Adidas may have dropped its deal with the NBA for the official jersey sponsor, but they are still all in on the grassroots and AAU scene, announcing the Adidas Gauntlet Series dates yesterday. These events should be loaded with top level talent that should rival Nike’s EYBL.
There are 3 events listed in the Gauntlet series, including swings through Dallas, Indianapolis and Atlanta.
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
“Bubble Team” is a term that gets heavy use starting around mid-February and peaks on Selection Sunday every year, when the NCAA Selection Committee has to decide which of the teams who have no chance of winning a title had a ‘good enough’ season to be included in the Big Dance, a.k.a. the NCAA Tournament.
But the importance of Bubble Teams is negligible, and once the first weekend of the tournament tips off, dubbed ‘March Madness’ primarily because of the massive amount of games and unexpected upsets in the opening days, nobody thinks about “Bubble Teams” any more. At that point, a team is either in or not, and there’s any team left out just has a ‘burst’ bubble.
But there is a phenomenon which occurs annually in the NCAA tournament which gets little coverage but is far more important in the overall basketball scheme of things, and that is the fact that individual players can go from (relative) obscurity to national prominence in a few games. Some have gone from regional stars to NBA first rounders with a stratospheric performance in the tournament. Recent examples include Steph Curry and Kemba Walker, both who were considered to be having solid collegiate seasons but landed themselves on the NBA radar following their highlight reel games.
So, who in this year’s tournament may take themselves from a solid college player to a possible pro career? It’s hard to predict, but consider that a player doesn’t have to land in the NBA to get paid to play, and players who play at the highest levels of foreign leagues make significant salaries as well. Playing well in the annual NCAA Tournament is creating a ‘sizzle reel’ that can be sold to teams overseas pretty easily, especially if the player has the size to compete in the post.
As the games continue through the first weekend, we may start getting some names shaking out that qualify, but guys like Zach Auguste (PF, 6’10”, Junior) for Notre Dame is a player who was barely ranked as a Top 100 player coming out of high school, and yet played toe-to-toe this season against the likes of likely one-and-done and potential #1 pick Jahlil Okafor and took on a deep UNC big man lineup by himself. A deep run for Notre Dame could be just the ticket to set up Auguste for a pro look.
Other players, like Wisconsin’s center Frank Kaminsky is already considered an NBA prospect, but most analysts have him as a mid-to-late first rounder. If Wisconsin makes a deep run, which is likely, scouts and national media will get a better look at Kaminsky’s multiple offensive moves in the post and ability to stroke the deep ball.
I love watching some players come into their own during tournament time; normally, it’s not that the player suddenly arrives at March Madness and turns into a superstar; the fact is generally, those players were already having stellar seasons but weren’t getting national recognition and weren’t playing in front of a national audience. You’d think that playing against Duke and other high majors, and being the son of a former NBA player would have put Steph Curry more on the NBA radar, but leading his Davidson team deep into the tournament with spectacular performances are what suddenly made the pros start paying attention. Click here for more information https://roadtoreno.com/.
I’d love to do follow up pieces on this during the tournament and start seeing who emerges. While it may be someone who college basketball fans already know, it could just as well be someone whose school doesn’t play on national television all season.
Stay tuned.
Event: Hoopseen Elite Preview 2015
Date: March 14, 2015
Location: SSA Cobb (Cobb County, GA)
Players: Georgia’s classes of 2016, 2017, and 2018.
The Elite Preview was an invite only one-day showcase of Georgia’s best talent in the 2016, 2017, and 2018 classes hosted by HoopSeen. The Preview consisted of skills and drills as well as 3 games for each player. It was a great opportunity for Georgia’s best to showcase their game. Here are some of the players that stood out on the day:
Alterique Gilbert (2016, Guard, 5’11”) Miller Grove High School, CP3 – National Rank: ESPN60 #44*; State Rank: Hoopseen #2**) If I’m looking for players out of the Elite Preview, I have a hard time taking many guys over Alterique Gilbert. The 6’0” combo guard is a 2-time state champion. He can score from all over the court with a variety of moves. Very crafty scorer with a variety of floaters, runners, etc. that are all effective. Can pull up off the dribble, and also gets to the hoop very well. Be careful as he will dunk on you in a split second if you get caught slipping on defense, as was evidenced at the Preview with a few monster dunks. He’s tough as nails and isn’t afraid of the big moment. Alterique currently holds offers from UConn, Illinois, Texas Tech, Univ. So. California (USC), Georgia, Maryland, Miami, Memphis, Florida St., Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, Cincinnati, Texas A&M, Auburn***.
