Chane Behanan is a Kentucky player, but is being recruited by Indiana and Purdue. I caught up with Chane after one of his games at Tuesday’s Adidas Invitational, and he updated me on his recruitment, and how he feels about IU and Purdue.
Question: Since your performance at the NBPA Camp, what are the new schools that have jumped in your recruitment?
Answer: Indiana offered, Ohio State and Kentucky are on me more, and Texas is recruiting me.
Q: What did you think about your new (top 30) status in national rankings?
A: I like it, but I don’t pay attention to those too much, you know everyone has their own opinion.
Q: Last I heard West Virginia and Lousiville were on top of your list, is that still the case?
A: Yeah, I’ve been talking to both schools a lot, and they came to my games today.
Q: Can you talk about IU and Purdue a little bit, and have you visited either school yet?
A: Both schools have offered me, and I went up to Purdue a couple Saturdays ago. Purdue showed me around the campus, and they showed me the new basketball facilities they are building. I got to meet some of the Purdue players, I liked the visit and they showed me a good time. I haven’t been to Indiana yet, but they offered me a scholarship and I hope to get up there whenever I get the time.
Q: How soon after the NBPA Camp did Indiana offer you?
A: They offered me about two days after the camp, because I had a good performance.
Q: You said Ohio State is turning up the heat, are they trying to get you to visit, and would you visit there?
A: Yeah, I would like to visit there. Ohio is my home state so I could make it up there.
Q: Has Kentucky expressed interest in you?
A: Yeah, they've called and congratulated me on my performance at the NBPA Camp, but they haven't offered.
Q: Do you notice which schools are here watching you?
A: Yeah, I see the coaches from Lousville and West Virginia, especially Rick Pitinio and Bob Huggins. I like that they are watching me, I’m used to watching them.
Q: Are you close at all to committing to a school?
A: No, I’m going to wait until Feburary to make my decision. My brother gets out of prison then and I want to wait until he’s with me.
Q: What’s going to ultimately be the biggest factor in your college decision?
A: I’ll go to the team that accepts me with open arms, and where I feel most comfortable. I want to go somewhere with good academics, and somewhere I bond with the players and coaches.
Showing posts with label Louisville Recruits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Louisville Recruits. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Player Profile: 2011 Ryan Taylor
Name: Ryan Taylor
Graduation Year: 2011, Rising Senior
Height & Weight: 6'5 185
High School/AAU: Lawrence North/Eric Gordon Fast Break
Position: Small Forward & Power Forward
Schools Considering: Louisville Verbal
Scouting Report:
Taylor is a combo forward with a great motor. He'll fight for any rebound on the court, and can score points from offensive rebounds. Taylor has great athleticism, and can throw down highlight reel dunks. He absorbs contact well near the rim to finish plays. Taylor's improving his ball-handling, but his shooting still needs some work. Taylor will struggle to make an impact on the offensive side of the ball until he improves his shooting and ability to get to the rim.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Class of 2011 Pre-Summer Rankings
With the summer AAU season rapidly approaching I wanted to rank the rising seniors in the class of 2011. I've attended several AAU tournaments this spring, and I felt like it would be a good time to do a ranking. The list is headlined by Kentucky commitment Marquis Teague, a 6'1 Point Guard from Pike High School in Indianapolis. Keep in mind that I'm doing these rankings based off a combination of long term potential and current production. Look for explanations and footnotes at the bottom of this post.
(Slight editors note- Matt Carlino has reclassified to the 2010 class and is thus missing from the rankings.)
1. Marquis Teague- 6'1 Guard- Pike High School (Kentucky Verbal Commitment)
Teague is an athletic point guard who can push the ball up and down the court at blazingly fast speeds. His jump shot is still fairly streaky, but he can score even when he's having a cold shooting night. Teague has the ball-handling to get to the rim at will, and the grace and skill to finish after contact. His speed and quickness also make him a threat pressuring the ball in both the half-court and full-court setting. His biggest knock is his inconsistency
2. Branden Dawson- 6'6 Small Forward- Gary Lew Wallace High School (Considering Purdue, Michigan State, Indiana, UCLA, Marquette, and Georgetown)
Dawson is a super athletic forward with a knack for rebounding the basketball. He's developed a nice mid-range game and is able to score using that or fighting for second chance points in the paint. Dawson's athleticism and motor allow him to be a formidable shot blocker for his size. Dawson's main area of concern is his 3-point shooting ability. There's no telling how good he could be if he improved his shooting ability from deep.
