Examining the NABC (Part 1)

In this edition, I examine the prospects at the Division III NABC Classic, which featured some of the top D3 seniors in the nation.

Matt Addison, Hardin Simmons- I have covered Addison in the past, and there is very little to add here. He once again played extremely well in this competitive allstar game format. Addison was dynamic off the bounce, demonstrating his unique handles and solid passing ability. Addison stole the ball on several occasions and was able to turn that into a transition opportunity. He connected on several tough shots off the dribble and with a hand in his face. Addison plays a tough brand of basketball. On one particular play, he missed on a runner in the lane and was able to grab his own rebound and score. At 5'8, it is difficult to imagine him doing this very often at a high level of professional basketball. However, it is clear that Addison knows his role and is willing to pick his spots offensively. He is an excellent long range shooter, and is creative at beating his man off the dribble. His athleticism should enable him to compensate for his short stature and play at a very high level overseas.

Ralph Temgoua, St. Lawrence- Temgoua projects to be one of the better prospects at this event due to his combination of size (6'5) and athleticism at the wing position. On numerous occasions, he was able to beat several defenders down the floor due to his solid speed. He also was able to break down his man off the dribble, switching hands in order to finish inside. Moreover, he possesses decent basketball fundamentals, utilizing a pump fake to get his man in the air, before scoring easy lay ins. Temgoua is a decent three point shooter, and connected on one long range shot despite a bad pass (at his knees) from his teammate. Temgoua shot a decent percentage from distance at St. Lawrence, but must continue to improve on the consistency of his long range shooting. In this game, he either made his attempt or missed really badly. It could be that he struggles under pressure. As such, he must improve his overall shooting percentage and look to go to his strength of attacking the basket at the next level. Defensively, he was able to lock down his man due to his good lateral quickness and solid physical profile. Look for him to land a contract abroad if he can play under control and become a more efficient offensive option.

Conley Taylor, Christopher Newport- There was not much to glean from Taylor in this contest other than the fact that he has decent offensive tools. He was able to score ahead in transition on occasion, but failed to finish on some other attempts. While he did miss several tough runners in the lane, one has to imagine that he is capable of finishing this play with regularity given his success over the years. Taylor possesses a very good handle and was able to implement some hesitation moves against competition at the NABC. Going forward, Taylor must continue to be aggressive on the glass despite his size. He also must work on finishing in the paint if he hopes to latch on to a squad overseas. Taylor is a decent three point shooter, but must be consistent in this area moving forward. The biggest knock on Taylor's game, though, is his inability to create for his teammates without turning the ball over. He must become more consistent and look to transition to the role of distributing lead guard.

Andrew August, Montclair St.- While August made some poor decisions early on in this contest, he did not receive the ball very much early in this contest. However, in the second half, August demonstrated his good motor and ability to finish plays off the dribble. In the second half, he scored his first two buckets on easy drives to the basket- the easiest of the entire game for any player. This got him going, and he began taking players off the dribble and driving past them for reverse layups. He demonstrated good athleticism on one move where he switched hands for a reverse driving layup in the lane. Additionally, he made several decent passes- one to Addison which set him up for an open perimeter shot. Finally, he was aggressive on defense and occasionally poked the ball away from his man. August projects as a decent slashing wing, who is capable of taking his man off the dribble or playing solid team defense. With that said, his decision making can be questionable at times and he must improve his paltry three point shooting ability. While this may limit where he ends up next season, if he can improve his long range stroke, he has some solid potential down the road.

Jordan Young, College of Staten Island- While Young was not a big stat stuffer in this contest, he did demonstrate some decent tools and intangibles which should earn him a spot somewhere overseas. Young projects to be a post player at 6'5 and thus will have limited opportunities with high level teams in Europe. However, he does understand his role on the floor and is able to function as a complimentary player. In this contest, he did all of the little things to help his team win. He played great defense inside- in particular, his challenge on Michaels shots inside really solidified his presence. Additionally, he altered several other attempts in this game. On the offensive end, he was able to seal his man and secure offensive rebounds before putting the ball back up and in. Young did a nice job of carving out space and utilized excellent box out fundamentals. Additionally, Young displayed solid court vision and awareness with his pass threading the needle to Chad Burridge for the dunk. This was not a one-time occurrence, as he was a capable passer in his collegiate career as well. All in all, Young must look to extend his range and continue to develop his perimeter shot. Right now he projects as a highly efficient undersized big man with a penchant for securing rebounds on both ends of the floor.

Chad Burridge, Oswego St.- Much like my review of Addison, not much has changed with regard to Chad Burridge either. In this contest, he demonstrated that he is an elite athlete for this level with several thunderous alley oop dunks. His jump hook shot was also on display in this contest, and he executed it on several occasions. Additionally, Burridge demonstrated his solid faceup game. He was able to attack the basket off the dribble and even switched hands on one opportunity to avoid an oncoming defender. Burridge has a decent motor and was able to get out in transition and block shots on the other end. Despite his size at 6'7, Chad Burridge is a legitimate post option at the professional level.

Andy Stein, NYU- After leading NYU to one of their best seasons in recent memory, NYU's Andy Stein performed well at the NABC Allstar Game. The 6'8 forward possesses good size and strength on the low block, and was able to secure several rebounds off good box outs. With that said, he is not particularly athletic, and thus was not a standout rebounder at NYU, averaging only 6.4 rpg. Stein demonstrated some decent post maneuvers in this contest, including a nice lefty jump hook shot that is extremely difficult to defend. He uses his body well to create space between him and his man offensively before scoring. Stein did hustle at times and was able to clean up several misses. However, when he was out there for long stretches, he grew tired and occasionally would not get down the floor to defend in time. As such, he must improve his conditioning in order to play at the next level. Stein does possess some potential with his shooting form, and may be able to extend the range on his jumper. Overall, Stein is a capable forward with a decent physical profile and the strength to finish through contact in the post. He must continue to improve his jump shot in order to secure a spot on a professional squad.



DaQuan Brooks, Western Connecticut St.- Brooks was probably the quickest guard at the event, and he made several nice moves slashing to the basket. Brooks possesses good hangtime and athleticism, as he oftentimes is able to float past his defender. Brooks did an excellent job of breaking his man down off the dribble, utilizing his exceptionally quick first step as well as several stop and go moves. Brooks was fearless when entering the paint and looked to score against any player, even big men that were roughly a foot taller than him. For the season, Brooks shot almost 80% from the free throw line on 252 attempts, an average of nine attempts per game. Brooks was capable of passing the ball, but rarely looked to move the ball around the perimeter, instead opting to drive and kick inside. He must learn to become more team oriented, as he forced the action at times. In particular, he took several ill-advised three point attempts, which disrupted the flow of the offense. Brooks must work to become a better three point shooter and look to improve his shot selection from long range. His 34.4% this past season illustrates that he is going to have to knock down the three point shot with more consistency at the next level. Defensively, Brooks may be a liability at 5'10 if he is forced to match up with bigger guards. He does have very good hands and the lateral quickness to compete on this end at the next level. All in all, Brooks is a flashy guard with good athleticism and physical tools who must learn to function in a smaller role next season by increasing his efficiency.

