I just got in from Mississippi College where I watched the MAC Rising Seniors All Star basketball game. The South won 103-92 and it is very safe to say there is some good basketball talent in our state. Some things of interest from the game...
- Ware from Starkville, MSU commit, won the defensive MVP in a losing effort. He is hell around the rim and can get up for a big guy. He is already a strong body, but will continue to get better. Can score as well. In talking to some HS coaches there they believe there is a shot he could move to 5 star, but most figure he will stay a 4. This is the year of the big man so a move to a 5could come with a hellacious senior year.
- Fred Thomas from Jim Hill, MSU commit, was the offensive MVP in winning effort. Lost count, but I'd guess he went for 20 or so. I'm gonna go ahead and state that we got a serious steal in this kid. He is a great shooter and is smooth all around. Plays good defense and everything seems effortless on his part. He is currently a 3 star and above mentioned coaches said they would be shocked if he didn't move to a 4 star, possibly as early as August, during the next evauation period.
- Devonte Pollard of Kemper County is the real deal as well. Would guess he went for 16-20 as well. He needs to add about 15 pounds on his frame as he is thin (Jerious Norwood type legs), but is damn good. Playing as a 3 right now mostly but has the touch and skills to play a 2. Also fearless around the basket onboth ends. We need to get this guy, he will be special. Currently a 4 star that may end up a 5 before its over.
- Twymond Howard of Pearl is also in a class with these guys. Is simply a basketball player and can also play the 2 or 3. He is a great leader on the floor and was constantly communicating and guiding the player with the ball. Can shot from anywhere and will also mix it up in the paint. Scored 45 in an invitational tourny game last week in Indianapolis and his HS coaches phone was blown up from 7-11pm that evening and he received two more scholarship offers (Oklahoma State and Seton Hall) as a result of his play in that tourney. Is currently a 4 star and most feel he will stay as that. Finished with 12-15 points I'd guess.
-Thomas, Pollard, and Howard all played for the South and when they were on the floor together the North had no answer. They, however, were not on the floor together much as they had players divided up to keep the sub units as strong as possible. There are other good players, but these four are the "hype" guys.
-If Stans could land Pollard and Howard in this class, holy crap.... with what we got this year we would be solid for years to come.
-College coaches in attendance that I know of were: MSU, Ole Miss, Georgetown, Kentucky, USM, JSU, Northwestern, Alcorn St., and smaller schools from the Louisiana, Alabama, and MS. I'm sure there were others, but I couldn't identify them. They all sat in folding chairs behind the goal on the opposite end of the court from the fan/spectator traffic.
-Every coach, head and assts,was dressed professionally in collared university shirts or t-shirts that had their program name, tucked into either khaki shorts or pants EXCEPT........ Drum Roll here............. Mr. MMA himself, Andy Kennedy. If I were an OM fan, student, employee, etc... I'd be ashamed and embarrassed at how my men's head basketball coach looked. The OM women's coach was there for the girl's game and was dressed as the other coaches mentioned above (as was Fannin-Otis). Not Kennedy, he was in a plan white V-neck t-shirt of some kind that was a little bigwith overly large and baggy cargo shorts, tennis shoes with no socks. No knock toward OM, the simple fact was he looked like **** in comparison to every other coach there, including one of his assistants. Just thought that was poor on his part and gives off a negative vibe.
Anyway, thats what I got. Figured I'd pass it along.
- Ware from Starkville, MSU commit, won the defensive MVP in a losing effort. He is hell around the rim and can get up for a big guy. He is already a strong body, but will continue to get better. Can score as well. In talking to some HS coaches there they believe there is a shot he could move to 5 star, but most figure he will stay a 4. This is the year of the big man so a move to a 5could come with a hellacious senior year.
- Fred Thomas from Jim Hill, MSU commit, was the offensive MVP in winning effort. Lost count, but I'd guess he went for 20 or so. I'm gonna go ahead and state that we got a serious steal in this kid. He is a great shooter and is smooth all around. Plays good defense and everything seems effortless on his part. He is currently a 3 star and above mentioned coaches said they would be shocked if he didn't move to a 4 star, possibly as early as August, during the next evauation period.
- Devonte Pollard of Kemper County is the real deal as well. Would guess he went for 16-20 as well. He needs to add about 15 pounds on his frame as he is thin (Jerious Norwood type legs), but is damn good. Playing as a 3 right now mostly but has the touch and skills to play a 2. Also fearless around the basket onboth ends. We need to get this guy, he will be special. Currently a 4 star that may end up a 5 before its over.
- Twymond Howard of Pearl is also in a class with these guys. Is simply a basketball player and can also play the 2 or 3. He is a great leader on the floor and was constantly communicating and guiding the player with the ball. Can shot from anywhere and will also mix it up in the paint. Scored 45 in an invitational tourny game last week in Indianapolis and his HS coaches phone was blown up from 7-11pm that evening and he received two more scholarship offers (Oklahoma State and Seton Hall) as a result of his play in that tourney. Is currently a 4 star and most feel he will stay as that. Finished with 12-15 points I'd guess.
-Thomas, Pollard, and Howard all played for the South and when they were on the floor together the North had no answer. They, however, were not on the floor together much as they had players divided up to keep the sub units as strong as possible. There are other good players, but these four are the "hype" guys.
-If Stans could land Pollard and Howard in this class, holy crap.... with what we got this year we would be solid for years to come.
-College coaches in attendance that I know of were: MSU, Ole Miss, Georgetown, Kentucky, USM, JSU, Northwestern, Alcorn St., and smaller schools from the Louisiana, Alabama, and MS. I'm sure there were others, but I couldn't identify them. They all sat in folding chairs behind the goal on the opposite end of the court from the fan/spectator traffic.
-Every coach, head and assts,was dressed professionally in collared university shirts or t-shirts that had their program name, tucked into either khaki shorts or pants EXCEPT........ Drum Roll here............. Mr. MMA himself, Andy Kennedy. If I were an OM fan, student, employee, etc... I'd be ashamed and embarrassed at how my men's head basketball coach looked. The OM women's coach was there for the girl's game and was dressed as the other coaches mentioned above (as was Fannin-Otis). Not Kennedy, he was in a plan white V-neck t-shirt of some kind that was a little bigwith overly large and baggy cargo shorts, tennis shoes with no socks. No knock toward OM, the simple fact was he looked like **** in comparison to every other coach there, including one of his assistants. Just thought that was poor on his part and gives off a negative vibe.
Anyway, thats what I got. Figured I'd pass it along.
