Now that the AAU/camp season is over, we'll take an in-depth look at each of Purdue's 2012 and 2013 recruits, in addition to its two remaining 2012 targets.
Today: Bryson Scott
Prior: Kendall Stephens
July review
Because of the national schedule Spiece plays, we didn't really see Scott all that much this summer, just a couple games in Elmhurst and a day's worth of games in Fort Wayne at the end of July, in addition to at the Spiece tournament in Fort Wayne in the spring.
He had his ups and downs this AAU season, playing with a 17-year-old team as a 16-year-old, negating some of the advantages he ordinarily enjoys because of how advanced he is physically and how far along his game is at this stage.
But bear in mind, too, that for the first time in his life, Scott wasn't the best player on his team, playing alongside D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera, Rapheal Davis and others with Spiece, and that was undoubtedly an adjustment. It will be good for him in the long run.
Strengths
Scott's a really talented scorer, but it's as much about his will as anything else. When he sets his mind to scoring, he's just going to find a way to get a shot up, usually a good one.
The point guard recruit is very good off the dribble, though not unbelievably fast or quick. He just knows how to get past people, understands angles and has a knack for operating in traffic, ball-faking and getting clean looks where there otherwise may not be any. Scott finishes at tough angles, often through contact, and should be somebody who gets to the foul line often.
He has a good pull-up jumper and is outstanding at pushing the ball in transition and beating a defender one-on-one.
One thing that's always stood out about Scott is how for a guy who wants to score as badly as he does, he doesn't take that many bad shots.
Defensively, Scott can be very good, because of his mentality and toughness. He can be a mean little *#%^@ (use your imagination) and we mean that as a compliment.
Scott gets a lot of steals because he's so aggressive and because he's got some quick hands. If he's guarding point guards at Purdue, he'll be no fun for opponents to deal with 94 feet.
Weaknesses
Scott plays bigger than he is, but he is just a little more than 6-feet tall. We've not seen size hold him back in any way, shape or form, but college is a different animal for scoring point guards who don't have great height or elite quickness, so there could be an adjustment there.
This phase of his game should be fine, but this summer, he didn't shoot the ball from distance as well as he'd like, meaning an important phase of his game wasn't altogether clicking. Scott needs to be able to be to a three-point threat to set up his driving game and because he loves to pull up to shoot over defenders from the top of the arc. When he's at his very best, he's making that shot.
Scott's emotion is a strength, but only if he can control it and use it in a positive manner. He does have a bit of a temper. We wrote the exact same thing about Terone Johnson not long ago and he's just fine.
Super-fun comparisons
We've always compared Scott to former Ohio State guard Jamar Butler, who also wasn't terribly big or quick, but could score the hell out of it, largely because he was so difficult to stay in front of.
Game-wise, Scott's a little bit like Brandon McKnight as well.
Position
Scott was recruited to play point guard, but can slide over and play off the ball just as easily. In fact, that could be a great situation for Purdue and one where the addition of Ronnie Johnson may have changed things some.
Scott could give Purdue a scoring threat at the 2 alongside Johnson while giving the Boilermakers the luxury of having two ball-handlers/decision-makers on the court together, without sacrificing shooting and scoring the way they have been the past two years when Lewis Jackson and Kelsey Barlow play side-by-side.
I think Scott is probably best suited to guard the point, but he can be very effective on offense at either backcourt spot.
Final analysis
I know I spent a lot of time in this piece mentioning Scott's size and lack of "elite" whatever, but make no mistake, this kid is an absolute player and competitor. He'll make Purdue better from Day 1, both in tangible and intangible senses.
For our money, he's still the best player in Indiana's loaded 2013 class and he's earned every top-50 national ranking he's gotten.
Scott is inherently motivated and kids like that tend to succeed at Purdue.
Copyright, Boilers, Inc. 2011. All Rights Reserved. Reproducing or using editorial or graphical content, in whole or in part, without permission, is strictly prohibited. E-mail GoldandBlack.com/Boilers, Inc.
