Nike Global Challenge: Day 2By: ipowers

By Ian Powers
NBADraft.net

Portland, OR – Day 2 of the Nike Global Challenge in Portland got off to a great start for the USA West/South team. They were led by versatile 6’8" forwards Terence Jones (Jefferson/Portland) and C.J. Leslie (Word of God Academy/ Raleigh, NC). Jones and Leslie set the tone early with their outstanding end to end play.

Jones is more of 4 than a 3 at this stage in his development but has a nice handle and passing skills that could eventually allow him to move to the wing permanently. He finishes in traffic with authority and has the length to give wings and bigs problems. The only thing lacking in his game is a consistent outside stroke.

Leslie shows flashes of being able to do a little bit of everything. On one possession he took the ball off the glass and handled the ball coast to coast for a pretty layup. The next time down the floor he threw up an ill advised shot with a defender hanging all over him which resulted in an empty trip. His game has yet to be defined, but he is active on the glass and is very effective around the basket. Earlier in the summer he was criticized for having some difficulty finishing in traffic, but today he did a much better job of that. Both Jones and Leslie both have nice upside and will be interesting guys to watch in the future as they both possess the size and length that NBA teams covet in wing players. The only question is whether or not they be able to make a full transition.

Austin Rivers (Winter Park,Fl) had a complete 180 degree turnaround from yesterday’s performance. He seemed determined to put last night’s game behind him and he came out aggressive. This tournament has shown that he is a lot less effective without the ball in his hands. At 6’4" he needs to think about becoming more of a lead guard instead of a 2 because he will have trouble getting his shot off against elites because of his (just) good athleticism against bigger defenders.

Jones led all scorers with 22 points on an efficient 10-19 from the field, followed by Rivers’ 21 and Leslie’s 17. Kendall Marshall ( Arlington, VA/ Bishop O’ Connell) is a steady floor general who will give Roy Williams a guy who will run the show efficiently and smoothly. He set everyone up with a 10 assist effort highlighted by some nifty passes that definitely got the attention of everyone in attendance. He has great size at 6’4", respectable jumper, and has a chance to be a solid prospect for the NBA level.

The second game was a dandy as USA Midwest looked to rebound after a last second buzzer beater to Senegal yesterday. The man of the hour, day, and night was without question Harrison Barnes( Ames, IA). He has firmly established hmself as the best player in the country, bar none, including Michael Gilchrist.

Barnes was fantastic, especially in the second half. The Serbian team had absolutely no answer for him as he willed his team to a 9 point overtime victory. The long ball was going in and his dribble drive game is becoming more and more of a weapon for him. He blocked shots and played the passing lanes which led to two breakaway dunks that seemed to energize the entire team. He was often sparring verbally with members of the Serbian team and showed a nasty demeanor that should put to rest any talk of him being soft. He was a man amongst boys today, finishing with 46 points and 14 rebounds including 6 long balls, 4 steals, as well as 12-13 performance at the line. He is the clear cut favorite as the # 1 pick in the 2011 draft and it’s not close at this point.

He was joined in the effort by 6’6" Texan Cameron Clark (Sherman,TX). Clark was dialed in from long range. Although his mechanics are not textbook, his jumper seems to be pretty consistent and his athleticism is NBA caliber. Clark is making a strong case for a spot in 2010 McDonald’s All American game with his 20 point effort today.

Once again USA Midwest got absolutely nothing from Perry Jones (Duncanville,TX). His stat line read 0pts, 1 reb, 1 blk and 3 fouls in 17 minutes. Yes, he had more fouls than points, rebounds, and blocks combined. It is inexcusable for someone so talented to play with zero fire or sense of urgency. One NBA scout said that saying Jones was going through the motions was giving his effort too much credit because he wasn’t even doing that. Another observer said that he could be either really special or a complete bust. If he has any ideas of ever being a # 1 pick he needs to dig deep and find the will that Harrison Barnes displayed today in leading his team to victory.

The final game of the day was between USA East and Brazil. Josh Selby (Baltimore, MD/ Lake Clifton) picked up where he left off by imposing his will and putting the ball in the hole. He is not a pure point by any stretch of the imagination, but has enough skill to be a lead guard.

Kyrie Irving (Elizabeth, NJ/ St. Patrick’s) had another outstanding game. He is a pure point, who is always poised and never in a hurry. Irving continually made the right play to put his teammates in position to score. It will more than likely take him a couple of years, but he has all of the tools that NBA teams covet.