Class of 2014 Look Back: Part 1

The 2014 recruiting class did not come in as hyped as the 2013 class with Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker, and others but it certainly produced. While the freshmen class took an early hit with Emmanuel Mudiay’s departure to China, the number one ranked player in Jahlil Okafor put together an All-American season. Certain players exceeded their ranking like D’Angelo Russell who was the main surprise out of the Top 25 players and then there were others such as Cliff Alexander that did not live up to the hype in their inaugural college season. In each recap, the year-end high school rankings are provided along with Sports Illustrated’s projected stats from the pre-season.

Note: Rankings are from the Recruiting ServicesConsensus Index which takes the rankings from Scout, Rivals, ESPN, etc to form a "consensus."

1.       Jahlil Okafor, 6’11”, C, Duke

Actual:              MPG: 30.7 PPG: 17.6 RPG: 9.2 APG: 1.5 ORTG: 117.2 (27.5)  

SI Projections:                           PPG: 16.1 RPG: 9.1 APG: 1.1 ORTG: 121 (24)

The top ranked high school recruit certainly lived up to his top billing in his one year at Duke. The big man from Chicago dominated from the get-go and scored in double-figures in 30 out of 31 games while shooting 67% from the field. Okafor scored a career high 30 points in a win against Virginia Tech and frequently used his size and strength to bully opposing big men down low. Despite struggling from the line, Okafor recently was named the ACC player of the year and is also a front runner for national player of the year. The projected top pick in the draft is now looking to lead the Blue Devils to the final four for just the second time in 12 years.

Rank: Scout - #1, ESPN - #1, Rivals - #1, 247 - #6

2.       Emmanuel Mudiay, 6’5”, PG, China

Mudiay’s journey is well documented so I will just link to the ESPN articles written about him in the last week. The athletic guard could have benefited from a year under Larry Brown, but he is still a projected Top 5 draft pick in this summer’s NBA draft.

Rank: Scout - #2, ESPN - #5, Rivals - #2, 247 - #1

3.       Stanley Johnson, 6’7”, SF, Arizona

Actual:              MPG: 28.2 PPG: 13.9 RPG: 6.6 APG: 1.8 ORTG: 107.6 (27)     

SI Projections:                           PPG: 13.4 RPG: 5.6 APG: 1.6 ORTG:  1115 (23)

PAC 12 Freshmen of the Year? Eh, not bad.

Stanley Johnson made a steady climb to the top of the rankings during his junior and senior year, and his game is still on the upswing. In his first year in Tucson, the four-time California state champion replaced his former AAU teammate in Aaron Gordon and won the PAC-12 freshmen of the year award while also being named to the first team all-conference. Johnson led the Wildcats in scoring and even when he struggled scoring the ball he always managed to grab double-digit rebounds. Johnson’s main weakness coming into college centered on his three point shooting but he finished the regular season shooting 35%.

Rank: Scout - #3, ESPN - #7, Rivals - #3, 247 - #5

4.       Cliff Alexander, 6’8”, PF, Kansas

Actual:              MPG: 17.6 PPG: 7.1   RPG: 5.3 APG: 0.4 ORTG: 114.1 (20.5)    

SI Projections:                           PPG: 11.7 RPG: 6.8 APG: 1.1 ORTG:  117 (23)

It certainly wasn’t the season that anyone expected from “Big Cliff.” After a summer spent dominating the EYBL and high school scene, it was a rough adjustment to the college game for Alexander. Lacking refined offensive moves, Alexander struggled to earn Bill Self’s trust early on. He put together a strong game in Austin with 15 points and nine rebounds to lead the Jayhawks to an early road win, but it was mostly downhill after that. Alexander played just six minutes in a loss to West Virginia and scored just a combined 21 points in his next two games. His freshmen season then came to a quick end when the NCAA began to investigate a loan for his mother last week. Back in his high school days, Alexander constantly played Okafor to stand-offs, but while one Chicago native soared the other faltered.  

Rank: Scout - #6, ESPN - #3, Rivals - #4, 247 - #4

5.       Karl Anthony-Towns, 7’0”, C, Kentucky

Actual:              MPG: 20.7 PPG: 9.7 RPG: 6.6 APG: 1.2 ORTG: 121.6 (23.6)    

SI Projections:                           PPG: 10.3 RPG: 6.1 APG: 0.7 ORTG:  115 (23)

Towns showed his vast potential last year at both the McDonald’s All-American practices and the Hoop Summit game and despite playing under 21 minutes a game, he is now making a run at the top pick in the NBA draft. Towns sits at No. 2 in Ken Pomeroy’s player of the year rankings and is shooting 56% from the floor and almost 80% from the line. Scouts love his versatility and defensive prowess to go along with his potential pick and pop ability.

