(Σημείωση: Το κείμενο έχει και ελληνική έκδοση αμέσως μετά το video report στην συνέχεια της σελίδας)
RPG Radar is back for its Easter edition, travelling northeast, after the presentation of two players coming from Liga ACB. In today’s episode we focus on an intriguing prospect, who is just on his rookie season in Europe and is already lighting up German BBL and Eurocup. Of course, the person of interest is Caleb Homesley, Hamburg’s versatile wing, who has a great impact on the team this season.
His route
Born on November 27, 1996, in Indian Trail, Homesley was a typical North Carolina native with much love for basketball since his childhood. His grandmother, Vera Homesley, recalls that since he was a baby, his first phrase was “shoot me ball”, as he used to throw papers in the trash cans! She had often to reserve extra papers for him in order to have plenty, so he could play with them. Homesley was spending much time with his grandmother, who was a teacher in West Stanly High School, since his two parents were working many hours in the family restaurant.
As he grew up, he became a fan of Davidson, a college located in North Carolina, which is mostly known for “producing” the famous Steph Curry! In a Wildcats game that he attended, he met with some players after its conclusion. When someone from the team tried to help him, by lifting him up, in order to score a basket, Homesley laughed at him. He then took a ball and, with much self-confidence, scored a lay-up by himself! His talent was evident from the first time and so he became a star player in local Porter Ridge High School.
His junior season in Porter Ridge was special, as he averaged 20 pts, 5 rebs and 3 asts per game, drawing interest from various colleges. However, he was unlucky as a senior, due to a serious injury (anterior cruciate ligament), which left him out of action for several months. After graduating from High School, he committed to Liberty, in Virginia, turning down offers from other mid-level universities, such as Gardner-Webb, High Point, Kent State and UNC Greensboro.
However, things were not easy for him at the beginning. Liberty’s head coach, Ritchie McKay thought that Homesley was not cut out for this level and suggested that he had to transfer to a Division II program. This motivated somehow Homesley, who steadily made his way to the team’s rotation, by improving his ability in every area of his game. He played a total of 32 games during 2015 – 16 season, averaging 7.2 pts, 3.4 reb, 1.3 ast, 0.8 stl and 1.1 tov per game. The season ended with frustration and disappointment, as the Flames suffered a heavy loss (49 – 80) by UNC Asheville, just in the 1st round of Big South Tournament.
The next season started with high hopes for Homesley, as he had gained McKay’s confidence and was a first-team regular, increasing his playing time to 28 minutes per game (compared to 20 as a freshman). However, another serious injury on his right knee, in a game against Princeton in December 2016, made him miss the remainder of the season and declare for red-shirt eligibility (medical reasons) for the next year. During that time, Homesley did not only work hard on a weekly basis with strength coach, Henry Barrera, in order to strengthen his right knee, but he also managed to improve other aspects of his game, by becoming more versatile and mature.
His red-shirt sophomore season (2017 – 18) would help him regain his confidence and bounce back gradually to the team’s rotation. He played in 35 games, mainly as a backup option, coming off the bench (19 minutes per game) and trying to establish again his game at high level and intensity. He averaged 7.9 pts (72.3% FT, 50.3 FG and 35.6 3FG), 4.5 reb, 1.9 ast, 0.7 stl and 1.5 tov per game. Liberty lost to Radford (52 – 55) in the Big South Conference Finals and this would be its last appearance, since from next season the college moved to Atlantic Sun Conference!
The Flames instantly became one of ASUN’s stronger sides and Homesley, along with the team’s other star player, Scottie James (Hapoel Haifa currently), led Liberty to a successful season. The college finished in the 1st place in ASUN with a 14 – 2 conference record (29 – 7 totally) and won the tournament, by beating 74 – 68 Lipscomb in the final, behind Homesley’s 16 pts, 9 rebs and 8 asts! Homesley would turn to a big time player for the Flames in their road to their 1st ever appearance in NCAA Tournament, against favorites Mississippi State Bulldogs, led by Lamar Peters, Aric Holman and Tyson Carter.
In a historical game, Homesley propelled his team, with a great performance of 30 pts (10/16 FGs), to its first ever win in NCAA Tournament! He showed his leadership skills, by leading the Flames to a great comeback in the 2nd half, after trailing with double digit margins for the most of the game.
