LeBron James Notes Day 3: Strickland is Blowing Up; Samuels Outplays Monroe

Dexter Strickland's stock is taking off like a rocket here at the LeBron James US Skills Academy in Akron, Ohio.

Clark Francis of Hoop Scoop has the 6-3, 175-pound guard from St. Patrick of Elizabeth ranked as the No. 1 point guard here after the first day. Strickland is one of 20 members of the Class of 2009 among the 70 high school players in attendance. With his leaping ability, high basketball IQ and desire to improve, he continues to impress college scouts and other basketball experts.

"I love him," said Don Showalter, chair of the USA Men's Basketball Junior Development Committee. "I've seen him quite a bit. He was at our USA (Basketball Youth) Festival two weeks ago and I thought he was probably one of the better point guards there. He can go as far as he wants to go, and he's so coachable. He'll take what he gets here this week and get better at it.

Strickland, No. 9 in the Class of 2009, lists Michigan State, Florida, Ohio State, North Carolina, Rutgers and Villanova among his suitors. Rutgers coaches Fred Hill, Jim Carr and now Craig Carter have shadowed him all weekend at the University of Akron.

Michigan State is considered the leader for Strickland, and his mother, Sheronne, said she had great respect for head coach Tom Izzo and how the MSU staff has treated the family. Strickland spoke here with Michigan State guard Drew Neitzel, one of 20 college players in attendance, about the school.

"I just asked him about the school, how was their academics, how are the teachers, how are the students," Strickland said.

Strickland has also picked up advice from King James himself and from Steve Nash, whose Point Guard Academy he attended last week.

"It feels good to always play with somebody better than you, or somebody with more experience than you, so you just learn from that," Strickland said. "'Having LeBron come down here and give his advice on the game, having Steve Nash talk to us (at the Steve Nash Academy), it's a good feeling. I'm always learning. Every day I learn something new.

"The drills I learned at Nash, I took those home the next day and was working on it. I think my game is going to go to a different level if I keep working on those little things."

St. Patrick coach Kevin Boyle hears college coaches praise Strickland all the time, but to hear it from Showalter means something special.

"Obviously, college guys are saying that becuase they're recruiting him," Boyle said. "When a guy like that says it to you, there's no vested interest for him to say that. What they love about Dexter is he's getting better and better and they can tell he loves the game."

With Jordan All-American Corey Fisher having departed the Elizabeth school for Villanova, Strickland will become the program's lead guard as it attempts to win its third straight Tournament of Champions crowd, tying the record held by St. Anthony.

Fisher was the best player in New Jersey last season -- and one of the best in the nation -- because of his ability to lead his teammates at crunch time and make the big shot when needed.

"The biggest thing is, can you make big shots in big situations?" Boyle said. "That's where Corey was so good. He was clutch. Any time you really needed a basket, he made a basket, and those are the things I value as critical, more than what your numbers are."

Strickland's experience at the USA Youth Festival and the Steve Nash and LeBron James Academies can only help him during next year's high school season.

"I would hope it puts him at a confidence level that he really realizes without question he's one of the premier guards and it's his turn now to take over for Corey Fisher at St. Pat's," Boyle said. "And if he can do that, and I'm confident he can, then we have a good chance to remain in the top five or seven high school basketball (teams) and have a chance to become a national champion."

SAMARDO OUTPLAYS MONROE

One of the games on Friday night featured four of the top six players in the Rivals Class of 2008 and four of the top eight in the Scout rankings. The game featured Boyle's Kentucky team with big man Al-Farouq Aminu of Norcross, Ga (Rivals No. 3) and St. Benedict's Prep big man Samardo Samuels (No. 6) against the Syracuse team featuring 6-10 Greg Monroe of Harvey, La. (No. 1) and 6-4 wing Tyreke Evans of American Christian. Also on the court for Syracuse were 6-9 big Tony Woods (Rivals No. 18) and 6-8 big Gregory Echenique of St. Ben's.

A Who's Who of college coaches watched the game, including Florida's Billy Donovan, North Carolina's Roy Williams, Villanova's Jay Wright, Pitt's Jamie Dixon and Rutgers' Freddie Hill.

Boyle thought that Samuels, who has committed to Louisville, outplayed Monroe, who is being trailed here by Mike Krzyzewski of Duke and Jim Calhoun of UConn among others. And Clark Francis had Samuels ranked as the No. 1 center here after one day, with Monroe as the No. 5 power forward.

"Monroe's a very good player," Boyle said. "I think without question, at the high school level right now, Samardo's a better player. I thought he clearly outplayed (Monroe) in the game, rebounding, scoring. I think he's got a little bit more of a package in the things he can do.

"They both are clearly two of the best 10 guys in the country and both have a chance to be pros one day if they keep working."

Comments

[David]

Michigan State Representing.

[NJSaints]

Corey Fisher was not a McDonalds All American

[Matty Ags]

it said Jordan All-American, NJSAINTS

[Matty Ags]

it said Jordan All-American, NJSAINTS