Name: Damian Dunn Class: Freshman “2019” Height/Weight: 6’3” 180 High School: Kinston High School (Kinston, NC) Position: Point Guard/ Shooting Guard / Small Forward AAU Team: Stackhouse Elite Projected Level of Play: Division 1 Video Link:https://youtu.be/DncfA8RZYxQ
Damian Dunn is a smooth, poised and talented young freshman guard (14 years old). He appears poised to be the “next” in line for a storied Kinston High School basketball program. Currently standing at 6’3”, he’s quick, elusive, can shoot and he’s as versatile as they come. Plays multiple positions for Kinston High (including point guard) and appears primed to grow a few more inches. His coming out party came against 2A powerhouse Goldsboro HS in the conference championship, where he went for 21 points and 7 rebounds in the highly anticipated rivalry matchup (see video below). Look out for him in the coming years. He’s going to be a fun player to watch!
Strengths:
Versatility – Damian stands at 6’3”, but plays very strong for a 14 year old freshman. He really gets after it on the glass, goes up strong in the paint, handles the ball well, has good court vision and he can create his own shot in the post or on the perimeter. Being so young, it’s likely that he will grow, potentially making him even more of a nightmare in the future for opponents on both ends. He gets low and moves his feet well defensively. Damian isn’t afraid to get physical with bigger and older players.
Scoring Ability – He’s an effortless scorer that gets in the paint at will using minimal dribbles. Dunn is very efficient with the ball and doesn’t waste much time before making a move towards the basket. Surprises defenders with quick hesitations, crossovers and pass fakes. Has shown a nice touch on his pull up jump-shot. Knocks down free throws at a high rate. Converts on midrange pull-ups and spot up three-pointers. Finishes well at the rim with either hand.
Size for Position – Having point guard abilities as a 6’3’ freshman is always a promising sign. He doesn’t let pressure speed him up. Gets to his spots to run the offense when he’s playing the 1 and on the wing. He’s shown good strength and patience. Uses his height well to shoot over smaller defenders and uses his quickness and creativity to get by bigger ones.
Areas for Improvement:
Consistency – As with most freshman, he’s up and down, showing flashes in some games and not so much in others. That may have to do a lot with Kinston High School having a surplus of seniors. He began to string together more and more strong games as the conference season came around, so all signs point to him having the understanding that players such as himself always have some room to improve.
Athleticism – As noted earlier, he’s only 14 years of age, so he’s young for his class with plenty of time to grow in stature and as a player. He must get stronger and quicker to become more consistent and to improve as a finisher against bigger, stronger and more athletic opponents. This will also allow him to be quicker on his feet when applying defensive pressure and it will enable him to play more physical with bigger opposing guards and wings.
Remember his name. He has the talent to become a very special prospect.
Photo Credits: Junious Smith III (Kinston Free Press)
Taji Moore, 6’0” G Class of 2018
Just a sophomore. Solid athletic guard that displays a ton of confidence in himself. Solid court vision and a nice drive and kick ability. Can get really hot from 3 point range. Very good at attacking the basket and has shown the potential to become a consistent scoring threat and rebounder for his position. Has decent size for the point guard position. At this point, he is playing on a team with a whopping 10 seniors for a storied Kinston program, so we’ll have to wait to see more. With a good summer of working on his jump-shot off the dribble, decision making and strength, he could become a very solid scoring point guard. Only a sophomore.
Tracy Whitfield 5’8” PG Class of 2018
Another sophomore for the senior laden Kinston Vikings. Very fast little guard that applies full court pressure and rarely turns the ball over in spot minutes. Very tight handle and uses spins very well to get to his spots and run the offense. Worth keeping an eye on as the season progresses and in the future. Jumpshot is unorthodox, as he seemingly fades sideways on the release but has shown a nice floater and poise. Will be tracking to see how he progresses.
Damian Dunn 6’3” SG/SF Class of 2019
Another intriguing freshman from the storied Kinston High School basketball program! Plays mainly in the post and doesn’t get a ton of plays ran for him on this stacked Kinston team but when his name is called, he’s shown a seemingly effortless ability to get to the rim and create his own shot off the dribble. Has a very nice touch, finishes well, bangs down low, handles the ball well under pressure and is very young. Love his game and toughness. Sky is the limit for this kid.
