Knight might not be a freak athlete like the top point guards before him, but he possesses a complete game of an elite nature. His physical strength and tight ball handling get him wherever he needs to be on the court. And his shooting skill and court vision allow him to consistently finish plays. On the other side of the ball he is an elite defender who more than adequately rebounds his position. Top off all of this with high level competitiveness, and you have the top prospect in the country.
Columbia, SC Chick-fil-A Classic: University of South Carolina future draws near
Damontre Harris went one-by-one to his opponents, clapping hands politely, until he got to Anthony Gill. They are not particularly close, but there was a sense that they will be soon, so it warranted a hug.
Then the two future members of the South Carolina men’s basketball program tipped off, appropriately enough in the city they will soon reside in.
Harris is set to get there sooner. The 6-foot-9 center at Trinity Christian in North Carolina is a senior who signed a letter-of-intent last month. Gill, a junior at Charlotte Christian, is the only current verbal commitment to USC for the 2011 class.
The pair are joined at the Chik-fil-A Classic this weekend by yet another future Gamecock, guard Eric Smith from Christ School. The heavy presence is a big reason USC coach Darrin Horn and his staff are expected to spend a lot of time at the event, at Richland Northeast High School, today and Tuesday.
On Saturday, there was one assistant, Cypheus Bunton, on hand to watch Gill’s team beat Harris’. But that was impressive, considering the Gamecocks were playing an hour-and-a-half away at Wofford that night.
Neither Gill nor Harris played particularly great in Saturday’s game. But in all fairness to the Chik-fil-A Classic, their performances in the tournament aren’t likely to sway why USC’s coaches are so excited to have them.
Harris is the highest-rated member of the Gamecocks’ five-man 2010 signing class. His game is reminiscent of current USC starting center Sam Muldrow: The pair are similar in height, build and skill set.
“Coach has been telling me about that all the time,” Harris said of the Muldrow comparison. “Just how long I am. How I like to play defense, block shots, rebound and run the floor.”
Harris admitted that his offensive game needs work, especially his moves facing the basket. But he showed on Saturday that he values defense, putting his lanky arms in front of every shot he could. And he could also run the floor, making him a good fit for Horn’s up-tempo style.
Longtime national recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons, who watched Saturday’s game from courtside, called Harris “still a work in process.”
“He obviously needs to get stronger. But you can see the talent level is there,” Gibbons said. “He’s got the athleticism. I don’t know he’s quite as (good) yet as some of the Internet people have him rated. But he’s a top 100 prospect and a key component in the best recruiting class in the SEC.”
Gibbons has the Gamecock class ranked ninth in the country, a figure bolstered by the sheer quantity of players signed. He pointed out that with two guards (Smith and Bruce Ellington), a wing (Brian Richardson) and two big men (Harris and Slawson) it’s almost a team in itself.
As for the 6-7 Gill, his performance in the Chik-fil-A will probably be a poor preview of his Gamecock career. He plays in the post for Charlotte Christian, but is more suited in college for small forward, the position he plays for his AAU team.
Gibbons thinks Gill will come into his own more next season on Charlotte Christian, which has a senior bound for Virginia, and with one more season under his “outstanding” coach.
But playing for his future coaches is part of the reason Gill made his Gamecock commitment.
“I just really like the coaching staff, and they can make me better,” Gill said.
South Carolina nabbed Harris despite a late push from more successful programs, like Florida and Wake Forest. When he arrives, he figures to be the post man in waiting, with Muldrow due to be a senior.
But Harris thinks he can help right away, and perhaps even start.
“I feel like I can make a big impact, especially on the defensive side,” he said. “Because of how long I am, how I like to play defense and get after the ball. So I feel like I can make a real big impact.”
The city of Toronto has become a breeding ground for elite level point guards. Not known in the past for producing top tier prospects, Toronto has now produced three straight floor generals ranked among the best in North America. Junior Cadougan and Cory Joseph changed the perception of Toronto’s talent and paved the way for guys younger than them to walk into the limelight. So who’s stepped up?
