Skooby can I get Adam Schefters NFL trade rumors??
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Q:Adam, what do you think the costliest injury was this past weekend? It seemed like there were more injuries than usual to big-name players.-- Henry (Texas)
A: Always the quarterbacks, Henry, because that position is so critical to a team’s success. The Rams' losing Sam Bradford to a season-ending torn ACL and the Bears' losing Jay Cutler for at least four weeks due to a torn groin muscle cannot be underestimated. The Rams can’t make a realistic playoff push withKellen Clemens playing quarterback, and the Bears will be challenged to do so with Josh McCown playing quarterback. When teams lose quarterbacks, their records take hits, and I remember Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie pointing out one time that his team’s TV ratings also went down; the Eagles lost Donovan McNabb one year, and Lurie said the loss was reflected in TV ratings. So there are lots of ramifications for teams losing QBs. The Rams and Bears are about to find out exactly how many.
Q:Adam, how active do you think the trade market will be this season? Any rumors you’re hearing around the league? Could the Rams deal for a Vikings QB?-- Reggie (Colorado)
A: Lots of calls, but for now, Reggie, not a lot of activity. There usually isn’t until the 11th hour; this is a deadline league. I do know that at least three teams have contacted the Browns about trading for wide receiver Josh Gordon, and two have standing offers of a high pick and a player. The teams have said the Browns are asking for more and are hesitant to deal Gordon unless they get the price they are seeking, which is more than the pick and the player as it now stands. The Browns have said they’re not interested in trading Gordon, but they are listening. That’s a start. There will be others. And there will be some teams that lose some players this weekend that could wind up pushing at the last moment, right before the deadline. That’s what happened when Oakland traded for Carson Palmer. It lost Jason Campbell the Sunday before the trade deadline, then dealt for Palmer two days later.
Q:How concerned should Denver Broncos fans be about the defense? They haven’t been able to stop the pass at all this season, and Champ Bailey got hurt again on Sunday night.-- Pat (South Dakota)
A: That’s a definite concern, Pat. But to me, the Broncos' biggest concern is now along the offensive line. Denver struggled to slow down Indianapolis’ pass rush Sunday night, and that was against just one great pass-rusher, Robert Mathis. Kansas City has two, from both edges, along with a strong push up the middle. So if Denver struggled to control the Colts, it will be even more difficult to control the Chiefs. Through the first six games, Denver’s offense was able to overcome the mistakes of its defense. But if Peyton Manning isn’t getting time and, worse, is getting hit, the Broncos will struggle to put up points and keep up. Offensive line, not pass rush, is the bigger concern to me.
Q:How much will Jay Cutler’s injury affect his chances of a big contract with the Chicago Bears this offseason? Has he shown enough to earn a big payday?-- Seth (Indiana)
A: Let’s look at it this way, Seth: Who else would you want the Bears to bring in right now who would assure Chicago of continuing to win games? Hard to see a viable alternative who is better than Cutler right now. The Bears went for years without a viable starting quarterback, traded picks to get Cutler and seemingly solved the quarterback quandary. Now, they always have their franchise tag in the event they can't get Cutler signed to a long-term deal. But it’s going to be tough for Chicago to let Cutler move on after the way he has played for coach Marc Trestman this season. Cutler was playing some of his strongest football to date, Chicago was winning and now it all has taken a hit.
Q:Do you think that Robert Griffin III looks like he’s fully back to his pre-injury form? He has looked much better the past two weeks. Can Washington climb back into the NFC East race?-- Harvey (Washington, D.C.)
A: He looked better this past Sunday, Harvey, but not so much against Dallas. Against the Cowboys, Griffin didn’t look like he went to the right spots with the ball, and he missed some open receivers. There were a few personnel men from other teams around the league who commented how "off" Griffin looked against the Cowboys. But against the Bears, Griffin looked more aggressive and dynamic, more like he did last season. He was running the ball, making things happen, playing like the dynamic quarterback he can be. In fact, he looked better Sunday against Chicago than he had at any other point this season. So hopefully, both for him and Washington, the knee is getting better and he is improving. Remember, it’s about 10 months since he injured the knee. Unless your name is Adrian Peterson, it takes time for these injuries to heal and for the player to regain his confidence. It looks like that process now is well underway with Griffin.
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All Star
Rookie Watch: Any potential stars?
Every season, we rank the NBA rookies. It's a static look at what has happened over the course of the season with extra "points" given to more recent solid play. It's usually a mistake, though, to make grand opinions on a young player just based on his first weeks, months or even his entire first season.
Sometimes we can see that the player is going to be special immediately, like Kyrie Irving and Damian Lillard. But more typically, we must be patient in assessing rookies as there are lots of factors they must deal with during their first season.
Here's a look at the 10 biggest stories to follow as the season evolves. It's important to remember that the answers to some of these questions will look far different during the first couple of months compared to when the season ends.
Can No. 1 pick Anthony Bennett contribute this season?
It has been reported that Philadelphia's Nerlens Noel will likely sit the entire season, so that leaves Cleveland's Bennett as the biggest question mark from this class. Simply put, he looks fat. However, despite being out of shape, he has shown the ability to draw fouls and rebound during the preseason.
It's a long season, so if Bennett applies himself daily to eating right and putting in work, he'll be able to get into great shape and likely justify being the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. It would have been fun to watch him develop at the same time as Noel, who might have been the top pick had he not been injured.
Is there an immediate star in this class?
Last season, it was clear during Summer League that Lillard was going to be a special player with All-Star potential. This past summer, Orlando's Victor Oladipo had a similar impact, though his not having a clear-cut position muddies the waters a bit. Still, his athleticism, power and poise match up well with his versatility as a point guard or shooting guard, suggesting that no matter where he plays he is going to be an impact player.
If Oladipo can make the complete adjustment to being a point guard, things in Orlando get very interesting. That development would allow both Maurice Harkless and Tobias Harris to get a lot of minutes at the wing positions and give Orlando three young players with complementary games to build around on the perimeter. As a point guard, Oladipo reminds me of Russell Westbrook and Eric Bledsoe, elite athletes who can overwhelm opponents physically.
Who will be the best 'veteran' rookie?
Lillard was clearly the best guard in last season's class. But after him, no one could touch Brian Roberts and Pablo Prigioni, who were both veterans from good leagues in Europe who looked ready for the NBA the moment they arrived.
This season, Nick Calathes (Memphis) and Gal Mekel (Dallas) should be capable backup point guards (behind strong starters) from the get-go. Calathes is a former McDonald's All-American and star at Florida who won both a Euroleague and Eurocup while playing in Greece and Russia.
Mekel has twice won Israeli titles and was the league's MVP twice as well. Both are better passers and better defenders than Roberts and Prigioni were a season ago (though not as capable as shooters compared to Roberts). It's no surprise they lead all rookies in assists this preseason.
What rooks will play a lot early?
NBA fans love to get excited about their new draft picks, but the coaches typically feel differently. Most rookies cannot and do not help their team win. But some will still play a good amount, whether they help their team or not. We know the top picks who are healthy will play. Bennett, Oladipo, Cody Zeller, Ben McLemore, Michael Carter-Williams and Alex Len are all on teams focused more on building than winning to some degree (though Cleveland and Sacramento fans expect more wins).
Later picks, like Kelly Olynyk and Tim Hardaway Jr., along with Calathes and Mekel, should be getting rotation minutes by the end of November if not before. Injuries have slowed Trey Burke and Otto Porter Jr., but Burke will get plenty of time when he returns.
