Words. Bryan Horowitz

Watching Jay Williams address the completely enrapt New Hampton Prep basketball team late Sunday night at the Hoophall Classic, it was clear he was firmly in his element. Basketball has obviously always been a big part of Williams’ life, but you could make a case he’s never been quite as immersed as he is now.

As an ESPN college basketball analyst, Williams splits his time between calling games and working on studio shows, while also commentating for the network’s rapidly expanding interest in high school ball. The latter assignment gives him the opportunity to take part in one of his favorite pastimes: mentoring young athletes. There isn’t a player on any level that doesn’t have the utmost respect for the former No. 2 pick in the NBA Draft, and he commonly takes time to pull players aside and offer a few words of wisdom. MORE >

Words. Patrick Cassidy

If you haven’t have the chance to see Kentucky’s Anthony Davis play ball yet, he’ll be on TV destroying St. John’s on Thursday night from Lexington, Ky.

The likely No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft when he comes out is a freak of nature. He’s 6-10, with an absurd wingspan, hops and has a flair for the dramatic. Case in point: Watch what he did in his final game at Chicago Perspectives: MORE >

Words. High School Hoop

It’s tough to honestly pick an All-American team. Gone are the days when so much of the nation’s high school basketball talent was concentrated in major cities like New York, L.A., Chicago and Philly – now the game is everywhere, with superstars coming out of small Midwestern towns, previously overlooked Northwest suburbs and the football territories of the Deep South, to name a few. So even in an era where YouTube highlights and regular national TV broadcasts allow more people to see more high school stars outside their own area code, the sheer volume of quality players spread around the map can be overwhelming. As a result, hype and reputation play too much of a role in determining who gets what awards and honors, and people make lazy picks, sometimes without even having seen a kid play. MORE >

Words. Aron Phillips

Every year a kid comes out of nowhere and sets the spring AAU scene on fire. Last year it was Anthony Davis; this year it’s the SYF Players’ Mitch McGary. This kid wasn’t even a starter on his Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.) team this season, and now has Duke, Texas, UConn, Arizona and others at his school to watch him work out. Oh yeah, and he’s an inch away from being a legitimate 7-footer. Check out some footage of the rising senior playing at Brewster during the season, and for the SYF Players in Wisconsin and Pittsburgh.

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Words. Trevor Kapp

Austin Rivers, Anthony Davis and Michael Gilchrist have received the most attention amongst the Class of 2011 high school prospects, but you’d be crazy to overlook Myck Kabongo. The 6-2 point guard headed to Texas has a handle that can break down just about any defender, an innate ability to hit the open man and a lethal jumper with deep range that will cause issues for Big 12 opponents next year. We got up with the Toronto product this past weekend at the Jordan Brand Classic in Charlotte to discuss his off-court interests, his high school career – that included stops at two of the country’s premier programs – and his goals for next year. MORE >

Words. High School Hoop

The USA Basketball Junior National Select Team’s depth and defense helped it withstand the first triple-double in Nike Hoop Summit history as the Americans rolled to a 92-80 win over the World Select Team Saturday night in front of a national television audience and a Rose Garden crowd of 8,955 in Portland, Ore. MORE >