Packer leads Princeton to win over Washington and Zeller

Junior guard Jalen Packer led the host Princeton Tigers to a 61 to 59 victory over the visiting Washington Hatchets. Packer scored a team high 18 points leading Princeton to the win. Junior guard Rontray Chavis chipped in 11 points in the Princeton win. Junior forward Cody Zeller scored a game high 22 points and pulled down 11 rebounds for Washington in a close loss.

Princeton led 34 to 32 at halftime with Zeller on the bench (with 3 fouls) towards the end of the 2nd quarter. Zeller also sat most of the second half with his 4th foul. Princeton trailed by six midway through the 4th quarter when Zeller recorded his 5th foul. Once Zeller fouled out, Princeton went on a run to regain the lead and hold off the hatchets, winning by a margin of two.

Scouting:

-(2011) Cody Zeller- Although he was limited during much of the game due to foul trouble, Zeller put on an impressive display in this game. A skilled 4 man with a good jumper, Zeller is very versatitle for his size. Cody knocked down a 3 pointer in the 3rd quarter, showing off his impressive range. Zeller excels scoring and passing out of pick and roll situations. His best damage is done when he faces the basket or puts the ball on the floor in the post. Zeller showed a good handle with the ball, putting the ball on the floor and creating shots out of the post and from the perimiter. Zeller knows when to pass and when to go toward the hoop, often using the bounce pass out of double teams in the low post. Although he only recorded 1 official assist, Zeller made several great passes, including a full court outlet pass to a teammate who missed a layup. Defensively he is solid, posing matchup problems to smaller opponents and altering many shots. As a rebounder Zeller has strong hands allowing him to pull down loose balls. All in all Zeller is a fantastic prospect as a skilled 4 man at the college level. He could stand to add a little bit of strength, and he has plenty of time to do so.

-(2011) Jalen Packer- This quick guard is the ultimate floor general at the high school level. Packer has tight handles and the quickness to get to the rim and score at ease. He also has great vision which allows him to find teammates on the perimiter when he draws double teams. Defensively his quickness allows him to keep up with ball handlers and put great pressure on the ball. Although he is not a great shooter, Packer can knock down the open jumper when given the chance. All in all Packer is a solid prospect who is truly a winner and can lead teams to the victory, scoring or not.

Carroll, Weidner lead Danville to victory over North Montgomery

Led by Jordan Weidner's 17 point effort, Danville defeated North Montgomery High School 63-42 Friday night. Travis Carroll had a 15 point 15 rebound double double for the visiting Warriors. Carroll scored 13 of his 15 points in the 2nd half, having his way on the boards and in the low post.

Danville dominated the entire game, only trailing 2-0 in the opening minute. The Warriors used great defense and passing to fuel their victory over North Montgomery. Junior guards Jake Thomas and Austin Krutzsch both scored 12 points in the loss for the host Chargers.

Scouting:

-(2010) Travis Carroll- Carroll dominated the glass in a game in which he was guarded by no one taller than 6'3, but was still impressive pulling down boards while fighting through contact. Travis pulled down 4 offensive rebounds, scoring on each 2nd opportunity he had. Carroll showed off his skilled footwork and moves in the post, scoring multiple times off an impressive spin move. Carroll displayed a feel for when to pass and when to do it himself, giving away just two turnovers in a game in which he was hacked, smacked, and double teamed the entire time. Carroll used the aggressive defense to his advantage, getting to the foul line and connecting on 3 of 4 attempts. He found teammates for open looks passing out of the post and not forcing the action. Defensively he was solid, giving up no easy points under the basket. Although he didn't register any official blocks, Carroll altered several shots and caused many more to not even be attempted. He's not a freak athlete, but Carroll makes up for it with his high basketball IQ and ability to score effectively in the low post.

-(2010) Jordan Weidner- A solid off guard with a good handle on the ball, Weidner excels at attacking the rim and slashing through the lane to score. Weidner has a great feel for the passing game, finding teammates for open looks instead of forcing the issue, as he only had one turnover. Defensively Weidner was solid, grabbing two steals and playing good half court defense on the perimeter. Weidner also has impressive athleticism, throwing down a rim rocking fast break dunk in the 2nd half. All in all, Weidner has a great feel for the game and can impact the game from a scoring and passing standpoint.

Marquis Teague's Dunk vs. Muncie Central

This video finally made it to YouTube, and I wanted to share it with anyone who hadn't seen it yet. He showed athleticism just as good as his older brother Jeff.

Branden Dawson scores 20 in Lew Wallace (Hornets) victory over Arlington (Knights)

Branden Dawson scored 20 points and pulled down 8 rebounds as Gary Wallace defeated Arlington High School 66-60 Saturday night. Dawson and Wallace were able to fend off a late Arlington run to maintain the lead and secure the victory. Latroy Taylor scored a game high 23 points for the hornets, many which came off penetration of the Knights' defense.

