Findlay Prep vs. Houston Yates Open thread

Kabongo is going to be the first true blow-by guard we’ve had since TJ Ford.

Augustin was clever with the ball, but didn’t have the get by you explosiveness like Myck.

Winston Shepperd looks NIIIICE.

yates is straight rollin right now. they’re amped up.

i’m lovin getting to see kabongo

Kabongo is looking like the best player on the floor so far. Incredible and-one.

Shepard is a badass. And a must. Kabongo is a one man press breaker.

Yates is very good at this temp though. YOu can’t be tricked into playing at their pace.

Good move by Findlay to go to a zone here to slow things down. That’s got to be 4 dimes for MK by now.

Shepard is fucking explosive and he has solid handles. Yes please.

Kabongo looks like a young God Shammgod.

did barnes have him @ providence?

I’m pretty sure he was at Clemson by then.

You tell me that doesn’t look like Myck Kabongo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZiVtwMpctQ

Yates really been struggling against the zone, and Findlay’s breaking the press at will now. If Yates doesn’t figure it out at the half, this could get away from them.

Kabongo makes me giddy. He already has the Paul Pierce move down of over-emphazing any contact and drawing fouls.

Kabongo handles, slices, and deals like John Wall …

Findlay’s talent level outclassing Yates towards end of 1st half. I anticipate more of the same in the 2nd. I didn’t know that Winston Shepard’s dad went to UT.

So Trips any word about how Winston’s dad feels about Texas for his son?

He was recruited by Weltlich but played for Penders, so we have that going for us.

Shepard’s looked okay. Made some nice plays and shows potential, but he’s got an inconsistent stroke and I don’t like his body language. With that said, we could do worse than him, for sure. But, with the talent in the state of Texas in the next two classes, I’m hoping we do better.

Kabongo is a thoroughbred. He seems like he could run all day and, other than the first couple of minutes, handled Yates’s pressure with no problem. His only weakness is a 3pt shot that is average, at best. I’m really impressed with Findlay overall. Fantastic poise and discipline in breaking the press, not forcing bad shots. I like their backcourt of Myck and Nick Johnson. Arizona is getting a good player in Johnson.

“Kabongo looks like a young God”

FIFY

Kabongo isn’t going to need to shoot a bunch of 3s. Taller TJ Ford, imo.

There is a lot of TJ in that one. It’s great to see.

Regarding Shepard, put me in the “I’ll take the legacy” column. I did hear a purported list that seemed to have half of D-I on it.

I like it when Bob in Houston channels Yoda.

Avery Bradley got embarrassed defensively a few times tonight against the Hawks. Maybe his struggles here weren’t illusions or the fault of Barnes. It’s puzzling regardless. Joseph and Kabongo should be much better at Texas.

never was much of a fan of Bradley last year… just didn’t like him for some reason.

Kabongo and Joseph can be a top 5 backcourt next season
As great as Kabongo is, I think Nick Johnson is FP’s best player. His Rivals ranking (#40) is a joke. Been watching him since last season when he played with CJ so his performance last night was no surprised. Kabongo’s offensive ability has really improved with a much better looking jump shot. His vision was evident two years ago.
I liked what I saw of Shepard. Another year to develop his game but right now he has things that can’t be taught.
FP plays with such discipline and a high hoops IQ. Honestly, Yates was way out of their league last night in every facet.

Agree, Nick Johnson is a stud. The one who grabbed my attention, though, was the sophomore who verballed to UNLV (Goss-Williams?) If he progresses the next two years, which is reasonable, he may be better than them all. If so, hope he gets sucked into the Texas pipeline …

Nick Johnson is a beast. I believe Nick is the best player on Findlay Prep. his rival ranking should be easily top 10. his performance did not surprise me one bit. his vertical is unreal. especially his game opening alley-opp, and his one handed-through the paint slam in the 4th. All-American easily if he keeps working.

FP goes against Dallas Lincoln in mid-January.

Slow day today

Incredibly impressed with FP last night. Looked like a well coached college team. Very unselfish, great discipline, spacing, poise, and not a lot of yapping. Yates played like I thought they would.

What is our connection into the FP pipeline? I hope it keeps flowing.

I hope we get a chance to see Joseph, MK and Hamilton play together next year.

Is FP one of these baskeball factories that barely offers classes?

The announcers discussed FP last night. It is a basketball prep school, no doubt, resourced by some guy named Findlay. They live in a 5-bedroom house and attend classes. There’s an open door policy for anyone to check out their academic programs on an unannounced basis. The announcers said the NCAA took them up on the offer and concluded it’s a legitimate academic program.

At least that’s the way I recall it …

Findlay doesn’t have an actual school. The players all attend classes at the Henderson International School which is legit.

HIS disbanded its high school program after last year. Not exactly sure how classes are being taught now, but they are being taught.

Didn’t know that. The Findlay website still lists Henderson, so no idea what they’re doing for classes now.

I wanted Yates to win. It’s a real, physical high school that serves an actual neighborhood rather than a basketball prep academy. For my money, the fact that Yates has done what it has done over the last 2 years is one of the most amazing sports stories I’ve ever heard.

Bob, are you referring to their high school overall or just their bball program?

The FP travel schedule rivals most D1 schools.

BIH is referring to the HS where the FP players took classes. It was small (less than 100 students) and very expensive.

I love Kabongo and the create-for-others point guard is the most enjoyable thing to watch in basketball. Where Kabongo differs from TJ is that Ford had an uncanny ability to finish around the rim. Kabongo is a better shooter though. He also has the wingspan of Rajon Rondo so his ability to defend up top is better. I was really impressed in his understanding of tempo. He knew when to push it, he knew when to make Yates defend for 30 seconds.
 
Findlay is really well coached. The head coach’s decision to position Kabongo on the far baseline as a press break decision maker was really clever.
 
I thought Shepard was very athletic and quite soft. Traditionally, that’s not a guy Barnes takes. Interested to see how that plays out.

This was my first look at Kabongo other than his highlight videos. When he “decommitted” last month I was upset, but if I had seen him play a full game back then I would have been devastated. Kid is a player approaching the Durant/Ford level and I can’t wait to see him here.

He won’t need a 3 point shot in college, but if he can develop even an average one he’ll be lethal.

Apparently he shoots a little better than he showed in that game.
 
He nails his free throws too, which is big for a point guard slasher.

That’s great to hear. Anyone have his 3/FT percentages from this year and/or last year?

Mostly I just had no idea we were really getting a TJ type PG. I had read the comparisons but thought a lot of it was wishful thinking. His pure PG skills are already off the charts good. AND he can finish. Can’t wait.

“I wanted Yates to win. It’s a real, physical high school that serves an actual neighborhood rather than a basketball prep academy. For my money, the fact that Yates has done what it has done over the last 2 years is one of the most amazing sports stories I’ve ever heard.”

You truly didn’t just type that with a straight did you? Jack Yates has recruited HISD for well over 25 years for basketball and use it’s Magnet School Status to pave the way for kids outside their attendance zone to play at Yates. Don’t even start me on Luther Booker.

Davey -

Yes, I did. However you frame it, what Yates does is not anywhere near what th private basketball academies do. How can you not think it impressive that Yates competes with those places?