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St. John’s Rolls Past Georgetown

by netscoutstestg
written by netscoutstestg

St. John’s Rolls Past Georgetown

Washington, D.C. – St John’s came into the game against Georgetown riding a six-game win streak. The Hoyas, on the other hand, came in losing five of their last six games, with one of those losses coming to the Red Storm 63-58. The Red Storm took control of the game from the start with a 14-0 run. The Red Storm was led in scoring by Kadary Richmond and Zuby Ejiofor. They helped St Johns shoot 62% from the field in the first half while holding the Hoyas to 24% from the field and 23% from three-point range. Malik Mack tried to keep the Hoyas close by scoring nine first half points. But with Georgetown’s leading scorer Thomas Sorber being held to just three points in the first half the Red Storm took a commanding 47-21 lead into halftime.

The start of the second half was the first time the Hoyas showed any fight and resistance. Sorber scored two tough buckets to start the half off. They also came out in a 1-3-1 zone to try and slow down the hot shooting Red Storm. Drew Fielder buried a few three-pointers for the Hoyas to help them cut into the lead. They indeed slowed down the Red Storm with their zone in the second half getting as close as 13 points with just over six minutes left in the game. But the 20+ point lead St. Johns held was too big of a hole for the Hoyas to dig themselves out of. Richmond and Ejiofor continue to make tough timely shots down the stretch allowing the Red Storm to hold on for a 66-42 road win extending their win streak to seven games.

Thomas Sorber had his worst game as a Hoya scoring a total of eight points, going 3-of-9 from the field, 0-of-2 from three-point range, while grabbing nine rebounds. For the Hoyas to be successful this year Sorber must play a bigger role in Georgetown’s offense. The perimeter guys must help him by knocking down shots from three so space can be created in the lane for him to operate. The lack of shot making has been an issue for Sorber and the Hoyas all year. They must be consistent from three so Sorber can do damage inside the paint unless team’s will continue to pack the lane and double team him with no consequences. Also, Sorber has to do a better job at staying out of foul trouble by not committing silly fouls.

Malik Mack did his best to keep the Hoyas close tonight, but it was not nearly enough. The Hoyas appeared to be out of rhythm all night on the offensive end. Mack must do a better job at being a facilitator and creating easy shots for his teammates. There were too many times in the second half Mack was able to find offense for himself but turned the ball over trying to create offense for his teammates. Mack came into Georgetown with a reputation for scoring the basketball, but at times when they are struggling to score Mack must find a way to be a facilitator and create offense for his teammates.

Micah Peavy has had an up and down season scoring consistently. He is known for being one of the best defenders in college basketball but there are plenty of times the Hoyas need him to score. Peavy has the potential to be a three-level scorer, he has a nice mid-range jump shot, and he can finish with either hand with contact around the basket. He is shooting a career high from three-point range at 33 percent, but he can be more consistent. The Hoyas play their best when is contributing on the offensive end, especially with Jayden Epps struggling from three and with injuries so far this season.

For Georgetown to be successful this year they have to find a balanced scoring attack and a consistent rhythm offensively. They must find ways to get Sorber shots in the post while allowing their perimeter players to contribute from the outside. They are one of the youngest teams in college basketball so it is to be expected that such a young team will have these issues in a long season. There is still plenty of time for the Hoyas to get their act together in order to make the NCAA tournament, but it must happen soon. 

This article was written by Michael Terry, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Facebook, or on twitter.

We are looking for those interested in our basketball scout apprenticeship program. For information contact us and forward your resume.

