Outside the Lines profiles High School vs. AAU basketball

In case you missed it, OTL did a piece of the growth of AAU basketball and the influence that AAU coaches now have on the recruiting process.

To be honest, I was a bit disappointed with this piece. Maybe it is because none of this information was knew to me, but in general I think that OTL usually does a much better job digging up some kind of information that is not already public knowledge.

And don't blame it all on the AAU coaches. The way that the NCAA rules are currently set up, there is very little time when college coaches are actually allowed to go out and watch these kids play. Given the rigorous schedule of these coaches during the season, and the nationwide recruiting searches that the top programs go on in pursuit of talent, it is almost impossible for them to scout the players during their high school season.

It also doesn't help that a top tier prospect (especially big men) rarely go against kids that are up to their talent level during a typical high school season. Can you really gauge whether a kid can play at the high-major level when he is going against a severely undermanned high school opponent?

AAU tournaments and exposure camps are the best chance that a college coach is going to get to see A) the guys that they are recruiting going toe-to-toe against someone with a similar talent level and B) a large number of potential recruits playing in the same place. With the economy shrinking athletic budgets, why waste the money to travel around the country to watch one kid play a high school game when you can spend a week at the Las Vegas Big Time Tournament and see basically every kid you are recruiting play?

That said, it is not necessarily a good thing that AAU coaches wield this much power in the recruiting business. While I'm sure that their are dirty high school coaches (just as there are probably AAU coaches with the best intentions), I think it is fair and probably correct to say that there is a high percentage of club coaches that are more concerned with making a quick dollar than they are about the welfare of their star player (or players).

Video after the jump.



Continue reading...

Blogs cost Wisconsin Vander Blue

About a week ago, reports surfaced that Vander Blue, a top 30 recruit in the class of '10, was going to decommit from Wisconsin.

This is nothing out of the ordinary. Blue is a local kid (he plays for Madison Memorial) and committed to the school when he was 15. There are a million reasons why Blue could have decommitted. Maybe the point guard didn't want to be stymied in the Badger's grind-it-out offense. Maybe he wanted to follow former Memorial players Wesley Matthews and Jeronne Maymon (the '09 AP Wisconsin player of the year) to Marquette. Maybe he just wanted to see what other schools were an option.

Vander Blue is no longer committed to Wisconsin.
(photo credit: BadgerBeat)

But during a press conference on Tuesday, Blue offered some clues as to why he was re-opening his recruitment. From the Journal-Sentinel:

Blue stressed he didn’t re-open his recruitment because of a published report in which a source raised potential academic obstacles or because some UW fans, after reading the report, used the Internet to criticize his intellect and work ethic.

Listen to what he had to say.

“Just to see how these so-called Wisconsin fans, what they had to say on those blogs,” he said, “it really made me second-guess: Do people really want me here?

“Because I know if I was a fan and I heard about a recruit I’d be more like: ‘What can we do to help him?
“And not: ‘Let’s make him feel like the worst person in Madison right now.’

“That is how I felt. I felt like I was in a corner, trapped and I couldn’t get out…

“I just felt like it was so unnecessary. I don’t think I’m that worse of a guy. Sometimes I might be tired and have a little attitude…I don’t think I’m a horrible person.

“These 40-year-old adults talking about somebody who don’t got their license yet. I just felt it was so unnecessary…

“Picture yourself in my position. Rumors going around, you’re just keeping quiet. And you read the article and 1,000 people throwing you under the bus, trying to find every reason, saying: ‘Good, we don’t want him here.’

“It just made me feel bad like I was worthless here.”

To the best of my internet sleuthing, this is the article that was referenced by the Journal-Sentinel.

Personally, I have two reactions to this bit of news. First of all, Vander, if you ever read this, quit crying man. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that you probably dream of playing in the NBA one day. If you want to reach the league, playing major college basketball is all but a prerequisite. One of the things you have to come to grips with is that the top tier college basketball programs have rabid fan bases, and during the off-season (when there is no basketball or football to be found) these fans are going to spend their time breaking down the every move of their school's recruits and potential recruits.

Face it, even as a 16 year old junior, you are a public figure in this day and age. If you can't handle a couple anonymous posters on some Wisconsin blog (who may or may not actually be Wisconsin fans, how do you know they are Marquette students trying to tarnish your view of the Badgers?), how do you plan playing a road game in the Big Ten?

My advice - stop reading the blogs, get in the classroom and make sure there are no academic issues, then get in the gym and work on your game. If you can't handle the scruntiny, go to UW-Stevens Points. They have a pretty good D3 program, and I'm sure they would love a top 30 recruit.

And how dumb do these Wisconsin fans have to be? Anonymous or not, why would you EVER post that you don't want a top 30 recruit to come to your school? Bo Ryan is not John Calipari. He does not have Mickey D's all-americans knocking down his door.

If the academic rumors were true, you really have no idea why he is struggling in the classroom, either. Maybe his parents are going through a rough patch. Maybe his girlfriend dumped him. Hell, maybe his dog died. Go back to when you were 16, and think about how any one of those scenarios could have seemed like the end of the world. Yes, it is just as likely that he was slacking off in class, but my point is that none of you actually know.

