Bleacher Report - Articles by Ty'mon Norman

PGU (Point Guard University): Ricky Rubio

Ty'mon Norman — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 13:45:43 -0500

For those of us who have been anticipating the 2009 NBA Draft, it must be a world-wind of thoughts going through your minds as to who your team should select with there first round pick. It can all boil down to what it really is that your team needs to improve itself for the future.

After watching the Olympics this past summer, I noticed that there was a player that could do things, and make players with the ball that was reminiscent to a player that I had just recently watched footage on from the days of old. Pistol Pete Maravichwas one of the games greatest scorers, ball handler, and entertainers that the game has ever seen. To this day I haven't seen a player that I can honestly say has completely reminded me of the type of player he was. That was until I saw Ricky Rubio play for the Spanish National Team.

Displaying amazing talent and maturity despite his young age, Rubio is commonly regarded as the best European guard prospect since Drazen Petrovic, and as previously mentioned;due to his scoring dominance and creativity, Rubio has been compared to Pete Maravich. Former NBA guard Pepe Sanchez, who at the time played at the point guard position for Spanish ACB League rivals Unicaja Malaga, made this comment in a February 2007 interview for a Euroleague profile on Rubio:

"I think he's a freak of nature — being so young and being so skilled and also so cool all the time. You can see that he knows what he's doing. He's not playing out there with pros based only on his talents. He knows the game and he can only improve. I think he'll be a great player. It all depends on him, but I personally think he's going to be great".

Now the latest news on this Spanish Phenom is; According to Rubio’s agent, Germa’n González, “it is a real possibility” that the Spanish point guard will not declare for the upcoming 2009 NBA Draft.

The following is rough English translation, as González told to Marca, the Spanish nationwide daily sports newspaper:

“We do not want it to go like other players who have left very high in the Draft and soon they do not play. The Americans have become crazy to have players there as soon as possible. The decisions will be taken based on which the European market also provides.”

While González also said Rubio’s decision to remain in Europe is not final, Rubio’s € 6 million ($8.4 million USD) buyout could eventually cause him to stay. A complex renegotiation with DKV Joventut needs to occur in order to reduce the high costs (higher than even the salary of a no. 1 selection) of rescission.

Despite talks of being a Top 5 pick in June, worries about Rubio’s NBA-readiness will likely cause him to forgo the NBA for at least another year.

This is the type of character the NBA needs! Listen to what this rising star had to say in his very first interview held in early June 2008:

During which he criticized what he and many other observers saw as the NBA's emphasis on individual play and blamed poor team play for the recent struggles of the US national team, saying in his native Catalan, "Basketball isn't one-on-one. It's five-on-five, plus the bench."

He then switched to English, commenting on subjects such as his competitive nature — "If I'm losing, I'm going to do everything possible to win. I do the same thing on the court" — and how he practiced moves that he saw in videos of Maravich — "If I can do some magic, I do it."

References:

Wikipedia on Ricky Rubio

Agent: Ricky Rubio Likely To Skip 2009 Draft. By:Ryne Nelson.

Here are some highlights of Ricky Rubio:

B/R's Prep Basketball Player of the Week (Part 4): Brandon Knight

Ty'mon Norman — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 08:30:19 -0400

The last player of the week hailed from the state of Florida, and in this weeks installment we decided to stay an additional week, and discuss this weeks B/R Prep of the week: Brandon Knight. When I first had the opportunity to meet Mr. Knight; I had no idea who he was, but not to long into the tournament I would become one of Brandon's dedicated fans. He can drive past his defenders, and score with a variety of finishes. He has a nice mid-range game, and has several floaters and pull-ups in his arsenal. Knight also can score at the rim with both hands, and has good body flexibility. He also doesn't mind contact, either. He penetrates easily, and has great vision, enabling him to find open teammates. Knight is very quick with the ball and pushes the ball up the court at a high speed.

On top of all that, he is as genuine and humble as any athlete I have met in years. He obviously knows he is a great player, but understands what it takes to stay that way and to continue to grow. When I sat down for a interview with him last summer at the RBK Summer Championships in Las Vegas, NV; I was surprised at how mature he was in answering his questions, and at how polite he was. Most people tend to think that these kids feel that they are above everyone else, and in most cases you might be right, however when it comes to Mr. knight, that statement couldn't be more wrong.

