What I've Learned this Spring

This spring has produced some interesting AAU action thus far. With summer around the corner, and the potential for coaches to be out in July, things will only continue heat up. Below are a few of my observations from April and May AAU action.

Too Big Too Early?

D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera was often knocked for being a physically superior player (6’3 220 Pounds) at an early age, and a player without a great deal of upside. Smith-Rivera isn’t the most explosive athlete, but he’s continued to show that he can score tough buckets at the rim, and get to the free throw line seemingly at will. Couple that with an improving jump shot, and he’s one of the most productive players you’ll find on the AAU circuit.

“Late” Bloomer

In a world where the top prospects are known by the time they finish their freshman year of high school, Gary Harris could be called a late bloomer by some. People knew about the 6’4 Harris as a freshman, but most didn’t know he was this good until recently. The 2012 prospect had a strong year at Hamilton Southeastern, and has cemented himself as an elite player this spring. He’s a freak athlete who has really improved his jump shooting and ball handling. Harris very well may be the best player in Indiana’s loaded 2012 class. Although he didn’t receive the early attention some members of his class did, he’s showing that he is equally (if not more) talented.

Undersized and Underage, No Problem!

Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell stands below 6’ tall, but that doesn’t affect his game. The sophomore 5’11 floor general is “playing up” this summer with Indiana Elite Team Indiana 17U. Ferrell has been very impressive this spring, showing an improved jump shot that helps his versatility as a scorer. Ferrell has the speed, quickness, and ball handling to run the fast break, but also get to the rim in half-court setting. Ferrell does everything you could ask for in a point guard, regardless of height or age.

Finally Injury Free

6’10 Mitch McGary (Class of 2011) sat out much of his junior season with a nagging injury (broken foot) and a nagging case of Mono. McGary is finally back to 100% and has been impressive. When I first saw him he appeared to still be shaking off the cobwebs and rust, but a week later he looked sharp and consistent. McGary showed off his ability to knock down perimeter jumpers, run the floor, and score in the paint. With health issues aside, McGary looks lined up for a huge summer heading into his senior year at Chesterton.

Darryl Baker (2013) is coming off a leg injury, one that sidelined him for the entirety of his freshman season. The 6'2 guard has admitted that he's not back to full strength, but he's still impressed this spring. He's a good athlete, good ball handler, and improving jump shooter. Baker does a good job of attacking the rim and getting to the foul line, but will hit the jumper if left open. Baker had a great summer last year, and once he gets back into form, he should have a big 2010.

Let Me Intrdoduce Myself

Devin Davis 6’5 Forward Warren Central (2013)- The 6’5 freshman is an athletic forward with good ball handling and the ability to finish at the rim. He’s already received scholarship offers from Indiana and Purdue, and more are sure to come this summer as he continues playing with Eric Gordon All-Stars.

Basil Smotherman 6’4 Guard Heritage Christian (2013)- Smotherman is a smooth lefty with the ability to fill it up from deep. He’s got a great shot, and when he gets in a rhythm he can light up the scoreboard from all over the court. Smotherman, who also plays for Eric Gordon 15U, has already received offers from Purdue and Xavier.

Zak Irvin 6’4 Guard/Forward Hamilton Southeastern (2013)- Davis, who teams up with Davis and Smotherman for EG 15U, played JV this past year but has shown off rapid improvement and growth this spring. Irvin grew several inches and put on 15 pounds during his freshman year at HSE. He hit a game winning 3-pointer during the Adidas May Classic, and also had a game of 19 that I saw. He’ll be teaming up with Gary Harris on the varsity roster next year, so he should be an intriguing player to watch.

Collin Hartman 6'6 Small Forward Cathedral (2013)- Hartman is a skilled forward with the ability to score from all over the floor. He can shoot the jumper, drive to the basket and score, and even mix it up in the post if necessary. Hartman has such an advanced skill set as a freshman that Purdue, Indiana, and Notre Dame have all offered him scholarships. He is playing for the Indiana Elite Stars 15U team this summer.

Best of the Spring

Dunk- Nick Osborne had the best by literally jumping over an opponent for a one-handed jam at the IndyBall.com Shootout. Hanner Perea had a close second when he elevated over a defender for a two handed alley oop at the Adidas May Classic.

Individual Performance- Gary Harris’ 36-point game at the Adidas May Classic was very impressive.

Play- 6’10 Mitch McGary grabbed a defensive rebound, dribbled the ball down court, and took off from the volleyball line for a one-handed slam.

Shot- Zak Irvin’s game winning 3-pointer on Friday night of the Adidas May Classic is the best shot so far.

Team- The 17U SYF Players team is the best I have seen so far this spring. They’re headlined by Branden Dawson and Mitch McGary, and also feature Travis Trice and Jeremiah Jones. They might not have the same individual talent as the Indiana Elite 17U team, but the way they play together is impressive. Even with Dawson gone, they still won the Adidas May Classic 17U division.

Adidas May Classic 15U Saturday Recap

I attended the Adidas May Classic in Bloomington where I saw games played at Assembly Hall, Cook Hall, and Twin Lakes Recreation Center. Over the course of a 10-hour period I watched team after team sand saw at least 2 dozen division one prospects. I saw games in the 17, 16, and 15U divisions. Below is my Saturday 15U recap.

Devin Davis Eric Gordon All-Stars 6'5 Forward- Watching Davis was the highlight of the 15U division for me. Davis put on a show Saturday morning tallying 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 blocks against Ohio Ball Club. His nonstop motor allowed him to make plays on both ends of the floor, swatting shots and throwing down highlight reel dunks. Davis is a bit of a tweener right now, lacking the ideal size to play inside, but not quite having the shooting touch to be a full-fledged small forward. He does however have good handles, and can get to the rim where he finishes plays after contact. Saturday morning he scored on a variety of drives where he got fouled and converted the tough "and 1" basket. He's also a high-level athlete who can block shots well for his size. He'll remind you of a Dejuan Marrero type player, but with better ball-handling skills. Davis is a very young player, so there's no reason to think he won't improve his outside shooting and be a star at the 3 position.

Basil Smotherman Eric Gordon All-Stars 6'4 Shooting Guard- Smotherman struggled when I saw him on Saturday. He only had 4 points, but showed why he has garnered early attention as just a freshman. He's got a nice looking shot, and is improving his ability to get to the rim off the bounce. He had a nice drive where he took the ball to the rim and shot it off the glass, showing off a smart basketball move. I'm going to chalk up Smotherman's bad day to just being "off" with his mid-range jumper as he was very hot on Friday night. He struggled early with the jump shot, and deferred to teammates for the remainder of the game.

Zak Irvin Eric Gordon All-Stars 6'4 Shooting Guard- Irvin played JV for Hamilton Southeastern this season, but showed this weekend that he is ready for an increased role next season. He scored 19 points when I saw him on Saturday, knocking down the jumper from mid-range out to the 3-point line. He also hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to win the game for his team Friday night. Irvin had some nice takes to the basket on Saturday, showing off a versatile scoring game. He's gained 15 pounds since the start of his freshman year, so it will be interesting to track his growth and progression in the future.

( Slight Editors Note- I didn't get to see Collin Hartman, but he only had 4 points in a win for his team on Saturday. He didn't have the most impressive performance, but it was nothing other than a "bad" game for the talented and versatile Hartman.)