Sunday afternoon from the Memorial Day Classic

Martell Webster currently favoring one school

Although his summer AAU action to date has been hampered by injury, Friends of Hoop shooting guard Martell Webster has seen no down time in his recruitment. Webster, 6-foot-6, 215-pounds, has a long list of offers but one program stands out as the heavy favorite for his signature.

"Right now the only school I’m putting out there is Arizona,” Webster said. “They have a great program and I like their whole West Coast style of play. Coach (Lute) Olsen is a proven winner and we get along great.

“I’m going to visit Arizona this fall to see how I feel about the campus and everything else. But it’s safe to say they are in good shape as far as I’m concerned."

Webster indicated that he is close to 100% healthy and is expected to be back in action June 11th at the Rose City Tournament in Portland, Oregon.

Keith Brumbaugh names two leaders and discusses NBA

Rivals.com No. 2 ranked player Keith Brumbaugh has narrowed his list of schools to five with two jumping to the lead for his services.

“Florida and Florida State are my overall favorites. They are close to home and I like their style of play,” Brumbaugh said. “Georgia, Auburn and Miami are also schools I like if I decide to go to college.

“If I’m a top 10 pick then I will have to go straight to the league but for now I’m preparing myself for both. In the classroom I’m hitting the books and everyday I’m working on my game to give myself the best possible options.”

Player observations from Saturday morning at the Memorial Day Classic

California Elite big forward James Keefe has been impressive this summer and his early morning effort is proof that he is one of the elite big men in 2006. Keefe, 6-foot-9, 190-pounds, is an excellent athlete who is very active around the basket and fills the lane well. Playing against a strong Team Texas front line he consistently scored in the paint and also stepped out on the perimeter to show his outside jumper. His weak side help defense was nice and he reacts quickly and uses his hops to block shots. He finished with 17 points.

Keefe’s partner in crime was power forward Matt Shaw who used his brute strength near the rim to attack and get position on the block. Shaw, 6-foot-8, 230-pounds, also proved he’s no one trick pony by stepping out to the 15-foot range and consistently knocking down his open looks. While scoring 20 points he also kept Elite in the game by holding his own on the defensive glass.

The cry heard from the Team Texas bench every time Patrick Christopher touched the ball was “shooter” and rightly so as the 6-foot-3 guard knocked down five 3-pointers on his way to a 22 point effort. At this point the 2006 prospect is more comfortable waiting for an open look on the perimeter but he has a solid handle and frame.

Potential is a word often bandied around when talking about recruits but Team Texas small forward Calvin Miles oozes with it. Miles, 6-foot-6, 210-pounds, has good ball handling skills, great size and a nice outside jumper. But Miles is best when posting up from free throw line and using his quickness and length to get to the basket and score. He also is effective around the basket where he has a good knack for getting in position on the offensive boards. He scored 19 points in his teams 72-69 win over California Elite.

Team Texas power forward Kevin Rogers has a big, strong frame that is best suited for a post game but he is also a nice passer and he often finds himself in the high post where he spots his teammates for back door cuts. Rogers, 6-foot-8, 220-pounds, is still perfecting his low post moves but his upside is tremendous. He scored 16 points.

Joining Rogers in the Team Texas front court is 2006 standout Bryan Davis who went for eight points and 12 rebounds. Davis, 6-foot-8, 225-pounds, is an athletic big man who has a strong offensive arsenal at an early stage. When posting he gets wide, giving his guards a nice target, and is equally effective going to his left or right.

Perhaps the most surprising player at the Memorial Day Classic has been South Carolina Raven small forward Casaan Breeden. Surprisingly because he has, for the most part, been under the radar this summer and also because his first two games at the MDC saw him play limited minutes.

That changed Sunday morning when Breeden was turned loose against Nike Team Florida and played like a man on a mission. Breeden, 6-foot-7, 185-pounds, is a crafty player who uses his quickness off the floor and natural instincts to get almost every loose ball and rebound. His athleticism stood out during warm-ups but once he hits the floor he grabs another gear. His outside shot is nice but he also likes to pump fake and drive to the basket where he finishes well. Not only did he score 16 points and pull down double digit rebounds but he did a nice job defensively on Team Florida star Keith Brumbaugh.

Yesterday Raven point guard Devan Downey was one of the most impressive offensive players of the day and his game this morning against Team Florida proved that his earlier effort was no illusion. Downey, 5-foot-9, is one of the fastest guards in the country with the ball in his hand and gets into the lane at will. One key reason is the fact that if you play off of him he will drill 3-pointers all day long. He led the Ravens’ with 22 points.

While Team Florida star Keith Brumbaugh was struggling from the field, 2006 point guard Jeremiah Rivers was doing his best to keep the game close. Rivers, 6-foot-4, 180-pounds, is a mature prospect who plays like a coaches son which is no coincidence since his dad is Doc Rivers now the coach of the Boston Celtics. With a solid handle and a great looking jumper Rivers proved deadly off the bounce or by creating his own shot. His court vision is exceptional and several times he made sweet passes to teammates that weren’t able to finish.

Motor City native Chris Douglas-Roberts was impressive while leading The Family to a hard fought victory over the Tennessee Travers. The 6-foot-5 combo guard plays with a self-controlled style that keeps him from forcing the action but he is always there to make the big shot including back-to-back three-pointers that took The Family from a one-point deficit to a five-point lead late in the game.

2006 shooting guard Ramar Smith was outstanding in the first half where he proved that although he likes to drive to the basket and body up, he can also knock down the three-point shot. In addition he set the tempo by pushing the ball up the floor off the miss and finding his teammates on the break.

Traveler shooting guard Jamont Gordon enjoyed a fine performance when he came alive mid-way through the first half with a barrage of three-pointers and drives to the basket. Nobody can deny his athleticism but today Gordon proved he has come a long way towards moving into the point guard position he wants to play. Although he is best when moving without the ball Gordon, 6-foot-4, 215-pounds, did a nice job of running the team and when the Travelers fell behind by double-digits he stepped up with 14 points, including a couple of NBA three-pointers, to give them the lead at the half. He scored a game high 26 points in a losing effort.

Joey Cameron provided a strong inside presence for the Travelers who repeatedly found him on the block in the second half to keep the game close. Cameron a 6-foot-7 power forward scored 16 points and more than held his own on the defensive glass. This weekend he put a smile of the faces of Volunteer fans when he committed to Tennessee.

Scoring, rebounding and assist leaders from Saturday’s action

Leading Scorers:

1-Richard Hendrix (Alabama Lasers) 26.5

2-Kevin Love (Oregon Select) 24.5

3-Louis Williams (Georgia Stars 23

4-Jon Brockman (Friends of Hoop) 20.5

5-Jessie Sapp (NY Gauchos) 20

Rebounders

1-Richard Hendrix (Alabama Lasers) 16.0

1-LucRichard Mbahamoute (Team Florida) 16.0

1-Jason Bennett (Miami Tropics) 16.0

4-Joey Cameron (Tennessee Travelers) 13

5-Matthew Dotson (Tennessee Travelers) 12

Assists

1-Mitchell Johnson (Friends of Hoop) 9.0

2-Jon Scheyer (Illinois Warriors) 7.0

3-Tiki Mayben (Albany City Rocks) 7.0

4-Denis Clemente (Miami Tropics) 6.0

5-Josue Soto (Miami Tropics) 5.0