Three-Point Play

Each week the "Three-Point Play" will touch on three topics from the college basketball world. This first version includes the following:

• The improvement of junior forward Isaiah Hicks for UNC
• A look at Washington's 3-0 start in the PAC-12
• USC's improvement from 3-15 last year to 3-1 this year in conference play 

The Isaiah Hicks Improvement

UNC power forward Isaiah Hicks was a McDonald’s All-American and a five-star recruit in the class of 2013, but was the forgotten man coming into this college season after an unremarkable first two years in Chapel Hill. As a freshman Hicks had to watch his lower ranked classmate in Kennedy Meeks (No. 68) outplay and outshine him as Meeks averaged 16.3 minutes compared to just 7.3 minutes for Hicks. Playing mostly on the perimeter, Hicks showed small glimpses of his raw talent, but he scored over five points in just one game. As a sophomore, the minutes doubled for Hicks and he averaged 6.6 points per game, but his performance was still a far cry from the expectations placed on him from the time he committed to Carolina.

Now, Hicks is still not a starter for the talented Tar Heels, but he is one of the most improved and least talked about players in the country. His scoring average has increased to 10.2 points per game in just 18.6 minutes and he currently is ranked No. 4 in the country in KenPom’s offensive efficiency rankings sporting an impressive 140.0 rating. With added strength to go with his fluidity, Hicks has become a more aggressive offensive player and just played a large part in helping UNC pull out a close win over Syracuse last Saturday. He’s converting 82.4% of his shots at the rim per Hoop-Math and has also increased his time at the foul line. Last year, Hicks’ took 2.3 free throws per game which has jumped up to almost four per game this year. A 58% free throw shooter as a freshman, Hicks is now hitting a remarkable 80.6% as a junior. Over the years, UNC has lost numerous games due to its porous free throw shooting, but this year Hicks is a primary reason that UNC is No. 21 in free throw percentage. While Hicks is still not mentioned on any mock draft sites, if he continues his upward trajectory in terms of improvement it will be only a matter of time until the five-star recruit begins to receive NBA attention.

Is Washington Back?

Conference play is only two weeks old for the PAC-12, but so far only one team remains unscathed. After a road overtime victory on Saturday, the Washington Huskies stand 3-0 in the conference and 11-4 overall. After being the class of the PAC-12 for many years, the Huskies have not made the NCAA Tournament since 2011, despite winning the conference regular season in 2012. Now, Lorenzo Romar and crew have gotten back to their up-tempo ways. After regularly playing an up and down style that had them In KenPom’s Top 30 tempo rankings year after year, the Huskies finished No. 183, No. 71, and No. 133 in 2013, 2014, and 2015, respectively. Now, Washington is ranked No. 5 and averaging 78.1 possessions per game (which has been helped by two recent overtime games). Along with the increased tempo, Washington currently has the early leader in the PAC-12 player of the year and freshman of the year. Andrew Andrews is averaging 29.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 4.7 assists while also shooting 48% from three. Also, freshman Dejounte Murray is averaging 21.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.7 assists. The road certainly gets tougher for the Huskies with a trip to Arizona coming up this week, but for now Washington is relying on its guard play while getting back to its winning ways.

USC’s Turn Around

Staying in the PAC-12, most pre-season predictions had the USC Trojans finishing anywhere from 8^th to 10^th in the conference standings. After going just 3-15 last year, it was expected that Andy Enfield’s team would be improved, but not nearly enough to challenge the top echelon of teams. Now, three months into the season, USC is rated No. 25 by KenPom and sports a 3-1 conference record which could easily be 4-0 given the 22 point lead they relinquished to Washington (granted, they could also be 1-3 after giving up substantial leads to Washington, ASU, and Arizona). After their four overtime victory at home against Arizona, the LA market is starting to notice USC for its basketball team. Both the offense and defense have made remarkable leaps this year. The offense jumped from No. 244 in adjusted offensive efficiency to No. 36 and the defense has improved from No. 83 to No. 37. As a team, USC is currently shooting 41% from the three-point line including a 10-23 performance against Arizona. Freshman power forward Bennie Boatwright spaces the floor for the Trojans and has been one of the top freshmen in the conference. Julian Jacobs and Jordan McGlaughlin put the pressure on opposing defense’s and Elijah Stewart provides a strong scoring spark off the bench now that Enfield made the decision to start Katin Reinhardt. On defense, the Trojans have employed a soft pac line defense at times and have made a conscious effort to stop the opposing guards off pick and roll plays. With a young and talented team, the Trojans are looking to establish themselves in the PAC-12. Through two weeks they are off to a start that wasn’t anticipated, but now they enter a three game road stretch playing at UCLA before travelling to Oregon. A 2-1 mark for USC would be a dream come true, but even a 1-2 finish would be respectable. It’s not easy to change a culture and establish an identity, but in year three, Andy Enfield is in the midst of doing just that.  

