Sleeper Report

basketball newsbasketball scoutbasketball scouting reportscollege basketballNCAANCAA basketball

By James Blackburn

Game Scouted: WSSU vs Concord

Winston-Salem wins 76-73

Preston Ross, III (F, 6’5”, SR)

Stats
37 min, 6-15 FG, 2-6 3pt, 5-6 FT, 5 reb, 1 assist, 3 TO, 1 blk, 1 steal, 19 TP

Preston Ross Winston-Salem State basketball

Strengths
Physical defender who bumps cutters. Closes out with high hands. Active and quick hands defensively-makes plays- got multiple deflections tonight and guards the inbounds. Made the proper defensive rotations and has good bball IQ. Looks to make contact and box out on all rebounds. Hustles and plays hard. Incredible offensive rebounder because of hustle, vertical leap, and timing. Relentless motor.
Secures rebounds strongly with 2 hands.

Excellent athlete who runs the floor well and has good hands. Quick jump. Excellent in transition, gets out quickly. Very good slasher who can finish with contact. Head hunts on screens. Strong frame. Shot has good rotation and he has solid mechanics with a nice follow through. Showed he was capable to knock down the open corner 3 off the pick and pop play- hit back to back 3’s at a critical point in this game with under 4 min to play. Has a smooth FT stroke. Team player who shares the ball and does not force shots. Is in great physical condition- played a game high 37 minutes in this contest. Good high-low passer and is an underrated passer in general- better then his assist numbers would indicate. Does a good job of sealing inside.

Weaknesses
Struggles to change directions with the ball off the dribble. Needs to improve ball handling overall, dribbles with head down. Inconsistent shooter from 3 and needs to speed up release. What position is he on the floor? Struggled to finish around the rim tonight but hustled and was able to board most of his own misses.

Went for too many ball fakes when defending the perimeter and needs to improve lateral quickness.

Overview
Another solid performance tonight from the senior forward. Had 20 pts and 10 rebounds in his 1st game and led his team in scoring tonight in another win. Transfer from D1 Western Carolina, where he started last season. Should have a big year on a young team that needs his toughness, leadership, and competitiveness.
Needs to improve body language when things are not going his way, showed visible frustration on missed shots and fouls. Is supportive of teammates on bench and in game and listens to his coaches.

Needs to communicate more on the floor. Calls out screens but would like to see him talk more in general, but is a winner and a competitor.
Ross shouldn’t have a problem finding a role to play at the next level, either in a 2nd division European country or in another country/continent. His athleticism, strength, and rebounding ability will be highly coveted by a pro team.

—

Follow James Blackburn on Twitter.

basketball newsbasketball scoutbasketball scouting reportsNCAANCAA basketball

Murphy Burnatowski Colgate Basketball

By James Blackburn

Game Scouted: Wake Forest vs Colgate
Wake Forest wins 89-78
Murphy Burnatowski (F, 6’7”, SR)

Stats
37 min, 3-12 FG, 2-7 3pt, 5-6 FT, 6 reb, 4 assist, 5 TO, 1 blk, 13 TP

Strengths
Great core strength. Solid lefty shooter who can stretch the floor with 3 pt range. Nice touch. Struggled shooting tonight, but is a good shooter overall. They ran several baseline inbounds plays for him to get his shot off. Looked comfortable at the FT line where he is better then 70%. He follows his own shot. Consistent in all areas. Fundamental. Plays under control and doesn’t force the issue most of the time. Moves very well for size and strength. Can handle the ball well and is effective with either hand- was able to advance the ball up court with the dribble after the rebound multiple times. Fluid with the ball and can create his own shot- even showed the ability to shoot the step back 3.
Moves his feet well defensively on the perimeter and gets low in defensive stance. Rotates and is in proper help defensive position. Better perimeter defender then post defender. Drew several charges and offensive fouls tonight.

Weaknesses
Has a tendency to fade and shoot off of one foot on his shot, which leads to some inconsistency. Needs to be more square and balanced on shot. Poor footwork overall. Needs to get stronger w/ the ball on the perimeter. Lack of athleticism limits his offensive game overall.
Poor post defender- gives up deep position too easily. Goes for too many pump fakes and gives up too many easy baskets inside. Is not a defensive force. Lacks athleticism and quickness. Not a bad rebounder, but needs to improve in this area. Boxes out but is limited because of lack of quickness. Needs to do a better job of setting screens- too straight up and not very wide- doesn’t head hunt- screens do not get teammates open- needs to improve both on ball and off the ball screens.

