International – The Young Veteran

Portsmouth Invitational 2024 Day 1 Recap

PIT 2024 Day 1 Recap

The 70th annual Portsmouth Invitational has begun!!! The first two games were very sloppy to start. But, Hey thats to be expected when you are playing with new teammates, in a high school gym, in front of hundreds of executives from the NBA, to Italy, Germany,South Korea, Greece etc.

Players That Impressed

Tolu Smith III Miss. State 6’11 245 C

Smith is a very physical presence on the block. If he was in the paint he would physical make sure he moved you under the basket to get the closest finish possible. He ran the floor well and showed solid mobility overall. Being matched up against Joel Sopriano was a fun watch. Smith finished with 18 points and six rebounds.

Tristan Enaruna Cleveland St. 6’8 219 F

Enarauna showcased versatility on both ends. He has a solid pro ready body with some length. He knocked down a couple of three’s. Showed an ability to hit the mid range and can slash or play in the post. Tristan didn’t force anything, he just took what was given and and played an extremely efficient game. He also provided a nice highlight tip slam. https://twitter.com/PIT_Basketball/status/1780751379914486231

Courtesy of the official Portsmouth Invitational twitter handle @PIT_Basketball twitter

Tristan was the best NBA and pro prospect that played tonight. Yes, it was just one game….. That’s why I said tonight. He finished with 25 point, on 9-14 shooting, 2-4 from three, three rebounds and two blocks.

Tyler Burton Villanova 6’7 215 G/F

Burton struggled to get involved early, but found his footing in the second half. He showed versatility on both ends. He can initiate the offense or play off the ball. He’s a guy that does whatever his team needs him to. He also rebounds extremely well.

Aaron Estrada Alabama 6’4 195 Combo

Estrada showed an ability to lead an offense. He has a great feel in the 2 man game. Knows when to be patient and wait for the roll, or attack the defender. Solid ball handler with very good vision. Estrada was at his best when attacking on the fast break. He is very tough to stop from penetrating the lane and is a crafty left handed finisher around the rim. I’m a fan of his. He had 12 points, four rebounds and four assists.

Joel Soriano St. John’s 6’11 250 C

Big fan of Big Joel. He showed some offensive versatility today. We all know he can finish around the rim and in the paint. He also made a three today and it didn’t look bad. He only made seven his entire 5 year college career, BUT all seven were this year. He can definitely keep working on this and add this to his reportoire. Joel showed soft hand in the paint with nice touch as well. Knocked down a couple of mid range fades also. When he elevates his release is super high and tough to block. Big Joel had 28 points and twelve rebounds.

Jarod Lucas Nevada 6’4 195 SG

Lucas is a scorer. He can score at all three levels, but is more comfortable outside of the paint. Quick first step off the dribble. Likes the p/up jumper. Ball handling is ok. Very conssistent three point shooter. I want to see if he can defend at the next level. Also, can he consistently create for himself and others?

Eric Gaines UAB 6’2 160 PG

Gaines is a thin athletic playmaker. He is unselfish and knows how to run the show. He had 10 points, 10 assists and 4 rebounds. Anytime you have ten assists to three turnovers you’re doing you job. Especially in a showcase tournament.

Isaac Jones Washington St. 6’8 235 PF

Jones was all over the paint. He’s very physical and an explosive athlete. He will always finish with dunks. Very long arms. I want to see some more offensive versatility from him throughout the week.

Players That Struggled

AJ Hoggard Mich. State 6’3 215 Combo

Hoggard didn’t make an impact. In college he did a little bit of everything. This can be a tough setting to really stand out and show your skills. He finished with four points on 1-8 shooting.

Drew Pember UNC Ashville 6’11 225 F/C

Drew was 1-5 from three, with five rebounds. If he’s not making three’s at the next level can he add enough other value?

Tyson Walker Mich. State 6’0 175 PG

Much like his fellow Spartan he struggled to make an impact. Walker just didn’t take charge like I expected him to. He had six points, four rebounds and three assists……. But, lacked confidence or assertiveness.

Eric Dixon Villanova 6’8 260 PF

Dixon struggled shooting. He seemed way too content shooting three’s. And tough ones at that. He shot 3-11 overall and 0-5 from three. Dixon had 9 points, five rebounds and three assists. I would like to see him more assertive in the mid post.

Things I Enjoyed Today

Watching Tolu Smith III and Joel Soriano battle. Two of the more physical specimens here. And they went back and forth.

Tristan Enaruna’s versatility

Aaron Estrada running an offense

The Most Impressive Thing Today

How absolutely annoying Santiago Vescovi is on defense. I would hate to bring the ball up the court against him. Keep it up Santiago. Keep being annoying!

Portsmouth Invitational 2023 Day 3 Recap

Portsmouth Invitational Day 3 Recap

It was a good day. Yes, Ice Cube has been referenced in the first sentence. You’re welcome. The last game was ugly at times, then I jinxed it when I mentioned to my friend Jamaill we haven’t had overtime yet in the showcase. Then, the basketball god’s blessed us with a double OT game. Everyone in the gym tonight, You’re welcome.. Or, I’m sorry!

Players That Impressed

Timmy Allen Texas 6’6 200 G/F

Allen was super efficient. He has a lot of toughness and physicality. He has a great feel in the m/r and mid post. Takes contact well. Strong bodied and looks thicker than 200lbs. in a good way. Allen also was chipped in with 12 rebounds. He had 25 points and went 11-14 from the field. Almost all of his damage was in the m/r.

