NCAA power rankings - Who is at the top?

Men's college basketball is slowly starting to wind down and thoughts are turning to the NCAA tournament.

Power rankings are becoming more and more important each week, as we are starting to get a good idea of who we will see competing in the NCAA's big dance.

As you likely know, records are not everything, as the tournament takes into account things such as conferences and strength of schedule. ESPN has updated its comprehensive top-25 list and the top three are as follows:

  1. Virginia Cavaliers (22-1)
  2. Villanova Wildcats (22-1)
  3. Purdue Boilermakers (23-2)

Virginia sits at the top of the list bolstered by its intimidating defense. They are hoping this improved defense can take them farther this year after being ousted by Florida in just the second round last year.

Villanova is certainly a team that we are used to seeing near the top year-after-year. This year is no different with them sporting a lot of offensive firepower.

Purdue has had several good seasons, but they have been surprisingly elite this year. They have had some close ones, but are currently clinging to a 19-game win streak.

The other guys

Kansas (18-5) is number four, having played one of the tougher national schedules and Xavier (21-3) is at the five. Duke (19-4) has looked out of sorts of late, slipping to number seven, while Clemson (19-4) makes a jump to number eight in the standings with some big wins.

Trae Young finally had an off night shooting last Saturday and OU (16-6) moved back a few spots to 14, right in front of North Carolina (17-7). Kentucky (17-6) recently dropped a game to Mizzou, and takes the 22 spot.

Since their Cinderella run in 2010, Butler (17-7) has done a great job of staying relevant. They are holding onto the number 25 spot, with Florida, Arizona State, and Wichita State (not a state) on the outside looking in.

For the full list, check it out on ESPN. For all things basketball, check out The Basketball Movement.

Who is da real MVP... so far?

LeBron, KD, Steph, the Beard, Westbrook - there can be only one NBA MVP.

Many say the LeBron James is the best basketball player on the planet. That is tough to argue against, though we still seem to have a bunch of potential NBA MVP candidates on our hands.

If the season ended today, who would win the MVP honor? The Basketball Movement weighs in.

How about LeBron? He has spoiled us for years with a combination of size, strength, and skill unlike anything we have seen. He has been putting up big numbers this season, but the Cavs have been a dissapointment.

Kevin Durant is in the debate for greatest basketball player alive as well. He continues to score like crazy and has improved his defense this year, contributing to the Warriors NBA-leading record. However, he is splitting that accomplishment with another former MVP.

We are all familiar with what Stephen Curry can do. He is on pace to be the best shooter in NBA history and continues to lead his team to the top year after year. His play has been stellar, but it is tougher to gauge his value playing alongside Durant.

The reigning MVP anyone? Russell Westbrook became the second player in NBA history to average a triple-double last season, earning him the MVP honor. He is less than a rebound away from doing it again this year, though his scoring is down.

James Harden is likely leading in this conversation at this point in the season. He is averaging 31 points, 9 assists, and 5 boards a game while powering his team to the second best record in the league. He has been doing it without CP3 for much of the season. All highlighted by his recent 60 point triple-double.

There are certainly other players worth naming such as DeMar DeRozan, Kyrie Irving, and Giannis Antetokounmpo being the standouts.

Who would you give the honor to if you had to pick today? Comment below or let us know on Twitter @BBall_Movement

All stats from basketball reference

Basketball Movement testimonial - Wil Harrington

The Basketball Movement can mean a lot of different things to different people. For me, it elevated more than my game.

I was first introduced to the way of The Basketball Movement before it had that title. I was probably 11 or 12 when I first met Robert Yanders and witnessed firsthand what the Movement was all about.

Rob was a hard-nosed player that made up for his smaller stature by outworking everyone else and taking advantage of his strengths. He brings his intensity and intrinsic motivation and uses it to maximum effect as a coach.

I remember going through speed and skill trainings with Robert while I was in Jr. High. Basketball was always my favorite sport, but I knew that I wasn't in it to become a collegiate player or anything.

Training with Robert was probably the most physically demanding thing I have ever done. I dropped gallons of sweat in the same gym where The Basketball Movement still coaches players today.

Yanders Law guard Anton Brookshire grinding it out with the Basketball Movement in Missouri.

One of the biggest takeaways from my time was what I learned about mind over body. I remember running lines with another player, my buddy Derrick. Rob set a time we had to make it in. We didn't, so he took time off the clock.