Porter, on the other hand, has Trevor Ariza and Martell Webster to deal with, and plays on a team with playoff expectations this season. Atlanta's Dennis Schroder is in a similar situation on a team with playoff hopes and a crowded backcourt, but he has enough game to merit some quality minutes. But these guys may get less leniency for mistakes than some of their fellow classmates.
Who may struggle early but star late?
Every draft has its head-scratchers, but few have one as mystifying as Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo, the slender wing from Greece who has played only sparingly against solid competition. His action in preseason screams "star" -- enough so that many GMs will be asking their scouts why they didn't argue more strongly for their team to draft him.
Thus far, only Oladipo and Bennett, the draft's top two choices, have taken more free throws than the "Greak Freak," suggesting his athleticism and aggressiveness are far ahead of his experience. He leads rooks in blocks and already projects as the best overall defender in this class. He's a mix of Paul George andNicolas Batum, with a hint of Kevin Durant. He'll make a bunch of mistakes early, but if the Bucks learned their lesson after mostly ignoring Tobias Harris early in his career, then Antetokounmpo should get lots of minutes and will learn what he can and can't do soon. This will allow him to start minimizing mistakes while maximizing his advantages.
The Sixers' Carter-Williams should also see a big learning curve this season running the point for a terrible team. He'll be productive but very inefficient at the start of the season, yet should grow each month and finish strong as he gets all the minutes he needs to figure things out.
Who will start the season out of the picture but end up in the rotation?
As teams who think they can make the playoffs as of today slide out of that picture by February, their young players can suddenly get a lot more playing time. But more intriguing are the guys who work themselves into the rotation while their teams stay in the hunt for a playoff spot.
One guy with a real chance at this is Minnesota's Gorgui Dieng, who is currently behind Ronny Turiaf, Derrick Williams and Dante Cunningham on the Wolves' bench. He has something no one else on his team does: the ability to block shots.
Minnesota is in line to be a top-10 offense, but is in desperate need of a rim protector on the other end. If Dieng learns the Wolves' offensive schemes well enough, he can pair with either Kevin Love or Nikola Pekovic and give the Wolves a huge boost on defense in the stretch run for a playoff seed.
Who will be the biggest second-round steal?
This one is way too up in the air to predict, which is why it is a great story to follow. Almost every year there is a player or two who proves he clearly should have been drafted in Round 1. Previous second-round steals who excelled as rookies include Chandler Parsons, Isaiah Thomas, Landry Fields, DeJuan Blairand Marcus Thornton.
Which team will prove to have had the best draft?
Chad Ford, our draft expert, smartly advises "draftniks" to think long-term when ultimately evaluating a draft class for a team. It's OK to have early impressions, but over time, when trades, injuries, free-agent acquisitions and coaching changes all impact what a class looks like after a few years, those impressions can prove horribly erroneous.
Every GM is faced with trying to add talent at the lowest price point possible, with the exception of the game's best players, and the draft is the best way to do this. By season's end we should have a solid idea of how these teams drafted as a whole this past June.
Who will be the last rotation rookie standing in the playoffs?
Players like Kawhi Leonard, Courtney Lee and Norris Cole all played pivotal roles for contending teams as rookies. But the list is always short, thanks to both the combination of the contending teams almost never getting to draft a top-10 player and those strong teams rarely having room in their rotations for rookies.
This year there are a few candidates who might see some rotation minutes for great teams, with OKC's Steven Adams having the best chance to get a good chunk of time in the postseason. He's been the best rebounder of this class in the preseason, and Kendrick Perkins was just awful in the playoffs last season -- as in unplayable.
Adams has all season to prove he can defend his position and hold his own on the glass. His reward for it will be playing time next to two of the world's top players this spring.
Who has star potential from this class?
This is always the funnest question to follow. Oladipo and Bennett both are potential stars, and McLemore has star talent, too. Burke has always outpaced the expectations "experts" put on him, but that may be a tough thing to accomplish this season with his injury. Carter-Williams has a unique blend of size and craft, and if he can learn to play despite being in a losing environment, it bodes very well for his future.
The two dark horses are point guards Calathes and Schroder. Calathes was once ranked No. 6 overall by former ESPN stats guru John Hollinger's Draft Rater, and at 6-foot-5 with some defensive talent he can play behind or next to Mike Conley in Memphis. He's the best passer in this class, and one of the best to enter the NBA in years.
Schroder is ultra-quick, long and very crafty, and he has a calmness to his game that reminds me of Lillard (though he's not the scorer Lillard is). Both Calathes and Schroder play behind very good NBA players, so they likely won't emerge as early as some of the other rookies will, but rest assured, each guy will be followed closely by opposing GMs in need of a starting lead guard.
Of course there is Giannis, too, who may have more upside than anyone in this class.
This one is way too up in the air to predict, which is why it is a great story to follow. Almost every year there is a player or two who proves he clearly should have been drafted in Round 1. Previous second-round steals who excelled as rookies include Chandler Parsons, Isaiah Thomas, Landry Fields, DeJuan Blairand Marcus Thornton.
Which team will prove to have had the best draft?
Chad Ford, our draft expert, smartly advises "draftniks" to think long-term when ultimately evaluating a draft class for a team. It's OK to have early impressions, but over time, when trades, injuries, free-agent acquisitions and coaching changes all impact what a class looks like after a few years, those impressions can prove horribly erroneous.
Every GM is faced with trying to add talent at the lowest price point possible, with the exception of the game's best players, and the draft is the best way to do this. By season's end we should have a solid idea of how these teams drafted as a whole this past June.
Who will be the last rotation rookie standing in the playoffs?
Players like Kawhi Leonard, Courtney Lee and Norris Cole all played pivotal roles for contending teams as rookies. But the list is always short, thanks to both the combination of the contending teams almost never getting to draft a top-10 player and those strong teams rarely having room in their rotations for rookies.
This year there are a few candidates who might see some rotation minutes for great teams, with OKC's Steven Adams having the best chance to get a good chunk of time in the postseason. He's been the best rebounder of this class in the preseason, and Kendrick Perkins was just awful in the playoffs last season -- as in unplayable.
Adams has all season to prove he can defend his position and hold his own on the glass. His reward for it will be playing time next to two of the world's top players this spring.
Who has star potential from this class?
This is always the funnest question to follow. Oladipo and Bennett both are potential stars, and McLemore has star talent, too. Burke has always outpaced the expectations "experts" put on him, but that may be a tough thing to accomplish this season with his injury. Carter-Williams has a unique blend of size and craft, and if he can learn to play despite being in a losing environment, it bodes very well for his future.
The two dark horses are point guards Calathes and Schroder. Calathes was once ranked No. 6 overall by former ESPN stats guru John Hollinger's Draft Rater, and at 6-foot-5 with some defensive talent he can play behind or next to Mike Conley in Memphis. He's the best passer in this class, and one of the best to enter the NBA in years.
Schroder is ultra-quick, long and very crafty, and he has a calmness to his game that reminds me of Lillard (though he's not the scorer Lillard is). Both Calathes and Schroder play behind very good NBA players, so they likely won't emerge as early as some of the other rookies will, but rest assured, each guy will be followed closely by opposing GMs in need of a starting lead guard.
Of course there is Giannis, too, who may have more upside than anyone in this class.
Preview: Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky Wildcats
2012-13: 21-12 (12-6 SEC)
In-conference offense: 1.05 points per possession (5th)
In-conference defense: 1.01 points allowed per possession (10th)
Kentucky's churn rate on elite talent under John Calipari has been remarkable. Calipari hasn't even been on the clock in Lexington for a couple thousand days yet, but he's already signed 20 top-40 prospects during his tenure.