You'd be hard pressed to find any player in the nation today that possess all the traits of the game:passing, dribbling, shooting, running the floor, playing without the ball, defense, and rebounding to say a few. Brandon brings all of these abilities to his Pine Crest High team, as well as his AAU select team:Team Breakdown (who he shares the back-court with Kenny Boynton Jr.of American Heritage High). So you know on the AAU circuit that teams were a little weary when checking the schedule, and seeing that they had to deal with the arguably the nations best back-court (high school that is).

*Knight appears to be on the right track to developing into a terrific basketball player. His experience and all-around skill-level still need plenty of work, but he’s a pretty impressive prospect considering his age. He would be wise to continue and develop his point guard skills, as he might be tempted to dominate high school games with his scoring against weaker competition over the next few years, but in the long run it’ll surely pay off for him to be a pass-first playmaker who can also score when needed.

* Paragraph reference: Draft Express

Check out some of Brandon's Youtube highlights:

PS: Only two more installments of B/R Prep Basketball Player of the Week before the Prep season begins, so stay tuned for next weeks piece.

B/R's Prep Basketball Player of the Week (Part 3): Kenny Boynton Jr.

Ty'mon Norman — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 11:06:08 -0400

When speaking of players of the week,this candidate can arguably be the player of the year. I introduce you to Plantation, Florida's own (Kenny Boynton Jr.). Boynton has been blazing his way onto the prep scene since his sophomore year in high school attending American Heritage High. The 6'2 187 pound guard has been electrifying crowds with his unbelievable speed, and ability to get to the basket at will.

This summer Boynton went on a tear. Competing in almost every big tournament that went on this year. His AAU team "Team Breakdown" Would show every one at the RBK Summer Championships that last years runner up trophy wasn't a fluke. Kenny however seemed to be on somewhat of a mission taking on all who stood in his way!

This is one of those type of athletes who any coach would want to have on their team. Mixing an array of talented dribbling skills, and a pull up jumper that would leave any defender mystified, Boynton leaves high school gyms in flames after his performance's.

One asset that I feel that most overlook when evaluating Boynton, is that he has physique that is well equipped to handle the rigors of the college ranks, another would be his incredible leaping ability. He can also fill up the stat sheet by contributing with his scoring, defense, and surprisingly his rebounding ability at the guard spot.

There is a reason why he was chosen to participate in the Boost Mobile Elite 24 Classic for the past two years. "He is simply one of the best players in the nation". It is in my assumption that we will see a whole lot more of this young man. Barring injury; he will be an McDonald's All American next year, and what a time for him to be one, since the annual game will be played in Miami next spring. This will be the undeniable moment that will show those of us who aren't involved in grassroots basketball who and what he really is about.

''Kenny is terrific to coach,'' American Heritage coach Danny Herz said. 'All he wants to do is play, win, get better and make his teammates better. He's always smiling. He's a `Yes sir, no sir' kind of guy. There's nothing negative you can say about the kid, on or off the court. He's a gentle kid.''

Thats just what his coach had to offer. Lets see what his peers at school seem to think of this emerging star.

Boynton, who said the perks of being a basketball star come along with ''positive things like making friends quick,'' acclimated himself to his new classmates, no matter their ages, at American Heritage after he transferred from Blanche Ely over the summer.

''We have 2,500 kids here, but less than 1,000 in high school,'' Herz said. 'So there's 1,500 young kids on this campus every day. They almost seek out Kenny. They all yell as he goes by, `Kenny, Kenny.' He's so friendly with the young kids. He waves and he gives them five. He's become a guy that the young kids look up to.''

Said teammate Ray Taylor, a fellow junior and close friend, who has played with Boynton since he was 9: ``He's got kids waving. He actually gives a couple kids inspiration. He gives kids letters. That's the kind of person he is. He gets that a lot.''

