UK targets in Arizona: Update #2

— Well Michael Avery did not really improve his play at all in his third game of the tournament. Avery came into his final game of pool play with 2 points and 1 rebound total in the first two games and did almost nothing to improve upon those numbers. Avery did grab 2 more rebounds but that was his only contribution to the third game of the tournament for the Belmont Shores AAU squad. Belmont Shores did manage to win their third game over Abdul Gaddy (#2 PG of 2009) and the Northwest Panthers 73-70.

— Belmont Shores got a nice contribution from fellow UK target Darius Morris who added 16 points and 2 rebounds even though he was being defended by Avery Bradley, yet another Kentucky priority and lock down defender, and Abdul Gaddy. Morris has really impressed me with his scoring ability in this tournament, he is shooting nearly 50% from the field and he is 16-19 from the free throw line in only 3 games. There are only two noticeable knocks to his game and those are his three point shooting and his decision making at times. Morris has only shot 1-9 from three in the tourney and if he ever develops a consistent long range jumper he will become one of the 20 best players in the country. The other knock that I mentioned, his decision making, needs improvement as I said. He has the same amount of turnovers as assists in the Arizona Cactus Classic (ACC). Because of his lack of great decision making he becomes more of a tweener kind of guard. He has the body of a point guard, 6’3″ 175 lbs, but the skill set of a shooting guard, if he can become the total package his ceiling is very high.

— OK it is official, John Wall needs to become priority numero uno (#1) for the Wildcats. He is flat out unstoppable when he has the ball in his hands and in the open court. As alot of people have said he is almost an exact replica of lottery pick to-be Derrick Rose. Like Rose, Wall has unbelievable quickness with the ball in his hands, finishes around the rim very well, and is a cyclone in the open court. Wall has superb court vision, seemingly making every play at the right time, and can do pretty much anything on the floor thanks to his speed and basketball IQ. Wall finished his third and final game of pool play with 24 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists and led his D-One Sports AAU club to their second win in three games at the ACC. Wall has shown all the facets of his game in this tournament. In the first game he showed off his lightning quick first step and tight handle on the ball going for 21 points and completely changed it up in the second game by going for 12 points and 11 assists and getting his teammates involved in the game more. The third game seemed like the first encore for him where he just brought all of the tools together into one game. The only knock on him in the third game he played is not even really on him, the opposing team in Wall’s third game was the FBC Perris AAU team, which was one of only seven teams to finish pool play winless. In Wall’s fourth game he exploded for 28 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists in a loss. He firmly established the fact that no one player can defend him alone and he is the quickest player in the country regardless of class and he has uncanny control of the ball. No one can just lock him up and take the ball from him.

Coming up a little later I will have a preview of the Championship Bracket, which begins tomorrow, I will be breaking down each UK target and who their possible opponents will be.