NORTH AUGUSTA, SC --- Now that the European adventure is over and done with for Bradley Beal (6-4, 190, St. Louis, MO Chaminade Prep), the St. Louis Eagles can get back to the business of trying to win what is the Nike national travel team championship at the Nike Peach Jam. Beal, the sharpshooting guard and Florida commitment who was selected the Most Valuable Player at the FIBA World 17-and-Under Championships while leading the USA team to the gold medal in Hamburg, Germany, spent all day Monday traveling to get to North Augusta and it was obvious that he didn't have his legs under him, but his presence was essential for the Eagles, who suffered a two-point loss to the New York-based Metro Hawks in the second session Monday.
With Florida coach Billy Donovan and assistants Rob Lanier and Richard Pitino looking on, Beal scored 10 points, grabbed four rebounds, handed out five assists and had three steals to help the Eagles to a hard fought 63-54 win over Louisiana Select Tuesday morning. Although Beal couldn't get a three-pointer to drop --- he had three of his four attempts do everything but go down --- his presence on the court was a steadying factor when Louisiana Select came back from a 10-point deficit to take the lead with a little over four minutes remaining.
"I couldn't get my shot going," Beal said after the Eagles improved to 2-1 in the pool play section of the tournament. "I never got into any rhythm at all. My legs were a little dead but they'll be okay later on. I'll get some rest this afternoon and I'll be all right tonight."
The top two teams in each of the four pools will advance to the quarter-finals, which will begin Wednesday evening. The Eagles and the Metro Hawks are both chasing the Chicago-based Mac Irvin Fire, which is 3-0 after a tough Tuesday morning win over the Metro Hawks. Mac Irvin Fire arrived late to the North Augusta Recreation Center venue Tuesday morning and played the Metro Hawks without the benefit of any warmups. Players were still arriving two minutes into the first half.
While Beal struggled in the first game, Florida target Sam Thompson (6-6, 190, Chicago, IL Whitney Young) couldn't get it going at least on the offensive end Chicago-based Mac Irvin Fire's 59-49 win over the Metro Hawks. Thompson arrived barely in time to lace up his shoes and take the floor. After hitting a short jumper off a spin move and nailing a three-ball among his first three shots, Thompson had problems getting the ball to go in the hole the rest of the way. He was 0-6 from the foul line including an 0-3 hat trick with no time left on the clock at the end of the first half, finishing the game with five points, three rebounds and three steals to go with five turnovers.
Thompson was closely watched by Donovan and Pitino while Lanier watched Dorian Finney-Smith (6-8, 185, Portsmouth, VA IC Norcum), who scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the Boo Williams Summer League's 71-48 loss to Boston-based BAB on another court. BWSL got 13 points and six rebounds from star center James McAdoo (6-8, 210, Norfolk, VA Norfolk, Christian) who arrived late Monday night from Gerrmany, where he was a member of the USA gold medal team in Germany along with Beal. In that game, 2012 Florida prospect Nerlens Noel (6-10, 205, Everett, MA The Tilton School) scored eight points, grabbed eight rebounds and was credited with three blocked shots although he altered or deflected at least five others.
Donovan also got a good look at Omar Calhoun (6-4, 180, Middle Village, NY Christ the King), who scored 24 points in the New York Gauchos' 53-52 loss to Milwaukee-based Playground Elite, which was led by 2012 stud Cinmeon Bowers (6-7, 240, Milwaukee, WS Rufus King), who scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Bowers, who reclassified from 2011 to 2012, showed impressive ball handling and passing skills along with a nice touch to about 18 feet.
A player of interest for the Gators is 2012 do-it-all Kyle Anderson Jr. (6-8, 200, Paterson, NJ Catholic), who turned in his third straight impressive game in New Jersey Playaz 92-60 rout of Spiece Indy Heat. Anderson's stat line read 13 points, eight rebounds, nine assists and four steals. Marquise Teague, who traveled all day Monday to get back from Germany along with Beal and McAdoo, was ineffective for Spiece. The Kentucky commitment had just three points (1-8 from the field and 1-5 from the foul line) in 16 minutes although he did have seven assists.
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With Beal a strong commitment and Rutgers transfer Mike Rosario already in the house, the Gators have room for two more in the recruiting class of 2011. One of the scholarships will go to a long, lean athletic type and the other to a big man.
The long, lean types are Thompson, Finney-Smith, Adonis Thomas (6-6, 211, Memphis, TN Melrose) and Kedren Johnson (6-4, 215, Lewisburg, TN Marshall County), a combo guard who is playing with the Georgia Stars in North Augusta. Johnson was impressive Tuesday morning, scoring 14 points while grabbing 11 rebounds and handing out seven assists to lead the Georgia Stars to a 74-72 win over Each One Teach One, which got a 35-point effort from Austin Rivers (6-4, 190, Winter Park, FL). Rivers, who was once committed to Florida, was watched for the third consecutive game by Duke Coach Mike Kryzyzewski.
The Gators are focused in on four big men: Rakeem Christmas (6-9, 225, Philadelphia, PA Academy of the New Church), Cody Zeller (6-10, 210, Washington, IN), Johnny O'Bryant (6-10, 245, Cleveland, TN) and Mikael Hopkins (6-9, 215, Hyattsville, MD DeMatha Catholic). Christmas, who had two points and no rebounds in 13 minutes Tuesday morning before fouling out after only 13 minutes of play in Team Final's 60-54 win over Mean Streets, has Florida, Texas and Oklahoma at the top of his short list. Zeller has had Butler and Florida at the top of his list but with North Carolina offering recently, the Tar Heels have come into play. Zeller's older brother will be a UNC junior this fall. O'Bryant has Florida on his short list but the team to beat will be Mississippi State. Hopkins, who scored 12 points, grabbed five rebounds and blocked two shots in Team Takeover's 74-61 win over Alabama Challenge Tuesday morning, says Syracuse is his leader but he plans to attend Florida's elite camp in August.
Florida's coaching staff is also considering the option of signing just one long, lean type while redshirting either freshman Will Yeguette (6-8) or Cody Larson (6-9) and holding a scholarship until 2012. If the staff isn't confident it can land one of the four big man targets, consider the redshirt/hold the ship possibility as a likely scenario
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