Game Scouted: Richmond @ Wake Forest

Wake Forest wins 82-53

Doral Moore, C, 7’1″, JR

Stats

25 min, 6-7 FG, 3-6 FT, 8 reb, 4 blocks, 1 assist, 1 TO, 15 TP

Strengths

You can see a big improvement in all areas from the last two years to this year for Moore from his confidence level to his offense and everything in between.  Starting with his body and conditioning, Moore has added muscle and strength. This extra weight has allowed him to hold his post position, finish inside, and hold rebounding position. He has great length and athleticism and can really finish above the rim. He has solid hands and can catch alley-oop passes from multiple angles and distances. Solid rebounder who will get a couple of pro level/above the rim rebounds a game.

Offensively, Moore is showing much more confidence and it seems to be growing by the game. He has good touch around the rim and has a nice turn around jump shot which is becoming his go-to post move. He also has a nice sweeping right nook which is impossible to guard. Richmond actually sent a double a couple of times when he caught it with his back to the basket and he didnt turn it over and made the cross court pass to the open man. He keeps the ball high on offense rebounds and finishes inside. Moore gets the majority of his baskets in the PnR or with his back to the basket on post ups.

Defensively, Moore uses his length and size to disrupt in the paint and is a presence. Good shot blocker and has gotten better staying straight up and not fouling.

Weaknesses

Needs to continue to improve conditioning and his ability to run the floor- it has gotten better but could improve. Defensively he tends to be out of position too much. His lateral speed and ability to rotate across the lane is concerning especially when it comes to projecting him for the next level (Defending the screen and roll/ Defensive 3 seconds rule).

Overall

If he can make the same improvement level jump next summer as he did this summer then I see Moore being drafted. I would project him as an early to mid 2nd round pick at this stage depending on how much more he improves. Has the size, length, and athleticism that makes him attractive to the pro game. I see him being a backup 5 in the NBA where he can give some rim protection and finish efficiently.

By James Blackburn

Tournament

Charleston Classic All Tournament Team

By James Blackburn

For the 5th straight year I was able to head to down to beautiful Charleston, SC to cover the Charleston Classic college basketball tournament.  Although the field of talent was not quite as good as the past few years, there was still a number of pro prospects here and some teams to watch out for as the season progresses. Temple, from the American Conference, defeated Clemson (ACC) in the championship team. Temple has size, athleticism, and several pro prospects– dont be surprised to see this team having a real shot at playing in March at the end of the year.

Here is my All-Tournament Team as well as Honorable Mentions from this years tournament below.

*List was made based on tournament performance alone

 

DeSean Murray, F, 6’3”, JR, Auburn

Workhorse in every sense of the word. Plays extremely hard, battles for rebounds, and goes for loose balls. Best offensive rebounder here. The Presbyterian College transfer 3 pt shooting has improved still needs to continue to improve in this area. To his credit he knows his role and doesn’t play outside his capabilities. Plays much bigger than his height. Solid European prospect.

Trey Porter, F, 6’10”, JR, ODU

Was consistent throughout the tournament and played big inside for Old Dominion. Pretty good athlete who plays with a high motor. Has really improved over the years at ODU. Stronger than he looks. Can score with his back to the basket, but needs to continue to improve his left hand. Is a good European prospect because of his ability to score and rebound the ball. G-League teams should also track him.

Obi Enechionyia, F, 6’10”, SR, Temple

One of the top pro prospects here at the Charleston Classic. Stretch 4 who can really shoot the ball from deep. Solid rebounder who can also protect the rim a bit. Not a bad athlete. Needs to improve motor. Skilled. Should be considered for the P.I.T. this year. Will have a shot to land on an NBA team because of his size and ability to shoot the basketball.

Quinton Rose, G, 6’8”, SO, Temple

Versatile and athletic wing who reminds me of Daniel Hamilton, a 2-way player for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Handles the ball very well for his size and can get to the paint where he can shoot the midrange or make plays for others. Shifty. Has a chance to be a pretty good defender, just needs to be in consistent effort on this end. His 3 point shooting needs to become more consistent but he can hit the corner 3 at this point and shot it well from deep in game 2. A player that NBA teams need to watch if they haven’t seen him already.

