Ja Morant restores young fan’s faith in humanity with selfless act

In a heartwarming display of sportsmanship, Memphis Grizzlies star guard Ja Morant stepped up to help a young fan in distress. 11-year-old Ellie Hughes, a devoted Grizzlies fan from Forrest City, Arkansas, had her prized basketball, which she had collected signatures from players on for the past six years, stolen during Monday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs.

But Morant, who had heard of the incident through social media, reached out to Hughes’ family and invited her to Wednesday night’s rematch against the Spurs. Not only did he give her his game-worn jersey, but he also gifted her a pair of his highly-coveted Ja 1 Nike shoes, which haven’t been released to the public yet.

“It’s something I pretty much love to do,” said Morant of his act of kindness. “You touch somebody’s heart like that. A big fan of the Grizzlies for years. It’s moments like that that mean the most to them. Something they will never forget.”

The Grizzlies guard also put on a show on the court, scoring 38 points and leading the team to a 135-129 victory over the Spurs for their season-high eighth straight win. Morant, who had missed the previous two games due to a thigh injury, shot 14 of 25 from the field and had a highlight-reel dunk over Spurs center Jakob Poeltl with 3:35 remaining in the game to secure the win for Memphis.

Concordia Coach Suspended After Players Hospitalized Following Intense Workout

After five players from the Concordia Cougars Division III basketball team were hospitalized following a high-intensity workout on the 31st of December, the university’s athletic director, Pete Gnan, sent a letter to families stating that the intensity of the practice was a consequence of players breaking curfew while on a late December trip to California.

The five players were hospitalized between the 2nd and 4th of January and the last one, Jacob Collicott, was released on the 6th. His father, Ryan Collicott, told WBBM that Jacob was dehydrated and his muscles had broken down and gotten into his bloodstream.

Due to this incident, the Cougars postponed their games last Tuesday and Saturday, and the coach has since been suspended. Ryan Collicott said that, as a parent, he does not feel the coach should be fired, but is instead more concerned for him now that Jacob is safe.

NBA Trade Rumors: Five Likely Trade Targets Right Now

The NBA trade deadline is rapidly approaching, and several star players’ names have been swirling around in trade rumors. Here are the top five most likely trade candidates:

Bradley Beal: The Washington Wizards’ guard has been linked to a number of teams, including the Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, and Boston Celtics. Beal is a two-time All-Star and one of the most dynamic scorers in the league, so it’s no surprise he’s at the top of this list.

Christian Wood: The Detroit Pistons’ forward/center has reportedly been drawing considerable interest from teams around the league. With his size and skill set, he could be a valuable addition to any team looking to bolster their frontcourt.

Zach Lavine: The Chicago Bulls’ guard is another player who has been generating a lot of buzz in the trade market. Lavine is one of the most explosive scorers in the league, and he could be a great addition to a team looking for an offensive boost.

Caris LeVert: The Brooklyn Nets’ guard has been linked to a number of teams, including the Indiana Pacers and Houston Rockets. LeVert is a versatile player who can score, pass, and defend, so it’s easy to see why teams are so interested in acquiring him.

Jae Crowder: The Memphis Grizzlies’ forward is another player who has been drawing a lot of attention in the trade market. Crowder is a veteran who brings a lot of experience and leadership to any team he joins, making him a valuable asset. As the NBA trade deadline approaches, these five players are some of the most likely to be moved. Teams looking to bolster their roster will be keeping a close eye on these players, so we’ll have to wait and see who ends up where.

The Least Valuable NBA Teams 2023

The value of an NBA team can be determined by a number of factors, including its financial performance, the market in which it is located, and the overall success of the team on the court. While it is difficult to pinpoint a single NBA team that is the least valuable, there are a few teams that may be considered among the lower tier in terms of value.

One team that could be considered among the least valuable in the league is the Charlotte Hornets. The Hornets have struggled on the court in recent years, with a string of mediocre seasons that have not generated much excitement among fans. The team’s financial performance has also been somewhat lackluster, with low attendance figures and relatively modest revenues compared to other teams in the league.

