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Van Coleman of Hoopmasters.com, who along with Bob Gibbons of All-Star Sports has spent more than 30 years evaluating high school basketball players from coast to coast, is one of two recruiting analysts who has rated 6-10 Anthony Davis of Chicago Perspectives as the No. 1 prospect in the nation.
Scout recently moved Davis to its No. 1 spot. Gibbons, Rivals and ESPN also are impressed with Davis' rapid rise to stardom but are less enthusiastic, choosing to rate him no higher than No. 2 and no lower than No. 6. Not bad under any circumstances for a youngster who had no reputation at all as recently as last April.
But Coleman has observed Davis on more than a few occasions and insists that he deserves the elite standing--and, based on his huge upside, could be even better.
Why is Davis No. 1? What separates him from all others?
"His ability to affect the game on both ends of the court," Coleman said. "He has face-up four-man skills (arc to the rim), including the ball skills he developed as a 6-4 wing man than he now uses as a 6-10 power forward. Add to that his ability to take over the game on the glass and offensively he can dominate with or without the ball.
"He is a shot-blocking machine (he had 15-plus blocks on two or three occasions I watched him). He has an immense upside physically that makes his rise even more intriguing. He should see similar game development in college. He is more advanced at this stage offensively than Derrick Favors (a top five NBA rookie from Georgia Tech) and has a much higher ceiling offensively."
Coleman said he could only think of two other players whose explosion to national prominence could be compared to Davis--Shaquille O'Neal and Tracy McGrady.
"O'Neal was a 6-7, 225-pound mid-major prospect in his junior summer when I saw him at the BCI in Phoenix," Coleman recalled. "Then he grew almost five inches and added 20-plus pounds to blossom into a 7-foot, 250-pound man-child the next summer and went from a player who didn't rank among the top 250 in the country to a top five player over one summer.
"McGrady was a different situation, not related to growth or sudden emergence. He just had never been seen. No one knew about him until he exploded into a top five player with his performance at the ABCD camp."
Coleman rates Davis among the top five to 10 pure inside athletes he has seen, in a class with the 6-9 McGrady, 6-11 Dwight Howard, 6-9 Josh Smith, 6-10 Kevin Durant, 6-10 Anthony Cade, 6-9 Blake Griffith, 6-10 Sean Kemp, 6-8 Leon Powe, 6-9 Glenn Robinson, 6-9 Amare Stoudemire, 6-10 Alonzo Mourning and 6-9 Chris Webber in terms of bounce and quickness. But he insists that Howard is "probably the top pure athlete" he has ever seen.
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(Spelling Corrections delete 1st post)
I generally don't participate in these discussions, however; I just want to say a few things.
I am hopeful, that Anthony Davis understands the expectations that come with the hype. More importantly, it will be his ability to showcase his ability within a team concept that will be most watched by the better coaches in college basketball.
If John Wooden was still alive and coaching, I'm sure he would be looking to see how Davis deals with the following scenarios, more so than his stats:
1. How has he changed as a player from the '09-'10 "high school" season to this season in his ability to lead, maintain his composure in what is sure to be a pressure-cooker of a season, and; how does he show-up to the big games against teams with more talented supporting cast?
2. Has he improved his physical strength, man-ball defensive skills, free throw shooting and post/block offensive skills?
3. How has he addressed his academics, and preparation for SAT & ACT testing to "qualify" and past clearinghouse?
4. Has he adjusted his surroundings to a more meaningful support group that willing to correct, direct, and point him in the right path to making good decisions and not making the life-altering bad choices?
5. What's the deal with his parents and/ or guardians in charge of his upkeep? Are they making good choices, and; do they have the ability to say more no's than yes to the gratuity that will come with every bounce of the ball?
I am, personally; more interested to see just how he manages his new found five star status.
Good luck young man,
Curtis K. Jackson Sr.
He is number one because he dominated on the AAU circuit, he may play for a blue division charter school, but you can't have everything, besides he will be a millionaire in 2012!
Kentucky bound and then to the league to make some real dollars, shoe contract, various endorsements, as long as he stays healthy, he is going to be a very wealthy young man!
p.s. Greg Oden is out for the season again!