My gut feeling on this one? I bet Blue ends up at Marquette. Not because of the blogs, not because of academics, but because Buzz Williams runs a much more guard-friendly offensive attack, and there is a pipeline from Blue's high school to Milwaukee.

Regardless, Badger fans, maybe we want to play nice from this point forward? Just a thought.

Continue reading...

5/20 - Some Links, Some News

Dumping a few links for you this morning:

- The Curious Case of Lance Stephenson - the #7 player in the country is the only top 100 player (on Rivals or Scout) that is still unsigned. Arizona is still interested, as is Memphis, but Jeff Goodman predicts he is heading to Europe. Side note - his court date was pushed back until the end of June.

- The NBA Draft Lottery took place last night. Draft Express gives you their take, and some interviews as well (pretty good stuff).

- "Today, the Clippers won the NBA Draft Lottery. I'm Blake Griffin. FML."

- This is just the beginning for Kentucky. Gary Parrish explains.

- Gerald Henderson signs with an agent; CJ Henry is officially headed to Kansas; and Florida's Allan Chaney is headed to Virginia Tech.

Continue reading...

NBA Draft Prospects: Stephen Curry, Davidson

Stats: 28.6 ppg, 5.6 apg, 2.5 spg, 3.7 t/o's, 45.4% FG, 38.7% 3PT, 87.6% FT

Listed Size: 6'3", 185 lb, 3/14/88 (21 years old)

(photo credit: Digital Headbutt)

About Him: As a sophomore, Stephen Curry exploded onto the national scene with what may go down as the single greatest NCAA Tournament performance of this generation, carrying tiny Davidson to within a 25 footer of the Final Four. But as a junior, Curry's role vastly changed with the graduation of point guard Jason Richards. Already a proven shooter, this allowed Curry to show off what he could do as a point guard, and for the most part, the season was a (personal) success.

The most interesting aspect of Curry as an NBA prospect is how different his role will be in the league. At Davidson this past season, everything about the Wildcats offense was centered around Curry and his ability to create - both for himself and for his teammates. His usage rate was 31.6 possessions per game, the most of any NBA prospect and 50% more than anyone not named Lester Hudson. In the NBA, Curry is going to play a much more marginal role.

I know that this is stating the obvious, but Curry's game centers around his shot - which is as pure a stroke as I have ever seen. If you allow Curry to catch-and-shoot with his feet set and his shoulders square, he is automatic out to about 30 feet (literally). He also has an incredibly quick trigger, which allows him to get his shot off even when he is defended well. Curry has a great basketball IQ, and truly understands how to run off screens and create space off the ball.

But Curry's physical limitations probably mean he is going to end up as more of a point/combo guard than a pure two. He doesn't have the size, the strength, or the lateral quickness/athleticism to defend shooting guards in the league (he does, however, have a knack for disrupting the passing lanes as he averaged almost three thefts per). He is also going to run into some issues at the point as well. His first step leaves much to be desired, and it more than likely will mean that Curry will have problems beating NBA points off the dribble. Curry did, however, prove himself to be an excellent ball handler in his one season running the show for Davidson. He can handle the ball with either hand and has a variety of fakes and hesitation moves that he can use to keep defenders off balance and help him create space and get a look off the dribble. Perhaps his most telling stat was his assist:turnover ratio - even with the ball in his hands nearly every possession (as a playmaker and not just a scorer), Curry doubled his assist numbers while only slightly increasing his turnovers.

Shooting off the dribble is something Curry was forced to do quite a bit this past season, and he proved to be pretty good. He can pull-up going either direction, and he has a lightening quick and absolutely deadly step-back in his repertoire when going left. The biggest concern any GM will have with Curry's shooting is how far his numbers dipped this year. Most of that, however, can be explained by his team's dependance on him - he forced a lot of bad shots simply because Davidson needed it.

Comparisons: Best Case: I've seen a lot of people saying Mike Bibby, so I'll go with that; Worst Case: Jannero Pargo, Steve Kerr, JJ Redick.

Bottom Line: Curry is an incredibly smart player. Not only does he understand the game, he understands his limitations. He probably is never going to end up being a star in the league because of a lack of explosiveness (meaning he will be a huge defensive liability), he should be able to hang around the league because of the all-around offensive package he brings to the table.

Highlights:




Continue reading...

NBA Draft Order Announced: Clippers win the Griffin Sweepstakes

Blake Griffin is headed to LA.

And not to play for the Lakers.

Here is the Lottery order:

1. Los Angeles Clippers
2. Memphis Grizzlies
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
4. Sacramento Kings
5. Washington Wizards
6. Minnesota Timberwolves
7. Golden State Warriors
8. New York Knicks
9. Toronto Raptors
10. Milwaukee Bucks
11. New Jersey Nets
12. Charlotte Bobcats
13. Indiana Pacers
14. Phoenix Suns

Am I the only one that's disappointed that Griffin will be headed to the Clippers? Personally, I was hoping for Oklahoma City to win the lottery. Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Jeff Green, and Blake Griffin? Not a bad young core.

Continue reading...

