Nike Hoop Summit: US Scrimmage

The Nike Hoop Summit is underway in Portland, OR this week and Thursday marked the third day of practice for the U.S. team. The early afternoon consisted of putting in plays and some light scrimmaging as the team saved up for the 6-8pm session. In this stanza, the U.S. team scrimmaged for four, 10 minute quarters against a variety of players from Portland University and other local schools in addition to future Oklahoma Sooner, Payton Pritchard (class of 2016). It also happened to be the only practice that NBA scouts could attend for the U.S. team and the gym was packed with over 100 scouts and General Managers. The U.S. team used its length and athleticism to combat its strength disadvantage and won the first three quarters comfortable before squeaking out a fourth quarter victory.

The starters included Jalen Brunson, Malik Newman, Brandon Ingram, Ivan Rabb, and Stephen Zimmerman. 

Guards:

Malik Newman – Newman got the start alongside Jalen Brunson and showcased his scoring ability throughout. Without being tasked to start the offense, Newman was free to attack the basket and look for mid-range jump shots within half-court offensive sets. He started the scrimmage off with a three from the left wing and added in a step-back jumper. In the second half Newman put up points in a hurry scoring off a pick and roll and using screens to find open 17 foot jump shots. The uncommitted guard was one of the top performers on the day and used his first quick step to constantly free himself from his defender.

Allonzo Trier – The future Arizona Wildcat was the leading scorer for the U.S. with 20 points including an and one three to win a sluggish fourth quarter for the U.S. Trier hit several three’s from the wing and looked comfortable several feet behind the arc. Trier’s ability to get to the rim against more athletic defenders has been questioned but he displayed a good bounce off the dribble and was at ease finding his shot.

Briscoe drives against Pritchard - photo by Ken Waz

Isaiah Briscoe – The powerful combo guard was manning the point guard position when he was in the game. He used his upper body strength and in and out dribble to constantly get deep into the lane where he was able to use his wing span to convert lay-ups or dish out to open teammates. Briscoe was intense on defense and put the most pressure on Pritchard when he was handling the ball. In addition to his baskets close to the hoop, Briscoe converted a long two from the left corner in the second half.

Luke Kennard – Throughout the course of the game, Kennard was the best defensive rebounding guard. He got off the ground quickly and is a good two-footed jumper which he also displayed when going for two-handed jams on various fastbreak attempts. Kennard knocked in several three’s, but struggled when he had to put the ball on the floor. He has a good first burst, but is hampered after one dribble when going towards the basket.  

Jalen Brunson – It wasn't a great scoring day for Brunson although he found the basket several times in the second half. His outside shot was off, but ran the offense well and minimized turnovers. Brunson played stellar defense on Pritchard picking him off twice and showed good instincts in intercepting a few other passes.

Small Forwards:

Brandon Ingram – The rising senior prospect started for the U.S. and finished with 13 points. He got to the line in both halves by attacking the basket and converted 7-8 from the line. He miss-fired on his three point attempts but knocked in a 12 foot jump shot after a pick and roll with Brunson in the second. Ingram used his length to block several jump shots as well on the defensive end. He didn't play as well as he did at McDonald’s, but he still looked comfortable and confident in his surroundings. Over the next few months he will need to continue to work on his strength and explosiveness as the fouls he drew today could have easily turned into blocks or missed shots against more athletic players.

Jaylen Brown – After participating in drills to start the practice, Brown was held out of the scrimmage with a sore hip.

Big Men:

Ivan Rabb – Over the last year, Rabb has worked on his body to get stronger and healthier. After winning a California state championship, Rabb’s effort has been top tier over the past two weeks. He scored close to the rim in the first half with both hands. He also displayed his passing ability with several touch passes to open teammates and operated well at the top of the key. Rabb was forced into a few contested shots in the second half going against stronger defenders and he noted that continuing to get in the weight room was one of his priorities.

Stephen Zimmerman – Big Zimm had a strong run in the second quarter scoring nine points in a quick burst. He converted a touch pass from Rabb and finished close to the rim including an and-one. While he scored in a hurry in this quarter he was also challenged by the physical play and struggled to score with the ball in his hands. He also didn’t get a chance to showcase his 12-15 foot jump shot during the course of the game.

Chase Jeter – The future Duke tandem of Kennard and Jeter connected several times for baskets including one where Kennard took the ball up the court and after attacking the basket he dished out to Jeter for a swish from the foul line extended. Jeter used his go-to move (right hook) to score in the second quarter.

