HOT RECRUITING INFORMATION FOR JUNE 2010

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

It looks like 6'10 Soph Ismaila Dauda from Boca Raton (Grandview Prep) FL had some Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in him at this week's High Potential Blue Chip Basketball Camp at Georgetown College and Georgetown, KY.  This is a guy who is ranked #28 nationally in the sophomore class by the HOOP SCOOP and already is verbally committed to Miami-FL.  But Dauda appeared to on track to be the biggest bust in camp prior to the Top 30 All-Star Game, as nobody was talking about him being one of the better players in camp.  However, the quickly changed once the Top 30 All-Star Game tipped off, as Dauda impressed everybody with his explosiveness around the basket, which he used to block shots, rebound, and score around the basket.  He finished with 25 points, most of which came off of dunks, en route to game MVP honors for the White Team.  We also really liked Dauda's combination of size, athleticism, and upside and potential, but were critical of how many times he cherry picked at the defensive end and his propensity to drift out on the perimeter and attempt 3-pointers.  The other player who really came up big in this game was 6'7 Jr Jack Stewart from Ft. Thomas (Highlands) FL, who finished with 23 points and took home game MVP honors for his team.  He hit three 3-pointers, but the rest of his points came off transition, as he did a good job running the court and finishing on the break.  We also were very impressed with 6'8 Jr Andrew Smith from Pompono Beach (Highlands Christian) FL, who finished with 11 points and was named the camp's Runner-up MVP.  However, even more important, we're talking about a major sleeper for the big time college level who reminds us of Florida's Chandler Parsons, but with more toughness and better athleticism.  He also was named the Slam Dunk Champ, showed a nice looking 3-point shot early in the Top 30 All-Star Game, and impressed us with his quickness around the basket and ability to pass, block shots, and run the court.  Smith also told us that schools like Temple, Richmond, Stanford, Cornell, and Florida are showing the most interest and confirmed that he has a 3.9 gpa.  We also liked the way 6'5 Jr Joseph Edwards from Westchester (St. Joseph) IL, who was named the camp's MVP, slashed to the basket, played defense, and made things happen in the open court.  He also finished with eight points in the Top 30 All-Star Game.  And how could we not be intrigued with 6'4 Jr Jay Hook from Waco (Midway) TX, who finished with 13 points and more often than beat everybody up and down the court with or without the ball?  The only problem is that Hook's totally wild and has no conscience when it comes time to pull the trigger from well beyond the arc.   Some other players who play well in the Top 30 All-Star Game and, as a result, need to be mentioned include 6'8 Jr Zygimantas Riauka from Downers Grove (South) IL, 6'6 Michael Speicher from Luzern, Switzerland, 6'7 Jr Bernard Brame from Harvey (Thornton) IL, 6'3 Jr Jake Simpson from Louisville (Pleasure Ridge Park) KY, 6'1 Soph Reginald Johnson from Westchester (St. Joseph) IL, 6'0 Soph Charles Foster from Louisville (Trinity) KY, 6'1 Jr Morgan Toliver from New Albany (H.S.) IN, and 5'8 Frosh Mike Smith from Lexington (Sayre) KY.  Smith didn't score a lot of points, but he made the game better with his ability to penetrate and dish, competitiveness, and willingness to defend.  And apparently Rick Bolus and the other people who ran the camp agree, as Smith was named the camp's Top Underclassman.  Toliver did most of his damage in transition, but he did pull-up and hit one 3-pointer late in the game.  Foster scored in a variety of ways.  Johnson is an unselfish point guard who impressed us with his athleticism, ability to shoot the three, and play either guard spot.  Simpson is a tough white kid who can shoot and thrives in an up tempo setting.  Brame is a raw athlete with a long wing span and an explosiveness around the basket.  Speicher has good hands and timing, which makes him a good rebounder, and he's very good at getting his shot off the dribble.  Riauke scores around the basket, gets more than his share of rebounds, competes in the low post, and does a good job running the court.  