Strengths
Andell has many strengths and is a versatile player. One of the things about him that most impressed me this game was on the defensive end. Very good overall defender who is smart and anticipates the actions of the offensive player well. Good lateral quickness who makes the opponents shoot tough shots. Plays the passing lanes well and has quick hands. Hustles and is willing to dive on the floor for loose balls.
Offensively, he attacks the rim well going to his right and is smooth and under control. Can handle the ball well and is a good passer- better than his stats would indicate. Has sneaky athleticism and finds gaps in the defense. Is a good rebounder- especially on the offensive end. Showed he could hit the 3 ball. Could see him becoming more of a combo guard.
Weaknesses
Is not the quickest player on the floor or a big time above the rim athlete. Needs to get stronger- has a slight frame. Gets bumped off his driving path too easily. Can he use his left hand and how well can he finish with his left?
Can hit the 3- but is an inconsistent shooter from beyond the arc. Has a tendency to rush his 3 pt shot and drop his hands- not hold follow through- has a low release. Not a good FT shooter. Poor shooter off the dribble- better w/ feet set.
Overview
JUCO transfer from Barton CC in Kansas, where he averaged 14.2 ppg and 8.2 rpg last year. Not a lot to dislike about the way Andell played tonight. Lead his team in minutes, points, rebounds, and steals. Is the 3rd leading scorer for the year on the team. Looks a legit 6’4” and has good length. Handled the ball a good bit for the game and could see him playing some PG if he continues to tighten dribble and get comfortable playing in more P/R situations.
Definitely has a career in basketball in his future- doubt its going to be in America, unless he wants to go to the D-League where I think he could help a team and that might be a good fit for him. Is a 2 guard which is not great for his overseas prospects but he could definitely play there- would like to see him play the PG position more which could improve his stock. You will be hearing his name again as his team is poised to possibly break into the NCAA Tournament this year by winning its conference.
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.
Notes from Session II of the J.D. Lewis High School Fall League for 2013:
Austin Burnette (SF, 6’6″, 2015) Burnette’s calling card have long been his fluid length and ability to consistently score from the elbow. He’s also shown an improved handle and runs the floor extremely well. Burnette is a true SF with a versatile skill set. Committed to Rutgers.
Jalen Jones (G/F, 6’4″, 2014) Jones has a solid build and can play multiple positions effectively. Seems he will be best sliding between the 2G and 3G at the collegiate level, but can run the point some as a combo guard and is a good decision maker. Good athleticism and plays through contact, high basketball IQ. Division I prospect.
Kalen Cooper (2016, 6’7”) Cornith Holder HS
Raw player with good length. Excellent rebounder on both ends. Rebounding is his strongest skill set- strong on the boards. Stronger then his frame would suggest. Needs to improve on the defensive end and add weight. Good hands and is in the right spot most of the time for tip-ins. Soft touch around rim. Runs the floor well, especially on offensive end. Needs to be more aggressive. Needs to finish better and stronger- goes up for 1 hand flip shots instead of 2 hands around rim. Has potential and will continue to improve.
Julius Barnes (PG, 5’8″, 2015) Pure PG with good quickness. Sure handed ballhander with good change of speed and ability to beat his man on the perimeter. Tends to fade on his shot a bit. Likes to push the ball but is adept at running the half court set.
Anthony Staton (2016, 6’2”) Harnett Central HS
Good finisher around rim. Decent athlete who has a high motor. Better off the ball help defender then on the ball at this point. Can knock down the corner 3 ball with consistency. Has a low release but was able to get it off.
Ian Hinckley (G/F, 6’3″, 2017) Heritage HS
Good length, active, can shoot from deep and solid passer from the 2 or 3 spot. Good in transition, good athlete, a wing player with upside. Needs to lower dribble but definitely a perimeter player.
Thomas Allen (G, 6′, 2017)
Combo guard who can play on or off of the ball, has an ability to score and is very good in transition. Smooth game and an ability to get to the rim and get himself to the free throw line. Plays solid D in the passing lanes.
Jalen Gaddy (2015, 6’3”, Prominence Academy)
Got better as the day progressed. Athletic with a lot of natural skill but needs to improve consistency. Is a threat to hit the long ball but can be streaky. Settled for too many contested outside shots and often did not look to make the extra pass. Scorer’s mentality. Has the talent but needs to be more consistent.
Grayson Kelley (2015)
High IQ high motor player who does a lot to help you and little to hurt you on the floor. Has a funky shot release in front of his body, but can knock down shots off the catch and off the dribble. Underrated passer who is also solid on the boards. Runs the floor and is strong.
