PINEHURST - A swarm of media has descended upon scenic Pinehurst for the annual ACC Football Kickoff. The media voted for the projected standings yesterday and they were released at 1:00 today. Here is a look at the results -
ATLANTIC - 1- Florida State, 2- Clemson, 3-0 N.C. State, 4- Boston College, 5- Maryland, 6- Wake Forest
COASTAL - 1 - Virginia Tech, 2- Miami, 3- UNC, 4- Georgia Tech, 5- Virginia, 6- Duke
RB Montel Harris of Boston College is the projected ACC Player of the Year, followed by E.J, Manuel, the FSU QB. Florida State has been picked to win the championship game over Virginia Tech.
Duke will almost certainly post the results in their locker room in that they have defeated UVA for three straight season, yet are 36 points behind them in the vote.
At 6'10" and 260 pounds, Dakari Johnson can't play in the shadow of many people, but behind St. Patrick's star player Michael Gilchrist, he was able to have a relatively smooth and productive freshman season, incrementally improving month by month. The rising sophomore ultimately averaged nine rebounds and three blocks per game, while playing against elite-level high school competition, starting six games for USA Today's number two high school team in the country. Johnson was named ESPN Rise's National Freshman of the Year for his significant contributions to the national power Celtics.
His talent and height are not necessarily an unexpected blessing. His mother, Makini Campbell, is 6'5" and played college basketball at Long Island University, while his father, Thomas Johnson is 6'10" and played for St. Francis College in Brooklyn, NY.
This wasn't Dakari's first experience playing varsity basketball. At Sayre Middle School, he played varsity basketball in Lexington, Kentucky, where Dakari and his mother had moved for a few years. This year, the Brooklyn native achieved a 3.7 grade point average in the classroom, while his mother was hired at St. Patrick's as an English teacher, when a position became available during the school year.
In a critical match-up against eventual National Prep champion St. Thomas More and their star center 6'11" Andre Drummond, the Brooklyn freshman stepped up his game, scoring twelve points and grabbing nine rebounds in a 73-61 win. After playing a vital role on his 26-1 Celtics team, the fifteen year-old manned the middle for a Gauchos AAU team in desperate need of an interior presence. Johnson will, however, be sidelined for the foreseeable future with a sprained ankle suffered during the LeBron James Skills Academy, where he was one of the youngest participants.
In June, the 2014 prospect competed as part of the USA Basketball's Developmental National Team in Colorado Springs. Despite ultimately not getting selected for this year's 16U team, Coach Showalter had very complimentary things to say about Dakari's long-term potential and future with USA Basketball. One big decision on the immediate horizon for Johnson is whether he will return to St. Patrick's following the departure of long-time Celtics head coach, Kevin Boyle, who left to take a similar but more financially lucrative position with Montverde Academy in Florida.
Recently, Dakari, a friendly and precocious young man, spoke briefly with Blue Devil Nation about his USA Basketball experience, Kyrie Irving, and embracing his role as a low-post big man.
Can you tell the audience a little bit about yourself away from the court? Away from the court? Oh, I'm just a funny person who likes to just hang out with my friends and just chill.
What about your year at St. Patrick's and where are you going from here? My year at St. Patrick's was very good. I was the only freshman on my team. Did you feel like a rock star with all of the attention? (laughs) No, I didn't feel like a rock star, but I just had to play a role and you really feel like you develop month by month. Yeah, I think I came along at St. Pat's. Since we played in competition, I tried to raise my level of play. I think it really got me better.
[private] Are you a really good student? I know your mother teaches English... Do you know Mr. Konchalski? No, no… Oh, you mean Tom. Yeah, I know Tom. I'm sorry. I always call him Mr. Konchalski. (laughs) So, are you a good student? Yeah, I'm a very good student. I have a 3.7 average.
Are any colleges expressing interest at this point? Oh, yeah, Syracuse, Georgetown, Kentucky, Villanova, just a lot of them. A bunch of schools.
