PC Recruits Johnnie Lacy & Vincent Council, URI's Ryan Brooks: To Play At URI Invitational & Scouting Reports

Some of PC's and URI's recruits will be in action this week at the National Prep School Invitational at URI, via ProJo Sports:

PC fans can get a sneak peak at two future Friars over the next four days when the National Prep School Invitational returns to URI’s Keaney Gym. Johnnie Lacy, a point guard from Milwaukee who is starring for Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg, Mass., will play four straight days beginning this afternoon at 3:30 against Stoneridge Prep of California. Lacy signed his letter-of-intent to play at PC last November. Vincent Council, a New York guard who has only verbally committed to Providence, will also play four days in a row with his team from the Patterson School (N.C.). This afternoon’s Patterson-Brewster Academy game promises to be one of the best of the tournament.

Council and several of his Patterson teammates sat behind the PC bench last night. Council said the team left North Carolina at 7 a.m. and arrived in Rhode Island around 1 p.m. “We stopped around 10 times to eat and go to the bathroom,” he said. “We’re excited to play four games in a row. We need this to prepare for the national tournament.”

URI signee Ryan Brooks is also in action. The 6-8 forward will play for South Kent (Conn.) Prep on Saturday and Sunday.

Here are the scouting reports for these guys, via ESPN:

Vincent Council: Council has good quickness and does a good job of using this trait to put pressure on the defense. He loves to get into the paint where he usually looks for creative ways to put the ball in the basket. He loves to get the ball out in transition and force the tempo on the break. Council does have decent vision and passing skills, but he plays mostly as a scoring point guard, however, he needs to improve his play-making ability and involve his teammates on the offensive end more. When Council shoots the jumper, a hitch in his shot negatively affects his accuracy as well as his range and he will have to smooth out his jump shot form for the next level. He has the ability to play high-intensity, pressure defense on opposing ball-handlers and he brings a fiery approach to the game. Council serves as the vocal leader for his team and tries to energize his team through his words as well as his intense style of play.

Height: 6'2 Weight: 180 lbs. From: Brooklyn, NY

Johnnie Lacy: Though a smaller point guard, Lacy compensates for the inches that he gives up to the competition by playing with a tremendous amount of effort and intensity. Lacy leads his team by example as well as vocally, a trait that coaches love to see in point guards. He has very good quickness and handles the ball well, which makes him very tough to contain off the dribble. Once he gets into the teeth of the defense, Lacy has the vision to find open teammates in traffic with drop-off passes for easy lay-ins. He ranks as a streaky shooter from the perimeter and will have to improve in that area for the next level, but once he gets going, he will connect on jumpers with range that extends right out to the 3-point line. His speed and quickness makes him a perfect fit for up-tempo, open court basketball. If he improves his temperament at the point by looking to involve his teammates a little more, his scoring chances will come a lot easier from him, which would make him a more consistent shooter. When he focuses on defense, Lacy does a great job of using his foot speed as well as his low center of gravity to get under opposing point guards and badger them into mistakes.

Height: 5'10 Weight: 160 lbs. From: Milwaukee, WI

Ryan Brooks: Brooks has a very diverse, mature offensive game that makes him tough for opposing defenses to keep under control. He will score the ball in the paint and has decent post moves, though he could improve in that area. He does an adequate job of finishing around the basket in traffic. Brooks really excels as a face-up 4-man with the ability to use his quickness to drive past bigger, slower power forwards. He does a very good job in the mid-post area, utilizing the turn-and-face move to quickly drive past defenders. He has very good ball-handling skills for a player of his size and can get the ball on the wing, especially in transition, to drive past big power forwards that do not want to come away from the basket to guard Brooks. Defenders cannot back off Brooks due to his ability to connect on jump shots. He also runs the floor very well and can finish off breaks effectively. Brooks plays hard and competes on every play.

Height: 6'8 Weight: 210 lbs. From: Mays Landing. NJ

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