Victor Oladipo NBA Draft Workout and Interview

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Rodger Bohn

Shooting to Bloomington, Indiana at last second notice wasn’t an issue for us. You may ask why we were so excited to wake up at 4am to drive four and a half hours to IU. Well, anytime that you can get a chance to see a potential top-5 pick in the NBA Draft work around your schedule, you have to jump at the opportunity.

Training with Indiana GA Seth Cooper (who previously worked with the Clippers), Oladipo went through a grueling workout encompassing all of his offensive skill set. He trained alongside his roommate and potential draftee Christian Watford, with the two pushing each other throughout the entire duration.

To read more on the workout itself, check out this SLAMonline piece, but here’s Victor’s interview in it’s entirety:

CityLeagueHoops: Coming up in high school, you certainly weren’t the most highly touted guy. What was your drive like throughout the process to put you in the position that you’re in three years later as an NBA lottery pick?

Victor Oladipo: It’s a little bit of everything. Whether it be my support staff around me telling me to keep going, or my inner-self pushing myself. As you said, I was under-recruited in high school, so I had to keep up my work ethic and drive to succeed.

CityLeagueHoops: You mentioned being under-recruited, so who were some of the schools that recruited you before you picked IU?

VO: A lot of schools were recruiting me, but none of them really offered. A lot of schools recruited me, but then got other players and stuff. Coach Crean offered me a scholarship after seeing me play just one time. I came on my visit and felt that this was the best place for me, so I guess I made the right decision.

CityLeagueHoops: You were a player who initially came into Indiana as a role player, but have positioned yourself to be in the league. How did you stay so focused on taking your game to the next level when you were initially thought of as little more than a lockdown defender?

VO: I just stayed in the gym. I know it might sound cliche, but it’s the honest truth. I stayed here every summer since I’ve been here and I’ve just been working. The gym just became contagious. I’ve just been in the gym working hard and working on my game. I was working on a whole bunch things and eventually it just worked out for me.

CityLeagueHoops: You’ve spoken a whole lot about the work that you’ve put in. What is it that you’ve improved upon the most at IU?

VO: Definitely my jumper. My jumpshot has gotten a lot better from day one til now. Also, better decision making. I can tighten up my jumpshot, I can tighten up my ball-handling. I have improved in every one of those areas, but I have a lot of room to get better too. I’m looking forward to doing that.

CityLeagueHoops: I’ve seen the improvement first hand since I last saw you in person at the CP3 Elite Guard Camp, where you were one of the few wings there. What did you learn from Chris at the camp?

VO: I went to CP3 with a bunch of point guards, but I was kind of the odd ball out. I was one of the three wings there and the tallest player there, but I learned a lot of things at that camp. Whether it be how to use the pick and roll….just things that CP3 does so well to separate himself. I still work on things from that camp all of the time and I’m glad that I went there, so hopefully I’ll keep applying them to my game.

CityLeagueHoops: What do you think that you’re going to surprise teams with the most in the workout process?

VO: I don’t know. I’m just going to go in there and work my butt off. I’m going to work at a high level and do what got me here. I think that I may surprise some people with how well I shoot the ball. Other than that, I”m just going to go in there and workout hard, like I’ve been doing.

CityLeagueHoops: You’re a guy who went from not being considered an NBA player, to potential 2nd round pick after your senior year, to first rounder, to lottery pick, and now potential top 5 pick. How wild has this roller coaster been?

VO: It’s been absolutely crazy. It’s been a roller coaster…that’s a wonderful word for it. I just kept working. I’m not going to lie to you, it’s been crazy. You grow up having dreams of stuff like this and to actually that much closer to seeing it come true is an amazing feeling. But, it just makes you work that much harder because you have more dreams to achieve now.