Wendell Carter (2017, Forward, 6’10”) Pace Academy, SE Elite, ESPN25: 10- Overall Carter was the most physically imposing player in the gym, though not as tall as 7’1″ Ikechukwu Obiagu (more about him later), Carter has the overall size and stature that allows him to dominate the paint. Carter’s value lies not only in his size, as he also has great moves and footwork in the post and a soft touch. Can knock down the jumper, score down low, and gets putbacks on offense. Good defender and rebounder as well. Should be on the radar for every HM by the time it is done. Currently holds offers from: Texas A&M, Kansas State, Murray State, Auburn, Georgia
D’Marcus Simonds (2016, Guard, 6’3”) Gainesville HS, Scout Top 100: #80****, Hoopseen: #3- Can do it all on the court and he’s not afraid to let you know. Usually in a fun competitive way, but if D’Marcus feels slighted he will go “Beast Mode” and take over a game in every way possible. Can take it to the rack strong; pull up from 3 on the break and everything in between. Has the positional size at 6’3″ 185lb to be a very effective and tough matchup as a guard at the next level. Verbally committed to Miss St.
Chuma Okeke (2017, Forward, 6’7”) Langston Hughes HS, Georgia Stars 16U – Plays a quiet game, but gets it done in a ton of ways. Has great size to be a college 3 and the skills to match. Can handle the ball well, knocks down the 3, and has the size and skills to drive to the hoop and make contested shots. Rebounds the ball well on both ends. He’ll be on a lot of schools wish list by the time it’s all done. Currently has an offer Florida St.
Malik Beasley (Non-participant, 2015, G, Florida State signee) Oh yea, Malik Beasley is a stud. Beasley wasn’t there to participate in the event as it wasn’t open to the class of 2015, but during the breaks in the games and after the event, Beasley put on a show with his shooting and dunking exhibitions. You could tell the younger players were in awe of him. The best part about Beasley, however, is that he wasn’t only there to put on a show, he sat at the scorers table all day by himself running the score board. Shows his love of the game and lot of character from him to choose to spend his Saturday sitting in a hot crowded gym as a volunteer only two weeks after becoming a repeat state champion with Saint Francis HS. Much respect. Florida St is getting a special player, and I hope they enjoy him while they have him. I won’t be surprised to see him gone in a year or two.
Brian Coffey (2017, Point Guard, 6’1”) Greater Atlanta Christian, Game Elite- Handles the ball well and knows how to run a team. He’s a good leader of a team and offense. Can find the open man and make the pass, and can also score in multiple ways with pull-ups, runners, and floaters. He’s still developing physically and athletically, but potential is there to be a very solid guard at the next level.
James Banks (2017, Forward/Center, 6’10”) Mount Vernon HS- High Major size and personality. Great kid with a good attitude and demeanor that will be a positive to any team he plays for and he’s very coachable. Developing himself physically into a player that can be effective in the post at the next level, but has an athletic enough build and body control to eventually be able to step out and spread the floor. Knocked down mid range jumpers and scored inside effectively on the day. Could see his recruitment blow up this summer. Currently holds offers from Georgia Southern and Tulsa, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Nebraska, South Carolina, Clemson, and Univ. of So. California.
Khavon Moore (2018, Point Forward, 6’7”) Macon-Westside HS- He’s a do it all forward. Incredibly skilled for his size and age. He can handle the ball, run a team, and gets buckets inside and out. He’s going to be a big time player as long as he puts in the work. Potential is there to be the best player in Georgia’s 2018 class. Currently holds an offer from Troy.
