Scouting Report: Miles Golden Bears

The Kentucky Wildcats welcome the Miles Golden Bears to Rupp Arena for their final tuneup before the regular season tips off. Miles College is a HBCU out of Fairfield, Alabama that competes at the Division II level. The Golden Bears were picked to finish first in the SIAC West. Last season, they went 10-1 in a condensed schedule with their only loss coming by one point at Tuskegee. In their last full season, the Golden Bears went 24-4, 16-3 to win the SIAC and earn a spot in the Division II national tournament before coronavirus concerns cancelled the event.

Unfortunately, that is about where our knowledge of Miles College comes to an end. Graduating five seniors and losing a few more to transfer has resulted in a lot of roster turnover. Only two primary rotation players from last season’s team are back this season. However, it is still important to develop some semblance of a plan. That is what we will attempt to do here.

This will be a very different scouting report. Sometimes you have to make do with what you have. When going up against a team like the Miles Golden Bears early in the season information can be scarce. There is little to no film available. The roster looks entirely different than a year ago. Also, coming off of a shortened season, there is even less to go off of than normal. So, we will simply break down the personnel the best we can and then try to piece together some simple offensive and defensive tendencies.

Miles Golden Bears Overview

The Miles Golden Bears are made up of seven transfers, plus one football transfer, and five returning players. There are also nine freshman on the roster that we won’t even put on the scouting report. Obviously, with that many new faces, there are plenty of unknowns. However, the Golden Bears found a lot of success in the transfer portal. There are a couple of Division I transfers on the roster, some decorated junior college prospects, and a few proven players from the DII level. Don’t take the lack of information for a lack of talent. This team is really, really good.

This will be a very athletic team that will not back down from us on the floor. They will be able to run with us in transition and create some havoc on the defensive end of the floor. Miles’ primary goal will be to create a chaotic, up-and-down game. If that happens, they have the talent and athleticism to keep up.

However, the Golden Bears are not a very good shooting team. Outside of a couple players to key on, we can pack in the defense and force them into jump shots. Take away the driving lanes to force them into contested shots. When the shots do go up, we must box out. They will emphasize crashing the offensive glass. Just jumping with them is not enough. We must be physical.

Defensively, Miles very well may press or at the very least apply ball pressure in the half court. They may get out and deny in the passing lanes as well. Just be ready to drive the ball hard in a straight line against your man and then shoot when you are open on the perimeter. We must be disciplined in taking layups and open 3’s against these guys. Over the last three seasons, the Golden Bears have been the best Division II team in the country in terms of scoring defense. They are going to be solid on that end of the floor.

Projected Starting Lineup

Point Guard: #3 Brandon Miller- 6’0″ Graduate Student (Alabama A&M)

Shooting Guard: #4 Roger Davis- 6’0″ Senior (West Alabama)

Small Forward: #1 Yasim Hooker- 6’5″ Senior

Power Forward: #24 Mykayle Carter- 6’7″ Junior (Southwest Mississippi CC)

Center: #34 Josh Hill- 6’5″ Graduate Student (Academy of Art)

Personnel

Returning Players

#1 Yasim Hooker: 6’5″ 190 lbs, Senior Guard

10.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg

Hooker is the primary returning player for the Golden Bears. He was selected preseason Second Team All-SIAC by the conference coaches. Left-handed guard with explosive athleticism. More of a driver than a shooter. Really wants to drive it left. No left hand drives!!! Closeout short to stay between him and the basket. If he makes a couple we will adjust. Go under ballscreens and handoffs. Box out. Good offensive rebounder. Extremely athletic.

#35 Jacorian Dalton: 6’8″ 220 lbs, Senior Center

3.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg

Big, physical 5-man. Came to Miles after a successful junior college stint. Lefty. Wants to score with his left hand over his right shoulder. Don’t guard him when he is away from the basket. Only a threat to score on the block. Make him score with you between him and the basket. Box out!

#23 Patrick Rucker: 6’2″ 160 lbs, Senior Guard

2.3 ppg

Point Guard. Play him straight up. Contest when he shoots and then be ready to guard against the drive. Good going either direction. Uses the crossover a lot on the perimeter. Need to keep your feet down and don’t get shaken. Stay solid. Stay between him and the basket. Contest the pull-ups.