Kris Bankston Norfolk State 6’8 220 PF

Bankston struggled to make an impact his first game. Today he flashed athleticism that may be unmatched compared to any other player here. He has great hangtime and body control in the air when attacking the rim. He’s a dangerous roll man for lobs and has a great motor as a rim runner. Bankston had a massive one hand throw down, where it literally looked like he threw the ball from straight down ala Dwight Howard in the dunk contest. I don’t think he touched the rim, because he was too far away…. but, man he was way over the rim.

Kevin “Tha Dogg” Obanor Texas Tech 6’8 225 G/F

Man…. Obanor is intense. Plays extremely hard with emotion and authority. He also takes care of his body. He had ice on both knee’s and ankle’s when he left the gym. I liked seeing that because I don’t recall anyone else ever doing the same here. He is a freak athlete and super strong he can do a little bit of everything. I would be stunned if he’s not at the combine. He can make the three, attack the lane or just p/up in m/r. He can literally guard 1-4. He’s strong enough and agile enough either way. I loved his intensity and letting everyone know he’s that DUDE. Obanor finished with 29 points, five rebounds and three blocks.

Ed Croswell Providence 6’8 245 F/C

Big Ed flashed today. He started slow, but really came on after that. Ed is strong in the paint. He showed good hands and a soft touch. He’s solid in the p/roll game. He was relentless on the boards today also. Croswell finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds….. Ten were offensive!

Sales Systems Team

KJ Williams struggled from three, but still managed to score around the rim and with a post fadeaway. Williams also chipped in on the glass. He had 15 points and 17 rebounds.

Caleb McConnell chips in wherever he can. He showed the ability to score at times and he’s always a lockdown type defender. He plays within himself and that’s always refreshing to see nowadays.

I love Erik Stevenson’s confidence. He’s a flat out scorer. He can get hot quick and has a nice stroke from deep. Stevenson can occasionally shoot shots that may not be the best, but what scorer/shooter doesn’t. Stevenson finished with 23 points, going 5-8 from three.

Nathan Mensah had three late buckets in double OT that basically sealed the game. Mensah has a nice stroke 15 feet and in. Good rotation and doesn’t fade when shooting. I’ve watched a lot of him throughout his career. He’s a steady big. Defends well, has switchability and mobility. Ohhh and a 7’5 wingspan. Mensah had 17 points, ten rebounds and went 8-10 from the field.

Tanner Groves Oklahoma 6’10 235 F/C

Tanner is not the strongest or most physically skilled player. But, I would take him with me to a fight everyday. He’s a tough son of a gun. He plays with passion and he may be the toughest dude here. He never backs down. He keeps getting up off the ground. He struggled from three tonight, yet still made an impact. He had 19 points and eight rebounds. Next time though….. Shoot the open three at the end of the game. There were two chances you passed it out.

Players That Disappointed

Trey Jemison UAB 7’0 260 C

Trey is a massive man in the post. He really struggled today though. His hands looked very questionable. There were three straight p/roll plays where he just couldn’t catch and handle the pass and fumbled it away….. And the passes weren’t bad either.

Grant Sherfield Oklahoma 6’2 190 Combo Guard

Sherfield fell back to struggling today. He couldn’t make anything. He finished with two points and 1-11 from the field…..

Dane Goodwin Notre Dame 6’6 200 SG

Goodwin clearly is a good jump shooter and has a very nice stroke. He just missed shots today. None looked bad, they just didn’t fall. I like him. Today was just not his day. He had six points, four rebounds and was 1-9 from the field.

Things I Loved Today

Kevin Obanor’s competitiveness. He is “Tha Dogg”. He has so much confidence and isn’t afraid to let people know. One other thing I liked is when he left the gym he gave a nod to the trainer that helped ice him up after the game. That was cool and she appreciated it as well.

Tanner Grove’s passion. He made an and one and then had a weird, yet awesome counting motion with both hands while laying on the ground…… I realize my explanation is anticlimactic. But, If you were here at the PIT…… It was Electric, and very much a goofy white guy thing. And as I reread this I just can’t do it justice. Sorry, I’m a goofy white guy too!

KJ Williams showed some more physicality. I’m still not sure he can or is willing to post up on offense. He had one baby hook shot and a fadeaway post jumper score….. But, both were going away from the basket……. So, maybe I just kinda had a fling and didn’t fully love it yet….

The Bier Garden in Olde Towne, downtown Portsmouth, VA. I highly recommend this place. Its very relaxed and authentic German cuisine. I make sure I eat there every year I attend and its just fun and doesn’t disappoint. They also have a ton of beer selections. And whenever you have a beer referencing James and the Giant Peach….. I have to try it…… Johann beware of the Rhinoceros in the sky. And Aslin job well done!

Oh yeah the food was awesome! I had Curry Bockwurst, with German potato salad and beer battered fries.

Paired with Aventinus Weizendoppelbock

Portsmouth Invitational 2023 Day 1

Day One of the Portsmouth Invitational

Here We Go

It’s that time of year again. The best showcase in the business. I love this trip and look forward to it every year. Despite staying at a place where my door doesn’t fully shut…., Me like the players at the PIT are grinding away. Lets get it!

