2009 LOUISVILLE COMMTMENTS STRONG AT NBA CAMP

June 25, 2008

**story courtesy of Ron Bailey of the NBE Basketball Report and photo courtesy of i95ballerz.com**


Peyton Siva – 6’0”, 180 pounds (Louisville commit) - It must be something with Louisville and spunky, offensive minded guards, as Siva fits the bill, and is headed to that storied program. Normally the Cardinal’s coach, Rick Pitino snaps up a New York-area guard to fill the bill (see Edgar Sosa and long ago, Billy Donavan), but this time, he returned to Seattle to nab Peyton Siva (following current L’Ville swingman Terrance Williams).

Siva, a junior, can score and pass, and does so with an irrepressible flair; going into championship play Saturday, he was 17th in the camp in assists. Peyton must get stronger for Big East play, but should fit in well at Louisville, where the guards are required to score, particularly from the perimeter.

Rakeem Buckles – 6’8”, 210 pounds (Louisville commit) – A frontcourt man who excels at using his athleticism and activity to attack the rim and clean glass, Buckles is your prototypical Florida-bred forward in that he keeps moving and overwhelms opponents resultantly. The kid really works around the tin.

Going forward, Buckles, a junior, must gain weight and get stronger, as his game is more in the paint than out of it. Increased mid-range shooting is in line also, as Louisville probably will transition him to power/small forward mix, thereby mandating he hit such shots.