The Houston Rockets, that were originally founded in San Diego prior to the 1967 season, have been one of the most storied franchises in the NBA, most notably in the 1980's and especially the 1990's when they enjoyed winning NBA Championships in 1994 and 1995 giving them and the city of Houston the nickname "clutch city", since they rallied to win the 95 championship as the 6th seed in the playoffs, which is still the lowest seed to ever win an NBA Championship.
I am now going to look back and give my version of the top 5 trades in the franchises' history, that have turned the team around each time.
MY Top 5
1.) Moses Malone
DEAL: 1977, Rockets acquire HOF Moses Malone from the Buffalo Braves for his negotiating rights from the ABA Utah Stars.
ANALYSIS: An NBA Hall of Famer and one of the best ever to hit the hardwood, Moses helped turn around a Rockets team that was trying to find it's identity and that was in crisis mode in the mid 70's. He won the league MVP in 1979, and with him, the Rockets soon formed a new trio that included stars Calvin Murphy and Rudy Tomjanovich. All three would appear in the 79 all star game. Moses would help lead the Rockets to the NBA Finals in 1981, where they would lose to the Boston Celtics and Larry Bird in 6 games after defeating the reigning champ Lakers in 3 games and George Gervin's Spurs in 7 to get there. Moses would win the MVP award again in 1982, but the Rockets wouldn't make the playoffs. He would then be traded following the 82 season to the Philadelphia 76ers, the team in which he would lead to the NBA title in 1983. It's funny how that works sometimes. Karma......Karma.
2.) Clyde Drexler
DEAL: 1994-95 / mid-season. Rockets obtain Clyde Drexler from the Portland Trailblazers in exchange for Otis Thorpe.
ANALYSIS: This trade was prompted due to the Rockets early struggles at the beginning of the 95 season. Trading for Drexler and pairing him with fellow and former University of Houston teammate Hakeem Olajuwon really turned the Rockets season around. En route to the 95 championship, Drexler helped the Rockets beat four teams with 50 or more wins, all while remaining the sixth seed themselves. It is a feat that has yet to be matched, and probably will never be matched. Drexler and Hakeem would both celebrate the championship in Houston, after sweeping the Orlando Magic and Shaquille O'Neal and earning the nickname "clutch city". Game one of that series is still known as one of the best comebacks in playoff history. Down by 20 in the second half, Drexler and Olajuwon led the Rockets to an overtime victory which ultimately drained the Magic of their confidence in the next four games. Drexler would knock on the championship door once again in 96 and 97 alongside Barkley and Olajuwon, but to no evail, as the Rockets fell short both times. He would retire following the resolution of the 1997 season.
3.) Tracy McGrady, Juwan Howard, Tyronn Lue, Reece Gaines
DEAL: 2004. Rockets trade Cuttino Mobley, Steve Francis, and Kelvin Cato to the Orlando Magic for Tracy McGrady, Juwan Howard, Reece Gaines, and Tyronn Lue.
ANALYSIS: It is a deal that many thought would lift the Rockets to the upper echelon of the NBA elite. After the Rockets drafted center Yao Ming with the first pick in the 2002 draft, Rockets executives surmounted that the trio, Steve "Franchise" Francis, Cuttino Mobley, and Yao would take the team to new heights; Well they were all wrong. The chemistry clearly wasn't there, and the onl playoff trip made under Francis' leadership went downhill quickly as they were blown out by the eventual Western Conference Champion Lakers in 2004. T-Mac, who was one of the young, up and coming elite players in the game, was thought to be able to give the Rockets the clutch play that Cuttino and Steve never provided. Francis was a great point guard, but he was not the proven superstar that could take over games like McGrady could, plus, many believed he was overpaid at his position. McGrady and Yao proved to be a perfect fit in their first season together when they led the Rockets to a 51-31 record in the 2005 campaign, even though they were ousted by Dallas in seven games of the first round after winning the first two on the road. 2006 was a horrendous campaign, as both he and Yao were plagued by injuries and never on the floor at the same time. The Rockets finished 34-48 and ended up with the 8th pick in the draft which essentially gave them Shane Battier, who had been the defensive weapon they lacked. Although many in Houston still question the move seeing that they had to give up potential number one pick Rudy Gay in the deal.
4.) Charles Barkley
DEAL: 1997 / mid-season. Rockets obtain Charles Barkley from the Phoenix Suns for Sam Cassell, Robert Horry, Chucky Brown, and Mark Bryant.
ANALYSIS: This trade was presumably made because the Rockets thought that their aging roster was not going to be competitive enough to compete against the top teams in the West or the Chicago Bulls. It did give the Rockets the best trio in their history, but it never amounted to a Championship. They would get to the Western Conference Finals in the 97 playoffs, but were soon ousted by John Stockton and the Utah Jazz in game 6 in Houston on Stockton's game winning 3. (That 3 still haunts my dreams to this day). The 98 season was marked by injuries, as the Rockets trudged to a 41-41 record and an eventual first round loss to the Utah Jazz again. After Drexler retired following the 98 season, the Rockets signed Scottie Pippen to a five year deal. However, during the 99 season, Barkley and Pippen never got along and it led to a first round exit once again in 4 games to the LA Lakers. During the 2000 season, Barkleys long and historic career would come to an end where his career started, against the Philadelphia 76ers, after tearing both his MCL and ACL in a collision with Sixers center Matt Geiger underneath the basket.
5.) Steve Francis
DEAL: 1999. On Draft day, the Rockets obtained the rights to Steve Francis, from the Vancouver Grizzlies for Brent Price, Antoine Carr, Michael Dickerson, and Othella Harrington.
ANALYSIS: The Rockets got the better end out of this trade at the time, but over time, it didn't really pan out the way everyone wanted to. Only one playoff appearance was made during the Franchise era (2004), and they were plastered by the LA Lakers in four games. The trio that featured Francis, Cuttino, and Yao never worked out and he was soon shipped to Orlando as a part of the mega deal that gave Houston Tracy McGrady.
HONORABLE MENTION
6.) Shane Battier
DEAL: 2006. Obtaining Shane Battier from the Memphis Grizzlies for 8th overall pick Rudy Gay.
ANALYSIS: This move continues to impress Rockets fans everyday even though most were torn when it was first announced, since Rudy Gay was a potential number one pick with a lot of talent. He is the overall team MVP along side McGrady, for his relentless defensive prowess is rarely matched in the NBA. Always guarding the opposing teams best player and making the occasional 3, Battier always does the little things for a Rockets team that doesn't feature any other gritty hard nosed player. The defensive intensity, offensive prowess, and overall grittiness makes a great NBA player, and that is exactly what Battier is. Had this deal been made a couple years ago, it would have probably been in the top 5 knocking the Francis deal off.
The Legend
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Peyton is finally on top
Dealing with overwhelming adversity and pain...
I would first like to dedicate this blog to Colts defensive end and one of the NFL's best overall players, GARY BRACKETT. He was a walk-on at Rutgers University and an undrafted player coming into the NFL. He lost his mother, father, and brother in a 17 month span...To see someone who had to deal with all that emotional pain and adversity, along with being a walk on NFL player and then becoming one of the game's best players and play in the Superbowl, it just inspires me and is a great story that I will always remember.
I have been an Indianapolis Colts fan for the past 6 years, and for the last 5, I have witnessed heartbreak, grievance, and failure time after time.....whether it would be losing to the New England Patriots twice in Foxboro in 03 and 04, to the Steelers last year on that botched Vanderjagt field goal, or to the blowout in Queens when the Jets blew them off the face of the earth in a 41-0 massacre in 02.
Learning from past failures...
Peyton Manning has had his critics constantly romping him for his lack of production in the postseason after he plays like an MVP during each regular season. (2 time MVP). However, he has constantly pushed them to the side knowing that the pain felt during all those racaus playoff losses would soon provide a light at the end of the tunnel, especially after last years postseason loss in the division round to the Pittsburgh Steelers, a loss which came at home on a year in which they had home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Well......
That loss to Pittsburgh provided the spark the Colts needed coming into this year, a year in which they became the first team in NFL History to start back-to-back seasons 9-0.
Rookie RB Joseph Addai had a spectacular rookie campaign washing away all the harsh critics who thought he would never replace the Edge with over 1000 rushing yards, and QB Peyton Manning had another MVP calibur year. They might have lost 3 out of their last 4 games, including a backbreaker to lowly Houston Texans in week 15 in overtime, but, they finished undefeated at home and went into the wild-card round against the rising Kansas City Cheifs at home with something to prove and a chip on their shoulder.
They would blitz their way through the Chiefs with a stellar defensive effort on a day that Peyton through 3 INT's with only 1 TD in a 23-8 romping. Going to Baltimore the next week proved to be a daunting task as Baltimore had its best season in its history going 13-3 behind former Titan QB Steve McNair. In a game which featured no touchdowns and 7 field goals, the Colts prevailed yet again behind Adam Vinateri's foot on another night in which Peyton Manning had another forgettable performance.
Vintage Vinateri... (Clutchest Kicker of all time)
The Colts would be scoreboard watching the next game because if San Diego would lose to New England, the Patriots would have to this time go to Indianapolis instead of having to go to Foxboro, where almost no team could beat the Patriots, especially in the playoffs. The Patriots would later beat the Chargers and reigning MVP Ladanian Tomlinson.
In a game that will go down as one of the best in playoff history, the Colts found themselves down 21-3 and looking down as Tom Brady and company were looking like they were about to head to their 4th superbowl in 6 years and begin yet another year of turmoil for Peyton Manning and his legacy, while also dropping him to 0-3 against his arch rival..... Well, for every story there is a new beggining. The Colts would come back and tie the game at 21 and from there it would be a see-saw affair with the game going back and forth until the final, waning moments which saw Houston Alief product Joseph Addai burn into the endzone with 1 minute left capping the biggest comeback in Championship game history. Estatic euphoria didn't set in however until Colts safety Marlin Jackson intercepted Tom Brady at the Colts 40 yard line.... 3 years of pain had ceased, and Peyton Manning and company were heading to their first super bowl since their days in Baltimore....
Joseph Addai... (Game Winning TD against NE)
Couldn't have gotten there w/o Peyton Manning and Joseph "live and let" Addai's game winning heroics against New England.
It's off to Miami to face the NFL's best defense and one of the most storied franchises in football, the Chicago Bears.
It all leads to the winning formula and a team hungry for a Championship...
Wow, I couldn't be happier; One of my teams is finally going to a championship game. I am hoping that the Rockets will now follow....although I'm not making any promises with that one.
Tony Dungy made history by being one of the first coaches along with Lovie Smith to coach a team in the Superbowl. A few hours later, he would win a ring as well, not a bad night considering that it was a soaker and Prince was terrible at halftime. Long saddled with a reputation as a coach who couldn't win the big one, Dungy shook that label when his Indianapolis Colts beat the Chicago Bears 29-17.
Reign Manning...
He won because he had the better quarterback. Like his coach, Peyton Manning filled a void in his impressive resume by winning a ring. Steady rain made for a sloppy game that included eight turnovers, but Manning threw for 247 yards, including a 53-yard touchdown pass to Pro Bowl wideout Reggie Wayne.
Peyton Manning: 25-38 247 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT.
Dominic Rhodes: 21 carries, 113 yards, 1 TD.
Joseph Addai: 10 receptions, 66 yards 18 carries, 77 yards; 143 all purpose yards.
Smith's erratic young quarterback, Rex Grossman, made the same kind of mistakes that had Bears fans lobbying for his benching all season. He threw two interceptions, with one returned for a touchdown, and he fumbled twice, losing one. Smith stayed with his quarterback, and the underdog Bears found themselves gradually overpowered by the Colts.
In the early going, it appeared Smith might pull off an upset against his former mentor. Devin Hester returned the opening kickoff 92 yards for a score, and Smith followed the rookie down the sideline and signaled touchdown.
The Colts running game led by Dominic Rhodes and rookie wonder Joseph Addai proved to be the key element in the Colts' success gaining crucial first downs on many third down situations which would later prove costly since the Colts controlled much of the game clock throughout the entire game. Many people thought that the running game would prove to be a weak element in their success if they were to win against the Bears "wrecking havoc" defense. Couple that with Grossman's 2 interceptions in the fourth quarter and the Colts success is valued with their defense which definitely proved us wrong in all four of their postseason games....Goes to show that it all matters when it comes down to the postseason.
Indy would rally from eight down in the first period to claim its first Super Bowl championship in Indianapolis. The Colts had been perennial title contenders since Dungy became coach in 2002 but fell short each year, but now, those critics claiming that Manning and Dungy can "shut it" because they are champions of the Football World of 2006. It all goes to show what an MVP like Peyton Manning can do to win the big one against the league's most talked about and perrenial defense. They are the Champs and are well deserving.
Indianapolis Colts; Superbowl Champions 2006
I would first like to dedicate this blog to Colts defensive end and one of the NFL's best overall players, GARY BRACKETT. He was a walk-on at Rutgers University and an undrafted player coming into the NFL. He lost his mother, father, and brother in a 17 month span...To see someone who had to deal with all that emotional pain and adversity, along with being a walk on NFL player and then becoming one of the game's best players and play in the Superbowl, it just inspires me and is a great story that I will always remember.
I have been an Indianapolis Colts fan for the past 6 years, and for the last 5, I have witnessed heartbreak, grievance, and failure time after time.....whether it would be losing to the New England Patriots twice in Foxboro in 03 and 04, to the Steelers last year on that botched Vanderjagt field goal, or to the blowout in Queens when the Jets blew them off the face of the earth in a 41-0 massacre in 02.
Learning from past failures...
Peyton Manning has had his critics constantly romping him for his lack of production in the postseason after he plays like an MVP during each regular season. (2 time MVP). However, he has constantly pushed them to the side knowing that the pain felt during all those racaus playoff losses would soon provide a light at the end of the tunnel, especially after last years postseason loss in the division round to the Pittsburgh Steelers, a loss which came at home on a year in which they had home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Well......
That loss to Pittsburgh provided the spark the Colts needed coming into this year, a year in which they became the first team in NFL History to start back-to-back seasons 9-0.
