DC's Kenner League Recap, July 26th

By Mark Bacon

A few notable performances.

TRE CAMPBELL: 25 pts, 3-10 2 pt, 1-1 FT, 6-11 3 pt, 5 reb (3 off), 1 asst, 1 st, 8 TO

• Shot on target Sunday

• Not always quick laterally on defense. Slower players can beat him off the dribble. Karen Sina (transfer to GW from Seton Hall) beat him badly off the dribble on one play, and Sina is not  particularly quick.

TREY MOURNING: 20 pts, 6-15 2 pt, 2-3 FT, 2-4 3 pt, 13 reb (4 off), 2 asst, 1 bl, 5 TO

• Trey had a real tough time defending UNC's Marcus Ginyard. Marcus is a very good, veteran player; strong, crafty, good outside shooter.  Marcus was way too quick/skilled for Trey, and killed him off the dribble. When Trey backed off a bit to defend the drive, Marcus just pulled up and hit 3s. Marcus probably scored well over 30 points, maybe even 40

• Both Trey and Tre got off to real hot starts in the game - but then started trying to do a bit too much, resulting in a lot of turnovers.

AKOY AGAU: 19 pts, 8-10 2 pt, 1-2 3pt, 5 reb (4 off), 1 asst, 2 st, 2 bl, 3 TO

• Displayed a very nice defensive sequence: trapped on a pick and roll on the perimeter, then recovered to his man inside to block a shot. Covered a lot of ground quickly

• Very consistent finisher around the rim. Not real strong, but knows how to use his body, fakes, and generally just has a feel for working the space inside. Can finish smoothly with his left hand.

• Looked really comfortable shooting 3s

• Agau is now the type of player Louisville fans waited to see. Does a little bit of everything, and does not have any glaring weaknesses. Runs the court extremely well, and has good enough skill/hands to catch the ball and finish at high speed in transition

• Georgetown's best lineup just might be Agau at the 4 and Copeland at the 3. Tend to doubt that Agau will be a starter/play starter minutes, but he has been the best little surprise of the summer, and I think he can be key player over the next few seasons.

D'VAUNTES SMITH-RIVERA: 11 pts, 4-6 2pt, 1-2 3pt, 1 reb, 1 asst, 1 bl, 3 TO

• Slow start. Trying to do a bit too much in the first half, but settled into a groove in the second half and started scoring on his typical crafty drives and pull up shots.

• Drew a bunch of fouls on the perimeter in the second half, when he was beating defenders off the dribble

• Left game with what seemed to be a left foot injury in the second half. He seemed to have hurt this foot a bit earlier in the summer. Probably best for him to sit out the rest of Kenner to hopefully be healthy for the Hoyas' Italy trip.

LJ PEAK: 25 pt, 4-9 2pt, 2-3 FT, 5-9 3pt, 4 reb, 4 asst, 1 st, 3 bl, 2 TO

• Not as aggressive as usual taking the ball to the basket; not finishing his drives quite as successfully as usual

• Shot well outside. His outside/foul shooting has been encouraging

• Great sequence late in game: down 5 with 25 seconds left, LJ was fouled while shooting a 3. Hit first two FTs, missed the third. Grabbed the loose ball rebound, then stepped back behind the line and hit a 3 to tie the game with about 16 seconds left

 

ISAAC COPELAND: 21 pt, 5-13 2 pt, 2-3 FT, 3-8 3 pt, 12 reb (3 off), 2 st, 2 TO

• Tends to settle for pull up jumpers, because with his great elevation and size he can get this shot off fairly cleanly pretty much whenever he wants to

• Has been working more on attacking off the dribble. He has a few plays each game where he makes a real nice off the dribble move, but fails to finish. With experience and increased strength, he’ll finish more and more of these shots. 

JESSIE GOVAN: 18 pts, 6-11 2 pt, 6-9 FT, 9 reb (2 off), 2 bl, 2 TO

• He and Derrickson covered each other for most of the game. Govan defended pretty well. Not many good post ups for Marcus, and Govan did not get pulled outside and beaten with jumpers/off the dribble (his main weakness right now) very much

• Strong dribble power move across the lane for a running hook shot

• Has a great baseline spin move to his left

• Had a good drop step spin move to his left, too.

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Georgetown Hoya Men's Basketball 2015-16 Forecast

By Mark Bacon

Let's be honest. It's been a while since the Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team was mentioned in the same breath as today's NCAA's Elite teams. Yet Georgetown coach John Thompson III has averaged 22 wins during his 11-year stint on The Hilltop and has been a model of consistency. Are the Hoyas about to turn a corner, and begin their ascent to the Elite? That remains to be seen. But this season, they should challenge Villanova for the Big East title in 2015-16.