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Zeke Marshall NBA Draft Workout + Interview

Posted on April 25, 2013 by Rodger Bohn

Starting off our coverage for the 2013 NBA Draft, we shot to the University of Akron to check out 7-footer Zeke Marshall. The senior is projected as a second round pick in this June’s NBA Draft, blending ideal size with a 7’5 wingspan and one of the higher bench presses in the Draft (can bench 335 pounds). Zeke is one of the few true centers in the second round mix and as you can see in this workout, he’s putting in some major work with trainer Chet Feldman while finishing his degree at Akron.

Here’s a detailed interview with Zeke, along with video of his workout itself:

CityLeagueHoops: You were a top 30-ish player coming out of high school and shocked a lot of people by coming to a mid-major program like Akron. Four years later, you’re firmly on the NBA radar. How did coming to Akron help you?

Zeke Marshall: It helped me because it challenged me to help change a team that already had rich history of winning to taking them to a new level. It went from ‘Oh, we just want to win the MAC tournament and make the NCAA tournament’ to ‘We’re trying to win four games in the NCAA tournament.’ If we didn’t have the talent, that would be a completely unrealistic goal. With the talents that my teammates and I had, we were able to turn that into a realistic goal.

CLH: When you first came in, you were almost strictly a defensive presence. As your career went on, you became more and more of an offensive threat. Analyzing your game then and now, what would you say that the biggest improvements that you’ve made over the last four years are?

ZM: Confidence. Without a doubt, it was my confidence. When I was in high school, I would score, but that was because I had to. I wasn’t comfortable shooting all of the time. Now, I feel that I can actually score if I want to. It shows by how hard that I’ve been working that I can make that happen. I think that my biggest improvement is definitely my confidence offensively.

CLH: You have all of the physical tools that NBA teams dream of out of a center, but as you know, the biggest question that everyone has always had about you is your mentality. Tell me, do you love basketball?

ZM: I do love basketball. I’m not going to lie though, it took a while for that to happen. It’s common nature that when you force a kid to do something, they develop a resentment of it. That’s what happened with me. I was literally forced to play and honestly, I didn’t like it at one point. My father had a great career at Robert Morris and Penn State, so it was drilled into me to play basketball. That’s what made me not like it. It really took me up until last year to develop my own love for the game. I found my own passion for it, my own way, my own road.

CLH: Now you’re a computer science guy, right? Not something that you hear out of most basketball players. Talk a little about the stuff that you do off the court.

ZM: It’s basically how you get to the internet. Your iPhone, Blackberry, how you connect through routers, IP addresses…that is what I am studying. How to set up those infrastructures for small businesses, corporations, and even households. A lot of stuff like that.

CLH: I can tell that you certainly have a strong passion for that field. Once your plying career is over then, what’s your dream job?

ZM: My dream job would be to own my own computer business, which is one of the degrees that I’m actually graduating with–a degree in applied business.So I am going to have an associate’s in applied business, a bachelor’s in computer information, and then hopefully another bachelor’s in business. I would like to own my own business in the computer infrastructure and be someone that people refer to in order to fix their problems, but be the one who manages and oversees things.

CLH: You’ve grown so much physically over the last 4 years, especially in terms of strength. What did it take to get you to love the weight room?

ZM: As I said before, when I was a kid, everyone would tell me ‘You need to get in the weight room, you need to get in the weight room.’ You know what happened? I didn’t want to get in the weight room. People fail to understand that when you constantly try to drill something into somebody without them establishing their own desire to do it, they’re not going to want to do it. When I got here at Akron, I couldn’t lift the bar basically. I have to give our strength coach tremendous props because he is the one who made me develop this passion. I wanted to get stronger. I was tired of being pushed around. I had my own motivation to accomplish my own personal goals because I knew I had to get stronger.

CLH: What are you going to surprise teams with throughout the pre-draft process?

