JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
I made it over to North Liberty on Tuesday night to take in some in person PTL action.
The first thing I noticed was the number of cars in the parking lot of the North Liberty Community Center. Yes, there were several pool goers still there at 6pm, but most of the cars belonged to folks wanting to watch some hoops. I parked farther away than I ever had before, so I liked that.
The next thing I noticed, after getting in the gym and watching five minutes of action was this; 'Same as it ever was'.
I don't mean that in a bad way; the PTL serves a purpose and creates a place where Iowa players get a chance to play some decent competition in a summer league setting, but it's still just glorified pick up...unless you play for Randy Larsen's team that is...Randy is still dead serious on the sidelines.
I enjoy watching the Iowa players in the PTL, but it's always a reminder to me why I cringe so much from people making overly positive or overly negative evaluations based on PTL performances...in some instances, just one performance.
Now, having said that, I have to navigate the rest of this item carefully so I don't do the same thing...without further adieu, here are some generalizations I took away from Tuesday night at the PTL as I try my best not to place much emphasis on the minutia.
Aaron White: (19pts) I will start with him because he was my favorite player to watch of the night...that's not to say I didn't enjoy the 39 points and numerous dunks that his teammate Melsahn Basabe put up, or the trey's Josh Oglesby made, or the ball handling display Anthony Hubbard showed me...
It's just White has piqued my interest since seeing his high school highlight videos and reading about how well he performed his senior year...
Here is the word that kept coming into my mind as I watched him play: nuisance. He is a nuisance and a pest...if you are the opponent. Why? Because he rarely stops moving, even in summer league...now, there were times where he sat on the wing, but it was mostly catching his breath as the PTL world is nothing like the real world of college basketball, unless you played for Paul Westhead and Loyola-Marymount in the 1980's.
He was continually in motion, mostly without the ball. When he got the ball, no matter where he was, his first instinct was to pivot and face the basket. There were a few back in, back to the basket attempts I saw but that was mostly due to his recognizing a smaller defender on him...there were such instances with Eric May on his hip and White didn't back down at all.
When I watched his videos this winter and spring, I kept thinking 'poor man's Robbie Hummel', mostly because he doesn't have the outside shooting prowess Hummel showed at that age. However, Hummel is real good without the basketball, even a decent screener for someone that is such a good shooter. That's what I see in White. I think he has a chance to be a real key contributor during his career. He can fill some minutes and needs next year, but I don't think he will come into his own until late in his sophomore season or at the start of his junior season...he needs to add some bulk for the Big Ten game.
One more name popped into my head when I watched his constant motion; Ryan Bowen. Bowen really blossomed his junior year after being mostly an afterthought his first two seasons...White is more talented than Bowen was entering his freshman year in college, however.
Josh Oglesby: (24pts, 7reb) Let's keep playing the visual comparison game..I saw a lot of Ryan Hogan in Oglesby...from a weaker than you'd like left hand, but also in the way he gathers himself as he sets up to shoot the three. Hogan suffered two serious knee injuries in college, but he was a good enough high school shooter to get a full ride to Kentucky out of high school.
Oglesby's role next year is going to be to give Iowa's big men some relief by coming in off the bench and knocking down a few three's and keeping teams honest in the paint...he made a nice play on the defensive end at the end of the first half, picking Matt Gatens' pocket as Gatens was winding down the clock and preparing to attack the basket from the top of the key. He didn't move as much as White, but I was pleased with Oglesby's movement without the ball, because a player like him is going to make his living off baseline and elbow screens. He doesn't have a gunslinger's quick release, but it's not a slow release, either.
Anthony Hubbard: (21pts/11reb) I caught the first half of Hubbard's game and will have some video clips on the site late Wednesday night...first off, as it relates to the Jon Miller/Greg Brunner height test, he seems about 6-2 or 6-3; he's not 6-5, so have fun with that one.
That being said, he moves real well without the ball and has a nose for the glass and has no fear mixing it up in the paint...Darryl Moore was that way, as was James Winters. He also seems to find and sneak through gaps around the rim, as he doesn't possess overly broad shoulders. His ball handling ability was impressive, something you'll see on the video.
