Spalding Hoophall Classic

[harwoodhoya]

High school games all day today on this espnu. A lot of the top teams in the country will be playing including Dematha. Good chance to see Quinn Cook and Mikael Hopkins.

[damnhoya]

Just watched the first half of Dematha-Mater Dei. I thought Lamb (going to UCLA) was the best player on the floor in the first half. Almost has a double-double. I think Dematha's best player in the first half of Oladipo (going to Indiana). High energy guy.

Cook's shot is not falling at all. I'm a fan of Hopkins (he's a head taller than anyone on the floor but is having trouble exploiting his mismatch). I think he had 8 pts in the first half.

[damnhoya]

By the way, I think Markel is better than either Lamb or Cook.

[idhoya]

I'd take Hopkins now and develop him. He looks like he'll keep growing. I like Quinn but wanna see Ty Johnson too. If Hoyas take 4 in '11 then I'd get Rakeem, Hopkins, Jordan O. and a PG.

[MCIGuy]

Jan 18, 2010 20:30:13 GMT -5 idhoya said:

I'd take Hopkins now and develop him. He looks like he'll keep growing. I like Quinn but wanna see Ty Johnson too. If Hoyas take 4 in '11 then I'd get Rakeem, Hopkins, Jordan O. and a PG.

Not that this thread is the place for it but I like the four you have for '11 but I would add on a fifth player: a true small forward.

[RDF]

Want no part of Hopkins based on today's game--he's allergic to rebounding. He didn't compete on the glass and was the tallest player on the court. He didn't go out of his area and he didn't fight for balls right in front of him. Good offensive skill set but played soft against a team of small/quick players.

Cook--Scottie Reynolds like in terms of like his shot when he's off the ball--and think he's a poor decision maker with ball in his hands (again--based on what I saw today).

Both are underclassmen--but out of the two I like Cook a lot more then Hopkins. Actually liked James Robinson the best on DeMatha's team and he's only a Soph.

Michael Gilchrist--not buying the hype. Sorry. Know he's been nicked up--but he had some seriuos Paul Pierce crap going on today--he'd limp/gimp up and down court after a bad play and then sprint when things went well.

Irving is best guard Duke's had in a decade. Very impressive offensive player--sucked on defensive end.

[dense]

RDF he plays soft alot, and then some games he gets it and plays hard......Reminds me of Monroe in terms of that when i saw Greg in some games he looked like he didnt get it. Hopkins abilities work well with what we do, thats why i'd take him right now and work with him. he can handle the ball and move pretty well for a 6-8 to 6-9 kid probably will be in the 6-10/6-11 range when he gets to college. I love the kid's long term projection, more than like a Roscoe Smith to pick a name, of someone highly ranked who's game is not going to translate.

[MCIGuy]

RDF, I think you're being too harsh. The kid is averaging over 11 boards in only 15 minutes of play for DeMatha. I think big guys have games like this from time to time. He's not a banger, not a DaJaun Blair or anything like that. That's why the Hoyas need to recruit other guys like Christmas and even Jordan O who would provide muscle inside. But Hopkins has the potential to be a big guy with skills who can float on the perimeter but still come into the paint to help out on the boards because of his length and athleticism. He simply doesn't need to be the MAIN big man in the paint for the Hoyas or any college team.

Also its kind of tough to judge him in this game because young big guys often feel a bit out of place when going up against small teams. The big guys often don't nowhere to be on the court in such circumstances. Hopkins had a tough cover.


Dense, there was someone who wrote that he didn't want Hopkins because he was too much like Greg. I found that absurd. If some Hoya fans don't appreciate Greg its their loss.

[RDF]

I want no part of guys who just aren't into the game. He was just floating around. He showed no skill level comparable to Monroe at all--and that is why Greg was worth taking. It's not hard to get after it on both ends and when you are standing/watching, I want no part of seeing a guy like that in a Georgetown uniform. He's an ACC "big". Hopkins resembles Elden Campbell the former Clemson/NBA player--but isn't as tall--although shares his moniker of possessing ability but not applying it all the time. When you are 7'0--that buys you time--when you are 6'8--dime a dozen. Hoyas will have Lubick at 6'8 as the "skilled" big--and need a taller, more defensive oriented big-which Christmas is--and not sure who else--but it's not Hopkins. You can find guys like him every year.

Cook--I liked--and would take--just needs to improve his decision making with the ball--but he's aggressive and plays hard/competes all the time.

[deacon]

I have to agree with RDF.

I've seen Hopkins play countless times, and the best word I can use to describe him is tentative. Yesterday wasn't an aberration, that's just how he plays. However, he does have another year at DeMatha to grow a little and develop a little more intensity at both ends of the floor.

But as of right now, I'm not 100% on the Hopkins for the Hoyas bandwagon.

[damnhoya]

Love the recruiting banter.

I'm all about guys who play hard (that's why I thought Oladipo was the best player on the floor for Dematha yesterday). But I like Hopkins' skill set and his upside (and I agree with dense and MCI, his skill set works in our system). I would definitely take him. That said, Rak is the prize up front in the 2011 class so if we can get him, anything else is gravy. And let's not forget how many times our own big men have been taken out of games by smaller line ups (Hibbs comes to mind a lot, and he had a fine career on the hilltop).

As has been mentioned already, Hopkins still has another year to develop in high school. If he came to Gtown, he wouldn't be asked to contribute right away anyway. The one thing I agree with RDF about is I really liked Robinson.