BREAKING: Slam is reporting John Wall to Kentucky

Yes, Slam is an unusual place (has anyone ever heard of Aggrey Sam?) for news like this to break (UPDATE: WTVQ in Lexington is also reporting that Wall has chosen Kentucky, but they are piggy-backing off of the Slam article), so we are going to wait to officially declare Wall a Wildcat until the big boys (Katz, Parrish, Goodman, Winn) weigh in (UPDATE #2: Luke Winn has confirmed it, so has Jeff Goodman. Wall is headed to Lexington).

If Wall does, in fact, head to Kentucky (which should surprise absolutely no one) With Wall headed to Kentucky, the Wildcats look like the preseason #1 team in the country, especially if Jodie Meeks makes the smart decision and comes back to Lexington.

I mean, look at this roster: John Wall, Jodie Meeks, Eric Bledsoe, Jon Hood, Darius Miller, DeAndre Liggins, Ramon Harris, DeMarcus Cousins, Daniel Orton, Patrick Patterson, Perry Stevenson. They are big. They are deep. They are athletic. They are led by the #1 recruit in the country, who happens to be a big, athletic point guard expected to be a very high pick in the draft.

Does that remind anyone of the '07-'08 Memphis team?

The bigger story is that the SEC is not only returning a ton of talent (Jarvis Varnado, Patterson, Michael Washington), they are bringing in a ton as well. If Tyler Smith returns to Tennessee and Nick Calathes heads back to Gainesville, the SEC is looking at four, possibly five six teams (Florida, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ole Miss, South Carolina) in the preseason top 25.
Continue reading...

NBA Draft Prospects: Gerald Henderson, Duke

Stats: 16.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.5 apg, 2.2 t/o's, 45% FG, 33.6% 3PT, 76.1% FT

Listed Size: 6'5", 215 lb, 12/9/87 (21 years old)

(photo credit: Rosecityshowcase.net)

About Him: Gerald Henderson really came around during his junior year, becoming the Blue Devils go-to guy and basically carrying the Dukies during a month long stretch in the middle of the season. During his first two seasons, he was not much more than an athlete as he had a tendency to be much too passive on the offensive end. This past season he seemed much more confident, however, and thus became more aggressive, showing off what he can do offensively.

Henderson is far from a finished product on the offensive end, however. He is an above average shooter in the mid range, but was terribly inconsistent from beyond the arc this year (he started 24-51, but finished the year at 34%). G's ball-handling ability also has a great deal of room for improvement. He had a bit of difficulty bring the ball up against pressure this year, which isn't a huge concern as he will be playing off the ball in the league. The bigger issue is that Henderson does not change directions well when attacking the rim - he had a tendency to rely on his quick first step and outstanding leaping ability to get by defenders, as opposed to any kind of advanced dribble move.

But it just so happens that attacking the rim was the best part of G's game. Whether it was off of a curl, a flex cut, a lob, or his own penetration, Henderson showed a phenomenal ability to get to the rim and finish with authority (Blake Griffin may be the only guy that dunked on more people this year than Henderson). He is fearless attacking the basket, and will only become better as he continues to put on muscle. Like most players at this level, he is better going to his right (his strong hand).

As a decision maker, Henderson was pretty good this year. He didn't have too many instances where he over-penetrated or threw the ball away (2.2 t/o's). While he did force some shots (especially from the perimeter), I get the feeling that a lot of it was a result of Coach K being in his ear, telling him he needed to be a leader.

The biggest reason that he is a projected lottery pick is that he is an elite caliber athlete, even by NBA standards. He puts that athleticism to work, especially on the defensive end, where he is versatile enough to defend multiple positions. He projects as an excellent defender at the NBA level, and it is more than just playing for Coach K for three years (meaning you know he will be fundamentally sound). G has proven time and again that he is not afraid to stand in and take a charge or to challenge a center at the rim. He has a feel for the game defensively that you can't teach, a knack for making big plays, and a bit of a mean streak in him as well (ask Tyler Hansbrough's nose about it).

Comparisons: Best Case - Michael Finley, shorter Richard Jefferson; Worst Case: Shannon Brown, Dahntay Jones.

Bottom Line: Henderson will be able to contribute almost immediately to any team that selects him simply because of his outstanding athleticism. He is a hard-worker on the defensive end that is fearless in the air, whether he is trying to block a shot at the rim or finish a drive with a dunk. If his all-around offensive game comes around, he could end up being an all-star one day. If not, he should still be able to hang around the league for 10-12 years. Right now, he is probably looking at going somewhere towards the back end of lottery.

Highlights:




Continue reading...

5/18 - Some Links, Some News

Still dealing with the internet situation. The latest word on is that RCN will be fixing it on Wednesday after noon - but they also were supposed to fix it Sunday afternoon. Does anyone know if there are cable companies out there that are, you know, actually good?

Here's another batch of links for you.

- With the Brothers Griffin leaving Norman, Oklahoma was expecting to lean heavily on Juan Patillo in 2009-10. Patillo, after considering redshirting last season, returned to play the last 18 games of the season where he averaged 6.2 ppg and 3.6 rpg, which included a 15 point, 10 board performance against Kansas.

Well, Oklahoma's season just got tougher as Jeff Capel dismissed Patillo from the Sooner team. Officially termed a "a violation of team policy" (Patillo was suspended for a game this past season for the same offense), Tulsa World speculates that this is a result of Patillo putting himself in "academic danger" and having a "lack of responsibility". Whatever the cause, this is sure to hurt Oklahoma, as Patillo showed a lot of promise during his limited minutes.

