Connecticut Recruiting, DePaul Recruiting, Doug Ferguson, Louisville Recruiting, Marquette Recruiting, Notre Dame Recruiting, Villanova Recruiting

2009 STATE FARM TOC RECAP

by DOUG FERGUSON

The fourth annual State Farm Tournament of Champions was a 5-day event that took place this past Thanksgiving weekend. Most of the tournament action took place at Washington Community High School in Peoria (IL) with Illinois Central College also hosting games from four separate national high school and prep school basketball challenges. The main attraction was the Team Works National Classic that featured the nation’s #1 prep powerhouse Findlay Prep. Findlay took on all comers in the four team bracket, which was rounded out with IMG Academy, Brehm Prep and Winston Salem QEA.

Below is a recap of the top 10 players who impressed NBE in the event and some recruiting tidbits as well.

1) Corey Joseph

Joseph can get his shot off at will and over any defender no matter the size. The 6-foot-3, uncommitted 2010 point guard is so explosive…I saw him go from end to end to beat the buzzer twice in under 4 seconds. Had 16 points and 6 assists in Thursday’s 81-37 win over IMG. Followed that up with 21 in a 74-59 win over Brehm Prep on Friday.
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2) Tristan Thompson

Thompson and Joseph are a great example to the rise of Canadian basketball (both Toronto natives). Thompson, a Texas commit for some time now, is still a bit raw offensively but the 6-foot-9, 240-lb senior (2010) has incredible physical gifts which more than make up for it. By far the most explosive athlete at the event, Thompson had 17 points and 11 rebounds in the win over IMG and 18 and 11 against Brehm
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3) Stargell Love

A very strong combo guard who makes plays in transition look easy turning the and-1 into an art form. He also has a very above average outside shot. Outplayed his more hyped teammate Quincy Miller in the two games I saw, including a 25-point performance in Thursday’s overtime win for W-S QEA over Brehm. The 6-foot-2 senior (2010) guard scored 17 in the 75-35 win over IMG on Friday.
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4) Dwight Powell

I felt very sorry for Powell who was a one man team playing against superior competition. If he had played for Findlay or QEA he may have been rated a little higher. The Stanford recruit displayed a very good inside-outside game despite being triple teamed an awful lot. The 6-foot-9, 215-lb PF/C is also very unselfish even though sometimes its probably unwarranted. Scored 14 points against Findlay and had 16 points and 12 rebounds against QEA.
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5) Jabari Brown

Brown made a big impression on me with his ability to shoot, and when I say shoot I mean from deep. I found myself saying “left the wrong guy open” 5 or 6 times a game and I was right just about every one. The 6-foot-3 junior (2011) for Findlay Prep works well with the penetration skills of Corey Joseph finding open spots on the perimeter.
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6) Mike Shaw

Heavy on Louisville fan’s radar, the class of 2011 forward was a lot like Powell in that his team didn’t play well either. Shaw didn’t score a lot either but he continues to work on what I have seen improvement all summer long on, DEFENSE. He had 10 points, 7 rebounds and 6 blocks in a Saturday morning loss against Lake Forest Academy in the National City Invitational portion of the event. He had 12 points and 8 rebounds in Friday’s loss to St. Louis Soldan.
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7) Quincy Miller

Miller would probably be the highest prospect on some people’s list but he didn’t play well at times. Clearly the 6-foot-8, 195-lb junior (2011) has all the tools athletically with a body that is already identical to Kevin Durant, he also just as clearly needs to be more assertive offensively and add strength to the frame. He had 15 pts, 12 rbs and 6 blks in the win over Brehm Prep and 16 against IMG.
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8} James Siakam

Siakam is interesting because the 6-foot-6 junior (2011) for Brehm Prep has just about everyone in the world looking at him. And because he plays like an absolute beast, taking rebounds from Quincy Miller and Tristan Thompson. He is so strong but he doesn’t have a lot of height or length. He also has a very undeveloped offensive game. Prep school can help that but nothing can make him grow.
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9) Bruce Barron

Before coming to Brehm Prep, Barron played the 4 and 5 at his old school despite being just 6-4. Now that the 2011 prospect is at Prep School he can finally play guard but he seems to have gotten a toughness most guards don’t have while playing with the big boys. Barron is a tenacious defender at either guard spot and is also the clear leader emotionally of the Brehm team.
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10) Dre Henley

Didn’t play much for Brehm in the first 2 games but when he did he locked up Quincy Miller and Nick Johnson defensively. No small task for someone whose knock has been defense. He put up 22 in Brehm’s last game when he got some real minutes. The 2011 prospect is the most gifted player on the Brehm team, a threat for a triple-double in any game.
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RECRUITING NOTES:

Cory Joseph, one of the several elite 2010 prospects nationally planning to sign in April, confirmed a final five of Minnesota, Texas, Connecticut, Villanova and UNLV.

“Jay Wright is an unbelievable coach,” said Joseph when asked about ‘Nova. He also talked about the four guard line-up and the system Wright uses with the Wildcats pushing the basketball as reasons they are high on his list.

With UConn, Joseph mentioned the track record of producing NBA players and how much he liked the players on his unofficial visit. “Coach Calhoun is a Hall of Fame coach,” Joseph added.

Joseph listed style of play, relationship with the coaching staff and the best opportunity for him with what players are coming in and going out of the program as important factors in his decision.
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Joseph’s backcourt mate, class of 2011 prospect Jabari Brown, has a current list of Arizona, California, Washington, Wake Forest, Arizona State, Stanford, Notre Dame, Maryland, Miami, Marquette, Oregon State and UNLV.
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Mike Shaw maintained that he and Mac Irvin Fire teammate Wayne Blackshear are still a package deal in the class of 2011. In addition to Louisville, Texas, Illinois, Kansas and others, Shaw mentioned Michigan State, Florida and Tennessee this weekend. Shaw and Blackshear have visited Louisville together and both were in attendance for ‘Blue Madness’ at DePaul in October.
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A few schools mentioned in connection with Stargell Love included Marquette, Florida and Baylor.
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Bruce Barron attended Midnight Madness back in October at Oklahoma State. It was also learned this weekend that Boston College, Florida State, Illinois and Arkansas were among the schools putting in early inquiries into the 2011 Brehm Prep guard.

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