EA Roundball Classic Showcases Future NBA and Collegiate Stars
Shaun Livingston and A.J. Price earned co-MVP’s for the West and J.R. Smith was voted the East’s best player as the West cruised to an easy 124-110 victory in the 40th annual EA Sports Roundball classic in front of 15,421 at the United Center in Chicago.
The west exploded to a 31-9 lead in the first quarter. They settled in 40-22 at the end of one were never seriously threatened.
The traditional High School All-Star games have become a showcase for the pro scouts as much as the college recruiters. The possibility lies that more than have the players in the Roundball review will be drafted. Dwight Howard out of Southwest Christian in Atlanta is the highest regarded prepster in this the class of 2004. Howard finished with 16 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in a steady but unspectacular performance.
The emphasis on SportsCenter highlights, spectacular high flying dunks, an abundance of no look passes and no you didn’t blocked shots has suffocated the fundamentals of basketball. The teams combined to shoot 34.5 percent from free throw line, the west particularly abysmal connecting on only eight of 24 from the line. Randolph Morris, who is headed to Kentucky, hit just one of his eight, while Howard hit just four of ten.
Turnovers also played a large role in the outcome. The east committed 27 to the West’s 21. A pair of future Big East performers will need to take better care of the ball once they get to college. Future Syracuse Orangemen Josh Wright and Seton Hall Pirate Justin Cerasoli each had seven. They each did a nice job at running the East’s offense. Wright finished with five points and five assists and Cerasoli five and eight. Collectively, they will need work on their shooting. Cerasoli connected on just two of seven shots, while Wright made only two of six. Cerasoli’s eight assists were very impressive since he is projected as a shooting guard in college.
Cerasoli showed traits of a versatile combo guard. Equally adept at the point of the two, He has a nice feel for the game and fed the post well. Cerasoli will have to work on finishing stronger in the lane when he goes up against the physical Big East guards.
Wright has excellent court awareness and fed J.R. Smith for a sick alley-oop. Wright gives Jim Boeheim some insurance if Billy Edelin doesn’t return.
The East was able to bolt out to their insurmountable lead behind the impressive play of probable lottery pick Shaun Livingston, Robert Swift, who has his name entered in the draft but might go to USC and North Carolina bound Marvin Williams.
Livingston had three of his seven assists in the quarter, Swift provided Livingston with a target inside and Williams had the first of a few emphatic slams.
Although Livingston and Price earned the MVP’s, it was Williams who stole the show. He had a surplus of flushes and energized the crowd. Included was one over Roy Bright and a forceful one in traffic on the break. He hit six of eight shots and finished with 15 points.
Livingston finished the night with 12 points and seven assists. He is not the flashy or explosive type player that many of his Roundball peers are. The 6’6 point guard from Peoria, IL showed a consistent all around game. He showed nice range on his jump shot ran the west offense with aplomb and had a nice block. Very slender at 6’7 170, Livingston will have to bulk up to succeed in the NBA.
Not as highly touted as Livingston, A.J. Price proved he belonged among the elite point guard for the class for 2004. He has instincts that can’t be taught to a lead guard and brilliant range. The son of Tony Price who was the hero of the 1979 Penn Final Four team, Price had eight points and a Roundball record 15 assists to only one turnover. He connected on two of four from three point range and showed a tough minded game defensively. Many might discount Connecticut with the departures of Emeka Okafor, Ben Gordon and Point Guard Taliek Brown, but Price should fill Gordon’s shoes admirably.
Robert Swift was an unexpected surprise inside for West Coach Chuck Buescher of Peoria Central in Illinois. Swift helped the West get off to a good start by giving them a presence inside. Swift had six points and two rebounds in the first quarter and ended up with 17 and 12. The seven footer moves well for his size, has excellent moves in the post and was a persistent rebounder. He will have to work on his strength over the summer. Swift lost the ball a couple of times inside and missed a dunk.
If Ben Howland is going to restore the tradition at UCLA, Aaron Afflalo will be one of the key elements. Afflalo is the highest ranked player who will be matriculating in Westwood this fall. After beginning the game with a two handed break away dunk, Afflalo struggled. He finished with only six points and two assist, along with four turnovers. To become a more consistent player, Afflalo will have to wok on his shooting. He hit only two of seven from the floor, missed all three of his tree point attempts, and was two of five from the line.
