Jordan Brand Classic Primer

Friday April 18, 2014

7 pm Eastern, 6 pm Central

Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY

ESPN2, ESPN3

Viewers can vote for the East and West MVPs. They will have to follow @Jumpman23 on Twitter and tweet the selection’s last name to #TakeFlightJBC



For the second straight year, Barclays Center will serve as the host venue for the 13th annual Jordan Brand Classic. The nation’s premier high school all-star game will be held on April 18 in Brooklyn, NY.

Jordan Brand Classic will feature three epic bouts, beginning with an International Game at 2:30 p.m. EDT. This is the seventh year that the best young talent from around the globe will square off on-court, showcasing the world’s basketball talent. Following the International Game, the New York metropolitan area can support their favorite local talent in the Regional Game, tipping off at 4:30 p.m. The Regional Game is a “City vs. Suburbs” showdown that will feature the top prep players from the area.

Headlining the Jordan Brand Classic is the National Game, with tip-off slated for 7 p.m. EDT. This game serves as an annual showcase for the best talent at the high school level. Jordan Brand signature athletes including Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony and Blake Griffin are all Jordan Brand Classic alums.    

The top 26 prospects from across the country have been selected to play in the National Game.  Teams are organized by geography.

EAST:
Tyus Jones (Apple Valley, MN/Duke), Joel Berry (Lake Highland, FL/UNC), Isaiah Whitehead (Lincoln, NY/Seton Hall), LJ Peak (Gaffney, SC/Georgetown), Grayson Allen (Providence, FL/Duke), James Blackmon (Marion, IN/Indiana), Rashad Vaughn (Findlay, NV/UNLV), Kelly Oubre (Findlay, NV/Kansas), Justin Jackson (Homeschool Christian Youth Academy, TX/UNC), Reid Travis (De LaSalle, MN/Stanford), Trey Lyles (Arsenal Tech, IN/Kentucky), Jahlil Okafor (Whitney Young, IL/Duke), Karl Towns (St. Joseph, NJ/Kentucky).

WEST:
Emmanuel Mudiay (Prime Prep, TX/SMU), Tyler Ulis (Marian Catholic, IL/Kentucky), Devin Booker (Moss Point, MS/Kentucky), Kameron Chatman (Columbia Christian, OR/Michigan), Theo Pinson (Wesleyan Christian, NC/UNC), Justise Winslow (St. John’s, TX/Duke), Stanley Johnson (Mater Dei, CA/Arizona), Cliff Alexander (Curie, IL/Kansas), Chris McCullough (IMG Academy/Syracuse), Myles Turner (Trinity, TX/Uncommitted), Daniel Hamilton (St. John Bosco, CA/UConn), D’Angelo Russell (Montverde Academy, FL/Ohio State), Shaqquan Aaron (Rainier Beach, WA/Louisville).

Tickets for the Jordan Brand Classic are currently on sale at all Ticketmaster locations, the Barclays Center box office, online at ticketmaster.com, or by calling 1-800-745-3000. For more information, visit the official website at www.JordanBrandClassic.com.

ESPN3 Surround delivers exclusive content tied to live events on ESPN linear networks, offering a companion experience in real-time that will complement the big game on television.  It will enable fans to go deeper into ESPN’s biggest live events with alternate camera angles, experiences and stories around the game.

“With ESPN3 Surround, we continue to super serve sports fans with a unique offering around the biggest rivalries, competitions and sporting events,” said Jason Bernstein, senior director of programming and acquisitions, ESPN.  “Its availability on computers, smartphones, tablets, Xbox, Apple TV and Roku make it a true second-screen experience that will engage sports fans in new and meaningful ways.”
Link

WHAT WE LEARNED WEDNESDAY:

1. The game may turn on which team is healthiest.

For these elite players, Friday’s game comes at the end of a long season and both teams have plenty of players with injuries.

Trinity (Euless, Texas) center Myles Turner may not play because of a sprained right ankle sprain. Another West team player, Kentucky signee Tyler Ulis, a guard from Marian Catholic (Chicago Heights, Ill.), changed from his sneakers to a walking boot to nurse a right toe that may or may not be broken. The East squad won’t have Seton Hall signee Isaiah Whitehead because of a pulled hamstring muscle and Florida signee Joel Berry also didn’t practice on Wednesday.

“Coming from your senior season to McDonald’s to the Hoop Summit to here will take a toll on your body,” Turner said. “It’s starting to wear a couple of people down. It’s like the AAU grind in the summer.”

“It’s been a long season with our high school teams and AAU on top of that and we’re still playing,” Ulis said. “After this, we’re going to give our bodies some rest.”


