casino near me with slots http://www.ebooksnet.com/tag/adidas-3ssb/ www.ebooksnet.com is your 1 stop shop for everything basketball! Thu, 25 Apr 2024 21:38:53 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 3SSB Omaha: Notebook, Part II http://www.ebooksnet.com/3ssb-omaha-notebook-part-ii/ http://www.ebooksnet.com/3ssb-omaha-notebook-part-ii/#respond Sat, 20 Apr 2024 04:51:13 +0000 http://www.ebooksnet.com/?p=275283 Texas & Oklahoma Standouts

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I’m going to close out my two recaps from my time in Omaha, Nebraska for Adidas 3SSB Session with a review on the players from Texas and Oklahoma-based travel ball programs. Let’s dive in to what I evaluated!

Southern Assault

The 17U didn’t have an ideal showing, going 1-3 last weekend but the silver lining was the play from 2025 D.J. Hall. A player that I have received numerous calls from, from various collegiate levels. Hall averaged 14.7 ppg and 7.2 rpg a game and Hall just showed his versatility offensively. A burly built forward standing at about 6'6-6'7, Hall is a skilled 4-man that can dribble, pass and shoot. Most of his damage is in the post, using advanced footwork, a large frame and plus length to generate space to score. An adequate mid-range shooter, high level passer from 15 feet in and as the games went on, he rebounded and started igniting breaks.

Players like him can be a challenge to evaluate. What is the right level for Hall? He doesn’t play above the rim and I do wish he was a little bit taller, but his feel and skill allows him to be very productive and players like him have been successful at the D1 level. I’ve said it in the past about other guys and I’ll say it again...He’s someone that, regardless if it's low, mid or high major D1, the program that values what he is and utilizes him right will get a stud.

16U

The 2026 group went 2-2 and two players stood out to me. Big man Davion Adkins and guard/wing Alex Barther. Adkins has freakish athleticism. Skies for blocks and dunks and one play, he snatched a shot with two hands and hit his head on the backboard. His effort, athleticism and touch with his hook shots, Adkins has emerged as a top 30-40 player in the country and can jump to 5-Star status at some point in his high school career. I think there’s a lot more to unlock from a face-up and overall skill facet as well.

Barther led the team in scoring as he shot it well in spot-ups from three, rebounded well due to 95 percent of his basketball career, he's played the post. Also liked when games got tight, he posted up smaller defenders and used height advantage. Another player that’s on the national scenes in the 2026 class.

Team Trae Young

The 17U group probably want to forget Omaha, but most importantly learn from what didn’t work. They went 0-4. I did think Jaylen Lawal showed he’s a no brainer D1 player and will garner a couple offers throughout the spring/summer. Four-star guard Carlsheon Young can score it in bunches. A very talented player that just didn’t get in a rhythm offensively that I'm accustomed to him being in. Damario Adams is a 6’7 wing-forward that holds an assortment of skills. An intriguing prospect that during the live periods, if Adams can string together a couple high level games, can see his stock skyrocket. Tough weekend for them but they’ll clean up the main areas of concern especially with lack of ball movement and questionable shot selection and I expect them to be better going forward.

16U

The 2026 squad ended with an even record of 2-2. Bryce Dixon is a wing prospect that exudes toughness. Gets to the rim on drives, rebounds in traffic, fights for the loose ball and improving his perimeter game. Defensively, Dixon takes charges, does a good job keeping the ball-handler in front and uses strength to push out taller guys that try to post him up. I think he has a good IQ for the game, and once his skill matches that and the motor, he’ll see himself in a different tier than he’s at currently.

The other prospect that stood out to me was Brandon Malone. A 6’6-6’7 forward that ran the floor hard, made trail threes and finished at the rim. His ability to stretch the floor allows him to mix it up and attack the rim from the top of the key because the defender is closing out harder on him. One to keep tabs of.

ASAK Elite

The 2025 group went 2-2 on the weekend. 2026 Bo Ogden played up and was very good. Shot it well from deep and I like that he can get his feet set quickly on the move and launch. His motor and effort to secure offensive rebounds or just keep the play alive stood out to me. A no-brainer top 75 level prospect nationally in my opinion and you can argue higher. 2025 Aiden Disu has a lot of potential. The first game in ASAK’s win vs MASS Rivals, he collected 16 points and 11 rebounds. A sturdy built wing that can score inside and out and guard multiple positions when locked in on that end. Rising senior Uzziyah Bunton was very solid as well. Managed the games well and scored when the opportunities were present. Sometimes his production goes beyond what the box-score stats say.

