July 11, 2008
Hoop summer homework
School may be out for the summer but that doesn’t mean homework assignments have ended. On the contrary, now is the time for various prep stars to be taking their respective skills sets to a new level. With this in mind, we consulted with Carl Foster of the Slam-N-Jam Youth Basketball Program and he drew up some ‘assignments’ for a number of local and regional boys basketball prospects.
First, we offered Damon Powell’s name and Foster said, "I’d like to see Damon improve his overall perimeter skills -- shooting, passing and footwork -- adding to what he already has. An improved handle with his off-hand, plus footwork that makes his defender more uncomfortable outside the paint will only make him tougher to defend."
Piner’s Lucas Devenny would benefit from added tools to his arsenal
Next came Valley Christian’s Tim Harris. "Tim is one of the most physically gifted kids in the Bay Area in the last 10 or so years," Foster responded. "He’s explosive laterally and vertically and can shoot. What will help him is an improvement in his ballhandling and decision-making, plus getting physically stronger and tougher."
About Piner High’s Lucas Devenny, Foster offered, "Lucas could add quicker moves in the post, plus scoring over his right shoulder and while has has a face up game, he would benefit from adding a jab and then spin move to his skills set."
Point guard Aalim Moor of St. Mary’s High "would be aided by developing a hard dribble followed by a pullup jumper and also breaking down defenders using an in-and-out dribble rather than relying mostly on blowing by defenders," according to Foster.
Moor’s teammate Dominique Lee needs to "add a mid-range jumper off a pullup, better scoring going to his left and overall ballhandling since he’ll be transitioning from a high school forward to a college guard."
Former Fresno area big Greg Smith, now residing in the Vallejo area, would benefit from "improved post tempo -- when to do what in the paint -- plus shooting over his right shoulder and also how to get his opponent out of position with fakes."
"Now Chris Brew can get to the basket against anybody," Foster continued, "but I want to see him continue developing his attack moves, developing a pullup jumper and adding a floater to his skills set."
Regarding the next high school season, Foster forsees De La Salle’s John McArthur, a junior-to-be, "having a blowup year."
The same was offered about St. Mary’s Demetrius Lee.
the quintessential point guard, Bradon Smith
Manteca’s Keyondrei (Kiwi) Gardner, who enjoyed quite the coming out party in one of the recent Sac versus Bay Showdown contests "is the next young star," per Foster.
Senior Brandon Smith of De La Salle "is the quintessential point guard, a floor manager and tempo changer and a disruptive defensive force."
Okay, there you have it. Opinions offered, assignments issued, the hoped-for fruits of labor to be turned in at the end of August for grading.