Boost Mobile Elite 24

http://rise.espn.go.com/boys-basketball/articles/2010/08/26-Elite-24-practice-notebook.aspx

Tonight: Dunk Contest at 9 EST/ 6 PCT on ESPNU (Deuce is my heavy favorite w/ Garrett and Powell as the dark horses)
Tomorrow: Game at 7:30/4:30 ON ESPNU

Amir Garrett will be in both the dunk contest and game. Quinn and Jabari Brown will be in the game and skills competition. Former recruits, Nick Johnson, Carson, and Nash will also be competing.

http://rise.espn.go.com/boys-basketball/articles/2010/08/elite-24-roster-bios.aspx
Bios of the players

Any idea how crowded it will get down there?  Was thinking of going down with my Redmen jersey and showing Amir, Jabari and Quinn some love.

Any idea how crowded it will get down there?  Was thinking of going down with my Redmen jersey and showing Amir, Jabari and Quinn some love.

From a guy who was there, he said they had a good (75-80% and laid back), but not great crowd (last year at the Rucker and then at the Gauchos gym, it held way more and they were turned away at the door in the rain). He said the ESPN people expect that the game will draw more and were pleased that the players were really into the midnight run and practice at the HAX.

I watched the replay late last night after the USA/Brazil game. Garrett played alright, Brown and Cook were mostly quiet. Austin Rivers is amazingly good. Kabongo represented well for Tri-state area and I definitely wish Jahii Carson was coming here. He'd be fun to watch.

I actually really liked Garrett's game.  See him trying to play defense?  In a streetball exhibition showcase? Got to love that attitude. Long arms, maybe some decent instincts, finishes above the rim... if he has half a handle, he becomes a versatile defensive stalwart.

Yea I really like Garrett and my buddy who runs an Oregon website was texting me last night about how much he likes Garrett. I don't think UO has much of a shot though.

Watched the game last night too along with the Slam Dunk contest. 

- Loved what I saw from Garrett.  He is definetely raw and his shot needs some work (1 of them blasted the side of the backboard) but he looks like a relentless force with freakishly long arms.  In the dunk contest he had a nasty 1st dunk.  Just looked like he was oozing with potential the whole time I saw him.

-My favorite part of Brown's game was that he looks like he doesn't take no shi.t.  If anyone scored on him, he went right back at them and was trying to lock people up when he could.  He struggled with his shot but pretty much everyone did.  Just looks real smooth with an attitude.

-Cook couldn't hit a shot and was getting real frustrated and worst of all got hurt at the end (they didn't talk about it last night bc it then just ended but I'm pretty sure it was kind of serious).  He just has a sick feel for the game though.  Never looks out of control and seems to always be making a play.

Watched the game last night too along with the Slam Dunk contest. 

- Loved what I saw from Garrett.  He is definetely raw and his shot needs some work (1 of them blasted the side of the backboard) but he looks like a relentless force with freakishly long arms.  In the dunk contest he had a nasty 1st dunk.  Just looked like he was oozing with potential the whole time I saw him.

-My favorite part of Brown's game was that he looks like he doesn't take no shi.t.  If anyone scored on him, he went right back at them and was trying to lock people up when he could.  He struggled with his shot but pretty much everyone did.  Just looks real smooth with an attitude.

-Cook couldn't hit a shot and was getting real frustrated and worst of all got hurt at the end (they didn't talk about it last night bc it then just ended but I'm pretty sure it was kind of serious).  He just has a sick feel for the game though.  Never looks out of control and seems to always be making a play.

-Despite the setting, that's actually (surprisingly) a fair example of Garrett's strengths and weaknesses, but his game was built for streetball.

-Brown normally is a very good shooter-frankly, one of the best in the class. His temper and attitude have caused some problems this AAU season, but, hopefully, his college coach can help him to channel his energy.

-Quinn was supposed to get his knee looked at right away (MRI)  because he's got to report to Oak Hill very soon. His feel for the game is so precocious. He'll be one of those rare freshman pgs that a coach throw out there and feel comfortable having him run your offense very early in his career.