Cody Zeller posts impressive back-to-back games for the Bobcats. (GETTY IMAGES)

LAS VEGAS — You don’t have to be a basketball junkie to love the NBA Summer League, especially if the venue is Las Vegas, Nevada. For the general admission price of $25 you get to watch a slew of games at Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion, and if you’re paying attention you could bump into some celebrities or NBA executives. That’s like watching four live shows for the same price you would pay for a dinner buffet at Mandalay Bay.

One of the perks of being the editor and publisher of OneManFastBreak.net is I get to make the pilgrimage to Sin City each summer to observe and absorb what is fast becoming one of the best shows on the Vegas Strip. A list of who’s hot and who’s not at the Vegas Summer League.

WHO’S HOT

Jonas Valanciunas — The Toronto Raptors second-year pro looks like he’s added some muscle during the offseason and is ready to start from Day 1. Valanciunas went to work in his first summer league game, dominating the paint and scoring 20 points on just eight shots in the first 20 minutes of the game, most of them coming against Miami Heat center Jarvis Varnado. The 21-year-old Lithuanian averaged 19 points and 10 rebounds a game and named the MVP of the Vegas summer league. If Valanciunas continues to develop, the Raptors could have their center of the present and future to go with wing studs Rudy Gay and DeMar DeRozan.

Cody Zeller — After a rough first game, the former Indiana University standout showed what he’s all about in his second and third games for the Charlotte Bobcats. He posted 21 points and 13 rebounds against the Dallas Mavericks, and then had 18 and 10 against the New York Knicks on 7-for-11 shooting from field. Zellar has been consistently knocking down his 18-20 footer, which makes his drives to the basket even more potent. Charlotte will be a much-improved team for the 2013-14 season led by Zeller, Kemba Walker, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and newly acquired center Al Jefferson. Michael Jordan has finally figured out how this owner thing works.

C.J. McCollum — The Portland Trail Blazers must be doing cartwheels again this offseason after hitting the jackpot for the second straight season after drafting Lehigh star C.J. McCollum. McCollum has been better than advertised, showing a knack for creating offense when set plays break down. Also, his competitive spirit and intangibles are off the charts. He nearly single-handedly brought back the Blazers with 22 points in a tournament game against Phoenix. McCollum scored in a variety of ways, and was very patient coming off high screen-and-rolls. He should provide Portland with another perimeter stud to run with reigning rookie of the year Damian Lillard.

Austin Rivers — What a difference a year makes. At last year’s Vegas summer league, Rivers appeared like a freshman being rushed into an older fraternity. He was trying so hard to fit in that he often made mistakes along the way. This year, however, Rivers looks more comfortable — and quicker. He plays with more force on his forays to the basket and seems to have a better idea on how to attack a defense. Rivers has been playing a lot of point this summer for the New Orleans Pelicans, which leads us to believe that he’ll be the backup to Jrue Holiday or spell Eric Gordon at shooting guard.

WHO’S NOT

Ben McLemore — The Sacramento Kings guard suffered through a rough shooting game in his summer league debut, making just four of 23 shots from the field and looked a bit overwhelmed. He followed that awful performance with an even worse performance in his second game, missing his first seven 3-point attempts and finished the game just 4-for-12 from the field. A lot of McLemore’s 3-point shots weren’t even close to the rim, and some didn’t touch it. He just needs to settle down and move inside the line to get his stroke back.

Otto Porter Jr. — Speaking of struggling to find his stroke, the Washington Wizards forward is in the same boat as McLemore. Porter has been short on most of his misses, which means he’s not getting enough lift on his jumper. He also needs to be a little stronger with the ball as defenders are able to push him out of his favorite spots. Porter has good length and decent athletically, so he should be able to adjust to the pro game in due time.

Myck Kabongo — The former Texas Longhorn went undrafted in June and now we know why. He struggled during the Orlando summer league and he’s struggling again in the Vegas summer league. Kabongo is listed at 6-1 but he looks like he’s south of six feet. His ability to blow by defenders was suppose to be a strength, but he hasn’t shown it enough. And he’s a reluctant shooter, which makes it harder to create floor space. The Miami Heat could still invite Kabongo to training camp, but he will have a hard time supplanting either Mario Chalmers or Norris Cole at the point.

