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2011 ORLANDO AAU UPDATE (PART 5): CHAMPIONSHIP DAY FOR 17U SUPER SHOWCASE AHEAD

By Alex Schwartz

It is championship day at the 17U AAU Super Showcase in Orlando on Wednesday afternoon. At noon, Team Takeover DC will meet the Houston Defenders in one semifinal match-up while BABC will take on Hoop Heaven Elite at 3 PM in the other semifinal. The winners will meet in the Showcase ttile game scheduled for 7 PM and it will be televised by ESPNUI.

Last night ESPNU had a made-for-TV ‘highlight’ game in Orlando putting Texas PRO and the Georgia Stars on display for television viewers. NBE caught up with some of the top names from the highlight game, including Alex Poythress, Danuel House and Danrad ‘Chicken’ Knowles, to get the latest in their recruitment. Also a pair of 2013 guards, Stephen Vasturia and Allerick Freeman, are profiled in today’s report…

It is tough to label Stephen Vasturia as a point guard or a shooting guard. Vasturia, who is pushing 6-foot-4, is a very good long range shooter with nice form on his jumper and he can also hit shots from midrange. In addition, the St. Joseph’s Prep HS standout from Philadelphia has a quality handle to go along with superb court vision, passing ability, feel for the game, and basketball IQ. He needs to become a bit more consistent with his outside shot and continue to improve defensively.

On Tuesday afternoon Vasturia drew a strong crowd of interested onlooked as Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey was watching along with two of his assistants. Also Syracuse, Seton Hall and Villanova were represented in the crowd with members of their assistant coaching staffs.
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Charlotte (NC) native Allerik Freeman is one of the most highly recruited players in the Class of 2013. In Orlando his school list certainly backs that up as he provided a long offer list yesterday that included Virginia, Virginia Tech, North Carolina State, Miami, Baylor, Oklahoma, Kansas State, Texas, Villanova, Georgetown, Xavier, Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina, and others. The four schools recruiting him who have yet to offer are Syracuse, Kansas, North Carolina, and Kentucky.

Freeman has no favorites at this point and said, “Everything about even right now . . . everything still wide open.”

He has taken visits to Virginia Tech, Baylor and South Carolina already and is planning trips to North Carolina State, Florida, Georgetown and Villanova.

“I know NC State and Florida probably [will be] during football season,” Freeman said. “Georgetown, Villanova probably in October.”
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Danrad ‘Chicken’ Knowles is quite an intriguing prospect. Although by no means at the same level, the 6-foot-10 SF/PF is similar to Kevin Durant in some ways due to his thin build, length and ability to connect from 3-point land. Knowles is certainly not as skilled as Durant and has a long way to go in his development, but there is no questioning his talent. He is a major mismatch who can come down low and score around the basket and as aforementioned hit from deep. He is crafty around the cup, rebounds fairly well and can block shots. He does need to add bulk to his frame, become a more consistent shooter and get even more comfortable on the low blocks.

Arkansas, Missouri, Texas, Baylor, Houston and South Florida were the schools listed by Knowles. He noted that other schools that he could not recall off the top of his head are involved as well.

Knowles said that Houston, Missouri and Baylor as his favorites. Two of those schools, Houston and Baylor, are the ones he said are coming at him the hardest.

The only school Knowles has visited thus far is Baylor, a trip that came not long before the first July Live period. He does not have any other trips planned.

Knowles, who does not have a timetable, said of whether he would like to remain in-state for college, “It doesn’t really matter as long as I get a chance to play and develop.”
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Pushing 6-foot-7. Texas PRO small forward Danuel House has good size on the wing to go along with big-time athleticism. A high flyer, House is an explosive finisher at the rim who can produce highlight reel dunks. He has good length and a strong build. House can connect from long range, though he is not the most consistent shooter. He handles the ball well and gets to the rim off the bounce. He has a good motor and could become a superb perimeter defender if he works at it. House was one of the spring’s biggest stock boosters and his development is by no means finished.

House listed offers from Baylor, Texas, Louisville, Cal, Colorado, Missouri, Vanderbilt, Houston, TCU, South Carolina and USC. “That’s the ones that [are] involved the most,” House said.

He said he does not have any favorites and has only taken visits to Houston and Baylor. House has no other trips planned.

Baylor, Texas, Houston, Vanderbilt, Missouri, Cal and Louisville are the schools House said are coming after him the hardest.

“Basketball season, November maybe,” House said of when he will make his decision, noting that he “might sign early.”
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Alex Poythress needs to be more consistent from game to game, but the 6-foot-8 power forward has shown to be a big-time talent playing with the Georgia Stars this summer and last night that talent was on full display. He is a tough kid who plays through injuries and goes hard when he steps on the court. He has major ability to get to the basket off the bounce and can really take advantage of slower, larger four men. He handles the ball well for his position and has superb hands. Poythress knows how to score the ball and can even step out and hit shot from beyond the arc. A quality defender who is also capable of playing the three if needed, Poythress is a smart player who understands the game. It would serve him well to be more vocal on the court and command the ball when he is not getting touches.

Poythress mentioned last night Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Florida, Memphis, Louisville, Alabama, Ohio State, Connecticut, Texas and Duke as the schools he is considering and he will be working with his family to narrow that done in the very near future.

As for when he will actually cut his list, Poythress said, “After Nationals I’ll talk to my parents.”

His on the court performance last night impressed many and it led to the final school on his list to offer that had not previously.

“They offered last night,” Poythress told NBE via text this morning, confirming the reports of a Duke offer.

His list will include five schools and he does not know any of them for sure yet.

Poythress has taken visits to Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Memphis thus far. He said he will take trips to the five finalists.

Location will not be a factor for Poythress, who does not have a commitment timetable. However, he said, “Academics will be big.”

On who is recruiting him the hardest: “Probably Kentucky, Memphis, Vanderbilt and Florida.”