Overview
Returns for his senior year after being the Raiders leading scorer last season with an average of just over 17 ppg. Should be the offensive focal point on a very competitive Colgate squad. Originally from Canada, where he played on the Canadian Junior National Team after playing for the Canadian National Elite Development Academy.

More of a perimeter player on the offensive end who plays on the interior and defends the post on the defensive end. Must continue to improve game in post and off the dribble.

At his size and with his shooting ability, shouldn’t have a hard time finding a job in Europe at the end of this year. Would be a solid stretch 4 in most European leagues.

—

Follow James Blackburn on Twitter.

basketball newsbasketball scouting reportsNCAANCAA basketball

Lamont Middleton basketball

By James Blackburn

Game Scouted: NC A&T vs Fayetteville State

NC A&T wins 71-65

Lamont Middleton (G, 6’3”, SR)

Stats

37 min, 6-12 FG, 1-4 3 pt, 9-13 FT, 7 reb, 5 assist, 6 TO, 2 steals, 22 TP

Strengths
Great size and strength for a PG/lead guard. Capable of hitting the contested 3. Good rotation on his shot. Keeps eyes up and scans the court when dribbling. Attacks the rim hard and isn’t afraid to play physical or of contact. Gets to the FT line at a high rate where he is better then average. Uses body to shield ball when attacking rim.  Willing to make the extra pass and is not selfish with the ball. Is patient on the offensive end and is in command and control. Throws direct/hard passes that are on target.

More of a scorer and slasher then a shooter. Loves the spin move going from right to left.

When he does turn the ball over or miss a lay-up, he never gives up on the play and fights and scraps to get it back or get the offensive board.

Weaknesses
Slow laterally. Needs to improve overall on defense. Doesn’t put in the same effort on the defensive end as he does on the offensive end. Doesn’t bump cutters, trails his man on cuts, and doesn’t sprint back defensively. Seemed to be a step late/slow on defense this game.

While he is strong and physical, he needs to improve overall finishing ability when he attacks. Part of his finishing problems are due to him attacking the rim recklessly or out of control at times and getting caught trying to finish over more then one defender. Needs to get stronger with the ball in his hands. He had the ball stripped from him more then once and is TO prone. Lacks elite quickness and overall athleticism. Needs to improve shooting consistency from the three point line.

Overview
The Aggies looked to utilize Middleton’s size and strength on opposing PG’s by posting him up inside where he was able to establish good deep position. Leader on the court. Played both the PG and the off-guard- equally capable of either, but played more off the ball this game. Middleton will be looked on to provide scoring and leadership to a young team that has eight freshman. Got into a stare down with an opposing player at a critical stage of the game- needs to keep his head at crucial times in the game.  Is better off the ball then on the ball, not a pure PG.

Solid game from Middleton based on the box score. Will continue to receive heavy minutes as the season goes on. I believe he is better then he played tonight and should have some huge games this year.

—

Follow James Blackburn on Twitter.

basketball newsbasketball scoutbasketball scouting reports

By James Blackburn

Quamain Rose (G, 6’0”, R-SO)

Game Scouted: NC State vs UNC Pembroke

NC State wins 96-85
Box Score

 Quamain Rose

Stats
30 min, 7-16 FG, 0-6 3 pt, 1-3 FT, 4 reb, 3 assist, 6 TO, 1 blk, 7 st, 15 TP

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.

basketball gamesbasketball newsbasketball scoutbasketball scouting reportsNCAANCAA basketball

By James Blackburn

Four McGlynn
Photo Source: USA Today

Game Scouted: Lamar vs. Vermont (NCAA Tournament: First Four)
Vermont wins 71-59
Box Score

Four McGlynn (G, 6’2”, FR)

Stats
5-9 FG, 3-5 3pt, 5-6 FT, 3 reb, 27 min, 18 TP

Strengths
Quick feet- on both ends of the floor- showed the ability to stay in front of dribble drive and slide feet quickly- always on his toes ready to move-active. Quick release- excellent shooter with unlimited range- gets feet set with shoulders square- good follow through and good elevation on jump shot- can not leave open (in second part of 1st half- Lamar defended him by having his defender not helping). One of the few players on team with ability to create own shot. Can shoot coming off screens either direction- prefers to come off screens when shooting. Has a scores mentality- provides an instant spark coming off the bench- shot the ball 3 times in his first 2 minutes off the bench and made 2 of the shots. Moves well with out ball and does a good job running by off-ball screens and reading how defense plays it and either curls or fades off screen. Understands help side defense. Underrated quick first step- known primarily as shooter but was able to get into the paint several times and get by defense- has an effective floater when getting into paint. Good on-court demeanor and body language. Has a good overall understanding of the game especially for a freshman- court spacing, patience, smart passing ability, defensive positioning, etc. Calm on line- automatic. Goes ball side on off-ball screens defensively. Underrated passer- better then assists per game average shows. Protects the ball- 0 TO’s this game.