Zach Boggs (SG, 5’10, 2013) – very good defender who is a bit undersized. Has sped up his shot release a bit and shoots a straight ball from the 3 pt line. Plays hard and has a high motor, can handle contact. Always involved.
Strengths
Lightning quick guard who can create his own shot. Solid ball handler with either hand. Excellent crossover dribble going either direction and also has a nice behind-the-back dribble move. Highlight maker with the ball. Full arsenal of offensive moves…floaters, pull-ups, euro-steps, lay-ups with the off hand, scoop shots, etc. Crafty with the ball. Quick first step. Good overall athleticism. Not a great 3-point shooter but is a good midrange pull-up shooter off the dribble.
Does a terrific job of denying the ball on defense- quick hands defensively. Has a nose for the ball. High motor defender and player in general. Game changer on defense end- gets in opposing players shirts and even had a blocked shot tonight. Had 5 steals in the first half alone. Disrupts the opposing teams offense. One of the best on-ball defenders I have seen this year. One of the fastest guards I have seen coast to coast. Quick laterally on defense.
Attacks the offensive boards and is a good rebounder in general for his size and position. Although he is not a natural PG, he did advance the ball up-court a good bit and had several nice drop-off passes after attacking the rim.
Weaknesses
Size is an issue as he is undersized for the off-guard position. Not a pure PG although he did advance the ball most of the time. Poor decision maker in the open court- gets too out of control or in a hurry. Looks to create his own offense overall before creating for others.
Over dribbles the ball at times and doesn’t go anywhere with it. Poor shot selection at times- settles for contested fade way when could just uses quickness to go by guy and create an open shot for teammate.
Perimeter shooting is inconsistent and is better off the dribble then with feet set. Solid from mid-range. Has to put a lot of arc on shot to get it off- leads to inconsistency. Needs to improve finishing ability at the rim.
Overview
Rose was the Peach Belt Freshman of the Year last season after starting every game for the Braves and averaging over 12 ppg. He should be one of the top players again this year in a solid D2 conference.
Reminds me of Jamal Crawford who plays better defense. He is a wizard with the ball like Crawford, he moves like Crawford, and he takes similar shots. Tremendous overall scorer who will be one of the top defenders in his conference.
Shows his frustration too much on the floor but is a good teammate overall. Is a yes sir and no sir young man who is mature for his age. Time will tell if he can play somewhere at the next level. If he can improve his 3 ball and overall PG skills, a team at the next level could use his energy and defensive intensity.
Did a good job defending the post-stayed straight up and didn’t allow any room for offense to operate-stood his ground- strong. Looked uncomfortable on the perimeter on both ends- off balance defensively on perimeter. He was able to get to the FT line again today for the most part looked comfortable and was able to convert despite a hitch and a pause in his release- other wise he kept the elbow in and had good arc and rotation on ball. Had several tip dunks and athletically is one of the top guys represented here. Good rebounder.
Mitchell Watt (Buffalo, 6’10”, F)
Has an NBA ready build- with a frame that will allow him to add about 15-20 lbs. of muscle. Able to use either hand in post. Nimble and fluid movement. Has a quick first step off the reverse pivot. Showed the ability to hit the open set 3 today. Smart shot blocker- great timing and knows what spots to get to. Influences shots he doesn’t block. Efficient in the post. Somehow he fouled out in a game where they were really letting guys play. His play here this week warrants at least a summer league invite and possibly a roster spot in training camp.
Cameron Moore (UAB, 6’10”, F)
Solid shooting form from the midrange and in. Quite in the first half offensively. Soft touch. Long. Uses length to block shots. Stronger then he looks.
Rakim Sanders (Fairfield, 6’5”, F)
Strong upper bodied player who competes on both ends. Attacks the rim with force and can finish through and with contact- secures rebounds- solid on the glass. Tenacious defender- plays bigger then 6’5”- showed the ability to move his feet laterally and guard quicker players his size on perimeter and bang with taller players down on the block. At this point he is more of an undersized PF- which being only 6’5” hurts his chances to play at the next level. To his credit though he displayed the ability to guard a SF, which would be his position at the next level. Plays extremely hard and hustles. Very athletic- plays above the rim. Didn’t see him take any perimeter shots- mainly a slasher from the perimeter. Needs to improve his handles. Utilizes pump fakes. Although his NBA chances are slim, his solid play today more then likely earned him a few individual workouts and a hefty overseas contract.
