I believe they were going to leave the doors open but not announce it so that they didn't interfere with football stuff and homecoming. Only a handful of us were in there. But forget about all that for now....thoughts on the action:
-The entire team looked bigger, more intense, totally prepared, locked in on both ends, especially defensively. CKS was instructing, but never yelled b/c they gave him no reason to. Locked in! Black team starters: Jones, Kornet, Cressler, LaChance, Baldwin. Subs at first: MFD and JR. The only gold teamer that played black team was Hendo after a few quarters. Black tem dominated on both ends, despite the gold team being deep and talented (just young + walk ons.)
- Riley LaChance (my standout 1A) will be hard to EVER want to put on the bench. I was mesmerized with his play throughout the scrimmage. He looks bigger, quicker, and even better than last year on both ends. He just seems like the perfect college player and an absolute steal of a recruit. He was one of the most vocal on the court. And his inside the arc game is just fantastic. Defensively, he wastes zero motion and has quick, correct movements. Took charges. Guys really couldn't get by him. He is just incredible. Never tired. Constant precision. And constant focus.
- Luke Kornet (my standout 1B) = whole different level. Will surprise you, no doubt. He was the other vocal leader out there. And he is an athlete in a tall dude's body. Just towers over everyone and envelops his man on defense. One play: Hendo (who looked very good, BTW) was backing Luke down putting his shoulder into his chest. While back-peddling, Luke went up with Hendo (still gliding backwards) and just towered over him swatting his shot to the ground. It was a play only made by a super tall dude who also has strength, balance and timing. Big time aggressive block. A bigger play: Took it on the left wing, pump faked, then went left for a one dribble, off one foot, monster two-handed jam where it looked as if his hands were nearing the top of the backboard. Was so quick and explosive that the lane was basically clear of help defenders when he got there. Freaking athlete!!!
- Jones and Baldwin - will skip them because you know they are freaking studs. Did not disappoint. Jones drained a three. Baldwin slammed one over someone in transition.
- Cressler - Big, strong, has attack the lane game, finished strong, drew fouls. But most importantly, while playing three alongside RL and WB, there were two end of clock/end of half situations where he popped free from their action and drained buzzer beater threes!
- Roberson - scored a whole bunch on drives, putbacks, and drained his only three attempt. Played big against Samir (who is an ox) in the post. Even posted up some and scored. Roberson drew lots of attention and lots of praise from CKS. Was efficient and aggressive throughout. He will be a factor at the four spot and will get lots of time there. Looks better at 4 than at 3.
- Toye - he looked like he quickly got tired of the black team winning because he started to attack the basket through lots of traffic and got to the rim on several occasions. He also cranked up the tenacity on defense, getting a steal on the backcourt and fighting over screens. And despite getting lots of fouls called against him, he is the reason I haven't mentioned MFD yet. MFD hit a three, I believe, but he drew Toye for much of the day. And I believe that had an impact on his scoring more than anything. Toye looks good athletically. But his tenacity was a surprise to me.
- Other gold teamers: Hendo scored a good bit and hit every jumper I saw him take. Airballed a hook against big Kornet. Got his shot swatted twice by our twin towers...but that will happen to lots of post players. But otherwise, he never stopped scoring and knows clearly where his wheelhouse is...doesn't try and overpower very often. Content to drain lots of 8-10 footers. Justice and Sehic had trouble making plays against the black team. But mainly because the black team was stacked and is incredibly freaking awesome. Sehic was called for a few walks and they each made a few TO's. Justice was a bit off, even in warmups. But they look like they'd fit right in alongside the first teamers if and when needed. And they were hampered by being the focus of the black team's defense, playing alongside walkons, etc. Both are built like college juniors. Justice fought his tail off chasing LaChance through tons and tons of screens. He caught LaChance on a break away and stripped the ball off LaChances layup attempt.