Quotes taken by: BOB EMANUEL JR. of Miami Herald

Miami Herald

Next weeks prep athlete hint: Kenny Boynton's AAU backcourt teammate

Kenny's Youtube:

B/R's Prep Basketball Player of the Week (Part 2): John Wall

Ty'mon Norman — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 07:21:26 -0400

Simply put, John Wall is the best point guard I have seen all summer. From event to event this young man has proved that he deserves the moniker of the number one rated player in the nation at his position, and you could stand to have a good debate on weather he deserves to have that said about being the best overall in the nation. The 6-foot-4, 184-pound point guard from Word of God Academy in Raleigh, NC is every coaches dream, and every opponents nightmare. Wall is that rare guard that notices and makes adjustments according to how the game is being played. If the game needs to be slowed down, he has the ability to pull the ball back, and run the half court offense. However please don't sleep on that, because he can turn the pace of the game up in the blink of an eye.

John probably caught the attention of most casual fans this past June with his performances at various tournaments. To those of us however that follow Grassroots basketball; it came as no surprise that the rise of Mr. Wall would eventually come. John since has been earning accolades through out the country this summer: Pangos All American MVP, Reebok Summer Championships Team Champs (D-One Sports), Nike Global Championships All Tournament Team, and to end the summer he not only was invited to participate in the Boost Mobile Elite 24, he stole the show. Wall also earned Co-MVP honors along with Dominic Cheek as they lead the Skip to My Lou squad to a 135 to 121 victory over the Goat squad.

With success however comes adversity. John has been dealing with the rumors of his possible recruitment to Baylor since his AAU coach was offered the coaching position there. However he has dealt with those acquisitions in as honest and mature way as anyone can ask him to do. Along with that John's mother has recently suffered a lite to mild stroke, but with everything else he has stepped up to support his mother and the rest of his family. With prayers from family and friends, she should be back on her feet in due time.

This highlight waiting to happen has not just shown this journalist how he handles life on the court, but most importantly how he handles life off the court. Be sure to keep a look out for this very talented point guard. Here is a link to a mix tape on YouTube along with the monstrous one handed dunk at the Elite 24 that brought the crowd to it's feet.

Stay tuned for next week's Prep Basketball player! Heading to the State of Florida!

Team USA Falls short of Gold in 2008 FIBA Americas U18 Championship

Ty'mon Norman — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 06:12:41 -0400

Formosa, Argentina- Up until Friday night the United States had shown why they were one of the tournament's favorites to win the 2008 FIBA Americas U18 Gold Medal. With convincing victories over Venezuela, Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and Canada, the US was ready for the match up with also undefeated opponent Argentina.

Argentina, another favorite and host of the FIBA Championships, jumped on the US from the tip of the ball. In the midst of a standing room crowd that far exceeded the maxium capacity of 5,000, Argentina ran out to a 20-11 lead with 3:15 left in the first quarter.

Second half play started with Team USA cutting away at the Argentinian lead. Bridging the gap to 42-36 with 6:13 to play. That however would be as close as the American's would get. Argentina ran off 11 straight points to reclaim a commanding lead at 53-36. With every US push there came an answer by Argentina, including a 75-foot prayer at the buzzer to close the third period up 59-43.

With every beat of their hearts the Americans fought play after play, but the lead was to great to over come and they would have to settle with being awarded the Silver medal. Team USA's leading scorer, and 2008 FIBA Tournament MVP Kemba Walker (UConn) stated “I think we did a pretty good job. We made it to the championship, we played as a team throughout the whole tournament. To be together 18 days, I think we did an excellent job. That team’s been together for two years and they outplayed us. But we’re going to come back next year and try to get it done.”

On a high note Malcolm Lee (John W. North H.S. / UCLA Commit.) added 13 points while Travis Releford(Bishop Miege H.S. / U of Kansas Commit.) scored 12 and JaMychal Green (St. Jude H.S. / Alabama Commit) posted a double-double with 10 points and a game-best 14 rebounds.

“I’m very proud about how we fought the entire game,” said USA and Davidson College head coach Bob McKillop. “Even the energy, the fight that we had up until the last buzzer made me very proud. Also heading up Team USA's coaching staff were Virginia Commonwealth University head coach Anthony Grant and Georgetown University head coach John Thompson III serving as assistant coaches.

