Maryland Minute 5.30.10 - Huge AAU Weekend for Terp Basketball Recruiting Targets

Nike EYBL LA Wrapup - Flagrant Fouls
Mikael Hopkins apparently starred at EYBL #3 in LA. Sign me up.

Hopkins through a block party vs. E1T1 and everyone was invited. He had 5 blocks in the first 7 minutes of play, then collected about 7 more throughout the rest of the game. Defensively he protected the rim more effectively than anyone else I saw today. Offensively he was extremely active, showed some face up game, and even knocked down a three. By far the best defensive performance of the day!!

TOC Wrapup: Remember Cezar Guerrero?
And a few others.

Guerrero is just an absolute scorer from the guard position. He can shoot it from deep, gets into the mid-range, and can hit contested shots. He doesn't have that elite blow by ability that a small point guard might need at times, but the way he puts the ball in the basket is impressive. Guerrero had two games of 30-plus points on Saturday.

...

Right now Pelle is an raw but athletic big man who really can be a game changer on the defensive end with his ability to block shots. He has long arms, good timing, and a natural instinct for it. On offense he is a solid offensive rebounder who tries to finish everything with a dunk.

Aquille Carr claims offers from Wake Forest, USC, Villanova, Memphis, Virginia Tech, Texas, and Texas Tech. Also he is hearing from Texas A&M, Delaware State, and Massachusetts.

TOC Roundup, Pt. II
More Guerrero and Baru, plus some Quinn Cook:

Cezar Guerrero (2011 Belmont Shores)- He controls the basketball and scores buckets. Guerrero was strong all day Saturday, putting up big scoring and assist numbers. He might be slight of frame, but he is a tough competitor who knows what to do with the basketball.

Quinn Cook (2011 DC Assault)- This heady combo guard makes me think of Scottie Reynolds when I watch him. He quietly can control a game with his composed and skilled play. Rarely does he over do it, but yet the production is there. Crafty and strong with the ball, Cook is a serious threat to score from all three levels.

Adjehi Baru (2011 Team Loaded)- Like Kouassi, Baru is a raw big man, but he has more face up game. He plays an aggressive and athletic style of basketball and will only get better and better.

Nike EYBL LA Wrapup, Pt. II
Tons and tons of good stuff. Let's run it down. First up, Jabari Brown.

As usual, the sturdy Brown was a sniper from deep. But, everybody knows he can shoot by now so he's had to diversify his game. That he did by mixing in several drives to the rim and pull-up jumpers.

Then Dorian Finney-Smith.

Should he replicate what he did on Saturday for the rest of the summer, Finney-Smith is poised to make a climb up the 2011 rankings. A skinny wing with quickness, athleticism and a surprising floor game, he's looking confident right now and is playing in attack mode. He is a slasher by nature who makes just enough shots to keep defenders honest. Saturday, he even ran some point and showed surprising feel for the position. He listed Kansas, Kansas State, Tennessee, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Maryland, Florida, Xavier and Cincinnati as his current suitors.

Nick Faust:

He doesn't exactly let loose with a traditional jump shot, but Faust is proving to be one of the premier perimeter marksmen in the class of 2011. Deadly from either wing, the skinny wing is also able to mix in a few dribble drives and has sneaky athleticism.

Tyler Harris, Tobias' little bro:

It's tough to figure out whether Harris projects more as a tall wing or as a mismatch four man with quickness. Either way, he's been a productive guy this spring and his game has progressed quite rapidly. Underrated as an athlete, he utilizes a quick first step and general offensive cleverness to do his damage. He does need to add strength, but he proved that his four star status has much more to do with his game than who his older brother (Tennesse bound McDonald's All-American Tobias Harris) is.

And Justin Anderson:

Boo Williams swingman Justin Anderson is an intriguing guy on several levels. Most of all, the 2012 lefty is a freakish athlete with speed, quickness, strength and incredible leaping ability. The 6-foot-6 lefty's physical gifts allow him to be a disruptive force, but some of the emotion and playing to the crowd (or video cameras) that comes along with his game is worrisome. If the young man will focus as much on improving his skill level as he does playing to the crowd, his ceiling is quite high.

2012 PG Tyler Lewis: Beast Mode
Wow.

He's basically Steve Nash. Maryland has reportedly been in contact. Awesomely, he plays AAU with the Under Armour sponsored Team Loaded, which also has Adheji Baru, who's in the video (#55). Lewis is great, but Baru looks really good in what's shown of him, too - athletic, coordinated, and long. Let's start working those UA connects.

Clarence Goodson Does Okay For USMNT, Maurice Edu Doesn't Play
Meh performance for one former Terp, no performance for the other.

Clarence Goodson, defense, 5.5 -- Was good in the air in the first half, turning in a serviceable performance.

SLAM: Terp Alum Terence Morris is Barcelona's Unselfish Leader
T-Mo, getting it done in Spain. Great to see.

RTC - Is This What Calipari’s Detractors Have Been Waiting For?
Why, yes, yes it is. And yeah, if he ends up in the NBA because of it, all the better.