The Wildcats have signed more top-25 players over the past five seasons than 28 entire Division I conferences, including the Big Ten and Pac-12. And more than one-quarter of all top-10 prospects nationally over the past five classes have signed with Kentucky. None of which kept UK out of the 2013 NIT, of course, but over the long haul you'll take your chances with that level of talent.
Now, about that NIT season. In 2012-13 Kentucky ranked No. 10 in SEC play for points allowed per possession, and as I wrote those words or even formed that thought in my head with regard to a John Calipari defense I shook my head in bewilderment. What we saw in 2012-13 was simply not possible. Year in and year out, Calipari puts a defense on the floor that's comprised of the nation's top recruits and, incidentally, punishes opposing offenses. Last season, only the first part of that description held true.
Nerlens Noel's season-ending knee injury on Feb. 12 was the final straw, of course, but even with the soon-to-be lottery pick in the lineup, this was not a vintage Calipari D. Up to that point, UK was allowing SEC opponents to score 0.96 points per possession -- pretty good defense, about on par with what we saw from Arkansas or Vanderbilt but not as good as what Alabama was doing, much less Florida. And "about like Vanderbilt" is not customarily the most apposite adjectival phrase when the subject is defense under Calipari. Last season will go into the books as an extreme outlier.
Projected starting lineup
Pos.NameYear
FWillie Cauley-SteinSoph.
FJulius RandleFr.
FAlex PoythressSoph.
GAaron HarrisonFr.
GAndrew HarrisonFr.
Of course at Kentucky, "last season" qualifies as ancient history. Noel and Archie Goodwin were selected in the first round of the NBA draft, Julius Mays is playing professionally in Italy and Kyle Wiltjer and Ryan Harrow transferred to Gonzaga and Georgia State, respectively. That's a lot of 2012-13 minutes going out the door, but the cupboard in Lexington isn't what you'd call bare. Of the players mentioned below, all but one (Willie Cauley-Stein) were McDonald's All Americans. And from that wealth of talent the first to shake David Stern's hand will likely be freshman Julius Randle.
In projecting Randle as the No. 2 pick in the 2014 NBA draft, Chad Ford added the following note: "He should provide a serious challenge to [Andrew] Wiggins for the No. 1 pick." High praise for the power forward from McKinney, Texas, who has also earned stellar marks for his versatility as a scorer. His performance in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) in 2012 also suggests he could be a dominant defensive rebounder. Calipari has said Randle and the Harrison twins demonstrated in the offseason that they'll be the vocal leaders on this team.
With a roster this young, sophomores like Alex Poythress and Cauley-Stein qualify as veterans. Poythress disappointed some observers last season as a highly decorated recruit who was given a starting slot from day one but averaged "just" 11.2 points per contest and built a reputation for disappearing in games. That's fair enough as far as it goes, but also remember that the Wildcats' season was disappointing largely because they played surprisingly mediocre defense and Poythress' culpability there was partial but not primary. On offense, he connected on 61 percent of his frequent 2s and 42.4 percent of his very rare 3s while carrying a medium-sized workload. As a sophomore he should expand that role significantly and use more possessions (while also cutting down on his fouls). There's every indication the offense would benefit greatly from such an expansion on Poythress' part.
Cauley-Stein consistently logged 30-plus minutes per contest after Noel went down with his injury, and his best game was his 20-point, seven-rebound showing against Vanderbilt in his second post-Noel start. He's shown he can score effectively at the rim and his per-game stats will take a big leap this season, but if Cauley-Stein's 37 percent shooting at the line persists he will find himself seated comfortably next to his coach late in close contests. On any other team, Cauley-Stein's block-to-foul exchange rate would look great. At Kentucky, it pales in comparison to what Noel did, much less Anthony Davis.
So much for the veterans. Whether it's an accurate description of Dakari Johnson's prowess, a ploy to motivate Cauley-Stein or both, Calipari fairly went out of his way to praise Johnson in the offseason and to emphasize that Cauley-Stein "will have to work" to keep his starting slot. Johnson finished high school in three years -- if you want to feel old when you watch Kentucky this season, keep in mind this near-7-footer was born in 1995. In completing the more traditional four-year matriculation, Marcus Lee averaged an 18-20 double-double with 7 blocks as a senior at Deer Valley High School in Antioch, Calif. A frontcourt rotation that includes Cauley-Stein, Johnson and Lee should render last season's so-so UK defense a dim memory.
Last season for Travis High in Richmond, Texas, shooting guard Aaron Harrison averaged 25 points a game, while twin brother Andrew averaged 16 to go with 7 assists as the point guard. There's little doubt Aaron can get to the rim (he shot 55 percent on his 2s as a senior) and surely he'll have an advantage over almost every other scorer in Division I due to the fact that his point guard is a blood relative. But for what it's worth, perimeter shooting has to this point been the weak link in Aaron's game, as he made just 33 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc in his final prep season.
Conversely, Calipari calls James Young a "wing who can flat shoot the ball." If Young and/or Aaron Harrison can indeed hit perimeter shots at a moderate to high volume, it might be extremely difficult to find this team's weakness.
I won't run through Calipari's past freshman point guards here, but let's just say Andrew Harrison is walking in some illustrious footsteps. Calipari especially likes Andrew's ability to drive the ball at 6-foot-5, and the coach already has said he anticipates going "back to a lot more dribble-drive" sets than what we saw from UK last season. Andrew earned notoriety in the offseason for his stated belief that he could beat Michael Jordan in his prime one-on-one. Confidence? Youthful bravado? Cockiness? Deluded narcissism? ("Accuracy" is not in play here.) The freshman's performance on the court this season will make that call for us.
The nation's best freshman class teams up with two wizened old sophomore starters and comes achingly close to running the table before having to be satisfied with a mere national championship. It happened in Lexington in 2011-12, and it could very well happen again in 2013-14. Kentucky is positioned to erase the memory of an NIT season with an SEC title and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.
Projected 2013-14 conference finish: 1st
Kentucky Wildcats
2012-13: 21-12 (12-6 SEC)
In-conference offense: 1.05 points per possession (5th)
In-conference defense: 1.01 points allowed per possession (10th)
Kentucky's churn rate on elite talent under John Calipari has been remarkable. Calipari hasn't even been on the clock in Lexington for a couple thousand days yet, but he's already signed 20 top-40 prospects during his tenure.
The Wildcats have signed more top-25 players over the past five seasons than 28 entire Division I conferences, including the Big Ten and Pac-12. And more than one-quarter of all top-10 prospects nationally over the past five classes have signed with Kentucky. None of which kept UK out of the 2013 NIT, of course, but over the long haul you'll take your chances with that level of talent.
Now, about that NIT season. In 2012-13 Kentucky ranked No. 10 in SEC play for points allowed per possession, and as I wrote those words or even formed that thought in my head with regard to a John Calipari defense I shook my head in bewilderment. What we saw in 2012-13 was simply not possible. Year in and year out, Calipari puts a defense on the floor that's comprised of the nation's top recruits and, incidentally, punishes opposing offenses. Last season, only the first part of that description held true.