Rookie RB Joseph Addai had a spectacular rookie campaign washing away all the harsh critics who thought he would never replace the Edge with over 1000 rushing yards, and QB Peyton Manning had another MVP calibur year. They might have lost 3 out of their last 4 games, including a backbreaker to lowly Houston Texans in week 15 in overtime, but, they finished undefeated at home and went into the wild-card round against the rising Kansas City Cheifs at home with something to prove and a chip on their shoulder.
They would blitz their way through the Chiefs with a stellar defensive effort on a day that Peyton through 3 INT's with only 1 TD in a 23-8 romping. Going to Baltimore the next week proved to be a daunting task as Baltimore had its best season in its history going 13-3 behind former Titan QB Steve McNair. In a game which featured no touchdowns and 7 field goals, the Colts prevailed yet again behind Adam Vinateri's foot on another night in which Peyton Manning had another forgettable performance.
Vintage Vinateri... (Clutchest Kicker of all time)
The Colts would be scoreboard watching the next game because if San Diego would lose to New England, the Patriots would have to this time go to Indianapolis instead of having to go to Foxboro, where almost no team could beat the Patriots, especially in the playoffs. The Patriots would later beat the Chargers and reigning MVP Ladanian Tomlinson.
In a game that will go down as one of the best in playoff history, the Colts found themselves down 21-3 and looking down as Tom Brady and company were looking like they were about to head to their 4th superbowl in 6 years and begin yet another year of turmoil for Peyton Manning and his legacy, while also dropping him to 0-3 against his arch rival..... Well, for every story there is a new beggining. The Colts would come back and tie the game at 21 and from there it would be a see-saw affair with the game going back and forth until the final, waning moments which saw Houston Alief product Joseph Addai burn into the endzone with 1 minute left capping the biggest comeback in Championship game history. Estatic euphoria didn't set in however until Colts safety Marlin Jackson intercepted Tom Brady at the Colts 40 yard line.... 3 years of pain had ceased, and Peyton Manning and company were heading to their first super bowl since their days in Baltimore....
Joseph Addai... (Game Winning TD against NE)
Couldn't have gotten there w/o Peyton Manning and Joseph "live and let" Addai's game winning heroics against New England.
It's off to Miami to face the NFL's best defense and one of the most storied franchises in football, the Chicago Bears.
It all leads to the winning formula and a team hungry for a Championship...
Wow, I couldn't be happier; One of my teams is finally going to a championship game. I am hoping that the Rockets will now follow....although I'm not making any promises with that one.
Tony Dungy made history by being one of the first coaches along with Lovie Smith to coach a team in the Superbowl. A few hours later, he would win a ring as well, not a bad night considering that it was a soaker and Prince was terrible at halftime. Long saddled with a reputation as a coach who couldn't win the big one, Dungy shook that label when his Indianapolis Colts beat the Chicago Bears 29-17.
Reign Manning...
He won because he had the better quarterback. Like his coach, Peyton Manning filled a void in his impressive resume by winning a ring. Steady rain made for a sloppy game that included eight turnovers, but Manning threw for 247 yards, including a 53-yard touchdown pass to Pro Bowl wideout Reggie Wayne.
Peyton Manning: 25-38 247 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT.
Dominic Rhodes: 21 carries, 113 yards, 1 TD.
Joseph Addai: 10 receptions, 66 yards 18 carries, 77 yards; 143 all purpose yards.
Smith's erratic young quarterback, Rex Grossman, made the same kind of mistakes that had Bears fans lobbying for his benching all season. He threw two interceptions, with one returned for a touchdown, and he fumbled twice, losing one. Smith stayed with his quarterback, and the underdog Bears found themselves gradually overpowered by the Colts.
In the early going, it appeared Smith might pull off an upset against his former mentor. Devin Hester returned the opening kickoff 92 yards for a score, and Smith followed the rookie down the sideline and signaled touchdown.
The Colts running game led by Dominic Rhodes and rookie wonder Joseph Addai proved to be the key element in the Colts' success gaining crucial first downs on many third down situations which would later prove costly since the Colts controlled much of the game clock throughout the entire game. Many people thought that the running game would prove to be a weak element in their success if they were to win against the Bears "wrecking havoc" defense. Couple that with Grossman's 2 interceptions in the fourth quarter and the Colts success is valued with their defense which definitely proved us wrong in all four of their postseason games....Goes to show that it all matters when it comes down to the postseason.
Indy would rally from eight down in the first period to claim its first Super Bowl championship in Indianapolis. The Colts had been perennial title contenders since Dungy became coach in 2002 but fell short each year, but now, those critics claiming that Manning and Dungy can "shut it" because they are champions of the Football World of 2006. It all goes to show what an MVP like Peyton Manning can do to win the big one against the league's most talked about and perrenial defense. They are the Champs and are well deserving.
Indianapolis Colts; Superbowl Champions 2006
Texas Basketball Recruiting
TEXAS BASKETBALL RECRUITING
2009 Class
JORDAN HAMILTON SF 6-7 215 (Compton, CA) Dominguez High School
1/26/2009
#5 in Rivals 150
#7 in ESPN U SUPER 60 (Scouts inc) à #1 SF of 2009
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS COMMITT à 2009
One of the deciding factors that put Texas over the top ahead of USC was Hamiltons’ relationship with fellow UT commit Avery Bradley and his connection with coach Rick Barnes and Texas’ run and gun style of play. Hamilton plans on staying in school at least 2 years as well, even if he is a potential lottery pick after his freshman year. He also has family in and around the Austin area so the adjustment won’t be as difficult, as opposed to playing close to home at USC.
Hamilton is a prolific scorer from anywhere on the court and dazzled the crowd in a quarterfinal against 2D1. He can score in a variety of ways -- has a sweet floater in his arsenal -- and is actually a much-improved passer. His handle has gotten better, but in a semifinal against LA Dream, Hamilton struggled against Lance Stephenson. Stephenson's strength and tenacity (when he wants to play hard on the defensive end) contained Hamilton's opportunities, holding him to 7 points. As Hamilton continues to get stronger and does a better job allowing the game come to him, his future is bright.
Despite Hamilton's shortcomings -- he has a tendency to hunt shots and lose his composure -- he is one of the most gifted scorers in the country. There isn't a 3-man in the nation with Hamilton's scoring skills. His 3-point shot is tight when he is balanced, but there are times he struggles coming to a jump stop and/or he fades away on his release. In the open court, his handle is very good and he has an innate ability to get to the basket. He shows flashes now and again of his passing ability; he delivered some of the sweetest assists throughout this event. In addition to his scoring prowess and dexterity on the offensive end, he is one of the nastiest rebounders in the game. He isn't afraid to get dirty in the paint area and there are many times he'll lead the break after grabbing a defensive rebound. Hamilton may struggle guarding at the next level due to his lack of elite athleticism. Still, he loves to compete.
He is the most gifted scorer on the west coast and might have the most polished offensive game in the country. He is a menace in the open court and a very underrated passer as well. He has range on his shot out to 25 feet and he is equally effective in a catch-n-shoot situation as well as off the bounce. He has very good straight-line speed, but he doesn't possess great lateral quickness, however. He has a variety of ways to score at his disposal and he also possesses that killer instinct, especially on the offensive end. There have been many times in the past where Hamilton has lost his composure and he has a tendency to hunt for his own shot far too often, but at this event he played under control and kept his emotions in check.
AVERY BRADLEY SG 6-3 175 (Henderson, NV) Findlay Prep
1/26/2009
#8 in Rivals 150
#7 in ESPN U SUPER 60 (Scouts inc)
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS COMMITT 2009 à #1 SG in 2009 Class
Bradley grew up bleeding burnt orange, so when they sent a scholarship his way, it was a one and done deal. Like Hamilton, he also plans to stay in school at least 2 years, to ensure that he can develop his all around game and be an NBA ready prospect.
Bradley was projected as a high-major prospect coming out of the regular season, but after his stellar performance during the summer evaluation period, not to mention the Nike Global Challenge, he must be considered a certain McDonald's All-American. He was fantastic throughout the weekend; Bradley was arguably the most consistent and explosive prospect. He is a superior athlete with extraordinary lateral quickness and leaping ability. He has a terrific first step to the basket and can either stop on a dime and nail the midrange pull-up or elevate amongst the bigs for the dramatic dunk. He is one of those unusual prospects who could excel in either a motion offense or an up-tempo transition style. He has become deadly with his pull-up but he has become very sound as a catch-n-shoot type as well. Another area he has improved is his ability to separate himself from defenders. He has a swift crossover and he has added a hesitation move that keeps defenders on their heels. Although he is a scorer in every sense of the word, he delivered some of the niftiest passes, especially in transition. In addition to his outstanding offensive repertoire, he is equally as good on the defensive end. He can anticipate in the passing lanes as well as anybody and his man-up defense is simply the best in the country. He defended some of the best guards in the country -- 5-7 junior Phil Pressey, 5-10 senior Tommy Mason-Griffin and 6-3 senior John Wall come immediately to mind -- and came out on top on most possessions.
Bradley has all the tools and instincts to be a big time scorer. His wiry, strong, athletic frame gets him baskets as he finishes in transition on the break. This ultra-competitive scoring guard can produce in transition or in the half court. He pushes the ball in transition with straight line speed as he attacks the rim or pulls-up on a dime for his consistent jumper from 17-19 feet. He can knock down the 3pt shot with strong elevation and beautiful release on his shot. When the defense closes out on his 3pt shot, he utilizes his shot fake, dribble pull-up to perfection or will go all the way and finish at the rim. Bradley possesses a quick first step as he blows past his defenders and demonstrates good body control on his pull up jumper. He shows great instincts of taking what the defense gives him and scoring, while not forcing the issue. All of his mid-range jumpers whether off the dribble or catch, are shot at a high percentage. Defensively he guards the ball well as he uses his lateral quickness to to effectively level off his opponent. Bradley is a big time scorer while making his team win; that's a combination folks in Austin, Texas are going to love.
Bradley has steadily risen up in the ranks of the Top 100 players, mainly because of his defensive prowess. In a day and age where offense is the focus for many of the elite players, it is refreshing to see a player take pride in dominating the defensive side of the ball. He uses his superior length, quickness and intelligence to harass the opponent into submission. In most games, if a perimeter player gets hot, they assign "the cooler" to him and put the player in shut down mode. Defense is only a part of his skill set, he is a threat to go highlight reel any time he has the ball on the break; he made some great plays in transition finishing with acrobatic moves to the basket that brought out the "oooh's" from the crowds. He needs to work on his 3pt shooting consistency as opponents will concede the jumper and give space to defend the drive. He is a great fit for the style of play at Texas and should blossom as a player in his time there.
SHAWNE WILLIAMS PF 6-9 215 (Duncanville, TX) Duncanville High School
1/26/2009
#64 in Rivals 150
#72 in ESPN U SUPER 100 (Scouts inc)
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS COMMITT
He is a Rick Barnes prototype and will fit perfectly in the Texas system playing alongside Avery Bradley and Jordan Hamilton.
Shawn is a very versatile offensive player who can attack the defender in a number of ways. His best offensive weapon is his ability to shoot the ball in the mid-range area, where he is equally effective off the catch or the dribble. He is also a good shooter from behind the three-point line, although he can by streaky. His ability to create his own shot has vastly improved as of late. He is at his best when attacking immediately after the catch where his quick first step is often enough to get him into the lane. While he isn't quite as effective off the dribble, his slashing ability still has to be respected with a rapidly improving handle. Although Williams has good size, strength, and athleticism for the wing position, he still needs to learn to finish more consistently against contact. He also rebounds well from the perimeter and is able to pass effectively within the flow of the offense.
The University of Texas signee played well throughout the tournament (2008 McDonald's Texas Invitational) in leading his team to the tournament championship game of the Gold Division. The skilled swingman showed how multi-talented he is by knocking down 3's, finishing in transition and rebounding in a crowd. Very athletic with an aggressive disposition, Williams forced match-up problems the entire tournament. Offensively, he was very consistent from behind the arc pulling up in transition or sticking the 3 off of penetration and pitch. Off the dribble he can get to the basket, take contact and finish with either hand. Exploded for dunks on the break or dealt it to a teammate in number situations. Defensively, Williams can guard four positions. He came up with steals in the press with good anticipation off the ball. This future Longhorn will fit in well with the Texas system.
Williams is a very smooth wing that is long and athletic. He is a good ball-handler that can drive and slash with either hand and finishes with great touch and body control. When his feet are set he can knock down the three. Williams has good elevation, release and follow through on his jumper. He can rebound on both ends and is good for one or two put backs per game. Williams excels in transition as well where he can get to the rim or stop and pop on a dime. He does a good job on defense by playing the passing lanes and uses his ability to anticipate passes and turns them into steals. Williams must gain strength and work on getting other involved when the defense collapses. At times this weekend (2008 Marshall County HoopFest) he become frustrated and didn't shoot or play well.
JAMIR WILSON SF 6-8 215 (Racine, WI) William Horlick High School
1/26/2009
#93 in Rivals 150
#62 in ESPN U SUPER 100 (Scouts inc)
The Favorites: Michigan State, Texas, Oregon, Marquette
Jamir is a player that Texas values very highly. During his official visit back in December, Jamir recalled at how much he admired the Texas facilities, student atmosphere, and the coaches. He went back at home with Texas the possible frontrunner, but there has since been no indication as to what school Wilson might be leaning towards. He maintains that Texas is among a top 3 that also consists of Oregon and Michigan State. This one looks like a signing day decision, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he chose the UT hate over those 2 fellow schools. Both of his parents think highly of Texas as well. It should be interesting.
Jamil Wilson is an extremely versatile forward with tremendous potential as a player. He needs to continue to work on his skill set, particularly his jump shot and his ball handling, but Wilson is a great athlete who is extremely productive on the court. He is a very good rebounder and he is capable of scoring inside and out. He finishes above the rim and is good at creating contact and still finishing plays. One of the biggest question marks regarding his game is what position he will play when he gets to college. While he handles the ball well for a post, he is an average ball handler for a wing. Wilson really just needs to continue to work on his game and stay productive while doing so. He may be a post or a wing, but regardless, Wilson competes, he rebounds, he defends and he is a very good athlete who will only continue to improve.
He is a very skilled young player. He is a natural wing forward but can conceivably play all three perimeter positions. He is a very good ball handler for his size. He is also a very good and sometimes creative passer. He is also a solid shooter with range to 20 feet. He was injured for most of the summer and did not play to his capabilities but the talent is unmistakable. He is just an ok defender at this point but he has not been asked very often to lock down an opponent. His skills are needed on the offensive end. Jamil is a decent rebounder for his position which should improve with added strength.