Justin Forest (2017, Guard, 5’10”) Greenforest Christian Academy, Team Forest- Bulldog of a guard that will bully players with his strength and determination. Can knock down the 3 consistently. Good handles and can run the point, but has a 2-guard mentality. Has the potential to win the award for player that opponents hate playing against the most (aka love him as a teammate hate him as an opponent guy), which is a good thing and he uses it to his advantage.
Brandon Robinson (2016, Guard, 6’5”) Douglas County HS, Georgia Stars, Hoopseen: #4- Do it all guard that can handle the ball as well as score from all levels. Has good ball handling skills and the ability to score off the dribble or knock down the spot up jumper. He currently holds offers from Clemson, Louisiana Tech, Georgia Tech, Auburn, Alabama, Texas Tech, Georgia, Maryland, Florida State, Tennessee, North Florida, and Tulsa.
Ikechukwu “Ikey” Obaigu (2017, Center, 7’1”) Greenforest Christian Academy, Georgia Stars 16U- He changes every game he plays in with his size down low. Not only does he block a ton of shots, he also makes every player on the court think twice about entering the paint. Has potential to be a good player on the offensive end. During drills, you can see that he has the basic skills, footwork, and body control to be an effective offensive post player, but right now it hasn’t transferred into games. Described by multiple people as extremely coachable. Will draw interest from HM’s across the country. Currently holds an offer from Kansas State
Victor Enoh (2017, Power Forward, 6’8”) Greenforest Christian Academy, Georgia Stars 16U- Aka Debo. For anyone that has seen the movie Friday that is what Victor reminds me of on the court. He just has the size and athleticism that intimidates opponents. Works extremely hard in the game and likes the contact in the paint. His offensive game has a ways to go, but he will get a lot of interest from HM’s based on his potential to be an enforcer in the paint and on the glass. Think Kenneth Faried. Currently holds an offer from Kansas State.
Aaron Augustin (2016, PG, 5’11) Peachtree Ridge HS, Atlanta Xpress 17U, Hoopseen: #21- He looks like he could play corner back. A point guard that is great at running a team. He will be a leader on the court immediately and has that point guard personality that all coaching staffs love and all teams need. Can penetrate effectively and dish or shoot. Jumper is solid and deep range is developing as well. Reminds me of a mid major Yogi Ferrell. Currently holds offers from Furman, Middle Tennessee State, Mercer, Georgia State, and Georgia Southern.
Christian Turner (2016, PG, 5’11) Sandy Creek HS, Heat Check- See Aaron Augustin’s review as Christian has many of the same attributes that Augustin brings to the table. He’s consistent and knows how to run a team and be a true PG. Can score when called upon, but is a distributor first. Currently holds offers from Winthrop and Old Dominion.
Abayomi “Baybe” Iyiola (2017, Forward, 6’9”) Greenforest Christian Academy, Georgia Stars 16U- You’re not going to find anyone that outworks him on the court. He has an impact on the game with his defense and rebounding. Has the potential to defend all positions. Offense has a long way to go in game play, but shows a ton of potential in drills. His jump shot is incredibly soft out to 15 feet for a player his size, especially one that has only played basketball for 3 years. Has the potential to be a very effective small forward at the next level, but his offensive development over the next few years will determine the level of interest he draws. He should be on the radar of MM’s at a minimum, and has the potential to be recruited even higher.
Drue Drinnon (2018, 6’1”, PG) East Jackson HS, Georgia Stars 15U- One of 2018’s best PG’s in the country, he’s coming off a fantastic high school season. His matchup up against Alterique Gilbert was highly anticipated and he looked very composed and played well against one of 2016’s best PG’s. He’s a good scorer that can step out to the 3 point line and was an excellent ball handler. Currently holds an offer from the University of Georgia.
Mohammed Abdulsalam (2018, 6’8”, PF) Greenforest Christian Academy, Georgia Stars- Had one of the biggest bodies at camp and he uses his size effectively in the interior. Has good footwork and post moves for his size and age. Potential is there to develop into one of those strong physical bodies that will allow him to be an effective offensive and defensive player. A lot of potential with his combination of skill, size, and age.
