KD & Russ....Steph & KG Part 2???

Last night the Oklahoma City Thunder held on to beat the Memphis Grizzlies, it's often said that winning cures all. That is not always the case, it was reported by Darnell Mayberry that Durant and Westbrook had a "heated" discussion during a second quarter timeout. This is not the first time these two have gotten into it with each other either, many on the OKC side of things insist that it's not a big deal. Nothing more than two competitors in the heat of battle, ESPN's J.A. Adande obviously feels different in a piece he wrote for TrueHoop Blog on ESPN.com.

Adande titles the piece, "Why Westbrook won't work in OKC." Here's a piece from Adande's post, " He's told friends he feels Thunder coach Scott Brooks blames him for losses, while the credit for victories goes to Durant." If that is indeed how Westbrook feels, it may be time to get him out of OKC sooner rather later. There's no point in risking this "issue" finally blowing up during a Playoff run, the Thunder can't afford that. Adande then goes on to include finances as another reason for getting rid of Westbrook, which does make sense due to the amount of money he'd earn coming off of his rookie deal this season.

This situation reminds me a bit of one years ago, the marriage of Stephon Marbury and Kevin Garnett. In Minnesota, KG was seen as the franchise player and Steph must have felt something like Westbrook may feel now. It worked on the court at first, it was a match made in basketball heaven because the complemented each other. Steph had the ability to run the team as well as put pressure on the D with his own offense, which in turn freed up KG. KG like Durant, was sort of a quiet person in terms of demanding the ball in crunch time. Keep that in mind as Steph often took the big shots, which had many wondering as to why the ball wasn't going to KG. No disrespect to KG, but he wasn't nearly as gifted offensively as Durant was and Westbrook isnt' as offensively gifted as Steph was. The bottom line being that one of the two parties felt unappreciated, seen as a scapegoat, as well as a "cancer."

Those on the outside looking in, especially from afar will look at this situation and immediately label Westbrook as the "Cancer." Same thing happened in Minnesota, yet they never recovered after getting rid of Steph. KG never had a better running mate, nothing close as he wasted away in basketball purgatory aka Minneapolis. Steph, labeled a cancer by then became a journeyman bouncing from team to team. In hindsight, it probably would have been better for the Wolves if they had let KG & Steph work it out. That's why this situation is monumental for the Thunder as a Franchise, can you afford to give Westbrook up with confidence that you'll find something better?

Durant and Westbrook are extremely young, there's plenty of time for them to figure this out. There are many ways Westbrook impacts a game outside of scoring, especially on the boards and defensively. OKC may find someone to replace the offense, but what about the rest? Is it worth it, only time will tell what will come out of this IF ANYTHING. The silver lining being the Thunder are 3-0 on this shortened season, it could be worse.


What would you do, trade or keep Russell Westbrook? Leave your thoughts below!!

Norris Cole-School Name>Player's Game??

Norris Cole made a splash on scouts radar with his performance at the Deron Williams Skill Academy; he not only held his own, but even out played some of the higher touted guards at that camp. It's no surprise when you look at Cole's college statistics, Cole improved his numbers EVERY SEASON. Cole reminded me of a "poor man's" Kemba Walker and I mean that with no disrespect, the only reason I use "poor man's" is that he went to a smaller school which left him under the radar. Their games have many similarities as well. The biggest similarity, they are both FEARLESS in "the moment."Cole is a big school talent that attended a small school, had he attended a Duke or Kentucky than we would have ALL known who he was.

Cole's College Statistics: Sophomore- 13.3pts, 2.5reb, 2.4ast, 1.2 stl, while shooting 45% from the floor. Junior-16.3pts, 2.8reb, 4.4ast, 1.8stl, while shooting 43% from the floor. Senior-21.7pts, 5.8 reb, 5.3 ast, while shooting 44% from the floor. 

What that shows me is that his game evolved every year, he went from a pure scorer to more of a complete point guard. He started to get his teammates involved more every year, he learned how to lead a team. Cole's knock on him going into the draft was that he was wrongly labeled a "combo" guard, what's wrong with a point guard that can get his teammates involved as well as get himself going when needed. That's what makes a "complete" point guard, no one mentioned the fact that he was on the boards the way he was, or that he was working on defense as evident by his steal numbers.

Am I running a campaign for Cole to start over Chalmers, not quite. I'm simply saying that every team in the league that still needs point guard help failed by letting him slip that far. In just two NBA games, Cole has garnered national attention by his play. Cole is not in awe of his teammates, rather he holds himself accountable and plays as if he's an equal out on the floor. So him stepping up wasn't a surprise to me, the kid had 14 points in the 4th with Rajon Rondo guarding him. There aren't many better defenders in the league at that position, Cole's ability to score means the Celtics had to play HONEST on the defensive end down the stretch. They couldn't use Rondo's peskiness as a help defender, Cole commands respect with his scoring touch. Had this been last year, had it been Chalmers on the floor I truly believe the Heat would have caved and lost this game. Chalmers is a good spot up shooter, but he is a shooter and nothing more. That's the beauty in having Cole on the floor, he can SHOOT, but he is a better SCORER of the basketball than Chalmers.

Cole's great play last night did nothing more than affirm my belief that scouts, like fans get enamored with the school next to the player's name rather than the player's tools. It's validation that he was lottery type talent and scouts missed on him, I understand he went to Cleveland State but how did you not SEE what he brought to the table. For a small school guy, he came to the table with many strengths and few questions in terms of talent. There weren't any red flags character wise, so can you tell me what it was other than seeing "Cleveland St." at the top of the scouting report?

Here's Chad Ford's Player Evaluation of Norris Cole: Strengths- Steady, true point guard. Very Complete Skill Set. Great Basketball IQ. Good shooter with Range. Solid athlete.

Negatives- Doesn't do any one thing great. Playing under the radar.

Player Traits: Shooting, Penetrating, Passing.

What are your thoughts upon reading that, how is passing on a point guard with that scouting report not a mistake? Share your thoughts and comments below!!

Memo to Bobcats: Give Kemba the Keys

The Charlotte Bobcats lucked into drafting an impact player at a position of need, they reached with the 7th overall pick by drafting Bismack Biyombo. The Bobcats made up for it by drafting Kemba Walker with the 9th overall pick, Walker had just won the National Championship on the collegiate level.

Charlotte made a change last year in their style of play by hiring Paul Silas, Silas wanted an up-tempo team. He had some pieces on the wings that fit that scheme in Gerald Henderson and Tyrus Thomas, but didn't have the right player at point guard. DJ Augustin for everything that he is, is not an up-tempo point guard. He can certainly run an offense, get buckets for himself, but never gave you the impression that he could LEAD. The other thing with Augustin is that when matched up with premier point guards, he struggled to create space due to his limited athleticism.

Walker led an extremely young team to a National Championship at Uconn, what was more impressive was the way he made his teammates better. It might not have shown on the stat sheet, but those freshmen went to war with their captain EVERY GAME. He led them through adversity and hit many big shots along the way, Walker never seemed to be afraid of the moment. That's hardly a bad trait for your point guard to have, one of the biggest misconceptions about Walker is that he's a shoot-first PG. Walker played his role each year at Uconn. Freshman year he was asked to provide a spark off the bench and he did so, Sophomore year he ran the team. He didn't step on the veterans toes at all in Jerome Dyson and Stanley Robinson, never once did he take the ball out of their hands a la Russell Westbrook- Kevin Durant. Last year as a Junior, he was on a team full of freshman which meant he HAD to shoulder the scoring load for the TEAM to be successful. As the season progressed he leaned on his young teammates and they came through for him when asked. For example, check out Jeremy Lamb's FG % from early in the season compared to his FG % during the Title Run.

Kemba is blessed with elite athleticism, armed with a mid-range jumper, possesses poise, and calm in the clutch. He is said to be "undersized" at 6'1, but that doesn't stop him from finishing at the basket. Kemba needs to work on being more consistent from three point land, but his ability to break down a defense and knock down mid-range jumpers has him prepared better than most. Walker is also extremely adept in pick and roll situations, seeing that Uconn runs many 1-4 pick and rolls( PG/PF). At the end of the day, someone with his type of speed is a much better fit in an up-tempo offense.

 It was only a pre-season game, but we got to see Kemba's impact on a game down the stretch vs Atlanta. Walker took the game over by scoring the last 5 points for Charlotte, he didn't shoot well from the floor but he wasn't scared either. In 19 minutes, Kemba scored 18 points. More importantly is that he had the confidence of his teammates both on the floor and off to trust him with the ball at the end of the game.

If the Bobcats wish to put their best foot forward this season, they need to hit the ground running with Kemba at the helm.

NFL Formal Introduction, Mr. Aldon Smith

If it weren't for Monday night's nationally televised match-up between the Steelers and 49ers, most of you would have little to no idea who Aldon Smith is. It only took 15 Weeks of the NFL Season for people to get a chance to see this kid in action. Obviously the 49ers haven't had many nationally televised games, at the same time most of the country knows who Von Miller and Ryan Kerrigan are.

