Essential The Official ESPN Insider Thread (ESPN+)

[Skooby]

NBA -- Now's the time for Lakers to change course - ESPN[/url]

Time for Lakers to start rebuilding

For the Los Angeles Lakers, there's always next year.

As tough as it might be to hear for Lakers fans, the writing is on the wall. Their biggest hope for their next franchise cornerstone, Dwight Howard, reportedly just spurned them to play for the Houston Rockets. Their face of the franchise, Kobe Bryant, is almost 35 years old and ruptured his Achilles tendon in April, which could sideline him for the beginning of the season or longer.

If that's not bad enough, the rest of the Lakers' core battled significant injuries last season and find themselves on the wrong side of 30. So, what now?

The Lakers need to hit the lottery.

All things considered, the Lakers have little choice but to look beyond the upcoming season and focus their efforts on the blockbuster summer of 2014. Because as of now, there's a good chance that the Lakers could be lottery-bound for the first time since the Chucky Atkins era of 2004-05.

And that should be the plan. If there was a time to forget about winning in the short term, clear off the books and carve out as much shopping dough as possible, now is the time to do it in preparation for next summer.

That's when LeBron James along with Carmelo Anthony, John Wall (if he doesn't sign an extension with Washington), Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki can all become free agents. Next summer will also bring perhaps the most anticipated draft class since 2003, starring, in all likelihood, Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker, Marcus Smart, Julius Randle and Andrew Harrison.

Now that Howard is gone and Bryant will be closer to 40 than 30 by the time the season starts, it's time for the Lakers to turn their attention to finding their future star. Losing a ton of games may give them their best shot.

A Howard-less world

Life without Howard won't be easy in Los Angeles. Despite the off-court antics and nagging injuries, Howard was a pretty darn good player last season. Sure, he couldn't hit a free throw even if a truckload of M&Ms depended on it, but he led the league in rebounding with 12.4 boards per game, scored 17.1 points per game on 57.8 percent shooting and posted a 19.5 PER with a torn labrum and bad back.

His absence will hurt mostly on the defensive end. According to NBA.com stats, the Lakers' D fell apart when Howard was on the bench last season, allowing 107.8 points per 100 possessions, which would have been good for 29th in the NBA last season. All in all, the Lakers were outscored by 1.1 points per 100 possessions with Howard sitting, but outscored opponents by 3.4 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor.

Without Howard, the Lakers will struggle to put together a league-average defense next season, even if it means that Pau Gasol goes to his more natural position at the 5. With Earl Clark reportedly leaving for Cleveland, Jordan Hill remains the only power forward on the roster if we're not counting Metta World Peace, who succeeded in that slot only with Howard backing him up.

But he's gone and not only that, he'll be joining a Western Conference rival. That should be enough to convince the Lakers to punt 2013-14 and start from scratch.

The amnesty question

The post-Howard rebuild can begin now, starting with Kobe Bryant's contract. Though it's unlikely, the Lakers could wipe the $30.5 million that he's due in 2013-14 off the books and waive Bryant under the amnesty provision. With $79.8 million already committed for 2013-14, using the amnesty clause could save the Lakers millions in tax penalties, but they would consider such a public relations disaster only if Bryant's recovery from April surgery to repair his torn Achilles has gone poorly.

However, all indications are that Bryant is shooting for a return on opening night. But that's probably a long shot seeing as Chauncey Billups suffered the same injury at a similar age in February of 2012 and needed an entire calendar year to recover. What would a year of recovery mean for Bryant? He'd be back just in time for the last two weeks of the regular season. In other words, it wouldn't be out of the question for Bryant to miss all of 2013-14. And deep down, the Lakers might like it if he did. More pingpong balls come late June.

The Lakers could also use the amnesty provision on Pau Gasol ($19.3 million) or Metta World Peace ($7.7 million), but Howard's departure makes the amnesty provision less likely. They have other ways to shed money, however.

Nash next to leave?

If you've been paying attention the past few years, you've noticed that the Lakers are positioning themselves for a big splash in the summer of 2014, much in the same way that Pat Riley stripped the Heat's payroll to the bones in 2010 for that free-agency class. Only Steve Nash's $9.7 million is on the books for 2014-15 and the Lakers would be wise to explore the market for the 39-year-old's services, which would wipe their books completely clean for their free-agency hunt.

Who'd be interested? The Lakers would probably kick the tires on a swap with Shawn Marion's expiring $9 million contract, which would allow the Mavericks to reunite Dirk Nowitzki and Nash for one last hurrah as the Mavericks search for their next big star to build around.

Also, don't count out the Indiana Pacers, who have Danny Granger's expiring contract sitting on the books. A swap that would move Granger to purple and gold for Nash and Jordan Hill would give the Pacers a real point guard to lead the offense and a backup for David West now that they have cut ties with Tyler Hansbrough. But Indiana's reluctance to pay the tax may make the Pacers queasy about bringing on Nash and his contract that extends into 2015, which would cut into their space for Paul George's and Lance Stephenson's imminent extensions.

What about Gasol?