Dominic Williams 5’8” PG Class of 2016
Starting senior point guard for storied Kinston High School program. Very small but makes up for his size defensively with relentless pressure defense. Very quick hands. Rarely is beat off the dribble. Tends to get stuck on screens and get burned occasionally on backdoor plays off the ball however. Offensively, he’s very creative and can get his shot in isolation situations. His shot is a tad inconsistent, mainly due to a low release point but will knock jumpers down in rhythm. Shooting is definitely an area to be improved. Has excellent court vision and quickness. Could become a productive point guard for a D2/D3 or NAIA school.
North Lenoir High School
L’Shawn Davis 5’10” PG Class of 2017
Explosive is an understatement. Kid is one of the fastest and most explosive players I’ve seen with the ball in his hands. Blows by everyone and has excellent body control and finishing ability. Jump-shot is decent but could use some work. Shot percentage decreases a bit when teams get physical with him. Has to improve his mid-range game. Outstanding finisher, but too often he gets into traffic and goes for acrobatic layups. Has quick hands on defense and gets a ton of breakaway layups from leaving defenders in the dust after an offensive rebound. Moves his feet extremely well and forces even some of the better scorers into contested jump-shots. Currently averaging 19 points and 5 assists for a young North Lenoir High school team. Projected as an undersized but extremely fast and athletic college level point guard. LM D1 type of player as of now, but must continue to improve to attract offers.
South Lenoir High School
Jonte Midgette 6’1” SG Class of 2016
Scoring machine. Has an array of dribble drive moves that end up strong finishes and mid range pull-up jump shots. Extremely slender but his athleticism and ability to finish makes up for it and even helps him to be a well above average rebounder. Has very solid drive and kick ability. Against pressure however, tends to throw very lazy passes that lead to breakaways for opposing teams every now and again. Has a nice fadeaway jumper off the dribble. Goes to it too often at times however. Very good free throw shooter. Time in the weight-room could speed up his college productivity. Projects as a D2/D3 prospect.
Shykiem Wooten 6’1” PG Class of 2018
Athletic, strong and young. Only a sophomore. Has a much-improved jumper and has cut down on many of the turnovers he would commit as a freshman. Very intriguing. Looks to be a solid 185 lbs and more poised. Has the potential to be a lockdown defender. Moves feet really well, gets low and gets physical. Hard to project at this moment, but should know more of who he is as the season goes forth.
Southern Vance
Marcus Harrison 5’10” G Class of 2019
Energizer! Eastern NC is stacked with productive freshmen. Had a 36 point outburst early this season. Very active, finishes well and knocks shots down with a great consistency. Rebounds extremely well for his size. Multiple double digit rebound games early on. If he grows a few more inches, watch out! Plays for an extremely young Southern Vance team that could make some noise in the up and coming years with the right development.
Greene Central High School
Tre Wade 6’1 PG Class of 2016
Underrated! A coaches kind of guard and student-athlete. Good size for the point guard position. A solid 6’1” 190 lb point guard. Never really gets rattled and controls the flow of the game. Has a nice looking set shot, great court vision, strong with the ball using both hands, sturdy and uses his body well to create space. Also an above average rebounder. Teammates appear to love playing with him and he seems extremely coachable. Does almost everything well. Shot can be very slow at times however and overuses his strength at times on drives to the basket. However, he’s an excellent student and has plenty of potential. Solid D2/D3 level point guard.
Imajae Dodd 6’6” PF Class of 2019
Bouncy freshman! Potential is everything with this kid. Blocks a ton of shots, never stops moving, loves getting physical and rebounds well. Freakishly athletic big man with a non-stop motor. Tries to dunk everything around the rim and has a soft touch on his jumper. Had about 4 impressive dunks in a recent 23 point and 14 rebound contest. Plays very consistent and solid minutes for a very good Greene Central High School team that already has 3 or 4 upperclassmen playing the same position. If he continues to improve, grow and improve his strength, he could be downright scary. One to definitely keep on your watch list.
Dante Johnson 6’4” SF Class of 2019
Another freshman! Doesn’t play a ton of minutes right now but the potential is easy to see. Solid athlete for a player his age and his size. Looks like he may have another 2-3 inches to grow from first glance at his frame. Good slasher, confident and rebounds well out of position. Left handed. Very intriguing freshman wing to add to your watch list.