Meyers Leonard — There were scouts and experts who actually thought Leonard was a top-10 player in the 2012 draft. That’s a bit of a head-scratcher because Leonard has draft bust written all over him. He doesn’t rebound well in traffic and doesn’t play big in the middle. He’s very limited offensively and for some reason has fallen in love with the 3-ball. The Blazers have had a string of bad luck when it comes to centers and, unfortunately, Leonard is going to continue this sad tradition. To put in mildly, he’s a poor man’s Frank Brickowski. Sorry, Frank.

Joel Huerto is the editor and publisher of OneManFastBreak.net. Follow him on Twitter @onemanfastbreak.

UNLV’s Anthony Bennett, Kentucky’s Nerlens Noel, and Indiana’s Victor Oladipo could have major impacts for their new teams.

The basketball world may have been shocked to see the Cleveland Browns (oops!) … I mean the Cavaliers use the No. 1 overall pick on Anthony Bennett, but back in March OneManFastBreak.net slotted the UNLV freshman forward as the top prospect in the draft. In case you’d like to check, click here.

Even though there is no LeBron James or clear-cut game changer in this year’s draft pool there are still plenty of potential standouts who could turn out to be gems. Some teams know how to find talent and some teams wouldn’t know talent even if it hit them in the head. Those teams that do their homework will be rewarded handsomely. Here are the winners and losers from the 2013 NBA draft:

WINNERS

Cleveland Cavaliers — Anthony Bennett is a great fit for the Cavs. He is a 6-8, 240-pound power forward who can slide down and play some small forward. He complements Cleveland’s guard-heavy squad led by Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters. Cavs coach Mike Brown won’t have to run plays for Bennett, who rebounds well in traffic. Between Bennett and Anderson Varejao, the Cavs should clean up a lot of Irving’s and Waiter’s misses. If Bennett turns out to be another Larry Johnson, then the post-LeBron Cavaliers are back in business. The Cavs also bolstered their outside shooting by selecting Russian 6-7 guard/forward Sergey Karasev later in the first round.

Philadelphia 76ers — Getting Nerlens Noel from New Orleans is great value for the Sixers even though they gave up point guard Jrue Holiday and a second-round pick to get him, league sources told Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski. The look on Noel’s face when he dropped to the No. 6 spot in the draft was priceless. He’ll be extra motivated to prove to everyone that he should have been the top pick.

Orlando Magic — One NBA assistant general manager says Victor Oladipo can defend multiple positions. He has improved every season in college, and has a great work ethic. The Dwyane Wade comparisons is a bit of a reach, but Oladipo is a fearless competitor. His only real weakness is his jump shot. But knowing how hard Oladipo works, he’ll turn his weakness into a strength. Orlando needs help everywhere, and Oladipo is a nice starting point and will mesh well with Orlando’s other young studs like Tobias Harris and Nic Vucevic.

Portland Trail Blazers — The Blazers’ sad draft history has been well documented. This is the team that selected Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan, and picked Greg Oden over Kevin Durant. Last year the Blazers hit the jackpot with Weber State point guard Damian Lillard, who went on to become the rookie of the year. The Blazers feel they hit the Powerball numbers again with the selection of Lehigh’s high-scoring guard C.J. McCollum.

Washington Wizards — Otto Porter Jr. may be the safest pick in this year’s draft. He has all the physical tools, as well as the mental capacity to handle the rigors of being a professional. He plays within himself and has a high basketball IQ. Porter adds another piece to the Wizards’ youth movement, and gives point guard John Wall another young perimeter player to run with.

Charlotte Bobcats — Michael Jordan can’t screw up every pick, and he got this one right. Cody Zeller tested extremely well during the NBA draft combine in Chicago, ranking first in all the agility drills among the big men. Zeller helped rebuild the Indiana Hoosiers program, and Jordan is hoping he would do the same for the Bobcats.

David Stern — Almost 900 names later, the NBA commish made his final draft announcement at the end of the first round and was showered with cheers from the Barclays Center crowd. Deputy commish Adam Silver surprised Stern by bringing back the first name he called in the 1984 draft: Hakeem Olajuwon. It was a real nice touch by the league, giving Stern the proper sendoff after 30 years at the helm.

LOSERS

Boston Celtics — You know the Celtics were having a bad day when Doc Rivers had to step in and defend his former team. ESPN’s Bill Simmons made several jokes about the Celtics’ rebuilding project, which irritated Rivers. Doc fired back by telling Shelley Smith that Simmons is an “idiot” for pounding the C’s on TV. Way to stay classy, Doc. Simmons was basically telling the truth. The Celtics are in total rebuilding mode. They reportedly traded their two best players in Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to the Brooklyn Nets for Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, and three future first-round picks. And to put the icing on the cake, the Celtics acquired Gonzaga stiff Kelly Olynyk through a draft day deal with the Mavericks. Olynyk in Canadian means “bust.”