2010 Class
The University of Texas has also already ushered in the 2nd best recruiting class of 2010 THUS FAR. The additions of 5 star super elite prospects; PF Tristian Thompson (6-9 210), and SG Daniel Bejarano (6-5 200) has generated a lot of buzz and excitement among both Texas fans, and college basketball fans alike.
TRISTIAN THOMPSON PF 6-9 215 (Newark, NJ) St. Benedicts Prep
1/26/2009
#5 in Rivals 150
#3 in ESPN U SUPER 60 (Scouts inc)
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS COMMITT à 2010
Thompson, who is out of St. Benedicts Prep (Newark, NJ) is ranked number 3 on the ESPN U Scouts Super 60 Recruiting list, and is also ranked number 5 on the Rivals 150 for the class of 2010.
At 6-9, he handles the ball extremely well, he runs the floor well and he can score both inside and out. Thompson is a very good rebounder for his size and most importantly, he has a mean streak in him when he plays. He has a killer mentality on the floor and that is what separates him from most sophomores in the country. Thompson is very long, but is not incredibly explosive and he needs to work on his explosion over the next few years. He also needs to work on getting his body lower when he drives to allow him to become more explosive off the dribble. He is long and lanky and will get better at finishing with contact as he gets stronger. Thompson can also work on his perimeter shooting and his scoring without the ball in his hands to improve. Clearly, as a sophomore, there is a lot that Thompson can work on to improve, but as long as he continues to develop and to compete, he will be among the elite high-major prospects in the 2010 class.
Thompson's abilities make him one of the top 2010 prospects in the country. He scores surprisingly well from the perimeter which compliments his inside scoring ability. He also can handle the ball well for a player of his size. Thompson competes at a very high level and rarely takes plays off. If he adds some strength and muscle to his long frame and continues to improve his offensive game, Thompson can take his game to another level. At Texas, Thompson should thrive under coach Rick Barnes' tutelage. Barnes loves to utilize big men that can shoot the jumper, which former Longhorn big man Brad Buckman did very effectively; therefore Barnes will utilize Thompson's developing perimeter game. Thompson also has the same never-ending motor and inside-outside skill package that current Texas forward Damion James possess, which fits perfectly with Texas' up-tempo style of play. Defensively, Thompson shows loads of potential as a disruptive force. As previously mentioned he is already a shot blocking threat and his length makes him a very strong rebounder. If he can add some extra weight to keep from being pushed out of position he will almost certainly be a double-double threat on a nightly basis. Thompson typically plays with his arms up which allows him to cut off passing lanes and deflect a lot of passes.
*Courtesy of ESPN U – Scouts inc
DANIEL BEJARANO SG 6-5 200 (Phoenix, AZ) North High School
1/26/2009
#16 in Rivals 150
#42 in ESPN U SUPER 60 (Scouts inc)
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS COMMITT à 2010
Bejarano, who is out of North High School (Phoenix, AZ) comes in ranked at number 42 thus far in the ESPN U Scouts Super 60, while also being ranked number 16 in the Rivals 150 for the class of 2010. Bejarano is very different from most of the guards in this class, not only because of his dynamic scoring ability and his offensive prowess (he can score from anywhere on the floor) but because of his rebounding ability. He averaged 22.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per game his sophomore year.
Dan is a skilled and athletic wing with all of the tools necessary to be one of the top players at his position in the class. He is an excellent scorer. He can shoot to 20 feet and slash to the basket. He plays with good effort and is a solid defender as well as a good rebounder for his position. He plays with passion and is a winner. He is a prolific shooter with a smooth release and he gets tremendous lift on his shot as well. He has a strong physique and he utilized it quite well in the rebounding department. Although he has a tendency to leave his feet while passing, he does have a nice feel for the game and should be playing in a high-major conference a couple of years from now.
STATS
Junior – 22.9 pts – 2.5 assists – 9.1 rebounds – 1.8 Blocks
Senior – 22.3 pts – 3.5 assists – 9.9 rebounds – 1.8 Steals
JOSH SMITH C 6-10 275 (Kentwood, WA)
1/26/2009
#1 in Rivals 150 rankings
#2 in ESPN U Super 60 (Scouts inc)
Schools in the Running: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Duke, Georgetown, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, North Carolina, Oregon, Oregon State, USC, Stanford, Syracuse, Tennessee, Texas, UCLA, Washington, Washington State, Gonzaga
The Favorites: Duke, Washington, Texas, Kentucky, UCLA, Kansas
This strong and physical wide body is super explosive around the rim. Smith power dunks on, over or around defenders when he receives drop off passes created by guard penetration. He has good hands and runs the floor very well for a player his size. He can beat most centers down the floor for an early post up opportunity. When he anchors down in the low post he is a huge target that likes to shoot the right handed jump hook over his left shoulder. Smith has a soft touch and elevates over the defense with ease. He has a nice stroke at the free throw line where he executes a high release and good follow through. A powerful rebounder on both ends as he snatches the ball with two hands and rim level or above on defense and dunks in misses on offense. Smith must continue to add to his post move package and work to stay in shape year around to continue his dominate ways when he gets on the college level. It is fun to watch him attack the rim with an attitude.
Smith has a huge frame and remarkable agility for a player his size. He has long arms and possesses a division one body already. Despite his youth he has an outstanding feel for the game, especially when operating in the paint area. Whether it's a soft half-hook or rebound-finish, he is very effective finishing on the inside and he has an excellent pair of hands. Though he's a bit overweight he's quite bouncy and he uses his body very well to ward off taller opponents.
There has been a lot of speculation that Smith is being pressured to sign with a Pac-10 team. He has received scholar ship offers from every single Pac-10 team, and even though he is thought to be a UCLA lean, Smith has 3 favorite teams at this point.
DUKE, TEXAS, and WASHINGTON. However, this is all speculation. It is important to note that his favorite NBA player is UT alum LaMarcus Aldridge, and it was noted that during a couple sessions of the early season practice and scrimmages, Smith was seen wearing UT Nikes and UT practice shorts. That’s should be a great indication to Texas fans as to where Smith stands with his favorite teams.
ROSCOE SMITH SF 6-7 180 (Baltimore, MD) Walbrook Academy
1/26/2009
#11 in Rivals 150
#8 in ESPN U Super 60 (Scouts inc)
Schools in the Running: Connecticut, Duke, Florida, Florida State, Georgetown, Kansas, Kentucky, LSU, Louisville, Maryland, Memphis, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, UCLA, Virginia Tech
The Early Favorites: Georgetown, Virginia Tech, Connecticut, Texas, Texas A&M
The University of Texas has always had a knack for wooing kids from MD to play for their program. Kevin Durant, who played for Montrose Christian School in Baltimore, is the most recent example.
Smith has incredible length and very good athleticism. He also has the size that could allow him to develop into an elite wing scorer, but he needs to get much stronger. Smith has range on his jumper that extends to the 3-point line, but he has a tendency to rely on that shot too much. When he looks to go to the rim, he tends to over-dribble and hunt down shots, which serves to bring the offense to a halt. Smith almost exclusively operates on the left wing for his offense. A middle game would make Smith even more difficult for defenses to contend with and open up his drive game. He also needs to continue to work on his ball-handling skills. Smith has the length, lateral quickness, and athleticism to become a very good defender, but he only seems to utilize this after he scores a bucket. He also needs to alleviate his tendency to leak out on defense for fast breaks and not use his impressive athletic gifts for defensive rebounding. Added strength would not only help him as a rebounder and defender, it will also aid him on the offensive end when he goes to the bucket.
He glides in transition and is one of the smoothest finishers around. He has a nice feel for the game as he made a number of nice passes, especially in transition. He can take defenders off the dribble and he can hang in the air for awhile while finishing. He has that all around game that Rick Barnes and Texas covet big time. A lesser athletic version of Kevin Durant.
STATS
Junior year – 23 points – 11 rebounds – 7 assists – 7 blocks
JASON MORRIS SG 6-5 190 (Lakeville, CT) Hotchkiss School
1/26/2009
#22 in Rivals 150
#34 in ESPN U SUPER 60 (Scouts inc)
Schools in the Running: Arizona, Arizona State, Auburn, Boston College, Clemson, Duke, Florida, Georgetown, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, South Carolina, Syracuse, Texas, Villanova, Virginia, Wake Forest, Xavier
The Early Favorites: Villanova, Georgia Tech, Clemson, Georgetown, Georgia, South Carolina
Morris has a very good body and strength which he uses to his advantage on the offensive end. When you add his incredible athleticism and leaping ability to the equation, you have a very difficult talent to contain on the offensive end. He loves to use his quick first step to get to the rim and finish in traffic, where he does a very good job of using his strength to take contact at the rim and still finish. Morris' athleticism and strength allows him to get a shot whenever he wants. However, he tends to rely too much on this athleticism and takes very difficult, contested shots. Morris would also benefit from improving his ball-handing skills, as he tends to over-dribble, taking seven or eight dribbles to get to place on the court where he can get using three or four dribbles, especially when you factor in his athleticism, strength, and lateral quickness. He also needs to improve his perimeter accuracy and range to become a better shooter from distance as well as in the mid-range, considering that he can elevate over anyone that guards him. Morris does a good job of rubbing off screens for jumpers in the mid-range. On his jumper, he almost shoots the ball with one-hand (right) as he has a tendency to drop his guide hand (left) too early. Morris does a good job of finding open teammates when he tries, but he does not pass enough and needs to improve his shot-selection. His strength, athleticism, and length should make him a very good defender on the perimeter, though he does not play intense defense all the time at this point.
Jason is a phenomenal athlete who plays above the rim like few others can. He is a quick leaper who jumps out of the gym, runs the floor very well, and has good lateral quickness. Consequently, he is at his best when filling lanes in the open floor. He has an explosive first step and attacks the rim very aggressively, in both the open floor and a half court set. While he is often able to finish over any opposing defenders, he also shows the ability to stop on a dime in the mid-range area and smoothly elevate into a pull-up jumper. His biggest improvements need to come in his ability to consistently make shots from the perimeter and handle the ball in his left hand, as he almost always looks to drive to his dominant right side. Defensively, he has the potential to be as good as he wants to be as his length, lateral quickness, and athleticism are all huge advantages. Overall, he is a unique talent with a huge upside.
Morris is a talented wing player who has the athleticism and explosion to be a big-time player. Morris exhibited an extremely quiet confidence throughout their game with IMG on Saturday for a kid his age. He did what was needed for his team to win -- handling, passing, scoring and rebounding. He played within himself and did not get a lot of opportunities to show everyone in the stands all of the things he can do. This young man can get to the rim and finish. He is developing a nice stroke to the 3-point line and has a lot of the tools necessary to play at the highest levels.
Barnes believes that Morris could be the prototypical 2 guard that would compliment both Thompsons’ and Daniel Bejarano perfectly with the 2010 class. It will be interesting to see if they can lure him away from the ACC teams to UT for an unofficial visit at some point in the spring or summer.
STATS (per game)
Freshman – 16 points – 8 rebounds – 3 blocks
Sophomore – 18 points – 7 rebounds – 5 assists – 3 blocks
RAY MCCALLUM PG 6-1 175 (Detroit, Michigan) Country Day School
1/26/2009
#52 in Rivals 150
#10 in ESPN U SUPER 60 (Scouts inc)
Schools in the Running: Kansas, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Texas, UCLA, Detroit, Duke, Indiana
The Early Favorites: Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Detroit
This one looks to be a long-shot for the Longhorns, but there is still a lot of time remaining.
“Little Ray", as he is known throughout the state, is the best guard in the 2010 class in Indiana and is also one of the best nationally. There is not a lot McCallum doesn't do well as a player. He is a very good athlete, finishes extremely well at the rim and is also an excellent 3-point shooter. He can get his own shot at any point, but generally speaking, when he puts the ball on the floor, he is looking to go all the way to the basket. A great student off the court, McCallum also possesses a very high basketball IQ on the court. Guys seem to enjoy playing with him, which is a great attribute for a point guard to have. He makes those around him better. McCallum does tend to over-penetrate and will sometimes get in trouble when he leaves his feet and then decides to pass while still in the air. Most of his turnovers come this way. McCallum can still develop a pull-up and a floater to help round his game out. He also needs to get stronger to be able to finish when he gets to the next level. An excellent prospect with a great work ethic, there is no question "Little Ray" will become a "big time" player.
Ray Jr. is a clone of his father Ray who has just become the head coach of the University of Detroit. A very lucky high school coach in Michigan is going to win a great point guard this summer. Smart, quick and knows how to play the point or off-guard. He is very effective at both positions because he can score from the perimeter and pass. Ray, Jr. is an excellent penetrator who plays with his head up and always finds the open man. A very tough defender who likes to play good defense. He has been taught and coached by his dad who was a great college player and a good college coach at Ball State and Houston. The McCallum's are winners. They play hard and smart and they are all about team basketball and doing everything in life right. Ray Jr. is a great high school player and is going to be an even better college player for his dad someday at Detroit.
PHIL PRESSEY PG 5-8 150 (Dallas, TX) Episcopal School of Dallas
1/26/2009
#42 in Rivals 150
#21 in ESPN U SUPER 60 (Scouts inc)
Schools in the Running: Arizona State, Baylor, Connecticut, Florida, LSU, Missouri, Texas, Tennessee, Kansas, Kentucky
The Early Favorites: Texas, Louisville, Wake Forest, LSU, Missouri
Its noted that if and when Texas were to offer Pressey a scholarship, he would commit on the spot. Problem is, Texas is still coveting the number one point guard in the country, Brandon Knight, but it looks as if that’s already water under the bridge for the Longhorns, because Knight is strongly considering Florida or Duke. Florida is the apparent leader, because it is where friend Kenneth Boynton, who was the top PG in 2009 committed to. So all Texas needs to do, is make the offer. His length could be the big weakness that separates him from UT, because Barnes wants length at the guard spot, something the 5-8 Pressey doesn’t possess at the moment.
