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Date Posted: 14:07:09 02/06/03 Thu
Author: Chatter
Subject: Here's snippet of info off the Hoop Scoop site regarding the State of Kentucky high school players:

........We bring this up because 6'2 Jr Rajon Rondo from Louisville (Eastern) KY achieved legendary status last month in the Louisville Invitational Tournament, as he set the all-time tournament scoring record with 148 points in five games, as he averaged 29.6 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 5.4 apg, and 5.1 spg. Rondo also scored 47 points, which is second highest individual single game scoring performance in L.I.T. history, in the semi-finals against Louisville (Pleasure Ridge Park) KY, which at the time was the #1-ranked team in the state. Rondo has always used his incredible athleticism to thrive in transition, but this season he's taken his game to another level, as his ball handling and passing skills have greatly improved and he's one of the best rebounders we've seen in a long time considering his lack of size. However, we still question the consistency on Rondo's jump shot, as well as his grades, attitude, and whether he's the lock that a lot of people seem to think he is for the University of Louisville. Sure, the Cardinals have interest in Rondo, but they also are believed to be among the leaders for a number of the top guards, including 5'11 Jr Sebastian Telfair from Brooklyn (Lincoln) NY, 6'4 Arron Afflalo from Compton (Centennial) CA, 6'2 Jr Russell Robinson from New York (Rice) NY, and 6'3 Jr Chris Lofton from Maysville (Mason County) KY, in the junior class nationally. In other words, Rondo's recruitment is just as wide open, as the direction his career may take in the future.
And Rondo isn't the only player in the state who has already achieved a legendary status, but who has plenty of questions that have yet to be answered. Obviously we're talking about 6'3 O.J. Mayo from Ashland (Rose Hill) KY, who not only is the consensus #1-ranked 8th grader in the nation, but also perhaps the best player in the state regardless of class. As a matter of fact, Rick Bolus, the Editor & Publisher of the High Potential Recruiting Service, ranked Mayo ahead of Rondo as the best player in the state in his February Report. And Bolus might be right, because Mayo is savvy beyond his years and is already so skilled, athletic, and mature that he's capable of dominating right now against the top juniors and seniors in high school. But will Mayo grow any more? If he doesn't, he'll have to project as a point guard, especially if he wants to play in the NBA someday. Mayo does have good ball handling and passing skills and, as a result, often brings the ball up the court and starts the offense for his high school team. However, he also has a tendency to take bad shots and force things when he's under a lot of pressure. And how good an outside shooter is Mayo? His 3-point shot looks good at times, but he lacks consistency, which will be necessary for him to develop into a big time college 2-guard. Remember, we're not just talking about another good player. Instead, there are people out there who think Mayo is going to be the next LaBron James, which is something that isn't going to happen, unless he grows five or six inches and improves dramatically in a number of different areas. We also aren't sure how much better Mayo will get? Not only does it appear that Mayo matured early, but the word is that he's almost two years older than his grade. To illustrate our point even further, after attending the 14-Under National AAU Tournament in Orlando, FL and, as a result, having seen nearly all of the top players in the grade ahead of him, I think it is safe to say I would not rank Mayo among the top 10 players in the Class of 2006, which really is class he should be in. In other words, what you see might be what you get. But probably still will be good enough for Mayo to project in the 15-30 range nationally in his class when he's a senior in high school.