Let me introduce Myck Kabongo. Toronto’s next great prodigy and a future ambassador for Canadian basketball. Not only a lightning quick offensive orchestrator with supreme talent, but also a young man who cares about his neighborhood and the well being of future prospects blessed to be in a similar position.
File the name, get comfortable, and read on, as GOODSportsWorld.com takes you through the story of St. Benedict’s star, Myck Kabongo.
Myck gained a reputation as a player to be reckoned with at an early age. In just the 4th grade he was already competing against 8th graders. A regular at Eastview Neighborhood Community Center, Myck used basketball as a way to stay out of trouble. “I grew up in Regent Park which isn’t the best of places, but it made me tough and I owe it to that area for making me what I am. It was a tough place to grow up and I knew I had to stay out of trouble. That’s how I found the game of basketball,” said Myck.
As he got older, Myck cemented his reputation as one of the cities best young guards. It was than that coach Ro Russell invited Myck to join his highly respected AAU club, Grassroots Canada. Only problem was that at the time, Coach Russell never had a team for 6th graders.
The way Coach remembers it, “I learned about Myck through Junior Cadougan. At the time I never had a team for his age group, so when Myck came around he played with Junior, Alwayne Bigby, and all the great players a few years ahead of him. He always had that mindset, even as a young kid that he wanted to play with the older guys. There just wasn’t enough challenge for him to play with his peers. He was incredibly advanced.”
Although Myck didn’t play much at first out on the circuit, it was an incredible learning experience for him. “I didn’t play much when I first started to play for coach Ro, but he had Junior and growing up in Toronto everyone looked up to Junior. Just sitting and learning from him, and seeing how he played out on the court was a great learning experience. I was just honored to play for Grassroots Canada,” said Myck.
Myck took what he learned in the summers from Junior and Coach Ro to Toronto powerhouse, Eastern Commerce. Although he played just one year, it was an important one in his development. “I knew I always wanted to play in America. I was only going to be there one year, so I maxed out the one year I was there. It really helped me get ready to come to prep school. I worked everyday, put in extra hours, got in a lot of training, and the coaches worked with me personally to help me get better. It was a great experience.”
Myck used his experience with Grassroots and Eastern Commerce to open the eyes of people outside of Toronto. He followed his dream, packed his bags, and embarked on a journey to Newark’s St.Benedict’s Prep. Now able to play against some of the best players in the United States, Myck embraces the challenge. Always a talented young player, what separates Myck is his cut throat competitive spirit. “Whoever’s on the court and bringing the ball up, I have to rip them. I have to take that name off their back. I don’t care who it is. It could be Cory Joseph, it could be Kyrie Irving, it could be anyone. I love competition and I love to win,” proclaims Myck.
Winning is exactly what Myck has been able to accomplish since arriving in New Jersey. Last season, Myck led St. Benedict’s to a 24-3 record and a trip to the semi finals of the ESPN Rise High School Basketball Invitational.
It didn’t stop there. With the season over, Myck rejoined Grassroots Canada on the AAU circuit, this time as one of the key guys. Playing with childhood friends Tristan Thompson and Cory Joseph, Grassroots was once again one of the best teams on the circuit. What did Myck bring to the team? “He sort of has that Sebastian Telfair-esque craftiness to his game. Change of speeds, change of movement, change of direction. He’s great at getting people off-balance and keeping everybody guessing. He just has that god given ability on the basketball court to be creative. It’s kind of like he’s painting a picture out there,” says a proud Ro Russell.
Now back at St.Benedict’s for his second season, Myck has aspirations of leading the Gray Bees all the way to the Chip. “Right now we’re the No. 4 team in the country (according to ESPN Rise). I told the guys, no one remembers the team that finishes fourth, only the team who finishes first. We’re in the gym sweating and working hard every day. Hopefully it will help us reach our goal of being No. 1.”
Myck is a guy who doesn’t really spend too much time thinking about the future. He likes to live in the present and control the things he can control. That being said, Myck has already committed to playing his collegiate basketball at the University of Texas. Known for having smaller guards who are lightning quick and excellent in pick and roll situations, Myck should fit right in and continue the legacy started by TJ Ford and DJ Augustine. Both players were lottery picks and achieved enormous success in Austin by pushing the tempo and orchestrating easy offense for their teammates.
Will Myck look to mimic the things that made those guys so special? “I talk to DJ Augustine a lot. He always tells me, there’s nothing wrong with emulating us, but you’ve got to do what you do best. Obviously I’m going to take some of the things that they’ve done, but I’m going to try and do it my way when I get to Texas,” says Myck, clearly excited about the future. “When kids younger than me are coming up and thinking about going to Texas, I want them to be thinking…I want to go to Texas because I saw what Myck Kabongo did when he was there.”
If Myck reaches his goals, it won’t just be the kids in Austin looking up to him. He’ll have an entire country behind him showing their support. That’s not something Myck takes for granted. “Doing it for your country, that’s everything. If we make it one day, it will give the country hope that we can develop the type of guys that will play in the NBA. That’s why I go so hard when I’m on the court. It’s bigger than me now. I’ve got a whole country on my back that I would love to succeed for. We’re trying to grow the game of basketball in Canada.”
Myck got his first taste of representing Canada this summer, when he was the youngest player on the Men’s National Team which travelled to Spain. According to Head Coach Leo Rautins: “I thoroughly enjoyed coaching Myck this past summer. He is a sponge — he soaks up anything he can to improve his game. He plays with enthusiasm and heart…and takes criticism in the way it is intended — to make him better. If Myck stays focused and keeps his attitude and work ethic, he has a chance to be really, really good. I’m excited about his future for him…and for Canada.”
As you can see, the future of Canadian basketball is as bright as it’s ever been. Myck’s story is one that will hopefully inspire younger players to work hard, and pursue their dreams. Myck doesn’t take this responsibility for granted and hopes to make a difference in his community. “I just want to show kids in Canada, in Toronto, and in my neighborhood that you can make it out. A lot of guys have dreams but just don’t feel like they can reach them. If they have someone like me that’s from Toronto and come to the United States and proved they can play at the highest level, they can do it too. I want to be someone people can look up to, someone who came from nothing to something. That’s my story.”
Nolan Shulman is the North American Recruiting Analyst for Flagrant Fouls. He provides an in-depth look at standout prospects and programs from Toronto to California.
After having yet another great performance at the Texas Jamboree against one of the top players in this class, how good do you think Tony Mitchell can be? Can he ever work his way past Harrison Barnes and Jelan Kendrick?
At 6 feet 8 and 220 pounds, Mitchell is a high-level, NBA-type athlete who has the potential to be a go-to wing scorer.
Presently, Mitchell has a game that is rough around the edges. There are occasional mental lapses along with turnovers and bad shots. But when you cut through the mistakes, you have a prospect with incredible long-term potential.
Could Mitchell creep into the top 10 in the final Rivals150 in the spring and overtake fellow small forward Jelan Kendrick? Yes. It is a distinct possibility considering how fast Mitchell’s game is progressing.
Does he catch the No. 1 wing prospect in the country, Harrison Barnes? No. Mitchell might have a dose of athleticism that Barnes doesn’t possess, but other than that, Barnes’ game is much more advanced. Nonetheless, if one day Mitchell is putting up better numbers than Barnes in the NBA, I wouldn’t be surprised.
PG comparison
Just how do 2011 point guards Shannon Scott and Marquis Teague compare? Are they about the same, and do you believe that coach [Thad Matta] will invest in another point guard in 2012?
Teague and Scott are both great point guards. They are exceptional ballhandlers who can also defend their position.