3. Michael Chandler- 6'10 Center- Lawrence North High School (Considering Louisville, Indiana, Purdue, Ohio State, Cincinnati, and others)
Chandler is a big man with outstanding athleticism and lots of potential. While his development has cooled off a little bit, Chandler is still a good player and great prospect. Chandler has good footwork in the paint, runs the floor very well, and can challenge any shot in his vicinity on defense. The biggest thing Chandler could do to improve is assert himself on the offensive game by adding a few back to the basket moves.
4. Cody Zeller- 6'10 Power Forward/Center- Washington High School (Considering North Carolina, Butler, Indiana, and others)
Zeller is a skilled big man with the ability to knock down long range jump shots. He's got great touch in the post, but also has the ability to take bigger opponents off the dribble and score at the rim. Zeller is a good but not great athlete who can pull down tough rebounds and block shots. Zeller needs to add a lot of strength to make an impact at the college level, but other than that he has a pretty well rounded game.
5. Mitch McGary- 6'10 Power Forward/Center- Chesterton High School (Considering Purdue, Indiana, Dayton, Cincinnati, and Xavier)
McGary is a post with a big frame and good athleticism. Right now he's about 240 pounds, but still has room to add muscle and bulk. The one thing that sticks out about McGary is his ability to run the floor. He's one of the quickest big men up the floor, leading to easy baskets in transition. McGary has good touch in the post and can score in the paint. He's also got shooting touch out to the 3-point line, but at times can fall in love with the 3-point shot. McGary's best work is done when he spends the majority of his time scoring in the paint, and then slips out to the perimeter to hit an unexpected jump shot. McGary's biggest room for improvement is expanding his offensive repertoire with his back to the basket.
6. Darwin "Dee" Davis- 5'9 Point Guard- Bloomington South High School (Xavier Verbal)
Davis is an undersized point guard who is lightning quick with the ball. What he lacks in strength, he makes up for in speed and athleticism. Davis is a great finisher near the basket, and possesses acrobatic moves that allow him to convert tough baskets. He has a good first step and is able to take defenders off the dribble and get to the rim. In the full court he is one man fast break, able to dish for an open bucket if necessary. The key for Davis to succeed is to maintain shooting consistency and add a little bit of strength to handle larger opponents.
7. Jeremiah Davis- 6'3 Combo Guard- Muncie Central High School (Considering Indiana, Michigan State, Xavier, Cincinnati, Tennessee, and others)
Davis is a strong combo guard who has the ability to get to the rim. He needs to tighten up his handles as I think he relies a little too much on strength to get to the rim at this point. Davis is a streaky shooter, but can really get hot from deep and has good form on his jumper. His strength and quickness make him a good perimeter defender when he gets after it. He's a good but not explosive athlete, who can throw down the dunk in transition. Davis has good court vision, and he can set up teammates well slashing through the defense. Davis has all the tools to be a good player, he just needs to be more consistent from game to game.
8. Austin Etherington- 6'6 Small Forward- Hamilton Heights High School (Indiana Verbal)
Etherington is a great shooter who can really fill it up from well behind the 3-point line. Perhaps his most underrated ability is his passing, making smart passes in the half-court and full-court setting. Etherington is a deceptive athlete, really able to throw down some power dunks once he gets a full head of steam. He's also a tough defender, and although he isn't the quickest guy, he really gets after it on defense. He also rebounds pretty well for his position, showing the ability to scrap for boards down low. Etherington needs to improve his ball-handling, which would make him more of a threat to score off the dribble.
9. Ryan Taylor- 6'5 Small Forward/Power Forward- Lawrence North High School (Louisville Verbal)
Taylor is a combo forward with a great motor. He'll fight for any rebound on the court, and can score points from offensive rebounds. Taylor has great athleticism, and can throw down some highlight reel dunks. He can absorb contact well near the rim to finish plays. He's improving his ball-handling, but his shooting still needs some work. Taylor will struggle to make an impact on the offensive side of the ball until he improves his shooting and ability to get to the rim.