2025 NBA Mock Draft

by netscoutstestg
written by netscoutstestg

Round 1

  1. Cooper Flagg, 6’9/205, CF, Duke, Freshman
  2. Dylan Harper, 6’6/220, PG, Rurgers, Freshman
  3. Kasparas Jakucionis, 6’6/205, PG, Illinois (Lithuania), Freshman
  4. Ace Bailey, 6’9/200, CF, Rutgers, Freshman
  5. V.J. Edgecombe, 6’4/180, SG, Baylor, Freshman
  6. Tre Johnson, 6’6/185, SG, Texas, Freshman
  7. Asa Newell, 6’10/205, Georgia, Freshman
  8. Egor Demon, 6’9/190, PG, BYU (Russia), Freshman
  9. Liam McNeeley, 6’8/185, SF, UConn, Freshman
  10. Jeremiah Fears, 6’4/185, PG, Oklahoma, Freshman
  11. Khaman Maluach, 7’2/245, C, Duke (South Sudan), Freshman
  12. Nolan Traore, 6’3/185, PG, France, International
  13. Kon Knueppel, 6’7/215, SF, Duke, Freshman
  14. Noa Essengue, 6’9/195, SF, France, International
  15. Ben Saraf, 6’5/200, PG, Israel, International
  16. Derik Queen, 6’10/245, C, Maryland, Freshman
  17. Ian Jackson, 6’4/180, SG, North Carolina, Freshman
  18. Rasheer Fleming, 6’9/245, PF, St. Joseph’s, Junior
  19. Kam Jones, 6’5/200, CG, Marquette, Senior
  20. Hugo Gonzalez, 6’6/205, SF, Spain, International
  21. Labaron Philon, 6’4/180, CG, Alabama, Freshman
  22. Boogie Fland, 6’2/185, PG, Arkansas, Freshman
  23. Alex Karaban, 6’8/220, CF, UConn, Junior
  24. Jase Richardson, 6’3/185, CG, Michigan State, Freshman
  25. Thomas Sorber, 6’10/250, C, Georgetown, Freshman
  26. Noah Penda, 6’7/225, CF, France, International
  27. Dink Pate, 6’8/210, SF, G-League
  28. Sergio de Larrea, 6’6/200, SG, Spain, International
  29. Adou Thiero, 6’8/220, CF, Arkansas, Junior
  30. Danny Wolf, 7’0/250, C, Michigan, Junior

  • 31. Nique Clifford, 6’6/200, SG, Colorado State, Senior
  • 32. Miles Byrd, 6’7/190, SG, San Diego State, Soph.
  • 33. Collin Murray-Boyles, 6’7/230, CF, South Carolina, Soph.
  • 34. Johni Broome, 6’10/240, C, Auburn, Senior
  • 35. Darrion Williams, 6’6/225, SF, Texas Tech, Junior
  • 36 Bojoljub Markovic, 6’11/190, CF, Serbia, International
  • 37. Ryan Kalkbrenner, 7’1/250, C, Creighton, Senior
  • 38 Chaz Lanier, 6’5/210, SG, Tennessee, Senior
  • 39. Jojo Tugler, 6’8/230, PF, Houston, Soph.
  • 40. JT Toppin, 6’9/225, PF, Texas Tech, Soph.
  • 41. Alex Toohey, 6’8/225, SF, Australia, International
  • 42. Donnie Freeman, 6’10/225, PF, Syracuse, Freshman
  • 43. Rocco Zikarsky, 7’3/230, C, Australia, International
  • 44. Walter Clayton Jr., 6’3/195, PG, Florida, Senior
  • 45. Tomislav Ivisic, 7’1/255, C, Illinois (Croatia), Soph.
  • 46. Maxime Raynaud, 7’1/245, C, Stanford (France), Senior
  • 47. Joan Beringer, 6’10/230, PF, France, International
  • 48. Carter Bryant, 6’8/225, CF, Arizona, Freshman
  • 49. Michael Ruzic, 6’9/220, CF, Croatia, International
  • 50. Drake Powell, 6’5/185, SG, North Carolina, Freshman
  • 51. Tyrese Proctor, 6’5/185, CG, Duke, Junior
  • 52. Johann Grunloh, 6’10/235, PF/C, Germany, International
  • 53. Jamir Watkins, 6’7/210, SF, Florida State, Senior
  • 54. Izan Almansa, 6’10/215, PF/C, Spain, International
  • 55. Xaivian Lee, 6’4/180, PG, Princeton, Junior
  • 56. Cedric Coward, 6’6/205, SG, Washington State, Junior
  • 57. Eric Dixon, 6’8/260, PF, Villanova, Senior
  • 58. Hunter Sallis, 6’5/175, CG, Wake Forest, Senior
  • 59. Mackenzie Mgbako, 6’8/195, CF, Indiana, Soph.

Baylor Tops Kansas Led By Dennis

by netscoutstestg
written by netscoutstestg

Waco, TX–   No. 7-ranked Kansas against No. 15-ranked Baylor at the new Mark and Paul Hurd arena which just opened up in January. There was a packed crowd, with fans excited for a possible upset against a top ten team. On one of the first possessions for Baylor, Yves Missi went to set a screen for RayJ Dennis and once he rolled, he became wide open for a dunk which got Baylor the opening basket. The first half of the basketball game went back-and-forth with Baylor getting as much as a seven-point lead before it eventually got cut to one going into the half at 35–34. Throughout the first half, Missi did a great job of attacking Kansas’s big men by constantly trying to pound it inside and draw fouls or finish at the rim. In the second half at one point Baylor looked like they would run away with the game by going up by as many as 13 points before Kansas eventually cut into the lead but they eventually would lose 82–74.

