by Alex Schwartz

Daniel Orton is one of America's best big men, and is a consensus top three center. Standing 6'10.5, the Athletes Elite First (OK) baller is a key member of one of the nation's top AAU squads. He is arguably the best interior defender in the the country, and it's clear why, as he is completely dominant in the low post when the opposition has the ball. After an impressive defensive performance in a win in pool play at the AAU Super Showcase in Orlando, Florida, I had a chance to speak with Orton.

NB: What’s it like being on such a high-quality AAU team with so many talented players?
DO: Well first of all, you’ve got to know your role. Everybody on this team has a role of course. Some people have superstar roles, some people have lower roles, and that’s just the main thing, just knowing your role and playing within yourself.

NB: What’s your role?
DO: [To] rebound, block shots, and score occasionally, when they need me to.

NB: You said scoring occasionally. How do you think [that] helps you develop other parts of your game with this AAU team?
DO: It helps me to really just focus on my rebounding and defense because in high school I have to score obviously, but it really helps my defensive game and the defensive aspect of it.

NB: You mentioned high school, how do you think some of the younger players on your high school team . . . look up to you as a player that they can model their game after or look up to in how they play the game?
DO: They just need to take to take everything and model their game after somebody of course, like you said.

NB: What do you consider to be the strongest point of your game?
DO: [Pause] Defense, defense, I’d have to say defense definitely.

NB: What specifically?
DO: Blocking shots . . . and staying with my man basically. . . . I’m really good at playing my man.

NB: What’s the weakest point of your game?
DO: I’d have to say my shooting right now, definitely my shooting.

NB: How are you working on that?
DO: I’m trying to shoot at least 300 shots a day. . . I’ve been getting up 200 occasionally, but I haven’t been [going] to the gym like I need to be of course, but that’s going to come along with the summer time [ending]. . . . As soon as that’s over with, I can focus on just working out instead of playing AAU basketball . . . every day.

NB: What colleges are you currently thinking about?
DO: I have a list of seven, it’s UCLA, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Ohio St., Connecticut, and Kentucky.

NB: What would you say is your top three right now?
DO: Top three? I don’t have a top three really.

NB: When do you plan on cutting your list down?
DO: By the end of the summer. I’m probably going to make my decision in the late signing period also.

NB: All seven of those schools have offered, correct?
DO: Yes, that’s correct.

NB: What’s actually going to go into your decision? What’s going to . . . lead you to choosing the right school for you?
DO: Just the feel of it basically, just how comfortable I feel there and if I can . . . feel comfortable there for four years, if I like the coach, and like the players there, and like the tradition, the fans, fan support, and all that.

NB: You mentioned four years, you do plan on going to college for four years?
DO: I don’t, but things happen, so you got to be prepared.

NB: How long do you plan on going for?
DO: One, maybe two [years], hopefully.

NB: Are you going to go into college with that plan, or is it going to be whatever happens?
DO: I’m going to go into college with than plan definitely.

NB: Give me one word to sum up your game.
DO: [Pause] Different, different.

There has been some talk that the centers in the class of 2009 are not anything to write home about. Regardless of whether or not that is the case, it's clear that Daniel Orton is a special talent. It was circulating not too long ago that Orton had made a comment on a group in Facebook that he was going to get some players together, including Duke-commit Mason Plumlee '09 and North Carolina-commit John Henson '09, and commit to Kentucky. I asked Daniel about it and he said, "that wasn't me," adding, "someone hacked into my account." So, that clers the air on that matter. Something else that is clear is that Orton saying that his game is "different" truly is a great way to sum up the way he plays, as the big man is a unique baller. If Orton continues to grow, he could be one of the most dominant shot blockers we've seen in quite some time. Daniel Orton is without a doubt a player to watch out for down the line.

Scouting Report on Daniel Orton
Daniel Orton is huge, both in his physical size and his presence on the court. Defensively, he is absolutely amazing. Orton is active down low and has quick hands to go along with his overall great size and fantastic presence. Daniel effectively uses his long arms to alter shots and tries to block everything in the paint. Orton, who wears a heavy-duty brace on his left need, does need to bulk up a bit. Offensively, the big man gets put-back dunks, has good court vision, and is a solid vision. He has the tools to become more of complete player by improving his offensive game, but is not quite there yet, and flat-out needs to score more. On the other side of the ball though, Daniel Orton is completely dominant, as his interior defense is almost out-of-this-world.

Note- photo is of http://scouthoops.scout.com/.