“That’s the one guy on our team nobody can guard,” said Fulford. “He gets into space and into gaps in defenses that you don’t really see and I think he got two quick ones because of that.”
Defensively, Wiggins didn’t guard Vonleh because the coach wanted to keep his star player on the floor and didn’t want to risk foul trouble. Instead of using him on the Indiana recruit, Fulford elected to use him all over the court and even put him on New Hampton Prep’s sharp shooting point guard Travis Jorgensen to affect his shot.
“He’s a lockdown defender,” said Fulford. “That’s why we put him on point guards. That’s why we did that. We knew that kid could be a problem in space on that pick-and-roll but it took him a little bit of time to get his shot off and so we put Andrew on him. We could go under the ball screen so that he couldn’t really hurt us. Andrew’s length could bother him and it did.”
Offensively, Wiggins was utilized effectively in the high post at times, where he passed out of traffic, along with using his speed and athleticism and quick first step to get to the hoop in the half court, combined with quickness and aggressiveness on the offensive glass, where he was fouled a ton but couldn’t convert his free throw attempts effectively (8-15).
Fulford said that Wiggins was extra amped to play in the matchup with Vonleh because he get’s excited for top prospect matchups.
“He was looking forward to the matchup because he looks forward to playing against other elite guys. In games where there’s not that five-star name, he kind of coasts a little bit. But when there’s someone that’s elite status like he is, he steps up a little bit.”
Tantalizing skills, Wiggins has, but he’s still a prep school player learning about how to be great, about the daily demanding challenges that come with being considered a ‘great’ player.
As both he and Parker learn the ropes of life beyond prep school basketball, they’ll learn about the higher standard of expectations that will be set for them. Before they even set foot on campus, they’ll be expected to handle the challenges with grace while winning games.
Both of these guys have the basketball talent to change an NBA franchise.
I’m looking forward to seeing Parker at Duke and, don’t expect Wiggins to have many shooting slumps after he commits to college. He’s that good.
Both of these guys… They’re that good.
A Dark Horse: Aaron Gordon
“Aaron just has such a high motor,” said BJ Johnson, Assistant USA Men’s National Team Director. “Even with his [toe] injury that set him back for a little bit. He came back and he’s still added things to his game. His handles are tighter and I feel like he’s more confident in them as well. He’s one of those kids that is going to continue to work hard and get better just by how hard he works and what type of kid he is.”
He might play like Blake Griffin at this stage, but Gordon, who is still deciding between Arizona, Washington and Kentucky, doesn’t want looks to confuse you.
“Magic Johnson,” said Gordon, explaining who his basketball hero is, following an 81-46 loss in which he scored an impressive (NOTE: See below) 27 points (13-25 from the field, 1-3 from distance), had 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, 1 block and 5 turnovers.
“I mean, I always thought we had a chance to win. Throughout the whole game I thought we had a chance to win.”
Despite his team getting down and not being able to make a shot (literally, he made 13 shots and just one other teammate made more than one field goal in the game), he played with excellent energy and intensity and demonstrated special skills.
He’s incredibly athletic, has above average strength and a motor that runs on high every possession, which he utilizes to carve out space in the paint effectively, and has a nose for the ball off the rim, where he punishes opponents on the glass at both ends. When he corrals a defensive rebound, he can push the ball up the court and lead the break, which he will continue to get better at over time.
He’s beginning to develop a post up game, as well.
“Post game is fine,” said Gordon. “My go-to move is a hop-step into the middle and then I fake like I’m going to do a sky-hook and spin back with my left. Spin-move baseline. Those are pretty much my two go-to’s.”In warmups, Gordon showed a fluid jumper. He’s trying to get comfortable enough with his shot to hit more than just an occasional shot here or an occasional shot there.
“I’ve got to keep my jumper consistent,” said Gordon. “I’ve got to hit three to four jumpers a game to keep the defenders honest, and I haven’t gotten to that point yet.”
Gordon’s aware that he has skills that could become special. He just wants to live up to his potential on the court.
“I don’t know. I’ve obviously been blessed with basketball talents. I just want to live up to the highest potential that I can. I don’t know what that is or what that means, but just the highest level of my basketball potential, I want to live up to.”
Hopefully, we’re just seeing the beginning.
Jeremy Bauman is an aspiring scout and shooting coach who blogs and writes columns for SheridanHoops.com. Follow him on Twitter.
Parker may stay more than one year 2 st that most. I say that because its possible that the bobcats could have that first pick and it goes to the Bulls which like Rosé would be something the Bulls would cherish.