If anyone has been attending the JamFest this weekend, feel free to shoot me an e-mail or leave some thoughts in the comments.
The event was something of an eye-opener for local high school coaches.
Aliquippa coach Marvin Emerson took a seat at Petersen Events Center, hoping to find out what the fuss over Herb Pope’s involvement with AAU basketball was all about at the Pittsburgh JamFest.
“You hear so much about it,” Emerson said. “I wanted to judge it for myself.”
What commenced was a brand of basketball Western Pennsylvania hasn’t seen at the high school level. One that appeared foreign to Emerson and other WPIAL coaches in attendance. One that is played with elements of street ball but with the above-the-rim athleticism of the nation’s top prep players.
“It’s like an NBA showcase,” Emerson said.
…
The underbelly of AAU basketball also was exposed when O.J. Mayo was a no-show at the JamFest. Universally regarded as the nation’s top junior, Mayo normally plays with Walker for Reebok-sponsored North College Hill and D1 Greyhounds. Instead, he opted instead to play for the Nike-sponsored Miami Tropics at the Kingwood Classic in Houston.There is a connection of dots from shoe companies to club teams to prep schools and colleges, and Mayo’s maneuvering is a classic example of why the AAU is viewed with disgust by some high school coaches.
College coaches, however, turned out en masse to scout the prospects. It’s a chance to view a player like the 6-9 Pope in a different light. While Pope plays in the post at Aliquippa, he roams the perimeter and handles the ball for the Pittsburgh JOTS.
And they did turn out with some name coaches.
The presence of players such as Walker, Pope and Lauderdale — as well as PIAA and NCAA sanctioning of the tourney — drew prominent Division I coaches such as Iowa’s Steve Alford, Memphis’ John Calipari, Kansas’ Bill Self and Kansas State’s Bob Huggins.
Dixon was instrumental in bringing the JamFest, run by the New Jersey-based HoopGroup, in an effort to showcase Pitt’s campus to prospective recruits.
“The best thing is, the kids get to see our university and how much it has changed,” Dixon said. “We would get to see these kids play somewhere else. We have this great campus. We want students to see it.”
Wonder if Alford and Dixon exchanged thoughts on Tyler Smith. And perhaps Alford offered some tips on what to do when you find yourself down two assistants in the midst of a signing period.
Sophomore Terrelle Pryor of Jeannette also received another scholarship offer from Clemson this past weekend. Herb Pope and D.J. Kennedy of Schenley high school both denied that they were heading to prep school next fall. We’ll see.