Danny Lewis (2017, 6’4”, PG) Westlake HS, Georgia Stars 16U- Has grown a few inches since last summer and looked like he was growing into his body. Ran the point and controlled the tempo well. Knocked down some nice outside shots. Has the potential to be a very good scoring point guard. Developing into great size for a PG.
Rashaun Hammonds (2017, Forward, 6’8”) Norcross HS, Atlanta Xpress 16U- He was the name I heard the most among the crowd. Very skilled big man that has the potential to be an impactful player at the HM level. He’s a mismatch problem as he can score from anywhere on the court in a variety of ways. Had a very impressive season for Norcross and has the potential to blow up this spring/summer.
Lance Thomas (2017, Forward, 6’8”) Norcross HS- Another versatile forward from Norcross. Has size and skill level that will draw a lot of college interest. Was one of the best 3-point shooters at the entire event. Has the potential to be a matchup nightmare at the High School level the next few years and should transition well at the college level.
Zach Cooks (2017, PG, 5’7”) Norcross HS, Southern Stampede- He knocked down shots all day from all over the court. His quickness allows him to get his shot off and he doesn’t need more than a slight opening to get his shot off. Knocked down the 3-point shot as well as anyone at the Preview yesterday. Don’t underestimate him because of his size, after all Georgia just had a really good undersized guard commit to play in the SEC.
Jordan Lyons (2016, Guard, 5’11”) McIntosh HS, Heat Check – Hoopseen: #29 He is one of the best shooters in any gym that he steps into no matter the setting. Has developed his body and athleticism to the point where he can also effectively attack the basket. His ability to spread the floor will be a huge benefit to any program. He can assume some of the ball handling responsibility when called on, but has a lot of experience off the ball. Currently holds offers from Abilene Christian, Wofford, Liberty, Tennessee Tech, Old Dominion, Troy, and Middle Tennessee.
Deaundre Ballard (2017, SG/SF, 6’4”) Southwest Atlanta Christian, Georgia Stars 16U – A strong guard that is great at creating his own shot. He’s able to pull up off the dribble and knock down the jumper as well as finishing well at the hoop. Hit multiple mid range and deep jumpers at the Preview. He has the positional size to become a good defensive player at the next level. Played hard all day.
Robert Baker (2016, SF, 6’9”) The Walker School- Although Baker is slight of frame; he’s very effective on the court. Has very impressive skills for his size. He knocked down several mid range and 3 point jumpers. He was also able to create his own show inside off the dribble and finished well at the rim. Currently holds offers from Rider, Clemson, Davidson, George Mason, Richmond, Tennessee Tech, Vanderbilt, UAB, and Texas A&M.
Also want to give a big shout out to Justin Young and the HoopSeen staff for providing a great platform for the players to get exposure and the opportunity for evaluators to see a ton of talent in one gym on one day. The coaching staff was great and you could tell they were coaching to win. Several of the areas top AAU programs were represented and there were national scouts evaluating the talent. Overall it was a great event and an enjoyable day of basketball. I would recommend anyone interested in Georgia high school basketball to mark this on your calendar for next year.
—
Trinity Best is an attorney in Atlanta, Georgia that covers High School Basketball events and recruiting. He is the owner of Trinity Best Sports, LLC, which advises players and families on the recruiting process while also helping players gain exposure and consults with basketball coaches on their career objectives, contract negotiations and recruitment of players.For more information follow @bballtrinity on Twitter or email trinitybestsports@gmail.com.
My first time seeing Brandon Ingram play was during his sophomore year at Kinston H.S during the Eastern Regionals of the NCHSAA tournament, led by star Point Guard Josh Dawson.
Brandon was clearly the most intriguing prospect on the squad, as he was a 6’7 wing that could shoot the ball well with sneaky athleticism and loads of potential. After watching him play I wrote down a lot of words and notes about him but one main statement that was written really sticks out to me today, ‘’ the next Kevin Durant’’.
Little did I know that his off the court actions would resemble that of the humble superstar Kevin Durant just as much as his on the court play and even his slender frame. Kinston would go on to repeat as state champions and the following year would win again to make it 3 rings in 3 years for the young fella.