I assume you're wide open and in no rush to decide at this point, is that right? Oh, yeah, I'm wide open. No rush.
Have you taken any visits? Oh, yeah, I went to Georgetown for Midnight Madness. I took a visit to Kentucky last year and Louisville last year. Yeah, and I took a visit to Xavier last year.
Can you touch on the fact that you actually lived in Kentucky during middle school? You went down for various reasons and you guys came back for employment and basketball reasons. Yeah, I lived there. Because you're a Brooklyn boy too.. (laughs) Yeah, I'm a Brooklyn boy. I was in Kentucky during my middle school years and I actually played Varsity and J.V. Wow. (laughs) Great competition? (laughs) No, it wasn't the toughest.
Who do you try to model your game after? Andrew Bynum. Andrew Bynum? Yeah, I could see that. Yeah, Andrew Bynum. He's got long arms and a big body like me. I hope to become like him one day.
How big are you right now? I'm about 6'11" and 260.
What are you trying to do with your body? Trying to get stronger, trying to hit the weight room, lose some fat. Everybody has a trainer these days, do you have a trainer? Yeah, I got a trainer his name is John.
What are your strengths and weaknesses? My strengths are being mentally tough and my post play. My weaknesses are my conditioning, but I've gotten better at that really for the past month since I've been training. I'm trying to take some weight off.
That's good. In terms of position, do you view yourself as more of a four or a five? I wouldn't say I'm a pure five, but, if I have to play the four, I can. I'm very open to either.
Have you tried to work on your face-up game or are you more of a back-to-the-basket guy? I've been trying to just work on shooting the ball. I want to be able to stay with my strength, but I want to shoot better, so I'm going to work on my face-up game, too.
Can you comment on your mother? Like you, she's also taller than me. She's about 6'5", right? (laughs) Yeah, she plays basketball. Really, she's alright... I guess. (laughs)
Have you ever played against her? I've played against her, but I think she stopped about maybe six months ago. She's busy with all of those English papers. (laughs)
I know this is a touchy issue, but are you going back to St. Pat's? I don't know, I'm not sure, I don't want to comment on that. (laughs)
Can you talk about USA Basketball? You didn't make the team, but I read that Coach Showalter said that of all of the guys there, you had the highest potential long-term. What was it like going through that experience and what did you learn?
USA Basketball was a great experience. I enjoyed going out there and it took some time to learn what USA Basketball was all about. When I went out there, I understood what it was all about and what it would mean to make the team.
What did you guys do out there and can you touch on the bonding? Well, mainly we had two sessions, the evening and afternoon, we did drills and had scrimmages. We ate in between and really just hung out.
I remember from a couple of years ago Kyle Anderson when he was your age, he was talking about how much of an adjustment it was dealing with the altitude being from the East Coast. He said it was so hard to breathe, he felt like he was going to pass out when he was running. (laughs) That really didn't affect me that much. Well, he's more of a guard. Yeah, it really didn't affect me that much.
Alright, well, what's your relationship like with Jahlil Okafor? Do you view it as a friendly rivalry? You're two of the best players in the class. He said you've known one another since third grade. No, Jahlil is a good player and we're very good friends. He used to play for the Arkansas Mustangs when we were younger. I've known him for a long time and we have a very good relationship.
I asked him about you and I figured I'd just do the same for you. Who's the toughest player that you've ever gone against? So far, probably Andre Drummond. I was actually at that game. Oh, yeah, that was packed. You could barely get a seat (laughs), but, yeah, he was a very good player.
I thought you played really well that day, so did he. Do you know Kyrie? Do you have any relationship with him? And what was your reaction when he was announced the #1 draft pick? Oh, yeah, I know Kyrie. I've talked to him a few times. I'm happy that he's made it to the NBA.
Before you were talking about conditioning..what you are you doing to improve on it and what about explosion, too? I've just been working out with my trainer and I stayed at his house for about two weeks and we did arms and legs.