Aldon Smith didn't get the kind of love he deserved on draft day either, he was considered a "project" by many scouts. He was doubted, but never his physical tools. Blessed with an 84 inch wingspan, standing 6'4, and weighing 263 pounds it's obvious that Smith "looked" the part. Smith reminded me of a certain player the year before who was lauded for his physical tools, yet wasn't expected to contribute early in Jason Pierre-Paul. Flash forward a year and JPP is dominating the league as a 2nd year player with 13.5 sacks. You would think that when another player with similar physical tools is presented, scouts would reference JPP and think otherwise. Instead things like this were said:

"I would have taken Gabbert and potentially Robert Quinn over Aldon Smith at seven."
" You watch, Robert Quinn is going to be a better player for the Rams at 14 than Aldon Smith will be at 7."- Draft Analyst Robert Rang

"Smith is gifted athletically, but his game has alot of growth left. Jim Harbough clearly sees him as a fit, but Smith won't be asked simply to pin his ears back and rush the passer; he'll also need to read the NFL game." -Mel Kiper

Smith has been a factor for the 49ers since training camp, he showed flashes as early as Pre-season, he has  an innate ability to "get skinny" as 49ers DE Justin Smith would say. Great pass rushers are able to "bend" the corner, if a kid shows you that ability early you've stumbled upon a keeper. Smith has only been asked to play on "obvious" passing downs this season, so pretty much only 3rd and long situations. Now compare that with Miller and Kerrigan who have pretty much been starting since Day 1, not to take anything away from those other kids but they have more opportunities to make impact plays. All 3 of these young players are studs, I simply want to show you how much of an impact Aldon makes in his limited number of opportunities. Mind you both Miller and Kerrigan play with above average pass-rushing teammates in  Elvis Dummerville and Brian Orakpo. Which means all 3 kids are getting 1 on 1 match-ups most of the time.

Von Miller- 13 games, 11.5 sacks  

Ryan Kerrigan- 14 games, 7.5 sacks

*Aldon Smith- 14 games, 13.0 sacks

The reason JPP is such a great reference point is that neither player started, they were both in the rotation but didn't get a starter's share of the snaps. Barring an injury, both will have played in 16 games in a limited role. The difference being that Aldon tripled JPP's production in sacks in a similar sample size. This isn't a nomination for Defensive Rookie of the Year on Aldon's behalf, I'm simply serving notice that he's been doing this ALL SEASON LONG for arguably the BEST DEFENSE in the league. That is all, please leave your thoughts or comments below!

Change Coming?

Happenstance, Coincidence, or an Anomaly?? Either way you look at it, something special occurred this evening when Robert Griffin the Third accepted this year's Heisman Trophy. 

On the surface or to the casual fan,  Griffin bust onto the scene this year. Griffin surprised many with the video game type numbers he put up this year. If you were to take a deeper look, you'd see this wasn't a surprise just a culmination of his career. Griffin was talented enough to start 12 games as a True Freshman, he did more than just start though. He was pretty productive throwing 15 TD's and only 3 INT's. Griffin should have become a house-hold name during his sophomore season, he would have if it weren't for an injury. He only played 4 games that year which resulted in a medical redshirt.

In his entire career Griffin never had a QB Rating under 142.0, his rating this year which resulted in him winning the Heisman was 192.3. Griffin was highly touted coming out of High School, the only surprise was that a prospect of his magnitude chose Baylor University. He is the first player from Baylor to have won a Heisman, hopefully he won't be the last. Griffin isn't an elite athlete with the ability to play QB, he's a very good QB with elite athleticism.

Think back just one year, who won the Heisman? Cam Newton from Auburn, Newton was basically unheard of as well before his Heisman campaign. Newton went to Florida where he was hidden on the bench behind another Heisman Trophy winner in Tim Tebow. After an interesting journey filled with the supposed "scandal," Newton ended up at Auburn and led Auburn to an undefeated season and a National Championship. Newton had a crazy year as well numbers wise, most didn't want to admit it but Newton led the nation in passing accuracy.(Newton wasn't found of any wrongdoing in the investigation)

It's a slippery slope, I won't go too far into it. Throughout the history of football, African American QB's have been known to be called athletes first and QB's second. Neither of these two young men were regarded as top QB prospects until they forced scouts, the media, and fans to see them on the national stage. Not many of the talking heads were high on Griffin or Newton prior to the break out games. The ones that everyone had to watch; for Newton it was the game vs Alabama, Griffin's coming out party was against Oklahoma. On each players run to the Heisman, scouts gave them credit for their awesome athletic displays and not much else. Each of these young men are great leaders, competitors, warriors, and lastly great people. 

We shouldn't judge a QB on his color, but rather his impact on the game and his ability to WIN. Little else matters for QB's, it shouldn't matter HOW you get it done; just that you get it done. Congratulations to both of these young men for their accomplishments, I hope this changes the way some people view the QB position. Color shouldn't be a factor in rating ANY position, yet it still does. I hope this is the beginning of change, what do you think??

The Chris Paul Conundrum

Chris Paul is arguably one of the best Point Guards in the NBA, he's definitely Top Five hands down. Paul only has ONE more year left on his contract, that year being THIS year. What team wouldn't want a Top Five PG??

Last season we were able to see 3 ways that the whole "1 year left" can go, there are two examples that are at the forefront of my mind. Those being the Carmelo Anthony way, the Deron Williams way, or the Miami Heat way. The Hornets are at an extremely important crossroads; do you give in to Paul's demands and not get top talent in return(Melo) or do you jettison him off for what works best for your Franchise a la Utah Jazz & Deron Williams. Utah didn't give Williams a chance, they were proactive and sent D-Wil packing. Denver was stuck, they either accepted where Melo wanted to go and take what they could get or let him leave and get nothing in return.

What makes this even more interesting is Paul's alleged willingness or lack there of to re-sign should he be traded to a destination not of his liking. How would you feel if you were to make the trade for Paul knowing that he could just leave via Free Agency this summer, if you didn't have the type of talent that would entice him to stay...is it worth it?

There supposed Front Runners in the Chris Paul Sweepstakes are the Warriors, Clippers, and the Knicks. The Knicks having the upper-hand in my opinion seeing that they are his #1 choice and all they'd have to do is wait this season out. As for the Warriors, the Hornets would certainly want the young Stephen Curry. Would you be willing to part with him without the assurance that Paul would stay? If he did land in Golden State and left the season afterwards, you're set back even further with a hole at one of the most important spots on a basketball team. To add to this soap opera, Paul has said he'd like to play with Chandler again. He's never said getting Chandler would KEEP him in one place, just that he'd like to reunite with his former teammate. Chandler also wants to get PAID, deservingly so after anchoring the Dallas defense during their Title Run. Do you acquiesce to Pauls requests?

The Clippers are the rare team in all of this with a WEALTH of young talent to offer as well as good draft picks due to their poor track record. Will the Clippers get in their OWN way here and hold on to one of the pieces that the Hornets REQUIRE to make this deal happen? The reason I believe the Clippers have an upper-hand over the Warriors is simple: Blake Griffin. They have a bonafide Star (in the making) who happens to be a "Big." The Warriors current star is Monta Ellis and he's a guard, an undersized one at that.



Add to this mix are a few teams who are more than willing to "Rent Paul" for a season, this saga should  continue to intrigue us all. Will Paul be traded before the season, before the trade deadline, or not at all? Chime in with your thoughts below!!

Tebow, Denver Keep Rolling

The Denver Broncos are now atop the AFC West, this wasn't the case 7 games ago, since making Tim Tebow the Starting Quarterback they have gone 6-1. Of those 6, they've rattled off 5 consecutive wins, with four of the five games being on the road. That's impressive for any team, let alone a team with a new quarterback.

Much of the credit goes to the quarterback in this sport, win or lose. With that in mind, Tebow does indeed deserve credit not for what he has done but what he hasn't done. That is turn the ball over, Tebow obviously is not going to carve you up a la Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady, but he won't give the opposing defense a chance to put his team away either. Denver either scores or punts on offense, in most cases they punt until the figure out a way to score. They are able to do this due to a very stout defensive unit, Denver's D has been able to get opposing offenses off the field quickly if not force takeaways.




Rookie Outside Linebacker Von Miller has outperformed the rookie expectations put on him prior to the season. We all knew this kid had the talent to be a great pass rusher, what we didn't know is that he'd become one so quick! Miller has 10.5 sacks on the year, Elvis Dumerville on the other hand has 6.5. Dumerville is the vet, he's earned the right to be double teamed due to his reputation. Miller NEEDS to be double teamed, the kid is also 4th on the team in tackles so he's active outside of his pass rushing prowess.

Many would like to credit John Elway and John Fox for sticking with Tebow, I think that credit should go elsewhere. Specifically to Denver's Offensive Coordinator and Quarterback Coach, the reason being that they have BOUGHT into Tim Tebow. They accept him for what he is and what he does, they tailor the game plan to his strengths! That is what changed for the Broncos, those two men accepting their QB and making the scheme work. Eventually Tebow will get comfortable throwing the ball, but until then this reliance on the run game is nothing negative. Winning time of possession and the turnover battle can go along way for teams, especially teams with young, unproven QB's. I wouldn't want to deal with this Denver team in the playoffs, Tebow like Cam Newton is hard to game plan for because of their ability to buy time and extend plays. Tebow does have something Cam doesn't, a DOMINATING defense.

What do you think of Denver's recent success, legit or fools gold??

College Bball Roundtable- 1st Edition

Just a Loss or Cause for Concern

This weekend was an exceptionally exciting weekend in Mens College Basketball, what should have been routine games or "easy wins" for two Top 5 teams didn't go as planned. 4th Ranked Uconn and 1st Ranked UNC both fell into the loss column for the first time this year.