16U

This team also probably wants to forget Omaha as well. They were winless in the first session. Second half scoring droughts hurt them in close battles.

2026 Billy White is about 6’7 and shoots the cover off the ball. His size and confidence as a shooter allows him to make tough shots. A very dependable perimeter threat that doesn’t need much time to get his shot off. Will rise in the national top 150 before his high school career is over.

Silas Rodriguez was productive. Shot it well from three, can make shots off the dribble and uses angles very well when finishing vs traffic. Silas' feel for the game is a plus and as an off ball mover, he puts himself in advantageous opportunities to score the ball. One trait I do think about Silas that can go unnoticed is he has an edge about him that allows him to make his presence known in games.

One Time Legends

I didn’t get to evaluate their 16U club but I will at the next stop I’m at. The 2025 group went 2-2 and I liked how the team played together. Unsigned senior Jakeel Registe was good. Averaged 16 ppg and his blend of athleticism and shot creation stood out. He utilized jab steps to keep defenders honest before he launched and when he was near the rim, Registe finished with dunks but also showed off his hang-time and finished well around translatable length and size. The talent is there, he’s a D1 level prospect and the next 30-35 days will be big for him.

2025 Dasean Brodie has always intrigued me. A lefty with a good basketball frame, makes shots from deep and has a solid feel for rebounding the basketball. One to keep tabs throughout the summer and see where his recruitment goes.

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3SSB Omaha: Notebook, Part I http://www.ebooksnet.com/3ssb-omaha-notebook-part-i/ http://www.ebooksnet.com/3ssb-omaha-notebook-part-i/#respond Wed, 17 Apr 2024 18:11:52 +0000 http://www.ebooksnet.com/?p=275264 Standouts At Adidas!

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Been traveling a good bit the past month and I’ve finally slowed down to write. In this two part look, I take a dive into my notebook from the Adidas 3SSB Session in Omaha, Nebraska. It’s still early in the club basketball season, which means teams and players look different right than they will in the summer as they play more games together with their teammates. Let’s start with the storylines.?

Kaden Magwood Helped Himself 

Known mainly for his scoring prowess, 2025 guard Kaden Magwood displayed his playmaking for Team Loaded VA. He finds the open man because he generates a lot of gravity from the defense. He was finding shooters on drives and making shots off the bounce, even when he didn’t have much space to get it off. One of the top players from the weekend, as he averaged 25 ppg, 4 rpg and 3.5 apg.?

Darryn Peterson Showing Why He’s a 5 Star

Phenom United finished the Omaha session with a 3-1 record. A large part was due to ‘25 PG Darryn Peterson. He averaged 23.7 pppg, 7.7 rpg, 2.3 apg and 3.0 spg. Peterson impacts the game on both ends. At about 6’5 and a legit point guard, Peterson utilized his combo of strength and burst off the bounce to get to the rim. He rebounds and attacks in transition and is also an adequate perimeter shooter. He’s always had a strong frame, but it seems Peterson added more muscle to his build and he’s generating space off of contact easier.?

Best Underclassman Performer: Caleb Holt 

A premier prospect in 2026, Caleb Holt for Game Elite has shown growth in his game. Last time I saw him was at the City of Palms Classic in December and he showed more comfort with the ball in his hands. This past weekend in Omaha, it seems as if the game is slowing down for him when he’s the lead guard.?

Holt's pace was good, he didn’t force many shots. He is a willing passer but he also knew when to turn on the gears and collect a bucket. Holt plays with a lot of power and he generates adequate lift on his pull-ups and finishes at the rim. Finished the weekend session averaging 24.5 ppg, 6 rpg and 2 apg.?

The Versatility of Koa Peat 

Versatility is key when it comes to basketball. For guards, wings, post, no matter the position, it makes no difference and Koa Peat is one who provides a lot of versatility offensively. Standing at about 6’8 with a large frame, Peat can handle the ball under pressure, operate in the mid-post or post for a bucket, can pass out of double teams,? rebounds out of his area and ignite breaks after securing a board.

