Armani has been involved with European professional basketball for quite some time, and this week reached an agreement with Euroleague to extend that relationship:
Euroleague Basketball is proud to announce that Giorgio Armani S.P.A., the iconic Italian fashion house, has renewed its global partnership with the Turkish Airlines Euroleague.
The partnership includes deals which integrate with the Euroleague Game of the Week, as well as the Euroleague Final Four properties.
“The whole world recognizes Giorgio Armani S.P.A. as a symbol of excellence in the fashion and cultural fields,” Roser Queralto, Chief Business Development Officer, said. “We at Euroleague Basketball know there is more than Armani’s elegance to admire after having shared in Milan important moments that touched the lives of children and needy people of that community. To have the Armani name associated again with our Final Four and Game of the Week is just an honor.”
James Blackburn was able to attend and scout Rabun Gap HS who made their way up from Georgia to take on Charlotte Christian on Friday night.
Game Notes
Both teams got off to a slow start early on, while Charlotte struggled to figure out Rabun Gap’s zone defense, and Rabun Gap struggling to hit outside shots. Charlotte led 7-4 after 1. The 2nd quarter was a little more up and down, as Charlotte was able to generate some offense behind senior PG Trey Phills (19 pts). Rabun Gap struggled to utilize their bigs and turned the ball over numerous times. Charlotte did a great job of staying patient until they could get the shot they wanted. At the half, Charlotte led 22-16.
Rabun Gap made adjustments at the half, and Senior F, Dusan Kovacevic (22 pts), took over. Rabun controlled the boards, hit FT’s, and defended the ball to pull away for the 51-37 lead.
I must say that both of these teams were well coached and there were numerous college prospects in this contest.
Scouting Reports
Charlotte Christian
Trey Phills, 6’2″, G, 2015
Trey is one of the best pure scorers I have seen this year. He came into the game averaging over 20 ppg. He can beat you with the jump shot and he can finish in traffic at the rim. He is quick and shifty and has a lethal first step. He can create his own shot, but showed unselfishness last night, getting his teammates involved and not forcing shots. He showed his athleticism in the first half with 3 dunks. He attacks the gaps and is a terrific ball handler. He needs to improve set shooting but is a D1 prospect.
Rabun Gap
Dusan Kovacevic, 6’10”, F, 2015
Dusan has a terrific feel for the game and did it all on the floor tonight. He can rebound the ball and push it ahead in transition. He plays at his pace and is never hurried or bothered by ball pressure. He struggled to his his jumper this game from the outside but was able to score with his back to the basket and off the dribble. He is a good FT shooter as well. He has solid court vision and is a good teammate. A player who HM schools need to be on.
Luka Majstorovic, 6’9″, F/C, 2015
Luka was hands down the best rebounder in this game. He controlled his area and did an excellent job of chinning and securing the ball after getting the board. He uses his big body well to score inside and showed nice touch from the FT line. He seals off inside the post and keeps the ball high. Fundamentally sound. Luka has already signed to play D2.
ST. LOUIS (USBWA) – The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected the Gonzaga forward Kyle Wiltjer as its Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week for games ending the week of Sunday, Dec. 14. The USBWA’s weekly honor is presented by Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook.
Wiltjer
As the West Coast Conference Player of the Week, Wiltjer was nominated for the weekly award, which was chosen by a representative of the USBWA board of directors from a list of Division I conference players of the week. This is the sixth season that the USBWA has selected a national player of the week.
Wiltjer, a 6-10 junior from Portland, Ore., registered back-to-back 20-point games in a pair of wins over Pac-12 opponents. Last Wednesday, Wiltjer was 9-of-14 from the field and scored 21 points in an 81-66 win over Washington State. Then on Saturday, Wiltjer led the Zags to an 87-74 win at UCLA with a team-high 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting.
Overall in the two games, he was 18-for-27 (.667) from the field, 5-for-7 (.714) from behind the arc, and a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Against WSU he also had six rebounds, four assists, a block and a steal. Then at UCLA, he had four rebounds, an assist and a steal.
Since the 1958-59 season, the USBWA has named a National Player of the Year. In 1998, the award was named in honor of the University of Cincinnati Hall of Famer and two-time USBWA Player of the Year Oscar Robertson. It is the nation’s oldest award and the only one named after a former player.
At the conclusion of the regular season, the USBWA will name finalists for the award, which is voted on by the entire membership. The winner of the Oscar Robertson Trophy will be presented by its namesake, Oscar Robertson, at theDevon Energy College Basketball Awards on April 14, 2015, at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. The Henry Iba Coach of the Year Award and the Integris Wayman Tisdale Freshman of the Year Award will also be presented at the gala to be held annually following the NCAA Men’s Final Four.
The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 900 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. It has selected an All-America team since the 1956-57 season. For more information on the USBWA and the Oscar Robertson Trophy, contact executive director Joe Mitch at 314-795-6821.
Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, the most comprehensive college basketball publication in the world, returns for its 34th season. Blue Ribbon – long-known as “The Bible of College Basketball” – gives its readers the most thorough, up-to-date and timely evaluations of every Division I team in the country. For more information about Blue Ribbon Yearbooks, visit blueribbonyearbookonline.com.
Strengths
Is a legit 6’5″ with solid length and has good arm strength w/ wide shoulders.
Is a smooth scorer. Showed he could score off the dribble and in a variety of ways inside the paint with floaters, runners, etc. Is as smooth of scorer as they come. Excellent finisher in the open court. Had a play in the open court where he finished around 3 defenders by going around the back and finishing with a finger roll lay-up. Has a smooth crossover dribble.
Solid on the defensive end. Uses length to guard and shields the ball and gets into the passing lanes. Makes plays and has active hands. Was able to grab rebounds and push ball in transition- kept head up and looked up court for teammates. Solid rebounder on the defensive end, doesnt crash the offensive glass much, as he is the one back as the other guard.
Came out early in this one passing the ball and getting teammates involved. Is an unselfish player who wont force a lot of shots. Underrated playmaking ability. Willing to make the extra pass on perimeter to get better shot.
Tremendous shooter who can hit 3’s with his feet set and can hit shots coming off of screens. Has a soft touch and can create his own shot. Release is the same every time and he gets solid arc on his shot. Follows his shot and he knows when and where he is going to miss, which isn’t much. Good FT shooter.
Weaknesses
Is a good defender, but the has the ability to be great on this end. Got caught on a few staggered screens and was beat the spot a few times, but other then that was solid.
Athleticism is good but not great and doesnt have the quickest feet. Since he lacks first step quickness I would like to see him change speeds better off the dribble.
How well can he finish with his left hand and attack to his left?
Excellent shooter but he has a low release. Decent ball handler but could continue to improve in this area.
Overview
Entered contest averaging 17.3 ppg while shooting 51% from the 3 and 46% from the field. The reason his shooting percentages are so high, are 1, he is a great shooter, and 2, he doesnt shoot bad shots. Knows his spots on the floor and has a high IQ.
Is a SG and played this position solely the entire game. Is one of the smoothest and most fluid players I have seen in a while. Everything comes so naturally to him.
Communicates on the floor and was a good teammate and leader. Has a humble approach to the game.
I can see Moore as a possible player of the year candidate in the Big South this year and could have an outside chance of getting a Portsmouth Invite. The D-League would be a good option for a player of his skills. He could definitely become a 3 and D guy and could also find a niche overseas as a pro.
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James Blackburn has scouted all levels of basketball, including high school, college and the pros, as well as international competitions such as the FIBA World Cup. Want more scouting notes from James? Follow him on Twitter @jamesjunior21, right now!