If the Lakers are truly serious about "rigging" for Wiggins, they could also look to unload Gasol's contract. As the roster looks now, the Lakers will struggle to make the playoffs without Howard (of course, depending on if and when Bryant returns to the court). Gasol was terribly misplaced as a stretch 4 last season next to Howard, but at 33, he can still hold down the fort at the 5 with double-double efforts nearly every night.

But do the Lakers really want that? The worst-case scenario for the Lakers would be to narrowly miss the playoffs and end up in the 12-14 range in the 2014 draft. By keeping Gasol around they would risk being smack dab in the middle of the NBA's version of purgatory -- in the lottery but outside the top 10.

No matter how much the Lakers would like to move Gasol's contract, they'd have a tough time finding a taker at that price while making sure to keep their books sparkling clean for the 2014 sweepstakes. One possible landing spot is in Washington, where the Wizards could offer Emeka Okafor's and Kevin Seraphin's expiring contracts for Gasol's services in the paint.

A Gasol reunion with fellow Spanish countryman Ricky Rubio in Minnesota makes some sense, but the Timberwolves likely lack the requisite contracts to make it worthwhile for the Lakers. If the Lakers don't move Gasol this offseason, he could become trade bait at the deadline for a contender looking to beef up before the playoffs.

Ultimately, the goal for the Lakers will be to find their next big star and, as with the Boston Celtics, all eyes should be on 2014. Holding on to Gasol and Nash won't help that cause and neither will rushing Bryant back from surgery. The Lakers' immediate future is bleak and pushing for the playoffs would only hurt their long-term outlook. Better to tear it down now, clear off the books and aim for the stars in the summer of 2014.

 

[Seahawks]

@Skooby Could you post the full article breh


NFL - How to stop Earl Thomas - ESPN

 

[Skooby]

@Skooby Could you post the full article breh


NFL - How to stop Earl Thomas - ESPN

How to stop Earl Thomas

I love watching tape of the Seattle Seahawks' secondary. They are a physical, aggressive unit that has size, speed and plays with a swagger. That's exactly what I would look for as a coach (or as a talent evaluator) when putting together a core unit that can control the back end of the defense.

The production of this Seahawks secondary begins with the play of Earl Thomas -- one of the top players at the free safety position. He is the "angel" in the middle of the field who allows Pete Carroll's defense to lean on press-man and physicality at the line of scrimmage.

Over the past month, I have examined a game plan to slow down some of the elite players in the league including Calvin Johnson, Adrian Peterson, Robert Griffin III and DeMarcus Ware.

Today, it's time to come up with a script to target Thomas -- and that won't be easy.

Let's take a look at Thomas' skill set and break down three route schemes to set some bait for the young safety.

What makes Thomas unique?

Here are four key aspects that stand out in Thomas' overall game.

Range: If you are going to play any single-high safety defense (Cover 1, Cover 3, zone/man pressure), then your free safety has to display enough range to protect the top of the route tree. Thomas has the ability to read the quarterback (eyes, shoulders in the pocket), create an angle to the ball and come out of his deep middle-of-the-field alignment to get outside of the numbers on the deep 9 (fade) route.

Hips: Because of Thomas' ability to use both the "open" angle (open hips to quarterback) and "closed" angle (close hips to quarterback or baseball turn), he can reset his initial drop from the middle of the field and drive on the ball. Even if Thomas is overaggressive and attacks a route stem, he can flip the hips smoothly and maintain his depth to impact the play.

Speed: Thomas has the straight-line speed you need at the position. Back at the 2010 NFL combine, the Texas product ran the 40-yard dash in the low-4.4 range and dropped that time into the high-4.3 range at his pro day. But as I always talk about with safeties, it is about "game speed." Thomas gives you that also because of his angles to the ball out of his "plant and drive" (defensive back transition). He stays low and explodes out of his break.

Footwork: We usually focus on footwork outside of the numbers at the cornerback position, but I see it with Thomas in both the pass and run game. He can roll down over a slot receiver in a pressure situation and I would have no issue giving him more coverage responsibilities from an off-man position (7-8 yards off the ball). Plus, Thomas' footwork also shows up when defending edge runs (play the alley) or in the open field where the safety has to break down, square his base and get the ball carrier on the ground.

Three routes to target Thomas in the middle of the field

Whenever I think of game planning the top talent at the free safety position, I look at combination routes to move them off the spot (middle of the field alignment). Here are three route concepts that I would use to target Thomas.

Pump-seam: Pump to the open (weak) side "sluggo" (slant and go), come back to the closed (strong) side seam to the No. 2 receiver. Run out of multiple personnel groupings, the pump-seam is designed to force Thomas to lean to the outside double move -- thus opening a throwing lane to the middle-of-the-field seam. Again, we are trying to move Thomas by setting some bait to the outside.

"Dino" double post: You can run this in the "shot zone" (20-35 yard line) or in the deep red zone (plus 15-yard line in) to put the free safety in a tough spot. Think of two post routes run from a slot formation with the outside No. 1 receiver using a "dino" stem (work to corner route, break back to post). This challenges Thomas to split the two post routes (drive underneath post, turn and attack deep post) while protecting the cornerback and the inside nickel defender (both playing with an outside shade). This is one of the toughest techniques a safety has to use in the pro game. You can also add the "pin" route (post-dig combo) as well.

