PORTLAND, Ore. — A few things were determined last weekend. First, Shabazz Muhammad stamped himself as the nation’s top senior boys basketball player, but the Class of 2012 on a whole isn’t strong. That was evident when Team USA fell to the World Select, 84-75, in the Nike Hoop Summit at the Rose Garden. To their credit the American high school all-stars rallied from an 18-point deficit tying the score at 72 with 4:14 left and took a 75-74 lead a minute later but wilted down the stretch. The 6-foot-6 Muhammad scored a game-high 35 points, making 12 of 27 shots, and hauled down nine rebounds, playing all but 57 seconds of the 40-minute international contest. The Americans featured several talented players but weren’t up for the challenge. Last Friday when the Americans participated in a scrimmage against an area team composed of former college players at the Portland Trail Blazers practice facility in Tualatin, NBA general managers and scouts lined the court.
The NBA personnel were observing the next batch of players, scribbling notes and checking out basketball IQs. After struggling against the makeshift squad, it was no surprise when the American lost when it failed to defend the pick and roll or fight through the double high screens the foreigners threw at them on Saturday night before 10,666 spectators. The World Team, coach by Canadian Ray Rana, confused his opponents constantly switching defenses, using man and 2-3 zone. All isn’t lost, though, said USA U-17 head coach Don Showalter, who was in town seeing his former players perform.
Showalter spoke exclusively with Blue Star Media, providing commentary on each of the American players that participated in the Hoops Summit:
Kyle Anderson, St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.): The UCLA-bound guard is “usually two plays ahead and has a tremendous basketball IQ. He’s a system player who will fit in nicely for Ben Howland at UCLA.”
Rasheed Sulaimon, Strake Jesuit (Houston): “He’ll be a good fit at Duke. Rasheed is a good shooter with range and will attack the rim.”
Archie Goodwin, Sylvan Hills (Ark.): “What people don’t realize is that Archie is an underrated defender. We know he can shoot but he’s a long defender who makes his teammates better.” Signed with Kentucky.
Gary Harris, Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Ind.): “He’s a hard working shooter who doesn’t take any plays off.” Signed with Michigan State.
James Robinson, DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.): “He’s a prototypical 1-man. He makes few errors and is a fine organizer on the floor.” Signed with Pittsburgh.
Shabazz Muhammad, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas): “He’s the best high school player. He has a big body, never takes a play off and has improved his perimeter shooting.” Muhammad is undecided on college but don’t be surprised when he commits later this week to Kentucky. Kansas and Duke are in the mix while his friend Anderson is pushing UCLA. Muhammad is a one-and-done player in college and a likely lottery pick.
Nerlens Noel, Tilton (N.H.) School: “A tremendous defender and shot blocker. He has a ways to go offensively. He would be a good fit at Syracuse or Kentucky. At Syracuse he’d fit nicely into the 2-3 zone that coach Jim Boeheim employs while his presence would be felt at Kentucky, where he’d replace Anthony Davis immediately.” Bottom line: don’t surprised when UK bags both Noel and Muhammad in the late signing period which opens this week.
Kaleb Tarczewski, St. Mark’s School (Southborough, Mass.): “For a seven-footer he runs the floor well. He has remarkably good hands and can score in different ways.” Signed with Arizona.
Mitch McGary, Brewster Academy (N.H.): “He’s a work in progress and will contribute next year at Michigan.”
Tony Parker, Miller Grove (Lithonia, Ga.): “He reminds me of Jared Sullinger (of Ohio State). Tony is a wide body. At the next level, depending where he attends college, he’ll be a 4 or 5 man.”
World Domination
Four players stood out for the World Team, two of whom played high school ball schools ranked in the Blue Star Go-To 25.
Anthony Bennett, a 6-7 Canadian who attended No. 2 Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.), is an athletic slasher, ferocious rebounder and has three-point range. Bennett, who is considering schools such as Oregon, Kentucky, Florida, UNLV and Washington, had seven points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
Fellow Canadian Andrew Wiggins of Huntington (W.Va.) Prep had 20 points, sinking a trio of 3-pointers, and seven rebounds. Wiggins has two years of high school eligibility left and has been rumored to transfer schools.
Wang Zhelin, a 7-footer from China, impressed the scout with his hustle and determination. Zhelin, who plays Fujian XX, contributed 19 points (8 of 11 shooting) and eight rebounds.
Dario Saric, a 6-10 post from Croatia, also landed on the radar after a 13-point, 14-rebound performance.
The USA still leads the all-time series, 11-4, but at least this year the gap is closing.