Rank: Scout - #4, ESPN - #9, Rivals - #5, 247 - #2

6.       Myles Turner, 7’0”, C, Texas

Actual:              MPG: 22.9 PPG: 10.8 RPG: 6.6 BPG: 2.8 ORTG: 111.2 (24)      

SI Projections:                           PPG: 12.3 RPG: 8.2                   ORTG:  121 (21)

It’s been a tumultuous season in Austin. One that started with high hopes has the Longhorns clawing for a NCAA tourney bid. While Texas struggled in the Big XII, Myles Turner was named the conference freshmen of the year and averaged almost three blocks per game. The seven footer had four double-doubles on the year including a 25 point, 12 rebound performance against TCU. He also hit 16 three’s on the year, although at just a 25% clip. Texas will need a strong showing in the Big XII conference tournament in order for Turner to get a few more games on the national stage.

Rank: Scout - #5, ESPN - #2, Rivals - #9, 247 - #7

7.       Tyus Jones, 6’1”, PG, Duke

Actual:              MPG: 33.1 PPG: 11.8 RPG: 3.7 APG: 5.7 ORTG: 124.7 (19.9)  

SI Projections:                           PPG: 12.3 RPG: 3.6 APG: 4.9 ORTG:  117 (22)

As a high school sophomore, Jones was labeled the best point guard in high school. Now in his first year in college, Jones was handed the keys to the offense on day one in Durham. Jones received high praise from his coach for his high level of play and was rewarded by being named to the ACC All-Freshmen team. When the stage gets brighter for Duke, Jones always manages to kick his game into another gear. On the road In Madison he went for 22 points, six rebounds, and four assists and most recently in Chapel Hill Jones scored 24 points to go with six rebounds, and seven assists. As a junior, Jones was the No. 1 player in his class and while he took a slight tumble at the end of his senior year (due to his NBA potential), Jones has proved to be one of the best point guards in the game.

Rank: Scout - #9, ESPN - #4, Rivals - #7, 247 - #8

8.       Kelly Oubre, 6’7”, SF, Kansas

Actual:              MPG: 20.4 PPG: 9.0 RPG: 5.1 APG: 0.8 ORTG: 111.1 (21.6)    

SI Projections:                           PPG: 10.6 RPG: 4.4 APG: 1.2 ORTG:  117 (23)

Oubre’s early season struggles were well documented, but the sinewy wing bounced back to put together a decent showing in conference play. The 6’7” Oubre knocked in his three’s at a 37% clip and scored in double figures in his last four conference games including a 12 point, 10 rebound against Oklahoma. The Jayhawks suffered an early loss last year in the tournament and Bill Self will need Oubre to be on top of his game from here on out.

Rank: Scout - #7, ESPN - #11, Rivals - #6, 247 - #3

9.       Justin Jackson, 6’8”, SF, North Carolina

Actual:              MPG: 26.3 PPG: 10.1 RPG: 3.8 APG: 2.5 ORTG: 112.9 (19.3)  

SI Projections:                           PPG: 13.1 RPG: 5.7 APG: 1.5 ORTG:  117 (22)

The ultra-thin Jackson started every game for the Tar Heels and was named to the ACC all-freshmen team. He averaged 10.1 points during the year and had some very efficient games but also some games where he disappeared and seemed to struggle with the physicality of the college game. In his first ACC game Jackson scored 13 points on 6-8 shooting but then later on he only played 17 minutes in a road loss to Duke going just 1-8. He loves his floater and while it found the bottom of the net a fair amount of the time, Jackson also seemed to rush it as well. The Texas native scored in double figures in his last five games, but struggled from the three point line on the season shooting under 25%. It was a solid regular season from Jackson, but it was evident that he will need to add some weight for his sophomore season.