Double smash-seam: Picture a "doubles" alignment (2x2) out of ace (two wide receivers, two tight ends, one running back) or posse personnel (three wide receivers, one tight end, one running back). The No. 1 receivers (outside receivers) will run the quick "smash" routes (quick square-in) with the No. 2 receivers (inside receivers) on the seam routes. The idea is to remove both cornerbacks in both Cover 1 and Cover 3 while creating a 2-on-1 versus Thomas (inside smash routes) at the top of the route stem.

Create a red zone matchup versus Thomas

The Seahawks have a solid strong safety in Kam Chancellor who can match up to tight ends inside of the 20-yard line because of his size/speed combination (6-foot-3, 232 pounds). However, you use pre-snap motion to change the strength of the formation.

Teams can force the Seahawks to roll their safeties in coverage and get a tight end like Vernon Davis matched up on Thomas. Try to take advantage of Thomas' size (5-10) and leverage (outside shade) to throw the seam, 7 (corner) or quick "Y-shake" (double move). Even with his skill set and coverage ability, today's tight ends can win (plus create separation) because of their height/route stem in red zone opportunities. Put the ball up and force Thomas to climb the ladder to make a play.

There is no question this Seattle secondary of Thomas, Chancellor and cornerbacks Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner will be challenged during the 2013 season, especially with the multitude of upgrades to the receiving units of NFC West teams. But Thomas is still the key.

He has an ideal skill set for the Seahawks' defense. And if you want to make some plays versus the free safety (along with the rest of the Seattle secondary), the combination routes and tight end matchups would be at the top of my call sheet on game days.

 

[CarolinaKing]

@Skooby

2013 LeBron James Skills Academy: What we learned - ESPN

 

[Skooby]

@Skooby

2013 LeBron James Skills Academy: What we learned - ESPN

LeBron camp: What we learned

LAS VEGAS -- The LeBron James Skills Academy annually serves as one of the nation’s top camps for elite high school basketball prospects, and this year was no different. Everyone involved in the camp had praise for this group of young men, including ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas, who served as a skill instructor at the camp.

“They were really a good bunch of kids to coach,” Bilas said. “They were receptive to being coached, and that is so important in their development. As far as their ability goes, there were no outright stars but many who could develop into stars someday.”

After three days of camp that included both skill work and game action, here are five things we learned from the 2013 LeBron James Skills Academy.

1. The strength of the 2014 class

With most all of the nation's best rising seniors on hand at the LeBron camp, it offered the perfect chance to break down the Class of 2014 and see where its strength lies and what the deepest position is.

The strength of the 2014 class has proved to be the post players so far. When it comes to the big men, there are three elite players who are being highly recruited and whom NBA scouts are talking about as future lottery picks: Jahlil Okafor (Chicago/Whitney Young), Cliff Alexander (Chicago/Curie) and Myles Turner (Euless, Texas/Trinity).

Okafor did not compete at the LeBron camp because he was playing for USA Basketball in the FIBA Under-19 World Championships over the past two weeks and just arrived home with a gold medal. Alexander and Turner, however, were at the camp.

Turner unfortunately played only one day before pulling a hamstring and missing the final two days of camp, but that was enough for everyone to see a strong performance and his tremendous long-term potential. He is an elite shot-blocker on defense, while his skill as a face-up shooter combined with a go-to jump hook separate him from his peers on offense. He still needs a few years of physical development, but he owns a frame that should be able to easily add 40 pounds.

As for Alexander, he could be the most dominating player in the class. He impacted the action at LeBron camp by throwing down dunks, ripping rebounds off the backboard and trying to outwork his opponent. Alexander also showed a nice jump hook that he can use when he catches it on the blocks, but he is still learning his post-up game.

Although the post players are the strength of the 2014 class, the deepest position is on the wing. And the first wing player who comes to mind is North Carolina-bound small forward Justin Jackson (Tomball, Texas/HCYA), who is coming off a terrific spring in the Nike EYBL, a strong performance at the NBPA Top 100 Camp last month and now an outstanding week at LeBron camp. Jackson has true versatility, as he can take his game inside the paint or 22 feet away from the basket and be a major threat by scoring or passing. His skills and length affected the game on both ends of the floor.

Rashad Vaughn (Minneapolis/Findlay Prep), meanwhile, is a straight-up scoring machine who is a better passer than what he gets credit for. The versatility in his game comes from being able to score from all three levels on the floor -- paint, mid-range and long range -- both from a triple-threat position and a rhythm dribble. Others wing players with multidimensional qualities who performed at a high level this week were Stanley Johnson (Fullerton, Calif./Mater Dei), Kelly Oubre (Fort Bend, Texas/Findlay Prep) and North Carolina-bound Theo Pinson (Greensboro, N.C./Wesleyan Christian).

2. Breakout performers

Every summer there are players who begin to build their resumes and make a name for themselves. Here are a few candidates on the verge of breaking out this summer after strong performances at the LeBron camp.

