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.

Q&A with Gary Harris at Adidas May Classic

I spoke with Gary Harris this past weekend at the Adidas May Classic. The 6'3 or 6'4 195 pound shooting guard (his words) updated me on the schools that are recruiting him, his chances of playing football in college, and much more. The interview is below.

Indy Hoops: How he would you describe your game?

Gary Harris: "I have a toughness to my game, I like to get to the basket, but when people back off I like to shoot my jump shot."

Hoops: How did your high school season go?

GH: "It was a good season. We only lost 4 games, and we thought we could have gone further, but I have no complaints."

Hoops: What are your goals for your high school team next year?

GH: "Just to keep improving and not take a step back from this year. We don't want to flame out as early."

Hoops: Who all has offered you scholarships so far?

GH: "I have ten offers so far. Illinois, Notre Dame, Xavier, IUPUI, Minnesota, Cincinnati, Indiana, Ohio State, Butler, and Vanderbilt."

Hoops: Are there any other schools that are recruiting you?

GH: "Washington and Michigan State have been calling a little bit."

Hoops: Do you think you will want to stay local with your college choice or does distance matter?

GH: "I'm not sure right now I'm just still trying to take it all in. I'm going to wait a while and then during my junior year I'll sit down with my parents and really think about where I want to go."

Hoops: Your Dad said that your Mom played at Purdue. Are you hearing from Purdue at all?

GH: "No I haven't talked to them in a while."

Hoops: I understand you also play football. Do you think you might want to play football in college?

GH: "I'm not sure, it just depends on how it all plays out when I decide my college."

Hoops: What are a few things you're really looking for when deciding a college?

GH: "The relationship I have with the coaching staff and how I fit into the program as a player."

Here's my scouting report on Gary Harris:
A skilled combo guard with explosive athleticism, Harris is rapidly improving his game. Harris only averaged 14 points per game this season, but his potential is undeniable. He has the bounce, quickness, and athleticism to take opponents off the dribble and score above the rim. Combine that with an improving jump shot and a high level motor, and Harris has the total package needed to be a backcourt star.

McGary Working On Game and Grades

This weekend I got the chance to see Mitch McGary play at the Adidas May Classic. I caught two of his games and he looked sharp in both of them. He had a double double in the second game I saw, a game in which he hit four 3-pointers. After his first game he talked about a number of things including his academics, recovering from an injury, college recruiting, and what he's working to improve on the court. Below is what he had to say.

When asked to give a brief update on recovering from an injury and how his grades are looking:

"Now that I have my grades and my health under control I can really focus on improving my game on the court. I broke my foot early on in the high school season and then I had Mono so I only played 10 games this year."

Talking about preparing for the college game in the weight room:

"I've been putting on a lot of weight, I weigh about 240 (pounds) right now. Hopefully I can get up to about 250 or 255, not too heavy but real jacked up. I just want to be all muscle without any fat."

The schools that are currently recruiting him:

"Dayton, Cincinnati, Indiana, Purdue, and Xavier right now. My only offer is from Purdue."

When asked if anyone is standing out at this point:

"Just Cincinnati, I like Coach Davis a lot, he's been calling me a lot. Coach Crean from Indiana has been calling me a lot. At Purdue Coach Paul Lusk has been talking to me a lot."

On a potential offer from Indiana and what it would mean:

"I think they're waiting to see my grades, they were a little worried about that. I've heard Coach Crean has said he really wants wants me to play here. I would love to play here, there is so much history, but I just gotta get my grades under control."

What part of his game he'd like to work on and what coaches are telling him to work on:

"My strength and probably my ball-handling. I can shoot but I don't really have to because we have a lot of shooters on our team. A couple coaches have said they want me to work on my inside game, and also my handles so when I get to college I might be able to play the perimeter."

Where he fits in the college game:

"I think I'm a power forward who can play inside and out. I just really want to work on my handles."

When asked if he knows exactly where he stands academically:

"I'm not sure right now. I just need to keep working at them and hopefully get them to the mark they need to be at."

If any coaches have suggested him reclassifying or attending prep school:

"Yeah, a couple coaches have talked to me about that, but I'm still not sure what I want to do."

On the early offer from Purdue, and gauging their current interest:

"Yeah they called me last week, they're still interested and have a scholarship for me."

If he had any plans to visit Cincinnati:

"I think I'll go to Cincinnati this summer, and then take another one to IU and Dayton pretty soon."

Top Performers: Adidas May Classic

During a loaded weekend of hoops a few players stuck out as being top players at the tournament. Although I only attended on Saturday, I wanted to highlight my top performers from the weekend. Below are my top 5 performers from the weekend.

