Deacon

Deacon

By James Blackburn

Game Scouted: Wake Forest vs Queens

I was able to attend Wakes first exhibition game of the season against D2 nationally ranked Queens from Charlotte. Two highly touted freshman and one grad transfer played significant minutes and will all 3 be counted on heavily for the Deacs this season. Wake was able to narrowly escape Queens upset bid with a score of 76-74.

Olivier Sarr, 7’0″, C, FR

Wake Forest was fortunate to land the 4 star French prospect who was labeled one of the top international prospects by multiple recruiting services and had his share of offers. First thing you notice about Sarr is his length and size. Lanky but runs the floor like a deer. Can hedge ball screens pretty well and is fluid. Needs to add strength and is still a bit raw at this stage, but Coach Manning has a great track record when it comes to developing bigs, so Sarr should improve weekly especially with more game experience. High upside with size and his athleticism which is what NBA teams love with him. I can see him getting into foul trouble especially in ACC play. Showed some flashes last night in limited minutes and finished with 4 pts and 3 boards. 

Chaundee Brown, 6’5″, G, FR

Brown is Wake’s highest ranked recruit since 2008 and after watching him play 27 minutes last night I can see why. Absolutely loved his composure and court presence. Great body, strong and athletic. Plays hard and doesnt play outside his strength. Defends and can guard multiple positions- I can see this eventually being one of his biggest calling cards as a lockdown defender. Shot is a little slow and his 3- point shot needs to improve- did hit one 3 in the second half. Showcased the ability to score off the bounce and in transition. Definitely a player NBA teams need to add to their list if he isn’t on it already. Would not be surprised if he made the leap to the pros before his 4 years was up.  Finished with 9 points, 2 rebounds, and a block. 

Terrence Thompson, 6’7″, F, GR

Thompson is a grad transfer after playing the previous 2 years at Marshall. Thompson is going to be asked to fill a big hole after the departures of John Collins and Dinos Mitoglou, 2 big men who are now pro’s. Gritty player who fights inside and is a traffic rebounder. Plays hard on both ends. Underrated hands. Not a good outside shooter, did attempt one 3 (which he missed), and needs to improve his FT shooting. His calling card is going to bring toughness, rebounding, and some scoring out of pick and rolls (Which the Deacs run at a high rate). Would like to see if he could score with his back to the basket, which he was not able to showcase much in this game per lack of post ups. Low to mid level European prospect.

 

 

 

Triad Pro Am 2014
By James Blackburn

After being out of town for most of July, I was able to return to Winston in time to catch the last few nights of the Triad Pro Am league, held this year at the Gateway YWCA. The league features local college players and players from Wake Forest, Winston-Salem State, and Guilford College, as well as pros from the area. The notes below are some reports from the standouts during the playoffs.

Andre Washington (Wake Forest, 7’0″, C, JR)
Andre played as good as I have ever seen him play in any setting. Was matched up against pro player, Justin Manns and was able to more than hold his own. Looks better- new and improved- more confident- dunking hard and with authority. Playing w/ good energy. Protecting the rim and was getting solid post position. Washington was simply a beast in the paint all night. Needs to continue to improve balance but will have an impact this season at Wake playing like he did this week.

Lepreece Lynch (Lees-McRae, 6’4″, G, SO)
One of the better all around pure scores I saw. Not lacking any confidence when it comes to putting up shots. Rebounding well on both ends and follows his shot. Was able to get to middle of floor and making good kick outs to teammates.Takes some bad shots- but is always a threat to score.

Craig Hinton (VMI, 6’6″, F, SO)
Is stronger and playing with good energy on both ends. Very impressed with his improvement on the defensive end. Showed he could protect the paint and move his feet on the perimeter while staying in low defensive stance. Providing the highlights that he always does with his out of this world athleticism. Shot looked a bit flat early on- but hit a few outside jumpers and threes as well.

Justin Manns (Lebanon, 6’11”, C)
Upper body looks stronger then last year and is playing tough inside the paint. Showing some solid footwork and patience in the post. Had numerous blocks tonight from the weak side.

Codi Miller-McIntyre (Wake Forest, 6’3″, PG, JR)
Looked solid all night. Running the show- had numerous assists- sharing the ball and being unselfish. Was hitting his pull-up. Changing speeds better in the open floor. Just looked like he could do whatever he wanted on the floor at any point.

