With 20 points and 8 rebounds against All Ohio, the 6-foot-8, 225-pound Alexander ably covered for Okafor. But he truly shone in the afternoon matchup with CIA Bounce, scoring 27 points to go with 14 rebounds in an 83-59 blowout victory. The most impressive part wasn’t as much what he did, as how he did it. Every time you looked up, Alexander seemed to be dunking. He displayed advanced post moves and an improved jumper, draining a pair of second half threes and making it look easy. Although he’s always been an impressive prospect, Alexander showcased a versatility that even those familiar with his game hadn’t seen before. “I’ve been working on my post moves, a little bit of my ball handling and my jump shot,” said Alexander. “Coaches have been saying I’ve developed a lot. I can shoot the jump shot, run the floor, rebound and block shots.” As Alexander’s game has expanded, his recruitment has ramped up. Interested parties include Illinois, Kentucky and Michigan State, who have made Alexander a top priority. It’s widely believed to be a three-horse race for Alexander’s services. In-state suitors Illinois and head coach John Groce hope the Chicago Curie star will anchor their frontline in a major way next year. “They’re telling me they want me bad,” Alexander said. “They’re going to develop me into a stretch-four. Coach Groce is a great guy—he’s funny, he cracks a lot of jokes. We’ve really built a nice relationship.” Kentucky and John Calipari have similar plans, and already have highly rated center Karl Towns Jr. in place for 2014. Alexander sees himself as compatible with the Wildcats’ plans. “They want to develop me, get me like a Terrence Jones and I’m looking forward to that. [Karl Towns] and I can play together—he’s a five and I’m a four. We’ll work from there.” Finally, Michigan State and its staff have also made a strong impression on Alexander. There’s a strong chance he could don green and white, thanks to the relationships he’s built in East Lansing. “I like coach [Tom] Izzo, I’ve gotten to know him well. They’ve got a good coaching staff—coach Fife and coach Stephens are great guys. I get along with the players well too, Gary Harris is one of my close friends.” Interestingly enough, some high-profile friends could join Alexander at his eventual destination. The potential Tyus Jones-Jahlil Okafor package has been well documented, and Alexander says he’s discussed joining them. Versatile forward Justise Winslow has also been part of these conversations. Should they join forces, the group of 2014 stars will put the hoops world on notice. The mere possibility has fans’ mouths watering. If it happens, expectations will be high—and Alexander isn’t shying from them.
(link below)
http://zagsblog.com/recruiting/three-team-race-for-2014-star-cliff-alexander/
Sunday, May 26, 2013
2014 CHICAGO PROSPECT CLIFF ALEXANDER
With 20 points and 8 rebounds against All Ohio, the 6-foot-8, 225-pound Alexander ably covered for Okafor. But he truly shone in the afternoon matchup with CIA Bounce, scoring 27 points to go with 14 rebounds in an 83-59 blowout victory. The most impressive part wasn’t as much what he did, as how he did it. Every time you looked up, Alexander seemed to be dunking. He displayed advanced post moves and an improved jumper, draining a pair of second half threes and making it look easy. Although he’s always been an impressive prospect, Alexander showcased a versatility that even those familiar with his game hadn’t seen before. “I’ve been working on my post moves, a little bit of my ball handling and my jump shot,” said Alexander. “Coaches have been saying I’ve developed a lot. I can shoot the jump shot, run the floor, rebound and block shots.” As Alexander’s game has expanded, his recruitment has ramped up. Interested parties include Illinois, Kentucky and Michigan State, who have made Alexander a top priority. It’s widely believed to be a three-horse race for Alexander’s services. In-state suitors Illinois and head coach John Groce hope the Chicago Curie star will anchor their frontline in a major way next year. “They’re telling me they want me bad,” Alexander said. “They’re going to develop me into a stretch-four. Coach Groce is a great guy—he’s funny, he cracks a lot of jokes. We’ve really built a nice relationship.” Kentucky and John Calipari have similar plans, and already have highly rated center Karl Towns Jr. in place for 2014. Alexander sees himself as compatible with the Wildcats’ plans. “They want to develop me, get me like a Terrence Jones and I’m looking forward to that. [Karl Towns] and I can play together—he’s a five and I’m a four. We’ll work from there.” Finally, Michigan State and its staff have also made a strong impression on Alexander. There’s a strong chance he could don green and white, thanks to the relationships he’s built in East Lansing. “I like coach [Tom] Izzo, I’ve gotten to know him well. They’ve got a good coaching staff—coach Fife and coach Stephens are great guys. I get along with the players well too, Gary Harris is one of my close friends.” Interestingly enough, some high-profile friends could join Alexander at his eventual destination. The potential Tyus Jones-Jahlil Okafor package has been well documented, and Alexander says he’s discussed joining them. Versatile forward Justise Winslow has also been part of these conversations. Should they join forces, the group of 2014 stars will put the hoops world on notice. The mere possibility has fans’ mouths watering. If it happens, expectations will be high—and Alexander isn’t shying from them.
(link below)
http://zagsblog.com/recruiting/three-team-race-for-2014-star-cliff-alexander/
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