Connecticut Recruiting, DePaul Recruiting, Matt Whitfield, Providence Recruiting, Rutgers Recruiting, Seton Hall Recruiting, St. John's Recruiting, Syracuse Recruiting, Villanova Recruiting, West Virginia Recruiting

JORDAN BRAND CLASSIC GAME REVIEWS

by Matt Whitfield

Russell Smith had 21 of his team-high 27 points in the 2nd half, while James Stukes, Sean Johnson and Omari Lawrence each hit for 10 points or more apiece after intermission to lead the City Team to a 129-120 victory over their Suburban counterparts.

In a game that was deadlocked at 53-all at halftime, the City Team proved to just be too much with balanced scoring, as seven players hitting for double digits.

Smith led the City Team with 27 points, splitting the co-MVP honors with Brandon Triche who had a game-high 33 points for the Suburban team.

Lawrence, bound for St. John’s, finished with 25 playing on his future college home court. Stukes (24 points) and Johnson (23 points) were also impressive. Stukes is expected to be a teammate of Smith next season at South Kent (CT) Prep, where Lawrence and Kevin Parrom played this past season. Stukes is likely to see quite a bump in recruiting interest with another year of AAU ball.

Smith told NBE following the game he already has several scholarship offers, including Providence, St. John’s, DePaul and Rutgers with interest from Seton Hall. Others such as USC, Iona, South Carolina and Tennessee are also involved.

Besides the 33 points from Triche, the Suburbs got 18 from Tamir Jackson, 17 from Lance Brown and 15 from Karon Abraham.

In a game that was less spectacular than the lineup the visiting Black Team led by DeMarcus Cousins, Derrick Favors, and Avery Bradley easily out played the White Team in the main event Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. Favors and Cousins had already hit for a combined 21 points by halftime, while not one single player on the White Team had hit even above ten points, as their team trailed by ten at the half.

The White Team’s Renardo Sidney came out firing after the half scoring 13 of his 15 points, but the Black Team with was not to be out done as mega-recruits Favors and Cousins led the team to an easy 110-103 victory.

Favors and Sidney would split the MVP honors in this game. Favors finished with 21 points and 5 rebounds, while Sidney finished with 15 points and 7 rebounds.

Here are some player notes and observations from the game:

Dan Jennings
Has great size already, looks like he already belongs in a college uniform. Uses size effectively under the boards. Adequate speed and defense. Had several dunks and blocks in the game. Will be known next year in Morgantown, and eventually by the entire Big East. Finished with 12 points and 5 rebounds in the City/Suburban game and is headed for West Virginia.

Omari Lawrence
Adequate speed and size. Nice looking dunk off a pass from Russ Smith in the 2nd half. Finished with 25 points and 5 rebounds.

Austin Johnson
Slightly above average size for an incoming freshman with a good frame to build upon. Adequate free throw shooting. The Rutgers-bound forward finished with 13 points and 6 rebounds.

Brandon Triche
Syracuse is getting a true PG as Triche can find the open man or drive it to the hoop penetrating with ease. Good speed and size. Had a sweet looking three-point play in the second half where he spun by several defenders for an and-one lay-up. Will hold his own next year. Finished with a game high 33 points and Co-MVP honors.

“Obviously it’s gonna be a lot of pressure, but I think I can handle it,” he said as Brandon Triche is Next in Line at SU. “[I’m] working out everyday just to preparing myself for it. So I think I can come in and be an impact player.”

Triche plans on arriving for second semester of summer school, after graduating June 29th and thus arriving on campus around July 2nd.

Mouphtau Yarou
Not the best night for the Villanova-bound big man. Finished with only 3 points and 5 rebounds, due in part to being guarded heavily by future Big East foe Alex Oriakhi, as well as an event like this not always being kind to big men.

Alex Oriakhi
Physical specimen, looks as if he could have also played football in high school. Drives hard, yet is graceful with excellent footwork. Over-powered Yarou down low. This explosive McDonald’s All-American is very impressive, he will make an immediate impact in the Big East playing for Connecticut next year. Finished with 8 points and 6 rebounds.

Dominic Cheek
Had a nice looking follow-up dunk. Finished the game with a quiet 6 points and 5 rebounds, as this type of game does not play to the strengths of the Villanova-commit.

Jon Wall
Extremely fancy and fast with the ball in his hands. Hustles back on defense. Not an overly great looking physical specimen, but still shows flashes of brilliance. With under two minutes left had a nice looking tomahawk dunk, followed by a graceful looking lay-up blowing by several defenders, then following that up with an alley up to Yarou. If that wasn’t enough within several plays after that threw a no look 360 pass to Wally Judge for an easy basket. Not be the biggest, but is the games most electrifying player. Finished with 8 points and 6 assists. Indicated he will take a visit to Miami in the next week or so.

Derrick Favors
Acrobatic looking put in from Jordan Hamilton. Finished with a game-high 21 points, however his points came rather quietly as nine were made off of free throws.

DeMarcus Cousins
Had a nice looking running dunk near the 10 minute mark in the 2nd half, followed up many another dunk that pleased the crowd. Finished with 17 points and 7 rebounds.

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