I saw all that on display at the 1st Session of 3SSB as he led the Compton Magic to a 3-1 record and averaged 18.8 ppg, 7 rpg, and 2 apg. ?

Moreno, Mullins Combo Propels Indiana Elite To a Spotless Record 

Indiana Elite won all four games in Omaha as they were clicking on all cylinders. Good ball movement, 3- point shot making with a formidable interior presence.?

‘25 Malachi Moreno was the interior presence. The 6’11 big man ran the floor well and showed good touch around the rim. He has real upside as a shooter down the road, and altered shots defensively.?

For the shooting, ‘25 Braylon Mullins shot the cover off the ball. He has a quick trigger on his jumper, and is a versatile shooter that made shots off the bounce, move and spot up situations. Capped off the weekend averaging 20 ppg, 3 rpg and 2 apg.

2027 Ryan Hampton Checks A Lot of Boxes

Ryan, the younger brother of NBA player RJ Hampton, suited up for Game Elite on the 15U level and he showed why, albeit it being early, that he’s within the top tier of 2027 players in the country. Standing at about 6’6, Ryan Hampton has a smooth shooting stroke from deep off the catch and thrives in transition as an attacker to the rim. He averaged 23 ppg and 8 rpg. ?

There's still plenty of room for growth, but Hampton's scoring prowess, combined with his length and emerging vertical pop, allows himself to be a difference maker on the court.?

Player Notables 

2025 

Moustapha Thiam, 7’1 C - SE Elite: Big man’s that’s mobile and has a nice touch around the rim. Also saw range with his shooting. Mobility mixed with shooting upside and rim protecting was on display.?

Mikel Brown, 6’3 PG - Team Loaded NC: Very skilled guard that we’ve seen grow not only in skill but height and athleticism during his time in high school. Perimeter shooting, has a high passer feel and because his range extends beyond the 3-point line, it gives his teammates more room to operate on the court.?

Joson Sanon, 6’5 Guard - BABC: A big-time shot maker that showed shiftiness off the bounce. Clean pull-up game from three and the mid-range area. Was in attack mode offensively and defenses had to put their best perimeter defender on him. Averaged 21 ppg and 5.8 rpg.?

2026 

Gabe Weis, 6’6 SF/PF - Wildcat Select: Size, skill and IQ standout when watching Weis play. Dependable perimeter shooter that attacked closeouts well. Also liked his control when he had the size advantage inside. Holds adequate footwork and uses his body well to generate space before he launches. 

Brandon Bass Jr., 6’3 Guard - SE Elite: Really showed his scoring prowess this past weekend. Thought he did a good job as a secondary ballhandler and attacking closeouts from the wing when the ball was swung to him. Showed why he’s on the high end of prospects in 2026.?

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Adidas 3SSB Chapter 2: Storylines & Notables! http://www.ebooksnet.com/adidas-3ssb-chapter-2-storylines-notables/ http://www.ebooksnet.com/adidas-3ssb-chapter-2-storylines-notables/#respond Tue, 02 May 2023 04:40:00 +0000 https://bilcomprd.wpengine.com/?p=265991 Standout Players in College Station!

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After three weeks in Atlanta, I touched back down to Texas to catch the second weekend of the Adidas 3SSB Live Period Event at College Station. Got to catch as much as I could from Saturday so come checkout what I saw on my 10-hour work shift.

On Point About Nic Codie

It feels good to be right as I talked about ‘24 Nic Codie seeing a considerable leap in his recruitment this travel ball season here. It seems as if everything is coming together for him. Playing hard each possession, defending on the perimeter, protecting the rim, shooting from deep, finishing with either hand; Codie has polished his offensive game and imposing his will on both ends. Codie has recently received offers from Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Virginia Tech, SMU, Texas Tech and more during the NCAA Spring Live Period.

Darryn Peterson…..

Most of the time I just give my southwest prospect evaluations, but I still keep track of players from outside the region. It’s been a while since I’ve locked in and saw 2025 Darryn Peterson of Phenom United play and wow. The saying, “That’s what they look like,” applies to Peterson. And that statement means that’s what guys that eventually end up in the NBA or have a good chance to look like. Also, I’m always impressed when someone can drop 40 plus points at nine o'clock in the morning. Positional size and three level scoring we knew was there, but the high level passes and overall playmaking puts him on the elite tier of prospects in his class. Also defensively, he utilized his length to disrupt opposing ball-handlers and was able to switch from the 1-3 spots.