Weaknesses
Size and athleticism hurts him. Plays primarily off the ball and is effective doing so by being a scorer- must improve play making ability- has one thing on his mind and that is to shoot and score the ball. But at his size and with playing below the rim, he is going to need to make the transition to the PG position, if he has any aspirations to play at the next level. Needs to improve ball handling to be able to bring ball up the court with pressure defense- improve left hand- never advanced the ball down court one time this game.

Overview
Leads team in scoring with 12 ppg and FT% (89%) while coming off the bench. Helped the Vermont team to win 23 games and the American East Tournament Championship to earn an NCAA bid. McGlynn was voted the Rookie of the Year award in the American East Conference. Leads all freshman in D1 with FT%.

Even though he is 2G now, I can see him making the transition to the PG. To play in the NBA, he is going to have to become a PG, as he doesn’t have the size or athleticism to defend a shooting guard at the next level. He is definitively capable- his quickness, basketball IQ, passing ability, and protecting the ball will help make the transition easier. He is not a bad ball handler, but will need to continue to improve in this area. The main thing that he is going to have to do is to change his mentality from a scorer to a playmaker. He needs to be able to break man down off dribble and find open man after dribble penetration. If he can make the transition to the PG or even become a combo guard and continue to score the basketball, I can see him playing professionally some where. NBA teams should begin to monitor his progress, as he will most likely be a 4-year guy- truly a diamond in the rough and has a lot of time to continue to improve being a freshman. Will have a chance to play at the big stage as Vermont will now advance to play UNC on Friday in Greensboro, NC. It will be interesting to see how he performs against a taller Reggie Bullock and defends him and Kendall Marshall.

—
You’re always looking to keep up with your favorite team, now you can do it on the cheap.

Get major deals on magazines – up to 80% off on some titles!
Click below and get the details.

NCAANCAA basketball

By James Blackburn

Chris Czerapowicz
Photo: Davidson News
Game Scouted: Western Carolina vs. Davidson (Southern Conference Tournament Championship)
Davie wins 93-91 in Double OT
Box Score

Chris Czerapowicz (G, 6’7”, SO)

Stats

3-10 FG, 9 reb, 2 steals, 4 PF, 8 TP

Strengths

Quick release on 3 point shot- gets feet and shoulders square to rim. Moves well with out the basketball- understands spacing. Great length for the guard position. Good understanding of the defensive end- does a good job on help-side, jumps to the ball, crashes the boards and pursues the ball with 2 hands, contests shots, stays down in defensive position, quick hands, understands how to play D when shot clock is running down, knows where his man and ball are, slides in front of big on weak side when teammate helps over- underrated defender- both on the ball and help side- can guard multiple positions- can switch most screens b/c he can guard any one from a 2 to a 4. Doesn’t stand on the perimeter when shot goes up- crashes the offensive boards.

Active player despite below average athleticism, speed, and quickness- he works hard on both ends to overcome his shortcomings athletically. High Basketball IQ- fundamental in all areas- especially on the defensive end- fundamentals comes from his European influence. When he does drive- he does a great job of getting low to the ground and getting shoulder lower then defender- this allows him to the rim on occasion despite low levels of quickness. Skilled in many areas. Does not make many mistakes and doesn’t force anything offensively. Showed excellent rebounding skills on both skills- attacks ball.

Weaknesses

Slow foot speed. Does not have the ability to go by defender- did have one straight line drive lay-in in second half- but its not a strong point in game. Limited speed and athleticism- grounded. I would of liked to see him be more assertive offensively tonight- but to his credit he doesn’t force the issue and doesn’t shoot by shots- has a tendency to disappear on the offensive end- works hard- but isn’t a threat at all times- has 7 games this season where he has scored 5 points or less while getting good minutes- definitely needs more opportunities. Must expand offensive arsenal- just a set shooter this game and didn’t show ability to take man off bounce or create own offense. Needs to get stronger- was in good rebounding position several times but then got pushed or moved out of position by stronger players- was knocked to the floor on multiple occasions as well. His ability to guard multiple positions is an asset and strength in his game now, but I am uncertain in his ability to guard anyone besides a SF at the next level. Seemed to always be on weak side or opposite side where the ball was on offensive end. Foul prone.

