ESPN’s Scouts, Inc. Director of Scouting, Paul Biancardi, takes a look at some of the top 2010 prospects that could be heading to Lawrence in 2010. With the #94 ranked player who signed with the Jayhawks on Wednesday, to the #1 player in the country who will make his college decision on Friday, Biancardi tells us a little more about their game, and how each prospect could potentially fit in at Kansas.
Royce Woolridge - #94 in the ESPNU 100 – SG – Sunnyslope High School (AZ) – 6’2″, 180 pounds Video
Biancardi’s take: He’s a scoring guard with a strong body who can beat his defender off the bounce with his quick first step. He can knock down 3′s, but he’s streaky at the present time. He scores in a variety of ways, he’s hungry and aggressive, which makes him hard to keep out of the lane. He is a tremendous scorer and has a real hunger to put the ball in the basket.
How he will fit at KU: Because Woolridge is so hard to keep out of the lane, he will force defenses to help, which will create scoring opportunities for others on the floor. He can also get to the foul line which is what good scorers do. He will excel in transition and will be relentless on offense he’ll need to adjust defensively, but Bill Self has the uncanny ability to make good offensive players defend at the next level.
How he could fit at KU: In basketball the top guys can fit in anywhere, Barnes is special because he has the ability to excel in both transition and in the half court. At Kansas they play a lot of pressure defense and Harrison would be ideal in a pressure defense with his ability to really deny the passing lanes.
Josh Selby - #8 in the ESPNU 100 – PG – Lake Clifton High School (MD) – 6’3″ 183 pounds Video, Video 2
Biancardi’s take: Selby is one of the most aggressive and scoring PG’s in the country. He has a take no prisoners mentality and never relaxes or lets up on his opponent. He constantly competes and isn’t afraid to deliver the knock punch to his opponent. Selby drives in transition, can knock down deep 3′s when in the flow, is very athletic and likes to attack.
How he could fit at KU: Selby would enhance KU’s, already excellent. fast break attack. His on-the-ball defense and off-the-ball defense would really stand out with his length and athletic ability. He can really get into passing lanes which would cause a lot of deflections and steals.
Brandon Knight - #4 in the ESPNU 100 – PG – Pine Crest High School (FL) – 6’3″, 183 pounds Video,
Biancardi’s take: I love Knight’s approach to the game. He has tremendous work ethic and prepares himself during every off-season. He has turned himself into a difference-maker where he’s at his best in the open court. He has improved his ability to throw the ball up the court, he has a terrific speed dribble and has good vision. In the half court, he can explode past his defender with his ability to change his speed. Knight has improved his 3-point shooting and body control and has a good pull-up jumper. He has a strong frame and can finish with contact. Knight has the ability to put his team on its back to win any game. He has a great mental make-up to forget a bad play or a bad half. Knight doesn’t let the last possession affect the next possession.
How he could fit at KU:KU likes to run on makes and misses and Knight can really push the ball. He can rebound down and take it himself up the court. Because KU is losing a senior PG like Sherron Collins and there are very few freshmen that will be the exact same, Knight could close that gap. Sherron has been groomed and molded to the KU system, the same must be done with the next great PG at KU.
Doron Lamb - #33 in the ESPNU 100 – SG - Oak Hill Academy (VA) – 6’4″, 183 pounds Video
Biancardi’s take: Lamb is an outstanding scoring guard with excellent size. He can knock down 3′s more consistently now, but really excels and separates himself with his middle game. In that 12-17 foot range he’s effective and highly efficient. He has great touch and concentration with his scoring prowess. At Oak Hill Lamb can constantly produce and I look forward to him having a big year there. He is an all around two guard who can put the ball in the basket and knows how to play with other guys. Lamb is a student of the game and doesn’t need the ball in his hands to be effective. He has good, not exceptional, quickness and needs to add strength. He’s good on defense and athletic enough to make up ground, but he will need to make a commitment on defense.
How he could fit at KU: Lamb is a big-time scorer who plays within his limits. At KU he would be another player who can play in an up tempo game, he can execute the offense in the half court and can play both the 2 or 3 at the next level.
Paul Biancardi is a veteran of the coaching ranks with years of college experience. He has recruited on a national level with stops as an assistant coach at Boston University and Boston College, associate head coach at Ohio State and most recently as an assistant at Saint Louis University. Biancardi was head coach at Wright State University from 2003 to 2006. In 2003 he was named Horizon League Coach of the Year. He is a selection committee member for the prestigious McDonald’s All-America Game and the Gatorade Player of the Year award.