7’2” senior Hunter Dickinson was a constant for the Jayhawks throughout the game. Whether the Baylor Bears played the 1-3-1 zone or briefly went man-to man he was a safety net. He ended the game with a stat line of 20 points and six rebounds on 9–12 from the field, 1-2 from the arc, and made it a tough night for the Baylor bigs.  6’7” senior Kevin McCullar Jr. was another spark for the Jayhawks and when Baylor played the 1–3–1 zone he took advantage by posting up the player at the bottom of the zone to get easy baskets at the rim. He ended the game with 20 points, and five rebounds on 9–19 from the field. The one-two punch of Dickinson and McCullar is what allowed the Jayhawks to make the game competitive along with point guard Dajuan Harris Jr. adding 12 points and hitting timely floaters when the team needed the most.

Baylor had four players score in double digits which gave them the edge and led to them winning the game. Missi was consistent energy for the Bears and showed his ability to do some things off the dribble when given the opportunity from the elbow. Missi ended the game with a  17 points and five rebounds on 7–12 shooting. In the second half of the game, Baylor took advantage of the one-two punch with 6’2” RayJ Dennis and 6’4” Jayden Nunn who both were perfect from the field in the second half of the game.

Nunn was a constant throughout both halves of the game knocking down timely three-point shots and being able to get to the mid-range and pull up over defenders. He ended the game with 18 points and five rebounds on 7–8 from the field and 3–3 from the three-point line. The difference he made throughout the game was going after 50/50 rebounds and being able to either secure them himself or save them from out-of-bounds for a teammate to secure.  Dennis is a perfect complement to Dunn with his ability to lead the team and fill in the gap with what they need at each moment. He did a great job of making the right decision off of the screen and seemed as if he always hit the right teammate in the right spot. Throughout the game, Kansas would try to go on some type of run and Dennis would hit them with one of those Patton floaters in the lane to send a message to Kansas that we got this. He ended the game with a double-double and led the team in scoring with 19 points and 10 assists, 7–8 shooting from the field, on 4–5 from the free throw line.

Ja’Kobe Walter struggled to find his shot but always seemed to lend a helping hand and knocked down a shot in spots when they tried to pay more attention defensively to one of his other three teammates. Although his shot wasn’t falling consistently, he made up for it by grabbing eight rebounds and showing that he can impact the game in more ways than just putting the ball in the basket. Walter ended the game with 11 points to help Baylor get the win. The biggest difference in the basketball game was the spread in fastbreak points with Baylor winning that area 15-7.

This article was written by Chivas Miller, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Facebook, or on twitter.

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Evans Jr. Leads Ducks to Vital Win Over Oregon State

by netscoutstestg
written by netscoutstestg

Eugene, OR – In the 394th and final official matchup in conference play, long-time Pac-12 schools Oregon and Oregon State took the floor at Matthew Knight Arena. Oregon took control of the game in the second half, coming away with a 78-71 victory and the 750th career win for Coach Dana Altman. Five Ducks scored in doubles figures with Kwame Evans Jr. scoring a team high 22 points Wednesday night with 8,365 in attendance.

Oregon State’s Jordan Pope came off an electric performance at Stanford last weekend  scoring 30 points, on 10-for-17 from the field.  He continued his stellar shooting in the first half against the Ducks, hitting on out 7-of-8 attempts to score 15 first half points. The Beavers developed an early 24-18 lead midway through the opening half as they took advantage of six Oregon turnovers during that stretch.

The Ducks responded with a 12-2 run led by Brennan Rigbsy, who contributed 6 of the 12 points during the run. The 6-3 shooting guard was a starter early in the season and was asked to play a different role as of late coming off the bench. He played key minutes throughout the game, displaying his shooting stroke from the perimeter while also showing he can play above the rim with two monstrous dunks. In 27 minutes, he shot 4-for-6 shooting and nailed two 3-pointers to tally 14 points with a plus 11 on the floor. Oregon went into the half leading 35-33.

The second half began with Oregon State’s Tyler Bilodeau, a 6’9” sophomore, keeping the Beavers within reach with his ability to knock down outside shots as a stretch 4. He was very much in the zone, scoring 20 of his game high 26 points in the second half. Bilodeau was highly efficient shooting 10-of-14 on field goals, hitting 2-of-3 on 3s, and added eight rebounds. His teammate Pope was slowed down for much of the second half but still finished with 22 points (10-of-19 FG) and five assists.