Donte Grantham, F, 6’8”, SR, Clemson

Talented and athletic forward. Tweener between the 4 and the 3. His 3 pt shot looks better this year and more consistent. Can handle the ball pretty well and can defend multiple positions. Needs to stay aggressive this season as his team will be relying on him heavily.

Darrell Davis, G, 6’5”, SR, Dayton

Confident scoring point guard who led the team in scoring in this tournament. Has a quick first step and can shoot the 3 ball. Showed the ability to get to the rim where he can finish with either hand. Solid European prospect and could find himself receiving a PIT invite if he has a big year in the A-10.

Shelton Mitchell, G, 6’3”, JR, Clemson

Best pure PG in the tournament in my opinion. Terrific playmaker who gets easy shots for his teammates. His a minor hitch in his shot but showed he could knock down the midrange pull-up as well as the 3. Terrific ball handler who can create space for himself. Changes speeds well and is a poised. Very quick 1st step and can finish at the rim.  Moves his feet defensively. Has a shot to be a 2-way NBA player if not better.

 

 

Honorable Mention

Jordan Dartis, G, 6’3”, JR, Ohio

Good shooter who can score it off the bounce as well.

Gavin Block, G, 6’7”, JR, Ohio

High IQ stretch 4 who plays hard and rebounds.

Kostas Anteokunmpo, F, 6’10”, FR, Dayton

Versatile player with a high motor. Terrific defender. High upside because of length and athleticism.

Eli Pemberton, G, 6’5”, SO, Hofstra

Talented and smooth player who can score it all all 3 levels.

 

Portsmouth Invitational Tournament

By James Blackburn

 

For the 6th straight year, I was able to attend the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in Portsmouth, VA (commonly known as the PIT). The overall field of players was one of the best I had seen in recent memory. Once again nearly every NBA team has personnel on hand to scout the action, in addition to multiple D-League and overseas teams. AJ English from Iona was crowned MVP after helping lead Roger Browns Restaurant team to win the championship. Below I have put together my All-Tournament team with brief reports beside each player. I also did some reports of other standout players.

 

All-Tournament Team

MVP : AJ English, G, 6’4”, Iona

Fluid and smooth PG can can create his own shot as well as making plays for others. Terrific ball handler and 3 pt shooter. Showed a nice floater too. Dont be surprised if English is on an opening day NBA roster.

Isaiah Cousins, G, 6’4”, Oklahoma

Solid player on both sides of the floor. Natural scorer who also did a nice job of playing some PG this tournament. Good shooter from both the 3 and mid-range. I can see him landing on an NBA roster this year.

Abdel Nader, F, 6’6”, Iowa State

Smooth and athletic wing who can score from all 3 areas. Had his best performance in day 1. I expect to see him getting good minutes in the D-League next season.

Thomas Walkup, G, 6’4”, Stephen F Austin

This kid does all the little things and is a winner. Helped lead his club to the championship. Unselfish player who did a nice job making plays for others. Strong slasher who can also hit the 3.

Ryan Anderson, F, 6’9”, Arizona

Had a terrific week and would of been my 2nd choice for the MVP award. Skilled and athletic big who is at his best 18′ and in. Uses angles well and understands different ways to score without being a shooting threat from the perimeter. Good rebounder and was able to finish with either hand. I would give a serious look at him for the next level, and I believe he will play some NBA games next season.

Isaiah Miles, F, 6’7”, Saint Joseph’s

Was 2nd in the tournament in scoring per game (19 ppg). Jump shot looked good all week and has a quick release especially for someone his size. Has good length. Should be a solid D-League guy.

Dorian Finney-Smith, F, 6’8”, Florida

Athletic wing who shoots a straight ball from the 3 pt line. Played excellent in 2 out of the 3 games. Can rebound the ball and advance it with the dribble. Underrated  passer who could find his way onto an NBA roster next season.

Bryn Forbes, G, 6’3”, Michigan State

Led the tournament in scoring. Possibly best shooter there who was not shy about putting up shots.

Melvin Johnson, G, 6’4”, VCU

Had a solid overall tournament. Played mostly on the ball and had some nice reads out of the PnR. Has a scoring mentality and was one of the top 3 pt shooters at the PIT.

