Nike Hoop Summit 2009

This weekend I watched the Nike Hoop Summit All-Star Game 2009. Usually I avoid all-star games like the plague. There is usually no intensity, except on the offensive end of the floor.  No defense.  No real caring who wins and loses.  They just bug me.  I guess it’s the basketball purity in me.

However, this game was a little different.  It was a game between the top high school seniors in the USA versus a world team composed of players from all over the world.  The World team had players from Europe, Asia, Africa and South America.  Many of the players on the world team play professionally overseas. The USA team had players from all over the country.  There was definite competition in this game.  I guess when USA is across the chest, things pick up on both sides.  Also, the teams had a week to practice together, which makes a huge difference.   This is the 12th game in the series, which is sponsored by USA Basketball.  The USA had won 9 of the previous 11 games.  Many players who are now playing in the NBA have played in the series.  People like Nowitzki, Durant, JR Smith, Josh Smith, Parker, Hansbrough, Lawson have all represented the USA or the world.

There were a number of fine players, many who have NBA potential, on both teams.  Every NBA team had scouts there to watch the practices of the World team and then the game, and I’m sure they were impressed by some of them.  I’d like to put my opinion out there on  the players.

The USA

John Wall, a 6-2 guard from Raleigh, was probably the most impressive player on the USA team, and really in the whole game.  Very athletic, very explosive, unbelievably quick.  He even talks quickly.  I was also impressed with his effort on defense, and his desire to pass the ball.  Wall has not decided on a school yet, but don’t worry, he has the pick of any and all.  Any school would take him.  He would be a great replacement for Lawson at UNC, when he goes to the NBA.  I am not sure what kind of a shooter he is.  He hardly took any outside shots.  Just drove by people to the hoop, even against a zone.

Avery Bradley, another 6-2 guard, who has committed to Texas.  Avery, from Tacoma, Washington, is another very athletic player.  Took it to the basket great, shot it off the dribble.  He even did some playmaking,  though he’s known as an off guard.  He showed me enough skills, and an attitude to share, that it would not surprise me if he ends up as a point.  Surprisingly, as good as he was on offense, his effort on defense was even more impressive.  He will guard and likes to; he takes pride in his defense.

Mike Moser, a 6-8 forward out of Portland and committed to UCLA, was another player who gave a good effort on defense and was willing to share the ball.  Didn’t get a lot of chance to show his offense, but he’s athletic and plays hard.  Should be a good fit for Howland.

John Henson, a 6-9 forward from Tampa and committed to UNC reminded me immediately of  ex-Tarheel Brandon Wright .  Very thin.  Compared to him, Reggie Miller looks like Lebron James.  Has to get stronger, or he might break.  But he is very quick off his feet, can get up, has very long arms, and has some stuff around the hoop.  Good little left handed jump hook; he’s a lefty like Wright.  Definite prospect, though he has to get stronger.

Xavier Henry, 6-6 wing player from Oklahoma City.  A lefty.  Was mainly a spot up shooter against the World team’s constant zone.  Showed some range.  Appeared to be pretty athletic.  His dad, Carl, played at KU, and in the NBA briefly, and then overseas.  Has not committed.

There were 2 inside players, or at least they should be.  Strange that neither one introduced themselves as centers.  Gives you an idea of their mentality.  One is Renaldo Sidney, 6-10 and too heavy.  Sidney is from LA, and has committed to USC.  I am sure with a little time with Tim Floyd he will lose some of that baby fat.  The other is Demarcus Cousins, 6-11 and also, too heavy.  Cousins is from Mobile  and he has recently committed  to go with Coach Cal at Kentucky.  Neither got to show a lot of offense versus the zone.  Disappointing that neither big guy did a lot on the boards.  World team dominated the boards, especially their offensive boards.  Impressive thing about both of these big guys was the way they passed.  Both are excellent passers.  A bit unusual for young big guys.  I have always felt that if a player can pass, he probably knows how to play.

Speaking of passers, Abdul Gaddy, a 6-3 point committed to Washington, is one of the best.  Gaddy, who is from Tacoma is a former teammate of Avery Bradley, before Bradley left his senior year to go to Findley Prep in Las Vegas.  Gaddy is a true point guard.  A very clever passer, only took a couple of shots, but looks like a decent shooter.  Did not get a great deal of time due to the play of Bradley and Wall.  I would like to see his intensity pick up.