It looks like it's paying dividends in your shoulders. (laughs) Oh, yeah. Is he in New Jersey? Oh, yeah, he's in New Jersey. I just do a lot of weight training and a lot of leg work.
Did you have a favorite school growing up? Not necessarily what you might like now.. In college? I liked Syracuse growing up because I liked Carmelo Anthony, my favorite NBA player.
Now at the NBA level, what's your favorite team? The New York Knicks. Finally! Thank God, I finally found one guy. (laughs)
Everybody's a Laker fan or whatever's easiest at the time. Do you like to be a big and have you embraced it? There are some guys that are like 7'1" and are sure that God intended them to be a shooting guard. (laughs) No, I like being a big, you know, I played that role all my life, so...sometimes I'll hit a 15 footer, but I think I need to concentrate on my low-post skills.
Mr. Konchalski, for example, thought that it was very advanced of you that, at such an early age, you recognized what your bread and butter is, so to speak. You weren't trying to be something that you weren't. Yeah, that's not something I'm interested in.
What's your projected size? My projected size is 7'2."
Wow. Do you have any hard offers yet? Yeah, Georgetown and Xavier offered me. Those are the two that offered me. I'm sure that there'll be plenty. (laughs) Yeah, I haven't really taken any more visits yet. This summer at the beginning of August I'll take some more visits.
And who will be on the trip with you? Probably my mom or someone else. I'm not really sure yet. We haven't set any dates yet, but I know I'm going.
How have you enjoyed your experience at LeBron? So far, I've enjoyed it a a lot even though the last few games I'm not going to play because of my ankle. I'm going to see if I can go to a medical doctor.
What happened? I saw you on the ground. It looked like a tower going down. (laughs) I went to the basket and someone took a charge down low and I just fell on it.
Thanks a lot, Dakari Oh, sure, thank you.[/private]
Each year, there is, at least, one fresh face that demands attention be paid to him through unexpectedly good play in the AAU season. A player will seemingly come out of nowhere and vault to the front of his class. Some attribute this novelty to being a "late bloomer," an improved work ethic, coming from an underreported community, fruits finally being born from the labor of hard work, or a late growth spurt. Two years ago, the player was Kyrie Irving. Anthony Davis was last year's primary example. This year, Mitch McGary of Brewster Academy is on the short list of everybody's favorite player in 2012. The Chesterton, Indiana native has transformed his body, his low-post game, and his commitment to academics to such a degree that he's now capable of being recruited by all of the major college basketball powers.
McGary has become the poster child for the benefits of New England prep school basketball. It's rustic locations, small college-quality facilities, low teacher-to-student ratios, high-caliber coaching, and the most talent-rich leagues in the country have caused players to gravitate to these New England powers from around the country.
These past four months, the social big man has enjoyed both individual success, including at the NBA 100 Camp and LeBron James Skills Academy, and, while playing for SYF AAU program, team success, including winning the recent NY2LA Summer Jam in suburban Milwaukee.
Recently, Mitch received new offers, including one from Duke University. He spoke again with Blue Devil Nation about a variety of topics, including the influence of sneaker companies, his metamorphosis at Brewster from vocally supportive sixth man to being one of the most sought after recruits in the country, and whether he's looking for more of a buddy or an adult figure in his college head coach.
How do you feel your summer's going? It's going good. I'm honored to be here and all of the other camps, like the Amar'e camp. I feel like I'm going against the best of the best between here and the NBA Top 100 camp, so it's been good so far.
Can you talk about going from being a Big Ten prospect...highly regarded, but maybe not on this level...to being considered arguably the most dominant big guy in your class? You're sort of in the middle of it, but what's going through your mind about that right now It's been pretty cool. I mean, my overall improvement on and off the court, making me more mature and responsible, I think the transition to Brewster. It's been 100% percent improvement.