Well let’s fast forward to the summer prior to his senior season for Kinston HS, in July ECI in Jacksonville, NC takes place, which is an event for high school teams to attend and scrimmage against each other over a span of three days. Although the camp is great for teams there are many players who miss the camp to attend AAU events, especially the Division 1 prospects, however Ingram attended ECI with his teammates to try and get an early start on preparation for another state championship and to spend time with his squad.
Many times the higher a player is rated, the more of an ego that player will have, but this is definitely not the case for Ingram. Time and time again he has impressed me with his selfless attitude and the way he puts his teammates before himself, whether he’s diving on the floor for a loose ball, encouraging a teammate after they make a mistake, cheering for them while he is on the bench, or even keep a straight face when the announcer at Eastern Regionals calls you ‘‘The Slim Reaper’’ during introductions.
Simply put, Brandon does all the small things that you love for any player on your team to do but especially if it’s your star player, One moment during this season stood out to me above all the rest, Kinston had just suffered a loss to Goldsboro despite 31 Points from Brandon on the night.
After the game my twitter timeline was absolutely insane with everyone discussing what had just had happen, but Brandon only had six words to say ‘‘on the way to the gym’’. That type of attitude and work ethic helps us all to understand how this young man finished with 4 state championship rings and scholarships from basically every top college basketball program in the country. It shows that you don’t have to be a selfish superstar to be successful and that hard work and determination will pay off in the end. So to all the young athletes please remember that it’s not about me, it’s about we, put your team first, work hard, and everything else will fall into place.
—-
Want more scouting notes? Follow Charles Clark on Twitter, right this second @CHC3
ST. LOUIS (USBWA) – The U.S. Basketball Writers Association will present the 2015 Integris Wayman Tisdale Freshman of the Year Award to Duke center Jahlil Okafor. The award – a statuette designed by nationally-recognized sculptor Shan Gray – will be presented to Okafor at the Devon Energy College Basketball Awards on Tues., April 14 at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.
As the national freshman of the year, Okafor has led the Blue Devils to a 29-4 record and the No. 1 seed in the South Regional of the upcoming NCAA Tournament. He is the second consecutive winner from Duke, following Jabari Parker a year ago.
In addition, the Oscar Robertson Trophy – given to the USBWA’s national player of the year – and the Henry Iba Coach of the Year Award will be presented at the banquet to be held annually the week following the NCAA Men’s Final Four.
 |
| Okafor |
Okafor, a 6-11, 270-pound true freshman from Chicago, is the USBWA’s District III Player of the Year and the first freshman to be named the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Player of the Year. He leads the Blue Devils and ranks among the top five in the ACC in scoring (17.7), rebounds (9.0) and field goal percentage (.669) as he attempts to become the first freshman to lead Duke in all three categories.
Okafor has recorded 11 double-doubles and 12 20-point games this season. His 28 straight double-digit scoring games, achieved earlier this season, is a freshman conference record. Eight times this season Okafor was named ACC Rookie of the Week and the weeks of Dec. 14, 2014, and Jan. 4, Okafor was named the Wayman Tisdale National Freshman of the Week by the USBWA.
In addition to selecting Okafor as the national freshman of the year, the USBWA chose four other first-year standouts for its 2015 Freshman All-America Team. This is the third season that the USBWA has chosen a Freshman All-America Team. Okafor and Ohio State’s D’Angelo Russell were also selected to the USBWA’s All-America First Team. Following is the complete team, all of whom were finalists for the Wayman Tisdale Award:
| 2014-15 USBWA FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA TEAM | ||||||
| Pos. | No. | Player, School | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. | Hometown |
| F | 5 | Stanley Johnson, Arizona | 6-7 | 245 | Fr. | Fullerton, Calif. |
| C | 15 | Jahlil Okafor, Duke | 6-11 | 270 | Fr. | Chicago, Ill. |
| G | 0 | D’Angelo Russell, Ohio State | 6-5 | 180 | Fr. | Louisville, Ky. |
| F | 12 | Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky | 6-11 | 250 | Fr. | Piscataway, N.J. |
| G | 2 | Melo Trimble, Maryland | 6-3 | 190 | Fr. | Upper Marlboro, Md. |
The USBWA has chosen a national freshman of the year since the 1988-89 season when LSU’s Chris Jackson was the recipient. The award was named for Wayman Tisdale in 2011 and other notable winners of the national freshman of the year award include Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Jason Kidd and Chris Webber.