After a relatively slow first half (27-19 Wallace edge) both teams picked up the tempo, playing more of a fast pace game and going back and forth exchanging buckets. Arlington was led by senior guard Cody Rhorer and junior guard Josh Johnson who both scored 15 points for the host Knights. Midway through the 4th quarter Arlington cut the Lew Wallace lead to 3 points, but the Hornets were able to hang on and win the game by a 6 point margin.

Scouting:

-(2011) Branden Dawson- Dawson showcased the total package tonight, scoring in a variety of ways for Lew Wallace. Dawson shot 10-14 from the field, as his only deficiency was his 0-2 three point shooting. Dawson's jumper looks great from 18' in as his only two misses were on a contested layup, and a missed dunk. Dawson showed a good handle on the ball, driving to the basket and scoring after the foul. Branden pulled down 3 offensive rebounds and scored on all 3 2nd chance opportunities. He also showcased his athletic ability, throwing down a 2 handed cock-back lob off an inbounds play. Dawson showed toughness on defense, grabbing 2 steals and blocking a shot. Dawson's one issue on defense is being aggressive and giving effort on every defensive possession. The thing which impressed me most about Dawson was his passing. Dawson knew when to give up the ball, often passing out of double and triple teams to find wide open teammates. He recorded 3 assists on the game, but his passing had more of an impact than those 3 assists. All in all, Dawson is an elite prospect who is nearly unstoppable at the high school level. He fights through double teams and still scores after being hacked and smacked down low. If Dawson develops a consistent 3 point shot, Dawson could easily be a top 10 talent nationally, and more importantly an unstoppable college player.

-(2010) Latroy Taylor- This senior guard for the Lew Wallace Hornets showed toughness and composure in a highly competitive game. He has a tight handle on the ball and gets into the lane at will, scoring on contested lay-ups and finding teammates for open shots. Defensively he is solid applying good half-court and full-court pressure to opposing guards. He also possesses a formidable jump shot, enough to keep the defense honest. He appears to be a solid prospect, who appears to be a college level player.

Smith-Rivera, Johnson lead North Central (Panthers) to win over Ben Davis (Giants)

Highly touted 2012 guard D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera scored 23 points in an 84-54 North Central win over Ben Davis. Smith-Rivera scored 13 points in the first quarter (4-4 from 3 pt. range in the quarter) and 18 in the first half to help lead North Central to the big win. Purdue signee Terone Johnson chipped in 21 points in the victory. North Central trailed after the first quarter 21-22, but used a stout defensive approach to hold Ben Davis to just 6 point in the 2nd quarter, as North Central led 40-28 at half.

In the 2nd half, North Central continued its gameplan, leading 60-46 at the 3rd quarter break. The strong defense continued throughout the half, frustrating Ben Davis and making every Giants' basket a tough one. Ben Davis was led by Sophomore Harry Wills who scored 20 points in the loss. Senior guard Bradley Elam also chipped in 10 points for the Giants.

Scouting:

-(2010) Terone Johnson- Johnson looked good, but not outstanding in this win. Many of his points came on easy layups and he struggled shooting the 3 point ball, going 1-4 in the game. He also struggled from the foul line only shooting 50% (4-8), an area where he is usually strong. Johnson looked strong with the ball, and was aggressive attacking the basket, shown by his 8 free throw attempts. He had several attempts at "3 point plays", absorbing contact and finishing after hard fouls. Johnson looked good rebounding the ball, grabbing 6 boards and showing toughness going for loose balls. Overall, Johnson did not play his best game, but still impressed me and showed he can score even when the jumpers are not falling.

-(2012) D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera- Smith-Rivera looked outstanding in this performance, showing confidence and improvement in his jump shot. Smith-Rivera was 4-5 from the 3 point line, showing nice touch from behind the arc. Smith-Rivera excelled at handling the ball and attacking the rim, doing a great job getting to the foul line, shooting 5-7 from the charity stripe. Smith-Rivera used his strength and toughness to absorb contact and finish plays after the foul. Now listed at 6'4, it is possible Smith-Rivera has grown a slight amount since last season. He also looked great on the defensive end, snagging 4 steals and applying constant pressure to the Ben Davis guards. If he can shoot the ball consistently like he did tonight, Smith-Rivera looks the part of a top 30 recruit.

-(2012) Harry Wills- This Ben Davis guard looked great in the loss to North Central. Even though he was knocked out of the game late in the 3rd quarter with cramps, he looked great, scoring 22 points. He shot the ball well from 3 point range, knocking down 3 from behind the arc. Wills also showed good athleticism and touch, finishing well around the rim. A solid defender, Wills will be a prospect to watch over the next two years. Wills looks to be a good combo guard, with room for improvement in his ball-handling and passing.

