As the WNBA season enters its crucial second half, we sat down with Calvin Wetzel, renowned writer for CBS Sports and Her Hoops Stats, to discuss the upcoming playoffs and key storylines shaping the league. Wetzel breaks down the current standings and potential matchups, highlighting the Indiana Fever's recent surge and the Minnesota Lynx's impressive performance. He analyzes the top candidates for the WNBA Most Valuable Player award, considering factors such as scoring, rebounds, and overall team success, while also offering insights on the leading contenders for Rookie of the Year, examining their statistics and on-court contributions. Additionally, Wetzel shares his thoughts on the league's updated media rights deal and its potential impacts on viewership and revenue, and provides predictions on the ongoing Dearica Hamby lawsuit, discussing its implications for the league and player rights.

Hoopsology is presented by Ballislife.

Twitter:@hoopsologypod

Instagram:@hoopsologypod

Justin's Twitter: @JGHoopsology

Matt's Twitter: @thetrainerstake

The post The WNBA Playoff Picture, Caitlin Clark vs Angel Reese, Title Contenders, and more with Calvin Wetzel appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Here are some of the top stock-risers from the 2024 Cactus Classic:

Iyayi Osunde, 6’0, PG, Canyon International Academy (AZ), 2026
When you talk about players who helped themselves at the Cactus Classic, it starts and ends with Iyayi Osunde. The Canadian guard is an insanely special finisher, can get to the rack at will, and has constantly grown over the years. Running with AZ Unity, Osunde is definitely a player who will break out on the 2024 EYBL circuit.

Tarik Watson, 6’8, PF/C, Hillcrest Prep (AZ), 2024
One of the most productive bigs at the Cactus Classic, Tarik Watson brought his upstate New York style of play for Hillcrest Prep. Watson was outstanding rebounding outside of his area, can play make from the post, and imposes his will on others defensively with his physical style of play. The high academic big has been hearing most from Northwestern, Brown, and Western Carolina as of late.

Ty Virgil, 6’5, PG/SG/SF, Phh Prep National (AZ), 2024
A combo guard with size, Ty Virgil showed the ability to play all three perimeter positions at the Cactus Classic. The lefty is a terrific athlete, excels pushing the rock up the floor in a hurry, and shows potential as a 3-point shooter. A native of Sacramento, Virgil is yet another NorCal player who has slid under the radar, but owns no shortage of D1 offers.

Jaelyn Lyn, 6’4, PG/SG, Hillcrest Prep (AZ), 2024
Another unsigned senior on the list is Jaelyn Lyn, a freak athlete combo guard out of New York. Lyn utilized his athleticism on both ends, really has the ability to put points on the board in a hurry, and puts immense pressure on the rock defensively. The Queens product ran with Wiz Kids on the AAU circuit and is going to make a college happy in the late signing period.

Adrien Isaac, 6’10, C, Hillcrest Prep (AZ), 2027
One of the more talented freshman bigs on the west coast, Adrien Isaacs showed his ridiculous upside at the Cactus Classic. The lefty is an imposing shot blocker, can really pass the rock for a young big, and showed good hands making tough catches. Isaac put the full package on display with a 16-point, 7-rebound, 5-block game against Ascending Life and is certainly a name to remember.

Nate Washburn, 6’8, PF/C, Phh Prep National (AZ), 2024
A throwback big, Nate Washburn definitely showed that he could hold his own in the paint at the Cactus Classic. He made a number of tough catches/conversions in the paint, controlled his area on the glass, and even showed potential as a shooter facing the rack. The Michigan native definitely has the game that fits in perfectly for a number of conferences within the Midwest at the collegiate level.

The post Cactus Classic Top Stock-Risers! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

By Ronnie Flores

After all the dust has settled from the holiday events, there is a plethora of newcomers to the latest FAB 50 National Team Rankings powered by www.ebooksnet.com, the first weekly update of the New Year. In the previous update on Dec. 11, there was a whopping 13 newcomers, which was the most we could recall in recent memory up to that point. This time around, there is even more, as 15 teams crack the nation's longest-running weekly national rankings. Since the current FAB 50 format was adopted for the 1999-2000 season, it's the most we can recall joining the fray in a single update.

Does the change mean the rankings are less accurate than previous seasons or that we didn't do our homework in the preseason? No, not necessarily. In fact not at all. It's more a case of rewarding teams that play strong schedules and more of the nation's top talent congregating at fewer schools. The schools in the middle of the FAB 50 pack tend to beat up on each other and expect teams to continue to shuffle in the rear 25 as the season wears on. As far as the Top five, it's a completely different story.

Preseason No. 1 Montverde Academy continues to lead the pack, as the Eagles captured the 50th annual City of Palms Tournament in Ft. Myers, Fla., and lead the EYBLS league standings. Montverde Academy has defeated 10 teams ranked in this week's FAB 50, including the other four teams in the top five and six teams in the top 11.

It will take a monumental effort to take down the Eagles, as coach Kevin Boyle's club took down No. 3 Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.), 69-62, in the COP semifinals and No. 2 Long Island Lutheran (Glen Head, N.Y.), 73-59, in the title game. The Paul VI score was the closest margin of victory so far for a team that is already being compared to the best for a program that has won six FAB 50 national titles, but is Paul VI better than LuHi? Veteran observers at the COP were split on that question, but the debate is likely to be settled on the court. Paul VI still has many landmines remaining in Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) play and LuHi will get another shot at MVA on Feb. 16 at the Bob McKillop Invitational.

Speaking of landmines, there will be plenty for teams this week, as the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in Springfield, Mo. (Jan. 11-13) and the Spalding Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass. (Jan. 11-15), headline the slate of MLK weekend events. Paul VI will make the vaunted “Springfield Double” trek as it will look to take the Bass Pro TOC crown over the likes of No. 25 Edmond North (Edmond, Okla.), No. 27 McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.) and No. 46 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.). After a travel day on Sunday, Paul VI will battle No. 8 Columbus (Miami, Fla.) on MLK Monday at 1 pm ET.

McEachern will also double dip, taking on No. 10 Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.) on Monday at 11 am ET. Columbus will play another game in Massachusetts, taking on Long Island Lutheran on Saturday at 4 pm ET. LuHi's second game will take place on Monday at 3 pm ET vs. No. 11 AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.). Top-ranked MVA will play three games, including one on Sunday vs. No. 9 Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) at 7:30 pm ET.

Our next rankings update will be on Tuesday, January 16 and will include all the MLK Monday results.

RELATED: ?Preseason 2023-24 Mr. Basketball USA Tracker | | ??

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at?[email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter:?@RonMFlores

The post UPDATED FAB 50: New Year, 15 New Teams! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Written and edited by

Sara Jane Gamelli

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There are 13 games on the NBA slate, beginning at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET. With all of these teams out of contention for the NBA In-Season Tournament, there are several key matchups in the Eastern and Western Conference. Will the Celtics stay undefeated at home against the New York Knicks? Can Ime Udoka and the Houston Rockets grab their first victory on the road against the Denver Nuggets? Here you will find the NBA betting odds, stats, trends, player prop bets, and predictions for Friday, Dec. 8.

26 TEAMS PLAY TONIGHT

#1 Timberwolves seek 6th-straight win
Embiid looks to build on 50-point performance
Joker and Luka coming off triple-doubles

ESPN, NBA TV, NBA App
https://t.co/x0DNPls50S pic.twitter.com/1bOZItUylf

— NBA (@NBA) December 8, 2023

NBA Daily Game Odds for 12/8

^{*Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook}

• Hawks (+310) @ 76ers (-9) (-395): O/U 234.5
• Pistons (+400) @ Magic (-11) (-525): O/U 228.5
• Raptors (-5.5) (-218) @ Charlotte (+180) : O/U 228.5
• Knicks (+240) @ Celtics (-7) (-298): O/U 220.5
• Wizards (+350) @ Nets (-9.5) (-455): O/U 240.5
• Warriors (+130) @ Thunder (-3) (-155): O/U 236
• Timberwolves (-6) (-218) @ Grizzlies (+180): O/U 213.5
• Cavaliers (-2) (-118) @ Heat (-102): O/U 222
• Bulls (-2.5) (-130) @ Spurs (+110): O/U 224.5
• Rockets (+310) @ Nuggets (-9) (-395): O/U 221
• Kings (-2) (-130) @ Suns (+110): O/U 235
• Mavericks (-8) (-340) @ Trail Blazers (+270): O/U 231.5
• Clippers (-7.5) (-290) @ Jazz (+235): O/U 225

NBA Bet #1: Philadelphia 76ers Moneyline

G A M E D A Y

7:00 PM
@NBCSPhilly
@975TheFanatic
@ATLHawks
https://t.co/dtv9YDnnVl@Ticketmaster pic.twitter.com/nMkXAM7VlU

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) December 8, 2023

The Philadelphia 76ers (13-7, 7-3 home) will host the shorthanded Atlanta Hawks (9-11, 6-5 away) at home tonight. Coming off a 131-126 victory over the Washington Wizards, the 76ers are 5-5 in their last 10 games. Given Philadelphia is 13-7-0 against the spread, they couldn't cover a +11.5 spread margin against the Wizards.

Tonight, they face the Atlanta Hawks, who will be without All-Star Trae Young tonight. With a win/loss record of 3-7 in the last 10 games, Atlanta remains at below .500, and are 1-9-0 against the spread. While they haven't been to cover in five straight games, the Hawks have two straight losses, against the Brooklyn Nets, and the Milwaukee Bucks.

Overall, the 76rs have a win/loss record of 7-3 against the Hawks in their last 10 meetings. Having won the last four straight games, Philadelphia also covered the spread in every matchup. While the Sixers only have three losses on their home court, the Hawks remain above .500 on the road.

Over their last ten games, Philadelphia averages 120 points, while Atlanta is putting up 124. With just an 18 percent chance to win, the Hawks will desperately miss Young, who accounts for 22 percent of the total offense. While the Hawks have a strong backcourt with Murray and Young, they've struggled against solid teams, including the Bucks, Cavaliers, Celtics, Pacers, Sixers, and Knicks.

Why bettors can capture the 76ers Money Line tonight

In their second meeting of four matchups this season, the 76ers defeated the Hawks 126-116 back on Nov. 17. With Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris combining for 61 points, Tyrese Maxey added 19. With Trae Young leading the way for the Hawks with 22 points and 13 assists, Atlanta shot just 44.9 % from the field. Furthermore, the 76ers dominated on the boards, and had 32 assists on 43 shot attempts. Dejounte Murray finished the game just 5-16 from the field, and 3-7 from long range.

If you're betting on the NBA tonight, I would feel comfortable even taking Philadelphia -8.5. Not only do they have an excellent record at home, but they are also playing a shorthanded Hawks team, who have struggled, even when Young is in the lineup. While sending off John Collins was a blessing, Bogdanovic and Bey will need to step up off the bench. On paper, these two teams aren't comparable, as Philadelphia ranks 4th in total offense, and has Joel Embiid. With Hawks surprisingly putting up the 2nd most points per game (122.7), they haven't been able to secure vital wins.

While the Sixers have a +6.9-point differential, the Hawks have a +0.3. While Young's 30- and 40-point performances have simply not been enough to get this team over the hump, tonight they have another tough matchup. MVP candidate Joel Embiid is coming off a 50 point and 13 rebound game against the Washington Wizards. It's two of the best offenses, against Atlanta, who allows over 122 points a game. The Hawks defense simply hasn't been there and shouldn't be a problem for the 76ers tonight.