The U.S. now stands at 33-2 in FIBA Americas U18 Championship play and has won four gold medals, one silver and one bronze medal in six competitions.

*Quotes & Stats:http: //www.usabasketball.com/news.php?news_page=08_mu18_game_05

Brandon Jennings Heads to Italy: Senātus Populusque Rōmānus (SPQR)

Ty'mon Norman — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 07:42:11 -0400

SPQR is an initialism from a Latin phrase, Senātus Populusque Rōmānus ("The Senate and the People of Rome" or "The Senate and Roman People"). This is a phrase Oak Hill Academy star guard Brandon Jennings might become all too familiar with, since you can find it on almost every parchment and manhole in Rome. It's even on the city's coat of arms.

According to Italian source basketcentral.it, Jennings has received an offer from Lottomatica Roma (Virtus Rome). Reports are the contract being offered is somewhat in the range of a one-and-one year deal worth around $300,000. Jennings prefers a one-year deal.

Looking from the outside in, this might be a perfect fit for someone who is trying to blaze a new trail for high-school standouts. Lottomatica finished second overall in Serie A league play with a 23-11 record, and made it to the Italian Serie A finals before losing four games to one.

If Jennings signs with Roma, he would team up with former Villanova guard Allan Ray. That backcourt could get Lottomatica over the top.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves, as this is only one offer by one team. At this point, Jennings has stated that he will not be making a choice of team until August 1st. This definitely keeps the door open for other offers to be presented and considered.

There's also the matter of which shoe contract he will sign with. Nike, Reebok, and Adidas are all fighting to land the all world point guard, and the team and location in which he chooses could be a major indicator of who he signs with.

Sonny Vaccaro, who is acting as an advisor to Jennings and his mother, Alice Knox, said Friday that he will meet with Jennings Sunday in Las Vegas, where he will attend the NBA summer league.
According to Vaccaro, Brandon will have a European agent who only deals with European contracts, and he will pick a marketing firm that is not connected to his American based agent.
Jeff Valle (Jennings Attorney) said Jennings could be open to a multi-year contract overseas, although his primary goal is to play in the NBA, beginning in 2009-10. The NBA confirmed once Jennings signs a pro contract overseas and is 19, he will become eligible for the 2009 draft. But Vaccaro said a longer-term deal with a buyout is a possibility for Jennings since it would give the overseas club leverage with an NBA franchise and give Jennings some security.

References:

http://basketcentral.it/news/usa/brandon_jennings_europa.html

http://www.eurobasket.com/ita/ita.asp

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3483940

76ers Look to J-Smoove, Pt.1

Ty'mon Norman — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 05:55:46 -0400

As a life long Sixers fan I've gone through my up's and downs. From the World Championship in 1983 (when I only six), to the retirement of Julius "Dr. J" Ervin , and of course the drafting, and letting go of Allen Iverson.

I personally have been calling for Billy King's resignation for years, and last year I finally had my dream come true with the Sixers parting ways with King, and bringing in Ed Stefanski, a former 10th round selection of the Sixers in l976.

“Ed Stefanski has built a great reputation throughout the NBA as a skilled basketball executive and a great evaluator of talent,” said Peter Luukko, President and Chief Operating Officer of Comcast-Spectacor.

With that said, Stefanski has entered this year's free agency period with reckless abandon. Working with roughly $11.5 million to spend on a free agent, the new GM has made it clear that he and the Sixers are strongly interested in obtaining the talents of Atlanta Hawks free agent power forward Josh Smith.

Smith's numbers have increased in each of his four NBA seasons since Atlanta made him a first-round pick out of high school in 2004. He averaged 17.2 points and 8.2 rebounds along with 2.8 blocks last year to helped the Hawks make the playoffs.

This would add an electrifying element to an already young and dynamic team. If they re-sign Andre Iguodala, Louis Williams, and bring in possibly another free agent like Josh Childress (whom they are interested in) or land a shooter like Richard Hamilton (which will not happen), this team would become a Eastern conference contender over the summer.

