Name:  Allen Crabbe      Age:   21    School: California

Height: 6’6   Weight: 210   Projected Position: SG            

2012-13 Stats:

18.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.1 spg, 2.5 tpg (36.2 minutes per game)

45.9 FG%, 81.3 FT%, 34.8 3FG%

 56.8 TS%, 52.8 eFG%, 26.6 USG%

SKILLS & ATHLETIC BREAKDOWN

Offense

Perimeter Shooting

Crabbe has very good form on his jumper.  He has a high, quick release, good follow-through, and long-range.  He has the ability to hit his jumper off the pass or dribble, and if he has time to get set, he is an excellent spot-shooter.  While he gets square to the basket quickly off the catch, he needs to work on not rushing the shot and making sure he has a clean look. He uses his dribble well to create space for his jumper, and at 6’6, he has the size to shoot over many who will guard him.  Crabbe is excellent at moving without the ball, using screens and cuts well to create space.  I would like to see him come off the screens tighter, giving him more separation to shoot.  Shot selection can be an issue, though spacing at the NBA level should help him out.    

Penetration

Crabbe can be effective when he looks to get into the lane and to the basket.  He uses long strides and his body to shield the ball from defenders. He needs to look to draw contact more often and go stronger to the basket instead of settling for off-balanced shots.  He has the ability to finish above the rim, and can finish with either hand.  He needs to look to go to his left more often instead of trying to force the action to his stronger right hand.  He also needs to do a better job keeping his head up and seeing where the help defense is coming from.  He will try to force plays through traffic, leading to turnovers or bad shot attempts.  He does a great job catching passes and getting into triple threat position, keeping the defense honest. He has a strong mid-range jumper if he chooses to only take a few steps past his defender, though he should work on a short jumper/floater if he sees the help rotate to stop him quickly.  While he uses screens well to create space for his jumper, he should look to attack the basket more off of them, and if he draws the defense, find the open man.  Crabbe needs to work on getting to the basket easier in isolation situations.  

Ballhandling/Passing

Crabbe is an average ballhandler, able to use both hands well and using a variety of dribbles to keep the defense off balance.   He has good control, keeping the ball low and close to his body, though he does need to watch forcing his dribble through traffic.  He has a good cross-over move which he uses to create space for his jumper, though I would like to see him use it more to attack the lane.  While he can use his left hand for short distances, I would like to see him look to attack the basket more with his left hand, which will mean improving it.  Crabbe has good court vision and his size allows him to see over the top of most defenses. He is a strong passer from the perimeter, though he can look to improve his ability to make passes off the dribble, especially if he draws help defense in the lane.

Free Throw Shooting

Crabbe is a good free throw shooter, with a consistent routine, good shooting motion and follow-through.  He tends to rush his shot at times and he uses his legs very little, leading to him not getting his normal extension and follow-through.  Crabbe really needs to improve on getting to the line more, including looking to get to the basket more and not shying from contact. 

Defense

Perimeter Defense (On/Off Ball)

Crabbe is an average on-ball defender. He positions himself well between his man and the basket, and moves well laterally over short distances.  He needs to work on getting low and not getting caught standing straight. Also, he needs to react quicker to his man’s movements and not get caught backpedaling.  He is capable of guarding multiple positions. Crabbe uses his length well to disrupt passing lanes and close on shooters.  Crabbe needs to do a better job getting over the top of screens against shooters, often choosing to either go under the screen or switching, which can lead to poor matchups.    Off the ball, Crabbe generally positions himself well, though he can find himself wandering and watching the ball too much, leading to him losing his man.  Again, he can use his length to disrupt passing lanes if he looks to pressure off the ball.  He needs to do a better job anticipating his man’s movements, especially on cuts to the basket.  He needs to work on navigating through screens off the ball, especially getting caught in the lane area, and work on not letting his man get a lot of room to get set for a shot.  He has average defensive awareness, and should work on not getting caught fixating on the ball. 

Rebounding

Crabbe rebounds well, using his length and athleticism to get up quickly after missed shots.  He needs to work on boxing out and anticipating where misses will go and getting to the spot.  He is quick after long rebounds and looks to either push the ball or outlet it quickly to get the team moving up court.

