Indianapolis will serve as the site for the 2021 NBA All-Star Game, the league announced on Wednesday. The game will be held at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, home of the Indiana Pacers. The city is hosting the event for the first time since 1985, when it was played at the Hoosier Dome. Continue reading “Indianapolis to host 2021 NBA All-Star Game”
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Cavaliers G Shumpert undergoes knee surgery
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Iman Shumpert had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Friday and will miss six to eight weeks, according to the team. Team physicians, Dr. Richard Parker and Dr. James Rosneck performed the surgery at the Cleveland Clinic. Continue reading “Cavaliers G Shumpert undergoes knee surgery”
Louisville: Player tied to Pitino firing will not play for Cardinals
Louisville announced Wednesday that freshman Brian Bowen, tied to the Rick Pitino firing and one of the players at the center of the FBI probe into corruption in college basketball, will never play for the Cardinals. Continue reading “Louisville: Player tied to Pitino firing will not play for Cardinals”
As only Israeli in NBA, Omri Casspi tries to be ‘best ambassador’ he can
By Jon Marks PHILADELPHIA — A new team, new city, new culture — and best of all, a new baby. Life couldn’t be much better these days for Omri Casspi, the only native Israeli currently playing in the National Basketball Association. Continue reading “As only Israeli in NBA, Omri Casspi tries to be ‘best ambassador’ he can”
The YMCA’s great history: More than just basketball
The U.S. Census Bureau statistics (2009) report that over 24 million Americans play basketball and over 10 million Americans play volleyball. Did you know basketball and volleyball were invented by instructors at the Young Men’s Christian Association – YMCA? Continue reading “The YMCA’s great history: More than just basketball”
Cleveland Cavaliers hold “air-it-out” meeting
After a surprisingly slow start to the 2017-18 season, the Cleveland Cavaliers held a lengthy team meeting on Tuesday to address their struggles. The Cavaliers (3-4) have struggled on the defensive end through their first seven games of the season as they currently rank 27th in the NBA after giving up 109.8 points per 100 possessions. Continue reading “Cleveland Cavaliers hold “air-it-out” meeting”
Sixers rookie Fultz to miss three games
Philadelphia 76ers guard Markelle Fultz will miss the next three games due to discomfort in his right shoulder, the team announced Wednesday. Fultz, who was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2017 draft, will miss Wednesday’s home game against Houston as well as road contests versus the Dallas Mavericks (Saturday) and Rockets (Monday). Continue reading “Sixers rookie Fultz to miss three games”
Move over cricket, basketball has big plans in Australia
Australia’s “sleeping giant” National Basketball League launches its 40th season next month with ambitious plans of supplanting cricket as the sports-mad country’s number one summer game. NBL owner Larry Kestelman, who is looking to cash in on the record number of Australians starring in the NBA, said there had never been a better time for the… Continue reading “Move over cricket, basketball has big plans in Australia”
A Way Too Early Intro: Cole Gilbert, 6’7” 190 C, 8th Grade
ATTENTION! Just making sure whoever is reading this doesn’t miss this part. 8th grade is too soon to project a player for the college level, at least for the most part. Unless they are extraordinary, it probably isn’t ideal to make a projection. I understand that. With that being said again, don’t expect a projection in this player intro. However, don’t be shocked to hear plenty about this kid in middle school this year and in high school every year until he graduates in 2021.
Cole Gilbert is a 13 year old 6’7” (for now) 8th grader that attends Ocracoke Middle School in Ocracoke, NC. It’s a relatively small island on the coast. It’s typically known as a great vacation and tourist spot. However, it isn’t often that a kid with such immense size, work ethic and potential comes along in such a small area as such. Gilbert will be one to track in Ocracoke over the years to come.
On the court, as the case is with most young big men, Cole is raw. However, his knowledge of the game is there, his mentality to strive to be great is there and his work ethic is impeccable. Coach DeAngelo Spruill of Garner Road likes what he has seen from Gilbert during competition. “Cole is a big boy! He’s a willing worker, has decent footwork and he doesn’t quit. Has a work ethic.” said Spruill when asked his thoughts of Cole.
Ocracoke isn’t known as a hoops hotbed. However, over the past couple of years current high school Coach Dave Allewalt and a slew of others have been doing a wonderful job building up the sports programs on the island starting with the youth. Cole is one of those kids who has come up in the program and has been working extremely hard on his game and adjusting to his body. He could certainly in time make his mark and bring more attention to a growing Ocracoke basketball program.
He’s currently sporting a size 16.5 shoe, just 13 years young and rapidly growing. Size, youth and a great work ethic typically make for an excellent post prospect in due time. It’s going to be fun watching the development of Cole over these next few years. Remember the name.
You read it here first.
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This is the 2nd of what will be 5 installments of the “A Way Too Early Intro” series. Stay tuned.
A Way Too Early Intro: Dontrez Styles, 6’4” SG, 8th Grade
Yes. 8th grade is too soon to project a player. I hear you and I understand clearly. Making projections of kids in middle school is out of bounds and too soon. I get it. Now, with that being said, don’t expect a projection in this introduction. However, you can expect to hear plenty about this kid in middle school this year and in high school every year until he graduates in 2021.
Dontrez Styles attends Woodington Middle School in Kinston, NC. He is currently standing at 6’4” inches tall, with plenty of room to continue growing. He has good size for the wing, good length, budding athleticism and plenty of skill to compliment his size on the wing. Potential is there to develop into a productive player early on once he makes it to high school.
During the AAU season with Kinston Heat, he played up at several tourneys and showed the ability to create off the dribble, knock down shots, rebound the ball, get to the rim and used his length defensively to bother shooters. He did quite a bit of growing over the summer as well, so it will be interesting to see how his body has adjusted when the middle school season comes around.
His main strength right now would be his shooting ability. However, it’s apparent he’s had good coaching, because he doesn’t fall in love with his jump-shot as most young players tend to do at his size. Styles makes it an issue to attack the basket, mixes it up off the dribble and he gets after it on the glass. Some key things to improve on would be his ability to read defenses aimed to frustrate him and of course continuing to improve his rapidly growing body frame over the next few years.
Remember the name for future references. All of the tools are there for him to become a high level prospect over the next 5 years. If he continues to work hard, improve and produce, the sky is the limit. It’s going to be fun to watch how he progresses.
You read it here first.
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This is the first of what will be 5 installments of the “A Way Too Early Intro” series. Stay tuned.
All photo credits belong to Buds Photography.