Kameron Chatman (Long Beach, Calif./Long Beach Poly), 2014, SF: This left-handed scorer is a smooth operator who plays with a steady pace and under control. With the ball in his hands he is a good playmaker because of his vision and willingness to pass. His basketball IQ shines in every contest as he is a multiple-position player who reads the game and doesn't force the issue. He mentioned Oregon, Arizona, USC, UCLA, Louisville, Michigan, Michigan State, UConn, Duke and Syracuse as the schools he is hearing from.

Robert Johnson (Richmond, Va./Benedictine Prep), 2014, PG/SG: Johnson has been incredibly steady and productive all spring, and that was especially true at camp. What makes Johnson special is his ability to make shots combined with his vision of the entire floor to make the assist. We are going to keep an eye on him the rest of the summer.

Devin Robinson (Christchurch, Va./ Christchurch School), 2014, SF: His size and length stand out, while his 3-point shooting is his signature skill. Robinson is an active player who scores and rebounds without a developed muscle in his body. He is blowing up right before our very eyes.

3. The best shooters in the 2014 class

When it comes to pure stroke and making a high percentage of his shots, Devin Booker (Moss Point, Miss./Moss Point) is considered by many to the best long-range shooter in the 2014 class. But when the question was posed to Booker and he could not select himself, his answer was simple: “I would pick James Blackmon.”

Blackmon, an Indiana-bound shooting guard out of Marion, Ind., makes contested shots from deep with a hand in his face whether it’s in the conversion game or half-court set. He moves to spot up on his teammates’ penetration, runs hard to come off screens and understands how to read his man to make a cut that will get him an open look. He can also put the ball on the deck to escape a defender and has very little wasted motion in his shot mechanics.

But ultimately, Blackmon feels the key to being an elite shooter is a high confidence level. “If I miss five shots in a row, I need to shoot the next shot with the same amount of confidence as I did on the first attempt,” he said.

4. Texas is king

Most people think Texas is just a football state, but last year the Lone Star State produced five McDonald’s All Americans: Julius Randle, Andrew Harrison, Aaron Harrison, Matt Jones and Keith Frazier.

Well, Texas is once again loaded in the 2014 class and could very well land another five players in the McDonald’s game. In addition to Turner, Jackson and Oubre all competing at the LeBron camp, Texas also sports a pair of top-20 talents who were not in attendance in Vegas: Emmanuel Mudiay and Justise Winslow, the latter of whom joined Okafor in Prague to win a gold medal with Team USA in the FIBA U19 World Championships.

Turner, Jackson and Oubre each had impressive spring campaigns and performances at the camp. No one has experienced more of a rise in the rankings than Turner, who went from unranked to No. 10 in the ESPN 100 and has established himself as a premier post player. Jackson is an elite scorer both on the perimeter and at times in the paint, and Oubre shoots 3s with consistency and drives to the rim with a long, athletic frame.

5. The six hardest-working players

When players compete at a high-level event, there are many prospects with an enormous amount of size, skill and athletic ability. The best way for players to separate themselves is to do something most will not: play with passion on a constant basis, not only bringing energy to the team but giving energy to their teammates. In a camp where there was talent everywhere, I learned that these half-dozen players competed with intensity and did not play according to the score of the game.

Cliff Alexander (Chicago/Curie), 2014, PF/C: This guy not only plays to win, he tries to crush the opponent. And it doesn't matter who it is.

Abdul-Malik Abu (Boston/Kimball Union), 2014, PF: Abu is active and competes on every possession -- it’s the only ways he knows how to perform.

Stanley Johnson (Fullerton, Calif./Mater Dei), 2014, SF: His motor is strong and he went hard in all the drill work and games. It’s becoming routine for Johnson to bring energy and effort every possession and every game.

Cheick Diallo (Centereach, N.Y./Our Savior New American), 2015, PF: Diallo is just wired with the desire to make every play like it’s the last play of the game. He fights for every rebound and loose ball.

Angel Delgado (Troy, N.Y./Redemption Christian), 2014, PF: His passion is clearly displayed on the glass, as he wants every rebound and goes after every shot likes it’s going to be a miss. Delgado never stops running and working in the paint.

Lourawls Nairn (Bel Aire, Kan./Sunrise Christian), 2014, PG: He is a tenacious on-ball defender who ignites and invigorates the fast break quickly in conversion. When Nairn does something, he does it all out.

 

[FreedS[ohh]lave]

ESPN 25 guard Josh Langford living up to hype at adidas Invitational - ESPN

 

[Frump]

Recruiting Roundtable: What we learned from July's first open evaluation period for basketball recruiting - ESPN

Dave Telep's Starting 5 -- Joel Berry's winning résumé, July eval period issues and other hoops recruiting buzz - ESPN

 

[BigE214]

Byron Buxton of the Minnesota Twins is the new No. 1 prospect in baseball - MLB - ESPN

 

[Skooby]

Recruiting Roundtable: What we learned from July's first open evaluation period for basketball recruiting - ESPN

Dave Telep's Starting 5 -- Joel Berry's winning résumé, July eval period issues and other hoops recruiting buzz - ESPN

ESPN 25 guard living up to the hype
INDIANAPOLIS -- ESPN 25 combo guard Josh Langford (Huntsville, Ala./Madison Academy) has lived up to the hype this week at the adidas Invitational following a great showing last month at the NBPA Top 100 Camp and after a great freshman season.

