Scouting: IndyBall.com Shootout

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April means the start to AAU season and most of Indiana’s best were in action at the IndyBall.com Shootout in Indianapolis, IN. Two Michigan commitments, Zak Irvin and Mark Donnal, participated in the event but the highlights were in the younger age groups where a number of 2014 and 2015 prospects seized their first opportunity to make an impact this summer.

Zak Irvin – 2013 Commit – Irvin, who committed to Michigan last July, put on a solid performance in the one game we watched on Saturday. He knocked down some jumpers from mid-range and 3-point land, while also mixing in some nice buckets off the dribble. Irvin also functioned well as a distributor from the wing, as he often looked to get teammates involved when attacking off the dribble. Irvin scored a team high 18 points in the champiosnhip game as the Eric Gordon All-Stars won their first AAU championship of the summer.

Mark Donnal – 2013 Commit – Another Michigan commitment, Donnal missed the start of the tournament and scheduling issues prevented us from catching him in person. Donnal’s return made all the difference for Indiana Elite South as he led them to the semifinals of the event before falling to Martin’s Wolverines. Donnal had 12 points in the quarterfinals and also had 20 point outing earlier in the tournament.

Class of 2014

Aaron Brennan – The 6-foot-6 Brennan scored a game-high 25 points and led his team to a victory over the 2014 Eric Gordon All-Stars in the game we attended. He showed great savvy in the post, where he displayed a variety of moves and ways to score from mid-range and in around the post. Brennan also has a reliable face-up jumper from mid-range. Two areas where the sophomore forward could improve are his ball-handling and defense.

Sean Sellers – Sellers, who indicated he is very high on the Wolverines, had a solid overall weekend. He showed off an impressive all-around game, as he knocked down jumpers from all over the floor, took opponents to the rim off the dribble, scored on the offensive glass and knocked down his free throws at a reliable rate. Sellers looked more athletic than when we last saw him, which boded well for him defensively and as a rebounder. He also appeared to play much stronger, but there is still room for him to improve his strength and add bulk to his frame. He showed the skill level and versatility that would appear to make him a great fit for John Beilein’s offense.

Bryant McIntosh – McIntosh looks to be much improved since we last saw him in July of 2011. He shot the ball with confidence from deep, showed off an array of crafty moves when attacking the basket and did a good job distributing the ball to teammates in the halfcourt as well as transition. McIntosh has defnitely improved his athleticism over the last 9 months, which was evident when he threw down a one-handed dunk in a Saturday morning game. The 6-foot-3 sophomore should continue to work on his strength and quickness.

Class of 2015

Chandler White, Indiana Elite Team Indiana – White, a 6-foot-2 guard, excels at slashing to the basket. His strength and athleticism allow him to attack opponents off the dribble and get into the lane, where he can finish with either hand or draw contact and earn trips to the foul line. White also appears to have a solid, but somewhat streaky jump shot from the perimeter. He plays with a good motor, as he crashes the glass on both ends and runs the floor extremely well in transition.

Brennan Gillis, Eric Gordon All-Stars 2015 – Gillis is a rugged forward who does most of his damage in the paint at this point. He has good touch around the basket, blocks and challenges shots in the paint and rebounds the ball well on both ends. Right now, Gillis’ biggest weakness is his size, 6-foot-6, and he should look to expand his game as a ball-handler and shooter.

Hyron Edwards, Indiana Elite Team Indiana- The 5-foot-10 Edwards is a smooth lead guard who combines a dose of quickness with ball control and heady play. He can break down defenders and distribute the ball, but usually plays under control and limits his mistakes when attacking. Edwards is able to use his quickness to get to the rim and score, but can also knock down the mid-range jumper off the dribble. Perhaps his best quality is his outstanding on the ball defense, where he gives opponents fits and plays with outstanding effort. Edwards could look to improve upon his consistency when shooting the ball from long-range.

Gary Bonds, Spiece Indy Heat 2015- Bonds is an intriguing 6-foot-7 forward who has great length and athleticism. He runs the floor well and is a solid shot blocker in the paint. He appears to have a decent skill level, as she showed the ability to stretch the defense with his jump shot, and looked smooth attacking bigger opponents off the dribble. Like most freshmen, he needs to get stronger, but Bonds will definitely be one to track throughout the AAU season.

Class of 2016

Eron Gordon – Gordon, the youngest brother of former Indiana star Eric Gordon, spent the weekend playing with the 2015 Eric Gordon All-Stars. Gordon is a versatile 6-foot-1 guard who can score in a variety of ways. He has a smooth stroke from 3-point land, gets to the rim and finishes against contact, attacks in transition and is a reliable foul shooter. He also is fearless as a rebounder on both ends of the floor, and plays with a great motor overall. It’s extremely early, but the youngest Gordon said Purdue, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Wisconsin have been on him early.