Weber Spring Fling - Snapshots
Ron Bailey, Publisher
Following are brief reports on players of note, at the Weber Spring Fling:
Marc Hill
As a true point guard, Hill, who is 5’7” and weighs around 165lbs or so, not only finds teammates but scorers and applies serious on-ball defensive pressure as well. As a junior at Bishop McNamara (MD), has started since his sophomore year, where according to the school’s coach Marty Keithline, he averaged 11 points and 6 assists last year, and 10 points along with 5 assists as a sophomore. As such, he’s a leader on the floor.
“He’s definitely capable of playing Division I…He’s a point guard of that caliber” said Keithline.
According to Hill, a fall decision is expected.
Hill’s recruiting list ratifies that opinion, as the young man noted “High Point, American, William and Mary” and Ivy League schools like “Columbia” as having major interest in him. Keithline added “Rider and Wagner” as suitors.
At this point, Hill’s noted his leaders as “American and High Point”, and that he is definitely considering the Ivies “because of the future job opportunities”.
Keith Wright
Standing 6’7” and weighing 255lbs, Wright is a center/ forward that’s a decent post player, has good hands, and posseses a motor on both sides of the court: Despite his size the guy works hard in the low and high posts, always moving, and also performs in like fashion defensively.
Cerebral on and off the floor, this Norfolk Collegiate (VA) and G.E.S.U.S. Ball (AAU) standout who responded “Not really, it’s academics” upon being asked if hoops was his most important criteria for a future school, has “Bucknell, Holy Cross, Davidson, Princeton, Penn, Dartmouth” and others supplying serious interest. Wright hopes to make a decision “hopefully by the end of the summer”
Wright's AAU coach, on mobility, which Keith displays: "That’s one thing we work on…If you can be mobile, that’s half the battle".
“He’s a good kid” said G.E.S.U.S. Ball’s (Growth Through Education, Sports, Unity and Spirit) coach, Lamont Strothers of Wright, who averaged 16 points and 13 rebounds a game as a junior this year.
Zach Rosen
Having transferred to St. Benedicts (N.J.), the 6’1”, 180lb Rosen’s recruitment has grown, as the junior has offers from “Rutgers and Penn”, the latter he admitted “I really like”. Seton Hall, Va Tech, and Penn State have also recruited him.
Rosen is a junior point guard capable of passing and scoring, who is a good enough athlete to have been a baseball standout as well. For Benedicts, he shared a “9.7” point per game average.
The move to Benedicts’s has not only helped his recruitment, but also aided his development as a player: Working there with Danny Hurley – himself a former Big East point guard - is “the reason I like it” said Rosen, who also values the opportunity of learning to play with great players.
Nurideen Lindsey
Another in a long line of talented Philly guard, Lindsey averaged 26.5 points, 4 assists, and 6 rebounds for area’s Overbrook High school during this, his sophomore season. He has shown much of that same ability during AAU/travel team play with Team Kobe. Look for him to standout at American Christian next year.
Lindsey is truly talented, as he can handle the ball, shoot, and find people. The latter is a point of emphasis currently; He would note “ I played the two (shooting guard) last year, but I’m trying to be a combo”.
George Harper, one of his Team Kobe coaches, thinks the sky is the limit for Lindsey, and as such is hesitant to guesstimate what position he will play in college. “It’s hard to project (him) for college, because its not clear if he’s going to be a combo in college, or a straight point guard”.
One of the best playes in Philly as a sophomore, Lindsey, presently a shooting guard, is working on point guard skills.
Nonetheless, Lindsey shared “Louisville, St. Joseph, Boston College, Rutgers, Memphis and Lasalle” have all heavily recruited him, with only Louisville having not offered to date.
More will surely follow. Believe that.
Matt Shaw
Attending North Cobb Christian as a junior, the “6’7”, 225 lb Shaw shared averages of 18 points and 13 rebounds” this past year. Athletic, powerful and versatile, Shaw has received recruiting attention from “Purdue, Texas Tech, Winthrop” and Yale.
As his tee-shirt indicates, Shaw plays for for the Atlanta area - based Inner Strength organization during AAU/travel team competition.
Though he did admit “Purdue is my highest” from a basketball perspective, he is primarily looking “for a good school, with good education”.
Able to pound rims, rebound, defend, bang, and shoot mid-range jumpers, Shaw believes “Most likely I’ll play the three (small forward) in college, but I like the four (power forward)” given the contact that position demands.