10. Nic Moore- 5'9 Point Guard- Warsaw Community High School (Considering Evansville, IPFW, Ohio, Valparaiso, Indiana, and others)
Moore is an undersized point guard, but can really shoot the ball. He shot over 40% from behind the arc during his high school season. Moore is a speedy guard, albeit probably not at the same level as Dee Davis. Moore has the ball-handling and quickness to make him a great penetrate and kick guy. What he lacks in size he makes up for in heart, and is a true competitor.
Just missed the cut- Justin Gant, Kendall Griffin, Zac VanDeWater
*Notes*
1. Teague is the clear cut choice for number one.
2./3. Some people will knock Dawson for his lack of a 3-point game, but he's still producing. Chandler and Dawson both have a ton of potential, but I see Dawson as doing more with his potential currently.
4. I like Zeller at 4. If he can add strength and play with a little bit more of a mean streak I think he'll be a great college player.
5. I have McGary here because I think he has a good upside but is currently producing pretty well. He's got the size and skill, and now that he's finally healthy he should shine.
6./7. I like Dee Davis a little bit better here because of his ball-handling and constant effort. I feel like Jeremiah Davis can take some plays off and he needs to tighten up his dribbling. Jeremiah Davis has better potential as a shooter. This one is really a tossup.
8./9. I like Etherington a little better because of his ability to shoot and pass the ball. He's not quite the athlete that Taylor is, but still is a very good one. Taylor rebounds the ball better, but Etherington is the better all around player at the position. If Taylor could add a reliable jump shot he could be a great college player. They both need to improve ball-handling.
10. You could make a case for several guys here, but I went with Moore because he's got it. I don't know what "it" is, but when you watch him play you just know he will compete hard. He's a great shooter, great ball-handler, and great passer. I could see some high major teams regret passing on Moore down the road.
(Slight editors note- Matt Carlino has reclassified to the 2010 class and is thus missing from the rankings.)
1. Marquis Teague- 6'1 Guard- Pike High School (Kentucky Verbal Commitment)
Teague is an athletic point guard who can push the ball up and down the court at blazingly fast speeds. His jump shot is still fairly streaky, but he can score even when he's having a cold shooting night. Teague has the ball-handling to get to the rim at will, and the grace and skill to finish after contact. His speed and quickness also make him a threat pressuring the ball in both the half-court and full-court setting. His biggest knock is his inconsistency
2. Branden Dawson- 6'6 Small Forward- Gary Lew Wallace High School (Considering Purdue, Michigan State, Indiana, UCLA, Marquette, and Georgetown)
Dawson is a super athletic forward with a knack for rebounding the basketball. He's developed a nice mid-range game and is able to score using that or fighting for second chance points in the paint. Dawson's athleticism and motor allow him to be a formidable shot blocker for his size. Dawson's main area of concern is his 3-point shooting ability. There's no telling how good he could be if he improved his shooting ability from deep.
3. Michael Chandler- 6'10 Center- Lawrence North High School (Considering Louisville, Indiana, Purdue, Ohio State, Cincinnati, and others)
Chandler is a big man with outstanding athleticism and lots of potential. While his development has cooled off a little bit, Chandler is still a good player and great prospect. Chandler has good footwork in the paint, runs the floor very well, and can challenge any shot in his vicinity on defense. The biggest thing Chandler could do to improve is assert himself on the offensive game by adding a few back to the basket moves.
4. Cody Zeller- 6'10 Power Forward/Center- Washington High School (Considering North Carolina, Butler, Indiana, and others)
Zeller is a skilled big man with the ability to knock down long range jump shots. He's got great touch in the post, but also has the ability to take bigger opponents off the dribble and score at the rim. Zeller is a good but not great athlete who can pull down tough rebounds and block shots. Zeller needs to add a lot of strength to make an impact at the college level, but other than that he has a pretty well rounded game.