Robert Holcomb-Faye (Holland, 6’1″, PG)
Terrific lead guard. Plays the game as a pro should- is patient, takes care of the ball, and has terrific court vision. Is in good shape and can score when needed.

Trever Hyatt (Guilford, 6’3″, G, SO)
Possibly the best shooter in the league. Saw him back to back nights and was impressed both times. Great body language and doesn’t get rattled. Showed the ability to get to the rim and score as well over taller shot blockers.

WyKevin Bazemore (Winston-Salem State, 6’4″, G, SR)
One of the top 3 overall scores I saw. Terrific one on one player who can score from the perimeter and at the rim. Does a good job of drawing contact and getting to the line. Should have a huge season at Winston-Salem State this year.

Aaron Rountree III (Wake Forest, 6’8″, F, JR)
Love his motor and energy. Excellent in transition. Capable of leading the break. Has a quick 2nd jump which combined with his timing and athleticism, makes him one of the best shot blockers in the league. Needs to continue to improve ability to hit open shots. His team won the championship for the 2nd year in a row.

You can watch replays of the 2014 Triad Pro Am games here.

    

By James Blackburn

Wake Forest wins 85-56
Box Score

Game Recap/Thoughts

1st Half

• Wake comes out strong- 2 early scores and several stops in a row
• Boston College has 0 offensive rebounding, even against a poor rebounding Wake Forest team.
• Neither team has much interior defense.
• Wake has taken the 7 pt. lead with some sloppy play by the Eagles.
• Wake takes a 38-29 lead into half.
• The Deacons are out running- several dunks in transition- capped off by a huge alley-oop slam by McKie.

2nd Half

• Wake has stayed in control of this game throughout, still scoring consistently and getting stops.
• CJ Harris is playing the PG role a good bit this half and is doing a good job scoring and creating.
• BC is really struggling on the defensive end- giving up multiple open shots. They are getting burnt on the P/R repeatedly.
• TO’s are killing BC right now…..add that to their inability to score the basketball and they find themselves down 17 with 9 to go.
• Boston College just subbed out all 5 players- down 68-44 with 7 minutes to go.
• This game is over- Wake Fans are all ready heading to the isles- Wake is up 27 pts. With 4 to go.
• Best performance from Wake all season.

Scouting Reports

Wake Forest

CJ Harris (G, 6’3”, JR)

Consistent shooter from 3 and midrange- showed ability to come off staggered screens and catch and shoot- gets feet set, but has a slow release. Excellent change of speed dribble used to get to basket- where he can finish with contact. Shifty. Showing some extra bounce/more juice in step tonight- had a steal at midcourt and finished with a lefty slam over defender. Number 1 option for Wake Forest- makes them go- scores and creates. Speed is a weakness when talking about going to the next level. His understanding of the game is impressive. Plays the passing lanes well. Can create own shot- patient- can play on the ball or off the ball. Has a shot at the next level but doesn’t really have a lot that translates to pro game besides his 3 pt. shooting and IQ- still not a true PG and will not be able to play the 2G at pro level. Still has another year to improve speed and become more of a playmaker- has shown decent passing ability, but still has a scorer’s mindset. Deceptively athletic, strong, and versatile guard. One of the best all-around games I have seen from Harris this season, showed his athleticism, ability to keep dribble, some playmaking skills, shooting ability, and ability to get to rim and finish. Finished with 23 points and 4 assists today.

Travis McKie (F, 6’7”, SO)

Can hit the set 3 and has the ability to put ball on the floor and go by people- strong slasher, but has the tendency to get out of control at times. Active defensively and on the boards. Good shooter when he keeps shot up, tends to flatten out and misses short when he gets tired. Athletic. Would be somewhat of a tweener at NBA level- will have to play the SF position- will struggle guarding a 3 in the NBA- more of an undersized 4 now. Good FT shooter- good arc/rotation. Really has it going today- confidence is showing. Good finisher at rim – great body control. Needs to improve left hand. Guarded and was defended by a similar player in Ryan Anderson, BC’s best player and freshman. Did a solid job on both sides of the ball- better shooter and more comfortable handling ball on perimeter than Anderson. Finished with 21 pts and 6 rebounds in a big win today.