Cooper Flagg, Cameron Boozer & Koa Peat have been on a tier of their own early on for 2025, but Peterson has entered that level as well.

Team Talk: Team Trae Young

Team Trae Young finished April with a 7-1 record in the 3SSB Circuit, as the group contains depth and plays with an abundance of confidence and chemistry. Have to give credit to coaches George Clay, Josh Davis & Morlon Wiley for constructing a balanced team. 

Now to the Jimmy’s and Joe’s. Big man Doryan Onwuchekwa has been playing at a high level all year and it’s continuing in the Spring. Big body front-line prospect that has a soft touch with either hand, plus footwork on the block and is expanding his shooting range. Also helps that he’s in what possibly is the best shape I’ve seen him and he’s being productive now in longer stretches. Guard Bo Aldridge decision to re-class to 2024 is looking like a great move so far for him. Receiving high major offers from Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Mississippi State, Cal-Berkeley and more. Lefty that’s a big time scorer that excels getting downhill. Seeing a big stock increase. 2024 Dillon Battie, son of 15-year NBA player Tony Battie, is starting to turn the corner some. An athletic forward that plays with a plus motor and plays above the rim. The skill is progressively starting to catch up with the athleticism and Dillon is showing moments of what it’ll look like when it comes together. ‘25 Calrsheon Young is playing up and more than holding his own. A strong, scoring guard that’s handling the speed and physicality of the 17U just fine.

Team Talk: TJ Ford Academy

The Ford brothers,Tim and T.J., got the guys rolling with a flawless record on Adidas Gold with an 8-0 record after finishing up both chapters. Headlining the group is 2024 Robert Miller. At 6’10 with his versatility, you’re not seeing many guys not only in Adidas but in the country with his size and skill set. Continues to rise in the national player rankings. 2024 Jayden Gambrell is a guard with fairly long arms who can shoot it beyond the 3-point line. Like his size at 6’4 and his shooting prowess. The best available 2023 in Texas…well it's Ron Holland is now. So ladies and gentlemen,  the second best available 2023 player in the Lone Star State is 7’1 Bukky Oboye. Oboye at his size can move, block shots at a high rate, can shoot the three and has advanced ball skills for a player his size. He’s far from polished, but what he can do at his size isn’t common. Again, he has some work to do but I believe if he continues to play we will see a wide variance of D1’s on him. Also wanted to note how the 2023 backcourt of T.J. Ford Jr and Bryson Smith have been playing. Really managing the backcourt, getting to the paint and defending the full length of the floor. Both can score the ball, but I’ve also been impressed also with their playmaking.   

Mr. Devon Pryor

One Time Legends’ wing Devon Pryor is seeing his recruitment soar. Pryor, who was injured for the majority of the second half of the 2022-23 scholastic season, looks to be healthy and we are seeing his full offensive repertoire. At 6’7, he’s a dependable secondary ball-handler, is a big time vertical athlete and his shooting has vastly improved. He’s dependable connecting off the catch or bounce. He’s performing like a Top 100 player in the country.

2026 Prospect of The Event: Caleb Holt

I have talked about at length about the 2025 class, but the 2026 crop have been showing out as well and some are playing in the 17U division. Tyran Stokes is leading a 8-0 Vegas Elite squad in the Nike EYBL and A.J. Dybantsa is the second leading scorer in EYBL 17U division with 20 ppg. 

But we got to talk about Caleb Holt being a big-time contributor for a 7-1 17U Game Elite team on the 3SSB. A shifty, athletic guard that puts rim pressure. Holt has a plus wingspan, and is a quick twitch athlete that displays the ability to make an open 3-pointer. He’s one of the top 2026’s I’ve seen in the country and him still being able to do what he does best playing up is impressive.

Notables

Flory Bidunga, 6’8 2024 PF/C - Indiana Elite: Lefty big man that’s uber productive. Swats shots, even seen him closeout and block shots from the 3-point line. Athletic finisher that goes for every rebound and showed some promising touch on hooks and floaters. We see why he’s ranked so high in 2024. Will be a successful college player. Hasn’t played many years of organized ball so upside is very intriguing. 

Annor Boateng, 6’5 2024 Wing - Arkansas Hawks: Powerful, athletic wing-guard prospect that utilized strength and athleticism to score. Adequate mid-range game and I believe there’s been progress with the shooting and ball-handling. Boateng shouldered the offensive load for the Hawks.

