Kyrie Irving drives to the basket during is N.C. Pro Am debut - photo copyright Rick Crank, BDN Photo
Durham, N.C. - Fans from all across the Triangle packed North Carolina Central University's gym on Tuesday night, as a record-breaking crowd was on hand to see some of the ACC's best young incoming talent on display. Four Blue Devils took to the floor in Tuesday's round of games, including the much anticipated debut of incoming freshman point guard Kyrie Irving. Irving played in the first game where he scored a team high 36 points while dazzling the crowd with his ball handling and crafty finishes around the basket. While his 36-point debut was quite an impressive performance, it came up a little short for Irving as his team fell to Team Navy by 4 points. In the second match-up of the night, Seth Curry teamed up with Miles Plumlee and incoming freshman forward Josh Hairston for a balanced attack to defeat Team 212/Trianglegi.com. Curry led the way with 22 points, shooting 8-16 FG and 3-8 3pt. Curry showed off his array of scoring abilities, dialing in from NBA range while also taking the ball strong to the hoop for several solid finishes around the rim. Miles Plumlee used his athleticism and size around the rim to throw down 2 or 3 rim-rocking dunks, sending the crowd into frenzy on more than one occasion. He finished the game with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Josh Hairston played good defense out on the perimeter and showed some touch on his turn-around jump shot. He finished the game 5-10 from the field for 10 points while also grabbing a team-high 11 rebounds. In the most anticipated match up of the night, the incoming Tar Heel freshmen alongside John Henson, Justin Watts and PJ Hairston took on the incoming freshmen from Raleigh, as it was an old fashioned UNC vs. NCST rivalry game. The game was heated from the beginning, with Harrison Barnes and CJ Leslie going head to head both making plays on both sides of the court. While Barnes led the team with a game-high 26 points, the real story of the game was UNC freshman Reggie Bullock. Bullock used his size and athleticism to consistently drive and shoot over Lorenzo Brown from NCST. The UNC freshmen took home the 10 point win.
As for the Duke players, many were excited to see their future point guard in action for the first time, and he did not disappoint. Coming into the game with virtually no warm up, Kyrie quietly began to assert himself in the first quarter before taking off before the end of the half. He missed on his first few 3-point attempts, however quickly recovered with a few fast break points and a huge one handed alley-oop on the fast break. Irving really shined with the ball in his hands as he used his amazing shift of pace to slice through the heart of the defense either finishing at the rim or dishing off to an open teammate. Irving draws many comparisons to former Wake Forest great Chris Paul, and they are not far off. If Tuesday night was any indication of the type of impact Irving could have at Duke, then Duke fans should buckle up, for it's going to be a fun season. Truly an elite level point guard who will have the ball in his hands early.
Seth Curry's feel for the game is so clear when watching him play. You can tell that he comes from a basketball family and that he knows how to play the game the right way. While a deadeye shooter from 3, Curry has no problem going into attack mode and getting to the rim. He will have no problem playing some point for Duke this season, as his ball handling and decision-making are superb. He showed off his array of scoring tools, getting points from virtually every spot on the floor. He will be a dangerous weapon to put on the floor along side players like Irving, Smith and Singler.
Miles Plumlee has completely reshaped his body and looks to be in the best shape of his life. He is extremely cut and moves as well as any big man you will see at his size. His lift off the floor is much quicker than it was in his previous two seasons as he has turned much of his bulk into pure solid muscle. He showed nice touch with a right handed hook shot and wowed the crowed with his thunderous dunks. While his shot was somewhat off tonight, he showed glimpses last season of hitting the mid range jumper. Rebounding will be a key area of focus for the Plumlee brothers this upcoming season as they look to replace key seniors Brian Zoubek and Lance Thomas.
Incoming freshman forward Josh Hairston blended in well with Curry and Plumlee, quietly doing the little things to help his team. Hairston possesses an athletic frame that will be able to defend out on the perimeter very similar to the way Lance did last season. Hairston showed good form and touch from the outside, hitting two turn-around jumpers on the baseline.