Boston College

Ryan Anderson (F, 6’8”, FR)

Tough/aggressive- can bang inside and finished through McKie several times tonight on the block . Got caught out of position several times on defense- freshman mistakes- matched up with Travis McKie- got caught ball watching and needs to do a better job staying down in defensive position. Good slasher- can get to the rim and finish- good body control. Looked shaky tonight from FT line this game (going 2-9 today)- but has good form and is shooting 75% for year from line. Great touch around basket- can hit the set midrange jumper. Can use his left hand just as effectively as right hand. Has a variety of scoring moves around basket, including a running hook shot. Above average (not great) back to the basket game- but still looked a little timid on the block going up against McKie- loves to go over left shoulder and power way to rim-still needs to develop a go to move on block. Needs to be more aggressive looking for his shot offensively. High basketball IQ- plays above his years as a freshman. Good rebounder on both ends- rebounds the ball with both hands. Good body language, especially for a freshman. Very efficient around basket. Dos a nice job of drawing fouls. Telegraphs passes on perimeter and is TO prone in that area. Shot his first 3 with 7 minutes to play in 2nd half- has a low and jerky release- shooting 27% from beyond the arc this season- will much rather put the ball on the floor and drive or post up at this stage in his young career.

Leads team in ppg and rpg, with 10.8 and 7 respectively. Will need to extend range out to 3 pt. line for next level. Has a great touch and skills above his years- NBA prospect in a couple of years- only a freshman. Will be a tough SF to guard if he can develop a 3 and improve perimeter defense- allowed McKie to go by him multiple times today- strong already as freshman- weighing in at 217, but will need to add some more muscle to get up to about 235/240 for NBA weight- solid frame. One of the few bright spots for a disappointing season for BC this year- scored 18 points on 8-11 FGs and pulled in 11 boards today.

By James Blackburn

Clemson Tigers head coach Brad Brownell yells to his team during the second half of their first round NCAA tournament basketball game against the University of Alabama-Birmingham Blazers in Dayton, Ohio March 15, 2011. REUTERS/Matt Sullivan (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

    

Clemson Wins 78-58
Box Score

Game Recap/Thoughts

1st Half

• Clemson is establishing its post game early- going at Walker 2 straight possessions and scoring on both.
• Wake Forest is struggling to find its groove offensively early against Clemons man to man defense.
• Wake Forest is showing a 2-3 zone for the first time with 12:00 minutes left in the 1st to try to control Clemson’s dominant inside play. Clemson does not have any shooters on the floor with Tanner Smith on the bench.
• Trevor Booker just had a ferocious dunk and got a technical for slapping the backboard with 8 minutes to go in the half.
• Wake is back to man with Smith back in the ball game for Clemson. Wake is losing the loose ball war early on.
• Wake is controlling the tempo and has the lead 20-17 with 7 minutes left.
• Clemson is really struggling with fouls and FG%
• Wake cannot handle Booker on the block.
• 3 fouls in less then 10 seconds on Wake
• Devin Booker with the tip in with 2 seconds left to push the lead to six- 42-36

2nd Half

• Back to Jennings- 1st play in second half- he scores on block.
• Just like that Clemson is back up 13 on a Andre Young 3 and a Smith lay-up.
• Ty Walker injured 3 minutes into half going up for lay in.
• Wake Forest is really having a difficult time defending the long ball- I have lost count how may wide open 3’s they have given up this game- part of the reason Clemson’s lead has ballooned to 18.
• Wake is going to get back into this game with foul shots- Wake is already in the bonus with 12 minutes remaining.
• Wake Forest’s offense is in disarray with CJ Harris on the bench.
• Wake must improve defensively- with 9 minutes left in game- Clemson is shooting over 66% from the field and has made 7 three pointers, Wake has also given up 32 points in the paint.
• CJ Harris is the only player who showed up today for Wake.
• With Clemson up 20- the LJVM is dead- people are already leaving with 8 minutes left.
• CJ Harris just missed an open lay-up with 3 minutes to go- it has been that kind of day today for Wake Forest.

Scouting Reports

Wake Forest

Ty Walker (C, 7’0”, SR)
Extremely long- tries to block everything with in his area. Has a bad habit of bringing the ball down and gets it stripped or tied up frequently. Very Raw offensively- has a hard time scoring with back to basket-even when guarded 1 on 1. Must get stronger- gets bumped off lack and gets knocked out of position for rebounds and in the game in general too easy.

Nikita Mescheriakov ( F, 6’8”, R-SR)
Does a great job utilizing ball fakes. Is a decent shooter- but is still inconsistent in this area- much more effective attacking the rim. Very versatile player who can play and guard several positions. Plays below the rim. Crafty left hander. Reminds me of a thinner Boris Diaw. Tends to get out of control at times.