That didn't make a lot of sense to me. We ran it again and of course didn't make the new time, now exhausted, as it was pretty late in the workout. Robert took a couple more seconds off the clock. I was too tired to consider that maybe he was just crazy.

Without saying a word to each other, Derrick and I got back on the line and knew that if we didn't make it this time, we were going to keep running forever. Once Rob said go, I moved my tired body as fast as I've ever run before.

We both made it under the new time, even though we were much more tired and had a much loftier goal than the first few attempts. That taught me a lot about what I could do, and what it takes to achieve even the toughest goals.

The discipline and ability to push myself to the limit were lessons that I applied to my whole life, not just basketball. I overcame tough coaches, tough teammates, and did certainly gain some foot-speed and athleticism.

What I leaned from Robert as a coach and as a man has helped me in school and work. Now, he is helping me pursue my interest in writing by handing me the reigns to The Basketball Movement blog.

I would highly recommend The Basketball Movement to anyone. Whether it is skill training or even just the Saturday open clinic. Parents, get your kids in front of Robert Yanders. Rob is one of the most positive influences I can imagine for players of any age.

Dive in to all The Movement has to offer, and keep it locked here for more basketball content. Follow me @WilHarrington

Trae Young just keeps getting buckets for OU

It has been an exciting season in NCAA Basketball, but Trae Young of the Oklahoma Sooners has been the unexpected star of the show.

To start the season, you probably did not see the name Trae Young at the top of many projected draft boards. The Oklahoma Sooner freshman has been re-writing the narrative with his silky-smooth jumper.

 In the age of the three pointer, we knew that another Steph Curry-type shooter was bound to emerge. Is that Trae Young?

The 6'2" guard is averaging 30 points and 10 assists per game this season. That is a pretty impressive line for any college player. Young also dropped 44 against Baylor on Tuesday, only 10 days after hanging 48 against their in-state rival OSU Cowboys.

He has emerged as the Sooner's top recruit since Blake Griffin. He doesn't seem surprised though.

If Trae Young can keep up this dominant display, he will almost certainly show up to the NBA draft as one of the top prospects.

He was flying below the radar coming into the year, which only seems to have fueled his fire. Young players can look to Trae as an example of where hard work and determination can take you.

For more on everything basketball, keep it locked to The Basketball Movement and follow @BBall_Movement on Twitter.

Stats per ESPN

Player movement - Blake Griffin and the business of basketball

You might've heard: Blake Griffin has been traded, despite a seemingly mutual desire for his legacy to be as a Clipper.

If you follow pro sports, you have already heard by now that Blake Griffin has been dealt to the Detroit Pistons. You may also recall during the free agency period last Summer how badly he and the Los Angeles Clippers seemed to want to stay together.

Griffin had a tough decision on his hands last Summer when he met with the Clippers. They raised his jersey into the rafters at the Staples Center and talked about his lasting legacy as the greatest Clipper. Griffin was convinced and bought in, signing a 5-year $173MM contract.

Jump forward about seven months and Blake Griffin is headed to the Detroit Pistons with Los Angeles looking to rebuild.

The Clips were hovering around the 9th position in the West with no real hopes of seriously contending. Griffin has been in MVP discussions before, but only when healthy. His health has been a concern for a very long time.

The Clips have been big with he and DeAndre Jordan for a while, and decided to blow up what wasn't working and gear towards the future. With draft prospects so bright over the next few years, you can see why.

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Still, why string Griffin along only to dish him now?

Basketball (especially at the pro level) is a business above all-else. This is a tough lesson for many players and superstars like Blake Griffin are no exception.

The Clippers have had a taste of success and want to rebuild to get back into contention in the future. The Pistons need a star to get fans to brave the cold weather and attend games. So, a deal was made, regardless of player feelings.

This sends a message to all players that loyalty is not valued in all organizations. When your contract is up or free agency rolls around, do what is best for you, your family, and your career. Don't count on generosity in the business of basketball.

Follow more player and basketball movement at thebasketballmovement.com

The Basketball Movement is on YouTube

Quick reminder here: The Basketball Movement has plenty of basketball content for you on our YouTube channel.

The Basketball Movement is dropping b-ball knowledge on you from all angles. This site is where you can come to find all of the consolidated information at your fingertips. Of course, there is more to it than just our site!

You may already be following along on Twitter @BBall_Movement for quick hitting updates or even on Instagram @thebasketballmovement. But! Did you know that The Basketball Movement has a YouTube channel?