Rising sophomores, Isaac Copeland (a player somewhat reminiscent of Otto Porter), Paul White, L.J. Peak, and Tre Campbell, are the strongest recruits Coach Thompson has had, since Jeff Green, Roy Hibbert, Jonathan Wallace and Tyler Crawford. The Sophomore Four play multiple positions and guard multiple positions effectively. A different go-to-guy can emerge each night, depending on who is going to be out of the floor, giving G'town a new dimension.

Next season, Georgetown has multiple players that can rise up. Jessie Govan or Tre Campbell are two. Louisville transfer Akoy Agau, once he is able to go second semester, could be that person.

The biggest off-season news concerned D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera, who initially opted to put his name into the NBA Draft, but decided to return to college for his final season. He has a chance to be one of the top five scorers in the history of Georgetown basketball.

While the Hoyas haven't advanced to the second round of the NCAA's since they went to the Final Four in 2007, this year's team is positioned to have success.

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The New Boys of Summer: Behind the Scenes of Grassroots Basketball Part 3

 

 

 

 

By: Raashaan Myers

This is the third in a three part series looking at all aspects of Grassroots basketball both on the court and off the court. This is an in depth look at Summer hoops with one of the most experienced and respected guys on the circuit Mr. Clay Dade architect of the Fab Frosh, Super Sophomore, and JR All American camps.

 

     In the final portion of my conversation speaking with Grassroots hoops guru Clay Dade I decided to talk about something that is near and dear to those who love round ball in the Bluegrass state. That is the stark differences in the recruiting tactics and differences between the two Mega-Star head coaches in the state in UofL’s Rick Pitino and UK’s John Calipari. That’s right people the battle of L1C4 versus the Player’s first factory.  Clay also provided me with some insight on his good friend and UofL assistant Kenny Johnson and V.J. King whom he has a very close relationship.

     So as everyone locally and nationally knows the two Bluegrass rivals UofL with their L1C4 initiative and UK and their seemingly endless pipeline of uber-talented One-And-Done player’s first superstars. I wanted to know Clay’s thoughts on how both Pitino and Calipari went about their business and does he prefer one style over the other.  “I don’t personally prefer one way of doing things over the other when it comes to (Pitino or Calipari),” said Dade. “They both get how to build a program and their track record speaks for itself. Do they do it different ways? Why yes their methodology is different and how to run a program.  Do they both know the game of basketball? Yes.  I have the upmost respect for Coach Pitino and I respect John Calipari as well.”  Clay continued about Pitino “I do have the upmost respect for Coach Pitino as he is a little bit older and been in the game a little bit longer. He has been coached and trained by some of the best coaches like Jim Boeheim as well as under Hubie Brown as well and their relationship has been oft discussed,” said Dade. “And (Pitino) is one of the few top college coaches that has been able to do more with less. He doesn’t get the 4 or 5 McDonald’s All Americans in every recruiting class, but he does and outstanding job of winning and winning consistently. His legacy has been cemented and he deserves everything he gets.”

      Growing up as a baller in the Washington D.C. area Clay is a part of a very tight knit basketball community and as a part of that heritage he knows very well UofL assistant coach Kenny Johnson. To say he has a glowing opinion of Johnson would be an understatement. “Kenny’s a star. He’s an up and coming star in the coaching profession.  He came out of the Nike Team Takeover program which I am intimately familiar with,” said Dade. “He’s a guy who work’s hard at what he does and you can see the change physically. He a man of integrity and a great family man and there was no mistake that he had the recruiting success he had at Indiana. That was his audition and why he is now enjoying the success and of course great paycheck that comes with it,” Dade said laughing. “He is a guy who will probably be a head coach in the next 2 or 3 years and he deserves it because he is a guy who works on improving himself as a coach and believes in professional development. And what better guy to learn under than Rick Pitino if you want to be a head coach.”

     Lastly I wanted to get the inside scoop on D.C. area commit 5-star wing V.J. King as well from Clay and what type of player the Cards will be bringing in, “V.J. King is a smooth wing player that may come across as laid back and has a different kind of intensity to his game. He is very efficient and a super skilled player and I know his dad who played professionally overseas for 15 years or so trained him up very well and is very professional in how he carries himself as far has his work ethic,” said Dade. “And he is not just skilled he is also super talented, 6’6” or 6’7” with great length and he is a great teammate. And he is a winner and he has always played on winning teams so he has a pedigree of winning. He’s a real talent who can make shots from anywhere on the basketball court though he still needs to become more consistent with his 3 point shot, but from 19’9” and in he is pretty much automatic.”  Dade continued, “In the last year he has become much better at driving the ball getting by his man and getting to the basket and to the foul line. “

 

A special thank you to Clay Dade for going in depth and legitimately keeping it all the way real with us here at  the Main Event Sport Show. His input was welcome and his candidness was quite refreshing in this world of rehearsed and PC answers.