Dallas Mavericks — The Mavs wanted no part of the No. 13 pick, so much so that they got rid of the pick even before Commissioner Stern could say Kelly Olynyk. The Mavs could have taken point guard Dennis Schroeder from Germany. That would have made Dirk Nowitzki happy. Instead they’re clearing the books to make a serious run at All-Star center Dwight Howard, who could be headed to Dallas … or not. You never know with Dwight. He seems to change his mind like a 12-year-old girl shopping for shoes. The Mavs seem to be putting all their tickets in the D12 sweepstakes.

Oklahoma City Thunder — As part of the James Harden deal, the Thunder were awarded the 12th overall selection. This could have been a golden opportunity for general manager Sam Presti to mask the mistake of trading away one of the best young stars of the game. Instead, OKC took Steven Adams. The New Zealander played one unspectacular year in Pittsburgh. He posted pedestrian numbers and the only reason why he climbed in the draft was because of his impressive workouts. Adams is a major-league project, and you don’t take projects with the 12th overall pick. Spanish guard Alex Abrines (taken in the second round) better be good because right now the Harden deal keeps getting worse by the minute for Presti and the Thunder.

Phoenix Suns — Picking Maryland center Alex Len could mean the end of the Marcin Gortat era in Phoenix. Len is an intriguing prospect because of his size and unlimited potential. Len, who turned 20 in June, was a standout for the Ukrainian under-18 squad but he’s no Gortat. Gortat may not be a star, but he is a very good NBA center. Len is still unpolished and probably not ready to start. The Suns are basically back where they started.

Sacramento Kings — For someone who was pegged to go 1-3, Kansas’ Ben McLemore can’t be too pleased he fell this low. And he couldn’t have landed in a worst situation. The Kings are loaded at shooting guard and unless they trade Tyreke Evans, Isaiah Thomas, Marcus Thornton, Tony Douglas, and Jimmer Fredette for a big guy they could easily field a starting five of shooting guards. No wonder the Maloofs wanted to sell the team.

Philadelphia 76ers — After hitting a home run with Noel, the Sixers struck out with their other first-round pick in point guard Michael Carter-Williams. First of all, MCW can’t shoot. That could be a problem. Secondly, he comes from Syracuse and history shows that players from the ‘Cuse struggle in the NBA — with the exception of Carmelo Anthony, of course. Need proof? How about Jonny Flynn, Fab Melo, Hakim Warrick, Wesley Johnson, and Donte Greene. And those are the most recent guys. The bad luck started with Pearl Washington in the early 1980s.

Joel Huerto is the editor and publisher of OneManFastBreak.net. Follow him on Twitter @onemanfastbreak.

OneManFastBreak.net ranks the 12 best pro prospects in the 2013 NBA draft:

1. Cody Zeller, Indiana, sophomore, PF/C (7-0, 245)

Scouting report: Zeller is a skilled big man who runs well for his size. He scores a lot of points in transition by simply beating his man down the court. He has gotten better with his post-up game and has shown a much-improved jumper, but his face-up shot still needs a lot of work. Because of his ability to put the ball on the deck, he’s more of a power forward than a center. He tested extremely well during the NBA draft combine in Chicago, ranking first in all the agility drills among the big men. He tends to struggle against long and athletic forwards. One way to combat that is to bulk up so he can bull his way to the rim. He should be a solid pro and, if he builds more strength. His biggest weakness is he can get overpowered inside by bigger defenders. NBA comparison: David Lee

2. Victor Oladipo, Indiana, junior, SG (6-4, 215)

Scouting report: One NBA assistant general manager says Oladipo can defend multiple positions. He has improved every season in college, and has a great work ethic. The Dwyane Wade comparisons is a bit of a reach, but Oladipo is a fearless competitor with a great motor much like Wade was coming into the league. He should excel at the next level because of his defensive prowess and plays hard all the time. He may not possess great shooting range, but he knows how to attack the basket and has great body control. He should enjoy a long pro career. NBA comparison: Dwyane Wade