The channel has our podcast videos like the one above, drills of the week, highlights from tournaments (including our Basketball Movement Invitational), updates on The Movement, and more.

Subscribe to the YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/Yanderslaw.

Don't forget to follow all of these avenues to stay up to date on The Basketball Movement!

Player movement - High school edition

There have been some signings recently, so let's take a look at where some of the top high school ballers in the nation are headed.

Examining the ESPN High School Top 100 list, the column that displays where the players have signed is starting to really fill in.

The list is of course a little subjective, as each player brings a different skill set and will fit with each team differently. Analytics still come into play and it is one of the most comprehensive lists available.

The thing that jumps out right away is the top three player's college selection.

Duke is still a premier destination for top high school talent

Next to each of the top three player's we now see a big blue "D" symbol for Duke. With the recent commitment of Spartanburg's Zion Williamson (number two on the list), Duke appears to have locked up the nation's top talent.

Playing for coach Mike Krzyzewski is a big draw for young players. Krzyzewski's national titles and Olympic coaching tenure means that he is as experienced as it gets and has worked with all-time great players.

Duke has also signed number twelve player, Tre Jones of Apple Valley High School. We cannot forget Kentucky of course, who has plucked the sixth, seventeenth, and twenty fifth ranked players. Kansas has three players in the top thirty as well.

Who has yet to sign?

There are only three players remaining in the top 25 that have yet to commit to a school.

Number five on ESPN, McDonalds All-American Romeo Langford of New Albany High school has yet to decide, though he has offers from Indiana, Kansas, and Vanderbilt.

Number seven, Anfernee Simons (great name) of IMG Academy has twelve offers, three of which are from his home state of Florida. He had committed at one point to Louisville, but the recent scandals steered him away.

Number sixteen, E.J. Montgomery of Wheeler High School currently has five offers but has also drawn attention from Duke and Kentucky, so he may hold out for a little while longer.

Check out the full list at ESPN and keep it locked to The Basketball Movement for continued updates.

Don't be like Mike - The beauty of knowing your limits

Most players and fans grow up idolizing players on TV. The superstars carry a lot of appeal, but not everyone can be Michael Jordan.

We saw Kobe Bryant, who clearly modeled his game after Michael Jordan, grow into one of the greatest basketball players ever. Young players everywhere are honing their skills hoping to be just like LeBron James or Kevin Durant. Unfortunately, almost none of them will be. Don't worry! That is perfectly okay.

Everyone is made differently. You can hit the weight room every day,  but you are most likely not going to be able to bang in the paint with Dwight Howard or Shaq. Does that mean you should give up? Does not being Michael Jordan mean you should quit reaching? Heck no.

MJ could jump, handle, guard like crazy, and make defenders looks silly in almost every way. There aren't a lot of people who can be so extraordinary at so many aspects of the game.

So what do you do?

Find your personal strengths and work on them until it hurts. Shore up any weaknesses, but focus even more on what makes you a special player.

Just because you do have limits, doesn't mean you can't raise them. Have a decent jumper? Become a reliable jump shooter. Then, become a dangerous shooter. Always elevate each aspect of your game as much as possible, just don't get frustrated when you aren't the best there is.

If the Bulls had five fantastic shooting guards, would they start five shooting guards?

Every team needs bigs to crash the glass. Every team needs willing defenders who are content being the glue that doesn't stand out on the stat sheet. There are a lot of champions at every level of the game who are there because they put their ego aside and did what made them great for their team.

Don't be defined by your physical limits, but don't be afraid to embrace them either. There is a reason that Kyrie Irving doesn't care about dunking and Tim Duncan never worried about the three point line.

You can be great. Adapt and conquer the game in every way that is available to you. Don't be like Mike, be the best version of you that you can create.

Start by jumping aboard The Basketball Movement.

New NBA All-Star format

The NBA is at it again trying to mix up the format of the All-Star game. Starters and reserves have been selected, but how are teams determined?

The line that divides conferences will be blurred this year as East and West All-Stars will be mixed into two different teams. The Basketball Movement is here to fill you in on how it is all going down.

LeBron James (top vote-getter in the East) and Steph Curry (top in the West) will be team captains, selecting players for their squads.

The starters and reserves are now set, barring any injuries. The starters are as follows:

East: Kyrie Irving, DeMarr DeRozen, Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James, and Joel Embiid.