Goldsboro High School
Isaiah Wilder 6’3” SF Class of 2019
Freshman! Very athletic for his age. Kid can put the ball in the basket. Plays alongside one of the better guards in the state and doesn’t shy away from the ball. Good finisher with loads of potential. Excellent frame. Should have a college ready body by his senior season. Started the season averaging over 20 points per game on the junior varsity team. Put him on your watch list.
Myron Carmon 5’10” PG Class of 2016
Excellent point guard prospect. Very slender, but extremely quick, explosive, crafty and slick. Lefty can shoot it off the catch and create his own shot off the dribble at any time and for others. Controls the tempo. Doesn’t back down from anyone and causes headaches for opposing defenses. Stays in the paint and is very unpredictable for opposing defenses to key in on. Can tend to have quiet spells when his shot isn’t falling from the perimeter. Must stay aggressive due to his slender build. However, Division 1 schools should definitely offer this kid. Has the potential to be a dynamic player at the next level, regardless of his size. Would end up a steal at a D2.
Eric Bufkin 6’0 G Class of 2016
Hard working stat stuffer. Could be a jack of all trades type of player at the next level. Absolutely relentless defensively, hustles and makes shots. Lots of potential. D2’s and D3’s should start keying in, depending on what they are looking for. Jack of all trades.
Northeastern High School
Shawn Walker Jr. 6’3” PG Class of 2019
Excellent point guard prospect. Young and long. Very poised, mature and under control for a freshman guard. Has a solid step-back jumper and loves using his height for pull-up jumpers. Solid defender and has well above average court vision for a player his class. You can tell this kid was taught the game at a young age. Has the potential to be a high level college recruit. Remember the name!
DaMar Sutton 6’4” SG Class of 2018
Great athlete. Catches and finishes lobs in transition, put-back dunks and grabs a ton of rebounds out of position. Has long arms, causes havoc at the top of zones and has the potential to become a solid knockdown shooter. Ball-handling could stand to improve but has all the tools and mechanics already to become a versatile wing player.
Trey Carver 6’5” SF/PF Class of 2016
This kid has the perfect body for football, and uses it very well on the basketball court. A very strong and solid 6’5” 230 lbs. Very athletic. Settles for jumpers at times when going left but typically gets all the way to the rim for a dunk or strong finish when he goes right. Form is correctable. Wouldn’t be surprised if that shot became a weapon at the next level. Could be a very solid contributor after gaining some college basketball experience. Has several D1 offers. (Verbally committed to Hampton on 2/25/16)
Raheem Nixon 5’8” G Class of 2016
Undersized guard with a decent handle. Has a knack for getting to the rim and finishing. Can flat out shoot! Size may hinder his impact at the next level. More of a shooter/scorer than a point guard. Has had multiple games this season with 4-5 made 3’s. Shooting ability could be an asset to plenty of schools at the next level as a spot up shooter. NAIA/D3 and JUCO schools, take note.
Weldon High School
Koraan Clemonts 6’1” PG Class of 2016
A highly underrated lead guard playing at a small 1A school in Weldon, NC. Quietly has been leading the state of North Carolina in assists per game for the 2nd season in a row. Gets in the paint, excellent passer, quick and plenty of toughness. Has all the tools to be a productive starting point guard in time at the next level. LM D1/D2 level guard prospect.
Louisburg High School
Andreas Wilson 6’0” G Class of 2018
Crafty, quick and confident sophomore guard at Louisburg High School. Has a chance to be a dominating scoring guard. Has excellent form on his jump-shot, good fundamentals and a scoring mindset to attack that coaches love. Would not be surprised to see him put up some staggering numbers his junior and senior season.
Arendell Parrott Academy
Harrison McLawhorn 6’7” PF Class of 2019
Freshman big man has a load of potential. Has an incredible work ethic and really loves the sport. More of an energy player that shows flashes and rebounds well at this point. Has a decent turnaround hook shot and plays tough. If this kid continues to grow and work, the sky is the limit.
