State Tournament

[mikeDEANmeminger]

I was up at the state tournament for Thursday's and Friday's games and saw all of the state's hot shots play. A little reaction:
1) Maymon is going to be a stud, but not right away. Yes he dominates at the high school level, but he is only 6'6 and needs to put on some weight and strength in order to play inside in the Big East. He has an OK jump shot, but needs to improve its consistency to be an outside threat at the college level. Expect to start seeing big things from him about the middle of his sophmore year when he has put on weight, improved his jumper and has gone through the rigors and the grind of a BE season.

2) Jamil Wilson is going to be an immediate impact player at Oregon, and could have been at Marquette too. He is long, lanky and smooth, and at a legit 6'7, can play anywhere from the 2 to 4 positions. He is a scorer who can take over and dominate a game when he so chooses. I know he didn't play great in Saturday's championship, but he is more of a pure talent than Maymom. My knock on Wilson is that he doesn't play all the time. He is lazy, takes possessions (and even quarters or halves off). However, I have seen him play both at the high school level and on the AAU circuit, and when he feels like playing, he can be a dominating force that can score at will and defend anyone on the court. If Ernie Kent can find a way to get him to play hard all the time, I wouldn't be surprised to see Jamil as a 1st team all PAC-10 player before he is done. NBA is not out of reach for this kid either.

3) Vander Blue was the best all around player at the state tourney and the Badgers are getting a steal. He is tall for a PG, can handle the ball and distribute, he is a great defender with great anticipation, he plays hard and with passion, and he can shoot it with range and can score at the rim. He is an all around PLAYER and his best years are ahead of him. I have heard rumors that he may back out of his verbal commitment to Wisconsin, and if he does, Marquette needs to be all over him. He would come in and have an immediate impact in the Eagles' backcourt, and would probably be ahead of Acker next year. This is an NBA talent too, as long Bo doesn't hold him back in that system of his.

[ChuckyChip]

Isn't Vander Blue only a junior in high school? 

[mikeDEANmeminger]

yes he is a Juinor, and he was the best player at state. And he has given a verbal commit to the Badgers

[Markusquette]

I think there is a very slight possibility that he could de-commit and want to play with Jeronne at MU.  Who knows.

[ChuckyChip]

Isn't Vander Blue only a junior in high school? 

I was just asking because that makes it unlikely that he would come in and take playing time away from Acker - Mo would be gone by the time Blue was a freshman.

[Norm]

mikeDEANmemminger,

So you would rank Maymon third out of the 3 prospects?

[mikeDEANmeminger]

I was merely making the point that based on his talent level, hypothetically he would be ahead of Acker next year. Obviously that isn't possible...just a testament to his skill

[mikeDEANmeminger]

Yes I would rank him 3rd. And yes I know he recieved the Wisconsin Mr. Basketball award.

[Hards Alumni]

For the most part I would agree with this analysis.  I also watched the games.

On paper, Maymon is having a 'down' year compared to last year... BUT what you don't see on paper is that most team's double or triple teamed him all year.

Blue could be a special player, but we will see next year exactly what he can do when he is the star and the heat is on him.  Hopefully, (for his sake) he decommits from UW.  He would rot in their style of offense.

Wilson looks like a man among boys when compared to the rest of the players on the court... and as stated he is lazy... but that has been the knock on him for the last two years.  I'm just happy that we will probably never have to play him... assuming Kent doesn't get fired, and Wilson doesn't change schools.