2014 combo guard Bryant McIntosh has shown steady improvement in his game this summer with the Eric Gordon All-Stars AAU program. McIntosh has played up at the 17U level at times and continued to grow into a more complete guard. UM Hoops caught up with McIntosh in Indianapolis earlier this July after a game at the Adidas Invitational to update his recruitment.
Overall thoughts of your performance in the game just now?
I thought I played hard, I played real hard. I handled the ball well, handled it in big stretches. I came up with a couple big baskets for us and we were trying to make a run to stretch our lead so that was big.
How has your game progressed this AAU season, and what do you think is the biggest thing you’ve improved on?
I think I’ve got in quicker. playing up playing up with the17’s at the end of the spring kind of helped me you’re out how to play harder. I thought I was playing hard to start with, but now I feel like I’m playing even harder.
What’s the recruiting update? who’s all talking to you now, and who’s showed the most interest?
The biggest interest lately has been from Indiana State, Michigan and Xavier. And recently, Kent State offered me.
You garnered a lot more interest after a strong spring. What do you attribute most to the improvement in your game, and increase in interest?
I’ve gotten a lot more confident. That’s been the biggest thing. I’ve gotten a lot more confident in my game, especially because of our high school season, and I’m just playing with that confidence and it’s really helped me a lot.
Who from Michigan has been talking to you lately? What are they saying about your game?
I talk to coach Jordan quite a bit. That’s usually who I talk to mostly, and I’ve talked to coach Beilein a couple times too.
Attended any camps or made any visits in the last month?
I haven’t attended any camps but I’ve visited Dayton and Purdue in the last three weeks.
What’s it like playing in front of coach Beilein, coach Crean, and other big time coaches in a packed gym like this?
It’s a really cool experience. You don’t get that chance very often. It’s just really nerve racking at the start of games but it just gives you and little more energy and a little more fire to play harder.
Do you try to adjust your game based on who’s watching you?
No, no. Because you have to play your game cause that’s what they’re going to get at the college level anyway, So you have to play as best you can, and play to the best of your ability.
You look a lot more comfortable with the ball in your hands lately. Can you talk about your progression with ball handling and trying to run the offense?
Over the high school season, I played a lot of point, so that was the biggest key. I’ve gotten a lot stronger, and I’ve improved my dribble a lot more, so that’s the biggest keys there.
Do you have plans to visit Michigan or any others anytime soon?
I don’t have any scheduled yet, but I’m sure I’ll get to a couple places here soon with the increase here in August.
What’s the number one thing you’re working on to get better for the rest of this summer?
I want to get stronger, and be able to take more of a bump going to the basket, and being able to bump on defense. So those are the two things I’m really working on.
Do you hope to play point guard at the next level?
I want to be able to be a combo that makes me more versatile.
What are your goals for the rest of the summer?
I just want to win these next few tournaments. That’s what you want to do