[private] You're like the poster child for the Brewster program. (laughs) Yeah, just moving out there really helped me a lot. I mean, that's all I've got to say, pretty much. Coach Jason Smith does a great job with us out there. From an academic standpoint, the teachers do a great job out there, too.
(Mike "Peegs" Pegram) Have you been home for a while? I've been home for a month on-and-off, between the camps and stuff.
(Mike "Peegs" Pegram) Have your old high school buddies noticed any changes? Um, yeah, but I haven't really played with them yet. When I come home, I usually play, but this time they noticed I was a little bit taller, a little bit more cut, a little more defined, they noticed my body. They said it's incredible, the transition. (laughs)
(Mike "Peegs" Pegram) Are you talking about guys or girls? Both (laughs). I love it when we're playing together and they say I'm a lot stronger than I used to be. Girls like it, I guess, too.
Has this been a fun process or stressful? Yeah, it's been fun overall. I mean I'm honored that I went to Brewster and, even though I had to leave my hometown high school, which was tragic for me and stuff... You know growing up there and giving up all of my friends and family. I thought it was something I had to do. I had to make a choice. I had some consequences before that and I just had to turn my life around, I guess, start being mature.
How did your trip to Michigan go the other day? Oh, it went great. I liked the coaches. I see Coach Meyer over there with that yellow and blue jumpsuit. It's cool. I like him. He's a great big man coach. I talked to all of the coaches there and they really want me. There's a rumor that it's between me and Gary Harris, whoever commits first, but we may have to wait and see and see how everything plays out.
In terms of a timeline, if this were a baseball game, how far along do you think you are in your recruitment? You mean before I commit? I mean I'll probably commit before the season starts.. so whatever that is (laughs)
Whatever that is.. It seems like you're tied in with Gary Harris for some schools. Have you guys talked about that? Yeah, I mean, a little bit. I mean, he knows what's up. How's it going, G? (shakes hands with Gary Harris)
(Mike "Peegs" Pegram) Purdue and Indiana, where do they stand? I mean, a little bit, right now. I mean, everyone wants to go hometown state, but I mean, I won't say they're out of the picture, but they're kind of on the bottom part of my list. I'm wide open to everybody, but they're just kind of on the bottom of it. Just because they haven't been talking to me lately and stuff. I mean, they're still in contact. I just don't think that they're going to be right there.
Can you talk about that list that you're going to be coming out with? Yeah, I'm coming out with a list next month with my AAU coach.
How big will this list be? 5 schools? 10? It'll probably be about 10.
How has this camp gone and what have you learned about yourself? It's gone good. Pretty much every top player from every AAU team is here. It helps you measure out your strengths and weaknesses and how well you're matching up against the other big-time players.
What kind of guy is toughest for you to defend? Jarnell Stokes. He's like a Coke machine with legs. (laughs)
You did well against him tonight, you got him on a few plays. Yeah, I felt happy with it. I mean I probably have a little weight on him. I may not look it cause I'm a little leaner, but I'm about 260 and he's probably about 250. Yeah, he only had that one fadeaway over you. Yeah, he only had that one, but he's tough. I mean, overall, I think Julius Randle would've been the hardest guy for me to defend here, but he's on my team, fortunately.
(Mike "Peegs" Pegram) What's going on for you in July after this? The Super Showcase in Kansas City.
Did you talk to any of the college guys at all? Yeah, I talked to Thomas Robinson, T-Rob, he's kind of like a big brother to me. He went to Brewster. I talk to him a lot, not just about Kansas, but about the whole recruiting process. He wants me to go to Kansas and stuff, and that worked for him, but it's just like he taught me a lot about the recruiting process..who to trust and stuff like that. And so he's been good to me, I like him.
Can you talk about keeping the passionate mentality and always being supportive of your teammates, as you were on the bench at Brewster, while now being the team's resident star? Staying vocal out here...I frankly wondered if you'd change. Yeah, I mean once you make it to the collegiate level… let alone whoever makes it to the NBA, you're going to have to talk. Like we were watching LeBron play and he was non-stop talking. I mean, if you want to be the best that you can be for you and your team, being vocal out there is a key.