Kris Wooten 6’2” SG Class of 2018
Lights out shooter from 3 point range and from mid-range, a solid defender and rebounder. Has long arms and a quick release on his jump-shot. Needs strength, but has a nice frame very well capable of putting on some muscle. Has the potential to grow a few more inches and get stronger in the offseason as well. Looks extremely young. Previously played at Kinston High School as a freshman. Was their designated shooter off the bench. Has more of a scoring role this season at Parrott Academy. Off of shooting ability alone, could become a shooting specialist at the next level with the potential to grow as an all-around player.
Wilson Hunt
Rashod Shipman 6’5” W Class of 2016
Very good athlete. Finishes with dunks, strong around the rim using both hands and a very reliable defender. Very good positional rebounder and uses length well to secure rebounds out of position as well. Jumper has good mechanics and can become more consistent with work. Can go through quiet stretches but when focused has few peers that could stop him around the basket. The talent is definitely there, but will he put it all together? Could possibly break out at any time this season and garner some LM D1 offers. Would be a great pickup for any D2 school and has all the tools to transform into an extremely productive ballplayer.
Shemar Hudson 5’10” PG Class of 2016
A winner! Has won a ton of games at Wilson Hunt HS in his career. Very solid point guard with very good natural instincts and a high basketball IQ. Has a decent-looking stroke from 3-point range but it could be better. Gets into his man on defense. Has the foot quickness to be a nightmare defensively. Rarely turns the ball over and shows good poise and control under intense ball pressure going both ways. Doesn’t really get sped up, goes wherever he wants to go with little to no extra exertion. Seems to be fresh all the time. Does not tire even after maximum effort. Could become a coaches dream guard at the next level due to his effort and intangibles. Projects as a strong D2/D3.
Fayetteville 71st
Tyler Thomas 5’9” PG Class of 2016
Confident and solid point guard. Possesses a very strong mid-range game and a solid pull up shot from 3-point range as well. All coaches love a kid that can run a team and can shoot the ball. He’s short and doesn’t blow you away with athleticism, but he’s very solid and does a lot of things very well. His shooting ability and toughness would allow him to fare very well at the D2/D3 level. Would be a solid backup with the potential to develop into a starter in due time.
Omari Wilson 6’4” W Class of 2017
Didn’t see much from him in the games I watched but saw enough to see the potential. Has an excellent frame and moves very well. Had a few nice slashes to the basketball that looked great. Form on his shot looks solid and he moves his feet well on defense. With the right work ethic, attention to detail and hours in the gym working on tightening his handle could develop into a late-blooming D1 college player.
Farmville Central
Tyler Maye 6’1” PG Class of 2017
Kid can flat out score! Has an array of dribble moves, pull-ups, spin moves and crossovers. Very laid back demeanor on the floor, but quietly competitive. Has a beautiful release on his jump-shot and has shown great ability to finish at the rim with either hand. Scores over 22 points a night in his sleep. Gets beat off the dribble occasionally by quicker guards, but does a good job moving his feet for the most part. When locked in has shown to be a very solid on ball defender as well as a good team help defender. Communicates well and has tons of room to continue growing as a player. Solid Mid Major Division 1 prospect with potential to go higher.
Shaft Parker 6’2” G Class of 2016
Shooter! Has had games where he’s canned at least 8 3’s. Once he gets it going, he’s lights out. Has a solid handle and a few nice crossover moves and keeps his teammates involved. Has great size for the guard position but will need to transform his body to handle the increased rigors and speed of the college game. Don’t be fooled however. This kid can flat out play and produce all around the board. Passes the ball very well. Very unselfish and scores in a variety of ways. Very solid D2 prospect.
Michael Taylor 6’5” W Class of 2016
Late blooming athletic wing with great length. This kid can go. Smooth lefty. Very, very lanky. Will need to put on some muscle at the next level. Good form on his jump-shot, dunks in transition and has solid leaping ability that helps him to get a lot of weak-side blocks. Length also creates havoc for opposing offenses in zone defenses and man to man. Gets a ton of deflections. Has some sneaky handles. Could be an intriguing guard/wing for LM and possibly MM D1 schools. Would be a steal if he’s signed by any D2 school. Loads of potential!
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!
Strengths
Tremendously skilled lefty with good length and athleticism. Versatile SF with a high motor. Is active around the rim and sticks with his own misses- has a quick 2nd jump. Can put the ball on floor and score off the dribble in a variety of ways. Underrated passer who sees the floor very well and delivers passes on time and on target. Above average shooter who gets great arc on his shots and has soft touch. Terrific face up shooter. Good athlete who finished multiple lob plays above the rim.