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Game 2: Sales Systems, Ltd. Vs. Roger Brown’s Restaurant
Wide bodied player who crashes the offensive boards. Does a lot of things well- rebounds, unselfish, attacks the rim, defends and blocks shots, and has a decent handle for size. Lets the game come to him- doesn’t force the issue and shots. Sold footwork in on the block- reliable scorer in one on one situations. Rolled his ankle midway through the second half and did not return. One of the top ranked players in the nation several years ago- was able to play his way this season onto the All-Conference Big East team . Will have more chances to improve NBA chances in the future as he will have his schedule booked full of individual workouts. Will most likely find his way on a roster as an undrafted FA.
Chris Johnson (Dayton, 6’6”, F)
Long lefty who can hit the 3 and the midrange- very good rotation and gets high elevation- needs to improve consistency- due to his elevation on jumper and his shot has a tendency to be a little flat. Defends and understands help D- active. Solid athlete. Good rebounder for a guard- boxes out on shots.
Jet Chang (BYU-Hawaii, 6’4”, G)
Knock down shooter with NBA 3-point range- good elevation and great release- pure shooter. Showed the ability to hit the one dribble pull up as well- textbook form and footwork .Underrated defender who held his own on the defensive end. Did show the ability to create his own shot near the end of the game- smooth stroke- you expect his shot to go in every time. Will have a nice career overseas after being a DII All-American his senior year.
Kyle Fogg (Arizona, 6’3”, G)
Heady PG who can score and make plays for others. Controls the tempo. Uses ball screens effectively and can get to the rim. Very good on ball defender. Terrific passer who is at his best in P/R situations which helps his case for the NBA. Showed the ability to turn the corner on multiple occasions this game and get to the painted area. Keeps his dribble until he knows what he wants. Above average ball handler even for a PG- can use either hand and go either way equally- good change of speed dribble. Needs to improve range and shooting ability as well as his FT shooting. Struggled to finish once he reached the paint. D-League should be an option, as well as a few 10-days as a possibility in the future. One of the best PG’s seen this week- does a lot that will translate to the next level. Was an All-Pac 12 selection this past year.
Wesley Witherspoon (Memphis, 6’9”, F)
Smooth, agile, and versatile. Very long and athletic- highlight waiting to happen. Had several nice blocks including denying a dunk attempt in transition. Solid scorer who can score both on the perimeter and inside. Has upside- I could see a team possibly giving him an opportunity with a training camp or summer league spot especially with another solid showing. Nimble enough to possibly play the SF position at the next level, but most likely will be a 4. Quick enough to defend smaller guards on the perimeter. Solid game tonight. Needs to get stronger, especially in the upper body- limits his ability to finish. D-League will probably be his best option.
Eric Griffin (Campbell, 6’8”, F)
Surprise player so far of the week. Good shooter with a high release- able to stretch the floor because of shooting ability. Plays hard and defends- blocks shots and has active hands. Earned the respect of all the opponents by the end of the game. Runs the floor. Draws contact at a high rate and coverts at the line. Played very well this game. If he wasn’t on NBA scouts radar before, he is after this game. Will be a pro somewhere next year and fits the mold of the modern day PF to a “T”. Was a member of the Big South All-Conference team this year after averaging 15.7 ppg and 8.7 rpg.
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Game 3: Mike Duman Auto Sales vs. Portsmouth Partnership
Excellent ball handler- has the ability to break man down off the dribble and score. Very quick release- nice midrange stroke. Showed good shot making ability in the half court set and in transition. Size is going to be an issue at the next level, whether that is the NBA, D-League, or overseas. Most likely will receive multiple individual workout invites with NBA teams, but will probably begin next season in a D-League uniform.
Yancy Gates (Cincinnati, 6’9”, F)
Very good size- could stand to lose about 10 lbs to get to prime playing weight. Did a good job of shading on screens and then hustling back to his man. Soft hands. Hustled back on defense. Nice looking FT stroke. For the most part, he is an under the rim type player. Post game consists mostly of him banging and throwing his weight around- draws fouls and is a load on the low block. In my opinion would be a solid late 2nd round pick.
JaMychal Green (Alabama, 6’8”, F)
NBA ready size wise and athletically- one of the top prospects here. Versatile defender- plays hard and competes, diving on the floor for loose balls. Fluid movement. Very good rebounder on both ends- boxes out and cleans the glass at high rate- always in good position. Runs the floor and fills the lanes on the break where he finished nearly every time- strong upper body- finishes through defenders. Has the ability to step out and knock down the 15-18’ jump shot. Does an excellent job of clearing out and establishing deep post position. Was named SEC All-Conference after averaging 14 and 7 per game last season. I doubt he will get drafted unless he wows in individuals, but has a good chance of landing on an NBA roster as a FA- definitely has the skills set to play in the League.