West: Steph Curry, James Harden, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, and DeMarcus Cousins.

Starters must be picked first

LeBron and Steph will take turns selecting from the pool of starters, regardless on conference affiliation. LeBron gets the first pick, giving him a chance to steal Curry's Golden State teammate, KD.

Once the starters have all been selected, they move to the reserves, which are as follows:

East: Kristaps Porzingis, Kevin Love, Al Horford, Kyle Lowry, Bradley Beal, John Wall, Victor Oladipo.

West: Karl-Anthony Towns, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler, Klay Thompson, Damian Lillard, LaMarcus Aldridge, Russell Westbrook.

There you have it. The teams will be mix-and-match, though we will likely see Kevin Love on LeBron's team and as many Warriors on Curry's as he can get. Unfortunately, the selection won't be televised as Commissioner Adam Silver says "It could put the captains in a compromising position".

Big snubs this year?

Cases could be made for a lot of players to get in, as usual. Paul George and Lou Williams are on the outside looking in in the West. Andre Drummond is likely feeling left out in the East.

As always, it is tough to try and find spots for all those that are deserving. Please let us know in the comments below what you think of the new format or which players you feel should have made the cut. You can also let us know on Twitter @BBall_Movement

Jason Kidd fired from head coaching job

There was some basketball movement in the NBA yesterday, as the Milwaukee Bucks oust Jason Kidd

The blog for The Basketball Movement is here to give you all the details on what's happening in the basketball world. There was a big surprise yesterday when the Bucks announced the firing of head coach Jason Kidd.

Kidd had been with the organization for the last three and a half seasons with 139 wins and 152 losses. The Bucks had high hopes this season of being an elite contender in the East. Jabari Parker's injury and a recent skid in the standings have the team currently sitting in the 8th spot.

Parker is due back soon, but the leaders in the organization clearly believed change was needed to address the recent mediocrity. Giannis Antetokounmpo was just named as an All-Star starter, but the team around him isn't helping enough to light up the win column.

Reports show that the 23 year old Antetokounmpo was not happy with the firing of coach Kidd.

Antetokounmpo clearly doesn't have as much pull as other stars such as LeBron James or even Marc Gasol who seem to have a say in the coaching situations.

Going forward

This leaves a pretty desirable job opening in the NBA. Even after a so-so start, Milwaukee is a team that will surely be in the playoff mix. With Parker coming back, a legitmate star in the "Greek Freak" Antetokounpo, and a solid young cast, this is a team on the rise.

It could be tough for Jason Kidd to find work this late in the season, but the (relatively) young coach should bounce back soon. It will be interesting to see how the Bucks respond to this shift going forward.

Keep it locked to The Basketball Movement for everything NBA and everything basketball.

TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS: JOSH ANDERSON TALKS ABOUT W. KENTUCKY’S BEST RECRUITING CLASS IN SCHOOL HISTORY

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Josh Anderson showcased why he is a major part of what is widely considered the best recruiting class in Western Kentucky history as his Madison Prep squad competed at the 2017 Bass Pro Tournament of Champions.

A 6’4, 175-pound 2017 wing player, Madison Prep Anderson is considered a four star recruit by most publications. He brings the ability to score and play above the rim.

He and7’0 2017 big man Mitchell Robinson form what very well could be the best recruiting class in school history. Robinson is a five star recruit who is already projected as an NBA lottery pick in the 2018 draft by NBADraft.net.

“I was really comfortable when I went to Western Kentucky,” he said. “I really enjoyed the coaches and the campus. The recruiting class they had was another huge reason. When I found out that Mitchell Robinson committed from Chalmette, La., that was pretty big.”

Anderson played throughout the offseason for Louisiana Elite and raised his profile immensely on the grassroots circuit. He has helped Madison Prep start the 2016-17 season 16-2.

“During the AAU season I was trying to get better on both sides of the ball. I really wanted to improve my on ball defense and getting my jumper up with Louisiana Elite.”

Anderson chose Western Kentucky over Arkansas, Baylor, Flordai, LSU, North Carolina State and numerous others.

His Madison Prep squad competed against Greenforest, Ga., for fifth-place on Saturday after losing to Findlay Prep in the first round on Thursday and posting a win over local team Republic on Friday.

“It’s big to play in a tournament like this because you get to go up against other big time programs and players,” Anderson said. “You get to see where you are at as a team and an individual.”