5. Mitch McGary- 6'10 Power Forward/Center- Chesterton High School (Considering Purdue, Indiana, Dayton, Cincinnati, and Xavier)
McGary is a post with a big frame and good athleticism. Right now he's about 240 pounds, but still has room to add muscle and bulk. The one thing that sticks out about McGary is his ability to run the floor. He's one of the quickest big men up the floor, leading to easy baskets in transition. McGary has good touch in the post and can score in the paint. He's also got shooting touch out to the 3-point line, but at times can fall in love with the 3-point shot. McGary's best work is done when he spends the majority of his time scoring in the paint, and then slips out to the perimeter to hit an unexpected jump shot. McGary's biggest room for improvement is expanding his offensive repertoire with his back to the basket.
6. Darwin "Dee" Davis- 5'9 Point Guard- Bloomington South High School (Xavier Verbal)
Davis is an undersized point guard who is lightning quick with the ball. What he lacks in strength, he makes up for in speed and athleticism. Davis is a great finisher near the basket, and possesses acrobatic moves that allow him to convert tough baskets. He has a good first step and is able to take defenders off the dribble and get to the rim. In the full court he is one man fast break, able to dish for an open bucket if necessary. The key for Davis to succeed is to maintain shooting consistency and add a little bit of strength to handle larger opponents.
7. Jeremiah Davis- 6'3 Combo Guard- Muncie Central High School (Considering Indiana, Michigan State, Xavier, Cincinnati, Tennessee, and others)
Davis is a strong combo guard who has the ability to get to the rim. He needs to tighten up his handles as I think he relies a little too much on strength to get to the rim at this point. Davis is a streaky shooter, but can really get hot from deep and has good form on his jumper. His strength and quickness make him a good perimeter defender when he gets after it. He's a good but not explosive athlete, who can throw down the dunk in transition. Davis has good court vision, and he can set up teammates well slashing through the defense. Davis has all the tools to be a good player, he just needs to be more consistent from game to game.
8. Austin Etherington- 6'6 Small Forward- Hamilton Heights High School (Indiana Verbal)
Etherington is a great shooter who can really fill it up from well behind the 3-point line. Perhaps his most underrated ability is his passing, making smart passes in the half-court and full-court setting. Etherington is a deceptive athlete, really able to throw down some power dunks once he gets a full head of steam. He's also a tough defender, and although he isn't the quickest guy, he really gets after it on defense. He also rebounds pretty well for his position, showing the ability to scrap for boards down low. Etherington needs to improve his ball-handling, which would make him more of a threat to score off the dribble.
9. Ryan Taylor- 6'5 Small Forward/Power Forward- Lawrence North High School (Louisville Verbal)
Taylor is a combo forward with a great motor. He'll fight for any rebound on the court, and can score points from offensive rebounds. Taylor has great athleticism, and can throw down some highlight reel dunks. He can absorb contact well near the rim to finish plays. He's improving his ball-handling, but his shooting still needs some work. Taylor will struggle to make an impact on the offensive side of the ball until he improves his shooting and ability to get to the rim.
10. Nic Moore- 5'9 Point Guard- Warsaw Community High School (Considering Evansville, IPFW, Ohio, Valparaiso, Indiana, and others)
Moore is an undersized point guard, but can really shoot the ball. He shot over 40% from behind the arc during his high school season. Moore is a speedy guard, albeit probably not at the same level as Dee Davis. Moore has the ball-handling and quickness to make him a great penetrate and kick guy. What he lacks in size he makes up for in heart, and is a true competitor.
Just missed the cut- Justin Gant, Kendall Griffin, Zac VanDeWater
*Notes*
1. Teague is the clear cut choice for number one.
2./3. Some people will knock Dawson for his lack of a 3-point game, but he's still producing. Chandler and Dawson both have a ton of potential, but I see Dawson as doing more with his potential currently.
4. I like Zeller at 4. If he can add strength and play with a little bit more of a mean streak I think he'll be a great college player.
5. I have McGary here because I think he has a good upside but is currently producing pretty well. He's got the size and skill, and now that he's finally healthy he should shine.
