2016 Nike Hoop Summit: Observations and Reactions
By Chris Stone
Some of the best players in the 2016 recruiting class took center stage Saturday afternoon at the 2016 Nike Hoop Summit, giving basketball fans everywhere a preview of the 2017 NBA Draft, which includes a plethora of potential future NBA All-Stars. Here’s what we learned from Team USA’s 101-67 victory over the World Team in Portland.
The “Year of the Senior” was fun, but the freshmen are back
Last season, college basketball was treated to a year punctuated by excellent performances from seniors like Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield, Michigan State’s Denzel Valentine, and North Carolina’s Brice Johnson. The large group of quality seniors combined with a lackluster class of freshmen gave college basketball fans a break from the dominance of one-and-done players. That reprieve will be short lived.
The 2016 freshmen class is loaded with future NBA talent. Josh Jackson (uncommitted) and Jayson Tatum (Duke) are lengthy wings with the potential to be the No. 1 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. Jackson has a motor that you can’t teach and is already a strong defender while Tatum is one of the most talented scorers in the class. Harry Giles (Duke), a 6-11 big man, didn’t play in the game because he’s recovering from a torn ACL, but he is another candidate to be the top pick next June.
Terrance Ferguson has plenty of “3-and-D” potential
Ferguson, a 6-7 wing with a 6-10 wingspan, was the Nike Hoop Summit’s most impressive player, which is an easy thing to do when you’re breaking the record for most 3-pointers made in the game. The former Alabama commit finished with 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field with all of his shots coming from behind the 3-point arc. Ferguson knocked down triples off the dribble and on the catch as he displayed the type of shooting that has him being labeled as one of the best shooters in the 2016 class.
Ferguson’s physical attributes and quickness suggest that he can also become a viable perimeter defender at the next level. He remains one of the most sought after recruits in this class after decommitting from Alabama earlier this year. Ferguson is currently considering six schools including Arizona, Baylor, Kansas, Maryland, North Carolina State, and North Carolina.
Isaia Cordinier failed to improve his draft stock
Cordinier was one of the few players in the event that is eligible for the 2016 NBA Draft. We currently have him ranked 30th on the Upside & Motor Big Board, but Cordinier did little during the Nike Hoop Summit game to improve his stock.
In particular, Cordinier, who has plied his trade this season in the French B League, struggled to deal with the length and quickness of Team USA’s defense. That’s not a great sign for a prospect who has yet to play against much top quality competition. The 6-5 guard displayed minimal ball-handling skills in one-on-one situations as he struggled to create penetration against bigger defenders. At times, Cordinier showed off good athleticism on straight line drives, but otherwise it looks like he’s limited to being a catch-and-shoot off guard who plays with good energy for now.
Cordinier seems like a good option late in the first round if a team is looking for a draft-and-stash player who could develop for a few years overseas as he builds up experience playing against higher level competition.