The next obstacle would be higher, but Liberty fought hard, before losing to Virginia Tech by 58 – 67. Homesley increased his efficiency and his numbers in a season where he managed to return to high-level performances. He played in 36 games (27 as starter), averaging 12.4 pts (70.2% FT, 46.1 FG% and 31.1% 3FG), 5.6 rebs, 2.7 asts, 0.7 stl. 0.6 blk and 1.4 tovs per game. His reputation grew and he would be included in the preseason watch list for the Lou Henson award, coming to his senior season!
Homesley would be unstoppable in his final year of eligibility, leading Liberty to a 13 – 3 conference record (30 – 4 in total) and to a crazy race to another ASUN Championship, after beating respectively NJIT, Stetson and Lipscomb in the Final game. Homesley averaged 18.7 pts per game in these 3 games and he was ready for the NCAA Tournament. However, the covid-19 outbreak did not allow Liberty to have another run and the season ended abruptly. Homesley was voted as ASUN’s PoY and he finished his career in college as 10th all-time scorer and 8th all-time rebounder in Liberty’s history!
Although he was not drafted in 2020 NBA Draft, the Wizards particularly, expressed interest on him, signing him with an exhibit contract. However, he was waived after the training camp and joined Erie Bayhawks for the G League bubble. He appeared in all 15 team games, averaging 9.3 pts (75% FT, 40.6% FG and 34.7% 3FG), 4.2 rebs, 2.4 asts, 1.2 stls, 0.7 blk and 1.2 tovs per game. Until the end of last season, he worked hard for around a month with Wizards’ assistant coach Alex McLean in a gym, in order to improve his physicality. The hard work had paid off as Washington signed him to a multi-year contract and his strong Summer League campaign (12 pts and 4.8 rebs in 4 games) seemed to be an … ordeuvres for making the team’s final roster!
However, things did not end the way he dreamt of. The Wizards were engaged in a multi-team trade, which brought Dinwiddie, Kuzma, KCP and Harrell to Washington. Homesley would be “sacrificed” in mid-August 2021, in order to open a roster spot for the new players. Hamburg would be his next destination, becoming instantly the Towers’ go-to-guy and building a strong back court with Jaylon Brown (RPG Radar Spain 2020). Although he has some ups downs in his performances and is a heavy USG% wing with poor shot selection sometimes, Homesley is a player to watch from Eurocup and one of the competition’s top players. He is used in many occasions as the team’s main ball handler and he has increased playmaking duties as well. In a total of 40 games, he is averaging 16.6 pts (76% FT, 48.5% 2FG and 34.1% 3FG), 3.8 rebs, 4.7 asts, 0.9 stl, 0.5 blk and 2.7 tovs per game. However, a very interesting aspect of his game, this season, is the “freedom” he has experienced from his head coach, either to execute or create for his teammates, posting a monstrous 30 USG% and Ast% in Eurocup, followed by decent efficiency on his shooting (55 eFG%).
His Profile
In the following video scouting report, there is a thorough presentation of his playing profile, as well as about some other elements, which could hurt his potential Euroleague status. It is clear that Homesley has the offensive talent to have a role as an on ball wing in a mid-level team, if he manages to find a balance and improves his decision making. Homesley seems to be a cold-blooded player, who needs the ball too much time in his hands in order to decide. He wants a major role in offense and playing minutes under his belt to be effective and this would raise a big question mark at higher level. He would have to learn to be more “economic” and raise his efficiency with fewer attempts and less time as a play initiator.
Also, what we witnessed from his Eurocup campaign (ranking 4th in points per game) and especially in the away game against Partizan Belgrade, is that he may be error prone when facing a strong defensive team, especially as a primary ball handler. He may not react so well under pressure and force tough shots (trying to build momentum from deep) or ruin the offensive flow, by overdribbling. Another area of improvement is his defense, because his physicality and overall approach are not up to the standards of Euroleague, regarding the intensity and hustling which is needed.
To sum up, Homesley is a Euroleague ready wing, a gifted player offensively, who can be unpredictable and provide elite scoring and passing skills. He has shown that he has the ambition and mindset to succeed since his college years. What is important for him is to join an environment where he will manage to become more efficient and achieve a role player status initially, coming off the bench and gradually improving other elements of his game. His ceiling is high and he has bright future ahead of him, thanks to his high basketball IQ and 3-level scoring ability.
