Post by saxagael on Jul 21, 2013 21:55:54 GMT -5
Highlights from Sunday for GU players (I missed the first half the of A.Wash game and was a bit distracted during others kid questions and explanations (playing make / not make based on shooter's form) as well as realizing I can still spot a Wisemiller's (Why-Pay-Less) box from 1,000 paces).
Aaron Bowen: Good in the half I saw and showed same skills and athletic ability he has the rest of the weekend. He was played a little tighter by the senior locals on Skills & Scrimmages.
David Allen: Sounds like he was making the deep threes in the first half that I missed. He passed well and was getting covered rather closely in the second half, but ran the point well. His defense against (not so fast nor quick Randy "White Chocolate" Gill) was really good for the most part. I'm looking forward to see Allen's play next weekend now that it looks like he has shaken the cobwebs out.
Mikael Hopkins: Played a lot of today facing the basket with 1 of 2 for 3 land. His inside game was rather solid, but the game was an up and down the court runfest (DMC not in the house) for a good portion of the game. He had a few two handed dunks and tap in put backs. This was the very athletic Hopkins playing, but was quite good on defense getting out with a hand in the shooters face and disrupting drives.
Jabril Trawick: He had a very athletic and run & fun game today with a lot of run outs and dunks, with a few quite powerful. He had a step on most anybody guarding him. He was doing rather well with mid and deep shots, but was finding gaps and finishing at the hoop was his preference. He was playing on and off of John Caprio, which showed how well each knew each other. Both Trawick and Hopkins had the advantage again to day of having Victor Oladipo drawing a little attention and opening things up a little. Team Takeover has one of the better outside shooting teams, most athletic teams, and years of playing together to one degree or another.
John Caprio: John's defense was his strength today when he was back and set (he was often playing on the wing near baseline and when TTO was off on run outs on misses from John's teammates he was starting from far behind. John had some great powerful inside playing on rebounds, putting up after rebounds, of perfect pass out to the open shooter.
Markel Starks: Starks didn't exhibit any limp or tightness from the prior night's tweaked ankle. He played pretty much pure point and most of his drives to the lane and weaving to the basket resulted in passes out to others to finish. He did have a couple really nice threes and a few nice at the hoop finishes. His defense against Jonathan Wallace (mostly) was rather tight. I was trying to get my son to watch Starks with out the ball on the perimeter as he moved really well to create open gaps and spacing, well worth watching and knowing Starks does it really really well. Starks also had a look on his face that seemed like he was determined to show Jon what he could do and that he is a peer or possibly more (Jon was playing more for fun, but he got what was going on).
Nate Lubick: Nate was playing against Bradley Hayes when he was in the game and was passing the ball out and swinging the ball around to others. He did a really good job on the boards and on defense, particularly against Hayes (happens when you play against a guy you know really well). His defense against others was quite good as well and Clyde's was quite stacked today with talent again (Jeff Green, Domingo, Jon Wallace, Hayes, Austin Freeman (playing really really well in a more svelt athletic frame wit quicker & smoother outside shooting), Tyler Crawford (more filled out in upper body, neck and face), Steve Weingarten (of LaSalle who last year played pro in Australia). Nate had a few put backs and some easy inside finishes off passes from Starks or Zaid Hearst (Quinnipiac).
Bradley Hayes: Hayes had a tough day, the sort of tough day where you learn a lot. Lubick often covered Hayes and defended him well. Hayes was out of position and not set well inside. He was pulling the ball down well, but was getting grabbed away (a couple times he should have kept the ball hight and put it right back in). Hayes was covering the lower wings on defense quite will with good quick jump outs to get hands in their face, finger on a shot ball, or disrupt the play. A couple times on offense Hayes got the ball in mid-range and step back and squared to face the basket out of instinct, with feet and body set well but that isn't a role he is really playing (sort of like watching Hopkins do similar his first year as a 5 for GU). He got an earful on the bench from his coach and you could see him sink and get frustrated (that sort of look of why am I here), but he has good athleticism, good feet and hands, and good basketball IQ, but he is not used to playing the role of a big man and getting the footing and moves right. It is a lot of work and repetition and explanation to get it to move from learning it, thinking it as you do it, and to doing it instinctively. Hayes have everything he needs to get there, but the reps and hands on coaching. Jeff Green spent good time talking with Hayes on the bench. Hayes played rather well against Martins Abele (7'1" 290lbs+ former Duquesne center) the day before.
I'm not sure which GU big men can find time like the days when Ewing, Mutumbo, and Morning would have during Summer when they were pros and come back to campus for private Hoya big men training and banging sessions. Hibbert is the only one currently in that role and not sure the former can do much as NBA coaches or part of NBA team management. Hayes could really benefit from that experience and insight and drilling. For now Kenner time with Jeff Green and anything he can offer and any of the coaches that have gone to play pro, even getting as much as he can from Josh Smith would be great as Josh has the footwork, moves, and mindset down really well.
