 |
 |
 |
|
INDIANAPOLIS -- Player rating, not to mention player hating, is all the rage in summer recruiting. And you know us -- always happy to be involved with rage.
After several days at the Nike All-American Camp, here are some ratings (and hatings) you won't find anywhere else.
Tyler Hansbrough: The 6-foot-9 power forward from Poplar Bluff, Mo., has ascended to the class of 2005's No. 1 ranking, according to many analysts. He's a nice player and all that, but ... what? If he's the best player in the class of 2005, the class of 2005 is even worse than people say. Luckily for everyone else, Hansbrough isn't the class' best player. Or the best power forward. In fact, there were two power forwards at Nike who were better.
Richard Hendrix: The 6-9 PF from Athens, Ala., is too good for high school players, and he might be too good for college. He doesn't have ideal height to make the jump from high school to the NBA, but he has the length. What's the difference, you ask? After a dunk during a camp game tangled the net, Hendrix reached up and -- without jumping, or even straining -- pulled the net into its proper place. That, friends, is the difference. Add the kind of body it took former Duke star (and current NBA Judas) Carlos Boozer three years to sculpt, and Hendrix is ready for the Association. Sorry, Alabama. That's the way it is.
Josh McRoberts: The 6-11 PF from Carmel, Ind., rarely gets compared to Hansbrough, presumably because Hansbrough is so much better. Well, here's a dissenting opinion. Asked to make the difficult choice between the two, I'd take the impossibly long, deceptively springy and refreshingly hungry McRoberts over Hansbrough -- and then wonder when you were going to present me with a difficult choice.
Keith Brumbaugh: The 6-9 wing from Deland, Fla., is more passionate than we were led to believe, but every bit as skilled as advertised. Imagine class of 2004 star Josh Smith with fire -- and the fireless Smith still went No. 17 overall in last month's NBA Draft.
 | |
| Louis Williams isn't pro material yet, but he could average 20 points per game as a freshman.(AP) |
Micah Downs: The 6-9 wing from Bothell, Wash., is always compared to Mike Dunleavy for reasons like geography, build and pigmentation. Here's the thing: Dunleavy was an exceptional athlete as well as a savvy shooter. Down is a savvy shooter, but not a great athlete. It makes him a wonderful college prospect, but it doesn't make him Mike Dunleavy.
Eric Boateng: The 6-10 center from Middletown, Del., comes from the same production line that gave us Torin Francis and Jason Fraser. He can rebound and run and jump and block shots, but (for now) don't let him do anything but dunk it.
Jamal Boykin: The 6-7 combination forward from Los Angeles is above all things ... earnest. He's a good athlete, but not great. A very good shooter, but not great. But he's so darned earnest it's hard not to like him, wish him well and know he'll make some college coach very happy.
Lee Bynum: The 6-11 C from Plainsboro, N.J., is a mystery. First of all, he needs to figure out if he wants to be known as Andrew Bynum or Lee Bynum. Second, is he the next DeSagana Diop, or the next Josh Moore? Neither is a future Hall of Famer, but at least Diop has made some serious money.
Christopher Douglas-Roberts: The 6-5 combo guard from Detroit is slippery, smart and skilled. Not sure what position he plays, but whatever it is, he's going to be an All-American at it.
Levance Fields: The 5-11 PG from Brooklyn is barely a top-75 recruit in most analysts' eyes, but he's going to be a great four-year player somewhere. A school like Maryland (likely to lose John Gilchrist to the 2005 NBA Draft), Georgia Tech (Jarrett Jack) or Illinois (Deron Williams, Dee Brown) could do a lot worse than to turn their offense over to this stocky little guy.
David Huertas: The 6-5 SG from Jacksonville, Fla., suggests Florida coach Billy Donovan has learned from his recruiting mistakes. After consistently bringing in guys whose ability has been better than their attitude, Donovan has a commitment from Huertas -- whose attitude is better than his ability. And his ability level is very, very good.
Fendi Onobun: The 6-6 PF from Houston is too small for Division I, kind of like Eric Hicks of Cincinnati is too small, and kind of like P.J. Tucker of Texas is too small. In other words, Arizona has itself a nice catch -- way too big to throw back.
Angel Santiago: The 6-1 PG from Chicago isn't in anyone's top 100 high school seniors, but he'd be in mine. He's no Levance Fields, but he'd be a fine consolation prize.
Kyle Singler: The 6-8 wing from Medford, Ore., is only a high school sophomore, but he's awfully good. Expect a fierce northwest recruiting battle for this guy.
Ramar Smith: The 6-2 shooting guard from Detroit is only a junior, but he was one of the best scorers at the Nike Camp. He's one of those peculiar guys who doesn't seem to be a great shooter -- but can score anyway.
Solomon Tat: The 6-5 wing from McDonough, Ga., is playing the wrong sport. Some analysts rank him among the top 20 juniors nationally, and physically, Tat is that. But he couldn't beat me in a game of H-O-R-S-E, and I'm awful. Solomon, sincerely, you've got a great body and a great attitude, but you'd be a much better linebacker than shooting guard.
David Weaver: The 6-9 C from Black Mountain, N.C., is that mountain town's first ACC recruit since Brad Daugherty more than 20 years ago. Weaver is no Daugherty, but he's another in-state steal for Wake Forest. Polished on offense, yet with room to grow, Weaver will join Kyle Visser to give the Deacons an underrated pair of twin towers.
Martell Webster: The 6-7 wing from Seattle was hyped as an explosive scorer. Hobbled by an ankle injury, Webster wasn't that at Nike. But he was like Jamal Boykin in that he cared a great deal, tried hard and melded with his teammates. If a healthy Webster is as explosive as advertised, holy cow.