The most anticipated game of the Nike Global Challenge opening day ended up exceeding expectations. USA-3 has arguably the strongest roster in the field, featuring John Wall and Jeremy Tyler, considered by many to be the #1 players, respectively, in the ‘09 and 2010 classes, plus 2011 sensation Michael Gilchrist and ‘09 stud center Daniel Orton. Not to mention USA-3 was supposed to have ‘09 two-guard Xavier Henry, a Top-10 talent who isn’t playing this weekend due to injury. MORE >
The Nike Global Challenge is for real. Unlike many other summertime camps and tournaments on the high school scene, the games here at the Liberty H.S. gym in the Portland, Ore., suburb of Hillsboro are always intense, hard-fought, and the teams genuinely want to win more than show off for the scouts.
Nike flew in five international teams — Puerto Rico, Serbia, Lithuania, Canada and Senegal — of teenagers and young men to compete against three teams of high schoolers from the United States. The American teams represent a cross-section of some of the best players from the 2009, 2010 and 2011 classes. Games are played by FIBA international rules.
Notes from Saturday’s Jordan Brand All-American Classic…
PRE-GAME
Blame the Spurs vs. Suns game for my not getting to MSG before tip-off. If Mike Finley and Tim Duncan hadn’t conspired to send that game into double-overtime, I would have gotten an earlier start on my laundry and would have left the house earlier. Oh well … As I’m getting my press pass at the VIP/media entrance, Jadakiss and crew show up. “What’s up with those Styles P floor seats?” Jada wants to know. One of the MSG employees informs ‘Kiss he’s got nine tickets for him and his boys. Of course, he wants 11. Before they get it worked out, I’m in the elevator …
FIRST HALF
Just as I get out to the court, 6-11 Tony Woods (Wake Forest) gets a vicious dunk over everybody. Yep, this is a high school all-star game alright … All of the players are wearing Jordan 23’s designed to match the Blue and White team unis. I’d take the blue/black/white kicks, but both are actually pretty sick … MORE >
Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl just lost All-SEC senior Chris Lofton, and his #2-seed Volunteers didn’t go as far in the NCAA Tournament as most people thought they would. But Pearl couldn’t have been too upset for too long — he just landed a commitment from one of the high school Class of ’08’s best previously-undecided players: Scotty Hopson, who ripped it up at University Heights Academy in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.
On Martin Luther King Day, Renardo Sidney led his Fairfax (Calif.) squad up to Seattle to take on Franklin H.S., one of the Evergreen State’s best teams, in the King Holiday Hoopfest at the University of Washington’s Edmundson Pavilion.
At 6-10, Renardo towered over everyone on the Quakers’ roster, dominating with 24 points and 22 boards. But Franklin’s guards — including Class of ‘09 star Peyton Siva — had the edge over Fairfax’s backcourt, and the Quakers were up by double-digits at halftime before a big Fairfax rally. Siva dropped 23 points for the game, and with his squad down by one in the final seconds, his missed three-pointer was tipped in by teammate Sterling Carter to give Franklin the win.
Rick Pitino was in the crowd watching Siva (4-for-18 FGs 14-f0r-17 FTs), who lists Louisville as one of his top schools along with Washington, Kansas and Arizona. Renardo is said to be looking at Ohio State, Florida, Texas, UCLA and USC, among others.
Jeremy Tyler had some trouble against Renardo Sidney. (Photo. Kelly Kline)
At the Amare Stoudemire Invitational Classic in Davenport, Fla., Thursday’s big matchup was — or better yet, was supposed to be — Renardo Sidney versus Jeremy Tyler, two of the country’s premier underclassmen front court players.
But when Sidney’s Fairfax H.S. (Los Angeles) squad played Tyler’s San Diego H.S. team, it ended up being a rout, both on the team and individual scale. Sidney, a 6-foot-10 junior forward, dominated Tyler, a 6-foot-9 sophomore center, giving him 32 points and 9 boards on a variety of outside jumpers and points on the block; Sidney knocked down 10 shots in a row at one point. Tyler did reject seven shots — including Sidney’s first three attempts — but he didn’t score, going 0-for-10 from the field. As for the game, Fairfax won by 32 points in a blowout.
Rivers' quickness makes defenders want to back up, but his shooting ability makes them have to guard him close. No player in the country hunts and finds his shot as aggressively as Rivers, who tallied more 40-point games than anybody in the country this summer. The scary part is that he's getting better and better every day.
Miller dominates all facets offensively, but his best attribute may be his ability to keep the defense off balance with his shooting ability from deep. Miller averaged 32 points during the 2010 AAU season.
Committed to Kentucky. Combines a quick first step with some of the best handles on this list to dominate opponents. Teague is a gifted scorer in a variety of different ways and involves teammates to balance his repertoire.
Committed to Texas. Kabongo may be the best leader in the senior class, and his ability to create for his teammates is exceptional. He's ultra quick and breaks down the defense with ease to finish in the lane or knock down the jump shot.
Committed to North Carolina. Solid with his back to the basket, but better at finishing plays. He's skilled enough to knock down the short jumper and has an overactive motor.
Muhammad is smooth but effective, evidenced by his 31-point average during the AAU season. His jump shot is accurate and he uses his big, strong body to absorb contact and finish in the paint.
Committed to Kentucky. Lean and quick, Davis uses his athleticism and skill to dominate in the paint. He's versatile enough to consistently knock down jump shots and has a solid handle. Davis gave opposing big men fits all summer.
The youngster ranked this high? Yes indeed! Purvis is the perfect combination of athleticism and skill and has a gear that most only dream about. His jumper has improved, and he's a lockdown defender that gets to the cup whenever he wants against whoever he wants.
Committed to Ohio State. Don't let the height fool you, Ross is quicker than most perimeter defenders and long enough to finish in the lane for high-percentage shots, yet has the ability to consistently hit outside shots. He's added a fadeaway that's almost as automatic as a layup.