Overview

The guard from Sweden is averaging 10 points and 4.6 rebounds a game coming into this game. Has several years experience playing in the European Championships and for Swedish Club teams. Averaged 14 pts and 7 reb in the 2011 U20 European Championships playing for team Sweden. Was quiet tonight offensively- struggled with shot- but scored 15 pts and grabbed 5 rebounds in a 13 point loss at Duke earlier this season and has 19 games where he has scored in double digits this year. Hit a big 3 and offensive rebounding in the OT period- and then hit another big shot in second OT- played well on both ends in both extra sessions.

Overall Chris is a better rebounder(looks to box out every time on defensive end) and defender then he gets credit for- definitely better then his stats would indicate. Like most players from Europe he is fundamentally sound with a nice shooting stroke, but lacks in strength, athleticism, and speed. Being only a sophomore and the fact that he plays internationally over the summers, he definitely is going to have the court time to improve. Czerapowicz is a player that NBA scouts should begin to monitor, especially the teams international scouts. A player of his length, work ethic, and skill level has a chance to find a roster spot on a team with in a couple of years- if the NBA doesn’t work out- he will be able to find a career rather easily in Europe.

—
You’re always looking to keep up with your favorite team, now you can do it on the cheap.

Get major deals on magazines – up to 80% off on some titles!
Click below and get the details.

basketball scouting reportsNCAANCAA basketball

Royce White

By James Blackburn

Game Scouted: Texas Tech @ Iowa State
Iowa State wins 72-54
Box Score

Royce White (F, 6’8”, SO)

Stats

5-7 FG, 3-9 FT, 10 reb, 6 assists, 13 TP

Strengths

Passes well out of post and in transition. Brings the ball at times up at 6’9”- terrific passer – leads team in assists- has great vision- sees the floor like a PG. Good ball handler for size- one of the best I have seen this year for a player his size. Brought the ball up 3 minutes in- crossed over defender and dunked in traffic- huge mismatch for opposing bigs. Very strong- great build and upper body strength. Huge hands- able to shield off defenders and hold ball away with one hand and throw accurate one handed passes. Bumps cutters when cutting across lane. Boxes out( although not every possession) and is physical on boards. Agile and versatile- showed ability to move feet on perimeter and even contain guards on switches. Terrific scorer from mid post area with good one on one moves including spin and dribble moves- able to create own shot. Very athletic- can finish above rim- which is saying something b/c of his weight. Unselfish. Understands the game- high Basketball IQ.

Weaknesses

Too casual at times tonight against a team in Texas Tech with a bad record- doesn’t have a sense of urgency-low motor tonight. Needs to run the floor harder- especially with his physical tools and athleticism. Showed the ability to defend a guard on a P/R switch- but this will not work at next level- must get better at shading out on guard and then getting back to his man- seems content at this level in just switching or hanging back- lazy on his part. Has the look that he is not playing hard, low energy, low motor- then he will have a few possessions where he will just go crazy and dunk on someone or show heavy pressure defense out on perimeter. I don’t know if this is his style/persona or if he is a bit out of shape (he is listed at 270 lbs.- would be at his best if he lost about 15 lbs.- I think it is a little of both (to his credit he does average over 30 minutes played a game this year, but he seems to rest at times on both ends- especially on the defensive end). Gets caught out of position on the defensive end at times and losing track of his man- when he does get out to guard, again there is no urgency and he has hands down. Poor FT shooter (air balled a couple tonight)- awkward release- doesn’t look natural and looks like he struggles to shoot it- stands flat footed- doesn’t rise up on toes (to his credit of his work ethic and wanting to get better- he works on his FT’s 45 minutes a day after practice and on game days). Not a great shot blocker especially with size and athleticism.

Overview

Has a murky past mixed with legal issues and off-court behavior that has gotten him into trouble in the past, where he quit the team at Minnesota, where he originally got recruited to play by Tubby Smith. Seems to have made a turnaround though- having a terrific season leading team in points, assists, and rebounds for a contender in Iowa State and has a good work ethic. Didn’t see any attitude or problems with him in this game- acknowledged he made a mistake early on a TO. Reminds me a bit of Blake Griffin- his build, athleticism, the way he carries himself on the court, and the way he plays. To his credit though, White is a better ball handler and passer, even though Griffin tries to handle the ball. Reminds a bit of a Glenn Robinson type as well.
Will be a good PF at next level- has the ability and tools to be a future first round pick. His size and athleticism will translate to next level, as well his passing, basketball IQ, and versatile scoring ability- post and perimeter. Will be able to defend and score against PF and even some SF. Will cause matchup issues even at next level.

