2016 Wing Recruiting (Ibi Watson)

I have a hard time counting Oregon out of this one. Oregon assistant Mike Mennenga is the former director of CIA Bounce and they obviously took Dillon Brooks last year in a very similar reclassification situation.

On the other hand, Oregon just landed Tyler Dorsey, which may explain

I have read that UM is so far in a top 3 situation with MSU and Florida for Langford. If Murray does end up going to State you would hope that our lack of wing depth would bring Langford here. I haven’t paid attention to UF, but as well as they recruit I would be surprised if they had a more attractive depth chart that UM does. MSU for sure has depth on the wing going forward. We have to catch a break sometime, right?

Of course you have to anticipate the blue bloods trying to get in on Langford late if they start missing on other targets. Hopefully they can lock him up this spring.

So, from what I can gather based on recent events, the hierarchy for recruiting at this point is:

  1. Langford
  2. Battle
  3. Winston
  4. Towns

Michigan's John Beilein & Notre Dame's Mike Brey are watching 2016 Tyus Battle @kidmamba23 vs. St. Ben's. My man @jaf78 has you covered

— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) February 25, 2015

With all the trying circumstances surrounding this season, you have to give JB credit for all of his efforts at being seen by the targets he’s pursuing. He might lack charisma, but he has been piling up the travel miles in search of talent. We are so due to have some breaks fall our way, maybe it’s on the horizon.

Wonder if JB will be in Alabama to watch Langford tomorrow. I sure hope so

Wonder if JB will be in Alabama to watch Langford tomorrow. I sure hope so

Obviously can’t be sure, but since it’s a bye week, I’d say chances are decent. We will hopefully hear one way or the other.

Wow…Battle just came back from injury

Tyus Battle is headed to the locker room towards the end of the 1st, followed by a trainer

— Jeremy Fuchs (@jaf78) February 26, 2015

Tyus Battle has injured his toe and will not return to the game

— Jeremy Fuchs (@jaf78) February 26, 2015
Since Murray is a PG, that would seem to impact Winston's recruitment by MSU.

Don’t think he’s a PG. Much better fit as an off guard in my opinion.

What position is Michigan recruiting him for? I think I’d rather it be for the off gaurd spot and continue to push for a true pg in 2016. That would give us multiple ball handlers.

Since Murray is a PG, that would seem to impact Winston's recruitment by MSU.

Don’t think he’s a PG. Much better fit as an off guard in my opinion.

What position is Michigan recruiting him for? I think I’d rather it be for the off gaurd spot and continue to push for a true pg in 2016. That would give us multiple ball handlers.

I think that is the million dollar question…would have to think the staff are selling him on being a primary ballhandler in order for us to be at the top of his list…Murray has said he views himself as a PG rather than a 2. Alternatively, the staff is not recruting Battle as a primary ballhandler

Something everyone has to acknowledge if not already done is that whoever may commit first (if anyone) of Langford, Murray, Battle, or Winston will likely have an impact on the other targets. They are all interested in playing primary ball handler (and capable to different extents).

Josh Langford leads Madison Academy to 3A @AHSAA_hoops title with 19 pts, 12 rebs, 7 assists #Ball4ItAll @mamustang pic.twitter.com/1Hn9FBA0rP

— Kyle Burger (@kyle_burger) February 28, 2015

Tyus Battle has a walking boot on his right foot. Could be precautionary, but not good http://t.co/RHNBmEGr5Y #NJhoops #GILLvsRDG

— Jeremy Schneider (@J_Schneider) February 28, 2015

Frankie Hughes 14 points 7 rebs. Frankie is the top Junior shooting guard in the State

— Sonny Johnson (@sonnyjohnson32) February 28, 2015

More full game film of Damien Jefferson from 2/24/15. Film is not the greatest quality. Jefferson ended up with 20pts, 12rebs, 5assists, 2 steals by my count. The thing that stood out about Jefferson in this game is his passing/court vision. At 6’6 he has above average/good passing ability. Kid really excels in transition as well.

Notable plays from Jefferson highlighted below:

47:18 mark – nice rebound in traffic

50:12 mark – dribbles into crowd and turns it over; good change of direction instincts but poor decision as he dribbled into 3 defenders

51:25 mark – gets rebound and dribbles into traffic once again and turns it over; was visibly frustrated on foul call a few seconds earlier, this was more of a frustration turnover and trying to be overly aggressive

52:05 mark – get offensive rebound as the trail man on the break, but misses easy tip in

52:23 mark – hits catch and shoot 3 off the backboard – the bank was open

53:15 mark – flushes home an alley opp in transition over defender, nice verticality here

56:20 – get a rebound from the FT line, dribbles past 3 defenders, draws the backline defender and drops a no look pass to a teammate for an assist – this was very pretty

59:40 mark – gets what clearly appears to be an and 1(no further dribbling after foul call), but ref calls it on the floor; good display of balance and strength to absorb the contact and get a good look up

1:00:20 mark – gets offensive rebound off long shot, is trapped in high post, has awareness to spin out of double team and get to the rack. Misses layup but gets offensive rebound and misses tip in – really quick off the ground for the offensive rebounds

1:01:50 mark – knocks down 2 FT after getting fouled on dunk attempt in transition – love the aggressiveness when attempting to finish. . . . . . .this team needs someone that can finish with authority

1:04:55 mark – gets back in transition defense and uses length to steal the pass, takes to dribbles and finds teammate for easy layup

1:08:52 mark – receives swing pass, gets defender in the air with shot fake, takes to dribbles and flushes down a dunk over the defender

1:09:15 mark – knocks down 2 FTs after being fouled on layup attempt in transition