 

Other Standouts

Nathan Boothe, F, 6’9”, Toledo

Nathan was solid all 3 games, with his best performance in game 1. He showed he could hit the NBA 3 off the pick and pop. Showed some good patience in the post. Rebounding and athleticism are his biggest question marks.

Michael Carrera, F, 6’5”, South Carolina

Hardest working player at the PIT this year. Love his motor, aggressiveness, and hustle. Coaches dream. Terrific defender both on and off the ball. Showed he could hit open 3.

Jameel McKay, F, 6’9”, Iowa State

Probably  led the tournament in dunks– shot over 56 % from the field for the week. Has a good motor and uses it on both ends. Overall offense is still a little raw but would be a good pickup for an overseas team who can take 3-5 Americans.

Egidijus Mockevicius, C, 6’10”, Evansville

Highly efficient skilled big who did a great job on the glass all week. Showed he can hit the mid-range open shot as well.

Gabe York, G, 6’3”, Arizona

Looked comfortable in the PnR. Tremendous on- ball defender. Is tough and competes. Can create his own shot at the end of the clock situations.

James Kelly, F, 6’8”, Marshall

Looked good all week and showed good energy on the boards and on defense. Didnt settle for many outside shots and was able to use his size and athleticism to get to the rim.

Trey Freeman, G, 6’2”, ODU

Overall had a very solid week and was one of the top 3 players in assists per game. Showed he could get his mid-range shot off against elite athletes and he took care of the ball as the PG. Definitely helped himself.

Mike Tobey, C, 7’0”, Virginia

Coming in Ill be honest, I didnt expect a lot out of Tobey, but after watching him play 3 games, I came away impressed. He might of helped himself as much as or more then anyone here. Showed he could hit the perimeter shot, rebound the ball on both ends, and defend without fouling. He didnt play outside his capabilities and was solid all 3 games.

Angel Rodriguez, G, 5’11”, Miami

Tough guard who uses screens very well. Gets others involved and is a solid on-ball defender. Needs to continue to improve his 3 point shot out to NBA range.

Alex Caruso, G, 6’5”, Texas A & M

High IQ player who did a nice job playing the PG position all week. Highly unselfish. Used his height and length to bother opposing guards.

Matt Costello, F, 6’9”, Michigan St

Smart player who knows how to set screens and what to do afterwards. Solid pick and pop shooter. Excellent rebounder. Wouldnt surprise me if he played a few NBA games next season from a 10 day.

Marcus Georges- Hunt, G, 6’5”, Georgia Tech

Underrated player but did a lot of good things. Good size and strength for a wing. Can hit the NBA 3 and finish in transition.

Andrew Andrews, G, 6’2”, Washington

Strong scoring combo guard who can create his own shot. Would be a perfect player for most European leagues.

 

Jack Gibbs

Jack Gibbs

By James Blackburn

Game Scouted: Davidson vs Rhode Island

Davidson wins 65-54

Jack Gibbs (6’0″, G, JR)

Stats: 36 min, 7-16 FG, 1-8 3pt, 2-3 FT, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 TO, 1 ST, 17 TP 

Strengths

We will start with Gibbs shooting and scoring because this is what Jack does a lot of. He doesn’t need a lot of room to get shot off. Has a compact shot and a super quick release. Can score with contact. Strong body- draws fouls at high rate. Can take contact well with a wide/strong body.  Creates space to get his shot off- tremendous rip through move. Can easily create his own offense. Changes speeds pretty well. Can score in the paint with pull-ups and floaters- his floater is what makes him so tough because he can get to paint practically at will partly because he is such a good shooter and partly because of the defensive rules. Very efficient scorer especially off the bounce.
Uses ball screens pretty effectively to score- attacks the rim and goes down hill off the ball screen. Pretty explosive going right. Can score in the half court and in transition. Does a nice job of probing the defense with the dribble and knows his scoring spots.
Passing ability has really improved since the first game I saw him play this year. Gets the ball up court pretty quickly either with the pass ahead or the dribble. Was making terrific reads this game off the ball screen hitting the screener with passes- if he rolled or slipped- both on the ball and off the ball screens set for him.

Defensively he is solid. He moves his feet and has good hands. Fights around ball screens. He is an excellent shape.