The freshman duo of Jackson Shelstad and Evans Jr., who were both highly touted prospects coming out of high school, had strong performances. Shelstad, a local prospect, used his fast-paced play to put pressure on the Beavers defense, while creating opportunities for his teammates off the bounce. The point guard had 11 points (4-of-9 FG), four rebounds, and three assists. Evans Jr. impacted the game for the Ducks at both ends of the floor. The 6’9”, 220 pound future NBA prospect, used his length, skill and high basketball IQ to lead the way with 22 points (6-for-7 FG), going 9-for-12 from the strike, with six rebounds, three steals and a blocked shot.

In the final eight minutes after Oregon State cut the lead 59-57, Jermaine Couisnard, who struggled in the first half shooting the ball due to settling for 3s, began to attack the hoop. He scored on three buckets around the basket and drew fouls, getting him to the free line. He hit on 7-of-8 attempts, scoring 16 points (4-for-13 FG) and dished out six assists for the Ducks. Evans Jr. sealed the win for Oregon with and-1 floater in the paint to give Oregon a 11-point lead with less than two minutes remaining. A key factor in the win for Oregon was getting to the free throw line going 23-for-32, while the Beavers made all eight of their attempts.

Oregon (19-9, 11-6) is ranked 62nd in the latest net rankings putting them just off the bubble of a tourney bid. They have a huge opportunity for a marquee win, when they travel to face Arizona (22-6, 13-4) on March 2nd. Oregon State (12-17, 4-14) will look for a bounce back win against Utah (16-11, 7-9) as they return home to finish out the regular season against the mountain schools.

This article was written by Chad Mart, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Facebook, or on twitter.

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St. John’s Gets Big Win Over Creighton

by netscoutstestg
written by netscoutstestg

New York, NY – St. John’s (16-12) had one of their best collective performances this season on Sunday to snap #15 ranked Creighton’s (20-8) four game win streak, with an 80-66 victory at Madison Square Garden. The Johnnies staved off every comeback push the Blue Jays attempted with relentless defense and steady scoring from the senior starting backcourt of Jordan Dingle and Daniss Jenkins combining for 45 points. Trey Alexander scored a season-high 31 points in the loss for the Blue Jays.

Creighton made a 10-0 run to take the lead back in the first half 25-24 when St. John’s went to their reserves. Alexander kickstarted things with back-to-back threes. Trey found a lot of success on offense over the course of this matchup. He was dominant navigating pick and rolls, routinely putting defenders on his back as he snaked center Ryan Kalkbrenner’s screens, leading to multiple mid-range pull up jumpshots. Kalkbrenner would do his best “Gortat” screen to give Trey as much breathing room, and simultaneously position himself for second chance points. Kalkbrenner was their defensive centerpiece, tallying a career-high eight blocks. His massive length gave St. John’s fits and they paid the price not respecting it. He didn’t get much resistance in the post either, getting deep in the paint right into an efficient soft hook. Creighton should’ve sought more ways to feed it to him, as he only finished with 12 points on 11 shots.

Creighton struggled to create open looks from the perimeter, leading to a highly inefficient 6-of-26 from deep. Baylor Scheierman hit the first three of the game before going ice cold. He’d go 1-of-10 outside the arc and 4-of-16 from the field. Steven Ashworth, who was hot over the course of their winning streak, went 1-of-6 from deep this contest. The Blue Jays came into this game sixth in 3-pointers made per game in Division 1 at 10.7. Alexander provided most of their 3-point scoring, knocking down four of their six makes. All things considered, they were still only down a mere five points at the under-8 media timeout thanks to Alexander’s herculean effort. But one last run from St. John’s sealed the deal.

Floor general Daniss Jenkins had arguably his best game of the year, impacting all facets of the game with 27 points, six assists, two steals and two blocks. He’s been St. John’s engine all season long and played with such confidence throughout the game. His feel was incredible, and when the game was still in the balance he sealed the deal with his own 11-0 run. Backcourt mate Jordan Dingle provided his own scoring spark down the stretch with 12 second half points through mid-range jumpers. Similar to Alexander, both guards found success exploiting the space inside the arc when Kalkbrenner was in drop coverage. Despite his eight blocks, the Red Storm still found success inside for 34 paint points. Defensively they were in sync in all their strategies. They showed bodies when Creighton looked to feed Kalkbrenner down low, and rotated extremely well to not give up any open 3-point looks. The unsung hero in this win was Glenn Taylor Jr., getting his first start after seeing his role diminish. He accumulated 10 rebounds, six assists, one block and a steal on the day in his return to the starting lineup.

St. John’s kept their national tournament hopes alive with a dominant game against a ranked opponent. To come out on top in a must-win situation should give them the confidence they need to sweep the rest of their conference games. They look to extend their win-streak to three on the road against Butler on Wednesday, February 28th.

