Scouting Report

These days, they scout potential college and professional athletes younger and younger. I have heard of fifth graders receiving college recruiting letters. Therefore, I offer the first official scouting report for Casey Xue Xian Wang.

Casey was recently scouted at his first basketball practice with the YMCA Junior Lakers.

At 4 yrs, 5 months, and 45 1/2 inches tall, he has great height. As all scouts will say, "You can't teach height". For an athlete of his height, he exhibited great baseline to baseline speed. He also showed great defensive instincts, continually seeking out position on the low block, and quickly establishing deep post position on both ends of the floor. At this point in his maturation, he is strictly a right handed ball handler, but showed decent dribbling skills for a big. However, with any defensive pressure, or a momentary loss of concentration, or even an errant dribble off his own foot, he was quick to pick up his dribble.... and subsequently start again. (That's OK, they don't call double dribble- traveling violations in his league). Therefore, Casey apparently showed a great understanding of the rulebook, and will do anything within the rules to better his game. He had an off day shooting, (heck, its been virtually his ONLY day shooting). Although he did not shoot for a great percentage, (OK, he went 0-fer), his shooting form showed great promise. He did not let missed shots affect him. Like a true volume shooter, the misses didn't bother him nor affect the other facets of his game. He showed some skill as a chest passer, and at this point seems more eager to pass than to shoot. Perhaps an ideal teammate for the Kobe type players... He worked one on one with the coach on shooting basics; bent knees, feet spread apart, two handed ball grip, etc. Casey is a coach-able athlete, who patiently took instruction from the coaching staff. He showed good stamina, playing the entire game. Apparently, at this age, some athletes refuse to play, opting to stay with mommy/ daddy on the sidelines. Others will decide mid-game to bolt. Casey is a good teammate, and does not appear to be a locker room killer. He participated in all team huddles, and the post game handshake line. (Again, actions not to be taken for granted at his age).

Basketball from p wang on Vimeo.