Weaknesses
Handle is a little loose and is TO prone. Even though he is passing the ball better, Id still like to see him be more of a playmaker off the dribble drive too- is always looking to score off the drive or attacking the basket- like to see him make more dump off passes and plays for the bigs.
Size hurts him on both ends, but especially when trying to finish all the way at the rim. Needs to improve left hand- not as explosive going left.
Shot selection needs to improve- settles for some contested 3’s but part of that is because he gets the ball at the end of the shot clock a lot. He is a better 3 pt shooter then his % shows but this is lower because of him taking too many contested shots.

Overview

Gibbs is having a terrific junior season. He entered this game averaging 25.3 points and 4.8 assists per game. He has scored 40 points or more 3 times this year and has gone for 35 or more 7 times, proving to be one of the best scoring guards in college basketball. If Gibbs can continue to improve his 3 pt % (Get it to low to mid 40’s next year) and his play-making ability, he could earn a spot in a training camp next year if all goes perfectly. He should definitely be a PIT invite and on a summer league roster after next season, baring any injuries.

A quick roundup of some of our BasketballElite.com scouts Tweets this week!

Charles Clark

Charles is the point man for the Fab 40 Eastern NC Regional, which is coming up March 26!

Ian Taylor

Tony Bruton

James Blackburn

Marcus Shockley

Sleeper Report

By James Blackburn

Game Scouted: Richmond vs Northern Iowa

Richmond Wins 82-67

Terry Allen (6’8″, F, SR)

Stats- 35 min, 8-13 FG, 4-5 3 pt, 1-3 FT, 7 reb, 2 assists, 5 steals, 4 TO’s, 21 TP

Strengths

Versatile player who can score the ball in a variety of ways. Reliable 3 pt shooter who can hit open 3’s- has solid arc on his shot especially for a player of his size. Capable of putting the ball on the floor for straight line drives and can push the ball on the break after a rebound. Pretty good passer who is highly unselfish. Good rebounder who will grab the ball in traffic. Has really active hands defensively and can defend multiple positions. Moves his feet pretty quickly on perimeter for a player his size. Solid post game- has a go-to move where he spins baseline and a terrific right hook shot. Has a strong frame and can finish with contact. 

 

Weaknesses

Allen was hitting his 3 tonight, but I dont know how well he will be able to get it off at the next level- slow release. Loose handle and is a bit TO prone. Is not the most athletic or explosive player and doesnt show a high motor at all times. Needs to hustle back defensively better. Solid college player, but is a tweener between a 3 and a 4– not quick enough to guard a 3 and not big enough to be a 4. Needs to improve his left hand.

 

Overview

Allen is leading the team in ppg with over 20 and had a huge game against nationally ranked Cal while playing in a Thanksgiving tournament in Las Vegas last week. Versatile do it all type player, who isn’t necessarily great at one thing but is capable of doing many things well and filling up the stat sheet. If he keeps up this pace of play all season, he should definitely be an A-10 1st Conference guy and be heavily favored to attend the PIT. Would be a serviceable D-League rotation player in my opinion and a real steal for many clubs in Europe.

Basketball Court

 

By James Blackburn 

Dozens of college coaches from all 3 levels of NCAA packed Proehlific Park on Saturday to watch over 30 HS teams compete on 3 courts. The games were competitive and there was a plethora of talent on hand.

I tried to watch as many teams as I could while there for over 7 hours. Below I have included my reports on players organized by high school in alphabetical order.

Calvary Baptist

Cameron Easter (2016, 6’6″, F)

Easter is a versatile and athletic wing who’s full arsenal was on display on Saturday. He can shoot it from the perimeter and finish above the rim on drives. He should see his recruitment increase after his performance.

Cannon School

Jairus Hamilton (2018, 6’8″, F)

Although he was the tallest and strongest player on the team, Hamilton played mostly point- forward today. He showed the ability to handle the ball, break down the defense, and kick to open shooters on the perimeter. He needs to continue to improve his body language and his effort on the defensive side of the ball. He didnt show the ability to knock down many perimeter shots, instead electing to attack the rim.

Charlotte Catholic 

BJ Mack (2019, 6’8″, F)

Mack isnt afraid to do the dirty work and embraces contact and inside play. He has a strong frame and can play with his back to the basket. Mack projects as a HM prospect.