Creighton was fresh off a massive upset themselves, taking down the #1 ranked team in the nation UConn. They may have eased up a bit following that tense match-up earlier in the week, but this loss proved there’s still room to improve before the Big East tournament back at Madison Square Garden. Creighton’s next outing will be against a tough Seton Hall crew at home on the 28th as well.

This article was written by Justin Maldonado, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Facebook, or on twitter.

We are looking for those interested in our basketball scout apprenticeship program. For information contact us and forward your resume.

This post was tagged as:

big east hoops, college basketball, creighton bluejays, st. john’s red storm

National Prep School Invitational Day 4 + All-Tournament Team

by netscoutstestg
written by netscoutstestg

February 4th (Sunday)

Game 25 – St. Andrew’s (RI) 99 vs. GB Academy (Czech Republic) 101  2OT

St Andrew’s (99) – #11 Anthony DeThomas (8), #33 Luke Michalski (26), #45 Ryan Weiss (19), #5 Raphy Tawil (14), ##42 Graham Einkenberry (6), ##4 Christophen Bianco (12), #21 Amir Panagiotis (4), #3 DJ Dixon (2), #30 Braeden Bryne (3)

GB Academy (101) – #4 Miks Zviedrans (5), #6 Tomas Valentiny (38), #7 Theo Alexandersson (6), #8 Witold Czerenciewicz (2), #9 Benjamin Navratil (5), #10 Kristijonas Strackaitis (9), #14 Toms Linens (21), #15 Oliver Stafanovic (19)

Game 26 – The Newman School (MA) 76 vs. Helsinki Basketball Academy (Finland) 50

Newman (76) – #10 Luka Toews (19), #0 Wyatt Nausadis (2), #2 Khalil Badru (11), #5 Kasean Shilingford (4), #13 Hudson Geremia (21), #12 Reggie Grodin (2), #34 Collins Onyejiaka (9), #23 Sam Morris (8)

Helsinki (50) – #37 Olavi Suutela (17), #3 Jalani Towa (10), #20 Kalle Kuhalampi (4), #8 Christian Blomfelt (5), #7 Jonas Kaivos (2), #19 Matias Karlin (5), #23 Samu Adler (7)

Game 27 – Brimmer and May (MA) vs. Lee Academy (Maine) 68

Brimmer (53) – #1 BJ Dawan-Abdullah (2), #3 Winston Legentus (31), ##4 Bryce Dortch (7), #10 Cole Gaffney (2), #11 Owen Haglund (4), #14 Ladanion Payne (3), #13 Cam Thornton (2), #30 Ryan Sserunkuma (2)

Lee Academy (68) – #1 Tyrell Green (8), #2 Landon Varos (2), #3 Drazen Sinigoj (9), #5 Wilbur Meija (11), #15 Jason Gibbs (6), #34 Amadou Doumbia (22), #40 Mamadou Kane (4). #10 Alec Mercer (3), #4 Noah Meyer (2),

Game 28 – South Kent School (CT) 65 vs. Great Futures Prep (WA) 57

South Kent (65) – #2 Luke Razi (1), #3 Oliver Jones (4), #13 Nate Guerengomba (14), #23 JoJo Wallace (19), #4 Kevin Odih (11), #5 Jacob Hogarth (8), #1 Badara Daakite (2), #21 Clemson Edomwonyi (3)

Great Futures (57) – #1 Ravjeet Randhawa (2), #2 Tait Spencer (27),  #3 Myles Moore (1), #4 Xavier Santana (8), #6 Lucius Fox (2), #12 Eesher Sarai (9), #35 Mouhammed Diao (8)

Game 29 – Bradford Christian Academy (MA) 77 vs. Macduffie School (MA) 55

Bradford Christian (69) – #2 Jayden Colon (10), #3 Antonio Pemberton (9), #4 Warren Keel Jr. (18), #5 Umari Seney (15), #7 Owen Crowley (4), #10 Sean Ngenga (3), #11 George Turkson (10), #14 Jordan Summer (1), #24 Kur Teng (1), #25 Anthony Troncellito (2), #15 Collin Charbanneau (5)

MacDuffie (55) – #1 Rayan Sablon (3),  #3 Tahlan Pettway (13), #5 Dayn Campbell (13), #10 Jake Lemelman (9), #11 Javon Perry (8), #32 Isaac Nyakundi (6), #23 Johnny Bol Akot (1), #24 Asiatic Allah (2)

Game 30 – St. Thomas More (CT) 60 vs. Drive Academy (Finland) 65

St. Thomas More (60) – #3 Shamiere Green (2), #5 Tyler Betsey (26), #10 Will Davies (2), #11 London Jemison (3), #12 Izaiah Pasha (10), #15 Roy Igbwe (1), #23 James LaFrance (8), #24 AJ Rodriguez (8)