Overall, this was one of the biggest nights in the N.C Pro Am history. With lines reaching over 200 people outside, many were turned away simply because of fire code. With the talent that is showing up, the Pro Am does not look to be slowing down anytime soon. Many suggest getting there up to an hour early in order to secure a parking spot and a comfortable seat in the house.
Will be on hand for Thursday's action and excitement. Tobacco road is showing what it's all about.
AUGUSTA - Here are the leaders after four games at the Nike EYBL Peach Jam in Augusta, South Carolina. BDN Premium has live updates as they happen on the premium forum.
Scoring leaders team - Oakland Soldiers 84.2, Spiece Indy 76.3, NJ Playaz 73.0, Team Takeover 72.8
Scoring defense -Mean Streets 49.0, BABC 55.8, The Family 56.2, Mac Irvin 58.5
3 point fg pct - Oakland .513, St. Louis Eagles .511, Spiece ,495
Scoring average - Michael Williams 26.0, Jo Coleman 24.8, Omar Calhoun 24.8, Austin RIvers 24.5 then it drops to 20.0
FG percentage- Brandon Ashley .789, Antonio Wilson .679, Roquez Johnson and Joe Coleman .667
Rebound average -Anthony Davis 10.0, Dorian Smith 10.0, Levi Randolph and Brandon Ashley 9.3
High scoring games - Michael Williams 44, Tyrone Johnson40, Austin Rivers 35
Notes - Michael Williams is 47 of 52 from free throw stripe.
Austin Rivers talks with BDN's Mark Watson at the Nike Peach Jam - photo BDN
Austin Rivers was the morning's high scorer with 29 points during the first day of the Nike EYBL Peach Jam in Augusta, South Carolina, Recent diary entries brought about a lot of questions and Duke and UNC fans wanted answers. Well, BDN wasted little time in acquiring them right away. Check out the following lengthy interview and stay tuned to BDN for real time updates on our premium members message board. With Andrew Slater's in depth Shabazz Muhammad interview and now this one, BDN is quite simply the place to be for the best coverage out there. Check out our trial offer which last just 24 more hours or go ahead and get the best value by joining for a year. Check out our coverage of the prospects you want the hear from and our in person analysis of the events. After all, you have to get out here and see the prospects to be able to talk about them, right?
So, what is your list of schools?
Duke, North Carolina, Florida, Kansas and Kentucky. Those are the five I had and those are the ones here watching me right now.
You decided to push your decision back ...
Basically I just want to see how people do this year at the schools I'm looking at. I'm just going to wait for the college season to start and watch a little bit of the ball and after a couple of weeks or so, make my decision. I feel like it is important to me to just wait a little bit longer. I'm looking for playing time and want to come in and impact the team. I want to play for a team that goes up and down and attack.
Have you talked with UNC lately?
I talked to [private] Roy Williams a couple of times but it's been a couple of months since he called but when I was playing for Team USA I was out of touch.
You mentioned Harrison Barnes and Kyrie Irving in your latest diary entry, can you speak of those two?
Well, I'm friends with Harrison Barnes but we don't talk on the phone or anything like that. I'm real good friends with Kyrie but not because he goes to Duke. I've been playing with him at these camps from the start, so I have developed a good relationship there. I'm also friends with Kendall Marshall and my best friends are Marshall, Kobongo and Irving.
Your Dad said you would slow down in the AAU tournaments and take in the Showcase but not the AAU Nationals.
Yeah, just the Nike Showcase. I just felt like I needed a break and just want to get stronger but after being in LA and with Team USA for 13 days and here ... that should be enough for the summer.
So, there really isn't a timetable. Will you just make a decision when it feels right?
Basically, yeah. When it comes to mind and I feel like it and know that this is the school for me I will make the decision.
Do you plan to take a visit to UNC?