Pressey is a true point guard who possesses great speed and quickness with the ball. Although small in stature he is a tough competitor and the MVP of the BABC AAU team. He does a great job of running the team and keeping everyone involved in transition as well as in the half court. Pressey has excellent court vision and penetrating ability that allows him to get into the heart of the defense and find open teammates for easy scores. He passes the ball with either hand which is a skill that some college point guards can't execute. He is a master of keeping pressure on the defense by pushing the ball in transition on a made or missed shot. Pressey looks up the floor immediately to advance the ball on the pass or he speed dribbles by the defense for a lay up, kick out for an open three or drop off pass for an uncontested dunk. Pressey can score as well. He can shoot the three off the catch or dribble. He has great confidence in his jumper and has an excellent release and follows through. When he penetrates into the lane and can't get all the way to the rim he likes to shoot the floater over taller defenders. At times he over-penetrates and takes chances with the ball but as a coach you have to live with a few mistakes because most of the time he gets a good result. He is very good at making a plays at the end of quarters or the half. Pressey will be a terror at the end of the shot clock in college with his play making ability. He is a quick hands defender that plays for steals. He has struggled at times against taller and more athletic guards but he never backed down.
This super quick and fast lead guard constantly applies pressure to the opposing defense. Pressey pushes the ball in transition and is a threat to score or draw a second defender and pass a teammate for a wide open shot. He changes speeds and directions on a dime and is a good enough shooter from beyond the arc to keep the defense honest. Pressey has a deadly floater when he attacks the lane which he can do at will or he will bounce into a smooth pull up jumper. He has a tight handle and excellent court vision. Pressey has a high basketball IQ and does a good job of keeping his team organized and motivated. He must work to get stronger so he can be affective against taller point guards and additional strength will help him finish when he is trying to score in the lane when teams challenge him to finish in tall and athletic traffic. Don't let his size fool you, Pressey is a tough and talented competitor.
I still think he ends up at Texas because his playmaking ability is too hard to pass up.
2011 CLASS
MYCK KABONGO 6-1 165 (Newark, NJ) St. Benedicts Prep
1/26/2009
#14 in ESPN U SUPER 60 (Scouts inc) à #1 PG in class
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS COMMITT à 2011
He made his commitment to Texas official on his 16th birthday. It should be noted here that he is the current teammate of fellow UT commit Tristian Thompson. He says his relationship with coach Rick Barnes, is what put Texas over the top. The fact that Thompson also committed to Texas was just an “added bonus.”
As fast a lead guard as anyone in the country in his class. Explodes up and down the court and gets from foul line to foul line in the blink of an eye. Myck handles the ball as if it was an extension of his arm and he can find the gaps and get to the rim before defenses react. He thinks like a true point guard and loves to pile up the assists. He needs to improve both his catch and shoot and pullup jumpers but he has three years to accomplish this, He looks like he could still grow a couple of inches and he has the potential to one day be the John Wall of his class.
He pushes the ball in transition with tremendous speed and quickness. He is a terrific ball handler and passer that can beat his man with crossover, between the legs and hesitation moves. He also has a quick first step and burst on speed that allows him to get to the rim before the help side defenders can react. He finishes inside with high arcing layups over outstretched hands. He displayed good leadership skills and the ability to run the offense. He also sets the tone on the defensive end with tremendous ball pressure. He has quick hands and feet and does a great job of maintaining the offensive player's attention at all times. Kabongo must improve his three shooting. He is streaky but must work for consistence to set up his penetration. At times he over penetrates which results in a turnover. He competes at all times as well. Kabongo will need to get stronger but is clearly a high major point guard.
He also has very good quickness and can get to the cup with the greatest of ease, using his burst and decent ball-handling skills. He does a very good job of changing speeds off the dribble, which keeps defenders off balance. However, he has a tendency to over-dribble which sometimes causes him to miss open teammates when they become open for a split-second. He has a tendency to get out of control and turnover the ball at times. He has to improve his shooting ability from the perimeter, adding more range and consistency from the outside. He has very good vision and passing skills, doing a good job of finding open teammates for easy shots streaking to the rim or setting up for jumpers. Kabongo does a solid job of pressuring opposing ball-handlers and with more strength and muscle, he could become an even better defender.
WAYNE BLACKSHEAR SG 6-4 205 (Chicago, IL) Curie High School
1/26/2009
#18 in ESPN U SUPER 60 (Scouts inc)
Schools in the Running: Texas, Illinois, Indiana, Duke, Purdue, North Carolina
The Early Favorites: Texas
It is reported that Blackshear has a very strong connection with coach Rick Barnes and that he loves Austin and the UT program. He grew up following Texas, and that once they offer a scholarship, it could be a one and done deal with Blackshear making his way down to Austin and the 40 acres. Texas is in GREAT position for this freak athlete of a kid.
Wayne Blackshear is another outstanding young prospect from Chicago. Blackshear is one of the toughest players and fiercest competitors I have seen at such a young age. He has to continue to develop his overall game: shooting, ball handling and decision making, but Blackshear has the heart of a lion and competes at all times. His competitiveness is what separates him from other prospects and as long as he is willing to work on his game, the sky is the limit for him.
He is also a silky smooth combo wing. He is blessed with a great deal of natural talent. He is skilled with the ball and is a good slasher to the basket. He is long so could one day be a lock down defender. As of right now he is average at best. He simply needs to apply more effort to that end of the floor. He is a decent shooter with range to 20 feet. Right now most of his points come off of drives into the paint. Wayne is a top 20 prospect in the 2011 class nationally.
MIKE SHAW PF 6-8 200 (Chicago, IL) De La Salle Institute
1/26/2009
#16 in ESPN U SUPER 60 (Scouts inc)
#7 in Rivals 150
Schools in the Running: Illinois, Indiana, Texas, Pittsburgh, North Carolina, Kentucky
The Early Favorites: Illinois, Indiana, North Carolina
This one could be another long-shot for Texas, but lately he has shown a great interest in the UT program. UT should definitely be in it until the end though.
There are very few players nationally in the 2011 class that have the body and size of Mike Shaw. He is a natural small forward who can drive the ball and finish. He can also go inside and post smaller players. He is physically dominant against players his own age. Shaw needs to continue to develop his skills and stay focused on his improvement. He needs to stay hungry and not get caught up in the hype surrounding him. He needs to work on his shooting and his ball handling while continuing to score in a variety of ways. It will be fun to watch Shaw as he progresses as a player.
Mike is a highly skilled combo forward. He is more of a 4 than a 3 right now, he is best as a skilled 4 man. He is then a mis-match against most 4 men. Mike has legitimate range to 15 feet but he is apt to attempt shots beyond that range in order to show he is a legit swingman. Mike is an average defender currently that struggles in space against 3's. He is very talented and has a great upside. Mike is a top 10 player in the 2011 class nationally.
With Shaw - Think a young Rashard Lewis - has a lengthy frame and is a very good athlete. He's a finesse 4-man with one of the smoother strokes around. His shot is consistent out beyond the stripe, but he relies on it way too much. He needs to get much tougher at both ends of the floor and develop other areas of his game, specifically his post skills.
LAQUINTON ROSS SG 6-8 180 (Jackson, MS) Murrah High School
1/26/2009
#1 in Rivals 150
#2 in ESPN U SUPER 60 (Scouts inc)
Schools in the Running: Baylor, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State, North Carolina, Duke, Miami, North Carolina State, Ohio State, USC, UCLA, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, Louisville, Texas A&M, Georgia Tech, Memphis, Clemson
The Early Favorites: Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Baylor, Alabama, Kansas
Ross has noted that UT will be a major player in his recruiting, and that he is interested in the program. It’s still very early, and this one could draw out for a while. Many people say he is a bigger, and more athletic version of Derrick Rose, and he is only a SOPHOMORE!
Ross is thin, extra long and athletic. His skill set is off the charts for a player his age. Very smooth, he can make scoring moves off the dribble like a 5-10 guard look easy -- is a threat to score on every catch. He does a great job with the burst out dribble after he rebounds, and if not picked up by a defender will go coast to coast and finish with an acrobatic move or dunk. Runs the lane in transition where he can stop and pop from 3. Nice pull-up jumper and he can start a scoring drive with either hand. Ross is excellent at attacking the baseline and can get all the way to the rim. He has great elevation to go along with length to get shots off over other 6-9 or bigger defenders and crashes the offensive glass from the perimeter and will tip dunk if not boxed out. Ross must continue to develop his post game so he can take advantage of smaller perimeter players. At times he seems to coast or float around and must learn to play hard at all times. He also needs to work to improve strength and post defense in addition to preparing to defend quick perimeter players. Ross is reminiscent of a right-handed Lamar Odom.
This super skilled scoring wing can take over the game in a variety of ways. He can score in transition by going coast to coast and finishing above the rim or with a slashing move between defenders. In the half court Ross can drive to the rim both ways. He is tough along the baseline where he can finish with either hand. He can shoot the three off the catch or dribble and with his great length his elevates over defenders with ease. Ross has a nice pull up jumper in the lane and can pass on the move to a cutting teammate. On the glass he must improve his defensive rebounding but on the offensive end he will sneak in for a put back or tip dunk when he is not boxed out and times up a missed shot. He has a scorer's mentality and plays with a quite confidence. Ross must make regular visits to the weight room to prepare for the physical play of college basketball but his size and skill make him special and match up problem every time he steps onto the floor.
After taking a glimpse at Ross, he will become a "pro", as long as he remains grounded and continues to work, a major question mark for many young players that achieve elite status early on. These players do not have another player to look to best, given the fact that they already rank as the top player. Instead, the challenge and motivation to become the best has to come from within, the mark of a truly great player, which Ross can become if he remains focused and hungry. Ross has an effortless, smooth offensive game and rarely changes expression, which may erroneously give off the impression that he does not play hard. He just possesses an array of skills that makes the game come very easy to him. Ross has range well beyond the 3-point line and he will shoot the pull-up from beyond the land of 3. He has textbook form, with a great follow-through and a nice, high release point on his jumper. He only misses when he does not finish his shot, drops his hands as opposed to holding his follow-through and he fades away. Ross also handles the ball very well and can easily get to the rim with his quick first step. His ball-handling skills allow him to get to the paint with ease even when defenders try to get up in him and apply ball pressure. Ross has the lift, length, and shooting ability to get off a mid-range pull-up jumper almost at will, but he does not utilize this portion of his game as much as he should. When he gets in the paint and not all the way to the rim, Ross has a tendency to negate his length and make himself smaller and easier to defend by adjusting in the air multiple times as opposed to going right up over defenders. He will become an even better finisher as he matures and add strength to his rather thin frame. Ross also does a good job of not forcing the issue, despite his immense offensive gifts. He drives the ball and dishes out to open teammates to easy shots.
LEBRYAN NASH SF 6-7 215 (Dallas, TX) Lincoln High School
1/26/2009
#8 in ESPN U SUPER 60 (Scouts inc)
LeBryan has not let anyone know what schools are currently pursuing him.
He is very interested in the Texas program so they would be considered one of the early favorites.
Long and athletic wing. Has a scoring mentality. Can make shots from anywhere on the floor. Sprints the wing in transition where he can get to the rim and finish with a big-time dunk, shoot a pull-up jumper or stop and pop from behind the arc. When attacking the rim he has a knack to get fouled as he slashes and twists his body in order to get the ball on the rim. Nice touch from the free throw line once he gets there. His skill level at such a young age is scary. He also does a good job of taking what the defense gives him. If the defender backs off, he shoots the deep jumper without hesitation. If the defender pressures him, he can start a scoring drive with either hand but favors going right. Is very dangerous along the baseline on the right side of the floor. If he sees an open path he can take off from outside the lane and finish above the rim. Has a good release, follow through and elevation to go with his long arms to get the shot off over taller defenders. He is thinking about making a scoring play on every catch. When he gets in a groove on the offensive end he can score in bunches. This kid has great offensive confidence. Areas of improvement start in the weight room. He is long and wiry with a great basketball body but will have to get stronger in order to defend a physical wing player or if he has to defend the post. Also must add a post up game to take advantage of smaller defenders and be a more aggressive rebounder on both ends. Tons of talent.
Nash is a strong and extremely athletic scorer. He is a terror along the baseline where he can sweep the ball to his outside hand to attack the rim. He can finish over or around defenders with either hand or a big time dunk. He did not shoot as much or as well from behind the arc as he did when I saw him dominate games at the Reebok camp in July. He also was not as aggressive at times. Nash showed some post up game by shooting his turn around jumper in the lane where he elevates over defenders with ease and some slashes from the wing. Nash is playing more of a power forward for his high school team because of his size but he has no problem getting production on the perimeter when needed. Nash played very well defensively on Friday night recording 7 block shots vs. Spring Westfield Mustangs. Nash is a big time talent but look to get frustrated at times. He is a young player that will be an impact player at the high major level in the class of 2011.
2012 à Names to look out for
Zach Peters (Plano, TX) PF à dude is 6-9 215 as a FRESHMAN!!
à on Texas’ Radar
Justin Anderson (Montrose Christian School, MD) SF 6-5 185
à Texas is the early frontrunner … dude went to same school as Kevin D
Isaiah Austin (Mansfield, TX) C 6-11 230 – size 18 shoe
à Texas is high on his early list
Aaron Durley (Saint Thomas - Houston, TX) C 6-9 240
2009 Class
JORDAN HAMILTON SF 6-7 215 (Compton, CA) Dominguez High School
1/26/2009
#5 in Rivals 150
#7 in ESPN U SUPER 60 (Scouts inc) à #1 SF of 2009
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS COMMITT à 2009
One of the deciding factors that put Texas over the top ahead of USC was Hamiltons’ relationship with fellow UT commit Avery Bradley and his connection with coach Rick Barnes and Texas’ run and gun style of play. Hamilton plans on staying in school at least 2 years as well, even if he is a potential lottery pick after his freshman year. He also has family in and around the Austin area so the adjustment won’t be as difficult, as opposed to playing close to home at USC.
Hamilton is a prolific scorer from anywhere on the court and dazzled the crowd in a quarterfinal against 2D1. He can score in a variety of ways -- has a sweet floater in his arsenal -- and is actually a much-improved passer. His handle has gotten better, but in a semifinal against LA Dream, Hamilton struggled against Lance Stephenson. Stephenson's strength and tenacity (when he wants to play hard on the defensive end) contained Hamilton's opportunities, holding him to 7 points. As Hamilton continues to get stronger and does a better job allowing the game come to him, his future is bright.