Dejounte Murray: A High Scoring Guard In The Pacific Northwest

Dejounte Murray is a popular player out on the West Coast right now and one who saw his stock soar during a junior season at Rainier Beach (WA).  Now the 6’4” shooting guard looks to continue his rise during the spring and summer.

Last week in the first EYBL tournament of the year, Murray averaged 17 points per game on the Northwest Xpress AAU team which is comprised of the top players in the Pacific Northwest. The team opened with a loss, but Murray scored 21 points albeit on 8-19 shooting. With one game under their belt, the Xpress bounced back on Day 2 winning both of their games. 

“I think it was a whole bunch of jitters,” said Murray. “Our team didn’t know anything about the EYBL, we had never played, I had never played, but I’m used to playing in big games. As we start growing, we don’t want to lose so we were able to take care of business today.”

Murray played his best game late on day two of the live evaluation period. With only two courts of action going on, coaches were soon drawn to the high scoring exploits of the athletic guard. In a 66-53 win Murray scored 25 points on 9-14 shooting, including 4-5 from the three point line. Murray came down and drained three’s off the dribble and also utilized the pick and roll for open looks. Along with his outside shooting, Murray got to the basket off the dribble and finished at the rim for several and-one’s. All in all, it was one of the most impressive performances in Sacramento in front of a handful of college coaches. 

Who are those college coaches?

“The whole PAC-12 is after me, but only several have offered,” said Murray. “Oregon, Washington, Cal, Wazzou, USC are the ones that have offered. Gonzaga has offered me and been in touch. I’ve talked to Kansas and Kentucky a couple times. They didn’t offer yet, but they said I was on their watch list.

This past season, a senior laden Rainier Beach team led by Louisville commit Shaqquan Aaron went 29-1 and finished No. 5 in the country per Max Preps. While the team featured big names such as Aaron, Djuan Piper, and 2015 point guard David Crisp, Murray was still the main attraction for coaches such as Lorenzo Romar of the local Washington Huskies. Rainier Beach will lose a lot going into next year, but this shouldn’t stop them from winning a fourth straight title.   

First off, we are going to be a talented team next year,” noted Murray. “Khalil Shabazz (2017) and Keith Smith (2016). All we need is a big man, but I’m sure we can find someone to transfer in. I think we are going to be better than we were this year. We’ve won 3 in a row and going for 4 next year.”

Scouting Report:

Murray is a long and wiry guard that shoots well from the outside and can break down a defender off the dribble similar to 2014 five-star shooting guard Rashad Vaughn. In his first EYBL experience Murray averaged 4 rpg and 2 apg, to go along with his 17 points. He shot 47% from behind the arc and had a true shooting percentage of 53.3%. He is a high usage player and often has the ball in his hands. When he is on, he is on and there isn’t much any defender can do, but this also can lead to some forced shots at times. While quick and athletic, Murray will also need to continue to hit the weight room. During his junior season, Scout.com bumped Murray up from No. 80 to No. 46 in the class of 2015. The high scoring guard is one of the most exciting players in his class and with a few more impressive performances in the EYBL; Murray will start to increase his popularity across the country. 

Djuan Piper: Stepping Into the Spotlight

He’s a tall, athletic wing with two state championships to his name and plays for a school that’s produced a handful of NBA players including Jamal Crawford, Nate Robinson, and Terrence Williams. His name is known in the Pacific Northwest, but he currently sits in the shadows behind certain high school and AAU teammates. Have you heard of Djuan Piper? Probably not, but you can be sure that college coaches from coast to coast sure have.

Background

photo by Max Preps

Piper is a 6’5” wing with long arms and is active on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court. He excels in transition and also possesses great quickness. In the half-court set Piper can usually blow by his man on the perimeter and finish above the rim. Defensive pressure is his strongest attribute as he noted that “my defense is always there.” He has range on his outside shot and can knock down three’s, but is also well aware that he needs to improve the consistency of this three point shot while also gaining confidence in his ball-handling skills. 