 

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Washington Wizrds Summer League Roster Recap

By Mark Bacon

NBA Summer League is now over, and we wait until Fall for the resumption of preseason games, but as we near the kickoff of the football season, there are a few loose ends to tie up between the lines. Who on the Wizards roster stood out, and what are their chances of sticking with the team, or ending up on the short list for a call up in the event of injuries? Here are a few players who caused some buzz:


Kelly Oubre, F/G, Kansas, Pick 15
A lot has been written about Oubre’s potential (and his shoes on NBA Draft Night). Now is the time to see what he’s got, and CSNWashington’s Ben Standig reports that Oubre is ready to ‘show out’ in Vegas. Oubre logged in minutes at shooting guard, small forward, and power forward and had a flashing green light on offense. Oubre also got a chance to show off his quick hands against the traditionally shaky summer league ball handling.

Aaron White, PF, Iowa, Pick 49
There is speculation White will be stashed overseas for at least a year. Regardless of his destination, White has an early opportunity to prove that he can play stretch-4 in the NBA. That means extending his range to the 3-point line and displaying enough mobility to switch onto wings on the perimeter. Lucky for White, summer league is the perfect venue for wannabe stretch-4s to launch 3-pointers with abandon.

Toure’ Murry, SG, Wichita State, 2 years pro
Murry signed a couple 10-day contracts with Washington last season after Garrett Temple suffered a serious hamstring injury. He saw very little playing time and eventually lost his roster spot after an ankle injury. Toure’ is playing for a spot in Ernie Grunfeld’s rolodex of late season D-League call-ups.

Damion James, SF, Texas, 4 years pro
James earned a training camp and preseason invite last season but eventually lost out to Rasual Butler for the final roster spot. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Damion in training camp again, but with Washington’s free agent perimeter acquisitions, James might want to look elsewhere for an NBA opportunity.

Traevon Jackson, PG, Wisconsin, Undrafted
Traevon is the former starting point guard on the 2015 NCAA Finalist Wisconsin Badgers. Folks who watch a lot more Wisconsin basketball than me are not excited about Jackson’s prospects. I’ll defer to them.

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The New Boys of Summer: Behind the Scenes of Grassroots Basketball Part 2

By: Raashaan Myers

This is the second in a three part series looking at all aspects of Grassroots basketball both on the court and off the court. This is an in depth look at Summer hoops with one of the most experienced and respected guys on the circuit Mr. Clay Dade architect of the Fab Frosh, Super Sophomore, and JR All American camps.

     In this second stanza of my conversation with Grassroots basketball guru Clay Dade I wanted to dive right into the heart of why we all love Summer and AAU basketball….Recruiting….So we look that all the aspects of recruiting during the summer as well as the ever growing influence of the shoe companies on the basketball recruiting scene. We also discuss how relationships have changed and grown with assistant coaches with recruits, the place that the “runners” have in the recruit game, the NCAA’s relationship with shoe companies and player compensation, and the king of recruiting Kentucky head coach John Calipari.

     When you talk about college basketball recruiting the terms that you hear about more and more these days are “love” and “relationship”. And of course the guy charged with really fostering that relationship has been the job of the assistant coach. For the University of Louisville a guy who has been applauded for his work with these young guys is ace recruiter Kenny Johnson. For the University of Kentucky there have been several guys like former assistants USF head coach Orlando Antigua and now St. John’s assistant “Slice” Rohrssen as well as current assistant Kenny Payne. These guys seem to have an ever growing importance on the recruiting trail, but Clay says that these types of guys have always been key “For years assistant coaches going back 25 or 30 year have always had an integral role in the recruiting process. Any assistant worth his salt will go out and forge a relationship with AAU teams or club teams and utilize those relationships as part of the recruiting process.”  Clay did map out some of the reasons that assistants are so important in this process “Assistant coaches are highly paid and are the bread winners in a lot of ways (for their program), out there beating the pavement out there grinding, and as well all know recruiting is the life’s blood of a program,” said Dade. “I like to call it ‘Always be recruiting’ like the old movie used to say ‘Always be closing’. To be successful in this business you have to always be recruiting. Assistants now more than ever are using social media to create and cultivate even closer relationships with players, family, and AAU coaches.”

