Eye-catchers: Hoophall Classic
Rivals.com analyst Jerry Meyer spent last weekend at the Spalding Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass. Here's a look at Meyer's "Eye-Catchers" from the tournament. Prospects are listed alphabetically.
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Eye-catchers: Hoophall Classic
Wayne Blackshear, Wing, Morgan Park
Meyer's take: Fighting a knee injury throughout most of the game, Blackshear gutted out an impressive performance in a win over Tony Wroten and his Garfield squad. A sturdily built wing who should contribute immediately at Louisville, Blackshear scored 26 points on 10-of-17 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds.
Omar Calhoun, Wing, Calhoun
Meyer's take: There was nothing flashy about Calhoun's performance, but was it effective. Calhoun quietly put up 23 points on 7-of-13 shooting, 4-of-8 from the three-point line, 10 rebounds and six assists in a win over Westchester Country Day. With a game similar to Blackshear, Calhoun will have a college-ready game when the time comes.
DaJuan Coleman C, Jamesville-Dewitt
Meyer's take: Coleman was simply a man amongst boys against Webster Groves. He did have a height advantage, but Webster Groves had some muscle. That muscle was no math for Coleman who scored numerous buckets through contact. A much better conditioned player than in the past, Coleman rang up an impressive double-double of 23 points and 20 rebounds.
Anthony Davis, PF, Perspectives
Meyer's take: There might not be a high school player in the country who does more for his team than Davis. He is Perspective Charter's best ballhandler, passer, outside scorer, inside scorer, rebounder and defender. At the Spalding Hoophall Classic, Davis put all these skills on display before missing the final two minutes of the game with a jammed thumb. On 12-of-18 shooting, he scored 30 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked seven shots.
Mike Gilchrist, Wing, St. Patrick
Meyer's take: There isn't a high-level prospect in the 2011 class who can match the relentlessly aggressive style of Gilchrist. He never takes a possession off and squeezes out the most of his ability. Matched against two five-star forwards out of the 2012 class, Gilchrist had a typical productive game with 27 points and 10 assists. His intangibles will be as important to Kentucky next year as any of his skills.
Myck Kabongo, PG, Findlay Prep
Meyer's take: Kabongo sets the tone for Findlay Prep and nothing changed in regards to this at the Spalding Hoophall Classic. In Findlay Prep's two games, Kabongo averaged 11.5 points, nine assists and came up with a bunch of rebounds and steals as well. He is a speedster with the basketball, but Kabongo also has an advanced feel for what to do with the ball while on the move.
Myles Mack, PG, St. Anthony
Meyer's take: Although he drained 6-of-7 shots from behind the arc, Mack's outside shooting wasn't the most notable aspect of his game. Instead it was his explosiveness to the rim in transition and the way he guided the St. Anthony attack from the point guard position. Mack showed promise of being a quality lead scoring guard at Rutgers.
Shabazz Muhammad, Wing, Bishop Gorman
Meyer's take: Muhammad struggled during the first half against St. Patrick. In the second half, however, he found his rhythm and turned it on for a game-high 28 points. Muhammad is a threat to hit three-pointers and score off the dribble, but he also has a quality turnaround jumper he can utilize as a post-up scorer.
LaQuinton Ross, Wing, Life Center Academy
Meyer's take:For starters, Ross did an excellent job defending 7-footer Kaleb Tarczewski, who is one of the top centers in the 2012 class. Offensively, Ross was impressive as well. He put Life Center up early with 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting in the first half and did a nice job handling the ball and passing throughout the game. Headed to Ohio State, Ross will be one of the top shooters in the Big Ten.
Shannon Scott, PG, Milton
Meyer's take: Ohio State is picking up a quality point guard in Scott. The maturity of his game and his physical strength will enable him to make an impact right from the beginning. Playing with a high-level blend of explosiveness and efficiency, Scott got to the rim with regularity and knocked down 7-of-11 shots from the field and made 8-of-9 free throws, leading Milton to a win over Oak Hill Academy.
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