ESPN.com - Cleaning out the notebook

ESPN.com: Dave Telep Blog

Friday, January 18, 2013
Cleaning out the notebook

By Dave Telep

CHATHAM, Va. -- On Wednesday night, Virginia’s Hargrave Military Academy defeated the University of North Carolina’s JV squad. But the final result didn’t matter. A sellout crowd united in an attempt to defeat a bigger opponent: cancer.


	Hargrave Military Academy's game against UNC's JV squad this week was an opportunity to raise money for cancer research.

Kudos to Hargrave head coach A.W. Hamilton for uniting his team and the town of Chatham, Va., in an effort to do their part to take a slice out of cancer with “The Pepsi Fight Against Cancer Challenge.”

On the court, Hargrave couldn’t miss. The barrage of 3-pointers was fueled by future Louisville guard Terry Rozier (Shaker Heights, Ohio/Hargrave). An ESPN 100 player last year, his game has exploded during his post-grad season.

Putting his game into perspective is easy: Rozier is the equivalent of a top 30 prospect (ESPN doesn’t rank post-grad players). This is an impact guard, and Louisville’s incoming perimeter trio of Rozier, Chris Jones and Anton Gill is a serious contingent.

Rozier’s media attention isn’t as significant as the other signees, but should he turn out to be the gem of the class, consider yourself forewarned.

Jones on Kentucky

The response from junior point guard Tyus Jones (Apple Valley, Minn./Apple Valley) was predictably positive following his official visit to Kentucky last weekend.

“I got to see what the atmosphere was like in there for a game and their fans,” said Jones, the No. 1 overall prospect in the ESPN 60.

I’m still operating under the working theory that Jones and center Jahlil Okafor (Chicago/Whitney Young), the No. 2 prospect in the 2014 class, will play together in college.

Bembry on tap for big things in A-10

St. Joseph’s did well for itself in signing senior small forward DeAndre Bembry (Elizabeth, N.J./St. Patrick). If I had to guess, I’d say he competes for all-league honors under Phil Martelli.

This kid loves to play. Sounds simple, but you’d be shocked at how few guys have the burning passion to compete like he does. Bembry has bounce, a hint of perimeter skill and a fantastic slashing style. He’s a hawk (soon to be literally) on defense and will be a steal maven. This kid deserves some attention. St. Pat’s has been through a lot as a school in the past few years, and he’s carrying the torch.


	Toronto's Andrew Wiggins, the No. 1-ranked recruit in the Class of 2013, is the latest Canadian prospect to catch the eye of NCAA coaches.

Oh, Canada

It’s been almost a lifetime since Canada medaled in the Olympics with a silver in 1936. But currently ranked No. 26 internationally by FIBA, it’s Canada that has the top amateur talent in the world in the form of Andrew Wiggins.

Canada’s pool of young talent is deep. From Tristan Thompson to Cory Joseph to Andrew Nicholson to a handful of other NBA players, the crop of Canadians is getting better.

And backing them up is a wave of college and high school talent that simply needs time to mature. Anthony Bennett is showing himself as a force, Nik Stauskas looks like he’ll be an international weapon, and Myck Kabongo and Kevin Pangos will be dependable backcourt reinforcements.

Though the 2016 Olympics may not provide enough time for the crop to mature together, the 2020 games look like the country’s best opportunity for a medal in most of our lifetimes.

Get to know Flomo

Kendrick Flomo. Know him?

If not, he’s a name to keep on the short list of 2014 point guards in the South. The two-time alumnus of the Carolina Challenge is piecing together a strong junior season with 23.6 points, seven assists and five rebounds per night.

“He’ll go over 2,000 points by the end of next season,” North Forsyth (N.C.) coach Sean Vestal said.

Tennessee seems to be doing the best job early with Flomo, whose name just rolls off the lips.

Virginia recruits to battle for PT

Last weekend we got a chance to see future Virginia point guard Devon Hall (Virginia Beach, Va./Cape Henry) play against Huntington Prep (W.Va.) on ESPN. Hall and London Perrantes (Encino, Calif./Crespi Carmelite) will provide incumbent Teven Jones with competition for the Cavaliers’ lead guard slot next season.

As for 2014, Virginia is light on scholarships but targets include big men Sean O’Mara and Payton Dastrup. Small forwards Justin Jackson and Isaac Copeland are on the short list of candidates as well.

Around the Nation

• North Carolina hosts elite junior point guard Joel Berry (Apopka, Fla./Lake Highland) this weekend. It’s another example of a program taking advantage of the new rule allowing juniors to now make official visits following Jan. 1 of their junior seasons.

• A thought while doing research for appearances by Wiggins on our air. Now, Leonard Hamilton’s history of producing NBA players isn’t on the level of John Calipari’s. But the list of pros Hamilton has recruited over the years at Oklahoma State, Miami and Florida State isn’t too shabby: John Starks, Byron Houston, Richard Dumas, John Salmons, Tim James, James Jones, Darius Rice, Al Thornton, Von Wafer, Alexander Johnson, Toney Douglas, Solomon Alabi, Chris Singleton, Bernard James and potentially Michael Snaer.

• Bryce Alford’s (Albuquerque, N.M./La Cueva) famous father, Steve, will be his coach next year at New Mexico. Bryce had a triple-double in his team’s recent holiday event win. Steve, you ever record a triple-double?