     Also moving to the forefront of college basketball recruiting is the influence of the shoe companies like Nike, Adidas, and Under Armor. For Clay he thinks some make too much out of the whole deal but he says there are some times where the shoe company impact is real “For some of the top guys there is some influencing (decisions), but it’s a hard thing to prove. I think it happens and it has always happened.” Dade continued “Under Armor is gaining power, Nike has always been there and they will always be the Big Kahuna if you will. They are a mega power in the sport and let’s face it they have a lot of influence.” And at the end of the day Dade says it comes down to dollars and cents “Let’s face it there is a lot of money on the line when it comes to college basketball. A lot of people don’t want to admit that but I don’t mind saying it. There is a lot of money going in a lot of money going in a lot of different directions and that is the truth of the matter,” said Dade. “When it comes to shoe companies like Nike there is a lot of branding involved in college basketball and that translates to money. Profit sharing, stock prices, and if your mission is to raise the stock prices in your company then you are going to do what you have to do. Nike made 55 billion dollars last year and if they want to make 75 billion this year then when it comes to Nike basketball you need the best talent. So you are going to create camps and leagues like the Nike EYBL  that round up the best talent, who will eventually play at the biggest powers in college basketball, and wind up ultimately as NBA All Stars and are chief endorsers of their product,” said Dade.  “So when you look at it like that there is a lot of money at stake and when you look at it like that there are some nefarious things that go on. Not with all the kids, but with some of the top tier kids there is probably more influence in terms of where they go to school. It is not something happening with all the kids across the board but there is some with the top kids.” Dade continued “This isn’t a case where all kids that play in the Nike EYBL go to only Nike schools because that’s not happening. You will go where it is the best fit for you or maybe where your AAU coach has an unspoken agreement with a particular college program and whenever that agreement fails it fails. That happens and I’m just being real,” said Dade. “The bottom line is that it happens and it is almost impossible to prove, but what we end up getting out of it is great basketball. Not all waters are clean, but from muddy waters have come great music, great sports and basketball, and great policies that greatly improve the cities where we live. It’s not all up to the standard that people would like to see, but at the end of the day you get a great result and a great product. That’s what we like to call college basketball recruiting,” said Dade.

     So with everything Clay had to say about the state of recruiting and the impact that the financial aspect of college basketball has on all involved that took me to my next thought. How does the financial relationship between the mega money earning shoe companies and the NCAA exist with so much “muddy waters” seemingly being a part of business as usual? Could it be that maybe things aren’t being policed as stringently as they should? “Well there is a synergistic relationship between them and the fact that there is some exploitation of the student athletes in both football and basketball,” said Dade. “In a multi-billion dollar industry you could not get away with the bulk of your work force going unpaid with the inordinate amount of money that they help generate. So when you talk about TV contracts, money at the gate, and merchandising there is no right thinking American would line up for that type of arrangement. So I do align myself with Jay Bilas in the fact that in some way these young men need to be compensated as they have been taken advantage of for years.”

     Another group involved in this “muddy” business are the street agents or runners of the game like William Wesley aka World Wide Wes as well as guys like former Marvin Stone handler Mark Komara and others and there role in college basketball recruiting. What did Clay have to say about those individuals and their “business”? “,” said Dade. So then of course my next question is Clay have you seen or been involved in any dealings that would be considered not above board or anything you can confirm happened on the recruiting trail? “I don’t know that I am informed enough to (speak on those guys). You have to really be close to, or be eye witness to those types of dealings or know people who are close enough to those people to speak intelligently and accurately on the subject. There are a lot of accusations that people are flinging at so called individuals so I’m not going to add to that,” said Dade. So of course my next question is Clay have you any eye witness accounts of any shady dealings involving recruits that you can or will speak on? “Well sure there have been things and if you work in this business you will see things that will make your eyes pop, but it is part of the business. But with respect I do work in the business and those relationships are important and frankly you are talking about peoples’ lives. Players, parents, kids, people in the game like me and those relationships have to go on. It’s just part of the business and that’s just the way it goes. We are in a very high pressure business and a very highly paid business and you are talking about multimillion dollar paying business. There is a lot of power; you are talking about highly paid people, executives with a lot of influence. And unfortunately when you have that mix you have some intersection between that and kids and the game. That’s the unfortunate side.”

     And a guy seemingly at the forefront of this recruiting boom in college basketball is of course University of Kentucky head man John Calipari. He seems to wield a ton of power and influence on the recruiting trail so what does Clay have to say about Coach Cal and is he good for the game of college basketball? “Well it’s debatable whether or not Coach Cal is good for the game of college basketball, but what you can’t debate is that he is a winner. He has always been a winner and of course there has always been debate about how he has been able to get it done. Yes there are questions about it but there has not been anything that anyone can prove and I don’t have time to do it either,” said Dade. “But has he improved the lives of players and families that otherwise would have had that trajectory in their lives for generations to come? Sure. In certain neighborhoods he is seen as the ticket (to a better life) for a lot of people. And why not? He was a kid that grew up hard scrambled in Pittsburgh and he came along at a time in basketball when the business when it has become a very lucrative occupation and he has taken a lot of players with him during this very lucrative time in the business. I think that is pretty huge!”