Rank: Scout - #10, ESPN - #8, Rivals - #11, 247 - #9

10.   Rashad Vaughn, 6’5”, SG, UNLV

Actual:              MPG: 32.2 PPG: 17.8 RPG: 4.8 APG: 1.6 ORTG: 101.3 (28.9)  

SI Projections:                           PPG: 16.0 RPG: 6.7 APG: 2.3 ORTG:  118 (23)

The high scoring Vaughn had his season end early with a torn meniscus. While healthy, Vaughn averaged almost 18 points per game, but shot just 44% from the field. It’s no surprise that Vaughn was a high usage and low efficiency type player. He was given the freedom to shoot almost any time he wanted at UNLV and while talented, he forced the issue at times with no repercussions. Sometimes this was a good thing like when he scored 21 points in an upset of Arizona and sometimes a bad thing when he went 4-19 against Stanford and Temple. It looked like Vaughn was turning the corner before his injury as he scored 30 points on 12-21 shooting against Colorado State and then 18 points on 5-11 shooting in his last game. Vaughn definitely wanted to be a one and done player, but will his injury keep him in school another year?

Rank: Scout - #8, ESPN - #19, Rivals - #8, 247 - #13

11.   Kevon Looney, 6’8”, F, UCLA

Actual:              MPG: 31.5 PPG: 12.3 RPG: 9.5 APG: 1.5 ORTG: 113.2 (20.8)  

SI Projections:                           PPG: 10.1 RPG: 5.9 APG: 0.8 ORTG:  112 (21)

Looney wasn’t the top rookie in the PAC-12, but he was certainly one of the top freshmen in the country. He started the year with a bang and was often a lone bright spot on a UCLA team that struggled in non-conference play. The Milwaukee native can be considered a stretch four and he showed his ability to score inside and out (20-45 from 3PT). The second team all PAC-12 player had his best game in a loss to Stanford with 27 points and 19 rebounds and was a double-double machine in conference play. With his versatility, Looney is looking like a likely lottery pick after one year in Westwood.

Rank: Scout - #15, ESPN - #12, Rivals - #10, 247 - #11

12.   Trey Lyles, 6’10”, PF, Kentucky

Actual:              MPG: 21.9 PPG: 8.3 RPG: 5.0 APG: 1.2 ORTG: 114.4 (20.2)    

Trey Lyles left high school as one of the most polished offensive players. He could score with a variety of moves in the post and had a nice touch on his outside jump shot. While playing on the undefeated Wildcats, Lyles has continued to show his offensive skills while playing both forward positions. He’s often played small forward and while he lacks some lateral quickness he has been stellar curling around picks on the offensive end for mid-range jump shots. Lyles has hit over 50% of his shots, but struggles when he gets past 19 feet shooting just 14%.

Rank: Scout - #11, ESPN - #16, Rivals - #13, 247 - #17

13.   Justise Winslow, 6’7”, SF, Duke

Actual:              MPG: 28.8 PPG: 12.4 RPG: 5.8 APG: 2.0 ORTG: 110.5 (22.2)  

SI Projections:                           PPG: 10.1 RPG: 4.3 APG: 1.3 ORTG:  112 (20)

Just like Okafor and Jones, Justise Winslow started for Duke from the first game. He began his career with five straight double figure scoring games and was a match-up problem due to his strength and quickness. His main weakness coming out of high school revolved around his outside shooting, but he hit a three in each of his first 15 games. Winslow struggled in January when Duke lost to N.C. State and Miami and scored just 12 points in four games. He came alive in a comeback win at Virginia and exceled while playing the “four” for Duke. He started Duke’s comeback against North Carolina in Durham and shot over 50 % in his final six ACC games.

Rank: Scout - #12, ESPN - #15, Rivals - #12, 247 - #15

14.   Isaiah Whitehead, 6’4”, G, Seton Hall

Actual:              MPG: 27.8 PPG: 12.0 RPG: 3.9 APG: 3.5 ORTG: 90.8 (29.6)    

SI Projections:                           PPG: 12.6 RPG: 3.9 APG: 1.9 ORTG:  109 (24)

Isaiah Whitehead was named to the all Big East freshmen team; however he did not have the freshman of the year type season that was expected out of the Brooklyn product. The 6’4” guard has a picture perfect form on his jump shot, but just like Rashad Vaughn, Whitehead took a lot of tough, contested shots and finished the regular season shooting just 36% with an overall paltry 90.8 ORTG. Whitehead had two stellar back to back games in December when he scored 48 points against Rutgers and Wichita State on 17-30 shooting but he then missed nine games from late December through January with an injury and never really regained his mojo in conference play. He shot less than 50% in all of these February and March contests and finished with just two points in his last match-up against Georgetown.

