Video: Dwight Howard Gets Stronger, Lighter, Faster

Adidas is using All-Star to bring fans closer to Dwight at youtube.com/adidasbasketball. The videos include: “Dwight gets Stronger,” where you pick different angles to view Dwight’s dunks; “Dwight gets Lighter,” where you increase the intensity of his dunks; and “Dwight gets Faster,” which can only be unlocked by watching this video…

The Future - Terrence Jones

Terrence Jones 6'9 SF/PF Class of 2010

After I torched the nets of your local church league (17pts, 8ast, 9rebs), I went home and had a chance to witness Terrence Jones for myself as his team played on ESPN2. All I can say is WOW! Jones is a lanky 6'9, with outrageously long arms, do-it-all forward, he led his team with 20 points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals. We already knew he was versatile, but he displayed excellent passing skills that will translate well in college. The usual suspects are in the mix to win the services of this kid, with UK, Oklahoma, Oregon, UCLA, Washington, Gonzaga, and Kansas all vying for his services.

Stephon Marbury's New Life

Starbury Arriving in Taiyuan

By Henry Abbott- ESPN

On Deadspin, Anthony Tao has had a front row seat (PG-13 for language) for the Chinese debut of Stephon Marbury. It's an amazing tale of globalization -- an NBA star, of sorts, has come to a bleak, polluted urban Chinese landscape. What's even more amazing is that, again, thanks to globalization and the efforts of Tao, it's easier to have a sense of what Marbury is like when he's in Taiyuan than it was when he was in New York.

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You can now see all of Marbury's first game online.

Phil Jackson makes Pat Riley Irrelevant

By J.A. Adande- ESPN

The true reflection of Phil Jackson’s stature in the NBA coaching hierarchy isn’t that he surpassed Pat Riley for most victories as coach of the Lakers. It’s that he no longer needs to be measured against Riley, the man who provided Jackson’s first target for coaching greatness.

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Road Trip! HS Hoops Style Four potential All-Americans and two ridiculous dunkers in three days. Does it get any better?

Adrein Payne 6'10 PF Class of 2010

by Rodger Bohn- SLAM Magazine

In between our coverage of Flyin’ To The Hoop in Dayton, OH and Primetime Shootout in Morgantown, WV, I was faced with a tough dilemma: Make the venture back to Cleveland to deal with our worst storm of the winter, or stay on the road and check out four potential McDonald’s All-Americans? For someone who hates the snow and loves high school hoops as much as I do, it was mad easy to decide which way to go.

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Gilbert Arenas: Learning to be a better role model

By Gilbert Arenas - Washington Post

"I know that won't happen overnight, and that it will happen only if I show through my actions that I am truly sorry and have learned from my mistakes" - Gilbert Arenas

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Jeremy Tyler, N.B.A. Prospect, Is Groomed to Play His Own Way

By PETE THAMEL- New York Times
Published: April 25, 2009

Last year Tyler, 17, announced that he would skip his senior year at San Diego High School, rescind his commitment to attend Louisville and play professionally in Europe.

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Chi-Town = Point Guard City?

Some say I'm biased because its my hometown, or maybe its because I saw most of these kids play in H.S.... whatever it may be I am convinced that Chicago has become PG city. The greatest PG to ever play the game is arguably Isiah "Zeke" Thomas who hails from the West Side of the Windy City. Then you have Doc Rivers, Tim Hardaway, Quinn Buckner, and you can even put D. Wade in there too. Additionally, one of the rising stars and 1st time all star in the L, is Chicago's own Derrick "Pooh" Rose... However, when you look at D1 college rosters across the country you notice a trend that will continue to have college coaches stopping through O'hare Airport on their annual recruiting visits.


Chicago Point Guards Killing the NCAA

Evan Turner- OSU- 6'6 Jr.- 18ppg 6ast 9reb- ET projects to be a 2/3 in the league, but he runs the point for Ohio State. The most versatile player in the country Evan is projected as a top 5 pick in this years draft. He entered High School as a 6'0 point guard with average skills, he left H.S. as a 6'6 forward with pg skills, since then he has played with a mean chip on his shoulder in an effort to prove he is one of the best in the country. All American and Wooden Award candidate.