Touch on the importance of being vocal, in terms of leadership. Yeah, absolutely, it is. It's really good for leadership. I guess I wasn't really like the talkative kid growing up. I was just the goofy kid, but I had a loud mouth so, you know, it just stayed with me I guess.
Well, I mean you've got a lot of energy.. Yeah, yeah, absolutely
Not just here... At Brewster and with SYF too Yeah, yeah..I mean also wear the arm sleeve and the headband too. I mean I could probably break it out (laughs) next weekend or something
No, no, that's all right. (laughs) I can do it next week if that's something that you want (laughs)
No, no, that's okay. No, but I think it really just rolled over. I like being the real leader, even if I'm probably the biggest dude on the court. I mean I guess I've always grown up as the biggest kid and being the real leader among all of my friends and family.
Beats having to learn how to fight because you're not 6'10" (laughs) Yeah, well, My parents wanted me to be a good leader and I guess it just carried over. I mean, we just beat the number one team, so that was great. I guess that means it's a good day.
Talk about being a good teammate. I had talked to some of your teammates both at Brewster and SYF. They both really raved about you, but what do you hope your teammates say about you when you walk away? I hope that they think that I play really hard and with a lot of heart and passion. I hope they like playing with me and that I have a lot of heart, like I said. Overall, that I'm just a worker and that I'm just the hardest worker on the floor.
Some of them have said that, you don't have to worry. (laughs)
What are you looking for on your visits? Mostly, first of all, I want to find a great head coach that'll take me in like his own son.
That was one thing I wanted to touch on. Are you looking for more of a buddy-coach or an adult figure? Because some guys are looking for one or the other... Oh, definitely an adult. Because some guys were just looking for a friend or something. Oh, yeah, I know, but I just want someone who's going to encourage me and teach me. I'm willing to learn, so... The greatest players are always going to need a coach and be able and willing to learn.
Back to the visits, what else are you looking for? Basically, some colleges most guys that are there like the names and stuff. And the schools I've already been to, I already knew the players there. I'm always interested in speaking to the players because the coaches don't necessarily always speak the truth, but the players are going to speak the truth to you. They'll tell you things that you wouldn't otherwise find out til you get there. There are things that the coaches might not tell you before you get there. I want to actually know some of the players that go there. You know, like with Michigan, one of my good friends Zack Novak..
He's from your hometown. Yeah, he is. I'm really good friends with him and he speaks the truth about coaches at Michigan and like truthfully, how the coaches are to deal with.
In terms of that list that you were mentioning before, who's going to help you make it more manageable? Your dad? Yeah, my AAU coach and my dad.
This is a sort of Kyrie Irving type question, but you've sort of come out of nowhere and you sort of moved up the rankings steadily and ultimately came up very high. Do you think you were always this good and nobody noticed or do you think you've gotten considerably better in an extremely short period of time or a mixture? (laughs) It might have been a mixture, I mean, everybody on my AAU team is one of the best players on their high school team, but at Brewster I wasn't the best player. I guess that encouraged me to get a lot better.
I mean, you guys were stacked though. Yeah, I know. I just had to transform my body and stuff and work on my skills. I guess everything turned good. That's a good question.
This is one I've never asked a player on the record before, but I've always been curious about-- what kind of impact do the sneaker companies have over you and do you honestly care what sneaker of the program that you ultimately choose is? I mean I don't care. I've always worn Nike growing up, but, at Brewster, I'm Adidas and my AAU team just got signed with Under Armor. I don't really care.
That's exactly why I was asking because you're with all three of the major sneaker companies. Yeah, I don't really care, as long as the shoe fits and supports me, I'll run with it. I don't care how it looks.
Who are some of the assistants or head coaches that you've enjoyed talking to? Rick Pitino, when he was at Florida... I should say Richard Pitino. Now that he's at Louisville, I've lost touch with him. I like him a lot. And I like Coach Book.