Nerlens Noel's season-ending knee injury on Feb. 12 was the final straw, of course, but even with the soon-to-be lottery pick in the lineup, this was not a vintage Calipari D. Up to that point, UK was allowing SEC opponents to score 0.96 points per possession -- pretty good defense, about on par with what we saw from Arkansas or Vanderbilt but not as good as what Alabama was doing, much less Florida. And "about like Vanderbilt" is not customarily the most apposite adjectival phrase when the subject is defense under Calipari. Last season will go into the books as an extreme outlier.
Projected starting lineup
Pos.NameYear
FWillie Cauley-SteinSoph.
FJulius RandleFr.
FAlex PoythressSoph.
GAaron HarrisonFr.
GAndrew HarrisonFr.
Of course at Kentucky, "last season" qualifies as ancient history. Noel and Archie Goodwin were selected in the first round of the NBA draft, Julius Mays is playing professionally in Italy and Kyle Wiltjer and Ryan Harrow transferred to Gonzaga and Georgia State, respectively. That's a lot of 2012-13 minutes going out the door, but the cupboard in Lexington isn't what you'd call bare. Of the players mentioned below, all but one (Willie Cauley-Stein) were McDonald's All Americans. And from that wealth of talent the first to shake David Stern's hand will likely be freshman Julius Randle.
In projecting Randle as the No. 2 pick in the 2014 NBA draft, Chad Ford added the following note: "He should provide a serious challenge to [Andrew] Wiggins for the No. 1 pick." High praise for the power forward from McKinney, Texas, who has also earned stellar marks for his versatility as a scorer. His performance in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) in 2012 also suggests he could be a dominant defensive rebounder. Calipari has said Randle and the Harrison twins demonstrated in the offseason that they'll be the vocal leaders on this team.
With a roster this young, sophomores like Alex Poythress and Cauley-Stein qualify as veterans. Poythress disappointed some observers last season as a highly decorated recruit who was given a starting slot from day one but averaged "just" 11.2 points per contest and built a reputation for disappearing in games. That's fair enough as far as it goes, but also remember that the Wildcats' season was disappointing largely because they played surprisingly mediocre defense and Poythress' culpability there was partial but not primary. On offense, he connected on 61 percent of his frequent 2s and 42.4 percent of his very rare 3s while carrying a medium-sized workload. As a sophomore he should expand that role significantly and use more possessions (while also cutting down on his fouls). There's every indication the offense would benefit greatly from such an expansion on Poythress' part.
Cauley-Stein consistently logged 30-plus minutes per contest after Noel went down with his injury, and his best game was his 20-point, seven-rebound showing against Vanderbilt in his second post-Noel start. He's shown he can score effectively at the rim and his per-game stats will take a big leap this season, but if Cauley-Stein's 37 percent shooting at the line persists he will find himself seated comfortably next to his coach late in close contests. On any other team, Cauley-Stein's block-to-foul exchange rate would look great. At Kentucky, it pales in comparison to what Noel did, much less Anthony Davis.
So much for the veterans. Whether it's an accurate description of Dakari Johnson's prowess, a ploy to motivate Cauley-Stein or both, Calipari fairly went out of his way to praise Johnson in the offseason and to emphasize that Cauley-Stein "will have to work" to keep his starting slot. Johnson finished high school in three years -- if you want to feel old when you watch Kentucky this season, keep in mind this near-7-footer was born in 1995. In completing the more traditional four-year matriculation, Marcus Lee averaged an 18-20 double-double with 7 blocks as a senior at Deer Valley High School in Antioch, Calif. A frontcourt rotation that includes Cauley-Stein, Johnson and Lee should render last season's so-so UK defense a dim memory.
Last season for Travis High in Richmond, Texas, shooting guard Aaron Harrison averaged 25 points a game, while twin brother Andrew averaged 16 to go with 7 assists as the point guard. There's little doubt Aaron can get to the rim (he shot 55 percent on his 2s as a senior) and surely he'll have an advantage over almost every other scorer in Division I due to the fact that his point guard is a blood relative. But for what it's worth, perimeter shooting has to this point been the weak link in Aaron's game, as he made just 33 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc in his final prep season.
Conversely, Calipari calls James Young a "wing who can flat shoot the ball." If Young and/or Aaron Harrison can indeed hit perimeter shots at a moderate to high volume, it might be extremely difficult to find this team's weakness.
I won't run through Calipari's past freshman point guards here, but let's just say Andrew Harrison is walking in some illustrious footsteps. Calipari especially likes Andrew's ability to drive the ball at 6-foot-5, and the coach already has said he anticipates going "back to a lot more dribble-drive" sets than what we saw from UK last season. Andrew earned notoriety in the offseason for his stated belief that he could beat Michael Jordan in his prime one-on-one. Confidence? Youthful bravado? Cockiness? Deluded narcissism? ("Accuracy" is not in play here.) The freshman's performance on the court this season will make that call for us.
The nation's best freshman class teams up with two wizened old sophomore starters and comes achingly close to running the table before having to be satisfied with a mere national championship. It happened in Lexington in 2011-12, and it could very well happen again in 2013-14. Kentucky is positioned to erase the memory of an NIT season with an SEC title and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.
Projected 2013-14 conference finish: 1st
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Kiper: NFL Rookie Rankings
This is the first year I've done a regular ranking of the rookies, and I'm finding that in some ways it can be even tougher than pegging the best prospects. With prospects, you try to separate what you're seeing with what a player is capable of. If I see an undersized defensive end who isn't holding up well against the run but has special quickness and pass-rushing skills, there's a good chance he's an outside linebacker at the next level. I'm projecting. His grade isn't just about performance; it's about what he can be.
It's a different story with NFL rookies. Most rookies are being used to maximize their skills. I consider the players around them and how much help they're getting, but these rankings are about pure performance, not just potential.
Again, the usual parameters:
• The rankings reflect play over the whole season, not just the previous Sunday.
• Positional value matters, but overall performance and impact on the team matter more.
• I'm asking: Would this player be a starter on most teams? (I think that hurts QBs some).
• Total snap count matters. Great plays matter, but staying on the field is important.
With the rules in place, here we go. This week, I decided to go 35 deep:
1. Sheldon Richardson, DT, New York Jets
He's been a solid, steady performer week after week for the Jets. It's interesting to note that Richardson is the top rookie defensive lineman in the NFL right now and former Jets first-rounder Muhammad Wilkerson is right there among the top overall defensive linemen in the NFL at this point. Richardson is particularly dominant against the run, with great vision and a sense of where the ball is headed. Rex Ryan has to be thrilled with the line, and second-year man Damon Harrison has also been outstanding.
2. Kiko Alonso, ILB, Buffalo
Production, athleticism, instincts and passion for the game are what get your attention. The former Oregon Duck is leading the Bills defense with 70 tackles while also recording a sack and coming away with four interceptions. He's all over the field right now, and you can tie Alonso's presence to an overall improvement for the defense, given his versatility and that he never comes off the field. He struggled against the Bengals two weeks ago but has looked good since.
3. Kenny Vaccaro, S, New Orleans
He's played nothing close to mistake-free football, but he doesn't come off the field for a defense that is giving up 102 fewer yards per game than it did last year. Vaccaro's best area has been in coverage, and he simply needs to be more consistent both in his routes and his tackling. But he's made a difference. He's also made some big plays, including the game-saver against Atlanta.
4. Star Lotulelei, DT, Carolina
His combination of power and quickness makes life miserable for opposing guards and centers. The way he disrupts a blocking scheme allows MLB Luke Kuechly to flow to the football and lead the Panthers defense in tackles. What you end up with is a player who is already one of the best run-game disruptors in the NFL, both through his ability to create stops and because he occupies blocks so well.