2. Sometimes the practices are more important than the game.

While nearly all of the players at the Jordan Brand Classic know where they will be playing in college, there’s at least one good reason for them to go hard in practice. There were 19 NBA scouts there Wednesday.

“I just try to play my game and not focus on them,” said Cliff Alexander of Curie (Chicago), who has signed with Kansas
USA Today

Touring the flight deck of the USS Intrepid with our National Team #TakeFlightJBC @JordanClassic

KUAD: Kansas signees to compete at Jordan Brand Classic


Cliff Alexander, C – The Kansas recruit has a huge, athletic frame. At 6’8” and with his style of play, he’ll likely play power forward at the next level. He’s great with his back to the basket and seems to have nearly perfected a myriad of turnaround jumpers and running hook shots. He has a quick first step, which makes it difficult for other bigs to contain him. Alexander displayed many emphatic dunks today and also showed off some of his midrange potential. He’s a terrific rebounder on both ends of the floor, but needs to work on his hands and protecting the ball. Due to his size, adding a consistent jumper to his arsenal will be imperative and continue to increase his massive potential.
net scouts: JBC practice day 2


After spending two days at the Jordan Brand Classic, I've seen enough in person and have enough in my notebook to start forming impressions of the top players in the 2014 class.

This is the year of the big man and a class short on shooters, and that has been apparent through two days of practice, although several outside gunners have stood out.

Before I get to my observations, remember this is based off watching two days of practice, and this is the final stop for most of these guys after a busy few weeks on the all-star circuit. It is, however, a great chance to see them against the other best players in their class.

2. Cliff Alexander (Kansas): Alexander's reputation is a beast who tries to dunk everything and can really rebound. He's shown that this week. But what he's also shown is a developing post game that you can tell he's been working on.

What has impressed me most about Alexander is his patience. Wherever he catches the ball, he does a good job of surveying the situation, waiting to see if a double will come and then attacking. He also does a good job of passing out of double-teams when they do come. When he's able to go one-on-one, he can big boy pretty much anyone he wants with his strength. His footwork is still a little sloppy, but time and reps will help clean that up. He's going to be a really good fit in Bill Self's high-low system once he learns how to use his big body to get great position in the post.

Alexander is also a guy who could be around for a few years. I overheard one NBA scout say that he doesn't think Alexander is a one-and-done prospect, and I agree. He's a 6'9" center who will be able to overpower college guys, but he'll need more to his game before he's ready for the pros. He needs to continue to refine those post skills and also continue to improve his 12- to 15-foot jumper.
CJ Moore


USA Today: What to look for


USA Today Video: JBC participants reveal their “second-choice” schools

Tune into @BET this Friday at 6pm EST as our National Team takes over 106 & Park #TakeFlightJBC

While he spends the next few days in New York City for the 2014 Jordan Brand Classic at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, Myles Turner, the only remaining uncommitted prospect partaking in the All-American game, will share his daily experiences with SLAMonline. Check in over the next three days to read up on his preparation leading up to Friday night’s highly anticipated game and on what it’s like behind-the-scenes to be part of this prestigious game.

Yesterday] was media day. A lot of questions about my recruiting situation, of course. I just stay finessing it really. I’ve learned that you just don’t have to let other people pressure you into saying what you don’t want to say. For the most part I’ve been pretty good about that, so I wouldn’t say it’s been too stressful. I finally announced today that I’m committing on April 30.

Even some players have thrown around a quick pitch here and there about going to their school. But they don’t really hound me about it.

…I actually didn’t practice today as I’m still waiting out to see how my ankle feels. It seemed like everyone was pretty much chill, relaxed and laid back at practice. As far as me playing, it seems like it will be a game time decision. I’m going to see how I feel tomorrow. If I don’t feel right, then I’m not going to push it. I just started walking yesterday and I haven’t had [any pain] yet, so I’m not going to push it.

We also went to the BET 106 & Park studios after practice [yesterday]. That was actually really fun. We were featured on the show. I think it comes out [today]. I used to watch it sometimes, but ever since ol’ girl left I haven’t watched it as much. But it was cool just being there and seeing how everything works behind the scenes.

…From the guys here, I’m really cool with Emmanuel Mudiay, just because he’s from Texas. I haven’t really known any of these guys for that long. I just met them this summer. Me and Karl Towns are cool too, so we talk a lot.
SLAM: Myles Turner Diary

SLAM image

With two weeks left until a decision, Turner has seven schools on his list: Duke, Kansas, SMU, Texas, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Ohio State. He says he has no favorites, but let's take a look at how he fits at each schools – first from his perspective, and then our take on the personnel factor.