ZM: Basically, everything that they think that is wrong with me, I’m going to surprise them with. Everyone is basing things off of speculation without even seeing me. For example, take something such as strength. We did a combine test prior to my junior season and I did 19 reps on the bench, and I believe that the highest at the NBA combine was 20. I have gotten even stronger since then, too. I feel that everything about my game is going to surprise some people. The people around me will say ‘He’s always had that,’ but that’s the price that you have to play when you play for a mid-major and you’re not always in the spotlight.

CLH: Now you just mentioned some of the prices that you had to pay by attending a mid-major. What are the benefits?

ZM: Well, I feel that a lot of guys who go to these big time programs such as Kentucky use it as a stepping stone to the NBA and are treated like they are already in the NBA. Coming here, I was treated just like everyone else. I wasn’t given anything. I literally had to work for everything that I got. Coach Dambrot told me that ‘You’re not going to play without earning it’ and I went out there and got my butt kicked by some of the upperclassmen. I was able to improve my skills without having the publicity that you receive at a bigger school, which allowed me to focus on what my game is about. My development may have went slowly, but it did develop and I didn’t take what I had for granted.

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Sergey Karasev shoots his way in to NBA Draft at Nike Hoop Summit

Posted on April 25, 2013 by Rodger Bohn

Sergey Karasev has been a well known commodity on the International circuit for a while now, but many American fans and scouts alike got their first glimpse of him at the 2013 Nike Hoop Summit. The 6’7 wing shot the lights out of the ball effortlessly, both with his feet set and on the move. Playing for his father for Triumph in Russia’s first division, he has had hoops engrained in his blood since a young age and it’s no coincidence that he has an outstanding work ethic, as seen in his jumper.

“I practice my shooting every day. I come before practice, I stay after practice. I try to shoot 500 to 1000 shots every day,” explained Karasev of the work that he puts in. “You have to practice because if you don’t you will go down, and I want to go high every time.”

At the Hoop Summit, the 2013 NBA Draft early entrant showed that he was much more than a standstill shooter. He was outstanding going either way to the cup, converting at the rim in traffic with both hands. From the catch, Sergey created space off the bounce for his deadly pull-up jumper. Additionally, he made some great decisions in the open court and even took it upon himself to defend the consensus favorite to be the top pick in next year’s NBA Draft, Andrew Wiggins.

“When we played on the same team I tried to teach him some things,” he said of his experience on the World team with Andrew Wiggins. “When we played against each other I tested my physical condition against him.”

The Russian only enhanced his Draft stock with his play in Portland. With the opportunity to withdraw from the Draft, it appears as if Karasev is prepared to stay in after his strong play at the Hoop Summit, provided that he is projected in the first round.

“It’s very good to be here for my country and for myself,” Sergey said of his Hoop Summit experience. “I put my name in the draft this year and I’m trying to climb up the draft. If I play well here I may move up”

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Livio Jean-Charles leads the World Team to Victory at Nike Hoop Summit

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Ty Kish

The Nike Hoop Summit has long been a springboard for International prospects to impress NBA scouts and improve their draft stock. This year’s breakout performance came from Livio Jean-Charles who scored 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds(7 offensive) while shooting an astouding 10-13 from the field in the World Team’s defeat of Team USA. The 6’9 French product currently plays for powerhouse ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne, which is part owned by Spurs star Tony Parker.

While many fans saw Livio’s great performance in the Hoop Summit game, NBA personnel got a chance to watch the French combo forward play all week during World Team practices and scrimmages. Jean-Charles was one of the World Team’s most consistent players doing a little bit of everything throughout the week. The versatile forward ran the floor well, rebounded the ball on both ends of the court, and showed surprisingly good vision in both half court sets and transition.

Most impressive is Livio’s ability to score without having any plays run for him. While he didn’t take many shots from three point range, Livio consistently knocked down mid range jumpers from the elbow and the short corner. In transition Jean-Charles got to the rim with ease and finished over and around defenders in the paint. The 2013 NBA Draft early entrant also contributed on the offensive boards, where he grabbed multiple rebounds for second shot opportunities and showcased his ability to tip ins at the rim.