Concord

Rechon Black (2018, 6’6″, PG)

Black was another big PG I saw today.  Not sure if this will remain his primary position going forward, but he did a good job of dribbling with his head up and getting to the FT line at a high rate. He is long and athletic and can hit open 3’s. Needs to continue to get stronger, but is tracking as a HM prospect.

Ray Kowolski (2016, 6’2″, G)

Ray plays with a lot of confidence and was one of the best shooters I saw today. He is patient with the ball and utilizes ball fakes. Strong. He has committed to SE Missouri.

Concord Prep

Jamari Benjamin/Nyheem Atkins (2016, 6’9″)

I didnt get to watch these twin towers play for very long but both of them are mobile athletic and long bigs who have good hands.

Cox Mill HS

Wendell Moore (2019, 6’5″, G)

Moore has possibly the highest upside of any player in attendance. He had a number of HM coaches scouting him while playing today. He is long and a decent athlete. He is a good ball handler who needs to continue to improve his left hand. Understands how to get other players involved and is unselfish. Has a college ready strong frame already which is scary- players were bouncing off of him on defense. Showed he can shoot from the outside. Can he defend high level PG’s is the question, but Moore has a bright future at the G slot.

Forsyth Country Day

Tripp Greene (2018, 6’1″, G)

Tripp continues to impress me every time I see him. His body has gotten stronger and he is more and more confident in his PG duties. He was one of the best 3 pt shooters in the gym and plays solid help side D. Colleges from all 3 divisions should monitor.

Bruno Solumon (2016, 6’9″, F)

Legit MM stretch 4 man who has a college ready frame and is mobile. Rebounds and passes the ball well. Has a high release on his shot and is willing to score inside as needed too.

Matty Edwards (2016, 6’5″, G)

One of my favorite players on the day, Matty is a coaches dream. He does the little things on both ends and works hard. He can shoot, dribble, and pass and is highly versatile. Good size for the 2/3 spot. Skilled and versatile.

Greensboro Day

JP Moorman (2017, 6’6″, F)

Possibly the best player on one of the deepest and best teams in attendance today.  JP is a terror to defend in the open court with his blend of size, strength, and athleticism. Played hard today and is a MM+ prospect.

Travon Mayo (2017, 6’4″, G)

Under the radar type player who has a high motor with a good frame. Attacks the rim aggressively.

Johnny Newman (2018, 6’5″, G)

Showed some good things while in game. Plays hard, athletic, and defends.

Independence HS

Victor Tshiona (2017, 6’5″, F)

Victor is a bruiser inside who loves the physical play. Solid scorer with his back to the basket. High motor player who was unstoppable around the basket today.

Justyn Hamilon (2017, 6’10”, F)

Long and athletic front court player who has a good shooting touch. Must continue to improve strength.

Jack Britt HS

Gerald Buncum (2017, 6’6″, F)

One of my favorite players I saw today. Buncum is mobile and is an aggressive shot blocker. Long. Has the ability to hit the 15′ J.

Kings Mountain

Jacob Skidmore (2016, 6’8″, F)

Long and lanky wing who is scrappy and a good defender and rebounder. Skidmore was solid all day and can shoot the midrange with consistency.

Josh Helton (2017, 6’8″, PF)

Helton is a strong post player who can score with his back to the basket. Showed he could pick and pop and hit the short corner J. Plays hard and attacks the rim. Good motor.

Lincoln Charter

Kody Shubert (2018, 6′, G)

Highlight reel with the ball and is fun to watch. Capable of playing either guard slot. Arguably the best shooter in the gym today. Defends and makes plays.

Millbrook HS

Faison Brock (2016, 6’6″, F)

Loved his energy and athleticism. Rebounds the ball and makes winning plays. D1 player.

Austin Cobb (2016, 6’4″, G)

One of the best 1 on 1 scorers I saw today. Really good with the ball in his hands- has the ball on a string. Can create for himself with an excellent hesitation dribble.

Mt. Tabor 

Cartier Wilks (2017, 6’6″, F)

Face up 4 man who rebounds the ball well and has good energy. Super long and is an aggressive defender.