6./7. I like Dee Davis a little bit better here because of his ball-handling and constant effort. I feel like Jeremiah Davis can take some plays off and he needs to tighten up his dribbling. Jeremiah Davis has better potential as a shooter. This one is really a tossup.
8./9. I like Etherington a little better because of his ability to shoot and pass the ball. He's not quite the athlete that Taylor is, but still is a very good one. Taylor rebounds the ball better, but Etherington is the better all around player at the position. If Taylor could add a reliable jump shot he could be a great college player. They both need to improve ball-handling.
10. You could make a case for several guys here, but I went with Moore because he's got it. I don't know what "it" is, but when you watch him play you just know he will compete hard. He's a great shooter, great ball-handler, and great passer. I could see some high major teams regret passing on Moore down the road.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Player Profile: 2011 Michael Chandler
Name: Michael Chandler
Graduation Year: 2011, Rising Senior
Height & Weight: 6'10 215
High School/AAU: Lawrence North/Eric Gordon All-Stars
Position: Center
2009-2010 Season Stats: 14.5 ppg 7.7 rpg
Schools Considering: It's very early in the reopening process, but it's safe to assume these schools will recruit him: Louisville, Kentucky, IU, and Ohio State.
Timetable for Decision: Chandler recently opened up his recruitment after a 15 month commitment to Louisville. He has said he will continue to consider Louisville, but wants to look around and evaluate all his options.
Scouting Report:
Like most high school big men, potential is the name of the game for Michael Chandler. An extremely athletic player, the sky is (truly) the limit for Chandler. Chandler has good foot work and and strong hands which make him a lethal high school post player. Defensively, Chandler's size and athleticism make him a formidable shot blocker and shot changer in the lane. His strong hands and athleticism also make Chandler a dominant rebounder. They key for Chandler to succeed is developing a go-to move in the post so he can be a high level scorer in college.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Player Profile: 2012 D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera
Name: D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera
Graduation Year: 2012, Rising Junior
Height & Weight: 6'3 210
High School/AAU: North Central/Indiana Elite
Position: Point Guard
2009-2010 Season Stats: 19.5 ppg
Schools Considering: North Carolina, Georgetown, USC, Xavier, IU, Tennessee, Purdue, Cincinnati, Ohio State, Louisville
Timetable for Decision: Smith-Rivera has no deadline, but has said he would like to end his recruitment relatively soon.
Scouting Report:
An advanced, physical guard, Smith-Rivera (DSR) uses his strength and ball-handling to get to the rim and finish tough baskets. His ability to drive and attack allows him to get to the foul line and also create 3-point plays. DSR is improving his jump shot, and will need to be a solid shooter as players in his class continue to catch up with him physically. Smith-Rivera is a capable, but not explosive vertical athlete, and he has the quickness to keep up with the ball-handler on defense. As he continues to develop his shooting touch, Smith-Rivera should also be able to play the shooting guard position in college.
Graduation Year: 2012, Rising Junior
Height & Weight: 6'3 210
High School/AAU: North Central/Indiana Elite
Position: Point Guard
2009-2010 Season Stats: 19.5 ppg
Schools Considering: North Carolina, Georgetown, USC, Xavier, IU, Tennessee, Purdue, Cincinnati, Ohio State, Louisville
Timetable for Decision: Smith-Rivera has no deadline, but has said he would like to end his recruitment relatively soon.
Scouting Report:
An advanced, physical guard, Smith-Rivera (DSR) uses his strength and ball-handling to get to the rim and finish tough baskets. His ability to drive and attack allows him to get to the foul line and also create 3-point plays. DSR is improving his jump shot, and will need to be a solid shooter as players in his class continue to catch up with him physically. Smith-Rivera is a capable, but not explosive vertical athlete, and he has the quickness to keep up with the ball-handler on defense. As he continues to develop his shooting touch, Smith-Rivera should also be able to play the shooting guard position in college.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Player Profile: 2011 Marquis Teague
Name: Marquis Teague
Graduation Year: 2011, Rising Senior
Height & Weight: 6'1 170
High School/AAU: Pike/Spiece Indy Heat
Position: Point Guard
Schools Considering: Cincinnati, Kentucky, Louisville
Timetable for Decision: Teague said he could announce at the end of this month, but after pushing back his decision multiple times no one truly knows.