3. Nerlens Noel, Kentucky, freshman, C (6-11, 206)

Scouting report: Noel is a superb shot blocker, and it’s a special skill that could land him as the No. 1 pick in the draft. However, Noel is also very limited offensively and it could take a few years for him to develop offensively. What NBA execs love about Noel, aside from his shot blocking abilities, is his great motor. He runs the floor well and doesn’t give up on a play. The reason why he injured his ACL in his one and only year at Kentucky was because he was tracking down a breakaway layup. Teams will never fault a guy for hustling. If you click around on all the mock drafts, Noel seems to be everyone’s favorite to land in the No. 1 spot. However, teams should be leery of Noel’s medical history and consider the fact that he could turn out to be injury prone. NBA comparison: Antonio McDyess

4. Otto Porter Jr. , Georgetown, sophomore, SF (6-8, 205)

Scouting report: Porter may be the safest pick in this year’s draft class. He has all the physical tools, as well as the mental capacity to handle the rigors of being a professional. He’s a tall wing player and his length makes him a high-upside player. He plays within himself and has a high basketball IQ. He plays hard all the time and doesn’t get rattled easily. He’s a bit of a late bloomer, but that’s a good thing because it means he has room to grow. He nearly doubled his scoring average from his freshman year (9) at Georgetown to his sophomore year (17), and greatly improved his outside shot. His dribble and strength remains a weakness, but that can be masked if the right team drafts him. NBA comparison: Jeff Green

5. C.J. McCollum, Lehigh, senior, PG/SG (6-3, 197)

Scouting report: Despite a broken foot that sidelined him for 19 games in 2012-13, McCollum still had a decent senior season. He is a 20-point scorer in college and has all the shots: 3-pointers, pull-up jumpers, floaters, runners, step-back jumpers. Lehigh didn’t play against elite competition, so his individual statistics may be a bit inflated. He doesn’t possess elite quickness, but knows how to get around his man and create his own shot. He’s more of a shooting guard than a true point guard, but can play both at the pro level. He tends to look for his own shot instead of creating offense for teammates. NBA comparison: Monta Ellis

6. Trey Burke, Michigan, sophomore, PG (6-0, 190)

Scouting report: Burke had a tremendous season and made a big jump in improvement from freshman to sophomore year. He is highly competitive and a clever basketball player. He is a true point guard and knows how to run the pick-and-roll, which is a prerequisite for all young point guards. Plays with great poise and is not bothered by big moments. His signature moment in the NCAA Tournament came in the Sweet 16 when he knocked down a long 3-point shot at the buzzer against Kansas to send the game into overtime. The biggest question is his size, but he can overcome that with his quickness and high basketball IQ. NBA comparison: Damian Lillard

7. Ben McLemore, Kansas, freshman, SG (6-5, 195)

Scouting report: McLemore is a terrific athletic who explodes off the floor. He is considered the top shooting guard in the draft. He has a NBA-type body to go along with an outstanding leaping ability. He runs the court extremely well and is a highlight-reel play waiting to happen. He has very good quickness and can can finish strong around the basket. The only knock on the Jayhawks freshman is his size. He’s listed at 6-5, but may be a little below that. Kansas coach Bill Self compares him to another Kansas standout Brandon Rush. No disrespect to Rush but McLemore is a much better player and should have a better pro career. NBA comparison: Steve Francis

8. Anthony Bennett, UNLV, freshman, SF/PF (6-7, 240)

Scouting report: Bennett has already declared for the draft so he’s official on teams’ draft boards. He can score in a variety of ways. He can do it in the low post and away from the basket, and he’s quick enough to take defenders off the dribble. He’s strong and athletic, a deadly combination for any NBA player. At 6-7, Bennett is a bit undersized as a power forward, but teams shouldn’t shy away from him because of his lack of ideal size. Scouts said the same thing about Kenneth Faried and he’s doing just fine in Denver. Bennett is too strong for small forwards and too quick for power forwards. The Cavaliers are set with their backcourt of the future in Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters. Now it’s time to upgrade the frontcourt. Bennett is a beast of a forward who will complement Cavs big men Tristan Thompson, Tyler Zeller, and Anderson Varejao. NBA comparison: Corliss Williamson

9. Alex Len, Maryland, sophomore, C (7-1, 255 )

Scouting report: Len is an intriguing prospect because of his size and unlimited potential. Center and point guard are the two most important positions in basketball, and Len is a natural center who could develop into a terrific starter. Len, who turns 20 years old in June, was a standout for the Ukrainian under-18 squad. He sets good screens and knows how to roll to the basket, which is a lost art among big men. He also has great touch around the basket and shown that he can face up and knock down a jumper from 18-20 feet. He’s a natural shot-blocker who uses his physical tools and great timing to alter shots around the basket. NBA comparison: Nikola Vucevic