I do plan on taking a visit North Carolina in late August right before school starts because I haven't been up there and later on that year we'll see if they get another visit. I might then go to Kentucky.
Will you vist Duke as well on that trip?
Probably, because they are eight miles apart and it's the right thing to do. I went to Duke a couple of months back but not North Carolina, so this will be like a double header.
Does it upset you that some coaches are not here to watch you from the five schools you mentioned?
I don't like them less or more because of this. I like them and I hope they feel the same way because I am interested in them.
What is it like playing in front of coaches?
I try to block it and not try to change my game when they are here. I'm just trying to win
Do you like it when coaches come to watch you?
Yeah, it shows that they are interested in me and that they want to recruit me. I don't know who was here today.
The Duke coaches were the only ones here.
Really? I like that Coach K was here to see me.
A while back people considered Duke to be the favorite. Some are saying that has changed and that you have cooled a bit on them.
I have an interest in a lot of schools right now. I have the best relationship with Florida and Duke because I have been recruited by them the longest, but Carolina, Kentucky and Kansas are in the picture and I am not favoring anybody right now. I really haven't even talked to my father about it and he doesn't even know. I really don't know where I am going yet. Right after AAU starts that's when I will sit down with my family and coach and figure out whats best for me.
Do internet rumors bug you?
I just laugh at people who tell me like I am going overseas to play and stuff like that. The internet really confuses people sometimes.
Your parents are here to support you ...
Yeah they do a lot to support me, especially my mom. She is the person that keeps the family together and my Dad really keeps busy with his job.
So, mom is the rock?
Yeah, shes the rock, the man of the hours really.
You mentioned relationships with other coaches, would you like to build more of them?
Yes, yes. I would like to build relationships with Coach Calipari and Coach Self.
You do not seem as dependent on your outside shot in game one like you have in the past.
Yeah, I've tried to mix it up a little bit. I have a really good right hand floater and a left hand floater, I've been working on that. You will see me use that throughout the tournament.
Which school has been recruiting you aggressively in the past two months?
Duke is the most aggressiveness. We have a good relationship that is building and we talk once a month and have a good conversation of about 45 minutes or better. They really show that they care. North Carolina sends me a lot of letters that Roy Williams writes and stuff like that, so it's all good.
When did you first hear from UNC?
Three and a half or four months ago when I first talked to North Carolina, at the end of my school year. I talked with Coach Williams after the initial contact.
In your diary you mention Kyrie possibly turning pro early and it seems as if that was a major concern. Is it?
Yes, to be a championship team I want to have some good players. Kyrie is that good and he may go to the pros after one year but how will it affect me? It wouldn't keep me from going to Duke. They are always going to have good players and they are building their program and they will be ranked number one this year so we'll see how they do. Duke will always be in the spotlight.
And what of those banana yellow Nikes?
Yeah, they're terrible. They sent us a fluorescent pair. What can you do? [/private]
The Blue Devil Nations Andrew Slater brings home an in depth interview with prime Duke target Shabazz Muhammad. If you thought you knew it all about Muhammad, think again. BDN Photo, BDN Premium is a premium information subscription service of BDN.
Andrew Slater's in depth [2000 word] interview with Shabazz Muhammad is the type of offering which makes BDN Premium your choice for Duke Basketball Recruiting information. His reports continue on our message board where I am sending back info from the Peach Jam as it happens. There is one day left on our trial offer, so take advantage of it and see the BDN difference for yourself
Shabazz Muhammad is a 6-5 rising junior who was born in California. Muhammad has yet to win Nevada state titles in each of his two years of high school basketball at Bishop Gorman. The first-team All-State wing averaged nearly twenty points and ten rebounds per game during this past season. The gregarious and competitive Muhammad was the first player in the class of 2012 to receive a scholarship offer for basketball from Duke University. His parents were both high-caliber athletes as well. His mother, Faye, is in Long Beach State's Hall of Fame for her contributions in both track as well as basketball and his engaging father, Ron Holmes, played the wing at the University of Southern California for Coach Stan Morrison in the early 1980s and currently helps to coach Shabazz and his younger brother, Rashad, for their respective DreamVision AAU teams. At the recent Adidas Invitational, in which he averaged more than thirty points per game, Shabazz graciously spoke with Blue Devil Nation about a multitude of topics, including the advantages of being both left-handed and genetically blessed, his sister Asia's burgeoning tennis career, and fellow Duke recruit, Alex Murphy.
