This video is pretty simple but is a nice throw down by Ron Patterson in transition. I'm also going to put together a highlight tape of Kellen Dunham from today.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Saturday, April 10, 2010
IndyBall.com Shootout 16 & 15U Saturday Recap
Here's a rundown of the performances by some of the freshmen and sophomores in this event. All these players were from Indiana Elite as well. I'm hoping to get a good look at the Eric Gordon teams tomorrow .
Indiana Elite 16U:
2012 Guard Ron Patterson- Patterson had a typical impressive performance today, showing off his strength and athleticism in both games. The sophomore guard used the bounce to get to the rim, as he scored after contact and got to the foul line. Patterson rebounded the ball very well from the guard position, recording double digit boards in his first game. The 6'3 guard also used his athleticism to finish a put back dunk off a teammates' miss. Patterson had a pretty good day from behind the arc, shooting 3-7 today. Patterson's length and athleticism allow him to block shots, recording several rejections today. Overall Patterson played well, and as he continues to work on his ball-handling and shooting he will improve as a player.
2012 Guard Kellen Dunham- Dunham, a 6'4 guard, didn't receive the early recruiting interest some of his counterparts did, but is proving he is equally talented thus far. Dunham showcased the total offensive package, taking opponents off the dribble and knocking down mid-range and 3-point jumpers. Dunham finished well at the rim, converting several layups and shots after contact. He also showed a nice feel for the glass, using it on mid-range jumpers and drives to the basket. He displayed the ability to play adequate defense, not giving his man any easy paths to the basket. Dunham could be the Indiana player to boost his stock this AAU season.
2013 Forward Collin Hartman- I was only able to watch Hartman play once, but he impressed in this game. A legitimate 6'6 as a freshman, Hartman has an advanced skill set for his age. In one sequence Hartman blocked a shot, grabbed the loose ball, pushed it down court, and then buried a mid-range jumper at the elbow. Hartman struggled from behind the arc, but showed an impressive mid-range game, knocking down several jumpers. Defensively, Hartman was impressive blocking 6 shots and forcing a few steals. Hartman was also impressive on the boards, pulling down several offensive rebounds to create extra possessions for his team. All in all Hartman did not look the part of a 15 year old on the court, and will be a player to watch not only this summer, but for the next 3 years.
Indiana Elite 16U:
2012 Guard Ron Patterson- Patterson had a typical impressive performance today, showing off his strength and athleticism in both games. The sophomore guard used the bounce to get to the rim, as he scored after contact and got to the foul line. Patterson rebounded the ball very well from the guard position, recording double digit boards in his first game. The 6'3 guard also used his athleticism to finish a put back dunk off a teammates' miss. Patterson had a pretty good day from behind the arc, shooting 3-7 today. Patterson's length and athleticism allow him to block shots, recording several rejections today. Overall Patterson played well, and as he continues to work on his ball-handling and shooting he will improve as a player.
2012 Guard Kellen Dunham- Dunham, a 6'4 guard, didn't receive the early recruiting interest some of his counterparts did, but is proving he is equally talented thus far. Dunham showcased the total offensive package, taking opponents off the dribble and knocking down mid-range and 3-point jumpers. Dunham finished well at the rim, converting several layups and shots after contact. He also showed a nice feel for the glass, using it on mid-range jumpers and drives to the basket. He displayed the ability to play adequate defense, not giving his man any easy paths to the basket. Dunham could be the Indiana player to boost his stock this AAU season.
2013 Forward Collin Hartman- I was only able to watch Hartman play once, but he impressed in this game. A legitimate 6'6 as a freshman, Hartman has an advanced skill set for his age. In one sequence Hartman blocked a shot, grabbed the loose ball, pushed it down court, and then buried a mid-range jumper at the elbow. Hartman struggled from behind the arc, but showed an impressive mid-range game, knocking down several jumpers. Defensively, Hartman was impressive blocking 6 shots and forcing a few steals. Hartman was also impressive on the boards, pulling down several offensive rebounds to create extra possessions for his team. All in all Hartman did not look the part of a 15 year old on the court, and will be a player to watch not only this summer, but for the next 3 years.