On the defensive side of the ball, Livio was a great shot blocker using his length to influence opponents’ shots at the rim throughout the week. Jean-Charles showed the ability to guard 3s and 4s, while helping out inside with some of the talented bigs he saw at the Hoop Summit. Far from just a scorer, Jean-Charles showed that he is a force on both ends of the court.

Based on his explosion at the Hoop Summit, the 19-year old has now placed himself firmly in the mix for the first round of this year’s NBA Draft. Moving forward, Livio now has to finish out the regular season with ASVEL before hitting the French Pro-A playoffs, giving NBA teams a relatively short window to get a glimpse at him in workouts before the Draft hits in June.

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2013 Pitt Jam Fest Day Three Recap

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Rodger Bohn

The 2013 Pitt Jam Fest has came and gone, showcasing many of Under Armour’s top programs. Sports U out of Jersey took home the 17-U crown while their star player, Karl Towns, was in Portland playing in the Nike Hoop Summit. Staying within the region, emerging Delaware based We R 1 won the 16-U division and while we’re recapping the champs, we have to give Ohio some love. Independent Ohio Varsity won the 17-U steel bracket with a ton of hustle, great coaching, and chemistry.

Here are a few of the guys who stood out in the games we caught on the final day of the Pitt Jam Fest:

Derrick Jones, 6’6, We R 1 16′s, 2015- Perhaps the most athletic wing in the class of 2015, Derrick Jones was the catalyst of We R 1′s championship run in the 16u bracket. The lefty changed the game with his leaping ability on both ends, converting countless dunks and blocking a handful of shots. His perimeter skills are still developing, but he has all of the makings of a big time wing prospect.

Donte Grantham, 6’7, DC Assault, 2014-West Virginia’s Player of The Year for 2013 decided to take a post grad year and after one weekend with DC Assault, his recruitment has skyrocketed. No longer playing power forward like he did at Martinsburg HS, Grantham is playing on the perimeter full time and looking great in the process. He’s a good straight line driver, can shoot it out to the three point line, and bothers opposing players with his size on the defensive end. Already holding offers from West Virginia and Clemson for 2013, Grantham will have no shortage of suitors for 2014.

Quadri Moore, 6’9, Sports U, 2014- A strong 6’9 post, Quadri Moore led a Karl Towns-less Sports U unit to the 17-U championship. He takes up a ton of space, rebounded well on the defensive end, and stretched the defense with his ability to shoot the ball. Already holding offers from multiple BCS programs, expect Moore to be a hot name this spring, especially with the potential that he has as a trail big man.

Devocio Butler, 6’4, Atlanta Xpress, 2014- A sturdy combo guard, Butler was one of the pleasant surprises that we saw at the Pitt Jam Fest. He is a big time athlete, can finish equally well with both hands, and made some outstanding passes in the open floor. The Atlanta native will be spending a post-grad year at Queen City Prep in Charlotte, where his recruitment should surely take off.

Landon Brazile, 6’6, Ohio Varsity, 2014- Not receiving a ton of shine for his high school team, Landon Brazile showed that he can really play at the Pitt Jam Fest. The power forward was a downright animal on the glass, rebounding outside of his area and got his hands on a ton of offensive boards. Posts with his activity level don’t stay on the board long, so expect a d1 program to nab the Thurgood Marshall product sooner rather than later.

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2013 Pitt Jam Fest Day Two Recap

Posted on April 21, 2013 by Rodger Bohn

The Hoop Group has thrown many of the nation’s finest events for over a decade and now falling within the Under Armour umbrella, have taken their events to another level. Teams from coast to coast descend to Pitt Jam Fest, offering a package of UA’s top programs along with many of the area’s finest, regardless of shoe affiliation. Games ran from sun up to sun down, giving us a reminder of the grind that the AAU circuit holds ahead for players, scouts, coaches, and fans alike.

