ECS star impresses at Peach Jam
Labissiere drawing coaches
smithjas@commercialappeal.com
NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. — Gymnasium 1 of the Riverview Park Activities Center was packed Saturday afternoon with college coaches, with University of Memphis assistants Robert Kirby and Aki Collins joined by Kentucky’s John Calipari, Louisville’s Rick Pitino and Kansas’ Bill Self.
And while 6-11 Evangelical Christian School rising junior Skal Labissiere understood the importance of playing well in front of them, he had no intention of trying to be a one- man show for the Arkansas Wings in Nike’s Elite Youth Basketball League 16-and-under semifinals at the Peach Jam.
“It’s fun playing in front of them. You’ve got to impress them, but I play team ball first,” said Labissiere, whom ESPN.com ranks the No. 6 overall prospect in the class of 2015. “I didn’t think about it. I just play my game.”
Yet Labissiere has been a game-changer, particularly defensively, for an already talented Wings squad since joining the club in May. On Saturday, the Haiti native had 10 points, nine rebounds and six blocked shots to help push the Wings into Sunday’s noon (CDT) 16-and-under final against Each1Teach1.
“It’s been a pretty fun week,” said Labissiere, who had a scary moment earlier in the week when he was hospitalized after taking an elbow to the mouth that pushed back his two front teeth.
“The last two games I didn’t play like I was supposed to. I was in a shooting slump. So (Saturday) I picked it back up. We’ve
been winning and we’re playing good team basketball.”
Memphis coach Josh Pastner watched Labissiere on Wednesday and Thursday before flying to St. Louis for another tournament Friday. Pastner has made Labissiere one of his prime targets for 2015, but he’s not alone: Kentucky, Kansas and Auburn have also offered him a scholarship.
Labissiere said he’s also getting calls from Duke, Texas, Baylor and Tennessee, but added Memphis is “definitely hard after me.”
“I really like their coaching staff. I like their team this year. I love Josh. He’s a really good guy,” said Labissiere, who has spent time recently playing pickup games with Tigers players at the Finch Center.
“It’s fun playing against them because it’s fun to see how it’s going to be at the next level,” he said. “I know (freshman guard) Markel (Crawford) pretty well. I know (freshman forward) Austin (Nichols) really well.”
So what stands out about Labissiere other than his extreme length (he has a 7-2 wingspan and stands 7-0 in shoes)?
He’s adept at blocking shots with both hands, which is rare for a player his age. He’s also deceptively quick up and down the floor, as shown by one play Saturday in which he grabbed a rebound, threw an outlet pass to initiate a fast break and was there to dunk a teammate’s missed layup on the other end in a span of about seven seconds.
As much potential as Labissiere has, Wings coach Wes Swift said his teamfirst mentality and desire to improve every aspect of his game make him even more special.
“He’s come up to me five to six different times when we’re eating a meal after the game and said, ‘Hey, coach, what can I do better in the post?’ He’s asking the right questions. The hows. The whys,” Swift said.
“He never comes and goes, ‘Coach, I’m not getting the ball enough.’ It’s always, ‘What can I do to get better?’ ”
NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. — Even Team Penny coach Todd Day hadn’t expected this from his team.
Team Penny advanced to Sunday’s Nike EYBL 17-and-under semifinals with a 67- 66 quarterfinal win Saturday night over New York-based Team Scan.
North Little Rock High guard Kevaughn Allen scored a game-high 18 points and Hamilton High forwards and brothers K.J. Lawson and Dedric Lawson added a combined 27 points to power Team Penny into the tourney’s Final Four.
After falling to the St. Louis Eagles earlier Saturday in its final pool play game, Team Penny (4-2), playing with just eight players for the tournament, needed Spiece Indy Heat to lose to the lastplace New York Lightning in those teams’ final pool play game Saturday to avoid elimination.
The Lightning pulled off the upset, allowing Team Penny to advance to Saturday night’s quarterfinals.
“I never really envisioned us making a big run like this, but I did envision us playing well,” Day said.
Team Penny will play