1. Gary Harris (2012) D3 Heat- Harris had a huge weekend, pouring in games of 36, 23, and 22 this weekend. In my eyes he has cemented himself as one of the two or three best players in the state of Indiana. I believe you can make a real case for him being number one, as there's just so much he can do. He'll hit a contested 3-pointer, break down the d and score at the rim, or blow right by you for a thunderous dunk. If that's not enough he'll hit the pull up mid-range jump shot, and pester opponents all game long on defense. Harris really played phenomenal this weekend and not only did he impress me, but he was also watched by several national scouting services. Already an outstanding guard, If Harris keeps improving at this rate, he could be a truly scary talent by the time he's done with high school.

2. Mitch McGary (2011) SYF Players- I knew McGary was good before this weekend, but I had no idea he was this good. In one game I watched McGary hit four (yes four) 3-pointers and several mid-range jump shots, an impressive feat for a 6'9 big man. McGary didn't just shoot all day though, as he got the ball in the post and was able to score with his back to the basket. Mitch also ran the floor well which led to some easy baskets in transition. He had games of 23 and 18, and pulled 12 rebounds in one Saturday game. McGary also showed the ability to handle the ball, often taking the ball up the court to the displeasure of his coach. There's not a lot McGary cannot do, he just needs to refine his back to the basket game a little bit.

3. D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera (2012) Indiana Elite Team Indiana- Smith-Rivera did double duty this weekend, playing with the Indiana Elite 17U and 16U teams. On Sunday he only played with his 16U team and scored 22 points to help lead them to the tournament title. Smith-Rivera had it going all weekend long hitting 3-pointers, scoring at the rim, and getting to the free throw line. He also did a great job passing the ball to Peter Jurkin, Obij Aget, and Hanner Perea who all finished numerous DSR passes with authority in the paint. Chalk up another productive weekend for the 2012 standout.

4. Devin Davis (2013) Eric Gordon All-Stars- Watching Davis, he showed why he's already scored offers from Purdue and Indiana as just a freshman. Davis is a great athlete who excels at absorbing contact and finishing plays after hard fouls. He can score off the bounce, or gain position in the post to score a basket. This weekend Davis had games of 17 and 15, but also made an impact blocking shots (6 in one game) and hustling for rebounds. He's got a relentless motor, and game similar to 2012 Dejuan Marrero, but his ball-handling is more advanced. Since he is only 6'5, Davis needs to improve his range out to the 3-point stripe, something he has plenty of time to do.

5. Jeremy Hollowell (2012) Eric Gordon All-Stars- The 6'7 Hollowell showed off his versatile game this weekend, making it look easy from all over the court. He had a game of 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists, and another game with 18 points. Hollowell scored from 3, scored on opponents off the dribble, and ran the floor well as he was the recipient of some nice alley oops passes in transition. He'll also mix it up down low on offense and defense, scoring second chance points and blocking shots in the paint.

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.)

Adidas May Classic 16U Saturday Recap

Today 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 16U recap.

Gary Harris D3 Heat 6'3 SG- Today, my first time seeing Harris live was a real treat. I have seen televised games of him before, but watching him in person is something else. Harris had 23 points in the game I saw, showcasing his ability to score at and above the rim, knock down the 3-pointer, and knock down the mid-range jumper. To close the first half Harris had 8 straight points, knocking down two 3-pointers and taking the ball to the rack for a bucket. Physically, Harris is slender but not too skinny, able to absorb contact and finish after contact. His arms are long, and as he continues to get older he'll likely add more strength and bulk to his frame. On defense his length and quickness make him a pest on the wing, not giving up any easy shots or drives. You can tell Harris is improving his game at a rapid rate, making a real case as the top player in the state for 2012. ( I'll have an interview feature to come with Gary Harris later this week. )

D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera Indiana Elite Team Indiana 6'3 PG- Productivity is the word that comes to mind when you mention DSR. He's not the most athletic or flashy player in Indiana, but right now he's the most productive. He showcased his skill today running with Indiana Elite Team Indiana 17U and 16U. DSR hit 3-pointers, scored at the rim after contact, knocked down free throws, and passed well. He threw some great passes to athletic big men Hanner Perea and Peter Jurkin. Smith-Rivera is going to get knocked for his lack of "upside", but he's going to have a very productive junior year at North Central.

Jeremy Hollowell Eric Gordon All-Stars 6'7 SF- Hollowell's team won in an absolute blowout early in the evening, beating the team by nearly 60 points. I didn't see Hollowell play against the greatest competition, but he still showed why he's a top-notch talent. He knocked down a 3-pointer, fought for some second chance points, and had some athletic dunks in transition. He also blocked some shots and pulled down some boards on defense, truly showcasing the total package. There's not much Hollowell can't do on either side of the ball, so it will be interesting to see him challenged by equal talent when the opportunity presents itself.

Hanner Perea Indiana Elite Team Indiana 6'8 PF- Although he's not an Indiana guy, Perea is definitely worth a mention. He plays high school ball in North Carolina, but AAU for the Bloomington based Indiana Elite team. Perea may just be the most athletic big man I have seen so far this summer. In one sequence he blocked a shot, ran down the floor, and literally jumped over an opponent as he threw down an alley oop dunk. He showcased a nice array of dunks and blocks all throughout the day, proving himself as an elite athlete. He is pretty raw on the offensive game, but is expanding his jumper out to the mid-range. If he can develop a consistent mid-range jumper and back to the basket move, he could be an elite college talent.

