NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock shares his insights from a scouting trip to Tennessee, where he evaluates top basketball prospects and emerging talent.
As I packed my bag for my next scouting trip, I couldn't help but get excited. The previous week, I had begun my season with a visit to Phoenix, Arizona, to see two top high school players: MarJon Beauchamp and JD Tsasa. I also checked out the Arizona State team's first practice of the year. However, my next scheduled trip would be on another level from a scouting standpoint. I would visit top college teams, Tennessee, Louisville, and Memphis, all within just a few days. My scouting season was in full gear, and I was pumped!
The first stop of the trip was in Knoxville, Tennessee. From the time I exited the plane in Knoxville until I checked in to my hotel, I was asked by a handful of different people if I was in town for 'the game.' The Tennessee Vols football team was hosting the 3rd-ranked Georgia Bulldogs that Saturday, and the city was buzzing. To everyone's surprise, I said I was not in town to watch the football game but rather to see the basketball team practice. Although welcomed with plenty of Southern hospitality, no one seemed as enthused about basketball practice as I was. I was in college football country, and it was football season. Nonetheless, I was excited to watch some hoops.
That night in Knoxville, I ate at a great restaurant, Tupelo Honey, right in the main square of town. It was a very charming place. Georgia Bulldogs fans were everywhere, and the town's festive weekend had already begun. I ordered grilled catfish that did not disappoint—it was delicious! After dinner, I headed back to my hotel. I needed a good night's sleep; I had a busy few days ahead of me.
The following day, I woke up, grabbed my daily cup of coffee, and headed to the team's practice facility. As I walked into the gym, I saw several young guys in casual clothes, who I assumed were players. I quickly realized that there were three top-ranked high school recruits on their campus visits. Two of the players had already committed: Keon Johnson and Corey Walker. Johnson, from Bell Buckle, Tennessee, is an incredible athlete and shoots the ball well from outside. Walker, from Jacksonville, Florida, is a versatile forward who can do a little bit of everything. The third player, Jaden Springer, had yet to commit to a school. Springer, the highest-rated of the three from Charlotte, North Carolina, is a strong guard and an incredible defender. Although still in high school, all three players are already on Babcock Hoops' radar. Johnson and Walker would make for a stellar recruiting class by themselves. Still, a commitment from Springer, which I have been told is probable, would make for a slam dunk of a recruiting year for head coach Rick Barnes and his program.
While at the practice facility, I caught up with the coaching staff, comprised of several familiar faces who had also worked with Coach Barnes at Texas before they came to Tennessee. To give a little background, Coach Barnes and my dad have been close friends for many years. As a result of my dad's relationship with Barnes, my cousin Chris, now the director of player development for the Philadelphia 76ers, served as a graduate assistant at Texas years ago. And because of that, I had the chance to develop good relationships with everyone within the Texas program during his time there. I was fortunate enough to represent various players from Texas when I was a sports agent, including Gary Johnson, Clint Chapman, Alexis Wangmene, Cam Ridley, Prince Ibeh, and Connor Lammert. Since Coach Barnes left Austin a handful of years ago and traded a Texas burnt orange' T' for a Tennessee orange one, he has seemingly recreated a similar infrastructure and replicated his success in Austin in Knoxville all over again. Hats off to Coach Barnes!
Disappointedly, the coaching staff informed me that 2020 NBA draft prospect Josiah James would not participate in an individual workout due to a minor injury. This meant bad news for me, as seeing Josiah was the main reason I was in town. Luckily, I got the opportunity to meet him. He was 6-foot-6 and had a well-developed physique, and he was impressive even without seeing him on the court. Only a freshman, he carried himself very well, made eye contact while shaking hands, and had a mature way about him. I had seen Josiah play in the past, so getting a feel for him as a person was equally as important, if not more important, for me on that trip. Speaking with the coaching staff about Josiah and meeting him increased my sense of comfort with him as a person and prospect.
Later that night, I attended the team's open scrimmage. Although Josiah was on the sidelines, I was happy to be able to see seniors Jordan Bowden and Lamonte Turner. Bowden showcased his athleticism and scoring prowess. Turner showed he is a true point guard and floor general. And to my surprise, a freshman I had never heard of stood out: Olivier Nkamhoua — a strong, 6-foot-8 power forward with a visibly long wingspan. After watching him execute several smooth moves in the low and mid-post, I pulled out my phone to search for some background information on him. I discovered he is originally from Finland, but most recently, he played at a prep school in Maryland. I also noticed he was not highly ranked or recruited heavily. Well, he was now on my radar.
So, as the Tennessee team wrapped up their scrimmage, I, too, wrapped up my productive trip to Knoxville. I proceeded to head back to the hotel as I had an early start the following morning.
Next stop: Louisville, Kentucky.