Let's start with the most basic question. What schools are coming after you hardest right now?
Pretty much a lot of schools on my list are coming after me. Texas, Kansas, USC, UCLA, Louisville, Duke, and some I didn't name, but I'm just looking to play hard, play with a purpose, and I know pretty much all of these schools are looking at how I play.
There were plenty of coaches out there today.
Yeah, and so I'm going to go out there and try to perform.
Do you have a timeframe for when you'd like to decide by? I don't know yet, but I'm going to try to get some more visits in. I think it'll be this upcoming year, my junior year, though. [private]
What is going to separate the schools for you? Probably not the location. It's a good thing that I've been traveling all over the world and all over the states so that we can get to go around to the different places. I'm just looking for an up-tempo offense, the coaches, and the style of play.
So, location is definitely not a factor for you.
Oh, no, I'm just looking for their style of play and whatever university fits me.
What about some other things?
I think the style of play will be very important and the relationship i have with the coach. I like when a coach is really talking to me. I like it when they are really talking to me on the phone. That's really what it will come down to.
Who do you try to model your game after?
I really tried to look a lot at Kobe this year in the NBA. I watched his mid-range game and the pivots he does. I tried to watch him throughout the playoffs against better competition and in the Championships too. I tried to watch his one or two dribble pull-up this year and that's what I've been trying to work on this summer.
Well, you hit one near the baseline using that move in this game.
Yeah, thanks, I've just been working on that stuff for the past few months because I know in college I'm going to have to play the one, the two or the three
Do you have a preference in terms of a position?
Well, I like to play the two because I like to handle the ball, you know, grab rebounds and start the breaks. Wherever my coach puts me at, I'll do whatever he needs me to do.
I only have seen you with your summer teams, but you have been able to have a very effective inside game by using your strength, particularly your upper body strength, against threes and twos.
Oh, yeah, well, I think I'm pretty big for my position and so I try to use that to my team's advantage against these smaller players.
I saw your brother, Rashad, a couple of weeks ago at the Pangos Camp. He's got a completely different game and body type than you. Oh, yeah, totally.
He's a good spot-up shooter for his age. Well, we're trying to get him to play the one and..
Now, he said he was a better outside shooter than you.
Oh, no way (laughs hard)
I didn't put that one down, but I'll make a mental note.
(Laughs hard) I'd kill him.
Alright, we'll move on. Who will you be seeking guidance from most before you do decide? My dad absolutely..he's on the coaching staff
Sure, sure. An ex-USC player Yes, absolutely, he's an ex-USC player and he just tells me what to do out there. He tells me to go play hard and do the best you can do out there.
Anyone else? My mom too
The former track star at Long Beach
Yeah, absolutely, you did your research (laughs) Who's the best player that you've faced so far?
When I was with Adidas Nations, I faced a lot of good guys.
Internationally or.. No, mostly from our country. Really, all the top guys from our country so I just tried to go after them.
What are your strengths and weaknesses at this point? My strengths are going inside, rebounding, ball-handling, and one or two dribble pull-ups. I think I have some weaknesses. I mean I think I had some weaknesses, but I've been really working on them. It's getting to the point where I really don't have any.
Oh, really. So, we're dealing with a confident player here.
Yeah, yeah (laughs hard)
What are your goals for this summer as well as the upcoming season? You guys have won back-to-back state titles. Yeah, my goals for both teams are to simply win as many games as possible. On the high school level, we have a nice schedule, including some ESPN games. So, I'm definitely looking forward to those games and winning those.