Caleb Swanigan – Swanigan scored three points in the first half and struggled to convert down low; however he used his upper body to keep the opposing post players out of the paint and also man handled a smaller defender down low in the fourth quarter. He stepped outside the paint twice miss-firing on both of his jumpers which he was knocking down in the McDonald’s practices. Swanigan has the power to bang with college players but will need to work on his explosiveness off of two feet.

The U.S. won the first quarter 27-14, the second quarter 34-21, and the third quarter 31-15. With both teams looking tired the fourth quarter it was an issue getting the ball in the hoop on both sides. Down 15-12, Allonzo Trier hit a three from the top of the key and got fouled with two seconds left providing the U.S. with a 16-15 win. While not on the U.S. team, Payton Pritchard relished the opportunity to go against the older U.S. players. When he walked in the gym, the scouts were buzzing about the performance he put on a year ago in the Hoop Summit scrimmage despite being just a sophomore. While he struggled from the floor, he displayed good ball-handlings skills and was constantly getting into the paint showing good body control and an ability to avoid getting his shot blocked by the U.S. big men.

McDonald's All-American Practice Report

It did not take long for the action to heat up inside the Quest Multiplex in Chicago, IL this morning. The McDonald’s All-American festivities began on Sunday, but the practice on Monday served as the first gathering for all team members. With media and NBA personnel on hand, both the East and West teams were going at it from the get go. The two hour practice provided an in-depth look at the top seniors in the country and while all eyes were initially on Ben Simmons and Jaylen Brown they quickly shifted to the surprise performer of the day.

West Team:

The West team is coached by Chicago’s own, Robert Smith from perennial power Simeon. He had the West team in 3 on 2 and 2 on 1 drills right off the bat which quickly led to intense one on one battles. The strength of the West team lies in there abundance of talented big men, but the perimeter players certainly proved their worth as well.

Team A:                                                                       Team B:

Malik Newman (Undecided)                                       Jalen Brunson (Villanova)

Perry Dozier (South Carolina)                                    Allonzo Trier (Arizona)

Brandon Ingram (Undecided)                                     Malachi Richardson (Syracuse)

Ivan Rabb (Undecided)                                              Deyonta Davis (Michigan State)

Caleb Swanigan (Undecided)                                    Stephen Zimmerman (Undecided)

Chase Jeter (Duke)                                                    Carlton Bragg (Kansas)

Standout Performer:

Brandon Ingram, 6’8”, SF, Kinston (NC)

The long and lanky Kinston, NC native had his coming out party back in early July in Chicago at the Adidas Unrivaled camp and he certainly did not miss a beat during the Monday practice session. Faced off with sweet shooting Malachi Richardson, Ingram was the one that had his jumper working. Extremely comfortable from 12-15 feet, Ingram’s feathery shot found the net numerous times from mid-range coming off the catch, the dribble, and pick and rolls. Even in drills it was hard for Ingram to miss from this area and given his height and length he got the shot off almost anytime he wanted. His range also extended out to the three point line as he hit several three’s during the half-court and full-court scrimmages. On the defensive side of the ball, Ingram struggled at times staying in front of his opponent whether it was in one-one-one drills or scrimmages, but his length helped negate any ground he gave up. With a long wing-span, Ingram was able to disrupt shots and also created numerous steals by getting his hands in the passing lane. The early eyes were on Jaylen Brown and Ben Simmons, but it was Brandon Ingram that continued his stellar play at the Quest Multiplex.

Top Performers:

Malik Newman, 6’4”, G, Callaway (MS)

While still not a pure point guard, Newman ran the point guard position for his team and faced off against Villanova bound Jalen Brunson. Newman used his speed and athleticism to hit difficult shots in the paint and used the pick and roll to get space for his floater or jump shot. He was also able to attack the basket and was aggressive on the boards as well. He never seemed to catch fire, but anytime he missed from the field it was almost certain that Newman would find a way to knock down his next shot.

Ivan Rabb, 6’10”, PF, Bishop O’ Dowd (CA)

Last year it was Stanley Johnson that led his Mater Dei team to a California state championship and then immediate flew to Chicago for the McDonald’s All-American practices. This year it’s big man Ivan Rabb. On Saturday night, Rabb knocked in the game winning free throw to win a state title and just two days later he was one of the most energetic players on the court. He ripped down rebounds, hit a few soft shots in the paint with both hands, and threw down an emphatic two hand dunk on fellow teammate Stephen Zimmerman. Right now Rabb is healthy and it showed in his play and early effort level.