5. Alec Ogletree, LB, St. Louis
His speed and athleticism fit today's pass-happy NFL perfectly. The former Georgia Bulldog has been a key entity on defense for the Rams, making his presence felt in a variety of ways. Ogletree is second on the team with 51 tackles, just four behind MLB James Laurinaitis. He's also broken up four passes and come away with an interception that he returned for a touchdown. He overruns plays and can miss reads, but he'll get better.
6. Geno Smith, QB, New York Jets
He's battled through some rough games and shown tremendous resiliency, leading the Jets to four wins in the early going, which is more wins than 18 teams in the NFL. I thought going into the 2013 campaign that the Jets would win only four or five games the entire season. Smith bounced back from a poor performance against the Steelers to lead the Jets to an upset victory over Tom Brady and the Pats on Sunday. What impressed me with Smith was his ability to convert critical third-down opportunities while again showing that he can beat a defense with his arm and his legs. Is he a starter on most teams? Probably not. But I liked the pick, and I like what he's made of his situation.
7. Keenan Allen, WR, San Diego
Maybe he's a little high based on aggregate performance, but this shows some respect for the trend line. After a slow start (not uncommon for a rookie wide receiver), he's now tied for the team lead in targets among wide receivers with 37 and has 23 of his 26 receptions over the past four games. Allen is a first-round talent that lasted until the third because he couldn't get healthy during the draft process. The Chargers are reaping the benefits.
8. Tyrann Mathieu, S, Arizona
When we would have meetings in preparation for the draft, Jon Gruden would argue that Mathieu was worth a first-round pick because of his natural football instincts and ability as a playmaker. Gruden was right. Mathieu looks like a steal, has played more than 400 snaps, can play slot and safety, can come on blitzes and, so far, can do pretty much everything well. He's a football player.
9. Eric Reid, S, San Francisco
He's only fifth on the team in tackles, but he's been a big-play performer as a rookie starter in the 49ers deep patrol. Reid has broken up five passes, picked off three passes -- he had two last year at LSU -- and recovered a fumble. If he can limit missed tackles, he's a contender for defensive rookie of the year.
10. Jordan Reed, TE, Washington
Flying up the board. He moves into the top 10 after a spectacular performance Sunday against the Bears. He's second on the team with 26 receptions, two of which have gone for TDs. The supertalented pass-catching tight end has become a key go-to guy for RG III. He dropped to the third round after some so-so combine numbers -- particularly an average 40 time for a guy pegged as an athletic tight end -- but he's showing he can play.
11. Giovani Bernard, RB, Cincinnati
He hasn't been able to break off a big run and has seen his average yards per carry drop in recent weeks, but his role in the offense is more defined and his versatility is obvious. With Bernard, you have to talk about the role in the passing game. He's already hauled in 25 receptions and is on pace for about 1,100 total yards, and it's still early.
12. Desmond Trufant, CB, Atlanta
He got off to just an OK start but has improved over the past four weeks and is playing like the best corner the Falcons have -- and Asante Samuel is a part of that secondary. Trufant's great strength is that he doesn't have a distinct weakness. He covers well, limits yards after the catch and maintains his versatility.
13. Eddie Lacy, RB, Green Bay
I'm giving a bump based on recent performance and trajectory, and because he missed time after a cheap shot. Lacy has been good when he's played but missed basically three full games after taking that shot to the head against Washington. A full 301 of his 352 rushing yards for the season have come over the past three games. More importantly, he looks capable of truly diversifying the Packers offense, which says a lot.
14. Travis Frederick, C, Dallas
He got abused early in a matchup with Dontari Poe of the Chiefs, but he's bounced back and has combined with veteran free-agent signee Brian Waters to solidify the interior of the Cowboys offensive line, which had been a major weak link in previous seasons. I didn't love the value of the draft slot, but Frederick is making the pick look good so far.
15. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston
I'm giving Hopkins the benefit of the doubt because the QB play has suffered in recent weeks and his totals have as well. I had him ranked higher early, with 18 of his 28 receptions coming during the first three games of the season. Good hands and explosiveness after the catch will keep him valuable.
Kiper: NFL Rookie Rankings
This is the first year I've done a regular ranking of the rookies, and I'm finding that in some ways it can be even tougher than pegging the best prospects. With prospects, you try to separate what you're seeing with what a player is capable of. If I see an undersized defensive end who isn't holding up well against the run but has special quickness and pass-rushing skills, there's a good chance he's an outside linebacker at the next level. I'm projecting. His grade isn't just about performance; it's about what he can be.
It's a different story with NFL rookies. Most rookies are being used to maximize their skills. I consider the players around them and how much help they're getting, but these rankings are about pure performance, not just potential.
Again, the usual parameters:
• The rankings reflect play over the whole season, not just the previous Sunday.
• Positional value matters, but overall performance and impact on the team matter more.
• I'm asking: Would this player be a starter on most teams? (I think that hurts QBs some).
• Total snap count matters. Great plays matter, but staying on the field is important.
With the rules in place, here we go. This week, I decided to go 35 deep:
1. Sheldon Richardson, DT, New York Jets
He's been a solid, steady performer week after week for the Jets. It's interesting to note that Richardson is the top rookie defensive lineman in the NFL right now and former Jets first-rounder Muhammad Wilkerson is right there among the top overall defensive linemen in the NFL at this point. Richardson is particularly dominant against the run, with great vision and a sense of where the ball is headed. Rex Ryan has to be thrilled with the line, and second-year man Damon Harrison has also been outstanding.
2. Kiko Alonso, ILB, Buffalo
Production, athleticism, instincts and passion for the game are what get your attention. The former Oregon Duck is leading the Bills defense with 70 tackles while also recording a sack and coming away with four interceptions. He's all over the field right now, and you can tie Alonso's presence to an overall improvement for the defense, given his versatility and that he never comes off the field. He struggled against the Bengals two weeks ago but has looked good since.
3. Kenny Vaccaro, S, New Orleans
He's played nothing close to mistake-free football, but he doesn't come off the field for a defense that is giving up 102 fewer yards per game than it did last year. Vaccaro's best area has been in coverage, and he simply needs to be more consistent both in his routes and his tackling. But he's made a difference. He's also made some big plays, including the game-saver against Atlanta.
4. Star Lotulelei, DT, Carolina
His combination of power and quickness makes life miserable for opposing guards and centers. The way he disrupts a blocking scheme allows MLB Luke Kuechly to flow to the football and lead the Panthers defense in tackles. What you end up with is a player who is already one of the best run-game disruptors in the NFL, both through his ability to create stops and because he occupies blocks so well.
5. Alec Ogletree, LB, St. Louis
His speed and athleticism fit today's pass-happy NFL perfectly. The former Georgia Bulldog has been a key entity on defense for the Rams, making his presence felt in a variety of ways. Ogletree is second on the team with 51 tackles, just four behind MLB James Laurinaitis. He's also broken up four passes and come away with an interception that he returned for a touchdown. He overruns plays and can miss reads, but he'll get better.
6. Geno Smith, QB, New York Jets
He's battled through some rough games and shown tremendous resiliency, leading the Jets to four wins in the early going, which is more wins than 18 teams in the NFL. I thought going into the 2013 campaign that the Jets would win only four or five games the entire season. Smith bounced back from a poor performance against the Steelers to lead the Jets to an upset victory over Tom Brady and the Pats on Sunday. What impressed me with Smith was his ability to convert critical third-down opportunities while again showing that he can beat a defense with his arm and his legs. Is he a starter on most teams? Probably not. But I liked the pick, and I like what he's made of his situation.