The late Wayman Tisdale was a three-time USBWA All-American at the University of Oklahoma and in 1983 was the first freshman ever to be named a first-team All-American by the USBWA. Following a stint on the 1984 U.S. Olympic basketball team, he played 12 seasons in the NBA before retiring in 1997 to focus on a blossoming jazz music career. In March 2007, he was diagnosed with cancer and, following a courageous and difficult battle that included the amputation of his right leg in 2008, he passed away in May 2009.
The Integris Wayman Tisdale Freshman of the Year Award is produced by Access Sports, an Oklahoma City-based 501(c)(3) not-for-profit foundation responsible for creating the Wayman Tisdale Freshman of the Year Award. Access Sports produces all events associated with the award, including the annual awards dinner. Proceeds from the activities affiliated with the award are used to support various worthy charitable causes, including providing opportunities for disadvantaged youth to participate in basketball leagues, clinics, and training throughout the state. In addition, Access Sports supports the Wayman L. Tisdale Foundation which helps fund prosthetics for those who cannot afford the cost on their own and may not be covered by insurance.
Tickets and sponsorship information for the Devon Energy College Basketball Awards are available atcollegebasketballawards.com or by contacting Scott Hill (405-640-0406, scott.hill@access-sports.net).
The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 900 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. For more information on the USBWA and its award programs, contact executive director Joe Mitch at 314-795-6821.
| ALL-TIME USBWA NATIONAL FRESHMEN OF THE YEAR | |
| 1989 Chris Jackson, LSU 1990 Kenny Anderson, Georgia Tech 1991 Rodney Rogers, Wake Forest 1992 Chris Webber, Michigan 1993 Jason Kidd, California 1994 Joe Smith, Maryland 1995 None selected 1996 None selected 1997 None selected 1998 Larry Hughes, Saint Louis 1999 Quentin Richardson, DePaul 2000 Jason Gardner, Arizona 2001 Eddie Griffin, Seton Hall 2002 T.J. Ford, Texas |
2003 Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse 2004 Luol Deng, Duke 2005 Marvin Williams, North Carolina 2006 Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina 2007 Kevin Durant, Texas 2008 Michael Beasley, Kansas State 2009 Tyreke Evans, Memphis 2010 John Wall, Kentucky 2011 Jared Sullinger, Ohio State 2012 Anthony Davis, Kentucky 2013 Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State 2014 Jabari Parker, Duke 2015 Jahlil Okafor, Duke |
Related links:
• Integris Wayman Tisdale Award | More from Integris
• Freshman All-America Teams: 2014 | 2013
Adidas has decided not renew it’s contract with the National Basketball League according to a new report from the NY Times:
According to a person familiar with the situation, the league informed Adidas last week that it was going to open up the bidding to other companies, and the N.B.A. is expected to announce a new partner by mid-April. The current deal ends after the 2016-17 season.
Adidas has been trying to crack into the basketball market for several years now and this leaves them without a major sports league contract. This also will allow for Under Armour to finally make a bid for the NBA and it’s massive shoe market.
This also could impact the grassroots money that Adidas has spread around for quite some time, but that isn’t yet clear.
Some schools want to win, and will pay to get it done.
A new report from the Des Moines Register have five years of data (along with USA Today) that show a massive spending difference in recruiting budget versus other area schools:
ISU ranks No. 8 nationally out of more than 200 public universities that play at the NCAA Division I level in the five school years from 2008-09 to 2012-13. ISU’s average expense computes to $260,767 annually, according to detailed data provided to the Des Moines Register through open-records requests gathered by USA TODAY.