Despite Hamilton's shortcomings -- he has a tendency to hunt shots and lose his composure -- he is one of the most gifted scorers in the country. There isn't a 3-man in the nation with Hamilton's scoring skills. His 3-point shot is tight when he is balanced, but there are times he struggles coming to a jump stop and/or he fades away on his release. In the open court, his handle is very good and he has an innate ability to get to the basket. He shows flashes now and again of his passing ability; he delivered some of the sweetest assists throughout this event. In addition to his scoring prowess and dexterity on the offensive end, he is one of the nastiest rebounders in the game. He isn't afraid to get dirty in the paint area and there are many times he'll lead the break after grabbing a defensive rebound. Hamilton may struggle guarding at the next level due to his lack of elite athleticism. Still, he loves to compete.
He is the most gifted scorer on the west coast and might have the most polished offensive game in the country. He is a menace in the open court and a very underrated passer as well. He has range on his shot out to 25 feet and he is equally effective in a catch-n-shoot situation as well as off the bounce. He has very good straight-line speed, but he doesn't possess great lateral quickness, however. He has a variety of ways to score at his disposal and he also possesses that killer instinct, especially on the offensive end. There have been many times in the past where Hamilton has lost his composure and he has a tendency to hunt for his own shot far too often, but at this event he played under control and kept his emotions in check.
AVERY BRADLEY SG 6-3 175 (Henderson, NV) Findlay Prep
1/26/2009
#8 in Rivals 150
#7 in ESPN U SUPER 60 (Scouts inc)
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS COMMITT 2009 à #1 SG in 2009 Class
Bradley grew up bleeding burnt orange, so when they sent a scholarship his way, it was a one and done deal. Like Hamilton, he also plans to stay in school at least 2 years, to ensure that he can develop his all around game and be an NBA ready prospect.
Bradley was projected as a high-major prospect coming out of the regular season, but after his stellar performance during the summer evaluation period, not to mention the Nike Global Challenge, he must be considered a certain McDonald's All-American. He was fantastic throughout the weekend; Bradley was arguably the most consistent and explosive prospect. He is a superior athlete with extraordinary lateral quickness and leaping ability. He has a terrific first step to the basket and can either stop on a dime and nail the midrange pull-up or elevate amongst the bigs for the dramatic dunk. He is one of those unusual prospects who could excel in either a motion offense or an up-tempo transition style. He has become deadly with his pull-up but he has become very sound as a catch-n-shoot type as well. Another area he has improved is his ability to separate himself from defenders. He has a swift crossover and he has added a hesitation move that keeps defenders on their heels. Although he is a scorer in every sense of the word, he delivered some of the niftiest passes, especially in transition. In addition to his outstanding offensive repertoire, he is equally as good on the defensive end. He can anticipate in the passing lanes as well as anybody and his man-up defense is simply the best in the country. He defended some of the best guards in the country -- 5-7 junior Phil Pressey, 5-10 senior Tommy Mason-Griffin and 6-3 senior John Wall come immediately to mind -- and came out on top on most possessions.
Bradley has all the tools and instincts to be a big time scorer. His wiry, strong, athletic frame gets him baskets as he finishes in transition on the break. This ultra-competitive scoring guard can produce in transition or in the half court. He pushes the ball in transition with straight line speed as he attacks the rim or pulls-up on a dime for his consistent jumper from 17-19 feet. He can knock down the 3pt shot with strong elevation and beautiful release on his shot. When the defense closes out on his 3pt shot, he utilizes his shot fake, dribble pull-up to perfection or will go all the way and finish at the rim. Bradley possesses a quick first step as he blows past his defenders and demonstrates good body control on his pull up jumper. He shows great instincts of taking what the defense gives him and scoring, while not forcing the issue. All of his mid-range jumpers whether off the dribble or catch, are shot at a high percentage. Defensively he guards the ball well as he uses his lateral quickness to to effectively level off his opponent. Bradley is a big time scorer while making his team win; that's a combination folks in Austin, Texas are going to love.
Bradley has steadily risen up in the ranks of the Top 100 players, mainly because of his defensive prowess. In a day and age where offense is the focus for many of the elite players, it is refreshing to see a player take pride in dominating the defensive side of the ball. He uses his superior length, quickness and intelligence to harass the opponent into submission. In most games, if a perimeter player gets hot, they assign "the cooler" to him and put the player in shut down mode. Defense is only a part of his skill set, he is a threat to go highlight reel any time he has the ball on the break; he made some great plays in transition finishing with acrobatic moves to the basket that brought out the "oooh's" from the crowds. He needs to work on his 3pt shooting consistency as opponents will concede the jumper and give space to defend the drive. He is a great fit for the style of play at Texas and should blossom as a player in his time there.
SHAWNE WILLIAMS PF 6-9 215 (Duncanville, TX) Duncanville High School
1/26/2009
#64 in Rivals 150
#72 in ESPN U SUPER 100 (Scouts inc)
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS COMMITT
He is a Rick Barnes prototype and will fit perfectly in the Texas system playing alongside Avery Bradley and Jordan Hamilton.
Shawn is a very versatile offensive player who can attack the defender in a number of ways. His best offensive weapon is his ability to shoot the ball in the mid-range area, where he is equally effective off the catch or the dribble. He is also a good shooter from behind the three-point line, although he can by streaky. His ability to create his own shot has vastly improved as of late. He is at his best when attacking immediately after the catch where his quick first step is often enough to get him into the lane. While he isn't quite as effective off the dribble, his slashing ability still has to be respected with a rapidly improving handle. Although Williams has good size, strength, and athleticism for the wing position, he still needs to learn to finish more consistently against contact. He also rebounds well from the perimeter and is able to pass effectively within the flow of the offense.
The University of Texas signee played well throughout the tournament (2008 McDonald's Texas Invitational) in leading his team to the tournament championship game of the Gold Division. The skilled swingman showed how multi-talented he is by knocking down 3's, finishing in transition and rebounding in a crowd. Very athletic with an aggressive disposition, Williams forced match-up problems the entire tournament. Offensively, he was very consistent from behind the arc pulling up in transition or sticking the 3 off of penetration and pitch. Off the dribble he can get to the basket, take contact and finish with either hand. Exploded for dunks on the break or dealt it to a teammate in number situations. Defensively, Williams can guard four positions. He came up with steals in the press with good anticipation off the ball. This future Longhorn will fit in well with the Texas system.
Williams is a very smooth wing that is long and athletic. He is a good ball-handler that can drive and slash with either hand and finishes with great touch and body control. When his feet are set he can knock down the three. Williams has good elevation, release and follow through on his jumper. He can rebound on both ends and is good for one or two put backs per game. Williams excels in transition as well where he can get to the rim or stop and pop on a dime. He does a good job on defense by playing the passing lanes and uses his ability to anticipate passes and turns them into steals. Williams must gain strength and work on getting other involved when the defense collapses. At times this weekend (2008 Marshall County HoopFest) he become frustrated and didn't shoot or play well.
JAMIR WILSON SF 6-8 215 (Racine, WI) William Horlick High School
1/26/2009
#93 in Rivals 150
#62 in ESPN U SUPER 100 (Scouts inc)
The Favorites: Michigan State, Texas, Oregon, Marquette
Jamir is a player that Texas values very highly. During his official visit back in December, Jamir recalled at how much he admired the Texas facilities, student atmosphere, and the coaches. He went back at home with Texas the possible frontrunner, but there has since been no indication as to what school Wilson might be leaning towards. He maintains that Texas is among a top 3 that also consists of Oregon and Michigan State. This one looks like a signing day decision, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he chose the UT hate over those 2 fellow schools. Both of his parents think highly of Texas as well. It should be interesting.
Jamil Wilson is an extremely versatile forward with tremendous potential as a player. He needs to continue to work on his skill set, particularly his jump shot and his ball handling, but Wilson is a great athlete who is extremely productive on the court. He is a very good rebounder and he is capable of scoring inside and out. He finishes above the rim and is good at creating contact and still finishing plays. One of the biggest question marks regarding his game is what position he will play when he gets to college. While he handles the ball well for a post, he is an average ball handler for a wing. Wilson really just needs to continue to work on his game and stay productive while doing so. He may be a post or a wing, but regardless, Wilson competes, he rebounds, he defends and he is a very good athlete who will only continue to improve.
He is a very skilled young player. He is a natural wing forward but can conceivably play all three perimeter positions. He is a very good ball handler for his size. He is also a very good and sometimes creative passer. He is also a solid shooter with range to 20 feet. He was injured for most of the summer and did not play to his capabilities but the talent is unmistakable. He is just an ok defender at this point but he has not been asked very often to lock down an opponent. His skills are needed on the offensive end. Jamil is a decent rebounder for his position which should improve with added strength.
2010 Class
The University of Texas has also already ushered in the 2nd best recruiting class of 2010 THUS FAR. The additions of 5 star super elite prospects; PF Tristian Thompson (6-9 210), and SG Daniel Bejarano (6-5 200) has generated a lot of buzz and excitement among both Texas fans, and college basketball fans alike.
TRISTIAN THOMPSON PF 6-9 215 (Newark, NJ) St. Benedicts Prep
1/26/2009
#5 in Rivals 150
#3 in ESPN U SUPER 60 (Scouts inc)
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS COMMITT à 2010
Thompson, who is out of St. Benedicts Prep (Newark, NJ) is ranked number 3 on the ESPN U Scouts Super 60 Recruiting list, and is also ranked number 5 on the Rivals 150 for the class of 2010.
At 6-9, he handles the ball extremely well, he runs the floor well and he can score both inside and out. Thompson is a very good rebounder for his size and most importantly, he has a mean streak in him when he plays. He has a killer mentality on the floor and that is what separates him from most sophomores in the country. Thompson is very long, but is not incredibly explosive and he needs to work on his explosion over the next few years. He also needs to work on getting his body lower when he drives to allow him to become more explosive off the dribble. He is long and lanky and will get better at finishing with contact as he gets stronger. Thompson can also work on his perimeter shooting and his scoring without the ball in his hands to improve. Clearly, as a sophomore, there is a lot that Thompson can work on to improve, but as long as he continues to develop and to compete, he will be among the elite high-major prospects in the 2010 class.
Thompson's abilities make him one of the top 2010 prospects in the country. He scores surprisingly well from the perimeter which compliments his inside scoring ability. He also can handle the ball well for a player of his size. Thompson competes at a very high level and rarely takes plays off. If he adds some strength and muscle to his long frame and continues to improve his offensive game, Thompson can take his game to another level. At Texas, Thompson should thrive under coach Rick Barnes' tutelage. Barnes loves to utilize big men that can shoot the jumper, which former Longhorn big man Brad Buckman did very effectively; therefore Barnes will utilize Thompson's developing perimeter game. Thompson also has the same never-ending motor and inside-outside skill package that current Texas forward Damion James possess, which fits perfectly with Texas' up-tempo style of play. Defensively, Thompson shows loads of potential as a disruptive force. As previously mentioned he is already a shot blocking threat and his length makes him a very strong rebounder. If he can add some extra weight to keep from being pushed out of position he will almost certainly be a double-double threat on a nightly basis. Thompson typically plays with his arms up which allows him to cut off passing lanes and deflect a lot of passes.
*Courtesy of ESPN U – Scouts inc
DANIEL BEJARANO SG 6-5 200 (Phoenix, AZ) North High School
1/26/2009
#16 in Rivals 150
#42 in ESPN U SUPER 60 (Scouts inc)
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS COMMITT à 2010
Bejarano, who is out of North High School (Phoenix, AZ) comes in ranked at number 42 thus far in the ESPN U Scouts Super 60, while also being ranked number 16 in the Rivals 150 for the class of 2010. Bejarano is very different from most of the guards in this class, not only because of his dynamic scoring ability and his offensive prowess (he can score from anywhere on the floor) but because of his rebounding ability. He averaged 22.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per game his sophomore year.
Dan is a skilled and athletic wing with all of the tools necessary to be one of the top players at his position in the class. He is an excellent scorer. He can shoot to 20 feet and slash to the basket. He plays with good effort and is a solid defender as well as a good rebounder for his position. He plays with passion and is a winner. He is a prolific shooter with a smooth release and he gets tremendous lift on his shot as well. He has a strong physique and he utilized it quite well in the rebounding department. Although he has a tendency to leave his feet while passing, he does have a nice feel for the game and should be playing in a high-major conference a couple of years from now.
STATS
Junior – 22.9 pts – 2.5 assists – 9.1 rebounds – 1.8 Blocks
Senior – 22.3 pts – 3.5 assists – 9.9 rebounds – 1.8 Steals
JOSH SMITH C 6-10 275 (Kentwood, WA)
1/26/2009
#1 in Rivals 150 rankings
#2 in ESPN U Super 60 (Scouts inc)
Schools in the Running: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Duke, Georgetown, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, North Carolina, Oregon, Oregon State, USC, Stanford, Syracuse, Tennessee, Texas, UCLA, Washington, Washington State, Gonzaga
The Favorites: Duke, Washington, Texas, Kentucky, UCLA, Kansas
This strong and physical wide body is super explosive around the rim. Smith power dunks on, over or around defenders when he receives drop off passes created by guard penetration. He has good hands and runs the floor very well for a player his size. He can beat most centers down the floor for an early post up opportunity. When he anchors down in the low post he is a huge target that likes to shoot the right handed jump hook over his left shoulder. Smith has a soft touch and elevates over the defense with ease. He has a nice stroke at the free throw line where he executes a high release and good follow through. A powerful rebounder on both ends as he snatches the ball with two hands and rim level or above on defense and dunks in misses on offense. Smith must continue to add to his post move package and work to stay in shape year around to continue his dominate ways when he gets on the college level. It is fun to watch him attack the rim with an attitude.
Smith has a huge frame and remarkable agility for a player his size. He has long arms and possesses a division one body already. Despite his youth he has an outstanding feel for the game, especially when operating in the paint area. Whether it's a soft half-hook or rebound-finish, he is very effective finishing on the inside and he has an excellent pair of hands. Though he's a bit overweight he's quite bouncy and he uses his body very well to ward off taller opponents.
There has been a lot of speculation that Smith is being pressured to sign with a Pac-10 team. He has received scholar ship offers from every single Pac-10 team, and even though he is thought to be a UCLA lean, Smith has 3 favorite teams at this point.
