Caris LeVert

2020-21 NBA Eastern Conference Preview

December 22, 2020 Lee Branscome 0

We didn’t have to wait very long. The 2020-21 NBA season tips off on Tuesday tonight, and here are my rankings for the teams in the Eastern Conference, from first to worst.  Stats from last season, key departures, key additions, and an outlook for each squad are included.  You can see how each team’s complete roster is shaping up by checking out Hoops Prospects’ NBA [ . . . ]

LaMelo Ball

LaMelo Ball Scouting Report

December 14, 2020 Lee Branscome 0

Charlotte is starved for star-power, and with the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the team landed a prospect that has a shot at true stardom. LaMelo Ball was the most recognizable name in the entire draft class, without a shadow of a doubt. He achieved his pop-culture stardom with his family and the Big Baller Brand. He never played in the NCAA. [ . . . ]

Onyeka Okongwu

Onyeka Okongwu Scouting Report

November 17, 2020 Lee Branscome 0

After a spectacular freshman campaign playing for Andy Enfeild at the University of Southern California, Onekya Okongwu is slated to be selected in the top 10 of this week’s NBA Draft.  Okongwu outperformed expectations in his first year at USC. The powerful post-player poured in 16.2 points per game and corralled 8.6 rebounds per game. He established himself as one of the premier “bigs” in [ . . . ]

Anthony Edwards

Anthony Edwards Scouting Report

November 13, 2020 Lee Branscome 2

The University of Georgia is quite accustomed to welcoming five-star recruits to Athens, usually on the gridiron, not the basketball court. In his second year at UGA, Coach Tom Crean was able to land the fourth-ranked ranked recruit in the class of 2019, Anthony Edwards. The native Georgian headlined a top-20 recruiting class, and ushered in rare expectations for the Bulldog faithful.  The successes in [ . . . ]

Tyrese Haliburton

Tyrese Haliburton Scouting Report

October 29, 2020 Lee Branscome 0

In 2018, Tyrese Haliburton arrived in Ames, Iowa as the Gatorade Player of the Year from the state of Wisconsin. He joined a talented roster at Iowa state, headlined by Marial Shayok and Talen Horton-Tucker, two players who would go on to be selected in the 2019 NBA Draft. Coach Steve Prohm also returned Nick Weiler-Webb, a steady lead guard and organizer of the Cyclone [ . . . ]

Saddiq Bey

Saddiq Bey Scouting Report

October 13, 2020 Lee Branscome 0

NBA-level basketball players don’t always come from a lineage of successful athletes, but it does not hurt your chances to inherit strong genes. Saddiq Bey’s mother was the MVP of the UNC-Charlotte 49ers women’s basketball team for the 1997-98 season, and has always been a positive force in his life. Drewana Bey is an educator; she instilled a strong work ethic and a positive attitude [ . . . ]

Kylor Kelley

Kylor Kelley Scouting Report

July 30, 2020 Lee Branscome 0

Every draft class has its own unique storylines behind the individual players. This year is no exception, and Kylor Kelley certainly brings his own interesting tale to the table. The seven-foot senior hails from the bustling metropolis of Gervais, Oregon, which boasts a population of 2,748 and is approximately 30 miles south of Portland.  Lackluster academic performance, health issues and a need for physical maturation [ . . . ]

Tyrese Haliburton

Charlotte Hornets’ Needs and Possible Picks

June 25, 2020 Lee Branscome 0

I took part in the most recent version of Hoops Prospects Mock Draft. In this mock, I was contributing to the selection of each pick, but also primarily focused on Charlotte. As the draft unfolded, I made conscious decisions for the Hornets, and have provided a quick “state of the franchise” update below, along with the reasoning behind each selection.  At the beginning of the [ . . . ]