Lisch gets major props at Nike Jamboree

[3star_recruit]

One of the instructors at the camp was Kevin Eastman, who coached at various colleges for almost 25 years and now works camps and clinics throughout the country.

"I love (Lisch)," said Eastman, who a week earlier was working out future pros LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony. "Even though I don't count, (Lisch) is one of my favorites. He plays smart. He listens. He's a sponge. He plays hard as hell. He understands the game. His face emits passion for the game. He's fun and he's going to be good."

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/st...is%20University

Thanks for the blurb on Lisch, Nate. Any reports on St. Louis's best player are always appreciated.

[Nate Latsch]

I was only at the camp for about two hours on Friday, so it was tough to get a feel for how the local kids were playing. There were six games going on and I was trying to watch five of those games at once.

I didn't get to include it in the story because I wasn't able to get statistics from the games, but Tyler Hansbrough was dominant throughout the week. I heard he had 37 points and 17 rebounds in the first game of the week. When I saw him play Friday, Hansbrough did a good job of grabbing board and attacking the basket. Even though he is 6-foot-8, there were a lot of kids at camp that were bigger than him. There were a couple 7-footers there, including a kid from Indianapolis named Greg Oden Jr. that Hazelwood Central coach Chris Pilz was raving about.

Lisch looked really good, but I didn't get to see much of him. Lisch was on the same team as the kid Bryan Burwell wrote about in Friday's paper, a 6-10 youngster named Auri Allen. I read on another message board that Lisch was one of the top shooters in the camp. I don't remember seeing him shoot the ball in the game I watched, but he definitely made some good decisions with getting the ball to his teammates in position to score.

Kyle Kirk looked a bit lost during the game I watched. I think it is because at his size (6-4) he had to rely on his teammates to get him the ball, and that just didn't happen in the game I saw. The major flaw in Kirk's game is his long-range shooting, though his mid-range game is really refined for a kid his age. I think Kirk was the best freshman in St. Louis this winter and I think he will end up being a good college prospect -- maybe even a great one. He already has the physical tools to play in college and has a couple more years to fine tune his game. I asked Kirk about the rumors that he was going to transfer before next season. He told me he was going to go to CBC -- sorry, DeSmet fans -- but then later admitted he was just kidding. He's a nice kid from a basketball family -- his sister, Hannah, plays at Southwest Missouri State -- and he's definitely a prospect for SLU fans to keep an eye on.

The two biggest names at the camp were Jeffrey Jordan and Nic Wise.

Jordan is a spindly 6-foot guard that is set to graduate high school in 2007. I didn't see him much, but from what I did see JJ didn't look very confident to try to shoot the ball or take it to the basket. He's still young, though, and obviously has some good bloodlines. He will develop into a good basketball player and maybe a great one. It has to be a lot to deal with, being the first-born son of the world's most famous basketball player. And no, I did not see Michael Jordan at SLU. From what I heard, Jordan was there the first night but hadn't been back since.

Nic Wise is a kid only diehard hoop junkies have probably heard of. Wise is a 5-9 point guard from Katy, Texas, who I believe is entering his sophomore year of high school. And he has already committed to the University of Arizona. (I think Texas finished a close second.) From what I saw of Wise, he is very quick and a good passer. He isn't very big -- I guess you could say he has some baby fat -- but he looks like he is going to be a very good prospect.

- Nate

[billiken_roy]

nate said, "Tyler Hansbrough was dominant throughout the week."

i have seen hansbrough play with the eagles and i think he is spectacular. imo he is the best player on the eagles right now. i would give up lisch for hansborough in a second.

[Nate Latsch]

Tyler Hansbrough already has scholarship offers from Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas and Marquette.

He's going to be a great college player when he gets stronger.

- Nate

[billiken_roy]

nate while he is a little thin, tyler is far stronger than he looks imo.

i saw an eagles game where he recieved a low post pass, turned and went over the top of a much stronger and wider inside player that was just as tall and slam the ball. it bounded off the back of the rim though and came back to tyler. in one motion he grabbed the rebound and slammed it again with two hands over the huge player again. that was the type of authority that we probably have seen at slu twice in the last 20+ years (bonner and jamal johnson).

to think he will only get stronger (which he will) is actually frightening. he is big big time.

[Nate Latsch]

Roy,

I was at the game I think you were talking about. It was the first game of the Eagles Invitational at Clayton High School.

You're right. It showed how much ability Hansbrough has.

I didn't think he was very good when I saw him play two games at the final four in Columbia. But Hansbrough has looked great with the Eagles, and is going to be a big-time player.

- Nate

[billiken_roy]

nate, it indeed was at the first game of the eagle tourney. the more impressive play happened in the second half after the two dunks. a loose ball about mid-court. tyler grabs the loose ball on a dead run, doesnt miss a step, dribble behind his back on a very nice go left move, and then dunks with his left hand the whole time in the company of the minnesota teams guards. wow. sold.

[Nate Latsch]

I used to the think the comparisons between Hansbrough and David Lee were really off, but the more I see the kid I start to believe them -- a bit.

David Lee had great athleticism in part because he wasn't very big when he was younger. When he had that growth spurt, he really became a dominant player. If he ever develops his jump shot he could be a very dangerous offensive player.

I don't know if Hansbrough will get to the level Lee was at in high school, but he's not far off. Lee was a top 10 player when he was a senior. I anticipate Hansbrough being a top 20 guy, but he has the potential to move up if he can put on weight and muscle.

- Nate