On Friday Uconn lost to Marcus Jordan and UCF in the Battle for Atlantis Tourney. Uconn was up by 17 in the 2nd half before being held scoreless for 7:35 while UCF rallied and then held on to win. UCF did this by switching to a zone, does that mean that the recepie for beating Uconn is to simply switch to a zone?? I don't believe so, Uconn doesn't get a pass for giving up a 17 point lead. They are better than that, should have been able to maintain their focus. This was also the first close game minus last year's "closer" aka Kemba Walker, fortunately for them it happened early in the year. A leader must step up on that team and I believe it will be Shabazz Napier, he rebounded from Friday's poor effort and led them to a victory over FSU on Saturday with some help from freshman Ryan Boatright.

My Take: Just a Loss         Yours??

Last night UNC took on UNLV in the championship game of the Las Vegas Invitational Tournament, I'm sure most of you don't even think this match up warranted watching. To those of you who missed this game, UNLV took it to the #1 Ranked Tarheels. Unlike the Uconn game, UNC's largest lead was 6 which meant they were never really "in control." On the other hand, UNLV went up by as many as 14 on the Tarheels. UNC got beat on the boards again and again by UNLV, I wish I could say I was surprised! Unfortunately, that's one of the things about Carolina that always worried me. I know that Zeller and Henson are tall rangy guys, but I they lack girth. It hurt against UNLV last night as they were routinely bullied for position on both the offensive and defensive glass. UNC perimeter defense got picked a part by drive and dish, they gave up many wide open threes. What may have worried me the MOST...their pick and roll defense is HORRENDOUS!! As athletic as UNC's bigs are, you would think they'd be able to defend the pick and roll pretty well since they are pretty mobile for their size. Instead, they got beat like a drum on EVERY pick and roll. It's only 1 game, this loss means nothing with it coming this early in the year. However, I do think UNLV provided the blueprint for beating the Tarheels. UNC is one of the deepest and most talented teams in the country, but defense wins championships and I really do think it's a cause for concern. Not to mention, All-World SF Harrison Barnes left the arena on crutches.

My Take: Cause for Concern        Yours??


I really want to know what you all think, just leave your comment below and I will respond to you all!!

Off into the SUNSET?? Joe Pa declares this season to be his last!!

I wish I could say I was surprised, in shock, or even flabbergasted. Unfortunately I'm NOT, how do you let someone walk away from such a mess. If this were any other coach in AMERICA, they would be ripped to shreds; instead everyone is acting like this is just an end to a wonderful coach's career. Please don't tell me you truly believe that THIS is the time to go, that prior to this horrible debacle Paterno had planned to leave this season....SERIOUSLY?? This is a horrible shame, where's the NCAA that is always in the middle of every minor recruiting violation and scandal?? THIS is actually something that they need to be a part of, instead they're hiding in the background. I even challenge members of the media, where are you all that were o so persistent during the Pay-for-Play scandal?? You all were the ones who somehow got access to Cam Newton's personal record (which is illegal by the way), why the silence now? It happens to all of us, just because a hero might fall doesn't mean you should be quiet. Hold them accountable, in this NEW era of "character counts," are you truly saying that Paterno showed exceptional character by walking away?? I can't even put into words what my thoughts are, so I will digress until next Tuesday at 7pm. TRUST, I will be ready for war!! What are your thoughts on Joe Pa and Penn St?? What should be done???

Worst Comparison EVER

I usually don't watch much ESPN, choosing to much rather read articles or watch the videos from team sites. (yes, i'm a nerd)

This morning however, I was awaken early and chose to turn on the TV and flip channels. I vaguely remembered stumbling upon ESPN and the analysts ( I don't remember as to who) saying that there haven't been a linebacker duo/combo like Willis and Bowman since Urlacher and Briggs. You could only imagine how offended I was. Not only as a 49ers fan, but as a football fan. There is no way possible you can compare a MLB/OLB duo with 2 MLB's. Not only does it not make any sense, but no disrespect to either Urlacher or Briggs but Willis and Bowman are a much better pair. They are also much faster and more versatile than the 2 Bears.

Take this year for instance: Briggs has 55 tackles, Urlacher has 41 tackles. Now lets look at the 49ers: Bowman with 76 tackles, Willis has 67 tackles. Please tell me how those numbers even REMOTELY resemble each other!!

Not only that, but why can't they (ESPN) just acknowledge the job that Bowman/Willis are doing and go from there. It's rare that a team gets 2 potentially great players at that position in a 3-4, it's a huge piece of the 49ers defense. Both players can run with any RB or TE in the league,  I'm not knocking the Briggs/Urlacher combo but we all know that BOTH of them aren't capable of doing so. Urlacher is one of the game's best MLB's without question, Briggs is an OLB and cannot do the things that Urlacher can. Urlacher will be a Hall of Famer, can't say the same for Briggs. Briggs complements Urlacher, he's not from the same mold. He is limited athletically, that is where my point is. Bowman isn't limited athletically to do the things that Willis can do. If you were to watch them play, it almost appears to be 2 #52's on the field for the 49ers. They move so much alike, that you don't know who made the play until they stand up after the play is over. I am not saying that Bowman is a sure-fire Hall of Famer like I believe Willis is, I'm simply saying his level of play isn't that far behind a Hall of Fame player. Bowman gives the 49ers 2 players of the same mold at MLB, once again I'm not bashing the Bears LB combo....Just saying that this comparison wasn't warranted and was far from accurate!!

Battle of I-95- DC vs Philly Highlights

DC vs Philly Battle of I-95 Interviews

Lockout Podcast w/ Guest Mike S.

"Crowned" Too Early? I think so!

Let me first start off by saying in no way am I writing any of these kids off, so try to keep your emotions in check as I explain my position.

There are 3 quarterbacks on 3 good teams; all 3 of which were crowned "elite" or close too it much too early if you ask me. Those 3 are Mark Sanchez, Matt Ryan, and Joe Flacco. We'll start with Mr. Sanchez.

Mark Sanchez

• Rookie Year- QB Rating 63.0, 12 TD's, 20 INT's, 8 Fumbles, 53.8 Comp%, 6.71 yds per pass attempt in 15 games
• 2010- QB Rating 75.3,  17 TD's, 13 INT's, 5 Fumbles, 54.8 Comp%, 6.49 yds per pass attempt in 16 games
• THIS Season- QB Rating 75.9, 6TD's, 5 INT's, 3 Fumbles, 55.1 Comp%, 6.84 yds per pass attempt thru 4 games
• Career-QB Rating 71.0,  35 TD's, 38 INT's, 16 Fumbles, 54.5 Comp%,  6.62 yds per pass attempt thru 35 games

My Take: Sanchez is what stands between the Jets and a Super Bowl, they have provided him with the proper weapons in RB's Shonn Greene and LT. Santonio Holmes, Plaxico Burress, Derek Mason, and Dustin Keller in the passing game. They have a top 10 defense, the weapons I just named, so you TELL me what's missing? Yup you guessed it, solid QB play!

Matt Ryan

• Rookie Year- QB Rating 87.7, 16 TD's, 11 INT's, 2 Fumbles, 61.1 Comp%,  7.93 yds per pass attempt in 16 games
• 2009- QB Rating 80.9, 22 TD's, 14 INT's, 5 Fumbles, 58.3 Comp%, 6.47 yds per pass attempt thru 14 games
• 2010-QB Rating 91.0, 28 TD's, 9 INT's, 3 Fumbles, 62.5 Comp%, 6.49 yds per pass attempt thru 16 games
• THIS Season- QB Rating 84.8, 6 TD's, 4 INT's, 3 Fumbles, 62.2 Comp%, 6.92 yds per pass attempt thru 4 games
• Career- QB Rating 86.7, 72 TD's, 38 INT's, 13 Fumbles, 60.9 Comp%, 6.91 yds per pass attempt thru 50 games

My Take: Ryan is a textbook pocket passer, specifically your play action type passer. Doesn't seem as comfortable under the gun spreading it out only because he doesn't have that typical "gun-slinger" mentality. Extremely intelligent QB, seems to want a "perfect" window before letting the ball go which has led him to some struggles. Gaudy numbers hide this very well, but he is equipped with a great RB in Michael Turner and a Hall of Fame TE in Tony Gonzales. Now has two #1 type wide outs in Roddy White and Rookie Julio Jones. Has more pressure on him than the other two because of an unreliable defense, but he does possess top notch talent at the skill positions!! An ELITE QB could make it work, right?

Joe Flacco

• Rookie Year- QB Rating 80.3, 14 TD's, 12 INT's, 6 Fumbles, 60.0 Comp%, 6.94 yds per pass attempt in 16 games
• 2009- QB Rating 88.9, 21 TD's, 12 INT's, 6 Fumbles, 63.1 Comp%, 7.24 yds per pass attempt thru 16 games
• 2010- QB Rating 93.6, 25 TD's, 10 INT's, 7 Fumbles, 62.6 Comp%, 7.41 yds per pass attempt in 16 games
• THIS Season-QB Rating 79.9, 7 TD's, INT's, 3 Fumbles, 49.3 Comp%, 6.95 yds per pass attempt thru 4 games
• Career- QB Rating 87.2, 67 TD's, 37 INT's, 22 Fumbles, 60.9 Comp%, 7.18 yds per pass attempt thru 52 games

My Take: Flacco goes down field more than the other 2 QB's even though he's hasn't always been provided with the necessary tools to do so. The Ravens just drafted a WR to stretch the field in Torrey Smith, traded for Lee Evans, to complement their #1 WR in Anquan Boldin. Flacco is joined in the backfield by a great RB in Ray Rice and has the luxury of Ray Lewis and crew on defense. Like Sanchez, Flacco is the key if Baltimore hopes to win another championship. Flacco is taller and more athletic than Sanchez and Ryan. He also has the strongest arm of the bunch, unlike Ryan he is much more comfortable putting the ball in the air and letting his WR go up and make the play on the ball. Flacco's comp% has really suffered this year, it's almost as if he's regressed even though alot of it has to do with him getting used to his new weapons. It's still not an excuse if he was indeed an ELITE QB, in the same token he has more weapons than Dilfer did when Dilfer won it!