Rank: Scout - #14, ESPN - #14, Rivals - #16, 247 - #10

15.   Theo Pinson, 6’6”, SF, North Carolina

Actual:              MPG: 13.7 PPG: 3.2 RPG: 3.4 APG: 1.7 ORTG: 104.5 (16.0)    

SI Projections:                           PPG: 8.5 RPG: 3.8 APG: 1.1 ORTG:  112 (19)

It was tough sledding for the athletic small forward in Chapel Hill this year. Coming off the bench, Pinson struggled to make much of an impact on the offensive end. With an unorthodox shooting motion, defenses sagged off and begged him to shoot outside jump shots (7-25 overall from 3PT). The high energy wing did not make it into double digits on the season, but he did have his best game in a home loss to UNC. In the loss, Pinson scored seven points (in a matter of minutes) to go with eight rebounds. His confidence was at an all-time high giving Tar Heel fans a glimpse of the Pinson’s potential. In late January Pinson suffered a broken foot and missed 10 games before coming back to play against Georgia Tech and Duke. The athleticism is there for Pinson he just needs to work hard on fixing his shot mechanics.

Rank: Scout - #19, ESPN - #10, Rivals - #17, 247 - #14

16.   D’Angelo Russell, 6’5”, G, Ohio State

Actual:              MPG: 33.4 PPG: 19.2 RPG: 5.6 APG: 5.2 ORTG: 116.2 (30.1)  

SI Projections:                           PPG: 13.3 RPG: 4.5 APG: 2.1 ORTG:  109 (24)

While Okafor was the best player out of this group, Russell had the most impressive rookie campaign. He was often over-shadowed in AAU and high school play (Kasey Hill, Ben Simmons, and Joel Berry), but the combo guard entered into the perfect scenario at Ohio State with ample playing time awaiting him in Columbus. He didn’t disappoint going for 16 points, four rebounds, and six assists in his first game and then adding 32 points and nine rebounds in his third game. At 6’5”, Russell used his combo guard skills to sky rocket up the draft charts and into consideration for the Big 10 player of the year talks. He led the conference in scoring and was second in assists and tied for 11^th in rebounding. Russell slapped together a triple double against Northwestern and shot an outstanding 42% from three on the year with his extremely quick release. Thad Matta probably thought he was getting more than one year out of Russell, but it is safe to say that he outplayed his high school ranking.

Rank: Scout - #13, ESPN - #13, Rivals - #18, 247 - #30

17.   Daniel Hamilton, 6’8” SF, UConn

Actual:              MPG: 30.8 PPG: 10.8 RPG: 7.6 APG: 3.6 ORTG: 94.7 (25.5)    

SI Projections:                           PPG: 10.3 RPG: 4.4 APG: 1.8 ORTG:  108 (22)

Hamilton did not turn out to be the most efficient of players, but he often put together impressive stat lines. The Cali native was named a unanimous selection to the American Athletic Conference all-freshmen team and also picked up honorable mention honors as well. The 6’8” wing had several double-doubles on the year including a 25 point, 13 rebound, seven assist game against Memphis. He also shot a respectable 33% from behind the arc.

Rank: Scout - #21, ESPN - #30, Rivals - #14, 247 - #18

18.   Tyler Ulis, 5’8”, PG, Kentucky

Actual:              MPG: 22.9 PPG: 5.4 RPG: 1.7 APG: 3.6 ORTG: 120.4 (14.8)    

Ulis was another steady riser in the high school rankings and parlayed a strong senior season into becoming a Top 20 player. His numbers don’t jump out at you, but the diminutive guard was just what Calipari needed coming off the bench for his undefeated Wildcats. As one of the quickest guards in college, Ulis is a defensive pest that is allowed to gamble and disrupts the other team’s offense when he picks up his man full-court. He can get into the lane and has the ability to deliver pin point passes to his teammates on the wing or big men down low. He would start for most other teams in the country, but even though he averages just under 23 minutes a game he has certainly produced while on the court.

Rank: Scout - #20, ESPN - #25, Rivals - #21, 247 - #20

19.   Chris McCullough, 6’10”, PF, Syracuse

Actual:              MPG: 28.1 PPG: 9.3 RPG: 6.9 BPG: 2.1 ORTG: 92.5 (21.3)       

SI Projections:                           PPG: 9.3 RPG: 5.3                    ORTG:  108 (23)

In a forgettable season for the Orange, McCullough showed flashes off potential including a 20 point, nine rebound, three block game in November against Iowa but then suffered a torn ACL as ACC play began in January. The lanky big man scored in double figures in his first eight games, but then finished his next eight games scoring in single digits. The 6’10” New Yorker averaged 2.1 blocks a game and will be a key cog next season for Jim Boeheim.

