Portland, OR – The World Team will be seeking an unprecedented third straight victory in the Nike Hoop Summit which will be held tonight at the Moda Center.
Several players from the World Select Team impressed at the practices this week leading up to tonight’s game. Here’s our analysis:
Clint Capela, F/C – Switzerland: Capela was inconsistent through the practice sessions but there’s no doubting his athleticism and potential. Projected as a possible late lottery pick in the 2014 NBA draft, Capela is long (7’4 1/2″ wingspan) and while relatively lean (222 pounds), he looks like he can add 10-15 pounds of strength. On defense he has excellent shot blocking ability due to his length and timing. He runs the floor very well and will finish in transition and seems to be a solid offensive rebounder.
Emmanuel Mudiay, PG – DR of Congo: A big (6’5), athletic point, Mudiay. played at Prime Prep Academy (TX) and is ranked No. 5 in the 2014 class by ESPN. He will play at SMU and will help Larry Brown’s squad to a Top 25 ranking and a likely NCAA bid next season. Mudiay will dominate his opponent physically as he will be bigger and stronger than most point guards. He’s very explosive and his shooting appears to have improved.
Karl Towns Jr, F/C – Dominican Republic: The 7-footer will help Kentucky get over the loss of Julius Randle and Willie Cauley-Stein. Towns has a standing reach of 9’5″ and can be a factor on defense. He is ranked No. 9 by ESPN and played in high school this season at St. Joseph’s (NJ). Towns has a tendency to float to the perimeter on offense as he has a nice shot with three-point range. However with his height and length he’ll likely be working on his inside game once he gets to Kentucky. Towns has size 21 feet and needs to be watching the three-point line when he steps out.
Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, SG – Ukraine: We scouted Mykhailiuk at the U16 European Championships last summer where he was one of the best players at the event while averaging over 25 ppg. He was a late addition to the World team and at the age of 16, is the youngest Hoop Summit participant. At 6’6″ he has excellent size for a shooting guard, has NBA range and above average athleticism. Mykhailiuk is by far the best shooter at the event on either team and intrigued NBA scouts and GM’s in attendance with his ability and potential.
Nikola Jokic, PF/C – Serbia: Jokic has an excellent physical profile at 6’11, 253 pound with a 7’3″ wingspan. He can score around the hoop with solid footwork and can rebound well. He’s playing his season with Mega Vizura in the Adriatic League where he’s shooting only 22 percent on three-pointers. Maybe he likes the baskets in Portland, but Jokic drained five three’s in one of the scrimmages and then buried 12 in a row in a shooting drill. He’s not the greatest athlete and needs to add definition to his body but is an intriguing prospect especially if he shows the ability to consistently score from outside. There was some talk about him declaring for the 2014 NBA draft.
Trey Lyles, PF – Canada: Lyles will be another solid addition to Kentucky’s frontcourt next season. Another player with a solid physical profile (6’10”, 250, 7’3 1/2″ wingspn), he’s not the greatest athlete but is quicker than he appears and understands the game very well. Lyles can score both inside and out and will be an immediate contributor for the Wildcats.
Damien Inglis, SG – France – Inglis may be this year’s Livio Jean-Charles. He has great size for a two guard (6’8 1/2″, 240, 7’3 wingspan). He’ll be able to defend well at an NBA level and is a good passer and rebounder. He’s shown decent shooting ability which he can still improve upon. Inglis came up through the national INSEP system in France and currently plays in France Pro “A” where he starts for Roanne.
Jamal Murray, PG – Canada: Murray hasn’t stood out at the practices but the 6’4 1/2″ point still has two years of high school left and plays with great poise. He was MVP of the 2013 Jordan Brand Classic International where we saw him dominate with 24 points, seven rebounds and two steals. He also played very well at the FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Uruguay last summer averaging 17.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game. Murray will be a top 2016 class recruit.
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