Derrick Walton put together another solid weekend on the AAU circuit in Fort Wayne for the annual Spiece Run ‘n Slam. Walton showed off his complete game – scoring and distributing – in the following scouting video compiled from pool play action:
2015 guard Luke Kennard is already drawing strong high major interest after just one season of high school basketball. The 6-foot-4 forward followed up his impressive showing at the King James Classic with another strong weekend at the Bill Hensley Memorial Run ‘n Slam in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Watch footage of Kennard in action in the embedded media player below:
More from Spiece
2014 forward prospect Keita Bates-Diop was recently ranked in Rivals.com’s top 50 listing and we watched the versatile forward extensively in Fort Wayne at the Spiece Run ‘n Slam Invitational over the weekend. Bates-Diop exploded for several 20+ point performances and was impressive with the number of ways that he can score the ball – in transition, from the three point line or with his back to the basket.
After the jump find more on Bates-Diop’s recruitment including his three previous visits to Ann Arbor and plans to make it back to Michigan again this summer.
Michigan fans get their NCAA Basketball real time stats from SBR Forum
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Our second scouting feature on the 2012 Spiece Run ‘n Slam, this one focuses on 2013 commitment Derrick Walton, Keita Bates-Diop, Luke Kennard among others.
Derrick Walton (2013, PG, Michigan Mustangs – Commit)
Great point guards should blend in when things are going well and stand out when the going gets tough. Scoring guards are valuable, but the best point guards make their teams better. That’s exactly what Derrick Walton did at Spiece. He didn’t force shots out of the offense and was more than content to push the ball, get in the lane, find shooters and facilitate the rest of his talented offense. He continually drove the basket, taking hard fouls and getting to the free throw line, but he probably racked up close to 10 assists in a Friday night win over the Peoria Irish. Walton still appears to be most effective in the full court but he showed significant improvement in his half court offense, showing off some nice pick-and-roll dimes. We missed his game Saturday night but reports were that Walton finally took over in the scoring column, knocking down a triple at the buzzer to send the game to overtime before leading the Mustang offense in the extra period. Michigan has been spoiled with point guard play throughout the past two seasons and should be in good hands when Walton replaces Burke down the line. [click to continue…]
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According to Pickerington Central coach Jerry Francis, Caris LeVert will announce his college decision by Wednesday. The 6-foot-5 guard wrapped up his Michigan visit on Friday and has also visited Dayton and Purdue within the last two weeks.
Now it appears that the Ohio decommitment is ready to wrap things up. As we reported on Sunday, that appears to be good news for the Wolverines.
“It’s got to get done this week,” Francis said in a phone interview today. “It has to get done by Wednesday. His mother’s on top of him, I’m on top of him, so I think he’s ready to get things done between these three schools.”
Xavier and Iowa were originally in the hunt for LeVert’s services but the Ohio native will decide between the three schools he’s visited.
Related Video: Caris LeVert Senior Year, Open Gym Highlights
Francis said he did not talk to LeVert following his Michigan visit, but he did text him. LeVert told him he had a great time, enjoyed the coaches and maybe just as importantly, he ate a lot – which is “what he needs.” Francis also reported that the Wolverines offered LeVert a scholarship on his visit.
Francis isn’t concerned that he hasn’t heard from LeVert in person or over the phone following the Michigan visit as today was Senior Appreciation Day at Pickerington Central, so LeVert and his fellow seniors were not in school. But Francis won’t let LeVert off the hook for much longer.
“I’m going to give him today, but if I don’t hear anything from him tonight, then I’m going over to his house,” Francis joked.
Michigan commitment Mark Donnal had a solid weekend at the 2012 Spiece Run ‘n Slam in Fort Wayne, Ind. We scouted Donnal and compiled over three minutes of video footage of the future Michigan big man during pool play action which you can watch in the embedded media player below:
