Earlier this morning we scouted Zak Irvin and a handful of other 2014 recruiting targets. In our second scouting report from Merrillville we focus on Tyler Wideman, Drake Harris, top 25 big man Cliff Alexander and many others.
Tyler Wideman 6-7 Center, Lake Central (Ind.)/Meanstreets, Class of 2014
Wideman is a bull. At 6-foot-7, and nearly 250 pounds, he is strong, athletic, and was one of the more traditional centers in Merrillville. A high school teammate of 2012 Michigan commit, Glenn Robinson III, Wideman has good court awareness, and is very comfortable with his back to the basket, boasting an arsenal of post moves. For his size, he’s quick, has good hands, and is a superb passer. He commands a double-team, but knows when to attack the basket, and when to pass out of it.
Wideman needs to improve his conditioning and decision-making on defense. He frequently has a hard time getting up and down the floor and commits some silly fouls, putting him in foul trouble, and sending him to the bench. The biggest question with Wideman is how much will he grow? He’s a nice, but limited, prospect at his current size but could be an elite prospect if he grows a few inches in the next couple of years.
Drake Harris: 6-4 Guard, Grand Rapids Christian/Meanstreets, Class of 2014
Harris is a two-sport star. He is an All-State wide receiver and caught 57 passes for over 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns but he might be a better basketball prospect. The question still remains whether he’ll play football, basketball or both at the next level.
Possibly the top 2014 hoops prospect in Michigan, Harris is a tremendous athlete with a deadly first step, and good slashing ability. He lets the game come to him but knows how to score, frequently creating his own offense. He plays well above the rim and is a phenomenal rebounding guard. Harris has a high motor, getting up and down the floor with ease, and is extremely smart, always making the right pass, and creating easy baskets for teammates. He’s got range from all over the floor, and is an above-average pull-up shooter. He’s always in control on the floor and is a pure scorer.
John Beilein and Tom Izzo have already attended a handful of Harris’ basketball and football games. Harris has offers from Michigan State, Indiana, Florida and Notre Dame and is as safe of a bet as any to earn a Michigan (basketball) offer in mid-June. Harris has been rumored to be leaning toward the Spartans but said that he doesn’t have a favorite yet.
Sean Sellers: 6-5 Guard/Forward Greensburg (Ind.)/Eric Gordon All-Stars, Class of 2014
Sellers is an extremely versatile guard/forward who can catch and shoot from three or break down a defense and get to the basket. At 6-foot-6, primarily playing off guard, Sellers was routinely too much to handle for the player guarding him, allowing him to get to the free-throw line often.
Sellers is strong, but he’s still developing and said he’s working hard on gaining weight. He said he likes Beilein’s system and thinks he’d be a good fit as a wing. He scored 25 points in his team’s last pool play game on Saturday, and had the highlight of the day, catching a pass in transition and dunking emphatically on his opponent. Sellers has a nose for the ball around the rim, allowing him to grab several offensive rebounds and easy put backs. He has the ability to penetrate, but is never out of control, and never takes a bad shot.
There’s nothing not to like about this kid’s game, and he still has a big up side. He led his team to a 6-0 record in Merrilville and is one of those kids who truly enjoys every minute he’s on the floor.
Bryant McIntosh: 6-2 Guard, Greensburg (Ind.)/Eric Gordon All-Stars, Class of 2014
McIntosh didn’t have a great performance on Saturday but showed good poise, and a good three-point stroke. He tended to fall in love with the corner jumper, and didn’t move very well without the ball, but when he has it in his hands, he has good vision, and is a very good passer.
McIntosh finished with seven points in a 78-45 blowout win against Spiece Gym Rats in pool play on Saturday, but the pass-first guard focused on getting his teammates involved. He was tenacious defensively, frequently getting into the ball handlers face, but stayed under control. He didn’t get a lot of steals, but bothered the opposing point guard, and didn’t allow the Gym Rats to ever get into an offensive flow.
McIntosh is high school teammates with Sellers and the backcourt duo had good chemistry, leading their team to a 6-0 record.
Cliff Alexander: 6-9 Center, Curie H.S. (Ill.)/D-Rose All-Stars, Class of 2014
Alexander played both 16U and 17U this weekend with mixed results. When playing against 16U teams, Alexander was aggressive, demanded the ball, and used his body and size to get buckets. But when Alexander played against U17 teams, including Irvin’s Eric Gordon All-Stars, he seemed a bit lost in the paint, and rarely fought for position on both ends of the floor.
Alexander, who had the highlight of the weekend, shattering a backboard on a thunderous dunk his last game on Saturday, runs the floor well, and is a good low-post shot blocker, but needs to be more aggressive against tougher competition. Alexander’s scary combination of size, athleticism and talent makes it obvious why he is so highly regarded by college coaches and even drew John Calipari’s eye on Friday night.
Ryan Fazekas: 6-7 Forward, Marquette Catholic (Ind.)/Meanstreets, Class of 2015
As a 6-7, 180-pound 2015 prospect, Fazekas has an unlimited upside. After one year at Marquette Catholic High School, he has over 15 schools interested in his services, and received an offer at 14 years old from Valparaiso. He has a great touch, and a lethal three-point shot. He’s a good catch-and-shoot player, but can put the ball on the floor, and create his own shot. Fazekas is athletic and has good court awareness, always finding open space. He moves well without the ball and gets involved on the glass at both ends of the floor.
Very disciplined for a freshman, Fazekas doesn’t take bad shots, and makes good decisions with the ball. With good ball skills, he has a knack for getting to the line and knocking down free throws. He scored a game-high 27 points in his team’s last pool play game on Saturday, and was the best player on the floor.
Fazekas needs to continue to gain muscle and adjust to a new position as he grows. He’s grown six inches since last summer, put on eight pounds since March, and said he plans on being 6-9 next year. He needs to get better driving through the lane, and could improve finishing down low.
Other names to remember: Aaron Brennan (2014 Fieldhouse Elite), Jalen Coleman (2015 Spiece), Jaraan Lands (2014 Spiece), Trevon Manuel (2015 Meanstreets), Martez Walker (2014 REACH), Gary Bonds (2015 Spiece), Eric Davis (2015 Pride), Darrell Davis (2014 REACH), Amanze Egekeze (2014 Illinois Wolves)