Players that Impressed

Tyger Campbell UCLA 5’11 180 PG

Everyone knows who he is. He played at UCLA forever. He controlled games and was a great floor general….. Yet, I was still super impressed with his play. He had 18 points, ten assists and only three turnovers. He is majestic with the ball. His hair flowing in all its glory, while he darts pass defenders to find open players for easy shots or buckets. He’s the best passer here. I have only seen four of the eight teams, but honestly it doesn’t matter. He see’s things different than anyone else. Even so his team lost 96-84.

Darius McGhee Liberty 5’9 160 G

McGhee literally gets a shot whenever he wants. He has unlimited range and elevates on his jump shot. I shouldn’t have been surprised, but seeing it in person it was clear. He can get buckets at any level. That’s never been an issue. He also is a great athlete. He can jump out of the gym and has great hangtime. I’m looking forward to see if he can make some plays for others in the next couple of games.

Hunter Tyson Clemson 6’8 215 G/F

Tyson was ripping the nets. He was 5-7 from three, finishing with 21 points and seven rebounds. He was not shy and took some deep shots. He displayed a ton of confidence throughout. He stayed aggressive. Tyson also showed an ability to run off screens or play the p/pop or just space the floor for c/s three’s. I was very impressed with his performance and loved his tenacity and emotion.

Sir’Jabari Rice Texas 6’4 180 SG

Rice just lets it fly. He is a scorer. Attacking the rim doesn’t seem to be his choice, but draining jumpers in defenders faces definitely is. He uses his length to get off shots and has a nice and fluid stroke. He had 19 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Kevin Obanor Texas Tech 6’8 225 F

Obanor is a DOG. Despite air balling at least two three’s, he never lost confidence. He kept his energy and intensity and his shot eventually started falling. Obanor was dominant rebounding. He was elevating and attacking the glass relentlessly. He ended up making 4-10 three’s, and all of them I believe came from the top of the key.

Toumani Camara Dayton 6’8 220 PF

Camara was all over the court. Super mobile and athletic 4 man. He can attack off the dribble and has a good handle for his size. Camara dives hard to the basket on p/roll situations and finishes above the rim. He was a player that flashed consistently throughout the game. He played 5 a little bit as well and was just running the floor like a gazelle. He’s still developing shooting range, but he popped today for sure.

Players that struggled

Connor Vanover Oral Roberts 7’5 227 C

Vanover struggled some with the quickness of the game. He seemed a little winded at times. He got the ball knock loose several plays and was late a few times on help defense. He has the ability to make the p/pop 3, but was 0-4 tonight. His lift was a little low, as well as arc.

Tyshaun Crawford Augusta University DII 7’1 264 C

Crawford was too slow. He took too long to make decisions. He needs to be decisive and explode to the basket. He was blocked by Vanover like three times. And they were brutal defeating blocks that were sent right back down to his face. He has potential, but needs to find that OBANOR DOG energy and be more assertive on both ends.

Things I enjoyed Today

Hunter Tyson’s unlimited SWAG.

Kendric Davis going 0-7 from the field and 0-5 from three in the first half…. Yet recovering and being chippy with hometown favorite Joe Bryant Jr. (from Norfolk State) to finish with 18 points and five assists.

The thing about the PIT is the always have a few local players from the area that get invited. And its deservedly so. The DMV and the Virginia coast is a hotbed for talent. So the support for Joe Bryant Jr. was awesome and something I always enjoy to see.

Rasir Bolton’s shot making ability. He can shoot….

Race Thompson looking like a Linebacker playing basketball. That’s always intriguing.

Hunter Maldonado showing he still has a wide range of skills. I’ve always liked him. This was just a lost year for him with transfers that didn’t work out and Graham Ike never playing. Maldonado showed well today.

The most Impressive Thing Today

Jake Stephens clapping with his monster hands that echoed throughout the gym his entire game.

Love the energy Jake and please keep it going!!!

On to Day 2

The Life of a Freelance Basketball Scout – Game 10 – Wisconsin vs Maryland

The Life of a Freelance Basketball Scout – Game 10

January 14 – Wisconsin vs Maryland

I got off work the same time as normal, around 3 ish. I ran home really quick and then had to head off to a doctor’s appointment at 4 p.m. I hate going to the doctor’s like everyone else. I especially hate going to the doctor’s when they don’t call you into the back to see you until literally 5 p.m. So yes, the wait was an entire hour.…… We didn’t leave until like 5:35. After the appointment the wife and I picked up the little ones from her parents, we stopped by Royal Farms for gas and an 8 piece of chicken, mac and cheese and western fries with cheese and then finally we went home. Luckily the game was not until 8:30.

I left my house at 6:30 to head to College park. I picked up my credential and parking pass from the hotel on campus and zig-zagged through the back of campus to the garage, which is roughly a half mile from the arena. Not a big issue. I don’t mind walking. It was just tough because of the ice everywhere. I walked like a 75 year old with two replaced hips, just to make sure I didn’t eat it. Being a 27 year old that’s had 3 knee surgeries, 2 slipped discs in my back, 2 kids and I’ve been married for almost 8 years…… I feel like a 75 year old anyway.

