DION WAITERS BALLIN WITH LIFE CENTER

2010 Syracuse verbal commitment playing well with new team

December 5, 2008


When Dion Waiters made a verbal commitment to the Syracuse Orange in July of 2007, the (at the time) soon-to-be high school sophomore had yet to play in a regulation basketball game at the high school level.

Waiters had already been making his name on the AAU circuit at that time and became familiar with the Orange after attending their summer camps, along with his cousin, current SU sophomore guard Antonio 'Scoop' Jardine.

After a freshman year of high school that saw Waiters bounce between John Bartam and South Philadelphia High Schools, Waiters made the move to South Kent Prep in Connecticut for a season. He turned heads immediately upon his arrival in New England, displaying a knack of scoring that raised his rating to amongst the top players in the class of 2010.

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Waiters did not stop impressing observers once the spring rolled around and the AAU season got underway. The first viewing for NBE came on Day One of the Pittsburgh Jam Fest and Waiters showed an exceptional ability to score off the dribble. The AAU setting definitely catered to Waiters' preferred style of play.

“I like to just go," said Waiters to NBE at the Jam Fest. "I don’t like the play-calling too much, but just to speed it up and get it going. You get a lot more options when you speed it up on the (oppositions) defense, and get them off-guard.”

That style of play also attracted him to Syracuse, making the Orange an easy option for the talented guard.

"I like how they (Syracuse) let the guards go," Waiters said. "I don’t like calling plays so much, but instead to just go and make it happen on the spot. I guess you can say I like winning to, and what better place to do it at."

As impressive as Waiters was in Pittsburgh, the next AAU tour stop that NBE caught him in action was even more impressive. Saturday at the Rumble in the Bronx was Waiters at his finest for Team Final, breaking down defenses and finishing with an array of moves to the hoop. He also showed an improved ability to set up his teammates after breaking down the defense. His summer play was impressive throughout the AAU season and earned him an invite to the prestigious Boost Mobile Elite 24 event in fabled Rucker Park.

As for high school, the fall of 2008 found Waiters on the move again, this time settling in at Life Center Academy in Burlington, New Jersey. Under head coach Wilson Arroyo, Waiters and his Warrior teammates play a demanding schedule, that included home and home match-ups with powerhouses on the Jersey scene such as St. Benedict's of Newark and St. Patrick of Elizabeth. They also have famed St. Anthony's of Jersey City on the schedule as well as a recent test against Oak Hill.

The improvements in Waiters' game with his passing and decision making seen on the AAU trail has continued into the 2008-2009 high school season, according to coach Arroyo.

"Dion’s biggest improvements have come in leadership and maturity," says Arroyo. "I also believe his shot selection and passing has drastically improved."

Waiters has always been known as an elite scorer, and he can still fill it up, evidenced by his 26 point performance Thursday night against Pine Forge Academy. However, he is becoming a much more well-rounded backcourt performer as coach Arroyo has put some new responsibilities on his 6-foot-3 star.

"He is at the point guard position and he is trying to keep the whole team involved," remarked his coach. "I think Dion’s maturity and leadership can take him to another level in his game."

In the game with Pine Forge, Waiters was credited with a team-high 8 assists. Not bad for a player many thought of as only a scorer not too long ago.

While the 2008-2009 Syracuse Orange are out of the gates strong, it looks like their two-year hiatus from the NCAA Tournament should come to an end. With a talented player like Dion Waiters entering the mix in 2010, Syracuse will continue to have the college basketball odds in their favor of competing among the nation's elite every March once again.