DUKE, TEXAS, and WASHINGTON. However, this is all speculation. It is important to note that his favorite NBA player is UT alum LaMarcus Aldridge, and it was noted that during a couple sessions of the early season practice and scrimmages, Smith was seen wearing UT Nikes and UT practice shorts. That’s should be a great indication to Texas fans as to where Smith stands with his favorite teams.
ROSCOE SMITH SF 6-7 180 (Baltimore, MD) Walbrook Academy
1/26/2009
#11 in Rivals 150
#8 in ESPN U Super 60 (Scouts inc)
Schools in the Running: Connecticut, Duke, Florida, Florida State, Georgetown, Kansas, Kentucky, LSU, Louisville, Maryland, Memphis, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, UCLA, Virginia Tech
The Early Favorites: Georgetown, Virginia Tech, Connecticut, Texas, Texas A&M
The University of Texas has always had a knack for wooing kids from MD to play for their program. Kevin Durant, who played for Montrose Christian School in Baltimore, is the most recent example.
Smith has incredible length and very good athleticism. He also has the size that could allow him to develop into an elite wing scorer, but he needs to get much stronger. Smith has range on his jumper that extends to the 3-point line, but he has a tendency to rely on that shot too much. When he looks to go to the rim, he tends to over-dribble and hunt down shots, which serves to bring the offense to a halt. Smith almost exclusively operates on the left wing for his offense. A middle game would make Smith even more difficult for defenses to contend with and open up his drive game. He also needs to continue to work on his ball-handling skills. Smith has the length, lateral quickness, and athleticism to become a very good defender, but he only seems to utilize this after he scores a bucket. He also needs to alleviate his tendency to leak out on defense for fast breaks and not use his impressive athletic gifts for defensive rebounding. Added strength would not only help him as a rebounder and defender, it will also aid him on the offensive end when he goes to the bucket.
He glides in transition and is one of the smoothest finishers around. He has a nice feel for the game as he made a number of nice passes, especially in transition. He can take defenders off the dribble and he can hang in the air for awhile while finishing. He has that all around game that Rick Barnes and Texas covet big time. A lesser athletic version of Kevin Durant.
STATS
Junior year – 23 points – 11 rebounds – 7 assists – 7 blocks
JASON MORRIS SG 6-5 190 (Lakeville, CT) Hotchkiss School
1/26/2009
#22 in Rivals 150
#34 in ESPN U SUPER 60 (Scouts inc)
Schools in the Running: Arizona, Arizona State, Auburn, Boston College, Clemson, Duke, Florida, Georgetown, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, South Carolina, Syracuse, Texas, Villanova, Virginia, Wake Forest, Xavier
The Early Favorites: Villanova, Georgia Tech, Clemson, Georgetown, Georgia, South Carolina
Morris has a very good body and strength which he uses to his advantage on the offensive end. When you add his incredible athleticism and leaping ability to the equation, you have a very difficult talent to contain on the offensive end. He loves to use his quick first step to get to the rim and finish in traffic, where he does a very good job of using his strength to take contact at the rim and still finish. Morris' athleticism and strength allows him to get a shot whenever he wants. However, he tends to rely too much on this athleticism and takes very difficult, contested shots. Morris would also benefit from improving his ball-handing skills, as he tends to over-dribble, taking seven or eight dribbles to get to place on the court where he can get using three or four dribbles, especially when you factor in his athleticism, strength, and lateral quickness. He also needs to improve his perimeter accuracy and range to become a better shooter from distance as well as in the mid-range, considering that he can elevate over anyone that guards him. Morris does a good job of rubbing off screens for jumpers in the mid-range. On his jumper, he almost shoots the ball with one-hand (right) as he has a tendency to drop his guide hand (left) too early. Morris does a good job of finding open teammates when he tries, but he does not pass enough and needs to improve his shot-selection. His strength, athleticism, and length should make him a very good defender on the perimeter, though he does not play intense defense all the time at this point.
Jason is a phenomenal athlete who plays above the rim like few others can. He is a quick leaper who jumps out of the gym, runs the floor very well, and has good lateral quickness. Consequently, he is at his best when filling lanes in the open floor. He has an explosive first step and attacks the rim very aggressively, in both the open floor and a half court set. While he is often able to finish over any opposing defenders, he also shows the ability to stop on a dime in the mid-range area and smoothly elevate into a pull-up jumper. His biggest improvements need to come in his ability to consistently make shots from the perimeter and handle the ball in his left hand, as he almost always looks to drive to his dominant right side. Defensively, he has the potential to be as good as he wants to be as his length, lateral quickness, and athleticism are all huge advantages. Overall, he is a unique talent with a huge upside.
Morris is a talented wing player who has the athleticism and explosion to be a big-time player. Morris exhibited an extremely quiet confidence throughout their game with IMG on Saturday for a kid his age. He did what was needed for his team to win -- handling, passing, scoring and rebounding. He played within himself and did not get a lot of opportunities to show everyone in the stands all of the things he can do. This young man can get to the rim and finish. He is developing a nice stroke to the 3-point line and has a lot of the tools necessary to play at the highest levels.
Barnes believes that Morris could be the prototypical 2 guard that would compliment both Thompsons’ and Daniel Bejarano perfectly with the 2010 class. It will be interesting to see if they can lure him away from the ACC teams to UT for an unofficial visit at some point in the spring or summer.
STATS (per game)
Freshman – 16 points – 8 rebounds – 3 blocks
Sophomore – 18 points – 7 rebounds – 5 assists – 3 blocks
RAY MCCALLUM PG 6-1 175 (Detroit, Michigan) Country Day School
1/26/2009
#52 in Rivals 150
#10 in ESPN U SUPER 60 (Scouts inc)
Schools in the Running: Kansas, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Texas, UCLA, Detroit, Duke, Indiana
The Early Favorites: Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Detroit
This one looks to be a long-shot for the Longhorns, but there is still a lot of time remaining.
“Little Ray", as he is known throughout the state, is the best guard in the 2010 class in Indiana and is also one of the best nationally. There is not a lot McCallum doesn't do well as a player. He is a very good athlete, finishes extremely well at the rim and is also an excellent 3-point shooter. He can get his own shot at any point, but generally speaking, when he puts the ball on the floor, he is looking to go all the way to the basket. A great student off the court, McCallum also possesses a very high basketball IQ on the court. Guys seem to enjoy playing with him, which is a great attribute for a point guard to have. He makes those around him better. McCallum does tend to over-penetrate and will sometimes get in trouble when he leaves his feet and then decides to pass while still in the air. Most of his turnovers come this way. McCallum can still develop a pull-up and a floater to help round his game out. He also needs to get stronger to be able to finish when he gets to the next level. An excellent prospect with a great work ethic, there is no question "Little Ray" will become a "big time" player.
Ray Jr. is a clone of his father Ray who has just become the head coach of the University of Detroit. A very lucky high school coach in Michigan is going to win a great point guard this summer. Smart, quick and knows how to play the point or off-guard. He is very effective at both positions because he can score from the perimeter and pass. Ray, Jr. is an excellent penetrator who plays with his head up and always finds the open man. A very tough defender who likes to play good defense. He has been taught and coached by his dad who was a great college player and a good college coach at Ball State and Houston. The McCallum's are winners. They play hard and smart and they are all about team basketball and doing everything in life right. Ray Jr. is a great high school player and is going to be an even better college player for his dad someday at Detroit.
PHIL PRESSEY PG 5-8 150 (Dallas, TX) Episcopal School of Dallas
1/26/2009
#42 in Rivals 150
#21 in ESPN U SUPER 60 (Scouts inc)
Schools in the Running: Arizona State, Baylor, Connecticut, Florida, LSU, Missouri, Texas, Tennessee, Kansas, Kentucky
The Early Favorites: Texas, Louisville, Wake Forest, LSU, Missouri
Its noted that if and when Texas were to offer Pressey a scholarship, he would commit on the spot. Problem is, Texas is still coveting the number one point guard in the country, Brandon Knight, but it looks as if that’s already water under the bridge for the Longhorns, because Knight is strongly considering Florida or Duke. Florida is the apparent leader, because it is where friend Kenneth Boynton, who was the top PG in 2009 committed to. So all Texas needs to do, is make the offer. His length could be the big weakness that separates him from UT, because Barnes wants length at the guard spot, something the 5-8 Pressey doesn’t possess at the moment.
Pressey is a true point guard who possesses great speed and quickness with the ball. Although small in stature he is a tough competitor and the MVP of the BABC AAU team. He does a great job of running the team and keeping everyone involved in transition as well as in the half court. Pressey has excellent court vision and penetrating ability that allows him to get into the heart of the defense and find open teammates for easy scores. He passes the ball with either hand which is a skill that some college point guards can't execute. He is a master of keeping pressure on the defense by pushing the ball in transition on a made or missed shot. Pressey looks up the floor immediately to advance the ball on the pass or he speed dribbles by the defense for a lay up, kick out for an open three or drop off pass for an uncontested dunk. Pressey can score as well. He can shoot the three off the catch or dribble. He has great confidence in his jumper and has an excellent release and follows through. When he penetrates into the lane and can't get all the way to the rim he likes to shoot the floater over taller defenders. At times he over-penetrates and takes chances with the ball but as a coach you have to live with a few mistakes because most of the time he gets a good result. He is very good at making a plays at the end of quarters or the half. Pressey will be a terror at the end of the shot clock in college with his play making ability. He is a quick hands defender that plays for steals. He has struggled at times against taller and more athletic guards but he never backed down.
This super quick and fast lead guard constantly applies pressure to the opposing defense. Pressey pushes the ball in transition and is a threat to score or draw a second defender and pass a teammate for a wide open shot. He changes speeds and directions on a dime and is a good enough shooter from beyond the arc to keep the defense honest. Pressey has a deadly floater when he attacks the lane which he can do at will or he will bounce into a smooth pull up jumper. He has a tight handle and excellent court vision. Pressey has a high basketball IQ and does a good job of keeping his team organized and motivated. He must work to get stronger so he can be affective against taller point guards and additional strength will help him finish when he is trying to score in the lane when teams challenge him to finish in tall and athletic traffic. Don't let his size fool you, Pressey is a tough and talented competitor.
I still think he ends up at Texas because his playmaking ability is too hard to pass up.
2011 CLASS
MYCK KABONGO 6-1 165 (Newark, NJ) St. Benedicts Prep
1/26/2009
#14 in ESPN U SUPER 60 (Scouts inc) à #1 PG in class
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS COMMITT à 2011
He made his commitment to Texas official on his 16th birthday. It should be noted here that he is the current teammate of fellow UT commit Tristian Thompson. He says his relationship with coach Rick Barnes, is what put Texas over the top. The fact that Thompson also committed to Texas was just an “added bonus.”
As fast a lead guard as anyone in the country in his class. Explodes up and down the court and gets from foul line to foul line in the blink of an eye. Myck handles the ball as if it was an extension of his arm and he can find the gaps and get to the rim before defenses react. He thinks like a true point guard and loves to pile up the assists. He needs to improve both his catch and shoot and pullup jumpers but he has three years to accomplish this, He looks like he could still grow a couple of inches and he has the potential to one day be the John Wall of his class.
He pushes the ball in transition with tremendous speed and quickness. He is a terrific ball handler and passer that can beat his man with crossover, between the legs and hesitation moves. He also has a quick first step and burst on speed that allows him to get to the rim before the help side defenders can react. He finishes inside with high arcing layups over outstretched hands. He displayed good leadership skills and the ability to run the offense. He also sets the tone on the defensive end with tremendous ball pressure. He has quick hands and feet and does a great job of maintaining the offensive player's attention at all times. Kabongo must improve his three shooting. He is streaky but must work for consistence to set up his penetration. At times he over penetrates which results in a turnover. He competes at all times as well. Kabongo will need to get stronger but is clearly a high major point guard.
He also has very good quickness and can get to the cup with the greatest of ease, using his burst and decent ball-handling skills. He does a very good job of changing speeds off the dribble, which keeps defenders off balance. However, he has a tendency to over-dribble which sometimes causes him to miss open teammates when they become open for a split-second. He has a tendency to get out of control and turnover the ball at times. He has to improve his shooting ability from the perimeter, adding more range and consistency from the outside. He has very good vision and passing skills, doing a good job of finding open teammates for easy shots streaking to the rim or setting up for jumpers. Kabongo does a solid job of pressuring opposing ball-handlers and with more strength and muscle, he could become an even better defender.
WAYNE BLACKSHEAR SG 6-4 205 (Chicago, IL) Curie High School
1/26/2009
#18 in ESPN U SUPER 60 (Scouts inc)
Schools in the Running: Texas, Illinois, Indiana, Duke, Purdue, North Carolina
The Early Favorites: Texas
It is reported that Blackshear has a very strong connection with coach Rick Barnes and that he loves Austin and the UT program. He grew up following Texas, and that once they offer a scholarship, it could be a one and done deal with Blackshear making his way down to Austin and the 40 acres. Texas is in GREAT position for this freak athlete of a kid.
Wayne Blackshear is another outstanding young prospect from Chicago. Blackshear is one of the toughest players and fiercest competitors I have seen at such a young age. He has to continue to develop his overall game: shooting, ball handling and decision making, but Blackshear has the heart of a lion and competes at all times. His competitiveness is what separates him from other prospects and as long as he is willing to work on his game, the sky is the limit for him.
He is also a silky smooth combo wing. He is blessed with a great deal of natural talent. He is skilled with the ball and is a good slasher to the basket. He is long so could one day be a lock down defender. As of right now he is average at best. He simply needs to apply more effort to that end of the floor. He is a decent shooter with range to 20 feet. Right now most of his points come off of drives into the paint. Wayne is a top 20 prospect in the 2011 class nationally.
MIKE SHAW PF 6-8 200 (Chicago, IL) De La Salle Institute
1/26/2009
#16 in ESPN U SUPER 60 (Scouts inc)
#7 in Rivals 150
Schools in the Running: Illinois, Indiana, Texas, Pittsburgh, North Carolina, Kentucky
The Early Favorites: Illinois, Indiana, North Carolina
This one could be another long-shot for Texas, but lately he has shown a great interest in the UT program. UT should definitely be in it until the end though.
