Cincinnati, OH – In what is considered one of the best rivalries in college basketball, Xavier found a way to out play Cincinnati in a 65-55 win Saturday afternoon. This game was a case of who wanted it more and Xavier did early on by executing well in the first half in shooting fifty percent from the field. They capitalized on a big three from Myles Davis who shot it past NBA range. They led 42- 26 at the half, but Cincinnati fought back and got on a 10-0 run to start the second half. The game was over when freshman Edmond Sumner had a driving dunk and Jalen Reynolds had back-to-back hook shots that put Xavier up for good.
The key players for this game were Sumner, Reynolds, Davis and James Farr for Xavier and Cincinnati’s Troy Caupain.
Sumner was easy the most impressive player on the court because of his speed, explosiveness and height and reach. As a redshirt freshman who missed last season with a knee injury, he has come into this season with impressive skill. He has an explosive ability that is hard to replicate and has good height at 6’5. He shows that size in attacking the lane and be able to find teammates or even hit shots inside. His huge dunk for this game brought the house down when Cincinnati was building some momentum. He is the most important player for Xavier to keep improving if they want to make a deep tournament run. He is skinny now, but with some weight added to him has a good to great upside.
Jalen Reynolds
Reynolds and Farr and very similar players, except one plays with his will and other his skill. Reynolds plays with so much emotion that he does not give up on any play and is a plus. That is shown by how his teammates react when he makes that type of play. He also has a impressive post game at times such as a back hook shot that is hard to defend. He also stays active on defense and makes it hard for defenders to score on him with blocked shots, forced shots, steals or passes.
Farr has improved a ton by increasing his point, rebounds, blocks, and most impressively free throw percentage from 47 percent to 82 percent so far this season. This was done by a work ethic you can see from the court and a high basketball IQ. He stays active on defense and has a nice jumper with a solid post game. He has a nice spin back move down there and understands where he has to go to help his team out. He’s not as athletic as Reynolds but makes it up with his hustle and skill.
Davis led the game with 17 points and knows how to pick his spot. He can shoot the three well and can get to a spot where his teammates find him. He can get to the rim and hit a jumper or layup and plays solid defense. He shoots mostly good shots and helps the team with his good passing ability. His passing ability is his best because he knows where to put the ball most of the time. Also with a solid handle, he does not commit many turnovers.
Caupain has the ability to shoot the three and pass the ball well. When he takes his time with his form he can hit his shot, but can rush his form and force the ball a little. He also has the a good passing trait to his game. Whether it’s shooter or Ellis inside, Caupain will find them. He can also score from other areas of the court as well and can get a streak going when he feels it.
This article was written by George Kallis, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You can subscribe to our RSS feed from the upper right corner of our home page, follow us on Facebook, or on twitter.
Any international players interested in coming to the USA to play in college, prep school or high school can contact us here. We are looking for interns and sales associates. If you’re interested contact us and forward your resume.