Conclusion: All 3 of these QB's have what it takes, the question is WHEN it all comes together for these kids. I wish all 3 of these young QB's the best, I just don't agree with those claiming that ANY of these kids are in that ELITE class of QB's. If I had to pick which of the 3 were to make the jump from decent QB to "ELITE" QB the soonest I would have to choose Flacco. The only reason being that he already throws a great deep ball, he's mobile, and seems a tad bit more unflappable than the other two. Of the 3, who do YOU think will make the jump to the "Elite" class of QB??

Where did Cam Newton's detractors go??

It wasn't very long ago that Mr. Cam Newton was just considered an "athlete" that played the position of quarterback. The "hate" started in Week 3 of his Junior season at Auburn University, it grew and grew every week even leading into the NFL Draft. Cam led the nation in completion percentage that year and led Auburn to a National Championship with the help of standout DT Nick Fairley. Newton also brought home the coveted Heisman Trophy. I know there was the issue of the alleged "pay for play" scheme, but I am speaking strictly about on field issues. Newton chose to throw at the combine, didn't have a great showing and everyone jumped on him. He did a little better at his pro-day, but to his detractors that wasn't nearly enough. He was being compared to Jamarcus Russell, even though that comparison was a reach not to mention just blatantly disrespectful. Russell won a Championship on the play of a STRONG LSU defense and really only "performed" in one game. Cam took a team nobody CARED about, made them relevant, kept them undefeated, and delivered Auburn a National Championship. How could one have the GALL to make that comparison. I knew Cam had "it" around week 3, I continued to watch him EVERY week to make sure I wasn't falling into that horrible trap of catching him during a "hot" game. He reassured my decision to back him during that comeback against Alabama. I knew then, that Cam was that "leader" that few teams have the pleasure of drafting. One of the other reasons that I though Cam would be successful was his arm, he has an extremely strong arm. I did a little research prior to the draft, Cam was also very well PREPARED going into every game. He's the football equivalent to a "gym rat," he's always around the game. Those type of things are only said about "Elite" QB's, yet almost everyone was saying that he was SURE to fall flat on his face and would have to be "brought along slowly." I can respect some one's decision to be against something, as long as they themselves took the time to  decide that they don't like something. Not to just jump on the coattails of another whom they might respect, find out for yourself and make a decision. Lastly STICK TO IT, if you won't apologize or admit when you are wrong. Fast forward to now, we're heading into the 3rd week of the NFL Season. Cam Newton has thrown for 854 yards, 3 TDs, and 4 INTs. Obviously the 4 INTs aren't a positive, but what is extremely impressive is the lack of balance he has on offense. The play-calling in Carolina is not one that you typically see when a team has a rookie QB, they are throwing as if he's been here for some time. The lack of balance on offense only makes it difficult for a rookie, instead Cam has THRIVED in this situation. What's MORE is that all of the naysayers are NOWHERE to be found. I mean there were many that vehemently declared that Cam was not NFL ready. WHERE ARE YOU, give the kid a chance and wait before you judge. I just felt like sharing that with you all, what were your impressions of Cam going INTO THE DRAFT and what are they of him now AFTER THE FIRST 2 WEEKS??

Willie's Rant: The "Hustle" that is the NCAA

The NCAA has 4 letters in it's name, it reminds me of another word though. Could you help me out, this word also has 4 letters and starts and ends with the letter P. The word I was searching for in this case, pimp. Plain and simple, one could see the similarities between the two right? Both are businesses that exploit the services of others for their own gain, I won't go into any more detail for fear of getting too far off track. I personally don't see anything wrong with all the Conference re-alignments if there were a good, decent, logical reason for doing so. The problem being, money is none of those reasons I just mentioned. It defies reason, with some of the schools being added to Conferences that are geographically polar opposites. The ACC shouldn't have ANY schools in New York, the ATLANTIC Coast Conference. Not the East Coast Conference, they aren't the only ones. That's just the example that is most fresh on my mind, secondly how does EVERYONE involved NOT playing the actual GAME get paid?? Those saying a free education is more than enough, would definitely not be saying that if THEY were the actual athletes. It makes no sense, that merchandise is being sold because of the PLAYER. It's not the name on the front, but the name on the back and the "player" that where's that specific # that makes it a commodity. Every school that is a household name started somewhere, it starts from winning. Winning starts from great recruiting, you're not recruiting boosters, you're recruiting the players. I don't care which end you start from, the foundation of ALL this are the kids that PLAY the actual GAME. It utterly disgusts me to watch these people, this "organization" continue to THRIVE off these kids. 4 years of an education at a "prestigious" university does mean something, I am by no means knocking that. There is still something wrong with a school getting paid for Bowl Games or National Championships when the PLAYERS get NOTHING. It just doesn't sit right with me, you're making millions for a service that YOU don't actually perform. Maybe I'm crazy though, maybe it's only RIGHT that you give a kid "an education" and make millions off them in return. What DO YOU THINK??

Really Teddy Bruschi??

Dear Teddy, Who knew that all it would take was getting in front of a camera to forget where YOU came from? YOU were a product of Bill Bellichick, he found you and put you in a position to where you COULDN'T FAIL. That didn't happen in year 1, it took time Teddy. That being said, how dare YOU criticize someone experiencing the New England culture for the first time? You haven't been in Chad's shoes, you weren't a Pro-Bowl caliber linebacker for years before you went to BB. You have no idea what Chad's going through, I think your former teammate Rodney Harrison was being kind by having your back. If people remember correctly he was seen as a villain, far worse as a teammate than Chad was and he didn't just "FIT" right in to the New England way of life. You haven't had that type of success that Chad has had without BB, secondly you above all people should know that if BB wants you in NE it's for a reason. We all know you're not questioning the guy that MADE you, are you? Chad will be fine, he hasn't been found "dogging" it on routes via Randy Moss. It's just a lot going on, he came in NE from the polar opposite in Cincinnati. Winning is not a word he is used to, nor is he used to that type of offensive precision to which he is trying to integrate himself to. Give him some time before you attack him, if BB had a problem with Chad tweeting and truly saw it as a "distraction" than Chad wouldn't be tweeting. BB plays chess, not checkers Teddy so be patient. Not to mention after almost every series, Tom and Chad are talking which means that there chemistry will only get better. If they weren't speaking and Tom was completely ignoring Chad, than I wouldn't have any issue with your position. If I remember correctly, that 50 TD year Tom had with Randy wasn't in year 1 was it? What do you guys think, is Teddy right or wrong??

Enosch Wolf Interview

Enosch Wolf member of the Reigning National Champion Uconn Huskies was generous enough to take the time out of his schedule to answer some of questions for My Mind on Sports!! If you're on twitter make sure you follow Enosch at @E_Wolf_1

WT: Was basketball your first love in terms of sports, or something that grew on you?

EW: I grew up with basketball, both of my parents played professional basketball in the first league in Germany! The first word I was able to say was "ball", i grew up in the gym due to the fact that my parents had practice everyday and I had to go with them.


WT: What was the transition like for you from home to being at Uconn?

EW: It wasn't too hard for me, I always wanted to live in the US and I definitely like the American way of life. I have to admit that I have problems with the food, and that will probably never change, I just love the European and especially German cuisine to much. But as far as living completely on my own out here, everything was good. the game is different out here, more focused on 1on1, athleticism and speed than a more tactical, smarter game in Europe. but I think this gives me advantages other guys don't have.

WT: How did it feel to be on a National Championship Team last year?

EW: It felt great, of course I would have loved to have played more and be a active part of the team on the court, but I wasn't there yet so i did the best I could to help my team off the court, in practice, during games. It was the greatest experience I made I my whole life!

WT: Now that Uconn is loaded with Bigs after the addition of Drummond, what kind of impact will the Bigs have on this year's team compared to last?

EW: I think our main focus on our scoring is going to change, last year we obviously had Kemba and the main scoring happened in our back court. this year the scoring is going to be more balanced, what, in my opinion, makes us even better and more versatile.

WT: How will Enosch Wolf impact Uconn basketball this year?

EW: I will play my role as good as I can and give, not only UConn basketball, but UConnation the best I can!

WT: What are your expectations for Uconn basketball this season?

EW: I'm not a big fan of saying that we are going to repeat or anything, but we definitely have a shot on doing it again. All it takes now is hard work and dedication from our side to make it happen!

WT: I asked Alex during our interview, but who has the most bounce on the team?

EW: He probably answered that with "himself" haha but I'll give that to Ryan Boatright, 41" vertical as i believe. But now with Andre joining the team, I don't know! We have a lot of good jumpers on the team, but Ryan and Andre are probably the most impressive!

WT: Lastly, what do you think of the polls disrespecting Uconn by not having them in the preseason top 10?

EW: I love it! it is way easier to just do your thing when people don't put huge expectations on you. I'm perfectly fine with them doubting us, they did the same thing last year and we all know how we finished the season.