Scouting Report:
The total package as a point guard, Marquis Teague wows you with his speed, athleticism, and quickness. Teague has outstanding ball-handling, and cannot be kept out of the lane when he's in the zone. Teague has the strength and skill to finish at the rim, and will not shy away from contact. He also has the vision to deliver passes to any point on the court. On defense Teague has the speed and skill to keep up with anyone, and could be a one man full court press. Teague is still improving and developing consistency on his jump-shot, but anyone who leaves him open from 3 will regret it. As Teague continues to showcase his game he will likely become a household name in NCAA Basketball.
Monday, April 5, 2010
IndyBall.com Shootout Preview
With AAU season finally upon us, it's time to start looking at the travel circuit. The first stop for me is North Central High School, home of the 2010 IndyBall.com Shootout this weekend. In what should be a loaded event, I'm excited to see who makes their preliminary mark on this AAU season. There will be teams from all over the state playing in this event, and a few from surrounding states as well. Here is a quick rundown of the talent I expect to see this weekend:
-2011 F/C Cody Zeller
-2011 C Marshall Plumlee
-2011 G Jeremiah Davis
-2011 G Matt Carlino
-2011 F Austin Etherington
-2011 C Michael Chandler
-2011 F Ryan Taylor
-2012 G Ron Patterson
-2012 G Jeremy Hollowell
-2012 G D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera
-2012 F Hanner Perea
-2012 C Peter Jurkin
-2013 Collin Hartman
This is definitely shaping up to be a loaded event. I could be wrong with a few of the out-of-state guys, as they may not make it, but they are listed on rosters of teams attending the event. There also may be a few guys there who I am not expecting, but be sure to look for full coverage of the event this weekend. I'll look out for any surprises, as this could be the start of "coming out parties" for any number of prospects.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
AAU: Indiana Big Men to Watch
With AAU season almost underway, I wanted to briefly overview some of the state's top big men, and what they can do to improve this summer. Scout.Com Recruiting Analyst Evan Daniels shared some of his thoughts with me on the Indiana big men.
A.J. Hammons (2012) Center- This Carmel High School big man has a high reputation to live up to this summer. The sophomore center has earned scholarship offers from IU, Xavier, and Illinois while averaging over 5 blocks per game this season. Hammons has slimmed down some since last summer, and with a big AAU season, could receive more offers. The sky is the limit for Hammons who could really help himself with an assertive effort on both ends of the floor. "I think the biggest thing holding Hammons back is Agression," said Daniels. "He's got the size, hands and touch around the basket, I'm just waiting for him to turn it up a notch and be more aggressive."
Michael Chandler (2011) Center- The next great Lawrence North big man made a name for himself on the AAU circuit last summer. The rising senior looks to maintain and legitimize his lofty top 15 national ranking. Chandler has shown that he can play solid defense and pull down rebounds, but can he add a more potent offense game to his weaponry? "Michael Chandler has made tremendous strides since he first hit the scene," Daniels said of the highly touted big man. "As far as improvements, I think he needs to continue to develop his moves on the block, make them more crisp and add a few more to his arsenal."
Cody Zeller (2011) Power Forward/Center- Zeller really impressed onlookers in the state tournament, leading his team to the 3A IHSAA Championship. He had a barrage of coaches watching him throughout the tournament, gearing up for what should be an interesting recruitment. Zeller ended last summer with a top 50 national ranking, establishing himself as one of the better big men in the 2011 class. During the season Zeller showed great versatility on the offensive end, knocking down long range jump shots, taking opponents off the dribble, and scoring in the post. If Zeller could improve his overall strength, who knows how good he could be? "With Zeller I think it's clear that strength is certainly something that he can work on," Daniels said. "But he's got the size, hands, post moves and ability to move that can often times make up for his lack of strength."
Evan Daniels is a national scout/recruiting analyst for Scout.com. You can check out his work at http://scouthoops.scout.com/.
