By Roy & Harv Schmidt

Most top-tier high school basketball teams usually have at least one player who is a relative unknown in recruiting circles, one who has been under the radar but more often than not is instrumental in helping his team win games. This season's varsity boy's basketball team at Bloom Township High School, however, is blessed with two such players, "hidden gems" if you will. History has shown that these are often the type of players that can propel a team to huge success in the state tournament, which is why opponents could be quite leery about facing a team such as Bloom when March Madness rolls around.

The two players that we are talking about are 6'7 senior Giovanni Coleman and 6'6 junior Aaron Nelson. Both of them played well when we watched them against Homewood-Flossmoor at the Chicago Heights Thanksgiving Classic this past week. Based on what we have seen, we believe that both Coleman and Nelson have the ability to end up as D1 recruits.

Coleman could very well be one of the biggest sleepers in Illinois from the class of 2008. He is extremely long and athletic and has excellent ball skills for a player his size. Not only that, but Coleman is also a tremendous passer and has a solid mid-range game. He runs the floor and can finish on the break with consistency.

The biggest reason why Coleman is a relative unknown outside of Chicago's south suburbs is because up until now he has consistently battled problems with respect to his eligibility. In fact, prior to this year there were several people who thought that Coleman might be uncoachable. However, after seeing Coleman in open gyms during the fall and watching him during the first week of the season, there is no question that Coleman has turned things around and appears more focused than ever. Credit the entire Bloom coaching staff with helping to make that happen.

Coleman still has business to tend to in the classroom and because he got such a late start academically he will in all likelihood have to enroll at a junior college next season. From a basketball standpoint, we believe that he has the ability to be a JUCO All-American provided he continues to put in the work. Therefore, it is a no-brainer when we say that Coleman is a player that D1 college coaches should not be sleeping on.

While we rarely label underclassmen as hidden gems, we believe that is the category that Aaron Nelson currently falls into, especially considering the fact that he has received very little publicity in local circles. He is the younger brother of 6'8 Bloom senior Jawan Nelson, who accepted a scholarship to Texas A&M Corpus Christi. What is scary is that Aaron might be more advanced than Jawan at the same stage, as he has good post skills, great hands and protects the ball well.

Bloom is loaded with at least three other players who have D1 ability and at the present time rank just behind H-F as the best team in Chicago's south suburbs. When it is all said and done, we think that how far Bloom goes come state tournament time could depend largely on the play of both Coleman and Aaron Nelson.

Meanwhile, another player that we saw this past week who we would clearly put in the hidden gem category is 6'2 senior guard Rodney Clinkscales from Zion-Benton. Clinkscales scored 18 points in Zion-Benton's victory over Oak Park at the Lane Tech Thanksgiving Tournament and was especially tough in crunch time. He has also begun to attract D1 recruiting attention, as an assistant coach from Loyola-Chicago was on hand to watch Clinkscale's performance vs. Oak Park.

Posted by Roy & Harv Schmidt at 09:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

By Roy & Harv Schmidt

When Grand Valley State and Findlay, a couple of Division 2 schools, recently emerged victorious in exhibition contests against Big Ten powers Michigan State and Ohio State respectively, it confirmed something that we have suspected for quite some time. Simply put, the talent level between Division 1 and Division 2 schools is closing rapidly. This could have a most positive impact on the future of basketball at the small college level and could pay huge dividends in terms of exposure and recruiting success.

First of all, while some D1 coaches might disagree, we think that preseason exhibition games between D1 and D2 schools are a win-win for everyone involved. It means that there are no more gimmes for D1 schools even in the preseason. At the same time, coaches from the small college ranks can't lose, as it gives them and their school added visibility and in some cases an opportunity to put themselves on the map nationally should they spring an upset, as both Grand Valley State and Findlay did this past week.

In addition to the increased exposure, we can't emphasize enough how a D2 school can benefit recruiting-wise whenever they play a D1 program. In most instances, simply proving that they can compete against a D1 school can be enough, but just imagine what a huge recruiting tool it can be for a small college at either the D2 or D3 level to be able to say that they defeated a Michigan State or Ohio State? It also can't look too bad on the resume of any coach in the small college ranks who is aspiring to move up to the D1 level.

Perhaps the biggest reason why we like the current way that the college exhibition season is set up is that it offers an increased opportunity for small college coaches to receive the recognition that they deserve and reap the benefits of their hard work. There is no question that coaches at the D2 and D3 levels do not enjoy the same advantages that D1 coaches do when it comes to recruiting. Unlike the bigtime D1 programs, small college coaches are usually not recruiting future pros.

Not only that, but the mindset of players who are being recruited by D2 and D3 schools is completely different from those who are playing D1 basketball. While most players at the high D1 level are already thinking about the NBA even before they set foot on campus, a D2 or D3 player more often than not realizes that his basketball career will not extend beyond college and is choosing a college based on factors that usually involve far more than just basketball. While in today's day and age most of the premier players in the D1 ranks only play one or two years of college basketball, small college coaches know that in most cases they are recruiting a player who will be there for four years.

Therefore, when a D2 school beats a D1 in basketball, it should also send a loud and clear message to recruits who feel slighted by not receiving any D1 scholarship offers. In our opinion, it provides a further example of how a D2 school can provide a recruit with an opportunity to play college basketball as well as receive a quality education. Hopefully this is something that more high school basketball players who may not be suited for the D1 level will take into consideration in the future when it comes to choosing a college.

There is no question that there are many outstanding college basketball coaches in the D1 ranks. However, there are several outstanding ones at the small college levels as well. Every time one of them defeats a D1 school, it only reinforces this point further.

Posted by Roy & Harv Schmidt at 02:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Roy & Harv Schmidt

We knew that the controversy centering around the dismissal of Lamont Bryant as head coach at Marshall was taking its toll on Ryan Hare with respect to his immediate future on the court, but it appears as if it has now affected Hare's recruitment as well, as today he decided to open his recruitment back up.

Hare, the 6'4 forward from Marshall High School in Chicago has decommitted from Oregon State University and as a result has reopened his recruitment.

As a result of his decommitment, Hare now undoubtedly becomes the best available prospect out of Illinois from the class of 2008. Hare's decision comes on the verge of a pending lawsuit involving Lamont Bryant, who was recently fired as the head coach basketball coach at Marshall. There is no question that Bryant's situation greatly influenced Hare with respect to deciding to decommit.

Hare becomes the second player from Marshall to renege on a commitment in the past three years. Two years ago, Patrick Beverley made an early commitment to the University Of Toledo before deciding to ultimately sign with the University Of Arkansas upon the completion of his senior season at Marshall.

On a sidenote, Hare and the entire Marshall team showed up today for the first day of basketball practice, thus indicating to us that they will not boycott the season (as previously hinted at) and will play for new coach Courtney Hargrays.

Posted by Roy & Harv Schmidt at 05:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)