Rank: Scout - #18, ESPN - #24, Rivals - #19, 247 - #32

20.   Devin Robinson, 6’8” SF, Florida

Actual:              MPG: 19.1 PPG: 6.4 RPG: 2.9 APG: 0.7 ORTG: 94.8 (21)          

SI Projections:                           PPG: 8.6 RPG: 4.2 APG: 1.2 ORTG:  112 (20)

The lanky wing was named to the all-SEC Freshmen team after recording double figures in five of his last eight conference games. While Robinson has good size for a wing, he will need some more time in the weight room to realize his full potential. Robinson struggled from the floor (as did Florida as a whole) and shot just 40% from the field and 25% from three. Robinson was a late bloomer in high school and will most likely see a big jump as a sophomore in Gainesville.

Rank: Scout - #16, ESPN - #23, Rivals - #20, 247 - #24

21.   James Blackmon, 6’4”, SG, Indiana

Actual:              MPG: 30.1 PPG: 15.8 RPG: 5.3 APG: 1.4 ORTG: 114.2 (24.9)  

SI Projections:                           PPG: 11.8 RPG: 3.9 APG: 1.9 ORTG:  108 (23)

James Blackmon was the best shooter in high school and he certainly didn’t disappoint hitting 69 three’s throughout his first year in Bloomington. The Hoosiers were looking for a scorer and Blackmon fit that role. He scored 20 plus points in four of his first six games. He finished 13^th in the Big 10 in scoring and had one of his best games against Minnesota when he poured in 24 points on 6-10 from three.

Rank: Scout - #33, ESPN - #20, Rivals - #22, 247 - #12

22.   Dwayne Morgan, 6’8”, F, UNLV

Actual:              MPG: 17.2 PPG: 5.6 RPG: 3.0 APG: 0.4 ORTG: 86.0 (21.7)      

SI Projections:                           PPG: 9.4 RPG: 5.2 APG: 1.3 ORTG:  108 (20)

Morgan has the honor of producing the lowest ORTG of any top 25 player. The Baltimore native struggled early on in conference play but looks to have found his groove as of late. In mid-January to mid-February Morgan went just 5-30 over a seven game stretch before going 6-6 against Utah State. Morgan finished the year with two double figure scoring games.

Rank: Scout - #26, ESPN - #39, Rivals - #15, 247 - #25

23.   Devin Booker, 6’5”, SG, Kentucky

Actual:              MPG: 21.8 PPG: 10.9 RPG: 1.8 APG: 1.3 ORTG: 124.1 (21.3)  

Devin Booker is another guard that has vaulted up the NBA draft charts with a stellar first year. He finished the regular season with a 124.1 ORTG and was also named the SEC Sixth Man of the Year. The second leading scorer on the Wildcats finished the season shooting 43.6% from behind the arc and was routinely in double-figures for Kentucky. More than just a shooter, Booker can put the ball on the floor and get to the basket at times. In high school, Booker’s stroke was pure but he routinely struggled to put together an efficient game like he is doing now pretty much all the time. As a high usage AAU player, Booker shot just 43% from the field and 33% from three but now at Kentucky he has come into his own and is a key cog for the top team in basketball.

Rank: Scout - #29, ESPN - #18, Rivals - #29, 247 - #22

24.   Grayson Allen, 6’5”, SG, Duke

Actual:              MPG: 8.1 PPG: 4.0 RPG: 0.9 APG: 0.4 ORTG: 124.5 (21.4)      

Out of the top 25 players, Allen is the only one to average under 10 minutes a game. The high flying guard started his season off by scoring 18 points in his first game, but then became relatively non-existent for a long stretch after that. He recorded numerous scoreless games and DNP’s in December and had scored a total of just 10 points in conference play while Rasheed Sulaimon was on the time. After Sulaimon’s dismissal Allen’s playing time has increased and he scored a career high 27 points against Wake Forest and followed that up with seven points against UNC. Allen was stuck to the bench for most of the season, but is starting to perform as of late.

Rank: Scout - #22, ESPN - #21, Rivals - #28, 247 - #39

25.   Joel Berry, 6’0”, PG, North Carolina

Actual:              MPG: 12.3 PPG: 3.5 RPG: 0.7 APG: 1.9 ORTG: 110.6 (15.6)    

Similar to teammate Theo Pinson, Joel Berry’s freshman season has not exactly gone to plan. Early on Berry struggled to get minutes playing behind Marcus Paige and Nate Britt, but he did have his moments which included a five point, four assist effort against Ohio State in December. In ACC play, Berry has missed a total of eight games due to injury and sickness and just recently recorded his first double-digit scoring game of the year (15 points against Georgia Tech). His playing time also started to increase as he became the first point guard off the bench for the Tar Heels but only received seven minutes in a home finale against Duke. For the three time Florida player of the year it was certainly and up and down first season although glimpses of his ability to lead a team were certainly shown at times.

