NetScouts Basketball was in Portland, Oregon for the week of practices leading up to the Nike Hoop Summit as well as the game. In the game, the World Select Team topped the USA 112-98 led by 27 points and 13 rebounds from France's Livio Jean-Charles. The World Team took a 52-43 halftime lead, withstood a USA surge that cut the lead to 64-62 late in the third quarter and pulled away for the victory. It was the first time that the World Select Team has won consecutive games at the event.
Germany's Dennis Schroder continued his excellent play after impressing all attending the practices during the week. Schroder ran the point effectively finishing with 18 points and six assists while thoroughly out-playing Florida recruit Casey Hill. Schroder controlled the pace of the game, was able to surge past his defender at will and even hit a few pull-up jumpers.
Jean-Charles likely played himself into the early portion of the 2nd round of this year's NBA Draft if he elects to enter his name. He was incredibly efficient in his 27 minutes of action and gave the USA's interior players trouble with his 7'2 wingspan. He scored in mid-range, in transition and off the offensive boards. He also drew contact, getting to the foul line ten times.
We thought the World's bigs would give the USA trouble and we were right. The World out-rebounded the USA 50-35 with 20 offensive rebounds. The USA did not have a true center on the roster. 6'9, 225-pound Kentucky recruit, Julius Randle was the biggest body the Americans had. Randle had a solid game with 19 points and eight rebounds, and competed well on the boards but didn't have enough help.
Besides the 6'9 Jean-Charles, the World's 6'11 Mouhammadou Jaiteh (France) added nine rebounds in 14 minutes while 7'0 Kansas recruit Joel Embiid had seven boards in 16 minutes. 6'8 Andrew Wiggins didn't have his best game shooting (6-of-16 and 1-of-5 on three-pointers) but added nine rebounds and made back-to-back baskets late in the third quarter to help turn a 2-point lead into an 8-point lead at the quarter's close. Wiggins still finished with 17 points in what was an off-game for him.
6'6 Dante Exum (Australia) showed why he will be one of the top recruits of the 2014 class. Exum, playing primarily off the ball in the game, hit several jumpers and scored on drives and in transition. He scored 16 points in 22 minutes on 6-of-8 shooting, including one three-pointer.
Besides Randle, 6'8 Jabari Parker (Duke) was effective at times for the USA. Parker led the USA with 22 points and was effective around the basket but not effective outside (1-of-9 three-pointers) and needed 23 shots to get his points. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (Arizona) was the most efficient player for the Americans, scoring 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting and grabbing six rebounds in 21 minutes before fouling out. Hollis-Jefferson was quick to the ball and impressive. Andrew Harrison (Kentucky) added 19 points and five assists and got to the foul line 12 times.HS13ExumWigTown
The World Team exhibited better team chemistry and passing, continually looking for the open man and the better shot. The USA relied too much on individual play on offense and had difficulty competing on the boards. The World Team had 24 assists on their 38 baskets compared to 15 assists on 37 baskets for the Americans. While in previous contests the USA had the edge in athleticism, that wasn't the case this year as the World was generally more athletic, bigger and longer. The World Team raised their record to 5-11 in the event.
Carl Berman is a Managing Partner of NetScouts Basketball. You can follow NetScouts Basketball on twitter here.