- While we're on the topic of OU, here is your jackass of the week. It is Chuck Woodling, a Kansas homer that's writes for LJ World who thought that Wayman Tisdale's death was a chance to rip him for something that happened 25 years ago. Read the comments as well.

- Nick Williams will be transferring from Indiana to Ole Miss, taking the roster spot that was freed up with David Huertas decided to forego his senior year to play pro ball in Puerto Rico. Williams, who originally signed with Tom Crean at Marquette before following to Indiana, was worried about his role with the teams as Crean is bringing in an excellent recruiting class.

- From the useless info department. ZagsBlog is reporting that Wall will "make a decision by the end of the week". I should hope so. The spring signing period ends May 20th. As we stated last week, it looks like Wall is down to Miami, Kentucky, and possibly Duke.

- More from ZagsBlog: Florida International is out of the Born Ready sweepstakes. Despite previous reports, it now looks like Lance Stephenson is destined for Arizona or Memphis. If I am Sean Miller, I don't think I want Stephenson in Arizona. While he is clearly a gifted player (he is the all-time leading scorer in New York State history), he is a one-and-done player that will come into a program gunning. Arizona has already landed a solid recruiting class, and if Nic Wise decides to come back, the Wildcats may already be a tournament team. Miller is a guy that coaches team play and unselfishness, and I'm not so sure I see Stephenson fitting into that philosophy.

In other Stephenson news, he will be heading to court tomorrow to face charges stemming from an alleged sexual assault on October 3rd.

- There are four teams left in the NBA Playoffs. Take the top three scorers from each team, and you have five total years of college basketball experience.

- The NBA has released their pre-draft combine list. Since there will be no 5-on-5, this combine will be essentially meaningless. Remember, two years ago when Kevin Durant completely whiffed on the bench press (he couldn't lift 185 lb once). He's not doing to badly in the league.

Continue reading...

5/15 Some Links, Some News

Internet is still down. Cable guy is supposedly coming tomorrow, so once again we have a batch of links today.

- Wayman Tisdale, the Oklahoma legend and former NBA player, lost his battle with cancer. RIP Wayman.

- Gregg Doyel thinks USC is the dirtiest sports program in the country. These guys not-so-respectively disagree with that assessment. The name of their column: "Gregg Doyel is bad at journalism".

- Wake Forest has hired Rusty LaRue, a former NBA player and three-sport star for the Demon Deacons, as an assistant coach. LaRue was the head coach at Forsyth Country Day School. I wonder if this hiring has anything to do with Tyler Lewis, a stud freshman point guard at the school and one of the top recruits in the class of 2012. According the Lewis's father, LaRue was the reason that Tyler attended FCDS. Lewis has already received offers from Charlotte, Virginia Tech, and Auburn, but apparently Wake is very interested in the North Carolina native.

- Southern Miss PG Jeremy Wise has hired an agent. Continue reading...

5/14 Some Links, Some News

Slow day in college hoops, which works out well for us because the internet is out (apparently RCN is just as terrible as Comcast). Anyway, just some news and notes to get you caught up on:

- So we may know why Isiah Thomas brushed off so many local kids: he is trying to get Born Ready aka Lance Stephenson and Latavious Williams, both top 20 recruits nationally, to come to FIU. Stephenson seems interested (although contrary to rumors, it seems like Arizona may still be a possibility), and Williams is expected to decide between Zeke, Memphis, Georgetown, and Kansas State soon.

- Greg Paulus will be heading home to play football at Syracuse. I wonder how Cuse fans will treat him. Wait, does Cuse football actually have fans?

- Deshawn Painter, a 6'9" forward from Hargrave Military Academy and a former Florida signee, has committed to NC State.

- Washington State coach Ken Bone has inked a seven year deal that will pay him $650,000 the first year. Continue reading...

Malcolm Gladwell discusses his Full Court Press article with Bill Simmons

Last week, Malcolm Gladwell's piece from the New Yorker on the Full Court Press became a college hoops blog sensation. For the most part, the reaction to his thinking was overwhelmingly negative (including ours).

Gladwell defended his piece in an email exchange with Bill Simmons, saying the following:

There are two other things here that fascinate me. After my piece ran in The New Yorker, one of the most common responses I got was people saying, well, the reason more people don't use the press is that it can be beaten with a well-coached team and a good point guard. That is (A) absolutely true and (B) beside the point. The press doesn't guarantee victory. It simply represents the underdog's best chance of victory. It raises their odds from zero to maybe 50-50. I think, in fact, that you can argue that a pressing team is always going to have real difficulty against a truly elite team. But so what? Everyone, regardless of how they play, is going to have real difficulty against truly elite teams. It's not a strategy for being the best. It's a strategy for being better. I never thought Louisville -- or, for that matter, Missouri -- had a realistic shot at winning it all in the NCAAs this year. But if neither of those teams pressed, they wouldn't have been there in the first place. I wonder if there isn't something particularly American in the preference for "best" over "better" strategies. I might be pushing things here. But both the U.S. health-care system and the U.S. educational system are exclusively "best" strategies: They excel at furthering the opportunities of those at the very top end. But they aren't nearly as interested in moving people from the middle of the pack to somewhere nearer the front.