Ryan Sharry, Middlebury- Sharry brought his fundamentally sound game in this one. He was all over the glass, boxing out and securing loose rebounds as well as scoring on putback attempts. Further, he demonstrated his solid post footwork and crafty ability around the basket. While he did not face many elite level interior defenders, Sharry was extremely effective against his opposition. He was comfortable finishing with either hand, and went to his off hand on numerous occasions. Further, Sharry utilized excellent head fakes to get his defender off balance before creating separation. Sharry showcased his range at this event and was able to step out and nail a three point bucket. On the defensive end, he was effective, but not game changing. It would be interesting to see how he matches up against elite athleticism, as he has a very high basketball IQ and is crafty around the basket.

David Michaels, Whitman- Michaels matched up with big men in this contest and performed fairly well. He connected on several top-of-the-key jumpers and was able to penetrate for pullup shots. Michaels sports a good release and a nice form on his shot. Not only was he able to hit shots from the perimeter, but Michaels also distributed the ball to his teammates, setting them up for easy lay ins. After watching this contest, it appeared that Michaels would look to fill the role of faceup big man at the next level. However, his post defense left a lot to be desired, and he often gave up position to Sharry inside. If he can improve his defense on the block or look to transition to the perimeter, Michaels could crack a rotation on some professional squad.

Seth Anderson, Gustavus Adolphus- Anderson probably had the best offensive performance here, particularly in the second half when he caught fire and almost single handedly fueled his team's comeback. Anderson's bread and butter is his ability to hit jump shots off of screen sets. In this contest, he was able to freeze his man off the dribble and pullup for open jumpers. He did this throughout the second half, and during one stretch, was responsible for nearly all of his team's baskets. Anderson displayed his range as well, and was able to dial in from distance. When he began to get in a groove, he was able to even hit turn around fadeaway shots. Not only was he notably efficient from the perimeter, but Anderson also hustled down court to finish in transition. Additionally, because of the threat of his jumper, he was able to get to the line as the game drew to a close. Finally, Anderson was effective guarding Addison on the defensive end and often forced him to give up his dribble. While he did not shut him down entirely, Anderson's defensive effort was intense and resulted in a few steals off of lazy passes. In all likelihood Seth Anderson will go overseas and earn a nice contract- he has the requisite basketball IQ and jumper to make an impact almost immediately.

David Krombeen, Hope- Krombeen was the catalyst behind Hope's excellent season in D3. In this contest, he demonstrated why he is such a valuable player- not forcing the issue and making the right plays to lead his team down the stretch. He made several excellent passes in this contest to McCrary and Richter, giving them wide open lanes to the basket. He often kicked the ball out to the perimeter and was able to assist wide open teammates after he drew so much defensive attention. Also, Krombeen displayed his good basketball IQ by utilizing his shot fake, and was able to beat his man off the dribble. With that said, Krombeen needs to improve his efficiency on his running drives in the lane. Late in the game he began to make plays, stealing the ball and getting out in transition. He often beat the other team down the floor late and was able to capitalize. Additionally, he was able to shut down Addison on several pivotal possessions. Overall, Krombeen is a good lead guard who could potentially be a factor at the next level if he can improve his middle game.

Tim Brady, Ohio Wesleyan- Tim Brady demonstrated his prowess as a serious offensive threat throughout this event. Not only did his jumper appear fairly reliable, but he was able to break free from his defender in order to get in position for an open shot. Brady moves fairly well with and without the ball, and thus is a multifaceted offensive weapon. In this contest, he was able to knock down the outside shot with some efficiency, but also went to his strength, moving towards the rim and attacking the basket. On one instance, he made a nice spin move to free himself, but a help defender forced him into a tough shot. Brady nailed a three pointer in transition off the dribble as well. He also demonstrated that he can be effective in transition by running the floor and making a reverse layup off of a nice feed. He saved a play and caught an alley oop that was poorly placed. Brady was also able to use his body to create space against his defender, setting himself up for setback shots and helping him draw contact. Brady got to the line fairly frequently during the season with 223 free throw attempts, and it is not hard to see why. He is aggressive and fairly athletic going to the basket. All in all, Brady must improve on his efficiency from the field and ease into a more complimentary role at the next level. He has the instincts to succeed, but he must continue to work on his three point shooting (36.6%) and improve on his ability to finish around the rim. He already has the tools to get there, and should play professionally somewhere.

Travis Clark, Lake Forest- This undersized bruiser played an efficient brand of basketball on the offensive end. He utilized his significant girth to box out and even stole rebounds away from the bigger Stein. He played a physical brand of basketball and was able to weed out players in order to secure rebounds. Clark functioned as a pick setter as well and was able to roll to the basket for easy lay ins. In spite of his large size, Clark was able to run in transition and beat everyone down the floor for a layup on several possessions. Clark moves well without the ball and is both a threat on the block and a threat to slice to the basket for an easy bucket. While he relies on his weight to move people on the block, he is nimble enough to play without the ball. Clark is most effective defensively, though, and was able to really challenge players on the other team without fouling. He is not a great shot blocker, but is able to alter shots and disrupt on this end of the floor. This may or may not be able to translate at the next level and against taller, more superior athletes. He will play somewhere, but his ability to defend will be a critical part of where he ends up down the road.

Dylan Richter, Washington University at St. Louis- Richter is the ultimate glue guy and demonstrated his ability to contribute by doing the little things throughout this contest. While he connected on a deep three point attempt in this game, he must continue to work on his efficiency from deep, as evinced by the fact that he shot 35.7% this past season on a sizable 210 attempts. Richter was able to secure rebounds and also made the right passes down the stretch. He understands the proper way to make a post entry pass, and executed this on several occasions. And, he also made a nice go-ahead pass late in the game to help his team come back. Further, Richter was able to score inside when it mattered late in the game. On the defensive end, Richter has decent anticipatory instincts and is capable of stealing the ball away from his opponents. He does this while rarely fouling, which makes him fairly valuable on this end of the floor. Overall the 6'3 Richter is going to have to improve his strength and conditioning while becoming more efficient from behind the arc to make an impact at the professional level.


