By JOSEPH DURUAKU
Special to ZAGSBLOG
GARDEN GROVE, CA – Brandon Ingram is comparable to Kevin Durant, not Thon Maker.
The savvy 6-foot-8 small forward said that he tries to model his game after the reigning MVP. Ingram has seen a slight rise in his recruiting ranking over the summer due to his strong performances throughout the Adidas circuit. He credited his strong showing in Chicago for his outstanding play at the Adidas Nations in California.
“I think my performance in Chicago gave me a new identity,” Ingram told the media. “I come on the court now and know what I have to do every time, I have to be the guy I was in Chicago and if I just play my game it will come naturally.
Through four games at the Adidas Nations, Ingram averaged 13.5 points per game on a 51.2 percent shooting clip.
“Ingram’s game is similar to that of a Kevin Durant,” an NBA scout said. “He has the long and slender frame and he struggles defensively like Durant did early in his high school days. His shooting stroke is a big time plus for him because he lacks strength and cannot always finish through contact.”
The North Carolina native cited his skinny frame as something he wanted to improve on.
“I know people question my frame,” Ingram said. “It is something I plan to build on as I grow as a player. Adding size is a slow process, and I am being patient with it.”
Despite the concerns about his frame, scouts were pleased with Ingram’s performance during the came.
The young forward’s play has earned him several different offers that include: Kentucky, Kansas, Duke, North Carolina, Wake Forest, Florida, Louisville, UCLA, Clemson and N.C. State.
He said he has no favorites, but will visit UCLA Tuesday unofficially and Duke Thursday-Saturday on an official.
Ingram also stated that he does not have any dates finalized yet, but he will definitely take official visits to Kansas for Late Night in the Phog and Kentucky.
A strong coaching staff and next level preparation are key factors the 6-foot-8 forward is looking for in a program.
“I am looking for a program that has a great coaching staff that can make me better,” said the versatile forward. “It’s also important that the coaches prepare me for the next level after college basketball.”
It is still early in Ingram’s recruiting process; he is not quite ready to cut his list down yet, but he is aiming to make his college announcement in October or November, he wants to make it in the early part of the commitment period.
Ingram feels that the school he picks would be receiving a highly skilled and talent that can provide offense from multiple spots on the floor.
“My versatility is something I pride myself on,” Ingram said. “I can play on the perimeter, go inside against smaller defenders, shoot over the top of anybody and attack the basket.”
The Stackhouse Elite forward’s recruitment appears to be pretty wide open right now, but with a commitment in sight for October or November, it is safe to assume that he will cut his list down pretty soon.
Ingram is currently ranked as a five-star forward on most national ranking platforms.
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