Transition

Crabbe is very good in transition, especially running one of the wings.  If running on the wing in transition, Crabbe is very good at spotting up behind the 3-point line, but if the defense comes out, he is able to take the ball to the basket and finish. He is capable of pushing the ball himself in transition, but if you pressure him, you can force him into a bad decision.

Intangibles/Summary

Crabbe already has the perimeter game to make some impact at the NBA level. It will be important for him to work on his defensive skills, especially guarding the ball, and keeping his head in the game at all times. Minutes may be not be plentiful in the beginning, so he needs to maximize what he does on the court in short spans. Shot selection will be important, as will his ability to get to the basket more often. He has steadily improved during his years at California, and his offensive skill level combined with his size is going to get him in the door. It will be up to him to make adjustments in his game to get more time on the floor. He has done it before and he should do it again.  

Draft Value:  Middle 1^st – #17-24

Crabbe can score, and I have little doubt that he can continue that at the NBA level. Getting stronger will be important as well as working on becoming more versatile. As he continues to develop, he can still fill the role of a shooter who can help stretch the floor. He should be able to adapt to playing either a halfcourt style or more transition based offense. The results may not come quickly, but he should have a lot of value starting in year 2.

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Photo: Associated Press

Players transferring schools at the college level often get a bad rap. The cases for switching schools are plenty, but most important among them is to find the situation that is the right fit for the player. Having the right environment, coach, and program can do wonders for a player’s game, and in some cases, can change their college career completely around. Colton Iverson is one of those cases. After three years playing inconsistent minutes for Minnesota, Iverson decided to transfer to Colorado State, and the results were great. Iverson helped lead the Rams to a second place finish in the Mountain West conference, and a berth in the NCAA Tournament, where the Rams were eliminated in the Round of 32 by eventual champion Louisville. Iverson now has his sights set on fulfilling his dream of the NBA.

For Iverson, he saw the effects the move had on his game while he had to sit out for a year. “During my redshirt year, I spent a lot of time working on a variety of offensive moves and footwork, as well as running the floor,” said Iverson. “My senior year, I was able to focus on getting better both offensively and defensively, being a leader of the team, and just a presence in the lane.”

Those are the types of things that players can work on anywhere, but the transfer to Colorado State did a lot more for Iverson. “I was able to get my confidence back and see what I was capable of doing,” said Iverson. “Sitting out and watching the game gave me a new perspective. I set high expectations for myself and gave it my all.”

There were other factors that also helped lead Iverson to a breakout senior season, including playing in the Mountain West Conference, which many considered at times during the year to be the best in the country. “Every night was a battle in the Mountain West,” said Iverson. “If you didn’t show up one night, it was a loss. It was one of the most fun and toughest conferences I’ve seen.” It was an adjustment for Iverson though coming from the Big 10. “I think I progressed well to the Mountain West style, which was more up and down the court,” Iverson said. “The Big 10 was a slower, more controlled style of play.”

Also an important factor in Iverson’s development was the tutelage of Head Coach Larry Eustachy.  “Coach Eustachy is very focused on certain things,” said Iverson. “Defensive rebounding and playing physical are important to him.” This was a great situation for Iverson. “Me and Coach saw eye-to-eye on these things from day one,” continued Iverson. “He transformed me into a complete player.”

From the player that he has become, Iverson knows why NBA teams will be interested and what abilities he has that fit the NBA game. “Well, being 7 foot in shoes and being able to rebound well is a big one,” Iverson said. “I’ve been working on getting more explosive every day. I’ll go out and set screens and be a physical presence. I am willing to do whatever the team needs.”

Iverson knows his game isn’t complete yet and he is already working out at Impact Basketball in Las Vegas on getting better. “Along with working on my explosiveness, my mid-range jumper is coming along,” Iverson explained. “I’m looking to tone my body and improve every part of my game.”

With the NBA a real possibility, Iverson can already envision the kind of role he can bring to a team. “I can be a defensive presence in the lane, set screens when needed, and by then I should have a complete offensive game,” said Iverson. “Whatever a team wants from me, I’ll do it.”

The grind from the end of the season in March until the Draft in June can be tough for a lot of players, but Iverson feels he is prepared. “I have always been very independent and very strong-minded,” said Iverson. “My parents raised me to be strong, and when I am going working out for teams, I don’t need anyone to lean on.”

It’s that toughness that allowed Iverson to flourish after transferring in college, and it’s the same toughness that could see him in the NBA very soon.”