Rank: Scout - #34, ESPN - #17, Rivals - #27, 247 - #50

2014 McDonald's AA Practice: Monday

The McDonald’s All-American week has begun. While the skills competition, three-point shootout, and slam dunk contest will be broadcast on ESPNU this evening the players were showcasing their skills to the media and NBA personnel in the morning. Both the East and West teams went through an hour and a half practice session at the Quest Multiplex in Chicago, IL in an event open to NBA scouts and front office personnel. While there were not any players at the level of Andrew Wiggins or Jabari Parker there were several standouts on Day 1 and most likely a fair amount of players that will be at the top of the 2015 NBA Draft.

West Team:

The West team is led by Frank Allocco, the head coach of De La Salle High School in California and there was no doubt which team meant business Monday morning. Within minutes the West team was doing full-court drills and instituting out of bounds and half court plays. The intensity displayed in the first minute of action carried over for the remainder of practice. For the most part the West was broken out into two teams:

Team A:                                               Team B:

Joel Berry (UNC)                              Tyler Ulis (Kentucky)

Rashad Vaughn (UNLV)                   Emmanuel Mudiay (SMU)

Kelly Oubre (Kansas)                       Stanley Johnson (Arizona)

Travis Reid (Stanford)                     Trey Lyles (Kentucky)

Thomas Welsh (UCLA)                    Jahlil Okafor (Duke)

Devin Booker (Kentucky)               Grayson Allen (Duke)

Top Players:

Rashad Vaughn, 6’5”, SG, Findlay Prep (NV)

The silky smooth shooting guard had his outside shot working from all parts of the court. He stayed within his means and didn’t force the action while also distributing the ball at times and giving a strong effort on the defensive end. Along with his deep outside shots, Vaughn showed his athletic ability to get to the basket while also hitting fade-aways over smaller defenders. 

Grayson Allen, 6’4”, SG, Providence School (FL)

Another wing that impressed was shooting guard Grayson Allen. The 6’5” wing displayed his athleticism with several dunks in the open-court and like Vaughn was on target with his outside shot. Allen was usually the sixth man for his team, but just like in AAU action he contributed right away.

Stanley Johnson, 6’6”, SF, Mater Dei (CA)

On Saturday night, Johnson was busy winning his fourth straight California state championship and just two days later he was back in action playing with a purpose on the defensive end and using his powerful body to aggressively drive to the basket. Johnson misfired on several outside shots, but he did end one scrimmage with a three from the right wing.

Top Match-Ups:

Joel Berry vs. Tyler Ulis

The two point guards on the West squad went head to head all morning long. Ulis took the lead early on as his quickness on the defensive end frustrated Berry and resulted in an early steal while Berry was dribbling the ball on the wing. After the turnover, Berry’s game took a turn for the better as he started to use his strength to attack the rim. He finished an acrobatic lay-up on the right side and then attacked the basket for a left hand lay-up early on. Berry’s finest moments came on the defensive end when it looked like Jahlil Okafor had an easy dunk but instead resulted in a half block / half steal for Berry as he met Okafor at the basket. Neither Ulis nor Berry took many shots from the outside, but both got the ball to their shooters for open jump shots.

Jahlil Okafor vs. Thomas Welsh

It was clear that Okafor was the dominant player in this match-up from the beginning, but it was also impressive to see Welsh never back down, despite a 30 pound (at least) weight disadvantage. Okafor used his power and large hands to score consistently in the low post, but Welsh challenged him for rebounds and at times was able to keep Okafor out of the lane. Towards the end of the scrimmage, Welsh hit a soft 6 footer and followed that up with a basket at the rim. 

Other Notes:

Trey Lyles and Travis Reid both had their moments as the two rugged Midwest power forwards attacked and countered each other all morning long. Whether it was tough post-ups or outside jump shots, the Lyles and Reid match-up was a fun one to watch. Emmanuel Mudiay and Kelly Oubre are both Top 10 prospects, but both players were fairly quite in the practice and were not as aggressive as their other teammates.