Injuries

76ers:
None Listed

Hawks:
Trae Young, G: OUT

Season Statistics & Betting Trends

^{*ATS-Against the Spread}

Philadelphia 76ers

• Philadelphia 76ers:?3-2 in?their last?5 games.
• 5-5 in their last 10 games.
• ATS Record:?13-7-0
• O/U Record: 13-16-1
• 3-2?ATS?in their last?5 games.
• 5-5 ATS in their last 10 games.
• O/U?is?5-0 in the last?5 games.
• O/U:?7-2-1 in the last?10 games.
• 2nd?in Offensive Rating (118.8)
• 14th?in Defensive Rating (120.1)
• 4th?in Points Per Game (120.7)
• 16th in Pace: 99.98
• Opponent Points Per Game:?113.8 (17th)
• Three-Point Percentage:?37.5 % (9th)
• Rebounds Per Game: 45 (9th)
• Philadelphia ATS won last 10 games:?Atlanta Hawks (-1.5), Brooklyn Nets (-3.5). Oklahoma City Thunder (-1.5), Los Angeles Lakers (-5.5), Boston Celtics (+5.5)

Atlanta Hawks

• Atlanta Hawks: 1-4 in?their last?5 games.
• 3-7?in their last?10 games.
• ATS Record:?5-15-0
• O/U Record: 12-8-0
• 0-5 ATS?in their last?5 games.
• 1-9-0 ATS?in their last?10 games.
• O/U?is?2-3 in the last?5 games.
• O/U:?6-4 in the last?10 games.
• 5th?in Offensive Rating (118.2)
• 26th?in Defensive Rating (117.9)
• 2nd?in Points Per Game (122.7)
• 3rd in Pace: 103.24
• Opponent Points Per Game:?122.4 (27th)
• Three-Point Percentage:?37 % (10th)
• Rebounds Per Game: 44.5 (12th)
• Atlanta ATS won last 10 games: Washington Wizards (-9.5)

NBA Bet #2: RJ Barrett 18+ Points, Rebounds & Assists

Add that to the mixtape pic.twitter.com/H6RwPxIvpS

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 1, 2023

Season Stats?PPG:?18.9 |?FG:?41.8 %?| 3 PT:?38.2 %?| FT:?85.3 %?| REB:?3.9?| AST: 2.6?| STL:?0.5?| BLK:?0.2

The New York Knicks (12-8, 6-5 away) will matchup against the Boston Celtics (15-5, 9-0 home) on the road tonight. After being knocked out of the NBA In-Season Tournament, 146-122 by the Milwaukee Bucks, New York will face the Celtics for the third time this season. Down 0-2 against Boston, New York didn't have guard RJ Barrett last matchup due to a migraine. Averaging 24 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists in one game against Boston, Barrett will be back in the starting lineup tonight.

If you're betting on the NBA, Barrett has an average of 20.5 points, 6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 14 career games against Boston. Having played 15 games this season, the guard is putting up nearly 19 points a game, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. In a Knicks team loaded with talent (Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle), Barrett has been a reliable scorer for the Knicks. Since he's dealt with injuries and missed some time, I chose 18+ alternative points, rebounds, and assists tonight. Although the odds aren't as great, he's hit over this prop 93 percent this season, 100 percent in the last 5 matchups, and 8 of the last 9 games.

Barrett performs well on the road

Tonight, he gets the Celtics, who allowed Bruce Brown and Bennedict Mathurin to hit over points, rebounds, and assists last matchup. Additionally, De'Anthony Melton, Jevon Carter, and Coby White all hit over their props in the shooting guard category against Boston. As far as road games go, Barrett averages 18.1 points, 2.7 assists, and 4.4 rebounds in 7 games on the road. On away games, the over for this prop has a hit rate of 100 percent in all 7 games.

There's no doubt the Knicks face a challenge tonight, given Boston has an elite defense. Allowing the 4th least points (108.1), the C's shut down passing lanes, and rank 8th in defensive rebounds allowed (32.4). With that said, if Kristaps Porzingis is able to suit up, he should pose a threat for New York, along with Al Horford off the bench. In his only game against Boston, he was 3-4 (75 %) from the floor against Jayson Tatum, and 2-3 (66.7 %) from the field versus Derrick White. Tonight, he will need to stay away from Porzingis, who held him to 1-7 (14.3 %) field goal percentage.

Why the over can hit against Boston

Josh Hart got the start for Barrett last matchup against Boston, and finished with 16 points, 3 assists, and 9 rebounds, on 6-12 (50 %) shooting. Coming off a 23 point, 1 assist, and 8 rebound performance against the Bucks, No. 9 is averaging 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in two December games. Although that's a small sample size, Barrett has an 80 % hit rate when playing at least 28.6 minutes on the floor. So far this season, the guard averages 29.5 minutes of playing time.

I am fairly confident in this prop tonight, as I've altered it down, and he has a combined 29 points, rebounds, and assists against Boston in October. In two matchups last season against the C's, Barrett far exceeded the over on the prop with 43 and 24 points, rebounds, and assists in early 2023.

In his fifth season, all with the Knicks, Barrett is averaging his best three-point percentage (38.1 %) since the 2020-2021 season. Up and down last season, both his rebounds and assists are slightly down. However, with the spotlight on Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle, he might be the perfect play tonight.

NBA Bets #3: Karl-Anthony Towns OVER 6.5 Rebounds

let's keep the streak going.

Wolves at Grizzlies
7pm CT, FedExForum
? @BallySportsNOR EXTRA
? @iHeartRadio App
? https://t.co/gPhx0nwXoS

Preview ? https://t.co/aW6tsyGHgL pic.twitter.com/Zsq9rSZHXH

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) December 8, 2023

Season Stats?PPG:?21.8 |?FG:?51 %?| 3 PT:?42.6 %?| FT:?90.2 %?| REB:?9.1?| AST: 3.1?| STL:?0.9?| BLK:?0.8

The Minnesota Timberwolves (16-4, 6-3 away) will face the injury riddled Memphis Grizzlies (6-14, 1-8 home) on the road this evening. Coming off 5 straight wins, Karl-Anthony Towns and the Timberwolves will play Memphis for the second time in two weeks. With a 119-97 victory over Memphis, Anthony Towns is averaging 18 points, 1 block, 2 assists, and 8 rebounds in one game against them.

If you're betting on the NBA, Anthony Towns is putting up 21.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in the 2023-2024 NBA season. Towns, a former member of the Utah Jazz, has an average of 19.8 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 3 assists in 26 career games against Memphis. While some have been critical of the KAT and Rudy Gobert experiment, Minnesota remains one of the best defensive teams in the NBA, and rank 7th in overall rebounds per game (45.5). In 20 games played this season, over 6.5 rebounds has an 85 % hit rate this season, 100 % rate in the last 5 games, and 80 % in the last 10. While the original line is at 8.5 rebounds, I altered it to 6.5.

Karl-Anthony Towns has a great matchup against Memphis

This evening, Towns gets the struggling Memphis Grizzlies, who rank in the bottom half in rebounds per game (42.7). Allowing nearly 44.5 boards per game, KAT will face Memphis, who allowed Jalen Duren and Jusuf Nurkic to grab a minimum of 9 rebounds. While Memphis has been fairly consisting in keeping Centers under their props, Isaih Stewart recently grabbed 7 boards against them on Dec. 6. The Grizzlies especially struggle on the defensive boards, and have a long injury list that includes Smart, Kennard, Clarke, and LaRavia is listed day-to-day. Most likely playing the 4, Towns will likely be matched up with Aldama, Jackson Jr, and Biyombo. In the last event against Memphis, KAT grabbed 8 defensive boards, and had non on the offensive side.

On the road again, Towns is averaging 24.2 points, and 9.4 rebounds in 9 away games this season. He's been just as efficient away from home, hitting over this prop 89 percent, and 9 out of the last 10 games. He's previously coming off a 7-rebound performance against the Charlotte Hornets, and 8 against the Grizzlies. Prior to grabbing just 6 boards against the New Orleans Pelicans, Anthony Towns have a consecutive streak of 6 games with over 6.5 rebounds. While Gobert will challenge him for rebounds, Memphis ranks 18th in defense against his position.

He's a floor spacer

While Gobert is mainly a defensive juggernaut, KAT is able to space the floor on offense, which sometimes limits his offensive rebounds. Given the Grizzlies are terrible in terms of defending on the glass, I like this prop tonight. In the last four games he's had 38 total rebounds in matchups against the Spurs, Hornets, Jazz, and Thunder.

You can choose to tail, fade, group these into a parlay, or play them straight out. I put no more than 1 unit on this bet.

BONUS BET Warriors vs. Thunder OVER 237 points

We now are partnered with Prize Picks and Props.Cash! Use code ‘BIL’ on the Props.Cash mobile app or website for a 25% discount on your first month’s subscription! Research Props Tool to help you find everything you need FAST for your bet. When you sign up for Prize Picks, use the code LIFE.?Click here to sign up for?Props.Cash

Stay tuned for more NBA betting related articles. Click here

Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the?University?of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

The post NBA Betting: Daily Odds & Predictions for December 8 appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

NBA Daily Game Odds for 11/14

^{*Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook}

• Pacers (+164) @ 76ers (-198) (-5): O/U 240.5
• Heat (-5) (-198) @ Hornets (+164): O/U 223
• Hawks (-4.5)(-185) @ Pistons (+154): O/U 225.5
• Spurs (+380) @ Thunder (-7.5) (-500): O/U 238.5
• Magic (+114) @ Nets (-3) (-135): O/U 217.5
• Mavericks (-4) (-166) @ Pelicans (+140) O/U 239.5
• Trail Blazers (+205) @ Jazz (-6.5) (-250): O/U 231.5
• Clippers (+154) @ Nuggets (-4.5) (-185): O/U 225
• Timberwolves (-2.5) (-148) @ Warriors (+124) O/U 217
• Grizzlies (+200) @ Lakers (-6) (-245)

NBA Daily Parlay +885 .1u

NBA Bet #1 : Killian Hayes O .5 3PTM (-195)

Killian so far tonight:

14 PTS
6 AST
4 REB
1 STL
2-4 3PM
+11

Hooping... pic.twitter.com/F1Ghp3zLWp

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) November 11, 2023

Season Stats PPG: 10.9  | FG: 40.2 % | 3 PT: 32.5 % | FT: 77.3 % | REB: 3.3 | AST: 4.7 | STL: 1.3 | BLK: 0.5

The Detroit Pistons (2-9) will matchup against the Atlanta Hawks (5-4) at home tonight. Since the start of the season, the Pistons have opted to start guard Killian Hayes over Jaden Ivey.

If you're betting on the NBA, Hayes hasn't shot particularly well, especially from the field. However, one made three is a small amount, and this is a prop that's hit eight of the last eleven games, and 75 percent in the last four. Two three-pointers made in the past couple of matchups, Hayes will face a Hawks team that allows the 19th worst opponent three-point percentage per game (35.6 %).

Tonight, Trae Young will not suit up for Atlanta, a team that allows the 23rd most points scored per game (117). The Pistons guard has at least one three-pointer made in three of his last matchups against the Hawks, dating back to early 2023.

Why the over .5 3PTM will hit tonight

Hayes has been on fire at home, clocking in one three-pointer made in four of the past five games. Although Detroit has a ton of depth, this prop hit 80 percent in the last ten games, and 62 percent overall in the 2022-2023 season.

If we break down the statistics against Atlanta, they've allowed Kyle Lowry, of the Miami Heat, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to hit over the line in two straight matchups. Gilgeous-Alexander, who had a line of 0.5, ended up with three shots from long distance, while Kyle Lowry had four three-pointers. Guards Mike Coley, Cameron Payne, and Jalen Brunson have all hit over their prop lines in the past eight matchups against the Hawks.

