaves the ground.

Matt Kalaf (Neuse Christian Academy, 6’7, Wing, 2016) – Matt is an excellent Three point shooter, he shot a very high percentage from deep range especially when catching and shooting. Also was solid on the defensive end as well, he plays the game on his toes and reacted quickly to whatever was going at the end of the floor. Although I didn’t see him put the ball on the floor much I was very impressed with his overall performance. Matt has good size for a wing at the next level and is one to keep an eye on

Connor Funderburk (South Mecklenburg ,6’4, Shooting Guard, 2016)- Started off camp knocking down shots from all over the court , when he gets hot this young man can really shoot it.

Hugh Harvin (Indian Land HS, 5’5, Point Guard, 2016) – Fearless Guard that made some good plays for his squad, although he is small in stature he mixed it up inside with the big guys. Scored the ball well and knows how to run a team