Adidas Super 64 Player Evaluations

Posted on 22. Jul, 2009 by Nolan Shulman in Canada Spotlight, High School, Tournaments

We're here at the 2009 Adidas Super 64. Throughout the week we will be providing player evaluations for both America's top prospects, as well as unknown players who have preformed above expectations. We will be updating and adding to these evaluations as the week progresses. Check back in frequently to see how your favorite team's prospects have preformed.

Tyrie Orosco, Wadleigh High School/ Abyssinian Crusadors- Tyrie was by far the best player on the floor throughout his game with the Compton Magic Elite. He played with poise, displayed a very high basketball IQ, and just looked flat out smooth. He isn't a scorer per say, however, he rebounded effectively with his eyes up to start the break, and passed the ball extremely well, both in the half court and in transition. At 6-5 Tyrie has pretty decent size for his position but could certainly use more strength on his relatively scrawny frame. In transition, Tyrie demonstrated a great ability to change speeds and took great angles to feed his teammates for an easy deuce. In terms of what Tyrie needs to work on, I would say being more vocal and demanding the ball when his team needs a score. Right now, he's content to let the game come to him and play off his teammates. To take the next step in his development, Tyrie needs to realize he's capable of doing a lot more.

Myck Kabongo, St. Benedicts/ Grassroots Canada Elite- Myck was absolutely sensational today in Grassroots Canda's first game. He dictated tempo, initiated the half court sets, made his jumpers, and played excellent on ball defense. The thing that impressed me most about Myck was his intesity. He never cracks a smile, is always focused on the task at He was as vocal with his teammates as anyone I've seen in the July recruiting period. He not only directed traffic, but he than explained to his teammates why he wanted them to go somewhere during a stop in play. Kabongo is absolutely lightning quick and imposssible to stay in front of. He seems to always be moving at full speed and never shows any signs of letting up. He also shot the ball unbelievable in this contest, connecting on multiple three's and even a couple mid range jump shots. Simply put Kabongo had the best game of anyone I've seen all month.

Tristan Thompson, Findlay Prep/ Grassroots Canada- Tristan is still very much a work in progress. He has every tool you look for in a developmental prospect, but hasn't even begun to scratch the surfice of what he's capable of. Although he didnt have his best game offensively, Thompson did do a nice job of passing out of the post and setting up his guards for open looks. The one thing that was clear today was that Tristan needs alot of work on his ball handling skills. All three times he tried to bring the ball up the floor he had it ripped from him and taken the other way for two. He could also use work making sound decisions in traffic, as he seems to panic a bit when the lane clogs up. I don't want to make it seem like Tristan isn't an elite playe becasue he certainly is. He runs the floor really well, has an incredible body at such a young age, and with time he should become an NBA lottery pick. He just didnt have a very good game today.

Cory Joseph, Findlay Prep/ Grassroots Canada- It's hard to evaluate Joseph in the AAU setting because he plays off the ball for Grassroots Canada. He's a pure point guard who isn't as effective off the ball. Unfortunately for him he has Myck Kabongo on his team as the lead guard. That being said, Joseph did an excellent job slashing to the hoop and finishing, made some crucial three's and helped bring the ball up the floor when the Atlanta Celtics pressed. He was excellent defensively, pressuring the ball and getting his hands in the passing lanes. As a point guard, Joseph tends to shoot often early in the possesion. He has so much talent surrounding him on Grassroots Canada that he may as well work the ball around and get a quality shot. Everyone knows he's capable of scoring, but the question is whether he can lead a team. He needs to get his teammates more involved as the offense became staggered when Kabongo left the game. Joseph has the ability to become an excellent lead guard at the next level if he chooses a school that fits his style. He isn't a half court point guard, but will thrive on an up-tempo scoring team.

Dwight Powell, IMG Academy/ Grassroots Canada- Dwight tends to get overlooked with all the great talent on Grassroots Canada Elite. They rarely run a play for him, or look to feed it to him in the post. He does most of his damage on the break, as he runs the floor extremely well for a big man. He threw down an enormous dunk at the end of Grassroots Canada's game against Pump and Run Elite. It was really the play that put the game on ice for his team. Defensively, Dwight does an excellent job of protecting the rim. He is extremely long, understands positioning, and rarely leaves his feet due to a pump fake. Dwight also plays excellent help defense, leaving his man at the perfect time to clog the lane. If he could add more muscle on his frame, Dwight has a chance to be a truly special defender at the next level.

Fab Melo, Sagemont High School/ Florida Rams- I waited all day to catch a glimpse of Fabricio De Melo. He certainly has an enormous body and excellent wingspan. He was so much bigger than the man defending him, there were times his opponent was completely hidden behind him. He demonstrated his rare offensive abilities, stepping out and knocking down some 20 foot jumpers. Had his teammates looked to feed the post more, Fab would likely have dominated the contest. As it is, the few times he did catch it deep in the paint he was either fouled or scored a very easy deuce. One thing I noticed was how winded Fab looked in the second half. He was grabbing his calves and tying his shoes every chance he got. He was even huffing and puffing at some points throughout the game. That led to him not getting down the floor when the Rams pushed the tempo. That can certainly be fixed throughout his senior season and once he gets on campus; wherever that might be. There were certainly alot of coaches on hand for Fab's game as the gym became three times as full once Fab took the floor. Every division one coach in America seemed to be on hand to see him play. Fab is a rare prospect who could one day be the #1 pick in the NBA draft. He has so much ability for a man his size, especially when you consider how little he's been coached. With time, he should become the best player in the class of 2010. Whichever program is lucky enough to land him should enjoy a big man who can shoot, post up, hit the glass, and finish in traffic.

Cady Lalane, Oak Ridge High School/ Florida Rams- Although all the attention in the Rams game was on Fab, Cady quietly had an outstanding game. Right now he's a mid-major prospect, but representitives from George Mason and Xavier were on hand to watch him play. He definately didn't dissapoint, as the athletic power forward put on quite a show. He is a wiry, long, high energy player who does his best work on the fast break. He's an excellent finisher, never turns his motor off, and seems to understand where to be and when. Defensively, he can guard multiple positions, as he has a rare combination of length and quickness. He didn't foul, and seemed to beat his man to the spot on multiple occasions. The recent madness surrounding Fab has definately increased Cady's exposure. He had hundreds of coaches on hand to watch him play, and he made sure they left with an excellent taste in their mouth.

Wesley Saunders, Winward High School/ Compton Magic Elite- Wesley was extremely effective in the high post today against Abyssinian. He has a pretty nicely developed face up game, as well as the ability to back it down in the post. He wasn't very assertive in demanding the ball; however once he got it there was little doubt he knew what to do with it. The 6-6, 2011 small forward rebounded on both ends of the floor and offensively went right back up with it strong. Wesley also moves well without the ball and displayed a very high basketball IQ. He was somewhat a victim of his team's poor guard play, and was severly hampered by the Magic's lack of spacing and poor communication. Overall Wesley is an interesting prospect. If he can become more effective on the perimeter, he could become a pretty good all around player.

Tags: Cory Joseph, Dwight Powell, Fab Melo, Myck Kabongo, Tristan Thompson, Tyrie Orasco