Averaging nearly 11 points per game, Hayes plays 30.5 minutes, and has a combined nine three-point attempts in the past two matchups. A season 32.5 percent shooter from long distance, the Pistons guard will get a juicy matchup against the Hawks who allow 117 points per game, and 36.6 three-point attempts per matchup.

NBA Bet #2: Jonas Valanciunus O .5 Blocks (-190)

JV up to 11/5 already.

he's cookin' pic.twitter.com/yVjzBZXCLZ

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) November 11, 2023

Season Stats PPG: 12.3 | FG: 50.5 % | 3 PT: 43.5 % | FT: 85 % | REB: 8.7 | AST: 1.8 | STL: 0.3 | BLK: 1.5

The New Orleans Pelicans (4-6) will matchup against the Dallas Mavericks (8-2) at home tonight. Jonas Valanciunus will face a Pelicans team, who will be without Trey Murphy III and Larry Nancy Jr. As on the injury report, Pelicans forward Herbert Jones is listed as a game time decision.

If you're betting on the NBA, the Pelicans center has at least one block in 80 percent of the last 10 games. In fact, he's had one block in three of the last five games, and 11 of the last 15 games. Facing the Mavericks at home, Valanciunus hit over .5 blocks in four straight home games, against the Warriors, Pistons, Hawks, and Mavericks. As far as home matchups, this prop hit seven of the last ten games in New Orleans, and 9 of the last 15.

Tonight, the Pelicans will face a Mavericks team, who are one of the worst defensive teams in the league in terms of points and rebounds allowed. Although Dallas only allows 3.7 blocks per game, it's hard to fade this prop that's been hit so frequent.

Here is why O .5 blocks will hit

Valanciunus will face rookie Dereck Lively II, who's known for more his defensive prowess than his offensive game. He will likely be faced with the challenge of stopping guards Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic in driving to the basket.

Coincidentally, the Pelicans last played the Mavericks two days ago. Valanciunus finished with two block against Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively. Standing at 6 foot 11, the Pelicans center is averaging 1.5 blocks a game, and I am riding with the over tonight.

NBA Bet #3: Jaime Jaquez Jr O 8.5 Points (-120)

Jamie Jaquez Jr snatching ankles pic.twitter.com/av0ObpGnd1

— SpunkCenter (@SpunkCenter) November 12, 2023

Season Stats PPG: 8.3 | FG: 47.9 % | 3 PT: 27.6 % | FT: 87.5 % | REB: 3.2 | AST: 2.2 | STL: 1.3 | BLK: 0.3

The Miami Heat (6-4) will matchup against the Charlotte Hornets (3-6) on the road tonight. For Miami, Caleb Martin and Tyler Herro are listed as out, and guard Josh Richardson is listed as a game time decision. For Charlotte, Terry Rozier, Bridges, and Bouknight are all listed as out for tonight. Gordon Hayward and rookie Brandon Miller are both game time decisions.

If there's one thing to know about Miami Heat's head coach Erik Spoelstra, he loves rookies and undrafted players.

If you're betting on the NBA, Jaime Jaquez Jr over 8.5 points has hit in five, straight games against the Wizards, Lakers, Grizzlies, Hawks, and Spurs. Although I rarely wager on rookies, Jaquez has seen increased playing time with several injuries across the roster.

Tonight, the Heat face a Hornets team that are one of the worst defensive teams in the league. Charlotte ranks 28th in opponent points scored (123.1), and allow teams to shoot 39 percent from long range. Much like last year, they rank near the bottom in field goal and free-throw percentage allowed.

Why Jaquez Jr will score over 8.5 Points

Jaquez Jr, the former UCLA Bruin, is averaging nearly 25 minutes per game, and 10.3 points in the month of November. A player with a versatile skill set, the Heat guard has a combined 27 field goal attempts in the last two matchups. He's coming off a 11 point performance against the San Antonio Spurs.

Over 8.5 seems low to me for a guard that hasn't average less than that since their matchup against the Brooklyn Nets. Given Charlotte is a terrible team, combined with injuries, I am riding the over points tonight. In fact, important to note, Jaquez Jr. played 38 points against the Hawks, and is coming off two straight games playing well over 30 minutes.

NBA Bet #4: Spurs vs. Thunder U 238.5 Points (-110)

The San Antonio Spurs (3-7) will face the Oklahoma City Thunder (6-4) tonight on the road. The Spurs, who have dropped five straight games will look to get back on track against the Thunder, who are 3-2 in their last five games. Two teams filled with young talent, it should be a great matchup between rookies Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama.

For the Spurs, Keldon Johnson and Tre Jones are listed as OUT for tonights game. Sandro Mamukelashvili and Jeremy Sochan are both listed as game time decisions.

With a record of 3-7, the Spurs have a totals over/under record of 9-1-0, while Oklahoma City is 5-5-0 against totals. In their last ten matchups, the over/under record is 4-6, in which their last matchup hit the under.

The Thunder are filled with talent, and rank 8th in total points per game (115.9). For the Spurs, they will be without some heavy hitters tonight, and rank middle of the road in offense (113 points per game). In addition, the Thunder have the 4th best three-point percentage in the league (37.5), while the Spurs average 35 percent from beyond the arc. Defensively, the Spurs are the worst defensive team, allowing 124 points per game, while the Thunder are ranked 17th.

Why the under can hit tonight

Although these two teams have some star power on the offensive end, both teams play at a higher pace. Although on this case, the spotlight will be on both teams, since it is an In-Season Tournament game tonight.

If you're betting on the NBA, the Spurs will be without Keldon Johnson, who averages over 15 points per game. They will also be without Trey Jones, who contributes 8 points per game. The Thunder are coming off two straight unders against the Suns and Kings, while the Spurs have hit over totals in seven straight games. Both the Spurs and the Thunder don't take a lot of three pointers per game, and and the free-throw volume lacks on both sides.

Although the Spurs have a terrible defense, I am full fading what would be their 8th straight game hitting the over.

Stay tuned for more NBA betting related articles. Click here

Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

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Nic Codie Has Added Muscle

It was my first time seeing 2024 Nic Codie play since the NCAA July live viewing period, and he looks stronger. He played stronger as well, while playing through contact to garner a rebound and on drives, he embraced contact better to get to his spots to finish. Now he isn’t completely out-muscling guys, but the added strength definitely is helping him. Liked his motor and consistency at Wootten. 

2024 Evals

Jalen Shelley, 6’8 Wing - Link Year Academy (MO): Coming from Frisco, Texas, Shelley was good at Wootten Camp. Lefty that showed his scoring prowess. Comfortable getting to the mid-range and shooting, but overall, he seemed to be more comfortable shooting off the bounce. A versatile scoring threat, that when hot, can make shots in bunches. 

David Castillo, 6’1 PG - Sunrise Christian (KS): From Oklahoma, the K-State pledge played well at Wootten Camp. Was hot from deep, showed extended range and because he was such a threat from 3-point land, he was able to get to the rim and finish strong. 

Micah Robinson, 6’6 Wing - Oak Hill (VA): Also coming from the DFW, I thought the TCU commit was solid. Played the right way, moved the ball and made threes off the catch. Wasn’t very assertive, but he made the right basketball play and worked within the flow of the game. A power wing that’s a dependable 3-point shooter and utilizes his body on drives. 

Dillon Battie, 6’7 PF - Lancaster (TX): Talk about power, Dillon plays with a lot of it. Strongly built, plays very well off of two feet and showed an improved jumper. Dillon's engine continues to go and when he finds his perfect blend of inside-out scoring, he can be a matchup problem at the next level. Has official visits set up with Washington and Washington State.

The 2026’s Shined

Thought it was a good showing for the 2026 prospects from the Southwest Region. Jacob Lanier (Maumelle, AR) out of Arkansas really showed his playmaking. He got to spots, made the right read consistently and shot it well off the catch. Someone that’s impactful playing on and off the ball. Will hear his name amongst the upper tier of that class nationally until he graduates. A lot of upside with this one.

JJ Andrews (Little Rock Christian Academy, AR) made an impact especially in transition. A power athlete that was fantastic in transition, as he displayed his athleticism. He was a strong driver to the rim, absorbing contact well and flashing his shooting when the defense played off of him. Showed why he’s nationally known and continuing to rise. 

From Texas, I was impressed with Dakari Spear (The Colony, TX). A 6’4 combo that shows adequate shot making abilities. Doesn’t have crazy blow by speed but he’s crafty, uses body to generate separation and holds good elevation on his pull-up jumper. Trent Perry (Frisco Lone Star, TX) made his presence known as well. Athletic but uses go-go gadget arms to finish over taller defenders. Like his upside as a defender, his shot mechanics look cleaner and he seems more comfortable shooting from 3-point land. Alex Barther (Eastern Hills, TX) is a big wing that plays with energy in this atmosphere. He’s versatile, I was interested in seeing how he would be versus the older guys and I thought he was just fine. He looked comfortable getting to the mid-range, competing on the defensive end. Definitely think he’s a plus team defender that communicates. I know what Barther can do offensively, but it’s the other stuff that impressed me. Can impact games without the scoring. 

Hudson Greer Continues To Perform

No matter the event, 2025 Hudson Greer seems to be productive. Pangos Camps, heard great things at USA Basketball, fall league games,  and now here at Wootten 150 Camp. An athletic wing that's an opportunistic scorer. Attacks the rim on closeouts and when receiving a hand-off, finds the ball on missed shots and puts it back with slams, running the floor and finishing transition plays. His shooting is coming along and he makes open threes. Better shooter off the catch, but his overall off the dribble shooting has seen an up-tick as well. He’s putting himself in the category as a potential McDonald’s All American for 2025. It’s early, there’s a lot of basketball to be played, but he’s helping himself a lot.

2025 Evals

Jaden Toombs, 6’9 C - Dynamic Prep (TX): Jaden was very solid. He knows how to play and he has great touch around the rim. He also flashed his 3-point shooting as a pop guy. He's commitment to improving his body, expanding his game, but not floating and settling. 

Leroy Kelly IV, 6’2 2/1 CG - Dynamic Prep (TX): It’s a big year for Leroy. In years past, he primarily played off the ball but he’s transitioning on playing more of a primary ball-handler role. I believe he’s a better decision maker than he was a year ago so I think the transition is going fine but he hasn’t learned how to blend it all together yet. When he’s confident in his jumper, he’s a hard cover because he’s a versatile shooter. Combined that with improved passer feel and skills, he can put a lot of pressure on the defense.

Jermaine O’Neal, 6’5 Wing - Dynamic Prep (TX): Really showed his mid-range scoring prowess. Jermaine takes shots you probably wouldn’t want others to take but they go in. Contested one-legged fades, pull-up jumpers with a hand in his face, O’Neal isn’t fazed by the defender and puts the ball in the hole. 

Kayden Edwards, 6’2 2/1 CG - Duncanville (TX): A lefty scoring guard with supreme confidence. Made shots from deep, has a short memory and is fast with the ball. Love his upside as a scorer and playmaker.

Dorian Hayes, 6’4 SG - Ridgepoint (TX): I like Hayes' upside. A scoring guard that has his best basketball is ahead of him. He uses his length on the offensive end as a shooter. Extending over the contest, Hayes uses minimal dribbles to create space and generate shot opportunities. Doesn’t get talked much in this class but he’s one to keep tabs on.

King Grace, 6’4 2/1 CG - Waxahachie (TX): A scoring guard that has improved as a live dribble passer. I know he can score the ball but I wanted to see how he’s improved as a passer and overall decision maker. It’s definitely better than it was in the past, but there’s still times he puts himself in no-win opportunities on offense. Shot looks cleaner as well and he’s a confident scorer that can fill it up quick. 