10. Tim Hardaway Jr., Michigan, junior, SG/SF (6-6, 200)

Scouting report: Hardaway Jr. is the son of former Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat standout point guard Tim Hardaway. Junior is much bigger than his daddy, who was barely 6 feet tall, and a better athlete. Junior also has a better shooting stroke than his daddy, and could be a decent two-way player because of his 6-6 frame. Hardaway Jr. took a backseat to celebrated teammate Trey Burke at Michigan, but don’t let the stats foot you. He is a much better player than his numbers showed and played big in the big games. And being the son of a former NBA star gives Hardaway Jr. a leg up on his peers. NBA comparison: Kendall Gill

11. Rudy Gobert, France, C (7-2, 238)

Scouting report: Gobert is one of the most intriguing prospects in this year’s draft. He may not wow you with great athletic ability, but he has the potential to be a very good NBA center. He has soft hands, moves his feet well for a 7-footer, and has a wingspan of 7 feet, 9 inches. He’s not a fluid athlete, but with a 7-9 wingspan he doesn’t need to be. He’s very mature for his age (20), having played professionally in France, and already battle tested. French players usually translate well in the NBA (see Tony Parker, Nic Batum, Boris Diaw, Ronny Turiaf, Mikael Pietrus), so drafting him is not a total reach. A smart general manager would take a chance on selecting Gobert and stashing him in Europe for one season. NBA comparison: Marcus Camby

12. Allen Crabbe, California, junior, SG/SF (6-6, 210)

Scouting report: Crabbe was the Pac-12 Player of the Year. Other former Pac-12 MVPs who went on to have great success in the NBA are Jason Kidd, Brandon Roy, Kevin Love, and James Harden. Crabbe is a very smooth player who has great size for a shooting guard. He has great range and excellent form in his jumper. He’s a catch-and-shoot player who knows how to come off screens. Crabbe and Michigan’s Tim Hardaway Jr. are comparable in a lot of categories, but Crabbe gets the slight edge because he was a little more consistent. The knock on Crabbe is his unassuming personality, which could be misunderstood for being soft or passive. NBA comparison: Wilson Chandler

Joel Huerto is the editor and publisher of OneManFastBreak.net. Follow him on Twitter at: twitter.com/onemanfastbreak.

Cody Zeller was on the cover of Sports Illustrated for the top-ranked Indiana Hoosiers. (GETTY IMAGES)

If you haven’t had a chance to pick up Terry Hutchen’s book “Rising From The Ashes: The Return of Indiana University Basketball,” then you must head on over to Amazon.com to get your copy. It is a very good read.

Hutchens chronicles the plight of the Hoosiers, from the departure of Bob Knight through the difficult years faced by coach Mike Davis and the controversial years that followed under coach Kelvin Sampson. Crean took the job in 2008 and won six games. The team struggled the next two years, but the foundation was established. All Crean needed was a centerpiece to complete the rebuilding process.

Enter Cody Zeller.

After nearly a decade of futility, the fortunes of the Hoosiers changed when Zeller, the younger brother of Cleveland Cavaliers rookie center Tyler Zeller and Phoenix Suns center-forward Luke Zeller, made a verbal commitment to come to Bloomington, Ind., and play for Crean.

With Zeller leading the charge as a freshman, Crean has brought the storied Indiana Hoosiers basketball program back to national prominence by taking an unranked team at the beginning of the 2011 season all the way to the 2012 Sweet Sixteen. The eye-opening game came during the pre-conference season when Christian Watford’s 3-point shot stunned No. 1 Kentucky at Assembly Hall. From that 3-point on, the Hoosiers never looked back.

When Zeller came back for his sophomore year at Indiana he instantly became the darling of college basketball. He made the cover of Sports Illustrated and single-handedly made the red-striped warmup pants cool again. It takes a real Mr. Basketball to wear those pants.

Zeller, who is listed a 7 feet but probably closer to 6-11 or 6-10, is off to a great start, surging ahead in the player of the year rankings (he’s a near unanimous first-team preseason All-American) and leading the No. 1-ranked Hoosiers to a perfect record. He completely destroyed North Carolina in the ACC-Big Ten challenge, scoring 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting with eight rebounds in just 28 minutes in a 83-59 Hoosiers win.

Because of the defections and the one-and-done craze, Zeller is the biggest ticket in college hoops. He is the headliner of headliners, and it certainly doesn’t hurt playing for a storied program that is thirsty for success.