7. Keenan Allen, WR, San Diego
Maybe he's a little high based on aggregate performance, but this shows some respect for the trend line. After a slow start (not uncommon for a rookie wide receiver), he's now tied for the team lead in targets among wide receivers with 37 and has 23 of his 26 receptions over the past four games. Allen is a first-round talent that lasted until the third because he couldn't get healthy during the draft process. The Chargers are reaping the benefits.
8. Tyrann Mathieu, S, Arizona
When we would have meetings in preparation for the draft, Jon Gruden would argue that Mathieu was worth a first-round pick because of his natural football instincts and ability as a playmaker. Gruden was right. Mathieu looks like a steal, has played more than 400 snaps, can play slot and safety, can come on blitzes and, so far, can do pretty much everything well. He's a football player.
9. Eric Reid, S, San Francisco
He's only fifth on the team in tackles, but he's been a big-play performer as a rookie starter in the 49ers deep patrol. Reid has broken up five passes, picked off three passes -- he had two last year at LSU -- and recovered a fumble. If he can limit missed tackles, he's a contender for defensive rookie of the year.
10. Jordan Reed, TE, Washington
Flying up the board. He moves into the top 10 after a spectacular performance Sunday against the Bears. He's second on the team with 26 receptions, two of which have gone for TDs. The supertalented pass-catching tight end has become a key go-to guy for RG III. He dropped to the third round after some so-so combine numbers -- particularly an average 40 time for a guy pegged as an athletic tight end -- but he's showing he can play.
11. Giovani Bernard, RB, Cincinnati
He hasn't been able to break off a big run and has seen his average yards per carry drop in recent weeks, but his role in the offense is more defined and his versatility is obvious. With Bernard, you have to talk about the role in the passing game. He's already hauled in 25 receptions and is on pace for about 1,100 total yards, and it's still early.
12. Desmond Trufant, CB, Atlanta
He got off to just an OK start but has improved over the past four weeks and is playing like the best corner the Falcons have -- and Asante Samuel is a part of that secondary. Trufant's great strength is that he doesn't have a distinct weakness. He covers well, limits yards after the catch and maintains his versatility.
13. Eddie Lacy, RB, Green Bay
I'm giving a bump based on recent performance and trajectory, and because he missed time after a cheap shot. Lacy has been good when he's played but missed basically three full games after taking that shot to the head against Washington. A full 301 of his 352 rushing yards for the season have come over the past three games. More importantly, he looks capable of truly diversifying the Packers offense, which says a lot.
14. Travis Frederick, C, Dallas
He got abused early in a matchup with Dontari Poe of the Chiefs, but he's bounced back and has combined with veteran free-agent signee Brian Waters to solidify the interior of the Cowboys offensive line, which had been a major weak link in previous seasons. I didn't love the value of the draft slot, but Frederick is making the pick look good so far.
15. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston
I'm giving Hopkins the benefit of the doubt because the QB play has suffered in recent weeks and his totals have as well. I had him ranked higher early, with 18 of his 28 receptions coming during the first three games of the season. Good hands and explosiveness after the catch will keep him valuable.
