NCAA UNDERGROUND weekly: T.J. Price Jr. &....

YOU DON’T KNOW (OR MAYBE YOU KNOW….) HOW GOOD IS…

G – T.J. Price Jr. (Western Kentucky)

6-4 slasher born to be a hi-level pro in a european league on both ends of the court. Strong 225lbs body frame, with kind of strength on his upper body that will make half of NCAA bigs ready for the NBA draft. On offense he can punish with long range shooting, pullup mid range after one or two dribbles, low post moves against smaller guards.
He’s not so creative off the dribble, but he’s very unselfish and, if you will have the chance to watch him playing, have a look at the way he serves his bigs with his timing and the different types of passes he can execute. On defense, he’s already one of the top5 guards in college basketball for mentality, approach and defensive reads. On individual defense he knows how to use his body and he’s got perfect timing to deny the ball. Better on strong guards than on lightweight 6-1 going to the rim. On zone defense, he doesn’t only play…he teaches it to every teammate.
If you just notice the Hilltoppers are 9-1 in conference USA, George Fant III looks like a big with pro future and you’re looking for a reason, stay with number 52 in red.

SPORTANDO-U. TEAM OF THE WEEK (UNRANKED TEAM)

G – Kendall Anthony (Richmond)

Richmond lost every game they played away from home this season. First W arrives in the most unexpected game, against cross-town rival (then) #14 VCU.
Kendall breaks the game scoring 20 in the last 15 minutes, with a series of hustle plays, attacking the rim and assisting his teammates… he’s the Spiders heartbeat, has got a lot of Allen Iverson basketball in him and, slightly above 140 pounds, A.I. is clearly his inspirational figure.

G – James Robinson (Pittsburgh)

In the biggest upset of the week, we got his strong initials on it. Nobody, except Coach Benett UVA team, has ever given a L to Notre Dame this season. James is the one giving the second L to the Irish scoring the firts double-double of his career, bringing his solid physical defense on the court and having the game-winning runner with which he let the end titles roll…

G – Denzel Valentine (Michigan State)

In a bad season for Coach Izzo’s standards, the Win against in-state rivals Michigan Wolverines it’s one of the rare smile on the Spartans’ face. LeVert injury takes away from us an interesting middleweight fight, so Denzel scores 25 with 7rebs and 7ast, also adding 45% performance from three point arc and showing his best blue-collar mentality on defense to win the game..

F – LaDontae Henton (Providence)

The Friars are all ups and downs, erratic, inconsistent but extremely, extremely talented. Take this guy, few people talk about in pros perspective, but he’s easily the best scorer of the big east conference with an offensive versatility few other forwards can show in the NCAA.
Win at Georgetown (where he’s got usual 16 with 6 rebs) is what we can define “a statement game”, even if the Friars will never keep themselves away from good and bad surprises…

F/C – George Fant III (Western Kentucky)

You know the Hilltoppers now. Price brings scoring skills from the perimeter, this, maybe, 6-6 center is the one going to war any single game. He’s got passion for rebounds in both painted areas and there’s no physical challenge he doesn’t like. On defense he makes the other notice his presence on every cut and on any penetration. Past 7 days, two more Ws for his team and the usual double-double for George.

SPORTANDO-U. TEAM OF THE WEEK (RANKED TEAM)

G – Quinn Cook (Duke)  

For the Blue-Devils we loved the 3 freshmen, we mentioned appreciation for essential basketball brought by Amile Jefferson… but now it’s Quinn-time!
If you don’t think Duke won in Charlottesville, thanks to this guy, please stop reading.
UVA won by 20 on average, any game in the season on their homecourt, and with 5 minutes on the clock, Duke down by 7, Q.C. scored 3 triples that only a senior can score, he brings the Blue-Devils up by 2 and let Tyus Jones lock the W.

G – Malcolm Brogdon (Virginia)

48 hours after their first loss of the season, revenge takes place in Chapel Hill, Brogdon and friends show a 2nd half performance would have beaten even the Kentucky Wildcats. Malcolm plays his usual sober basketball, adding outstanding ball handling skills against press defense and offensive decision typical of a hi-level “pro to-be” NCAA guard. He ends with 17 points but it’s what he does all over the court that brings home the W for the Cavaliers.

F – Seth Tuttle (Northern Iowa)

You’ll remember his name if you follow us since day 1. Two W’s in the week brings his Panthers to #14 of National Ranking. Against Wichita State, he dominates in any single place of the court scoring 29 at the end. He’s shooting with insane percentage (60% from the field…) and creating basketball in a way that, only by mid-march, a lot of people will admit having largely underrated…

F – Montrezl Harrell (Louisville)

You know the guy. Far from being an impressionist painter with the ball in his hands, never had the white collar but strictly a blue one, a dark blue one. He simply doesn’t let his team have a single mental let down, so that the Cards are now a war machine both on defense and under the boards, while he’s more and more preparing his late lottery call for late june, where some optimistic people hope will find the next Manimal. While all this goes on, Carolina takes notes, buried under his 22 points and 15 rebounds.

C – Frank Kaminsky (Wisconsin)

We know, we’re not being original or too creative, but he’s turning from being “weak and not interesting” for the pros to be the next Brad Miller. We still think he misses aggressiveness and needs to pump a lot of weights… however, the NBA starts to look at him as someone to bring on the offensive end able to spread the floor and hit from outside. Who can he guard on defense? Well, don’t ask us….

Written by Marco Ridolfi