Another team that may be considered among the least valuable in the NBA is the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies have had some success in recent years, but they have also faced financial challenges and have had difficulty attracting a large and loyal fan base. The team has struggled to consistently generate strong revenues, and they have faced challenges in securing a strong local TV deal, which can be a significant source of revenue for many NBA teams.

It is worth noting that the value of an NBA team can fluctuate over time, and even the teams that may be considered the least valuable at a given moment can see their fortunes change in the future. Factors such as successful player acquisitions, strong coaching hires, and improved on-court performance can all contribute to an increase in a team’s value.

In conclusion, it is difficult to pinpoint a single NBA team that is definitively the least valuable, as the value of a team can be influenced by a range of factors. However, teams such as the Charlotte Hornets and the Memphis Grizzlies may be considered among the lower tier in terms of value due to a combination of financial challenges and on-court struggles.

The Winston-Salem Wolves, a minor league basketball franchise that will play the 2019 season in the East Coast Basketball League, announced today that David Solomon has been named as the head coach under a one-year agreement for the coming season. Solomon has over twenty-five years of coaching experience in high school, college and professionally with several international teams. He is a FIBA licensed coach with past coaching positions in Denmark, Venezuela and Slovakia.

“Many of the players in the ECBL are actively looking to either go back overseas to play on another professional contract, or in some cases, looking for their first contract, ” team owner Marcus Shockley said, “David has extensive experience in all levels of coaching and knows the international arena extremely well. We wanted to bring someone in who not only had the coaching experience but also the knowledge to help develop players into international prospects. David fits that need perfectly, especially for a team going into the first year.”

In regards to the agreement only being in place for the 2019 season, Shockley stated, “in an ideal world, we’d have David for several years, and we hope that will be the case. But just like the players,  a good coach is often presented with opportunities that they can’t pass up, so we’re looking at it as we’re lucky to have a high caliber coach from day one, and build from there. As a minor league team, we want to build consistency but we also realize that one of the goals of our organization is to enable our players to reach their own professional goals, and for some players, that means playing professionally outside of the United States.”

The Wolves announced their schedule earlier this week, but no roster announcements have been made. For more information about the Winston-Salem Wolves franchise, visit WSWolves.com.


Game Scouted: Wake Forest vs Clemson

Clemson wins 75-67

Keyshawn Woods, G, 6’3”, R-JR

 

Stats

30 min, 5-12 FG, 1 steal, 13 points

 

Strengths

Smart defender who can guard several positions despite having below average athleticism or length. He stays active and aware off the ball and always knows where the ball and his man are at all times. Defends without fouling and stays in front of the ball.  

Quick first step and can get by initial defender. Has a good mid range game where he can shoot the pull up or finish with the floater. Showed a nice left drive and finish in the 2nd half today.

Consistent scorer who can score the ball in a variety of ways. Does a nice job of drawing contact on rim attacks and knocks down his FT’s.

Can create space for his own shot with solid footwork, jabs, and fakes. Solid ball handler. Can change directions off the bounce.

Good shooter from both the 3 pt line and from the midrange- has a quick release. Understands when to curl screens and when to fade.

 

Weaknesses

Lacks elite speed and athleticism. Struggles to finish over bigs on drives because of his lack of explosion.

Shot selection can be questionable at times which lowers his percentages.

Not a great playmaker.

Overvall

Entered this game 2nd on the team in scoring and is also shooting over 43% from 3 for the season.

Has been an impact player for the Deacs since transferring from UNC Charlotte after his freshman year. Has battled some injuries this year and is still not quite 100% If he can stay healthy and have a big summer I can see him as being a PIT guy and a G-League prospect.

By James Blackburn

Game Scouted: UAB @ UNC Charlotte

UAB wins 76-64

Chris Cokley, PF, 6’8″, SR

Stats

30 min, 10-12 FG, 6-8 FT, 12 rebounds, 1 steal, 26 points

Strengths – Man amongst boys. Very strong and aggressive player. Big time finisher inside the paint- very efficient. Muscles his way to the rim and can finish with contact. Has good hands. Showed the ability to score with his back to the basket and gets great inside and deep position on the block. Can score it with either hand, has good touch around the basket, and showed nice patience in the post. Pretty good passer out of the post and is a better passer then his assist numbers show. 