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Lamont “Momo” Jones capped off his senior year at Iona by leading the Gaels to their second consecutive NCAA berth. His ability to lead and score (Jones averaged 22.6 points per game, third in the nation) helped Iona recover from some early-season trouble and win the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship.

Jones is now getting ready to show his skills to NBA teams, but he understands how the time at Iona helped him get here. “I’d say most as a leader,” said Jones when asked what part of his game developed most at Iona. “We had a lot of new players, and it was good to help them get acclimated.” The benefits extended beyond the court. “It helped me become a better father also.”

Jones has a better idea of what to expect going into this process after watching and learning from former teammate, and current D-League player, Scott Machado. “Watching what Scott went through, I learned to be humble,” said Jones. “Scott kept his teammates around him happy and honest.  I decided to take that and add it my ability to score.”

Confident in his abilities, Jones knows what the key parts of his game are. “I think it’s my ability to be a team player,” said Jones. “I get along with everybody and that’s important for a lot of the situations coming up. You may be playing with 12 different personalities and it’s important to get along with them all.”

“I’m a scorer, that’s what I do,” said Jones. “It is fun to get your teammates involved also. It is actually more fulfilling to me to make the pass that leads to a basket.”  Jones knows how the NBA game has evolved and he sees where the opportunity may be. “The combo guard has become what the NBA is mainly about,” said Jones. “There are very few point guards who are just distributors anymore.”

He knows his game isn’t where it needs to be yet to play at the pro level. “I need to work on reading the pick-and-roll; finding how to make the right reads and see all the options,” said Jones. “My jumper can always get better and I just need to focus on making the right decisions.”

Jones has already had his share of success at the college level, including the opportunity to play in three NCAA Tournaments, one with Arizona and two with Iona. He also came to realize what an opportunity that was. “You get a sense of playing at the highest level,” said Jones. “It really brings the best and the competitive nature in everyone because you want to win so badly.”

For all the success, Jones has been discussed maybe more often for the numerous changes in schools throughout high school and college that he made. Jones doesn’t dwell on it and sees how it has changed him. “When you are in high school, you really don’t know what to do,” said Jones. “You have all these dreams, hopes, nightmares about the future. I didn’t have the guidance that a lot of people did, but I own my decisions.”

After committing to Louisville at the age of 15, Jones had second thoughts.  “I was growing up and becoming a man of my own,” says Jones. “As you grow, you start to see what you want and what you don’t want.”  There was another commitment and decommitment at Virginia Tech before settling on going to play for USC. He was excited to play with a solid group of recruits at USC, before Tim Floyd resigned in June, 2009. “I was the last the one to decommit from USC after that happened,” said Jones. “I didn’t want to go, but to this day I haven’t gotten an explanation from Tim Floyd (about his leaving).”

He made the move to Arizona, and even enjoyed an Elite Eight run with them in 2011. Then real life intervened. Jones’ grandmother was very sick back in New York and he was left with the decision of how to proceed. “I never wanted to leave Arizona, it was home to me,” says Jones. “Being there did a lot for me as a person and a player.”

He made the decision to return home and look to play nearby his ailing grandmother. “When my grandmother was sick, I was torn, but I had to choose my family,” said Jones. “I hoped that by returning home it would help my family and give them hope.”

Jones decided to play at Iona, and was granted a waiver to play immediately. He doesn’t regret any of the decisions he made to get to this point. “Every move made me a better person which in turn helped make me a better basketball player,” said Jones. “You can’t make these kinds of decisions based on what other people think or what the media may think.”

Jones is now in Portsmouth, Virginia for the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. The Tournament features 64 seniors who have the opportunity to show what they are capable of in front of a gym full of NBA executives and scouts. “I’ve come here hoping to play with some great players,” said Jones. “I’m here to show everyone that I can do more than score.  I can do whatever a team needs me to do.”

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The Portsmouth Invitational Tournament for seniors kicks off tonight with 64 guys looking to make their mark in front of numerous NBA scouts and executives. While the games are not exactly the best way to judge these players, teams may start to get a sense of who they will want to see in the coming weeks for more workouts. Here are some guys who can make a statement at Portsmouth, and what they need to do to make that statement.

