I never thought this would really be relevant, but the way Pearl is recruiting you never know. Here is a board imo of the top NYC ballers for the next couple years. I have seen most of these kids play at least once, so i know their games pretty well. A lot of this does not have to do with Tennessee interest, this is just my evals of the top players. I think it is something to watch, because i think that NYC kids have the type of game that can really flourish in BP's system. This is not based on who would win one on one, its just if i could have a commitment from any of them, it would go in this order. Here it goes...
1.Doron Lamb PG ( 2010 Oak Hill this year, via Bronx,NY)
The next great NYC point Guard, without the Steph or Telfair attitude. Is not overly flashy as NYC PG's tend to be, but the kid can flat out score, and he does it effeciently. Is really more of a combo guard, i could see him at the one or the two. Crafty is the best way to describe him. He glides up and down the court with little wasted motion. He does not look like he is going that fast, but he will glide right by you off the dribble or on a fast break. Has a floater/tear drop, that when falling is nearly unstoppable. His outside shot is not his best attribute, but he can hit it when open, and has a knack for being able to knock it down in the clutch. Has a solid handle as most NYC guards do. Penetrates at will, and can hit tough shots in the lane. Has good, but not great court vision. He will take what is there, but likely wont create something that is not. Solid passer, but once again nothing flashy, just gets the ball where it needs to be with velocity. Is however very good at running the break, and makes smart decisions. Could play the 1 on a fast break type team, or a team with a Memphis type offense. Would be better suited at the 2 for a team with a traditional half-court offense. Is 6-4 and might be still growing. I overheard that he has a size 16 shoe. Will be tested at Oak Hill this year.
2. Lance Stephenson SG (2009 Lincoln HS Brooklyn,NY)
I dont like his game as much as some others...A little bit too much flair in my opinion. The first thing that stands out to you about Lance when you watch him play in person is his strength. He is built like a 8-Year NBA vet, and has even more natural strength than shows up on his frame. He can finish at the basket as well as anybody, and although his jumper is a bit funky, it tends to go in. He can defend when well when he wants to given his natural talents. He rises to the occasion in big games, and when his team needs him to. On the other side of the coin, he can be easily distracted with personal accomplishment. His passing ability is good, but his vision is limited. He only passes when he is thinking about passing. He does not have a passers nature. He does not work well of the ball, and does not cut well. His game is in isolation, which will not work at a big college. Lance has two options in my opinion. Go to a big school with a great coach and learn some discipline making himself one of the better NBA prospects in his class after 2 years, but sacrificing some stats and fame. Or he can go to Saint Johns and enter the league as a late first rounder with a lot of hype who ends up getting stuck in the D-League ala Lenny Cooke. I dont dislike Lance, he is a victim of circumstance...which is a shame because he still has a chance to be one of the best to come out of this area in a long time.
3. Durand Scott SG (2009 Rice HS Bronx,NY)
Looks like Pearl is making a run at this kid. I would love to see him here. He is an super-star glue guy, if you can weed through the paradox of that statement. Great toughness, great hustle, and a lot of NYC in his game...in a good way. He is not a shooter per se, but he can knock down the open shot. He has a good, but not great first step and he can finish around the basket. His game would be better suited with a little bit more strength. He can fill up the stat sheet quickly with his passing and rebounding ability. Good vision, and great decisions make him able to play the 1, although the 2 is his best spot. If i had to compare his game to somebody it would be a baby Ron Artest without the off court stuff. He does enough to win, and that is why i almost put him above Stephenson.
4.James Padgett PF (2009 Abe Lincoln HS Brooklyn NY)
There is nothing about Padgett's game that makes you go WOW. But he is so soldi everywhere that he deserves some credit. He is undersized for a PF at 6-6.5, but he has great strength and aggressiveness(two things not normally associated with NYC big men). He cleans up on the boards, and scores around the basket with an array of simple, yet effective moves. He can throw it down with authority, and block shots as well. I can understand why Padgett is not rated as high as some other guys, as his pro potential is limited, but he will be productive in college.
5. Kevin Parrom SF (South Kent HS Via St. Rays in Bronx, NY, COMMITTED to Xavier)
Looking at Parrom's size you think he was maybe a power forward, and he could certainly grow into one. But at the 3, that size gives Parrom an ability to bounce guys off of him, in the lane, and off the dribble. But that's just one of the things he can do. If defenders lay off of him, he still has the ability to knock down a 15 footer. He is a thunderous dunker, who throws it down in places where most would lay it in. He has the frame to get even stronger which could be scary. His 3 pt shooting is only decent right now, and that would be the next step imo. If he improves from the outside he is bordering on a top 50 player. He seems to play much better in an up and down game. He can be limited in half court sets. He also has some anger issues. An altercation in which he punched his coach in the face, is the reason he is at South Kent in the first place.