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TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS: MEMPHIS EAST 2018 ALEX LOMAX HITS BIG SHOT

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Memphis East guard Alex Lomax’s game is all heart and on Friday, he showed out with one of the biggest shots in Tournament of Champions’ history, knocking down a long 3-pointer at the buzzer to beat national ranked Montverde in a semifinal game.

A 5’11, 190-pound 2018 guard, Lomax answered a bucket by five star 2019 Montverde guard RJ Barrett with a 3-pointer at the buzzer to end the game and give Memphis East a 59-56 win.

Lomax has a host of Division I offers and says he brings passion and energy to the court.

“I am a dog first, I don’t bow to anyone, I really don’t care if you’re a top player or even if you’re not a top player,” Lomax said. “I feel like it’s my life on the line and I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do to survive. That is what my coaching staff has taught me and how I was raised up.

“Offensively, I am going to make sure my teammates are happy because in basketball if you’re teammates are happy on offense, they’re going to be extra excited on defense. I always put others above myself and make plays. At the end of the game, I just try to put myself in the best situation. If I have to I to take the last shot I will, and if I have to pass it to the next person I will. I try to put others first and recognize the situation.”

Lomax said playing for former NBA legend Penny Hardaway at Memphis East has been a special experience as Memphis East has had an opportunity to travel the country and play in a host of high profile events.

“Memphis East high school is a regular, neighborhood high school,” Lomax said. “That’s not not what it is to coach Penny. To him, Memphis East is Memphis University, it’s a high school, but basically a college. He is showing us that inner city kids, we don’t have to go to prep school. We can stay right in the city and play basketball and have the right mindset and be prepared for college.

“He prepared us for the season and we can’t do anything but just thank him.”

Lomax competed for Team Penny has helped prepare him for the Tournament of Champions and a tough schedule. He competed on the 17U circuit as an underclassmen.

“Playing against top guards in the country like Trae Young and Quade Green, that just motivated me,” he said. “Playing against guys that are better than me motivated me to get better and get to where they are and get better than they are.

“If I can play with those guys, I can play with anybody.”

He currently holds offers from Memphis, Ole Miss, Florida, Seton Hall, LSU, UMass, Temple and California, and has drawn interest from Arkansas and Tulsa.

TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS: MEET RJ BARRETT, THE NATION’S NO. 1 PLAYER IN THE 2019 CLASS

SPRINGFIELD — The nation’s premier players in the Class of 2019 showed off an impressive arsenal of skills at the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions held at Missouri State in Springfield

RJ Barrett, a long, athletic 6’7 point guard that can rebound, pass, handle the ball and create plays, Barrett has already created a significant recruiting buzz drawing a host of high major offers.

A native of Mississauga, Ontario, Barrett spent the offseason competing for UPlay in the Nike 16U EYBL and says the experience helped make him a better player.

“I was trying to work on my shooting and a little bit of everything,” he said.

Barrett said competing in the Tournament of Champions in front of some of the largest crowds any high school event will draw was a good experience. Montverde knocked off local favorite Kickapoo in the first round and advanced to face Memphis East in a semifinal contest. Memphis East is among the nation’s top ranked high school programs and have already split a pair of games this season against Montverde.

“It was a good atmosphere especially with us playing a team from Missouri,” Barrett said. “Just great to play against such great competition in a great tournament against good teams.”

Barrett said he lets his dad and coaches handle his recruiting, but has offers from Baylor, Kansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, UCLA, USC and Missouri where the TofC is being played. On Thursday, Kentucky head coach John Calipari was in attendance to watch Barrett after watching Kentucky signee PJ Washington compete in the previous contest.

Barrett says he enjoys watching some of the NBAs best players and tries to implement elements of their game into his own.

“In the NBA I like to watch LeBron James and James Harden because they are both great leaders and can score the basketball so that’s who I try to get my game like.”

Montverde features a slew of high level players with several players already committed to high major college programs. Barrett says the team has high expectations for the remainder of the season.

“We have a lot of potential,” he said. “We are close on and off the court and most importantly we play a lot of great defense so that gives us a great chance to win a lot of games.”

TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS: XAVIER RECRUIT JARED RIDDER, LOCAL SQUAD HANGS TOUGH AT T OF C

SPRINGFIELD — One of southwest Missouri’s premier prospects in recent years showed off his shooting ability and all-around game at the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions as Xavier recruit Jared Ridder helped his Kickapoo Chiefs hang tough early with Montverde in the opening round on Thursday and play within four points (56-52) of Greenforest, Ga. on Friday.

