With the Metro Indy Fall League concluding Sunday, I've decided to note some of the players that made an impression on me. There were multiple guys that have improved a lot since the summer. That means they have been dedicated to get better and that is a great sign for their continued improvement.
Tyler Alderman 2012 has really improved his full offensive game. He was always a guy that looked good in warm-ups but then his productivity in games wouldn't match that. Now, he seems more confident with his post moves. He showed really nice touch with both hands around the basket. Alderman can shoot it from the mid-range and deeper with great consistency. He will be moving up my rankings especially in terms of potential. Mid-Major Plus type potential.
Dustin Smith 2011 might have been the MVP of the league. I would vote for Patterson first because he carried his team to the league championship, but Smith helped his team in every phase of the game as well. Smith's athleticism is what caught my eye. At first, I thought he was just a great shooter but then he showed that he could defend the best in the league. He made Patterson work for every basket he got. Smith is a Mid-Major stretch, probably best at the low major level but could definitely contribute to most mid-majors.
Daniel Purvlicis 2012 has increased his aggressiveness. Purvlicis is much like Alderman in the fact that he has always had the skill set...it was just asserting that skill into a game setting. It looks like he has started to display that talent. Aggression and toughness is the key to Purvlicis. Colleges can't play guys that are passive or timid. On skill set and potential alone, he is a Mid-Major prospect.
Cole Murray 2013 was one of the best outside shooters in the league. The thing that makes that impressive is the fact that he is a 6'6 sophomore. He isn't the best laterally, but he runs well. I project him to be a power forward that can step out and handle the ball a little bit. I don't know that he will ever get to be a pure 3 unless his quickness improves. Definitely a player for Mid's and Low-Majors to keep an eye on.
Eron Harris 2012 had a very good spring/summer so he didn't surprise me with his whole game. I thought he has improved his outside shooting quite a bit though. He still struggles with shot selection, but a lot of kids do when they aren't in a structured offense. Harris' athleticism plus ball handling ability make him an extremely tough guy to defend. Throw in the fact that he is a legit 6'2 and maybe taller and he causes match-up problems for almost every team. He would be a steal for a Low-Major, but Mid's should be all over him. Only has one offer at the moment from SIU-E.
Sam Cooper 2011 is a guy that I had never seen play before the fall league. He is a low major type of power forward at 6'6. He can really get up with around a 35 inch vertical. Cooper finishes really well in the lane and has some solid moves on the block. He would be a steal for a D2 team.