Tim McCrary, Wheaton- McCrary had one of the best showings in this contest, and was able toscore in a variety of ways. The 6'6 forward must continue with his transition to the wing, though,and must develop a three point stroke. (He only attempted one all season) With that said, McCrary has a good handle and was arguably the most fundamentally sound player in this entire game. He is highly mobile and athletic attacking the basket, and was able to execute some pretty spin moves in the lane. He is very agile for a forward, and does a good job of shielding the ball with his body when attacking the basket. McCrary is particularly crafty finishing inside through contact, which he is able to draw night in and night out. He also is a viable post option, and he often out-quicks larger big men inside or simply shoots until they overplay him. On the season, he connected on 74.3% of his 191 free throw attempts. McCrary is also a good rebounder for his size and does an excellent job of boxing out. He averaged 8.4 rebounds per game and was best on the defensive glass. McCrary also possesses excellent court awareness and was able to assist on several basket cuts in this game. He averaged over 3 assists per game this past year and most of these came within the flow of Wheaton's offense. On the defensive end, he is too small to defend the small forward position at the professional level, but he may be able to guard some shooting guards overseas. If he can continue to improve his outside game, he should fit in well abroad, as he possesses an outstanding basketball IQ.

Paul Kouvaris, York (Pa.)- Kouvaris is a talented offensive player with legitimate height at 6'5. In this contest, he was able to use his length to his advantage, particularly on the defensive end. He pressured the ball constantly and forced offensive players into some very difficult fadeaway shots. With the exception of a few plays in which he bit on fakes, (one in particular involving Temgoua) Kouvaris was fundamentally sound on the defensive end, but must continue to develop physically in order to be a factor at the next level. He also has great hands and instincts to steal the ball, tipping it to himself and finishing in transition. Additionally, Kouvaris is fundamentally sound on the offensive end and employs a believable punk fake in order to get defenders in the air. He was able to do this throughout the game, and used it to create easy lay in opportunities. He also possesses an array of spin moves in the lane which allow him to create separation from his defender. With these strengths in mind, Kouvaris must develop an outside shot. He did not attempt one all season at York College. Further, he must improve his decision making in order to latch onto a roster overseas. While he made some good decisions in this game, he had a 0.6 Assist-to-Turnover Ratio on the year, which is not good enough to earn playing time at the next level. If he does a better job of handling the ball and develops a consistent outside shot, he will secure a roster spot overseas. But, his decision making must improve first.


Ethan Eichhorst, Misericordia- While Eichhorst did not stand out much on the offensive end in this game, he did some of the little things that coaches look for at the next level. Even though he does not attempt many long range shots, he was fairly proficient from beyond the arc in this game and in his senior season. He nailed a pretty looking three point jumper and shot 42.6% on 54 attempts on the season. He must continue to develop this stroke and shoot from distance more frequently. Eichhorst is a fairly efficient shooter overall, with a nice looking stroke. He shot 52.4% from the floor on the year and connected on 88.5% of his free throw attempts. He is a good rebounder for his size and collected 7.3 boards per game on the year. Further, Eichhorst is very unselfish and was able to make an excellent feed to Michaels inside. He also set up an alley oop for a teammate who was unable to complete the play. Eichhorst is thereby fairly versatile on the offensive end, but must continue to solidify his outside shot in order to succeed at the next level. On the defensive end, there are still some question marks as to how he will be able to keep up with some quicker guards laterally. But, if he can ease into his transition on the wing from a defensive perspective, he should be able to adjust to the international game.


(Image Sources: Stlawu.edu, Newstimes.com, and triblocal.com)

Non-D1 Players at the Portsmouth Invitational

Even though only one of my top 5 non D1 seniors made the Portsmouth Invitational (and was a last minute invite due to a cancellation), five seniors ended up receiving invites. While there is definitely some talent amongst this year's crop, here is an analysis of how each player performed.

Jet Chang, BYU-Hawaii- Chang was the best offensive weapon of the non-D1 players. He filled up the stat sheet in a variety of ways, slashing to the basket with reckless abandon and finishing strong against top-rated shot blockers. He definitely had one of the stronger showings at the Portsmouth Invitational, particularly from an offensive standpoint. Chang has a very good first step and is crafty around the rim, knowing when to seek contact out and when to kick the ball back out. He was fouled hard on numerous attempts to get in the lane and made a living at the line for much of this Portsmouth Invitational. He seemed to relish the opportunity to impress scouts and was willing to go inside regardless of the extremely physical nature of these games. Much like his senior season where he shot a poor percentage from behind the arc, Chang struggled to connect from distance in his first two contests. However, when he found a rhythm attacking the basket in the last game, he was able to make two of three from deep in the third contest. In a game where very few fouls were called, Chang did a nice job of drawing contact and getting to the line against elite competition. While he played decent defense against Braydon Hobbs in his last contest, there are some concerns that Chang will be able to defend the shooting guard position at the next level. However, he is still a crafty guard who can hit the mid range jumper, and is extremely aggressive attacking and finishing in the paint. He'll likely land on a summer league team after his performance here.

Travis Hyman, Bowie St.- Hyman was the latest edition to the Portsmouth Invitational and one of the five non-D1 players that I recommended in my letter. He did not disappoint. While he is incredibly raw offensively for an 'older' senior, Hyman has NBA physical tools and athleticism. In his first few contests, Hyman did not receive many touches, but functioned predominantly as a rim protector- a quality that intrigued the Spurs last summer. He was able to steal the ball and block countless shots at the rim throughout the tournament. In his last game, he was able to find a rhythm on both ends. He blocked several difficult shots and played great 'contest-without-fouling' defense at the rim. On offense, he was able to get out in transition on occasion, but was unable to finish through contact. With that said, he was fouled countless times that were not called. When the coaching staff kept him in the game for a long stretch, he did seem to tire getting down the floor. As such, he must improve his conditioning. On the glass, Hyman was extremely aggressive and did a nice job of using his length and athleticism to his advantage. All in all, Hyman is an incredibly raw NBA prospect with the potential to develop into a quality role player down the road due to his physical gifts and penchant for hard-nosed defense.

Braydon Hobbs, Bellarmine- While many scouts were left unimpressed by Hobbs' performance at Portsmouth, I was left scratching my head. Widely considered the most efficient player on a Division II championship contender, Hobbs struggled to score the ball at Portsmouth. He had several opportunities, but was unable to connect from three point range. And, this was surprising considering the fact that he shot 50% from beyond the arc in college. His only basket came off of a runner in the lane. Because of his underwhelming scoring totals, some felt that he was the odd man out at the PIT and did not deserve an invite. This is very far from the truth. First, it must be noted that Hobbs rarely received many touches on the offensive end. When he did, he looked to create for his teammates at every opportunity. Hobbs was one of his team's leading assist men, and made some excellent passes with few turnovers. His team's coach complimented him on every trip to the bench. With all of that said, anyone who had watched Braydon Hobbs before this could have foreseen such a performance coming, as his game is not at all tailored to pick up basketball. Hobbs's body is underdeveloped at 6'5, but he has good length and is able to pick off passes and play decent defense on the perimeter. On several occasions, Chang powered his way to the basket, and it is clear that Hobbs will struggle against stronger players at the next level. With that said, he has an excellent basketball IQ and will fit right in with a European squad immediately. His game is tailor-made for Europe, and I would not be surprised if he became one of the more talked about import players in a few years.