Was willing to do whatever the team needed him to do. Can play on the wing and he can pick and roll or pick and pop.
High IQ player who has a great feel for the game.
Weaknesses
Needs to get stronger in both upper and lower body so he can keep his lines on drives. San Fransisco played a mix of zone and man on defense. Mark was average on this end. Didnt stay in stance and I question if he can stay in front of good SF’s. Is a tweener on the defensive end.
While Mark is a good shooter, he needs to continue to improve his range and consistency shooting the 3- better midrange shooter.
Good offensive rebounder because of activity but needs to improve on the defensive glass- struggles to hold ground when boxing out.
Overview
Mark was his teams best and most consistent player throughout the three days of the Gulf Coast Showcase tournament I was able to watch him in. The more you watch him play, you realize how valuable he is to his team. It was hard to keep him off the floor.
He has a player who has a lot of potential and while he is an average defender at this point, I could see him becoming a great defender because of length and athleticism. Still has another year left to improve and get stronger. I can see him becoming a player that could garner a Portsmouth Invite and possibly a summer league spot. At the very least his skills would be highly coveted by a European club. He could play for a 1st division in a mid-tier country or a 2nd division team in a top tier country (Turkey, Spain, Israel, etc). The D-League would also be an option for him too, but I think his skills would be more utilized in Europe.
After being out of town for most of July, I was able to return to Winston in time to catch the last few nights of the Triad Pro Am league, held this year at the Gateway YWCA. The league features local college players and players from Wake Forest, Winston-Salem State, and Guilford College, as well as pros from the area. The notes below are some reports from the standouts during the playoffs.
Andre Washington (Wake Forest, 7’0″, C, JR)
Andre played as good as I have ever seen him play in any setting. Was matched up against pro player, Justin Manns and was able to more than hold his own. Looks better- new and improved- more confident- dunking hard and with authority. Playing w/ good energy. Protecting the rim and was getting solid post position. Washington was simply a beast in the paint all night. Needs to continue to improve balance but will have an impact this season at Wake playing like he did this week.
Lepreece Lynch (Lees-McRae, 6’4″, G, SO)
One of the better all around pure scores I saw. Not lacking any confidence when it comes to putting up shots. Rebounding well on both ends and follows his shot. Was able to get to middle of floor and making good kick outs to teammates.Takes some bad shots- but is always a threat to score.
Craig Hinton (VMI, 6’6″, F, SO)
Is stronger and playing with good energy on both ends. Very impressed with his improvement on the defensive end. Showed he could protect the paint and move his feet on the perimeter while staying in low defensive stance. Providing the highlights that he always does with his out of this world athleticism. Shot looked a bit flat early on- but hit a few outside jumpers and threes as well.
Justin Manns (Lebanon, 6’11”, C)
Upper body looks stronger then last year and is playing tough inside the paint. Showing some solid footwork and patience in the post. Had numerous blocks tonight from the weak side.
Codi Miller-McIntyre (Wake Forest, 6’3″, PG, JR)
Looked solid all night. Running the show- had numerous assists- sharing the ball and being unselfish. Was hitting his pull-up. Changing speeds better in the open floor. Just looked like he could do whatever he wanted on the floor at any point.
Robert Holcomb-Faye (Holland, 6’1″, PG)
Terrific lead guard. Plays the game as a pro should- is patient, takes care of the ball, and has terrific court vision. Is in good shape and can score when needed.
Trever Hyatt (Guilford, 6’3″, G, SO)
Possibly the best shooter in the league. Saw him back to back nights and was impressed both times. Great body language and doesn’t get rattled. Showed the ability to get to the rim and score as well over taller shot blockers.
WyKevin Bazemore (Winston-Salem State, 6’4″, G, SR)
One of the top 3 overall scores I saw. Terrific one on one player who can score from the perimeter and at the rim. Does a good job of drawing contact and getting to the line. Should have a huge season at Winston-Salem State this year.
Aaron Rountree III (Wake Forest, 6’8″, F, JR)
Love his motor and energy. Excellent in transition. Capable of leading the break. Has a quick 2nd jump which combined with his timing and athleticism, makes him one of the best shot blockers in the league. Needs to continue to improve ability to hit open shots. His team won the championship for the 2nd year in a row.