The game started out very bad for the Badgers of Wisconsin. Maryland dominated the first half. They were more aggressive on offense and defense. They held Wisconsin to just 15 points and they were 0-8 from three. Only three players scored. Ethan Happ had 6, Brad Davison had 5 and D’mitrik Trice had 4. For Maryland Bruno Fernando had success in the paint. When he was doubled he would find the open man. He has vastly improved his patience in the post since last season. He still has some moments, but this game was solid. Eric Ayala had a solid half with 8 points and a couple of three-pointers. Jalen Smith had an active 7 points and 5 rebounds. Good start for Maryland as they built a 33-15 halftime lead.

The second half was much of the same early. Maryland went up by as much as 21 points. Like I said…. it was early. Then came the onslaught of three-pointers from Wisconsin. Wisconsin made eleven in the second half. Trice made three, Davison made two and Nate “Big Shot-Big Balls” Reuvers made four. Trice and Reuvers were a nightmare for Maryland in the pick and roll. Fernando was out with foul trouble for majority of the second half and Maryland didn’t have an answer on defense for the pick and pop combo. On offense Maryland stopped playing inside and out without Bruno. They ended up just scoring a ton from the free throw line. Wisconsin actually took the lead late 60-59 with two minutes left. They completed the comeback. It seemed like Maryland would just flounder away and just lose it totally in the end. They went on about a ten minute span without a made field goal in the second half. Then with a flair for the dramatic Anthony Cowan made a deep three-pointer with under a minute left to take the lead back 62-60. Maryland would go on to win 64-60.

Cowan would finish with 21 points, six rebounds and three assists. He also had five turnovers. Sometimes he is just a little wild in the lane. For Wisconsin, “Big Shot-Big Balls” Reuvers had 18 points, seven rebounds. He had two wide-open shots from deep in the last couple of possessions to take the lead but they just didn’t fall. Reuvers was playing out of his mind. I enjoyed watching him hype himself up he drain three after three.

SIDE NOTE – After the press conference, I made the long icy trek back to the garage to my vehicle. I listened to some Sirius XM radio on the way home. As I approached my house, Margaritaville by Jimmy was playing. I then proceeded to eat some fried chicken and cheese fries before going to bed a 12:45 a.m. Amazingly, it was a very good decision. My stomach felt fine at 5:45 the next morning.

The Life of a Freelance Scout

The Life of a Freelance Scout- Game 8

Seton Hall vs Maryland

The Life of a Freelance Basketball Scout – Game 8

December 22 – Seton Hall vs Maryland

I left my house around 3:30 for a 5:30 tip-off. My morning consisted of waking up at 6:30 on a Saturday…. Already not ideal. The flooring company came to put in our new lvt flooring in the basement and hardwood in the living room. I was not fully prepared. I was unaware that I would have to pull-up all my surround sound wiring in my man cave in the basement. I was not too happy. I still have not set that back up haha. So, hopefully this toilet flooding fiasco is behind us now. I’m sure you will be happy if there’s no more updates on that front. During this time frame I dropped off some Christmas stocking donations that my wife was able to fundraise through her job and give them to Sarah’s House, which is a homeless mission that helps house the unfortunate. I also watched the Goonies with the wife and kids and made a last second run to McDonald’s. Pretty interesting Saturday overall.

I arrived at the game around 4:45 or so. Traffic wasn’t too bad. Weird timing for a Saturday game, but I guess since it was close to the holidays it made some sense. I was hoping for a solid meal, but ended up eating some chips and salsa. Which is fine….. Once again can’t complain about free food.

The game was pretty competitive. It was back and forth most of the time. Maryland led by 4 at half, 34-30. In the second half Seton Hall dropped 48, on a Maryland squad that seemed to pride itself on defense. The final was 78-74 Seton Hall with a big W. Myles Powell for Hall is a legit problem. His isolation game is at a different level than any player on the court. He has an explosive burst to him, a deadly crossover dribble to keep defenders off balance. Once he gets by the defender he draws a lot of contact and can finish through it. He gets to the foul line over 6 times a game and currently shoots 87%. That’s a winning formula right there. The other bright spot for the pirates was Myles Cale. Cale was very good. He went off for 23 points and was 3-4 from three-point land. He was very aggressive. He has a strong build at 6’6 210. He can spot up or take the ball to the basket. Has some length that allows him to get his shot off against taller interior defenders. Between the two of them they scored 50 points and went 16-16 from the foul line…… Once again that is a winning formula.

Maryland was led by its two big fellas, Bruno Fernando and Jalen Smith. Fernando scored 13 of his 19 points in the first half. Seton Hall did a good job blitzing him with double teams in the second half forcing him to pass. Fernando is still developing his feel on offense when it comes to passing out of double teams. He has made some strides recently. Smith had 14 points and 8 rebounds on the day. Smith just doesn’t get involved enough. The guards for the Terps need to take advantage of these two big men. Both are future NBA bigs and it would be a shame to waste that talent. Fernando and Smith should be touching the ball every possession, but that is definitely not the case.

I was sitting next to an Eastern Conference NBA scout during the game. We chatted about the lack of “identity” on Maryland’s part on offense. How they avoid using their big men to their advantage. I told him that they don’t always play on the court at the same time as well. He was pretty dumbfounded by that. Especially since Fernando and Smith compliment each other well. Fernando is a force in the post and Smith has the ability to hit an occasional three-pointer. We both agreed that basketball is a simple game, yet it seems players, coaches and whoever else seem to complicate things that are very straight forward. PLAY TO YOUR STRENGTHS. DO WHAT YOU DO WELL. DON’T PLAY THE WAY YOU OPPONENT PLAYS.