Since Larry Bird retired from the NBA, basketball has been searching for the next great American white superstar hoopster. Europeans have had more success (see Dirk Nowitzki and Pau Gasol) in the NBA than U.S.-born white players. With the exception of Kevin Love almost all of the U.S.-born white players have fizzled, from J.J. Redick to Adam Morrison to Tyler Hansbrough to Jimmer Fredette. All four were MVPs in college, but none of them have made a big dent in the NBA. Redick is a serviceable pro, but he’s a complementary piece in Orlando. Morrison has completely fallen out of Association, while Fredette is struggling to find time on the court in Sacramento. Hansbrough showed signs of being a regular starter in Indiana, but he has regressed since the Pacers acquired David West.

After this season, Zeller is expected to turn pro and he should be a sure-fire lottery pick. And barring an injury, he should be the closest thing we’ll ever see to the next Larry Bird. He’s got an incredible motor, plays with an edge, and he is athletic enough to compete under the basket.

And if Zeller leads the Hoosiers to a national championship, we could see Zeller Flakes as the new breakfast of champions.

James McAdoo and Michael Gilchrist were named co-MVPs at the McDonald's High School All-American game in Chicago. (COURTESY OF ST. PATRICK HIGH SCHOOL)

The McDonald’s High School All-American game is annually one of the best games for all basketball fans because it offers a window to the future of the sport.

The game itself is not too entertaining because of all the bad shots, failed alley-oops and turnovers but the event serves its purpose in terms of evaluating talent and seeing who is overrated or underrated. Here are a few observations from Wednesday’s game held at the United Center in Chicago:

— Michael Gilchrist (St. Patrick HS, New Jersey) and James McAdoo (Norfolk Christian, Virginia) were named co-MVPs without doing anything spectacular. However, both were very solid and should help out their future teams. Gilchrist, who had 16 points and 12 rebounds, should immediately become Kentucky’s best on-the-ball defender and will won’t need any set plays to get his points. McAdoo, the nephew of former North Carolina great Bob McAdoo, plays with great efficiency and should fit perfectly in Roy Williams’ system at UNC.

— Duke University-bound guard Austin Rivers (Winter Park HS, Florida) was looking very ordinary until he made that gorgeous NBA-like move when he blew by a couple of defenders with a vicious crossover dribble and then finished in style at the rim with a reverse layup. That one play alone showed why Rivers – who is the son of Celtics coach Doc Rivers – is the No. 1-rated high school player in the United States.

— Brad Beal (Chaminade College Prep, Missouri) is a scorer. The 6-5 shooting guard went right at Rivers early on and wasn’t afraid to go head-to-head against the best. He should fill up the scoreboard for Billy Donovan at the University of Florida.

— Myck Kabongo (Findlay Prep, Nevada) is a blur. The 6-1 point guard from Las Vegas has two gears: fast and superfast. He has the best handles in his class and has the look of a floor general. The University of Texas has a gem in its hands.

— Speaking of point guards, Quinn Cook (Oak Hill Academy, Virginia) and Marquis Teague (Pike HS, Indiana) entered the contest with a ton of hype, but both were somewhat disappointing. Cook didn’t really do much in the game and appears much shorter than his listed height of 6 feet. Teague is regarded as the top point guard in the United States, but he was shaky offensively and made too many mistakes.

— Indiana University has been looking for the next big Hoosier star and lead IU back to prominence and Tom Crean may have found his savior in 6-10 center Cody Zeller (Washington HS, Indiana). Zeller is a natural post player who can alter a game on both ends of the court. He also runs the floor extremely well for a big guy and is a solid rebounder.

— Pittsburgh normally doesn’t get many McDonald’s All-Americans, but head coach Jamie Dixon has a good one in 6-9 center Khem Birch (Notre Dame Prep, Massachusetts). Birch had 15 points, 10 rebounds and six blocks. And about the only thing he did wrong during the game was wearing those hideous long-sleeve undershirt. C’mon, Khem. It wasn’t that cold inside the United Center.

— Zeller and Birch are head and shoulders better than Duke-bound center Marshall Plumlee (Christ School, North Carolina), who is a little soft and barely made an imprint in the game.

— Anthony Davis (Perspectives Charter, Illinois) has the highest ceiling among all the players in the game. He reportedly grew 6 inches in 12 months and went from a guard to a forward. The Kentucky-bound Davis is long and plays very fluid. When he gets more comfortable with his size, he’ll be dynamite. John Calipari has another outstanding freshman class coming to Lexington, and Davis is at the top of that class.