Nick Osborne Eric Gordon All-Stars 6'8 PF- Osborne had another good showing, dominating competition in a blowout. He's got great athleticism and is developing a knack for grabbing offensive rebounds to score second chance points. Similar to Hollowell, Osborne has impressed me this summer but I've yet to see him truly be challenged. He's got to develop a better back to the basket game, but Nick has the physical tools and effort to excel.

Ronnie Johnson Eric Gordon All-Stars 5'9 PG- Truth be told, I am a Ronnie Johnson fan. He's a quick and smart guard who knows when to pass and knows when to get his points. Admittedly, his jump shot isn't great, but has been improving this spring. He throws the lob pass very well, and benefits from playing with athletic players such as Jeremy Hollowell. Since he is a bit undersized, it is key for Johnson to develop that consistent outside game to keep defenders honest. He's got a knack for hitting floaters and buckets on the run.

TJ Bell Indiana Meanstreets 6'7 PF- Bell has been coming on pretty strong this spring playing with Indiana Meanstreeets. He's a great athlete and dunker who's the recipient of some good passing by his teammates. Today he showed good touch around the rim, scoring after contact on lay-ups and turn-around post moves. Bell blocked some shots on the defensive end, showing off his athleticism on the other end of the floor. He hit a nice 15 foot turn-around jumper to tie the game with less than 30 seconds remaining. Today Bell had 18 points, and the key for him is to consistently give a big time effort, otherwise he can disappear from a game. If he asserts himself on both ends of the floor he could be a really productive player.

Peter Jurkin Indiana Elite Team Indiana 7'0 C- Another half-Indiana half-not guy, Jurkin is a teammate of Perea in high school and AAU. Jurkin is very athletic, but pretty raw with the basketball in his hands. He'll throw down some nice dunks and oops due to great passing, but he's not going to create many points for himself. That is alright though, as Jurkin has plenty of time to improve as a prospect. He blocks/changes shots on defense and hustles to get back on offense, often creating alley oop opportunities for himself. Although he's pretty raw around the basket Jurkin does have a pretty good stroke from the free throw line, converting at a reliable rate for a young big man. Jurkin does hold some high major offers, so you know he has the talent and upside, he just needs to work hard on his game.

Adidas May Classic 17U Saturday Recap

Today I attended the Adidas May Classic in Bloomington where I saw games played at Assembly Hall, Cook Hall, and Twin Sportsplex. 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 17U recap.

17U:

Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell Indiana Elite Team Indiana 5'10 PG- Ferrell looked great today, running the team and knocking down jump shots. Ferrell is on a loaded AAU team, so his scoring role isn't as big as it is during the high school season. Ferrell ran the break, played good full-court defense, and found open teammates, things all great point guards should do. You can really tell his jump shot is improving as he progresses throughout his career.

Cody Zeller Indiana Elite Team Indiana 6'11 PF/C- Zeller had a typical productive day at the office this afternoon. He ran the floor well, receiving good passes from Ferrell and Jeremiah Davis, which led to easy baskets. He showed good touch around the rim, scoring out of the post and while facing the basket. Cody also rebounded the ball very well, pulling down boards with toughness.

Jeremiah Davis Indiana Elite Team Indiana 6'3 PG/SG- Davis was pretty quiet scoring-wise when I saw him, but along with Kevin Ferrell he ran his team quite well. You can tell Davis is starting to improve as a passer, making smarter plays with the ball and not forcing any action. Davis did have a nice breakaway dunk, showing off above-average athleticism to make the play. As usual, he played good defense and didn't give his man any easy opportunities.

Mitch McGary SYF Players 6'9 PF/C- With Branden Dawson playing elsewhere this weekend, McGary had an increased role for his SYF team. In his first game of the day McGary did a good job scoring around the basket and roaming the paint. McGary perhaps had the "ooh" moment of the day when he grabbed a defensive rebound, took the ball down the floor past several defenders, and threw down a one handed slam from the volleyball line. In his second game McGary showed off excellent shooting touch, knocking down four 3-pointers and several mid-range jumpers. He scored 23 points in that game, while pulling down 11 rebounds.

Travis Trice SYF Players 5'11 PG- Trice impressed me last weekend at Franklin, and cemented himself to me as a quick lead guard with the shooting touch and athleticism to score all over the court. He will need to add strength to his frame, but Trice is proving to be a realiable scorer, defender, and passer game in and game out. In the two games I saw today he hit seven 3-pointers and did a great job drawing fouls in the lane. Trice has the quickness and ball-handling to break down defenses, finding the open man for a shot or scoring at the rim. He had games of 17 and 15 today.

Slight Editors Note- D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera played both 17U and 16U for Indiana Elite. I will put him in my 16U recap.