QUOTES ABOUT HOMESLEY
Ritchie McKay (Liberty Head Coach – after Liberty’s first ever victory in NCAA Tournament against Mississippi State): “I just think he was cookin’. He felt it. I think when he got fouled … and we were down 10 and he went to the line and made three, just seeing the ball go in consistently, I think, usually lends for a heightened sense of the rim being bigger. It seemed like for Caleb it was like that.”
Ritchie McKay (Liberty Head Coach – after Homelsey’s red-shirt freshman season): “I told him he wasn’t going to make it here, he was the laziest, softest, non-workingest dude that had that much talent that I had ever seen. Now he’s a pro… He’s got a lot more ahead of him if he keeps pursuing it the way he is. He’s special.”
Pedro Calles (Hamburg Towers Head Coach): “In addition to his versatility as a player, we also appreciate his character. He can be used offensively and defensively in several positions, which is exactly what we have been looking for in recent weeks.“
RPG RATING: 67.0
VIDEO SCOUTING REPORT
Το RPG Radar επιστρέφει με την πασχαλινή του έκδοση και αυτή τη φορά ταξιδεύει ΒΑ, μετά την παρουσίαση δύο παικτών από το Ισπανικό πρωτάθλημα. Σήμερα εστιάζουμε σε έναν ανερχόμενο παίκτη, ο οποίος παρόλο που βρίσκεται στη rookie season του στην Ευρώπη, ήδη εντυπωσιάζει στη Γερμανική BBL και στο Eurocup. Ο λόγος για τον Caleb Homesley, τον πολυσύνθετο wing του Αμβούργο με τη μεγάλη επιρροή στην ομάδα του.
Η πορεία του
Γεννημένος στις 27/11/1996 στο Indian Trail, της μπασκετομάνας North Caroline, o Homesley ήταν ένα τυπικό παιδί της περιοχής, με «τρέλα» για το μπάσκετ από μικρή ηλικία. Η γιαγιά του, Vera Homesley, έχει να διηγείται ότι οι πρώτες του λέξεις ήταν “shoot me ball”, καθώς από μωρό δίπλωνε χαρτιά και τα πετούσε στους κουβάδες! Ο Homesley πέρναγε αρκετό καιρό με τη γιαγιά του, με τους γονείς του να εργάζονται για πολλές ώρες στο οικογενειακό εστιατόριο.
Καθώς μεγάλωνε, έγινε φίλαθλος του κολεγίου Davidson, το οποίο ήταν στην περιοχή, το οποίο είναι ευρέως γνωστό για τη θητεία του Steph Curry σε αυτό. Μάλιστα μια φορά που ο Homesley είχε επισκεφθεί το γήπεδο για να δει παιχνίδι της αγαπημένης του ομάδας, όταν μετά τη λήξη του κάποιος παίκτης προθυμοποιήθηκε να τον σηκώσει ψηλά για να σκοράρει, ο ίδιος χαμογέλασε ειρωνικά και πήρε την μπάλα, πετυχαίνοντας μόνος του ένα lay up! Το ταλέντο του ήταν εμφανές από τα παιδικά του χρόνια και κάπως έτσι αγωνίστηκε στο γυμνάσιο στο τοπικό Porter Ridge.
Η junior χρονιά του στο γυμνάσιο ήταν ξεχωριστή, καταφέρνοντας να «μετράει» 20 pts, 5 rebs και 3 asts μ.ο. και προσελκύοντας το ενδιαφέρον αρκετών κολεγίων. Ωστόσο, στάθηκε άτυχος την επόμενη χρονιά, με ένα σοβαρό τραυματισμό που του στέρησε τη συμμετοχή στην τελευταία senior season. Μετά την αποφοίτησή του, αποφάσισε να επιλέξει την πρόταση του Liberty, απορρίπτοντας πολλές άλλες προσφορές από mid-level προγράμματα, όπως Gardner-Webb, HighPoint, Kent State and UNC Greensboro.
