The July evaluation period kicks off in just a few days and the Kansas basketball staff will be all over the country checking out some of the top talent in the 2011 class. Here’s a look at some of the players that the staff will surely take a closer look at.
Austin Rivers, Video
Rank: #2 overall – #1 SG
High School: Winter Park High School (FL)
Height & Weight: 6’4″ 189 pounds
Considering: Duke, Kansas, Florida, UCLA, North Carolina
Evaluation: Rivers plays with off the charts confidence and in full attack mode on every catch. If the player defending him is not ready to play it will be a long game. Rivers can flat out score in a variety of ways. He can get his shot off the dribble at will. He hits mid range pull ups, floaters and slashes in between defenders. He sets up the defender with fakes and jabs and simply reads and attacks. He can knock down the deep three and if he gets in rhythm he can hit two or three in a row before that defense knows what hit it. He can handle and pass but scoring is clearly at the top of his to do list. He has a good basketball IQ and plays with passion. He can loose his focus on defense at times but this scoring machine draws a crowd at every event.
Ben McLemore, Video
Rank: #9 overall – #3 SG
High School: Oak Hill Academy
Height & Weight: 6’5″ 185 pounds
Considering: Kansas, Missouri, Louisville, Kentucky, Ohio State
Evaluation: This long armed athletic wing can simply make scoring plays with the ball in his hands. He attacks defenders off the dribble and loves to play along the baseline where he uses his quick and explosive athletic ability to finish above the rim before the help side defenders know what hit them. McLemore can also finish in the lane with great body control on both sides of the rim and with either hand. He can knock down the open three with time and space and get the ball to an open teammate when he draws a second defender. McLemore is a good ball handler and decision maker as well. He is a new addition to the St. Louis Eagles and is still finding his way but he had a scoring flurry that included a deep three on the wing, a baseline drive that resulted in a ‘looking in the rim’ dunk, another slam from a set out of bounds play and a mid range pull up in the second half after only playing very limited minutes the first half (Boo Williams – Nike EYBL). McLemore needs to add strength but expect this young man to make some major noise the remainder of the spring and summer. McLemore along with Florida commit Bradley Beal gives the Eagles a deadly tandem at the wing positions.
Angelo Chol, Video
Rank: #42 overall – #8 PF
High School: Hoover High School (CA)
Height & Weight: 6’8″ 210 pounds
Considering: Kansas, Alabama, Washington, Georgetown, UCONN
Evaluation: Chol has been one of the bigger disappointments of the spring. Although Chol played on a guard-dominated team (Dream Vision) where he didn’t get many touches, he needs to be much more assertive and game-ready to affect the game in different ways. In other words, due to his length and quickness he could have been more aggressive blocking shots, rebounding, and filling the lane in transition. However in Denver, he played with little passion as his effort was inconsistent throughout the event and there were many times he wasn’t ready for the pass when they were looking for him. On the other hand, his skills have improved. He still winds up on his jump shot, but it is more consistent than last summer. In addition, he has a nifty jump hook and he can dunk in traffic as well. In transition, when he’s running hard, he is an allusive athlete that can finish at the rim. If he can become a more efficient scorer with his right hand, his game would go to another level. Overall, Chol is one of the bright prospects in his class and with improvement he should be high-level recruit when the signing period arrives.
Jabari Brown, Video
Rank: #19 overall – #7 SG
High School: Oakland High School
Height & Weight: 6’3″ 200 pounds
Considering: Kansas, Arizona, Cal, Wake Forest, Arizona State
Evaluation: Brown has everything you want in a shooting guard. Great size, strength, toughness and skill. He runs the outside lane in transition and can finish above the rim with flare or spot up and knock down the open three before the defense can recover. Brown is one of the top shooter/scorers in the 2011 class. He can hit deep jumpers from ball reversal or coming off screens. Brown can also get his own shot. His mid range pull up is smooth and he has great elevation. He is strong enough to score through contact as well. His first step is great and he blows by out of control closeouts with ease. He can rebound in a crowd and lead the break because of his ability to handle the ball in traffic. Brown can also defend both wing positions. Brown competes on both ends of the floor and is fun to watch go on a scoring flurry.
Josiah Turner, Video
Rank: #36 overall – #4 PG
High School: Sacramento High School (CA)
Height & Weight: 6’3″ 185 pounds
Considering: Kansas, Oregon, UCLA, USC, Arizona
Evaluation: Josiah is a super skilled combo guard that is best at the point with the ball in his hands. He has great size and quickness and has a knack for getting into the lane to score. Turner is also a solid jump shooter with range to 22 feet. He is one of the top “unknown” point guards in the 2011 class. Josiah is also a solid defender. His size allows him to be a solid rebounder for a point guard. He had an excellent game versus All Ohio Red in the final game of the Nike EYBL. He got to the rack all game and he the crowd in a frenzy with his exciting and acrobatic plays. Turner is definitely one to watch in the 2011 class.
