TheRockHoops.com - The Official Website of The Rock School Basketball Program

May 17, 2010 (from Reggie Rankin, ESPN Recruiting): Important Decision for Wilbekin

Scottie Wilbekin (Gainesville, Fla./The Rock School), who is expected to complete high school early and sign with the Florida Gators, is very much improved. He has added about 25 pounds and his confidence and swagger on the court is tremendous. He may not be a star for the Gators, but he will provide them with a lead guard that possess a high basketball IQ, can run the team, get others involved and makes open shots. He also is an excellent defender that is alert in the passing lanes. He will provide Billy Donovan with a steady hand at the point position.

It is also important to note that Wilbekin could wait and go back to become part of the 2011 class. He has until graduation to make things final, but all signs point to him joining the Gators for 2010. It is great to see a kid have these options not only because he is a good kid and player, but most importantly a good student.

InsideMDSports.com first broke the name of Florida point guard prospect Scottie Wilbekin earlier this fall, and shortly thereafter Wilbekin took a visit to College Park. Midway into an excellent season, Wilbekin is seeing recruiting interest increase, and it’s safe to say the Terps are among the schools keeping close tabs.

“They saw him at the Kreul Classic, which is a big tournament in South Florida, and I think they saw him hit a game-winning shot in the first game. I think they’re coming again to see him sometime soon, perhaps this Friday,” said Wilbekin’s father Svend Wilbekin, the former coach at The Rock School in Gainesville, Fla., where Wilbekin is a junior.

“We went up there on an unofficial this fall, in October. We toured the facilities, met the coaches and watched them practice. Scottie loved it. He loved the campus and enjoyed meeting the players. He saw Vasquez play the year before, so it was really neat meeting him,” he said. “I grew up watching Gary Williams so I know a lot about him, so it was great for me as well.”

Wilbekin is a 6-foot-1 point guard known for his all-around court awareness, passing and ability to run a team on both ends of the floor.

“He’s probably been the best player on our team since his freshman year, but we had two other Division One kids last year so he deferred to them. He’s averaging 17.6 points per game, four rebounds and about 2.5 assists, but our district [competition] is so poor, he and a lot of the starters don’t get to play a ton of minutes in district games,” said The Rock coach Justin Harden.

“I think the thing that stands out about him is he plays with such a high basketball IQ. He’s the son of of a coach, so he’s been around the game all of his life. He has a 3.8 GPA, so he’s very smart, and he just understands how to play the game. He’s kind of like having a coach on the court … He’s improved his 3-point shot tremendously; I think he’s shooting over 40 percent this year and he’s probably made as many threes as he did all of last year. He’s also got the mid-range game and the pull-up jumper and he puts in just as much on defense as he does on offense. He’s not just an offensive player.”

Wilbekin has offers from several low and mid-majors and is being recruited by Clemson, Virginia, South Carolina, Florida, Ole Miss, Auburn and others. He and his father also visited Virginia while in the area this fall.

“They’re recruiting him pretty hard,” Svend Wilbekin said.

Terps assistant Rob Ehsan has been the point man in Maryland’s recruitment of Wilbekin.

“Scottie loves him. Scottie thinks he’s really cool. Honestly, out of all of the guys recruiting him, that’s probably one of his favorites,” his father said.

The Wilbekins are planning a summer or early fall commitment, and they expect that the major schools recruiting him will determine whether or not to offer after a chunk of the AAU season this spring and summer. It seems the Terps would be among the frontrunners if at that point they offer Wilbekin a scholarship, so he’s certainly one to keep an eye on.

ESPN Scouts Inc Evaluation, September 2009: Class of 2011 combination guard Scottie Wilbekin at 6-2 and 170 pounds is a skilled ball handler and passer that can make scoring plays off the dribble and can knock down open shots to the arc with time and space although he is streaky. One of Wilbekin's main weapons is his mid range pull up with one or two rhythm dribbles. He attacks with his head and eyes up surveying the floor and has the ability to pass with either hand in or around traffic. In transition Wilbekin does a great job changing speeds and directions as he weaves in and out of defenders. He does a great job of creating space in order to get his shot off. Wilbekin has a good basketball IQ and feel for his surroundings on the court which allows him to play the point as well.