Langford, who is ranked No. 1 in Alabama and No. 15 overall in the nation in the Class of 2016, has offers pouring in -- and don't expect that trend to stop any time soon. He currently holds offers from Vanderbilt, Florida, Providence, Alabama, Tennessee, Auburn and Mississippi State, among others.

This five-star guard is in high demand because of the consistent production he brings to the court. Langford has a college-ready body and can score in a variety of ways.

At 6-foot-5 and just south of 200 pounds, Langford is a powerful guard who attacks defenders relentlessly off the dribble. He can get to the rim at will with slashes and quick first-step drives and he can finish with a floater that he completes with spins, excellent touch and body control. He can also post smaller guards on the box, where they have no chance to defend him.

In addition, he shoots the mid-range pull-up going right or left and can hit open jumpers with range to the arc, which he admits he needs to do more often.

"I will have to keep working on and look to shoot the 3 a little more when the defense backs up to take away my drive,” Langford said. “I have a good shot, but I know I can get to the rim when I want.”

Langford is such a great scorer that his ability to handle, pass and make teammates better is often overlooked and undervalued. He does a great job moving the ball, and when he draws multiple defenders he is a more-than-willing passer who allows teammates to take full advantage of open looks.

"I am best at making players better with my scoring and passing," he said.

Langford is also an excellent perimeter rebounder with the ability to take it coast to coast and finish above the rim. He also has the size, strength and athletic ability to successfully defend positions 1 through 4 on the high school level.

Langford plays with great confidence and in full attack mode, and he competes on each and every possession. His knack for scoring makes him special, but he is far from being a one-dimensional player and is a treat to watch.

 

[Skooby]

Recruiting Roundtable: What we learned from July's first open evaluation period for basketball recruiting - ESPN

July hoops events reveal plenty

What was the biggest thing you learned from the first evaluation period?

Dave Telep: If you're going to be a 5-foot-9 point guard at the highest level, you'd better have a special quality. For the longest time, my appreciation for ESPN 100 point guard Tyler Ulis (Matteson, Ill./Marian Catholic) was fair to middling. Boy, have I come full circle. Ulis might be the best point guard in the country at driving to pass instead of score. He's simply marvelous at running a team. A few years ago, an undersized point guard from the Chicago area named Jerome Randle finished his career at Cal as the Pac-10 Player of the Year. They're different players, but there's something special about Ulis. More than anyone, he's won me over.

Paul Biancardi: The fight for the top spot in the Class of 2014 is far from over -- in fact, it's just beginning. Right now, it looks like a race among three prospects. Current No. 1 player Jahlil Okafor (Chicago/Whitney Young) has been polishing up his post game and punishing defenders inside. He's skilled, strong and plays with a wide base as he overwhelms opponents inside the paint. Okafor responded with strong play at the Peach Jam last week. Standing at No. 2 in the ESPN 100, Cliff Alexander (Chicago/Curie) hangs his hat on rebounding with a relentless pursuit of the ball and being a physical presence in the lane, using his size and long arms to defend and block shots. He has shown a jump hook and a short jumper, but he scores mostly on putbacks, duck-ins and transition and is a capable inside scorer. Playing hard is the norm for Alexander, so he will continue to improve, dominate and produce. Finally, Myles Turner(Euless, Texas/Trinity) was not even in our rankings a couple of months ago, but he shot all the way up to No. 10 in the ESPN 100 and has turned heads because of his potential. He displays versatile scoring skills such as a 3-point shot and a jumper inside using the glass. He is another big man who makes protecting the rim a priority. What's exciting about these three players is that they are all different, yet they each get big-time results.

Reggie Rankin: The biggest thing I learned from the first evaluation period is about the talent and competitiveness of the Class of 2016 ESPN 25 prospects I evaluated at the adidas Invitational. There were two in particular who were playing up on U17 teams and were already the go-to players on their squads. No. 15 rising sophomore Josh Langford (Huntsville, Ala./Madison) is a terrific scorer who not only can complete plays from anywhere on the floor but also can pass and rebound from the perimeter at a high level. Langford is physically ready and has the skill to put a team on his back if needed. Meanwhile, No. 20 rising sophomore Mario Kegler (Jackson, Miss./Callaway) has great size and strength to along with his excellent midrange game. He is a matchup nightmare who can also rebound and defend multiple positions. Kegler has the talent to take over games and his upside is off the charts. There are not many rising sophomores who can have the impact these two young players have on a U17 game. It's scary to think how much they would dominate a U16 game.

