Quite a few Bucs playing in this year's summer league at Catholic HS in Knoxville.

Jalen Riley
Desonta Bradford
Kanayo Obi-Rapu
Rashawn Rembert
Lester Wilson

Supposedly Desonta had a crowd pleasing dunk tonight.

Rembert put up 35 pts in his first game.

http://www.rockytopbasketballleague.com/

Awesome!

Went to watch Desonta Bradford and Kanayo Obi-Rapu's team play this evening (Smithbuilt Homes). Coach Forbes was there in the crowd. Bradford looks great, and I expect him to shine this season. He had two dunks, one from a baseline move that was very nice. Bradford was tied for 5th in scoring, not sure how many he had tonight. He also shot well. Obi-Rapu looks good and seems fairly physical for a guard. Not afraid to take it inside, and had some nice moves. This is the first I have ever seen him play. Their team, playing for 3rd place came back from 20 down to tie with seconds left. Obi-Rapu had a chance to win it in regulation with a last second 3, but missed. In OT, the other team's Jalen Steele (via Miss St, via LMU) made a 3 at the buzzer to win it for Knox News. Didn't stay to watch the second game, which featured former Bucs Lester Wilson and Rashawn Rembert.

All in all a good time. Not much defense, as expected, and a lot of 3's (but many made both ways). Even better now in a gym with A/C!

Is it basketball season yet?

Good stuff '88!!

Who else forgot about Obi-Rapu being on the team until this thread?

I'm actually pretty convinced he's going to be good for us. I think there's a high probability he'll start.

(07-04-2017 08:52 PM)Running_Fool15 Wrote:  I'm actually pretty convinced he's going to be good for us. I think there's a high probability he'll start.

I agree

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(07-04-2017 01:43 PM)squeak Wrote:  Who else forgot about Obi-Rapu being on the team until this thread?

I has not forgotten about him. I was wanting someone to post that had actually seen him play. From what I am hearing he just may step into the role that TJ played the last two years.

RE: Bluenanza Tonight

posterformerlyknownasthedoctor (10-24-2016):

Quote:Word: Watch Obi-Rabu. Eager, focused, athletic, with fairly impressive crossover skills. I know he can't play this season, so it will be our main opportunity to see him until next year.

Not to necessarily imply he'll be more impressive than Walters, Burrell, Williams, or other newcomers; just sayin'.

That said (8+ months ago)......I don't expect him to start - at least not right away - but certainly leave open that possibility. It's just *way* too early to think along those lines - but I know, that's just the way eager fans work. I personally don't expect him to be TJ-like. More a versatile, do-lots-of-things kind of guy. Don't think he has TJ's command of the outside shot - but then I haven't watched him in quite a while. Would love to see that has gotten stronger. Closer to a Merriweather, but without the defensive smothering capabilities. (Not really an ideal comparison at all. Just in the "will-find-ways-to-score" department.) Should be able to do quite a bit more off the dribble. As etsubucsfan1988 reported, not afraid of contact inside. Aggressive, and as I wrote last year, "eager and athletic".

I think he will be a solid player; far too early to say whether he'll be a real "dude to be reckoned with". It may be a case of 'finding his niche', but Forbes has shown great capacity to allow that to happen.

While we're on that subject - even tho this is really the wrong thread - I suspect *one* key to this season will be how dependable and solid (meaning reducing his turnovers and errors in judgment) Long becomes. And *as always* with this number of newcomers (esp. jucos), we simply cannot know who will shine and who will not. So it doesn't do a lot of good to spend too much time speculating - even tho I've just indulged a bit myself.
(Mostly I just wanted to remind you all of my assessment of Obi-Rapu last year.)