Nick Barbour (High Point, 6’3”, G)
Capable of putting up points in a hurry- prolific scorer- averaged over 20 ppg this past season in the Big South. Quick. Played solid defense today- practically shutting down Kyle Kuric from Louisville, turning him over and forcing him to take bad shots. Good pull up shooter with a quick release. Lefty. Will never be accused of being gun shy- will put up shots in a hurry. Is listed at 6’3”, but looks to me to be on the shorter side. Played both on the ball and off the ball today. Practically automatic from 3- hit almost half of his attempts in this past college season. In order to have a shot at the NBA, scouts want to see his ability to run the PG position- has proven that he can play off the ball, but is too small to play the 2 at the next level. Somewhat TO prone when being the primary ball handler and he must improve his play making ability- has scoring on his mind every time he puts the ball on the floor and/ or turns the corner off ball screens.
Plays passing lanes on perimeter-rare to see a 7’ able to do this. Good FT shooter. Hides behind zone – able to get to grey areas- has hands ready and is ready to attack basket. Good passer against the zone. Moves very well for size- can defend on perimeter- showed the ability to closeout, contest, and then slide feet. Pure stroke- excellent midrange shooter- gets feet set, good form, and good arc-soft touch. Incredible athlete- plays way above rim- high flyer. Highlight reel waiting to happen. NBA ready from an athletic standpoint. Showed the ability in the second half to finish through contact. Good on ball defender- stays big in post D- tries to block everything- leads team in that area with 3.6 bpg. Solid rebounder- boxes out and corrals ball. Showed the ability to put ball on floor and attack basket- moves like a SF- not a 7’.
Weaknesses
Looks lazy when getting back on defense- seems to jog back on that side of floor. Doesn’t fully commit at times- needs to be more active on both ends- coasts through some plays- Needs to play every possession and dominate every play because of his incredible athleticism and skills set. Seemed to just go through the motions at times and looked more concerned about getting highlight dunks and blocks instead of just playing all the way through a possession. Needs to add muscle and get stronger- got bumped off the block several times.
Did not show much in the area of offensive post moves- Chicago State played a zone most of the game- and they put Leonard in the middle or behind zone- did not look to post up hard ball side.. More style than substance. Raw offensive post game. Got caught out of position defensively and lost track of man- resulted in him getting dunked on by smaller players.
Overview
Very high ceiling- great size, shot blocking skills, plays way above rim, and moves exceptionally well for a player of his size. Out of all the players featured in our sleeper report segment, Leonard has the biggest upside and has the best opportunity to play in the NBA. Seems to run the floor harder on offensive end than on defensive end. Needs to add weight and strength- but with body type- should be able to add muscle easily. Granted he had a big height advantage and skill advantage on an over matched Chicago State team that has yet to register a win, but the skills and play that Leonard showed today translate.
Ready for a breakout season- big improvement from last season to this season. Averages 12.6 pgg and leads the team with 7.6 rpg. These numbers are up after only averaging 8 mpg and 2 ppg last year as a freshman, after being a top 50 recruit out of HS.
Does things that the average 7’ can’t or would even consider doing. Big time player that NBA scouts and fans will become more familiar with as Illinois enters conference play. With his shooting ability and his high sill set to go along with his ability to play the mid post area, I can see him playing the PF position in the NBA. I can see him in a system like the Lakers run, where he can play both the PF and C positions, as Paul Gasol, Bynum, and Odom do.
High Basketball IQ. Makes the correct play at the correct time. Does not force shots or passes. Good shooter especially from 3. Has good size for the PG position for his age.
Nate Munn (SG, 6’1”, 2013)
Ames HS, IA
Great shooter. Has deep range. Perfect form and a quick release. Has the ability to come off screens, catch and shoot in one fluid motion. The best shooter I saw in the tournament. Several small DI and DII schools have begun to take notice.
Payton Plagge (PF, 6’7”, 2013)
Sheffield- Chaplin- Meservey HS, IA
Solid frame. Good shooter who can hit the midrange jumper with consistency. Finishes well around basket. Smart player. Needs to work on hands and quickness. Drake and Wichita State have offered.
Nashville Stars Elite
Matt Smith (SF,6’6”, 2012)
Liberty Tech HS, TN
One of the top players in the tournament. Smart player who knows what spots to fill and where to go on the offensive end of the floor. Did an excellent job of hiding behind the opponents zone defense and roaming the baseline. Goes to the open spots against the zone. Athletic player who runs the floor well. Good rebounder. Capable of hitting the midrange jumper regularly- automatic on the baseline from 15 feet. Knows where to go when the PG drives to basket to create good passing lane. Finishes above the rim inside with contact. Solid all-around player. Can handle the ball and has good footwork around basket. On one play he gathered the rebound, led the break, and finished with a euro step into a left handed finger roll. Eastern Kentucky, Georgia Southern, and Delaware State are recruiting him.
