NBA Comparison: Larry Hughes
Aran Smith – 9/28/2006
Weaknesses: Lacks tremendous size at the shooting guard position. Hes around 6’4" 1/2 and lacks a huge wingspan Can be overly aggressive and get out of control at times Should focus on staying on balance shooting as he can get caught up in fading left or right Can be too flashy at times especially passing the ball, but shows solid decision making for the most part Could rush the jump to the NBA. Would like to be a one and done player, but might be best suited for a few years at Ohio State before going pro
Notes: Got overshadowed for much of his high school career in the State of Ohio by OJ Mayo, but a tremendous talent in his own right … Helped Indy Speice, along with Greg Oden, Mike Conley, Josh McRoberts (2004) and Eric Gordon (2005) become the first ever repeat champions at the Big Time Tournament in Las Vegas … Averaged 24.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 3.5 steals as a senior in high school leading Dunbar to their first State Championship in 19 years …
Matthew Maurer – 12/9/2006
Weaknesses: Has a tendency to force shots when opposing defenders pressure him on the perimeter Has tremendous confidence in his offensive ability which can make him a little trigger happy when the ball is in his hands Defensively Cook has a habit of gambling too much and being impatient This exposes him to pick up quick fouls by reaching in or defending his man too aggressively Needs to work on protecting the ball better as he can get careless Settles too much for the jumper instead of driving to the basket to draw fouls While hes an above average mid-range shooter he is a surprisingly below average free throw shooter for his position His overall game can be disrupted if he struggles offensively . Can at times go for the spectacular pass or shot which can lead to turnovers