Taylor King has bounceback options after leaving Duke
Max Turner/Icon SMITaylor King averaged 5.5. points and 2 rebounds per a game during his first, and only, season as a Blue Devil.Despite playing in all 34 games, King saw limited action (9 min/game) during his first, and only, season in Durham. King's adjustment to college basketball wasn't a smooth transition for a couple of reasons. First, he is a combo forward who struggles defending high-level wings because of his lack of lateral quickness. Secondly, he is a volume shooter who needs shots to get into an offensive rhythm, and playing behind fellow McDonald's All-American Kyle Singler, opportunities would be hard to come by.
King still has three years to showcase his offensive game, and choosing a school that fits his talent will be critical for his future success. Although he can be a prolific shooter, I would like to see King take his game inside at times and utilize his savvy and length. In his first couple of seasons at Mater Dei, he would post up on occasion, showcasing a fairly nifty jump hook that was highly effective, and he was a solid rebounder as well. However, as his career unfolded, he primarily became one-dimensional because of his 3-point shooting touch.
Although it's early on in the bounce-back phase of his recruitment, expect a number of schools -- USC, Gonzaga and Santa Clara to name a few -- to come into the picture for King's signature. Despite his deficiencies on the defensive end, he is a deadly shooter and possesses an assassin-like instinct to compete with the best.
The Southern California Hoop Review, directed by Nor Cal scout Gerry Freitas, is becoming one of the better up-and-coming AAU events -- primarily because of its organization and accurate rosters.
The talent level overall was just average, but there were a number of intriguing Division I prospects who exhibited their skills throughout the weekend -- including 6-7 junior Derrick Williams (La Mirada, Calif.), 6-5 junior Michael Snaer (Moreno Valley, Calif./ Rancho Verde) and 6-8 junior Tyler Honeycutt (Sylmar, Calif.).
Standout Players
Derrick Williams (6-7, 215)
Junior, La Mirada, Calif.
Williams has become one of the more improved players on the West Coast. He has an impressive frame with very long arms and good length. During his junior campaign, he has become much more versatile. Prior to this season he was strictly a back-to-the-basket prospect. Recently, he has taken his game out to the perimeter. His jump shot has range out to the stripe, although he needs to quicken his release. In addition, he has a deceptive first step to the basket and excellent scoring skills around the basket -- despite not having a whole lot of bounce. He rebounded well during this event and displayed his underrated passing skills. With continued development, Williams can look forward to hearing from some high-majors this spring and summer.
Michael Snaer (6-5, 200)
Junior, Moreno Valley, Calif./ Rancho Verde
Snaer is one of the better all-around players on the West Coast. He has very good length for the shooting guard position and possesses the skills and savvy to play at the high-major level. Although Snaer is sound in many facets of the game, he isn't exceptional in any particular area. As a result, I foresee him being a classic glue-type at the next level. His jump shot is streaky, but he gets good lift on it and his release appears smooth. He can handle the ball effectively in the open court and is one of the better finishers in traffic. When he guides his Inland AAU team in the summer, Snaer needs to continue to monitor his decision-making and try not to do too much.
Tyler Honeycutt (6-8, 190)
Junior, Sylmar, Calif.
It's remarkable to see how much Honeycutt has matured physically in the past couple of months. He appears to have grown a couple of inches since December and is now pushing 6-foot-8. Physically he may remind you of current Gonzaga standout Austin Daye -- although not as long. He is bouncy around the basket and has become a much better rebounder. He's an excellent passer for his size, has a solid handle, but his jump shot needs to tighten up if he's going to be recruited at the highest level.
Robert Smith (5-11, 180)
Junior, Perris, Calif.
Smith wasn't at his best at this event, but he was still clearly the best point guard prospect. Smith is a true point guard who is exceptional at pushing it in transition. His handle is low and tight, and he's extremely strong and quick. His jump shot was inconsistent, but it has definitely gotten better since his sophomore year. He's a solid defender and has very quick hands. Overall, for Smith to reach his potential, he needs to continue to smoothen out his jump shot and develop some pace to his game; he has a tendency to play too fast and become turnover prone.
Surprise Players
Deend Parker (6-5, 190)
Junior, San Francisco/ Lincoln
Parker -- think Marcus Ginyard of UNC -- plays the game at a relentless pace. He is one of those glue-type prospects for the next level. He isn't a great shooter, but his shot is solid enough that the opposition has to respect it. However, he is a very good defender, rebounder and he's relatively unselfish. His strength is attacking the basket in transition and making plays at both ends. What level he plays at will depend on how much his jump shot comes around.
