Sorry for the delayed MM today...now onto the links...tip of the hat to Ben B. for help with them.
New Target? Antwan Space Listing Maryland
Gonzaga supposedly leads, but maybe we have another wing target to evaluate. -BB
Space is a prototypical wing who can do a little bit of everything on the court. He has a long, lean frame that oozes potential and a feathery touch from the outside. His stroke is effortless out to 22 feet, but it's not as consistent when he has to shoot it off the bounce because he has a tendency to drift. In addition to his shooting, he even posted up and dropped in a nice-looking jump hook. After dropping 24 points in the first half, the defense clamped down and he struggled to get good looks. He needs to learn to move without the ball, continue to hone his perimeter skills, and most importantly play with a sense of urgency all the time. He has Gonzaga, Maryland, Texas A&M, and FIU tracking his talents.
2012 Baltimore Star Isaiah Miles Impresses
He has a ton of potential; maybe he's started to realize it. -BB
The Baltimore area power forward was very instrumental in his team's run to the 16-and under Showcase title. Miles is 6-foot-8 with long arms and athleticism to spare. He did all of his damage around the rim, and there was simply nothing All-Ohio could do about it. Miles was too much physically for All-Ohio, and simply controlled the glass leading to several buckets. Also Miles displayed an ability to score with either hand in close.
AAU Super Showcase Rundown- Flagrant Fouls
Darion Atkins is the only Terp target of note:
With star big man Mikael Hopkins battling injuries and his team struggling as a whole, Darion Atkins came up big for DC Team Takeover, though the score sheet might not show it. In a quarterfinal game against Team Next where Takeover trailed by 16 in the third quarter, Atkins provided a huge spark in the second half and helped key a huge run for a victory. Takeover won by 10, which happens to be the number of points Atkins scored, with all of them coming in the second half. In addition, in both that game and others, Atkins grabbed rebounds and blocked shots. His stock has certainly increased with his play in Orlando.
He's had a few good performances of late and sounds kind of like Landon...perhaps he'll get an offer, but I don't think any will come until some of the more prominent options - Dorian Finney-Smith, Mikael Hopkins - end up elsewhere. -BB
Maurice Harkless' Handler Seems...Nice
Uh...
He claims he has nothing to hide, and yet expresses a strong dislike for background checks (a key reason, he says, that he no longer runs an AAU squad)....
Some regard Blue as a key basketball insider, a friend to anyone in need of a college scholarship. Others clam up at the mention of his name, revealing a disdain for a sometimes shadowy figure who's been accused of steering players into questionable career decisions.
Sounds like a guy Gary will get along with. -BB
My take - Oooooooooooooooooh good.
Terps Taking A Flexible Approach To 2010 Season
Ralph is ready to embrace change to win. Maybe he should look to the past and rediscover his option offense of yore.
Terps football team pegged for bottom of ACC - Carroll County Times
The Carroll County Times doesn't get enough credit for the great job they do with their sports page. Here is their take on the Terps' preseason prediction.
HDWD: Two 2013 Maryland Targets Star in Vegas
Remember when I said 2012 was loaded? Well, it still is, but it's got nothing on 2013 in the area. Case in point: two local guards, Chris Thomas and Nate Britt. -BB
Chris Thomas: Chris Thomas went off again on day 4. After going for 36 on day 3, he followed it up with the best performance we saw all week. Against, the Arizona Stars, Thomas was virtually unstoppable. He finshed with 39 despite missing around 7 free throws. He's a very versatile player, but in this game he was relentless attacking the rim for dunk after dunk. In an afternoon game with the Eric Gordon Central Stars, Thomas wasn't quite as spectacular. The Central Stars were well aware of his earlier exploits and decided to face guard him the length of the court for the entire game. Despite the physcial defense, Thomas still managed to drop in 20+ points and pass for 8 assists. His passing ability and vision were especially evident in this game as he drew several defenders and created open layups for teammates on multiple occasions. As we said yesterday, he's a very special player and could make a push for the top overall spot in 2013.
Nate Britt: Britt was fantastic on day 4, leading his DC Assault team to a big victory over the Nashville Celtics. Playing up an age-group, Britt showed great poise and finshed well around the rim. He also performed at a high level on the defensive side of the ball. He's a true point guard and could potentially end up being one of the best in the entire 2013 class. Along with fellow 2013 DC Assault standout Kris Jenkins, they form a scary duo for Gonzaga College High School.
My take - Bino, go get'em.