Part of Kentucky Crew Visits T.O

Now as some who read the blog may know, I am a Michigan fan. In the 90's Michigan had a group that would change the game in NCAA. Jalen Rose, Chris Webber, Juwan Howard all had long NBA Careers. While Jimmy King was the first ever Raptors second round pick. Ray Jackson is almost like the 5th member of the Beatles. Everyone forgets about him. On the college level, this group made it to 2 Final Fours and 2 National Championship games. Webber and his time out that wasn't in a loss to North Carolina and a loss to Duke and Coack K.

Many are projecting as many as 5 Kentucky Wildcats could be selected in the first round. John Wall is expected to be the #1 pick of the draft. DeMarcus Cousins has been slotted as high as the second pick but seems to be a lock for the top 5. Patrick Patterson and Daniel Orton seem to be picks somewhere between the 10-16 range. Even Eric Bledsoe is expected to be a late first round pick by many.

This group at Kentucky, is the closest thing the NCAA has seen since the Fab 5. The legacy of that group from Michigan has taken some hits. However no on can deny that it produced 3 solid NBA players. It also has produced a couple broadcasters in Rose for ESPN and Webber for TNT. Daniel Orton is a long way from a career in broadcasting. In fact even the NBA was until his coach mentioned the draft it was not even on his radar.

Orton- " I didn't even start to think about it till the end of the year, when Coach Cal said at the end of the year that Daniel Orton might have options. It is something that I didn't think about even then. When people started talking about it. It gained my interest and it was something I had to think about, and as you can see I made my decision "

There is nothing like the pressure of playing basketball in Kentucky. Fans are just crazy for the Wildcats in Kentucky. Here in Toronto, the fan base is known for being passionate and make their feelings known. That is something Daniel Orton should be able to handle. Fans at Kentucky were not exactly thrilled he decided to leave for the draft. But if you believe what Orton says, they have their coach John Calipari to blame. There was some talk that might he would leave as well, but will see. Calipari recently said he will be back at the school this fall. But Orton will be playing somewhere in the NBA and it might be Toronto. Some mock drafts think so. What does Jim Kelly part of the Raptors scouting brain trust think?

J.Kelly "He got better as the season went on. A very big body. Pretty good outside shooter for his size. Don't know if he has quite played into his body size and strength yet. He is very strong. I don't want to say further away.... You might not know what you have with him. "

In draft lingo talk, it would seem he has a large upside and could be a bit of a project pick. He had an injury in in high school senior year and his playing time with Wildcats was limited, with both Cousins and Patterson on that roster as well. Raptors picked DeRozan last year in part do to his potential and upside would they gamble again?

J.Kelly " We have talked about that. A lot will depend on what we do with our roster. If other players are coming in. If Bosh stays, if Bosh goes. They are all questions that we toss over as you do as well."

What also might be a factor is what teams do in front of the Raptors. They also had Ekpe Udoh who was a Michigan Wolverine but transferred to Baylor and was part of bringing that program back to prominence in the Big 12. They had a deep run in the NCAA tournament. To use another draft lingo term some may feel he is more "NBA ready" at the moment. Jim Kelly appears to agree.

J.Kelly " He has a lot more mature frame.He just turned 23. He started at Michigan went to Baylor had great success at Baylor this year. Probably a little bit more ready to go because of that playing time and the age as well."

Udoh had to sit out a year because of his transfer from Michigan to Baylor. He has shown a lot of improvement in his game from that year off. He was a key player for Baylor and a big part of the success they had. While with Orton he had an impressive cast around him which limited his playing time. However, like the Fab 5 the Wildcats five never won a championship. Still they clearly have all benefited from each other. The biggest question for me with all the Wildcats is how will they do on their own? Especially for the guys going in the lottery they will not be going to teams that have had success.

Orton would be a guy that would help on the defensive end of the floor. Even in his limited time on the floor he proved to be a presence in terms of blocking shots and getting on the glass. His focus seems to be on showing and improving on his skills on the other end of the floor. He seems committed to working hard and improving. How long it would take for him to make an impact in the NBA? Here is what he had to say.

Orton-" I don't know, that is something that I am looking forward to being in the gym 24/7. Hopefully I can do all the right things and make a quick impact and an immediate impact. That is what I am looking forward to, but if not great things come in time. But hopefully it is not a lot of time thought. "

I really was impressed by his passing in the parts of the workouts we were able to see. He moved the ball and was able to set up others. The ball was not sticking to his hands. If it wasn't there he would make a quick pass on target to someone else. The other thing I liked about him was he did not have all of the answers. However he was honest about it. He understands he has a lot of work to do and seems committed to doing it. If he can bring his defensive play to the next level and keep working on his offense he could turn out to be quite a steal for someone. The fact he is so willing to pass the ball and move it, does not make his offensive game in progress as much of a liability.