I think we place way to much emphasis on rankings and what they are supposed to represent. Lest not forget he is just a kid. And in the big scheme of things, he hasn't accomplished anything. Nothing. And he should be treated as such. By that I mean let him be a kid and enjoy himself. I'll be willing to bet if John Wooden were still here he would say just that. Curtis, he is not a star. He is just a kid who had a very good summer athletically. Why should we, as adults, ask him to live up to all of these lofty goals that we, the adults, set for him?
If he were my kid I would tell him to make responsible decisions, do his best and have fun (and keep his room clean). The same as I would any other 17 or 18 year-old kid.
He may or may not be a millionaire one day and that remains to be seen. However, whether he makes it or not, I would much rather see him be a well adjusted young man who understands that he has to live on this planet for 70 or 80 years. And let's hope that he's able to do so in manner that allows him to lead healthy and happy life. Keeping in my that in few years no one is going to give a damn about how good of a basketball player he was once upon-a-time.
Darnell:
I think you have misconstrued my point being made, but; for clarification...
1.) I personally don't care about rankings, because; at the end of the day it means nothing as a reliable predictor of a particular players success on the collegiate levels due to a host of environmental factors:
a. Coaches philosophy on adjusting his game plan to the year-to-year changes to the players on his roster;
b. Players ability to adjust to the time-consuming commitments he "has" to make (for the good of the program) and how that affects his studies and social life on campus;
c. the players ability to eat, live and fit in as a student on campus: sometimes if you lack money you can't enjoy a pizza, movie, less dirty clothes in the hamper, hair cut, etc. Remember, these kids can't work during the season, oh... that's right, they work for the equivalent of minimum wage- when you divide the number hours spent on the court, practice, weight room, trainers room, media commitments, etc. by their "scholarship". Let alone, trying to study for meaningful degree.
2.) I don't believe in the hype game: rankings, nor publications that make a buck off such publishing because of all of the side-games and different politics that affect most published ranking and scouting reports.
3.) If you read closer... into what I said, you'd see that I am more interested in Anthony Davis' ability to adapt to his newly bestowed king ship, and; how he manages his "growth" in his individual skill development, personal maturation and classwork.
Read my post again, I think you'll get my point.
Curtis K. Jackson Sr.
What's happened with the lawsuit that Davis' dad was going to file against the Sun-Times?
I don't trust them or Calipari. Where there's smoke, there's usually fire.
Curtis, maybe you're right. I don't get your point. All I'm saying is, he's a kid. And we should let him be that. You're comment 'I am more interested in Anthony Davis' ability to adapt to his newly bestowed king ship'. He is not a king. He's just a kid who happens to play basketball very well. We have to stop looking these children as if that is all that they are capable of. Again, if he were my kid and did his best both socially, academically and athletically, I would be good with that.
You lose me with all this other stuff. Let's just wish him well both on and off the court. Especially off the court because if he's lucky he'll play basketball another 10 or 12 years, again, if he's lucky. That leaves him around 29 years old. What does he do with the rest of life? And more importantly, what will he be prepared to do? That is what I am more concerned with.
I think the meteoric rise of Anthony Davis and his phenomenal story is a great one. it speaks to the talent we have in CPS, and it encourages kids to continue follow their dreams. This kid cannot be blamed for the other issues about money and what-not. If he plays the way he can he will be in the league after 1 year, and maybe 2. Hopefully he contnues to develop in all areas while maximizing his opportunity to play at the highest level and receive the rewards which come with that. We can all speculate on how he will turn out and whether or not he will get a degree, but I wish him the best. I have multiple degrees and consider myself a successful professional, but I don't have NBA money. It looks like he will. I want to see as many CPS kids as possible become successful. I'm one of them.
Here, here Sammy. I don't think anybody blogging here has NBA money, not even Taylor. Though a degree is very important to persoanl development, achievement, and long term well being, you can always get a degree later in life. Many athletes have done so. If I could get NBA dollars, I would take it in a heartbeat and all these armchair bloggers would too. I care about the kid's personal development, but it will take time. look at Derrick Rose. Take the NBA money Mr. Davis if you can. Maturation and personal development will come over time . With support Anthony will be fine. Garnett is, Lebron is, Kobe is, and many others. There is no intellectual insight meeded here, only one in a million get this opportunity. Others like us better get a degree. Otherwise we make silly comments on blogs about someone who has a chance to be a millionaire. Ask yourself, How many million do you have? case closed.
