Marvin Bagley III Video: Watch 7th-Grader’s Insane Basketball Highlight Mixtape
Another day, another tremendously talented seventh-grader with Division I scholarship offers.
At 13, Marvin Bagley is already doing things one wouldn’t expect to see from most high school players. He’s in seventh grade, probably more worried about social studies homework and video games than he is about college, but Bagley is certainly making a name for himself.
As the video above proves, the 6’8” do-everything baller has the skills to warrant the attention.
According to Spencer Pulliam of DunkDog.com, Northern Arizona has already offered a scholarship to the youngster:
Northern Arizona has become the first to offer 2018 6’8 F Marvin Bagley. Scholarship was extended just moments ago according to his father.
— Spencer Pulliam (@SpencerPulliam) April 30, 2013
Ben Rohrbach of Yahoo! Sports also reports that Arizona State is interested in the most intriguing basketball player of the 2018 graduating class, and there’s a very good chance those programs won’t be the last to offer Bagley a chance to play college ball.
If you’re surprised, let me ask you this: When was the last time you saw a 13-year-old dunk like this?
College basketball recruiting has taken a largely expected turn in recent years, gravitating toward younger and younger on-court talent. It’s a cutthroat business predicated on staying ahead of the competition, and teenagers like Bagley are the beneficiaries of the often-criticized practice.
Then again, handling the pressure of the national spotlight can’t be easy for a kid still a year short of playing high school basketball.
Don’t be surprised if Bagley continues drawing attention, though. Welcomed or not, his tremendous size and athleticism will have plenty of college coaches pining for an opportunity to lock him up before the competition can.
And from the looks of his mixtape, no one can blame them.
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Building the Ultimate Highlight Reel from Miami Heat’s Regular Season
When LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh decided to join forces almost three years ago, one of the first thoughts that played through the heads of basketball fans was the highlights the Miami Heat would produce.
And sure enough, the Heat have provided thrills everywhere they’ve gone over the past three seasons.
This past regular season was no exception, as Miami, Wade and James especially appeared to click in ways rarely seen on a nightly basis in this league. It’s why the defending champs strung off 27 straight wins and are now the overwhelming favorites to take it all again this summer.
But it’s also why this team is so fun to watch, regardless of your preference for the stars and the Heat organization.
Cramming 10 plays into this list was anything but easy, but this was the result.
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Seventh Woods’ Highlight Video Ignites Intense Twitter Buzz
Learn the name Seventh Woods because you will be hearing a lot of it over the next few years.
The freshman basketball player from Hammond High School in South Carolina torched his competition to the tune of 19.3 points, 4.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game (via Max Preps). Oh, and he is only 14 years old.
In his latest highlight video created by Hoopmixtape (via YouTube), Woods is able to showcase his incredible athleticism, as well as his skill as a shooter and a passer:
These huge dunks and incredible ball-handling abilities would be impressive to watch for any high school or even college player across the country. Just imagine how good this player will be by the time he is a senior.
Unsurprisingly, this video quickly became a national story and plenty of people are talking about it. The video itself has over three million views, and that is certain to continue to grow.
Still, the buzz surrounding this young player has reached incredible levels.
MSN Now showed the video and called him “the next LeBron James.” Not only do they have very different styles of play, but also comparing a 14-year-old kid to the best basketball player in the world is quite premature.
However, there were plenty of other interesting statements that were made on Twitter regarding Woods.
Jason Jordan of USA Today did not need to say much to describe the youngster:
Of course, that was nothing compared to what this fan says about the guard:
The hype itself surrounding Woods has already reached incredible levels:
Then again, sometimes his insane athleticism gets him into trouble, according to Brian Snow of Fox Sports:
The most notable part of this entire thing is still his ridiculously young age. Even Phoenix Suns point guard Kendall Marshall was impressed:
Jeff Ermann of Inside Maryland Sports also focused on the player’s youth:
Ian Kenyon of Bleacher Report posted the most incredible statistic regarding the South Carolina native:
Woods will represent the United States at the FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship that will take place in Uruguay this summer. Between this event and the next three years of his high school career, there will be plenty to prove.
However, he is ready to take over high school basketball, as he is already one of the top players in the country.
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March Madness Social Media Highlight Video
March Madness isn’t just a basketball tournament; it’s one of America’s greatest traditions.