Drive Academy (65) – #20 Tom Guma (3), #12 Nantii Ruuhilahti (6), #33 Okku Federiko (16), #51 Aaron Ekwere (8), #14 Abdullah Amzil (15), #25 Lual Machol (5), #32 Garang Machol (8), #1 George Vassilakis (2), #35 Brunel Medzou (2)

Most Outstanding Player

Warren Keel Jr. – Bradford Christian Academy

All Tournament Team

Winston Legentus – Brimmer and May School

Jovan Milicevic – Canyon International

Amer Ali – Canyon International

Jaylen Harrell – CATS Academy

Sekou Kourouma – Darrow School

Okku Federico – Drive Academy

Chris Jeffery – Mt Zion Academy

Eternity Eguagie -J Addison School

Tyler Betsey – St Thomas More

Luka Toews – The Newman School

This post was tagged as:

2024 national prep school invitational, 2024 NPSI, national prep school invitational, NPSI

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Texas Crumbles to UCF in the Second Half

by netscoutstestg
written by netscoutstestg

Austin, TX – The University of Texas took on Big 12 newcomers, the UCF Knights, Wednesday night at home. Texas looked as though they were on their way to a solid win with as much as a 15-point lead in the first frame. By halftime, the Longhorns were leading 44-32 thanks to the shooting of both Max Abmas (15 points) and Ithiel Horton (20 points).

The second half opened with two big alley-oop dunks from Dillon Mitchell which seemed to be the nail in the coffin for UCF. Instead, the Knights chipped away at the lead thanks to big time shots from Jaylin Sellers (24 points) and Shemarri Allen (17 points) to help UCF take the lead at with 7:21 remaining. The teams traded leads until the four-minute mark when Abmas hit a 3 to make it 68-67. Unfortunately, UCF took full control and didn’t let the Longhorns score until the game was out of hand and got a 77-71 comeback win.

UCF had five players in double-figures and were led by Sellers, off the bench with his 24 points and five rebounds. Sellers’ shooting provided a major spark. His three-point shooting as well as his mid-range game were crucial to keep the Longhorns from extending their lead. Sellers also hit all eight of his free throw attempts with four in the final minute to keep the lead. Sellers is a creative scorer and shooter, but has been inefficient as of late. The move to the bench allowed him to focus his energy on scoring instead of playmaking and it provided a huge boost to the Knights offense. For the Knights and Sellers sake, hopefully it is a permanent move.

Shemarri Allen had a complete game with 17 points (season high), seven assists, four rebounds and four steals. Especially in the second half, Shemarri seemed to have complete control of this game. Whether that was to hit a clutch shot, or make the right passing read, Allen seemed to always make the right decision. Allen also held his own with taking on the defensive assignment of guarding Abmas. With Sellers coming off the bench it put the ball more in Allen’s hands which led to a lot of good decisions. Hopefully this is a trend that continues.

While not contributing much on the offensive end. Ibrahima Diallo tonight protected the rim like his life depended on it. Diallo ended the night with three blocks (two in the second half) and deterred many shots to make the Longhorns’ lives difficult in the paint. Diallo had a clutch block in the final minute that solidified the win for the Knights. UCF will continue to be dominant in the paint as long as Diallo is there.

For the Longhorns, Horton was the leading scorer tonight with 20 points. This was a kind of homecoming game for him because he transferred from UCF this past season. Ithiel had his best game shooting 8-of-14 from the field and hit 40% of his three pointers. However, it was not enough to beat his former team. The move to the starting lineup does seem to open up the floor for others to operate in the paint. Abmas wasn’t as efficient as he usually is. He finished with 15 points but shot only 5-of-13 (38% FG) and 4-of-11 (36% 3FG). 36% on three isn’t terrible, but both Horton and Abmas couldn’t hit shots when it mattered most in the final four minutes.

Mitchell continues to provide efficient play within the Longhorn offense. Mitchell finished with 15 points, nine rebounds and two steals. Mitchell shot 6-of-9 from the field, mostly due to off ball cuts and drives to the rim. Mitchell is still struggling on his shot but did hit an impressive turnaround midrange in the second half that is encouraging. Though the Longhorns lost, Mitchell continues to provide great minutes.

Overall the UCF Knights have earned some huge wins in the Big 12 conference proving that they belong. The Knights will look to build on this win against #5-ranked on January 20th. Meanwhile Texas has been on a bit of a tail spin and will look to stop the slide against the #9-ranked Baylor Bears, also on the 20th.