SIDE NOTE – During halftime of the game I was watching the Redskins and Titans game. It was a huge game for both teams who were trying to stay in playoff contention. Of course the Redskins threw a late pick and ended their chances. I am a Ravens fan so I was rooting for the Titans to lose to help us out. Not so fast. Blaine Gabbert to the rescue for an injured Marcus Mariota.

I left the Maryland game a few minutes early to get home to see the Ravens play the Chargers at 8:20. Nothing like Saturday night football around the Holidays. I sped down I-295 as fast as legally possible! Yeah it’s possible to legally speed. Around Maryland/DC anything within 7mph over the speed limit is acceptable. Any more than that and you are playing with fire (everyone does on the Baltimore/DC beltway). I was excited, my wife Kelly was making buffalo chicken dip. I called her on the way home and little did I know we were out of buffalo sauce and had no chips…… So, I had to stop at Food Lion on the way home. It was worth it as the Ravens smashed the Chargers. Phillip Rivers is the most entertaining QB of all-time. His reactions to every penalty or lack thereof is just great entertainment. God bless his wife as she is pregnant with their 9^th child! The Ravens now sit in the driver seat to make the playoffs and win the AFC North over their rival the Steelers.

The Life of a Freelance Basketball Scout

The Life of a Freelance Basketball Scout – Game 6 & 7

The Charm City College Classic
Morgan State vs Towson
Loyola Chicago vs Maryland
#charmcityclassic #theyoungveteran

The Life of a Freelance Basketball Scout – Game 6 & 7

December 8 – The Charm City College Classic

Morgan State vs Towson & Loyola Chicago vs Maryland

Being a forward thinker I asked my wife to drop me off and pick me up from this event in downtown Baltimore at the Royal Farms Arena or The Chicken Box, as some people say. Pretty self explanatory there….. The arena is shaped like a box and Royal Farms sells chicken (you’re welcome to all the slower thinkers out there). I did not want to deal with parking in the city and paying anything either. The other option was to take the light rail from Glen Burnie to Baltimore. It doesn’t cost much, but it’s a process to park there and load and wait and do it all again to leave, then get back in my vehicle to drive home. It’s much easier when you have capable loved ones willing to help out (thanks Kell, Winnie and Junior).

So the even was extremely well run by Charm City Charities. Checkout charmcitycharities.org They are a non-profit organization that looks to help the local youth by providing academic support, athletic training, overall wellness and mentorship.

I see this event really growing in the next few years. Maybe they can get a two-day tournament out of it. Maybe a whole weekend. Get 8 local teams, not including Maryland, because I doubt they would agree. A lot of the local teams play each-other anyway so why not do it all in one weekend and make some magic happen for the city of Baltimore. One of these days Maryland could have a showcase game at like 8 p.m. vs a Virginia, Villanova, West Virginia or someone who is somewhat local to draw a good crowd.

Shout out to BJ Smith, who is the starting shooting guard for the DMV Warriors of the ABA. This is the local pro team in Maryland that I scout for. BJ is an entrepreneur. He has his own clothing line, does tattoos, wellness and health products etc. He was volunteering with Charm City Charities to help organize and contribute to the event. His website is beyondthebasicbrand.com

It was also good to meet local media and college basketball fanatic Stephen Hiegel. He is a good guy and just started his website last season. His website is JustCollegeBasketball.com

The first game was Morgan State vs Towson. Two pretty contrasting styles of play. Towson is very methodical and a bit clunky at times on offense. That seems to be there identity recently. They are a very physical team, but lack in playmaking ability for teammates. Morgan State is a smaller, yet feisty team. They play around 10-12 guys, with 8 of those getting pretty significant minutes. Coach Todd Bozeman will not hesitate to chew one of his guys out and yank him out of the game real quick.

Towson played a decent first half. They attacked the basket well and got to the foul line. They controlled the tempo and flow of the game. The second half was a different story. Morgan employed a full court press and that gave Towson fits. They couldn’t handle it. Towson has lacked point guard depth the past few years. Tobias Howard had 6 turnovers of his own and he is the Tigers only true point guard. Morgan did a great job pressuring the ball. This was led by senior, point-guard Martez Cameron. Cameron is the engine for Morgan. He keeps things flowing and under control. They like to play fast and he is the one steady veteran presence to make sure the chaos is organized. Cameron had 14 points on the day, but his presence was felt more than just that. Freshman guard Sherwyn Devonish-Prince Jr. led both teams with 19 points. Prince is a scorer. That’s what he does and that’s all he looks to do. He can pass a little but he is not developed in that area yet. For Towson junior shooting guard Brian Fobbs was the brightest spot. He is a cold-blooded scorer. He is a big-bodied physical guard that can bully his way to the basket or step out and hit the three. Fobbs will fare very well in the Colonial Athletic Association for Towson.