Adam Finkelstein: The biggest takeaway for me last week was the value of ESPN 100 point guard Josh Perkins (Denver/Huntington Prep). He's one of the last pure point guards you'll find -- a guy who plays a pass-first style and makes the game easier for his teammates. That's a big reason why he was followed by a slew of high-major head coaches and also why No. 11 recruit Rashad Vaughn (Golden Valley, Minn./Findlay Prep) went on record saying he'd like to play next to Perkins at the next level. Whether or not this latest potential package deal comes to fruition isn't necessarily the point; the point is that Perkins is a one-of-a-kind throwback whom coaches want to coach and players want to play next to. And you can bet wherever he ends up, there will be plenty of other guys interested in following.

John Stovall: What I learned during the first open period of the summer was that there are no clear-cut No. 1 players in any of the three current high school classes. In the 2014 class, 6-10 center Jahlil Okafor is the current No. 1, but 6-9 power forward Cliff Alexander and 6-11 center Myles Turner are challenging heavily for the crown. Let's also make sure we don't forget top point guard Tyus Jones (Apple Valley, Minn./Apple Valley), who also has to be in the conversation. In the 2015 class, power forward Ivan Rabb (Oakland/Bishop O'Dowd) is holding onto the top spot, but he has a lot of competition, primarily from combo guard Malik Newman (Jackson, Miss./Callaway), center Stephen Zimmerman (Las Vegas/Bishop Gorman) and power forward Ben Simmons (Melbourne, Australia/Montverde Academy). And in 2016, the injured Harry Giles (Winston-Salem, N.C./Wesleyan Christian) is on top, with Thon Maker (Martinsville, Va./Carlisle), Deadrick Lawson (Memphis, Tenn./Hamilton), V.J. King (Akron, Ohio/St. Vincent-St. Mary) and Josh Jackson (Southfield, Mich./Consortium Prep) really pushing hard. It will be interesting to watch these prospects during the last two open periods of July to see who emerges as No. 1 in each class. Let the battles continue …

Joel Francisco: The biggest thing I learned from the first evaluation period is that the level of talent in states like Utah and Nevada is significantly better than I originally imagined. Last week at the Double Pump Summer Tip Off and Pangos 16, four travel programs (Utah Prospects, Las Vegas Prospects, Utah Pump-n-Run and Las Vegas Knicks) had a number of underclassmen -- including 2015 Makol Mawien (West Valley City, Utah/Granger), 2015 Ray Smith (Las Vegas/Las Vegas), 2015 Nate Grimes (Las Vegas/Desert Pines) and 2017 Troy Brown (Las Vegas/Centennial) -- who could crack our national rankings sooner rather than later.

 

[Skooby]

Dave Telep's Starting 5 -- Joel Berry's winning résumé, July eval period issues and other hoops recruiting buzz - ESPN

Starting 5: Joel Berry, the winner

1. Basketball has been Berry, Berry good to him

Recruiting rankings are like the 3-point line: We should have a standard across the world, but instead, it's different strokes for different folks. How do we measure point guards? Is it scoring? Assists? Presence at the position?

One undisputed way is the win column.

2014 PG Joel Berry was instrumental as his Each1Teach1 team captured this year's Nike Peach Jam championship. Berry outlasted future North Carolina teammate Theo Pinson and the CP3 All-Stars (fitting, since we're on the subject of point guards) in the finals. During the EYBL regular season, Berry led his team to a 13-5 record, averaging 13.6 points and 5.3 assists while shooting a robust 43 percent from the 3-point line. Those are fantastic numbers, but for Berry, winning time allows him to ramp it up another level.

During his final three EYBL playoff games, Berry averaged 15.0 points and 8.3 assists, made 7-for-11 from deep (63 percent) and turned it over just six times. When the lights are brightest, he's truly at his best.

What strikes me about the kid is that he's consistent. He plays OK in camps but is great when leading his regular teams. Take the NBA and LeBron James camps for example. When I saw him, he played very well; nothing spectacular, just solid. Believe me, there were whispers from the stands (i.e., the media section) about a decline. Personally, I didn't see it that way, but I heard the whispers. Then Peach Jam happened, and it's time we review this young man's record.

Berry is the reigning two-time Gatorade Player of the Year in Florida, a state champion with his Lake Highland team and as of last weekend can add EYBL champion to his résumé. And we shouldn't forget that last summer Berry was the starting point guard for USA Basketball's U17 world championship team. Coming off the bench for that squad was No. 1 PG Tyus Jones (in fairness, Jones was not fully healthy, but Berry's role for the team was paramount to its success).

In summation, we have a winning guy who appears to value team over self, is better in competitive team-oriented environments and is headed to UNC -- currently the country's No. 1-ranked recruiting class. And Tar Heel fans should feel pretty good considering Berry is not even the best player in that loaded class. That honor goes to Justin Jackson, a small forward out of Houston and owner of the best floater of anyone in this or last year's class.


2. Let's change the periods

I know we've gone through numerous changes to the July landscape since I arrived in the business in 1997. The old-old-timers will tell you stories of when it was a complete free-for-all. They might have taken a guy fishing in July or gone to the movies with him. Maybe they spent every day in the summer with a kid. Within the last 10 years, we've done away with the "greeting line." The greeting line occurred at the end of an AAU game, when a college coach could then go onto the court and congratulate the AAU coach. At that moment, he might pass his business card, and on the back would be the time and place for their dinner meeting or a note for the star player. We are all happy when they did away with that doozy.