A long 6’8 wing player, Ridder committed to Xavier in June and officially signed during the early signing period in November. He helped the Chiefs advance all the way to the Class 5 state championship game a year ago, and to a No. 5 ranking this season.

Known for his ability to light up the scoreboard from 3-point range, Ridder improved his game over the summer, helping MoKan Elite capture a Peach Jam title. He has since taken his game to new heights this fall, averaging nearly 25 points per game.

Kickapoo (10-4) will next take on Republic (10-4), two of the better teams in southwest Missouri.

“Republic is a really good defensive team so we just have to come out and be patient and take good shots,” he said.

Ridder said the experience of playing some of the best competition at the Tournament of Champions will only serve to make them better in the long run. Last season, the Chiefs took seventh at the T of C, beating Bolivar after falling to talented Sierra Canyon and Christ the King squads.

“It is one of the best tournaments in the nation so it’s an honor to be in it,” Ridder said. “It has a great atmosphere and there’s a lot of media here so we can have our team get some exposure.”

Ridder said the Chiefs came out with a different mindset on Friday, and the squad hung tough with Greenforest (12-4) throughout before falling by four points.

“We came out with a lot more energy tonight,” Ridder said. “Last night we didn’t seem too excited to play so tonight we came out and were more focused and had a better mindset.”

Kickapoo 2017 guard Cam Davis led the way for the Chiefs on Friday, going for 22 points and three assists.

“Cam is a great player and a better person. I have been around him my whole life playing basketball with him,” Ridder said. “He brings a lot of energy and is the leader of our team. He sets everyone up and is a true point guard.”

TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS: BIG MAN CODY RILEY TALKS ABOUT UCLA COMMITMENT, TOFC ATMOSPHERE

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. —Sierra Canyon big man Cody Riley says few environments will prepare himself and his teammates for the college atmosphere like the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions.

This is the second straight year Riley and Sierra Canyon has competed at the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions. Last year he was apart of a team that fell on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer in the championship game against Oak Hill in front of a packed house. The T of C is widely recognized as one of the nation’s premier high school tournaments with an atmosphere that is tough to match.

“It’s getting us prepared for next year and playing in the Pac 12, especially the way UCLA is doing,” Riley said. “We are all going to big D1s and I feel it’s a great look forward to the future for us.”

A UCLA recruit, the 6’9 Riley is bruising forward that can dominate the paint, but skilled enough to step away from the basket and make plays. He is one of three Sierra Canyon players who have already signed to play at the next level along with point guard Remy Martin (Arizona State) and Adam Seiko (San Diego State), while 2018 Marvin Bagley is the nation’s top ranked recruit in his class.

He says he tries to watch a host of players at the next level and take different elements from their games.

“I like (Carmelo Anthony) in the mid post and how he uses his body, how Andre Drummond rebounds the ball,” Riley said. “I’ve never watched anyone specifically, but I try to look at what a lot of guys do really well and use that in my game.”

Riley says competing on the AAU circuit has helped his game and said he spent much of the offseason working on his mid range and mid-post game in attempt to stretch his game away from the basket a little more.

“Most definitely facing up and getting to the basket and my free throws,” Riley said. “I know today I don’t shoot it well, but I also worked on my free throws and throughout the season I have shot it pretty well.”

Riley said he is looking forward to competing against the top teams and players as Sierra Canyon has put together a nationally recognized schedule.

“I always want to challenge myself against the best of the best,” he said. “My team is also like that … it’s just natural for us because we’re all competitors and want to do that.”

Riley narrowed a long list of offers to Kansas, USC and UCLA and said from there it was a tough decision.

“It just came down to my relationship that I had with Steve Alford and I trusted them and I trust that they will put me in the best position possible to allow me to do what I want to do in the future,” Riley said.

TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS: IKEY OBIAGU BRINGS BLOCK CITY TO T OF C

SPRINGFIELD — One of the nation’s premier shot blockers, Greenforest, Ga. 7’0 2017 Ikey Obiagu is a game changer at the defensive end and showcased those abilities at the 2017 Bass Pro Tournament of Champions this weekend.

Through the first two games, Obiagu had swatted 17 shots and appeared well on his way to setting a new tournament record for blocks, which was set in 1993 by St. Raymond’s Damon Bonaparte. He blocked 10 shots in the opening round against and added 10 points on five dunks.