Stephen Domingo: Boom! Domingo has the gym rocker today on an off balance, shot clock at one or less, and draining it roof raiser - it was awesome (best thing was his feet were straight to the hoop, even if his right was in the air out to the side). But, Domingo was solid from other deep threes and drove the lane really well and finished with power and athleticism. He had a few dunks that rivaled what Jabril was throwing down earlier, and even hit his head lightly on the backboard on an acrobatic around and under on which he was fouled (made the free throws - other teams don't want him at the free throw line). He also fought inside really well for rebounds and disrupting shots. He has some low in the paint steals and grabbing lose balls. HIs play was a lot more confident (with a clap for the ball and hoot for it when Green had the ball on the high wing with attention), which was great to see after yesterday's a little more timid play. His defense was good (not great) but was covering his man well and sliding well to cut off lanes and working to keep a hand close to his man on picks and attempted drives to the hoop.
Riyan Williams (proper spelling, which also magically helps with searching for him): A few minutes on a packed Clyde's team. A couple nice deep threes, Good follows on shots of his own and others. Solid breakdown of a defender outside and drives to the hoop with success. Green initially wouldn't give him the time of day when he was wide open in the first half, but that changed in the second on one play. He plays without the ball really well and finds other open players, but is a shooter at heart.
Others: Jonathan Wallace shot really well from threes and was great watching running the point (not that much difference between he and Starks, which is a really good thing seeing how well Jon has improved since his time at The Hilltop. Austin Freeman was really smooth in the few minutes he played using his more athletic rather than more bulky frame move a lot more easily to the hoop. Freeman's outside shot is quicker, smoother, and quite accurate (1 of 2, but I'm using unfair watching him play and shoot and nail threes on run down court at the Chris Wright MS event a few weeks back). Jeff Green had a few dunks, but nothing like the massive one yesterday. Green's outside shooting was off when at the college three, but better when he was farther out. His drives to the basket drew a lot of defensive attention, but Green made all his free throws (not sure if that goes in the given column). Tyler Crawford played a few minutes but his new bulkier body and face I kept missing that he was in and to watch him. Victor Oladipo ran point when he was in for Team Takeover with Jabril and Mikeal, had a nice two handed dunk, good outside shooting from deep, and athletic drives to the hoop.
Aaron Bowen: Good in the half I saw and showed same skills and athletic ability he has the rest of the weekend. He was played a little tighter by the senior locals on Skills & Scrimmages.
David Allen: Sounds like he was making the deep threes in the first half that I missed. He passed well and was getting covered rather closely in the second half, but ran the point well. His defense against (not so fast nor quick Randy "White Chocolate" Gill) was really good for the most part. I'm looking forward to see Allen's play next weekend now that it looks like he has shaken the cobwebs out.
Mikael Hopkins: Played a lot of today facing the basket with 1 of 2 for 3 land. His inside game was rather solid, but the game was an up and down the court runfest (DMC not in the house) for a good portion of the game. He had a few two handed dunks and tap in put backs. This was the very athletic Hopkins playing, but was quite good on defense getting out with a hand in the shooters face and disrupting drives.
Jabril Trawick: He had a very athletic and run & fun game today with a lot of run outs and dunks, with a few quite powerful. He had a step on most anybody guarding him. He was doing rather well with mid and deep shots, but was finding gaps and finishing at the hoop was his preference. He was playing on and off of John Caprio, which showed how well each knew each other. Both Trawick and Hopkins had the advantage again to day of having Victor Oladipo drawing a little attention and opening things up a little. Team Takeover has one of the better outside shooting teams, most athletic teams, and years of playing together to one degree or another.
John Caprio: John's defense was his strength today when he was back and set (he was often playing on the wing near baseline and when TTO was off on run outs on misses from John's teammates he was starting from far behind. John had some great powerful inside playing on rebounds, putting up after rebounds, of perfect pass out to the open shooter.
Markel Starks: Starks didn't exhibit any limp or tightness from the prior night's tweaked ankle. He played pretty much pure point and most of his drives to the lane and weaving to the basket resulted in passes out to others to finish. He did have a couple really nice threes and a few nice at the hoop finishes. His defense against Jonathan Wallace (mostly) was rather tight. I was trying to get my son to watch Starks with out the ball on the perimeter as he moved really well to create open gaps and spacing, well worth watching and knowing Starks does it really really well. Starks also had a look on his face that seemed like he was determined to show Jon what he could do and that he is a peer or possibly more (Jon was playing more for fun, but he got what was going on).