The second game was Maryland vs the Fighting Sister Jean’s or Loyola Chicago. This game was pretty competitive until Maryland pulled away late into the second half. The defense was key for Maryland they held Loyola to just 41 points. Clayton Custer and Marques Townes were held to 9 points a piece. Big man Cameron Krutwig had 12 points and 8 rebounds. Custer the leader of the Ramblers was out of sync the whole game. He never really got it going and Cowan did a solid job defending him. Townes struggled shooting the ball and only found success when he drove to the basket, which is his best skill. He probably thought twice before doing so against Maryland’s size. The Terps had 13 blocks on the day and forced 19 turnovers….. so, that explains the rough day for Loyola right there. Krutwig had some success but overall missed some easy ones and seemed bothered by Bruno Fernando’s intensity on the defensive end. Despite 5 turnovers for Cowan he forced the pace in the second half and ended the game with 17 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists. Maryland was in control majority of the game. There never was much of a threat of a run on Loyola’s side. Maryland was playing very good defense and Loyola was struggling to make any type of shots.

There was one interesting point in the second half. It was after a timeout during an inbounds set for Maryland. Cowan found himself a wide-open three pointer right in front of Loyola’s bench. He ended up missing the shot, but I’ll be darned if it didn’t look like wild-man, Loyola coach Porter Moser almost caressed Cowan or whispered sweet nothings into his ear as he shot. Moser was so close to him it was wild! Refs were telling Moser to stay behind the coaches line all game and he would oblige while sweet-talking back to them. He is a coach oozing of passion for the game. He has put his time in before the success of last season. It was much deserved. He has no one but the good Lord and Sister Jean to thank for that.

SIDE NOTE – My toilet flooded recently. We had to get a plumbing company to come out. Well guess what….. It happened again Tuesday night, while I was on the toilet. You’re welcome for the visual.

This was after I had the stomach flu all day Monday. Mind you this was after eating almost a whole family size bag of crab chips with my son Junior, some popcorn (this popcorn is a special mix… spray butter, salt and vinegar chips and cayenne pepper sprinkled on), eating 6 chicken wings that were dry rub garlic parmesan (these were fresh then frozen then un-frozen and sat in the fridge for a few more days), while also having a few big cups of whiskey and coke and watching Home Alone 2……. It was the perfect storm. There were a lot of regrettable decisions made in that eating session.

It was no joke. I couldn’t get out of bed until around noon on Tuesday. I had to call out of work for 2 days.

The Life of a Freelance Basketball Scout – Game 5

Virginia @ Maryland
and some other interesting events

The Life of a Freelance Basketball Scout – Game 5

November 28 – Virginia @ Maryland

Before departing for the game I had to drop my 2 little ones off at my parents. I have a 4 year old daughter named Winter and a 3 year old son named Junior. I took them to Pop and Mim’s house so they could go to Awana (a church ministry for little kids). They always have fun there, so it’s a win-win for this guy. My wife Kelly, wasn’t home she had to go see a client. She is an important person unlike me. So I left my parents at around 5:40, and arrived inside the Xfinity Center around 6:45 ish. Not bad for I-295 traffic. I arrived hoping to be one of the earlier guys from the media/scouting crowd…… Should’ve know better.

This is an old ACC rivalry game. There was a ton of media from neighbor Virginia and Maryland had plenty as usual. Also in attendance were 39 different scouts from 24 NBA franchises, according to Assistant Media Relations Director of the University of Maryland Sean Ellenby (via Twitter)…… So, no I was not early enough. It was packed. Probably the most packed it will be all season due to Virginia being in such close proximity. The chairs were basically touching each other in the media section. And it was almost shoulder to shoulder of people when seated…..

Very entertaining game and I’m glad they credentialed that many people. I have been declined once, but they accidentally sent me a credential for the Indiana @ Maryland game a couple of years ago. Yes, that is the game where OG Anunoby had that massive dunk that looked alien-like. I had a stupendous view from the student overflow section and I had to stand the whole time…. Even so at least I got in!

Food for thought – Sardi’s was catered. It was lunchmeat sandwiches, salad, pasta salad and cookies. Solid spread and no complaints for this guy, especially when its free food.

As far as the actual game…. Virginia just executes everything. They are so efficient on offense and defense. Kyle Guy and Ty Jerome made 8 of 16 three’s between them. Many off them Guy was running like a madman off screens like JJ Redick, or like Rip Hamilton except from downtown. He would curl off the screen, square up and let it fly. It was super fast. I was very impressed with how he worked off the ball. Jerome was just a constant calming presence. He never gets rattled, plays under control. He can score with a floater in the lane or hit the deep ball as well. He also is a solid defender. Has the size at 6’5 to guard and switch if needed. Both of these guys in the backcourt will continue to carry the torch of high energy pests and efficient players that Tony Bennett cranks out on a yearly basis since he has been at Virginia. Virginia’s best overall player and a clear 1^st round NBA prospect is DeAndre Hunter. Hunter is 6’7 225 with a nice frame and good length. He is a smooth player. He can handle the ball, shoot the three and understands the game on offense. He makes backdoor cuts and see’s the open man as well. Very good defender (who isn’t on Virginia), solid rebounder and just a constant mismatch. Hunter is the player Virginia has not had during these past 5 seasons or so of great success under Bennett. His athleticism and range of skills is just superior over other Virginia guys.

The reason Maryland stayed in the game was big man Bruno Fernando. Fernando is just and issue in the paint. He scored on Jack Salt several times. Salt is a solid interior defender. Fernando needs to be encouraged to be more aggressive. He needs to touch the ball more often. He either scores the ball or gets fouled almost every time. He’s shooting near 80% from the field and seems to have improved his foul shooting. One thing he needs to sure up is he always goes for blocks and that is what opened the door for the big man from New Zealand (Jack Salt) to score on several put back dunks. Bruno will figure this out in time.