1:10:25 mark – knocks down 1 out of 2 at the line after being fouled bringing the ball up the court

1:12:35 mark – threads the needle between 2 defenders on a 40 foot bounce pass to his teammate for an easy layup – this was really impressive

1:17:55 mark – finishes in transition by letting his defender go by as he goes up and under to protect the ball

1:19:50 mark – knocks down 2 FTs after getting fouled attempting to split the double team at half court

1:21:10 mark – steals inbounds pass

1:34:40 mark – comes off of screen to right wing and misses 22ft jumper short, gets back on defense and blocks layup but is called for foul

1:36:05 mark – turnover after attempting no look entry pass to FT line area

1:37:50 – once again dribbles into the paint, draws defender and drops a no look pass to a teammate for an easy assist

1:42:33 mark – grabs defensive rebound, draws defenders to him before dropping a cross court pass to a teammate for an easy layup

1:48:15 – misses 22-23ft contested jumper off the bounce

1:49:10 mark – grabs defensive rebound, takes it coast to coast for a layup

149:40 mark – get outs in transition in the middle of the floor, gives it up to Edwards, who throws the lob to Jefferson and Jefferson finished the dunk with 2 hands

1:53:07 mark – picks up offensive foul after receiving entry pass from sideline and bullying defender to the rim – I really like his aggression and physicality here even if it results in a TO, he’s just a tough minded, physical player

More game film on Jefferson from 2/12/15.

Interested in this game because Lowell seemed to have 2 players that are 6’5 and up, so Jefferson was utilized in this game much the same he would be used at UM, on the wing and flashing to the FT line. Jefferson finished with 31pts, 10rebs, 1asst, 3steals, 3blocks by my count. Very efficient player on the wing

46:06 mark – good helpside block without fouling

46:23 mark – flashes to the elbow, hits turnaround 16ft jumpshot. As noted before, really good elevation on jumper with high release

47:17 mark – gets the ball on the wing and is able to beat initial defender, split the double team, but forces pass and helpside defender gets a hand on the pass. Should’ve pulled up for jumpshot

48:15 mark – comes up with steal when the ball is loose, dribbles coast to coast and misses the layup. Despite the fact that he missed the bunny, his speed was quite impressive and he essentially beat the entire Lowell team down the court in 4-5 steps.

50:49 mark – another helpside block without fouling

53:45 – another helpside block without fouling

55:30 – buries catch and shoot 3 from left wing

57:55 mark – finished layup on dump off from penetration

59:02 mark – tips in shot off Hyron Edwards missed 3

1:00:55 mark – steals pass and beats defender with behind the back dribble and is fouled

1:02:30 mark – makes baseline cut toward the basket from the 3 point line and finishes with a dunk from the dump off

1:07:20 mark – picks up the ball from about 30 feet out (outlet pass led him too much), takes 1 dribble, then elevates from just inside the FT for the George Gervin finger roll – the amount of ground he covered with 2-3 steps was impressive

1:08:36 mark – finishes with a dunk from Edwards dumpoff

1:09:35 mark – misses wide open catch and shoot 3 from left wing

1:13:00 mark – intercepts outlet pass, knocks down 2 FT after getting fouled on dunk attempt

1:14:17 mark – no look pass to teammate for easy layup

1:26:28 mark – misses step back jumpshot off 1 dribble in post

1:33:15 mark – misses turnaround lefty layup after 1 dribble right from entry pass in post, follows up miss with offensive rebound and tip in – although he didn’t make the initial layup, did a good job of protecting the ball with his body to get a quality shot. Think there is some potential for him to play in the post on a limited basis if he adds 20-30 lbs. Seems comfortable operating in the post when he has a size mismatch

1:40:25 mark – knocks down 2 FTs after being fouled on dunk attempt in transition

1:43:53 mark – comes up with steal off inbounds pass

1:46:23 mark – gets ball on left wing and makes three power dribbles to the rack and scores over multiple defenders – was really impressed with this as he showed good strength, balance, verticality. Perhaps more than anything, his willingness to be physical was impressive

1:50:22 mark – gets ball at left wing, receives screen going right, crosses over hedge man with between the legs dribble to create space, drops off perfect pass to roll man once defender commits to stopping Jefferson but roll man can’t convert, but Jefferson is there to grab offensive rebound, misses initial tip in but follows up with another offensive rebound for a tip in – one of his most impressive sequences in my opinion; this would translate very well in our offense

1:51:00 mark - knocked down 2 FTs after being fouled on the wing

152:20 mark - knocks down 2 FTs after being fouled on dribble penetration from right wing

1:55:15 mark - knocks down 2 FTs after being fouled on right wing

Spoke to Jamal Murray yesterday after the @BCSS_Basketball Invitational. He said he hasn't made a decision on reclassifying & no visits yet!

— OnPointBasketball (@DrewEbanks) March 2, 2015

I doubt we will get involved considering we currently have Langford, Battle, Murray, Jefferson on the board, but Naz Wallace (Rasheed’s son) may become a fallback option.

I’ve seen Wallace play several times in person, and here is my take. He’s a slasher - Above average verticality, good rebounder, average shooter (bordering on below average), below average handle…but plays with all out energy. Reminds me of a less athletic Morris Peterson, or less skilled JaeSean Tate.

Not seeing it in Wallace

Looks like Towns will make the switch from VCC Warriors to King James…hard to turn down the exposure that EYBL can offer

Just got confirmation that (Seth Towns) @seth_towns17 is now with our 17s. I know @coachq7 @Coach_Swright are 2 happy ppl right now!!

— King James (@KingJamesAAU) March 4, 2015

Did we offer Damien Jefferson?