The rest of the list of players named to play in the Top 30 All-Star Game were 6'7 Davante McCallum from Hollywood (Christian) FL, 6'6 Jr Nathan Dieudonne from Louisville (Trinity) KY, 6'3 Jr Brian Greene from Harvey (Thornton) IL, 6'3 Soph Jermaine Rutley from Radcliff (North Hardin) KY, 6'1 Soph Justin Gonyea from Hayesville (H.S.) NC, 5'11 Jr Gavin Schumann from Cincinnati (Roger Bacon) OH, 5'10 Jr Evan Forhetz from Brentwood (Ravenwood) TN, 6'2 Jr  Joevontae Arnold from Jackson (Liberty Tech) TN, 6'5 Jr J.T. Curtis from Franklin (Franklin-Simpson) KY, 6'4 Jr Chad McDowell from Louisville (Pleasure Ridge Park) KY, 6'5 Jr Antonio Ferrell from Springfield (H.S.) OH, 6'3 Soph Marcus Neely from Ft. Lauderdale (Cardinal Gibbons) FL, 6'2 Jr Pedro Faller from Chattanooga (Hamilton Heights Christian) TN, 6'3 Jr Robert Clark from Westchester (St. Joseph) IL, 5'10 Soph Paul Beene from Chicago (Leo) IL, 6'2 Jr Lorenzo Mehciz from Charleston (Military Magnet) SC, and 6'5 Soph Maurice Joiner from Chicago (Leo) IL.  Some of the other award winners include 6'6 Jr Nason Roberts from Hindman (Knott County Central) KY, who was named the Top Sleeper; 6'4 Soph Brian Oddo from New Lenox (Providence Catholic) IL, who was the Most Improved; 5'8 Jr Anthony Myrks from Bardstown (H.S.) KY and 6'0 Jr Chris Tarleton from Chicago (Leo) IL, who were the Top Ball Handlers; 6'2 Jr Harry Cross from Jeffersontown (H.S.) KY, who was the Best Passer, 6'4 T.J. Payne from Whitesville, KY, who was the Best Defender; 6'2 Jr Derek Bourke from Nokomis (H.S.) IL, who was the Best Rebounder; 5'11 Soph Kyle Bush from Ashland (Paul Blazer) KY and 5'3 Soph Evin Bartlett from Huber Heights (Wayne) OH, who received awards for playing 110%; 5'9 Soph Connor Robinson from Grayson (East Carter) KY, who was the Top Station Worker; 5'9 Soph Marcus Trey from Stanton (Powell County) KY, who was the Top Shooter; 6'2 Soph Zach McGeorge from Winchester (Clay County) KY and 5'8 Frosh Sam Sergeant from Owensboro (H.S.) KY, who displayed the Best Attitudes; 6'4 8th Grader Kyle Dunn from Waukegan (Lake County Baptist) IL, who was the Frontline Free Throw Champ; 5'11 Frosh Sevaughn Collins from Columbus (Independence) OH, who was the Backcourt Free Throw Champ; 6'3 Soph Jonathan Sulak from Temple (H.S.) TX, who was the Frontline Hot Shot Champ; 6'0 Jr Robbie Johnson from Sparta (White County) TN, who was the Backcourt Hot Shot Champ; 6'4 Soph Brian Oddo from New Lenox (Providence Catholic) IL, who was the Frontline 3-Point Shooting Champ; 6'4 Jr Jay Hook from Waco (Midway) TX, who as the Backcourt 3-Point Shooting Champ; and 6'0 9th Grader Erick Locke from Evanston (Township) IL, who was named the MVP in the Junior Camp, which featured all of the top middle school players in camp. 

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

It's crunch time for the HOOP SCOOP with the Summer Evaluation Period for Division I college coaches only a week away and the plan is to publish our Final Ranking of the Top Players Nationally in the Class of 2010 on Friday, our Final Ranking of the Top Recruiting Classes and our Ranking of the Top Recruiting Classes by Conference over the weekend, and our Different Ways to Look at Recruiting Section next Monday.  And, in addition to all that, I also plan to attend the all-star game at Rick Bolus' High Potential Blue Chip Camp in Georgetown, KY tomorrow night and spend most of Friday at the NY2LASports.com Futures Camp in Milwaukee, WI.  My schedule for the rest of the summer also promises to be equally crazy, as my first stop will be at the adidas Invitational in Indianapolis, IN on Tuesday, July 6th, and Wednesday, July, 7th.  Then it will be off to the LeBron James King City Classic in Cleveland, OH on Thursday, July 8th, and Friday, July 9th; the Big Shots Tournament in Myrtle Beach, SC on Saturday, July 10th, and Sunday, July 11th; the NIKE Peach Jam in North Augusta, SC on July 12th-15th; the AAU 14-Under Nationals in Orlando, FL on July 16th-20th; the adidas Super 64 Tournament and the Las Vegas Fab 48 Tournament in Las Vegas, NV on July 22nd-26th; the Desert Dual in Phoenix, AZ on July 27th-28th; the Best of the Summer Classic in Anaheim, CA on July 29th-31st; and the adidas Junior Phenom Camp in San Diego, CA on August 5th-7th.  And, looking even further down the road, Greg Procino, who is the Director of Events and Awards at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, provides us with a tentative list of teams that will be participating on Martin Luther King Weekend in the 2011 Spalding Hoophall Classic at Springfield College in Springfield, MA.  