Patterson Scores 24 in Broad Ripple's 2nd half comeback

After scoring just 4 points in the 1st half, Ron Patterson erupted for a 20 point outburst in the 2nd half, leading Broad Ripple to a 62-59 win over Beech Grove. Patterson also tallied 9 rebounds, 5 steals, 2 blocks, and 1 assist in Broad Ripple's win. Beech Grove was led by senior guard Cody Atherton who scored 16 points for the host Hornets.

After getting out to a 9 point lead at half time, Beech Grove saw their lead slowly dwindle throughout the 3rd quarter. Midway through the 4th quarter Broad Ripple took a one point lead after a Ron Patterson basket. Broad Ripple never looked back after they took the lead and fended off Beech Grove to win the game 62-59. Junior forward Lamont Pruitt also scored 10 for Broad Ripple, knocking down key free throws in the last two minutes of the game.

Scouting:

-(2012) Ron Patterson- Patterson showed the two extremes of his game during this contest. A streaky shooter, Patterson missed both 3 point attempts he took in the 1st half, but nailed both 3 point attempts in the 2nd half. Patterson knocked down two 3 pointers off the dribble, showing confidence in his shooting ability. Patterson also missed all 3 of his free throw attempts, an area that needs improvement. Defensively, Patterson looked sluggish in the 1st half letting his man by him many times, attempting to go for the steal instead of sticking to his man. Though he did rack up 5 steals, Patterson let his man by him many times leading to easy baskets and penetration. Playing with renewed energy in the 2nd half, Patterson stuck to his man, applying pressure and forcing turnovers. When playing with energy and effort, Patterson improves his production on the offensive end too. Too often he jogs up the court calling for a pull up jumper instead of hustling back in the open court, where he can do the most damage. When Patterson gets the ball in the open floor his speed and strength allow him to get many easy baskets, while also absorbing fouls to score tough buckets. An electric finisher, Patterson can finish above the rim, and that great athletic ability also makes him a formidable shot blocker at the guard position. His athleticism also helps him to get many rebounds, an area that he exceled in tonight, grabbing 9 boards. All in all Patterson is a player with tremendous upside and potential as a college player. The keys to Patterson succeeding are giving effort on every possession and improving his shooting consistency.

-(2011) Steven Jamison- After coming away impressed by Jamison in a performance earlier in the year, I wasn't able to come to a good conclusion tonight. Jamison is a versatile wing who has a nice shooting stroke, and good handles, but did not play much tonight. If I watch Jamison play again in the future, I hope to get a much better handle on his game.

Attending Tomorrow Night's Game: Broad Ripple @ Beech Grove

Check back tomorrow night for a report on the Broad Ripple vs. Beech Grove game. I'll be attending the game and scouting Broad Ripple stars (2012) Ron Patterson and (2011) Steven Jamison. Expect a report sometime around 10 PM EST tomorrow night.

Marquis Teague scores 22 in Pike victory

Marquis Teague scored 22 points in a 64-48 victory over Muncie Central Saturday night. Teague had a strong 1st half, helping Pike start out with an 11-0 run. Teague had a hot night shooting the ball going 9-11 from the field, 2-4 from behind the arc, and 2-3 from the foul line. Teague also tallied 1 steal, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists. Pike Senior guard also chipped in 17 points for the Red Devils. Pike was too much for the visiting Bearcats, leading the entire game and appearing extremely cohesive as a unit.

Jeremiah Davis led the visiting Muncie Central Bearcats with 16 points, shooting 3-5 from the 3 point line and 1-2 from the foul line. Davis pulled down 7 rebounds and also dished out 3 assists. Muncie Central also got 16 points from Sophomore big man Nick Osborne. Muncie Central simply didn't have the fire power or chemistry to match a hot Pike team.

Scouting:

2011 Marquis Teague- Teague had an extremely hot night shooting the ball, and seems to have improved his stroke. A noted streaky shooter, the sky is the limit for Teague if he can consistently knock down the outside jumper. Teague also shot the mid-range jumper very well off the dribble, knocking down several challenged looks. Teague showed off-the-charts athleticism, blowing by a Muncie Central defender and dunking over 2 more for a true "poster" finish. Also, don't blame Teague for only having 2 assists, as he was looking to find teammates, and they missed open looks, or made the extra pass themselves. Teague also looked solid defensively, always staying in front of his man. Teague looked nearly flawless in this outing, and if he can shoot the ball like this consistently he will be an almost unstoppable lead guard.

2011 Jeremiah Davis- Davis had a good night shooting the ball, but I would like to see him be a more agressive shooter and scorer. Davis shied away from contested lay-ups, often forcing bad passes to his teammates, and causing turnovers. He possesses a great handle on the ball, and can get in the lane at will. If he were more assertive going to the rim, he has the frame to absorb contact and get opportunities at the foul line. Defensively he was solid, rarely letting his man past him, and making plays on the ball when possible. Watching Davis, you can tell he has a great shooting stroke and the biggest thing missing from his game is confidence.