By: RONALD BALL
(This is part II of a series involving the week at Peach Jam, 2016. Part I focused on point guards, shooting guards, and small forwards. This part will focus on the bigs, power forwards and centers.)
Power Forwards:
Paul Washington-This is one of my favorite players in the class. I see him ranked in the upper teens to twenties and will tell you that is too low. He has it all. Excellent size and quickness to play under the glass as well as toughness. He isn't pushed around but rather is doing the pushing. Averaged 15.6 ppg on 57% shooting but needs to work on his FT shooting (26% in pool player and 56% for the league play). He averages over 10 rebounds a game in the combined league, pool and bracket play. He is your physical anchor down low. IMO he is a taller Chuck Hayes. Texas or Kentucky?
Billy Preston-Anther player out of competition with an injury, Preston is physically imposing. I think we are behind on this one and will be hard to get him out of the west but still an interesting prospect. Seems to rely as much on his athleticism as his skills, both of which he has plenty. Plays very much "in the paint".
Centers
Mohamed Bamba-Was able to see him last December and was bit disappointed due to his lack of strength. I'm not as concerned about that now. Although still thin, he does not play thin. As most know I'm not a fan of thin players in the paint as they tend to be pushed around. This isn't the case with Bamba. He does not shy away from contact, unlike previous thin centers we have had. He has an extremely long reach and outstanding hands. His game is well suited for Calipari, who thrives on bigs with good hands. He doesn't see himself a guard or want to be a guard, something I view as a big plus. He led the league in rebounding with just under 14 per game to go with 16.5 points in pool play. He also averaged 3.8 blocks so you can see why Coach Cal has compared him to Anthony Davis.
DeAndre Ayton-Has been criticized for wanting to play the perimeter but I have to say I didn't see anything like was reported, either in SC or Hampton. I'm moving him to the top spot, just like all the other guys, and I hate doing that! Does he like to shoot the jumper? Sure, but he only took 6 all weekend so its not like he is shooting 4 or 5 a game. His game mirrors DeMarcus Cousins in high school. With the right coach that is solved. He averaged 21.6 points for the pool play and 13.2 rebounds. His physical presence is huge. He is a big kid who has room to put on some more muscle. Currently listed at 235, I can see him very effective at 250.
Wendell Carter-He has been my top player in the class based on previous evaluation but I have to change that because both Bamba and Ayton outplayed him in my opinion. His strongest suit was his long range shooting, something he didn't do as illustrated by the 1 trey he took all weekend. He only averaged 8.2 points in pool play and just 6.8 rebounds.
Nick Richards-Another player I seen several times over the last 10 months, and I'm still confused every time I watch. I can't seem to get a grasp of who or what is going to show up. At times he plays disinterested and other times show evidence of great potential. At 7 feet and 230, he should dominate most opponents. I will admit I was more impressed with his showing in Augusta than I was in VA. At Peach Jam he averaged 13 in both points and rebounds. He showed me one of his best games in pool play then. This is a player who needs the right coach and the right situation. I'm not sure if that is Cal/UK or not.
I expect a class of 7-8 players. As far as the overall class, there is plenty of talent there but the top players are not like the 2016 class. Its a deep class but the top talent isn't head and shoulders better in quality and quantity. Its a class good enough that you can build a team off of it, unlike the 2015 class.
Images courtesy Jon Lopez/Nike EYBL
vBulletin Message