Josiah Moore, 6’5 2024 Wing - One Time Legends: I came away very impressed with Moore. There was a stretch in the morning game where he collected four steals, he captured a poster dunk and one play he split a double team coming off a ball screen, then got to the basket and scored. This was in a span of four minutes. All that needs to be said.

Micah Robinson, 6’6 2024 Wing - Southern Assault: Broad framed wing that’s versatile. Plays the secondary ball-handler role and sometimes has primary dribbling duties in spurts. A capable shooter from three, really zips his passes and can thread a needle if needed and he knows how to find his way to the free throw line. There are some things that he needs to really work on, but I believe Micah will be a quality high major player.

Cam Carroll, 6’2 2025 PG - Southern Assault 16U: Tough, physical guard that embraces contact on drives. Cam is at his best when he relentlessly looks to get downhill and put pressure on the defense. Strong paint finisher, floater game and just generates a lot of activity when he’s aggressive. 

Amir McMillian, 6’ PG - Urban ASAK: When the ball is in his hands, McMillian is always on the go. Fast with the ball in his hands, McMillian gets paint touches and also can stop on a dime, launch and connect vs length. 

Peyton Marshall, 7’ Center - Game Elite: Peyton is a load inside. Large frame, legit size and has good foot-work on the block. Really throws his weight around and makes defenses adjust when he’s on the floor because he’s a threat in the paint. I believe the best basketball is ahead of him, especially when he reaches optimal shape. 

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Five Star IAN JACKSON Battles Michigan State commit KUR TENG and adidas 3SSB Top Team! http://www.ebooksnet.com/five-star-ian-jackson-battles-michigan-state-commit-kur-teng-and-adidas-3ssb-top-team/ http://www.ebooksnet.com/five-star-ian-jackson-battles-michigan-state-commit-kur-teng-and-adidas-3ssb-top-team/#respond Mon, 01 May 2023 19:50:00 +0000 https://bilcomprd.wpengine.com/?p=265996 Ian Jackson (2024) is considered one of the top prospects in high school basketball. He attends Hayes HS…

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Ian Jackson (2024) is considered one of the top prospects in high school basketball. He attends Hayes HS in the Bronx and plays with Wiz Kids on the adidas 3ssb circuit alongside top 75 prospect Elijah Moore (Syracuse commit). Wiz Kids faced off against Mass Rivals, last year's adidas champs, in Bryan Texas to close out week 2 of the adidas 3ssb circuit. Rivals are led by Kur Teng (Michigan State commit), Texas A&M commit Andre Mills and George Turkson among others. This game went down to the wire! Thanks to Garcia @garciafps for the footage and everyone at adidas!

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http://www.ebooksnet.com/five-star-ian-jackson-battles-michigan-state-commit-kur-teng-and-adidas-3ssb-top-team/feed/ 0 Five Star IAN JACKSON Battles Michigan State commit KUR TENG and adidas 3SSB Top Team! - www.ebooksnet.com Ian Jackson (2024) is considered one of the top prospects in high school basketball. He attends Hayes HS in the Bronx and plays with Wiz Kids on the adidas 3ssb circuit alongside top 75 prospect Elijah Moore (Syracuse commit). Wiz Kids faced off against Mass Rivals, last year's adidas champs, in Bry aau,adidas 3ssb,adidas basketball,Andre Mills,Class of 2024,Elijah Moore,George Turkson,high school basketball,Ian jackson,Kur Teng,Mass Rivals
2nd Live Period: 5 Things We Learned! http://www.ebooksnet.com/2nd-live-period-5-things-we-learned/ http://www.ebooksnet.com/2nd-live-period-5-things-we-learned/#respond Mon, 25 Jul 2022 06:47:32 +0000 https://bilcomprd.wpengine.com/?p=262514 5 Important Macro Items That Became Evident

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The second July NCAA Live Period concluded on Sunday and we evaluated a plethora of quality prospects at the adidas 3SSB Open and Pangos Terrific 24 West in SoCal and the Big Time Tournament in Las Vegas. There was far more than just prospects to evaluate, as what is currently transpiring off the court is as important to the game's future as college looking for the right players to offer a scholarship to. We go over the five macro items we learned this past week!

