BRICK'S EVALUATION

"The Big Ticket" is a rangy 215-pound transfer from Portsmouth (VA) Norcom who was a bit inconsistent this spring and summer, but when he was good (such as for the Boo Williams All-Stars at the Nike Peach Jam), he was very, very good. A sensational athlete who needs better skills, he sprints downcourt to reap lay-ins and dunks, catches tough passes, has developed a quick first step when facing the basket, defends actively and rebounds aggressively at both ends. On the other hand, his ugly, flat jump shot is released low, from off his forehead, and (though he hits a few from mid-range) requires considerable revamping, while his passing tends to be turnover-prone. His jump hook has good form, but he missed the ones we saw him attempt. High big-time prospect has committed to Georgetown but needs to improve his academic credentials.

Event Performances

2005 National Prep Showcase: It's a shame that Vernon Macklin didn't walk away a winner after the outstanding effort he turned in for Hargrave. The 6-9 BF made the move to Hargrave in an effort to improve his all-around game, get stronger and boost academics, and he certainly seems to be accomplishing all of the above. He's virtually unrivaled at his size as a run and jump athlete and appears to have added at least 10 pounds of muscle since the summer. Macklin still is prone to play out of control for stretches, but he even looked comfortable handling the ball on a few fast breaks. Most importantly, he didn't settle for mid and deep jumpers and instead forced the action down low and was a terror on the offensive glass, where he picked up six of his 17 rebounds. An added bonus with Macklin's play was that he used his quick hands to generate four steals.

2005 Super Showcase: Speaking of effort, it appears that Vernon Macklin is showing it more and more these days. Ferociously attacking the glass and opponents shots, the Boo Williams standout was in perpetual motion today against the New Hampshire Playerz.. He routinely was the first one down the floor, both offensively and defensively. While many of his points came in transistion and putbacks, he did show an ability to put the ball on the floor, elevate in traffic and finish. A little more polish on the offensive end and he could be a one-year-wonder on the college level.

2005 Nike All-America Camp: Finally, just as we were about to write him off for not having improved in awhile, Vernon Macklin completely dominated a game on both ends of the court. For a moment, he looked like a young Shawn Kemp as he flew up and down the court. Actually, he doesn't shoot well enough from 12 feet to draw accurate comparisons to Kemp, but it wouldn't be out of line to say he reminded of a young and wild Chris Wilcox.

2005 Boo Williams Invitational: The weekend ended well for Macklin, who starred in the championship game, but all in all his performance here didn't match the one he put forth at last summer's Peach Jam. You know the positives: "Big Ticket" is a wonderful athlete who runs the floor like a sprinter and is very quick inside for offensive rebounds. What we're hoping to see the rest of his prep career is improvement in his ball skills, and he certainly needs to hit the weights if he hopes to make a jump to the NBA anytime soon.

2004 17-Under AAU Nat'ls: Macklin seems to be blossoming before our very eyes as the unbridled athleticism, which at times has been misdirected, seems to be a beast that Macklin is staring to rein in. The rangy, athletic 6-9, 200-pound junior from Portsmouth (VA) Norcom, is showing more and more that he is getting a handle on how to best impact games. Sure, his offense doesn't have a pet go-to move quite yet, unless you consider punching one dunk after another along the baseline or in transition, to be a go-to move. Where Macklin is improving is in his understanding of what he is, and how to use his natural abilities to impact the game. He doesn't aimlessly float as much away from the basket, instead looking for more, rather than fewer, opportunities to use his exquisite quickness to hit the offensive glass or finish strong in the paint by elevating over the defense.

2004 Memorial Day Classic: The Vernon Macklin that we saw competing against Team Texas this afternoon is the Macklin that we really like seeing. Instead of roaming the perimeter and jacking up ill advised jumpers, the 6-9 BF stuck around the lane and used his long arms and athleticism to cause problems. He dunked rebounds, he shot eight-foot jumpers and for the most part stayed active on the offensive end. On defense he was willing to mix it up with a deep Team Texas frontline and his presence on the weak side made a lot of people think twice about attacking the basket. Macklin also appears to be thickening up a little through his legs and chest which is a good sign for the 2006 stud if he wants to keep playing where he is best, the paint.

2004 Kingwood Classic: It's odd to make the observation, but Macklin really was something of an afterthought amid the star-studded field in Houston. Sure, some fans were interested in his games, but most spent more energy trying to find Oden or Caracter. Everyone knows Macklin's primary issue by now; he attempts to be a wing when he'd be more effective playing in the post. That said, he had his moments over the weekend. He made tough catches and finished on the break and did step inside to swat away shots on defense. It's all mental, and he has plenty of time to learn to play inside-out.

2004 Boo Williams Invitational: talent and 2) He isn't even close to reaching it. Essentially, when "Big Ticket" decides to play in the post on offense and swat away shots on the defensive end, few can match his promise. But when he insists on floating to the perimeter and showcasing wing skills that aren't there yet, you're left scratching your head. Because he's been a name prospect for several years now, however, it's easy to forget that Macklin is just a sophomore, so there's plenty of time for him to iron out his inconsistencies.

2004 Battle of the Bay: Okay, admittedly Macklin is not quite the finished prospect that he might eventually become, but it's is easy to see very early that there is a lot to work with in his bag of tricks. He finished with 19 points and 13 rebounds and is a possessor of a very live body. He moves extremely well laterally for a player his size. He is very long with long arms, has good, strong hands and will rebound the ball high above the rim. He has quickness with the ball out of the low post or short corner, is explosive off the floor and has boundless energy. On the other hand, he will stand and watch the game occasionally, floats on his high post jumper and has an early habit of immediately putting the ball down inside in traffic. He is by no means close to the kind of player that he can become with more experience, time and hard work, but the talent is there.

2002 Phenom Report: Termed "The Big Ticket" by his AAU coach, Boo Williams, this insider is a coordinated athlete who emerged onto the national scene at the AAU 14-Under National Championship in early August, where he was a dominant performer for Boo's team from Tidewater Virginia.

PrepStars.com Staff , www.PrepStars.com