Kansas

Turner says: “I like the high-low system that Coach [Bill] Self runs, due to the fact that I can play both the high and the low. Playing in that system with Cliff and a couple of other bigs over there, that would be pretty cool to be a part of.”

Personnel: Like Duke, Kansas has an absolutely elite big man also entering the fold in the fall. Cliff Alexander might be the most dominant college freshman in the 2014-15 season, given his strength around the rim. Turner and Alexander could play in the high-low, though. However, Bill Self brings back Perry Ellis, a very good power forward. Turner would have to compete for a starting job.

SMU

Turner says: “I really like Coach Larry Brown. I watched them play a lot this year. They get up and down the floor. That's kind of like where my game is, I like to run in transition. And being connected to Coach Brown has a big appeal to it.”

Personnel: Turner would make SMU a preseason top-10 team next season – as the Mustangs are certainly pushing for that status already. With Emmanuel Mudiay coming in to boost the backcourt, Turner – and Texas Tech transfer Jordan Tolbert – would immediately lift the frontcourt group. Larry Brown does have Markus Kennedy, Yanick Moreira and others already gunning for minutes.

Texas

Turner says: “It's in my backyard. Hopefully I can come down there and make an impact like Kevin Durant had. If I were to be able to do that, that would be pretty cool. That's the biggest thing at Texas.”

Personnel: Like several of the other teams on this list, the Longhorns do have multiple returnees up front. Cameron Ridley really came on strong in his sophomore season, and Jonathan Holmes was perhaps the team's most consistent player. Rick Barnes could go big with Holmes at the 3, and Turner and Ridley in the paint, though. Texas brings back basically everyone from last season.
CBS


2015 Dream Vision (NV) PF Chase Jeter is down to Kansas, Oregon, UNLV, Duke, UCLA & Arizona.
@TheRecruitScoop


Jayhawk Invitational (4/25-4/27)


adidas Uprising Spring/Summer Events


2014 Spring/Summer AAU and camp schedule (compiled by CBS Sports)


Recruiting Calendar


My Late Night in the Phog videos, KU Alumni games videos, 2011-12 Border War videos, Legends of the Phog videos, KC Prep Invitational, & Jayhawk Invitational Videos and more now on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/user/kcjcjhawk

A look back at the 2013 JBC

 
Jordan Brand Classic 2013 News Links

Kansas Jayhawks

What we expect to see next season: Even if Myles Turner, the No. 2 prospect in the 2014 ESPN 100, chooses another school, Kansas will still be stacked. Wayne Selden, Perry Ellis and Naadir Tharpe return. Plus, Cliff Alexander (the top power forward in the 2014 class per RecruitingNation, and fellow McDonald’s All American Kelly Oubre are on their way to Lawrence, Kan. The Jayhawks should contend for their 11th consecutive Big 12 crown under Self.

But it won’t be easy.

Hoiberg won’t stop. Niang will recover from the foot injury. Monte Morris, Dustin Hogue and Naz Long are back, too. Former Marquette recruit Jameel McKay will be eligible next season, and Hoiberg just landed former UNLV star Bryce Dejean-Jones. And there’s always a chance that he’ll add another top transfer before next season.

Oklahoma returns four standouts from last year’s NCAA tourney team. Losing Smart and Markel Brown hurts Oklahoma State, and Le'Bryan Nash could leave, too. But Phil Forte, Brian Williams, Kamari Murphy and Michael Cobbins (once healthy) will help the Cowboys compete for a berth in the tourney. A pair of ESPN 100 recruits (Joe Burton and Jared Terrell) will also be in the mix.

Kansas State youngster Marcus Foster will be the Big 12 player of the year in 2014-15. And overall, four of Kansas State’s top six scorers from last season will return next year.
ESPN


During a conference call with reporters on Thursday, I asked ESPN/ABC game analyst Jeff Van Gundy which of the top college prospects he thought had the highest ceiling for the NBA game.

“I like (Andrew) Wiggins from Kansas a lot,” Van Gundy said. “I think he is a tremendous athlete who could play at the two and overpower people with his size and athleticism there.”
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel


The buildup for the June 26 draft is a long, two-month process. There are the combine and individual workouts, where players' strengths and weaknesses will be dissected. Hitting on the right pick -- or picks -- could position a franchise as a playoff contender for years, while missing could set a franchise back even longer. But no pressure, really.

Here is SI.com's Mock Draft 1.0, with the order based on regular-season records. The May 20 draft lottery will determine the top three picks, with the rest of the order based on records.