Now we have a compartmentalized July period, consisting of three five-day recruiting periods, but it doesn't seem to be working out. This year, for example, the first and last periods are particularly strong, with the middle period acting like the seventh-inning stretch at Wrigley Field.

To do the periods correctly, programs must have use of a private plane. Right off the bat, that eliminates 75 percent (at least) of all Division I programs. Say you have a private plane but need to traverse both coasts. We're talking thousands of miles, maybe more than once, to recruit a player. You travel based on which prospects are still alive in events. Events? Wow, do we have more than ever? Even the guys with the planes' heads are spinning.

What's happening in July is that our coaches are running the equivalent of three Olympic sprints without any practice or health considerations. Guys need to be front and center with their best recruits. Coaches are driving through the night or taking red-eyes to get where they are needed. Is it dangerous? I don't know. Is it healthy? No way.

While all this is going on, freshmen and other players are already on campus. Coaches can work their kids out this month and are expected to. Then there's the family time. We all make sacrifices, and that comes with the turf. If you were to be on the road every allowable day beginning July 10 and ending July 28, you would have four days off on the road out of a possible 19. Myself, that's the total amount of time I'll be off the road during that month, so I know exactly what I'm talking about in terms of the fatigue and time away from home.

There will never be a perfect way to conduct this month. It's a monster. We used to have two seven-day periods. Those periods allowed for easier scheduling in my opinion, and I'd be in favor of bringing them back.

3. Five non-seniors who left me scratching my head

• Junior Malik Newman went for 40 points in his team's first game at Peach Jam. The Jackson Tigers were no real threat to win the event and, frankly, if Newman didn't try for 40 each time out, they were going to struggle to win any games.

• Oh, Canada you might have done it again. Justin Jackson, a 2016 forward, looks special. I'm not going to lie and say I saw a whole game, but I did see enough to know that this combo forward has a sweet jumper and a body that he's nowhere near close to growing into.

• The secret is out about Florida 2016 power forward Tony Bradley. Minutes into the first half of a game populated with college coaches -- most of whom had never heard of Bradley -- he'd already knocked down a midrange shot and dropped a picturesque jump hook. That's what we call letting the cat out of the big-man bag. The Miami assistant watching this happen knew right then and there he'd lost his edge; too many eyeballs in the gym.

• Carlton Bragg's game Saturday night in the adidas Invitational U16 quarterfinals was something. It was probably the most dominant 10-minute stretch I could recall all month. Dunking, shooting, blocking -- you name it, he did it.

• The night before the Peach Jam began, a crosstown unaffiliated tournament held a series of showcase games. The result from one game is the emergence of Doral Moore, a 2015 center out of Georgia who has an absolutely skyscraping ceiling. His powerful drop-step and dunk was a move permanently etched on the retinas of those in attendance.

4. Big second half for Turner?

The first half of July was the only wrinkle in what's been a smooth ascension for 2014 center Myles Turner. He began by going on a tear at the LeBron James Skills Academy, where he set himself up for a big week during drills and scrimmages. However, a strained groin put him out of action. The injury followed him into the evaluation period. "I flew to see him and wound up watching Turner sit on the bench and watch the game," one head coach said. "But I guess it was worth it."

We told you going into the summer that programs were offering this kid without having seen him play. He's got size-21 shoes, is 6-11 and is a wonderful person and student. He certainly warrants the attention, but facts are facts and some schools haven't seen him. Take Duke and Kentucky, for instance. According to Turner's father, they've told the family they'll be in either Milwaukee or Las Vegas or both to watch him. Mike Krzyzewski and John Calipari did not watch him or watch him watch his team so far this month. Going into July, Turner's list stood at 26 and hasn't been trimmed yet.

 

[Skooby]

5. Commitment catch-up

After a series of commitment fireworks on July 4, things slowed down considerably on the commitment front. A few days into the first open period, Miami accepted a commitment from a member of the Class of 2017. Now, we can debate the merits of taking kids this young ad nauseum. Personally, it wouldn't be my style. However, what do you do if you're Jim Larranaga and a kid who you've seen a bunch because he attended your camps wants to come? I don't think this was Miami's idea. This was the young man reliving the Miami win over North Carolina that he attended and wanting to make the pledge. Miami took the commitment, and now wing D.J. Russell is a Hurricane before he even takes his first high school pop quiz.

• New Mexico is credited with the first commitment post-July 14. New Lobos coach Craig Neal secured a pivotal commitment from a prominent West coast underclassman in Dane Kuiper, a small forward out of Arizona who committed on the first day following the close of the first open period.

• The first high school player to commit once the games began in July was Marcanvis Hymon. The 6-foot-7 forward out of Memphis picked Andy Kennedy's program just a few days before Ole Miss star Marshall Henderson was suspended indefinitely.