What are your expectations? Really big expectations
Oh, and who are those teams that you're going to be playing on ESPN?
I know we play St. Pat's and then we go to City of Palms and we play a few national teams there I know. Obviously, you guys travel quite a bit now during the summer, but, during the downtime, what do you work on in terms of preparation or skill development? What do you work on these days? I work with my dad at the gym and
At Bishop Gorman or.. Sometimes at Gorman, but also at Impact Basketball with Joe Abunassar. Yeah, I work out with him. I think that's been really good. I mean the strength and conditioning stuff has been really good. I think I've really improved by going there.
That was one thing that Rashad said that you guys regularly worked out against each other for two to three hours a day. That's got to help both of you drive each other. Oh, yeah, definitely. It helps us both out.
What's your go-to move? My go-to move is probably either my two dribble pull-up or my spin move. My spin move is probably it, but I also like to see what my opponents weaknesses are and try to attack them.
Can you talk about your visit to Duke?
It was really nice. I saw Coach K out there and so I really tried to be on my game today, but I'd like to go back to Duke and visit it again and see the campus. I was there for the game against North Carolina and it was really wild and had a great atmosphere.
What about the offer, when it came down? It was exciting to get an offer from them. I look forward to going back there and talking to Coach K.
What was your impression of him? Just a smart guy. Wise. He's worked with Kobe and LeBron, and all of those guys and that's the kind of coach that I'd like to be around.
I heard that you were going to try to watch those guys practice and play when Team USA practices out in Las Vegas. Oh, yeah, I'm definitely going to be there. I'm going to try to go and steal some moves from Kobe (laughs hard).
Do you feel like you have a bit of a target on your back right now, between the various offers and rankings? Oh, absolutely. I've got to continue to be a gym rat, go after it, and stay in the gym.
Academically, are you doing all right too? Oh, yeah, I've earned a 3.0 or a 3.1 so far.
What advantages do you think you have as a left-hander? Do you think it's an advantage? Oh, yeah, the first play of the game the guy goes up and doesn't realize I'm a lefty and it helps me to block shots or surprise defenders a lot too. You can always get an easy steal just off of being a lefty (laughs).
Since I asked him for one about you, can you give the audience a scouting report on Rashad?
He's a one, but versatile. He's a really skinny guy that hopefully he can put some weight on.
Would you like to play with him? Oh, yeah, absolutely. I was on varsity this year and he was on JV. We're looking to push it up the court this year.
Between you two guys and Rosco Allen, Gorman should be very tough to beat in Nevada.
Yeah, we should be.
How's your sister, Asia, doing? I know she turned pro a few years ago and came out of the Agassi Academy. Oh, she's doing good. She was home schooled and then skipped college and went to the Tour. She's been really traveling and trying to get after it.
It's so hard to break through on the pro circuit.
Oh, yeah, yeah, it is, but she's trying. She's watching Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova and all of them. (laughs) She's never at home. So hopefully she can get up here soon.
Is she playing well still? Oh, yeah, we're just looking for her to break out of that shell and hopefully get up there.
Do you ever play tennis or did your dad?
Oh, I tried, but I have no shot (laughs hard).
You guys have both been a part of that Adidas Nations. How about playing with or against the other guy they've offered in that class, Alex Murphy?
Oh, yeah, that's my boy, Alex.
He played relatively well against Quincy Miller's team this morning. Oh, really. Yeah, I played with him at Adidas Nations.
Can you a scouting report on Alex? Oh, okay, I mean he's 6'8." He can shoot and handle the ball. He's very dangerous. He's the real deal.
Getting back to your family for a second. Can you talk about your father and also the impact of having such quality athleticism on both sides of your family? I think it really helps. I mean they used to call him "Dr. Sky" back in the day (laughs) and my mom, being a track star, probably helped our speed too.