Can shoot the midrange out to about 17′ and has a high release and ball gets great rotation. Good FT shooter as well. 

Runs the floor and moves well for someone with so much muscle and size. Active with a high motor. 

Rebounds it on both ends and is strong with the ball. 

Weaknesses 

Height could be an issue down the road- did not look to be 6-8.  Not great putting the ball on the floor. Range is limited- doesnt shoot 3’s, but to his credit he doesnt shoot any. 

Overall

Entered this game vs UNC Charlotte averaging 18/9- leads team in both categories. Is a high tier European prospect and will get NBA interest. Does a good job of maximizing his strengths and hiding his weaknesses. Hard to find much to critique in his game as he is so well rounded- most of his weaknesses are there from an NBA prospect standpoint and trying to project him at that level. Will most likely be at the PIT and NBA Summer League. Game will translate well to pros with his strength, scoring ability on the block, and rebounding. 

 

Cherokee basketball

Cherokee HS basketball

By James Blackburn

I was able to catch some high school basketball on Friday night in Cherokee, NC for a 1A battle between Cherokee HS and Rosman HS. Cherokee was able to control tempo and lead throughout the game to ultimately get the 95-76 win. This despite it being the third game of the week for the Cherokee Braves.

There were numerous college prospects that I was able to see in this one and I would highly suggest D2/D3 coaches take the drive up the mountain to check out Cherokee HS this season.

 

Cherokee HS

Justus Day, SR, 6’2″, PG

Terrific athlete who can score in bunches. Struggled tonight overall but you can clearly see his talent. Very strong with the ball- can take contact and finish. Can create his own offense and has a deadly crossover dribble to create space. Physical defender who bumps cutters, blocks shots, and stays in front of the ball. Shot selection needs to improve. D2+/LM prospect who will most likely go the JUCO route.

 

Josiah Lossiah, JR, 5’9″, PG

Solid pass first PG who gets the ball up the floor very quickly either with the pass ahead or the bounce. Changes directions and speeds pretty well- crafty. Fluid scoring at the rim. Needs to continue to improve outside shot. Highlight maker with the ball in his hands. Understands how to enter the ball to the post. Great playmaker on both ends- quick hands. Endless energy in this one. D3+/D2- prospect- would be better if he were a bit bigger.

 

Sterling Santa Maria, SO, 6’4″, F

Undersized post to keep an eye on. Is a big/strong body who is efficient around the basket. Soft touch and has good hands. Got into with a few players tonight so needs to stay engaged and keep his cool but is a player to monitor. Finished with 20 points.

Rosman HS

Deland Thomas, SR, 6’4″, SF

Could make an argument that Thomas was the best prospect and certainly the best player tonight in this one. Great endurance- played entire and didnt have any let down even at the end, despite this being only his 3rd game back after injury. Is a tremendous outside shooter with a high and quick release. Has a good frame that will allow him to add more weight and muscle. Utilizes jab and ball fakes. Can attack in either direction in straight line drives. Needs to continue to improve ball handling. Fundamental/throw back player who has tremendous footwork. Skilled but average athletically. Mid to high level D2 player.

Zion Williamson is the No. 2 overall recruit in the country according to ESPN聽and everyone has been waiting for his commitment. He went on ESPN to make the announcement and he is headed to Duke. Zion Williamson is headed to Duke https://t.co/4w3PaI0dTD — Benjamin Bornstein (@THE_BOOMSTEIN) January 21, 2018 ESPN recruiting guru Jeff Borzello spoke with Williamson last week and it was down to a handful of schools including the in-state schools. Continue reading “Nation’s No. 2 recruit Zion Williamson officially makes his college decision”

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The bigger story coming out of Monday night’s game between the Duke Blue Devils and Miami Hurricanes concerns the health of freshman Marvin Bagley. However, let the issue with his shoulder not cloud the fact that the super-freshman set yet another program record. Continue reading “Marvin Bagley breaks yet another Duke record with his latest outstanding effort”