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.
Strengths
High motor undersized PF who has a nose for the ball. Solid rebounder who is better then his final rebound total stated today in the box score. Solid post defender who has a good base and defends with out fouling. Quick hands defensively for a player his size. Tremendous help defender who drew several charges this game. Understands proper defensive positioning. Very impressed with his defense this game.
Offensively, Brooks struggled for most of the game, before finding some success late. His teammates didn’t do a great job of getting him the ball early on in the post. Solid agility and good strength inside on the block. Loves to go into the spin move- where he can spin either direction and finish w/ either hand. Drew the double team in the post most of this game, and did a solid job of not turning it over and getting it out early to the open perimeter player. Good ball handler with either hand, actually went right more times then he went left. Does a good job of finding the right angle and using creativity around rim to finish. Uses pump fakes and the glass to his advantage. Uses his body well to shield and create space to finish lay-ins. Draws contact well. Good footwork in the post.
Showed the ability to stretch the floor out to 3 point range. Can hit the open 3- lefty but has an unconventional stroke. Above average FT shooter – has improved in this area every year at Davidson. Good rotation on his shot. Has the ability to be a stretch 4 with his pick and pop ability
Weaknesses
His lack of athleticism and height hurts him the most and this hurt him on both ends today. I thought he could have demanded the ball more inside when he had post position. Struggled to finish in this game around the rim- couldn’t get anything going. Having a hard time finishing and scoring over the more athletic and taller Akil Mitchell and Mike Tobey.
I thought he could of run the floor better and he looked a little out of shape this game- could be an effect of him playing major minutes and having to battle bigger players on both ends. Although Brooks does an unbelievable job of being in the correct defensive position, his lack of height doesn’t allow him to adequately defend taller post players when they get position. “Tweener” – what position is he?
Overview
Brooks struggled this game scoring the basketball, but he continued to battle and play hard. Big issue is his lack of a true position. He is not quick enough to guard a SF, but is undersized to play the PF at next level, at least the NBA level. Not the best game Brooks has played as he struggled to score over taller defenders most of the game and battled repeated double teams, but he should dominate his conference this season and is poised for a breakout year. It would be nice to see Brooks at the PIT this season and see how he stacks up there- has a good chance in my opinion. Will definitely watch again this season. Will be a tremendous get for an overseas team as his rebounding and agility are covetable assets.
Strengths
Has tremendous size for the off-guard position (6’6”, 211 lbs)- towered over and looked bigger then whoever defended him tonight. His size allows him to get his shot off even when defenders contest his shot. Known as a knockdown set shooter from the 3-point line, Joe didn’t hit his first 3 until about a minute to go in the contest. Wake did a good job of running him off the 3 point line and making him put the ball on the floor, which he showed the ability to do several times tonight and go to his left or right in a straight line drive and finish.
His shooting is his best attribute offensively, however. His shot is pure and effortless. He has a quick and high release and factoring in that he is a legit 6’6”, he can get it off on just about anyone. Does a tremendous job of getting his feet and shoulders square to the rim every time he shoots- not just on his set shots, but also on shots off the dribble or when coming off of screens. He shoots on balance and can shoot the 1-dribble pull-up as well as set 3’s. Hit 2 big time 3’s with under 30 seconds to go to keep game tight and to pull VA with in 1. Showed the willingness to take and hit the big shot. He came into the game shooting 47% from 3 and 49% from the field. Above average FT shooter- only shot one this game, drops his hands on his follow through a little but is shooting over 75% from the line for his career, and it does not seem to effect his shot.
Does not have a great first step but is quick enough to get around his defender when they close out because of the respect he gets as a shooter. Has a quicker first step on offense that I would of thought coming in. Several times tonight he showcased some nice quick violent jab stabs that threw his defender off balance and allowed him to create separation from his defender to shoot or to get to the rim. CJ Harris for Wake stayed on him when he was in the corner rather then dropping to help. Turned his back nicely to the opposite baseline and went up strong to get the old- fashion 3-point play in first 2 minutes of game.
Moves well without the basketball. Made a couple of plays this game for teammates after attacking rim- Underrated passer- had several nice assists this game. Decent rebounder, showed some tenacity by sticking with his misses and usually rebounding his own miss. Got a big defensive rebound with 35 seconds to go off a FT by Wake.