Every year the NCAA tournament is one of the most highly anticipated sporting events of the year for its unpredictability and pageantry. This year, it certainly lived up to the hype.
From improbable upsets and buzzer-beaters to jaw-dropping performances and bitter heartbreak, the 2013 tournament has had it all. And we sports fans have been glued to the TV watching every single minute.
The expansion of social media allows fans to react to the tournament more than ever and America has had plenty to say.
Individual legacies have been made. Players like Louisville’s Russ Smith, Michigan’s Trey Burke and Ole Miss’ Marshall Henderson etched their names in March lore. Players like Georgetown’s Otto Porter, Jr. and Gonzaga’s Kelly Olynyk felt the agony of defeat.
Whether it be the upset-filled opening rounds that saw teams like Harvard, La Salle and Ole Miss literally light some brackets on fire or the dominance of teams like Louisville and Syracuse, the Twittersphere had more than enough to react to.
From Florida Gulf Coast a.k.a. Dunk City becoming an overnight YouTube sensation on their way to an Elite Eight berth, to the outpour of support for Louisville’s Kevin Ware after his gruesome leg injury, fans interacted with the tournament like never before.
Check out the above video as we recap the tournament along with the fans who rejoiced, lashed out and burned their brackets to a tourney that certainly lived up to the March Madness moniker.
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Florida Gulf Coast and Dunk City Highlight of the 2013 NCAA Tournament so Far
After becoming the first-ever No. 15 seed to make it to the Sweet 16, the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles have captured the 2013 NCAA tournament audience with their Dunk City style and dance moves after victories.
Facing No. 3 Florida in the Sweet 16 on Friday at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the Eagles have a chance to make history yet again and can become the first team in the Elite Eight in the 38-year history of the 64-team field.
No matter what happens on Friday, FGCU is the talk of the tournament right now. Win or lose, the Eagles have a chance to be the talk of the 2013 tournament for years to come, too.
Coming into the Big Dance, Florida Gulf Coast didn’t get much of a chance to get out of the second round against No. 2 Georgetown—a team that just a few days ago was a popular pick to make it to the Final Four from the South region.
However, the Eagles did have a win over No. 2 seed Miami early in the regular season, and played other tournament teams (Duke, Iowa State, Virginia Commonwealth) early in the season before starting Atlantic Sun play.
The Eagles came back from a rough start to the Atlantic Sun conference slate to defeat Mercer twice, capturing the conference title and earning a bid to the NCAA tournament. Florida Gulf Coast was actually the first team to earn an automatic bid to the tournament, as captured by this Nike advertisement for the school.
Then the real fun began.
Sherwood Brown, Bernard Thompson, Brett Comer and the rest of the Eagles took their first two rounds by storm, specifically by pushing the pace on every possession and creating a Dunk City mantra that almost rivals what the Los Angeles Clippers do with their Lob City style in the NBA.
The second-round win over Georgetown was magical enough to make Florida Gulf Coast the talk of the tournament. The Eagles put in huge dunks down the stretch and continued to push the pace against the always-steady Hoyas, getting to the free-throw line 44 times and making the rest of the tournament field notice their accomplishments.
They didn’t quit against San Diego State, either, storming back from a one-point halftime deficit to win by double digits. Comer’s ridiculous assist totals from the first two games (24) speak to the unselfishness of this team, while Brown and Thompson can both go over 20 points at any given moment.
There are so many storylines for this team that it’s getting hard to keep up.
USA Today’s Nicole Auerbach broke down what makes Dunk City tick in her most recent piece, in which the Eagles earn comparisons to the Harlem Globetrotters and the Houston Cougars of the 1980s—known better as Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler and Phi Slama Jama.
Any team that gets a Phi Slama Jama parody (White Slama Jama) has obviously exceeded expectations in the NCAA tournament.
While the offense has been phenomenal, Stephen Danley of Sports Illustrated notes that the 1-3-1 matchup zone that the Eagles used to disrupt the Aztec attack makes them a dangerous opponent for any team that they might face in the later rounds of the tournament.
How’s the in-state rivalry storyline stacking up in your book? The Florida Gators are under a large amount of pressure to both move on to the Elite Eight and retain in-state supremacy in this game, especially with the eyes of the nation firmly hoping for one more win for the Eagles from Gulf Coast.
Oh, don’t forget that head coach Andy Enfield just happens to have a supermodel wife (via Yahoo! Sports), and the expose on his life (via Dana O’Neil of ESPN) is something that is a must-read for anyone who likes to break through the initial barrier of someone who is just a basketball coach.
