Portland, OR – The No. 15-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs marched into the Chiles Center contest to do battle with conference foe Portland. The Bulldogs took care of business in methodical fashion, not expending anymore extra energy than needed to win the game 95-79. Gonzaga’s size, strength, speed, athleticism, and length prove to be huge tasks for the young Pilots to overcome. The Pilots did show fight, nonetheless they never led in the game, and were only within seven points early into the game.
For Portland, 6-2 freshman PG Marcus Shaver Jr. has a very bright upside. In a losing battle, he scored 16 points with two assists, one block, and one steal. Shaver Jr. is very talented taking the ball to the basket, using his penetration skills comprised of ball handling, quickness, and a very explosive first step to elusively get around defenders. He has good bounce off the floor on his jump shots, and can knock down the three ball. As he grows and matures with experience, along with developing a soft touch finish in the paint he will become one of WCC’s finest in upcoming seasons.
For Gonzaga, 6-4 senior guard Silas Melson, a Portland native, played a very solid game in front of his homecoming crowd as he scored 14-points (3-5 3PT), grabbed three rebounds, and dished off six assists with zero turnovers. Melson is a very good athlete who runs the floor well, and is a very tenacious defender who has good lateral footwork and recovery speed versus pick-n-roll sets. He has a decent jump shot with long range, and is nearly automatic at the free line shooting 90 percent on the season. He’s a potential international prospect. 6-6 freshman forward Corey Kispert is a very interesting and talented wing, combo guard type with a very high motor. He contributed a double-double in 23 minutes, swishing in 23 points on 8-of-16 FG’s and added ten rebounds, two assists and one block. He’s a good athlete and leaper who runs lanes well and plays really hard. He’s a shooter with good a soft touch, good form, rhythm, and back spin.
6-10 sophomore forward Killian Tillie had 27 points on 11-of-14 FG, 1-of-2 3PT, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals. The talented Tillie displayed why his talents are luring in many NBA franchises with his great attitude and feel for the game. He has a very high IQ and combination skill set from the wing and post positions. He’s a multitalented inside/outside player who runs the floor well, and has a very soft shooting touch with good fundamentals, technique, and backspin. He is very unique and talented in the pick-n-roll sets, as he has to the touch and skill set to finish all the plays from anywhere on the floor, even at the rim for athletic emphatic dunks.
Interesting Stats:
- Gonzaga led 38:39 of game
- Rebounds: Gonzaga 40 – Portland 25
- Points in the Paint: Gonzaga 40 – Portland 18
- 2nd Chance points: Gonzaga 19 – Portland 3
Portland (8-14, 2-7) visits St .Mary’s (20-2, 9-0) on Saturday night.
This article was written by Lorenzo Leaks, 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 certification program. For information contact us and forward your resume.