Must improve energy and consistency- tends to disappear sometimes- like the first half tonight- has 7 games this year where he has played over 20 minutes in each and did not score more then 6 points. Came out second half and played better- more energy. The best asset White brings is the fact that even if he isn’t scoring, he can impact the game in other areas like his passing/playmaking and his size and rebounding.

—
You’re always looking to keep up with your favorite team, now you can do it on the cheap.

Get major deals on magazines – up to 80% off on some titles!
Click below and get the details.

basketball newsbasketball scoutbasketball scouting reports

By James Blackburn

Kevin Dillard (G, 6’0”, RS JR)

Game Scouted: Dayton @ St. Louis

Stats

2-10 FG, 7-9 FT, 3 reb, 2 assist, 11 TP, 1 steal, 1 TO, 30 min.

Box score

St. Louis wins 58-50

 Kevin Dillard Dayton Basketball
Photo: DaytonFlyers.com

Strengths

Lightning quick guard who uses his size to his advantage to get to the rim. Very difficult for defense to stay in front of. Has the ball on a string and is an above average ball handler- effective right to left crossover move that froze several St. Louis defenders this game. Excellent P/R player with ball in his hands- seemed to always make the right decision off this action- knew when to turn corner- which he has the ability to do, knew when to shoot pull-up, and knew when to hit screener with pass either when he rolled or popped.

Excellent passer who keeps his head up when dribbling- makes the right pass. Very explosive going to his right- especially the P/R. Has an above average pull up jumper. Can get to the rim and paint area at will, where he can pull up, lay it in with contact (draws contact and fouls at high rate) or kick to an open teammate. Split the double team and had an old fashioned 3 point play for a much needed basket with about 3 minutes to go in the game. Gets to the line and makes defenses pay- shoots over 80% from line- automatic FT shooter- shots rarely hit rim. Makes good decisions overall- 2 to 1 assist to turnover ratio. Leads team in assists with over 6 a game. Only had 2 today but should have had many more- gave teammates a lot of open looks, but Dayton had a tough time shooting the basketball- at one point in first half, they had only made 2 FG in an 11 minute stretch. He really distributes the ball well- throws passes all over the HC set- knows spacing and where teammates are.

Good defender. Excellent help defender- is aware where his man and where the ball are at all times- not once did I see him out of position. Leads teams with 38 steals for the season.

Weaknesses

Shooting is still inconsistent, especially from 3 where he is shooting barely over 30% for the year. Gets good elevation on shot and has decent form, but tends to fade at times and his misses are erratic and he often misses short. Needs to improve ability to go left. Not near as explosive going left as he is going to his right off the pick, is a bit hesitant. In 15 P/R situations that I tracked, he went to his right 9 of the 15 and he shot or went for a lay up in over half of those. Of the 6 times he went left he passed the ball or pulled it out 4 times and shot it the other 2- only once did he completely turn the corner and get to rim going to his left (got fouled on this play). Tends to pull up or pass going left and get to paint going right. Tends to jump in air to make passes at times, does so because of size and he is not able to see over bigger defenders- got caught in the air on baseline once this game for his lone TO. Even though he has over 68 TO’s for the year, he has over twice as many assists and if you account for the fact he plays over 30 minutes a game and he has the ball in his hands more then anyone on the team, that number does not seem as bad. Though he is a good defender- he is a better off ball defender then on ball- at his size in order to show he can play in the NBA, he must hound the ball more and keep his man from getting by him- did not see that from him today.

Overview

Kevin struggled for the most part today shooting the ball against a very good defensive-minded Rick Majerus team that has held 5 teams under 50 points so far this season. He still showed the ability to get to the basket almost at will and got to the line where he hit 7-9 FT’s. His teammates did not help with his assists numbers as they struggled to hit shots, many of which were open looks set up by Dillard. Dayton relies heavily on Kevin for his scoring and his playmaking skills, putting the ball in his hands the majority of the time and allowing him to create off of picks. He is leading the team in points and assists in a very deep A-10 conference that boasts 9 teams with an RPI of 100 or better. Has 1 year left of eligibility. Turned his ankle with 30 seconds to go in game and did not return. Was Mr. Basketball in state of Illinois coming out of HS in Chicago.

