Portland recruiting

HOOPHALL CLASSIC 2012: MONDAY RECAP

By Brian Bosworth, National Recruiting Analyst

The 2012 Hoophall Classic came to a close on Monday highlighted by four national games all broadcast live on national television. Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski and Kentucky front man John Calipari were front and center all day each flagged by two assistants. They were joined by a host of other coaches all trying to make an impression on the many uncommitted talents in action. While Shabazz Muhammad, Jabari Parker, Tony Parker, and others were the focus of these coaches, a senior guard who has already made his college decision stole the show and he receives top billing today.

Top Performer:

Katin Reinhardt (Mater Dei 2012) – signed with UNLV – After watching Reinhardt for a week at the City of Palms in Florida last month I came away seriously underwhelmed. He struck me as a player that forced shots, was careless with the ball, and cared more about making the flashy play than the right play. After dropping 35 points on a Hoophall Classic record tying nine three-pointers it’s safe to say he has changed my mind. Reinhardt got in the flow early with an easy dunk and once he found a rhythm the shots just kept falling and falling. Equally adapt off the catch or the dribble he made shots from well beyond the college 3 point line and was able to get enough elevation on his shot to make them over defenders. Not exclusively a shooter (although it was clearly his calling card today) Reinhardt used a low, tight crossover to get in the lane and finished a pair of floaters over help defenders. He also showed passion and aggression on the defensive end forcing Uconn commit Omar Calhoun into a miserable 6-22 shooting day. For now I’m willing to label Reinhardt a streaky shooter that has the ability to single handedly take over a game when he’s on a hot streak. If he can string together consistent performances like today’s I’ll be forced to simply label him a great shooter.
Read more

NIKE EYBL PEACH JAM: DAY THREE

BY JEFF BORZELLO

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. – If Tuesday was the day when the stars came out, with big-time performances from Mike Gilchrist, Anthony Davis, Austin Rivers, Marquis Teague and Brad Beal, Wednesday was the time to showcase some lesser-known talents from the class of 2012. There were only four sessions of U-17 games, with four sessions of U-16 contests. The playoffs also kicked off during the night session for each age group, with Team Takeover, BABC, St. Louis Eagles and Spiece – the group winners – advancing to play Metro Hawks, Team Final, Oakland Soldiers and Boo Williams, the runners-up in each group. In U-16, group winners Team Takeover, Georgia Stars, BABC and Memphis YOMCA squared off. With the night session featuring all playoff games, the semifinals in U-17 and finals in U-16 are set for tomorrow. Thursday will see Team Takeover take on Team Final and the St. Louis Eagles face Spiece in U-17 action, while BABC and Georgia Stars battle for the U-16 title.

You can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to read more of our coverage from North Augusta (SC) and the Nike EYBL Peach Jam’s third day of action as 18 more players update NBE on their recruitment and additional player evals are posted. Also, any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage is available to subscribers.

Read more

JUNE 17 RECRUITING NOTEBOOK: WINSTON SHEPARD HAS TOP 8

Another round of updates from the class of 2012 as coaches calls continue to pour in

BY JEFF BORZELLO

Outside of the early and late signing periods, and the “live” July recruiting period, June 15 and the days following it might be some of the busiest days in the recruiting world. It is when college coaches are allowed to officially contact rising high school juniors, and offers begin to roll in across the country. Coaches are allowed to call prospects in the class of 2012 once per month over the next year, beginning on 6/15. Next summer the allotted amount rises to twice per week per institution. NBE Basketball Report has been on top of all the news of the past couple of days, and here is another look at some more 2012 prospects and their newest recruiting updates.

You can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to read news and notes on Winston Shepard, Michael Carey, Derrick Wood, Perry Ellis, Jordan Tebbutt and Derrick Stewart. Also, any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage is available to subscribers and detailed below is our coverage schedule for the next month.

Read more

JUNE 15 RECRUITING NOTEBOOK (UPDATED)

BY JEFF BORZELLO/NBE STAFF

With June 15 as the first day that college coaching staffs could officially offer players in the class of 2012, or reach out to them directly, there was plenty of buzz surrounding many of the top prospects in the country.

Coaches hit the phones early and often, beginning at 12:01 a.m. last night in some cases, and kept the contact going throughout the day. As a result, here at the NBE Basketball Report, we spoke to various players and sources to get a handle on which schools are working at them the hardest.

You can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to read news and notes on the contact received by Perry Ellis yesterday as well as Jordan Tebutt, Xavier Johnson, Tariq Carey, Nkereuwem Okoro and more. Also notes on a few West Virginia targets that emerged on the 15th. Also, any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage is available to subscribers and detailed below is our coverage schedule for the next month.

Read more

RECRUITMENT OF KYLE WILTJER STRETCHING FAR AND WIDE

West coast big man in 2011 class has colleges from coast-to-coast and North and South on his trail

BY JEFF BORZELLO

When you think of combo forwards from Oregon with the first name of Kyle that can score inside and also hit perimeter shots, the player that immediately comes to mind is Duke’s Kyle Singler.

Well, there might be another name to add to that list: Kyle Wiltjer.

The 6-foot-9 Wiltjer is one of the top forwards in the class of 2011, and the student of the game is studying many players at the next level to improve his skills.

“I watch versatile big men,” Wiltjer said Thursday night. “I don’t really focus on one person, I want to be a combo of all of them. I like Kevin Garnett, Pau Gasol, Kevin Durant, Carmelo [Anthony].”

Not surprisingly, a player with his all-around talent is garnering plenty of college interest from a long and winding list of schools.

You can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to read more on Wiltjer and his recruitment as one of the top big men in the 2011 class, as well as any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage.

Read more