 

[Skooby]

Byron Buxton of the Minnesota Twins is the new No. 1 prospect in baseball - MLB - ESPN

Top 50 MLB prospects u... - Brought to you by View Docs Online

 

[Jplaya2023]

NBA: Early look at the Western Conference - ESPN

 

[Skooby]

NBA: Early look at the Western Conference - ESPN

July Power Rankings: West's best?

There will be three races in each NBA conference this season, and each of them will be highly competitive. The first is at the top, where a handful of teams have loaded up to try to unseat the Miami Heat as champions. Then there's a battle for the last two or three playoff spots in each conference, which figures to be more crowded than usual, too. And, yes, there are a couple of teams in each conference fighting primarily to improve their chances in next year's loaded draft lottery.

While a handful of useful free agents remain unsigned, for the most part we know what teams will look like next season. That makes it time to take a tentative, early look at how each conference shapes up. Today I'll look at the Western Conference, and Thursday Tom Haberstroh will follow up by ranking the East.


1. Oklahoma City Thunder (2012-13 finish: 1st place)

There are questions to be answered in Oklahoma City, specifically how the Thunder will replace Kevin Martin's scoring punch off the bench. Is Jeremy Lamb ready to step into that role after winning MVP of the Orlando Pro Summer League? Can Reggie Jackson pitch in after starting in place of Russell Westbrookin last season's playoffs? And might Mike Miller help provide an answer?

Assuming coach Scott Brooks can figure that out, the Thunder return the rest of a rotation that had the NBA's best point differential last season (plus-9.2 PPG), making Oklahoma City the slight favorite in the West.


2. San Antonio Spurs (2012-13 finish: 2nd)

The Spurs' offseason has been relatively quiet. They re-signed Manu Ginobili and Tiago Splitter and used their midlevel exception to sign Marco Belinelli as a replacement for Gary Neal and Jeff Pendergraph to be their fifth big man.

The age of Ginobili (35) and star Tim Duncan (37) is certainly a concern. Nevertheless, doubt San Antonio at your peril. The Spurs have proved as much with year after year of consistent success.


3. Houston Rockets (2012-13 finish: 8th)

Having added Dwight Howard -- unquestionably the best center in the league as recently as two years ago -- without surrendering any key pieces, the Rockets are clearly the biggest movers in the West. Howard and James Harden give Houston a core that can compete with anyone.

There are still some issues around the edges, particularly at power forward. Coach Kevin McHale will have to determine whether Omer Asik can play with Howard, or if youngsters Terrence Jones and Donatas Motiejunas are ready to step into larger roles. If they prove capable, the Rockets could move even higher.


4. Los Angeles Clippers (2012-13 finish: 4th)

By upgrading their wing rotation -- trading Eric Bledsoe and Caron Butler for J.J. Redikk and Jared Dudley -- the Clippers have substantially improved their starting lineup. Signing Darren Collison and bringing back Matt Barnes also has mitigated some of the loss to their second unit. And Doc Rivers for Vinny Del Negro could prove a crucial coaching upgrade come playoff time.

Yet the Clippers may not have moved up at all in the West because the other contenders also have loaded up. L.A. can enhance its spot by adding another option up front off the bench to go with Ryan Hollins and Byron Mullens.


5. Memphis Grizzlies (2012-13 finish: 5th)

The biggest change in Memphis is on the sideline, where Dave Joerger was promoted to replace Lionel Hollins. The Grizzlies balanced their frontcourt better by swapping Darrell Arthur for Kosta Koufos, but otherwise bring back last season's rotation with the same strengths (post play, defense) and weaknesses (shooting). Signing Mike Miller would help Memphis space the floor.


6. Golden State Warriors (2012-13 finish: 6th)

Where you stand on the Warriors depends in large part on how much you believe their playoff run will translate. If Andrew Bogut can stay healthy and the young players maintain their improvement, the Warriors could make it six contenders in the West.

If Bogut misses extended periods and Harrison Barnes plays more like he did during the regular season, adding Andre Iguodala may not be enough improvement for a team that had the conference's eighth-best point differential (plus-0.9 PPG) and lost two key reserves (Jarrett Jack and Carl Landry) to climb into the top tier.


7. Denver Nuggets (2012-13 finish: 3rd)

While the rest of the West's elite have loaded up, Denver has suffered several key defections, starting with the brain trust of general manager Masai Ujiri and coach George Karl. The Nuggets also will try to replace Iguodala by committee, and while adding Randy Foye and Nate Robinson beefs up their perimeter shooting, the defense has taken several hits.

Denver is now counting on the duo of Kenneth Faried and JaVale McGee up front, a combo that has struggled to stop opponents. And it's unclear when Danilo Gallinari will return from a torn ACL. So the Nuggets aren't certain to make the playoffs.


8. Minnesota Timberwolves (2012-13 finish: 12th)

The biggest improvement the Timberwolves can make will be better health. After losing more games to injury than any team in the past four years, Minnesota should be at full strength. Coach Rick Adelman also has more shooting at his disposal with the addition of Kevin Martin, though the defense could be weakened.

Assuming the Timberwolves lock up center Nikola Pekovic, a restricted free agent, they'll be at the top of the race to go from the lottery to the playoffs.