Top Match-Up:

Caleb Swanigan vs. Stephen Zimmerman

There was a lot to like when it came to the various big men match-ups on the West side, but watching the contrasting styles of Swanigan and Zimmerman was the most entertaining. At 6’8”, Swanigan is a bull in a china shop while the almost 7 foot Zimmerman prefers to use his soft touch outside. Throughout the practice, Swanigan had trouble scoring on his first attempt in the post and was routinely getting his shot blocked. Despite a failed first attempt, he almost always managed to coral the loose ball and go up for a second or third attempt until he finished the play. Zimmerman had his share of blocks, but Swanigan would eventually manage to use his strength to get the basket. On the other side, Zimmerman was playing loose and knocking down outside jump shots. He scored in the post at times, but the four-time state champ was enjoying the open looks he was getting at the top of the key. At the end, this match-up was basically deemed a draw, with Swanigan getting the better of Zimmerman on the inside and vice versa on the outside.

Other Notes:

·         Point guard Jalen Brunson is the lone player from Illinois in the all-star game this year and also the only true point guard on the West side. Throughout the practice, Brunson was a smooth floor general and used quick in-and-out moves to get to the basket. He miss-fired on several lay-ups in the paint early on, but settled down knocking in a few outside shots.

·         Perry Dozier, the 6’6” wing from South Carolina was the sneaky good player of the day. Surrounded by more heralded players, Dozier picked his spots and showed off his smooth and refined game. He utilized the pick and roll well and hit several 15 foot jumpers along with soft floaters in the paint. Dozier did not look as comfortable from the three point line, but his length and ball-handling skills were certainly impressive.

·         Future Michigan State Spartan, Deyonta Davis did not get a lot of half-court action, but the 6’9” power forward did manage to hit two deep jumpers from the top of the key. A bouncy prospect, it looked like Davis had also added some mass to his upper body while going through his senior year.

East Team:

Team A:                                                                               Team B:

Isaiah Briscoe (Kentucky)                                             Jawun Evans (Oklahoma State)

Antonio Blakeney (LSU)                                               Luke Kennard (Duke)

Jaylen Brown (Undecided)                                            Dwayne Bacon (Florida State)

Ben Simmons (LSU)                                                     Dedric Lawson (Memphis)

Diamond Stone (Maryland)                                          Cheick Diallo (Undecided)

                                                                                      Thomas Bryant (Undecided)

The East team has the superstar combo of Jaylen Brown and Ben Simmons and early on both were competing in one on one half-court and full-court drills. The smooth nature of Simmons’ game was on display as was the power and brute force from Jaylen Brown. Early on, it was Brown that was looking good knocking in outside shots and corralling rebounds, but then he started to get sloppy with the ball and turned it over several times. He did finish with some rim rattling dunks, but also came up short on several of his contested jump shots. Simmons showed off his passing skills, but didn’t look comfortable shooting from the outside and did not exert his dominance on the game.

Top Players:

Thomas Bryant, 6’9”, C, Huntington Prep (WV)

It was a fairly productive morning for the 6’9” Bryant who always has his motor running on high. Looking a little smoother than normal, Bryant was knocking in deep jump shots during the skills portion of the practice which continued into the scrimmages (even though this led to one or two forced shots). Bryant was active on the boards and defended Diamond Stone well towards the end.

Antonio Blakeney, 6’4”, SG, Oak Ridge (FL)

As one of the top scorers on the East team, Blakeney had his outside shot finding the bottom of the net and was also soaring down the lane for two handed dunks on the break. Blakeney minimized the amount of tough shots he normally takes and also put pressure on Luke Kennard when guarding him in the half-court set.

Other Notes:

·         Diamond Stone started the practice off strong hitting a short hook with his left hand and following that up with a longer hook with his right. Stone was confident when going at Bryant and Cheick Diallo in the drills and held his own on the defensive end. About half way through, Stone was still getting open looks but he his jump shots started careening towards the side of the rim and he failed to finish down low.

·         Despite not shining, Brown easily got the better of Dwayne Bacon who was quiet up until the last few minutes. Brown used his first step to get his should ahead of Bacon and then was able to finish with contact in the lane. He also sought out defensive rebounds calling them his out loud before actually wrapping them up.

·         Isaiah Briscoe and Jawun Evans were matched up throughout the practice. Evans used his speed to push the pace and was feisty on defense. On occasion, Evans would slither into the paint and was able to finish with a floater or soft lay-up. Then there was Briscoe who used his grown man strength to attack the basket and finish with contact. He struggled shooting from the outside, but was routinely at the rim converting shots or dishing to open teammates.