East Team:

The East team while talented took a little longer to show the same type of intensity as the West team. Coached by Lou Wilson of Riverdale Baptist (MD) the East started the practice off with some easy drills to get warmed up and then eventually increased the difficulty with culminated with some scrimmaging of their own. The East time was first divided as follows:

Team A:                                                               Team B:

Romelo Trimble (Maryland)                         Tyus Jones (Duke)

Theo Pinson (UNC)                                         Isaiah Whitehead (Seton Hall)

Justise Winslow (Duke)                                 Justin Jackson (UNC)

Kevon Looney (UCLA)                                    Cliff Alexander (Kansas)

Karl Towns Jr. (Kentucky)                              Myles Turner (Undecided)

James Blackmon Jr. (Indiana)                       D’Angelo Russell (Ohio State)

Top Players:

Tyus Jones, 6’2”, PG, Apple Valley (MN)

Jones was quiet for a fair amount of the practice, but turned it on late in the scrimmage with several tough baskets. For most of his high school career, the future Blue Devil has been labeled as the best point guard in the high school ranks regardless of class. There is no doubt his ball-handling and overall point guard skills are top notch but some of questioned his slight frame. Jones ran his team, didn’t turn the ball over and got into the paint when he wanted and finished with short jump shots or floaters.

D’Angelo Russell, 6’4”, SG, Montverde Academy (FL)

Last spring Russell’s jump shot was a big question mark. Not anymore. Russell had several nothing but net outside shots throughout the practice and caused a few deflections with his defensive activity. The future Buckeye will have a strong chance to contribute immediately next year in Columbus. 

Top Match-Up:

Karl Towns Jr. vs. Myles Turner

As a whole, the East practice was less competitive than the West; however Towns Jr. and Turner went at each other all day long whether it was half-court drills or full-court scrimmages. There were a lot of uncalled fouls committed, but both players played through contact. Towns Jr. tried to use his power while Turner countered with his length. There was no clear cut winner in the big man battle, but you can be sure these two will be going at it once again tomorrow.

Overall:

Numerous players shined in a brief viewing this morning. NBA scouts got a fresh look at next year’s college freshmen and the media got one last look at the class of 2014. With the West getting a jump start on scrimmaging the focus of the day strayed toward this team. With additional practices tomorrow the East team will receive an in-depth look as well.

Tom Izzo and His Chicago Troubles

Tom Izzo and the Michigan State Spartans left Chicago with a bright smile Tuesday night. Not only did they defeat the number one ranked Kentucky Wildcats and their talented freshmen 78-74, but they also became the top team in the country. With a veteran laden team the Spartans were one of the primary teams expected to compete for a championship this season. They feature a senior point guard in Keith Appling and a senior center in Adreian Payne to go with two future NBA draft picks on the wings in Gary Harris and Brandon Dawson. When Michigan State fans look back at the 2013-14 season they will remember Chicago as the place their journey began however they will also come to realize that the same city is the root cause for where things started to go wrong.

On Friday, February 17, 2012 Tom Izzo sat in a front row seat at Chicago State University. He was one night off an impressive 69-55 home victory over Wisconsin which put the Spartans at 10-3 in the Big 10 with an upcoming trip to Purdue on the docket. For two hours he watched the top high school junior in the country in Simeon sensation Jabari Parker (#3-2013) along with a young and talented sophomore center from Curie High School in Cliff Alexander (#5-2014). Both players were plagued by foul trouble but Izzo did not so much mind the foul trouble as he was there strictly for face time. He got his wish that night being the one and only big name college coach to attend the game. 

Alexander was Izzo's prized recruit

Over the next year Izzo returned to Chicago numerous times to watch Parker and Alexander, along with two other highly regarded that just happened to reside in Chicago. 

• March 6, 2012: Izzo joined Coach K and Bruce Weber in watching Parker’s Simeon team face-off against one of the top sophomores in the country in Jahlil Okafor (#1-2014).

• December 1, 2012: The Chicago high school season kicked off with the Chicago Elite Classic. Izzo was front and center for the two prime time night games which saw Okafor dominate current N.C. State big man Beejay Anya (#60-2013) along with Parker making his brief return from a summer injury.

• December 9, 2012: On a Sunday night, Izzo watched junior Cliff Alexander in the last game of the Team Rose Classic and was the only head coach in attendance while schools such as Kansas, Baylor, and DePaul sent assistants.

• January 29, 2013: Up and coming junior point guard Tyler Ulis scored 25 points for Marian Catholic (IL) which included a game winning shot in front of Izzo.

• March 8, 2013: In a game that decided which team advanced to the Illinois state tournament and which team went home, Izzo was front and center for another Simeon / Whitney Young showdown featuring Parker and Okafor as they battled it out for Chicago supremacy.