Here are the top performers that we caught from Day Two of the Pitt Jam Fest:

Isaiah Whitehead, 6’4, Juice All-Stars, 2014- Easily the best player we saw all day at the Pitt Jam Fest, Whitehead simply did whatever he wanted on the hardwood. He was unstoppable in isolation situations, displayed nasty court vision, and played shutdown defense at either guard position. The Brooklyn product did everything to live up to his top 20 ranking and more, which is why he”ll be playing in the elite 8 tomorrow morning.

Trayvon Reed, 7’1, Atlanta Express, 2014- The tallest player in the event did not disappoint, dominating the game on the defensive end. He used every bit of his 7’1 frame to change the game defensively, blocking a ton of shots without ever getting in foul trouble. Offensively, Reed didn’t get a ton of touches, but dunked everything he touched in the paint. With 7-footers, its progress not perfection, and Trayvon is definitely on the right path.

Devin Robinson, 6’7, Richmond Squires, 2014- A wing with outstanding size, Robinson did a bit of everything against ATL Xpress. He shot the ball effortlessly from three, had a super soft touch in the paint, and used his wingspan to get his hands to get a ton of deflections on the defensive end. Already holding offers from VCU, UCONN, Xavier, Rutgers, Auburn, and Clemson, expect this super smooth wing’s recruitment to blow up this spring.

Tariq Owens, 6’9, B’More’s Finest, 2014- A player who we had heard about but never seen, Owens showed why so many BCS schools are on him. He’s a super long guy at a legit 6’9 and owns a huge wingspan, allowing him to provide a shot blocking presence and finish over the top of people. Additionally, Tariq has a nice package of skills that allow him to shoot it out to around 19 feet and get buckets around the rim with either hand. Holding offers from Miami, South Florida, Seton Hall, and VCU, Owens’ recruitment will pick up heavily as more college coaches get a glimpse of him.

Justin Bibbs, 6’5, Ohio Basketball Club, 2014- This Dayton native and Montverde product was able to have more of a significant role with OBC, showcasing some of the skills that he wasn’t able to put on display with Montverde. He outplayed highly touted forward Dwayne Morgan by shooting the ball well from deep, converting in transition, and getting buckets out of the high post against the 2-3 zone. OBC took an L in the game, but it certainly wasn’t because of Bibbs’ performance.

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2013 Derby Classic Recap

Posted on April 20, 2013 by Rodger Bohn

The 2013 KDF Basketball Classic was different than most years in that it didn’t boast an immense amount of marquee names, but rather relatively under the radar top-50 guys who are really going to surprise some people in college. Kentucky, Louisville, and Indiana were well represented with 11 recruits heading to the local powerhouses. The Black squad wound up winning the game 124-113 in an up and down affair that provided no shortage of explosive dunks, giving fans a great night of basketball and a glimpse of what the future holds for their favorite programs.

Here’s a look at a few of the players who stood out at the 2013 Derby Classic:

Keith Frazier, 18 points, 7-14 FG, 4-7 3PT 3 rebounds, 2 assists- The MVP for the white team may have had the most diverse scoring game of anyone in attendance. The Dallas product drilled numerous NBA threes, had a pair of nice dunks in transition, and posted up smaller guards. Frazier brings one of the best offensive arsenals for a scoring guard, which will benefit him greatly next year at SMU.

Troy Williams, 21 points, 9-13 FG, 2-2 3PT, 5 rebounds, 4 assists- The MVP of the victorious black team was Troy Williams, who put on a show with his athleticism and non-stop motor. Seemingly never getting tired, Williams put a hurting on defenders both with his athleticism and skill. He had a big time poster on Akoy Agau, knocked down a pair of deep three pointers, and was an outstanding passer in the open court. With Victor Oladipo bouncing to the league, there will be an opportunity for Troy to receive considerable time as a freshman.