David Iweze, 6’8 PF/C - Ischool (TX): David has made big strides since April and is playing with more confidence. Grabs rebounds and initiates transition breaks. A good passer but a risky one at that so he’ll have goofy turnovers. He’s a versatile offensive threat with a good feel of the game. When his motor is on, he’s uber effective.  

Cam Smith, 6’6 SF - Duncanville (TX): Cam continues to grow on me. First saw him in Atlanta in the summer and he was good, but he’s improved since March. Playing more in control and with better balance. He made athletic finishes in transition, showed a more functional handle and has improved as an overall shooter. High upside with this one, such as Dorian Hayes, is good now but will be really good later. 

Outside The Region Observations

I have many notes from prospects even outside the Southwest and I came away very impressed with 2026 Chris Washington (The Villages, FL). A big wing-forward with long arms. He can make shots with space, assertive on the glass and is a rim deterrent. He has some rawness to him offensively, as he can get out of control at times but his upside is tremendous. Will be ranked high in his class throughout his high school career. 

More Notes

Donnie Freeman, 2025 6’9 PF - IMG (FL): Motor was continuously running and was making shots as a trail, pop or spot up guy. Mixed energy, effort, toughness and perimeter shooting well and was one of the top performers there. 

Moustapha Thiam, 2025 7’ C - DME Academy (FL): Has gotten stronger and is playing through contact better. Faced up and scored, had a good amount of offensive rebounding attempts and showed upside as a guy that can space the floor down the road. 

Nikolas Khamenia, 2025 6’7 PF/SF - Harvard Westlake (CA): Skill and feel. That immediately stands out when watching Nikolas plays. Terrific footwork, shooting touch and is crafty. Understands angles very well and keeps the defense guessing. What helps him out as well is his passing feel. He hits the open target or the guy in stride which then opens up his scoring opportunities. 

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Jacob Lanier Put on A Scoring Exhibition

I remember my first time watching 2026 Jacob Lanier at this camp last year and he was impressive. This year, he’s been dominant. Scoring on all three levels, exhibiting improved vertical pop and composure with the ball in his hands. He averaged 37 ppg on Saturday and turned in a Camp MOP-worthy performance on the first day.

Dorion Bowen Will Be A Common Name

I had a few people call me about any surprise-type players in this event and Dorion Bowen was the first player I had in mind. A 6’5 guard out of Memphis that can impact games with his passing and scoring. He’s selfless, maybe at times to a fault, but he wants to win, too. If it requires scoring, he’ll do that with finishes at the rim and an occasional deep jumper when defenses go under on ball-screens. An intuitive passer that puts his teammates in position to score. He's a high major prospect that will be in the national polls once more guys get their eyes on him. 

2026 Standouts

Seven Spurlock, 6’6 Guard - Frisco Memorial (TX): Strong built guard that plays with power. Lefty that initiates contact on drives and finishes at the rim. Dunks in the open court, flashed his improved jumper and looked like a man amongst boys at moments. A name to know in 2026 that’s receiving high major recruitment.

Trent Perry, 6’4 Wing-Guard - Frisco Lone Star (TX): To me was the best prospect in this camp last year and he’s having another quality outing this year. Long, athletic, sports cleaner mechanics on his jumper and saw him connect off the bounce. A real problem in transition or in space because he makes athletic, coordinated plays no-one else at the camp can do. Perry showed why he’s ranked nationally.

Armon Almuttar, 6’4 Wing - Parish Episcopal (TX): He’s someone that coaches and evaluators will try to figure out what he is from a positional standpoint. He’s 6’4, but plays like he’s 6’8. He doesn’t have a crazy strong handle but it’s hard to rip him because he has a stocky frame and broad shoulders. He’s not speeding past guys but he’s so strong that he creates space with his frame off the bounce.

Almuttar is a basketball player at the end of the day...He rebounds, he knows how to use his body and although the shot has improved, it has ways to go. He’s confident in it, however, and it'll go in from time to time. I can’t pinpoint what level he projects to but Almuttar is a D1 prospect and what he can become at his peak; he’ll be a matchup nightmare.

Silas Rodriguez, 6’4 SG - Denton Guyer (TX): Scored it well and efficiently. Silas shoots with range and can attack closeouts a lot better than he could a year ago. I can tell he’s worked on his body and ball handling as he’s more comfortable making plays off the bounce. Two 20 plus point game performances on Saturday.

Nasir Price, 6’4 PG - Seven Lakes (TX): Adequate positional size and length, Nasir exhibited a balance in his playmaking and scoring. Was strong in transition, saw some scoring off the bounce where he created separation with his fades and step-backs where I think there’s a lot of promise with. 

Bryce Dixon, 6’4 Wing - The Colony (TX) Tough minded wing that plays through contact. Saw a lot of grab and going after securing rebounds; Dixon plays with an edge and inner confidence that allows him to make his presence felt on the court. Just gets things done on the court. 

Bo Ogden, 6’6 Wing - St. Michaels (TX): Talk about someone that’s improved body and handle. Bo Ogden first hit my radar as a freshman at the TABC Scholastic Event in 2022 and he was connecting from deep in spot-up situations. He’s now comfortable attacking with either hand, solid at finishing at the rim and still lethal shooting from 3-point land. 

Davion Adkins, 6’8 PF - Faith Family (TX): Lefty with an ideal athletic and physical profile. Plays above the rim, covers ground on defense, rebounds out of his area and expanding his offensive game. Offensively Adkins shows real upside because he can mix it up. Either that’s rim running and finishing, making an open jumper, a driver to the rim, offensive rebound/putback guy, there’s a multitude of ways Adkins can score the basketball but once he figures out the right blend he’ll be a problem.

James Sanderson, 6’2 2/1 CG - Frisco Emerson (TX): Definitely in the scoring guard prototype, Sanderson is an adequate shot creator and is a willing passer. Albeit being very good at scoring, Sanderson uses the gravity he generates from the defense to find the open man in the half-court setting. Impressive outing. 

Ethan Sheets, 6’8 SF/PF - Denton: Good positional size and someone that can expand the court for the offense. Seen him make shots as a trail guy, spot-up on the wing and ran the floors well to get the ball and finish. Crazy upside with this one if he figures it out.

Alex Barther, 6’6 Guard - Eastern Hills (TX): Was solid. A big guard prospect that looked more comfortable on pull-up shots and was at his best when he was assertive with the ball and getting to the rim. Have seen him play better, but Barther showed why he’s receiving high major recruitment.

Jacori Jones, 6’ PG - Denton Braswell (TX): Lefty guard that can shoot with range. Gets in a rhythm well off the dribble and connects well off the bounce. Crafty as a finisher and knows how to contort his body vs rim protectors to finish. Can over dribble at times, but I thought overall was really good. 

Notables

DJ Ogoemeka, 6’11 C - WT White (TX)

Chandler Cornell, 5’10 PG - Lone Star (TX)

Solomon Bradshaw, 5’9 PG - Universal Academy (TX)

Luke Susko, 6’5 SF - Flower Mound Marcus (TX)

Phoenix Woodson, 6’7 PF - Crossings Christian (OK)

Lance Williams, 6’7 PF - Ischool (TX)

Chaz Wallace, 5’9 PG - Crandall (TX)

Robert Moore, 6’ PG - Keller Timber-Creek (TX)

Kingston Willis, 5’11 PG - Faith Family (TX)

Kelan Collins, 5’8 PG - Mexia (TX)

2027 & 2028 Standouts

Dawson Battie, 2027 6’7 SF - St. Marks (TX): Dawson will be someone known nationally when it’s time for that class. He has size, perimeter skills and his motor is coming along. Versatile offensively as he can play multiple spots and score it in multiple ways. 

Isaac Hayes, 2027 5’9 PG - North Crowley (TX): Productive lead guard that’s tough. Gets paint touches and makes the right play. Keeps his dribble alive and makes effective passes off the live dribble. Not a game I’ve seen in the fall period, where Isaac hasn’t made a positive impact to some capacity.

Terrell Jackson, 2028 6’8 C - Berry MS (TX): The big fella will be really good in high school. Coming along nicely as he understands how to rebound, use length to alter shots at the rim and offensively plays through contact on finishes. He’s raw and has a long way to go but what he’ll be at 18 yrs old can be something serious. 

DeMarrion Wickware, 20276’5 PF/SF - Kimball (TX): A skilled tweener that can mix it up inside and out. He’s a tough cover due to his size, touch and footwork. Looks to still be growing and has baby fat on him. Best basketball is ahead of him. 

Brandon Wright, 2027 6’2 CG - Little Rock Central (AR): A combo that played either guard position comfortably. Has a good feel as a passer, but Wright had the intent to score on Saturday. Off the dribble shooting and ability to the paint and score. 

King Gibson, 2027 6’4 Guard/Wing - The Burlington School (NC): Best 2027 prospect at the camp. Athletic, plays above the rim, capable shooter and has a plus wingspan. Been one of the best 2027 prospects I’ve seen nationally so far.

Kameron Hicks, 2027 6’2 Guard - Little Rock Christian Academy (AR): I like Kameron a lot. Rebounds well for a guard, understanding in a camp setting, if he wants to receive more touches, go rebound and push. A scorer that played through contact and showed adequate pull-up game.

James McCall Spears, 2027 6’6 PF: Lakeview (TX): He’s one that may be a late bloomer, but he may end up in the upper tier of his class when it’s all said and done. Skilled on the block and has footwork and touch. A broad frame and looks like he’s still growing. We’ll come back to this article in two or three years.

Tyrone Jamison, 2027 6’2 PG - Calvary Christian (LA): Last but definitely not least is Tyrone Jamison. He was the best 2027 guard at the camp. How fluid he is with the ball in his hands, his shooting stroke and play-making prowess stood out for me. He quickly came to my radar the first possession I saw the ball in his hands.

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It hasn’t always been this way.

NBA players are some of the most recognizable athletes in the world with the opportunity for generational wealth over the past 30 years. The players often viewed today by NBA Twitter and mentioned other social media platforms as the most influential such as Steph Curry, the late Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson, entered a NBA that was already a healthy, vibrant product. Their impact is great, but for Bryant and Iverson in particular, their impact is much more related to influencing fans and popular culture, more so than the game itself. If the game itself is not healthy, popular culture and social influence matters much less.

Let’s take a look at the REAL most influential players of all-time. What they endured and their experiences directly impacted the league and its future prosperity. All players and fans benefit from what these six players (we lump two together) accomplished or changed about the league.

1. Oscar Robertson (Royals & Bucks) 1961-74
The Crispus Attucks (Indianapolis, Ind.) product didn’t have it easy while he was dominating the college game at Cincinnati. He was subjected to cruel racism, but he overcame that to become one of the greatest players of all-time and to fight for individual dignity and players' rights. By 1965, the Big O was the president of the National Basketball Players Association, which was founded in 1954 by the Celtics' Bob Cousy. Robertson was the first African-American president of any sports or entertainment labor union in America and in 1970 he sued the NBA to revoke its reserve clause. The class-action, anti-trust filed in U.S. District Court in New York by Robertson and a player rep from each of the 13 other NBA teams against the league was resolved when the NBA agreed to a class action settlement on April 29, 1976. The NBA eliminated the reserve clause in its uniform contracts, which previously bound a player to one team in perpetuity i.e. forever.