Monday, March 22, 2010
2010 IHSAA State Finals Set
The 2010 Indiana High School Athletic Association's Boy's Basketball State Finals will take place this Saturday, featuring 4 championship games for each respective class. Each game will feature top players in the state of Indiana and at least one high major prospect. The star-studded championship features players such as Washington's Cody Zeller and North Central's Terone Johnson.
1A Finals- Barr-Reeve vs. Bowman Academy
The state's smallest class features a matchup between Bowman Academy from Gary, Indiana and Barr-Reeve from Montgomery, Indiana. Barr-Reeve is led by senior guard Trey Hughes who averages just over 17 points per contest. Bowman Academy is led by star sophomore Dejuan Marrero (14 ppg 12 rpg) who is being courted by a host of schools including Indiana, Illinois, Ohio State, and Purdue. This game is set to tip at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday.
2A Finals- Park Tudor vs. Wheeler
This title game features a hot but unranked 15-10 (Indianapolis) Park Tudor team against #2 26-1 (Valparaiso) Wheeler. Upset minded Park Tudor is led by sophomore point guard Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell (23 ppg) who like Marrero is being courted by a number of midwest schools. Wheeler is led by senior Andrew Rudakas who averages just over 16 points per game. This game will start following the conclusion of the 1A title game, with a tentative start time of 12:45 P.M.
3A Finals- Gary Lew Wallace vs. Washington
In a true matchup of star power, which junior star will lead their team to a title? #5 Lew Wallace High School from Gary, Indiana is led by nationally ranked 2011 recruit Branden Dawson. Dawson is being recruited by nearly every school in the country and is averaging 24 points and 14 rebounds per game. #6 Washington High School of Washington, Indiana is led by junior big man Cody Zeller. Another nationally ranked player, Zeller is averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds per outing. This game will start at 6 P.M. following an intermission after the 2A title game.
4A Finals- North Central vs. Warsaw
The class 4A title game puts local power #3 North Central High School of Indianapolis against #6 Warsaw Community High School of Warsaw, Indiana. North Central is led by its duo of star guards, senior Terone Johnson and sophomore D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera who combine to average 38 points per game. Warsaw is led by star junior guard Nic Moore who averages 21 points per contest. Each team hopes to win its second state title, with North Central's coming in 1999 and Warsaw's in 1984. This game will tip after the conclusion of the 3A title game and has a tentative start time of 8:15 P.M.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Lawrence North prevails in OT against Bishop Luers
Junior big man Michael Chandler led Lawrence North to a 49-48 overtime win over Bishop Luers Saturday afternoon scoring 25 points and pulling down 9 rebounds. In a back in forth game that saw several lead changes and ties, Chandler was a force in the post for the host Wildcats. Deshaun Thomas recorded a 22 points and 14 rebounds for Bishop Luers in the loss.
Bishop Luers led 12-10 after the 1st quarter, in which star forward Deshaun Thomas scored only 3 points. Lawrence North led 23-22 at halftime due in part to an 11 point half from Michael Chandler. Chandler showed off an array of dunks and inside baskets in the 1st half for Lawrence North. Luers trailed 36-32 going into the 4th quarter but was able to keep up with Lawrence North in the 4th quarter and force overtime, tying the game 44-44 at the end of regulation.
Scouting:
(2010) Deshaun Thomas- A lethal scorer, Thomas was inconsistent today shooting the ball, but was still effective scoring the ball in the post and near the basket. Thomas has a good nose for the ball and can benefit from missed shots and loose balls by getting second chance points. Thomas fought through double teams in the post to score tough baskets and get to the foul line at will. Although he is an above average ball handler, Thomas can at times force the action by dribbling into double and triple teams instead of finding open teammates. Defensively, Thomas can use his strength to guard opponents down low and give up no easy baskets. They key for Thomas to succeed is to not force the action and let teammates find him for scoring opportunities. In college he should see few if any double and triple teams and will benefit from more one on one situations.
