Words. Austin Burton
In the weeks leading up to the nation’s most high-profile high school All-American game, McDonald’s announced the Morgan Wootten Player of the Year finalists.
The Wootten trophy is given annual to one senior boy’s player and one girl’s player who doesn’t just excel on the court, but also in the classroom and the community. The winners will be announced on March 10. The finalists: MORE >
Words. Austin Burton
On April 17, the country’s best high school players — well, depending on who you ask — will convene at Madison Square Garden in NYC for the Jordan Brand All-American Classic. Earlier this week, the rosters were announced:
WEST Harrison Barnes — SF, Ames (Iowa), signed with North Carolina Will Barton — SG, Brewster (N.H.), signed with Memphis Tobias Harris — PF, Half Hollow Hills West (N.Y.), signed with Tennessee Terrence Jones — SG/SF, Jefferson (Ore.), Undecided MORE >
Words. Austin Burton
SEATTLE — Watching Terrence Jones play in-person for the first time, I struggled to find an NBA player to compare him to. A versatile 6-9 lefty who seems to do everything with an effortless grace, Jones is a mix of Joe Johnson and a prime Tracy McGrady, but in a stark contrast, has an outward demeanor and coach-on-the-floor intensity reminiscent of Kobe Bryant.
Showing his entire skill set and basketball IQ while dominating one of the better teams on the West Coast, Jones was the shining star at Monday’s annual King Holiday Hoopfest at the University of Washington’s Bank of America Arena. MORE >
Words. Austin Burton
Jermaine O’Neal has been a forgotten pioneer.
When people talk about the NBA’s preps-to-pros success stories, they usually lead with Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Tracy McGrady, LeBron James and Dwight Howard. Despite being one of the first to make the leap successfully — reaching six NBA All-Star Games in his career — O’Neal is often overlooked. The year after KG set the trend in motion, Jermaine and Kobe were picked in the first round of the ‘96 Draft. MORE >
Words. Austin Burton
The biggest of the big-name big men is off the board, as 6-10, 270-pound Josh Smith (Kentwood H.S., Wash.) verbally committed to UCLA earlier this week over Washington. From the Seattle Times:
“They’ve kind of been the front-runner for a while, them and UW,” Smith said of the Bruins. “They’ve both been recruiting me since the beginning. In the end, when I looked at everything I was looking for, I decided UCLA was my choice.” MORE >
Words. Austin Burton
If LaQuinton Ross is going to be the next Mississippi product to blow up on the national scene, he’s already following in the right footsteps. After a stellar freshman year at Callaway H.S., the 6-7 wing played his sophomore year at Murrah H.S. (Jackson, Miss.), former home of Mo Williams, Lindsey Hunter and Othella Harrington. And in the offseason, Ross regularly trains with Williams, Monta Ellis, and other D-1 and former pro Crooked Letter natives.
This past season, Ross averaged 23 points, nine rebounds and just under four blocks per game. Having dealt with an ankle injury most of the summer, he still participated in the adidas Nations tournament in Dallas last weekend, but sat out the final day when the United States’ Class of 2011 team won the third-place game against Europe. We caught up with LaQuinton during the tourney… MORE >
