School starts Thursday, which means summer pickup games are almost over. On one hand, it’s silly to put much stock in them. My newest rule of watching summer pickup is: If you are dominating a pickup game, it’s probably because it means more to you than everybody else.
On the other hand, who can resist? It’s like recruiting news or the NFL Draft – no losers, everyone is full of potential and hope. And everybody forgets in a few weeks. I watched WSU play pickup 8-10 times this summer. Here is what I saw.
Returners:
- Ramon Clemente turned into a jump-shooting, full-court dribbling machine over the summer. I suspect it is pickup-game only. If he doesn’t show those skills in real games, well, even small additions to his game will help. He continues to play hard and show the quickness and agility that made him a fan favorite. Should have a fine senior year and he will leave WSU as a much respected Shocker for his tenacity. My goal for him would be to lead the Valley in rebounding. The top returner in the MVC is Drake’s Jonathan Cox, who averaged 8.6 in 31 minutes a game. Clemente averaged 7.9 in 26.9. No Shocker has lead the MVC since ??? (answer below).
- J.T. Durley came to WSU two years ago without a clue as to what it takes to be a big-time college basketball player. He dominated at a small school in Texas with his size and athletic ability. His ambition as a youngster was to play in a show band in college. Some Shockers, like P.J. Couisnard, are prepared from birth to play basketball at a high level. J.T. kind of fell into big-time basketball and is playing catch up. After two tough years, marked by injury and coaches telling him to play harder, J.T. shows signs of getting it, on and off the court. If he does, watch out. We all know he can score. Can he do enough of the other things to stay on the floor? Just a sophomore. Repeat that a few times.
- Aaron Ellis is bigger and stronger. That will help him play power forward. He is a year older, which will also help. There are moments in pickup games when he is consistently making 15-foot jumpers when you think he can really be a matchup problem. When he is not, you want to see what he can do in the lane. Also just a sophomore.
- Graham Hatch spent most of the summer in Arizona. He got married. He had jaw surgery. I watched him Tuesday. He can still shoot. Think about this: He is WSU’s most experienced guard. Did he get quicker over the summer? No way to tell. He did drive to the basket a few times Tuesday.
- Mantas Griskenas was cleared to play (knee injury) Monday. I have not seen him play, although I suspect he snuck in a few games on the sly in recent weeks. Mantas is up to 218 pounds (from 200) and looks good. What will WSU get out of Griskenas? He will be a forgotten man in season previews, with good reason because he contributed little last season before getting hurt. However, it would not surprise me if he has a good senior season. He is a great shooter. He was just starting to come on when he got hurt. This is his last shot.
- Bret Michael also spent much of the summer on the sidelines, still recovering from injuries last season. I didn’t see much of him on the court. It is a bad sign if that changes during the season. He will be a good practice player, and WSU will need that. Behind Hatch, he is WSU’s next most experienced guard.
- A.J. Hawkins is recovering from toe surgery. He shoots around during pickup games. He will start to play soon. He also got married this summer. With two seasons of Division I basketball, Hawkins is WSU’s most experienced DI player, even though he has never worn a Shocker uni.
Newcomers
- Garrett Stutz is an international big man right now. He shoots threes and jumpers quite well. His post moves are fine, but sometimes his strength and quickness hold him back. If I were to play amateur agility coach, I would guess he needs to get more explosive jumping off two feet. Too often he makes himself small by gathering himself before going back up with a rebound. Those things will get fixed in time. For now, fans should appreciate his ability to catch passes, catch and shoot without needing a dribble, score with either hand around the basket and execute fundamentals such as bringing the ball to his chin after grabbing a rebound. Every so often he will drive to the basket. If he can improve that skill, good luck guarding him. A building block, as WSU coaches said when he signed.
- David Kyles is a bit of a mystery to me. Our schedules did not mesh and I rarely saw him play this summer. What I did see backs up his rep as a good athlete who can drive and score.
- Clevin Hannah should run this team from the start. Good shooter. Good passer. Good penetrator. Reggie Chamberlain is a little bigger than Hannah. Hannah is probably a little better at driving and dishing. I think they can play together and do good things pressing and moving the ball quickly on offense. WSU’s three-point shooting, horrid last season, should improve. Size is a problem, but WSU does have some big swingmen. I lump them together because the most asked question this summer was “Is that Reggie or Clevin?”
- Toure Murry is a joy to watch when he shoots. Smooth. Reminds me of Aubrey Sherrod. Like all freshmen, he needs to get bigger and stronger. Seems like a natural scorer, something WSU lacked in recent seasons.
- Gabe Blair will sit out this season and step in for Ramon in 2009-10. Bouncy best describes him. He should be a fine power forward when his time comes. Think Anthony Slack of Illinois State.
- Walk-ons Brett Steven, Mason Felter and Reggie Britton also didn’t get a fair viewing from me this summer. I will say Britton looks the most ready of that trio (Michael is also a walk-on) to play. He seems like a very good get for a walk-on. Judging from Tuesday, Brett is a better shooter than his Craig, his brother who played for WSU a few years ago. I probably just bought myself a few (more) cheap shots in a pickup basketball game down the road.
Trivia answer: Jamie Arnold led the MVC in rebounding (9.7) in 1995.
In a related bit of housekeeping, former WSU walk-on Brett Burley will play at the University of Alberta in his home country of Canada.