David Michaels, Whitman- After watching Michaels at the NABC classic, I felt that he had a decent faceup game for a big man, but that he would not translate given the physicality at the next level. At Portsmouth, he was able to prove my initial assessment wrong. Michaels appeared to be much more agile than I remembered and was willing to play a more perimeter-oriented game. He attacked the basket and spotted up from distance. He is still a little small to be an NBA small forward at 6'7, but should fit in fairly well as a wing overseas. He is able to drain the three point shot, but took some poor attempts late in games and did not have the most efficient outings at the PIT to say the least. On the positive end, he was aggressive getting to the basket, and played solid defense on Chase Stanback for most of the game. He was aggressive and displayed nice hands on the defensive end. Additionally, Michaels assisted in boxing out and was able to secure loose balls for his team. All in all, Michaels appears to be a good role players at the European level, and should contribute immediately. He must work on improving his efficiency if he hopes to land in the top rated European domestic leagues though.

Bryant Voiles, Augustana- Coming in as a player I had never seen before, I was somewhat impressed by how Voiles was able to adapt to this level of play. While he initially struggled in his first contest, as he was not able to establish himself against top tier D-1 post players, Voiles eventually opted to play on the perimeter with mixed results. Particularly in the championship game, he functioned as a face up shooter, and was able to connect on some pivotal shots late in the game. With that said, he rarely played in his second game, and failed to stand out in the first two contests at Portsmouth. While he was not super efficient in his last game, he did secure some loose balls and connect on shots at pivotal junctures. He will likely struggle to score off the bounce, and must continue to perfect his perimeter shooting abilities. At 6'9, that should earn him a spot on some competitive team's roster next season. Voiles was very confident throughout the PIT and looked like he belonged, even though he had to adjust his style of play.

Scouring the Nation (Part 10)

In this edition of "Scouring the Nation", I review several top prospects, including a first-team all-NAIA player with NBA aspirations.



While he does not have the same name recognition as most Division I prospects, Philander Smith's Ken Brown is one of the top non-D1 prospects in the nation. (I have him tabbed as a top 3 player along with Johnson & Wales' Lamonte Thomas and Farmingdale St.'s AJ Matthews) And, it should also be noted that this was his first season at Philander Smith after he transferred from Western Kentucky. (and before that Cerritos College and Southwest Tennessee Community College) Because he has been a college basketball journeyman over his four years, playing at four different schools, it must be said that his accomplishments this season are all the more impressive. Not only does he have great chemistry with his teammates, but he was able to fit in with his team's system and thrive in his very first season with a new squad. Brown is clearly one of the most talented players that I have reviewed and should find success on whichever team is willing to give him an opportunity, whether that be in the NBA or overseas.

Despite his eye popping scoring numbers, (31.9 points per contest) Brown is more than capable of distributing the ball to his teammates. He involves them early and often, throwing it down court to them off of steals and making proper, fundamental post entry feeds. He knows which hand to feed his big man on and executes with precise bounce passes. Brown regularly finds cutters as well, and is willing to slash in the lane and draw defenders before either making wrap-around passes to a big man, or hitting wide open three point shooters. Brown is clearly most effective passing the ball in transition, but was able to dish the ball to his teammates under a variety of different circumstances as described above. It must also be noted that Brown shared time at point guard with DeMarkus Lipscomb, a 5'8 junior who allowed him to play off the ball at times. When he did, Brown did a good job of rubbing off screens and setting himself up for decent three point looks. Due to his quick release, he does not need much of a window to get his shot off.

At a higher level of basketball, Brown's role will change dramatically, and he will be asked to look for his teammates before asserting himself offensively. While his virtual one-to-one assist to turnover ratio does not appear to indicate that he can make such an adjustment, this statistic must be qualified. Much like Lamonte Thomas, Brown had the ball in his hands for most of the game, as he was the only player on his team that could create his own offense. If kenpom's usage statistics existed for NAIA, I am certain that Brown would be a top 5 player nationwide. Because his role will be so different at the next level, it is hard to tell whether or not turnovers will be a concern. He could stand to tighten up his handle on crossover moves and dribble drives to the basket, but he rarely ran into any problems beating players off the bounce. He was able to implement the change-of-pace dribble when getting to the basket, but he will have to utilize this more often at the next level and work to become even more effective in beating his man. At the NAIA level, he was dominant attacking the basket and was able to weave between defenders both in halfcourt sets and in transition. His first step is very fast, but he will need to utilize an array of different moves to break free from bigger defenders at the next level.

In terms of his greatest strength, Brown is an NBA-caliber shooter. Out of his staggering 650 field goal attempts, Ken was able to connect on 50.3% of his shots this season. Brown displays an ideal form on his jump shot and has good lift. He is able to pullup from the mid range or from beyond the arc. In the contests that I watched, he was able to step back off the dribble with defenders in his face and bury rhythm three point baskets. He also was capable of connecting from distance off the catch, and displayed a quick release with defenders closing out on him. Brown shot an excellent 41.2% from beyond the arc on 274 attempts this season. Those are pretty remarkable numbers given the sheer volume of shots. He also was effective from the line, hitting 80.3% of his attempts, and got there frequently- 239 attempts on the year.

On the defensive end, it was difficult to evaluate Brown's play due to his team's zone. When they moved to more of a matchup zone, Brown demonstrated good fundamentals and rarely allowed his man to beat him. He has good lateral quickness and the ability to successfully close out on his man. However, it is difficult to evaluate what type of help instincts Brown has because help instincts are different in a zone. With that said, he does have extremely quick hands and regularly deflects the ball, as demonstrated by his 3.13 steals per game. In the contests that I witnessed, he was able to tap the ball to himself and turn steals into transition run outs. Because of his team's zone, though, he often overcommitted and would play far out on the perimeter, guiding his man to his off hand and into a trap. But, his ability to do this will likely diminish at the next level, as he will be required to play fundamentally sound man-to-man defense on a regular basis. How he adjusts then, defensively, will likely determine the level of basketball which he will play at next season.

Overall, Brown is one of the more remarkable stories because he undoubtably had the talent to achieve success at a Division 1 school, but did not have any more eligibility remaining after he was forced to leave Western Kentucky. How he measures with NBA scouts will likely determine where he lands initially. While he is listed at 6'1 currently, other sources have him tabbed 5'10. Regardless of his size, Brown has the jump shot and basketball instincts to play at a high level and should land on an NBA summer league roster at a bare minimum.

