Nike EYBL: Davis on the rise
HOUSTON- Play was intense and at a high level on Saturday during the second session of the Nike EYBL. Meanstreets post player Anthony Davis continued his meteoric rise this spring from being off the radar to being an elite national prospect.
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Just think of former North Carolina freshman star Brandan Wright with way more offense and a better motor, and you have Davis. At 6-foot-10, 192-pounds, Davis has a scary offensive skill set. It is not a deal where he shows flashes of what he could be like John Henson did on the circuit. Instead, Davis makes play after play within the flow of the game.
On one possession he might post up and score with either hand, on another hit a pull up midrange jumper, on another knock down a three, on another slash in for an offensive rebound and on another deliver an assist pass off the dribble.
Defensively, his intelligence and length make him difficult to deal with as well.
Ohio State and Syracuse are in the best position to land this budding star. He is also considering offers from DePaul, Xavier, Michigan State, Indiana, Purdue and Notre Dame.
James McAdoo (2011 Boo Williams)- If there is a better post player in the 2011 class than Davis, it is McAdoo. He logged more minutes on Saturday and led his team in a slaughter of the Jackson Tigers. McAdoo plays with impressive length and is developing an expanded offensive game. A quick one dribble pull up going either direction in the midrange appears to be his pet move at the moment. The advantage he has over Davis is that McAdoo is a stronger and more physical player.
Jabari Brown (2011 Drew Gordon Soldiers)- There might not be a better shooter in the country. And don't tell Brown that the midrange jumper is a lost art (I don't believe that anyway and am tired of hearing that.). Brown will drain it from 10-feet just as easily as he will from 25-feet.
Put Brown's stroke into his 6-foot-5, 200-pound frame and you have a five-star wing scorer.
Mike Taylor (2011 Metro Hawks)- Speaking of physical perimeter scorers, Taylor was impressive in that regard Saturday morning. He is the type of 6-foot-3, 185-pound shooting guard who can manufacture a bucket when his team needs it. I didn't see much in terms of floor vision and distributing the ball, but I did see a prospect who can produce his own points.
A host of schools would like to have him score those points for them. Taylor listed offers from Pittsburgh, St. John's, Seton Hall, Rutgers, Maryland, Indiana, South Florida, South Carolina and Providence and interest from West Virginia.
In June he plans to visit South Florida, South Carolina and Maryland.
Carlton Brundidge- (2011 The Family) Michigan has a guard on the way who can score in bunches. In fact Brundidge put together a bundle of 53 points before fouling out during extra time in a quadruple overtime 113-112 victory over Seattle Rotary. At 6-foot, 200-pounds, Brundidge just bullies weaker defenders and has the body control to finish tough shots on the move. He went 17-26 from the field and 18-21 from the line in this impressive outing.
Anrio Adams (2012 Seattle Rotary)- Adams was the star for his team in this epic game. He put up 33 points which included a coast to coast race to the bucket for a game tying layup over Amir Williams at the end of the third overtime.
Adams is in the mold of teammate and Gonzaga commitment Gary Bell as a physical and skilled combo guard.
Rasheed Sulaimon (2012 Houston Hoops)- Let's continue the theme of perimeter scorers with Sulaimon. The 6-foot-2 guard can stroke it from deep and attack the basket with a burst. It looks like he has the stuff to be one of the best shooting guards in his class.
Byron Wesley (2011 California Supreme)- Wesley did a little bit of everything in a wing over the Alabama Challenge. While being a dangerous catch and shoot threat from behind the arc, Wesley went to work off the dribble creating scores for himself and his teammates. He is also a strong rebounder for his position.
Shane Larkin (2011 Each One Teach One), Darwin Davis (2011 Meanstreets) and Kyan Anderson (2011 Team Texas)- Three guards on the small side, but three guards with a ton of heart and a whole lot of game. They can kill from behind the arc, they can break a defense down and distribute and they can run a team. Love the court presence of all three of these little guys.
Alain Chigha (2013 Team Florida)- One of the more impressive 2013 prospects I've seen this spring, Chigha is a slashing 6-foot-6 athlete with a top notch motor. He made athletic hustle plays on both ends of the court and showed a promising skill package. He is the type of guy to block a shot defending a fast break and then follow up a miss on the other end with a put back. Loved him even before he knocked down a couple three-pointers
Nerlens Noel (2013 BABC)- At 6-foot-10, 200-pounds, Noel is developing into a legitimate high major post prospects. He plays hard, finishes around the basket, blocks shots, and he is only going to get better.
Florida has recognized Noel's potential with an early offer. Georgetown, Providence, Connecticut and Syracuse are also recruiting him.
Andre Horne (2013 Each One Teach One)- A physical power forward at 6-foot-6, Horne is a prospect we will keep a close eye on. He has a motor and showed some offensive promise.
Malcolm Gilbert (2011 Albany City Rocks)- Slowly but surely Gilbert is coming around as a prospect. The near 7-footer is growing into his body and gaining strength and improved coordination. Still at times a step slow, Gilbert does have a solid skill base down low and the size to cause problems for opponents.
More Notes
Kentucky commitment Marquis Teague is an exceptional physical talent and a threat to take over the No. 1 spot in the Rivals150. What is lacking, however, in Teague's game is leadership. Rarely, if ever, does he communicate with his teammates in either a positive or constructive way and rarely does he ever direct traffic. This lack of communication from a point guard leaves you wondering how important winning is to him. I'm not saying winning isn't important to him. I'm just not sure based on his lack of interaction with the teammates he is in a position to lead.
Michael Carter-Williams and Kentavious Caldwell continued to cement their status as legitimate five-star prospects when the new rankings come out.
Trevor Lacey also continues to raise his stock.
Dorian Finney-Smith is set to jump into the Rivals150 as a four-star. He has an impressive combination of length and skill.
It's important to defend Joshua Richardson behind the arc. He nailed three consecutive three-pointers at one point Saturday.
Nerlens Noel is transferring to the Tilton School as a 2013 prospect.
More Recruiting News
Rugged combo forward Branden Dawson still has Purdue and Indiana at the top of his school list. UCLA, Georgetown, Marquette and Michigan State are also on the list. All six schools have offered, and Dawson doesn't plan to decide between them until next spring.
Quddus Bello isn't being recruited by the new Wake Forest staff. He is, however, hearing regularly from Clemson, North Carolina State, South Carolina, Florida, Maryland and Miami. All of these schools have offered.
The most recent of Levi Randolph's 13 offers are from Memphis and Georgia Tech.
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