The natural place to start our AAU or traveling team previews this year is

with the squad featuring a pair of Indiana junior commits, the 17 & under Eric

Gordon All-Stars team.

This "EG10" group was very successful in the 16 & under age group last year

after a slow start. The team won several well known national events and finished

the summer as runner-up in Las Vegas at the Adidas Super 64.

But all that was in 16U. The 17U level often means a little more

consolidation of teams and older, better talent. Ryan Owens coached that team of

a year ago and this spring will work with head coach Matt Green, Nick Reich and

Candice Quinn in the last go around for this team dominated by Indianapolis area

products.

Recently we caught up with Owens to talk about the challenges ahead in the

older age group.

"Guys are bigger, faster and stronger and developing their mental game," said

Owens. "We are going to be long, going to be taller than most teams, but that

doesn't mean anything. We have to go out there and compete and defend."

As mentioned, this EG team will include a pair of Indiana bound prospects --

6-foot-6 forward Devin Davis of Warren Central and 6-foot-7 forward Collin Hartman of Indianapolis Cathedral.

Owens talked about what he's seen from both in early practice action,

starting with Davis.

"You can tell he's spent a lot of time in the weight room," said Owens. "He's

got a natural ability to get just about every rebound. He's a special rebounder.

Not a lot of people can rebound outside their area like he does."

Davis is showing off improved perimeter skills.

"He's been working really hard on his shot and I've noticed that he's getting

it up a little quicker. It looks good."

Hartman is in Germany now (see

story link) but

did make some early practice action.

"He's a wiry strong guy that is just a tough kid," said Owens. "Tough on the

ball and off the ball. He's one of those kids that you don't need him to score

30 but you need him in the game as much as possible. He does all the intangibles

out there.

"He's not going to turn the ball over. And he can shoot the lights out of

it."

Two other Big Ten prospects are on this squad led by Hamilton Southeaster

forward Zakarie Irvin, the No. 54 ranked player nationally.

"He just continues to grow," said Owens. "Every time you see him it seems

like he's better. His ball handling has gone full circle. Now at times it's easy

to move him to the point. He's making good decisions with it. Any time you have

a 6-foot-7 guy there, he can see it all. He's a streak shooter and there's some

things he needs to work on there but when he squares up, it goes in."

Purdue bound Basil Smotherman is again back. The 6-foot-5 wing moved

to Lawrence North this past season.

"Basil is looking really good, he's rebounding, being very active," said

Owens. "His body is in great shape. He looks confident and ready to take his

game to another level."

Notre Dame commit V.J. Beachem is yet another highly regarded wing

on this team. The 6-foot-7 forward from New Haven High near Fort Wayne is ranked

No. 72 nationally.

"You better not forget about him when that game starts because he's not

missing a shot," said Owens. "I think he's the best shooter in the class."

Anchoring the middle again is big Darius Latham from North Central.

The 6-foot-5, 275-pounder is one of the most sought after football prospects in

the country, holding scholarship offers from the likes of Florida, Notre Dame,

Tennessee and Wisconsin.

"We didn't play anybody all summer that Darius Latham couldn't handle," said

Owens. "Unbelievable how good his footwork is out there."

Helping Latham inside will be one of three newcomers to the squad, sleeper

big man Trevor Thompson.

"We picked up Trevor Thompson from Ben Davis," said Owens. "He's 6-foot-10

with a 7-foot-9 wingspan. He's huge. Right now he's a bit embarrassed to be

6-foot-10 but by the end of the summer I want him to be proud of it. We needed a

shot blocker like that because now we can afford to extend our defense out a

little bit more."

The perimeter ball handling will be handled by returnee Zavier Turner of Pike along with the two other newcomers, Penn's Leo Svete

and Michael Volovic of Carmel.

Turner led his Pike team all the way to the Class 4A title game, losing

ironically, to Volovic's Carmel squad.

"He (Turner) won a lot of games for us last year with his ability to drive it

to the basket," said Owens. "(Volovic's) an energy guy, a confident kid that

knows right and wrong on the basketball court,"

Owens calls Svete a "natural combo guard."

"Leo brings a lot to the team," said Owens. "He's a vocal guy, the one out

there giving help and getting your back on defense."

"Taking a lot of calls on him. Missouri Valley schools, Penn Sate. He had a

really good year."

As opposing teams found out last year, this is a team that will get and trap

and pressure and use the unique length and athleticism it brings to the court.

"Our wings with Collin, Devin, Zak, VJ Beachem and Basil, we can be a problem

on the defensive end," said Owens. "And guys have bought in and are saying the

right things."

The team will get started this Saturday at the annual IndyBall.com event that

his hosted at North Central High School. Then the team will head up to

Merrillville, Indiana for the first of two evaluation weekends for college

coaches in April.

Here's the complete schedule has things stand today for this team:

April 14-15: IndyBall.com - Indianapolis (North Central HS)

April 20-22*: Nike Spring Showdown - Merrillville, Ind.

April 27-29*: Jayhawk Invitational - Kansas City, Kan.

May 4-6: Spiece Run 'N Slam - Fort Wayne, Ind.

May 11-13: Adidas May Classic - Bloomington, Ind.

May 25-27: Memorial Day Classic - Merrillville, Ind.

July 11-15*: Adidas Invitational - Indianapolis, Ind.

July 18-22*: NY2LA Summer Jam - Milwaukee, Wis.

July 25-30*: Adidas Super 64, Las Vegas, Nev.

* - Evaluation period for college coaches