These Eagles are prepared to fly when the Sweet 16 kicks off on Thursday. They’ll have to wait until Friday night to prove they are worthy of a place in the Elite Eight, but that won’t stop us from fawning over the team until then.
Dunk City is for real. We’ll see if the momentum from the last two wins and national spotlight will lead to another record-breaking moment in what’s already been a stunning tournament from all sides.
Link to Printable PDF
Link to Live Bracket
Follow all the exciting NCAA tournament action with March Madness Live.
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Chicago Bulls vs. Golden State Warriors: Live Score, Results and Game Highlight
Stay tuned here for live commentary as the Chicago Bulls travel to Oracle Arena to face the Golden State Warriors Friday night!
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Mickael Pietrus dancing is the only Raptors highlight this season
The Toronto Raptors are meandering their way through yet another torturously mediocre season, but don’t let that ruin the fun of Mickael Pietrus! Before yet another loss for the Raps in Cleveland Wednesday, Pietrus let loose with his best Saturday Night Fever dance moves during an NBA TV live report… The best part about this video is the Raptors uploading it to their official Youtube page, confirming it as one of the few highlight worthy things the Raptors have produced all season. [Toronto Raptors]
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Jeff Green and New Additions Highlight Boston Celtics’ Win over Phoenix Suns
The Boston Celtics‘ convincing 113-88 win over the abysmal Phoenix Suns Friday night may not seem overly impressive on the ticker, but it still unveiled huge positives for “Team Green.”
Despite Kevin Garnett being given his first game off this season, the Celtics still started with a swarming defensive presence, sparking fast-break opportunities and a relentless 16-3 opening run. Avery Bradley swiped four steals (to go with his 13 points), leading the on-ball onslaught.
Boston held Phoenix to 41 first-half points, and a lowly 41 percent field goal shooting for the game.
In addition to his team’s stifling defense, coach Doc Rivers must have been glad to see the constant plethora of white and green jerseys under the basket. Even the small but gritty Courtney Lee, who finished with five rebounds, could be seen clashing down low on box-outs.
The C’s out-rebounded the Suns 45-40, a remarkable stat against any opponent given the absence of big men Garnett, injured rookie Jared Sullinger and freshly-traded Jason Collins.
Boston also initiated tremendous ball movement. Despite introducing recently-signed guard/forward Terrence Williams and trade-inherited former Washington Wizard guard Jordan Crawford, this squad constantly worked together to maintain the flow and look for the open shot.
Of course, there were times when one too many extra passes led to forced shots, partially due to Garnett’s absence. In moments when KG would have taken open shots without hesitation, the struggling Brandon Bass and Courtney Lee lacked confidence with their jumpers.
But Boston thrived without Garnett, and largely without Paul Pierce. The Truth enjoyed the role of distributor early on, especially in transition offense. He even found Chris Wilcox on a nice alley-oop at one point in the first quarter. Williams also hit Wilcox with a beautiful slicing dime through two defenders for a nice dunk.
Perhaps the fact that the Wizards preferred Jason Collins over Wilcox in the Crawford trade was a blessing in disguise. Collins lacks Wilcox’s veteran instincts, ability to assert himself aggressively and downright knack for being in the right place at the right time. Just expect more tip-ins than jumpers from the 10-year man (who finished with a season-high 14 points, shooting 7-of-9 in the paint while grabbing eight total rebounds).
But really, Jeff Green was the most dominant factor from the get-go, scoring six quick points in the first six minutes, and 13 total in the first quarter on 5-of-6 shooting. He showed an inside-outside ability, likening him to a young Paul Pierce.
The only flaw in an otherwise remarkable first half for Green was an off-target hook pass to an open Wilcox under the basket. Still, it’s good to see one of the faces of Boston’s future trying to open up all facets of his game.
Jordan Crawford provided C’s fans with an exciting first bucket as a Celtic after he spaced himself on the corner perfectly on an open three. Rivers must have loved Williams pushing the ball in stride, and Crawford teeing up shots without hesitation.
In only 17 minutes, Crawford finished with 10 points on 4-of-9 from the field (2-of-5 from three), with three rebounds and two assists. Williams played about 25 minutes, logging nine points, hitting an impressive 4-of-8 from the field and adding four rebounds and four assists.
