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'11 CA PG Askia Booker (Signed to Colorado)

Buffnik

Buffnik

Real name isn't Nik
Club Member
Junta Member
Rivals
Scout
ESPN

booker.png

Price H.S. (Los Angeles, CA)

AAU: Branch West Elite / Compton Magic

Ht: 6-foot-1
Wt: 170 lbs

Rivals rating: 3*; unranked PG
Scout rating: NR SG
ESPN rating: 3*-91 grade; #21 PG

Reported Offers: Colorado, Cal State Northridge, Columbia, Colgate, Long Beach State, Montana, Montana State, Northern Colorado, UC Davis, UCLA
 
Booker had a big summer on the AAU circuit, which has raised his recruiting profile. He plays high school ball for Price, which is one of the real powerhouse programs in California. They won the state championship last year, led by 3 D1 guys. Booker was their 4th double-digit scorer.

Positives on Booker are that he's got NBA range on his jump shot, is very athletic, has a good enough handle to play the point in college, and is a skilled scorer.

Negatives on his game seem to be shot selection and that he doesn't always play within the offense.

Booker definitely fits better in a guard-focused offense that runs the floor (Boyle's system). The issue for Booker in recruiting is that he is more of a shooting guard and he doesn't have the height major programs look for in the position. Also, he was on such a talented HS team as a junior that larger programs want to see what he will do as a senior for Price and how he performs as a team leader.

UCLA wants to see how he performs as a senior. If he does well and the Bruins still have an opening, they have their eye on offering in the spring. That's a longshot and a risk for Booker to wait on that.

He is visiting CU this weekend. If we like what we see and decide to offer, it's a good bet that he will sign during the early period to be a Buff.

Props to Adam on Rivals for breaking this story.
 
Found some video:

[video=youtube;fIq-jUVt_iY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIq-jUVt_iY[/video]

Also on youtube, he is in some highlight videos for thing like the BCA Memorial Invitational but those are terrible edits without the players being identified.
 
I found a good blog from a Montana State guy who did a thorough write-up on Booker: http://mslacat.wordpress.com/2010/05/02/bobcat-recruit-askia-booker/

He dug up a couple evaluations done on fullcourtpress.com based on Booker's great performance in AAU ball this summer:

Askia Booker 6’1” 2011 Price (Los Angeles CA)
Crafty floor general is evolving into a big-time scorer. Link

Askia Booker 6’1’ 2011 Price (Los Angeles CA)
One of the most underrated guards in Southern California, Booker put up big numbers here. Link

I dug up the links and found another one from the fullcourtpress site:

6’1” senior lead guard Askia Booker has seen his recruiting stock soar recently after his impressive performance at the recent Fullcourt Press Fall Hoops Classic. Booker visited UCLA unofficially last week and Colorado has been in this week to check out “Ski” first-hand. UC-Irvine, SMU, UC-Davis and Loyola Marymount are among the other programs staying in touch with the late-blooming Booker. Link
Click to expand...

Askia_Booker.jpg


Anyway, the mslacat blog was done prior to Booker's summer AAU performances. Here is what was written about him in May:

Booker has shown this spring that he is an explosive scorer, who shows a great deal of athleticism as well as having a very physically mature body. The thing recruiters will be looking at this spring and summer is his size and point guard skills. He is a under sized for the a typical mid to high major prospect at the shooting guard spot, and has yet to prove he is a true point guard at that level either. Booker will play D-1 basketball but this summer will determine a lot.
Click to expand...

Finally, there was a reply to the blog in June from a Trevor Moore who identified himself as a close relation of Booker. Booker sounds like a solid guy.

I have known Skii his entire life. I remember him standing in front of my Mom’s house at 2 years old with a basketball in his hands looking larger than him. Telling me he’s gonna play basketball. I was telling his mother,” that lil n***a is too small, what’s he talking about?”. Over the years as I’ve spoken to him over the phone. He’d be like hey uncle I’m doin my 50 pushups a night. This as far back as 8 yrs. Old. Now when I see him play there’s nothing but respect and admiration I have for this young brotha. Skii your grand mother would be so proud of you. GPA 3.8!!! You truly are The Business!!
Click to expand...
 
Rivals write-up on Booker from the end of April following his showing at the Fullcourt Press Easter Classic:

"He's very explosive and as an off-guard he's a complete player in every respect in the sense that he can really shoot the ball, has range, and is also an excellent driver with good finishing shots," said Booker's AAU coach, Bob Gottlieb of Branch West. "He also really gets after it defensively.

"The only concern is that he's a little bit undersized at his position to be considered a high-major. However, we'll have to see. As he continues to progress, he might just force the issue by being so good that the high-major schools can't ignore him.