School: The Rock
Backcourt: 6'1 Sr Dennis Mavin; 6'1 Jr Scott Wilbekin
Strengths: Ball-handling, mid-range scoring, defense
Question mark: Consistent three-point shooting
Comments: Mavin comes over from Gainesville Eastside. He and Wilbekin teamed up this summer for a very successful Nike Team Florida. They will put pressure on the defense with their ability to create baskets. Both Mavin and Wilbekin are solid defenders as well and each should play at a high-major D-I school. Of the two, Wilbekin is the better shooter from deep.

School: The Rock

Inside: Vlad Kondratyev, 6’8 Sr

Outside: Scottie Wilbekin, 6’0 So

Comments: Vlad is a rock solid interior player with good scoring moves around the basket and has the range to step out and knock down twelve to fifteen foot jump shots with consistency. Wilbekin has a high basketball IQ and an accurate jumper, particularly off the dribble from mid-range.

The Class of 2011 featured more guard oriented type play and The Rock School's 6'2" point guard Scottie Wilbekin directs a team well. He can setup an offense and make sure good things happen. He knocked some jump shots and workd his way inside and out as he hit some pull-up jumpers and finds the basket with ease. He is active on the defensive end and really makes the offense work. He did a nice job of making players uncomfortable and enabling a player come from the back side for an easy steal and layup on the other end quickly."

Our final candidate for player of the day was 6’1 sophomore point guard Scottie Wilbekin of The Rock School in Gainesville. He may have had the most complete game of any backcourt player on Sunday. His mastery of the fundamentals, court vision, and ability to see plays as they are about to happen set him apart from nearly all of the kids his age. Wilbekin also has the ability to create for himself as well as others, whether it is getting to the basket and finishing in traffic or pulling up from mid-range off the bounce. Some may question his overall athleticism but he certainly is at least above average in that category."

"The freshmen and sophomores were joined by a few big-time eighth graders on Day 2 of the Nike Team Florida Workout. Let's take a look at a few eye-catching players.

2011 prospect Scottie Wilbekin (Gainesville, Fla./ The Rock School) is a fairly complete guard; he can pass, dribble and shoot. He plays with great pace and has a good basketball IQ. He's also an excellent defender that is capable of defending both guard positions."

April 11, 2008 - AAU Individual Standouts (posted on FloridaHoops.com)

"A year younger than his NTF 16U teammates, 6'1 point guard Scottie Wilbekin of The Rock more than fit in. A solid, fundamental player, Wilbekin does a great job of protecting the ball against aggressive defenders and traps, makes smart passes, and knocks down open shots. Maybe the best part is he doesn't force the action or try to do things he isn't capable of. While very athletic and quick point guards can give him trouble on the defensive end, he more than makes up for it with his high basketball IQ and ability to run a team."

March 31 , 2008 - named the 1A / 2A Player of the Year for North Central Florida by the Coaches' Association.

January 24, 2008 - from Rick Staudt, posted on FloridaHoops.com

"Individual Standouts from the Diamondback Challenge"
(Belleview High School, January 19)

"It’s rare that we highlight freshmen, but Scottie Wilbekin of The Rock keeps performing at a high level. Already the leader on the floor, the 6’0 point guard gets his teammates in the right spots and gives them the ball where they can best use it. He does a good job using head and ball fakes to get by his defender to make plays. Wilbekin’s shot form is good and he knocked a few shots down off the bounce and with a hand in his face. As he gets older he will get stronger which is his main deficiency right now. He is certainly one of the top players in the class of 2011."

October 8, 2007 - attended the 2007 Rookie Sensations Showcase at Vanguard High School in Ocala. According to a writer for FloridaHoops.com, Scottie ranked as "the best talent at the event."

October 4, 2007 - played in the Nike Team Florida Exposure Camp. According to FloridaHoops.com and an article posted on Rivals.com, Scottie was named the overall top player in the showcase from the class of 2011.

July 25, 2007 - Scottie Wilbekin played in the Disney Junior Showcase with Nike Team Florida 15U and the Disney Senior Showcase with Nike Team Florida 16U.

July 14, 2007 - attended Five Star Basketball Camp in Pittsburgh, PA, and competed in the NBA Division as a rising freshmen (highest level of camp).

July 3, 2007 - attended the Freshmen All-American Camp in Chantilly, VA, and was ranked as the #8 shooting guard at the camp (although he traditionally plays point guard).