Dominic Carr (6-4,190)
Sophomore, Riverside, Calif./ J.W. North
Carr was the biggest surprise of the event and with good reason. He plays extremely hard at both ends and is a tremendous athlete. His overall game needs polishing as does his decision-making, but the upside is there. This lefty is a solid scorer, especially when attacking the basket. Carr's frame allows him to draw contact and convert in traffic. On the other hand, his jump shot is flat and inconsistent, and he forces the issue on too many possessions.
Victor Ruud (6-7, 200)
Junior, Van Nuys, Calif.
Ruud was one of the major disappointments of the event. Ruud has the ideal size for the 3 and is very athletic in the open court. However, he has yet to develop the appropriate skills and savvy to play at the high-major level. Presently, he settles far too often for 3-point shots and rarely attacks the basket. In addition, he doesn't play with a lot of purpose in mind and as a result his stock is plummeting.
Moses Morgan (6-5, 190)
Sophomore, Las Vegas/ Palo Verde
Morgan has a solid upside at the next level due because of his soft shooting touch out to the stripe. His frame is solid with long arms and overall good length. His game is still developing; he is strictly a jump-shooter at this stage. To reach his potential, Morgan needs to be much more aggressive at both ends (at times he doesn't play real hard) and continue to refine his ball skills and overall feel for the game.
Guy Edi (6-5, 210)
Junior
Edi, who never became eligible for Van Nuys this past season, could be headed to Findlay Prep for his senior season and could also commit to Miami in the coming weeks. He has an extremely mature and chiseled frame to say the least. He plays hard at both ends and has the potential to be a devastating defender at the next level. His jump shot is erratic out to the stripe, but he's extremely strong getting to the basket, although he's not as bouncy as you might think. To make a significant impact at the next level, he needs to tighten up his midrange game and work on his shot selection.
What we learned • Willie Hankins, a 6-2 sophomore out of Van Nuys, Calif., has the ideal frame and overall skills to be considered a Division I prospect.
• Although his jump shot was inconsistent throughout the weekend and he needs to get significantly stronger, 6-5 junior Rodney Black (Perris, Calif.) is one of the better Division I sleepers on the West Coast.
• Garrett Johnson, a 6-4 junior out of Diamond Bar, Calif./Diamond Ranch, has been identified as one of the better athletes in his class. The consistency of his jump shot (has improved) will determine the level he's recruited at.
• Brandon Duliakas, a 6-9 junior out of Ironwood (Phoenix), has added considerable weight since his sophomore campaign. He has a solid shooting touch and good hands, but he needs to be much more assertive in the paint to garner any Division I attention in the coming year.
• One of the pleasant surprises of the event was the emergence of 6-4 junior Donavan Jackson (Lake Forest, Calif./El Toro). He has a lengthy frame, a soft shooting touch and an overall smooth game.
• Sarunas Jackson, a 6-8 senior out of Corona, Calif./Santiago, has the frame and overall talent to play at the low Division I level.
• Corey Jones, a 6-2 sophomore out of Los Angeles/Crenshaw, displayed some solid quickness and an innate ability to get to the basket on number of occasions.
• One of the better passers at the event was 6-3 junior Stephon Carter (Bakersfield, Calif./ Garces). He's very good in transition but needs to tighten up his jump shot for the next level.
• Although there was news that broke this week regarding USC making an offer to 6-10 senior Krys Faber (Los Angeles/Ribet Academy), that doesn't appear to be the case. He has made an unofficial visit to the campus (USC) but no offer was issued. Notre Dame, Northern Illinois and DePaul appear to be the front runners for his signature.
• UC-Riverside nabbed a sleeper in 6-10 Kyle Clark (Lakewood, Calif.). Clark has progressed nicely over the past year and his best years are definitely ahead of him.
At this stage, Clark is still mechanical and raw on the offensive end, but he has nice timing on the defensive end and is a solid rebounder.
• Aaron Ware, a 6-5 wing out of Torrance, Calif./ Bishop Montgomery, recently committed to George Washington. Ware needs to tone up his jump shot, which is flat in its trajectory. However, he plays with great energy at both ends and has a tremendous first step to the basket.
• Lorne Jackson, a 6-1 senior out of Simi Valley, Calif., continues to pick up scholarship offers; George Mason has just been added to a list that includes Pepperdine, Long Beach State, University of Portland, Montana State and American. Jackson is considered one of the top unsigned point guard prospects on the West Coast.
Joel Francisco has been a high school basketball scout for 15 years. He has written for Hoopscoop Magazine and Basketball Times and organized "So-Cal's Finest," his own scouting service.
