Vegas Wednesday: Birthday Bede, top players on display
LAS VEGAS – Wednesday night at the Adidas Summer Championships featured 2018's No. 2 player, Romeo Langford, and No. 3 player, Zion Williamson, take the floor in back-to-back games. However, it was currently unranked 2017 point guard Wabissa Bede who celebrated his 18th birthday in style.
BEDE CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY IN STYLE
On his 18th birthday, three-star point guard Wabissa Bede celebrated in style. With pros such as James Harden, Derrick Rose, Brandon Ingram and Harrison Barnes sitting courtside, the currently unranked point guard made a major case for the next 2017 Rivals150 and showed why he's been receiving a barrage of high-major offers.
The heart and soul of what is probably the best team on the Adidas Circuit, the Mass Rivals, Bede's toughness, shot making and playmaking were all on display as they dismissed the Compton Magic 83-55.
On the night Bede finished with 25 points, five rebounds and three assists. His newest offers are from Virginia Tech, Seton Hall, Minnesota, Nebraska and Dayton. They join LaSalle, UMass, VCU, Butler, Temple, Providence, Boston College and Rhode Island among others who had previously offered.
"I want to sit down with my mom and Coach Vin after this is all over in August and sort things out," said Bede, who also indicated that he expects to take all five official visits and plans to sign during the early signing period.
"Coaches like my intangibles and my leadership," said Bede. "I think the intangibles are what separates me because I'm not athletic like some of these other guys."
DOUGLAS BREAKS OUT
In a basketball-crazed city like Memphis, it isn't easy for a prospect to stay relatively under the radar until the summer before his senior year. Until now, that's been the case for three-star shooting guard William Douglas. The 6-foot-4 senior-to-be at Memphis (Tenn.) Christian Brothers is now making a nice name for himself.
Though he didn't have a huge night shooting the ball for M33M Elite on Wednesday night, Douglas got to any spot he wanted on the floor with ease, created shots for himself and others, and made several trips to the free throw line to finish with 13 points, three assists and a pair of rebounds in M33M's loss.
According to Douglas, he has current offers from Ole Miss, Memphis, Marquette, TCU, Florida State and Valparaiso, and two are standing out.
"Ole Miss and Memphis, they call me a lot and are making me feel like a priority," said Douglas.
MORE WEDNESDAY NOTES FROM ADIDAS
Part of what is so impressive about 2018's No. 2 ranked prospect Romeo Langford is that even on a night when he seemed to have a quiet game, the 6-foot-5 shooting guard finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds. His ability to make quick second leaps in heavy traffic to corral contested rebounds is really uncanny and things just seem to come easily for him on the offensive end. Tom Crean and Bill Self were among those watching as well as assistants from Duke and Louisville.
In the game following Langford's, 2018's No. 3 ranked prospect Zion Williamson hit the floor with his Game Elite program. A powerful 6-foot-6 combo forward who plays similar to a young Larry Johnson, the 16-year-old Williamson spent most of his time playing above the rim on powerful drives to the hoop. He was good f0r 22 and 10 of his own.
The Iowa Barnstormers and Dream Vision's 16 and under teams drew head coaches from Michigan State, Iowa, Marquette, Virginia, Oklahoma and Northern Iowa to go with assistants from all across the country. The Barnstormers, who are one of the best shooting teams in the country regardless of age or shoe circuit, ran away and hid but Dream Vision's four-star power forward J'Raan Brooks looked a bit under-ranked at No. 70 nationally. He was a load on the interior, scoring 23 points and grabbing nine rebounds. For the Barnstomers, Iowa-bound four-star Joe Wieskamp played to his No. 35 ranking and is a good-sized two guard with athleticism and shooting touch. Also impressing for the 'Stormers was combo forward Joey Hauser. The No. 45 player in the class of 2018, Hauser showed outstanding ball skills and toughness while scoring 17 points. He said that he took June unofficial visits to Wisconsin, Michigan State, Marquette (where his brother Sam Hauser will be a freshman this year) and Iowa. All four have offered, along with Virginia, Northwestern, Northern Iowa, Nebraska and Iowa State. Hauser said that he would like to make his decision sometime after his junior season.
Having a nice opening night and putting together a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds was Rivals150 forward Jericho Sims. The No. 146 player in 2017, Sims has a ton of upside in his 6-foot-8 and athletic frame. A major priority in Big Ten country, Sims told Rivals.com that his most recent offers are from Ohio State, St. Mary's and Oregon (Dana Altman watched Wednesday night). Minnesota, Iowa State, Kansas State, Texas and Nebraska have all offered as well and they were all courtside to watch him play on Wednesday night.
Playing alongside Sims on D1 Minnesota, power forward Nate Reuvers looks like a terrific pickup for Wisconsin. Ranked No. 108 overall, the mobile big man backed up his four-star status and showed off impressive shot making ability for a young big man during a 22-point and six-rebound night.
Western Kentucky head coach Rick Stansbury made sure to be visible when his prized five-star recruit Mitchell Robinson took the floor with New Orleans Elite. Robinson didn't actually arrive at the game until just before halftime and New Orleans Elite got roughed up a bit by the Memphis Magic Elite. Still, Robinson was able to show off his vast potential as a quick-leaping, shot-blocking and rim-running big man. We've said it before and we will say it again, Robinson's commitment to Western Kentucky could go down as one of the all-time great recruiting jobs.