Teague, who is the No. 1-ranked point guard in the 2011 class, has a gear of explosiveness that Scott doesn’t have. In the mold of Chris Paul, Teague gets to the rim with regularity and has a knack for absorbing contact and finishing.
You can argue, however, that Scott – the No. 3-ranked point guard in the 2011 class – is more adept at running an offense and organizing a team. His play with the Southern Kings this summer was exceptional. He demonstrated a high-level understanding of involving his teammates through his ability to penetrate and find the open man.
Whether Thad Matta will target a 2012 point guard is not a question I can definitively answer at this point, but the odds are that Scott will be at Ohio State for more than one year.
Sharpshooters
Whom would you rank as the top 10 pure shooters in the Class of 2010?
This is an interesting and tough question. There are some great scorers/shooters in the class who just miss out on my list. Prospects like Harrison Barnes, Josh Selby, Ryan Harrow, and Gary Franklin are some of the prospects who are known for their ability to make shots and make them in the clutch.
J.T. Terrell ranks among the best shooters in the 2010 class.
Out of the Rivals150 prospects, here are my top-10 pure shooters in order of their ranking:
The talk of college basketball made his decision on where he’s going to play college ball. Harrison Barnes ended one of the top recruiting circuses of the season with an announcement to play basketball at North Carolina.
In a world of increased online communication and social media, this announcement hits Duke extremely hard. Recruiting in college basketball has become much easier to follow with incredible in-depth access to highly touted prospects just a year or two away from starring in the NBA.
In the moments following Barnes’ declaration to play for Roy Williams, thousands of tweets containing the word “Barnes” filled the social networking site. That’s thousands of people across the nation discussing Barnes. That’s thousands of users following those discussing Barnes instantly reading about Barnes’ decision. Barnes quickly rose into Twitters’ top 10 trending topics.
Twitter is giving other recruits instant feedback on Barnes’ decision to go to UNC. They get reactions from anyone and everyone and most of those reactions are praising North Carolina and trashing Duke. Not trashing UCLA or Iowa State or even Oklahoma and Kansas who were among the finalists for Barnes.
Duke looked like it finally was starting to gain ground in its never-ending war with North Carolina after bringing in a solid recruiting class this season and signing highly touted guard Kyrie Irving.
Barnes’ decision to go with the baby blue just ended that.
Instantly.
Then Barnes seemingly knowing his place in the rivalry already told ESPNU this, “I think it will be one of the greatest feelings to be able to play in front of the Cameron Crazies because I’ve been and I’ve seen the North Carolina rivalry and I think it will be absolutely great, and I think it will be a great game.”
Well yes Harrison, it will be a great game from your perspective when your Heels run-and-gun to an 18-point win.
Barnes joins two more five-star recruits, shooting guard Reggie Bullock and point guard Kendall Marshall in Roy Williams’ 2010 recruiting class.
The addition of Barnes to that class doesn’t just put North Carolina head and shoulders above Duke next season, but it should put UNC in a separate league from almost everyone else. We don’t know who from this current Tar Heels team will bail for the NBA after this season (my gut says just Ed Davis), but UNC will be close to having double-digit McDonald’s All-Americans.
With 2008 and 2009′s recruiting classes focusing on the frontcourt, the 2010 recruiting class gives Roy Williams a full complement of perimeter and wing players that will allow the Tar Heels to run two or three deep at every single position.
North Carolina will be the most versatile, talented team in the country next season.
The one thing North Carolina is probably missing this season is a dynamic long range shooter.
Harrison Barnes is that player.
Barnes is a player who may impact North Carolina directly on the court for one season, but his impact on Chapel Hill starts now. His decision will help lure other five-star McDonald’s All-Americans to Tobacco Road.
He’s not a lock to go pro after one season, but with his skill set and size it’s hard to imagine he won’t be a millionaire in 2011. He’ll be a perfect fit to play the wing in the NBA. Barnes stands somewhere in the neighborhood of 6’7” as now, but remember, Barnes isn’t even 18 years old yet. Barnes could still have two or three years of growing ahead of him.