This game was a good confidence boost for both squads. It was Virginia’s first road test and Maryland’s first big test overall. Each team can be encouraged by a well-played game overall.

So, towards the end of the game I got a text from my wife saying there was bad news and she would tell me when I walked to the car after the game….. So after the press conference I made my trek through the parking lot and my wife tells me our downstairs toilet overflowed pretty bad and leaked sewage and other nasty stuff. Yup. This was not cool, but hey I wasn’t home and my parents helped clean it up. So, I was appreciative of that for sure. I thought….. Yah know, I really dodged a bullet here…… And then Thursday night it happened again when I was home with the kids and it spread out in the office and living room….. It was way worse than Wednesday night. It also flooded the kids play room downstairs. I had a plumber come that night from like 9:45pm to close to midnight. He didn’t help. He was more of a handy man jack of all trades….. I guess. So a professional company didn’t come to help until Saturday afternoon. This was after I called 6 different people/companies. Everyone is “backed-up” (see what I did there) apparently. The culprit ended up being BABY WIPES. Never flush those bad boys trust me. It only cost me $520 total bones after all. But in the end I am supposedly getting new flooring now thanks to home owners insurance. So that’s a positive.

I failed to mention before this second flood that I was using the leaf blower in the yard and then filled the gas tank back up. My daughter distracted me inside the house for a minute. Then I went back outside the garage and started the blower up…… I forgot to put the cap back on the gas tank and spewed gas all over myself and my driveway. My washer and dryer were full of course. I then had to get down into my boxers throw a trench coat on and splash water on the driveway to clean it. Then I showered the kids early and then myself as well. My garage and my driveway still reek of gas. Little did I know on this night this was just the beginning of my problems.

The Life of a Freelance Basketball Scout – Game 4

American vs UMBC

Sam Iorio game winner against UMBC

The Life of a Freelance Basketball Scout – Game 4

November 24 – American @ UMBC

The next day after my trip to College park to see Marshall vs Maryland, I made the short trip to see American University vs UMBC. UMBC was coming off a successful trip to the Bahamas, where they went 2-1. They had wins over High Point and Air Force. There loss was against South Dakota. UMBC was 4-2 on the season. American was 2-1 on the season, with wins over George Mason and New Hampshire. Their only loss was to Northwestern.

This game was a back and forth affair. UMBC led most of the way but faltered to execute on defense down the stretch. Sa’eed Nelson, the quick and craft point guard for American consistently shredded the defense. He got to the rim at will and also found his teammates regularly. He found teammate Sam Iorio for the eventual game winning 3, with under 2 seconds left.

Nelson is a problem at the college level. If he can hit the three consistently, he will have a shot in the NBA G-League and for sure a legit chance to be a solid pro overseas. The junior point guard had 18 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Iorio does a little bit of everything for the Eagles. He is the leading rebounder on the team and provides a 3 point threat, as well as playing solid defense. He had 11 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Stacy Beckton Jr. had a solid game also. He chipped in 14 points and 4 three-pointers.

For UMBC it was a disappointing finish. They had the game in hand, but let American score 46 points in the second half. Max Curran had a nice game. The slender built junior, had 20 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks and a highlight dunk over Marvin Bragg. Sometimes the skinny tall guys can extend and yam over the broader shoulder fellas.

This dunk is a different one. This is actually the game tying one late in the second half.

Senior Joe Sherburne did his normal thing contributing a steady presence on offense and defense. He could still be more aggressive at times though. He had 11 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals. Arkel Lamar also was not as aggressive as he may need to be. Junior point guard K.J. Jackson filled the stat sheet with 6 points, 5 rebounds, 9 assists and 6 steals. Problem is he shot only 1-10 from the field. Brandon Horvath the other slender man on the team(see what I did there?), who also yams on people from time to time, had 14 points and 8 rebounds.

Overall the issue was UMBC could not stop the penetration from Nelson. He carved them up and American passed the ball very well in the second half. They could be more of a factor in the Patriot league than people originally thought.

Food for thought – UMBC had breakfast food in the media room. I chose to pass. I ate a muffin and had some water….. Very basic I know…… But I did get carryout Indian food for dinner from Tandoori Kabob in Pasadena. Spicy ginger chicken with garlic naan. Well worth the price.

The Life of a Freelance Basketball Scout – Game 3

November 23 – Marshall @ Maryland

This was my first trip to College Park this season. The traffic was fun as usual. Only took me an extra 15 minutes or so than if there was no traffic. It was pretty cold too, like low thirties range. I’m just glad I had a solid parking pass so I didn’t have to walk as far. That’s not always the case, since the priority normally goes to the “Big Dogs”. Maryland always takes good care of the media and I have always been treated well also. Not to mention they have solid catered food every time. This time was Chick-fil-A….. always a crowd pleaser.

I also was blessed with a seat with the NBA scouts so that was cool. One ex-NBA player was in attendance. He showed up a few minutes into the game. It was none other than local Eleanor Roosevelt high school product Delonte West. He has not been in the news in the past couple of years, after the rumors of him having some issues and possibly being homeless. I did not speak to Delonte. And to the chagrin of my pastor and friend Tim that was there in attendance, I never asked if Gary Williams recruited him to go to Maryland. If I see him again maybe I will spark a conversation, but this time I didn’t want to bother him! I’m not sure exactly why he was there but there is a player on Marshall (Jarrod West Jr.) with the same last name. Either way Delonte was just enjoying a game of basketball very quietly.

