On the Bounce with Coach Meyer, Hoopfest vol. 2

The Marshall County (Ky.) Hoopfest once again was loaded with some top prospects and tremendous match ups. In this edition of On the Bounce with Coach Meyer, Rivals.com National Scout Jerry Meyer breaks down the game of seven 2005 prospects that landed just outside the Rivals150. One of those prospects is the very good Nate Minnoy, who is headed to Purdue.

Nate Minnoy (6-foot-3, 260-pound small forward from Hales Franciscan in Chicago, Ill.)

Still putting on weight, Minnoy is a multidimensional scorer inside or outside and off the dribble or off the catch. Posting in the midrange area is the ideal position for Minnoy to do his damage. From there, he can shot off a separation pivot or get to the basket in one dribble. It also keeps him closer to the basket where he can rebound. Minnoy is also tough to handle when Hales Franciscan runs their three man weave. He is very good at getting his man going one way and then using his big body to get separation in the lane with a spin move. On the night against Althoff, he scored 20 points on 9 of 26 shooting and grabbed 11 rebounds. Despite his weight, Minnoy is in good shape, playing very hard the entire game. He should be effective in Purdue’s physical style of play.

Kevin Lisch (6-foot-2, 175-pound point guard from Althoff High School in Belleville, Ill.)

Lisch did not have the hot hand in Althoff’s overtime loss to Chicago Hales Franciscan, shooting 7 of 21 from the field and going 1 for 6 from the arc. Nonetheless, the physical and competitive point guard did everything else well. He grabbed 7 rebounds, played tenacious defense, fought for loose balls and did not turn the ball over. Players like Lisch, who is headed to Saint Louis, are the reason the top mid-major programs in the country can take down the high-majors on any given night.

Jeremy Barr (6-foot-7, 254-pound power forward from Westbury Christian High School in Houston, Texas)

Barr is a physical specimen with perhaps the largest hands on the circuit. He is an explosive dunker off two feet and is developing some back to the basket moves where he can finish with a left or white hand jump hook. Not a ball handler or passer, Barr does appear to have the potential to consistently knock down the baseline or high post jumper. Defensively, he is tough around the basket but needs to continue to improve his footwork on the perimeter. On the night against North Broward Prep, he scored 16 points or 5 rebounds. Having only played basketball for a few years, the game does not yet come naturally to the Bahamas native. Barr certainly has a good upside, but it is still tough to tell just how good he could be.

Josh Tabb (6-foot-4, 190-pound shooting guard from Carbondale (Ill.) High School)

A smooth left handed scorer, Tabb can shoot the three off the catch and nail the pull-up midrange jumper off the dribble. He also has the size, athleticism and mind set to be a tough defender on a scoring guard. Southern Illinois has a tremendous guard tandem coming in next year with point guard Bryan Mullins and Tabb at shooting guard.

Olajuwon Kemp (6-foot-7, 205-pound power forward from Bolivar Central (Tenn.) High School)

The first cousin of 2006 standout Willie Kemp is an active athlete who is gaining strength. Kemp has a very good upside. Not an academic qualifier, Kemp is presently looking at junior colleges in Kansas. Presently a mid-major prospect, he could potentially develop into a low high-major prospect with added strength and some skill development.

David Palmer (6-foot-8, 240-pound power forward from Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va.)

Palmer struggled at the Marshall County Hoopfest, scoring 2 points and grabbing 2 rebounds in limited minutes in his first game and hardly playing at all in the second contest. He has the ability to rebound but is very limited as a scorer. Defensively, he is extremely foul prone. Part of the fouling is due to getting off balance and the other part is due to losing emotional control at time. The Illinois commitment must work on his body control and emotional control to ever be effective in the Big Ten.

Sammy Hernandez (6-foot-6, 200-pound power forward from Arlington Country Day High School in Jacksonville, Fla.)

Physical and fearless in the paint, Hernandez did an admirable job when matched up against Tyler Hansbrough. In fact, he started the game guarding Hansbrough instead of his 7-foot-1 teammate Jason Bennett. Limited as a scorer on the offensive end, Hernandez scored 6 points but snagged a team high 9 rebounds against Poplar Bluff (Mo.) High School. He also dished out three assists.