1. Milwaukee Bucks -- Andrew Wiggins, G/F, Kansas
Wiggins has quickly emerged as an early favorite among executives from many lottery teams. He has his warts -- a lack of aggression and tendency to drift during games being chief among them -- but his ceiling is considered higher than anyone else's. At 6-foot-7, 200 pounds, Wiggins can conceivably play two positions, though multiple executives say the best fit is two-guard. A Wiggins-Giannis Antetokounmpo-Larry Sanders trio is a nice core for Milwaukee to build around.

2. Philadelphia 76ers -- Joel Embiid, C, Kansas
Word around the league is that the Sixers are high on Wiggins. They will settle for Embiid, the draft's best center prospect, who would pair with Nerlens Noel to form an athletic frontcourt. Embiid's back isn't an issue -- yet. NBA executives are eager to get their hands on his medicals at next month's draft combine in Chicago.
SI

To NBA GMs: If you're a gambler, pick Embiid. If you value a player's ceiling, select Wiggins. If you need help now, go with Jabari Parker.
@MedcalfByESPN


4/14/14, 7:13 PM
Tonight marks Kirk Hinrich's 645th game played for the #Bulls, tying Paxson for 4th most behind Jordan, Pippen & Sloan.
@chicagobulls


4/14/14, 6:16 PM
With the start, Mario Chalmers moved past Rony Seikaly and into eighth place on the Heat's all-time list, with 439 starts.
@IraHeatBeat


Three appointments to Danny Manning ’s first basketball coaching staff at Wake Forest are now official — Steve Woodberry and Brett Ballard will come on board as assistants, and Justin Bauman will be the director of basketball operations, university officials announced.

All three held the same positions on Manning’s staff at Tulsa the past two seasons, and all are Kansas University graduates. Woodberry and Ballard previously indicated on their personal Twitter accounts that they would be following Manning to Wake Forest.
AP


“Pay Heed. The game you love began here. Respect those who came before you. Make their legacy your own. Because destiny favors the dedicated. And rings don’t replace work. In this game you don’t get what you want. You get what you earn. We are Kansas. Together we rise. Rock Chalk Jayhawk!

Big 12 / College News

There is no one better than staying ahead of the posse than Oliver Purnell, but Frank Haith may be making up serious ground.
@GoodmanESPN

A source indicated to the Tulsa World that Frank Haith, who recently completed his third season as the University of Missouri coach, has accepted an offer to become the University of Tulsa's new head basketball coach.

TU is expected to introduce Haith during a Friday afternoon news conference at the Reynolds Center.
Haith traveled to Tulsa on Thursday — less than 24 hours after the conclusion of Wednesday's Mizzou basketball banquet in Columbia — for a meeting with TU President Steadman Upham and athletic director Derrick Gragg.
Tulsa World


For the third time in nine years, Missouri athletic director Mike Alden may be putting together a list of candidates to become the Tigers' next basketball coach. Here are 10 possible targets. Keep in mind Tennessee, also is on the prowl for a new coach.

TOP OF THE WISH LIST

- Gregg Marshall, Wichita State: Topped nearly every list in the last two years by building the Shockers into a national power. Marshall seems satisfied in Wichita, and a bigger temptation may be when one of the blue-blood jobs open.

- Shaka Smart, VCU: Marshall may have taken from Smart the title of most coveted coaching candidate, but Smart has been seen as a coup hire since taking the Rams to the 2011 Final Four.

- Archie Miller, Dayton: Miller is hot, hot, hot after leading the Flyers to this year's Elite Eight, which earned him a contract extension through 2019.

- Chris Mack, Xavier: Mack, who has taken Xavier to four NCAA Tournaments in five years, is often associated with job openings. He took over when Sean Miller went to Arizona. Is it Mack's turn to leave?

MORE REALISTIC OPTIONS

- Michael White, Louisiana Tech: The son of Duke athletic director Kevin White, he led the Bulldogs to a 29-8 record in his third year and was said to be on the radar at Auburn and South Florida last season.

- Brad Underwood, Stephen F. Austin: The former Kansas State assistant under Frank Martin was remarkable in his first season as a head coach, rolling to a 32-3 record and upsetting VCU in the NCAA Tournament.

- Ben Howland: He built the Pittsburgh program and went to three Final Fours with UCLA before he was fired after the 2013 season. He is the most accomplished coach currently without a job.

- Donnie Tyndall, Southern Mississippi: Took Morehead State to two NCAA Tournaments in his last three years there and has been to the NIT in both years at Hattiesburg. Plus, he knows a little about Mizzou, having defeated the Tigers in an NIT second-round game last month.

- Matt Painter, Purdue: Missouri went down this road three years ago, and at one point may have had a tentative agreement to hire Painter. It didn't work out, and in the last two years, the Boilermakers have gone 31-35.