The other, related question is whether you can ever truly run the press with elite players. Pitino did it once, with that stacked 1996 Kentucky team. But I think even he realizes that was a once-in-a-lifetime achievement. Think about it: He got Antoine Walker to play defense for 94 feet. And John Wooden used the press a lot with some of his great teams at UCLA. But he was John Wooden, and that was another era. Realistically, could you convince a couple of McDonald's All-Americans, who have been coddled and indulged their whole lives, to play that way today? When we were talking, Pitino called over Samardo Samuels, who is, of course, Jamaican -- his point being that this was his ideal kind of player, someone who substituted for a lack of experience with a lot of hunger. There is something weird, isn't there -- and also strangely beautiful -- about a coach who deliberately seeks out players who aren't the most talented? I know you have very, um, complicated feelings about Pitino. I love the man.

Basically, what Gladwell says is that the central point of the article is that often times it is in the best interest of a less talented team to press because it raises their chances of winning. He mentions two teams, specifically - Missouri and Louisville - that strictly ran a press. For the Tigers, I happen to agree. The make up of their team was, essentially, a bunch of fantastic athletes that were not quite as talented (i.e. not as many great shooters, ball-handlers, etc.) as many of their opponents this year.

But Louisville? They won the Big East this year. They were the #1 overall seed in the tournament. Two of their players (Terrence Williams and Earl Clark) are first-round picks with a shot at getting into the lottery. Two more (Samardo Samuels and Terrence Jennings) could develop into first-rounders down the road. This was not exactly a team devoid of talent.

And unless he has some critical insight that no other college basketball analyst had this year, Louisville was one of the favorites to win it all heading into the dance.

There is one major flaw in his logic - in order to be successful running a full court press, you have to have the more athletic team. You have to have guys that are quicker, longer, and more aggressive than your opponent. In some cases, it makes more sense to sit back in a zone and allow the other team to try and beat you via the jump shot (think Providence's upset of then #1 Pitt this season). But in some cases, it is better for the less talented team to press (could Missouri have come back against Kansas this year had they played a zone and not pressed?).

As with all things sports, it is a case-by-case basis. And that is where his argument falls apart.

Continue reading...

NCAA rules on twitter

Twitter isn't only a fad for the facebook generation. Coaches are getting in on the act too - Tom Crean, John Calipari, Gary Williams, and Jim Larrananga are just a few of the notables.

As with any new technology, the NCAA needs to develop new rules as to how coaches can use it when dealing with recruits.

Or so you would think.

Ryan Corraza of ESPN the Mag got the scoop:

I called the NCAA yesterday to get the skinny, and here's what I found: Crean is right. Any type of chatter back and forth via @replies that can be viewed in the public domain is not allowed. However, direct messaging on Twitter -- which can only be viewed by the two people involved in the communicating -- is permissible. (Same goes for Facebook. A coach can use the messaging function, which is similar to an e-mail, but he can't write on Facebook walls.) This falls in accordance with the current electronic transmission guidelines that are already in place.

Not much more to say about this. If a coach is going to cheat on the recruiting trail, they are going to cheat. Personally, I think that with the pending UConn and USC investigations, the NCAA has much bigger fish to fry than coaches messing around with Twitter. Eamonn Brennan over at The Dagger says it best:

Sometimes, nothing beats a Beatles record on vinyl or a fresh newspaper spread out in the morning, the same way nothing quite beats a fat stack of benjamins in a crumpled white envelope. It just feels right.

Well played, sir.

Continue reading...

NBA Draft Prospects: Ty Lawson, UNC

For a complete listing of NBA Draft prospects and their player breakdown, click here.

Stats: 16.6 ppg, 6.6 apg, 3.0 rpg, 2.1 spg, 1.9 t/o's, 53.2% FG, 47.2% 3FG, 79.8% FT,

Listed Size: 6'0", 195 lb, 11/3/87 (21 years old)

(photo credit: streetball.com)

About Him: With the return of four underclassmen last season, UNC's high-powered offense became damn near unstoppable this year. The biggest reason for that was Lawson, who won ACC player of the year honors over his teammate and 1st team all-american Tyler Hansbrough.

There is not a faster player in the country with the ball in his hands than Lawson. But what is amazing about his speed is that he rarely seems to be playing out of control, as evidenced by his 3.4:1 a:t/o ratio. In the open court there is not much you can do to stop him. He has a great handle, changes directions very well, but usually does not need them as all it takes in one quick move and he is by you.

In the lane, Lawson is an exceptional finisher at the rim. He is built like a running back (really strong and compact upper body) which allows him to go through contact, bouncing off bigger defenders despite often giving as much as a foot. He also is a great passer, knowing when to shoot and when to give the ball up to an open teammate.

This season, Lawson added a very effective three-point shot, although he is limited in when he can use it. He was only a threat to shoot if he caught the ball with his feet set and a lot of space (his release is very slow) or if he shot off the dribble from a static position. When shooting on the move, either off the dribble or the catch, Lawson is much less dangerous. But given the improvement to his overall shooting ability, I would say he has the potential to become a dangerous shooter with time. Lawson also struggles in the mid-range game. Simply put, if Lawson put the ball on the floor this past season, he was going to the rim - pull-ups are not yet in his repertoire.