Conner Frankamp, 20 points, 8-15 FG, 4-9 3PT, 2 assists- Frankamp was a guy who I’ll openly admit that I underrated a bit, and his play throughout the week at Derby definitely made me a believer.He stroked a number of effortless three pointers, had no problem getting buy his man, and finished creatively at the cup. The opportunity is there for Frankamp to start as a freshman and based off of his performance in Louisville, he definitely has the game to do so.

Austin Nichols, 12 points, 6-10 FG, 7 rebounds- Memphis’ top player keeps getting better each time I see him and it was no different here at Derby. He showed off a reliable left hand (both around the rim and with his hook), rebounded his area well, and let the game come to him. With Tarik Black transferring and Adonis Thomas jumping to the NBA, Austin should be able to start for Josh Pastner from the day he sets foot on campus at Memphis.

Jarrell Martin, 20 points, 9-11 FG, 2-2 3PT, 5 rebounds- Louisiana’s top player showed his total package at the Derby, blending the inside/outside game that has made him such a highly touted prospect. The LSU commit finished around the rim, stepped out to shoot it from beyond the arc, and posted up smaller defenders. He joins Jordan Mickey and Johnny O’Bryant in an LSU frontcourt that will be one of the finest in the SEC next season, mixing size, skill, and athleticism.

Luke Fischer, 12 points, 5-7 FG, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks- Indiana got on Luke Fischer early before most high major programs got the chance to recruit him and based on the strides that he’s made over the last two years, we see that they knew what they were doing. The near 7-footer was incredibly productive at Derby, picking his spots and being super productive every second he was on the floor. Cody Zeller is off to the NBA, leaving some major shoes to fill for Mr. Fischer and fellow 7-footer Peter Jurkin.

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Nike Hoop Summit Day Four: Team USA Scrimmage

Posted on April 20, 2013 by Ty Kish

The fourth day of the Nike Hoop Summit saw the arrival of Team USA in Portland. Both Team USA and the World Select Team went through light morning sessions at the Rose Garden (Only six of the US participants made it to Portland in time for the first practice as a result of delayed flights due to poor weather). Once the players were in Portland their official measurements were taken and the night session featured a scrimmage between Team USA and ex college players.

The US starters in the scrimmage were Aaron Gordon, Julius Randle, Aaron Harrison, Andrew Harrison, and Jabari Parker. The scrimmage lasted 20 minutes and the score was restarted after the first of two 10 minute quarters. The US Team defeated the ex college guys by a combined score of 47-45 (22-21 first quarter, 25-24 in the second quarter). Kasey Hill was the leading scorer with 10 points and Jabari Parker added 8 points. Below are full statistics:

Kasey Hill – 10 PTS, 4-7 FGs, 2-3 3PGs, 3 Rebs, 4 Assists, 1 TO
Jabari Parker – 8 PTS, 3-5 FGs, 2-3 3PGs, 1 Reb, 1 TO, 1 Steal
Bobby Portis – 6 PTS, 3-7 FGs, 1 Assist, 1 Steal
Julius Randle – 5 PTS, 2-3 FGs, 1 Assist, 0-2 FTs
Aaron Gordon – 5 PTS, 2-2 FGs, 2 Rebs, 1 Assist, 1 TO, 1-2 FTs
Noah Vonleh – 4 PTS, 2-3 FGs, 6 Rebs, 1 Blk, 1 TO, 0-4 FTs
Rondae Jefferson – 4 PTS, 2-5 FGs, 0-1 3PGs, 4 Rebs, 1 Blk, 1 TO, 0-2 FTs
Demetrius Jackson – 3 PTS, 1-2 FGs, 1 Rebs, 1 Blk, 2 Assists, 1-2 FTs
Andrew Harrison – 2 PTS, 1-2 FGs, 0-1 3PGs, 1 Rebs, 1 Assist, 1 TO, 1 Steal
Aaron Harrison – 0 PTS, 0-4 FGs, 0-3 3PGs, 2 TO, 2 Steals

Julius Randle looked very sharp in the scrimmage and did a great job attacking offensively. Rondae-Hollis Jefferson gave his usual high level effort on the defensive side of the ball and hit the boards hard on both ends of the court. Jabari Parker shot the ball well from mid range and from beyond the three point arc. Noah Vonleh was very active during the scrimmage and collected six rebounds. The US Team will be scrimmaging again later tonight and we will bring you an update from tonight’s action.