Nate Lubick: Nate was playing against Bradley Hayes when he was in the game and was passing the ball out and swinging the ball around to others. He did a really good job on the boards and on defense, particularly against Hayes (happens when you play against a guy you know really well). His defense against others was quite good as well and Clyde's was quite stacked today with talent again (Jeff Green, Domingo, Jon Wallace, Hayes, Austin Freeman (playing really really well in a more svelt athletic frame wit quicker & smoother outside shooting), Tyler Crawford (more filled out in upper body, neck and face), Steve Weingarten (of LaSalle who last year played pro in Australia). Nate had a few put backs and some easy inside finishes off passes from Starks or Zaid Hearst (Quinnipiac).
Bradley Hayes: Hayes had a tough day, the sort of tough day where you learn a lot. Lubick often covered Hayes and defended him well. Hayes was out of position and not set well inside. He was pulling the ball down well, but was getting grabbed away (a couple times he should have kept the ball hight and put it right back in). Hayes was covering the lower wings on defense quite will with good quick jump outs to get hands in their face, finger on a shot ball, or disrupt the play. A couple times on offense Hayes got the ball in mid-range and step back and squared to face the basket out of instinct, with feet and body set well but that isn't a role he is really playing (sort of like watching Hopkins do similar his first year as a 5 for GU). He got an earful on the bench from his coach and you could see him sink and get frustrated (that sort of look of why am I here), but he has good athleticism, good feet and hands, and good basketball IQ, but he is not used to playing the role of a big man and getting the footing and moves right. It is a lot of work and repetition and explanation to get it to move from learning it, thinking it as you do it, and to doing it instinctively. Hayes have everything he needs to get there, but the reps and hands on coaching. Jeff Green spent good time talking with Hayes on the bench. Hayes played rather well against Martins Abele (7'1" 290lbs+ former Duquesne center) the day before.
I'm not sure which GU big men can find time like the days when Ewing, Mutumbo, and Morning would have during Summer when they were pros and come back to campus for private Hoya big men training and banging sessions. Hibbert is the only one currently in that role and not sure the former can do much as NBA coaches or part of NBA team management. Hayes could really benefit from that experience and insight and drilling. For now Kenner time with Jeff Green and anything he can offer and any of the coaches that have gone to play pro, even getting as much as he can from Josh Smith would be great as Josh has the footwork, moves, and mindset down really well.
Stephen Domingo: Boom! Domingo has the gym rocker today on an off balance, shot clock at one or less, and draining it roof raiser - it was awesome (best thing was his feet were straight to the hoop, even if his right was in the air out to the side). But, Domingo was solid from other deep threes and drove the lane really well and finished with power and athleticism. He had a few dunks that rivaled what Jabril was throwing down earlier, and even hit his head lightly on the backboard on an acrobatic around and under on which he was fouled (made the free throws - other teams don't want him at the free throw line). He also fought inside really well for rebounds and disrupting shots. He has some low in the paint steals and grabbing lose balls. HIs play was a lot more confident (with a clap for the ball and hoot for it when Green had the ball on the high wing with attention), which was great to see after yesterday's a little more timid play. His defense was good (not great) but was covering his man well and sliding well to cut off lanes and working to keep a hand close to his man on picks and attempted drives to the hoop.
Riyan Williams (proper spelling, which also magically helps with searching for him): A few minutes on a packed Clyde's team. A couple nice deep threes, Good follows on shots of his own and others. Solid breakdown of a defender outside and drives to the hoop with success. Green initially wouldn't give him the time of day when he was wide open in the first half, but that changed in the second on one play. He plays without the ball really well and finds other open players, but is a shooter at heart.
Others: Jonathan Wallace shot really well from threes and was great watching running the point (not that much difference between he and Starks, which is a really good thing seeing how well Jon has improved since his time at The Hilltop. Austin Freeman was really smooth in the few minutes he played using his more athletic rather than more bulky frame move a lot more easily to the hoop. Freeman's outside shot is quicker, smoother, and quite accurate (1 of 2, but I'm using unfair watching him play and shoot and nail threes on run down court at the Chris Wright MS event a few weeks back). Jeff Green had a few dunks, but nothing like the massive one yesterday. Green's outside shooting was off when at the college three, but better when he was farther out. His drives to the basket drew a lot of defensive attention, but Green made all his free throws (not sure if that goes in the given column). Tyler Crawford played a few minutes but his new bulkier body and face I kept missing that he was in and to watch him. Victor Oladipo ran point when he was in for Team Takeover with Jabril and Mikeal, had a nice two handed dunk, good outside shooting from deep, and athletic drives to the hoop.