In-Person Scouting Notes: Georgia Tech vs. Stanford
Stephen Gillaspie was boots on the ground to check out Maxime Raynaud, Niathan George, and more!
Nothing beats scouting in person—at least, in my opinion. You really get a chance to see a player’s tendencies, what they do during their warm-up period, and how they interact with staff and teammates before the game even starts. During the game, you get to see how players respond to coaching, how they respond when they are cooking, or when things aren’t going their way. You also get a chance to speak to incredible people who are involved with the team or other media members who may have deeper insights into things going on with the team.
I had the chance to cover the Georgia Tech home game against the Stanford Cardinals. I was excited to check out the 25th pick in the most recent No Ceilings Mock Draft, Maxime Raynaud, but there were some lesser-known players I was very excited to check out.
Here’s what I learned:
Maxime Raynaud
Stanford | Big | 7’1” | 250
I was able to commit some pre-game time watching Maxime Raynaud practice. He looked every bit of his listed height, but I was hoping to see a little more mass and definition. He dedicated his time to shooting various three-point shots that he hit pretty consistently. He even made sure to get some Dirk Nowitzki one-legged shots toward the end of individual warmups. The shot looked silky smooth, of course, as the floor spacing he can provide is what makes him such an enticing prospect. Maxime did practice some post moves prior to tip-off, which is something I was hoping to see.
The first play for Raynaud came on the defensive end, when he blocked Naithan George’s first shot attempt from the night. Once I saw that, I assumed I was in for a routine, big performance from the big man. It turns out that I may have attended Maxime’s worst game of the season thus far.
Georgia Tech harassed Maxime all night. The Yellow Jackets alternated defenders and switched up between double-teaming him when he got the ball in the mid-post and single-covering him when he was outside the paint. He just didn’t get comfortable all night.