Also very much in the air is the race for Kentucky's Mr. Basketball. Our guess is that 6'8 Ross Neltner from Ft. Thomas (Highlands) KY will win this coveted honor, because he's been there the longest and the strongest. However, our Kentucky Editor Larry Kihnley ranks 6'7 Justin Doellman from Union (Ryle) KY as the top senior in the state. As a matter of fact, Kihnley thinks Doellman is a poor man's Michael Dunleavy. "Obviously he's not as good nor is he as athletic as Dunleavy," say Kihnley. "But I like the comparison, because Doellman has a wiry frame, is very skilled, and offensively gets to the hole, dunks, and shoots the three." And unlike Neltner, who may not be athletic enough nor big and strong enough to be more than a good role player LSU, Doellman appears to be a perfect fit for Xavier, which stole him when he was a junior. The guy with the most name recognition in the state is 6'3 Michael Bush from Louisville (Male) KY, but the value of Bush's stock has dropped dramatically during the last year-and-a-half, because he doesn't play hard. Bush, who also is the best senior football prospect in the state, has also been plagued by injuries this season and, as a result, he's let it be known that he plans to concentrate exclusively on football in college. The most naturally gifted player in the class might just be 6'6 David Cornwell from Louisville (Western) KY, but he has no shot at winning Mr. Basketball, because he's only played briefly the last two seasons. As a matter of fact, Cornwell is now at his fourth high school and has a record of off-the-court problems so bad that even most junior colleges will be afraid to take him. However, if Cornwell ever gets his act together, he's ideally suited as an undersized power forward for the mid-major level. The player with the most potential in the senior class appears to be 6'7 Guy Ngarndi from Louisville (Western) KY, but right now his defense is way ahead of his offense as his forte is shot blocking, rebounding, and defending. The biggest sleeper in the senior class is 6'5 Donte Sweatt from Louisville (Pleasure Ridge Park) KY, who currently is ranked first on his team in scoring, second in both shot blocking and rebounding, and third in assists. But this versatile athlete, who is equally effective both inside and outside, doesn't get the attention or notoriety that he deserves, because he does everything so effortlessly. Also still available in the senior class is 6'2 Sean Booker from Louisville (Ballard) KY, but he needs to become more consistent and develop a true position in order to be a steal at the mid-major level.
Originally we thought the next great class in Kentucky was going to be the Class of 2004, but 6'8 Jr Robbie Simpson, who was the #2-ranked player in the class a year ago, transferred when school started last fall from Louisville (Seneca) KY to Durham (Mt. Zion Christian) NC. We also didn't know that 6'3 Jr William Graham from Lexington (Catholic) KY wasn't going to grow. If you will recall, Graham was projected to be 6'7 or 6'8 by now. And how about 6'5 Jr Shawn Ballard from Richmond (Madison Central) KY not getting any better than he was two years ago when he was part of a good supporting cast as a freshman? However, Rondo and 6'3 Jr Chris Lofton from Maysville (Mason County) KY, who was the MVP in the King of the Bluegrass, have both exceeded expectations and 6'10 Jr Terrance Farley from Louisville (Pleasure Ridge Park) KY continues to make strides. The sophomore class lacks size, but 5'11 Soph JuJuan Spillman from Louisville (Pleasure Ridge Park) KY, 6'2 Soph Maurice Grinter from Fairdale (H.S.) KY, 5'11 Soph Dominic Tilford from Jeffersontown (H.S.) KY, 5'11 Soph Aaron Cash from Mt. Vernon (Rockcastle County) KY, and 6'4 Soph Ravon Lee from Louisville (Ballard) KY are all good enough to keep an eye on. In contrast, the freshman class features several players with quality size in 6'9 Jr Josh Clemons from Hartford (Ohio County) KY and 6'6 Frosh Patrick Elliott from McKee (Jackson County) KY, as well as a big time athlete in 6'3 Frosh Bill Walker, who promises to help Mayo provide Rose Hill with the best one-two punch in the state for years to comes.
____________________________________________________________

Is Chris Lofton a lock for Louisville? I thought he was considering UC at one time? I like the comments about Guy Ngarndi........reminds me of Kenyon. I read awhile back an article about Ngarndi doing some drill off the backboard that coach Huggs has only seen one other player be able to do and that Kenyon Martin. I also hear Ngarndi plays taller than he is.

I can't believe all the raving about Doellman. I've had people tell me he's not that good. Xavier got a steal, huh? Sounds to me like they're going the "caucasian" route.....lol.

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