Starting Five: Junior college edition
This week, we're taking the Starting Five in a different direction. Rivals.com spent Sunday in Overland Park, Kan., at the Johnson County Community College jamboree. The event afforded a chance to see some highly regarded JUCO prospects from the Midwest and a much different experience than the typical high school event.
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Dime couldn't wait
One of the most heavily recruited players in all of junior college basketball, 6-foot-9 sophomore power forward Malik Dime of Ottumwa (Iowa) Indian Hills was expected to announce his college choice late Monday afternoon.
Down to Arkansas, Iowa State and Washington, Dime had ISU's Fred Hoiberg plus an assistant on hand to watch him play on Sunday. But despite their presence, Dime decided the Huskies were the team for him, and he revealed his choice late Monday morning instead of waiting until later in the day.
So, exactly what type of player is Washington getting? Currently a three-star prospect who has a chance to be elevated to four-star status, Dime is a relatively slender big who can really sprint the floor. On top of changing ends quickly, Dime is a good straight up and down leaper who can block shots, control the glass and play above the rim with regularity.
Offensively, Dime is a work in progress. While his hands aren't bad, his footwork and overall post game are relatively raw. But he will most likely make his impact as a high-energy glassman capable of running the floor and helping to erase defensive mistakes at the rim.
Macam Macam a high-level talent
Probably the single most talented player in attendance on Sunday was Salina (Kan.) Brown Mackie big man Macam Macam. Pushing 6-foot-11, the Boston area product is a legitimate four-star prospect capable of making an impact at the high-major level.
Macam is also certified as disabled because he is deaf. However, watching him play one would never guess that he has any kind of disability.
Big and strong, Macam was able to do whatever he wanted to around the rim. He chased down rebounds in and out of his area, swatted shots and even stepped out and hit some jumpers. A transfer from Massachusetts Bay Community College in the Boston area, Macam averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds per game as a freshman and those numbers should rise as a sophomore.
Macam plays spirited ball on both ends of the floor and has the tools to help out at a high level if his academics are in order.
Washington will find a home
Another player who will be watched closely during the winter on a loaded Indian Hills squad is big man Jordan Washington. A former Rivals150 prospect as a high schooler, the 6-foot-7 junior power forward actually committed to Arizona State earlier this fall.
Unfortunately, a shoplifting incident at a Walmart cost Washington his scholarship with the Sun Devils and now he is looking to redeem himself and find a new home. Given the tools Washington has, that shouldn't be an issue.
Though he isn't the most athletic big man around, Washington is extremely crafty and has a great feel for the game. He knows how to use his body to maneuver defenders around the post and he is comfortable scoring over either shoulder. He can step out and make jumpers out to 10 or 12 feet, rebounds well and draws fouls. Whether or not he could make the same type of impact at a high-major like Mario Boggans did back in his days at Oklahoma State remains to be seen. But watching him play he reminds Rivals.com of the former Cowboys power forward.
How much impact can Acuil make?
During the summer, seven-footer Joseph Acuil created a feeding frenzy amongst college coaches thanks to his play at legendary junior college evaluator Jerry Mullen's annual top 100 camp in St. Louis.
A product of Melbourne, Australia, Acuil made an early commitment to Baylor and he was on display on Sunday.
On one hand, it is easy to see the size and potential that Acuil has. His seven-foot listing looks pretty legitimate (or at least close enough) and he runs the floor pretty well. A thin post player, he can contest shots at the rim and when he was able to establish and hold position in the low post he showed soft touch. Acuil also wants to step out and face the basket and shoot jumpers whenever possible.
The only problem with that, on Sunday at least, is that Acuil was misfiring badly on many of his jumpers. He also had some struggles with shorter players who were able to get underneath him and use their lower center of gravity to muscle him out of position.
Based on day of evaluation, it is tough to get a feel for exactly how much of an impact Acuil cam make in 2014-15 during his junior season at Baylor. The size and requisite athleticism are there, but how quickly he adjusts to the physicality and strength of the players he will face in the Big 12 will likely play a big role in determining his effectiveness.
Sunday eye catchers
Another freshman big who has a chance to eventually make his way to a program somewhere on the high major level is Liberal (Kan.) Seward County's Jamal PoplarClick Probably the most skilled post player to take the floor on Sunday was Pratt Community College's freshman big man Vladimir BrodzianskyClick Missouri State West Plains features a pair of athletic Ohio natives that are sure to get plenty of looks during their sophomore seasons. Combo guard Jameel MooreClick Allen County Community college small forward Courtney StockardClick Des Moines Area Community College has an intriguing point guard prospect in 6-foot-3 (maybe 6-foot-4) point guard Aarias AustinClick Evaluating junior college basketball is a totally different world from evaluating high schoolers. Generally speaking, junior college prospects are much more physically developed and projecting college juniors to be (in most cases with JUCO players) is entirely different than projecting freshmen-to-be. That being said, here are a few who caught the attention of Rivals.com on Sunday.Here to view this Link.. Long and rangy, he handles the ball very well and delivers crisp passes. He is a heads up dribbler in transition and a sprinting, pinpoint, wrap-around post entry bounce pass he made on the break was one of the best plays we saw all day.Here to view this Link. looks like a guy that mid majors should track throughout the season. 6-foot-5 with long arms, Stockard was played a lot as a mismatch four man who bigs found difficult to defend as he operated along the baseline or cut through the lane for dunks and interior scores. His jumper looks to be solid and the St. Louis native doesn't lack for toughness.Here to view this Link. and wing Craig EubanksClick Allen County Community college small forward Courtney StockardClick Des Moines Area Community College has an intriguing point guard prospect in 6-foot-3 (maybe 6-foot-4) point guard Aarias AustinClick Evaluating junior college basketball is a totally different world from evaluating high schoolers. Generally speaking, junior college prospects are much more physically developed and projecting college juniors to be (in most cases with JUCO players) is entirely different than projecting freshmen-to-be. That being said, here are a few who caught the attention of Rivals.com on Sunday.Here to view this Link.. Long and rangy, he handles the ball very well and delivers crisp passes. He is a heads up dribbler in transition and a sprinting, pinpoint, wrap-around post entry bounce pass he made on the break was one of the best plays we saw all day.Here to view this Link. looks like a guy that mid majors should track throughout the season. 6-foot-5 with long arms, Stockard was played a lot as a mismatch four man who bigs found difficult to defend as he operated along the baseline or cut through the lane for dunks and interior scores. His jumper looks to be solid and the St. Louis native doesn't lack for toughness.Here to view this Link. were both pretty effective. Moore is strong off the dribble, gets to the rim and can score it a bit while Eubanks is a long athlete who might be more small forward than shooting guard at 6-foot-4 but he can compete above the rim.Here to view this Link.. He is thin, but at 6-foot-10 he has great touch, good range on his shot and a nice assortment of scoring moves around the post thanks to good footwork. The native of Slovakia is a qualifier who could head off to a Division One program next year with three years of eligibility. Based on what Rivals.com saw on Sunday, he is good enough to warrant attention from high majors.Here to view this Link.. A three-star prospect who Rivals.com saw plenty of as a high schooler, Poplar is a thin and very mobile 6-foot-8 four man who can shoot and put the ball on the floor. If he can add some strength, his ability to put the ball on the floor makes him very intriguing.
Click Here to view this Link.
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