The games listed above are only the ones I personally saw Izzo at so most likely there were many additional games he attended in Chicago. Despite all of the trips and the hard work he put in recruiting these players from Chicago, Izzo ended up empty handed when it came time for the top players in Chicago to choose their colleges. 

Jabari Parker’s decision came first on December 20, 2012, where the former Sports Illustrated cover boy committed to the Duke Blue Devils over the Spartans in a news conference from his high school.

"(Izzo) has been recruiting me ever since I was a freshman in high school, and he's been to most of my games," Parker said. "But a lot of things went into it like, 'How will I be used on the floor?' (Spartans forward) Branden Dawson and I play the same position, and it would be kind of a controversy if me and him were on the same floor and we run into each other. I just wanted to go to a school that was fitting for me."

Assuming Parker is only in school for one year, this decision will not have a direct impact on Michigan State’s future; however two factors do come into play 1) Parker could easily end up being what separates the Spartans from the Final Four and a championship considering that he is currently excelling at the power forward position which also happens to be the one weak spot in East Lansing and 2) Parker was the first Top 5 prospect from Chicago (class of 2013 / 2014) to spurn Izzo and the Spartans 

While Parker’s decision hurt, Izzo was still gearing up for a big haul with the class of 2014 given all of the expected departures come the spring time. Jahlil Okafor, the 6’10” center and top ranked player in the 2014 class was an important target for the Spartans; however in October he cut his list down to four schools leaving Michigan State out in the cold. It’s long been noted that Okafor would play college ball with his buddy Tyus Jones, one of, if not the best point guards in high school hoops. While Izzo was also recruiting the Minnesota native in Jones he saw the writing on the wall early on in the summer and began to target other point guard options. 

One of those options was diminutive point guard Tyler Ulis (#29-2014) who saw his recruitment explode in the early stages of 2012. When Izzo saw Ulis play in January, the buzz was just beginning to build for the 5’8” point guard and it took until early May for Izzo to offer. At this time the Michigan State offer became the prized possession for Ulis and most assumed that Michigan State also became the new leader for his services especially considering former Spartan Travis Walton was his cousin. As Ulis continued to impress at each stop on the AAU and summer camp journey he also caught the eye of John Calipari with a 22 point, 17 assist effort against Jones in the Nike Peach Jam. After visiting Lexington, KY in both August and September the lure of playing for the Wildcats was too much for Ulis to pass up and he committed just days after his September visit. 

The Okafor and Ulis decisions stung, but it was the deterioration of Alexander’s commitment that made the deepest cut. Right now, Alexander is considered a Top 5 player in his class and right on par with Jahlil Okafor. A few years ago, he was a notch below and just a talented athlete that could dominate games on the defensive end but was still just a dunker on the offensive end. Izzo made trips to Chicago specifically to see Alexander during his beginning as a raw and powerful athlete while other schools were only sending assistants. Michigan State was the presumed leader early on and it seemed all but a guarantee that Alexander would end up a Spartan and Izzo would get the guy he coveted most. As Alexander began his rise up the rankings with routine double-doubles in AAU games this spring and summer it seemed the high pedestal that the Spartans stood on began to diminish. When it came time to take official visits, Alexander noted he had already taken numerous unofficial visits to Michigan State and wanted to check out other campuses. He visited Arizona, Memphis, DePaul, Kansas, and Illinois. After taking his official visits, Alexander decided he was done with visits and dropped the Spartans saying “Right now, no relationship. They’re not on my list anymore.”

With those words, the last and most important of the Chicago prep stars gave Izzo and the Spartans the cold shoulder. When asked about recruiting the city of Chicago a few days later during the Big 10 media day, Izzo responded:

“Everybody has its hot few years. I don't know if it's different in any city. I think there's always the same issues. But if there's good players, there's going to be a lot of coaches around. If there's a lot of coaches around there's going to be issues. I don't know if it's any different than anywhere else. But I don't know what else I can say. I don't want to get slapped by somebody for saying the wrong thing as far as talking about recruiting. A lot of good players, a lot of coaches and good players. There's a lot of middlemen."

It’s been a long time since Izzo received a Chicago commitment with the last one occurring in August 2002 when Shannon Brown announced he was headed to East Lansing. Almost 10 years later Izzo re-entered the Chicago recruiting scene and came out swinging. Whether it was the middlemen or other factors that contributed to the Spartan strikeouts is up for debate. Michigan State fans  departed from Chicago in a joyous manner this past week after watching their talented and experienced team; however at some point down the road Chicago will be the same city that caused their smile to fade.