The McDonald’s All-American Game scrimmage took place on Tuesday in Chicago and Jay Williams and Quint Kessenich interviewed several players on ESPNU.
Here are some highlights:
DIAMOND STONE WANTS TO BE A ‘BEAST’
Newly-minted Maryland commit Diamond Stone was asked how he could help bring the Terps to a Final Four next year.
“I plan on just being a low-post beast on the block,” the 6-10 Stone said. “I think I bring great character to the team, on and off the court. My rebounding needs work but I think I can coming into the season, getting with the strength and conditioning coach…He can get me right, like he did Alex Len. Right now I’m probably 13 or 14 percent body fat, I think I need to cut that down to 10 and I think I could be a beast.”
Stone committed to Maryland on Friday, choosing the Terps over UConn, Oklahoma State and Wisconsin.
JAYLEN BROWN PLAYING COY ON RECRUITMENT
Jaylen Brown recently visited Michigan and Cal but is playing coy on his recruitment.
The 6-7 wing from Marietta (GA) Wheeler listed Michigan, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, Cal, UCLA, Georgia and Georgia Tech.
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out now, what’s the best fit for me,” he said. “I can play with a lot of good guys but I’m trying to figure out what I got going on.”
Brown is projected as the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft by DraftExpress.com.
ZIMMERMAN REMAINS OPEN
Stephen Zimmerman, the 7-footer from Las Vegas (NV) Bishop Gorman, is considering Kansas, Kentucky, UNLV, UCLA and Arizona.
“All the schools are talking to me a lot and right now I’m just trying to enjoy this,” he said. “Some people are probably going to commit while they’re here and stuff.”
Asked who the best recruiter at the game was, Zimmerman said, “Really everybody’s been talking to me a lot. They all have the same idea as me leaving as soon as I can.”
DWAYNE BACON WANTS TO BE JAMES HARDEN
Florida State commit Dwayne Bacon said he wouldn’t go straight to the NBA even if he could.
“Probably not, no sir,” he said. “I want to go to Florida State to work on my defense. I think coach Leonard Hamilton can help me do all those things so that’s why I want to go to college first, and then decide after that.”
Who does the 6-6 Bacon compare to the in NBA?
“A lot of people say I play like Tyreke Evans,” he said. “But I’m just trying to get better. I want to be a James Harden type. I want to get better and eventually be a James Harden type. I can score on all levels now, but become that type of player
How dangerous can Bacon and FSU guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes be together?
“They should be scared,” he said. “We’re coming, we’re ready to take over the ACC.”
BRISCOE NOT WORRIED ABOUT WHO LEAVES KENTUCKY
As many as seven players could leave Kentucky after this season, especially if they finish 40-0 and win the NCAA championship on Monday night.
But Kentucky-bound point guard Isaiah Briscoe of Roselle (N.J.) Catholic says he’s not worried about who stays or goes.
“I don’t believe in pressure, whoever stays and goes at Kentucky it’s fine,” the 6-3 Briscoe said. “I wish them all the best of luck. I’m a competitor, I love to compete. If some of them stay, I’m just going there to have to prove myself and I don’t have a problem with that.”
It’s possible both sophomores Andrew and Aaron Harrison and freshman Devin Booker leave for the NBA, which would open up playing time in the backcourt for Briscoe and Charles Matthews alongside Tyler Ulis. Briscoe is also recruiting Malik Newman to join him.
Ultimately, all of them want to make the NBA.
“Kentucky is the biggest stage in college basketball, I think,” Briscoe said. “If you perform on that big stage, then you get nothing but positives things out of it.”
Asked if he hopes the Harrisons leave, Briscoe said, “It is what it is, if they stay I’ll play with them. If they go, I wish them nothing but luck in their career.”
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