Super Showcase: Bazley impresses

ORLANDO, Fla. - The intensity at the Super Showcase jumped up a notch on Friday with bracket play beginning in both 17U and 16U play. The win-or-go-home atmosphere in the final July live period resulted in very competitive games at the 12 court ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World.

Four-star forward Darius Bazley got off to a slow start Friday evening but made up for it with 11 second half points for himself and creating scoring opportunities for his teammates.

The 6-foot-7, 190-pounder is a long, thin, smooth scorer with some very polished dribble moves. Due to his ball handling skills Bazley, the No. 79-ranked prospect in the 2018 Rivals150, is able to pull his defender out to the perimeter to make plays. He hit one long ball, pulled up for midrange shots and scored inside. Bazley shows promise as a defender but added strength will benefit his defense, as well as his offense in the paint.

He was offered by Purdue the day we watched him and also holds offers from Florida, Ohio State, Saint Louis and Toledo.

At 6-foot-8, 230 pounds Isaiah Stewart has a powerful build for a rising sophomore, a great motor and runs the floor relentlessly and tirelessly. He was unquestionably the best big man we saw all day. Stewart has soft hands, catches the ball cleanly and is a good passer from the high post. He also has plenty of length, Stewart told us that his wingspan was measured at 7-foot-3. We were told that he has a good face up game out to 15-feet but that wasn't on display Friday afternoon, instead Stewart put his hard hat on and went to work in the lane. If Stewart gets to establish offensive position on the block, he will score, go to the free throw line, or both.

Stewart listed offers from Wake Forest, Tennessee, George Washington and Saint Louis with interest coming from Syracuse, Georgetown, Stanford, Virginia, Ohio State, Notre Dame among many others.

Three-star power forward Terrell Brown played well for BABC. The 6-foot-9, 230-pounder has the toughness to play inside as well as some finesse to his game and a nice shooting touch with range.

Brown said that he is not really thinking about recruiting right now and that he is still open but is consistently hearing from Saint Louis, Texas, Pittsburgh, Xavier, Creighton, DePaul, Purdue, California and Oregon State. He plans to cut his list in late September and make his college choice before his high school season starts.

Jordan Walker is an exciting point guard who is very vocal in directing and encouraging teammates and he gets them to follow him. What the 5-for-10, 150-pounder may lack in size he makes up for with his competitiveness. Walker scores in transition, on quick drives to the basket, or off pick-and-roll plays. On defense his quickness allows him to keep his man in front of him.

He listed offers from Iona, St. Peter's, Towson, Wagner, Robert Morris, Monmouth with recent interest coming from Rhode Island, UCF, USF, Indiana, UAB, Memphis and SMU. Walker admitted that he was forgetting a few but attributed that to several schools calling either his coach or parents to express interest in him while he has been traveling with Southern Stampede this month.

Walker is a rising senior at The Patrick School in New Jersey but said that he is considering taking a prep year and reclassifying to 2018.

Jacksonville Magic point guard Zack "Scootie" Bryant may need to change his nickname to "Burst" because he can flat out go. The 5-foot-11, 178 pound lead guard seems to have a body full of fast twitch muscles. As fast as Bryant plays, he plays under control and is a very good ball handler - including under pressure.

In a win against the Houston Defenders, Bryant got into the paint pretty easily and kicked out to his three-point shooters or hit floaters. When he did get all the way to the cup, Bryant showed that he can finish above the rim. Do not get lazy or careless with the ball when Bryant defends you or he will get a hand on it.

Bryant listed offers from Clemson, Iowa State and UAB as well as recent interest coming from Georgetown, Georgia and Western Kentucky. With his recruitment taking off late, Bryant hinted that he could be a spring signee.