Ωστόσο, τα πράγματα δεν εξελίχθηκαν ευνοϊκά στην αρχή, με τον προπονητή του Liberty να δηλώνει ότι ο Homesley δεν ήταν έτοιμος για αυτό το επίπεδο, προτείνοντας του μετακίνηση σε κολλέγιο της Division II. Αυτό κινητοποίησε και έδωσε πρόσθετο κίνητρο στο Homesely, που δεν το έβαλε κάτω και σταδιακά βρήκε θέση στο rotation της ομάδας. Αγωνίστηκε σε 32 παιχνίδια συνολικά τη σεζόν 2015 – 16, έχοντας 7.2 pts, 3.4 rebs και 1.3 asts μ.ο. Η χρονιά, πάντως, έληξε άδοξα, με τους Flames να «αποχαιρετάνε» μόλις στον 1ο γύρο του τουρνουά της Big South, μετά τη βαριά ήττα τους με 49 – 80 από το UNC Asheville.
Η επόμενη σεζόν θα ξεκινούσε με προσδοκίες και όνειρα αλλά θα κατέληγε σε εφιάλτη. Ο Homesley είχε κερδίσει την εμπιστοσύνη του προπονητή του, αυξάνοντας το χρόνο συμμετοχής του από 20’ ανά αγώνα ως freshman, σε 28’. Ωστόσο, ένας ακόμη τραυματισμός στο δεξί του γόνατο θα σήμανε πρόωρο τέλος και θα τον ανάγκαζε να μείνει εκτός παρκέ για πολλούς μήνες. Σε αυτό το διάστημα δούλεψε σκληρά για αποκατάσταση, με το γυμναστή της ομάδας, Henry Barrera και κατάφερε να επιστρέψει δριμύτερος!
Η red-shirt sophomore season (2017 – 18) θα τον βοηθούσε να ανακτήσει την αυτοπεποίθηση του, μπαίνοντας αργά και σταθερά στο rotation. Είχε 7.9 pts, 4.5 rebs, 1.9 asts και 0.7 κλεψίματα ανά αγώνα. Το Liberty ηττήθηκε με 52 – 55 στον τελικό της περιφέρειας από το Radford σε ένα παιχνίδι, που θα ήταν το τελευταίο του στα πλαίσια της Big South, καθώς από την επόμενη χρονιά μετακόμισε στην Atlantic Sun Conference!
Οι Flames έγιναν άμεσα η κορυφαία ομάδα της ASUN και ο Homesley, μαζί με τον Scottie James ήταν τα αστέρια του ρόστερ. Το κολέγιο τερμάτισε στην 1η θέση της περιφέρειας και κατέκτησε τον τίτλο, νικώντας στον τελικό το Lipscomb, χάρις στους 16 pts του ίδιου. Ο Homesley θα γινόταν ο ηγέτης και σε μια ιστορική νίκη για το Liberty, την πρώτη στην ιστορία του στο NCAA Tournament, απέναντι στο φαβορί MSU των Lamar Peters, Aric Holman και Tyson Carter. Όχι μόνο σκόραρε 30 pts με 10/16 σουτ, αλλά οδήγησε την ομάδα του στην ανατροπή σε ένα παιχνίδι, όπου στο μεγαλύτερο διάστημα έχανε με διψήφια διαφορά!
Το επόμενο εμπόδιο, όμως, θα ήταν υψηλότερο και παρά την προσπάθεια, το Liberty ηττήθηκε στη φάση των “32” από το Virginia Tech με 58 – 67. Ο Homesley είχε κατορθώσει να επιστρέψει από τον τραυματισμό του πιο δυνατός και σε καλή κατάσταση. Αγωνίστηκε σε 36 αγώνες, με 12.4 pts (70.2% στις βολές, 46.1% στα σουτ εντός παιδιάς και 31.1% στα τρίποντα), 5.6 rebs, 2.7 asts, 0.7 stls, 0.6 bls και 1.4 tovs μ.ο.
Θα συνέχιζε με τους ίδιους ρυθμούς και ως red-shirt senior, οδηγώντας το Liberty σε ρεκόρ 13 – 3 στην περιφέρεια και 30 – 4 συνολικά και σε μια «τρελή κούρσα» στο τουρνουά της ASUN, όπου απέκλεισε διαδοχικά το NJIT και Stetson προτού κερδίσει στον τελικό ξανά το Lipscomb! Σε αυτά τα παιχνίδια ο Homesley είχε 18.7 pts και ήταν έτοιμος για άλλη μια παράσταση στο NCAA Tournament, αλλά το ξέσπασμα της πανδημίας του χάλασε τα σχέδια. Ο Homesley αποφοίτησε με τον τίτλο του καλύτερου παίκτη της ASUN για το 2020 και ως ο 10ος σκόρερ και 8ος ριμπάουντερ στην ιστορία του κολεγίου.