Defensively, he showed good help side defense and impressed me w/ his activity level on the defensive end in general- even dived on the floor a couple of times to go for loose balls. Average lateral quickness, but did guard 3 positions tonight. Did a better job of defending Chase Fischer (Wake’s shooter) in the second half and not leaving him to help. Contests most shots on the perimeter with a high hand. At his best when he guards a slower 3 or a shooter 2.
Against Wake in this game he was much more then just a set shooter- defended and made plays for teammates.
Weaknesses
Limited on both sides of the ball because of below average speed and athleticism. Quickness was better then I would have thought, but would not say he was much better then average. Defensively he tends to over help at times- must know who is he is guarding- left a shooter a couple of times. He impressed me overall on the defensive side of the ball tonight, mostly because I though he was strictly a shooter, but he tends to come out of his stance at times and a player like him must stay low when guarding. He picked up 4 fouls this game because of having to use his hands a couple of times on the perimeter to keep quicker guards out of the paint. Closed out a couple of times too hard and actually did a decent job of recovering to contest the shot- but this got him into trouble a few times as well.
Capable of straight line drives but struggles to change speeds or directions with the ball. Not very comfortable dribbling the ball up the floor under pressure- must improve his ball handling.
His conditioning is above average (played a team high 34 minutes tonight), but he could improve this area to a degree – looked tired a couple of times with his hands on his knees, but he plays hard on every possession when he is on the floor.
Struggled tonight offensively shooting 5-14 from the field. After finishing his first drive on a lay-up with contact, he struggled to finish inside after Wake ran him off the 3-point line. Turned the ball over several times by over penetrating and losing his dribble.
Overview
Came into game tonight after scoring 19 points in a win over UNC. Leads team in ppg (15.3), asp (2.5), and 3ptFG% (47%) coming into tonight’s game. Also came into this game having scored in double-figures in 12 of the previous 14 games.
Was named Mr. Basketball in the state of Washington in 2010 in HS and was selected as the Gatorade Washington Boys Basketball Player of the Year. Also played football for 3-years in HS, which explains his strength level and toughness.
I believe that with his size and shooting ability, there is a place for Harris in the NBA. That depends on how much he improves over this summer and how he plays the rest of this year and his senior year next year. It also depends on if he can get into the right system at the next level. I see him as a corner 3-point specialist (every team can use one of those), who will also get after it on the defensive end. Being 6’6” and 210 lbs, he has NBA size to play the shooting guard now- has solid core strength and wont get pushed around at next level. Will most likely be 2nd or 3rd option at the off guard and will probably put in some time in the D-League as well. Would be worth a mid to late second round pick for some teams and definitely worth a summer league and/or training camp invite for most teams.
Strengths
Another solid game for Plumlee who has had a remarkable senior campaign at Duke so far this year. Plumlee’s number one strength is his athleticism. He had several dunks this game including a big one-handed throw down that was SportsCenter “Top 10” worthy. Quick leaper. He plays the game above the rim and this will translate well to the pros. Something else Plumlee does extremely well is rebound, especially this year averaging 11 rebounds per game. He uses his athleticism to explode to meet the ball rim level and secures boards w/ 2 hands. Gets practically every ball in his area on the defensive end, and he also rebounds the ball at a solid rate on the offensive end. Something I was impressed with this game was his ability to run the floor. Reminded me of watching Tyler Zeller from UNC run the floor last year- runs hard rim to rim and gets easy baskets this way. Always beats opposing bigs down the court and beats opposing guards at times as well. He has a great build and sets hard/wide screens.
Duke uses him mostly in P/R and post ups. He excels in the short corner and showed the ability to face up and score using the jab step and spin moves. Post offense has improved- showcased a nice left handed hook. Is a better passer out of the post then his 1 assist indicates- but he jumps in the air to make most passes. He is in excellent shape as he played practically the entire game and didn’t show any signs of being tired. High motor and he never quits. Leader on the floor- gets players together in huddles.