Leslie McDonald was another USA player.  McDonald, 6-4  from Memphis, has committed to UNC.  He had one explosive dunk.  An athletic wing player.  I did not get a feel for his shooting ability.  Similarly, Mason Plumlee, 6-10 and committed to Duke, did not get to play a lot.  Looks like he has some skill, but  needs to get stronger.

The World Team

The World’s backcourt people were all pretty non-descript.  They all had a lot of trouble versus the quickness of the USA’s guards, on both ends.  They say Edwin Jackson, 6-3 point from France, is the next Tony Parker.  I did not see that at all.  I thought he really struggled.  The other back court players were Matias Nocedal, 6-3 from Argentina….he’s no Ginobili…., Nick Pappas, 6-4 from Greece, who was clever but again the quickness bothered him, and Mateo Gaynor 6-6, from Argentina, who had moments but he’s no Manu.

Mamadou Samb,6-9 from Senegal, is very athletic.  A rebounder, shot-blocker.  Quick off his feet.  Looks like he’s limited offensively, but have to look at him as a prospect.  Almost the exact same thing could be said about Kevin Seraphin, 6-9 from France.  Another very athletic, rebounder and shot-blocker, though I think he has more offense to his game than Samb.  Also a prospect.

Zhang Dayu, 7-0 from China, described himself as a center but much preferred to be outside.  A nice touch up to 18-20 feet.  Not very physical, but still he’s a prospect.

The three best players for the World were Tomislav Zubcic, 6-11 from Croatia, Donatas Motiejunas, 7-0 from Lithuania, and Milan Macvan, 6-8 from Serbia.  I think all three are have NBA potential.  Zubcic is very skilled for a 6-11 young guy.  They used him to bring the ball up for much of the game.  I don’t think he’s a knock down shooter, but he’s skilled.  Got a little of Tayshaun Prince to him.  Built a lot like Tayshaun, which is not a great thing, but it hasn’t hurt Prince a great deal.  A right hander as opposed to Prince.

Motiejunas was very impressive, especially in the second half.  Though he can play inside, he too prefers to be out on the perimeter.  Nice shooter, if he has time.  Another thin guy, but he did not mind mixing it up some.  At times reminded me of Tony Kukoc (good), other times of Darko Milicic (not so good).  Clever around the basket, used is left hand well, but don’t get too excited.  He’s left handed. But I think that’s an advantage.  Left handers seem to be able to get away with more stuff around the hoop.  Like I said he can step out too.  A definite prospect, both for the NBA and the weight room.

Lastly was Macvan.  Really a good player.  6-8, around 250 or better.  Knows how to play.  Dominated the first half.  Kept the World in the game.  Drove some, can hit from 20′.  Very physical.  Used his body well.  Can also pass, and he looked to pass.  He reminded me of Brian Cardinal physically and when running.  Maybe it was because of his lack of hair.  However, he’s much more skilled than Brian.  He has a very mature game.  Definite prospect.

Three things I noticed about the World team.  One, they had to play zone.  They could not guard the USA man for man, especially on the perimeter.  That will not help these players, if and/or when they get to the NBA.  Two, most all of them want to spot up, get their feet set and fire.  None were very good off the dribble.  Those two things tell me that they have all played a lot of zone, and faced a lot of zones.  Three, even though they were comparable in age to the USA guys, you could tell they have more  mature games.  Not better game, but more mature.

The USA led 70-61 after 3 quarters, but got smoked in the fourth.  Ended up losing by about 10, giving up  a lot of free throws down the stretch as they tried to catch up.  The lack of rebounding by the USA finally caught up with them in the fourth.  The World dominated inside, USA dominated the perimeter.  It came down to if USA could cause turnovers and get out and run, they were good.  If the World didn’t turn it over, got shots and then dominated the offensive boards, they were good.  This was a competive game.  A couple of the USA players didn’t go all out, but for the most part, guys played with pride and determination.  The World team was definitely pumped about beating the USA and you could see the disappointment in  the USA players.  Not a typical All-Star game.  It was enjoyable, though my team lost.

If anybody else saw the game, I would like to hear how they liked it, and their evaluations.