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Scouting Report/Bio on UMass PG Freshman Phenom David Gibbs. Future NBA Lottery pick will suit up for UMass next year under first year Coach Derek Kellogg.

David Gibbs might be the best high school basketball player you've never seen in Connecticut -- and maybe the best period. A combination guard, Gibbs averages 27 points and 11 assists for the Master's School in West Simsbury, where he's prepping in basketball obscurity. Gibbs, who will need another year of prep school to get his grades up, is better known to coaches such as Travis Ford at UMass, who secured an oral commitment for 2008. East Hartford coach Anthony Menard says Gibbs, 18, is for real. Menard coached UConn's Doug Wiggins and briefly had Gibbs in practice last season before Gibbs went back to Master's.

``If I could take any player in the state, other than the players on my team, I'd probably take him,'' Menard said. ``He's a good passer, unselfish, athletic. He can shoot, he can score. He can really dominate a game without taking a lot of shots, and not many kids can do that. He's also really a nice kid, easy to coach.''

Gibbs' journey from a shy child whose father is serving a life sentence in prison to prized recruit with an on-court swagger has not come easily. The slender Gibbs can still be painfully quiet -- even as classmates at Master's reach out to touch his maroon uniform before and after games, even as they exhort him from the stands with shouts of, ``Take him, Gibbs! Take him!''

Gibbs, who grew up a few miles from East Hartford High, has skipped several national basketball camps because he doesn't want to travel alone. Gibbs' father, Dave Gibbs, was convicted in 1998 of the murder of his former girlfriend and her mother in Windsor in 1992. It's not something the younger Gibbs volunteers, but when you ask him about his dad he says they have a good relationship, and that growing up with a father in prison is better than growing up without a father.

``I talk to him a lot, so it's not that hard,'' Gibbs said. ``He tells me to keep working on my game, to hit the books hard. I talk or visit him a couple times a month.''

In a 66-60 overtime loss to the Christian Heritage School of Trumbull last week, Gibbs scored 25 points to go with 12 assists and 11 rebounds. He put up those numbers while literally taking off a dozen plays to avoid foul trouble because his team, which has a record of 6-10, cannot afford to have him sit.

Late in the overtime period, Gibbs got into a discussion with Christian Heritage center Peter Banos as the two lined up side-by-side during a free throw. The referee had to step in. ``That's the only time he talks,'' older sister, Kiyonia, 19, said after the game, only half-joking. The 6-foot-3, 175-pound Gibbs doesn't mind mixing it up with the more aggressive teams. ``Sometimes you have to be physical with them,'' he said. ``I take it personal -- the game, the competition, the challenge. It's serious business.''

Gibbs has wavered about his high school choice, an indecision that has led some to question the benefit of his time at the Master's School. After spending two years at Master's -- and earning a year's worth of academic credits -- Gibbs in September 2005 enrolled at East Hartford High as a sophomore. Menard, a school guidance counselor who prides himself on preparing players for college, almost got his dream backcourt of Wiggins and Gibbs, two friends from the same hometown and AAU ball. But Gibbs stayed at East Hartford for just one marking period before changing his mind and heading back to West Simsbury. Menard said he was never given a good reason for Gibbs' exit. ``I can't speak for what the Master's does, but we monitor grades and run academic study halls so that we don't run into problems when they're seniors,'' he said. ``I'm expecting all eight of my seniors this year to go on to four-year colleges.''


Gibbs, meanwhile, is on a five-year plan, and will leave Master's in June to prep his senior year at a better basketball school. One possibility is Northfield Mount Hermon School in Northfield, Mass.
Colette Gibbs, a 38-year-old nurse who attends every one of her son's home games, said Master's was the right choice.

``It's a better environment,'' she said. ``He gets a lot of support. Everyone is so positive with David.'' Gibbs said he's happy where he is. ``There was nothing wrong with East Hartford,'' Gibbs said. ``It's just a better fit here.'' Gibbs may be an unknown to the casual fan, but not to those who closely follow the game. Last summer he joined the top players in New England at the Elite 75 Showcase in Foxborough, Mass., where he made the All-Star team along with Doran Mitchell of Berlin.

Gibbs plays AAU ball for the Connecticut Basketball Club and has made a couple of stopovers at the IS8 League in Queens, N.Y., where he faced some of the nation's top high school players and drew recruiting interest from Georgetown and Penn State. ``He's lightning in human form,'' said the Connecticut Basketball Club's Sullivan. ``The beauty of David is that you get the complete package. He's unselfish. He can score at will and he has a great head for the game.''

Sullivan, who was instrumental in steering Gibbs to the Master's School, said Gibbs still faces top competition nine months a year in AAU ball. ``It's a maturity thing,'' Sullivan said of Gibbs' academics. ``He's a shy kid. You don't want him to get lost in the shuffle.'' Gibbs said his commitment to UMass is solid unless Ford leaves the school. There has been speculation that if Kentucky coach Tubby Smith takes an NBA job, Ford would replace him. ``Anything is possible,'' Gibbs said. ``If that happened, and a better school comes around, I'd look at it.'' Wherever he ends up, the low-key Gibbs should get noticed by anyone who's paying attention. ``He's one of the quickest players I've ever seen at this level,'' said Master's coach Donorae Davis. ``If he's not the best player in the state, he's top three.''