RELATED: 2nd Live Period Top 30 Stockrisers |

1. There is no Such Thing as Building for the Future Anymore
The bluest of Blue Blood college basketball programs have been re-loading each season in recent years, and have the recruiting reach to successfully do so. Going forward, college teams that traditionally don't build rosters in such manner are going to be in the same boat and won't have the luxury of building for a future season, even if that's been a key to their success and the best strategy for job security. Non-Blue Bloods will have no choice going forward. The days of bringing in a good recruiting class and eyeing a deep NCAA tournament run in two or three seasons down the line is over. That's because on August 3, the NCAA Board of Directors is expected to go through with the recommendation that the restriction against players transferring multiple times be eliminated. We could see a scenario soon where scholarship players transfer three times in four seasons. The coaches already had to change strategies with the one-time transfer rule, but this new change could potentially open up the floodgates to a completely different looking NCAA basketball landscape. Four-year D1 coaching staffs are going to have to take a JUCO approach to recruiting with the expectation of fielding a new team each season. For the most part, college coaches can no longer afford to take a flyer on a project or project too far down the line on a late-bloomer. The strategy is take the best available now and fill in team holes via the NCAA transfer portal. What we're seeing is the NCAA's amateurism model quickly erode away. Revenue-generating college basketball (and football) players are going to be treated as non student-athletes going forward with the ability to use their Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) for their own monetary gain and to be able to transfer without penalty.

2. The Scholastic Live Period Has Changed Scholarship Strategies
There is almost universal applause for the June Scholastic Live Period that began in 2019 as a result of the NCAA's D1 basketball corruption scandal in 2017–18. College coaches enjoy evaluating prospects in a high school setting, high school coaches enjoy the competition, camaraderie and the chance to network, and scouts also love the atmosphere. In 2021 after a year absence because of COVID-19, college coaches got their first live look at prospects in over a calender year, particularly at Section 7 in Arizona, and offers were flying off the shelf. It was hard to blame coaches, but they quickly fell in love with some solid to fringe prospects. For some of those underclass prospects still around on the 2022 summer circuit, coaches realized they overshot with players they have now cooled on. It happened again in 2022, but with less fervor. One mid major coach we spoke to at length realized he had to be more cautious during the two weekends of the 2022 live scholastic period. "I learned my lesson," the coach stated. In the scholastic setting, a vast majority of the players are not future D1 recruits so the top players stand out even further. The lesson the coach was referring to was seeing the same player outside the scholastic setting in a high level 17U game with other similarly talented players with similar positional size. One trend we still see happening is a premium value placed on big men (6-foot-9 and taller), which results in some bigs getting over-recruited. Why do we feel they are being over-recruited? Because we've seen the prospects a handful of times more in a high school and grassroots setting than the college coaches because of their limited live access. The ace recruiters out there are keeping in contact with recruits they lose out on that are going to a higher level because they are predicting the "bounce back" when the player settles in at the level he likely should have been recruited at all along. The NCAA transfer portal has created a new aspect of recruiting to master: predicting who will eventually "portal up" or "portal down".

3. Mid and Low Major Coaches are Holding Their Collective Breaths
As if the transfer portal and the looming transfer rule changes aren't enough to make their job harder, mid and low major college coaches are worried how the fallout of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) legislation will affect their programs going forward. The reality is little, if any, hard data exists of how NIL deals positively impact the entities that agree to make a deal with a college student-athlete. On average, the return on investment (ROI) for these companies and entities that agree to a NIL deal is not in line with the amounts of money being reported. In the cut-throat world of college men's basketball and football, schools and boosters know this already and have quickly formed NIL collectives, a cooperative enterprise founded independent of a university by influential school supporters or prominent alumni that pool funds to help create NIL opportunities. They have been created so fast that there are still questions among legal experts if these NIL collectives can lawfully operate as nonprofits and as of now, the NCAA is nearly toothless to regulate them. That's why many mid and low major coaches are worried, especially among successful basketball programs at these levels whose schools don't even have football programs. They know their program can't compete with schools where collectives are already in place or in the process of being created and soon all Power 5 conferences will have at least one NIL collective associated with their program. Simply put, collectives and the "NIL deals" they create are just a proxy for a salary. In many cases, the football and basketball athlete's NIL value is not in line to what he will collect and right now there is nothing the NCAA can do about it. Without clear NCAA regulation, mid and low majors believe there will be no way to compete with schools that can offer the player compensation through a collective, no matter how good the fit or how hard the program worked to recruit him. The NCAA simply waited way too long to allow student-athletes the basic American right to profit off their likeness (that all other students have long had to ability to do) and the situation is quickly getting out of hand. Mid and low major D1 coaches feel they are the casualties of this amateurism war.