Chase Fischer (G, 6’3”, FR)
Excellent set shooter- gets feet set and square and plants on inside foot. Underrated passer. Must get quicker. Automatic from the stripe. Needs to be more aggressive offensively. Patient.

Clemson

Tanner Smith (G, 6’5”, SR)
Good size for the off-guard position. One of the best 3 point shooters in ACC- automatic from beyond the arc with feet set- very simple stroke- doesn’t get any lift on shot- but has a quick release. Basketball savvy- had a really nice back door cut for the lay- in first half. Also showed the ability to shoot the 1 dribble pull-up when defender plays too close. Smooth- finished around rim several time with a finger role lay-in. Seems to be in the right spot at the right time to score and rebound this game. Had the ball in his hands a lot today and because of height and ability to see over the defense he can hit the open cutter and open teammates. Makes good decisions with ball in his hand- only 1 TO and 5 assists while playing over 30 minutes. Has struggle creating own shot. Lack of quickness and athleticism is going to hurt his chances of playing at next level. Solid all-around effort today to lead Clemson to the big win. Great attitude and demeanor. Should get some NBA workouts because of size and shooting ability- but he is more then likely going to wind up overseas to play professionally- with a chance to return the states to play in the D-League.

Milton Jennings (F, 6’9”, JR)
Nice Touch around basket. Soft touch shooting FT’s too- calm and collected on line- good arc and rotation. Solid back to basket post game. Can stretch defense with the ability to shoot the 3. Good body control and balance around basket. Had no problem finishing around the basket today.

Devin Booker (F/C, 6’8”, JR)
Physical player who uses his strength to his advantage. Has an effective right hook shot. Foul prone because of his defensive aggressiveness. Good shot blocker. With his size, strength, athleticism, and skill set- he should be doing more stat wise- he tends to disappear for stretches. Good rebounder. Undersized at center position- but makes up for it with strength- needs to extend range and show the ability to defend on the perimeter to improve chances of playing in the NBA after next season. Scouts are going to monitor how well he can make the transition to the PF position his senior year.

By James Blackburn

Wake Forest Logo Virginia Tech logo

Wake Forest wins 58-55
Box Score

Note
CJ Harris hit go ahead 3 to win the game for Wake.

Scouting Reports

Virginia Tech

Dorenzo Hudson (G, 6’5”, R-SR)

Strengths

Great size- NBA ready body. Good shooting form- good follow through- but struggled with his shot today. Showed a NBA ready 1 dribble pull-up. Fills his lane well on the break- can finish above rim in transition.

Weaknesses

Fades a bit on his jump shot. Settled for jumpers instead of attacking at beginning of game. Was out of position several times defensively today. Must improve ball handling- get his dribble tighter.

Overview

Really struggled with his shot and with his offensive game in general today. Is second on team in scoring with 11.8 ppg. Was quiet and was out of sync offensively most of this game. Has an NBA ready body to play the 2G and is athletic enough and strong enough to play the 3, but does not have the overall skill set needed to play at the next level. May receive a couple of workout invitations, but is most likely to end up overseas for rest of his playing career.

Erick Green (G, 6’3”, JR)

Strengths

Smooth. Versatile scorer. Excellent in transition- good passer- keeps eyes up- looks to attack and score in fast break situations. Good defender. Great pull- up shooter- everything is in sync- shoulders square, footwork, follow through, shooting motion, elevation. Utilizes ball fakes. Has a nice floater. Solid player all around. Good size for PG position.

Weaknesses

Needs to improve body language to a degree- is too easy to tell when things are going well or poorly with him. Gets out of control at times and turns it over or tries to do too much.

Overview

Very solid performance from the junior from Virginia today. Hit shots when it counted at the end in crunch time when his team needed a bucket. Carried his team through out game and kept team in game. Is first on the team in points (15.8) and assist (3.2). Has an opportunity to make the NBA if he keeps working. At this point I would say he is deserving of workouts and possibly a summer league roster spot, but it would be in his best interest to test the waters and return to school for his senior year to continue to polish up his PG skills. Although he is a good passer, I would say he is more of a combo guard than a PG at this point- needs to continue to improve play making skills to get to NBA level.

Wake Forest

Tony Chennault (G, 6’2”, SO)

Strengths

Very quick- has the ability to break man down off dribble and get to rim. Aggressive and loves to attack rim. Does a good job of turning the corner on P/R. Fast coast to coast with ball in hands- good in transition when he stays under control. Strong upper body. Strong, hard worker. Creative finishing moves around basket. Good rebounder for size. Fearless and a competitor.