My Mind On....USA Men's Soccer

So it's been 3 games under Mr. Klinsman, it's very hard to make a judgement after such a short period. I just want to share what I've seen and some of the things that can easily be fixed. The first thing I like about Klinsman is that the players seem a little more at ease in terms of being creative. One of my biggest pet peeves was that the US never tried to atttack a player 1v1, never saw an attacking player on the US GO AT the opposing defense. My biggest issue thus far, the FORMATION!!! For the type of talent that is now in the player pool, this formation is hindering the offense. Switching to a 4-4-2 would boost the attack and keep the field balance at all times. In all 3 games the US was vulnerable to counter attacks, not by a slim margin either. Every opponent was able to easily thwart the United State's attack and take advantage numbers wise on the counter attack. In the 4-5-1, the midfielders get sucked too far forward when attacking and the defense is at the opposing teams mercy. As I have mentioned before, talent is not the issue here. The influx of young talent has been apparent thru these 3 games, Torres looks to be the type of center attacking midfielder(distributor) the US has always lacked. Edu looks to be a very gifted 2 way player in the middle of the field, the only thing different between his club role and national team role is his freedom. In club play he is given more freedom to attack and force pressure on the defense, for the national team he has been reduced to being the holding midfielder pretty much playing the role of an added defender. Agudelo has great energy and is truly a force in the box, he also has that ability to win 1v1 battles. Shea is another one of the kids I'm a fan of, I see him being a good wing player until he gains enough wait to do damage in the box. I don't think some of the last regime's players fit this regime though. It was only one game, but Dempsey looked significantly better than Donavan in this scheme. Dempsey is much more comfortable on the ball and creating chances for his teammates. One of the things that I think would give the US the type of offense that could contend with some of better countries in the world, pairing Agudelo with Altidore. We have yet to see them in the game together let alone up top together, i think of the attention the demand when being the lone striker up top and it boggles my mind as to why they aren't paired together. Think of the damage the could cause up front as a pair, but maybe Klinsman is just waiting to make that happen. Once again, it's only 3 game there are many more games before we can pass a fair judgement on the Klinsman regime. Thanks for reading some of my thoughts, make sure you give me your feedback!!

Do the Saints MISS Reggie Bush???

The NFL season got off to a GREAT start last night in the Packers-Saints game, the Packers held on to win. Let me tell you what jumped out at me about the Saints offense. They MISS Reggie Bush, I understand that D.Sproles had a good game and does some of the same things. Sproles really helped in the return game, by NO WAY am I knocking Sproles. All I'm saying is that the biggest threat in the Saints offense WAS Reggie Bush. The THREAT of him being on the field aided the Saints offense, he was a MATCHUP NIGHTMARE. When a defense looks at the Saints now in terms of match-ups, it's EASIER to defend them in the short field. Last year when the Saints were in the Red Zone, they'd have P.Thomas and R.Bush in the backfield which caused trouble for the opposing defense. One of the best plays the Saints ran was the fake to Bush and give to Thomas up the middle, the reason being you had to ACCOUNT for Bush. Or how much more open the WR used to be when Bush lined up in the backfield for period let alone play action. I know some of you reading this are going to tell me I'm crazy, but you tell me who scares you more matchup wise...D.Sproles or R.Bush?? Think about it for a little bit, in that same situation last year the Saints would have thrown that swing pass to Reggie and it would have been a foot race...I'm just saying!! Tell me what you think, whether you agree or not I'd like your feedback!!

Credible Chris 8/30/11

Drummond Changes Mind, Joins Reigning Champs

The Uconn Huskies just won a National Title, they lost their all-world PG in Kemba Walker. The core remains the same as they were a very young team last year, they only had 2 incoming freshman until TODAY! Andre Drummond shocked the world almost a week removed from saying that he would attend prep school this school year, he announced today on twitter that he would be joining the Uconn Huskies! Drummond is or rather was ranked as the 2nd best player in the nation for 2012, he was also rated as the best center. Earlier this week Uconn missed out on 2012 guard Kris Dunn who decided to commit to play for Providence. Dunn and Drummond were going to be teammates this year prior to Drummond's shocking decision! Due to sanctions from last year, Uconn doesn't have any scholarships available for Drummond this season. Since he decided to commit to Uconn, it is assumed that he will pay his way this year. If he were to stay more than a season, I'm sure Uconn would have a scholarship free for him next year! Drummond is considered my many a one and done case, I am extremely skeptical of this because there hasn't been any of those at Uconn. This now gives Uconn a 3-man recruiting class for 2011, the other 2 members aren't exactly chopped liver so to speak. PG Ryan Boatright out of Illinois, is an extremely athletic, cat quick guard who can really score the ball. Boatright is a little small though, measuring out at 5'11. Boatright had point totals of 63, 55, and 47 last year. ESPN graded Boatright at a 94. Uconn is known for grooming wings, they landed a sleeper in Deandre Daniels. Daniels is the prototypical Uconn SF, which means he's athletic and can put the ball in the basket. Daniels reclassified(like Drummond) to land in the Huskies 2011 recruiting class, he wasn't expected to land at Uconn at all. He's a great rebounder, and an extremely versatile scorer not to mention he has the ability to play the 2 thru 4. Daniels graded out as a 95 on ESPN's scale. Now, for Drummond...he's 6'11, 275! He isn't your typical big as he has been blessed with unique athleticism, Amare/Dwight type athlete. There is nothing the kid can't do physically as most scouts agree that it's his mental make-up that needs work. When I became aware of this the first thought that came to mind is how Calhoun could impact him. Drummond will be pushed to reach his potential by a Hall of Fame Coach who is known for getting the most out of his kids. Uconn has taken a lot of flack for not having any so called "bigs," Alex Oriahki should now be able to slide down to his natural position at the 4 which will only enhance Uconn's interior D. To any doubters, just remember that Calhoun led a Junior, a sophmore and 6 freshman to a national title and an undefeated record in tournaments last year! Uconn is right outside the top 10 in this year's pre-season poll at no. 11, do you think the acquisition of Drummond will help them rise or will they remain on the outside looking in as the reigning National Champs??

P.S- Drummond is rated a 98 according to ESPN's Grading System

Michael Carter Williams(Syracuse) Interveiw

Antoine Watson Interview

Alex Oriahki Interview

Kris Joseph Interview

Thoughts from Last night's Pre-Season Games

Just wanted to share some of the things that were going through my mind while flipping through the pre-season games. The Redskins 1st team D looked good, it was only a small sample against the 1st team Pitt Offense but still. The Skins D-Line looked and played much FASTER than it did last year. Looks like lil Shanahan wasn't too far off about the whole McNabb thing, his offense looked just fine last night with Grossman(can't believe i'm saying that). In the Falcon's game, wasn't much to say except that Matt Ryan is happy with his new toy in Julio Jones. Julio(Baby T.O. as I've called him since HS) showed his big play ability by flashing his YAC ability. Falcon's new guy in the slot Harry Douglas looked good in that spot as well. Tampa Bay looked GREAT last night, Josh Freeman looks like he's ready to breakout on the "National" level this year, the kid has played well thus far in his career but it's been underneath the radar. Freeman and his back up Josh Johnson looked sharp last night and Tampa's D pitched a shutout, keep ya eyes on Tampa's new LB Mason Foster! In the Saints-49ers(my team) game you got to see what continuity and the polar opposite looked like. The Saints were aggressive in attacking the 49ers and their new offense, the Saints were hitting the QB's early and often. What is surprising is outside of the sacks, both A.Smith and D.Brees had very similar QB ratings. Both 1st team defenses did their jobs! The 49ers offense is just THAT FAR BEHIND, their D looked good even as the night went on. Aldon Smith(7th overall pick) looked very good rushing the passer from his OLB spot. Saints backup QB Chase Daniels looked good last night, Mark Ingram's debut did a good job as well! Look forward to more Pre-season action tonight!

Andre Drummond's Decision

Andre Drummond, the best high school basketball player in the nation, has decided to stay in the class of 2012 and move on from his original school, St. Thomas More. Drummond is listing a top five of UConn, Kentucky, Georgetown, West Virginia, and Louisville. Unless the CBA changes the rule, it looks like Drummond will never enroll at a college. It's a sad day for UConn Husky faithful