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KDF Night of Future Stars Recap

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Rodger Bohn

The Kentucky Derby Festival Night of Future Stars has long served as a preview to the game itself, giving fans an early glimpse of what they have to look forward to in the game that follows. Strategically placed just across the Indiana border, the Night of Stars drew huge groups of fans from IU, UK, and U of L alike. With a 2 on 2 competition, 3 point shootout, and dunk contest, there was plenty of excitement for the fans who came to the event free of charge (provided that they purchased a ticket to the game itself). All in all, it was an exciting evening of basketball that offered locals a glimpse of the next wave of stars in college basketball.

Austin Nichols was the most impressive player the 2 on 2 contest had to offer. The Memphis big man was great playing pick and roll basketball, both as a shooter and diving to the rim. He blocked/altered countless shots from opposing posts, playing with the toughness that we’re used to seeing out of him. Nichols has gotten better each and every time that I’ve seen him over the years and this was no different here in Louisville.

Larry Brown’s first star recruit at SMU did not disappoint at Derby, both in 2 on 2 and the dunk contest. Dallas native Keith Frazier got just about any shot that he wanted in the live action, drilling a number of deep threes with a hand in his face and finishing some tough takes at the cup. In the dunk contest, he threw down an effortless eastbay and showed that he’s got a bit more bounce than people give him credit for.

Conner Frankamp may not look the part of an elite basketball player, but he certainly has the game of one. He shot the lights out of the ball, converted a number of Steve Nash-esque layups, and even threw down some impressive dunks in warmups. Conner has the chance to get some immediate burn on a KU team that will face some tough comp from Oklahoma State in the Big 12 next season.

The best perimeter defender was hands down Indiana bound Stanford Robinson. Receiving a ton of love from the IU faithful, Robinson used it to fuel the shutdown D he put on whomever he was guarding in the 2 on 2 contest. The lefty made some shots too and showed even more athleticism than we knew he had during the dunk contest.

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Nike Hoop Summit Day Three

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Ty Kish

The World Select Team had their fourth practice on Wednesday morning following a 40 minute scrimmage session on Tuesday night. The sole practice of the day for the World Team started with drills stressing transition defense. Although the focus was on defense Andrew Wiggins and Sergey Karasev continued to shoot the ball very well during drills.

After about 30 minutes of drills the team split into two units and began scrimmaging. German playmaker Dennis Schroder had his best performance thus far in Portland and was virtually unstoppable in the open court. Schroder is extremely quick off the dribble and has great vision once he gets past his defender. Mouhammadou Jaiteh scored the ball very well in the scrimmage. Most of the 6’11 post player’s buckets came on put back lay ups and quick shots in the lane. Jaiteh has shown that he has great hands and a soft touch around the rim.

Sergey Karasev has been as consistent as any player on the World Team. The 2013 NBA Draft prospect continued to pass the ball extremely well throughout the scrimmage. Karasev is known as a great shooter but during the Wednesday morning session he scored the ball on a series of backdoor cuts and transition lay ups. Kentucky commit Karl Towns was active on the boards and scored the ball when opportunities presented themselves.

Kansas recruit Joel Embiid looked more comfortable on the third day of practice. The 7 footer knocked down a three in Wednesday’s scrimmage and used a series of spin moves in the post to create scoring opportunities on the offensive end. Livio Jean-Charles has been quietly putting together one of the top performances for the World Team. The 6’9 forward made several nice passes and continued to impress on both sides of the ball.

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