High School:

In his high school career, Piper has played an integral role the past two years in helping Rainier Beach capture back to back championships in the state of Washington. As a sophomore he chipped in four points and six rebounds while teammate Anrio Adams led the way in a championship win over Seattle Prep. This past year as a junior, Piper teamed up with Shaqquan Aaron, a transfer from California and soon to be Louisville Cardinal. Both players share similar height and build and Piper said that coaches often compared the two. While Aaron was the new man in town, it was Piper who contributed 10 points, 4 assists, and 3 steals in a 62-59 state title win over Lakeside. 

Recruiting:

During the spring and summer, Piper is playing AAU ball for the Tacoma based Team Bradley NW Panthers that are led by future California point guard Ahmaad Rorie. While Rorie is the star player, the national tournaments have provided Piper with increased national exposure. During the second live April period, Piper caught the eye of Richmond head coach Chris Mooney in Dallas at the Adidas VIP Exclusive Run. 

“They liked that I was aggressive and said they needed a lanky big two-guard to come in. I could play right away and the year I graduate (high school) they might be playing in the Big East and I always wanted to play in the Big East” said Piper. I’ve built a good relationship with the coaches so far.”

This past weekend at the UA Summer Jam outside of Milwaukee, Mooney made sure that Piper knew how interested he was. While 450 coaches visited this tournament on the first day, only a handful remained on Saturday night and Sunday. Most of the remaining coaches were assistants, but Mooney was front and center for the Panthers’ playoff run sometimes standing directly behind the basket in full view. Piper showcased his talent averaging 9 points and 3.5 rebounds a game throughout the tournament.

While many west coast schools have shown an initial interest in Piper, USC and their new coaching staff made it clear that he was a priority. 

“The first day Coach Enfield went to USC, he called my high school coach and called my phone. He said this is my first day and you’re at the top of my list” noted Piper.

At the Adidas Invitational in Indianapolis two weeks ago, Piper piqued the interest of Kansas coach Bill Self.

Piper said “This just happened, in Indiana. He must have been at my game and he called my coach. He said they wanted to start recruiting me.”

While Piper has not taken any official visits he knows for sure he wants to get out to Richmond and USC and hopefully Kansas. Two schools that have not expressed interest that could jump quickly to the top of his list are Washington and California. When asked if he would be interested in Washington, Piper noted “Oh yeah, easy they would be Top 3.” Despite being a local product he hasn’t seen Lorenzo Romar or any of the UW coaching staff at his games. 

As for Cal, Piper loves to play with his AAU teammate Ahmaad Rorie and wouldn’t mind joining him in college as well. 

“Ahmaad’s my guy,” Piper said. “I would definitely like to play with him at Cal.”

Other schools currently in contact with Piper are Washington State, Utah, Boise State, along with the Oregon schools and Boise State.

For now, Piper is ready to put on his best effort for college coaches one last time in Las Vegas and then he is off to the Adidas Nations in Los Angeles. After the AAU season winds down, it’s back to Rainier Beach as he looks to team up with Aaron for another championship run. This year the team will step out onto the national stage with a potential game in the Hoophall Classic as well as one against Jahlil Okafor and Whitney Young in the Les Schwab Invitational.

“We’re going for our third in a row this year,” Piper said. “I think we are gonna be nice and compete not just for a state championship, but also the national championship.”

While college coaches started to take notice of Piper’s skill set, a third state championship along with a national title could go a long way in bringing Piper out from the shadows of his teammates and into a nationally recognized name.

McDonald's All-American Practice

With the Final Four just around the corner, it’s never too early to start looking ahead to the 2014 Final Four and what better place to start than the McDonald’s All-American game in Chicago, IL. As numerous NBA personnel gathered to watch the future one and done stars of college basketball, the uber-talented class of 2013 went head to head in a two hour practice session to get acclimated with each other before the All-Star game on Wednesday evening. Kentucky’s number one ranked recruiting class which features six McDonald’s All-Americans is already being hyped as a championship contender and the top recruiting class of all time. Despite having a record six players in the All-American game, it is currently the decisions of two other prep stars that’s taken center stage and could determine what teams end up in Cowboy Stadium next spring. 