Weaknesses

Gets too much in a hurry at times- needs to slow down, get under control. Over penetrates as an undersized guard at times and gets caught/ gets in trouble. TO prone. Needs to improve shooting consistency. Must improve play making skills as a PG.

Overview

Up and down game for Chennault today. Was injured most of last season with broken foot. Fully healthy this season and has started every game. Lightning quick- more of a scoring guard than a true PG. Hit a big 3 with 3 and half minutes left and his team was struggling to find offense. Will continue to monitor his game, but at this point I would not consider him an NBA prospect, but definitely has the speed to that would carry to next level.

Ty Walker (C, 7’0”, SR)

Strengths

Good shot blocker- very active- excellent second jump. Plays above the rim- very athletic. Influences and blocks shots- protects the paint. Good FT shooter. Nice shooting touch for 7 footer. Runs the floor well.

Weaknesses

Raw offensively. Must develop a back to the basket game and a go-to move. Must get stronger and finish with contact. Rebounding is an area where he could improve on.

Overview

Missed 9 games at beginning of season because of school issued suspension. Very raw and has potential. A senior that has yet to really improve his overall game since coming on campus- still has raw offensive game and with his athletic ability you find yourself just wanting more production from him. May receive some invites from NBA teams for some workouts because of size, athleticism, and ability to run the floor, but I don’t see his NBA experience going much further than that.

JaQuel Richmond
Photo Source: NY2LA

JaQuel Richmond (PG, 6’1″, 2014) worked his way into the recruiting lexicon this summer as he started to get noticed – and recruited – by some pretty big name schools. JaQuel plays alongside some very talented AAU teammates on the CP3 All-Stars, and he proved he is an elite guard at the CP3 elite skills camp this year. JaQuel’s calling card is his quickness and ability to get to the bucket, and he has a knack of creating a mid range shot for himself seemingly at will.

We caught up with JaQuel on his latest offers, what he’s working on right now and few other things in today’s edition of 7 questions.

1. The first question is always about your current college options. Which schools have offered, and which schools are you currently considering/talking to?

Charlotte (UNCC), Virginia, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma State, Wake Forest and Georgetown have offered me so far.

2. Over the summer you got the opportunity to attend some of the biggest camps and events, such as the Chris Paul elite guard camp. What are your thoughts on how your summer went, from the events to playing against top competition?

I honestly would have to say my summer went good, I played against top guards that were in my class at the Peach Jam and in Florida Showcase/Nationals. Playing against those top guards and top players shows others that you can handle that type of pressure during the game and at crunch time, but knowing myself I love to be on the stage and all eyes are on you.

3. What do you think are the strongest parts of your game right now?

The strongest parts of my game right now [are] getting to the basket at any time and attacking that mid-range at all times.

4. What parts of your game are you currently working on?

I am constantly working on my 3 ball because most coaches know that I can get to the cup so they want to see if I can also shoot that 3 ball. So most of my workout I’m constantly putting up shots, at least 600 shots.

5. Do you have a player (at any level, college or pro) that you admire?

I would have to say I admire Kyrie Irvin because we both have that killer instict during the entire game and we can get to the basket with no problem.

6. Do you have any visits planned, or have you already taken any?

October 8th I’m going to Virginia Tech.
October 14th I’m going to Duke Midnight Madness.

JaQuel Richmond basketball
Photo Source: Naples News

7. If you could tell people one thing about you that you wish they knew, what would it be?

That I would never be cocky and that I’m always humble.

By James Blackburn

Jordan Williams

Maryland wins 74-55
Box Score

Game Recap/Thoughts

1st Half

  • Wake Forest shoots a lot of bad shots resulting in easy fast break buckets for Maryland. They are playing too much 1 on 1 and are standing around.
  • Wake had a tough time scoring in the first half, at one point they went over 3 minutes with out a field goal. They missed several easy shots close to the rim.
  • Wake Forest is turning the ball way too much and even is having trouble inbounding the ball.
  • Wake Forest showed some flashes of good defense in the 1st half- mostly playing a tight zone- but they had too many breakdowns.
  • Maryland showed good patience against the zone.
  • Maryland showed they can play half-court basketball against a zone and they have the ability to get out and run. Wake is sluggish in the half-court and is much better in transition.