     Coach Cal’s latest mega recruit Skal Labissiere is facing some eligibility questions as the season continues to draw near. Clay is a guy who is close to Skal so I wondered if he could give us an update on if he believes Skal will be eligible. “Skal Labissiere is a kid I am very close to has a great story, is a great young man, and an incredible talent. You don’t know what you are getting in this young man Kentucky fans. He is an immense talent if he is allowed to show it,” said Dade. “I am not familiar with the intricacies of his recruitment, but I am not close enough to the situation to speak on the specifics. All I know is that he came to this country and is living with a family, he started out at Evangelical Christian School then he transferred to Lausanne Collegiate School in Memphis which is a great academic program which proves he can do the work. I don’t know everything going on but I hope it works out for him.” So does Clay think that Big Blue Nation will see Skal on the court this fall? “I do. I think that he will play, but what that means and what it will take to get it done is outside of my purview but I do think he will play,” said Dade.

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The New Boys of Summer: Behind the Scenes of Grassroots Basketball

By: Raashaan Myers

This is the first in a three part series looking at all aspects of Grassroots basketball both on the court and off the court. This is an in depth look at Summer hoops with one of the most experienced and respected guys on the circuit Mr. Clay Dade architect of the Fab Frosh, Super Sophomore, and JR All American camps.

     When it comes to college basketball discussions undoubtedly one of the first conversations to arise is about AAU basketball and basketball recruiting. Yet while there are always discussions about whether or not AAU and more appropriately named Grassroots basketball is good for the game there is little known about the Grassroots basketball scene itself.  So I decided I wanted to go get the scoop from someone on the inside and get his thoughts on a myriad of topics involving Grassroots hoops.

     Clay Dade is a man with more than 30 years of experience on the prep hoops scene and has pretty much seen everything imaginable. Growing up in the Washington D.C. area playing basketball from a young age along side D.C. area greats such as Johnny Dawkins, Len Bias, and Adrian Branch.  Clay achieved success collegiately on the hardwood as well, and has now become a mainstay on the Grassroots basketball circuit. Now Clay has dedicated himself to the development of talented young prospects to help them live out their hoop dreams.    

     So with so many detractors to the Summer basketball system as it is what does Clay think about the current status of Grassroots Summer hoops?  “Well the best way I can put it on the state of AAU basketball would be to say it’s not all good and it’s not all bad. It’s true there are some tradeoffs in terms of the development of our game, the American game, because of the current model,” said Dade.  “But I think there have been some things that have developed to help things as well. The leagues that have been started by the shoe companies like the Nike EYBL create an arena for players where they are not simply going out every weekend and playing games. It’s competitive and there is something to play for and that means teams have to practice more and there is some structure there.”   Also the outreach to bring and find talent from all around the country is also something Clay sees as a huge value for the current system. “The opportunity afforded a young man from let’s just say Utah to be able to meet and play against teams in your area like the Louisville Magic and play against players and good competition is great. It gives young men the opportunity to earn a scholarship and to get out and play the game and that is the most important thing.”  Dade added “Also the travel opportunities are a huge part of the benefits of this system. The ability for a young man to travel to Texas or Florida is something for young men especially from inner city populations like New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, and other places afford those opportunities they would never have.”

     While there are plenty of talking points both good and bad in terms of the current state of affairs in Grassroots basketball Clay Dade sees some good opportunities for improvement as well.“ I think right now there are too many events and guys are playing too many games during the Summer season. I think playing so many games can hinder the development of the players. “ And not only is this issue at the feet of those putting on these events during the Summer but Clay says that the NCAA is also greatly hindering the development of young players as well. “The NCAA’s legislation now covers down into middle schools. They have defined recruitable student athletes defined as 7^th graders on up. And where that hurts is in 2007 when we started our middle school camp we had a novel idea to do something that was a staple of the camps back in the 80’s and that was having college coaches as counselors,” said Dade. “We wanted it like it was when I was coming up at the 5 Star camp and you would have guys there like Pitino or Calipari guys who are in the hall of fame now coaching you. There was nothing shady or seedy recruiting elements going on it was just guys that love teaching the game helping talented kids gets better. That environment produced players that were better coached at a young age, much more developed skill wise, and a much better understanding and knowledge of the game.”

     While the NCAA’s restrictions have limited the role current head coaches have with athletes Clays says that now it is the responsibility of the men who do have the ability to work with these talented young players to be better. “You have a lot of club teams or AAU teams being coached by more or less fans of the game. Guys that played ball in high school, or maybe a little college, and they are usually parents of an athlete coaching teams. Or you have AAU coaches who haven’t really taken the time to develop themselves through coaches clinics or opportunities through professional development to get better,” Dade continued ”If you are going to have a stake in their development you have to be able to do more than just go in the gym and work on their shooting and ball handling.  You have to be able to get in there to teach them about the game, about spacing and defensive rotations, and about principles of basketball.  They always preach that players need to work on their game but these coaches have to work on their game as well.”