Mike Bradley Interview

Class of 2012 Overview

Big Men

        Leading all big men in my rankings is extremely athletic center from Connecticut, Andre Drummond at number one overall in all of the rankings. Andre has a lot of speculation surrounding him, whether he will decide to stay in high school for a prep year for the 2011-12 season, whether he will go over seas, or whether he will go to college. Recently, a source close to the men's basketball program at UConn said "your guess is as good as mine" (told zagsblog.com) as to where Drummond will be next season. Drummond is expected to announce his decision soon.
        Sitting at number three overall in my rankings, energetic power forward Mitch McGary , is a beast in the paint. Mitch is definitely a name to remember as he will be a force at the next two levels as he is a potential lottery pick after college. (that is if he goes). Mitch will be taking a prep year at Brewster Academy next year, making him eligible for the 2012 NBA Draft as well. He will likely go to college.
        At number four overall in my rankings, seven footer Isaac Austin will make a huge noise in the Big 12 in two seasons from now for the Baylor Bears. The goggles Isaac where's makes him even more intimidating. Attending Grace Prep Academy in Texas, Austin should keep on dominating in to the next level and be a lottery pick in the League. Baylor fans should be excited.
        Right behind Austin in my rankings is a guy who looks like he could be a beast at football as well. Weighing in at 270 pounds, DaJuan Coleman's body is more than ready for the next level. DaJuan plays AAU ball for Albany City Rocks and he should be playing for Albany City Boulders! From the area, DaJuan is considered a Syracuse lean. DaJuan could be a huge addition to the Big East's paint night in and night out.
        Coming in at the seventh spot in my rankings is raw power forward Brandon Ashley. Brandon is considered the best power forward in the class of 2012 by some, as he uses his raw skills and talent together phenomenally. Brash recently cut his list to six schools: Arizona, Oregon, UCLA, Kentucky, Georgia Tech, and Texas. In particular, Arizona and Oregon should be the most excited as they seem to have the best shot with his talents.
         Possibly the truest center in the class, Kaleb Tarczewski is at number 11 overall in my rankings. To be honest, I spell his last name perfectly as I was a big fan of his when UConn was really in the running for him. Now Kaleb has a final four of Kansas, Arizona, UNC, and Kentucky. Expect the seven footer to decide real soon.
        Right behind the big man Kaleb is another big man from Fort Bend, Texas. Cameron Ridley, another true center, has a chance to dominate the post in the Big 12, as he is Texas Longhorn bound. The Longhorn faithful should be excited as they'll have a tree to their own in their house.
         At number 14 in my rankings, William "Shaq" Goodwin is a football player- literally. The reason why the big man is listing UCLA, Memphis, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida is because the beast of a big man knows he can play football on their turf as well. Shaq wants to play basketball and football at whatever lucky school he chooses.
         Canadian Anthony Bennett isn't just a power forward, he is an attention grabber. Anthony's stock has blown up in the past few months and college coaches from all over the country have been spotted watching him destroy his opponents. Anthony Bennett has the most interest from the likings of UConn, Florida, Missouri, Marquette, Ohio St, Kentucky, and Washington.
          In Wichita, Kansas lives a star in Perry Ellis. Perry has is on a lot of college coaches radars. He was watched by so many coaches during his AAU season. Perry is a special player. He lists Kansas, Kansas St, Wichita St, Kentucky, and Duke.
           Robert Carter is a BIG MAN. Weighing 245 pounds, he also has interest in football. Robert uses his body well in the post making him a center with lots of potential as he is often compared to Glen "Big Baby" Davis. Robert has interest from Kentucky, Florida, Florida St and more.

Small Forwards and Guards


            Arguably the best player in the class, Shabazz Muhammad is without a doubt the best guard in the class. The lefty uses his quickness and athleticism so well together. He is a great finisher and is a future NBA star. He has likings from schools like Kansas, Kentucky, UCLA, Arizona, and UNLV.
             Next is a true point forward from New Jersey. Kyle Anderson plays with prestigious St. Anthony's High School in Jersey City. The star helped give legendary coach Bob Hurley another National Championship. Some schools are recruiting him like a point guard. He has a final five of Rutgers, Seton Hall, St. John's, UCLA, and Georgetown. He is expected to decide on September 20th.
             Rodney Purvis is arguably the best scorer in the class of 2012. The former Louisville commit gets to the rim with ease and destroys defenders. He can play point guard as well as shooting guard and a wing guy. Duke has dropped out of the race for him. He now is listing Missouri, and NC St, with interest from Louisville, Kentucky, UConn, and more.
             Playing for a decent but not loaded, Arkansas Wings AAU team, Archie Goodwin is clearly the leader and will definitely be a leader in college. Archie recently dislocated his wrist but is back and playing like nothing ever happened. Archie is currently listing Arkansas, Kentucky, UConn, Missouri, Kansas and more.
               From Providence, Rhode Island, Ricardo Ledo is a very lanky shooting guard/small forward. Ricardo has grown a lot over the pass few years making him a very valuable player. Ricardo will be playing for the Puerto Rican national team this summer as well. He has a top four of UConn, Providence, Kentucky, and Syracuse. He plans to visit them all before school starts.
               Gary Harris, another player that has college interest in football, can be the best guard in the class. A wide receiver in football, Gary uses his length well in basketball as well. With Michigan St, and Purdue on top, Louisville, Indiana, and Notre Dame finish out his top five. He'll most likely be playing in the BIG-10.
                Combo forward Alex Poythress is a great player. Alex raised his stock once again this July and his stock will likely keep raising. He says he wants to play small forward for the majority in the college but he's valuable because he can play well in the paint too. Poythress was very excited when he recently received an offer from Duke. He's also listing Tennesse, Vanderbilt, UConn, Texas, Kentucky and more. He's expected to cut his list soon.
                 Jarnell Stokes' game is very similar to Alex's. Jarnell is from Memphis, Tennessee and he is often called the "King of Memphis". He decided to leave Memphis and play for prestigious Oak Hill Academy in Virginia for his senior season. Jarnell has a top five of Memphis, Arkansas, Tennessee, UConn and Florida.
         
              

Sio Moore Interview

Chris Clayton-Podcast 7/19/11

Alan Stein Interview

Alan's First visit with My Mind on Sports!!

Chris Clayton's First Visit on My Mind on Sports

BREAKING NBA NEWS!!

Just remember you heard it here 1st!!!

Mr. 3,000

Today, history was made as Derek Jeter aka Mr. Yankee got his 3,000th hit! Not only did he get hit number 3 thousand, he added 3 more on top of that. Jeter entered the game just 2 shy of the record, he went 5 for 5 in today's game against the Rays and had what wound up being the game winning single. I would say I was shocked, but this is just "classic" Jeter. Everything the man does is with great presence and timing. The best part of it may have been that the Yankees won, often when players are on the doorstep of breaking records their team struggles. The Yankees had been in a midst of a slide, Jeter hasn't exactly been an offensive spark himself this season. I believe he came into this game batting just .262 and his backup Edurado Nunez has more home-runs than him in much less playing time. I remember this past offseason I had written a piece on the subject of whether Jeter was worth keeping or not due to his declining play, well that was answered today. I'm not as impressed by the record as I am about him going 5-5 and carrying the load on offense in a division game. Jeter led the Yankees to a 5-4 win over the Rays, David Price surrendered the historic hit. That's what Jeter means to me, Jeter=winning so Charlie Sheen was a little off. It was only fitting that Jeter accomplished this feat in New York, as not only a Yankees fan, but a sports fan in general...you couldn't have asked for more! If there is one thing this guy does, it's win!! I'd like to congratulate Mr. Jeter on yet another milestone in his prolific career, we all Cooperstown is waiting for him!!

2012 11-20 rankings

Here's rankings 11-20

11. C- Kaleb Tarczewski 7'0 (Claremont, New Hampshire)


Kaleb is one of the truest center in the top 20 rankings. He has great size and length. He finishes strongly and has good post moves. He has a good hook shot with high release. He's a solid offensive rebounder and is good at boxing out. Kaleb has a bit of a temper that could affect his game. He should become a little more independent as he usually is more productive with a solid point guard at hand. His favorite three schools are North Carolina, Kansas, and Arizona. He is also considering UConn, Boston College, Kentucky, and a few other schools.

12. C- Cameron Ridley 6'10 (Fort Bend, Texas)


Cameron, another true center, is in very good shape so he runs the floor well. He improves at a steady rate and he is a good rebounder at the offensive end. He has good post moves and is very energetic. Cameron always plays hard. He needs to stay in shape, because his game is based around his energy and quickness. Cameron is headed to Texas to play basketball.

13. SG- Gary Harris 6'4 (Indianapolis, Indiana)


Gary has a lot of strength for a guard. He's a slasher and finishes strongly at the rim; many and one finishes. He is a tough defender and is quick to steal passes often. He could work on his jumper as it is just decent. He's a bit streaky. He is being recruited for football as well. His favorite five right now is Purdue, Notre Dame, Louisville, Michigan St, and Indiana.

14. PF- Shaq Goodwin 6'8 (Decatur, Georgia)


Shaq is a physical player. He can play a bevy of positions. He's one of the more versatile players in the class. He can put the ball on the floor and take it to the rim. He's active on the glass on both ends but he's outstanding on the offensive side. Shaq can play more consistent and should talk a bit more when he's on the floor and become a leader. His top five schools are UCLA, Florida, Georgia, Memphis, and Alabama.

15. PF- Anthony Bennett 6'9 (Brampton, Ontario, Canada)


Anthony Bennett has really blown up in the past few months. Dropping more than 50 spots in some rankings, his stock has really risen for the next level. His power/finesse combination really makes him a tough match-up for his defender. His stock should only keep rising because of who he will be practicing against in the winter at prestigious Findlay Prep in Nevada. He needs to learn a few more post moves as well. He's hearing from a plethora of schools, UConn, Cincinnati, West Virigina, Pittsburgh, Ohio St, Arizona, UNLV, Washington, Washington St, Oregon, Oregon St, Florida, Florida St, and he was recently called by North Carolina.

16. PF- Perry Ellis 6'8 (Wichita, Kansas)


Perry plays hard, strong, and with passion. He runs the floor very well. He is great facing up and has great mid range game. He has a good jump shot. He also handles the ball well for his size. He has troubles scoring on the perimeter and needs the ball in his hands often. He needs to work on some low post moves. Schools interested in him are, Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, Kansas St, Wichita St, Memphis, Oklahoma, and Minnesota.