Article 4/9/2008

No updates on Gibbs Signed LOI/Committment since the departure of Travis "Fraud". Thus far, David Gibbs is a member of the UMass Family & will light up the Mullins Center 2008-20009 Campaign. Welcome aboard David, we look foward to watching you take UMass to the next level.

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PM Thor

Future Lottery pick? I think not. He is a 3 star on both rivals and scout, and there is not a single program listed as even offering to this kid other than UMass.

He looks to be pretty solid, but don't get ahead of yourselves UMass, especially considering you have a one man recruiting class going on.

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UMass87

I'm confused. Did you write this or is it from another source? I ask because the body contradicts the last paragraph, In the body it says "Gibbs, meanwhile, is on a five-year plan, and will leave Master's in June to prep his senior year at a better basketball school. One possibility is Northfield Mount Hermon School in Northfield, Mass. "

the article is dated 4/9/08 which would mean Gibbs would be at prep school in 08-09 and yet the penultimate sentence says he will be at UMass 08-09 (which was my understanding).

Goodtymes

UMass87. Article is dated 4/9/08. Composed of multiple dates. Apologize for sloppy work but not getting paid to do this on my free time. He'll be a freshman @ UMass in 2008-2009 pending any setbacks.

I decided to write the bottom part because... Michael Beasley was committed to Charlotte last year and we all know how things turned out.

PM Thor nickname "Mr. Bojangles" another Bojangling Blogger

UMass Incoming Class for 2008-2009:

David Gibbs has elevated his status to a 4 Star Recruit. Ranked an 84 Overall by ESPN. Incoming Wake Forest transfer Anthony Gurley is a former Boston Herald Dream Team Member & 4 Star Guard #12 in the Country in 2005 should fill in for the departed (A-10 Player of the Year) Gary Forbes. Tyrell Lynch 4 Star PF 6-8 225 former Auburn (SEC) committ. Finally, Trevon Wilcher SF 6-7 180 3 Stars plays above the rim with rim-rattling dunks should be a fan favorite.

Derek Kellogg has a lot of young talent. UMass should be an A-10 Contender.

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PS PM Thor aka "Mr. Bojangles" I saw David Gibbs play earlier this year he dropped 39 points against Christian Heritage. Gibbs has drawn comparisons to (UCLA) Darren Collison.

Gibbs is listed at 6'4 and lightning quick.

"Connecticut’s top five highschool basketball players is made up of Ebanks, Thomas, David Gibbs, Allan Chaney, and Assane Sene. Gibbs was a little bit of a forgotten man this year since he had committed to UMass prior to his senior season. But that could all be about to change with the recent coaching change in Amherst, as Gibbs could be one of the best available guards in the nation if he decides to open it back up." NERR

http://www.newenglandrecruitingrepor...onnecticut.php

"#1 David Gibbs: The uneducated fan will ask how can he be #1 when he’s not going to a high major conference. The bottom line is this kid could have gone anywhere he wanted to thanks to his rare combination of athleticism and skill. While his first step and leaping ability are off the charts, he is also a very unselfish player with a much improved perimeter jumper. Plus, he is a lock down defender. He should be a star at UMass." NERR

Gibbs was being recruited by schools in the Big East, ACC, and Big Ten prior to signing his LOI with UMass.

PM Thor "The uneducated Fan" aka Mr. Bojangles.

As a UMass Fan. I'm hoping David Gibbs honors his committment and not follow in the footsteps of Travis "Fraud".

You hear it first on "Goodtymes Sports Spa"

PM Thor

Oh Ok Mr. Goodtymes, you want to get like that, I will. First, your number is wrong. ESPN ranks Gibbs as an 84. Check it. Second, not Rivals, not Scout, and not ESPN has any mention of anyone else even offering this kid. He is a 3 star on Rivals and Scout. Check that out too.

Granted, I know nothing about this kid. But all I was mentioning was the over the top positivity of your original post. The kid hasn't even stepped on the court, and he is a future NBA lottery pick? What? Just based on his 84 ranking per ESPN, Frease, Walsh, Lyons for Xavier, Williams and Benson for dayton, Fontan for Fordham, Thompson, Conklin, and Mitchell for SLU they all should be NBA draft picks, considering they are all in their 80s right?

I get hyping your own players. But Gurley isn't in this class, he jumps into that uber class you had last year. Same with Wilcher. They are rated as Sophomores, if I read it right.

I hope the kid is good, Hell, we need good players in this league. But come on, temper your enthusiasm, and yes I freely admit how over the top some of the X fans can be about our players.

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Mac539

I like this. The board has switched from XU-UD to UMass.

UMass87

Goddytimes on a one man mission to make it all UMass all the time...

Knobby

He needs some ritalin......

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njlsufan

Goodtymes is Explorer Steve's cousin. You heard it here first.

UMass87

Better informed and more prolific cousin...

Goodtymes

http://video.nbc30.com/player/?id=212767

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