IndyBall.com Shootout 17U Saturday Recap
In what was a loaded day of AAU action, I got the chance to see 17U, 16U, and 15U action today. The majority of my day was spent watching the Indiana Elite teams. I also saw a few Spiece teams play today. Tomorrow I will get the chance to see the Eric Gordon All-Stars play. Several players were attending the Adidas Nation event and will be reuniting with their teams in the future.
Indiana Elite 17U
2011 Guard Matt Carlino- Carlino had an up and down day today, showing off great range on his jump shot but also committing small mental mistakes and turnovers. Carlino hit four 3-pointers in the first half of a game, and also showed the ability to slash and finish at the rim with the ball in his hands. Unfortunately Carlino also showed the tendency to get a bit too flashy, trying to throw passes behind his back and between his legs, leading to turnovers. Matt displayed nice athleticism, throwing down a one handed dunk in the lane, and hitting another off the back of the rim. The key for Carlino is to play within the game and not force any flashy passes or plays.
2011 Forward/Center Cody Zeller- Zeller had a game that mirrored his high school season. He made fluid and smart moves in the post, showing nice touch but struggled at times to finish through fouls. His active hands allowed him to get several tip ins and pull down challenged rebounds on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Zeller is one of the best free-throw shooting big men I can recall in recent history, shooting 6-7 from the charity stripe in his first game. If Zeller is struggling with his jump shot, the key for him is to get the ball in the post and score. All in all he had a good showing today, and I will be intrigued to see how he does this summer.
2011 Guard Jeremiah Davis- Davis did not have the best showing today, as he struggled to find his jumper. Davis does a nice job of breaking down his man off the dribble, but at times can hold onto the ball too long. He does a good job at getting into the lane, and if he concentrates on attacking the basket and finding his teammates instead of falling in love with the jump shot, he should be fine.
2011 Forward Austin Etherington- Etherington showed a little bit of everything today, playing well on both sides of the ball. In the first half of the morning game he struggled with his jumper but passed the ball well and took his man off the dribble for an impressive 2-hand dunk. In the second half he found his range, knocking down two 3-pointers. In his second game of the day he hit several mid-range jumpers and 3-pointers.
2011 Forward Vinny Zollo- This former Kentucky commitment impressed me in his first game. He was the most active player on the floor, pulling down 9 rebounds and using offensive rebounds to score second chance points. Zollo ran the floor very well and was the recipient of some good passes into the paint. He also buried a mid-range jumper and a 3-pointe. The one weakness to his game was that he struggled to finish some plays after contact, but still maintained aggressiveness. Zollo is a player I will be continually watching as the summer rolls on.
2011 Center Cheir Ajou- Ajou is a project in the true sense of the word, but is making strides as a player. A legitimate 7 footer, Ajou blocked multiple shots each game, and pulled down most rebounds in his vicinity. He hit a nice 15-16 foot jumper and a hook shot in his first game. When he got to the line Ajou knocked down both free throws, showing a nice stroke for a big man. Ajou needs to time his jumps a little better when rebounding and blocking, but certainly has the potential to be a difference maker on both ends of the floor.
Indiana Elite 17U
2011 Guard Matt Carlino- Carlino had an up and down day today, showing off great range on his jump shot but also committing small mental mistakes and turnovers. Carlino hit four 3-pointers in the first half of a game, and also showed the ability to slash and finish at the rim with the ball in his hands. Unfortunately Carlino also showed the tendency to get a bit too flashy, trying to throw passes behind his back and between his legs, leading to turnovers. Matt displayed nice athleticism, throwing down a one handed dunk in the lane, and hitting another off the back of the rim. The key for Carlino is to play within the game and not force any flashy passes or plays.