17. PF- Robert Carter 6'8 (Thomasville, Georgia)


The wide big man has an advantage in the paint. He's strong and uses his wideness to get position on defenders and also to box them out. He also being recruited for football. He should stay away from playing with finesse as that is really not his style. He needs to get in better shape and run the floor more. Robert's college list consists of, Florida, Florida St, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Ohio St, Kentucky, and Virginia Tech.

18. SF/PF- Alex Poythress 6'8 (Clarksville, Tennessee)


Alex is a combo forward with great quickness. He runs the floor well and he is solid in the paint for his size. He's a good ball handler with great leadership skills. To become a better big forward, he needs to develop a better inside presence and low post moves. He also needs to continue to add some strength. He is being recruited by, Tennessee, Memphis, Vanderbilt, UConn, Duke, West Virginia, Florida, Arkansas, Kentucky, and a few more schools. He plans to cut his list soon.

19. SF/PF Jarnell Stokes 6'8 (Memphis, Tennesse)

Jarnell isin great condition. He finishes well, even when drawing contact. He drives the lane strong and he scores easily around the basket. Stokes has good strength, and he knows how to use it. He needs to work to create matchup problems. Jarnell should work on his jumper a little more. His six favorite schools are, Arkansas, Tennesse, Memphis, UConn, Kentucky, and Florida.

20. PF- Grant Jerrett 6'9 (La Verne, California)

The Arizona bound power forward uses his length very well. Grant is arguably the best rebounder in the class of 2012. Hee runs the floor well and is very strong. He can shoot the three pointer well. He is a matchup nightmare. He needs to finish when he draws contact more often and needs a better presence on the defensive end of the floor.

My top 10 for the class of 2012

Here's my top 10 highshool basketball prospects for the class of 2012.

1. C- Andre Drummond 6'11 (Middleton, Connecticut)

Andre is definitely the most athletic player in the class of 2012. Many experts question his inconsistency but he has many assets to make him be at the peak. He runs the floor well and is a great defender. He's solid when he's facing up or has his back to the basket. He has great shot blocking ability as well. He is eligible for the 2012 NBA draft and may not go to college. He has many schools on him like UConn, Georgetown, Louisville, Pitt, Kentucky, Duke, and UNC.

2. SG- Shabazz Muhammed 6'6 (Las Vegas, Nevada)

Shabazz is the top shooting guard in the class of 2012 for many reasons. The lefty attacks the rim very strongly. He has a very reliable jump shot as well. He is a great scorer especially by the rim. His body is NBA ready and he is a future NBA lottery pick. He needs to work on a consistent three point shot. He also makes not smart mistakes on the defensive end. He's got a great list of schools, UCLA, UNLV, Kentucky, Duke, Arizona, Kansas and others.

3. PF- Mitch McGary 6'10 (Chesterton, Indiana)


Mitch is the top power forward in the class. McGary's best asset is running the floor. Mitch plays with such great intensity and often has the most heart on the floor. He has excellent strength and draws many fouls in the paint. He can stretch the defense and has a smooth southpaw jumper. He needs to improve his right hand and needs to work on his back to basket game. He can also improve on his basketball I.Q. He is pretty open in his recruitment and has many schools after him. Maryland, UConn, Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, Texas, West Virginia, Florida and a bunch more of schools are on him.

4. C- Isaiah Austin 7'0 (Mansfield, Texas)


Isaiah is the nephew of ex-NBA player Isaac Austin. His size is definitely his best asset. He has great skill making his footwork very good. Isaiah has solid ball handling skills for his size and he can take and make the three. Isaiah's a great rebounder. He's a great shot blocker as well. He needs to add some strength and add some back to the basket moves. He also needs to be more consistent. He is Baylor bound.

5. C- DaJuan Coleman 6'10 (DeWitt, New York)


DaJuan is a beast in the paint. He gets up and down the floor well for his size of 280 lbs. He has awesome strength and scores well with his back to the basket. He scores well in the lane also. He can finish with both hands equally and draws fouls. He is a great rebounder. He needs to get into a little better shape and work on his defensive positioning. He has two favorites in the recruiting scene with Syracuse and Kentucky. Those schools are followed by UConn, Louisville, West Virginia, North Carolina and Ohio State.

6. PG/SG/SF- Kyle Anderson 6'8 (Fairview, New Jersey)


Kyle doesn't know what position he wants to play at the next level. He is a point forward, so he has fantastic ball handling skills for his size. He has solid range for his shooting. He has great court vision with a good passing asset. He also posts up smaller defenders and shoots over them. He is a good weapon on the perimeter. Kyle struggles with speed and quickness. He needs to add strength and play harder. His current list is Seton Hall, St. John's, Georgetown, UCLA, and Florida.

7. PF- Brandon Ashley 6'9 (Oakland, California)


Brandon has great length. His very athletic with quickness, and good hops. He loves to use the spin move. He has great college/pro potential because of his ability at the small forward/power forward/ center positions. He needs to add more strength and needs to play more physical. He says the two schools in best shape with him are Arizona and Oregon. Other schools that are recruiting him are UCLA, Kansas, Kentucky,Wake Forest, Ohio State, UConn, Texas and the rest of the PAC-12.

8. SG- Rodney Purvis 6'4 (Raleigh, North Carolina)


The former Louisville commit is arguably the best scorer in his class. He is a great athlete with good strength. He has great court vision and great ball handling skills, making him a combo guard. He has good hops and is a solid rebounder. His jumper is a solid. He could work on his jumper a bit more and could play with more intensity at times. He has a top 3 schools list of Duke, Missouri and North Carolina State.


9. SG- Archie Goodwin 6'5 ( Little Rock, Arkansas)


Archie is long and athletic. He has good ball handling skills that help get to the tin. He has a nice jump shot and is a great dunker. He has good length, helping him be a better defender. Archie needs to polish his jumper from three point land. He should add some more strength as well. He has many schools on him such as, Kentucky, Arkansas, UConn, Baylor, Lousiville, Memphis, and Ole Miss.

10. SG- Ricardo Ledo 6'6 (Providence, Rhode Island)


Ricardo is probably the best scorer in the class. His inconsistency is what stops him from being ranked higher. In some games he tends to disappear for quarters at a time. He is a great three point shooter and can score at will. He can handle the ball well. He slashes with aggressiveness. His favorite schools are, Providence, Kentucky, UConn, and Syracuse. Other schools showing interest are Texas, Florida, Louisville, Arizona, UCF, and Maryland.


11-20 to come next week

Bio

Hello, my name is Joey Natale. I'm a 15 year old kid from Rockaway New Jersey and I am really interested in college basketball and college basketball recruiting. I am a huge UConn husky fan. I really like to blog and write articles about college basketball. I am a moderator at UConnball.com. My favorite thing to blog about is UConn basketball recruiting. I really just want to get my name out there and want to hopefully do this stuff for a living one day.

NBA Lockout-My Take

So the NBA lockout starts tonight, well tommorrow at 12:01 am. No one is truly surprised that it happened, it was inevetibable. There are various reasons floating around as to why the Lockout is indeed taking place, I am not a fan of many of the theories at all. While they all may have some truth to the matter, it still comes back to money. This didn't truly trigger my mind until I heard what percentage of the revenue sharing the players were getting. I than thought about the NFL and it's lockout and it's revenue sharing, in the NFL the players are in the minority in this area. Whereas the NBA, the players are in the majority and that's where the issue is. The NFL players are in the low 40's when talking what percentage of the revenue they get. The NBA players were recieving 57% of the revenue, think about where the league is going right now and all the momentum they have built. The league is finally getting back to the good old days where it was just as strong as the other sports, namely the NFL and MLB. The last lockout crippled the NBA's popularity, in the last decade the NBA has made up for that loss much of it coming recently. The NBA owners don't want to be on the minority part of this momentum, they can't stand to watch the players make even more money under the old CBA. I can understand each side and where they are coming from, but unlike the NFL the NBA season is further away. This is why I don't have faith in this lockout seriously endangering this season, the closer we get the more pressure it will be on both sides to get a deal done to keep this momentum going. Neither side can really afford for a season to be loss, but unlike the NFL the NBA owners are at risk. The small market teams who have franchise players in the last years of their deals cannot afford for the same type of free agency that may occur in the NFL. That being of players with over 4 years of service becoming full flegged unrestricted Free Agents, that will surely cripple all small market teams. I belive the owners and players in the NBA don't have as bad a relationship as their NFL counterparts. Especially with that draft class of 2012 on the horizon, the NBA cannot afford it after the unpopularity of the 2011 NBA draft on a larger scale. I can't promise you that it will start on time, but I can assure you that the owners can't afford to play hard ball for long. There will be an NBA season and I don't think it will be shortened by much, the other reason being the world having other leagues. There is only one league for NFL players to realistically consider and that's the NFL. The NBA has to face the fact that players can make EVEN MORE money in the leagues outside of this country, that could and will kill the NBA's brand. Keep all that in mind as this Lockout goes into effect....

NBA Draft Grades-Southwest

San Antonio- Gave up George Hill to get much needed youth in Kawhi Leanord, Corey Joseph, Davis Bertans, and Adam Hanga. This is why the Spurs always remain in contention, they know when to make moves. Joseph is beyond underrated and should benefit from learning from Tony Parker before taking the reigns himself. Leanord should be able to contribute right away at the 3 and wouldn't surprise me if he has the starting gig heading into the playoffs. Grade: A+

Dallas-Took Jordan Hamilton and traded him to the Nuggets, also acquired Rudy Fernandez to bolster that already strong bench. The newly crowned champs traded a prospect for a proven player, great move. Grade: A

New Orleans- Received an incomplete, had no draft picks this year.