It includes Byrn Athyn (Academy of the New Church) PA, Las Vegas (Bishop Gorman) NV, Middle Village (Christ the King) NY, Dallas (Lincoln) TX, Hyattsville (DeMatha) MD, East Hartford (H.S.) CT, Henderson (Findlay Prep) NV, Chatham (Hargrave Military) VA, New Haven (Hillhouse) CT, Jamesville (Jamesville-Dewitt) NY, Burlington (Life Center) NJ, Memphis (Melrose) TN, Alpharetta (Milton) GA, Chicago (Morgan Park) IL, Mt. Vernon (H.S.) NY, New London (H.S.) CT, Newtonville (Newton North) MA, Norfolk (Christian) VA, Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA, Seattle (Garfield) WA, Barrington (St. Andrews) RI, Jersey City (St. Anthony) NJ, Davers (St. John's Prep) MA, Oakdale (St. Thomas More) CT, Woodland Hills (Taft) CA, Webster Groves (H.S.) MO, and High Point (Westchester Country Day) NC.  Obviously the quality of talent and the level of the teams is second to none.  But it's the big time atmosphere and first class way they run this three-day extravaganza that makes this one of our favorite events of the entire year.  Now also is a good time catch you up on all of the late signings and commitments that have occurred since we last addressed this subject 13 days ago.  We start with the commitment that 6'2 Aaron Cosby from Northfield (Northfield-Mt. Hermon) MA just made to Seton Hall.  And this is big for the Pirates for a number of reasons.  First, Cosby is a pretty good player, as is evident by the fact that we currently have him ranked #162 nationally in the junior class.  Second, he's versatile enough to play either guard spot, which means he's ideally suited to step in immediately a year from now and provide valuable depth at both the one and the two.  Third, Cosby will be a 5th Year Player, which means that he will have an extra year of maturity when he enrolls into school a little over a year from now.  Fourth, he's got big time athleticism and is capable of putting up prolific numbers with his ability to both  slash to the basket and knock it down from beyond the arc.  Fifth, Cosby is originally from Louisville, KY, which means that Seton Hall head coach Kevin Willard, who used to be an assistant coach at the University of Louisville, has gone back to his old stamping grounds to get this one done.  There also was the late addition of 6'5 Norvell Arnold from Southeastern Iowa (JC) IA to a recruiting class by Utah State that now is tied at #51, along with Middle Tennessee State, Liberty, Utah State, and Long Beach State, on our list of the Top Recruiting Classes To-Date for the Class of 2010 and already includes 6'3 Antonio Bumpus from Harcum (JC) PA, 6'2 Brokeith Payne from Midland (JC) TX 6'8 Ben Clifford from Bingham (South Jordan) UT, 6'2 Vaughn Autry from Gardena (J. Serra) CA, and 6'2 James Walker from Los Alamitos (H.S.) CA.  Arnold was ranked #21 in the junior college ranks by JucoJunction.com and averaged 18.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg, and 2.1 spg and shot 52.0% from the field this past season.  It also looks like we knew what we were talking about when we told you that Marshall was the team to beat for 6'9 J.P. Kombala from Newark (St. Benedict's) NJ, who is ranked #168 nationally in the senior class by the HOOP SCOOP.  Kombala is raw offensively, but has big time athleticism, blocks shots, rebounds, runs the court, is excellent in an up tempo setting, and has a huge upside.  The only problem is that he still hasn't made it academically, which means new Thundering Herd head coach Tommy Herrion and his staff may have to wait another year to get him.  We also have confirmed the late addition of 5'7 Justin Burrell from Waynesboro (Fitchburg Military) VA to Holy Cross.  If you willl recall, Burrell originally signed with Mt. St. Mary's.  But this spring he was released from his National Letter-of-Intent after Milan Brown left to become the new boss of the to Crusaders and now is following Brown to Holy Cross.  And Burrell is exactly what the doctored ordered, because he's strong, quick, and athletic, has good ball handling and passing skills, and knows when to speed the game up and when to slow it down.  There also are the two early verbal commitments by 6'2 Jr Alexis Moore from Long Beach (Poly) CA and 6'7 Soph Arik Armstead from Elk Grove (Pleasant Grove) CA to USC.  And it looks like Armstead, who is a 6'7, 270-pound physical specimen, won't count towards USC's 13-scholarship limit in basketball due to the fact that he's also a force to be reckoned with on the gridiron and, as a result, a year-and-a-half from now plans to sign a National Letter-of-Intent to play football for the Trojans.