#13 Elijah Horton: 6’4″ 185 lbs, Sophomore Guard

1.8 ppg, 1.7 rpg

Shooter! No 3’s! In limited action last season, 7 of his 9 shots were 3’s. Closeout to take away the catch-and-shoot 3’s. Chase him off of down screens and handoffs.

#33 Joel Logan: 6’8″ 225 lbs, Graduate Student Forward

8.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg

Big, athletic post player. Right hand, left shoulder with his back to the basket. Will drive it at you from the high post or short corners. No right hand drives! Make him finish over you. Very good offensive rebounder. Box out!!!

Transfers

#2 Truitt Spencer: 6’1″ 180 lbs, Junior Guard

10.2 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.6 apg (Central Georgia Tech)

Shooter! No catch-and-shoot 3’s. Closeout hard to him to take away the catch-and-shoot 3’s. Aggressive offensive player. Need to be ready to contest everything. Bounce back and be ready to guard the right hand drive once you closeout. No right hand drives. Be ready for the pull-up jumper, especially when he is going left. Chase him off down screens and handoffs.

#3 Brandon Miller: 6’0″ 175lbs, Graduate Student Guard

4.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.2 apg (Alabama A&M 2019-2020)

Small, quick point guard that wants to play fast and push it hard in transition. Not a great shooter, but will be aggressive. Closeout short and just throw a hand up when he shoots. Stay between him and the basket. No right hand drives! You can go under the ballscreens and handoffs to guard against the drive.

#4 Roger Davis: 6’0″ 180 lbs, Junior Guard

11.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 2.4 apg (West Alabama)

Play him straight up. Half of his shots were 3’s, but went just 13/47. Throw a hand up to contest. You can start by going under the ballscreens and handoffs. Stay between him and the basket. Much better from 2 than from 3. No right hand drives! Closeout in a way to take away the right hand drives.

#11 Kendrick Foster: 5’11” 165 lbs, Junior Guard

5.0 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 1.5 apg (Wallace State-Hanceville)

Very aggressive shooter, but not a great percentage. Was 25/93 last season at his JUCO. Need to closeout to give a hard contest to the obvious catch-and-shoot, then bounce back to guard the drive. No right hand drives! You can hop under the ballscreens and handoffs until he makes a couple.

#24 Mykayle Carter: 6’7″ 210 lbs, Junior Forward

8.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.2 apg (Southwest Mississippi)

Good offensive player. Shooter. No 3’s! Need to be there on the catch to take away the 3-point attempts. Chase him off of down screens and flares. Better from 3 than from 2. Make him dribble it. Do not help off of him. No 3’s! Box him out. Will crash the offensive glass hard.

#32 Anthony Fairley: 6’8″ 195 lbs, Graduate Student Forward

3.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg (Alcorn State)

Driving/slashing 4-man. Non-shooter. Closeout short. Very athletic and strong. Will face it up and drive it at you. All left hand! NO left hand drives! Get your feet away from him on the perimeter because he wants to drive it at you and come back left. Wants to score over his right shoulder with his left hand in the post. If he starts going right he is going to spin back left to finish. Stay between him and the basket.

#34 Josh Hill: 6’5″ 230 lbs, Graduate Student Forward

14.6 ppg, 12.6 rpg (Academy of Art)

Undersized post with elite strength. Ferocious rebounder. Don’t let him play harder than you. Averaged 4.5 offensive rebounds per game last season. Very good finisher around the rim. Will step out to 3-point range, but just throw a hand up to contest when he shoots it. Right hand, left shoulder in the post. Be physical on his left shoulder! Make him score everything with you between him and the basket. BOX OUT!!! Elite rebounder.

Keys to the Game-Miles Golden Bears

• Control the pace. Keep them out of transition by scoring. Attack the basket. Be ready to shoot on the perimeter. Layups and rhythm 3’s.
• No 3’s for #24 Carter. He will be their primary shooter. Closeout hard. We will adjust if others make a couple.
• Pack it in defensively. Go under ballscreens and handoffs unless noted otherwise. Stay between them and the basket. Contest jump shots.
• BOX OUT! Be ready to be physical. They are too athletic to just jump with for rebounds. Make first contact and then go get the ball.
• Limit live ball turnovers. Can’t let them get easy baskets in transition.