Memphis-Josh Selby was one of the best players in the country coming out of high school last year. Selby is an explosive scorer, a legit top 10 talent, he just had a rough freshman year due to injuries and other issues. He is a 6'3 combo guard, although I believe he will challenge Mike Conley for the starting PG spot eventually. Grade: A+

Houston-Marcus Morris and Donatas Montiejunas are two very talented young PF's, the issue is where they landed. The Rockets have a plethora of forwards on their roster both at the 3 and the 4. It will be hard to get these kids playing time, unless of course they unload some of the guys in front of them and that's not too likely. Grade: C

NBA Draft Grades-Pacific Division

Lakers- I love the Darius Morris pick, not only does he fill a need but he gives them great size at the PG position standing 6'5. He's a true PG and that will help the Lakers immediately. Andrew Goudelock should provide scoring punch off the bench, he might just be the best shooter in the draft from deep. They selected Ater Majok with their "reach" pick, Majok was a former Uconn Husky and is extremely raw. Grade: B+

Phoenix-Landed Markieff Morris, should fit nice next Robin Lopez with his ability to stretch the floor via his jump shot. Grade: B

Golden State-Klay Thompson, Charles Jenkins, and Jeremy Tyler should all be able to help immediately. Thompson and Jenkins form a great second unit backcourt. Tyler gives them some much needed size and athleticism on the block. Grade: A

Clippers-No 1st round picks, so the Clippers selected Georgia teammates Travis Leslie and Trey Thompkins with their 2nd round picks. I believe both of these kids will surprise people, the Clippers picked up 2 guys with good upside. Can never have enough depth. Grade: B

Sacramento-Jimmer Fredette, Tyler Honeycutt, Isiah Thomas are 3 guys with the potential and ability to provide an instant impact. If the Kings improve, you can look back at this year's draft as the reason why.

Draft Grades-Northwest Division

Oklahoma City-Great Combo Guard in Reggie Jackson, could play either guard spot. All-around player could be in the roation if Harden does indeed start next year, either way Jackson is a great addition to this young team. Grade: B+

Denver-Got Kenneth Faried, Jordan Hamilton. True case of addition by subtraction in getting rid of Raymond Felton and handing the reigns over to Ty Lawson. Hamilton is a flat out scorer, you can never have enough of those on the roster. Faried is a blue collar player that will play tough D and rebound the ball, once again you can always find room in your rotation for guys that play hard. Grade: B+

Utah- Ernes Kanter and Alec Burks give the Jazz more young pieces to build around. Pairing Kanter with young Derek Favors will give the Jazz an intimidating post presence for the future. Burks is only a consistent jump shot away from being a complete shooting guard, the kid is a great slasher, and has the ability to be a more than capable defender. Grade: A+

Portland- Selected two guards, Nolan Smith and Jon Diebler. Smith like Kemba Walker is a natural born leader and winner, he should be able to help the team in a 6th man capacity immediately. Diebler will help fill some of the void from loosing Rudy Fernandez as he is a great shooter from 3. Grade: C+

Minnesota- While Derek Williams may not find a spot in the starting line up, there is no questioning this kid's talent. Talent alone will help the coaches to make time for him in the rotation. Malcom Lee is yet another UCLA combo guard, at 6-6 he can play both backcourt positions. Lee fills a huge need for the Wolves at the 2, great athlete and very good defender make him a great backcourt mate for new point guard Ricky Rubio. Grade: A+

NBA Draft Grades-Southeast Division

Miami- Norris Cole from Cleveland State has lottery talent and would have made more noise during his collegiate career had he attended a larger school. At 6'2, 175 Nole is a "true PG" in every sense of the word. He is one of the fastest guards in this year's class, should really inject some fuel into Miami's up-tempo offense. Grade: A+

Orlando- Had two 2nd round picks, they selected Justin Harper and Deandre Liggins. Harper is a talented stretch-4 that can contribute with his ability to not only shoot the rock, but handle as well. Liggins is a true lock down defender. Grade: C+

Atlanta-Keith Benson was their attempt at landing a center, Benson is 6'11 217 pounds. The book on Benson is that he has upside, but for a team that really NEEDS to get a big, I believe they fell short. Grade: F

Charlotte- The Bobcats are truly rebuilding as they were part of that 3-way trade as well. What better way to start a rebuilding project than to select a PG. Kemba Walker is a proven leader and winner, they also had a good reach pick in selecting Bismack Biyumbo who is a defensive stalwart. The kid is extremely raw, but he should be able to contribute on that end of the floor immediately. Grade: A

Washington- Love the selections of Chris Singleton and Shelvin Mack. Is Jan Vesely good enough to supplant Blatche at the 4? Singleton fills a need at the 3 and is a great defender. Mack should provide a steady hand leading the 2nd unit. Vesely can provide an impact, but I'm not sold on him. Grade: B

NBA Draft Grades-Central Divison

Chicago-Don't like the "reach" pick only because he plays the same position as Jimmy Butler. Heard that the Bulls want a veteran shooting guard, but it couldn't of hurt to take a young guy with upside at the position. Grade: C+

Indiana-Acquired George Hill in trade with the Spurs, Hill should be able to provide an immediate impact and offer veteran leadership. Fills a big need with his ability to play both the 1 and 2. Grade: B

Milwaukee- Jon Leur is a 7 ft highly skilled F/C, Tobias Harris is a young SF with great upside. Also part of a 3-way trade that led to the departing of Corey Maggette and the arrival of Capt Jack aka Stephen Jackson. Grade: B+

Detroit- Selected well for where they were, however I'm not sure if Brandon Knight is a PG. The kid is talented and can really shoot the ball, just not sold on his ability to play the point. Kyle Singler was a good pick to bolster their bench, never hurts to have a guy with that kind of experience coming off the bench. Grade: B

Cleveland- I can live with the selection of Kyrie Irving with the #1 overall pick, as the PG is one of the most important positions on the floor. I like Tristian Thompson, but I truly believe he was a BIG reach at that point in the draft. I don't believe you should draft a guy that can't start that high in the draft. I just can't see him supplanting J.J. Hickson at the 4. Grade: B

NBA Draft Grades-Atlantic Division

Boston-JaJuan Johnson is a good shot blocker and his former Purdue teammate E'twaun Moore is a complete shooting guard. Both of these kids should be able to get into the rotation and make an impact. Grade: B+

New York-Iman Shumpert is a big combo guard. Don't know if he can run a team yet, but his talent on D makes him well worth the pick. Josh Harrleson fills a need for the Knicks, a bit undersized at 6'10 270 he should be able to play next to Amare providing defense, rebounding, and toughness. Grade: B

Philadelphia-Nikola Vucevic and LaVoy Allen, filled a need by selecting Vucevic. They need a true center, he's 7ft and 260 pounds. That should allow the 76ers should slide Speights down to his natural position at PF. Grade: B

New Jersey- Marshon Brooks is the best shooting guard in this year's draft in my opinion, he should also be able to step in right away and start along side. Bojan Bogdanovic is a talented small forward who was the second leading scorer in the Euro League this past season. Jordan Williams is an undersized center, but I see him as a good sized PF when paired with Brook Lopez can give the Nets a nice foundation in the paint for the future. Grade: A

Toronto- Selected Jonas Valacinus kind of reminds me of the guy that's already there in Bargaini without the offensive talent. I hope I'm wrong, I had hoped the Raptors would have selected a true PG. Grade: C+

Addition by Subtraction-USA Mens Soccer

The United States Mens National team has hit it's peak under Bob Bradley, it is time to move on. The talent pool from which the US has to choose from has grown through the years, so it's no longer an issue of not having the talent to compete. I have been trying to hold my tongue, the reason being Bradley has had success during his tenure. I also thing he is also the reason that the US hasn't reached it's full potential. It's his philosophy, they attack only to fall back when successful which only results in failure against the elite teams in the world. Case in point, the recent game against Mexico for the Gold Cup title. The US jumped out to an early lead of 2-0, anybody that's ever played soccer or been around the game knows that 2-0 is the worst place to be. The reason being that 2 is not enough to kill the will of the opposing team, 3 is that number in soccer at which teams perceive the door is officially closed. Much like American football aka the NFL, teams that go up and play prevent defense at the end of games often lose. The same is in soccer when score early and fall back to just defend and hope the time runs out, it seldom results in a win. Mexico was down 2-0, then went on a 4 goal run that ended the game. Soccer is truly a game of momentum, when the other team senses that you are no longer attacking you are at their mercy. Think of the talent that the US has been blessed with at the forward positions and they don't attack, when healthy Charlie Davies and Jozy Altidore are scary tandem up front. Add Landon Donavan, Clint Dempsey, and Michael Bradley in the midfield and you would think the US had the pieces to put major pressure on opposing defenses. By falling back so often, it puts an insane amount of pressure on the US back line and goalie Tim Howard. He does an amazing job considering the amount of duress he's under against elite teams. The back line never really gets a chance to rest, not only because of the formation but the philosophy. I do give Bradley credit for bringing Freddy Adu back into the fold, the reason being he may be one of the only true center attacking midfielders this country has. We've yet to see him with the opportunity to distribute the ball to the combo of Davies and Altidore, while flanked by Donavan and Dempsey. This country has the pieces, the best way to get the US to the "elite" level may be through subtraction.