Another one of the top NAIA prospects in the nation is Tougaloo's Marquise Mems. Standing at 6'5, Mems has a strong NBA body that is a bit undersized for the shooting guard spot. At the NAIA level, he is very big for a wing, and is able to beat smaller players off the dribble. He is a fluid athlete and is able to get the ball down court in a hurry.

As a result, Mems scores the vast majority of his points in transition or attacking the basket. He is most effective in this capacity and is very strong finishing at the hoop. He does a good job of initiating contact and drawing fouls, as evinced by his 229 FT attempts on the year. When he got to the line, however, he only hit 62% of his attempts, something that must be improved on to receive any playing time professionally. While he is capable of getting to the basket in half court sets as well, he needs to tighten his handle and keep the ball lower to the ground. Otherwise, he will turn the ball over more frequently at the professional level. He currently does a nice job of shielding the ball with his body and finishing at the hoop. He attacks the body when finishing and is more than willing to attempt to dunk over a defender. Mems has excellent athleticism and he displays his remarkable leaping ability out in transition. He was fouled very hard on a regular basis from what I saw, and was willing to tough it out and stay in the game.

In terms of his shooting ability, this is one of his biggest weaknesses. He is extremely streaky and must work hard to improve his efficiency from the field. While he did connect on some three point shots off the dribble when I saw him, he had paltry shooting percentages from behind the arc. He only hit 30.9% of his attempts. This is partially due to the fact that he took so many of them, 207 attempts, and the degree of difficulty that he is willing to settle for on so many of those shots. His 43.3% FG% is not the mark of an efficient scorer, and he must work to further develop his shooting stroke. Mechanically, he must work to maintain a consistent form. He does not go straight up and down on his shot and tends to fade left at times. Even more problematic, Mems often shoots the ball on the way down from his jump, leading to inconsistent results in his shot trajectory. In order to be effective at the next level, he is going to have to shoot the same way everytime and avoid off balance shots.

With regard to his intangibles, Mems does a decent job of feeding his teammates at times. He is capable of solid post entry feeds (a lost art in the game today), and is willing to give the ball up, particularly in transition. He was asked to handle some point guard responsibilities when the ball was denied to his team's lead guard. He handled them fairly well, but did occasionally take an ill-advised three pointer early in the shot clock. This was because his man gave him some space, and he casually connected on this three point attempt off of one dribble. As was alluded to previously, Mems must improve his shot selection and learn when to dial in his own number. Further, he turns the ball over frequently and has a 0.53 Assist-to-Turnover ratio. He must take care of the ball and improve his basketball IQ in this area, learning when to pass and shoot. His development in this regard will determine how far he can advance professionally. Despite this weakness, Mems is an excellent rebounder for his size, pulling in 6.32 rebounds per game due to his solid athleticism. He does a fine job of boxing out and securing weakside rebounds, and is willing to fly in for boards when he is initially playing on the perimeter.

On the defensive end, Mems is fairly assertive and has decent lateral quickness. He was able to force the ball to rotate several times in the contests that I saw and was aggressive on this end of the floor. His good athleticism allows him to contest shots at the rim, and his solid length enables him to deflect passes in transition. Mems has quick hands and the ability to turn steals into transition buckets. He did this on several occasions and averages an excellent 2.47 steals per game and 0.82 blocks per contest. In terms of his defensive weaknesses, Mems must be assertive on this end at all times. He remained upright far too often, and as such, his effort level and intensity must change for him to have an impact on this end in professional basketball. While he is effective at this level of play, he might struggle to defend players with similar size and athleticism on the wing. But, this remains to be seen, as there aren't many players that fit that billing at the NAIA level.

Overall, Mems has a good physical profile and the tools to be a decent role player at the professional level. He must learn to adjust to a more limited role and improve his shooting prowess in order to receive playing time at a higher level of basketball. Marquise Mems is an intriguing player at the NAIA level with solid athleticism, and I am almost certain that his basketball playing days will continue somewhere overseas.


Another prospect with a bright future ahead of him is Rust College's Markeith Wilson. Playing as a Division III Independent does not allow him to receive much recognition for his basketball talents. And, it was difficult to get footage and statistics of him, as there is nothing on their website and there are only a few videos of Rust College basketball circulating on the internet.

With this in mind, it should be noted that Wilson is a solid basketball player with a future playing overseas. He is most proficient from behind the three point arc, where he connected on 38.8% of his 201 3 point attempts a year ago. He does an excellent job of squaring his body and has a quick release. In the contests that I watched, he was forced to take difficult three point shots, as he was overplayed on virtually every possession that he had the ball. As a result, he drained three point shots from beyond NBA range and was able to connect on some tough pullup three point baskets off the dribble. Overall, he has a picture-perfect stroke with good elevation, and he does a nice job of squaring his body to the basket on every shot attempt. Wilson can become a decent midrange jump shooter, but must learn to work off of screen sets, which were not always available to him in the games that I watched.

When he is not shooting off the bounce or connecting on long range shots, Wilson utilizes the threat of his shot to beat defenders off the dribble. He does a nice job of implementing the head fake, and then blowing by his man once he gets him in the air. After blowing by his defender, Wilson has the ability to finish at the rim or dish to his teammates inside if the defense rotates over. He also regularly finds open three point shooters off the dribble. It should be noted, though, that he is not particularly explosive as a run jump athlete and thus is more of a finesse finisher at the rim. At higher levels of basketball, he is going to need to work to shield his body and score, as he already has a knack for attacking the shot blocker's chest and drawing fouls. He is not particularly strong finishing through contact, but is crafty enough to hang in the air and score around players. He does have decent hang time even though he is not the best run-jump athlete, as he oftentimes plays below the rim. Before he can excel attacking the basket, though, he must first develop his dribble drive abilities. At this stage, he does not possess the requisite first step to blow by his man and finish at the rim. He instead relies on basketball savvy to get his defender off balance. But, he must work on improving his handle if he hopes to develop more of a slashing game.

Despite his lack of explosive quickness off the dribble, he is fast in transition and is able to get down the floor in a hurry and break away ahead of the pack. He did this on several occasions that I witnessed. In one instance, he did a nice job of boxing out his man and then sprinted all the way downcourt for a fast break layup. He may be able to excel in this area at the next level, as he is able to anticipate run outs fairly well. Wilson generally has a very high basketball IQ and is able to play under control under most circumstances within his team's offensive sets. With that said, when he caught fire from three point land, he tended to shoot until he missed, opting for long three point bombs early in the shot clock. He must avoid such attempts if he hopes to receive extended minutes at the professional level.

Defensively, it was difficult to fully evaluate him. Still, there were times where he did display decent help instincts. In one instance, he allowed his teammate to cover a player slashing to the hoop and successfully closed out on an open three point shooter. When he was forced into a mismatch with big man Darrell Miller inside, he played physical post defense and was unwilling to give up too much ground in the post. Thus, he may be effective switching within a professional defensive scheme. With that said, Wilson is not particularly laterally quick and will likely struggle to defend elite level athletes at the next level. He does have decent defensive instincts though, and may learn to recover and pick up another player on a switch.