OUTSIDE THE BOX

- Kim Anderson, Central Missouri: Anderson's Mules are fresh off a Division II championship, and a large segment of the Missouri fan base would give this hire a standing ovation. The concern, naturally, is recruiting at the highest level. But Anderson, a Sedalia, Mo., native, did just that as a Tigers assistant under Norm Stewart in two stints covering a total of 11 years. Anderson is 58, but there is not another hire that would galvanize the fan base more than bringing him back.
KC Star


The addition of UNLV's Bryce Dejean-Jones should give Fred Hoiberg his most complete team since he's been at Iowa State.

The Mayor has had the Cyclones in three consecutive NCAA Tournaments but next season may be his best chance of winning the Big 12 regular-season title. Iowa State's addition this week of Dejean-Jones (13.3 points last season) should give Hoiberg the best all-around starting five since he's been back at his alma mater. Monte Morris will be back as a sophomore at point guard after leading the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio as a freshman, and Dejean-Jones looks to step in at shooting guard and be the next transfer under Hoiberg that goes from program castoff to resurrection phenomenon.

Iowa State's frontcourt is also exceptionally deep next season. Dustin Hogue is back at the three after a breakout NCAA Tournament and Georges Niang, along with Marquette transfer Jameel McKay (eligible after nine games), will round out a frontcourt that could match up with any opponent in America. The 6-8 McKay is the first true rim protector that Hoiberg has had at Iowa State and should provide the Cyclones with a different dynamic since he can block shots and protect the front of the goal.

…SMU will play Indiana in Bloomington next December, sources told CBSSports.com. No official date has been set yet.

…Colorado coach Tad Boyle said on Wednesday that Buffs guard Spencer Dinwiddie is "really torn" about whether or not to return to school for his senior season. The 6-6 guard only played 17 games last year after suffering a torn ACL in January and likely would have been a first-round pick if he was healthy. If Dinwiddie returns to school, Colorado will likely be a Top 15-20 team and a legitimate challenger to Arizona in the Pac-12.
CBS


University of Louisville's athletics program announced a five-year, $39 million branding contract extension with adidas on Thursday, making U of L's deal with the sports apparel company the third-largest-known agreement of its kind in college sports.

Adidas' $7.8 million per year contract with Louisville ranks just behind the University of Michigan's $8.2 million deal as the richest contract with the apparel company. University of Notre Dame's apparel contract with Under Armour yields $9 million a year, the highest known agreement in college athletics.

"This is a very exciting day for us in the athletic department," Jurich said. "We always want to be on the cutting edge of everything we do."

The projected $7.8 million per year from adidas will consist of uniforms, footwear and accessories for U of L's 23 sports teams, plus investments in advertising, equipment room expansion and digital and video technology.

Adidas and U of L will also partner to create scholarships and an internship program for 20 to 23 U of L students working in marketing, branding and other areas in the athletic department.
Louisville CJ


According to multiple sources, a proposed plan that is circulating now would see the age limit extended from its current position — one year after high school graduation — to three years, essentially barring most players from entering the NBA until they are 20 or 21.

The tradeoff would come in the D-League, the NBA's burgeoning set of minor-league affiliates that will number at least 18 teams next season.

The sources said that, in order to pave the way for raising the age limit, the league would be willing to expand salaries in the D-League, giving each team a salary cap and allowing executives with each team to sign players as they wish. Not only would that allow D-League teams to sign good young players, it would allow NBA clubs to size up young executives and player evaluators.

Of course, the NBA can't really come up with solid proposals just yet. The main issue slowing down changing the eligibility requirements remains the inability of the NBA players association to find an executive director who can negotiate with commissioner Adam Silver on the subject. But once a new director is in place, the age limit dilemma is expected to be a priority.

If the plan takes shape with the D-League in mind, it would get rid of the one-and-done rule in college basketball, in which players go to school for one season and bolt for the NBA draft.
Sporting News


April 9: NBA Undergraduate Advisory Committee Application Deadline
April 14: NBA Undergraduate Advisory Committee Response Deadline
April 15: NCAA Early Entry “Withdrawal” Deadline
April 27: NBA Draft Early Entry Eligibility Deadline (11:59 pm ET)
May 2: NBA Draft Early Entry Candidates Released – Underclassmen Contact Permitted
May 14-18: NBA Draft Combine (Chicago)
May 20: NBA Draft Lottery
June 16: NBA Draft Early Entry Withdrawal Deadline (5:00 pm ET)
June 26: 2014 NBA Draft
draftexpress.com: Testing the NBA Draft Waters in 2014