Giving Garnett the night off and resting Pierce most of the game (while not recommended against most NBA teams) seemed to really pay off chemistry-wise for the C’s. Boston’s new pickups will undoubtedly be comfortable with the entirety of Rivers’ offense in no time.
Pierce registered one of the quietest nights of effective play of his career, finishing with eight points, five rebounds and three assists. But he was a pace-setter, overseeing the Celtics on both sides of the floor and orienting the new-bloods. Even in a 25-minute, single-digit night, the Truth gave his squad a plus-16 point differential.
Perhaps even more encouragingly, Jason Terry played superb team basketball Friday evening. In less than 20 minutes, the Jet logged 13 points off 3-of-5 from three and a perfect 5-of-5 from the free-throw stripe. He only dished two assists, but very importantly avoided taking contested shots in order to keep the ball moving. Like Pierce, Terry also registered a plus-16 advantage.
But the biggest advantage, as previously noted, came from Green. In terms of plus-minus, the 26-point advantage No. 8 provided is hard to beat. Green led the C’s in points with a career-high 31. He tied the team-lead with four assists, and pulled in seven rebounds, second only to Wilcox. He blocked a game-leading five shots. He shot a staggering 11-of-14 from the field, including 3-of-5 from three and 6-of-7 at the line.
Green maintained absolute control and efficiency almost the entire 38 minutes and 44 seconds he played. He created off the dribble, slashed to the rim and made open pull-ups as well as fall-aways.
He also found open shooters, many of whom missed shots they normally make, affecting his pedestrian-looking assist total. Maybe his allies were surprised at how comfortably he was taking over the game, and how crisply he delivered passes to them.
Soon, no one in the nation will be surprised. Jeff Green is here to stay, folks. It has been apparent for a little over a month to die-hard Celtics fans, but never was it quite as clear to the nation as Friday night.
Celtics fans can discontinue the debate over whether GM Danny Ainge should have found a way to trade Pierce, Rondo or Garnett. They have a run at the playoffs to look forward to, led by the Captain, the Big Ticket and a budding star in Mean Jeff Green.
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Each 2013 NBA Dunk Contest Participant’s Ultimate Highlight Reel
It’s almost that time, boys and girls. It’s almost dunk contest time.
Of course, the key word there is “almost.” We’ve still got days to wait until the 2013 NBA Dunk Contest kicks off and we get to see some real dunking goodness. And that’s far too long to go without seeing some slams.
Good news: Each of the dunk contest participants have some pretty nice highlight reels. It’s no dunk contest, but it’ll just have to do for now.
All stats are accurate as of 2/10/2013.
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NBA All Star Reserves 2013: Stephen Curry and Brook Lopez Highlight Top Snubs
It seems every year in the NBA somebody is snubbed from the All-Star Game.
That was no different on Thursday when Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry and Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez were left off the rosters of the Western Conference and Eastern Conference respectively.
Instead, less-deserving players like LaMarcus Aldridge and Luol Deng were plopped on each conference’s roster, proving emphatically that the All-Star selection process is nothing but a popularity contest.
Before the reserves were announced on Thursday, Curry was averaging 20.9 points, 6.6 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.7 steals. He was averaging 45 percent from downtown and 89 percent from the free-throw line.
The Warriors were also 26-15 and in position to make the playoffs.
You only have to look at how Golden State plays without Curry at the helm to know how valuable he is to the team. You can also look at the fact that Curry’s posted a PER of 19.71 this season, which ranks fifth among point guards who have averaged 30 minutes or more this season (via Hoopdata.com). The four point guards ahead of Curry using that criteria? Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Tony Parker and Kyrie Irving.
Then you have the snub of Lopez.
Lopez has averaged 18.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocks this season. Those may not seem like overly impressive numbers, but his PER of 25.04 (fifth among all players averaging at least 25 minutes) tells the true story. The four players ahead of him using that criteria? LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony.
It’s also not a coincidence that the Nets are 26-17, and Lopez has an extremely high usage rate (percentage of offensive possessions used by a player during his time in the game).
Lopez ranks 10th in usage rate among players averaging at least 25 minutes. In turn, the Nets have been able to post a winning record, despite the struggles of Deron Williams, who was supposed to be their star player.
It should have been a given that Curry and Lopez would be headed to Houston this year. Instead, it’s more of the same—worthy players getting snubbed.
What are your thoughts?
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