Overall, Markeith Wilson is one of the better pure shooters that I have reviewed. Even though his 38.8% three point percentage does not indicate it, he is very dynamic shooting the ball and defenders regularly overplay him. In many instances, he often receives double teams on the perimeter. Wilson must continue to improve his handle and middle-game in order to become a more well rounded offensive weapon at the next level. Defensively, he must continue to work and develop his ability to lock down on the perimeter.


Finally, Fisk University's Darrell Miller deserves a mention despite the fact that he was reviewed on two separate occasions before this. He still brings pretty much the same skillset to the table as was noted in earlier editions. However, it should be noted that he has become a better passer and works to free himself inside. When he is unable to receive deep post position due to his weak lower body strength, Miller is capable of cutting to the hoop for dunks or simply working off the offensive glass. He is one of the best in this capacity. However, when he does inevitably draw fouls, he must finish his free throw attempts. Additionally, while his shooting form does have some promise, his shot is a bit flat when he steps out and attempts open perimeter jumpers. Overall, Miller is an incredibly active player with excellent athleticism and the ability to be a prospect down the road. I will keep following his development to see where he is in a couple of years.


(Image Sources: Cerritos.edu and gcaconf.com)

Letter To the Portsmouth Invitational

In the spirit of full-disclosure, the following is my private email to the heads of the Portsmouth Invitational tournament urging them to accept more non-D1 talent so that NBA teams and squads overseas can adequately gauge talent that they likely have seen little of. More importantly, though, the players that I recommend are more than capable of holding their own against the top senior talent in D1.


To Whom it May Concern:


My name is Jordan and I am a talent evaluator for college basketball players. Upon scouting the best players outside of Division 1, I have come to a consensus of the top 5 seniors, all of which deserve an opportunity at the Portsmouth Invitational. I know that last year not one non-D1 player was invited to Portsmouth. This has to change, as there is some serious talent among the five players I am about to list.

The following is the case for the top 5 seniors outside of Division 1:

Lamonte Thomas, Johnson & Wales, DIII, 34.1 ppg, 5.8rpg, and 4.8 apg, 38% 3 pt %

Thomas was the best scorer in Division 3 the past two seasons. He is a 6'2 point guard with an excellent handle and deceptive quickness. He can shoot over the top of players at his level, but is best getting to the rim. He has the athleticism to be effective at a higher level of basketball. He should be a shoe-in for this tournament, as he is one of DIII's alltime greats.


Tony Smith, Shaw University, DII, 12.2ppg, 6.9rpg, 5.8apg, 1.9spg, 38% 3pt %

While he is older than his graduating class, Smith has the best vision of the five players I mention. He is a 6'5 point guard who is dynamic in transition and picks his spots on the floor. He could easily average 16 ppg and 8 apg if he looked for his own offense more often. Extremely effective in transition and defensively. Great hands. Threw 2 full court passes off rebounds with a player back in transition in the NCAA tournament. That's something maybe 7-10 guys on the planet can complete.


Ken Brown, Philander Smith, NAIA D1, 31.97ppg, 4 rpg, 4 apg, 3.13 spg, 41.2% 3pt%

This 6'1 lead guard is a scoring machine who is lightning quick and has great hands and can lock down on D. He is an excellent three point shooter, as evinced by his percentage given his 274 attempts on the year. Leading scorer in NAIA and one of the best players in a few years.


Eric Frederick, Texas Wesleyan, NAIA D1, 25.41ppg, 10.19 rpg, 1.03spg, 52.5 % FG%

He is one of the more unique big men that I have seen at a non D1 school at 6'8. He can score in a variety of ways, but was forced to handle the ball a little much this year. He often faced double and triple teams. Despite being 265 lbs, he is very mobile and has a wide array of power post moves. Not only that, he has a decent handle for his size, even though he can make some questionable passes at times. Also, he can step out and hit the three with some consistency. His percentage is only 31%, but he started catching fire late in the season from beyond the arc. Really a unique player.


Travis Hyman, Bowie St., NCAA D2, 10.1 ppg, 8.6rpg, 2.93 bpg, 47.1% FG%

While his numbers do not really stand out at first glance, this guy has the most potential of any of the guys listed. While he has developed only somewhat over his college years, Hyman has NBA level athleticism. He is one of the best shot blockers outside of D1 and he alters many more shots. He finishes well near the rim and can run the floor. He is 7'0 tall and once played with former Portsmouth selection Duke Crews. Scouting services have been looking into Hyman over the past few years and while his numbers are not as impressive as they could have been statistically speaking, he is an impact player who can more than hold his own against the field.



I want it to be known that I have no affiliation with any of these players. These are just my suggestions, and as I scout non-D1 talent, I would like to have some players represent the lower levels of college basketball at Portsmouth. The aforementioned players have competed against top flight talent before, with Smith going up against the likes of Duke and performing fairly well. Ken Brown dropped 22 points at Arkansas Little Rock and 28 against Central Arkansas this year. Lamonte Thomas had 26 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists against Brown University. So, these guys can fill it up against D1 schools.


Let me know what you think of these players, and if you are open to some suggestions.

Portsmouth Suggested Invites 2012

Below is a list suggesting which players should be invited to the Portsmouth Invitational held in two weeks. Some seniors were left off, as I assume that they would not accept their invite. (in no particular order)