Abdul Gaddy – The Washington point guard has an up-and-down career marred by injury, but he stepped up and had his best season as a senior. The key for Gaddy will be to show scouts that he is capable of guarding quick guards and finding ways to score once he gets into the lane.

Anthony Marshall – The UNLV guard made a good transition to the point this year, and his goal this week will be to build on the vision and creativity he showed at times during the season. Get teammates involved early and often.

Brock Motum – Portsmouth usually isn’t a great test for back-to-the-basket big men, but Motum should be able to shine with his ability to knock down the perimeter jumper. His goal this week though is to show that he can play tough when needed and use his body to create points around the basket.

Jared Berggren – The Wisconsin senior was a steady present in the paint and one of the most physical defenders in the country. Berggren’s goal this week should be to show that he can knock down the mid-range shot with consistency, as well as coming out and playing solid perimeter defense.

Murphy Holloway – The Ole Miss senior had a very good year scoring and rebounding on the Rebels’ tournament team. He is now out of the shadow of Marshall Henderson, and his goal this week is to see if he can take his game up one more level and dominate.

Momo Jones – The Iona senior helped lead the Gaels to back-to-back tournament appearances, and he was one of the leading scorers in the nation. Jones’ goal this week is to keep that scoring ability, but show people that he can be a true point guard and find his teammates good looks.

Damen Bell-Holter – The Oral Roberts forward had a solid season, using his athleticism and skill well in the lane and in transition. Bell-Holter’s next step is to show that he can be a threat from the perimeter to draw the defense out.

Larry Drew II – The UCLA senior finally stepped up and showed what he is capable of as a point guard and leader of a young UCLA team. Drew’s goal this week is to show that he can run the pick-and-roll effectively, especially making the correct reads coming off the screen.

All of the guys here have something to prove this week, but the road to the NBA Draft is still starting. If used correctly, this could be a big stepping stone for some.

Wichita State vs. Louisville

Wichita State has been successful this season by setting the pace on both ends of the floor. Tough on-ball defense combined with some physical play has made the Shockers a solid match-up against most teams.  On the offensive end, don’t let Louisville pressure the ball out high. Malcolm Armstead needs to get the team into its offense and keep the ball moving. Ball movement should free up space for Cleanthony Early to get to the basket and for Carl Hall to get position around the basket. Defensively, the guards have to commit to pressuring the ball or forcing Louisville to beat them from the perimeter. They can’t get caught in the middle.  Hall will need to use his strength to force Louisville bigs away from the lane, and most importantly, he can’t pick up quick fouls.

Russ Smith and Peyton Siva will look to push the ball as quickly as possible, and in many cases, no one is going to stay with them.  In the halfcourt, look to get the ball to Gorgui Dieng and let him help facilitate the offense.  Dieng’s ability to hit the 15 foot jumper should free up space along the baseline for Chane Behanan, as well as space for shooters on the perimeter. They battled through the Kevin Ware injury last week, but now they are confronted with the lack of backcourt depth. Siva and Smith need to avoid foul trouble, or Wichita State could turn up the pressure on defense.

Michigan vs. Syracuse

The story all week has been about how Michigan will beat the length of the Syracuse zone. I think they have the perfect weapons to do this. The key is finding ways to allow Trey Burke to get into the middle of the zone. Look to rotate Mitch McGary and Glen Robinson III at the high post and set screens on the top defenders.  If Burke has trouble getting into the zone, get it to the high post and allow McGary to drive and try and draw contact or Robinson can hit the mid-range jumper.  Tim Hardaway Jr. and Nik Stauskas will need to constantly watch the movement of the zone and try and hit the open spots quickly if they want to get their jumpers going.  Defensively, match-ups on Syracuse will be important. Keep Triche and Carter-Williams out of the lane, and make sure someone rotates back on defense at all times to slow up the Orange transition.  Keep an eye on Southerland, and play physical with Fair.

Michael Carter-Williams cannot settle for jump shots. Look to exploit mismatches on the defensive end and get into the lane. Most importantly – finish at the rim.  You know he will take advantage of transition opportunities created by turnovers at the top of the zone. Make smart decisions and look for the trailing shooters, especially James Southerland. Brandon Triche needs to get his confidence early and set the tone by attacking the basket and looking to draw fouls.  CJ Fair should find opportunities along the baseline area if MCW gets into the lane. Make sure to go strong.  If Michigan plays him to drive, have confidence in the jumper.