Jon Scheyer- Duke- 6'5 Sr. - 18ppg 5ast- Jon Scheyer was destined to be a bust in college, or so we thought. Honestly, for white hoopers to earn respect in the Chi, they have to be a monster on the court. This kid more than earned his respect, he took it. You can't put a handle on his game, this kid is simply a baller. In HS he was a prolific scorer ( I saw him score 21 points in 1 min and 15 secs) who dominated the ball for his team and went head to head with most dudes on this list. At Duke he has become the facilitator, though he doesn't project to be an NBA PG, he is what makes the Duke team go, often pushing the rock and leading the team in assist. All American and ACC POY candidate

Sherron Collins- Kansas- 5'10 Sr.- 15ppg 4ast- Collins is the best player on the No. 1 team in the nation. A fullback on the court Sherron dominates with his strength, toughness, high basketball IQ and above average athleticism. Another guy we've been watching since he was a youngin, has always been a scoring pg, but over the last few seasons he has become more of a true pg, cutting down on turnovers and adding a sick mid-range j to his repertoire. All American and Big 12 POY candidate.

Demetri McCamey- U of Illinois- 6'3 Jr.- 15ppg 6ast- Bulldog PG whose team struggles when he is not on the floor. Demetri is Mr. Everything for the fighting Illini, a great 3 point shooter and passer. Illini Nation likes to compare him to Deron Williams, but he is his own player. He has a sick handle and drops some of the prettiest dimes in the NCAA. If he can stay out of Bruce Weber's dog house, he is a Big Ten POY candidate.

Jacob Pullen- Kansas State- 6'0 Jr.- 19ppg 4ast- Agent Zero clone- Jacob is a all heart on the floor. The boy is gonna get his buckets no matter who is guarding him. In HS he was a gunner who could put points on the board with the best of them, but he lacked true pg skills. That was then this is now. Jacob could be (gasp!) the best PG in America. Though we knew about him in the 'Go, he has emerged from obscurity and made himself known to the rest of the country. Big 12 POY candidate and dark horse All American candidate.

Jerome Randle-5'10 Sr. Cal- 18ppg 5ast- I remember lil Rome as a ball handling wizard who was always the smallest player on the court. The knock on him was that he was a subpar shooter, and lacked the physical tools to be a major Division 1 PG. WRONG, Randle is the Best PG in the PAC10 hands down. He is an adept scorer and passer. He can shoot with range, drive past anybody, and has the moxie to lead his team against anyone. PAC10 POY candidate.

Honorable Mention

Iman Shumpert- Georgia Tech- 6'4 Soph - Averaging 10pts 4ast per game. Iman is all potential with a nasty midrange game.

Juice Thompson- Northwestern- 5'10 Jr- The kid plays 37 minutes a game and averages 13 pts and 4 ast. May lead NU to first ever tourney appearance.

Kevin Dilliard- SIU- 6'0 Soph- All swag on the court. The silky smooth PG is deadly from the arc and is averaging 13pts and 6 ast per contest.

D. J. Cooper- Ohio University 5'11 Freshman- He is leading the MAC in steals (3 per game) and assist (6 per game) all while averaging 13 pts. The STEAL of the Freshman class.

A.J. Rompza- UCF- 5'9 Soph- The "White Boy" as he is affectionately known as around the city, is a Floor General who embodies the toughness of Chicago PG's, and one of the sickest spin moves i have ever seen. As of now he leads Central Florida with 9ppg 4 ast and 2 steals.

-ChurchLeagueChamps

The Future - Josh Selby

Every year there is a prep guard who separates himself from all the others in the country ( the last few years they have all played for John Calipari...lol) D. Rose, Tyreke, and now John Wall.... Before you hear Dickie V holding this dudes nuts, we're going to introduce you to the next "Diaper Dandy" to take over sportscenter.... Meet Josh Selby a B-more prodigy who has been killng cats all across the DMV for awhile now. I've seen this kid in person and on the court he plays with a mean attitude, you know that he knows he is the best player on the court. He is a scoring pg, but he has all the tools to be a true PG in college and beyond. Handles? check, Hops? check Stroke? check Dimes? check...shorty got G on the court. Originally he committed to Bruce Pearl and the Tennessee Vols ( his game would have fit right in in my opinion) but he de-committed and open his recruiting back up... Get to know him you WILL see this kid on ESPN. Schools in the mix are Kentucky (of course), UConn, Kansas, Syracuse, Arizona, and Indiana.
-ChurchLeagueChamps

The KiNg of NeW YoRk

Personally, I believe New York ballers are the most overrated in the game. However, the most under-appreciate player to EVER play in the league has to be Brooklyn's own Bernard King... He got buckets every which way, went at it with Zeke and the Pistons in one of the best playoff games we've seen, but still gets no love.... Clap for him!