The suit was filed to halt the NBA-ABA merger until the anti-trust issues in player contracts were resolved. This was a major victory for players (employees) in their relationship with teams (employer), as the settlement led to players earning market value for their services and to eventual growth of the league. Eventually, the elimination of the reserve clause and the birth of free agency made the players millionaires and the owners billionaires. Without a victory in this lawsuit, NBA players would likely have to work in the off-season as they did until the mid 1970s and they would have little leverage in salary increases.

2. Spencer Haywood (Rockets, Sonics, Knicks, Jazz, Lakers, Bullets) 1970-1983
This Mississippi native who moved to Michigan as a teenager and was the nation’s top schoolboy recruit out of Pershing (Detroit) in 1967 was on a fast track to the pro basketball. There was a road block, however, for the son of a sharecropper with 10 children who made a reported two dollars a day for her family. At that time, players had to be four years removed from high school before they were eligible to be drafted by the NBA or ABA, but Haywood decided to turn pro after a season of junior college, Olympic stardom and one season at the University of Detroit. The ABA’s Mike Storen introduced a hardship exemption for Haywood because of the extreme poverty he suffered from. After a successful ABA rookie season, Haywood joined the NBA’s Seattle Sonics in 1970-71, as owner Sam Schulman filed an anti-trust suit against the NBA to fight its drafting policies. Similar to the Oscar Robertson Rule, Haywood’s case argued the NBA was in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act.

Haywood vs. National Basketball Association went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, where Haywood was granted an injunction to play in the NBA and eventually the case was settled out of court. The settlement led to the NBA allowing players to enter the league early via its new “Hardship Rule”. This opened the door for young players to have an opportunity to maximize their earning potential without having to wait until four years of college passed. Moses Malone bypassed college altogether in 1974 when he signed with the ABA’s Utah Stars out of high school, and he was an ABA All-Star at 19 years old. More importantly, he didn’t have to wait until he was 23 to earn a living in a trade he was capable of as a young adult. Haywood’s case was another significant ruling for player’s rights and also changed the way teams drafted and scouted players.

3. Magic Johnson & Larry Bird (Lakers & Celtics) 1980-1992
There is little doubt the Robertson and Haywood rulings were the most impactful moments in league history with regards to its future. The NBA tried to argue the elimination of the reserve clause would ruin the league, but in reality it opened up the door for prosperity, but it would take some time. With the ABA and the NBA fighting for talent in the 1970s, trouble was brewing. Many teams were bleeding money and until the talent was all in one league, the teams would be on shaky financial ground. The merger finally happened after the 1975-76 season with four ABA teams joining the NBA: the Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, New York Nets, and San Antonio Spurs.

We contemplated who was more influential, Magic-Bird or Dr. J, and when you look at the terms of the ABA-NBA merger in 1976, it becomes clear the inseparable duo who came into the league in 1979-80 are more influential. Getting Dr. J in an NBA uniform was a big deal, but at the time of the merger nobody could see how wildly successful the NBA would be 10 years later mainly because of the point guard with the big smile out of Michigan St. and the Hick From French Lick out of Indiana St. If NBA commissioner Larry O’Brien and his trusted advisors (including lawyer David Stern) knew how big the money (particularly broadcast rights) were going to get, no way in heck does the league agree to the financial teams given to the ABA’s two remaining teams. The Kentucky Colonels’ owners were given $3 million to fold, while the St. Louis Spirits’ owners got $2.2 million in addition to a 1/7 share of the four remaining team’s television revenues in perpetuity. From the standpoint on the NBA, it was the worst financial deal in sports history, as the NBA’s popularity, and broadcast rights fees, exploded in the mid 1980s because of Johnson and Bird.

It’s hard to separate the two and their contrasts and comparisons. Both are 6-foot-9 and unselfish players who made teammates better. Both had a thirst for winning and played for the two most iconic franchises. Both won at each other's expense on the biggest stages. One happened to be African-American and outgoing and the other Caucasian and a bit more reserved in style. Together they are the two most important players in history in terms of changing the economic landscape that Robertson set in motion 15 years earlier. We also considered the Rocket’s Yao Ming and his impact in China (where there are over 1 billion people) and the rest of Asia, but that impact was already set in motion by Johnson, Bird and Michael Jordan (easily the most important figure in terms of marketing and cultural impact) as part of the 1992 Olympic Dream Team, which helped spread the popularity of the game worldwide.

4. Julius "Dr. J” Erving (Squires, Nets, 76ers) 1972-1987
The Good Doctor wasn’t a high school All-American at Roosevelt (N.Y.), but he was a good prospect who became a force to be reckoned with at UMass. Because of the availability of the hardship rule, Dr. J left UMass after two varsity seasons and joined the ABA’s Virginia Squires. The Squires were on shaky financial ground and had to sell him to the New Jersey Nets in a move that kept him in the ABA. The Doctor flourished, as he was the league’s marquee player and gave it credibility until it merged with the NBA after the 1975-76 season. The Nets accepted the offer of the 76ers to buy Erving’s contract for $3 million and to pay the Nets’ expansion fee into the NBA (another $3 million). The NBA needed Dr. J because of what transpired during the ABA-NBA negotiating wars prior to the merger.

Fans thought the players had a money-first mentality and it resonated in the media and in public discourse. The league also suffered from poor marketing and poor visibility. Its games were not broadcast live or during prime viewing hours. The NBA also had a drug problem among its players in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but it had the Good Doctor. And he was the player that bridged that gap between the merger and the league’s boom in the mid 1980s. Many people followed the NBA because of Dr. J. He also rates right there with Allen Iverson in terms of his popularity among young fans. Dr. J was idolized, resonated with inner city youth because of his love for blacktop competition, and adults respected him unlike some of the other NBA standouts of the 1970s. Iverson has similar cultural impact, but didn’t impact the NBA’s finances or opportunities as Erving did. Unlike Iverson, Erving's image was also protected by the media because of his importance. Dr. J’s style of play also made it acceptable to attempt high-flying moves and dunks that was more a staple of the ABA. He brought excitement and flair matched only by a few who ever played and his influence is still seen in today’s players both on and off the court.

5. Kevin Garnett (Timberwolves, Celtics, Nets) 1996-2015
The fifth and final spot was up for grabs between players such as Kobe Bryant, Steph Curry, Ming, and Iverson. Again, those players entered a healthy league and when all retire, will see the league in a healthy spot, which is not the case for the four players ranked above. Garnett, like Robertson and Haywood, was a generational high school talent out of Farragut (Chicago, Ill.) via Mauldin, S.C. He was the Mr. Basketball USA choice and national player of the year by USA Today in 1994-95. He was having trouble with a qualifying SAT score for college and the idea of him going pro was thrown around as early as the 1994 Nike Camp, the second consecutive year in which he dominated the prestigious grassroots summer camp. Hours before the 1995 NBA Draft, Garnett found out he got a qualifying score, but the wheels were already in motion for him be the first prep-to-pro player in 20 years.

Garnett was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves at No. 5, but his talent dictated he probably should have been drafted higher. And that’s where his impact is so great: Garnett changed the thinking of how NBA personnel and fans viewed young players. Many of the NBA’s old guard resisted scouting and drafting high school players, until these players started becoming widely successful. There were a handful of prospects talked about in terms of going straight from high school to the pros after 1975, particularly Albert King (1977), Ralph Sampson (1979), John Williams (1984) and Jason Kidd (1992), but nobody really thought they were going to do it. Garnett wasn’t an instant star, but by the middle of his rookie season it was apparent he would last and become one of the league’s better players in the coming years. If he fails, where does that leave the future high school standouts that wanted to make the leap? Do the Lakers eye Bryant that following year if Garnett wasn’t viewed in a positive light? Eventually all NBA teams took drafting young players seriously and took on a baseball model of looking at teenagers rather than waiting on an established college player.

The one-and-done rule was instituted after the 2005 season, but the game has gone younger since Garnett. There were a host of stars who made the successful prep-to-pro transition, including Bryant, Tracy McGrady and later LeBron James. Looking at the landscape now, NBA personnel are staples at big grassroots and high school events such as the Nike EYBL, NBPA Top 100 Camp, Pangos All-American Camp, Tarkanian Classic and GEICO Nationals. Garnett played a big role in that on his way to becoming NBA MVP in 2004 and eventually landing in the Naismith Hall of Fame.

Ronnie Flores is the National Grassroots Editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at?[email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter:?@RonMFlores

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Hudson Greer, 6’6 Wing 2025 - Lake Travis: Showed big time vertical pop especially in the open court. Hudson has been dealing with an injury for most of the spring and is now getting back to normal form in regards to movement. Displayed 3-point shot making of the catch and overall plus activity on the court.?

Francis Chukwudebelu, 6’10 C 2025 - Prestonwood Christian: ?Had a solid outing. Wished to see more but I understand camps and bigs are a mixed bag. Has improved his frame, showed quality footwork inside when operating back to the basket and is someone that showed he can make open threes off the catch. Sometimes floated more than to my liking, but when he’s showing inside/out game and upticking the rebound attempts, he is productive. He showed that in spurts.?

Jermaine O’Neal Jr., 6’5 Wing 2025 - Dynamic Prep: Didn’t get to see all of Jermaine’s repertoire at the camp. Struggled to find a rhythm consistently, but when he’s connecting from deep and feeling comfortable on the court, he brings a lot to the table. Rebounding, passing, ability to attack closeouts and get to the rim. Also on the defensive end, make plays as an on-ball defender and help guy.

Jeremiah Green, 6’2 PG 2025 - Denton Guyer: Attacking, physical guard that gets downhill. I thought he played fairly well as he got to the paint plenty, finished around the rim decently and showed improved playmaking abilities. Shot mechanics have improved as well.?

Jared Harris, 6’4 SG 2024 - Silsbee: Harris is a threat in transition, fast with the ball in his hands and in the half-court utilizes his quick first step to blow by defenders. As an isolation scorer, Harris can find ways to create space in multiple ways and has a deep scoring package around the arc. With him playing so fast at times, his 3-point shooting can be inconsistent due to not getting feet set and under control.

Jaden Toombs, 6’9 C 2025 - Dynamic Prep: Toombs, Hudson Greer and the next two I’ll mention after Jaden had the best showings among Texas players at Pangos. Toombs displayed improved agility, was active on the glass, showed face-up game and blocked shots. Toombs is not explosive vertically, but he’s smart and quick twitch, which allows him to collect rebounds in traffic and score versus length. Toombs' weight loss and transformation of his body is allowing him to move quicker and guard the pick-and-roll better.?

Robert Miller, 6’9 PF 2024 - Pasadena Memorial: Couldn’t participate in the All Star Game but he showed why his stock has been rising this spring and summer. Athletic, mobile, adequate handle with size and has upside as a scorer and overall shooter. Could be more efficient with his touches, but you can see what the overall package could become down the road.?

Keitenn Bristow, 6’7 SF 2024 - Wichita Falls: A lot to like with this one and his best basketball is ahead of him. Good positional size, arm length and plays with a motor! 3-point shooting accuracy will improve as mechanics are in a good place, but could use a little tweaking. Bristow was active on the glass, was fearless when attacking the rim and absorbing contact and is someone who is a threat from the perimeter. Good to see him thrive in this setting.

Jalen Shelley, 6’7 Wing 2024 - Prestonwood Christian: Shelley possesses a lot of talent but he left me wanting more. A legit wing that can play-make and generate own look but just inconsistent with results. However, with that being said, I do believe he’s starting to turn the corner and his best basketball is ahead of him. Can’t knock the talent and when he’s on, he can impact winning with his scoring and passing.?