Overall:

Both the East and West practices were intense with a lot of action. The talented players went at each other time and time again and while there were several fine performances, it was the lights out shooting of Brandon Ingram that had everyone talking once the final buzzer sounded.

EYBL: Minnesota Preview

The EYBL regular season comes to an end this Memorial Day weekend in Minneapolis after three straight weeks of intense action. Many players have boosted their stock over the past month in games all over the country and now there is just one session left for teams to secure a spot in the famed Peach Jam in July.

Top Games:

New Jersey Playaz vs. Athlete’s First (Monday, 8AM CST)

Isaiah Briscoe

In one of the last regular season games we have two well tenured EYBL veterans facing off in Isaiah Briscoe and Allonzo Trier. The 6’3” Briscoe is averaging 17.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game. Meanwhile, the 6’4” Trier is leading the EYBL in scoring at 28.5 points per game and surpassed the 30 point mark in all four Hampton games. While these two guards have stepped up their games from an already high level last year they have also made an impact record wise. Both teams did not make the Peach Jam last year; however the Playaz are currently in first place in Division C with a 10-2 record while Athlete’s First sits just one game back at 9-3.

All Ohio Red vs. Spiece Indy Heat (Saturday, 12pm CST)

Two Midwest teams face off Saturday afternoon. All Ohio Red is 8-3 and an extremely well-balanced team with scoring threats at every position. Jalen Coleman leads the way scoring-wise with 14.3 points per game, while up and comer Esa Ahmad is right behind him at 13.5. While this team is tough, they are not necessarily the largest which could be a problem against Spiece Indy. The Heat feature big man Caleb Swanigan, who leads the EYBL in rebounding at 11.2 boards per game, but also manages 18.2 points as well. The space eater down low recently re-classified to the class of 2015 and has seen the interest in his recruitment skyrocket. Alongside Swanigan, is Tom Izzo’s gem in Deyonta Davis. An under-ranked prospect coming into the EYBL, the 6’9” Davis has shown off his versatility in every location. The future Spartan is averaging 16.6 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. 

Team Penny vs. Oakland Soldiers (Saturday, 7:30pm CST)

In a Division B battle, Team Penny and the Lawson brothers go against Ivan Rabb and Stephen Zimmerman of the Soldiers. Team Penny is 9-3 while the Soldiers are 7-4. The Lawson twins lead the way for the Memphis based AAU squad; however future Florida Gator Kevaughn Allen adds in 14.6 points per game and freshman PJ Washington averages 8.4 points and 4.9 boards per game. Team Penny will certainly have their hands full with the 6’11” Rabb who is averaging a double-double with 15.8 points and 10.7 rebounds per game while shooting a remarkable 63% from the floor. Along with Rabb, the 6’11” Zimmerman will try to get it going in Minneapolis after a rather quiet first three EYBL sessions.

Keep An Eye On… 

1. Superstars Going Home

The Peach Jam could end up devoid of some serious star power due to lackluster records from teams with five-star players. Combo guard Malik Newman’s Jackson Tigers sit at 5-7 while Jayson Tatum’s St. Louis Eagles are just 3-9. Versatile forward has been fantastic in his first EYBL experience, but his run might be over after this weekend. Luke Kennard and Charles Matthews will most likely be out, along with freshman sensation Cody Riley. 

2. Albany City Rocks

Albany City could sneak their way into the Peach Jam this year. They currently sit at 5-7 in Division D, just one game back of that fourth place spot.  The leading scorer is 6’7” Maverick Rowan while point guard Sterling Taplin and forward Tyler Lydon also average double-figures. Albany City isn’t used to playing in July, but if they make their way into an at-large spot they could easily win a few games similar to The Traveler’s last year.

3. The No. 1 Spot

Last year Jahlil Okafor was the consensus No. 1 player in the country; however this year there are four players strongly in the mix with three of them playing in the EYBL. Malik Newman is back to his high scoring ways with 31 points or more in three out of four Hampton games. Ivan Rabb is putting up a double-double, and forward Ben Simmons has shown off an improved offensive game to go along with his versatile style of play. While Simmons will not be present in Minnesota, will Newman or Rabb separate from the pack this weekend?

*Diamond Stone plays on the Under Armour circuit and is the other player in contention for No. 1.

4. DJ Hogg’s Shooting

The 6’7” Texas Titans forward has been a three point marksman in his second EYBL stint. In three sessions he has launched 85 three’s, but has also hit on 41% of them. Hogg has made at least one three in each game while hitting five three’s several times. The Titans are 9-3 and tied with Wings Elite in Division D and will need a few more strong shooting games from Hogg to stay on top.