Winning at college athletics – at least at the big money sports like football and basketball isn’t just about school pride. It’s big business. Anyone who thinks a college would spend over a quarter of a million dollars per year (and rank 8th in the country in spending, not first) just because of school pride of because they want to support student athletes is just kidding themselves. Or, getting a cut.
Jalen Benjamin, C/O 2019– Has a very good feel for the game, good IQ player with outstanding court vision, knocks down shots and knows how to run a team. Has all the tools to be a very good PG in the future, Has impressive lateral quickness that he use to stay in front of his opponent on the defensive end of the floor.
Derrick Robertson, C/O 2019– One of the best passers at the event, has an unorthodox shooting form but was pretty consistent shooting the ball throughout the event.
Jarius Northam, C/O 2020– Is a natural scorer that seems to always know how to get to the cup, has a lethal spin move that he uses on the regular to shake off defenders. Also has good quickness and is a strong player.
Jalen Breazeale, C/O 2021– Knock down shooter that was consistent scoring off the dribble, although he looked to score throughout his time at camp, he also showed on numerous occasions that he has exceptional passing abilities.
Ricky Council IV C/O 2020– Has a very nice midrange game and finishes well through contact when attacking the basket, was one of the best passers at camp. Seems to enjoy making the right pass to a teammate just as much as he enjoys scoring points.
Ronnie Thompson Jr. C/O 2021– One of the youngest and smallest players at the event, but he definitely turned heads with his ability to play the game, can shoot it from the perimeter and has outstanding ball handling skills. Has no issue at all breaking down his defender because of the numerous amounts of moves that are in his arsenal
Jahzeer Baker C/O 2019– Outstanding feel for the game, this young man was one of my favorite players at camp, he was one of the top ball handlers and seemed to thrive in pick and roll situations. One attribute that really stood out to me about him was how patient he was when getting his squad into their offense; he really knows how to allow the game to come to him.
Jalen Williams C/O 2019- Very athletic player that can get up and down the court in a hurry, he is always looking to attack the basket, he shot a very high percentage throughout the camp and has a very solid frame.
Silaa Mason C/O 2020– Smooth lefty player that showed how versatile of a player that he can possibly be, can play inside as well and step out and shoot the ball, moves well without the ball and got after it on the defensive end of the floor.
Joseph Green C/O 2019– Was outstanding on the defensive end, has a very good motor and brought consistent energy for his squad throughout the day, has a very smooth handle and handles defensive pressure very well.
Greg Gantt Jr C/O 2019– Already very has good height and size for a wing at the H.S level, attacks the paint well and was solid rebounding the ball. Has solid ball handling skills and is a very good on ball defender. Came up with quite a few: steals, blocks, deflections throughout the day, definitely one to watch.
Joey Baker C/O 2019– Joey has been a player that I’ve watched closely all season; he was very a solid role payer for his varsity squad during the season so I knew he would dominate when playing against players his age. He can play inside as well as stepping out and shooting the trey ball, his ball handling skills are very solid especially for a player who is 6’5, definitely a prospect with HM potential.
Juwan Gray C/O 2019– Juwan showed tremendous athleticism throughout the entire day at camp, he is a strong player that finishes through contact. As camp went on he showed that he was more than just simply an athletic player, he showed that he can pass the ball as well as handling the ball through pressure. Defensively he had numerous blocked shots and even more shots that he was able to alter because of his length and athletic ability. Juwan has a chance to be a very good player and will be a prospect to definitely keep an eye on; he was awarded MVP of the camp
| USBWA NAMES 2014-15 ALL-AMERICANS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ST. LOUIS (USBWA) – The 2014-15 USBWA Men’s All-America Team features a true five-man lineup of first-teamers, led by two seniors who pushed their teams to conference tournament championships: Wisconsin forwardFrank Kaminsky and Notre Dame guard Jerian Grant. Joining Kaminsky in the front court is junior forward Willie Cauley-Stein of unbeaten and top-ranked Kentucky and Duke freshman center Jahlil Okafor. Grant’s backcourt mate is another freshman, Ohio State’s D’Angelo Russell.