For all he can do offensively, Lawson has yet to prove himself consistently effective in the halfcourt. He is clearly a guy that you want if you are playing an uptempo style of ball (can you imagine Lawson in Mike D'Antoni's system?), but not so much for a team playing a slower tempo.

On the defensive end, Lawson proved himself to be very dangerous, especially off the ball (just look at the title game - 8 steals). He is adept at jumping passing lanes or coming from the weak side and stripping a post-up. His out of this world quickness also allows him to get to a huge number of loose balls. Where he may struggle on the defensive end is in 1-on-1 situations, simply because of his height.

What was most impressive to me about Lawson was how good of a true "point guard" he turned out to be. Lawson had a knack for getting his teammates shots throughout the first half, and then taking over down the stretch if his team needed it. See the LSU game from the second round of the NCAA's, when Lawson had 21 second half points en route to a 14 point UNC win.

Comparisons: Best Case: Healthy TJ Ford, Ray Felton; Worst Case: Poor man's Jamaal Tinsley

Bottom Line: Lawson is not going to be a guy like Chris Paul or Deron Williams in the NBA. He's not a guy that can really adapt to a system. But if he finds the right team and the right fit, he can absolutely be a productive point in the League.

Highlights:




Continue reading...

SONNY VACCARO PROFILED IN USA TODAY: Interesting piece in USA Today on the former shoe company mogul and the "godfather of basketball". Two things I took out of this: Paul Hewitt's take on Vaccaro and paying amateur athletes (read to the end) is an interesting view point I never really thought about; and I think it is so fitting that Tony Soprano James Gandolfini will be playing the godfather of hoops. He probably needs to drop about 50 lbs, though.

Continue reading...

BREAKING: Tim Floyd paid Ronald Guillory

If Guillory's name sounds familiar, it should. He was the runner that got OJ Mayo and USC in the news prior to the 2008 NBA Draft. Apparently, Louis Johnson (the former Mayo confidant turned media-snitch that spawned the entire investigation) saw Floyd hand Guillory an envelope with "a grand" in it.

From Yahoo! Sports (the same outlet that broke the UConn recruiting scandal):

On Feb. 14, 2007, Johnson and Guillory packed up Guillory’s black Infiniti SUV and were preparing for the drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas to attend the NBA All-Star weekend. Before they left, Guillory informed Johnson several times that he had to meet with Floyd so the coach could give him cash for the trip. Sometime between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., Guillory and Johnson headed toward Beverly Hills to meet with Floyd. During the drive, Johnson listened as Guillory and Floyd exchanged several cell phone calls as Floyd explained where the meeting would take place.

Upon arriving in Beverly Hills, Guillory pulled up to a stretch of cafes in the downtown shopping district, where Floyd was waiting on the sidewalk. Because there were no parking spaces, Guillory asked Johnson to circle the block in the SUV until Guillory was ready to be picked up. Johnson exited the passenger side of the vehicle, at which point Johnson saw Floyd and the two exchanged greetings. Johnson then got into the driver’s seat and proceeded to circle the block while Guillory and Floyd met.

After approximately 15 minutes, Johnson saw Guillory waiting on the curb in front of the stretch of cafes and pulled over to pick him up. Once Guillory was inside the vehicle, he produced a white envelope with cash inside. Guillory told Johnson that Floyd had given him “a grand,” and Johnson was able to view $100 bills inside the envelope. He said he believed there appeared to be “substantially” more than $1,000, although he did not count the bills.

My initial reaction to seeing this article: no wonder Taj Gibson, Daniel Hackett, and Demar Derozan left school; and no wonder USC did not allow Renardo Sidney to sign an LOI. They had to have known that this was on the horizon.

Improper benefits in college basketball and college football is akin to steroids in baseball - everyone knows it is happening, but no one is truly willing (or able) to do anything about it.

To be honest, I couldn't care less. I personally believe that these athletes should be getting paid by the universities. I've written about it numerous times, but these kids (especially the stars at the big universities) generate a ridiculous amount of revenue for their respective universities. And what do they get in return? A scholarship for an education which will be largely useless to them.

For the majority of the kids playing D1 basketball, they are going to school because they want to be professional basketball players. While this is will only work out for a select few, it does not mean that the rest of the kids looking to further their "basketball education" cannot find a way to make a living off of the game. Be it as a coach, an announcer, a writer, a front office guy, a scout, a trainer (physical or skills wise), a ref, a player's assistant, a money manager, an agent, a runner for an agent (only half kidding here), there are a million ways to make money in the sports industry that does not actually involve playing the game.

Not everyone that goes to med school ends up being a neurosurgeon. It doesn't mean that they should find a different career because they may end up as a career nurse.

So if OJ Mayo, or any other player, pocketed some extra cash as a result of his talents, I don't see anything wrong with this.

You want to end all of this corruption? You want to get rid of this "black market" in college sports? Pay the kids that generate the money.
Continue reading...