The excitement over him even possibly becoming a Sixer has the entire city awake and talking about the opportunity of becoming a dominate force once again in the Eastern Conference.

As a Journalist I must stay bias, but as a fan I couldn't be happier that he could be donning a 76ers uniform. "So Josh if your listening, please sign with Philly and bring some respect back to my team!"

PG-Andre Miller

SG-Louis Williams

SF-Andre Iguodala

PF-Josh Smith

C-Samuel Dalembert

Add a great shooter like Hamilton, and some veteran role players and we're talking Eastern Conference Championship in two years or less.

*http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3471354

Gunnin' for That #1 Spot Hit's Theaters!

Ty'mon Norman — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:25:11 -0400

June 27, 2008 Gunnin' For That #1 Spot was released across the nation to various theaters. Adam Yauch (member of the Beastie Boys) directs and produces the film that briefly introduces us to the lives of eight of the country's most talented prep basketball players.

The film was shot at the Elite 24 in 2006 located at historical Holcolmb Rucker Park in Harlem, NY, just off the corner of 155th and Frederick Douglas Boulevard.

The documentary entails what it takes to be a high profile teenage athlete in today's fast paced environment of scouts, recruiters, agents, etc. It allows for us to go to the hometowns of Brandon Jennings, Michael Beasley, Tyreke Evans, Jerryd Bayless, Kevin Love, Donte Green, Kyle Singler, and last but definitely not least Lance Stephenson.

This movie, if we let it, will open doors for those of us who want to know what kind of situations these young men encounter. By showing us their lives at home and on the road, it brings us closer to athletes that someday may seem like untouchable icons.

I'm writing this brief summary of this movie because I personally feel that the more we know about these young athletes and the way they are brought up, the better we can start to understand some of the decisions that they make.

This movie will set itself apart from other related documentaries. (Hoop Dreams, Through the Fire, and Soul in the Hole).

Jashaun Agosto, Basketball Phenom: Have We Gone Too Far?

Ty'mon Norman — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 09:11:31 -0400

Although he may have a training regimen that would leave some Olympic athletes in awe, should we really be looking to recruit kids as young as 11 years old? Jashaun Agosto is a prodigy, and with that said, he definitely deserves the attention he's brought to himself.

As I've traveled from one event to the other, I'm continually witnessing how the urge to find the next LeBron James or O.J. Mayo has found its way into junior high schools and middle schools. Agosto can do things with a basketball that most people only dream about.

Nestled away in the Northwest corner of the country (Federal Way, WA), Jashaun has become a household name, appearing on such shows like Jay Leno and Ellen. Seattle's KOMO 4 did a piece on him earlier this year, with The Tonight Show & Good Morning America making inquiries, too.

Now with all that said, he might be more known for his appearances on Youtube!

With all of the accolades that have been thrown at this young man, there must be a sense of him feeling that he has to live up to the hype! Now his father might have him in the right mindset, but with letters of interest & questionnaires from schools like UCLA, could you blame him for having delusions of grandeur?

Maybe we, the media, need to know who the next big thing is to happen on the Prep scene, but in a way we're robbing these children of what I feel is the most important attribute to playing the game of basketball—"Having Fun"!

Along with him being very talented, a test at a Seattle sports clinic revealed he has an astonishing aerobic capacity. Doctors measured his VO2 max, which rates the ability to transport and utilize oxygen during exercise, and Jashaun received a score of 66.

It's a shockingly high number for a child, and by the time Jashaun goes through puberty, his VO2 max is expected to be higher than most world-class athletes. He could jump into the 80s, putting him in the same range as Lance Armstrong and Steve Prefontaine.

In my opinion, if he can keep all the leeches away from him and just enjoy playing the game, continue to grow and increase his basketball IQ, and develop more of an appreciation for what possibly could happen in his life, then and only then will he have the building blocks to become a great basketball player.

This is a article I would like to have a lot of feedback on. Let's debate the issue of what age is too young to recruit, and whether it is right or wrong to do so.