4. Bad Advice Still Runs Rampant
There is no doubt college basketball recruiting is much different than before the corruption scandal of 2017-18 and the onset of COVID-19 in 2020. In fact, scouts have created the term "COVID D2" to describe a talented prospect who would have been a D1 recruit prior to 2020. Since the advent of the NCAA Transfer Portal, college coaches favor experienced players to fill out their rosters. Recruiting borderline D1/D2 prospects is secondary. If the proposed transfer restrictions are lifted by the NCAA on August 3, the recruiting for fringe high school prospects will only become more bleak. Despite the online resources, podcasts and material readily available to prospects and their parents, this month we have realized they are not getting the memo quick enough to how the recruiting landscape has changed. We were shocked to realize the amount of quality mid-major programs that have been "big-timed" by recruits outside the consensus Top 150, including one that just produced a Top 15 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. The "we're going to wait to see what else comes" in hopes of landing a scholarship from a level higher program has been a hindrance to countless players in recent years. COVID-19 and what it changed in the recruiting world has not been learned fast enough by the masses and is one reason why coaches and scouts feel the transfer portal is out of control. Players that have done their homework on where they want to go to college would be smart to narrow down the list after the June scholastic period, take their visits in late summer/early fall and be prepared to commit and sign during the early period in November. Waiting around until the spring to see if anything "higher" comes can be a risky strategy. In fact, the transfer portal has more coaches staying home during the live spring evaluation period and if the coaches had their way, the NCAA would move the spring calendar to May, instead of April, so that April can be used to host transfer portal visits. It's important for parents of 2023-2026 recruits to understand the recruiting landscape, set target dates and most importantly, be realistic about the opportunities available. Those scholarship opportunities are not as easy to come by as they were even five years ago. We'll continue to use this website and the "In The Paint" podcast to educate the basketball community.

5. Columbus (Miami) HS is More Than the Boozers
We were ahead of the curve when it came to putting Columbus on the national map during the 2021-22 season. The Explorers finished ranked No. 45 in the final 2021-22 FAB 50 National Team Rankings after capturing the FHSAA Class 7A state title with a 45-44 victory over a Dr. Phillips (Orlando, Fla.) club that was nationally-ranked the entire season. Leading player
Cameron Boozer went on to be named national freshman of the year and is already one of the best 10 players in the country, regardless of class. The 6-foot-8 forward displayed that at Section 7 in June and when leading NightRydas Elite to the Nike EYBL Peach Jam 15U championship alongside twin brother Cayden Boozer, a 6-foot-3 point guard. This upcoming season, Columbus will play a national schedule and fan will quickly find out the team is more than just the Boozer brothers. At the Las Vegas Big Time Tournament, three Columbus players led Team Hardaway (Fla.) to the 17U Invitational title with a 61-57 victory over Lakeshow Fuca 17U (Calif.). Malik Abdullahi, a 6-foot-7 2024 forward, was instrumental with his defensive performance down the stretch in the double-digit come-from-behind title game victory. On two occasions, he went to the square to swat quality inside shots by Lakeshow and had four blocks in the second half. He can defend multiple positions on the perimeter as well and can score around the basket. Garyn Bess, a 6-foot-1 2023 guard, nailed two free throws with seven seconds remaining to seal the victory over Lakeshow and impressed with his quickness and repeated paint drives. Bess finished the title game with 20 points, including two second half 3-pointers. Abdullah, who holds offers from Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and Albany and sports a reported 3.2 GPA, is hearing from many schools that will likely offer soon, or should, if they saw him over the course of the Big Time tourney. Abdullah finished the title game with 12 points after scoring 12 points in the 74-67 semifinal victory over the Salt Lake Rebels (Utah). Bess netted 25 points in the semifinal win and even though he didn't score in the title game, 5-foot-10 2023 guard Kevin Noriega played a big role in the semifinal win by knocking down two 3-pointers and scoring eight points. How high will Columbus be ranked in the 2022-23 preseason FAB 50?