If you are thinking he is going to be a program savior, you are setting yourself up for disappointment and it's unfair to him. I think he can be a 9/6 player at a minimum, with definite upside from there. I will look forward to seeing how he handles the ball against Big Ten guards and if he can get off his own shot. However, he could be a mismatch for teams that stick a two guard on him, or even a three; he is strong and fearless. While he isn't a plate head, he just seems to possess some brute strength that will give some guards fits.
Gabe Olaseni: (4pts, 9reb) As has been reported, he runs the floor real, real well for a player of his size and he has solid defensive instincts. Offensively, he has a ways to go but he will not be called upon to be an offensive threat. He seems to me like a player that could come into his own in 18 months in the program, and I think that is what Fran McCaffery likely envisions for him...that's not to say he won't get a chance at some minutes next year, but they will likely be under eight.
Devyn Marble: (28pts, 8reb, 8assists) Has definitely added some muscle, but I wouldn't yet call him well built...and not that he has to be. He looks a lot more confident than he did a year ago...then again, it's the PTL. However, I think he is seeing how that extra muscle is helping him and he feels good about himself, and it shows up in his game. If he can develop a solid 15-20 foot jumper to go with his knack for scoring the ball in the paint, he has a pretty bright future. It will be interesting to see what level of swagger he starts the season with, because as of right now, he has plenty (of the good kind).
Eric May: (30pts, 7reb, 8assists) I still wonder about what position he plays...or rather, if he even has a natural position at the Big Ten level. He is a very good athlete, we all know that, but he isn't a 'have to guard' three-point threat, he isn't going to find a majority of mismatches on the wing to exploit and he's not big enough to mix it up on the block. He has shown to be a better than average defender at times, but last year he just lost all of his confidence on offense over the second half of the season and it affected every aspect of his game. He seems more confident right now, which is a good start.
Bryce Cartwright: (22pts, 5assists) Looks stronger and has added more bulk to his physique.
Melsahn Basabe: Put up 39 points & 11 rebounds and had several slams, but it was a pretty sloppy game and he was a man amongst...old men (on the opposition). I think we know what we will get with Mel.
Matt Gatens: 31 pts, and you know what you are gonna get with Matt.
Zach McCabe: (23pts) I didn't get to see enough of him.
The game stats from above courtesy of Brendan Stiles' twitter feed (@thebstiles)
The first thing I noticed was the number of cars in the parking lot of the North Liberty Community Center. Yes, there were several pool goers still there at 6pm, but most of the cars belonged to folks wanting to watch some hoops. I parked farther away than I ever had before, so I liked that.
The next thing I noticed, after getting in the gym and watching five minutes of action was this; 'Same as it ever was'.
I don't mean that in a bad way; the PTL serves a purpose and creates a place where Iowa players get a chance to play some decent competition in a summer league setting, but it's still just glorified pick up...unless you play for Randy Larsen's team that is...Randy is still dead serious on the sidelines.
I enjoy watching the Iowa players in the PTL, but it's always a reminder to me why I cringe so much from people making overly positive or overly negative evaluations based on PTL performances...in some instances, just one performance.
Now, having said that, I have to navigate the rest of this item carefully so I don't do the same thing...without further adieu, here are some generalizations I took away from Tuesday night at the PTL as I try my best not to place much emphasis on the minutia.
Aaron White: (19pts) I will start with him because he was my favorite player to watch of the night...that's not to say I didn't enjoy the 39 points and numerous dunks that his teammate Melsahn Basabe put up, or the trey's Josh Oglesby made, or the ball handling display Anthony Hubbard showed me...
It's just White has piqued my interest since seeing his high school highlight videos and reading about how well he performed his senior year...
Here is the word that kept coming into my mind as I watched him play: nuisance. He is a nuisance and a pest...if you are the opponent. Why? Because he rarely stops moving, even in summer league...now, there were times where he sat on the wing, but it was mostly catching his breath as the PTL world is nothing like the real world of college basketball, unless you played for Paul Westhead and Loyola-Marymount in the 1980's.
He was continually in motion, mostly without the ball. When he got the ball, no matter where he was, his first instinct was to pivot and face the basket. There were a few back in, back to the basket attempts I saw but that was mostly due to his recognizing a smaller defender on him...there were such instances with Eric May on his hip and White didn't back down at all.