Okay Carl, I think we're on the same page. It's certainly not because we don't champion education and long term well-being. Certain opportunities only come once in a lifetime. Only one in a million get them. When these opportunities come your way, you have to make the most of them. He can always work on his degree during the off season, and he should.
I want to make of couple of points here. First, the vast and overwhelming majority of our kids caught up on this 'conveyor belt' of youth basketball could not get a college degree if their live's depended on it. Not because they are unintelligent or lack the ability to learn but because they invest the majority of their time and energy playing basketball when they should be developing their educational skills. The sad thing about that is THEY believe that their only purpose in life is to be basketball players. Therefore, they are not prepared to do anything else. So telling these kids to get an education is like telling a homeless person to just get house. In either case it's just not happening.
And let's face it, a college degree can't save these kids. There is something way for fundamental that is lacking with these young men. They take irresponsible behavior to a level never seen before! How irresponsible does one have to be to run through millions of dollars in a matter of a few short years to end up broke? This is becoming or maybe has become a trend. I cannot begin to speculate how socially damaged one has to be to pull off something like that. Not to mention all of the baby mamas and the children that these young men are fathering and not raising. Something is really wrong here and I don't know if we no longer justify it by saying it's ok because some-a very few- become millionares for a short period of time.
Let me close by providing an example. A close friend of mine is a police officer and moonlights as a bodyguard with some of the NBA guys when they come to town. Recently, he was working one of the guys who came here for a party. He met him at the hotel and rode with him in the limo the party and provided security for the young that entire evening. Long story short, they young man spent $12,000 that evening buying cases of champagne and the party and took six (6) women to his hotel with him that evening! Yes I said six (6). And he will tell you this is a very common occurrence, having worked with these guys over the years. So I submit that a college degree wouldn't save these guys. There is something very wrong here and it started long before these kids turned 18.
Sammy,
Are you sure your in the business of education? In your previous post, it seems as your a bit contradiction and narcissus all at once. You brag of having degrees, but you don't offer a proper answer as to why the kid should pursue a degree simultaneously as he pursues his potential pro career.
You CPS execs for the most part just seem like barely educated dumb jocks with jobs they only got from their educational/political contacts. Your some administrator.
Pete
West Side Is The Best Side!
Westinghouse '78
Pete:
You are entitled to your opinion. It's basically my opinion that the few young people who have the opportunity to sign a multi-million dollar contract should do it. I believe a degree is a goal all individuals should have for personal development as well as for career opportunities post NBA. This is why I feel they should continue to pursue a degree after getting the contract. If you look into the NBA, what percentage of players do you think have a degree? Let's just say it's a low percentage. You don't have to agree with me, it's just my opinion kids should take the money. Michael Jordan and others have obtained a degree well after turning pro. The CPS admin jobs are coveted by many, but acquired by only a few. I'm proud of the fact my credentials and track record got me hired even though I was a stand-out athlete. Critics blast CPS staff more than any other staff in the city but our circumstances are the toughest to deal with. You should know this coming from Westinghouse. I respectfully disagree with what you have stated here, but I won't insult your intelligence. I have friends from Westinghouse.
Peace
Sammy,
Really...
First, you were not a standout, considering the past history CPS basketball standouts.
Second, why should you and others encourage kids to wait to pursue a meaningful degree until after their pro basketball careers are over. You don't see that life plan used as a "standard" for white players who go pro early.
You see, you represent what's wrong with the leadership at CPS. Your token student-athlete sermon is an example of the flip mode excuse for today's "athlete/student".
Education, is not something that you put on the back burner, because the dice roll percentages of a short-term pro basketball career makes this encouragement of yours a detriment to parents who want kids to see education as always a priority.
MJ's degree has often been challenged as one received through a gratuitous academic program for the stars at UNC. Duke is no different with its African-Americans Studies program to b-boy of (color) bounce.
Juwan Howard has a degree from Michigan, but; was it as earned via a meaningful curriculum as the student-athlete who got his or hers through real time class work as a forth or fifth year student-athlete on campus.