This article was written by Matthew Lawyer, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Facebook, or on twitter.

We are looking for those interested in our basketball scout apprenticeship program. For information contact us and forward your resume.

Faried Leads Mexico City Past G-League Ignite

by netscoutstestg
written by netscoutstestg

Henderson, NV – The G League Ignite took on the Mexico City Capitanes Wednesday night at Dollar Loan Center, their sixth straight game at home. The Ignite rested projected lottery pick Matas Buzelis and were without Efe Abogidi, Eric Mika and Isaiah Todd due to injury/illness. The Capitanes were without one of their top scorers in Alexey Borges (12.0 PPG) due to a foot injury. Mexico City would prevail in what was a back-and-forth affair for most of the game, 106-100.

The Ignite got off to a solid start behind Izan Almansa scoring eight of the first Ignite’s points and holding a 31-24 lead after the first quarter. The Capitanes would never have a lead bigger than three points but would hold a 51-49 lead at halftime. Former Oregon State guard Ethan Thompson had 17 points in the first half (7-11 FG, 1-2 3PT, 2-2 FT) and NBA veteran Kenneth Faried’s 11 rebounds would help the Capitanes build a double-digit point advantage in the paint, 36-24.

The second half went back and forth until the Capitanes built a 65-54 lead in the third quarter to pull away. They would largely keep a double-digit lead late into the fourth quarter until the Ignite got it to single digits. Thompson would cool down only scoring four points in the second half, but former Hofstra guard Justin Wright-Foreman would heat up and finish with 19 points on 9-of-18 shooting along with a team-high five assists.

Kenneth Faried was the story of the game, as the former NBA veteran finished two points shy of a 20-20 game. Faried had nearly half of New Mexico’s 46 rebounds with 21 (including seven offensive) and was a big reason why his team had a massive advantage in points in the paint – 80-48. He was constantly beating Ignite players to positions to rebound and helped Mexico City gain extra possessions or push the ball in transition. The Capitanes needed every one of them, as they shot a ghastly 2-of-18 from beyond the arc. Between their missing players and there not being enough time remaining for the Ignite mount a comeback, Mexico City would hold on to win.

Almansa in particular was impressive and stood out. He set solid screens, freeing himself to roll to the basket for an easy layup or a lob. Almansa also showcased his post game, backing down multiple defenders Mexico City threw at him and going up-and-under, around or through his defender. Almansa would finish with 22 points on a very efficient 8-of-10 shooting (3-3 FT) and six rebounds, but was often beat trying to go for a rebound, a good chunk of which went to Faried.

Almansa had a solid performance, but Ron Holland was the Ignite’s best player. He had a team-high 24 points (8-18 FG, 1-2 3PT, 6-8 FT) to go along with six rebounds, two assists, four steals and two blocks. While he stuffed the stat sheet, Holland easily could have had more in the defensive stat categories, as he was constantly bothering whoever was in front of him, guarding just about every player and position on the floor. Even if he turned the ball over, he did not give up on the play, hustling back to try to force a turnover or block the shot.

These two teams will face off against each other on Friday again at Dollar Loan Center at 7 p.m. local time.

This article was written by Mason McFee, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Facebook, or on twitter.

We are looking for those interested in our basketball scout apprenticeship program. For information contact us and forward your resume.

Maryland Gets Past Michigan with Second Half Surge

by netscoutstestg
written by netscoutstestg

College Park, MD – Maryland came into this game trying to extend Michigan’s losing streak to five games. Both teams had the same 1-3 record in Big 10 conference play as they looked to improve their place in the standings. This game started off slow in the first half with both teams struggling to get much going offensively. Michigan was up 33-21 at halftime led by senior forwards Olivier Nkamhoua and Terrance Williams II who finished the game with a combined 28 points. The Terps missed a whopping ten threes in the first half but made six in the second half which gave them the lead. Maryland’s Donta Scott scored 20 points in the second half including four shots from downtown. Julian Reese finished the game with 14 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks as he made a strong defensive impact on this game. The Terps outscored the Wolverines 43-24 in the second half and held on to win, 64-57.

Maryland’s senior forward Scott finished the game with 22 points and four rebounds. He only made one basket in the first half but knocked down some key threes in the second. Scott is somewhat polarizing because of his inconsistency but his talent is unmistakable. He had a posterizing dunk in the beginning of the game, a precursor to his big night. Scott went quiet until the second half when he knocked down several threes within a few minutes. One of his 3-pointers was scored with 7:56 remaining in the second half to give Maryland its first lead. Scott added another 3-pointer on their next possession for his fourth that put the Terps in the lead. He played with poise getting the defense to commit, making good cuts and screens. Scott cemented himself in the top 10 of 3-point scorers in the school’s history.

