This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
In the basketball recruiting world, playing well in AAU tournaments serves you well.
The evidence? American Fork and Utah Pump-N-Run point guard Marcel Davis is sliding up the ESPN class of 2012 rankings after being noted as one of the tournament's top players. Davis is now the No. 17 point guard in ESPN's 2012 class. It may also be a reflection of the rising senior's run to the Class 5A title game as a key player for the Cavemen.
Check out the scouting report on the Utah State commit:
Strengths: Davis facilitates the offense from the point guard position with aplomb. He has solid leadership qualities (guides his teammates) as well as excellent court vision. In transition he makes good decisions due to his savvy and he has an excellent pull-up game.
Weaknesses: Davis is a bit sleek and will have to add strength to ward off most Division 1 guards at the next level. He has a solid burst, but he doesn't possess elite speed and quickness. He can knock down the 3-point shot, but it needs to get more consistent.
Bottom line: Davis appears to be a perfect fit for the Aggies. Due to his high basketball IQ and solid lead guard skills, he should make an immediate impact by the time he is a freshman.
At least according to this report, it sounds as if Utah State did well for itself in grabbing a commitment last summer.
The only other ranked Utah 2012 prospect is Jordan Loveridge, the No. 17 power forward from West Jordan High who is also No. 69 in the nation. Loveridge, who is still undecided, was noted as a "Surprise Player" at the Denver tournament, and scouts had a lot of good things to say:
Strengths: Loveridge has a bulky frame, but his long arms, soft hands, and overall basketball IQ immediately caught our attention. He can face-up and nail the 3-point shot or attack off the dribble. He uses his strong physique to finish with contact and he can even elevate for the dunk if given space off of the drive. He has a deceptive 1st step and he can finish with either hand. In addition, in the open court he handed out some impressive assists.
Weaknesses: Loveridge has a frame that he'll have to monitor because it has the potential to get too big, and as a result he could lose some of his unique advantages (deceptive quickness).
Bottom line: Overall, Loveridge is difficult match up at the next level. He has the soft perimeter touch and he is tough to stop in the paint area due to his length, overall size, and basketball savvy.
Loveridge sports offers from BYU, Utah, Weber State and Colorado State.
Quincy Bair, a small forward for American Fork and another Aggie commit, is not ranked, but he also missed the Denver tournament due to illness.
— Kyle Goon
Twitter: @kylegoon