2nd Half

  • Wake is passing the ball much better and playing better team basketball early in the 2nd half to cut the deficit to 6.
  • Wake is sloppy with the ball, does not value each possession.
  • Just when Wake goes on a good run, they shoot a bad shot, resulting in a lay-up for Maryland; a few minutes later, Maryland has a 20 point lead.
  • Maryland again did a good job against Wake’s zone of going inside-out. Wake switched to a man-to-man defense towards the end of the game.
  • The officials let the players play this game, it was a physical game.
  • Wake lost because of turnovers and bad shots. Maryland won because they played good defense and got easy scores off of Wakes TO’s.

Scouting Reports

Wake Forest

CJ Harris (G, 6’3”, SO)

Strengths- Smart defender who possess a high basketball IQ. Poised player. Still making the transition from playing off the ball last year, to being the primary ball handler this year. He looked comfortable playing PG-leader on the floor, directing traffic and not turning the ball over. Is an improved passer from last year. Good FT shooter. Has a convincing shot fake.

Weaknesses- needs to get stronger finishing inside. I believe he needs to be more assertive offensively and make more plays.

Overview- CJ is one of the few bright spots on this young Wake Forest team this season. Has done a nice job developing into a PG, learning the position well from ex-Deac Ish Smith. I would compare his situation to current Bobcat PG, DJ Augustine. DJ had to make the switch to PG, after Felton left. Both players were/still are good set shooters from outside, but both are undersized and not athletic enough to play the 2 guard. CJ will be a good 4 year player at Wake. His future in the NBA is dependant on how well he can continue to be molded into a true 1.

J.T. Terrell (G, 6’3”, FR)

Strengths- Athletic, high volume scorer. Can get to rim or shoot the pull up. Had a nice back door cut and finished with a creative up and under reverse in the first half. Ability to create own shot. Is a good shooter, but brings his FG% down because of his poor shot selection.

Weaknesses- Terrible shot selection. Settles for deep fade-aways and shoots ill-advised shots early in the shot clock. Shot 4-13 from field this game. Forces the issue on the break when there are no numbers. Is TO prone. Missed an open dunk in 2nd half.

Overview- Comes into Wake as a 4-Star prospect and a Top-50 talent, and has not lived up to that billing. He has pro potential because of his athleticism, but has a long way to go. Needs to develop into a PG; develop play making and passing skills. I would compare him to JR Smith. Both players have a fiery attitude and are explosive scorers, who either keep you in the game because of their scoring and shooting, or can lose the game, because of their poor decision making and bad shots.

Maryland

Jordan Williams (F, 6’10”, SO)

Strengths- Strong, physical player. Great rebounder at both ends. Surprisingly well conditioned- averages over 31 minutes per game. Uses his big body well to draw fouls. Is only a 50% FT shooter for season, but looked very comfortable at the line tonight and displayed good form. Finished the night 9-14 from the stripe. Showed off a nice spin move going baseline in the 2nd half. Looks calm/under control though out game- very good body language. Shot 1 midrange shot late in the game- showed good mechanics- but he ran the baseline mainly against the zone and rarely flashed to the middle. Hard working player.

Weaknesses- Likes to go over his left shoulder and use right hand with back to basket. Needs to develop left hand. Needs to develop his overall defense- he just looks lazy at times on that end and took some possessions off. He struggled tonight against the taller and longer Carson Desrosiers. He has a tough time finishing over taller players because he does not get much lift on shots in low post. Also had a tough time defending Wake’s taller players.

Overview- Williams is a double-double machine this season and eats rebounds for breakfast. At 6’10”, he is the perfect size to play the PF position in the NBA. He would be smart to stay another year at Maryland to work on his defense and playing a little more on the perimeter. I think he would be a good second round sleeper in another year.

Cliff Tucker (G/F, 6’6”, SR)

Strengths- Very good in transition. Is a good finisher and runs the floor well. He is an active defender and a good passer as well. Likes to go to the basket. Showed a nice in and out dribble move in transition and finished with a lay- up. Gets to the line at a high rate and is a good FT shooter. Athletic rebounder.

Weaknesses- Needs to improve shooting constancy and range. Also needs to continue to develop dribbling skills.

Overview- Came off the bench this game and led the team in minutes played and total points with 21. Is athletic enough and tall enough to be a 2 guard in the NBA, but lacks the jump shot and dribbling skills to make it in the NBA now. I think he will make an NBA summer league roster and will probably wind up playing overseas or in the D-League next season. Reminds me of ex- Wake Forest player, Trent Strickland, who now plays in the D-League.

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