2011 Forward/Center Cody Zeller- Zeller had a game that mirrored his high school season. He made fluid and smart moves in the post, showing nice touch but struggled at times to finish through fouls. His active hands allowed him to get several tip ins and pull down challenged rebounds on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Zeller is one of the best free-throw shooting big men I can recall in recent history, shooting 6-7 from the charity stripe in his first game. If Zeller is struggling with his jump shot, the key for him is to get the ball in the post and score. All in all he had a good showing today, and I will be intrigued to see how he does this summer.
2011 Guard Jeremiah Davis- Davis did not have the best showing today, as he struggled to find his jumper. Davis does a nice job of breaking down his man off the dribble, but at times can hold onto the ball too long. He does a good job at getting into the lane, and if he concentrates on attacking the basket and finding his teammates instead of falling in love with the jump shot, he should be fine.
2011 Forward Austin Etherington- Etherington showed a little bit of everything today, playing well on both sides of the ball. In the first half of the morning game he struggled with his jumper but passed the ball well and took his man off the dribble for an impressive 2-hand dunk. In the second half he found his range, knocking down two 3-pointers. In his second game of the day he hit several mid-range jumpers and 3-pointers.
2011 Forward Vinny Zollo- This former Kentucky commitment impressed me in his first game. He was the most active player on the floor, pulling down 9 rebounds and using offensive rebounds to score second chance points. Zollo ran the floor very well and was the recipient of some good passes into the paint. He also buried a mid-range jumper and a 3-pointe. The one weakness to his game was that he struggled to finish some plays after contact, but still maintained aggressiveness. Zollo is a player I will be continually watching as the summer rolls on.
2011 Center Cheir Ajou- Ajou is a project in the true sense of the word, but is making strides as a player. A legitimate 7 footer, Ajou blocked multiple shots each game, and pulled down most rebounds in his vicinity. He hit a nice 15-16 foot jumper and a hook shot in his first game. When he got to the line Ajou knocked down both free throws, showing a nice stroke for a big man. Ajou needs to time his jumps a little better when rebounding and blocking, but certainly has the potential to be a difference maker on both ends of the floor.
Q&A Interview with 2012 Standout Ron Patterson
On Saturday I caught up with Broad Ripple sophomore Ron Patterson. The 6'3 guard is playing AAU basketball with Indiana Elite this summer, winning their first two games this Saturday. Patterson had 10 points and 10 rebounds in his first game, and 17 points and 4 rebounds in the second game. He showed off a versatile game shooting the 3, pulling down rebounds, blocking shots, and breaking opponents down off the dribble. Patterson had perhaps the highlight of the day with a 2-handed put-back dunk in his second game. I did a brief interview with Patterson, and here is what he had to say.
Indy Hoops: Describe yourself as a player and tell me a little bit about your game?
Patterson: "I can shoot it at times, get to the lane, pull down rebounds, and be a good defender."
Indy Hoops: What would you say you need to work on this summer to improve your game?
RP: "Ball-handling."
Indy Hoops: Do you want to play a certain position in college?
RP: "It really doesn't matter to me, I just want to play."
Indy Hoops: What schools are you looking at?
RP: "Indiana, Purdue, Cincinnati, Xavier, Tennessee, Ohio State, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan"
Indy Hoops: Are all of the schools on an even level or are any sticking out?
RP: "Not really they're all even."
Indy Hoops: Do you have a timeline to make a college decision?
RP: "I'm just playing it as it goes."
Indy Hoops: Have you visited a lot of schools?
RP: "Not anywhere recently, but I may do that this summer or in the fall."
Quick scouting report on Patterson:
When you talk about Ron Patterson's game the first thing that comes to mind is athleticism. He has incredible leaping ability that allows him to block shots, rebound very well, and dunk the ball with authority. Patterson's position in college will be shooting guard, and as he continues to work on his ball-handling his ability to slash and take opponents off the dribble will only improve. Defensively, Patterson can be a lockdown defender because of his strength and quickness. As a shooter, Ron has room to improve but the defender must respect his outside shot. Although he is a little undersized for your ideal 2 guard, Patterson makes up for it with his athleticism, and with a little work on his shooting his game will continue to impress.
