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Message: [QUOTE="iommi, post: 855702, member: 249"] Okay, back from the game. It turned out to be a close game. Gill St Bernards salted the game away, mostly from the line and pulled away to win 51-43 over Hun. I watched each half from whatever basket GSB and Battle were shooting at to get a good vantage point of Kid Mamba. If in my upcoming description, I describe Battle as shooting a floater seemingly every time, well, let's just say that clearly was his favorite release. One interesting note: the p.a.announcer listed him as 6'4". I'm not great with judging heights but he was at least that tall. He has extremely long arms and a solid frame. Battle actually handled the jump ball but Hun won the tip. Before I get to my descriptions of all his shots and key plays...his defense... GSB played nothing but man and a good amount of full court pressing. Battle's defense was fine, even really good in spurts. He would be a beast at the top of our zone. Another game note is they played without a shot clock. These descriptions are all about Battle. 1st Q 0-1 missed jumper, hustled and did get a tip out hustle play, but his team didn't convert... I wrote in my notes: "dogging his guy on d." 0-2 nice one-handed floater, iron unkind. 1-3 "nasty crossover" led to leaner off glass. 1-4 pull-up in transition...not great shot selection but form was fine. 1-5. Deep 3, Clank. 2-6. Sweet move to his left, strong left hand dribble...leaner. Nice. 2-7 elbow jumper off 13-9 GSB at end of quarter... 4 points for Battle ------------- 2nd Quarter 2-8 one-handed floater in lane, nope 2-9 one-handed floater in lane...no good...charge called on Battle...2nd personal on Battle...looks frustrated... Was a clear player control foul. 2-10 tough baseline jumper...bit of a force...frustrated? 2-11 back iron missed 3... Form was fine. 3-12 nice floater from left side...got shooter's roll...pretty shot 3-13 sick crossover but missed 4-14 hustle rebound off teammate's miss...Battle 3 from right foul line extended GSB held for one shot with about :25 left in quarter...Battle playing PG this possession. Great setup from Battle...drove, drew attention and kicked out to wide open teammate, who drilled 3 with about :04 left to close out half...shot gives GSB 22-21 lead at half... Battle finished half as leading scorer with 9 points on 4-14 shooting. --------- 3rd Quarter 5-15 right-handed version of Josh Pace shot in lane. Interesting sequence...Battle leaped up and kicked ball to block it and it nailed fan...maybe a woman or kid... Couldn't see...but Battle went over to check on the person...nice move from Kid Mamba. Paramedic tended to fan and Battle came over to check on fan again after a timeout. Nice kid. Pretty Battle assist, following sick dribbling between legs and crossover... Highlight reel stuff. 6-16. Battle with the blow by with his left, finished with lefty layup. PA announcer calls Battle "Kid Mamba." LOL. 13 points now from Battle. Great sequence... Following layup, NASTY Mamba blocked shot...drew some oohs and aahs from small crowd... 7-17 LEFTY floater...pure... Nice rebound but committed turnover, frustrated...he thought he was fouled...I don't think he was...frustration foul...3rd personal on Battle 7-18. Another floater...missed... End of 3rd... 39-30 GSB --------------- 4th Quarter nice pass but teammate blows layup...Mamba rebound and was hammered. 2-2 from line...perfect form...both nothing but net... 7-19 goes length of floor, draws non-shooting reach-in foul. The Kid has the ball on a string. 7-20. Clearout... Misses shot but follows his own... 8-21 makes follow layup 8-22 misses foul line j 43-39 GSB under 4:00 left 43-41 under two minutes...Battle handling the ball a lot...wants the ball in his hands. 1:39 same score... Battle fouled...goes to line for 1 and 1... Calmly swishes both. 45-41 GSB...Battle with 21 points...high scorer. He wound up going to line again, this time missed front end of 1 and 1. Not much else to report...GSB salted game away at ft line. My best guess on Battle's line: 21 points on 8-22 from floor...one 3. 4-5 from ft line. maybe 3 or 4 assists and about 5 rebounds. Overall impression: Didn't shoot great but talent is obvious... Incredible handle...ambidextrous dribbler. Handle is ready for prime time. Good vision... Could be a great defender...footwork is solid. Only a sophomore. Good frame, VERY long arms. Foul shooting form is textbook... I'd describe him as a slasher more than a shooter...much different game than Malachi...they'd work well together. To me, he projects as a 2, unless he grows...would be ideal 2 and certainly could handle the point in a pinch or to break press. One other note, former Rutgers nut job coach, Mike Rice, was there. I was told he works for Hoop Group, who put together today's event. He was acting like a politician, shaking hands and kissing babies (and rehabbing his image). There was a very attractive woman there with her husband, who may have been Mamba's parents, based on their reactions during the game. I didn't see anyone from the SU staff... Debating going back at 4:30 for Roselle Park game (Gist and Silva...Briscoe is still sitting out, I believe) followed by Pope John and Diagne at 6:10. [/QUOTE]

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