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V.J. King: Matchup Nightmare

 

 

By: Raashaan Myers

     Many locally didn’t know much about UofL’s newest commitment when he announced for the Cardinals last month. But after a superb showing at the NBAPA Top 100 as well as his MVP worthy performance in the Peach Jam semifinals D.C. area product V.J. King has Card Nation buzzing and is considered a must sign recruit.

 

     As I evaluate King I first want to try and find a player comparison that UofL fans can relate to. The closest comparison I could come up with is the Wizard of Oz himself Mr. Jason Osborne who was an athletic phenom with a 6-9 frame and guard skills at the small forward spot. Boasting a long 6-7 frame and amazing dexterity and ball handling ability King is also a matchup nightmare. Like Osborne in his day King had a great ability to use his size to dominate smaller perimeter players, but also the quickness and explosiveness to exploit big men when they attempt to defend him. This ability to exploit bigger slower players was on full display as King faced off against the mammoth front line of the Georgia Stars EYBL team in the Peach Jam Semis.

       The Stars (Who went on to win the Peach Jam title) posses possibly the best front line in all of AAU featuring elite 2016 big men Udoka Azibuike and Abdul Ado, as well as 2017 stud Wendell Carter Jr. Needless to say King (who was playing in the post all game) had his work cut out for him. One of the biggest knocks on V.J. has always been his motor because of his laid back style and general demeanor.  This is something he has worked on and made it a point to come out and stay aggressive.  And vs Georgia he did just that constantly staying in attack mode against his bigger slower opponents using his quickness and taking smart angles to attack the basket forcing the issue and drawing a ton of trips to the line (16-20 FTs). When King found himself matched up on a smaller perimeter players he would shoot over the top with a very consistent midrange jump shot or force the issue with his length to finish in the lane. For the game V.J. King would finish the game totaling 26 points and was no doubt the best player on the floor looking like a McDonald’s All American.  

     This performance by King to this point is more the exception than the rule, but it was a tantalizing glimpse into his abilities as a player. Many analysts have said V.J. King is as talented as any in 2016 other than maybe the 3 mega talented players at the top of the class Harry Giles, Jayson Tatum, and Josh Jackson. King is definitely a recruit head coach Rick Pitino must hold on to until signing day and with ace recruiter Kenny Johnson leading the way I do believe the commitment will stick. And with this very talented piece in the bag look for more recruiting fireworks to come!

The Summer Classic: Summer League Basketball

Tonight, the game affectionately termed "The Midsummer Classic," MLB's All-Star Game, is being played in Cincinnati. It triggered in my mind thoughts of the other Summer Classic, summer league basketball. Harlem's Rucker League is perhaps the most classic of all. It gave rise and prominence to ABA All Star Connie Hawkins, the man who foreshadowed Doctor J. And the lesser known, but no less luminary ballers, Earl "The Goat" Manigault and Herman "The Helicopter" Knowings, who legend has it that in a Rucker League game he leaped into the air going for a ball fake in the paint, and as his opponent waited for him to come back down the referee called three seconds. Earl Monroe, originally nicknamed Black Jesus, not The Pearl, wowing crowds every time he hit the asphalt in Harlem.

The NBA has its Summer League in Vegas and Orlando, and this year alone, classic moments include Russ Smith doing Russ Things and going off for 20 points in a game for Memphis, including hitting the game winner in double overtime against his former teammate Peyton Siva. Summer league gives Russ the chance to be Russ on the big stage. Terry Rozier, of who it is said by many pundits, was a wasted pick at no. 16, proving naysayers wrong, and splashing 22 points for the Celtics in a recent game. Montrezl Harrell being Trez, skying for a missed shot and turning the rebound into a rim rattling slam. Number one pick Karl Anthony-Towns learning as he plays to preserve his body, not bang every possession and solve the riddle of four arms in your face, and turning the situation into a beautiful assist to a teammate on a flex cut. Emmanuel Mudiay proving his mettle.

There's DC's Berry Farms Pro-Am league, where Kevin Durant might be spied walking his bike to the court, traveling from his Mom's house. Georgetown's Kenner League, a showcase for LJ Peak, fresh off a gold medal win on the U.S.A.'s U19 team, with Nanu Onuaku. Plus the plethora of young players for the Hoyas, sharpening their craft.

Summer league provides hope for hoopaholics, like myself, who get itchy waiting for the first NBA exhibition game, months away. They are coast to coast. And worth seeking out, given that, beyond the NBA's Summer League, publicity isn't always given to them. But it's so worth the search. Happy hunting to each and every one of my fellow basketball fans, in seeking out summer league action in your community; may classic moments await you.