Perfect example, people call former South Shore and Carver Bkb Coach Don Pittman, "Doc". Should I consider his on-line earned doctorate study program the same as the doctorate of someone who did there work through a real class.
CPS sports "Ad(minimal)strators" have obviously lost their educational compass from the passing of a real doctor, Dr. Larry Hawkins.
Peace
PeteRock, that's pretty cold to trash Don Pittman and Michael Jordan along with Duke like you did. You think Jordan needs a degree? You are entitled to your opinion which doesn't mean you're an authority, nor does it mean you are correct about anything. You seem to be angry at the individuals who have served as administrators in CPS. I understand that comes with this territory. There are many people like you out there. I think they call them jealous haters. I'm not really arguing with people on blogs anymore. It's just an exchange of opinions. In my opinion a standout is someone who plays well enough to get a scholarship to Div. I,II,III, or NAIA. Let me ask you this: if you were offered 5 million would you take the money and get the degree later, or would you say no, I'm staying for a degree? Be honest now, and keep it real. It's really an easy answer that less than 5% will have the opportunity to respond to. If your answer is no I won't respond to you again because it is useless to try to make my point to you. The majority would take the money. you are in the minority. Hawkins wouldn't agree with you.
Peace
Sammy,
First, I did not trash anyone's name, I just stated the facts as they are.
Secondly, I had a unique oportunity to play bass guitar with a legendary band in the late 80's that is still prosperous and "gigging" to this day. I turned down the money, went Juliard, got my degree and I now am a major investor in seven music and movie production studios in NYC and LA. So, yes I turned down several million that I would earned from concerts, albums etc.
My point, that you don't seem to get is simple. Stop encouraging our kids into doing something that has no guarantee of success. Just because you get drafted in the 1st Round does not guarantee you much. Remember, the rookie money now is not the same as when Juwan Howard was drafted.
If your the educator you claim to be, your message should "always" be one of the importance of education, not get money, "get education later".
Peace, again without hating.
Sammy,
First, to all who read my last post, please excuse the typing errors.
Now, Sammy... I forgot to add, you never contradicted any of the facts I quoted about the people you claim I was so cold to. Why? Because you could not.
Peace
Pete:
Newsflash! You're out of touch. Times have changed since you turned down a million. Many would say you made the wrong career decisions (in their opinion). You've given me advice, now let me give you some: You should stay in your area, and your area is not sports and education. I won't be taking any of your advice, and I have no one to criticize as you seem to. Not even you! You should stop hating on people so much too. I'm only giving my opinion. You don't have to agree, and I certainly don't agree with you. Show your intelligence by moving on. Have a nice holiday season.
Peace, and Good Will
Sammy,
You and your "company lines" and "dog and pony show" style of comments only leads me to one conclusion.
Your all talk, no action, and you have obviously fooled Taylor into thinking that your some kind of educator. I'm glad your not in a class poisoning our kids directly with your very shallow and word reversing CPS-style of educational politics that continues to make CPS the butt of jokes with our Catholic and Suburban school counterparts.
Your as embarrassing as listening to your boss talk during the half time of a televised CPS playoff game, shameful. Give us break, and stay away from our kids who truly value the education process.
PeteRock
Pete:
Have a nice day.
Hey Sammy, I wish what you are saying could be the case. We assume that because a kid is in college he has a chance to graduate, unfortunately, that not's the case. So many of these kids that we are speaking are in school for one reason - to play basketball. They treat it, as they do most things in life, as a necessary evil to get an opportunity play this sport. They don't value education or what it could possibly do for them, they, at best, tolerate it because they have to in order to be eligible to play. Not to mention the fact that they are so poorly prepared both socially and academically that they couldn't take advantage of that opportunity if they wanted to. It was a hard pill to swallow once I realized that our children are BOTH unable AND unwilling to be successful in a collegiate environment.
Some may argue that the graduation rates for athletes for some schools with major basketball programs are low because the kids are there chasing professional basketball dreams. My question is why are the graduation rates just as low at schools who have never produced a professional basketball player? The graduation rates for so called mid-majors, low-majors, division II, division III and NAIA schools (especially for african-americans males) is just as abysmal as the Kentuckys and the Louisvilles of the world. So why aren't these kids graduating, they aren't going pro.
