Reading comprehension fail.

I'm glad to see how far this program has advanced.   To the point where we have become the type of fanbase that will trash a kid before he even steps foot onto campus.  Sure we all want detailed analysis on incoming recruits, but let's not go too far with it.  Is he even 18 yet?  C'MON MAN!!

Let's see if we can get this thread back to D.J.  I attended Friday's semifinal with a friend who has been involved in High School and youth basketball for nearly 40 years.  It's was the first opportunity either of us had to see Walnut Hills.

D.J. struck me as a player who does just about everything decently, but is not yet exceptional at any particular skill.  I will say that particularly in the first half, he was hitting his jumper.  I remember 3, including a trey.  He made some deft passes, but also 1-2 that were ill-advised.  He's a decent ball handler, but really needs to work this off season on his left hand.  He runs hard, but is not particularly fast and did not appear to have a really quick first step.  He's not afraid to mix it up underneath, but at 6'5' and with his body type, he won't be playing underneath.  His ability to jump is just ordinary.

I think it was 4 years ago I saw Daylen Harrison play in the state semis.  He went on to Wyoming and is now at Eastern Michigan.  D.J. reminds me a lot of Harrison at that early stage.  Both my friend and I came away thinking that with continued work, he can be a solid MAC player, although how much he can contribute next year is an open question.

Now a few words about Akron recruit and all-Ohio first teamer Isaiah Johnson.  Please do not believe the stat line.  He looked awful.  My friend could not believe this was an all Ohio player.  First, he's in the neighborhood of 30 pounds over weight.  At best, he gets up down the floor adequately and there were times he was obviously huffing and puffing.  He can throw his weight around underneath.  He showed good, quick reaction time.  That really helps when you are going for blocks.

But on offense, he looked awful.  When he's underneath with the ball, he has zero touch.  He does not so much shoot the ball as simply throw it up and hope it goes in.  At least 4 times he was on one side of the basket and  threw the ball hard and high off the backboard in such a manner that it came down on the other side without ever touching iron.  

Maybe we saw him on a bad night, but my pal didn't think there was any way he could contribute meaningful minutes without first getting in shape and then learning some skills.

I may not quite as negative on him, but I think I mostly agree.  He definitely doesn't strike you as athletic and overpowering...and he is definitely beefy.  But yet, he somehow gets the job done.  Maybe he is just one of those players that isn't pretty but gets it done.  Or maybe he is getting by against lesser competition, and college-level opponents will eat him up.

Only saw Wingfield once but was thinking of him as a right-handed Sonny Troutman.  Not crazy athletic but enough to get the job done. Versatile in his skill-set. Might have to speed him up sometimes.

Wingfield on Ohio-Kentucky All-Star roster along with Antonio Campbell:

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/preps/2013/04/03/ohio-kentucky-all-star-rosters/