If the Raptors are going into a rebuild and looking to go younger this is a nice young piece to add the mix. Udoh from Baylor is more of a guy that can step in and have more of instant impact. So what direction the Raptors are heading will be a big part of who they ultimately select. If they end up staying at 13 and selecting someone, Daniel Orton is one of the more interesting options they should have to consider. Sometimes in the draft you have to decide on if you take the safe pick or you gamble and look for the potential great pick. Orton has a chance to be an impact type player. He is a little smaller than you would like in your 4 or 5. That being said, he is a kid that is put together and likely will fill out even more as time moves forward.

What was clear for me is 2 guys stood out of the 5 players the Raptors had in for workouts on this day. Orton and Udoh. Will take a closer look at Udoh another day. Raptors may have to hope he would fall in the draft to select him.

Brent Petway Goes 1 on 1 with the Dino Blogger

Brent Petway was a star with the Michigan Wolverines and he can flat of sky. It was a great thrill as a fan of the Michigan Wolverines to get a chance to talk basketball and dunking with him. The Dino Blogger can only dream of what it is like to dunk a basketball. This guy does it very well. He also is trying make his way to the NBA with D-League Idaho Stampede. He is in his second year in Idaho and he talks with us about a number of things from dunking, his thoughts on how his old school is doing and thoughts on newest team mate Nathan Jawai. One of the things we talk about is a YouTube Video in which he throws down a challenge to "Superman" Dwight Howard. Check it out.



So what ever happened with that challenge? Did Dwight ever answer it?

Brent Petway-" Nah he never did. But I think next year we are going to actually be able to do that, the winner of the D-League contest against the winner of the NBA contest I think, I am not sure. But next year it might actually materialize."

If it did that could mean that Brent could end of facing Lebron James. James of course made it known that he plans on entering the contest next year in Dallas in front of what could be over 100,000 people according to what Mark Cuban the Mavs owner is said to be hoping for. I asked Brent about the chance of a James vs Petway dunk off.

Brent Petway-" Yeah, that would be really fun. Any of those guys really. It would be a good little show off."

Brent was in the Finals and lost in this year's D-League dunk off. He was the defending champion of the event. He had a chance to check out the NBA version and I asked him for his thoughts on that.

Brent Petway-" It was actually pretty good. We had are D-League dunk contest the night before and that was great. I watched the NBA one and Dwight came with some stuff and Nate Robinson I liked the nice little kryptonite thing he had. It was a nice little contest they had. It was fun to see Nate get up and jumper over Dwight that was a good little dunk right there."

I had my 2 cents on the dunk contest this year and I was not as big a fan of it. However Brent knowing what it takes to do all those things likely has a much different prospective. Speaking of which I asked him about who some of his idols were as far as dunking goes. Growing up in Georgia he was a big fan as a kid of the "Human Hi-Light Reel" Dominique Wilkins and remembers his battles with Michael Jordan. Brent earned his own nick name of "Air Georgia" and he was also a fan of "Air Canada" Vince Carter as one of the guys he liked to watch. He credits Carter with putting the dunk contest back on the map. Which as much as Raptors fans may hate Vince now is 100% correct. Vince Carter really brought life back to the dunk contest after it had been gone for a few years and gave it a new life for guys like Dwight Howard, Josh Smith and guys like Brent.

I mentioned that Brent is a former member of the Michigan Wolverines here is a little visual reminder of him and his skills as a dunker back then.



Michigan is a huge sports school and part of the Big Ten of course. They have the crazy fans and basketball has always been a big deal at the U of M going back to Glen Rice and a National Title to the Fab Five era. So I wondered what the differences were from life as a Wolverine to life as a member of the Stampede. Here is what Brent had to say about that.

Brent Petway-" The Major difference is probably the fans definitely, because in college the fans are much more hardcore when it comes the fans. Alumni and students when you walk around the campus everyone pretty much knows you. As opposed to in the D-League people might not even know who you are unless you have a Stampede shirt on or something. Unless they were season ticket holders or something like that."

So which is better being known or having ability to go around with out getting noticed?

Brent Petway- "I don't know it goes both ways. When your known you have to sign a whole bunch of autographs and stuff when I was in the city when I was at Michigan. So sometimes when you are out you just want have fun and chill. Then there are other time when you are doing community relations and things where you are expecting to do those things. So it can go both ways."

One of the things that we in Canada do not have is the pride people have for the schools they attend. A lot of times here in Canada many of us will graduate from a college or university and may never set foot on campus again or follow the sports teams and programs. In United States it is a totally different story. If you are a Wolverine, Longhorn, Tarheel or whoever it is a lifetime thing. So I was pretty sure Brent would still be keeping tabs on the U of M. I asked him if had been following the Wolverines this year and what his thoughts were on how the program was doing and where it was heading.