Παρόλου που δεν ήταν επιλογή στο ντραφτ του 2020, οι Wizards του έδωσαν την ευκαιρία να συμμετάσχει στο training camp. Μετά από αυτό έμεινε ελεύθερος και συνέχισε στη φούσκα της G League με τους Erie Bayhawks, με τους οποίους «μέτρησε» 9.3 pts, 4.2 rebs, 2.4 asts, 1.2 stls και 1.2 tovs μ.ό. Μέχρι το τέλος της περασμένης σεζόν δούλεψε για 1 μήνα με το βοηθό προπονητή της Washington, Alex McLean για να βελτιώσει τη δύναμη του. Οι Wizards του προσέφεραν πολυετές συμβόλαιο, το οποίο όμως τελικά δεν ενεργοποιήθηκε, παρά το πολύ καλό Summer League που είχε, καθώς η ομάδα έπρεπε να αδειάσει θέσεις στο ρόστερ για την υλοποίηση της μεταγραφής που έφερε στην πρωτεύουσα τους Dinwiddie, Kuzma, KCP και Harrell.
Το Hamburg θα ήταν ο επόμενος προορισμός του και ο πρώτος στην Ευρώπη. Ο Homesley άμεσα έγινε ο go-to-guy της ομάδας και παρά τα σκαμπανεβάσματά του και το πληθωρικό του παιχνίδι (30 USG% στο Eurocup), με αρκετές τραβηγμένες προσπάθειες, είναι από τους κορυφαίους παίκτες της διοργάνωσης (4ος σκόρερ). Σε 40 παιχνίδια συνολικά μέχρι σήμερα (14/4/2022) έχει 16.6 pts (76% στις βολές, 48.5% στα δίποντα και 34.1% στα τρίποντα), 3.8 rebs, 4.7 asts, 0.9 stl, 0.5 bl και 2.7 tovs μ.ο.
To προφίλ
Φέτος σε πολλές περιστάσεις χρησιμοποιείται ως βασικός χειριστής και ως ο παίκτης που παίρνει τις αποφάσεις, έχοντας playmaking καθήκοντα, με αρκετή «ελευθερία» από τον προπονητή του όσον αφορά την εκτέλεση και τη δημιουργία, με αποτέλεσμα κάποιες φορές να είναι επιρρεπής στο λάθος και σε κακές επιλογές, ειδικά όταν έχει απέναντι του σκληρές άμυνες. Στο scouting report που ακολουθεί μπορείτε να δείτε όλα τα στοιχεία του παιχνιδιού του, καθώς και τα συν και πλην της περίπτωσης του. Συνολικά, ο Homesley είναι παίκτης με επιθετικό ταλέντο και έφεση στο 1vs1, ο οποίος μπορεί να σταθεί στην Euroleague, εφόσον βρει ισορροπία στην επίθεση και βελτιώσει τις αποφάσεις του, όντας πιο «οικονομικός» και καταφέρει να ανταποκριθεί στο physical game, τόσο σωματικά, όσο και πνευματικά.
SOURCES
Caleb Homesley – Liberty Flames
THE FLAMES’ SPARK: Caleb Homesley emerges as consistent offensive spark for No. 12 Liberty | AP News
Is Caleb Homesley Part of the Washington Wizards’ future? (wizofawes.com)
Liberty product Caleb Homesley earns EuroCup MVP honors – Eurohoops
Homesley, Rode pace Liberty to 66-60 win over Radford (usatoday.com)
Homesley, Cuffee lead Liberty past Lipscomb, 73-57 (republicworld.com)
Caleb Homesley is ready to lead Liberty on another NCAA Tournament run (basketballsocietyonline.com)
Caleb Homesley preparing for NBA Draft | A Sea of Red
Hamburg Towers: Caleb Homesley is lucky – Archysport
Basketball: The Hamburg Towers and the Homesley Mystery – Hamburger Abendblatt