As for Cook, it would be great if he came to Gtown but I think Tyrone's game might be better. He definitely plays with more of a chip on his shoulder also (which I like).

Maybe I'm wrong and Hopkins won't be a good/great college player but I sure think he has the potential to be one. Recruiting always carries surprises. I was watching the first half of the ND-Cuse game last night and Wes Johnson is a specimen. He's the real deal (can't wait to see how we try to contain him). Coming out of high school, he was barely recruited.

I think we will take 4 guys in '11 so there are lots of possibilities.

[dense]

I see completely what deacon and RDF are saying, but I think its a good risk that will pay off. he can play that 3/4 in our system, but still has the height to guard down low which should be a thing that is important. I think he will grow and be like 6-10 when he gets here. I like that he plays on a team that is unselfish and has alot of talent too. I think that helps with the transtion to the Gtown system. If he turned into Elden Campbell, RDF would that really be that bad of a thing???

[MCIGuy]

Cook's a stud but I thought he looked worse than Hopkins. Took a bunch of silly shots and rarely looked for his teammates.

[RDF]

Jan 19, 2010 13:02:03 GMT -5 MCIGuy said:

Cook's a stud but I thought he looked worse than Hopkins. Took a bunch of silly shots and rarely looked for his teammates.

Yep. Was horrible with the ball. Off the ball was good-ala Scottie Reynolds.

I'd take a closer look at Hopkins if he were 6'10+ ala Campbell and maybe he continues to grow--but if he stays 6'8, I'd look elsewhere.

Everyone on here wanting him and thinking "he'll develop"--what about Hoyas makes you see that? I am NOT saying coaching staff wouldn't make him better, but will he be patient enough to stick around? Majority here don't care for Henry Sims right now but Henry always gets into it on glass and challenges shots. His development is needed on offensive end where Henry thought he was going to be "Jeff Green" and he needs to focus on being an interior/inside/out player. Why would Hopkins wait to develop? If he did--then I'm for it--but these kids today have no concept of what actually is needed to contribute/make them see playing time and most leave at drop of hat--so why waste time?

The program has a play making big in Lubick--who needs a lot of work on jumpshot--but that is more correctible then learning to pass/have court vision and ideal big paired with Lubick is a guy who can be a defensive presence and finishes strong around rim. That is why Christmas should be #1, #2, and #3 in terms of targets--and who I hope III has made the priority.

Tyrone Johnson is bigger/more athletic then Cook and he'd be my personal choice for top guard prospect in '11 class as well.

However--I'm 100% with MCI on getting a SMALL FORWARD with SKILL too. This class needs a big time play maker at the SF spot to move Hollis to 2G when Austin graduates.

[deacon]

What's funny about Cook is that he has apparently said on multiple occasions that he would prefer a program at the next level that likes to run, but he seems to struggle in games like yesterday's where he plays in a more uptempo style.

I've seen him play OUTSTANDING in more half-court sets where the tempo is more resembling of what the Hoyas like to do, as opposed to what he would asked to do at a school like Kentucky.

I like the kid and would love to see him in a Hoyas uniform, simply because I don't think yesterday's game was a good barometer of how he would play as a Hoya.

[IDenj]

wouldn't count on cook being a hoya. he would be nice, but tj sounds like a more viable option. if he is serious about the program that is.

hopkins sounds like he might grow into a 6'10 guy who is tentative on the court. don't the hoyas already have one of those kind on the squad?

[dense]

Enj, he plays nothing like Henry though...
He is a guy with a very nice shooting touch that is very quick for his size,and can move and handle the ball pretty well. He is soft at times, but I've seen games where he plays with passion too. So while I can see why yesterday's game would make you think that way. I've seen him play some games where i'm like this guy reminds me of a LaMarcus Aldrige type, in fact that is the best comparison in terms of where I see his ceiling.

I do agree that Christmas is option 1,2 and 3 that we should be after. I have seen only clips of Ty Johnson, I liked what I saw. I've seen Cook a bunch live, and he is a streaky jump shooter who isn't the playmaker that he is written as, more of a 5'10 combo guard IMO, when he is on he is explosive. Still would like us to monitor Jordan O. i think with someone working with him could be a good big in 2-3 years. Havent seen Abraham yet, trying to. And Mcknight seen once and was impressed but don't see how he would fit in our system, he is basically an athletic kid learning basketball skills has nothing outside of 5 ft really, but he does have good hands which is a plus.

[MCIGuy]

Jan 19, 2010 17:20:56 GMT -5 IDenj said:

wouldn't count on cook being a hoya. he would be nice, but tj sounds like a more viable option. if he is serious about the program that is.

We as fans (even the would be gurus) need to stop making these type of comments. Who says TJ is a viable option at all. Once article had him not mentioning Georgetown at all. I just want more good players and I don't think we need either to slam the door on the possibilities of getting certain individuals or proclaim its a slam dunk that we will get others.

[IDenj]

that's it mci, i am not sure how serious he, johnson, is about the hoyas. i have seen stuff linking us to him and other stuff where he doesn't mention us at all. just think cook might not be happening.

dense... wasn't sure what kind of player he is. just seeing stuff here saying he is big but not necessarily a go getter. we need go getters.

[idhoya]

If worrying about transfers then why recruit anyone? Its the risk you take. Who says Lubick won't leave after one? Anyway, Rakeem and Hopkins both project as 4s, so I'd take both if possible. Roc is target #1. He's starter; hopkins backup. Jordon O. or another true 5 has to be brought in. Needed. I'd try n get an SF for '10 if I could.