Current Virginia Tech hoops commit Justin Bibbs scored 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting for Montverde Academy last night in the opening round of the DICK'S Sporting Goods High School National Tournament in New York. Bibbs hit on one of three attempts from beyond the arch, pulled down three rebounds, dished out two assists and had one steal in 16 minutes of play as No. 1 seed Montverde Academy routed 8 seed Sagemont 81-63. LSU commit Ben Simmons lead Montverde with 25 points and 16 rebounds in 25 minutes.
Montverde plays No. 4 seed Huntington (W.Va.) Prep today at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN2. Huntington Prep is lead by 2014 Oregon commit JaQuan Lyle and a pair of highly-rated 2015 prospects - 4 star forward Montaque Gill-Caesar and 5 star center Thomas Bryant.
If they win that game, Montverde will play for the championship Saturday at noon in Madison Square Garden against either Oak Hill or Findlay Prep from Nevada. The championship game will be televised by ESPN.
Comments
He had 3 fouls right off the bat so that's why he only played 16 minutes. He was impressive though, if he played more minutes he would of had even better stats.
In the other side of that bracket you can see the Martin twins (NC State commits, 35 points, 18 rebounds combined) along with 2015 prospect Terrence Phillips (Brandon Jennings little brother, Virginia Tech lean before JJ was fired, 10 points, 8 assists), lead Oak Hill against Findlay Prep who are led by Arizona commit Craig Victor. This game is at 2:30 PM on ESPN2
Another reason to cheer against Huntington Prep, Thomas Bryant is believed to be down to two schools. The Cousins are supposedly the club house leaders followed by Syracuse.
He's from NY, I'd be shocked if he ends up anywhere but Syracuse.
Bibbs has 11 points in the game, currently in the middle of the third quarter
Bibbs ended up with 13 in the semifinal.
He then added 17 in the final as Montverde beat Oak Hill who were led by Terrence Phillips in scoring with 15.
Bibbs looked extremely good. He has a sweet stroke and had a chance to be a great ACC player.
Is he a 2 or a 3?
He can play both but he will more than likely be a 3 at Tech.
I actually wouldn't be surprised under Buzz to see him play predominantly in the 2 unless he grows another couple inches at Tech. I expect Buzz to continue to recruit bigger bodies which would mean guys like Wood and even Barksdale to get time at the three.
Eventually maybe but next year we will have Hudson, Emelogu, Smith, and maybe another recruit playing at the 2 so Bibbs will probably start at the 3 unless he is leaps and bounds better at the 2.
I think there is a good chance that Hudson redshirts next season.
If that's the case, then there is a good chance you're right.
Why? Is he hurt? I thought Hudson was the best player in this class
Bibbs is the higher rated of the two players. Hudson is not hurt that I am aware of. All of these decisions will of course depend on who Buzz gets signed with his three available scholarships. If its true that he is pursuing transfer players like Ian Chiles for the two spot, as was pointed out, we will have a log jam of two type players with Emelogu and Smith already coming back and Bibbs would be ahead of Hudson in my belief. If we sign players like Willie Atwood, Malek Harris and Satchel Paige Pierce with our three available scholarships, than the trickle down effect of that move could also see Hudson redshirt since Bibbs likely wouldn't play any three spot, with Wood and even Barksdale playing the three.
If those are the three that come in I could see the roster spots shaping out like this:
C JVZ/Satchel Paige Pierce
PF Willie Atwood/Barksdale/Kirby
SF Barksdale/Harris/Wood
SG Smith/Emelogu/Bibbs
PG Wilson/Mueller
I don't see a lineup like that leaving a lot of room for Hudson to get playing time so they would likely try to redshirt him so that there is a two guard for every year with Smith being a junior, Emelogu a soph, Bibbs a frosh, and Hudson redshirting. It would allow Buzz to plan to go after essentially one two guard a year.
I could also see Wood possibly being asked to redshirt since Kirby already has redshirted. I don't know how well that conversation would go over but we will see what Buzz wants to do. I know he likes his big bodies down low so I see at least one more big man being brought in at a minimum with the three scholarships.
I was thinking Emelogu is the centerpiece of the team and you don't have him starting. Did he disappoint in his freshman year? Or does he not defend well enough for Buzz?
Emelogu was behind Smith this season and even with Smith out more than half the season he still didn't show me significant progress to think he will beat Smith out for the two spot next season.
Don't see Barksdale starting at the 3. Definitely could see playing there but not starting. Wood, Harris, or Bibbs make more sense at the 3. If Atwood does commit then Kirby could be the odd man out here and if he doesn't then Barksdale could probably stay at the 4 permanently.
I put him at the start for the three based on what lineups Buzz has utilized at Marquette over the years. He appears to utilize an oversize three like Barksdale to give him more options to create scoring in the paint.
No connection to Justin Beibs I hope....