1.Doron Lamb PG ( 2010 Oak Hill this year, via Bronx,NY)
The next great NYC point Guard, without the Steph or Telfair attitude. Is not overly flashy as NYC PG's tend to be, but the kid can flat out score, and he does it effeciently. Is really more of a combo guard, i could see him at the one or the two. Crafty is the best way to describe him. He glides up and down the court with little wasted motion. He does not look like he is going that fast, but he will glide right by you off the dribble or on a fast break. Has a floater/tear drop, that when falling is nearly unstoppable. His outside shot is not his best attribute, but he can hit it when open, and has a knack for being able to knock it down in the clutch. Has a solid handle as most NYC guards do. Penetrates at will, and can hit tough shots in the lane. Has good, but not great court vision. He will take what is there, but likely wont create something that is not. Solid passer, but once again nothing flashy, just gets the ball where it needs to be with velocity. Is however very good at running the break, and makes smart decisions. Could play the 1 on a fast break type team, or a team with a Memphis type offense. Would be better suited at the 2 for a team with a traditional half-court offense. Is 6-4 and might be still growing. I overheard that he has a size 16 shoe. Will be tested at Oak Hill this year.
2. Lance Stephenson SG (2009 Lincoln HS Brooklyn,NY)
I dont like his game as much as some others...A little bit too much flair in my opinion. The first thing that stands out to you about Lance when you watch him play in person is his strength. He is built like a 8-Year NBA vet, and has even more natural strength than shows up on his frame. He can finish at the basket as well as anybody, and although his jumper is a bit funky, it tends to go in. He can defend when well when he wants to given his natural talents. He rises to the occasion in big games, and when his team needs him to. On the other side of the coin, he can be easily distracted with personal accomplishment. His passing ability is good, but his vision is limited. He only passes when he is thinking about passing. He does not have a passers nature. He does not work well of the ball, and does not cut well. His game is in isolation, which will not work at a big college. Lance has two options in my opinion. Go to a big school with a great coach and learn some discipline making himself one of the better NBA prospects in his class after 2 years, but sacrificing some stats and fame. Or he can go to Saint Johns and enter the league as a late first rounder with a lot of hype who ends up getting stuck in the D-League ala Lenny Cooke. I dont dislike Lance, he is a victim of circumstance...which is a shame because he still has a chance to be one of the best to come out of this area in a long time.
3. Durand Scott SG (2009 Rice HS Bronx,NY)
Looks like Pearl is making a run at this kid. I would love to see him here. He is an super-star glue guy, if you can weed through the paradox of that statement. Great toughness, great hustle, and a lot of NYC in his game...in a good way. He is not a shooter per se, but he can knock down the open shot. He has a good, but not great first step and he can finish around the basket. His game would be better suited with a little bit more strength. He can fill up the stat sheet quickly with his passing and rebounding ability. Good vision, and great decisions make him able to play the 1, although the 2 is his best spot. If i had to compare his game to somebody it would be a baby Ron Artest without the off court stuff. He does enough to win, and that is why i almost put him above Stephenson.
4.James Padgett PF (2009 Abe Lincoln HS Brooklyn NY)
There is nothing about Padgett's game that makes you go WOW. But he is so soldi everywhere that he deserves some credit. He is undersized for a PF at 6-6.5, but he has great strength and aggressiveness(two things not normally associated with NYC big men). He cleans up on the boards, and scores around the basket with an array of simple, yet effective moves. He can throw it down with authority, and block shots as well. I can understand why Padgett is not rated as high as some other guys, as his pro potential is limited, but he will be productive in college.
5. Kevin Parrom SF (South Kent HS Via St. Rays in Bronx, NY, COMMITTED to Xavier)
Looking at Parrom's size you think he was maybe a power forward, and he could certainly grow into one. But at the 3, that size gives Parrom an ability to bounce guys off of him, in the lane, and off the dribble. But that's just one of the things he can do. If defenders lay off of him, he still has the ability to knock down a 15 footer. He is a thunderous dunker, who throws it down in places where most would lay it in. He has the frame to get even stronger which could be scary. His 3 pt shooting is only decent right now, and that would be the next step imo. If he improves from the outside he is bordering on a top 50 player. He seems to play much better in an up and down game. He can be limited in half court sets. He also has some anger issues. An altercation in which he punched his coach in the face, is the reason he is at South Kent in the first place.
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