Not at all trying to rub salt in the wound, but I was really, really impressed with Paige yesterday. This was the first time I had seen him in a while, and he most certainly did not disappoint. He is still very much a floor general type of PG, but he has developed into a guy who can get points when his team needs it. He didn’t drive to the bucket much, as AV played a zone for much of the game, but Marcus’ shot looked great. He had 12 points in the first half on a pair of triples and four other mid-range jumpers. His form is great, and he gets nice lift on the jump shot. He also made a number of really nice passes, both just moving the ball around the perimeter of the zone to find the open guy, and also getting into the lane to draw attention. He was also really active on defense. Though I don’t think the competition was great, but he really moved his feet well to stay in front of his man, and he got a few steals by getting in the passing lanes. He is still pretty thin, and once he fills out and gets stronger, he is going to be a wonderful PG at the college level (perhaps beyond).
It's too bad that Tyus was out, as it would have been really fun to watch Paige and Jones matchup. Quite honestly though, I believe Paige would have had his way with Jones. Though Paige still has a ways to get before he is physically mature, he is further along than Jones (obviously due to the age difference) and is a better athlete and better shooter. I really like what I saw out of Paige on the defensive end last night as well, moreso than what I have seen of Jones in the past. Should be fun to watch Tyus develop in the coming years, and if he can reach the level Marcus is at right now, he will be a very, very good player.
I was also really impressed with what I saw of Cedar Rapids Washington guard Josh Oglesby. I had seen some video of him, but he is much better in person. First off, he has one of those shots that is smooth and effortless, which made me think every shot he put up was going to find the bottom of the net. He had 14 while I was watching (first half), making three triples and having a couple more rattle out. He moved very well without the ball, and is much more than just a spot shooter in HS. He handles pretty well and is an excellent passer. He has a knack for pump faking to get charging defenders up in the air at the 3-point line, then getting to the lane and finding an open teammate. He made a number of very nice passes in the first half yesterday to get teammates good looks. I think he has a chance to be a nice player for the Hawkeyes. I would guess he’ll be mostly a shooter early on, but as he matures and gets stronger, he will be able to do more of the things I saw yesterday.