Based on regular-season performance, the entire USBWA membership of nearly 1,000 selects the nation’s top five players on each of two teams regardless of position. Overall, the Atlantic Coast Conference leads all selections with three, including Virginia’s Malcolm Brogdon, who was named to the second team. The Big Ten and SEC each boast two All-America selections. Joining Brodgon on that second team are Bobby Portis from Arkansas, Seth Tuttle from Northern Iowa, Kyle Wiltjer from Gonzaga andDelon Wright from Utah. Portis, Tuttle, Wiltjer and Wright are all USBWA District Players of the Year. Cauley-Stein, a 7-0 junior from Olathe, Kan., contributes to Kentucky’s potent and balanced attack with 9.3 points per game to go with 6.4 rebounds. He is the USBWA’s District IV Player of the Year and was a first-team All-SEC selection in leading the Wildcats to the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. Grant, a 6-5 senior from Bowie, Md., leads the Fighting Irish with 16.8 points per game and 6.6 assists while shooting 48.8 percent from the field. Grant was a first-team All-ACC selection and leads the conference in assists and assist-to-turnover ratio. Kaminsky’s 18.2 points per game leads the Badgers, champions of the Big Ten. The 7-0 senior from Lisle, Ill., is shooting 39 percent from three-point range and pulls down 8.1 rebounds per game. The Big Ten and USBWA District V Player of the Year leads his team in points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals. Okafor, the ACC Player of the Year and USBWA District III Player of the Year, leads the Blue Devils and ranks among the top five in the ACC in scoring (17.7), rebounds (9.0) and field goal percentage (.669). The 6-11 freshman from Chicago, Ill., is attempting to become the first freshman to lead Duke in all three categories. Russell, a 6-5 freshman from Louisville, Ky., is the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and an All-Big Ten first-team selection. He is the leading freshman scorer in the country and second-leading scorer in the Big Ten (19.3) and also leads the Buckeyes with 5.6 rebounds per game and is second on the team with 5.1 assists per game. Each of the 10 All-America selections is among the Oscar Robertson Trophy finalists. The USBWA’s National Player of the Year Award will be announced on Friday, April 3, in Indianapolis, in conjunction with the NCAA Final Four. The Oscar Robertson Player of the Year Trophy will be formally presented on Tuesday, April 14, at the Devon Energy College Basketball Awards Gala in Oklahoma City. Following is the complete 2014-15 USBWA All-America team:
The USBWA will continue to unveil its 2014-15 men’s award winners throughout the remainder of the season. Here is the remaining schedule of releases:
The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. Today, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. It has selected an All-America team since the 1956-57 season. For more information on the USBWA and its All-America team, contact executive directorJoe Mitch at 314-795-6821. Related links: |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ESPN’s extensive multiplatform coverage of Selection Sunday, March 15, included instant and in-depth analysis across studio shows on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU. Rece Davis hosted live coverage of up-to-the-minute tournament selection updates on ESPN’s 6 p.m. ET SportsCenter with analysts Jay Bilas, Seth Greenberg and Jay Williams. Dan Dakich and Jim Calhoun was also in-studio to provide analysis. Following SportsCenter, ESPN aired a two-hour Bracketology Presented by Staples at 7 p.m. with Davis, Bilas, Greenberg, Vitale and Williams. The coverage included analysis, discussion on the field, upset predictions, final four picks and more.
Jay Bilas on the job by the selection committee:
On two-seed Gonzaga:
Seth Greenberg on Michigan State:
Jay Williams on Virginia being a two-seed:
Williams on NC State and LSU against Villanova:
Bilas on Virginia’s prospects of advancing:
Dan Dakich observation of the Midwest Region:
Vitale on Kentucky:
On UCLA in the field, but not Miami and Temple:
If Bilas is surprised Texas and Indiana is in the field:
Dakich on Notre Dame:
On No. 5 Utah vs. No. 12 Stephen F. Austin:
Rece Davis on Georgia making the field:
Bilas on Ohio State:
Bracketology included interviews with Kentucky coach John Calipari and NCAA Championship Chairman Scott Barnes:
Calipari on the opponents in the field:
Barnes on UCLA:
Barnes on eye test:
Barnes on Indiana:
Bracketology Picks