Morris had a memorable battle earlier in the season with Howard. At 6’11, 270, Morris will be a load inside. He showed outstanding quickness around the basket and finished with 11 points and seven rebounds.
Herb Sendak has raised North Carolina State to the top of the ACC seemingly year by year. Cedric Simmons should help the Wolfpack chase their first ACC title since the glory years of Jim Valvano in the eighties. Simmons was limited to four points on two of nine from the field. Despite his poor shooting night he showed explosiveness to the basket and a variety of post moves. Simmons compensated for a poor night by grabbing nine rebounds (five offensive) and blocked five shots. He showed quick anticipation defensively and should be an impact player in Raleigh next year.
They might be wondering what might have been in Chapel Hill with J.R. Smith’s decision to enter the NBA draft. Smith showed exceptional range on his jump shot, is an adept passer and was a ball hawk on the defensive end. To earn the MVP, Smith finished 16 points, four assist, five steals and committed only one turnover.
Similar to the fans at North Carolina, Indiana fans will also wonder what could have been with Mr. Smith. The 6’9 forward from Powder Spring, GA and Oak Hill Academy showed a versatile all around game. He finished with 15 points, three rebounds and three assists.
Dave Leitao he DePaul poised to return to national prominence on the eve of their transfer to the Big East. If Dorell Wright decides to make his way to the Windy City, he will give the Blue Demons a big boost offensively. As of now, he has his name entered in the draft. He can post up or hit the mid range jump shot and is explosive to the hoop. His presence would make De Paul a major player in their last season in Conference USA>
Ranked number two to begin the season, Missouri suffered through a disappointing season. The Tigers finished 16-14 losing to Michigan in the first round of the NIT. Marshall Brown should help Quinn Snyder to turn the fortunes around in the Show Me State in 2005. A 6’6 wing forward from Austin, TX wowed the crowd at the United Center. Brown is a quick off the floor high flyer. Brown had a flurry of dunks and finished with 19 points and five boards.
John Brady has the LSU program revitalized. Glen Davis should give the Tigers an inside presence they have lacked the last few seasons. Davis who is from Baton Rouge will be a load for SEC center and power forwards at 6’9 330. He showed a variety of post moves and is agile for his size. He had the best line score in this season’s Classic, finished with 17 points, nine rebounds, five blocks, five steals, and three assists. Davis will have to work on his touch near the basket and his free throw shooting. Davis missed a few bunnies and was only three of eight from the line.
The departure of James Thomas will leave a gaping hole inside for Rick Barnes and Texas. With Brian Boddicker preferring the three point line to mixing it up inside, the Horns needed a more physical player. Barnes went into SEC country to land 6’9 230 forward Michael Williams. Williams finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds and will be a nice addition to a Longhorn program on the verge of becoming among the nation’s elite teams.
The Florida Gators like to get out on the break and Gainesville-bound Joakim Noah will fit right in. Noah is the son of former Tennis superstar Yannick Noah. He flashed athleticism, but will have to work on his offensive game to become a more complete player. Noah missed a dunk and hit just three of 14 from the floor and one of four from the line for seven points. He was also the only player to foul out.
Calvin Brock was out to show the United Center crowd that the local Boy made good. Brock helped ignite the first quarter explosion by the west. The Chicago Simeon product scored all seven of his points in the opening stanza. Brock who is headed to Illinois showed versatility as a wing forward. He is likely to become a taller version of Cedric Banks of Illinois-Chicago.
Juan Diego Palacios had a solid but unspectacular game. Palacios who is headed to Louisville has drawn comparisons to Jamal Mashburn. The Columbia native finished with nine points and one rebound.
Roy Bright quietly put together a nine point, 11 rebound night. The Cincinnati bound small forward struggled to four of 12 from the field and missed an alley-oop. Bright should add some needed fire power for Bob Huggins.
While Swift might be headed for the NBA, Gabe Pruitt gave the Trojans fans a reason to be excited. A 6-5 combo guard, Pruitt skills will match those of future teammates the Cravens and the Stewarts. USC should be on the rise in the Pac Ten. Pruitt finished with 17 points.
There has been a lot of talk about the class of 2004. Many have said it is the best since 1988 in a class that included Alonzo Mourning and Christian Laettner and possibly the best class since 1979. That class included Isiah Thomas, Terry Cummings and Dominique Wilkins. The players headed to the NBA will likely be years away from showing how good they can become, while its possible a few will make a Carmelo Anthony type impact next season.