So we’re featured in this month’s issue of Dime magazine’s Tangled Web feature, and there’s a lot of reasons to appreciate being featured in this issue. First, if you aren’t reading Dime magazine, honestly, are you even a basketball fan? Dime is one of the most respected and hardcore basketball publications in existence.
Secondly, the player who is featured on this month’s cover is none other than Blake Griffin, who we see as the NBA’s brightest rising star and have no shame in admitting it. In a league that’s full of players who don’t know how to win and think that getting on ESPN’s highlight list is the same thing as winning a title, Blake is the real deal; awesome, amazing and humble. Coincidence that we’re in the same issue? I think not. (Okay, throw ‘humble’ out the window)
Third, (and this is the most important), Dime magazine lists our scouting of players at all levels and offers praise for what we do and how we do it. That’s appreciated and we try hard to give accurate, objective scouting reports and steer clear from the rah-rah over hyped fawning that fills up so many other websites. Yeah, highlight reels are fun and cool (and we’ve done some) but the reality is that even players in the NBA still need to work on their game, and one of the best tools to be great at anything is objective feedback. That’s why we don’t just talk about how great Kyrie Irving is (which he is) or how Austin Rivers is the Next Great Superstar. You can get that anywhere. Here, it’s important to us to give you the real assessment.
Thanks to Dime for the shout out, pick up this months issue and thanks to the readers who have been with us on the ride so far. Trust me, we’ve got a lot planned and more coming, bigger and better in the future!
On Friday night in Lenoir, NC two greater Hickory area teams from the Northwestern 3A-4A Conference faced off in a low scoring affair that saw Hibriten edge out previously undefeated St. Stephens 53-47. The Hibriten Panthers were able to secure their first win of the season with a second half rally comprised of stout defense and outstanding ball control. St. Stephens seemed out of synch most the night and had trouble scoring the ball in the second half. The third quarter was especially dreadful for the Indians who only scored five points in eight minutes of play. Players from both teams showed some promise and their skills could translate to playing at the college level.
Player Notes & Scouting Reports
St. Stephens Indians
Harrison Bowne, SF-PF, 6’5” (Senior)
The left handed senior, who was returning to action after missing time with a mild concussion, seemed sluggish at times throughout the game especially in the second half. Bowne has a tendency to trail during fast break opportunities, and even brings the ball up at times. Bowne has good ball handling skills for his size as well as good perimeter footwork and a nice first step to beat slower post players to the basket. Bowne finished the game with only ten points but showed some good vision when passing despite several close range misses by his teammates.
Bowne is bulky and has a strong lower body but has a tendency to pull up for short jumpers rather than beat and bang down low. Bowne’s intensity on defense needs improvement as he often seems nonchalant. When playing zone defense his block outs were questionable at best and he too often relied simply on his size to get rebounds. At the college level his defensive fundamentals will need to be better because his size will be less significant.
Andrew Zachrich, PG, 6’0” (Senior)
The Indians’ point guard is deceptively quick with great vision in transition. His ball handling skills were showcased throughout the night as he often dribbled easily around multiple defenders. An unselfish point guard is harder to come by in today’s game than one might think but Zachrich is a generous passer and facilitator of the offense. Zachrich has solid on ball defense skills and quick hands, stealing the ball several times from his opponent. The thin point guard needs to bulk up to be successful at the college level as well as work on his long range shooting consistency. Zachrich did show great consistency from mid-range and finished with 13 points.
Aaron Grier, SG, 6’3’’ (Senior)
Athletic, long, and very defensively active describe this shooting guard. Showed great intensity on defense and was especially effective in full court press defense as well as the 1-3-1 zone. Grier has a soft shooting touch and enough range to hit the three and was able to finish with 10 points. A quick first step helped him beat his defender to the basket several times. Grier needs to work on his ball handling and passing to be successful collegiately.
Hibriten Panthers
Michael Burgess, PG, 6’1” (Junior)
A shoot first point guard, Burgess had a weak first half but came on strong in the second half to lead all scorers with 19 points. Burgess has a quick first step but had several close range misses and needs to work on finishing in traffic. Burgess missed several opportunities to pass to open teammates in favor of creating his own shot, something that won’t fly at the next level. Burgess has the ability to hit the three point shot but needs to work on his off the ball movement to get open as well as on his overall consistency. While Burgess showed some flashes of excellence on defense, he was lazy at other times on defense so his intensity must improve.