Doryan Onwuchekwa, 6’10 C 2024 - Faith Family: Seen him play better this spring but I’ll say this again, camps and big men are a mixed bag. Not a lot of post feeds happening, have to really get buckets by out-running your opponent in transition and being on the offensive glass. Onwuchekwa is a skilled big man with high feel for the game and is unselfish. He did have spurts of being assertive and I got to see how much of a load he is in the paint and the improvements in his outside shooting.

TreVaun Clark, 6’6 Wing 2026 - San Antonio Wagner: One of the few 2026’s so I didn’t have crazy high expectations for Clark, but I wanted to see how he competed and he did just that. This was a good experience for him and for me evaluating him versus older guys. A big wing that can stretch the floor and is an effective slasher. Will see him at Pangos in the future and it won't surprise anyone if he's one of the better players at the prestigious camp.?

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It was an all-star game of runs as the guys had fun but, still competed and looked to win. But let's go back some and prior to the game, Wesley Yates of FAB 50 ranked Beaumont United (Beaumont, Texas), who’s going to Washington to play for Mike Hopkins, took the Red Bull Run The Racks 3-point contest crown, beating out New Mexico Lobo pledge Tru Washington of AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.) in the final round. Next was our highly anticipated slam dunk contest and Coen Carr (Legacy Early College in South Carolina) and Jahki Howard (OTE) put on a dunking exhibition. Just like the game, we needed to go extra rounds to decide a champion and Carr, who will be attending Michigan State, showed extraterrestrial vertical pop. Now, let's get to the game and a breakdown of our nine standouts.

Coen Carr, 6’7 Forward - Team Future (Michigan State Signee): Coen saw his stock grow from this past week as he dunked everything…. And I mean everything! During the game, he broke the rebounding record of Jordan Bell of Poly (Long Beach, Calif.) with 16 rebounds in 2013 with 18 boards himself (including 12 in the first half) to go with 23 points. We will hear more about him during his tenure at East Lansing, Mich. Carr's early play set the tone for the entire game.

Justin Edwards, 6’7 Wing - Team Future (Kentucky Signee): A lot to like about Edwards. Positional size, length to deflect passes and can score the basketball in a multitude of ways. He showcased his versatility on the offensive end and looks to bring some of his North Philly toughness to Lexington.

Jeremy Fears, 6’0 PG - Team Future (Michigan State Signee): Jeremy came with it from an intensity standpoint. Competed on the defensive end, made plays for others and showed off his explosiveness jumping off two feet. A natural leader that’s about winning, Fears finished with 11 points and 9 assists and the win. His defensive effort and intensity down the stretch made a difference and was refreshing to see in an all-star game setting.

Mikey Price, 6’2 CG - Team Future (Undecided): Hardworking guard that can make an impact on both ends. Defended, made open perimeter shots and got downhill. Liked his constant assertiveness with the ball in his hands and he finished with 21 points. 

Marcus Adams, 6’8 Wing-Forward - Team Elite (Kansas Signee): First time I got to watch him live and Adams’ game popped out to me during the practices. His journey to a record-breaking 44 points showed him utilizing his broad frame on drives to finish, connecting on step-back triples, jumpers in the fast break and the ability to attack closeouts and finish. 

Wesley Yates III, 6’4 SG - Team Future (Washington Signee): Wesley can get hot quick from deep and on Saturday he showed once he’s feeling it from three point land, Yates needs little space to launch and connect. The Beaumont, Texas native finished the game with 26 points and I project we will see performances like this during his tenure in Seattle, Wash.

Andrew Meadow, 6’6 SF - Team Elite (Boise State Signee): Leon Rice got him a quality player. Meadows fits right in with his play style, as he has good size for a wing, high IQ, plus motor and can shoot the ball from 3-point land. Andrew was efficient from the field (9-14 FG) on his way to 22 points and six rebounds.

Jared McCain, 6’2 CG - Team Elite (Duke Signee): Jared’s performance wasn’t talked about much, but he had a quiet 22-point, 8-rebound performance for Team Elite. He did struggle a little bit early with his shooting but he steadily grabbed rebounds, ignited breaks and made deep threes from the 2nd quarter on. He's someone that has grown as a playmaker and overall scorer throughout his high school career and impacts game with his strength and IQ.

AJ Johnson, 6’5 PG - Team Elite (NBL): Heading to the Australian Pro League, Johnson will play for the Illawarra Hawks. The same one Josh Giddy & Lamelo Ball played on. At the game he showed his tight handle, passing vision, finishing and shooting upside. Johnson finished the game with 17 points and I still don’t think he has scratched the surface of his ceiling.

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Navarro College edged Tyler Junior College 76-74 following a put-back dunk prior to the last buzzer. Paris JC connected on a deep three before the horn in a 61-60 win vs Coastal Bend College.

The evening/night cap started off with Bossier Parish completing a comeback in the second half to knock out Angelina in overtime. Kilgore College had to fight off a relentless Lamar State College to advance to the second round.

Braelon Bush, 5’8 SO PG, Navarro College: A Houston native and a transfer from McNeese State, Bush was on fire in the second half vs TJC. Connected on triples coming off ball screens and was a creator and scorer in transition due to his speed with the ball and quick decision making. Bush finished with 25 points on 64% shooting.

Addarin Scott, 6’9 SO PF/C, Navarro College: Scott has made real strides since my time watching him at Dallas Carter High School. The game has slowed down for him and he’s able to show more of a skillset on the offensive end. Capable shooter from 15-feet in and although he missed the 3-point attempt, the mechanics looked fine. He rebounded at a high rate, finished vs length and ultimately got the go-ahead bucket for the Bulldogs with two seconds left to advance to the second round. Scott ended the game with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Corey Camper, 6’5 SO Guard, Tyler Junior College: A big guard out of Arkansas, Corey utilized his size to generate points on drive attempts. He applied rim pressure but when the defense played heavy off-ball help, he exhibited a pull-up game with great lift when he shoots. Camper finished the game with 20 points, 8 rebounds & 4 assists.

Marcus Rigsby Jr, 6’3 RS FR Guard, Tyler Junior College: A strong built guard that has a knack for scoring the ball. A combo with fairly long arms, Rigsby displayed a clean release when shooting off the dribble and utilizes his broad frame to create space on drives. Marcus concluded with 20 points on 73 percent shooting.

Ikechukwu Nwaobi, 6’5 FR Wing-Forward, Coastal Bend College: A long-armed wing that plays with a high motor. Nwaobi was very active on the offensive glass (4 off. rebounds) and generated second chance points for his team. I liked his ability to put the ball on the floor, get to the paint and his nose for the ball. 12 points & 9 rebounds for Nwaobi.

Trey Swazer, 6’3 FR Wing - Paris Junior College: Of the power-wing prototype. At 6’3 with plus length and a? strong build, Swazer is capable of guarding four positions at this level. High motor wing that rebounds well for size, can switch on defense and thrives as a slasher on offense. Trey notched a 10-point, 12 rebound double–double in the Dragon’s win on Tuesday.

Jaylen Wysinger, 6’1 SO PG - Paris Junior College: A skilled guard that showed nice shooting accuracy and passer feel. Crafty handle, a steady set-up pg that scores it within the flow of the offense. Jaylen played a big part in Paris’ win with 13 points & 5 assists.

Kendrick Delahoussaye, 6’0 SO PG - Bossier Parish CC: An attacking guard that played a large part in Bossier’s comeback win vs Angelina. Competed on both ends and relentlessly attacked the rim and found himself at the foul-line eight times. 18 points, 8 rebounds and 2 steals for Delahoussaye.?

Christian Caldwell, 6’6 SO Wing - Bossier Parish CC: A pogo-stick athlete that finishes & rebounds above the rim. Caldwell lived in the free throw line, attempting 11 versus Angelina. More than an athlete, however, Caldwell showed fluidity and great lift when he attempted a mid-range jumper. 12 points, 9 rebounds and 2 steals for Caldwell.

Patrick Johnson, 6’2 FR PG - Angelina College: The pg out of Compton, CA impressed me with his ability to impact the game outside of scoring. Rebounds well for a point guard that allows him to push tempo and find his open teammate early in transition. A capable shooter as well that connects when his feet are set. 7 points, 5 assists and 9 rebounds for Patrick.

Avontez Ledet, 6’2 SO Guard - Lamar State College: A sniper from deep. Ledet is a threat shooting the ball off the catch, on the move and even after attacking a closeout. Liked the efficiency he demonstrated on Tuesday in a 13 point, 7 rebound performance on 75 percent shooting from three.?

Daveon Thomas, 6’1 SO PG - Kilgore College: A sturdy built, athletic guard that can score in an array of ways. Albeit height, Thomas is a big-time athlete for size and his burst off the bounce allows him to garner clean shot attempts, especially in isolation. Made timely important plays for Kilgore to advance: The Cincinnati commit finished the game with 14 points, 7 rebounds on 50 percent shooting.??

Terrance Dixon Jr, 6’8 FR Forward - Kilgore College: I think Dixon’s best basketball is ahead of him as the active front-line prospect finished strong at the rim and showed good touch around the rim. Runs the floors well, strong vertical athlete that impacts trajectory of shots at the rim. Terrance finished with 12 points, 7 rebounds, 1 block on 83 percent shooting.?

Transfer Portal and The Impact on Junior College Basketball?

If you follow and listen to the “In The Paint” Show with me, Ronnie Flores and the boss lady Chelsea Hopkins (If you don’t, you need to listen ASAP) then you know we have talked in depth on how current one-time transfer rule has affected the landscape of D1 basketball and high school recruiting. What about Junior College basketball and recruiting? I got a chance to talk to three JUCO coaches that have been in the thick of it for a while to get their thoughts. Kilgore Head Coach Brian Hoberecht, TJC Assistant Coach Mitch Marquis & Navarro Assistant Coach Dejan Pavlovic.

?Before we get started, I am aware that JUCOs have been able to get D1 transfers because it never impacted the player’s eligibility, but with the heightened volume of players in the portal, I wanted to know how, if at all, it changed how they build their roster.?

Team Building

Coach Hoberecht 

“Have to figure out what your balance. Every program has a different definition of what their balance is. If that’s heavier on transfers and some high school/prep players or it’s half & half or maybe a program wants to bring in more high school players than transfers. Either way, D1 recruiting has slowed down across every level of basketball simply because of the portal. D1 staffs are patient, really looking to fill immediate needs and losses and will attack the other things later.”

Coach Marquis

“Finding the talent isn’t the issue but team building is now. We have to look at our program and see what’s best for us at TJC. How many transfers do we need to bring in? They are more experienced and ready to play but all of them have immediate high expectations. How many high school guys do we need to recruit? They also have high expectations but they may not be ready to help us win like that immediately.? Building synergy has been more of a challenge, too, and that all comes to play even more with how the portal is.”

Coach Pavlovic

“At our level we definitely keep our eyes in the transfer portal due to the fact we love to recruit experienced players because their game translates quicker than a true freshman out of high school, for example. Transfers are usually steps ahead in terms of skills and knowledge of the game than most true freshmen at our level, so that gives us an advantage to compete at a higher level. However the negative side of the transfer portal is the hit or miss in recruiting. It definitely affects us if we rely on a transfer to be an impact guy or day one starter and he turns out to struggle and maybe then you see why he transferred one or multiple times trying to figure out what level he can truly play at. Some transfers in the portal who transfer to our level often look down to competition in JUCO, I tell them all the time JUCO is a grind and many people are fighting for the same goals. We are very careful in recruiting the portal, my head coach is extremely high on the kids' character and extremely high on a kid loving the game of basketball.

“Finding the perfect balance will help eliminate a lot of potential problems you may face during the year, you don’t want a whole team of transfers because not everyone gets to play which causes a lot of unhappy players and it will be hard to get 10-12 sophomores that graduate in May moved onto the next level if many of them don’t have the numbers or film to get recruited.”