2008 Reebok All-American Camp: Building on Last Year's Success

Ty'mon Norman — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:43:10 -0400

In the city of Brotherly Love, young talent will be trying to make a name for themselves, and for those who already have national recognition, the camp is a chance to continue to impress.

Players such as Abdul Gaddy (#2 point guard in the class of 2009), Clarence Trent, and John Wall (#1 point guard c/o 2009), are expected to be among the top 120 prep athletes to get an invite to camp.

With the Adidas ABCD camp, and Nike discontinuing their events, Reebok All American Camp (RBK U) has become the standard in grassroots basketball. Along with alumni such as Brandon Jennings, Elliot Williams, Malcolm Lee, William Buford, and Michael Rosario (All selections to the McDonald's and Jordan All-American games).

Reebok looks to be developing a tradition of gathering the best talent, and putting them to the test in all aspects of the game of basketball. This is truly a great opportunity for those athletes to obtain a since of how training regiments go, as well as the ongoing responsibilities it takes to be an elite basketball player.

*Director of Basketball for Reebok's Rbk U All-American Camp, Chris Rivers, along with his Grassroots Basketball Associate Manager, Patrick Coombs, have developed an innovative process that allows both recognized and undiscovered talent to shine.

A national selection committee of twenty that consists of the who's who in basketball such as Tom Konchalski selects half of the players that will be attending. Of the remaining 60 spots, 56 are filled as result of multiple regional Reebok Breakout Camps where over 1200 players tryout. The four remaining spots are filled by skimming from the cream of the crop at the Breakout Underclassmen Camp in Chicago.*

In my opinion, this is the high school version of the NBA pre-draft camp that allows coaches, scouts, and players to gauge where their abilities lie. It is also a opportunity for those who enjoy following grassroots basketball to follow and assess their favorite players, and see what aspects of their game need to be worked on as well as how they stack up against the countries best players.

I will personally be in attendance for this event, so I will be giving a daily update on what goes on at a grassroots event such as this!

Paragraphs with (*) written by: Maurice Wingate NYCHoops.net

Link: http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=910&CID=740750

Brandon Jennings Considers EuroTrip

Ty'mon Norman — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:24:28 -0400

The hottest news on the Prep, College, and Professional scene this weekend was, and still is, the possibility of All World Point Guard Brandon Jennings de-committing from his national letter of intent with the University of Arizona Wildcats, and taking his talents across the pond to Europe.

“For a person that plays ball, our dream is to get to the NBA,” Jennings said. “College is like, Okay. We’ll do this one year, but our real mind-set is that we’re trying to get to the league, take care of our families. They’re making us do college so we feel like, Let’s do one year, go to class half the time.”

Dozens of critics will, and have said this would not be in the best interest of Jennings, and have stated that European ball is production driven— with less concern with player development.

Now this topic comes to life due to the SAT scores that have Jennings weighing his options. The first time he took the test he did not meet the requirements, so he obviously had to take it over again.

When the scores came back from the second test he had meet the requirements, but since the scores differed so much he was red flagged and told to take the test a third time.

So, while Mr. Jennings and the rest of the world wait for his S.A.T scores, Jennings will be considering what’s best for him and his family.

Now, my impression of this young man, is that he knows what he's doing, and has the type of support that most high profile athletes lack. I've watched Brandon play since his sophomore year, and have had the chance to sit down with him at the McDonald's All American game, and the Jordan Brand Classic for several interviews.

The kid has what it takes mentally, and there's no doubt that he's driven to be great!

The physical aspect, and the focus on his personal development are areas of concern, but if he is as dedicated to being great like I suspect he is, European leagues better watch out!

This whole process might really affect the college ranks, but could in turn be a major benefit for those high profile athletes coming out of high school who need to make a living for their families.

“I think people just develop better over there,” Jennings said. “You’re playing professional ball for a year, you’re playing against guys who are older than you. I’ll constantly be playing basketball 24-7. I don’t have to worry about school and things like that.”

Reference: Quotes from WILLIAM C. RHODEN New York Times Article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/23/sports/basketball/23rhoden.html?ex=1371960000&en=3b7d43fedb350539&ei=5124&partner=facebook&exprod=facebook