#OTRHoopsReport: Hoop Hall Classic – Alexander & Ferguson – Jan. 21, 2014

Springfield, Mass. – The Hoop Hall Classic is placed within the “Birthplace of Basketball” on the campus of Springfield College. The setting is fitting for this event as it has shown to be the birthing ground of numerous college and professional basketball stars. Current college stars such as Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker competed here last year. Lottery picks such as Anthony Bennett, Nerlens Noel and Victor Oladipo first showed the basketball world what they could do years ago at this same event. This year is no different as dozens of top 100 prospects went head to head to prove who is “next up.”

By: @JLHemingwayPSB

Cliff Alexander (Chicago, Ill.) – Currie – 2014

Cliff Alexander arguably made the most noise on the big stage as he single-handedly led his team past Monteverde, who was the No. 1 ranked team in the country coming into this showcase. The 6-foot-8 power forward viciously attacked the glass and tip-dunked multiple misses en route to a 30 point, 12 rebound game in the victory. Alexander is a consensus top five player in the nation, however with this performance many within the recruiting world wondered out loud if this Chicago native was in fact the best low post presence in the 2014 class. He picked a home at Kansas University that will certainly highlight his low post skill. Bill Self’s high-low offense is custom made for a post player who can convert on a high percentage of paint shots.

Cliff Alexander breaking a backboard compliments of Ballislife Midwest

Terrance Ferguson (Dallas, Texas) – Prime Prep Academy – 2016

When evaluating talent, too many times observers will classify players into one of two boxes: athlete or skill player. Ferguson is an example as to why you should not be so quick to classify so generally. Standing at 6-5 with a slender frame, Ferguson’s specialty on the floor is to stretch the defense from 22 feet and beyond. His easy shooting stroke allows him to shoot the ball quickly with high accuracy. The NBA Hall of Famer, Reggie Miller, comes to mind when trying to find a comparison for Ferguson. However, Ferguson’s tools are not limited to just shooting while coming off screens. He has shown to put up highlight dunks in transition. His length and athleticism make him a prospect that should be able to compete at the highest levels.

Highlights of Ferguson compliments of Ballislife South

Prospect Evaluation/Exposure Options

***Designed for DII, III, NAIA & JUCO exposure. These events average 25 to 30 schools on hand to watch the showcase participants.

OnTheRadarHoops Spring Showcase (March 22)
OnTheRadarHoops Fall Showcase (Sept.)

Elite Basketball Academy Series

***Designed for evaluation purposes, these are great opportunities for upperclassmen and underclassmen alike to get valuable game broadcasts that can be sent to college coaches with a single email message. For underclassmen, it also serves as the gateway for prospects with remaining high school eligibility to play in front of the OnTheRadarHoops.com staff.

March 9th – EBA Top 40 Spring Workout
March 15th – CoachHemi.com Showcase 

Jonathan Hemingway is a National Evaluator for the OTRHoopsReport. He is also the owner of Coach Hemingway Basketball. He has been involved in the community since 1996 as a coach, camp director and evaluator. You can reach him via email at JonathanHemingway@PeachStateBasketball.com and follow him on twitter @JLHemingwayPSB