May, 2009: This long and active forward from Charleston, South Carolina has great length when he finishes around the basket. Whether it’s a dump off pass, offensive rebound put back or a post move this young man impressed us with his inside scoring. He also displays a strong set of skills as he can put the ball on the floor, get into the lane and score as he shows good body control on the finish. He is comfortable on the perimeter as he hit open 3′s coming off screens feet set in a catch/shoot style. With his size he easily gets a great look at the basket on his long range jumper. Defensively he utilizes his length to change and block some shots. He needs to get stronger, develop a middle game and rebound more on both backboards. As he continues to practice and compete in games, with his ability to score from the perimeter he can develop into a small forward in time. In order to do that he must show he can defend out at the 3 point line and chase his man off screens. He reminds me of Khris Middleton from South Carolina who is a terrific prospect going to Texas A&M.
C.J. is a bouncy athlete that has the tools to dominate on both ends of the floor. He can block and alter shots on the defensive end and can finish above the rim on offense or score with a nice jump hook. He’s got great natural athletic ability. He’s very active and is always moving. Gets great post position despite his thin frame; wiry strong. He has worked hard over the last year to develop some effective low post moves including a quick spin dribble along the baseline. Currently plays best as a face-up 4 man but should one day become a big time wing. Leslie has always been a highlight reel dunker but his overall game has gone to a higher level now that he’s playing with more passion, energy, and focus. His ball skills are developing but still need work as he continues to transition to the 3 man position. He can hit the mid range jumper to 12 feet consistently, but it’s his outside shot that is biggest area of improvement needed.
Source: Scouts Inc. “C.J. Leslie” July 2009. Sept.14, 2009
There isn’t a more gifted point guard in the country than Raleigh, NC native John Wall. His length, speed, quickness, handle and overall athleticism are peerless, at least on this level. He is a one-man fast break and goes through opposing defenses similar to Memphis standout Derrick Rose. In a classic matchup with fellow superstar Abdul Gaddy (NW Panthers), each accentuated their respective strengths. Wall was unstoppable in the open court and had very little trouble getting to the rim or delivering a spectacular assist. Gaddy, on the other hand, utilized his high basketball IQ, savvy and clever playmaking ability to bring his team back from a 13-point second half deficit to pull out the victory. Hall has the higher upside than Gaddy due to his athletic prowess, but he must become a better jump shooter and develop more savvy because at the next level and beyond defenses will adapt to his up-tempo style, he should put on a great show at Kentucky.
Source: Scouts Inc. “John Wall Evaluation” May2008. Sept.11, 2009
Leonard is a true shooting guard with great size from Greenville, SC. He runs the floor and spots up in transition. In the half court he understands how to space to the open area after feeding the post or by reading a teammates dribble penetration. He can also finish at the rim when ahead of the pack in transition or avoid the charge with a 1 or 2 dribble pull up jumper or floater deep in the lane. Leonard is confident in his shooting stroke especially when he comes off screens. He has pretty good shot preparation and a high release and follows through. He size helps him shoot over smaller defenders. Leonard must add strength and improve his ball handling against intense pressure but every time he shoots the ball it looks to have a chance to go in. Defensively he works to pressure the ball but must have a better understanding on how to pressure the ball without giving up penetration to the lane. Overall excellent young perimeter prospect with his best playing days ahead.
Source: Scouts Inc. “Damien Leonard” August 2009. Sept.11, 2009
Boggs is an athletic wing with good length out of Greenville, SC. He excels in the press and on the defensive end where he can use his length to get deflections and steals that lead to easy dunks. Brandon is a slasher that had some explosive dunks. He has potential to grow due to his big feet.
Source: Scouts Inc. “Brandon Boggs” August 2009. Sept.11, 2009