Weaknesses
Looking solely at the stat line and box score, there is little to critique based on Plumlee’s game tonight, but there are clearly areas where he must improve. The most glaring weakness in his overall game is his shooting. His jumper is flat and his release point is low- shot is exaggerated. He doesn’t have good form and is not confident in his shot, even hesitating to take open 15’ jump shots. His free throw shooting has improved significantly and he did well from the line tonight, but I would not call him a “good” FT shooter. Is barely over a 50% FT shooter for career, but is shooting 80% so far this season. Hit most of them tonight- has changed his routine to where he doesn’t dribble the ball at all and shoots. Shot needs a lot of work overall.
Offensively his post game is still raw, as he relies on his strength and athleticism to score. He has a drop step and a mini hook but that is about where it ends. Has a great build but struggled to secure deep post position this game. Also struggles to finish over athletic bigger players.
The other area of primary concern is on the defensive end. Defending the screen and roll, protecting the paint, and defending on the perimeter are areas he must improve in. He didn’t do a god job of showing on screens and getting back to his man- does a decent job hedging wide and stopping penetration- but its almost like fake hustle because he didn’t get back to his man quick enough allowing him to score. Needs to improve as shot blocker- with his athleticism should be blocking more then 1 shot- doesn’t even attempt to block the shot half the time and doesn’t protect paint like he should. He is a better on ball post defender then off the ball post defender and he struggled to defend on perimeter, which is something he is going to have to do playing the PF position at next level.
Overview
Plumlee is clearly the leader and best player on an undefeated Duke team. His rebounding and athleticism will translate well at the next level as well as his ability to run the floor. What I think scouts are over looking however is his in ability to shoot the ball and his defensive deficiencies. At the NBA level he is going to be asked to defend screens and defend on the perimeter, two areas of major concern for Plumlee. The majority of his scores come from his hustle for offensive boards, running the floor, and his athleticism. I believe he would be a solid offensive player who could get a team 8-10 points a night off the bench to go along with 6 or 7 rebounds. I see him being taken in the lottery, possibly top 10, but I do not think he is a top 10 player. I would draft him in the late first round or early second round.
I had the privilege again this year to scout the Overseas Basketball Camp in July (www.overseasbasketballcamp.com) which is a showcase event for college players who want to be seen by European coaches and agents. This was my third year scouting the event and this year it was held at the Tarkanian Basketball Academy in Las Vegas, NV.
Over 65 players attended the event hoping to secure a European contract and attract interest from teams. Many of these players played college basketball at the D1 level, had previous overseas pro experience, and some had D-League experience.
The top player in camp in my opinion was Christopher Ferguson (6-9, 200, SF, Mid-Continent University) who just finished his collegiate playing career this past season at Mid-Continent, an NAIA school in Kentucky. In his sophomore year at MCU, he set a school-record with 26 rebounds vs. Indiana-Southeast on Nov. 24, 2009, and grabbed 18 defensive rebounds, the second-most ever in an MCU game. By his senior year, he was averaging a double-double and leading his team in scoring.
I was just as impressed with Chris’s attitude, demeanor, and personality off the court as I was with his skills and attitude on the court. Chris garnered the interest of many of the agents and European coaches in attendance and is destined to have a successful pro career ahead overseas. He could be really special as he has the skills/body/potential/upside to attract interest from D-League and even some NBA teams for workouts/summer league.
Chris is a very long and athletic wing forward who can handle the ball and advance the ball in transition. He can score in one on one situations, is active on the glass, and moves with effortless, fluid movement. What stood out the most to me (amongst other things) was his ability at his size to defend on the perimeter, primarily against quicker, smaller players. Chris runs the floor hard and is excellent in transition, where he can finish above the rim. He blocks shots and could become prolific shot blocker and elite defender with his mobility, length, athleticism, and versatility. Is an above average shooter who can hit midrange and jumpers off the dribble as well as the occasional 3 pointer. He can break his man down and score and get to rim or pull up and shoot in the half court. If .he can add about 20- 25 lbs. of muscle- watch out.
Chris recently signed with BDA Sports Management (http://www.bdasports.com/), the same agency which represents over 25 NBA athletes and many overseas players. He currently has options to play in France or Spain for there respective 2nd division teams. Chris wants to be the best player he can be and maximum his potential. When asked what his goals were in basketball, he said, “I want to be the best defensive player in the world and win the defensive player of the year award in every league I play in.” This is not out of reach or far fetched, as Chris has the drive, skills, and athleticism to accomplish this goal.