Impact on sending their player’s D1

Coach Pavlovic

“It hasn’t hit us hard but it’s changed what we’ve had to tell our guys. With the portal I’ve noticed many JUCO kids are committing earlier in their seasons than later due to the fact they don’t want to lose what they already have. We tell our players in the fall if schools reach out to you, offer you, and want you to visit, you need to seriously consider making a quick decision whether it’s to commit early or to wait for bigger offers. Reality is, even if you're not satisfied but it’s the choice you have to make. We tend to tell our players you need to understand how the portal has changed the landscape of our recruiting in JUCO. Not many schools will wait for a JUCO kid anymore as they once did.”

Coach Marquis

“No it’s not harder. If you're good they’ll find you. Now it may take a little longer than it did in the past but a kid good enough to go D1 from TJC, will go D1 from here.”

Coach Hoberecht

“It hasn’t hit us hard to find places for our guys. And thankfully, our success over the years has helped make the process easier for our staff. But I know as a whole, there just seems to be fewer opportunities for junior college guys. 

Overall Thoughts

Coach Marquis

“It’s made every coach at every level question everything. Now you’re not quite sure. D1 coaches that watch synergy on our guys and even come here still can be unsure. It seems if you don’t have the perfect situation for the player. The kid may leave, so now the first step of recruiting is re-recruiting your own players.”

Coach Pavlovic

It's just not easy to make decisions on JUCO kids as it was 5-7 years ago due to the portal. Many coaches on the D-1 level want the best of the best JUCO players early and fill their rosters with JUCO kids later in the spring or summer for their few spots left or needing a body.

Coach Hoberecht

“The one thing the transfer portal rule has taken out that I don’t like is I feel relationship building has gone out of the recruiting process. That part of the recruiting process was crucial for us and helped the player be comfortable quicker once he got on campus.”

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This year I see 2024 Nic Codie (Newman Smith, Carrollton, Texas) make a major leap in his stock in the next 3-6 months. Before we do an outlook on what’s ahead, we caught up with the 6’8 forward to talk about his season and how he’s been able to utilize his skills to equate to wins. 

“Coach (Percy) Johnson gives me a lot of freedom and I can impact games either on the wing or inside,” Codie said. “I enjoy playing on the wing more, being able to go off the dribble and score, but I also know when to go inside and get buckets, too. Coach Johnson having trust in me makes me play with confidence and do whatever I can to help my team win.”

Currently, the Trojans hold a 19-5 record and a flawless 11-0 record in district play. The Dallas Morning News recently ranked them No. 10 in their DFW 5A UIL (University Interscholastic League) poll. 

This whole season hasn’t been sweet though, as Newman Smith sunk into a 2-5 record to begin the season. So yes, Newman Smith is on a 17-game win streak since being three games under .500.

“Everyone knew we had to change. We obviously weren’t happy with our record. We had a meeting as a team and actually started to play like a team,” Codie said. “Everybody started showing 100 percent on defense, we started playing with a lot of energy, getting out on transition and not only looking for one person to score.”

Codie talks about the keys for the Trojans to make a playoff run in a deep Class 5A classification.

“Key is to stay humble, stay together, fix up the little stuff. We need to stay healthy and do what is needed to take care of our bodies.”

The Eval

Really in the tweener mold right now. Wiry, lean prospect with an array of skills. Adequate handle for size, which allows him to grab rebounds and push but also step out onto the wing and create own look when he has an advantage on the matchup. Goes inside and uses his plus length to finish over like-size opponents and is also active on the offensive glass. The shooting stroke looks promising especially on catch and shoot scenarios, but Codie can sometimes float on the perimeter more for my liking at times. Still, Codie provides a formidable inside-out game and I can see further down the road of him being a multi-purpose wing that’ll bring versatility on both ends of the floor.

Current Recruitment

Codie holds offers from Sam Houston State, UT Arlington, Tulsa and Cal-Berkeley. The Golden Bears recently just offered Codie. And when I say recent, I mean as recent as me beginning to write about his recruitment. Tulsa and Cal have been the programs that have pursued him the most so far. St. Louis, Louisiana Tech, Nicholls State and Texas A&M Corpus Christi have shown interest. 

“These next couple months will be important for me; be big on how my recruitment goes. Want to help my team make a run in the playoffs and try to win an Adidas Championship (Playing with Southern Assault) this summer,” Codie said. “I need to be consistent with my play and just show how good I am.”

Consistency is key for Codie, but he’s figuring out how to stay productive on the court outside of scoring. He checks a lot of boxes from a physical and skill standpoint and I do believe we will see the ????  emoji by his name many times until we get to the fall. Check back to this article in August and I bet I was right.

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RELATED: ? | ??

Ron and Ani also chop it up about the latest FAB 50 rankings and upcoming playoff scenarios, the NBA All-Star Game and a scary situation involving 2024 elite junior Tarik Watson of FAB 50 No. 21 Roselle Catholic (NJ), who collapsed on the court on January 29.

The ITP crew and its special guest offers some terrific insight on a variety of topics related to basketball development, so make sure to tune in to Episode 152 from start to finish!

(0:00) - Intro
(1:36) - Long Streaks Ending in HSBB
(5:35) - FAB 50: Beaumont United/Lake Highlands Collision Course?
(9:42) - Scary: Roselle Catholic’s Tarik Watson Collapses
(18:55) - Reaction to NBA All-Star Game
(23:08) - Advice for Prospects on Spring/Summer Plans
(29:46) - John Lucas III Interview
(33:07) - Lucas on Dedication, Proper Steps to Excel
(35:40) - Lucas on HSBB Playing Days
(46:26) - Lucas on Keys to Sticking in Pro Game
(51:34) - Lucas on Keys to Maximizing Workouts
(55:18) - Lucas on "Camp Get Right, the JL3 Way"
(1:05:41) - JL3 Camp Sign-Up Info
(1:08:23) - Ron & Ani’s Closing Thoughts on JL3 Perspective

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Get you & your squad laced up right with #BasketballbyColor: https://eastbay.wrjfga.net/c/2518158/912419/11074

The post Frank Nitty Shows Off All The DOPEST Shoes To HOOP IN This Season! What's Your Squad Rolling With? appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

In episode No. 24 of our  In The Paint Show," hosts Ronnie Flores and Devin Ugland cover three main topics: R.J. Hampton's jump from high school to pro ball, a deep look at the standouts at the recent Magic Memorial Day and a preview of the upcoming Pangos All-Amerian Camp in SoCal.

Hampton is fully qualified for college, but is following his dream and No. 1 goal of playing pro ball and getting to the NBA. Is he making the right move? How does his plight compare and contrast to that of Brandon Jennings, Jeremy Tyler, Terrence Ferguson, and Emmanuel Mudiay, the recent elites who decided to head overseas instead of enrolling in a college?

Ron and Dev break down their top performers at the Magic Memorial Day in 17U, 16U and 15U. 2020 National No. 1 Evan Mobley led the host Compton Magic to the tourney title, but other standouts in 17U they break down include Dalen Terry (Compton Magic), Frankie Collins (Dream Vision), Xavion Brown (Lakeshow) and Ian Martinez (SoCal All-Stars).

There were plenty of rising prospects in 16U and 15U including Mikey Williams of Team Thomas, one of the most hyped incoming ninth graders of recent memory. Ron breaks down his list of the five most hyped eighth graders in California history and what may be in store for Williams and Bronny James, who will also enter high school in Southern California next season.

The fellas also preview the 17th Annual Pangos All-American Camp, which will take place May 31-June 2 at Cerritos College. Ron and Dev talk about some of the guys who might challenge Mobley for Most Outstanding Player such as Cade Cunningham, Terrence Clarke, and Dayron Sharpe and some potential breakout performers such as Collins, Martinez, Isa Silva and Micawber Etienne. 

This is an action-packed episode and deep in detail with plenty of names, so make sure to give our Pod a listen and share it with friends!

To learn more about our hosts, Ronnie Flores and Devin Ugland, and to get more information about what "In The Paint" is all about, check out our intro below!

Subscribe to our new Podcast on iTunes here

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The purpose of the Pangos Frosh/Soph Camp tour is to give up and coming high school players a platform to receive national exposure in front of influential individuals in the world of grassroots basketball and to test their skill level against their peers on a regional, and even national, basis.

For 6-foot-9 Patrick Baldwin, whom most respected recruiting evaluators feel is the No. 1 prospect in the national 2021 class, the Pangos All-Midwest Frosh/Soph Camp is not about exposure or seeing where he stacks up against other elite Midwest talent.

The camp is a measuring stick of his own game. A self-evaluation of sorts and something else just as important. "I really want to see where my game is at as a whole compared to where it was during the high school season," Baldwin said as he prepared for his Saturday evening game. "To come here and compete is my main goal."

The way Camp ? Should Be! Players challenging each other! pic.twitter.com/aeUO1VYF1M

— Scott/Ballislife (@BallisLifeCHI) October 21, 2018

Baldwin burst onto the national scene two years ago at this camp with a terrific performance for a rising eighth-grader, ranked the No. 26 performer overall in by GrassrootsHoops.net and setting the stage for a terrific freshman campaign at (Hamilton, Sussex, Wis.) after once again playing in the event last October.

In 2017, he was name Pangos All-Midwest Frosh/Soph Camp Most Outstanding Player and was subsequently ranked No. 1. He followed that up by earning Underclass All-American honors from www.ebooksnet.com, only one of 10 freshman nationally to make the cut on the prestigious honors squad.

"I don't stick my chest out and say 'I'm No. 1' or anything like that, but I do believe in myself and my ability," Baldwin said.

In the spirit of competition, Baldwin came to the event for a third time. Now finding someone to go against and compete with was another matter. It wouldn't have been shocking if Baldwin was heads and shoulders better than everyone and didn't find someone who could match his tremendous skill level. Baldwin is self-motivated and a high character young man, but there is nothing he could do if anyone wasn't remotely talented enough to guard him. On the flip side, there is only so much one can do if a player is just too big, too skilled and too experienced to guard.

That wasn't the case.

In his first camp game, Baldwin found a perfect test for his budding game, one that has him being compared to the likes of NBA players Kyle Anderson and Jabari Parker.

Meet Sekou Gassama, a 6-foot-10 sophomore (2021) from Desmet Jesuit (St. Louis MO). The Mali native attended this same camp last year and barely registered on scouting sheets. Sure, he had terrific size and some long-term potential, but little feel and polish.

Oh, what a difference 365 days can make.

Gassama, who watches alot of and tries to pattern his game after NBA star Anthony Davis, is a true post player with a terrific frame who can run the floor with ease. His balance and footwork are light years better than what it was a year ago. Gassama is also tough and loves to use his muscular upper body to mix it up inside. He also displays a solid shooting touch at the free throw line for someone with little experience playing the game.

In one of the best camp games we've seen in recent memory at the Pangos Frosh/Soph Camps, Gassama went to work right away. He competed and bodied up Baldwin and really made him work for his, and the Sussex High standout got plenty. Gassama tried to push Baldwin further out from his comfortable spots, and he responded by making deep jump shots and with beautiful driving finishes, including some of the left-hand variety. Baldwin also did some work on the blocks, but Gassama offered plenty of resistance. Gassama also made some baskets around the rim and threw down a powerful dunk off an offensive rebound put back that got everyone in the gym noticing the terrific matchup and asking, "Who's THAT guy?"

Baldwin couldn't ask for a better scenario: someone to bring out the best in his vast arsenal. So did Gassama surprise Baldwin (who he remembered from last year)?