1. SF Antwaine Wiggins, College of Charleston
2. SG Brandon Wood, Michigan St.
3. SF Olek Czyz, Nevada
4. SF Kyle Weems, Missouri St.
5. SF DeQuan Jones, Miami (Fl.)
6. PF/C Bernard James, Florida St.
7. PF Terrance Henry, Ole Miss
8. PF/C Gus Gilchrist, South Florida
9. PF Quincy Acy, Baylor
10. SF Anthony Jones, Baylor
11. PF Jesse Perry, Arizona
12. SG Ramone Moore, Temple
13. SF/PF Wendell McKines, New Mexico St.
14. SG Kevin Murphy, Tennessee Tech
15. PF Dominique Morrison, Oral Roberts
16. PG Casper Ware, Long Beach St.
17. SF Chase Stanback, UNLV
18. PG Joe Ragland, Wichita St.
19. PG Scoop Jardine, Syracuse
20. PF/C Kyle O'Quinn, Norfolk St.
21. C Kenny Frease, Xavier
22. SF Chris Johnson, Dayton
23. C Michael Eric, Temple
24. PF Eli Holman, Detroit
25. PF/C Miles Plumlee, Duke
26. PF David Loubeau, Texas A&M
27. PF Keith Wright, Harvard
28. PG/SG Jason Clark, Georgetown
29. SG Devoe Joseph, Oregon
30. C Greg Mangano, Yale
31. PG Lamonte Thomas, Johnson & Wales
32. PF Josh Owens, Stanford
33. PG Jordan Theodore, Seton Hall
34. PF Mike Glover, Iona
35. SG Kyle Kuric, Louisville
36. SG Dion Dixon, Cincinnati
37. C Robert Sacre, Gonzaga
38. C Garret Stutz, Wichita St.
39. SF Kenny Gabriel, Auburn
40. SF Alex Young, IUPUI
41. PF LaRon Dendy, Middle Tennessee St.
42. PF Eric Griffin, Campbell
43. PF Justin Greene, Kent St.
44. C Xavier Gibson, Florida St.
45. C Travis Hyman, Bowie St.
46. PG Tony Smith, Shaw University
47. PG Chris Smith, Louisville
48. SF/PF Ken Horton, Central Connecticut St.
49. PG Juan Fernandez, Temple
50. PG Zack Rosen, UPenn
51. PG Ken Brown, Philander Smith
52. SG Darrion Pellum, Hampton
53. SG Carlon Brown, Colorado
54. SG Deividas Dulkys, Florida St.
55. PF Julian Mavunga, Miami (Oh.)
56. PG Damier Pitts, Marshall
57. C Mitchell Watt, Buffalo
58. PF Jarrod Jones, Ball St.
59. PF Cameron Moore, UAB
60. SF Kent Bazemore, ODU
61. PG Jorge Gutierrez, Cal
62. PG Reggie Hamilton, Oakland
63. SG Savalace Townsend, Arkansas Pine-Bluff
64. PF Eric Frederick, Texas Wesleyan

Top 30 Prospects Outside D1

The following is a list of the top 30 basketball prospects outside of Division 1. This list incorporates multiple levels and spans NCAA Division 2, NCAA Division 3, and NAIA Division 1. Prospects have a chance to rise in their conference tournaments, but the following is a composite ranking based on this season's performances. This list took considerable scouting time and some statistical analysis. Any feedback will be greatly appreciated.

1. Karron Johnson, Junior, Shaw University, Division 2
2. Lamonte Thomas, Senior, Johnson & Wales, Division 3
3. AJ Matthews, Junior, Farmingdale St., Division 3
4. Marcus Goode, Junior, Benedict College, Division 2
5. Jeremy Kendle, Junior, Bellarmine University, Division 2
6. Travis Hyman, Senior, Bowie St., Division 2
7. Eric Frederick, Senior, Texas Wesleyan, NAIA Division 1
8. Ken Brown, Senior, Philander Smith, NAIA Division 1




9. Cardell McFarland, Senior, Kentucky Wesleyan, Division 2
10. Temi Adebayo, Senior, Philadelphia University, Division 2
11. Tyrone Shelley, Senior, Georgetown College, NAIA Division 1
12. Malik Alvin, Senior, Shaw University, Division 2
13. LA Farmer, Senior, Arkansas Monticello, Division 2
14. Anthony Young, Senior, Kentucky Wesleyan, Division 2
15. Cody Schilling, Senior, Augustana Sd., Division 2
16. Teondre Williams, Senior, Clayton St., Division 2
17. Braydon Hobbs, Senior, Bellarmine University, Division 2
18. Jet Chang, Senior, BYU-Hawaii, Division 2


19. Travis Wilkins, Junior, St. Catharine College, NAIA Division 1
20. Keane Thoman, Senior, Missouri Southern, Division 2
21. Antonio Smith, Senior, Shaw University, Division 2
22. Ronnie Moss, Senior, Texas Wesleyan, NAIA Division 1
23. DJ Rivera, Senior, Montevallo, Division 2
24. Isaac Thornton, Junior, Fairmont St., Division 2
25. Sammy Emile, Senior, Mars Hill, Division 2
26. Cedric Harris, Sophomore, West Liberty, Division 2
27. Steve Custis, Senior, Fairmont St., Division 2
28. Da'Ron Sims, Senior, West Georgia, Division 2
29. Marquise Mems, Senior, Tougaloo, NAIA Division 1
30. Fayzon Richey, Junior, Saint Gregory's, NAIA Division 1


[Pictures: AJ Matthews (Source: Farmingdale St. Website), Cardell McFarland (Source: Twitter Picture), Jet Chang (Source: mauinow.com)]

Scouring the Nation (Part 9)

In this edition of Scouring the Nation, I explore some more Division III professional prospects.



Upon watching a Drew University men's basketball contest, it becomes clear that Asmar Capers is not only their best offensive option, but is a rather complete player at the DIII level. While he does not possess a supremely quick first step, he plays within himself and finds ways to methodically put the ball in the basket.

Capers has a decent physical profile and is capable of banging on both ends of the floor. In the contests that I saw him, he got to the line with some consistency and was active in transition. More often than not, he converted on his attempts, displaying a nice shooting form in the process. Additionally, he makes use of the shot fake and tends to throw defenders off balance before attempting to blow by them. He struggled to get by his man with his quickness though, and this will be a significant weakness when he attempts to play overseas. Further, he is not a vertically explosive athlete, preferring to lay shots in off the glass rather than finishing strong at the rim. Because of this, he has limited potential on both ends of the floor. With that said, his handle allows him to compensate for his poor athleticism at times. Capers can also be deadly from long range when he is able to catch fire.

Defensively, Capers struggled with his consistency. He gave up on defense at times, appearing to be frustrated. However, on several possessions, he was able to slide his feet and force offensive players to kick the ball back out. Because he is not particularly fast, he struggled to challenge in transition. In the contests that I saw, he did not always hustle down the court on every play. With that said, he has some room for improvement, and if he is willing to put the time in to slim down, Capers could be an effective role player overseas somewhere.



Elsewhere in DIII, Hamilton College forward Pat Sullivan had a solid career for his team and could potentially continue playing somewhere overseas. His best performance against Williams College illustrated his strengths and limitations. Sullivan possesses solid post fundamentals, with the ability to drop step or go to his counter moves inside. He is strong on the block and can hit the medium range jumper when called upon.

Further, over the course of his four years at Hamilton, Sullivan extended his range and now possesses the ability to connect on shots out past the three point line. In his contest against Williams, he was able to utilize solid footwork and shot fakes to get open shots. And when he did, he finished with remarkable proficiency, connecting on 11 of 15 shots. While this was a career night, it is clear that Sullivan has a diversified skillset on the offensive end and is capable of functioning as a spot up shooter.

With that said, Sullivan will struggle to guard big men at the next level due to his average footspeed and below average height at 6'7. Still, Sullivan is a competitor who will likely find a niche somewhere.