Yeah, he's from my area. He used to be with the Gauchos and now he's at Arizona. Yeah, exactly. And I also like Coach Ogden of Texas. Those three are probably my favorite and Coach Meyer from Michigan too.
Have you seen any ACC schools? Do you have any visits planned? Hopefully, Duke and North Carolina. I'm not really sure when, though.
Will that come after July probably? Yeah, probably. Yeah, after the AAU thing. North Carolina offered me so I probably have to go down for an unofficial.
Has Duke offered you? I'm not sure quite yet, Coach K called.
They're clearly watching you. Oh, yeah, I noticed.
Thank you very much, Mitch. Oh, no problem.
[/private]
I'm on the road to Augusta, Georgia for the Nike Peach Jam, so Monday Musings has been cancelled this week. To hold you over, here is a brief interview with Ryan Kelly from the NC Pro Am -
Duke is showing interest in Davonta Pollard - BDN Photo
Davonta Pollard is a multi sport athlete that stands 6-7 and weighs in at 200 pounds. Pollard plays AAU ball for the Southern Phenoms and goes to Kemper High School in DeKalb, Mississippi. Pollard is one of the top rated players in the class of 2012 and he recently sat down with BDN to discuss the latest on the recruiting front.
You were just talking to some guys from an N.C. State site. They are one of two ACC schools you mentioned. What do you think about the Wolfpack?
I like their basketball program and staff. They're rebuilding and putting in a new weight room and it seems like it will be a good school in the future.
There is a lot of buzz concerning the Blue Devils as well ...
I talked to both Wojo and Coach Kand they were just telling me what they'd [private] heard about me and asked if I were interested in coming to Duke and I told them that yes, I was. I haven't taken a visit to Duke yet because that was my first time talking to them. I plan on going to visit them and looking at their school. They have a great basketball program.
You are being chased by a lot of SEC schools as well,. Can you list them, please?
Yes sir. Kentucky, Georgetown, LSU, Mississippi state, Ole Miss, Alabama.
Who will play big roles in advising you on your collegiate decision?
My mom. She will be the key in helping me with my coach. And there is also Darrell Carter, a football and basketball coach at our school. He came into our district three years ago and we've had a bond since then. He's like a brother or father to me, so I look up to him.
Do you play other varsity sports in high school?
Yes sir. I play football.
Have some of the coaches recruiting you tried to persuade you to give football up and concentrate on hoops?
Some coaches have and some tell me that I'm young and to enjoy life. Really, I played football before I played basketball.
Describe your game in your own words for our members.
I'm an all around player that can do a little bit of everything. I can take a guard and put him on the block. I need to work on my ball handling skills and jumper and I can always get stronger.
You'll be going to the Nike Skills Academies, right?
Yes sir. The Lebron James and Derron Williams camp.
Is their a definitive timetable on your coming decision?
I really don't know but if things work out I plan on deciding in the spring.
What are you looking for from a coaching staff in college?
Willing to help a kid, accompany his dream and help him be his best and get to the next level. I like coaches to be straight with me and tell me what I need to work on. I want to go pro so I will do anything I need to accomplish my goal
Are you hesitant of going to a big time school where you will have tpo battle for playing time?
No sir. I love competition.
Where did you first learn your basketball skills or who taught you the game?
My mom and my dad. My mom was a player, she went to Kemper High and then she went to Delta State and got drafted by the WNBA's Chicago Hustlers. My mom wants me to go wherever I'm comfortable and she'll be happy with that. She wants someone who will work and push me to become my best.
Is it important for you to go to a school where most every game is televised?
That's not a big deal because she is going to be at the games.
So, she is planning on moving to follow you?
Yes sir. She will come for the first year and no matter where she might be after that, she will find a way to get to games.
Thanks for your time Davonta and we'll be keeping tabs on your progress.
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