Thanks to our friend Dylan Burkhardt of UMHoops.com for passing along the following HD video of 2012 Brewster Academy big man Mitch McGary from this past weekend’s Pittsburgh Jam Fest.
Dylan compiled over seven minutes of video of the rapidly improving McGary, who is still being pursued by Indiana for its 2012 recruiting class. UMHoops also has an in-depth scouting report on McGary from the Jam Fest which you can read at this link.
Mitch McGary’s move to Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H., from Chesterton High School was made with one focus in mind: academics.
The 6-foot-11, 255-pound forward says the atmosphere at Brewster, a private, preparatory boarding school, is helping him make significant strides in the classroom, where he’s currently receiving all A’s and B’s.
“I like the school a lot more than my old school,” McGary told Inside the Hall on Tuesday evening. “It’s a lot more structured. The teachers are more willing to help. The student-teacher ratio is 6-to-1. They want you to succeed.”
Being away from home is another plus, McGary said, because he’s preparing for life at college.
“I kind of like being on my own,” he said. “It makes me more responsible and (have to) make decisions on my own.”
The Indiana native is also reaping benefits on the court, where he’s playing against a more aggressive schedule than he saw at Chesterton.
“Competition is like another level up here. It’s pretty much like college ball,” McGary said. “We actually play some junior college teams. It’s a lot different. It’s a lot faster and a higher tempo.”
His game, he said, continues to develop on the perimeter as well as in the weight room. His future in college may not be solely as a post player despite his near 7-foot frame.
“I’ve been working on my 3-point shot a lot,” he explained. “Over the summer, that’s all I did. I just need to work on my handles, and I’ve been working on my strength a lot. I’m not really an inside guy. I’m more of a four and a face-up guy. I can also guard smaller forwards because I’m quick on my feet.”
With roughly two and a half years to recruit before the early signing period in November of 2010, the fruits from the Indiana staff’s recruiting efforts for the 2011 class could be plentiful. The only catch? The uncertainty of the scholarship situation. A quick look at the scholarship numbers page shows the Hoosiers have two available scholarships for 2011 (three if they oversign by one.) But if the Hoosiers add to the 2010 class, the number of available scholarships will decrease accordingly.
That said, let’s take a look at the names being frequently mentioned in Indiana’s 2011 recruiting efforts:
– Marquis Teague – Depending on who you talk to, Indiana’s chances to land Teague range from coming on strong to a longshot. Where the Hoosiers actually stand is anybody’s guess. Teague’s talent is undeniable. He is an excellent ball handler and can both score and distribute from the point guard position. And he’s already ready physically for the rigors of the Big Ten. His only knocks? An attitude that sometimes doesn’t endear him to officials and a jumpshot that is still improving. In the end, Teague possesses the talent to be special.
– Cody Zeller – I’ve watched Zeller twice this spring and came away impressed after watching him in the adidas May Classic. He’s a legitimate 6-9 and still growing. And as is usually the case with big men, he’s tweaking his game to adjust to his changing physique. Zeller is a heady player who can be a little too unselfish at times, but his skills in the post are very good. If he can improve his strength over the next two years, he’ll be a difference maker.