Next up
16. Terrance Williams, WR, Dallas: He's on pace to join the top 10, and Tony Romo appears to trust him.
17. Larry Warford, OG, Detroit: Play has dipped lately, but still a solid starter out of Round 3.
18. D.J. Fluker, OT, San Diego: It's clear he belongs on the right side. But he'll be a good one there.
19. David Bakhtiari, OT, Green Bay: A slow start has given way to steady play. And on a vital blindside.
20. Ezekiel Ansah, DE, Detroit: Steady against the run, he's still searching as a pass-rusher.
21. Barkevious Mingo, OLB, Cleveland: Still more flash than consistent production.
22. Kawann Short, DT, Carolina: Will see more time at the rate he produces.
23. Joe Vellano, DT, New England: Pressed into action, he's been good. Chris Jones has been as well.
24. Tyler Eifert, TE, Cincinnati: Just needs more targets. Even when covered, he can bring it in.
25. Marcus Cooper, CB, Kansas City: Has been great, but has played far fewer snaps than most.
26. Kyle Long, OG, Chicago: Steady as a run-blocker, he needs to pass protect better.
27. Kayvon Webster, CB, Denver: The third-rounder has stepped up for Denver.
28. Kenbrell Thompkins, WR, New England: Uneven play, but the potential is obvious. Needs time.
29. EJ Manuel, QB, Buffalo: He is a legacy pick but put up some good early results.
30. J.J. Wilcox, S, Dallas: Strong play in recent weeks. I thought he might make it as a rookie starter and he has.
31. Jordan Mills, OT, Chicago: Has struggled after a good start but holds down a starting spot.
32. Robert Woods, WR, Buffalo: Uneven QB play has hampered his production.
33. Andre Ellington, RB, Arizona: Can run it and catch it, not a distant reach from Bernard's production.
34. Tavon Austin, WR, St. Louis: The yardage is light, but he's starting to pile up the catches and targets.
35. Eric Fisher, OT, Kansas City: Maligned because of draft slot expectations, he's starting to play better.
Next up
16. Terrance Williams, WR, Dallas: He's on pace to join the top 10, and Tony Romo appears to trust him.
17. Larry Warford, OG, Detroit: Play has dipped lately, but still a solid starter out of Round 3.
18. D.J. Fluker, OT, San Diego: It's clear he belongs on the right side. But he'll be a good one there.
19. David Bakhtiari, OT, Green Bay: A slow start has given way to steady play. And on a vital blindside.
20. Ezekiel Ansah, DE, Detroit: Steady against the run, he's still searching as a pass-rusher.
21. Barkevious Mingo, OLB, Cleveland: Still more flash than consistent production.
22. Kawann Short, DT, Carolina: Will see more time at the rate he produces.
23. Joe Vellano, DT, New England: Pressed into action, he's been good. Chris Jones has been as well.
24. Tyler Eifert, TE, Cincinnati: Just needs more targets. Even when covered, he can bring it in.
25. Marcus Cooper, CB, Kansas City: Has been great, but has played far fewer snaps than most.
26. Kyle Long, OG, Chicago: Steady as a run-blocker, he needs to pass protect better.
27. Kayvon Webster, CB, Denver: The third-rounder has stepped up for Denver.
28. Kenbrell Thompkins, WR, New England: Uneven play, but the potential is obvious. Needs time.
29. EJ Manuel, QB, Buffalo: He is a legacy pick but put up some good early results.
30. J.J. Wilcox, S, Dallas: Strong play in recent weeks. I thought he might make it as a rookie starter and he has.
31. Jordan Mills, OT, Chicago: Has struggled after a good start but holds down a starting spot.
32. Robert Woods, WR, Buffalo: Uneven QB play has hampered his production.
33. Andre Ellington, RB, Arizona: Can run it and catch it, not a distant reach from Bernard's production.
34. Tavon Austin, WR, St. Louis: The yardage is light, but he's starting to pile up the catches and targets.
35. Eric Fisher, OT, Kansas City: Maligned because of draft slot expectations, he's starting to play better.
16. Terrance Williams, WR, Dallas: He's on pace to join the top 10, and Tony Romo appears to trust him.
17. Larry Warford, OG, Detroit: Play has dipped lately, but still a solid starter out of Round 3.
18. D.J. Fluker, OT, San Diego: It's clear he belongs on the right side. But he'll be a good one there.
19. David Bakhtiari, OT, Green Bay: A slow start has given way to steady play. And on a vital blindside.
20. Ezekiel Ansah, DE, Detroit: Steady against the run, he's still searching as a pass-rusher.
21. Barkevious Mingo, OLB, Cleveland: Still more flash than consistent production.
22. Kawann Short, DT, Carolina: Will see more time at the rate he produces.
23. Joe Vellano, DT, New England: Pressed into action, he's been good. Chris Jones has been as well.
24. Tyler Eifert, TE, Cincinnati: Just needs more targets. Even when covered, he can bring it in.
25. Marcus Cooper, CB, Kansas City: Has been great, but has played far fewer snaps than most.
26. Kyle Long, OG, Chicago: Steady as a run-blocker, he needs to pass protect better.
27. Kayvon Webster, CB, Denver: The third-rounder has stepped up for Denver.
28. Kenbrell Thompkins, WR, New England: Uneven play, but the potential is obvious. Needs time.
29. EJ Manuel, QB, Buffalo: He is a legacy pick but put up some good early results.
30. J.J. Wilcox, S, Dallas: Strong play in recent weeks. I thought he might make it as a rookie starter and he has.
31. Jordan Mills, OT, Chicago: Has struggled after a good start but holds down a starting spot.
32. Robert Woods, WR, Buffalo: Uneven QB play has hampered his production.
33. Andre Ellington, RB, Arizona: Can run it and catch it, not a distant reach from Bernard's production.
34. Tavon Austin, WR, St. Louis: The yardage is light, but he's starting to pile up the catches and targets.
35. Eric Fisher, OT, Kansas City: Maligned because of draft slot expectations, he's starting to play better.
Next up
16. Terrance Williams, WR, Dallas: He's on pace to join the top 10, and Tony Romo appears to trust him.
17. Larry Warford, OG, Detroit: Play has dipped lately, but still a solid starter out of Round 3.
18. D.J. Fluker, OT, San Diego: It's clear he belongs on the right side. But he'll be a good one there.
19. David Bakhtiari, OT, Green Bay: A slow start has given way to steady play. And on a vital blindside.
20. Ezekiel Ansah, DE, Detroit: Steady against the run, he's still searching as a pass-rusher.
21. Barkevious Mingo, OLB, Cleveland: Still more flash than consistent production.
22. Kawann Short, DT, Carolina: Will see more time at the rate he produces.
23. Joe Vellano, DT, New England: Pressed into action, he's been good. Chris Jones has been as well.
24. Tyler Eifert, TE, Cincinnati: Just needs more targets. Even when covered, he can bring it in.
25. Marcus Cooper, CB, Kansas City: Has been great, but has played far fewer snaps than most.
26. Kyle Long, OG, Chicago: Steady as a run-blocker, he needs to pass protect better.
27. Kayvon Webster, CB, Denver: The third-rounder has stepped up for Denver.
28. Kenbrell Thompkins, WR, New England: Uneven play, but the potential is obvious. Needs time.
29. EJ Manuel, QB, Buffalo: He is a legacy pick but put up some good early results.
30. J.J. Wilcox, S, Dallas: Strong play in recent weeks. I thought he might make it as a rookie starter and he has.
31. Jordan Mills, OT, Chicago: Has struggled after a good start but holds down a starting spot.
32. Robert Woods, WR, Buffalo: Uneven QB play has hampered his production.
33. Andre Ellington, RB, Arizona: Can run it and catch it, not a distant reach from Bernard's production.
34. Tavon Austin, WR, St. Louis: The yardage is light, but he's starting to pile up the catches and targets.
35. Eric Fisher, OT, Kansas City: Maligned because of draft slot expectations, he's starting to play better.
FreedS[ohh]lave
Banned
954UAlreadyknow
All Star
Phase 1 Top 40 Camp/Combine recap
The inaugural top-40 camp/combine had an exceptional collection of underclassmen who will be impacting the college game in the near future.
The camp had a number of intriguing storylines, including the continued improvement of ESPN 60 junior Chase Jeter (Las Vegas/Bishop Gorman) and the emergence of perhaps the best prospect in the camp in 6-foot-5 freshman Troy Brown (Las Vegas/Centennial).
Best Prospects
Troy Brown Jr. (Las Vegas/Centennial)
2017, PG, 6-foot-5, 180 pounds
Brown is a willowy point guard prospect with extraordinary long arms. His handle is slick and tight, and he has the innate ability to find guys in the open court due to his vision and savvy. Despite his sleek frame he can mix it up inside and snag rebounds in traffic, and his jump shot (release point) has improved since July. It's obviously very early in the process, but this Penny Hardaway-like prospect has immense potential if he stays grounded.
Chase Jeter (Las Vegas/Bishop Gorman)
2015, PF, 6-foot-9, 220 pounds
Status: Has strong interest from Arizona, UNLV, UCLA, USC, Kansas, North Carolina, Indiana, Vanderbilt, Duke, Arizona State and Stanford
There might not be a more improved prospect out West than Jeter. The fundamentally-sound 4-man can step out and hit elbow jump shots, but it's his willingness to dominate the paint area that has impressed scouts the most. His footwork and skill set -- as well as his strength -- have evolved. Whether it's a dunk in traffic or a baby hook over the left shoulder, Jeter is slowly, but assuredly, climbing the national rankings.
Best scoring lead guard
Marcus LoVett Jr. (San Gabriel, Calif./San Gabriel Academy)
2015, PG, 6-foot, 165 pounds
LoVett Jr. is a chiseled left-handed point guard who was virtually unstoppable at this camp. He is adept at running the high screen and roll, and his jump shot was consistent throughout. There is no question he is a talented scorer from all three levels, and he uses his broad shoulders to ward off contact while finishing. However, to take his game to another level he needs to limit his tendency to over-handle the ball as well as find ways to make his teammates better with his passing and communication.
Best pure point guard
Kendall Small (Lakewood, Calif./Mayfair)
2015, PG, 5-foot-11, 170 pounds
Status: Gonzaga, Oregon, UConn, Columbia, Oregon State, New Mexico, UTEP, Tulsa and Tulane are showing interest.
Small is a pit bull at both ends of the floor. In his matchup with LoVett Jr., Small didn't get the necessary help to stop LoVett's high screen and roll game, but offensively he was arguably the best facilitator in the camp. His vision is uncanny, and he displayed an improved jump shot. However, he does leave his feet too much while attacking the paint area, which could be problematic at the next level.
Best gene pool
Brendan Bailey (Salt Lake City/American Fort)
2016, WF, 6-foot-6, 165 pounds
Bailey, who is the son of former Utah Jazz standout Thurl Bailey, is a slender wing-type with a feathery shooting stroke. He handles the ball well in the open court, and he is wired to score. His shot selection is questionable at times and he plays too fast, but he is a talent with an impressive upside.
Biggest surprises
Renathan Ona Embo (Henderson, Nev./Findlay Prep)
2016, 6-foot-3, 170 pounds
Embo, who is originally from Paris, has now found a new home at Findlay Prep. The wiry combo-guard is a slashing prospect who possesses superior quickness and innate ability to score in a variety of ways. In addition, he exhibited enough vision to be a lead guard at some point with development.
Derrick Bruce (Ontario, Calif./Colony)
2015, PG, 6-foot-3, 165 pounds
Status: Claims interest from USC, San Diego State, Arizona State, Cal-Berkeley, and Weber State.