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Today: Bryson Scott
Prior: Kendall Stephens
July review
Because of the national schedule Spiece plays, we didn't really see Scott all that much this summer, just a couple games in Elmhurst and a day's worth of games in Fort Wayne at the end of July, in addition to at the Spiece tournament in Fort Wayne in the spring.
He had his ups and downs this AAU season, playing with a 17-year-old team as a 16-year-old, negating some of the advantages he ordinarily enjoys because of how advanced he is physically and how far along his game is at this stage.
But bear in mind, too, that for the first time in his life, Scott wasn't the best player on his team, playing alongside D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera, Rapheal Davis and others with Spiece, and that was undoubtedly an adjustment. It will be good for him in the long run.
Strengths
Scott's a really talented scorer, but it's as much about his will as anything else. When he sets his mind to scoring, he's just going to find a way to get a shot up, usually a good one.
The point guard recruit is very good off the dribble, though not unbelievably fast or quick. He just knows how to get past people, understands angles and has a knack for operating in traffic, ball-faking and getting clean looks where there otherwise may not be any. Scott finishes at tough angles, often through contact, and should be somebody who gets to the foul line often.
He has a good pull-up jumper and is outstanding at pushing the ball in transition and beating a defender one-on-one.
One thing that's always stood out about Scott is how for a guy who wants to score as badly as he does, he doesn't take that many bad shots.
Defensively, Scott can be very good, because of his mentality and toughness. He can be a mean little *#%^@ (use your imagination) and we mean that as a compliment.
Scott gets a lot of steals because he's so aggressive and because he's got some quick hands. If he's guarding point guards at Purdue, he'll be no fun for opponents to deal with 94 feet.
Weaknesses
Scott plays bigger than he is, but he is just a little more than 6-feet tall. We've not seen size hold him back in any way, shape or form, but college is a different animal for scoring point guards who don't have great height or elite quickness, so there could be an adjustment there.
This phase of his game should be fine, but this summer, he didn't shoot the ball from distance as well as he'd like, meaning an important phase of his game wasn't altogether clicking. Scott needs to be able to be to a three-point threat to set up his driving game and because he loves to pull up to shoot over defenders from the top of the arc. When he's at his very best, he's making that shot.
Scott's emotion is a strength, but only if he can control it and use it in a positive manner. He does have a bit of a temper. We wrote the exact same thing about Terone Johnson not long ago and he's just fine.
Super-fun comparisons
We've always compared Scott to former Ohio State guard Jamar Butler, who also wasn't terribly big or quick, but could score the hell out of it, largely because he was so difficult to stay in front of.
Game-wise, Scott's a little bit like Brandon McKnight as well.
Position
Scott was recruited to play point guard, but can slide over and play off the ball just as easily. In fact, that could be a great situation for Purdue and one where the addition of Ronnie Johnson may have changed things some.
Scott could give Purdue a scoring threat at the 2 alongside Johnson while giving the Boilermakers the luxury of having two ball-handlers/decision-makers on the court together, without sacrificing shooting and scoring the way they have been the past two years when Lewis Jackson and Kelsey Barlow play side-by-side.
I think Scott is probably best suited to guard the point, but he can be very effective on offense at either backcourt spot.
Final analysis
I know I spent a lot of time in this piece mentioning Scott's size and lack of "elite" whatever, but make no mistake, this kid is an absolute player and competitor. He'll make Purdue better from Day 1, both in tangible and intangible senses.
For our money, he's still the best player in Indiana's loaded 2013 class and he's earned every top-50 national ranking he's gotten.
Scott is inherently motivated and kids like that tend to succeed at Purdue.
Copyright, Boilers, Inc. 2011. All Rights Reserved. Reproducing or using editorial or graphical content, in whole or in part, without permission, is strictly prohibited. E-mail GoldandBlack.com/Boilers, Inc.
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