"He did, actually, he plays extremely hard," Baldwin said.

"I had come from Africa two weeks before last year's camp," Gassama said. "I was not ready to do something good. The games was too fast for me, but I have worked really hard to get ready for this year."

The Mali native is playing with a heavy heart as his father back home passed away two months ago. His mother, two brothers and sisters remain in his home country. Gassama would like do nothing more than to honor the memory of his father and make his family back home proud by doing his very best here in the United States.

"Of course the basketball competition is good here, but I also like school. It's a big opportunity for me to study."

Gassama couldn't have chosen a better course than this camp.

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at [email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonMFlores

The post Meet Sekou Gassama: Brings Out Best in '21 No. 1 Patrick Baldwin "He's A PRO"! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

The game was closer than you might expect but in the second half, Jass' team took over.

Check out these raw highlights from Sneaker Con Chicago featuring Tristan Jass including some exclusive, live pregame Jellies from TJass!
For more exclusive basketball highlights watch and subscribe to all the Ballislife youtube channels and follow @scottballislife on Instagram and @BallislifeCHI on Twitter.

Thanks for watching and subscribing!

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Centennial, particularly Oregon-bound power point guard Troy Brown, came to play and gave Sierra Canyon all it can handle. Brown finished with 21 points and had THE PLAY of the Tarkanian Classic, dribbling between two defenders and throwing down a facial on Marvin Bagley III, which sent the crowd into a frenzy in a close game. It was 45-40 Sierra Canyon at that point in the second half and all that spectacular play did was seem to fire up the Trailblazers, who went on to post a 61-52 victory to move to 7-0 on the season.

Bagley, who sat a long period of time (roughly six minutes) in the first half, picked up his play at the end of the game to finish with 18 points and seven rebounds. UCLA-bound forward Cody Riley , who played well down the stretch in the win over Oak Hill, finished with 15 points versus Centennial, which came in as a FAB 50 bubble team and fell to 7-2 on the season. Its other loss is to Clark (Las Vegas), which is 1-1 so far in the Platinum Division of the Tarknian Classic. Sierra Canyon and Centennial is not part of the bracket and the unbeaten Trailblazers are boarded a bus back to Southern California Saturday night.

It wasn't its cleanest game, but Sierra Canyon will learn from it. It cannot play down to the competition and has to play consistently for consecutive games if its going to win CIF Southern Section and CIF state open championships.

Tarkanian Semifinals Set

Chino Hills, which is now 9-0 and riding a 44-game winning streak, will take on Roosevelt (Corona, Calif.) in Monday's 4 pm (PT) semifinal at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. Roosevelt advanced with a 64-51 victory over Crossroads (Santa Monica, Calif.), as Cal-St. Fullerton-bound Matt Mitchell had 23 points, while CAL-bound Jemarl Baker added 20. If it wasn't for Troy Brown's spectacular play, Mitchell would have the play of the event so far with his own facial dunk over Shareef O'Neal.

The other semifinal will pit FAB 50 No. 18 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) versus host Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) at 5:30 pm (PT). Mater Dei downed Salesian (Richmond, Calif.) in its quarterfinal contest 58-46, as senior forward Justice Sueing had 17 points and five rebounds. Bishop Gorman had no trouble with Westchester (Los Angeles), defeating the Comets 96-53, as seniors Christian Popoola Jr. (BYU) and Charles O'Bannon Jr. (Undecided) netted 21 points each.

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at [email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonMFlores

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The finals ballots are in and after the expanded ballots are tallied, for the first time in nine years there is a tie at the top. UCLA bound point guard Lonzo Ball of FAB 50 champion Chino Hills (Calif.) and Kansas bound wing Josh Jackson of Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) both net 85 overall points. Will there be a co-National Player of the Year? What is the difference in their candidacies? The only other players to receive at least one second-place vote are Alabama-bound Braxton Key and junior center DeAndre Ayton.

After last summer's grassroots season created preseason positioning for legitimate national player of the year candidates, the production at major holiday tournaments, showcases and various state playoff tournaments around the country that changed that original positioning. Even after the national high school all-star game circuit closed out the season, for the first time ever the final Mr. Basketball USA Tracker powered by www.ebooksnet.com balloting has ended in a tie.

After the completion of the 2015-16 high school basketball season, the distinguished Mr. Basketball USA panel had a hard time deciding if UCLA-bound Lonzo Ball of FAB 50 national champion Chino Hills (Chino Hills, Calif.) or Kansas-bound Josh Jackson of Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) was the best and most productive player in the country. Both players are considered top five senior recruits in the country and have compelling resumes, so the factors that will ultimately decide who will forever be bestowed with the prestigious honor of 2015-16 Mr. Basketball USA must be further reviewed and broken down.

For starters, there will be no co-national player of the year. For decades, we've never had ties when it comes to team rankings or individual honors -- and we never will. We'll continue to break down the relevant results or factors and ultimately pick a winner or No. 1 team -- and take any heat that comes with it. The Ball-Jackson debate is no different.

Jackson, who missed seven Prolific Prep games while resting nagging injuries or because of schedule college visits,  averaged 26.9 ppg, 13.1 rpg, 6.3 apg, 3.5 steals and 3.9 blocks for a 26-7 team. Jackson likely help his candidacy with a strong performance at the 2016 McDonald's All-American Game after he was overtaken by Ball in points in the second-to-last tracker, but he still finished with the same amount of overall points as before (85). Jackson appeared on nine overall ballots, while Ball was one of two candidates to appear on each ballot.

Ball had a historic season for Chino Hills, which finished 35-0 and the first team from California to finish No. 1 in the FAB 50 National Team Rankings powered by www.ebooksnet.com in 16 years. The 6-foot-6 point guard averaged a triple double of 23.9 ppg, 11.3 rpg and 11.7 apg to go along with 5.1 spg and 2.0 bpg. While Jackson went 9-of-11 from the field to finish with 19 points while looking like perhaps the most NBA-ready player in Chicago for the McDonald's Game, Ball also played a great hand in helping the West team to victory. He didn't score, but tallied four rebounds, two blocked shots and tied the event record with 13 assists. A few weeks later at the 2016 Ballislife All-American Game (watch the complete BILAAG here), Ball broke the event record for assists with 13 (as did guard Andrew Jones of MacArthur High School in Irving, Texas).

Although he appeared on one more ballot than Jackson, Ball actually had two votes lower than second place to allow Jackson to finish with the same overall point total. Jackson didn't have a vote lower than second place, while Ball finished with sixth first place votes, with the other four going to the Kansas-bound small forward who originally hails from Michigan.

The other candidate to appear on all ten ballots was Duke-bound forward Jayson Tatum from Chaminade (St. Louis, Mo.), Gatorade's National Player of the Year choice. Behind the strength of six third-place votes and two fourth-place tallys, Tatum finished a strong No. 3 in overall points with 67. Junior center DeAndre Ayton of Hillcrest Academy (Phoenix, Ariz.), who finished in fourth place with 58 points, was the only candidate other than the two front-runners to tally more than one second-place vote. Tatum, despite his consistency on the ballots, did not tally a second place vote. Twenty-five candidates earned recognition as a national player of the year candidate in the final, expanded tracker.

Since the Mr. Basketball USA Tracker began for the 2007-08 season, there has never been a tie in the final balloting before the Ball-Jackson race. At the conclusion of the 2009-10 season, small forward Harrison Barnes of Ames (Ames, Iowa) finished with 89 points on nine ballots to edge power forward Jared Sullinger of Northland (Columbus, Ohio) by a single point. Barnes, who now plays for the defending NBA champ Golden State Warriors, edged Sullinger behind the strength of eight first place votes, while the current Boston Celtics power forward tallied the other two first-place votes and six second-place votes. Barnes was eventually named Mr. Basketball USA for 2009-10.

Barnes is carving out a more than solid NBA career and although it was a tough choice, in retrospect it appears Barnes was the correct call. With the panel having an even tougher time splitting hairs between Ball and Jackson, will the right choice be made this year? Only time will reveal that answer.

Editor's Note: Click on the "+" sign next to each player's number to view how many first, second, third or fourth place votes he got and his overall point total.

Rank	Prev.	Name	High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Total
1T	1	Lonzo Ball (10)	Chino Hills (CA)	6	2	0	0	85
1T	2	Josh Jackson (9)	Prolific Prep (CA)	4	5	0	0	85
3	4	Jayson Tatum (10)	Chaminade (MO)	0	0	6	2	67
4	3	DeAndre Ayton (8)	Hillcrest Academy (AZ)	0	2	2	2	56
5	5	De'Aaron Fox (9)	Cy Lakes (TX)	0	0	0	1	48
6	8T	Markelle Fultz (6)	DeMatha (MD)	0	0	0	1	29
7	6	Miles Bridges (6)	Huntington Prep (WV)	0	0	0	0	27
8	7	Mustapha Heron (5)	Sacred Heart (CT)	0	0	0	1	25
9	NR	Terrance Ferguson (4)	API (TX)	0	0	0	2	20
10T	10	Bam Adebayo (4)	High Point (NC)	0	0	0	1	18
10T	NR	Cassius Winston (4)	U of D Jesuit (MI)	0	0	1	0	18
12T	16T	Frank Jackson (5)	Lone Peak (UT)	0	0	0	0	11
12T	13	Malik Monk (3)	Bentonville (AR)	0	0	0	0	11
14	8T	T.J. Leaf (5)	Foothills Christian (CA)	0	0	0	0	10
15	16T	Braxton Key (1)	Oak Hill (VA)	0	1	0	0	9
16	NR	Rawle Alkins (1)	Word of God (NC)	0	0	1	0	8
17T	NR	Trevon Duval (1)	API (TX)	0	0	0	0	4
17T	12	Alterique Gilbert (1)	Miller Grove (GA)	0	0	0	0	4
17T	NR	Brandon McCoy (1)	Cathedral Catholic (CA)	0	0	0	0	4
20	16T	Davy Singleton (1)	Bishop Montgomery (CA)	0	0	0	0	3
21T	NR	Jarrett Allen (1)	St. Stephen's (TX)	0	0	0	0	2
21T	16T	Marques Bolden (1)	DeSoto (TX)	0	0	0	0	2
21T	15	Ethan Thompson (1)	Bishop Montgomery (CA)	0	0	0	0	2
24T	NR	Wendell Carter Jr. (1)	Pace Academy (GA)	0	0	0	0	1
24T	NR	Chris Lykes (1)	Gonzaga (DC)	0	0	0	0	1

2015-16 Mr. Basketball USA Tracker Panel

Paul Biancardi, ESPN National Director of Basketball Recruiting
Frank Burlison, BurlisonOnBasketball.com Publisher
Van Coleman, TheBasketballChannel.net VP of Content
Ronnie Flores, www.ebooksnet.com National Grassroots Editor
Clark Francis, Hoop Scoop Editor & Publisher
Bob Gibbons, All-Star Sports
Jerry Meyer, 247Sports.com Director of Scouting
Scott Phillips, NBC Sports National College Basketball Writer
Patrick Stanwood, Patrick Stanwood Basketball
Dinos Trigonis, Fullcourt Press Editor & Publisher

About Basketball USA Tracker Panel
www.ebooksnet.com's panel of 10 experts, which includes six McDonald’s All-American selection committee members, casts its vote for the top national player of the year candidates. Each panelist lists his top seven candidates regardless of class. The votes are then tabulated on a 10-point scoring system with a first-place vote equaling 10 points, a second-place vote earning nine points and down to four points for a seventh-place vote. The number in parenthesis refers to the numbers of ballots on which a player appeared and previous rankings refers to position in the previous tracker.

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