The complete opposite from my parents. What would you like the audience to walk away knowing about you?
That I'm a good person and humble.
Except with no weaknesses. (laughs) Yeah, well, that I always try to stay humble, go in the gym, and work at it. I love to work at it.
Well, it looks like it's paid off for you. Thanks, Shabazz.
Thank you. No problem at all. [/private]
USA Basketball has been Gold this summer. Gold as in winning the Gold Medal at the FIBA U17 World Championship in Hamburg, Germany, and at the FIBA Americas U18 tournament which was held in San Antonio, TX.
The USA U17 team went a perfect 8-0 in Hamburg wrapping up the Gold Medal, on July 11th, with a convincing 111-80 victory over Poland who finished the tournament with a 7-1 record and the Silver Medal. Canada defeated Lithuania, 83-81, in the Bronze Medal game.
USA advanced to the Gold Medal game by defeating Canada, 103-83, in the semi-finals, and Australia, 105-70, in the quarter-finals. Team USA won their eight games by an average margin of 34 points. They defeated Argentina, Lithuania, China, Egypt, and Serbia in preliminary round play.
Brad Beal, who has verbally committed to play college basketball at Florida, and James McAdoo, who has verbally committed to North Carolina, were named to the All-Tournament team. Beal was the team's leading scorer averaging 18.25 points per game. McAdoo averaged 14.5 points and led the team in rebounding with 7.9 per game. Point guard Quinn Cook led the tournament in assists with 7.4 per game.
By winning the FIBA Americas U18 tournament in San Antonio, the USA was one of four teams to qualify to compete in next year's U19 World Championship, which will be held in Latvia. USA U18 team won the Gold Medal with a hard fought 81-78 victory over Brazil, on June 30th, to finish the competition with a perfect 5-0 record. Quincy Miller hit a decisive 3-point shot late in the game to seal the come from behind victory for Team USA. Canada defeated Argentina, 86-83, to win the Bronze Medal.
They qualified for the championship game by defeating Canada 122-89 in the semi-finals. In the preliminary round, USA defeated the U.S. Virgin Islands, 131-63; Mexico, 114-38; and Argentina, 88-67.
Austin Rivers led the team in scoring with 20.2 points per game. Quincy Miller (14), Kyrie Irving (13.8), and Jereme Richmond (10.8) also averaged in double figures. Miller was the team's leading rebounder with 9.2 per game, while Irving led the team in assists with 4.2 per game. Miller and Rivers are undecided on their college destination, while Richmond will play at Illinois and Irving at Duke.
The Blue Devil Nation got the early word and broke the news that Marshall Plumlee [7-0, 215, Class of 2011, Christ School, Arden, N.C.] committed to Duke University tonight. Plumlee will join Mason and Miles for a rare three brother act in Durham. Plumlee called Coach Krzyzewski with the news that he was ready to be a Blue Devil this evening.
Plumlee also chatted with Duke Assistant Coach Steve Wojciechowski about his decision and said he played a late role in helping him come to realize Duke was the fit for him.
The Christ School product also phoned his Coach, David Gaines with the news and then called his two brothers before going to see his Mom in a joyous evening for his family.
Plumlee also made a difficult call to Tony Bennett of Virginia, the runner up. Plumlee then started making calls to his family shortly thereafter and their camp was kind enough to give us the word first of his commitment to the defending national champion, Duke Blue Devils.
He is happy to be a part of the Duke Family and stated he is ready to go to work to continue to get better.
Marshall Plumlee is relieved to be a Blue Devil - All photos, copyright BDN Photo
The youngest Plumlee joins Michael Gbinije and Tyler Adams in the class of 2011. Duke will now turn their attention to Austin Rivers who will play in this week's Peach Jam which BDN will once again cover. Stay tuned for an interview with the newest Dukie on BDN Premium.
Sidebar - Up next for Marshall will be Minneapolis and Las Vegas on the AAU circuit.
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