- Finally, I love our walkons. They know how to play and fight and scrap HARD! They are not softies or pushovers. They allow us to go with two deep teams for practices.
-The entire team looked bigger, more intense, totally prepared, locked in on both ends, especially defensively. CKS was instructing, but never yelled b/c they gave him no reason to. Locked in! Black team starters: Jones, Kornet, Cressler, LaChance, Baldwin. Subs at first: MFD and JR. The only gold teamer that played black team was Hendo after a few quarters. Black tem dominated on both ends, despite the gold team being deep and talented (just young + walk ons.)
- Riley LaChance (my standout 1A) will be hard to EVER want to put on the bench. I was mesmerized with his play throughout the scrimmage. He looks bigger, quicker, and even better than last year on both ends. He just seems like the perfect college player and an absolute steal of a recruit. He was one of the most vocal on the court. And his inside the arc game is just fantastic. Defensively, he wastes zero motion and has quick, correct movements. Took charges. Guys really couldn't get by him. He is just incredible. Never tired. Constant precision. And constant focus.
- Luke Kornet (my standout 1B) = whole different level. Will surprise you, no doubt. He was the other vocal leader out there. And he is an athlete in a tall dude's body. Just towers over everyone and envelops his man on defense. One play: Hendo (who looked very good, BTW) was backing Luke down putting his shoulder into his chest. While back-peddling, Luke went up with Hendo (still gliding backwards) and just towered over him swatting his shot to the ground. It was a play only made by a super tall dude who also has strength, balance and timing. Big time aggressive block. A bigger play: Took it on the left wing, pump faked, then went left for a one dribble, off one foot, monster two-handed jam where it looked as if his hands were nearing the top of the backboard. Was so quick and explosive that the lane was basically clear of help defenders when he got there. Freaking athlete!!!
- Jones and Baldwin - will skip them because you know they are freaking studs. Did not disappoint. Jones drained a three. Baldwin slammed one over someone in transition.
- Cressler - Big, strong, has attack the lane game, finished strong, drew fouls. But most importantly, while playing three alongside RL and WB, there were two end of clock/end of half situations where he popped free from their action and drained buzzer beater threes!
- Roberson - scored a whole bunch on drives, putbacks, and drained his only three attempt. Played big against Samir (who is an ox) in the post. Even posted up some and scored. Roberson drew lots of attention and lots of praise from CKS. Was efficient and aggressive throughout. He will be a factor at the four spot and will get lots of time there. Looks better at 4 than at 3.
- Toye - he looked like he quickly got tired of the black team winning because he started to attack the basket through lots of traffic and got to the rim on several occasions. He also cranked up the tenacity on defense, getting a steal on the backcourt and fighting over screens. And despite getting lots of fouls called against him, he is the reason I haven't mentioned MFD yet. MFD hit a three, I believe, but he drew Toye for much of the day. And I believe that had an impact on his scoring more than anything. Toye looks good athletically. But his tenacity was a surprise to me.
- Other gold teamers: Hendo scored a good bit and hit every jumper I saw him take. Airballed a hook against big Kornet. Got his shot swatted twice by our twin towers...but that will happen to lots of post players. But otherwise, he never stopped scoring and knows clearly where his wheelhouse is...doesn't try and overpower very often. Content to drain lots of 8-10 footers. Justice and Sehic had trouble making plays against the black team. But mainly because the black team was stacked and is incredibly freaking awesome. Sehic was called for a few walks and they each made a few TO's. Justice was a bit off, even in warmups. But they look like they'd fit right in alongside the first teamers if and when needed. And they were hampered by being the focus of the black team's defense, playing alongside walkons, etc. Both are built like college juniors. Justice fought his tail off chasing LaChance through tons and tons of screens. He caught LaChance on a break away and stripped the ball off LaChances layup attempt.
- Finally, I love our walkons. They know how to play and fight and scrap HARD! They are not softies or pushovers. They allow us to go with two deep teams for practices.
