Highlights of 2014 4* SG: Devin Booker (Basketball)
Here's a link for highlights from a recent game of 2014 4* SG Devin Booker, one of only two uncommitted players with UM offer.
Short background: Lives in Mississippi and his dad was a stud for the Tigers. Michigan and Missouri seem to be the two frontrunners for his services at this point, but Duke recently entered the picture. No real time frame for a decision as of now.
December 28th, 2012 at 10:03 AM ^
December 28th, 2012 at 10:04 AM ^
really a PG, not SG. Hope Walton doesn't scare him off.
December 28th, 2012 at 10:09 AM ^
He's definitely not a point guard. His game isn't that of point-guard (volume shooter, doesn't have the handles, has height better suited to a SG, etc).
December 28th, 2012 at 12:07 PM ^
I know these are just highlights, but i didn't see him pass the ball once. You even see him take up a shot in a crowd of 3, when he could have dished it back out. I don't see how you say he's a point guard. He didn't show much PG vision or passing ability in these highlights.
December 28th, 2012 at 2:06 PM ^
December 28th, 2012 at 10:05 AM ^
that I don't have much of a basketball background, and the kid seems to handle the ball really well, but he's a 4* SG?? Are my expectations of high school basketball a little too high?
December 28th, 2012 at 10:20 AM ^
I think this is a stereotypical case of doing rankings based on projections rather than on what's right in front of you. He has all the tools to be a stud, but a high school Burke and/or Walton have distinctly higher basketball maturity IMO.
I'm no basketball expert either, but it's pretty obvious that he has a lot of room to grow on a number of fronts (lots of missed passes to open teammates, poor shot selection, feet aren't set right on many shots, doesn't finish particularly well at the rim, etc). His height and natural ability give him the chance to be an elite guard in college, though.
December 28th, 2012 at 10:45 AM ^
He's actually a 5 star to ESPN and Scout.
December 28th, 2012 at 10:10 AM ^
Soooo, I'm assuming the edited out any assists? There were A LOT of bad shots taken. Nothing some quality coaching can't clean up, but I thought we'd see him pass it at least once.
December 28th, 2012 at 11:37 AM ^
That was my take away too. If I were editting a highlight tape, I'd take out the missed forced jump shots that had a teammate wide open on the wing..
December 28th, 2012 at 11:46 AM ^
Looks like a talented kid, but he preferred to take step back bombs while double coverered instead of passing to a wide open teammate.
Maybe his teammates can't hit the proverbial side of the barn so his coach has told him to take any shot he can get.
Edit: just saw the other footage, and he's very good at distributing when playing with better teammates.
December 28th, 2012 at 10:10 AM ^
I wouldn't classify that as a highlight video. He misses almost every shot he takes, but I can definitely see the potential in him if he works on his shot in the offseason. He already has the handles, but from what I see, he is not a guy I would rely on for closing a game or making a clutch shot (unless it was a free throw).
December 28th, 2012 at 10:22 AM ^
He does not live in Missouri, but Mississippi.He lived with his mother in Grand Rapids until HS.
December 28th, 2012 at 10:27 AM ^
December 28th, 2012 at 10:38 AM ^
Sam Webb calls Booker a combo guard, for what it's worth. He also says Michigan is the "team to beat" in Booker's recruitment. See this WTKA podcast from today—Sam talks Michigan basketball recruiting starting around the 5:30 mark.
December 28th, 2012 at 11:00 AM ^
December 28th, 2012 at 11:09 AM ^
I wish I could see this new video from behind the firewall at my office...sounds like its a good one.
December 28th, 2012 at 12:12 PM ^
Gonna have to put on some weight. Volume shooter. How does he play when everyone is just as talented as he is? Solid kid but his tape doesnt jump out at you.
December 28th, 2012 at 10:57 AM ^
December 28th, 2012 at 12:16 PM ^
December 28th, 2012 at 12:37 PM ^
December 28th, 2012 at 12:54 PM ^
December 28th, 2012 at 1:01 PM ^
You people who are ripping on this kid have to keep in mind that he is basically Moss Point's whole team. You can see him being double- and triple-teamed nearly every time he touches the ball in the OP's video, yet he still makes a number of nice-looking shots. Obviously it was probably a bit of an off-night with a lot of missed looks, but no one makes every shot. Trey Burke doesn't make six of every 10 he takes. Have to keep it in perspective.
December 28th, 2012 at 1:29 PM ^
December 28th, 2012 at 3:41 PM ^
I was waiting for Austin Rivers comparison.
December 28th, 2012 at 4:04 PM ^
It really is amazing how much a player's looks affect who we compare them too. Obviously Booker looks pretty similar to Rivers, and I'm not saying I disagree at all with the comparison (I actually don't think it's a bad one), it is just weird that whenever most people try to compare somebody to someone else they almost always first pick out guys that look very similar.
December 28th, 2012 at 5:14 PM ^
After watching the highlight video, I checked out a highlight video of Derrick Walton just to compare. Holy crap, I'm excited for Walton! I'm sure Booker is good and can be a very good player, but Walton seems like the complete package. Sure, it was a highlight video so you don't see the flaws, but he seems to have incredible vision and yet can score at will if he wants/needs to.
Booker could be a nice piece for class of 2014. I'm not sure how long we can count on players to stay now that the level of recruit is higher, but if the whole class of 2013 stays for at least a 2nd year, Irvin could potentially play SF with Booker at SG and Walton at PG.
December 28th, 2012 at 6:01 PM ^