There are very few players nationally in the 2011 class that have the body and size of Mike Shaw. He is a natural small forward who can drive the ball and finish. He can also go inside and post smaller players. He is physically dominant against players his own age. Shaw needs to continue to develop his skills and stay focused on his improvement. He needs to stay hungry and not get caught up in the hype surrounding him. He needs to work on his shooting and his ball handling while continuing to score in a variety of ways. It will be fun to watch Shaw as he progresses as a player.
Mike is a highly skilled combo forward. He is more of a 4 than a 3 right now, he is best as a skilled 4 man. He is then a mis-match against most 4 men. Mike has legitimate range to 15 feet but he is apt to attempt shots beyond that range in order to show he is a legit swingman. Mike is an average defender currently that struggles in space against 3's. He is very talented and has a great upside. Mike is a top 10 player in the 2011 class nationally.
With Shaw - Think a young Rashard Lewis - has a lengthy frame and is a very good athlete. He's a finesse 4-man with one of the smoother strokes around. His shot is consistent out beyond the stripe, but he relies on it way too much. He needs to get much tougher at both ends of the floor and develop other areas of his game, specifically his post skills.
LAQUINTON ROSS SG 6-8 180 (Jackson, MS) Murrah High School
1/26/2009
#1 in Rivals 150
#2 in ESPN U SUPER 60 (Scouts inc)
Schools in the Running: Baylor, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State, North Carolina, Duke, Miami, North Carolina State, Ohio State, USC, UCLA, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, Louisville, Texas A&M, Georgia Tech, Memphis, Clemson
The Early Favorites: Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Baylor, Alabama, Kansas
Ross has noted that UT will be a major player in his recruiting, and that he is interested in the program. It’s still very early, and this one could draw out for a while. Many people say he is a bigger, and more athletic version of Derrick Rose, and he is only a SOPHOMORE!
Ross is thin, extra long and athletic. His skill set is off the charts for a player his age. Very smooth, he can make scoring moves off the dribble like a 5-10 guard look easy -- is a threat to score on every catch. He does a great job with the burst out dribble after he rebounds, and if not picked up by a defender will go coast to coast and finish with an acrobatic move or dunk. Runs the lane in transition where he can stop and pop from 3. Nice pull-up jumper and he can start a scoring drive with either hand. Ross is excellent at attacking the baseline and can get all the way to the rim. He has great elevation to go along with length to get shots off over other 6-9 or bigger defenders and crashes the offensive glass from the perimeter and will tip dunk if not boxed out. Ross must continue to develop his post game so he can take advantage of smaller perimeter players. At times he seems to coast or float around and must learn to play hard at all times. He also needs to work to improve strength and post defense in addition to preparing to defend quick perimeter players. Ross is reminiscent of a right-handed Lamar Odom.
This super skilled scoring wing can take over the game in a variety of ways. He can score in transition by going coast to coast and finishing above the rim or with a slashing move between defenders. In the half court Ross can drive to the rim both ways. He is tough along the baseline where he can finish with either hand. He can shoot the three off the catch or dribble and with his great length his elevates over defenders with ease. Ross has a nice pull up jumper in the lane and can pass on the move to a cutting teammate. On the glass he must improve his defensive rebounding but on the offensive end he will sneak in for a put back or tip dunk when he is not boxed out and times up a missed shot. He has a scorer's mentality and plays with a quite confidence. Ross must make regular visits to the weight room to prepare for the physical play of college basketball but his size and skill make him special and match up problem every time he steps onto the floor.
After taking a glimpse at Ross, he will become a "pro", as long as he remains grounded and continues to work, a major question mark for many young players that achieve elite status early on. These players do not have another player to look to best, given the fact that they already rank as the top player. Instead, the challenge and motivation to become the best has to come from within, the mark of a truly great player, which Ross can become if he remains focused and hungry. Ross has an effortless, smooth offensive game and rarely changes expression, which may erroneously give off the impression that he does not play hard. He just possesses an array of skills that makes the game come very easy to him. Ross has range well beyond the 3-point line and he will shoot the pull-up from beyond the land of 3. He has textbook form, with a great follow-through and a nice, high release point on his jumper. He only misses when he does not finish his shot, drops his hands as opposed to holding his follow-through and he fades away. Ross also handles the ball very well and can easily get to the rim with his quick first step. His ball-handling skills allow him to get to the paint with ease even when defenders try to get up in him and apply ball pressure. Ross has the lift, length, and shooting ability to get off a mid-range pull-up jumper almost at will, but he does not utilize this portion of his game as much as he should. When he gets in the paint and not all the way to the rim, Ross has a tendency to negate his length and make himself smaller and easier to defend by adjusting in the air multiple times as opposed to going right up over defenders. He will become an even better finisher as he matures and add strength to his rather thin frame. Ross also does a good job of not forcing the issue, despite his immense offensive gifts. He drives the ball and dishes out to open teammates to easy shots.
LEBRYAN NASH SF 6-7 215 (Dallas, TX) Lincoln High School
1/26/2009
#8 in ESPN U SUPER 60 (Scouts inc)
LeBryan has not let anyone know what schools are currently pursuing him.
He is very interested in the Texas program so they would be considered one of the early favorites.
Long and athletic wing. Has a scoring mentality. Can make shots from anywhere on the floor. Sprints the wing in transition where he can get to the rim and finish with a big-time dunk, shoot a pull-up jumper or stop and pop from behind the arc. When attacking the rim he has a knack to get fouled as he slashes and twists his body in order to get the ball on the rim. Nice touch from the free throw line once he gets there. His skill level at such a young age is scary. He also does a good job of taking what the defense gives him. If the defender backs off, he shoots the deep jumper without hesitation. If the defender pressures him, he can start a scoring drive with either hand but favors going right. Is very dangerous along the baseline on the right side of the floor. If he sees an open path he can take off from outside the lane and finish above the rim. Has a good release, follow through and elevation to go with his long arms to get the shot off over taller defenders. He is thinking about making a scoring play on every catch. When he gets in a groove on the offensive end he can score in bunches. This kid has great offensive confidence. Areas of improvement start in the weight room. He is long and wiry with a great basketball body but will have to get stronger in order to defend a physical wing player or if he has to defend the post. Also must add a post up game to take advantage of smaller defenders and be a more aggressive rebounder on both ends. Tons of talent.
Nash is a strong and extremely athletic scorer. He is a terror along the baseline where he can sweep the ball to his outside hand to attack the rim. He can finish over or around defenders with either hand or a big time dunk. He did not shoot as much or as well from behind the arc as he did when I saw him dominate games at the Reebok camp in July. He also was not as aggressive at times. Nash showed some post up game by shooting his turn around jumper in the lane where he elevates over defenders with ease and some slashes from the wing. Nash is playing more of a power forward for his high school team because of his size but he has no problem getting production on the perimeter when needed. Nash played very well defensively on Friday night recording 7 block shots vs. Spring Westfield Mustangs. Nash is a big time talent but look to get frustrated at times. He is a young player that will be an impact player at the high major level in the class of 2011.
2012 à Names to look out for
Zach Peters (Plano, TX) PF à dude is 6-9 215 as a FRESHMAN!!
à on Texas’ Radar
Justin Anderson (Montrose Christian School, MD) SF 6-5 185
à Texas is the early frontrunner … dude went to same school as Kevin D
Isaiah Austin (Mansfield, TX) C 6-11 230 – size 18 shoe
à Texas is high on his early list
Aaron Durley (Saint Thomas - Houston, TX) C 6-9 240
Like Peyton, Eli grasps football immortality
Like Peyton, Eli grasps football immortality
The 1972 Miami Dolphins are still in a class by themselves, and Don Shula can once again light that victory cigar knowing that for now, his Dolphins are still the only team to go undefeated for an entire season.
I just witnessed the greatest Superbowl I have ever seen, and one of the greatest upsets in all of sports....Eli Manning and the upstart New York “football” Giants, 12 point underdogs, defeated the undefeated New England Patriots 17-14 in dramatic fashion reaching football immortality and grasping superbowl glory ending a Patriot season, that many were proclaiming to be up to this point, the best ever.
There was once a time when…
“Broadway” Joe Namath proclaimed that his underdog NY Jets would upset the fully favored Baltimore Colts and hall of famer Johnny Unitas in Superbowl III (1969) in which the Jets were 18 point underdogs. Well, Broadway Joe lived up to that guarantee guiding the Jets to a historic 16-7 win over the Colts and could be seen exiting the field with cameras flashing in every direction pointing his finger in the air knowing that he and the Jets pulled off the greatest Superbowl upset in recent memory......possibly until tonight. The debate now begins.
Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress was quoted as saying that the Giants were going to win 23-17 last week during media day, drawing all kinds off attention from the Patriots. The Giants not only lived up to that guarantee, but Plaxico caught the game winning TD catch.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS—PERFECT SEASON
The New England Patriots entered the Superbowl XLII as twelve point favorites, deservingly so with the insurmountable 18-0 record they were carrying into it. They had finished the regular season 16-0 and had dispatched the Jacksonville Jaguars in the division round 31-20 and the San Diego Chargers 21-12 in the AFC title game.
BEST REGULAR SEASON EVER—2007 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
They ended the regular season as the best offensive team in NFL History, surmounting 589 points while outscoring their opponents 589-274, by far the biggest point differential in NFL History. Many other records were also shattered included:
*Randy Moss’ 23 receiving TD’s.—(Jerry Rice 22 in 1987)
*Tom Brady’s 50 TD passes.—(Peyton Manning 49 in 2004)
*TD to interception differential for Brady (50 TD’s and 8 interceptions) - 42
*Tom Brady throwing for at least 3 TD’s in 11 straight games
*Went into the superbowl as only 18-0 team ever
*Scoring 30 or more points in 8 straight games
Aside from setting all sorts of offensive NFL records, the Patriots were also one of the most formidable teams defensively. They ranked 4th in the NFL in total defense and were led by some of the leagues best in Tedy Bruschi, Rodney Harrison, Junior Seau, Asante Samuel and Adalius Thomas. Impressive victories included wins at Dallas beating the Cowboys 48-27, Indianapolis Colts and Peyton Manning 24-20, while there were also the occasional routs which included a 52-7 win against Washington and 56-10 avalanche at Buffalo.
Entering the 2007 playoffs, many believed that the Indianapolis Colts were the only team that could stop the Patriots and halt their amazing run. However, to my surprise and many others, the San Diego Chargers went into Indianapolis and defeated the defending NFL champs (much to my dismay) in a 28-24 upset. So......after the Colts loss, it was clear that there was no stopping the Patriots from finishing the best regular season ever and being labeled as the best team ever. Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick’s playoff history spoke for itself. It was clear to all and those in Las Vegas, there was no way the NFC opponent in the superbowl, whether it be the Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, or NY Giants defeat them, because they were that good....except for Eli Manning and the resilient NY Giants.
A Superbowl victory for the New England Patriots would not only be their 4th in 7 years, but it would label them as probably the best dynasty of all time, although their is much debate to the subject. They had already won 3 in 4 years joining the likes of the 1960’s Packers and Vince Lombardi, 1970’s Steelers and Terry Bradshaw, 1980’s 49ers and Joe Montana, and 1990’s Dallas Cowboys, who were the first team to win three superbowls in four years. Tom Brady would also join the likes of Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw as the only quarterbacks to win four superbowls. Many also debate that Tom Brady would be labeled as the best quarterback ever with a win against the Giants.
SUPERBOWL XLII RECAP—An upset for the ages
NY Giants 17—New England Patriots 14
There was expectation of history on a chilly night in the Arizona desert. Super Bowl XLII delivered on that score, but history of a different sort was made on Sunday. The Giants, 12-point underdogs, ruined the New England Patriots’ quest for a perfect season. New York, which lost six of 16 games during the regular season, prevailed 17-14 at University of Phoenix Stadium. This will be viewed as one of the greatest upsets in superbowl history.
Quarterback Eli Manning lofted a regal, floating 13-yard pass to Plaxico Burress in the corner of the end zone—over Patriots cornerback Ellis Hobbs—to put the Giants over the top with 35 seconds left. It was the culmination of the kind of last-minute, game-winning, 12-play, 83 yard drive we have come to expect of Tom Brady or Peyton Manning. With 19 completions of 34 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns, Manning was named the Most Valuable Player—following his brother Peyton, who won the award last year when he led the Indianapolis Colts to victory in Super Bowl XLI over the Chicago Bears.
ONE WORD DESCRIBED THIS TEAM: “RESILIENT”
The victory was especially sweet for Manning. Giants defensive end Michael Strahan has often said that Manning faces more pressure than any player in the league—because he was a No. 1 draft choice, because he plays in New York and because he is the younger brother of Peyton. Now, that pressure has disappeared. In his fourth season, Manning has a significant lead in the early returns. At the tender age of 27, he has won four playoff games and a title. The Giants are nothing if not resilient. Because they were technically the visiting team, they won their 11th consecutive game on the road, including all four playoff games.
This was especially sweet for Strahan and wide receiver Amani Toomer, the only holdovers from the 34-7 strafing by the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV. It was the third Super Bowl victory for one of the league’s most venerable franchises, to go with the Vince Lombardi trophies won at the end of the 1986 and 1990 seasons. The Patriots beat the Giants 38-35 in the final regular-season game five weeks ago, but the Giants gained a great deal of confidence in the process. On Sunday, they proved that first meeting was no fluke.
If the Giants had a dream scenario for the opening drive, their first possession, which consumed nine minutes and 59 seconds and required 16 plays, was it. Manning converted his first three third downs (a first-drive record for Super Bowls), but couldn’t manage a fourth, when he threw too far underneath to Steve Smith. Lawrence Tynes, who won the NFC title game with an overtime field goal, hit one from 32 yards out to give the Giants a 3-0 lead.
GIANTS PASS RUSH SHUDDERS BRADY
Coming into the game, the key matchup appeared to be the Giants’ pass rush—which produced a league-high 53 sacks over the regular season—versus the Patriots’ offensive line. In the Dec. 29 meeting between the two teams, Brady was only sacked once, and that was minus two starters. On this night, he would get sacked five times and hurried on nine other occasions. With all five regular starters in, the Giants sacked Brady on back-to-back plays midway through the second quarter. Kawika Mitchell, feigned a drop-back posture and blitzed. He and Strahan both got a piece of Brady for a 6-yard loss. On the next play, defensive end Justin Tuck blew inside left guard Logan Mankins and leveled Brady.
