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Notes from McDonald’s Game practice March, 29, 2011Mar 291:37PM

ETEmailPrintComments3By Dave Telep, ESPN RecruitingPractices at the McDonald’s All-American Game kicked off on Sunday.

I arrived in Chicago late Sunday night and caught my first action for Monday’s set. My initial observation was that the West team was loaded. Halfway through the practice 75 percent of the NBA scouts were watching the West over the East squad, so I feel pretty good about my gut instinct. 1. Scout sees trait in Kabongo It’s no big secret what we think about Texas signee Myck Kabongo (Toronto, Ont./Findlay Prep). Basically, my gut says the kid is a big-time winner and leader. One NBA scout on Monday asked the following question: "Is there anyone here with the leadership ability of Kabongo?" Probably not. Kabongo exudes energy and genuinely likes seeing his teammates have success. Like everyone, he’s got areas of his game that he can improve, but when it comes to the intangibles of leading and giving energy, he’s at the top. There were times in the practice where he was getting his hands on balls and locking up his man.

There were also times when Kentucky signee Marquis Teague (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike) was able to slide by him; Teague’s just that hard to guard. Teague is the better scorer, just as we figured coming into the game. He looks for his shot, hunts his offense and generally gets it. He can push it from the point guard slot and his quickness is tough to account for. In those areas, he’s a better talent than Kabongo. However, when it comes to making players around him better, that’s where Kabongo’s got the edge as the more natural playmaker and director of traffic.

2. Temper expectations for Birch Khem Birch (Toronto, Ont./Notre Dame) looks a little out of place at practice. You know why? Because we still haven’t quite warmed to the idea of him being a senior. Birch went back to his original 2011 classification last November and we began counting him as such. However, he doesn’t know the rest of the team and they aren’t as familiar with him presumably because they ran in different age groups during the bulk of Birch’s scholastic career. Birch is a talented, quiet young man with a big smile. The physical tools are there to be a very good prospect, however, he’s not ready to dominate in the Big East for Pittsburgh next season.

He’s more of a prospect than producer at this very moment and that’s a big delineation because of the expectations that he’ll bring to Pitt’s team, especially since he’s Jamie Dixon’s second McDonald’s All-American. I’m quite sure Dixon is thrilled to have Birch, but he probably understands that his new center is not Jared Sullinger; he’s not wired up that way. Birch needs strength, which will add to his confidence, especially on offense. Next year, as a freshman, expect him to give Pitt a presence as a shot blocker, a big who can run the floor and as he develops in the program, his offensive and rebounding numbers will ascend. Just don’t expect him to sport the Superman cape right from the start.

 

3. Davis or Rivers? Rivers or Davis? I had a chance to speak with a number of NBA scouts during the practice session. Their first impression jives pretty much with our ESPN rankings. Kentucky signee Anthony Davis (Chicago/Perspectives Charter) is the best long-term prospect and Duke signee Austin Rivers (Winter Park, Fla./Winter Park) is the only other guy in the conversation. None of them — like us — are quite sure which turns out to be the better player. Basically, we’re thinking these guys remain 1-2 in the rankings. 4. Wiltjer has range There are three wing prospects that have super strokes in this game. Georgia signee Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Greenville, Ga./Greenville) doesn’t own the textbook stroke, but its sweet. His teammate, UNC signee P.J. Hairston (Greensboro, N.C./Hargrave) will pull it in from anywhere and Florida signee Bradley Beal (St. Louis, Mo./Chaminade) is in the conversation. The three aforementioned guys are guards. The big with the top stroke — at least it was on Monday — was future Kentucky PF Kyle Wiltjer (Portland, Ore./Jesuit). Think about this for a second: he’s Kentucky’s fourth-rated recruit and is still a Top 20 prospect. That’s pretty scary.

On Monday night, he won the event’s 3-point contest. One scout used Austin Croshere as the comparison. Wiltjer’s game starts outside and that’s where he’s most comfortable. He rebounded well last summer and that was a separating factor in his rise up the charts. One of Monday’s highlights was an old school, George Mikan-throw back hook shot. He had a great day on Monday and given the fact that this game doesn’t have many aircraft carriers, Wiltjer may find himself with good perimeter looks in Wednesday’s game and he could make a difference for the West. This game could be played with even more tempo than usual. It’s spelled Gilchrist And finally, we end on fellow Kentucky signee Michael Gilchrist (Somerdale, N.J./St. Patrick). The name on his practice jersey was spelled "Gilcrist" but he’s the same Michael we’ve come to know and respect. The blunder won’t carry over into the real game as we’ve seen his game jersey and that one is spelled properly!

[HaleParticipant]

Good stuff. I wish they would’ve went into the Rivers-Davis thing a little bit more though.

[skip-bayless-is-my-hero]

ryan boatright and chasson randle were the illinois players of the year and neither of them gets into this game being played in illinois. blackshear came in third and is clearly a step behind these two talent wise.

[JNixonParticipant]

I’m interested in Kentavious Caldwell’s ability. I haven’t seen him play but people from this area say he’s a great scorer and solid shooter. Supposedly a similar player to Kenny Boynton, except bigger but not quite as quick.

[stepback3Participant]

Does someone know when Stephen Adams is going 2 play 4 Pitt

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

 Is when Steven Adams is set to come to Pittsburgh, so next year is his last year in HS.

[The lake show2]

Damn Kentucky is gonna be a monster next year

[Real Talk Real TrophiesParticipant]

Hopefully win the ship this year and reload again next year. Great to be a cats fan right now (thank god we got rid of billy g, but best to luck to him in texas tech as he is gonna need it). Go Big Blue!

[delfamParticipant]

 ^ they should be stacked next year, but I’m still worried about their toughness inside with Wiltjer and Davis and I’m worried about their bench. Still should be awesome to watch next year.

[lalailaParticipant]

seems like Davis is no Henson or Perry and he can play from day one..that’s scary how good of a prospect he could become.. 

[The lake show2]

Yeah i worry about who there banger is gonna be. Davis is more of a face up wing 4. Kyle can bang a little and has alot of skills in the post. They are just gonna have to man the post by committee

[OnionsParticipant]

 Not sold on Davis until he is actually ballling. I’ve watched a handful of his high school games and he just wasn’t that good. Clearly a blocking game changer, very long, rather fluid for his size, decent ball handling, but not much else.

 

We’ll see.

[The lake show2]

I’m with you as far as not sold yet. I need to see what he does against good comp( when he starts playing in college). The League he played in was pretty bad from what i heard and his team was awful

[delfamParticipant]

 ^ Eloy Vargas needs to step up next year, he was JUCO player of the year and showed nothing this year. He obvioulsy has talent and he seems like he could bring the toughness they need.

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