(2011) Ryan Taylor- A lunch pale player, Taylor works hard on offense and defense. Taylor possesses a never-ending motor which allows him to finish around the rim and and contest shots on defense. Combining this with impressive athleticism helps Taylor change games on both sides of the ball. Taylor excelled around the basket, grabbing offensive rebounds and scoring off put-back lay-ups and dunks. As a shooter Taylor is streaky, struggling to knock down perimeter jumpers, but able to knock down the occasional mid range jumper. Defensively Taylor's energy translates to many blocked and contested shots. On two occasions Taylor sprinted down court on fast breaks and blocked would be wide open lay-ups from behind. Overall Taylor is a good, undersized power forward who excels at scoring underneath and around the basket. Most of his offense is created via loose balls and offensive rebounds, so the key for him is to play with high energy and give effort on every play. If Taylor is able to improve his mid range and perimeter jump shot he will become an even more special player.
(2011) Michael Chandler- Like most high school big men, potential is the name of the game for Michael Chandler. An extremely athletic player, the sky is (truly) the limit for Chandler. Chandler has good foot work and and strong hands which make him a lethal high school post player. Although he is slender physically, Chandler didn't back down in the post and went at defenders early and often under the basket. Chandler is able to score in the paint by sealing off the lane and going up strong at the rim. Chandler also benefits from good passing by throwing down wide open dunks and alley oops in transition. Defensively, Chandler's size and athleticism make him a formidable shot blocker and shot changer in the lane. His strong hands and athleticism also make Chandler a dominant rebounder. They key for Chandler to succeed is developing a go-to move in the post so he can be a high level scorer in college.
Bishop Luers led 12-10 after the 1st quarter, in which star forward Deshaun Thomas scored only 3 points. Lawrence North led 23-22 at halftime due in part to an 11 point half from Michael Chandler. Chandler showed off an array of dunks and inside baskets in the 1st half for Lawrence North. Luers trailed 36-32 going into the 4th quarter but was able to keep up with Lawrence North in the 4th quarter and force overtime, tying the game 44-44 at the end of regulation.
Scouting:
(2010) Deshaun Thomas- A lethal scorer, Thomas was inconsistent today shooting the ball, but was still effective scoring the ball in the post and near the basket. Thomas has a good nose for the ball and can benefit from missed shots and loose balls by getting second chance points. Thomas fought through double teams in the post to score tough baskets and get to the foul line at will. Although he is an above average ball handler, Thomas can at times force the action by dribbling into double and triple teams instead of finding open teammates. Defensively, Thomas can use his strength to guard opponents down low and give up no easy baskets. They key for Thomas to succeed is to not force the action and let teammates find him for scoring opportunities. In college he should see few if any double and triple teams and will benefit from more one on one situations.
(2011) Ryan Taylor- A lunch pale player, Taylor works hard on offense and defense. Taylor possesses a never-ending motor which allows him to finish around the rim and and contest shots on defense. Combining this with impressive athleticism helps Taylor change games on both sides of the ball. Taylor excelled around the basket, grabbing offensive rebounds and scoring off put-back lay-ups and dunks. As a shooter Taylor is streaky, struggling to knock down perimeter jumpers, but able to knock down the occasional mid range jumper. Defensively Taylor's energy translates to many blocked and contested shots. On two occasions Taylor sprinted down court on fast breaks and blocked would be wide open lay-ups from behind. Overall Taylor is a good, undersized power forward who excels at scoring underneath and around the basket. Most of his offense is created via loose balls and offensive rebounds, so the key for him is to play with high energy and give effort on every play. If Taylor is able to improve his mid range and perimeter jump shot he will become an even more special player.
(2011) Michael Chandler- Like most high school big men, potential is the name of the game for Michael Chandler. An extremely athletic player, the sky is (truly) the limit for Chandler. Chandler has good foot work and and strong hands which make him a lethal high school post player. Although he is slender physically, Chandler didn't back down in the post and went at defenders early and often under the basket. Chandler is able to score in the paint by sealing off the lane and going up strong at the rim. Chandler also benefits from good passing by throwing down wide open dunks and alley oops in transition. Defensively, Chandler's size and athleticism make him a formidable shot blocker and shot changer in the lane. His strong hands and athleticism also make Chandler a dominant rebounder. They key for Chandler to succeed is developing a go-to move in the post so he can be a high level scorer in college.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
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.
Friday, January 8, 2010
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.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
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.
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