As far as Kevin’s NBA prospects, he has several things going for him. For one, he has an ability that transfers from college to the pros and that is speed. NBA GM’s love PG’s that can get into the paint, because that is what NBA offenses are predicated off of and Kevin can do that. Dayton also runs an NBA style offense by spreading the court and setting a lot of ball screens which the NBA does a lot of. His size will hurt him some but not a ton. His game reminds me of other smaller framed PG’s who are quick and can get to the rim- names like Ty Lawson, Ish Smith, and Kemba Walker come to mind. He is not the explosive scorer like Walker, but is almost as quick as these players. I believe with another year of playing at a high level, he would be a good mid second round pick for a team needing a solid back up PG.

—
You’re always looking to keep up with your favorite team, now you can do it on the cheap.

Get major deals on magazines – up to 80% off on some titles!
Click below and get the details.

basketball newsbasketball scoutbasketball scouting reportscollege basketballNCAANCAA basketballUncategorized

By James Blackburn

Juan Fernandez Temple Basketball
Photo: OwlSports.com

Juan Fernandez (G, 6’4”, Senior)

Game Scouted: Temple @ Texas
Texas wins 77-65
Box Score

Stats
31 min, 2-8 FG, 4 assist, 2 steals, 5 TP

Strengths
Good sized guard, strong, solid frame. Keeps his dribble until he passes or shoots- always seeing the floor in the process- very good passer. Not a playmaker in the traditional sense of breaking down defender with dribble and getting to paint and kicking, but a playmaker none the less. His size allows him to see the floor, cutters, and the open man. He keeps his eyes up and is constantly scanning the court. Makes the smart and correct pass. Made a behind the back pass off a pick and roll to an open shooter in the first half. Gives the ball to players in positions for easy scores, which leads to high assists numbers, leads team in that category. Takes care of the ball- doesn’t turn the ball over. High basketball IQ, smart, makes the right plays at the right time. Takes good shots. Uses body and size well. Efficient. Sees the play before it happens on both ends.

Good defensive player- puts himself in good position, jumps to the ball, good help defender, plays the passing lanes well. Good closeout, contests shots. Anticipates and is in the right place at the right time defensively. Smart and deceptive defensively.

Good 3 point shooter- can come off screens- gets feet set and lets it go. Also showed the ability to shoot the dribble pull up, although he is a better set shooter. Struggled shooting the ball today, but his misses were off the back of rim and straight. Good shooting form- elbow in, feet set.

Well conditioned, plays a lot of minutes (over 34 mpg).

Plays well without the ball. Sets up cuts well off screens, changes speeds, fakes one way and goes the other. Does a nice job of instigating contact with defender to create space to come off the screen, receive ball, or to get shot off.

Weaknesses
Needs to improve ball handling-had to turn his back when bringing ball up court a few times. Can’t really create his own shot- doesn’t have the speed or athleticism to get by man or blow by defenders for lay-ups. Not a great rebounder, especially needs to improve offensive rebounding- only 1 all year on that end. Slow laterally on defense- would have trouble guarding quicker and shorter PG’s at next level- His IQ and size helps him compensate for lack of speed at this level.

Overview
Smart experienced guard- has been a starter since first game on campus. Can play and guard either guard position. Doesn’t have big time speed to blow by defenders, but changes speeds and size allows him to see over the defense and make the pass to the open teammate. His team is better with him on the floor, controls the pace, tempo, and flow of game. Is a great fit for this Temple team. Besides his shooting, scoring, and passing abilities, most of what Fernandez does for his team does not show up in the box score. Impacts the game in other ways besides scoring and makes others better. Reminds me of a combination of Jason Kidd now in his old age and Jaycee Carroll who played for the Boston Celtics summer league team last year in Orlando. Both players are good shooting PG’s with size. I see him taking a similar path as Carroll, may receive a summer league or training camp invite, but is likely to end up playing in a first league somewhere overseas.

—
You’re always looking to keep up with your favorite team, now you can do it on the cheap.

Get major deals on magazines – up to 80% off on some titles!
Click below and get the details.

basketball newsbasketball scoutbasketball scouting reportscollege basketballNCAANCAA basketball

By James Blackburn

Game Scouted: Chicago State at Illinois

Illinois wins 90-43
Box Score

Meyers Leonard
Photo Credit:FightingIllini.com

Meyers Leonard (C, 7’1”, Sophomore)

Stats
3-6 FG, 3-3 FT, 9 TP

Strengths

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.