When I watched his videos this winter and spring, I kept thinking 'poor man's Robbie Hummel', mostly because he doesn't have the outside shooting prowess Hummel showed at that age. However, Hummel is real good without the basketball, even a decent screener for someone that is such a good shooter. That's what I see in White. I think he has a chance to be a real key contributor during his career. He can fill some minutes and needs next year, but I don't think he will come into his own until late in his sophomore season or at the start of his junior season...he needs to add some bulk for the Big Ten game.
One more name popped into my head when I watched his constant motion; Ryan Bowen. Bowen really blossomed his junior year after being mostly an afterthought his first two seasons...White is more talented than Bowen was entering his freshman year in college, however.
Josh Oglesby: (24pts, 7reb) Let's keep playing the visual comparison game..I saw a lot of Ryan Hogan in Oglesby...from a weaker than you'd like left hand, but also in the way he gathers himself as he sets up to shoot the three. Hogan suffered two serious knee injuries in college, but he was a good enough high school shooter to get a full ride to Kentucky out of high school.
Oglesby's role next year is going to be to give Iowa's big men some relief by coming in off the bench and knocking down a few three's and keeping teams honest in the paint...he made a nice play on the defensive end at the end of the first half, picking Matt Gatens' pocket as Gatens was winding down the clock and preparing to attack the basket from the top of the key. He didn't move as much as White, but I was pleased with Oglesby's movement without the ball, because a player like him is going to make his living off baseline and elbow screens. He doesn't have a gunslinger's quick release, but it's not a slow release, either.
Anthony Hubbard: (21pts/11reb) I caught the first half of Hubbard's game and will have some video clips on the site late Wednesday night...first off, as it relates to the Jon Miller/Greg Brunner height test, he seems about 6-2 or 6-3; he's not 6-5, so have fun with that one.
That being said, he moves real well without the ball and has a nose for the glass and has no fear mixing it up in the paint...Darryl Moore was that way, as was James Winters. He also seems to find and sneak through gaps around the rim, as he doesn't possess overly broad shoulders. His ball handling ability was impressive, something you'll see on the video.
If you are thinking he is going to be a program savior, you are setting yourself up for disappointment and it's unfair to him. I think he can be a 9/6 player at a minimum, with definite upside from there. I will look forward to seeing how he handles the ball against Big Ten guards and if he can get off his own shot. However, he could be a mismatch for teams that stick a two guard on him, or even a three; he is strong and fearless. While he isn't a plate head, he just seems to possess some brute strength that will give some guards fits.
Gabe Olaseni: (4pts, 9reb) As has been reported, he runs the floor real, real well for a player of his size and he has solid defensive instincts. Offensively, he has a ways to go but he will not be called upon to be an offensive threat. He seems to me like a player that could come into his own in 18 months in the program, and I think that is what Fran McCaffery likely envisions for him...that's not to say he won't get a chance at some minutes next year, but they will likely be under eight.
Devyn Marble: (28pts, 8reb, 8assists) Has definitely added some muscle, but I wouldn't yet call him well built...and not that he has to be. He looks a lot more confident than he did a year ago...then again, it's the PTL. However, I think he is seeing how that extra muscle is helping him and he feels good about himself, and it shows up in his game. If he can develop a solid 15-20 foot jumper to go with his knack for scoring the ball in the paint, he has a pretty bright future. It will be interesting to see what level of swagger he starts the season with, because as of right now, he has plenty (of the good kind).
Eric May: (30pts, 7reb, 8assists) I still wonder about what position he plays...or rather, if he even has a natural position at the Big Ten level. He is a very good athlete, we all know that, but he isn't a 'have to guard' three-point threat, he isn't going to find a majority of mismatches on the wing to exploit and he's not big enough to mix it up on the block. He has shown to be a better than average defender at times, but last year he just lost all of his confidence on offense over the second half of the season and it affected every aspect of his game. He seems more confident right now, which is a good start.
Bryce Cartwright: (22pts, 5assists) Looks stronger and has added more bulk to his physique.
Melsahn Basabe: Put up 39 points & 11 rebounds and had several slams, but it was a pretty sloppy game and he was a man amongst...old men (on the opposition). I think we know what we will get with Mel.
Matt Gatens: 31 pts, and you know what you are gonna get with Matt.
Zach McCabe: (23pts) I didn't get to see enough of him.
The game stats from above courtesy of Brendan Stiles' twitter feed (@thebstiles)