So just like you, I would love to see these/our kids being educated but it appears to me that there is something much larger in play and it has nothing to do with professional basketball.
Datnell, now "your" talking.
PeteRock
Darnell:
You've expressed some very cerebral thoughts on the issue of education. I agree with you. It's just a societal problem which parents, educators, and coaches must address with early intervention, ongoing monitoring, and continuous follow-up. Preparation must begin in the elementary grades, and coaches and parents can play key roles and have a positive impact on this problem. We can change this trend if all parties work together at each level to better prepare and support our young people. Darnell, I appreciate the high level conversation you bring to the table. It's a pleasure!
Taylor,
I began reading your articles as a young man in the mid-seventies, and though I did not agree with you on a lot of things you reported or commented on... I always felt that you would say what you had to say no matter how it ruffled the feathers of "the selected few"- coaches, players, administrators, etc.
But, I must say... I really don't get what you see in this Sammy "character". One minute he is the educator, the next he is the king of the anointed stars of tomorrow. I mean, this guy is as silly of an excuse for a so-called administrator as I've ever heard of.
Please, if you will, other than providing a forum for "all" to state, slants or spew their individual thoughts, ignorance or flipology... what exactly do you see in this guy they call "Sammy"?
Truthfully, I don't get it,
PeteRock
PeteRock,
I respect your oppinion. Some things I agree with, some things I disagree. Several ideas mentioned in the comments section I believe are REDICULOUS!
Nevertheless, I try to counter with facts and my beliefs. However, I try (try being the word) to not make it personal. While I agree with some of your ideas and thoughts, please don't make it personal.
When you insult and degrade someone, your message loses value. Less people will listen or believe.
If you look back at other posts, I have debated Sammy and others quite often. I agree with some of your views that there are serious problems with the 'sports curriculum' in the CPS and the way that administrators run the sports-schools system.
But please, stay strong to your facts on whats wrong and how to improve the system. It does very little good attacking backers of the failed school system that is the CPS.
Pete Rock:
As I read the string of posts here it looks like you insulted Sammy and the CPS Administration in your very first message by calling them uneducated dumb jocks. I don't totally agree with him or others sometimes, but I don't think we should write insulting comments to each other. Then maybe there won't be a negative exchange. We can disagree without negativity. Just my opinion.
Phil & Carl,
I agree with you that I should have not have used the reference dumb jock.
But, I do find it very funny that this Sammy character is allowed to make non-commital insults about other bloggers and their thoughts, make statements that are unrepresentative of a authentic educator, then beg for mercy or support by encouraging another blogger whom in the slightest way puts forth a comment independent of his and his targeted blogger to insult.
Its simple:
I would like to know the true name of "Sammy"?
I would like to know what his actual employment is as an educator?
Would like to see where he played his "standout" basketball careers in high school and college- along with his statistics?
I would like to see his credentials as a well-provened educator?
No ambiguous statements, no supporting statements from fellow co-workers via blogs, just show me the "evidence" that this guy is worth his weight in gold?
Now, if he can do this, and this "evidence" shows that we should hold onto his every word as an educator, I'll make a cashiers check out in the amount of $500.00 for him (whoever he really is) to give to his favorite charity.
There it is, Sammy your move!
PeteRock
Pete:
I promised Taylor Bell I would stick to opinions and not get into personal attacks. I won't provide any of your requests for personal information. You should let this go.
FYI: (Also for Carl and Phil K)
CPS Sports is the largest interscholastic sports program outside of New York and LA. Over 75,000 student-athletes particpate on school teams each year. It's not just about the 5 consecutive state Boys basketball championships. Local studies have shown that attendance , grade point avaerages, and graduation rates are all favorably impacted as a result of participation in CPS sports. There are many issues, but much success. Scholarship oportunities are awarded to CPS student-athletes in large quantities each year. If anyone thinks it's simple for that administration to run the CPS citywide program for girls and boys, think again. It's more than a notion, and there are no simple answers. the resources are not the same as in the suburbs. The experience of participation and the life lessons are probably the most rewarding things students take away. Those things are more important than any of our opinions.
Sammy,
Zzzzzzzzzzzzz...
PeteRock
PS. Taylor, please wake me when the speech is over.