Editor's Note: We'll talk about more prospects in our upcoming Live Period player report.

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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Mikey Williams TAKES OFF vs Zach LaVine's Squad!! Chris Livingston SNAPS! http://www.ebooksnet.com/mikey-williams-takes-off-vs-zach-lavines-squad-chris-livingston-snaps/ http://www.ebooksnet.com/mikey-williams-takes-off-vs-zach-lavines-squad-chris-livingston-snaps/#respond Wed, 14 Jul 2021 17:46:37 +0000 https://bilcomprd.wpengine.com/?p=243595 Mikey Williams and Chris Livingston faced off against Zach LaVine's AAU squad yesterday at Adidas 3SSB.

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Mikey Williams and Chris Livingston faced off against Zach LaVine's AAU squad yesterday at Adidas 3SSB.

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http://www.ebooksnet.com/mikey-williams-takes-off-vs-zach-lavines-squad-chris-livingston-snaps/feed/ 0 Mikey Williams TAKES OFF vs Zach LaVine's Squad!! Chris Livingston SNAPS! - www.ebooksnet.com Mikey Williams and Chris Livingston faced off against Zach LaVine's AAU squad yesterday at Adidas 3SSB. aau basketball,adidas 3ssb,chris livingston,highlights,mikey williams,WACG
Mikey Williams vs Keyonte George GO AT IT!! Top Shooting Guards BATTLE at Adidas 3SSB!! http://www.ebooksnet.com/mikey-williams-vs-keyonte-george-go-at-it-top-shooting-guards-battle-at-adidas-3ssb/ http://www.ebooksnet.com/mikey-williams-vs-keyonte-george-go-at-it-top-shooting-guards-battle-at-adidas-3ssb/#respond Tue, 13 Jul 2021 17:24:43 +0000 https://bilcomprd.wpengine.com/?p=243479 Mikey Williams, Chris Livingston and WACG faced off against Keyonte George and Southern Assault today at the Adidas…

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Mikey Williams, Chris Livingston and WACG faced off against Keyonte George and Southern Assault today at the Adidas 3SSB even in Birmingham, AL. Keyonte George finished with 24, 18 & 10. Mikey had 20 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists

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http://www.ebooksnet.com/mikey-williams-vs-keyonte-george-go-at-it-top-shooting-guards-battle-at-adidas-3ssb/feed/ 0 Mikey Williams vs Keyonte George GO AT IT!! Top Shooting Guards BATTLE at Adidas 3SSB!! - www.ebooksnet.com Mikey Williams, Chris Livingston and WACG faced off against Keyonte George and Southern Assault today at the Adidas 3SSB even in Birmingham, AL. Keyonte George finished with 24, 18 & 10. Mikey had 20 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists aau basketball,adidas 3ssb,chris livingston,highlights,keyonte george,mikey williams,Southern Assault,WACG
Mikey Williams vs His FORMER AAU SQUAD Go At It!! WACG vs Comtpon Magic at Adidas 3SSB! http://www.ebooksnet.com/mikey-williams-vs-his-former-aau-squad-go-at-it-wacg-vs-comtpon-magic-at-adidas-3ssb/ http://www.ebooksnet.com/mikey-williams-vs-his-former-aau-squad-go-at-it-wacg-vs-comtpon-magic-at-adidas-3ssb/#respond Mon, 12 Jul 2021 16:40:47 +0000 https://bilcomprd.wpengine.com/?p=243226 Mikey Williams, Chris Livingston and WACG faced off against Compton Magic at the Adidas 3SSB in Alabama today.…

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Mikey Williams, Chris Livingston and WACG faced off against Compton Magic at the Adidas 3SSB in Alabama today. Comtpon Magic won 75-56.

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http://www.ebooksnet.com/mikey-williams-vs-his-former-aau-squad-go-at-it-wacg-vs-comtpon-magic-at-adidas-3ssb/feed/ 0 Mikey Williams vs His FORMER AAU SQUAD Go At It!! WACG vs Comtpon Magic at Adidas 3SSB! - www.ebooksnet.com Mikey Williams, Chris Livingston and WACG faced off against Compton Magic at the Adidas 3SSB in Alabama today. Comtpon Magic won 75-56. aau basketball,adidas 3ssb,chris livingston,compton magic,highlights,mikey williams,WACG