Indy Hoops: Describe yourself as a player and tell me a little bit about your game?
Patterson: "I can shoot it at times, get to the lane, pull down rebounds, and be a good defender."
Indy Hoops: What would you say you need to work on this summer to improve your game?
RP: "Ball-handling."
Indy Hoops: Do you want to play a certain position in college?
RP: "It really doesn't matter to me, I just want to play."
Indy Hoops: What schools are you looking at?
RP: "Indiana, Purdue, Cincinnati, Xavier, Tennessee, Ohio State, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan"
Indy Hoops: Are all of the schools on an even level or are any sticking out?
RP: "Not really they're all even."
Indy Hoops: Do you have a timeline to make a college decision?
RP: "I'm just playing it as it goes."
Indy Hoops: Have you visited a lot of schools?
RP: "Not anywhere recently, but I may do that this summer or in the fall."
Quick scouting report on Patterson:
When you talk about Ron Patterson's game the first thing that comes to mind is athleticism. He has incredible leaping ability that allows him to block shots, rebound very well, and dunk the ball with authority. Patterson's position in college will be shooting guard, and as he continues to work on his ball-handling his ability to slash and take opponents off the dribble will only improve. Defensively, Patterson can be a lockdown defender because of his strength and quickness. As a shooter, Ron has room to improve but the defender must respect his outside shot. Although he is a little undersized for your ideal 2 guard, Patterson makes up for it with his athleticism, and with a little work on his shooting his game will continue to impress.
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/.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Washington defeats Gary Lew Wallace 65-62 in OT to win 3A title
Led by Cody Zeller's 20 points and 26 rebounds Washington High School won the Class 3A State Championship in overtime. Zeller tied a state championship record by pulling down 26. Cody Zeller is now the 3rd Zeller family member to lead Washington to a 3A State Championship. This is Washington's 3rd title in six years.
Senior Guard Latroy Taylor hit a 3 pointer near the end of the 4th quarter to tie the game at 56. Washington failed to connect on a jump shot to win the game in regulation, and the game went to overtime. Washington led throughout overtime, and two 3 pointers by Branden Dawson did not connect in the final 10 seconds of overtime. Branden Dawson led Gary Wallace with 22 points and 11 rebounds.
Scouting:
(2011) Cody Zeller, Forward/Center- Zeller absolutely dominated the glass throughout this game. He had 15 rebounds at halftime and used his size, positioning, and athleticism to pull down a state record 26 rebounds in the game. Zeller scored 20 points in this game, able to get many opportunities off second chance points. He also showed nice shooting touch knocking down a 3 pointer to close out the second quarter. Zeller did a nice job getting to the foul line, but had an off shooting day from the charity stripe. Zeller struggled to finish plays after contact, missing shots on potential "And 1's". Adding strength to his frame could definitely help Zeller finish more plays down low. Defensively he was solid, not allowing buckets and challenging many shots in the paint. All in all Zeller played a great game and showed his skills that make him a sought after prospect. This performance surely impressed the handful of college coaches at the game. As he moves forward, Zeller must add strength to his frame to help his game in the paint both offensively and defensively.
(2011) Branden Dawson, Wing Forward- Dawson showed off his high level athleticism and motor today, fighting for loose balls and finishing in the paint. Dawson is streaky shooting the ball but was able to score in the paint off offensive rebounds and fast breaks. Dawson had two rim rocking dunks in the open court, displaying good handles with the ball. Branden also used his leaping ability to pull down high arching rebounds and contest shots. Defensively Dawson's length bothered opponents, as he was able to disrupt plays and challenge shots with his wing span. Overall Dawson played well, putting on a show for the many college coaches in attendance. The key for Dawson is too improve the consistency of his jump shot so he can become a total offensive threat.
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