I think it's really hard to give a "scouting report" from an all star game. There is just not enough continuity on the floor. Plus, to strike the same chord as bornacatfan has done lately, I'm just not smart enough to do a scouting report.
Overall, I liked the way the game was run, but the programs didn't have the numbers of the players or where they are going to college--and that ticked me off. The media had sheets with that info. I tried to steal some but couldn't get away with it.
Those of you who have seen D.J. Wingfield and Antonio Campbell in post season tournament games are much more informed to give some good thoughts on them than I am.
Ohio edged Kentucky 104-98 in a closely contested game. Overall quality of play: lots of displays of athleticism and ability to create offensively.
Just some random thoughts and notes:
- D.J. Wingfield already has a Division I build. He'll only get stronger as he gets in the weight room in Athens. He didn't get in the flow much in the first half, but in the last ten minutes of the game he really got it going and was one of the dominant players on the floor. Looked most at home in the open court game both offensively and defensively. Did not exhibit a great touch on outside shots.
- Antonio Campbell looks good getting off the bus. He's got a very sold frame and is close to being a "wide body." It was interesting to watch him banging in the lane against Isaiah Johnson, who will be attending Akron. In this game I'd give Johnson a slight edge on the inside game, but only a very slight edge. Campbell is better in the open court and can shoot the three. He's listed at 6-8 but I'm guessing he's about 6-7. But when he gets in some weight training in Athens, loses a little fat and replaces it with muscle, believe me, he is going to be a load in the MAC. In this game, he kept trying to set screens up front but it wasn't working much for some reason. I think he has a better upside than Johnson once he learns from our coaches what it means to raise the level of intensity and keep the motor running.
- Best player on the floor was Kevin Johnson of Summit Country Day. Did a great job of creating and was really hot from the perimeter.
- Vitto Brown of BG High School in Ohio is going to Wisconsin. You could see his versatility is what separates him from mid major recruits.
- Zac Carter of Ironton has been discussed on this board. He definitely is quick and has a good handle. He had his ups and downs in this game. Was a half step slow defensively, but he wasn't getting much help with UK's recruit Dominque Hawkins of Madison Central drove past him. But no one could keep Hawkins in front of him.
- Springboro's Maverick Morgan of Illinois unfortunately was a no-show.
- 75% of the 30 guys on these rosters are committed to colleges--a good number of them to high majors. A good number of mid majors and a couple of players to Bellarmine. I would love to send a kid of mine to Bellarmine. Great Div. II program.
- I liked it that Tony Bisutti of Dublin Scioto HS was the head coach of the Ohio squad. Of course, he coached our own David McKinley. I have a lot of respect for Coach Bisutti.
- This game was originally organized as a benefit for Ronald McDonald houses by folks on both sides of the river near Portsmouth, OH. The leadership of the program still is largely from southern Ohio and the northern Kentucky-Ashland, KY areas. That means that some kids get on the roster from high schools in our region. I noticed that the Kentucky squad tends to come from all over most of the state, while the Ohio team is predominantly from Cincinnati-Columbus-southern Ohio. Only a couple of kids from northern Ohio.
- Too bad people with more basketball smarts like Ted Thompson, bornacatfan or JoeMac weren't with me. I would have enjoyed their analyses. But I hope this helps some.