MICHAEL WASHINGTON RETURNING TO ARKANSAS: It looks like Washington, a 6'9" junior that averaged 15.5 ppg and 9.8 rpg last season, will be returning to school. If he does, in fact, head back to Fayetteville, it will be a good decision It's official, he's coming back. Washington, at best, will most likely be a second round pick. Arkansas looked promising early in the season, but a series of suspensions (including more than one for freshman PG Courtney Fortson) resulted in the Razorbacks going 2-14 in the SEC after starting the year 12-1 (which included wins over Texas and Oklahoma).

Washington did provide us with one of our favorite moments from the '08-'09 season. I vividly remember watching this play, and literally jumping off of my couch and yelling. It was that awesome (UPDATE: Video from the stands).

Go to the 6:30 mark.


Continue reading...

Indictment in the Rick Pitino extortion case, and U. Maine needs a coach

Just a couple stories to get you caught up on:

- An indictment has been handed down in the Rick Pitino extortion case. From the Louisville Courier-Journal:

Karen Sypher was the lone defendant indicted today by a federal grand jury on charges of trying to extort money from University of Louisville men’s basketball coach Rick Pitino. She will be arraigned tomorrow.

With this nuisance and Pitino's son leaving for Billy Donovan's staff at Florida, its no wonder that Pitino's name was being tossed around in Sacramento's search for a coach.

- Mike Burden resigned as the associate head coach of the University of Maine's basketball team on Monday as a result of an incident from Saturday night/Sunday morning. From the Bangor Daily News:

The 21-year-old female victim reported to police that she left the 103 Ultra Lounge just before the nightclub closed at 2 a.m. and was walking down Park Street when she noticed that she did not have her cell phone. Thinking she had dropped it while taking a shortcut behind an apartment building, she started looking for the phone in that area when a man she identified as Burden approached her.

“He offered to help her and began making advances, which led to the charges of unlawful sexual contact,” Ewing said. While the assault was happening, “one of her friends walked by and she yelled to the friend” who came over to assist the crying woman.

“While standing with the two girls, he starts pawing at [the second woman] and she pushes him away,” Ewing said.

The two women, who both recognized Burden, left together and reported the assault at 3:19 a.m. after the two got to one of their apartments.

Police also had dealt with Burden earlier on Sunday, when the driver of a car he was in was arrested for drunken driving, Ewing said.

Shanna Corson of Lewiston was arrested on Park Street for driving under the influence at around 1:30 a.m. Sunday and taken to Penobscot County Jail in Bangor. Burden was her passenger. After Corson was arrested, police wanted to tow the vehicle and had to wake up Burden “who was passed out in the front seat” and who slept through the incident, Ewing said.

Dirtbag.

Continue reading...

John Wall Update

Adam Zagoria of ZagsBlog is reporting that Wall has narrowed his list of schools to Miami and Kentucky. From ZagsBlog:

John Wall is down to two schools — Kentucky and Miami — according to multiple sources close to the situation.

“It’s down to the two of them, no question about it,” one source said. “It is Kentucky and Miami. The kid is leaning toward Kentucky. There is a little bit of a concern with the people closest to him that if he goes to Kentucky that they’re going to lose control.”

Said a second source at one of the schools: “That’s what we’re hearing.”

The John Wall saga continues.
(photo credit: examiner.com)

But if you are a Hurricane or Wildcat fan, don't start celebrating too soon. According to Evan Daniels of Scout.com, Zagoria is incorrect in saying that Wall has cut his list down to two school. From Jeff Goodman's blog:

"I spoke with John on Sunday and said he hasn’t narrowed his list,” Daniels said. "On Tuesday afternoon, I spoke with Brian Clifton (Wall’s AAU coach and advisor) and he reiterated that John is still considering more than two schools at this time.”

Wall's camp has yet to officially reduce the number of schools on his list (currently seven - Kentucky, Miami, Duke, NC State, Baylor, Florida, and Memphis), but Brian Clifton, Wall's "handler, told SI.com's Luke Winn that it would be "accurate" to assume that Wall was basically down to three schools - Miami, Kentucky, and Duke.

If seeing Miami on this list strikes you as weird, don't worry. It is. But according to High School Hoop, Wall went to visit Miami, and loved it.

Of these three schools, Miami would probably benefit the most from Wall's commitment. They are losing four key cogs in their rotation - Brian Asbury, Jimmy Graham, and their starting back court of Lance Hurdle and Jack McClinton. But with Dwayne Collins (who declared for the draft but will more than likely withdraw), James Dews, and DeQuan Jones returning, Malcolm Grant (a Villanova transfer) becoming eligible, and incoming freshman Durand Scott (a top 50 recruit that led his Rice HS team to a NYC city title over Lance Stephenson's Lincoln squad), the 'Canes already have a solid core of players. Add Wall to the mix, and the U will be right up there with Duke and UNC as pre-season favorites in the ACC.

Wall would also be a huge signing for the Blue Devils, who would immediately become national title contenders by mixing him with Jon Scheyer, Kyle Singler, and Elliot Williams. According to some outlets, this is where Clifton wants Wall to go, simply because he wants to be Wall's agent once he goes pro, and Durham would be where the talented youngster is the most insulated from agents and runners.

Ironically, the coach school where everyone had all but penciled Wall in (Coach Cal at Memphis/Kentucky) is probably the team that needs Wall's services the least. They just recently signed Eric Bledsoe, a highly recruited point guard in his own right.


Continue reading...

