July 26, 2007
Vegas takes on a few of the local players
Here’s more caffeine-hyped, sleep-deprived, addled eyes and brain early notes on the northern California kids playing in the Nike Main Event, adidas Super 64 and Reebok Summer Championships tournaments in Las Vegas.
Here we go with some judgments and opinions after viewing a number of the games.
Seniors
Wendell McKines, again a free agent after the USF debacle, showed he still hasn’t lost it. In an early game, he picked a ball up off the floor, rose and slammed it home, all in one motion. A master of the spectacular who needs to embed facility of the routine into his game, McKines has recently garnered the interest of New Mexico State, among others.
Seniors To Be
Drew Gordon of the Oakland Soldiers was again the superb athlete he has demonstrated for what seems like years now. Quickness, running and jumping remain his primo physical assets. However, he still needs to display a signature shot and the footwork that accompanies such if he expects to be effective against the collegiate competition he will soon be facing -- opponents who will be as solid or even better than he is. Maybe such development will sprout with his senior year at Archbishop Mitty or possibly once UCLA’s Ben Howland gets ahold of him.
Frank Otis appears even bigger and stronger than he was before--if that is possible. A 6-5 Soldier always in search of a floor to receive a burn from with his diving after any loose ball, Otis also continues to show a nice dribble drive to the hoop when he faces up 10-12 feet from the basket. His shooting touch and range remain iffy but there is no better competitor. Look for Otis to sign with one of the lower PAC-10 teams seeking a rebounder and defender who exemplifies what toughness is all about.
Collin Chiverton made his usual assortment of long-range shots and also displayed a greater proclivity for taking the ball to the goal. A long and lean prototype of a college wing, the 6-5 Chiverton would benefit greatly from having a penetrating, pass-first point running the Soldiers team. He’s being enticed by a few different PAC-10 suitors who are intriged by Chiverton’s potential, not necessarily the game in-game out production.
Chris Jones, Newark Memorial, played for the California Hoops team, a squad that for some reason underwent a dramatic roster change--a downgrade--from just a few weeks ago. The 6-4 Jones plays under control, never out of place on the court. It appears he came out of the womb in a defensive stance, so good is his defensive technique and prowess. Jones looks ready right now to be part of a college team’s playing rotation.
Kelly Kaigler performed well for WVBC despite being hampered by injury
Supposedly hampered by some sort of a leg/knee concern, Kelly Kaigler of the West Valley Basketball Club still performed well with his shooting, dribble drives and rebounding. Out of Oak Grove, he remains an athletic competitor, who can shoot from outside and also aggressively take it to the hoop. Kaigler is a topflight competitor and the top prospect on the West Valley squad who should land somewhere in the Big West or West Coast Conference.
Stephen Lumpkinsof Serra High played well early on. An active, springy corner who is considered more a baseball prospect, Lumpkins was the second best player for the top West Valley squad in Vegas.
None of the Oakland Soldiers backcourters acquitted themselves well in the early games. The Brews, William and Chris and Kwame Vaughn weren’t effective in setting up teammates nor consistent in shooting from outside. In fact, the Soldiers truly need a pass-first, penetrating and creative point in order to maximize the team’s full potential.
Juniors To Be
Lucas Devenny from Piner High in Santa Rosa remains up-and-down with his production but the potential remains for this raw-boned frontcourter. A definite back-to-the-basket, in-the-paint player, Devenny displays the makings of a solid jumphook, good rebounding effort and a willingness to dish it out physically. Currently deferring to Gordon and Otis--his Oakland Soldiers elders--Devenny will become the go-to inside guy for the next incarnation of the Soldiers. Curiously, Devenney walks around the court a bit hunched over but not when in action.
Aalim Moor, St. Mary’s High (Berkeley), plays for the Oakland Soldiers II and displayed greater point guard proficiency than the backcourters currently manning the guard positions for the Soldiers I. Playing with his head up and always looking to pass, Moor showed good penetrating and passing ability even though he apparently hurt his back in the initial Soldiers II game of the tourney.
On a purely coincidental note: Former San Jose State point Michael Dixon Sr., the all-time assists leader back in the early to mid 80s for the Spartans out of El Cerrito High, has a son, Michael Dixon Jr., playng for the Kansas City Select team. Catching him in an in-between game, the 6-0 pass-first point is an average athlete but quick. However, he plays intuitively, penetrating and making the right pass at the right time to teammates. Call him a coach on the floor. Missouri’s Mike Anderson is definitely interested, Georgia Tech’s Paul Hewitt was in attendance at one game in Vegas and Roy Williams came to see Dixon earler.
An aspect of these tournaments that must drive college coaches crazy: Bellarmine Prep’s 6-8 Niyi Harrison, playing for the Bay Area Hoosiers, was a darkhorse target to watch in the tourney. However, it turned out on day two that he was playing for multiple teams--not with the Hoosiers squad we came across Tuesday afternoon but expected to join them for an evening game.
See, what happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay there.