—Mark Bacon

UofL’s Chinanu Onuaku poised for a breakout sophomore campaign

Team USA experience shows big man is much improved

By: Raashaan Myers

     When news came out that University of Louisville sophomore-to-be Chinanu Onuaku was headed to Colorado Springs to try out for the USA Basketball Under-19 basketball team the news was met with both questions and optimism. So much so that even his own coach UofL head man Rick Pitino questioned if Onuaku could even make the roster playing against a lot of high profile competition.

      Well not only did Chinanu make the roster playing alongside both hot shot 5-star studs of tomorrow like Harry Giles, Jayson Tatum, and Josh Jackson, but he started several games over Michigan State freshman and McDonald’s All-American Caleb Swanigan. A shocking revelation to some UofL fans who questioned if Onuaku would be wearing the Red and Black this fall. It’s a good thing for all involved that Onuaku decided to stick it out as he appears to be on the brink of a much improved sophomore season.

     As I watched Chinanu through his journey with Team USA I wanted to take a look at some of the same concerns that Rick Pitino pointed out as deficiencies in his game. HUSTLE. I wanted to see improved conditioning and a more consistent motor. It was said during training camp that Onuaku was praised by USA U-19 Head Coach Sean Miller and his staff about his consistent hustle, hard work, and leadership. Well you could see it out on the court during the US run to the Gold Medal. Being asked to play extended minutes vs Croatia in the Championship game Onuaku took the lead and stepped into a very vocal role huddling the team and motivating his guys when things got close in the hotly contested overtime game.  He also showed improved focus and consistently brought energy, activity, and hustle on both ends. If he can bring that same type of intensity to UofL this fall that will go a long way to a successful 2015-16 campaign.

      Statistically playing less minutes per game than he averaged for UofL last year Onuaku was across the board better. To me the most impressive stat as I evaluate the numbers was the 12 blocked shots (1.7 bpg) for Nanu had which was good for 1^st for Team USA and 5^th overall in the tournament. What’s more impressive was the fact that he played 6 minutes  or more less than all the other players in the top 5 in blocks. Also the most talked about aspect of improvement talked about coming into the tournament was Chinanu’s new free throw stroke. After shooting 46% from the FT line last year Coach Pitino mentioned that Onuaku has dedicated himself to learning the Rick Barry style underhanded free throw. Well the early returns were favorable though I would have liked to see a larger sample size Onuaku finished his maiden voyage of his brave new free throw world going 6-10 FTs good for 60%. That is a number that is good enough to keep the talented young center on the floor at the end of close games.

Here is a sample of the beautiful new Chinanu Onuaku free throw style coming to the KFC Yum! Center this fall!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIeq18aRxp0&feature=player_embedded

     All in all this trip and experience has been as encouraging as could have been expected for Chinanu heading into his quest to be a part of USA basketball and I expect to see him come back with confidence and a new sense of urgency this fall. Coach Pitino mentioned at the beginning of this process that Chinanu had to see that he is not the only guy that will yell at him to play hard all the time and that he would have to be better and improved if he didn’t want to get embarrassed during trials. Well mission accomplished as far as I am concerned and I am very excited to see the progress of Onuaku and what he can bring as the potential new defensive anchor of the 2015-16 edition of the University of Louisville. Stay tuned!

Georgetown University's Kenner League Summer Basketball

Departing Georgetown Hoyas are seeking spots on NBA Summer League rosters, so we serious hoopaholics can start thinking about DC's exciting summer hoops—the Kenner League held on Georgetown's campus at McDonough Arena.


ROSTERS
Basketball in the Kenner League is certainly different from what one will see during the season, but with most of this year's entire roster being underclassmen, it offers fans a great look at what the Hoyas should expect in the coming year.

Georgetown players will be spread out among seven teams in the 11-team league.
Senior guard D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera (Indianapolis, Ind./Oak Hill) and sophomore forward Paul White (Chicago, Ill./Whitney Young) will play for A Wash. Associates, while junior forward Reggie Cameron (Hackensack, N.J./Hudson Catholic) and senior center Bradley Hayes (Jacksonville, Fla./Sandalwood) will play for DCX.

Sophomores Isaac Copeland (Raleigh, N.C./Brewster Academy) and LJ Peak (Gaffney, S.C./Gaffney), who just won a gold medal at the U-19 World Championships with Team USA, will play for Clyde's, while sophomore guard Tre Campbell (Washington, D.C./St. John's College HS) and sophomore Trey Mourning (Miami, Fla./Ransom Everglades) are on the roster for Higher Level. Sophomore transfer Akoy Agau (Omaha, Neb./Omaha Central/Louisville) will play for Ohhs and Ahhs.