"He's about 6-1 and he's a combo. He can also play some point and we're going to try to use him more at the point. If he can show he can handle the point then he has a high-major body."
Click to expand...
 
Just committed to the Buffs!

:dance:

Word from Rivals is that he's blowing up and could be in the revised Rivals 150 when it comes out this spring. Good get for Tad and the program.

:gobuffs:
 
Looks like Tad is working his a** off to find and bring in the kind of kids who are going to make this program successfull. This is a seems like a perfect fit, a kid who has his head on straight, is willing to do the work needed to make himself better, and can and is willing to handle the academic load at a school like CU.

He is going to be coming in a perfect time to utilize his scoring skills, Higgins will be graduating and Burks is likely to be going pro due to his family financial situation. This is going to leave a big gap in the scoring situation and with Bookers range and mobility he will have an opportunity to contribute early.
 
Rivals just bumped Booker to a 3* and switched him to shooting guard.

ESPN reports that a number of other offers had recently come in for Booker (UC-Irvine, Northern Colorado, Montana, and Long Beach State).

The big programs were waiting to see how Booker did playing PG as a senior since his size is more suited to the point than SG. Booker decided not to wait on UCLA and others when CU stepped up. Since Tad runs a 3 guard offense, we can be a great fit for tweeners.
 
Some updates to Booker's profile. Rivals has given him an initial 3* rating and Scout has added him to their database as a SG but hasn't done a rating yet. ESPN has raised Booker from its #42 PG to its #30.

Also, CaliHighSports has moved Booker into its Top 25 at #23. http://www.calihighsports.com/articles/225

69376_159883914042247_100000619178960_362905_741949_n.jpg


Here's a selection from the write-up:
Booker is a monster in transition. When he gets the ball off a long rebound, a steal or an outlet he always looks to push the pace as fast as possible. He can finish by himself but is smart enough to make the right pass be it in a 2 on 1 situation or finding a trailer. He does a great job making defenders in transition commit one way or the other then exploiting that decision they make.

Askia is a team player and a surprisingly strong passer. He had no problem taking a back seat to Crabbe last year and does a great jog feeding his bigs down low. He can thread the needle with passes and always keeps his head up, never getting too bogged down with pounding the ball.

Booker is an extremely solid defender. He has a huge wingspan for a guy his size and really isn't afraid to be tenacious and mix it up with other guards. He is so quick nobody is going to beat him off the dribble and his surprising strength allows him to challenge guards shots on the perimeter as he really bodies guys up.
Click to expand...
 
Booker has faxed in his signed LOI to play for the Buffs. It's official (and I'm 2 days late reporting it).

:gobuffs:
 
New interview with Askia:

[video=youtube;R_9WfeFq4YI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_9WfeFq4YI[/video]
 
btbuff said:
He looks pretty speedy but half of those shots they showed were kinda ridiculous. The three off the backboard, bounces around the rim, chuck shot at the board while the clock expires. I almost wonder what he does in normal plays.
Click to expand...

Most plays in his other video are layup or dunk, so I don't really know how good his perimeter shooting is.

However, those ridiculous shot in this video do represent his wonderful ball touch feel, which is really important for a short guard.

BTW, he is a good passer as well, according to other plays.
 
ESPN has upgraded Askia to a "91" grade and now ranks him as the #21 PG in the country. Here is their updated scouting report:

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/115750

Strengths:
Booker is an ultra-athletic combo-guard who can get into the lane at will. He has a nasty crossover and he possesses that highly coveted burst off the dribble to blow by his defender. He had a number of acrobatic finishes in traffic where he showed excellent body control. When he's on balance his jump shot is solid and he has a quick release. He also has a legitimate jumpshot out to 22-feet.
Weaknesses:
However, there are other times when he pulls his arms back while shooting and as a result he fails to follow through on his release. Booker also struggles with his decision-making. He takes ill-advised shots early on in the shot clock and he has a tendency to force the issue-resulting in many turnovers or poor shooting percentages. At his size it would be ideal if he becomes more of a point guard and develop some savvy in terms of running a team in a half court set.
Bottom line:
There is no doubt that Booker needs coaching in terms of his decision making (forces the issue), but than again there are not many kids in California with his physical gifts. Booker has the talent, but his shot selection and overall savvy will need to clean up while at Colorado.
Click to expand...
 
absinthe said:
nice find
Click to expand...

Thanks. But that ESPN page is linked on the first post of this thread. I think Askia is going to turn into one of those special players who a couple years from now people look back and wonder why he was so lightly recruited. If he was a couple inches taller he would likely be one of the top SG prospects in the country.
 
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