Reese had a very good game finishing with his seventh double-double of the year and added five blocks and three steals to his stat line. Two of those blocks came in the final minute, with 23.2 seconds left. Reese, a 58.6% free-throw shooter who had made just two of six from the stripe, sank two free throws for a 62-57 lead. He was an excellent rim protector this game and got easier looks in the paint when the Terps went over the top to feed him in the post. He didn’t play perfectly but did have an overall impact on both sides of the floor.

Michigan’s Nkamhoua scored 18 points, seven boards and two assists and looked good from opening tip. He has nice size and shooting stroke from the floor. He was very active on the glass and kept the Wolverines afloat along with Terrance Williams who finished with 10 points and two rebounds. He also has a nice shot but often stayed on the wing when he should have been more aggressive. Maryland’s defense did make him uncomfortable going in the lane where he’s going to have to win more of his iso match-ups.

The Terps are now 25-2 at home dating back to last season and look to win against Illinois, while Michigan, still reeling from five straight losses, go up against Ohio State next. Maryland is now 10-6 on the year and Michigan is 6-10.

This article was written by Kenneth Moore, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Facebook, or on twitter.

We are looking for those interested in our basketball scout apprenticeship program. For information contact us and forward your resume.

Austin Spurs Nip G-League Ignite

by netscoutstestg
written by netscoutstestg

Henderson, NV – The G League Ignite took on the Austin Spurs Tuesday night at the Dollar Loan Center. The Ignite were without two of their top players – Izan Almansa was out with an illness and Ron Holland was rested – as the Ignite lost a heartbreaking 105-104 contest. The Spurs were without Dominick Barlow and Mamadi Diakite, who are with Austin’s parent club, the San Antonio Spurs.

The Ignite missed Holland and Almansa’s presence in the paint, as the Spurs nearly doubled the home team in points in the paint (30-16) and were dominant on the boards (28-17 edge, 11 offensive). The Ignite were able to counteract that with some hot shooting from beyond the arc (8-18, 44.4%) and solid shooting from the floor (21-41, 51.2%). The Spurs could not get out of their own way, turning the ball over 10 times and committing 12 fouls compared to the Ignite’s six in each category. Austin would pull down two offensive rebounds and former West Virginia guard Erik Stevenson would hit a three to cut the Ignite’s lead to just five with 3:06 remaining in the first half, but the home team would have a 56-49 lead at half.

The second half was a different story for the Spurs, who would cut the deficit to four points with 6:24 to go in the third quarter. Stevenson would score 10 of his 24 points in the quarter, including multiple three-pointers to keep Austin in it. Austin would never have a lead bigger than four points, but all they needed was one more point at the end.

However, two technical fouls – one on Spurs’ head coach Will Voigt and the other on former Fresno State guard Paul Watson Jr. – would halt the Spurs’ momentum. The Ignite would convert both of the free throws for four points and hold onto their decreasing lead each time.

Stevenson kept Austin in it, but it was former Florida State forward RaiQuan Gray who was consistent all game for the Spurs, including the go-ahead basket with six seconds left. Gray would finish with a team-high 28 points and nine rebounds to go along with five steals and four blocks. Julian Washburn (12 points) and Yauhen Massalski (10 points) were the other Spurs players to finish in double figures.

Gray in particular was very impressive, providing timely bucket after timely bucket and scoring from all over the floor. At 6’7” and 269 lbs., he used every bit of his size to bully his way into the paint, making whoever the Ignite threw at him look small.

For the Ignite, five players finished in double figures – projected first round picks Matas Buzelis and Tyler Smith, former Washington State forward Will Davis, former NBA veteran John Jenkins and former Gonzaga guard Admon Gilder. Jenkins was tied for the team lead in points with 19, but it was Buzelis who really shone. Buzelis would finish with a game-high 15 rebounds to go along with two blocks, constantly rotating to provide help-side defense along with looking to push the ball in transition. Buzelis was also tied for the most made free throws in the game with Austin’s Stevenson with four.

Former NBA champion Norris Cole was a steadying presence for the Ignite, finishing with eight assists when the Ignite needed them most.

The Ignite are right back at it at home tomorrow, same start time – 7 p.m. PST – this time against the Iowa Wolves. The Spurs don’t play again until Friday and will take on the Sioux Falls Skyforce at the Sanford Pentagon at 8 p.m. EST.

This article was written by Mason McFee, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Facebook, or on twitter.

We are looking for those interested in our basketball scout apprenticeship program. For information contact us and forward your resume.

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