The Giants had a terrific opportunity to make it a one-point game with a little over two minutes left in the half, but a crazy circus play worked against them. Patriots’ linebacker Adalius Thomas knocked the ball loose from Manning and Bradshaw tried to knock the ball out of bounds. It stayed in, and Smith recovered for what would have been a first down. But Bradshaw was flagged for an illegal touch—knocking the ball forward—and the Giants were eventually forced to punt.
The Patriots were driving down the field at the end of the half, when Tuck hit Brady again, this time from behind, and knocked the ball loose. The Giants recovered and a Hail Mary fell incomplete in the New England end zone to end a curiously quiet first half.
At halftime, the Giants had run 34 plays to 27 by the Patriots, and possessed the ball for 19 minutes and 27 seconds of 30 minutes. And yet, they trailed by the modest margin of 7-3. As a result, the Patriots had a paltry 81 yards at the break, and the offense looked disjointed and unsettled. Belichick successfully challenged a non-call on the Pats’ first drive of the third quarter, and a review showed that, indeed, linebacker Chase Blackburn was the 12th man on the field for a punt. The Patriots retained possession, but a Strahan sack eventually led Belichick to pass on a 49-yard field goal attempt and go it for on 4th down and 13. Brady in turn, would sail a pass over receiver Jabar Gaffneys head, turning the ball back over to the Giants.
And so, the Giants continued to hang around.
On first down at their own 20 on the second play of the fourth quarter, Manning flipped a pass to rookie tight end Kevin Boss. He caught it at the 39 and, when safety Rodney Harrison missed the tackle, it was good for a 45-yard play. A few plays later, Manning threaded a perfect 5-yard pass through traffic to David Tyree and the Giants, led 10-7 with 11:05 remaining. It was Tyree’s first touchdown of the season, and what a time for it. Naturally, the Patriots came back. Taking over with 7:54 left, Brady moved them down the field, throwing underneath more often than not. And then, on the 12th play of the drive, Brady hit his favorite receiver, Randy Moss for a 7-yard touchdown to put the Pats in front 14-10 with 2:42 remaining.
Manning, however, engineered a terrific drive as time ran down. The signature play: Manning, ducking and spinning, somehow avoided a severe rush and Tyree managed to catch a 33-yard catch—he initially pinned the ball on his helmet with one hand—and the Giants had the ball at the Patriots’ 24-yard line. It was probably the most amazing play I had ever seen. With 35 seconds left, Manning hit Burress with a gorgeous 13-yard touchdown pass and the perfect season had congealed into the twisted wreckage of a shocking loss.
The Patriots started their final drive on their own 26 with 29 seconds left, but Brady had no magic to offer. Two incomplete passes and a sack preceded the final chance, with 10 seconds left. A long, long pass to Moss fell incomplete and the crowd went absolutely berserk, as did I being one of two Giants fans in a venue that included about forty Patriot fans. For two weeks, the focus was on the Patriots and their date with destiny. Few outside the locker room in East Rutherford, N.J. gave the Giants much of a chance.
Eli Manning went from average quarterback to “elite” status with the way he not only performed in the Superbowl, but throughout the playoffs and winning four straight road games which included wins at Tampa Bay, Dallas, and Green Bay. My boy Peyton won it last year, but this year, Eli went on to prove that it’s not all about Peyton anymore, and at 27, he still has a lot left to prove and many years left.
The Manning family legacy continues to grow, and next year, we could see the status of one of these elite quarterback brothers, whether it be Peyton or Eli get even bigger. Everyone witnessed tonight that its not just Peyton that can win the big game. Eli grasped football immortality and superbowl lore against a team that was undefeated as one of the biggest underdogs in superbowl history. Peyton can’t say that.
The 1972 Miami Dolphins are still in a class by themselves, and Don Shula can once again light that victory cigar knowing that for now, his Dolphins are still the only team to go undefeated for an entire season.
I just witnessed the greatest Superbowl I have ever seen, and one of the greatest upsets in all of sports....Eli Manning and the upstart New York “football” Giants, 12 point underdogs, defeated the undefeated New England Patriots 17-14 in dramatic fashion reaching football immortality and grasping superbowl glory ending a Patriot season, that many were proclaiming to be up to this point, the best ever.
There was once a time when…
“Broadway” Joe Namath proclaimed that his underdog NY Jets would upset the fully favored Baltimore Colts and hall of famer Johnny Unitas in Superbowl III (1969) in which the Jets were 18 point underdogs. Well, Broadway Joe lived up to that guarantee guiding the Jets to a historic 16-7 win over the Colts and could be seen exiting the field with cameras flashing in every direction pointing his finger in the air knowing that he and the Jets pulled off the greatest Superbowl upset in recent memory......possibly until tonight. The debate now begins.
Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress was quoted as saying that the Giants were going to win 23-17 last week during media day, drawing all kinds off attention from the Patriots. The Giants not only lived up to that guarantee, but Plaxico caught the game winning TD catch.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS—PERFECT SEASON
The New England Patriots entered the Superbowl XLII as twelve point favorites, deservingly so with the insurmountable 18-0 record they were carrying into it. They had finished the regular season 16-0 and had dispatched the Jacksonville Jaguars in the division round 31-20 and the San Diego Chargers 21-12 in the AFC title game.
BEST REGULAR SEASON EVER—2007 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
They ended the regular season as the best offensive team in NFL History, surmounting 589 points while outscoring their opponents 589-274, by far the biggest point differential in NFL History. Many other records were also shattered included:
*Randy Moss’ 23 receiving TD’s.—(Jerry Rice 22 in 1987)
*Tom Brady’s 50 TD passes.—(Peyton Manning 49 in 2004)
*TD to interception differential for Brady (50 TD’s and 8 interceptions) - 42
*Tom Brady throwing for at least 3 TD’s in 11 straight games
*Went into the superbowl as only 18-0 team ever
*Scoring 30 or more points in 8 straight games
Aside from setting all sorts of offensive NFL records, the Patriots were also one of the most formidable teams defensively. They ranked 4th in the NFL in total defense and were led by some of the leagues best in Tedy Bruschi, Rodney Harrison, Junior Seau, Asante Samuel and Adalius Thomas. Impressive victories included wins at Dallas beating the Cowboys 48-27, Indianapolis Colts and Peyton Manning 24-20, while there were also the occasional routs which included a 52-7 win against Washington and 56-10 avalanche at Buffalo.
Entering the 2007 playoffs, many believed that the Indianapolis Colts were the only team that could stop the Patriots and halt their amazing run. However, to my surprise and many others, the San Diego Chargers went into Indianapolis and defeated the defending NFL champs (much to my dismay) in a 28-24 upset. So......after the Colts loss, it was clear that there was no stopping the Patriots from finishing the best regular season ever and being labeled as the best team ever. Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick’s playoff history spoke for itself. It was clear to all and those in Las Vegas, there was no way the NFC opponent in the superbowl, whether it be the Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, or NY Giants defeat them, because they were that good....except for Eli Manning and the resilient NY Giants.
A Superbowl victory for the New England Patriots would not only be their 4th in 7 years, but it would label them as probably the best dynasty of all time, although their is much debate to the subject. They had already won 3 in 4 years joining the likes of the 1960’s Packers and Vince Lombardi, 1970’s Steelers and Terry Bradshaw, 1980’s 49ers and Joe Montana, and 1990’s Dallas Cowboys, who were the first team to win three superbowls in four years. Tom Brady would also join the likes of Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw as the only quarterbacks to win four superbowls. Many also debate that Tom Brady would be labeled as the best quarterback ever with a win against the Giants.
SUPERBOWL XLII RECAP—An upset for the ages
NY Giants 17—New England Patriots 14
There was expectation of history on a chilly night in the Arizona desert. Super Bowl XLII delivered on that score, but history of a different sort was made on Sunday. The Giants, 12-point underdogs, ruined the New England Patriots’ quest for a perfect season. New York, which lost six of 16 games during the regular season, prevailed 17-14 at University of Phoenix Stadium. This will be viewed as one of the greatest upsets in superbowl history.
Quarterback Eli Manning lofted a regal, floating 13-yard pass to Plaxico Burress in the corner of the end zone—over Patriots cornerback Ellis Hobbs—to put the Giants over the top with 35 seconds left. It was the culmination of the kind of last-minute, game-winning, 12-play, 83 yard drive we have come to expect of Tom Brady or Peyton Manning. With 19 completions of 34 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns, Manning was named the Most Valuable Player—following his brother Peyton, who won the award last year when he led the Indianapolis Colts to victory in Super Bowl XLI over the Chicago Bears.
ONE WORD DESCRIBED THIS TEAM: “RESILIENT”
The victory was especially sweet for Manning. Giants defensive end Michael Strahan has often said that Manning faces more pressure than any player in the league—because he was a No. 1 draft choice, because he plays in New York and because he is the younger brother of Peyton. Now, that pressure has disappeared. In his fourth season, Manning has a significant lead in the early returns. At the tender age of 27, he has won four playoff games and a title. The Giants are nothing if not resilient. Because they were technically the visiting team, they won their 11th consecutive game on the road, including all four playoff games.
This was especially sweet for Strahan and wide receiver Amani Toomer, the only holdovers from the 34-7 strafing by the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV. It was the third Super Bowl victory for one of the league’s most venerable franchises, to go with the Vince Lombardi trophies won at the end of the 1986 and 1990 seasons. The Patriots beat the Giants 38-35 in the final regular-season game five weeks ago, but the Giants gained a great deal of confidence in the process. On Sunday, they proved that first meeting was no fluke.
If the Giants had a dream scenario for the opening drive, their first possession, which consumed nine minutes and 59 seconds and required 16 plays, was it. Manning converted his first three third downs (a first-drive record for Super Bowls), but couldn’t manage a fourth, when he threw too far underneath to Steve Smith. Lawrence Tynes, who won the NFC title game with an overtime field goal, hit one from 32 yards out to give the Giants a 3-0 lead.
GIANTS PASS RUSH SHUDDERS BRADY
Coming into the game, the key matchup appeared to be the Giants’ pass rush—which produced a league-high 53 sacks over the regular season—versus the Patriots’ offensive line. In the Dec. 29 meeting between the two teams, Brady was only sacked once, and that was minus two starters. On this night, he would get sacked five times and hurried on nine other occasions. With all five regular starters in, the Giants sacked Brady on back-to-back plays midway through the second quarter. Kawika Mitchell, feigned a drop-back posture and blitzed. He and Strahan both got a piece of Brady for a 6-yard loss. On the next play, defensive end Justin Tuck blew inside left guard Logan Mankins and leveled Brady.
The Giants had a terrific opportunity to make it a one-point game with a little over two minutes left in the half, but a crazy circus play worked against them. Patriots’ linebacker Adalius Thomas knocked the ball loose from Manning and Bradshaw tried to knock the ball out of bounds. It stayed in, and Smith recovered for what would have been a first down. But Bradshaw was flagged for an illegal touch—knocking the ball forward—and the Giants were eventually forced to punt.
The Patriots were driving down the field at the end of the half, when Tuck hit Brady again, this time from behind, and knocked the ball loose. The Giants recovered and a Hail Mary fell incomplete in the New England end zone to end a curiously quiet first half.
At halftime, the Giants had run 34 plays to 27 by the Patriots, and possessed the ball for 19 minutes and 27 seconds of 30 minutes. And yet, they trailed by the modest margin of 7-3. As a result, the Patriots had a paltry 81 yards at the break, and the offense looked disjointed and unsettled. Belichick successfully challenged a non-call on the Pats’ first drive of the third quarter, and a review showed that, indeed, linebacker Chase Blackburn was the 12th man on the field for a punt. The Patriots retained possession, but a Strahan sack eventually led Belichick to pass on a 49-yard field goal attempt and go it for on 4th down and 13. Brady in turn, would sail a pass over receiver Jabar Gaffneys head, turning the ball back over to the Giants.
And so, the Giants continued to hang around.
On first down at their own 20 on the second play of the fourth quarter, Manning flipped a pass to rookie tight end Kevin Boss. He caught it at the 39 and, when safety Rodney Harrison missed the tackle, it was good for a 45-yard play. A few plays later, Manning threaded a perfect 5-yard pass through traffic to David Tyree and the Giants, led 10-7 with 11:05 remaining. It was Tyree’s first touchdown of the season, and what a time for it. Naturally, the Patriots came back. Taking over with 7:54 left, Brady moved them down the field, throwing underneath more often than not. And then, on the 12th play of the drive, Brady hit his favorite receiver, Randy Moss for a 7-yard touchdown to put the Pats in front 14-10 with 2:42 remaining.
Manning, however, engineered a terrific drive as time ran down. The signature play: Manning, ducking and spinning, somehow avoided a severe rush and Tyree managed to catch a 33-yard catch—he initially pinned the ball on his helmet with one hand—and the Giants had the ball at the Patriots’ 24-yard line. It was probably the most amazing play I had ever seen. With 35 seconds left, Manning hit Burress with a gorgeous 13-yard touchdown pass and the perfect season had congealed into the twisted wreckage of a shocking loss.
The Patriots started their final drive on their own 26 with 29 seconds left, but Brady had no magic to offer. Two incomplete passes and a sack preceded the final chance, with 10 seconds left. A long, long pass to Moss fell incomplete and the crowd went absolutely berserk, as did I being one of two Giants fans in a venue that included about forty Patriot fans. For two weeks, the focus was on the Patriots and their date with destiny. Few outside the locker room in East Rutherford, N.J. gave the Giants much of a chance.
Eli Manning went from average quarterback to “elite” status with the way he not only performed in the Superbowl, but throughout the playoffs and winning four straight road games which included wins at Tampa Bay, Dallas, and Green Bay. My boy Peyton won it last year, but this year, Eli went on to prove that it’s not all about Peyton anymore, and at 27, he still has a lot left to prove and many years left.
The Manning family legacy continues to grow, and next year, we could see the status of one of these elite quarterback brothers, whether it be Peyton or Eli get even bigger. Everyone witnessed tonight that its not just Peyton that can win the big game. Eli grasped football immortality and superbowl lore against a team that was undefeated as one of the biggest underdogs in superbowl history. Peyton can’t say that.
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