Salem St.'s forward Brian Clark is even more undersized than Sullivan, but was more efficient from the field, connecting on 62% of his shot attempts compared to Sullivan's 49%. (on the year) Clark is more of a traditional post option, but can step out and hit the perimeter jumper. In the contests that I watched Clark, he tended to fight for position down low, looking to seal his man at every opportunity. When he did, he was able to either drive around his defender or faceup for a turnaround jumper in the lane.

Clark was remarkably efficient from the field in his senior season, and tended to pick his spots, contributing to his team's success. Additionally, he was a good rebounder for his size, despite the fact that he functioned as a low post option. Moreover, Clark was aggressive on defense and was his team's best shot blocker. If he can develop more of a perimeter game to keep defenses honest and improve on his current conditioning, Clark may be able to obtain a role off the bench at some professional level.


University of Chicago's Matt Johnson had one of the best careers in his school's history. This 6'4 guard has the height and length to be effective at the next level. Further, his upper body appears to be fairly underdeveloped at this stage of his career and a professional training staff may enable him to get stronger in order to be competitive. Johnson's game is suited for European basketball, as he tends to get free off of screens and thrives moving without the ball. He rubs off screens well and takes advantage of his team's offensive sets.


Further, Johnson possesses a decent crossover and handle, and thus is able to take his man off the bounce once he catches the ball on a curl route. After receiving the ball, he loves to pull up for an open jumper when defenders overcommit to his drive. He does a good job of drawing fouls in this situation and is able to get to the line fairly frequently. Johnson is also able to execute basic basketball plays such as the give-and-go and screen-and-roll with some proficiency.

Johnson's high basketball IQ coupled with his decent length allow him to challenge defenders when they initially get the ball. He did a great job of denying the ball and swiping without fouling. However, when his man was able to get deep position on him and attack the basket, Johnson's weak upper body strength tended to limit his ability on the defensive end. Therein, if Johnson is able to put the time in to transform his body, he should be able to excel at the next level, whereever that may be.

While Matt Johnson has good potential at the next level, another Johnson was among the leaders nationally in scoring. Raysean Johnson of D'Youville was one of the major impact players this season in DIII basketball. Not only was he capable of scoring the ball from the perimeter, but he was strongest attacking the basket. Johnson often played at his own pace driving to the hoop, scoring through defenders without exceptional quickness or change-of-pace dribble moves. He was able to do this because he understands spacing and has the handle to drive in between defenders and either dish the ball off to his teammates or score in traffic. Also, Johnson was one of the best in DIII at anticipating contact and getting to the line. He possesses a believable shot fake and the necessary scoring instincts to understand how to get his man in the air. And, when he got to the line, he normally connected on his free throws, seldom letting an opportunity pass him by. At times, he did turn the ball over when trying to break through a zone defense and when pushing the tempo. Still, given the number of possessions that he had the ball in his hands, his turnovers were few and far between.

Raysean Johnson was aggressive on the glass and displayed good box out fundamentals in the contests that I watched. He was able to secure rebounds and push ahead. Further, he has a decent pull up jumper in his arsenal to keep defenses honest. On the opposite end, Johnson displayed decent lateral quickness, but put forth countless lackluster efforts in trying to stop the ball in transition. He often was unwilling to race down the floor in order to catch players on the opposing team that were cherry-picking. Further, he did not always get in his stance and missed several trap opportunities. At the next level, Johnson will have to put in a lot more effort to guard bigger players. Otherwise, he will be relegated to the bench in spite of his talent.

Despite his limitations defensively, Johnson was able to hit a game winning layup in one of the contests that I witnessed. He appears to have some intangibles on the offensive end, but must work to improve his outside shot and go to his pullup jumper with more regularity.


A player with a decent physical profile for the next level is Middlebury's Ryan Sharry. The 6'8 forward was one of the top post players in all of DIII and displayed solid fundamentals on both ends of the floor. On the offensive end, he made some heads up plays to get open, particularly off of inbounds passes. He also made several backdoor cuts to free himself close to the hoop. He was capable attacking his man off the dribble and drawing contact in post up situations. Further, he can step out and hit the three point basket, as evinced by his 42.9% 3 point %. Not only does he display great form and balance on his jump shots, but he can also connect on shots fading away from the hoop. This should increase his chances of landing a roster spot at a higher level of European basketball.

Further, Sharry was aggressive on the glass and would box out to secure defensive rebounds. He hustles to loose balls and is willing to sacrifice his body. When he does secure deep post position, he possesses a nice drop step and pivot move, which he executes rather quickly. On the defensive end, Sharry is not blessed with exceptional lateral quickness, but he does play with fire and gets his hands up to contest shots. Sharry's ideal height and basketball savvy make him one of the clear cut candidates to land on a European roster next season.

Finally, Franklin & Marshall's Georgio Milligan is the most complete player mentioned in this article. He excels on both ends of the floor do to his solid physical tools as well as his tremendous basketball IQ. Milligan is an efficient scorer from the field. While he only attempted 78 three point shots all year, he connected on 44.9% of them. Further, he possesses a decent midrange game, but must work to keep a consistent shooting motion when pressured. With that said, he was able to dial in on some tough fadeaway jumpers.

In terms of his greatest strengths on the offensive end, Milligan is best moving towards the basket. He is extremely physical and has the footspeed and athleticism to avoid the charge. This is supported by the fact that he shot 231 free throws on the year, a very high total for a player at any level, yet he rarely was called for a charge. Moreover, Milligan is an exceptional passer, and is able to thread the needle for passes inside. It has been said time and again that the post entry pass is a lost art in basketball. Milligan knows exactly where to feed post players and is fairly conservative in his approach, opting only to dish inside from the wing. Further, Milligan is dynamic in transition and regularly throws on-point alley oop passes to electrify the crowd.

Standing at 6'2, it is clear that Milligan can play either guard position at the next level. He possesses the handle to convert to a lead guard role, often splitting double teams. Milligan is strong inside and is willing to take his game to the post if at all possible, where he can either connect on a turnaround jumper or bully his way through contact.

Despite these notable strengths on offense, Milligan has the most potential to be a lockdown defender at the next level. Not only does he have the requisite footspeed to keep up with just about anyone, but he has the savvy to closeout players and force them into tough shots. He drives offensive players to their off hand and will often beat them to the spot, forcing them to kick it back out. He also has quick enough hands to get in the passing lanes and finish on breakaway steals. (2.1 steals per game) Finally, in spite of his size at 6'2, Milligan has been known to block shots at the Division III level due to his superior athleticism. (1.2 blocks per game)

Georgio Milligan will be an excellent pickup for whichever team discovers him. He has a great work ethic and the necessary physical tools to succeed at a higher level of basketball.


(Image Sources: Drewacorn.com, Hamilton College Athletics, Mascac.com, University of Chicago Athletics, Nescac.com, and Franklin & Marshall Athletics)