Kentucky may have some competition in the SEC

Well, if they land John Wall, they probably won't.

But there is a chance that they may not have the best front line anymore.

Two weeks ago, Mississippi State looked like a team that was going to struggle to compete with bigger teams. Their only inside presence from a year ago, Jarvis Varnado, had declared for the NBA Draft and the only big man recruit they had coming in was 6'9" Wendell Lewis, a three-star recruit.

Fast forward to today, and the Bulldogs look they may have not only one of the best front lines in the SEC, but one of the best in the country. This morning, Varnado, who led the team with averages of 12.9 ppg, 8.8 rpg, and 4.7 bpg, decided that he would be pulling his name out of the draft.

Rick Stansbury also managed to land two of the best big man available late in the recruiting process. Renardo Sidney's story has been well documented (here and here), but the MSU coach also landed John Riek. If you've never heard of Riek, well, you are probably not the only one. In 2007, Riek was considered one of the best recruits big man prospects, and a dark horse to be the first pick in the 2008 draft. But knee problems changed those plans. He declared for the draft, but eventually pulled out. Last year, he committed to Cincinnati, but never became eligible.

Riek still needs to get back to 100% and Sidney needs to be cleared as eligible. But with the Varnado's decision, the Bulldogs now return everyone of significance from last season's team that won the SEC tournament to reach the big dance, including wing players Barry Stewart, Dee Bost, Ravern Johnson, and Phil Turner.

It is still too early in the process to pencil the Bulldogs in as an SEC darkhose, it is safe to say things are looking good right now in Starkville.

Continue reading...

NBA Draft Prospects: Demar Derozan, USC

For a complete listing of NBA Draft prospects and their player breakdown, click here.

Stats: 13.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg (2.4 off), 52.3% FG, 64.6% FT, 16.0% 3PT, 1.5 apg, 2.1 t/o's

Listed Size: 6'7", 207 lb, 8/7/89 (19 years old)

(photo credit: pe.com)

About Him: Demar Derozan is a freak athlete. That much is obvious if you scroll down and watch the second highlight clip. But if you watched Derozan play this season, he was far from a ready for the league, and any GM that selects this kid needs to do so with the understanding that he is a clear cut work in progress (and based on what we have heard about Derozan, he is a good kid that does work hard - good sign for a project).

So what can he do now? Other than jump out of the gym, well, not too much right now. By the end of the season, he became much more aggressive, especially going to the offensive glass (where he can let his tools take over). But for someone with as much athleticism as Derozan has, he really didn't put down too many "Good God, that's possible?!?" dunks during the year. In general, Derozan just didn't seem to get it for the first half of the season. A lot of that, I believe, had to do with confidence - no matter how good you are, it sometimes takes a while to prove to yourself what you can do on the court. A lot of it had to do with Tim Floyd finding the right times to get Derozan the ball. But by the end of the year, specifically tournament time (he averaged 21 ppg and 9 rpg, tallying two double-doubles, during the Trojan's run through the Pac-10 tourney, and set his season-high in FT attempts with seven), he finally put it all together and played like a future pro.

Offensively, Derozan can basically do two things - knock down a mid-range jumper and dunk. His ball-handling is very shaky, to the point that he even struggles at times with the two dribbles that get him from the perimeter to the rim (he can't change direction either). He doesn't have range beyond 17 feet. He can't catch-and-shoot when he is moving. His upper-body strength is not where it needs to be for him to be able to finish through any kind of contact around the rim. He is not a great passer (0.7 a:t/o) or decision maker, and does not have a high basketball IQ. But, like I said, his mid-range game is already pretty solid. He can knock down shots off the bounce. When he catches with his feet set, he is an above-average shooter from 15-17 feet. A guy like that can develop into a pretty solid shooter if he puts in the work.

Another positive sign is how efficient Derozan is scoring the basketball. He averaged 13.9 ppg on just 10.5 shots, which is all the more impressive when you consider he made just six threes and 95 free throws this year (and also hit 56.2% from two). While he might not have been shooting the ball enough, in general he wasn't taking bad shots, and he was making the ones he took.

On the defensive end, Derozan has a lot to learn. His fundamentals are not yet up to par, he sometimes falls asleep (especially on help side), and he never really showed flashes of being a playmaker on this end. But one thing he did too was play hard. Like I said, for someone as raw as Derozan is, skills and fundamentals and basketball basics can be taught. Effort, work ethic, and the heart to play hard (on both ends) cannot.

Comparisons: Best Case: Some combination of Josh Howard, Gerald Wallace, Vince Carter, and Jason Richardson; Worst Case: Desmond Mason, Rodney Carney

Bottom Line: Derozan has more potential than any other wing player in this class. If he works his tail off and develops within a team's system, he has enough raw ability that he can be a top 10-15 player in the league. But that is a ways down the road, and it is always tough to keep working hard when you aren't getting minutes. As to what kind of player Derozan becomes, it is really going to depend on who drafts him and what they are looking for Derozan to be - do they want a scoring guard (a la VC), or do they want a slashing small forward (a la Gerald Wallace). Because of how risky (read: how raw) Derozan is as a prospect, he is probably going to fall to somewhere in the middle of the lottery (6-12 range), but that is subject to change based on how the draft order shakes out.

Highlights:




Continue reading...