Voyager Academy

Jay Huff (2016, 6’11”, F)

The UVA stretch 4 man showed a good skill set and soft touch from the perimeter. Needs to continue to improve on the defensive end and show a higher motor.

Westchester Country Day 

Marshall Lange (2016, 6’3″, PG)

Lange entered the day with only 2 D-2 offers and I believe that will change very soon with his solid play today. He has a strong upper body and a quick first step. He can shoot it with a quick release on the outside and can create off the bounce. Had several no-look passes today to cutters and has good vision. Contests shots on the defensive end- bumps cutters too.

Caymen Bennett (2016, 6’1″, G)

Plays bigger then 6’1″ with his length and athleticism. Needs to tighten up his handle but is solid in transition.

Word of God

Rawle Alkins (2016, 6’4″, G/F)

By far the strongest player I saw today, any position. Has a great frame with good shoulders- looks like a football player. Aggressive slasher who can change directions off the bounce. Struggled to defend quicker 2’s and 3’s on the perimeters- took poor angles on the closeouts and has slow lateral quickness. Low shooting release but is a college prospect.

Jalen Harris (2016, 6’2″, G)

Plays the game with a quite confidence. Fluid with effortless athleticism. Good perimeter stroke. The 2G has committed to Buffalo.

 

Rick Lewis Phenom 150

Phenom 150 Spring 2015
Phenom 150 organizer and scout Rick Lewis speaks to the players prior to team play.

I was able to attend the NC Phenom 150 showcase this year held at Forsyth Country Day School. There were over 200 players in attendance with plenty of talent on display. The PG and posts positions were each deep with talent and athleticism. I did my best to scout all 3 courts that were being utilized and below are some writeups of the top players I saw.

Class of 2015

Micah Smith (Eastern Wayne, 6’2″, SF)

Micah was one of the most impressive players in attendance here today. The unsigned senior who also plays football was dominant all day, getting buckets almost at will. Smith has a high motor which he uses to rebound the ball and defend multiple positions. He plays much better then 6’2″ and is an incredible athlete. Has a quick 2nd jump. Showcased a the ability to post up smaller players and had some fancy post moves and footwork to show-off. He can slash to the rim and is a threat in transition. Smith needs to continue to improve his shooting consistency and get stronger but Smith is someone coaches from all 3 college divisions should check out.

 

Class of 2016

DeShawn Patterson (Victory Christian, 5’11”, PG)

Easily a top 3 PG in attendance today, Patterson simply got wherever he wanted to on the offensive end of the floor. He is shifty and changes speeds well. He can re-create for himself and others and draws fouls at a high rate. He is a tremendous passer and has great court vision. Has great body control and is a D1 talent. Can hit the 3 but needs to improve range.

Hunter Ladler (Atlantic Shores, 6’2″, G)

Athletic and strong player who can play either guard position. High motor player.

Zavian Jackson (Burlington Cummings, 6’2″, G)

Big time athlete who can finish above the rim and bring energy to a team.

Charles Norman (Prominance Academy, 6’3″, G)

One of the best dunkers and most explosive players in attendance. Strong and a Westbrook type player. Needs to tighten up his handle.

Kevin Schmitt (Trinity Christian, 6’7″, C)

True back to the basket big. Has a great hook shot. Good hands and is efficient. A little slow.

Michal Seals (High Point Christian, 5’11”, PG)

Can play the P/R and has tremendous vision. High motor PG. Sees the floor well and is unselfish.

 

Class of 2017

Ubong Okon (Prominance Academy, 6’10”, F/C)

One of the top bigs in attendance today. Runs the floor well and has ton of potential. Has good hands and is efficient inside. Can finish in P/R above the rim. Needs to improve back to basket game but is a MM prospect.

Omari Wilson (Fayetteville 71st, 6’3″, G)

Can finish with contact and is tough. Great slasher who can get to rim in minimum dribbles. Good athlete who can hit the 3.

Justin Rhode (Christ School, 5’11”, G)

One of the best pure scorers I saw today. Good footwork and utilizes ball fakes.

Donaldson Fanord (Ft Mill, 6’7″, F)

Big guy with potential who can face the basket. Mobile. Has a solid back to the basket game.