Freshmen Jessie Govan (Manhasset, N.Y./Wings Academy) and Kaleb Johnson (Martinsville, Va./Carlisle School) will play for The Tombs, while freshman Marcus Derrickson (Bowie, Md./Brewster Academy [N.H.[) and junior Riyan Williams (Dunkirk, Md./Archbishop Carroll [D.C.]) will play for the Hoop Magic All-Stars.

If you're in the DC area this summer, plan a trip to The Hilltop on Saturday or Sunday to catch exciting summer league ball showcasing a team that will be among the best in the Big East this coming season.



—Mark Bacon

The Greatest LA Laker of All-Time: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Last night, Haven threw a "pop quiz" to some of us at Main Event Sports (MESports); "who's the greatest Laker of all time"? We all gave a different name. It's my understanding my colleagues are each going to present the case for their fave player for this storied NBA franchise; here's mine: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Personally, Kareem is a no-brainer for me. He's a huge Jazz fan, as am I. He's fought racism and oppression for his conversion to Islam, and did so elegantly and courageously. He's stood for what he believes, often in public forums, and makes intelligent arguments bolstering his beliefs. He's helped the First Americans (Native Americans, as some say) vigorously, generously and for years. He's funny; his cameo in "Airplane" still is a head turner.

Oh yeah, and then there's his game. Once in a while, there are players in all kinds of different sports who just seem to re-write the way the game is played – along with the record books – and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was most certainly such a player. He played with sublimity – with an elegance and style that few other players have ever been able to match, if any.

Lew Alcindor, as he was originally called, was the original building block for John Wooden’s UCLA Dynasty that won 88 consecutive games. For his part, Alcindor averaged 26 points and 16 boards per game, winning three championships in three years  at Westwood. In the NBA, Alcindor won one title with Oscar Robertson and the Bucks in 1971, before converting to Islam, changing his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and leaving Milwaukee for the bright lights of LA.

In Los Angeles, Abdul-Jabbar moved on to join forces with Magic Johnson, as one of the more formidable inside-out combinations in the history of basketball. In all, the pair won five championships, in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988, with Magic ultimately assuming control of the team from the elder statesman Kareem.

As an unstoppable force, Abdul-Jabbar would clear out space on the low block. After receiving a post-entry pass from Magic, Kareem would pound the ball for two dribbles, before rising up and dropping in his famed sky-hook shot into the bottom of the net. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is still the all-time NBA scoring leader – with 38,387 total points—and he’s right up there on the list of ‘greatest ever’ for many NBA fans around the world.

—Mark Bacon

The Curse of the Wizards

“Cursed.” If you’re a DC sports fan, the word has a special and significant meaning. ANY sports franchise in our area is “cursed.” Witness the Skins, Nationals, Capitals, and yes, the Wizards. And the notion was bolstered yesterday with the announcement that Paul Pierce is leaving the Washington Wizards for the LA Clippers. Now the franchise has to shift their focus to other areas to upgrade a roster that has been eliminated in the Eastern Conference semifinals the last two years.


The Wiz still need to address the same roster positions: stretch-four, defensive versatility and perimeter bench scoring. It’s likely those voids will come in the form of a stretch-four, possibly a wing player and a shoot-first combo guard.


A roster upgrade is always the goal, but Washington will not sacrifice its financial flexibility for next summer, where they have prepared for the chance to sign Kevin Durant in 2016. Washington has limited options this offseason anyhow. They don’t have any salary cap room and need to use their various exceptions to make any moves.


Stretch-four

The Wizards’ offense was at its best in the playoffs when they utilized Pierce or Gooden as a stretch-four, which gave them three shooters on the perimeter. Wall was then able to destroy opposing defenses with dribble penetration, passing and pick-and-rolls. The Wizards want to continue to do so on a more consistent basis next season. Gooden remains a possibility to re-sign and remain an option, but Washington also is looking externally. Possibilities include Omri Cassipi, re-signing Drew Gooden, and one, or both, Morris twins.


Defensive versatility

Washington badly needs players who can guard several positions. Guarding big or small lineups is paramount in today’s NBA, yet the Wiz struggled to contain small-ball lineups last season. They have the pieces to go big (Gortat, Nene and Kris Humphries) but should add front-line players comfortable with defending out on the perimeter. Possibilities: Luc Mbah a Moute, Alan Anderson and Derrick Williams.


Bench scoring

Washington’s second-unit offense often disappeared last season. Rasual Butler was performing at a high level for a third of the season but his blistering shooting plunged soon after and the Wizards couldn’t find anyone else to generate instant offense. Seraphin had his moments and exchanging Andre Miller for Ramon Sessions occasionally provided a spark, yet scoring often disappeared for long stretches. Possibilities: Wayne Ellington, Lou Williams, or Marco Belinelli.



—Mark Bacon