So the game was extremely one sided. It was supposed to be close. Maryland won 104-67. They led by over 40 at a point. Marshall loves to get up and down the court. They are led by Jon Elmore and C.J. Burks. Coming into the game they averaged 44 points a game combined. Well this night they had 16 total. Elmore struggled with his shot and really had an issue with Maryland’s length. He made many passes while in the air leaving his feet. Some were on target but several were tipped leading to loose balls or turnovers. Elmore has a great feel for pick and roll play and is a solid shooter off the dribble and from 3. Tonight was just not his night. C.J. Burks showcased an ability to score off the drive. He finished a few tough layups off the glass using his length to convert. Burks has a quick first step and also is a solid a shooter from 3. Both of these guys are candidates for the Portsmouth Invitational. Almost certainly not drafted. They could have very successful careers overseas or get shots in the NBA G-League.

Side note Jannson Williams could be a guy to keep an eye on. He came into the game averaging like 5 points. He finished with 21 and eventually fouled out. The 6’9 forward showed an ability to hit the 3 off the catch and shoot as well as finish some alley-oops at the rim.

Maryland thrived in this high octane game. Maybe we will see this more often. It would be exciting for the fan base and would also showcase the squads athleticism. Maryland was hitting from 3 point range as well. If they can shoot anywhere near as well as they did they will be a factor in the Big 10. Eric Ayala was impressive and showed confidence in his shot. Something he was struggling with earlier in the season. Anthony Cowan was his normal spark plug self. He had countless wide open lanes to the baskets for lay ups. It was like Marshall just parted the Red Sea for him. Bruno Fernando showcased his best pro skill all night. He had 16 rebounds. He boxes out well when focused and he can elevate better than any player on the floor for rebounds.

This game was supposed to be like a 6 or 7 point game. Marshall is a very good team and on this night of Chick-fil-A and a Delonte West sighting, they were no match for Maryland.

Maryland will have a much different style game on its hands when Virginia come to town Wednesday night. We all know Virginia is a grind it out, slow pace, methodical type of team. They are the polar opposite of Marshall. It will be very interesting to see how Maryland responds.

One last thing…… Turgeon did not seem thrilled that the Terps drew Virginia in the ACC – Big 10 challenge….. but, hey at least it’s at home.

Final List of Top Pro Prospects in Maryland and DC 2017-2018

Final List of Top Pro Prospects in Maryland and DC 2017-2018

This is the final list for the top prospects in Maryland and the Washington D.C. area for the college season of 2017-2018.

Many things happened since the last time I did a list in January. Maryland faltered towards the end of their season. Georgetown continue its up and down play. Towson completely imploded. George Mason was up and down Navy had its moments as well. Mount St. Mary’s had a disappointing end as well. Overall there was only one team that got stronger. Of course that was UMBC. UMBC won the America East and went on its way to beat Virginia in the NCAA tournament as the first 16 seed to ever beat a 1 seed.

Remember these rankings slightly favor upperclassmen. With all this said here are the final rankings.

Bruno Fernando
Kevin Huerter
Justin Jackson
Jessie Govan
Jairus Lyles
Marcus Derrickson
Yuta Watanabe
Tiwian Kendley
Zane Martin
Mike Morsell
Anthony Cowan
Michal Cekovsky
Junior Robinson
Shawn Anderson
R.J. Cole
Sa’eed Nelson
Otis Livingston II
K.J. Maura
Andre Walker
Patrick Steeves

Others in consideration: Phillip Carr, Charles Williams, Jonathan Mulmore, Deshaun Morman, Justin Gorham, Darryl Morsell, Cam Gregory, Arkel Lamar, Joe Sherburne, Jaire Grayer

Prospects on teams

Howard – R.J. Cole and Charles Williams

George Mason – Otis Livingston II, Jaire Grayer, Goanar Mar

Georgetown – Jessie Govan, Marcus Derrickson, Jonathan Mulmore

Navy – Shawn Anderson, Bryce Dulin, Hasan Abdullah and Tom Lacey

American – Sa’eed Nelson, Larry Motuzis

Towson – Zane Martin, Mike Morsell, Brian Starr, Deshaun Morman, Justin Gorham, Eddie Keith

Maryland – Kevin Huerter, Bruno Fernando, Justin Jackson, Michal Cekovsky, Darryl Morsell, Anthony Cowan, Dion Wiley, Jared Nickens, Ivan Bender, Joshua Tomaic

Loyola MD – Andre Walker, Cam Gregory, James Fives, Andrew Kostecka, Chuck Champion, Isaiah Hart

Mount St. Mary’s – Junior Robinson, Chris Wray and Jonah Antonio

George Washington – Yuta Watanabe, Jair Bolden, Arnaldo Toro, Patrick Steeves, Terry Nolan Jr.

Morgan State – Tiwian Kendley, Phillip Carr, Martez Cameron, LaPri McCray-Pace, Stanley Davis

UMBC – Jairus Lyles, Arkel Lamar, K.J. Maura, Joe Sherburne, Jourdan Grant

Maryland Eastern Shore – Logan McIntosh

Coppin State – Karonn Davis