On Tuesday afternoon ESPN’s fifth ranked prospect by ESPN, Aaron Gordon is set to make his college announcement by choosing from three Pac-12 schools (Arizona, Oregon, and Washington) and Kentucky. Gordon is a 6’8” human highlight reel who will bring power and athleticism to the school of his choice and is coming off a Nike EYBL championship during the summer of 2012 and a California CIF second place finish.

The Favorite: Arizona. Since coming to Arizona, Sean Miller has made Tucson the top destination for recruits on the West Coast landing big men Brandon Ashley, Grant Jarrett, and Kaleb Tarczewski last year. Miller took the Wildcats to the Elite 8 and Sweet 16 in two of the past three years and could be primed for another run if all the underclassmen return. By going to Arizona, Gordon will get a chance to improve on his perimeter skills which is a must for his NBA future while also helping to continue Miller’s west coast dominance.

The Must Have: Washington. Lorenzo Romar and the Washington Huskies need Aaron Gordon in the worst way. While spending year after year atop the Pac-10, Romar frequently drew in the top recruits from Washington and California. Fabulous freshman Tony Wroten led the Huskies to the Pac -12 regular season title two years ago, but after suffering a first round defeat in the conference tournament, Washington was left out of the tournament. This past year Washington did not have their usual talent level and they finished in the middle of the Pac 12 while also suffering a first round NIT loss. The Huskies currently have Nigel Williams-Goss coming in to play the point, but Romar and the Huskies definitely need Gordon to reverse the programs fortunes. 

The Rest: Normally Kentucky would be the favorite for a player like Gordon, but the Wildcat front court is a little crowded with three McDonald’s All-Americans and the return of Willie Cauley-Stein. As for Oregon, Dana Altman made a late push for Gordon at the same time the Ducks won the Pac-12 tournament and advanced to the Sweet 16. To go along with the Sweet 16 berth, Gordon’s former AAU point guard Dominic Artis is coming off a fantastic freshman year. Two other AAU teammates (Robinson twins) signed with Oregon to play football. Could the allure of an Oakland Soldier reunion be enough to bring a five star recruit into Eugene? 

Odds:

Arizona -180

Washington +135

Oregon +150

Kentucky +200

Andrew Wiggins: Wiggins was bombarded with recruiting questions after practice but per usual he didn’t give any hints as to which way he was leaning or when a decision might come. After recent visits to Kansas and North Carolina, John Calipari went to West Virginia in order to sell Wiggins on wearing Kentucky blue after the recent commitment of Julius Randle. Even though Kentucky already has six McDonald’s All-Americans and is coming off an opening round NIT loss, Calipari probably touted the chance to practice against star players everyday in order to get ready for the NBA in 2014. 

Odds:

Kentucky -150

FSU / UNC / KU +130

Practice Notes: East

Keith Frazier (SG, 6’5”) Frazier was knocking down threes from the wing with ease at the start of practice during set plays and continued his impressive shooting during the scrimmage to end practice. Frazier showed off a quick release and didn’t force shots. When he was hitting shots, the ball often ripped straight through the net without touching an inch of the rim.

Andrew Wiggins (SF, 6’8”) Wiggins was another member of the East squad that excelled on shooting drills throughout the day. He also knocked down a few jumpers in the scrimmages and attacked the rim when given the chance. Despite being a small forward, Wiggins doesn’t have a problem matching up against bigger players. For the most part he matched-up against Noah Vonleh but also guarded Isaiah Hicks and Julius Randle. On one possession, Hicks trade to shoot a 10 foot fade away over Wiggins. The shot was rudely returned.

Julius Randle (PF, 6’8”) While Randle missed the most of his high school season with a fractured right foot; he showed no signs of rust in the practice session utilizing his brute force throughout the session. While Randle needs to work on his outside shot, he can already handle the ball extremely well for a player his size. Randle took on the point forward duties during the scrimmage bringing the ball up for his squad at times. It was quickly apparent that Randle loved to freeze his defender at the top of the key with a stutter step and drive forcefully to the right side. While Rondae Jefferson did a solid job defending Randle, he will definitely be sore tomorrow.

The Point Guards: Kasey Hill and Demetrius Jackson went head to head for most of the morning session once Cat Barber went down with an injury. Hill used his ball handling and quickness to get into the lane for assists or to finish with his top notch athletic ability. On the other side, Jackson used his brute strength and athleticism to attack the basket and finish amongst the trees.