Sam Thompson, Video
Rank: #35 overall – #8 SF
High School: Whitney Young High School
Height & Weight: 6’7″ 185 pounds
Considering: Kansas, Ohio State, Oregon State, Georgetown, Florida
Evaluation: Thompson is a long lean versatile player. He has the talent and skill to play all three perimeter positions and be productive. He can score on the break by running the floor or rebounding and leading the break where he can get to the rim or draw and kick to an open teammate. In the half court Thompson can make plays off the dribble with his excellent ball handling and passing ability. He can also hit the open mid range jumper off the catch or dribble. Thompson has a good feel for the game and is a capable multiple position defender. He is a good shot blocker for a wing player as well. Thompson must improve his strength in order to be a better finisher when contact is involved. He also needs to work to become a better three point shooter. His shot preparation needs attention. At times Thompson will disappear during games especially when he is playing off the ball. His effort and energy is very inconsistent which takes away from his overall production in areas of his game that he has the talent to be very productive. Thompson has the size, talent and skill to be productive in every game he plays. He can make plays off the dribble and his overall versatility makes him special. Added strength, consistent effort and an improved jumper take this young talented players game to the next level.
Norvel Pelle, Video
Rank: #43 overall – #5 C
High School: Price High School
Height & Weight: 6’9″ 200 pounds
Considering: Kansas, Washington, UCLA, Syracuse, St. Johns
Evaluation: Pelle has not met the expectations that were bestowed upon him as a rising sophomore. Considering his immense physical abilities he should be one of the elite prospects around the country, but the effort level (desire) and skill development have been non-existent. In all fairness he hasn’t really played consistently during the regular season since his sophomore season-had to sit out during junior season due to a transfer rule. However, despite the lack of fundamental and skill development, he is the most potent shot blocker on the west coast. He has remarkable timing and is the bounciest big man in the west. For him to be an impact recruit at the next level, he needs to show a glimmer of desire to be dominant and gain strength so he can at least rebound in traffic and finish as well. His upside is immense, but he will be one of the more intriguing prospects to watch this summer.
Damien Leonard
Rank: #68 overall – #24 SG
High School: J.L. Mann High School
Height & Weight: 6’5″ 190 pounds
Considering: Kansas, South Carolina, Virginia Tech, Clemson, Oklahoma State
Evaluation: Leonard is a shooting guard with excellent size and length that showed an improved ability, since the last time we saw him, to put the ball on the floor to create offense for himself or a teammate. He is a very good shooter that seemed to struggle finding his stroke during the games we watched, but was impressive and productive in other aspects of the game. He plays with a shooter’s confidence and is always a threat to go on a run and score in bunches. He showed that he can score off the dribble with mid-range jumpers or get it to the rim and draw contact where he is a consistent free-throw shooter. He is improving on the defensive end showing that he can guard when focused. With his body type, shooting ability and overall skill level he will no question be a main target for SEC and ACC schools.
Chane Behanan
Rank: #73 overall – #13 PF
High School: Bowling Green High School (KY)
Height & Weight: 6’7″ 230 pounds
Considering: Kansas, Texas, West Virginia, Louisville, Cincinnati, Purdue
Evaluation: Chane is a big bodied post player. He has some explosion but is not as explosive as he was at a younger age as his body has become bigger. Chane scores mostly inside 15 feet. He is a solid shooter from 15 feet and in. He has some nice power moves on the low block where he simply over powers most of his opponents. He runs well and can finish on the break well above the rim. Behanan can also catch in the mid post and put the ball on the floor and create offense. He has decent hands and nice feet. Chane is a good rebounder where he uses his strength and bounce to garner more than his share. Defensively he is average though he is a pretty good shotblocker despite his size. He has good timing on his leap that allows him to get some rejections inside. He uses his strength well on the block defensively but he can struggle with quickness inside.
Chasson Randle
Rank: #38 overall – #6 PG
High School: Rock Island High School (IL)
Height & Weight: 6’1″ 170 pounds
Considering: Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Notre Dame, Wisconsin
Evaluation: Randle is one of the better up-and-coming point guard prospects in the national class of 2011. Throughout his career he has had that scorer’s mentality. He has a terrific frame with long arms, broad shoulders, and ideal athleticism. He loves to attack off the dribble and is a very potent scorer in the mid-range area. He can score with a runner or floater in the lane. In addition, he can finish with either hand and utilizes his length to get around the bigs. His jump shot is solid out to the stripe and has definitely gotten better in the last 9 months. He gets more arc on his shot now and it appears to have more range on it as well. Despite being in a camp environment, he also showed an ability to run a team. He made solid post entries utilizing proper angles and he advanced the ball well in transition. Defensively, he has the length (long arms), quickness, and savvy to be a very good defender at the next level. Overall, Randle will be one of the better combo-guard prospects in the country.
Kyle Wiltjer, Video
Rank: #32 overall – #7 PF
High School: Jesuit High School (OR)
Height & Weight: 6’9″ 221 pounds
Considering: Kansas, Oregon State, Gonzaga, Stanford, USC
Evaluation: Wiltjer is a skilled, mobile and active power forward. He runs well and has excellent hands. He could make a living as a face up post in pick and pop situations. Wiltjer can hit the open three off the catch and beat a less mobile post off the dribble. He has excellent touch and feel around the basket as well where he can finish with either hand. He is a good not great athlete and rebounds in his area with his great length on both ends of the floor. He has an excellent basketball IQ and makes good decision with the ball. Wiltjer strength is his ability to stretch the defense with his skill and he must be identified if a team dares to play zone. He must add strength in order to be more affective against big bodies but his upside is tremendous
