Will Shabazz Muhammad be eligible to play this season at UCLA? I pose the question because Muhammad was unable to accompany the team on its trip to China. The NCAA is investigating if he received improper benefits while being recruited. My statement is a little absurd, considering the NCAA investigation regarding Mizzou’s Frank Haith remains unresolved you might see where I‘m going with this story. The investigating body began its investigation of Haith well over a year ago.

The basketball landscape is littered with the corpses of 7-footers who couldn’t play or 7-footers who were recruited strictly as projects. Recently Northwestern University announced 7-2 240 pound freshman Chier Ajou was declared eligible by the NCAA Clearing House. “There were questions back in June when Ajou committed to Northwestern as to whether or not he would be cleared due to concerns regarding his transcript.” The critical emails came flying in to ESPN once the story was published. “Ajou is originally from South Sudan and attended Culver Academies in Indiana for two years and went to St. Thomas More School in Connecticut last year.” I haven’t seen Ajou play so I too am in the dark about his ability but I‘m unsure if several of the comments are valid. Most revolved around his high school numbers, 14 ppg 9 rebounds and 2.6 block shots. Most questioned his competition; others pointed out it appeared he didn’t dominate his high school competition. Number one, he could be a late bloomer, that’s the case with big men. What type of offense did his high school team run, despite his height he might not have been the focus of the offense. Bottom line, allow time to see if can develop near the level of his famous cousin Bulls forward Luol Deng. (ESPN.com)

Before Laker fans get too full of themselves or too excited allow me to remind them and the media a little NBA history. In 2003 Gary “The Glove” Payton and Karl Malone both landed in Los Angeles to join Shaq and Kobe. Unlike the Miami Heat of LeBron James this was probably the first NBA team many pundits thought might conclude the season 81-1. In any event the thought was a 68 or 69 game regular season win total plus an NBA championship. Four perennial All-Stars in the lineup plus a worthy bench, few could see why this team would not succeed. Well a funny thing happened on the way to that perfect team and the perfect season, they didn’t win! They won a significant number of regular season games but an injury to Karl Malone plus stubborn play of Gary Payton and the Shaq versus Kobe feud. All those factors led to a dysfunctional collection of bodies and not a team. This “loaded team” was able to hid it’s warts during the regular season; they even managed through the early to late portions of the playoffs. This team managed to play for the NBA championship in 2004 but failed. They lost to a Detroit Pistons team certainly not as talented but with a key difference, they played as a T E A M! On paper the Lakers look as though they might be the team to beat in 2013 however as a reminder games on played on the court not on paper.

Ishmail Wainwright is not headed to Mizzou as was reported last year! In fact he remains uncommitted as this point to any school. Wainwright is a 6-6 210 pound forward from Raytown (MO) a Kansas City suburb. He’d verbally committed to Mizzou but later changed his mind. Although his was verbal Wainwright might have been the first Frank Haith commit. This Class of 2013 athlete can play as evidence by his 4-star rating by Rivals and ESPNU 4-star rating. “Effective on both ends of the floor” states slamonline.com regarding Wainwright’s game. Changing his mind on Mizzou wasn’t his only change; Wainwright left Raytown South High to attend Montrose Christian Academy in Rockville (MD) after his sophomore year. He indicated a desire to grow his game and felt the competition he faced in Kansas City was somewhat limited. Montrose does have a history of notable alumni in the NBA, the Thunders Kevin Durant and the Raptors Linas Kleiza. From all indications it appears he made the correct choice he’s reported to have had an outstanding junior season at Montrose, as for deciding not to attend Mizzou that’s a different story.

I’m curious if Mizzou’s Kim English makes the final cut and gains a roster spot with the Pistons. If so wonder if he gains serious playing time. The 6-6 200 pound shooting guard after experiencing an outstanding sophomore year slumped seriously his junior year. After scoring at a 14.0 ppg average he slumped to 10.0 during his junior year as his field goal percentage dropped to .366.  Under new coach Frank Haith English returned to his previous form, he didn’t raise his scoring significantly (14.5 ppg) but he shot a lights-out .521 from the floor.  His senior numbers and workouts convinced the Pistons, they drafted him in the second round of the 2012 NBA draft. At present the Pistons roster is three point guards, a number of small and power forwards and centers. Not a shooting guard in sight except Baltimore native Kim English. It might appear easy for English to make the cut but I doubt he wants the job by default. His work ethic at Mizzou proves he doesn’t want anything handed to him.