Mason Hawks (North Surry, 5’11”, PG)

True PG who was consistent throughout the day. Unselfish player who gets teammates good shots. Solid ball handler.

 

Class of 2018

Cody Shubert (Lincoln Charter, 5’11”, PG)

I had never seen Cody before today and I left a big fan. He was arguably the top PG in attendance today and was able to make his teammates better throughout the day. He reminded me of Jason Williams in many ways and was fun to watch. He has the ball on a string and an excellent crossover dribble. Has a high IQ and is unselfish. Highlight reel with the ball.

Drew Greene (Chapel Hill HS, 5’11”, PG)

High IQ player who defends and plays hard. Has good length. Shooting needs improvement but definitely stood out today.

Andreas Fuller (Village Christian Academy, 6’5″, SF)

Versatile wing who can lead the break, pass the ball, and shoot from the outside. Has good potential. Needs to improve consistency and motor.

Jordan Parks (North Carolina Central) basketball

Photo: STEPHEN M. KATZ/AP

By James Blackburn

Game Scouted: NC Central vs Delaware State

Box Score 

Jordan Parks (F, 6’7″, SR)

Stats

28 min, 2-5 FG, 9 rebounds, 1 block, 4 TP

Strengths

Good frame with excellent length- has a frame that should be able to add more muscle weight easily. Can put the ball on the floor in straight line drives.

Stays active on the offensive boards and gets a lot of his offense from putbacks.

Big time athlete who can really excite the crowd with above the rim plays.

Solid defensive player who can switch ball screens or hard hedge. Quick enough laterally to guard on the perimeter. Excellent rebounder overall who has had multiple double-digit rebounding games this season. Is active on the defensive end.

Is a highlight maker on both ends. Efficient player who can finish in the paint and doesnt need the basketball to impact the game in a positive manner. Good toughness.

Weaknesses

Is a bit limited offensively. Struggles to change directions off the bounce and must continue to improve jump shot. FT shooting needs to get more consistent.

Tweener player- not skilled enough to be a true 3 but still lacks the strength to battle stronger back to the basket 4’s.

Would like to see him be more aggressive on the offensive end.

Overview

Not the best performance for Parks tonight who didnt look 100% after taking a charge early on. To his credit he battled through the pain and was still able to grab 9 rebounds and also get the crowd excited after a big alley-oop finish. Is currently averaging 14 ppg, 7 rpg, and over a steal and block a game. He is an efficient player who doesnt need the ball to impact the game. Parks is a true team player who is a winner. He will be a player that European teams will like with his combination of athleticism, length, and rebounding abilities.

 

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!

Kendall Gray (Delaware State) basketball

By James Blackburn

Game Scouted: Delaware State @ NC A & T

Delaware State wins 67-52

Box Score

Kendall Gray (C, 6’10”, SR)

Stats

34 min, 4-7 FG, 2-2 FT, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks, 1 TO, 10 TP

Strengths

Terrific shot blocker who controls the paint. Gets most of his blocks from the weak-side partly because of his athleticism but mainly because of his good timing. Stays down and creates a wall until offensive player goes into his shot then he jumps for the block.

Grabs rebounds with 2 hands and controls it. Rebounds in traffic and is strong with the ball. Talks and directs traffic on the back side of the zone. Showed he could close out on shooters and move his feet.

Capable of knocking down the midrange jumper from different areas including the elbow and corner. Has a soft touch and a good looking stroke. Good FT shooter for a big man. Underrated skill level- solid passing skills and is a good shooter for a big man 15′ and in.

Solid back to the basket game. Loves to go into slide dribble moves where he can spin move, right hook, or the up and under.

Unselfish player who will pass out of the double team and then repost. Doesnt complain even when a teammate misses him.

Weaknesses

Is a mobile big man, but doesnt run the floor extremely well, he doesn’t have long strides- is more of a shuffle.

Needs to be more aggressive offensively and demand the ball- allows himself to be fronted and taken away in the post too easily.

Overview

Is currently averaging a double-double to go along with 3 blocks per contest. Skilled bigs who can also block shots and rebound are not easy to find, and that what Gray does. He should receive an invite to the Portsmouth Invitational and with a solid showing could earn an invite to the NBA Summer League.

 

 

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!