Brent Petway-" It has been fun to watch. I have been keeping up with them as much as I can. On Sportscenter, catching there games when they come on and I still have a couple people in Detroit that I talk to now and then that are keeping me updated. They are fun to watch and they were ranked for a bit. Now they are on the bubble and hopefully they can get off that bubble and get in."

Toronto has a player on that U of M squad Jevohn Sheppard, and I asked Brent about how he got along with him?

Brent Petaway-" Yeah, Jevohn is a good guy I was there with him for 2 years. He has a little sky to his game as well, he can get up a little bit. He is a good guy to be around and he is having a good year as well"

Brent I am sure was happy to learn that the Wolverines were winners today on the road at Minnesota.Holding on for a hard fought come from behind victory 67-64. Still a week till we find out if it is the Tournament or the NIT for the Wolverines but this are going the right way. So, I think Brent would be cool with me saying Go Blue.

We have spent a lot of time talking about dunking which Brent is one of the best you will find at any level of basketball. However what else is he working on to take his game to that next level to get to the NBA?

Brent Petway- " I have just been working on what I can to get up there where big Nate(Jawai) is. Trying to be not just a dunker and I am trying to work on my outside game. There is a lot of stuff I am working on. Hoping that I get up there(To NBA ) and be one of those rotation players hopefully."

I asked Brent what his thoughts were about his new team mate from Australia in Nathan Jawai.

Brent Petway-" He is a good player. He came down here and he wanted play right away. He is a joy to be around and he always has a smile on his face. He loves to play the game, he likes to pass the ball, so he is always tell us to cut when he gets the ball. So I think he is going to be a great fit"

One of the things in the various things we having being doing about the D-League that I personally come back to is the challenge it must be for everyone to adapt to the ever changing rosters. There is constant player movement. I asked Brent about the challenge of that as a player.

Brent Petway-" Yeah it is really tough. Cause you have guys from the NBA coming down here. You'll have teammates leave and go overseas. So it is real tough just trying to keep the team chemistry. That is a big thing for the program to have a chemistry with your teammates. But it is just being a professional and you have to keep playing ball and let the chips fall where the may."

The Stampede are currently in a dog fight leading their Division and have Utah who they will play again on Monday and Bakersfield close to them in the standings. I asked Brent for his thoughts on what lies ahead for the Stampede?

Brent Petway-" It has been going well. I think we have like 14 games to go. We got a team right on our heels in Utah. They are playing good ball and we have them a couple more times. So hopefully we can keep doing what we have been doing and stay in first place and have some momentum heading into the playoffs."

Brent was really great to talk with. He also said that Pops Mensah-Bonsu is a good player and should help up here in Toronto. He is a guy who Bent said is very athletic. He knows a bit about him even back from his college days at George Washington. Brent had a friend from back home in Georgia who was his teammate on that squad at GW. Pops was pretty nice in his debut last night against the Heat. As for Brent he continues to work hard with the Stampede and is hopefully of making it to the NBA. He is also hopefully of doing what former Raptor Jamario Moon did and get a chance to shine on All Star Saturday night. He said to me he thinks if he ever gets that chance he will definitely try to turn some heads. Here is more evidence to why he could be right.

All the best to Brent with the rest of his season. Here is hoping he can make his way to the NBA. It was a great deal of fun to have him as a guest and I would welcome him back any time.

Download Wallpaper of Brent Petway (Photo at the Top)

Stampede Weekend Hits The Dino Nation Blog

The Dino Nation Blog has been hard at work and touching based with our friends in Idaho. Today we had a chance to talk with Joel Abelson assistant coach of Idaho Stampede. He has worked with such NBA stars as Jermaine O'Neal, Baron Davis, Paul Pierce, Al Harrington, and Chauncey Billups, in working with Joe Abunassar with Impact Basketball in Vegas. He has also worked with the Charlotte Bobcats as well. He is now working with Toronto second round pick Nathan Jawai who joined the Stampede last week. He also chips in with a scouting report on Pops Mensah-Bonsu. We also talk about the current and future of NBDL league and prospects for the defending champion Stampede.

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That is the kick off to our Stampede weekend. By time Sunday rolls a round you will also hear from Brent Petway who is a member of the Stampede in his second year with the club and a former Michigan Wolverine. He is a guy that is one of the best dunkers you are going to find. He once challenged Dwight Howard to a D-League vs NBA dunk off. We talk about Wolverine, Dunking and his career. We also ask him about his new team member Nathan Jawai. That will be the cap off for Stampede weekend as the Dino Nation Blog talks with Nathan Jawai. Both guys were on cell phones and quality was a little bit off. So these will be it written form. Hopefully you will enjoy it all. The Stampede organization has been really great to work with and the Dino Nation Blog has been happy to form a relationship with the Raptors affiliate in the D-League. Stampede will not be in action till Monday night and will have an update on how the make out but the Raptors will be hosting that Heat and Jazz before that. Stampede are fighting for first place and are looking to defend their D-League title. That is a lot more exciting than waiting for the draft lottery.