Bruce is an intriguing story considering I witnessed his injury last December while playing for a different school (Corona, Calif./Centennial). He is a 2014 prospect who will reclassify and head to prep school in Florida a year from now. Nevertheless, he is a talented point guard prospect with great size, exceptional athleticism, and a budding skill set.
Best motor
Charles O'Bannon Jr. (Las Vegas/Bishop Gorman)
2017, SG, 6-foot-3, 170 pounds
O'Bannon Jr. has much more wiggle to his game than his father (former UCLA standout), however O'Bannon Jr.'s approach to the game is far different. He can score in a variety of ways, but he'll need to learn how to play at a better pace (plays too fast) and impact the game in more ways other than scoring. Overall, though, he is a talent with a bright future.
Smooth operator
Stephen Thompson Jr. (Torrance, Calif./Bishop Montgomery)
2015, SG, 6-foot-3, 155 pounds
Status: Has been offered by Vanderbilt, Arizona State, New Mexico.
If Chase Jeter is the most improved player in the West, Thompson Jr. is not far behind. This smooth operator has a high IQ for the game, and his shot is feathery out to 22-feet. He has a potent floater in the paint area, and his explosiveness has improved as well. Physical defenders can give him issues, but as he gains strength, that area of his game should continue to improve.
Diamonds in the rough
Nate Grimes (Las Vegas/Desert Pines)
2015, WF, 6-foot-7, 180 pounds
Status: Claims offers from UTEP, Utah State, Loyola Marymount, Fresno State, UMass, Nevada, Oregon State, San Jose State and Southern Utah
The term "diamond in the rough" is the proper description for the ever-improving Grimes. Broad shoulders, bouncy nature and an improved motor describe this young thoroughbred. His shot is unorthodox and his ball skills need polishing, especially when attacking pressure, but there is a lot to like in this young forward.
Ray Smith (Las Vegas/Las Vegas High)
2015, WF, 6-foot-7, 175 pounds
Status: Claims offers from UNLV, Arizona, Arizona State, USC, New Mexico, Northern Arizona, Oregon State, Louisville and San Diego State.
Smith has that prototypical frame with long arms, and he is explosive as well. He excels in transition attacking the rim, and he shows a decent shooting touch from the perimeter. However, for him to take the next step, he needs to play more assertive at both ends (defending/rebounding) and with more purpose in mind.
GREENandYELLOW
2x...and defending
Success has Ducks' recruiting flying high
The most-used mantra when it came to Oregon recruiting during its ascent to the top of the Pac-12 conference was that the Ducks did a phenomenal job of finding the hidden-gem recruits who could fit into Oregon's unique system on offense and defense.
Now, that thought might be one of the conference's most inaccurate.
That doesn't mean the Oregon coaches still aren't capable of finding the Ducks' customary hidden gems; it simply means that with Oregon's success on the field, the Ducks have turned into bullies on the recruiting trail, capable of grabbing commitments from any number of ESPN 300 prospects and pulling prospects away from fellow recruiting powers.
The Ducks' recruiting success has been building over much of the past decade, but going back to where much of the foundation was laid for the Ducks' three-year run atop the conference -- winning conference championships in 2009, 2010 and 2011 -- Oregon signed just three ESPN 150 recruits in the 2007, 2008 and 2009 recruiting classes. The 2007 class was considered a tremendous success at the time, but there were far more recruits during those years who made the transition from no-name to household-name players during their years at Oregon. Between Mark Asper, Terrell Turner, Jeff Maehl, Eddie Pleasant, Talmadge Jackson, Jeremiah Masoli, Kenjon Barner, Kiko Alonso, Lavasier Tuinei, Brian Jackson and Avery Patterson, the Ducks found plenty of under-recruited or completely passed-over talent who turned into stars.
But after grabbing three ESPN 150 prospects in a four year span from 2006-09, Oregon landed four such recruits in the 2010 class alone -- including cornerback Dior Mathis, whom the Ducks wrestled away from Florida, Florida State, Miami, Michigan and Tennessee, all of which had offered. Of course, that 2010 group also included the usual "sleepers," including Hroniss Grasu and Terrance Mitchell, who turned into impact players.
The 2011 class offered another bump in recruiting, with five ESPN 150 prospects. All five came after fierce recruiting battles with national powers, and that class -- featuring nine four-star prospects -- was a sign that Oregon had truly arrived as a big player on the recruiting scene. Of course, perhaps the most interesting aspect of the 2010 class for the Ducks and their fans is that the class contained Marcus Mariota and De'Anthony Thomas.
Mariota was a perfect example of Oregon coaches going out and finding a recruit who would perfectly fit the system, offering and getting a commitment before virtually any other program realized what Mariota could be -- perhaps an example of the system making a recruit, since we have no idea of what Mariota would have done in a different program.
Thomas, however, might be one of the first Oregon recruits who changed the game for the Ducks, where it's not the system turning a two-star prospect into an NFL prospect. Thomas was one who made it acceptable for a big-time recruit to begin thinking about what he could do in said system.
That's not to say Oregon didn't get important recruits before Thomas, but the lightning-quick back might have served as the tipping point where the recent practice of recruiting gems to Oregon became less about searching through a mine and more about selecting at the counter.
In the following class, Oregon flexed its muscle by signing defensive end Arik Armstead, who decommitted from USC, tight end Pharaoh Brown, who decommitted from Michigan, wide receiver Bralon Addison, who decommitted from Oklahoma State, Dwayne Stanford -- an Ohio prospect with Alabama, Michigan and Ohio State offers -- quarterback Jake Rodriguez after a hard, late push from USC, defensive end DeForest Buckner, tight end Evan Baylis and safety Reggie Daniels -- all of whom had impressive national offer sheets.
In the 2013 class, Oregon again simply went out and dominated on the trail, grabbing five ESPN 300 recruits and winning impressive national battles for Danny Mattingly, Darren Carrington, Tyrell and Tyree Robinson, Juwaan Williams, Devon Allen and flipping Cameron Hunt and Torrodney Prevot from Cal and USC, respectively.
That success is continuing in 2014. ESPN 300 backs Royce Freeman (Imperial, Calif./Imperial) and Tony James (Gainesville, Fla./Gainesville) are early commitments to Oregon, and that has nothing to do with the Ducks coaches searching high and low for sleeper recruits who fit the system. Those commitments are absolutely about Oregon going into Southern California and Florida and wrestling away two of the top tailback talents in the country. Freeman holds offers from Alabama, Florida State, Stanford, UCLA, USC and Wisconsin, while James has them from Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Miami and Ohio State.
Cornerback commit Arrion Springs (San Antonio/Theodore Roosevelt) is the No. 30 recruit in the country and the Ducks are going to swing hard for ESPN 300 prospects Adoree' Jackson (Gardena, Calif./Serra), John "JuJu" Smith (Long Beach, Calif./Poly), Solomon Thomas (Coppell, Tex./Coppell), Bishard "Budda" Baker (Bellevue, Wash./Bellevue), Mattrell McGraw (New Orleans/John Curtis), Bryce Dixon (Ventura, Calif./St. Bonaventure), Qualen Cunningham (Chandler, Ariz./Hamilton) and Montae Nicholson (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway).
While it will always be about finding the right recruit who fits the system for the Oregon coaches, the success of said system -- on both sides of the ball -- continues to open the door for the Ducks to a new batch of high-profile recruits every year. And while the Pac-12 seems to be improving up and down the conference, this obvious success on the recruiting trail could have Oregon situated toward the top of the standings for a considerable time.
FreedS[ohh]lave
Banned