He followed with seven blocks against Kickapoo in a consolation round win on Friday and led both teams with 11 rebounds and chipped in six points, on a pair of dunks. He says his game is still raw and his offensive game is a work in progress.

“Mostly my game is to block shots and rebound and that is what keeps me on the floor, and the other parts of my game I am still working on,” Obiagu said.

Obiagu says injuries throughout the summer taught him a lesson in life as he struggled to stay on the court.

“I just had to pick myself up,” he said. “I fell like I am more confident in my offense although I still have a lot of work to do. I am taking everything one step at a time but I see improve from last season to this season.”

He committed to Florida State on Nov. 28 and said at the time the competition in the ACC was a big factor. He is one of five commitments for the Seminoles in the 2017 class and the first ESPN 100 commitment for the Seminoles this class. He joins four-star forwards Raiquan Gray and Wyatt Wilkes, four-star wing Anthony Polite and three-star shooting guard Bryan Trimble Jr.

“The thing that stood out the most for me was coach (Leonard) Hamilton because me and him have been really close,” Obiagu said. “He has been the one that has been recruiting me the longest and I trust him and I know they do a really good job with their bigs.

“They have a really good team coming back next year. It’s not really far from my home and I have been to their campus more than any other. I just feel like I am comfortable there.”

For now, however, Obiagu and his teammates are focused on taking the consolation trophy at the Tournament of Champions and says he is grateful for the opportunity to play in the event.

“It is really great and I know not everybody has this opportunity,” he said. “I am really grateful, as it the whole team, to be in this type of high-level tournament because every day you are playing a great team.

“Every day you are competing at the highest level.”

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TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS: ROB YANDERS, PENNY HARDAWAY TOGETHER AT T OF C

SPRINGFIELD — Rob Yanders, the founder of the Basketball Movement and Yanders Law, says his goals mirror those of NBA legend Penny Hardaway, who he met following Hardaway’s Memphis East game on Thursday night at the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions.

Hardaway was a player before his time, a 6’7 point guard who teamed with Shaquille O’Neal on the Orlando Magic and was also part of a world renown marketing campaign by Nike that became known simply as “Little Penny.”

Hardway is a native of Memphis and played his college basketball at

Now 45, Hardaway has returned to his roots in Memphis, coaching one of the nation’s elite grassroots teams, Team Penny, and has taken over at Memphis East High School, coaching a squad that has played a national schedule and knocked off some of the nation’s best.

Yanders says he and Hardaway may come from different places, but are trying to accomplish some of the same things.

“We’re both former pros trying to give back and do something special for kids and raise the level of the game,” he said.

Memphis East is slated to play Montverde (Fla.) on Friday in a semifinal game for the third time this season. The two teams split the first two games. But those are just a handful of nationally ranked teams and players.

“The schedule has been unbelievable,” Hardaway said. “We have given our guys an opportunity to go out there and showcase their talent on a national level. It has definitely prepared us for our district and state tournament run.”

Hardaway said coaching at the high school level has been an entirely different experience as he deals with parents and young kids.

“It’s been challenging coaching at the high school level because you have to deal with the parents and the different mood swings of the kids,” he said. “And they don’t really respect what you have done in the past if you aren’t Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Stephen Curry or Klay Thompson. They just know I played a long long time ago so they don’t remember that.”

Penny has coached his son Jayden Hardaway this season after the 6’4 2017 guard moved from Miami, Fla. to Memphis in the offseason.

“It has been an amazing pleasure because I have been wanting him to come to Memphis for awhile because I want him to get used to the toughness of the city,” Penny Hardaway said. “I want him to get the opportunity to play at the next level in the basketball world because the south Miami conference he was in previously isn’t as tough as what we are playing this year. I’m glad his mother allowed to come this season.

“It just isn’t as physical. Memphis guys play a tough schedule and play against great guards every night and that’s what we wanted.”

The younger Hardaway went for 11 points and connected on three 3-pointers, going 3 for 4 from behind the arc in 20 minutes.

“It is really special,” Jayden Hardaway saidof his move to Memphis East. “It is a once in a lifetime chance and getting to go through this process of getting to learn and be coached by my dad especially. He is the best coach I have ever played for and I feel blessed to be able to play for him.”

Hardaway doesn’t currently hold any offers but has drawn interest from Memphis, Ole Miss and local schools.