Sunday, June 27, 2010, & Monday, June 28, 2010

The cream rose to the top at this year's adidas Phenom 150 Camp over the weekend in San Diego, CA, as 6'5 Frosh Chris Thomas from Denver, CO, 6'3 Frosh Tyree Robinson from San Diego (Lincoln) CA, and 6'3 Frosh Tyrell Robinson from San Diego (Lincoln) CA took turns totally dominating the Rising 10th Grade Division of the camp.  All three have freak-like athleticism and Thomas not only dominated the camp from start-to-finish, but he also capped things off with what seemed like a never ending array of dunks off transition en route to 27 points and co-MVP honors honors in the all-star game.  The other all-star game MVP was Tyrell Robinson, who was the leading scorer in the game with 28 points.  However, his twin brother had a better week, which explains why he is ranked #2 in camp in our Exclusive Ranking of the Top Players in Camp, which can be found exclusively on the yellow links page immediately after you sign into the Members Section.  And 6'6 Frosh Jordan Swopshire from O'Fallon (H.S.) IL, who finished ranked #1 at the center spot and #4 overall in this age group, might also have been in that elite group, along with Thomas and the twins, if he had not left camp early and missed the all-star game.  On the other hand, 6'5 Frosh Semilore Ojeleye from Ottawa, KS changed his travel plans to make sure that we got another look at him in the all-star game.  And it's a good thing that he did, because he was one of the better players in the game, as he finished with 10 points and impressed us with his inside/outside game.  Another highlight in the all-star game was the terrific 3-point shooting by 6'2 Frosh Trayvond Collins from Midland, TX , who hit five 3-pointers, including three in row, and finished with 21 points, and 6'1 Frosh Bryce Alford from Albuquerque, NM, who had three treys of his own en route to 15 points.  We also have to give 6'0 Frosh Travon Landry from San Antonio, TX his just due, as he made the best out of a bad situation (his was the worst team in the Rising 10th Grade Division) and he did a great job of distributing the basketball and making his teammates better in the all-star game.  The two best players in the Rising 9th Grade Division and the co-MVP's All-Star Game were 6'0 8th Grader Alex Robinson from Arlington, TX and 6'0 8th Grader Ajon Efferson from Altadena, CA.  Neither put up the prolific numbers that Thomas, Robinson, and Collins did in the Rising 9th Grade All-Star Game.  But they both did a great job of running the show, making their teammates better, and leading their team in scoring with 12 points and 11 points respectively.  Another big hero in the Rising 9th Grade All-Star game was 5'10 8th Grader Ta-Ron Ayers from Beckley, WV, who hit the game winning shot in a triple overtime sudden death situation.  We also can't forget about 5'6 8th Grader Shawn Roundtree from Glen Carbon, IL, who tied the game with a lay-up to send the game into the first two-minute overtime.  We also were very impressed with the consistency of 6'0 8th Grader Darryl Gaynor from Las Vegas, NV, 5'10 8th Grader Aaron Bushner from Akron, OH, and 5'10 8th Grader Shaquille Carr from Las Vegas, NV from start-to-finish of the camp.  Carr is more of a slasher than a shooter.  But he is a great passer and is very unselfish in transition.  Bushner is a combo guard out the Kemba Walker mold and Gaynor put on a 3-point shooting exhibition on the second half of one camp game with least five treys.  One of the biggest overachievers and best 3-point shooters in camp was 5'8 8th Grader Caleb Tanner from Floyd, VA.  And he was big when compared to all pint size point guards, like 4'11 8th Grader Anthony Buserwini from Antelope, CA 5'4 8th Grader Matt Staubi from Rye, NY, 5'4 8th Grader Brocke Stepteau from Colleyville, TX, 5'1 8th Grader Clifford Wilson from Humble, TX, and 5'2 8th Grader Justin Pratt from Coeur d' alene, ID, who deserve major accolades for stepping up and more holding their own against the bigger and more physical guards in camp.  Speaking of the point guard position, this clearly was the best position in this age group, as is evident by the fact that three of the top four-ranked players and 17 of the top 50-ranked players played this position.  Now also is probably a good time to mention the fact that our rankings are a reflection of the camp and not necessary upside and potential.  We also attempted to assign each player a position, which was an especially difficult task, as some of the best multi-dimensional athletes, like 6'0 8th Grader Derrick Brooks from Hinesville, CA, 6'2 8th Grader Adonys Henriquez from Orlando, FL, and 6'2 8th Grader Rashad Jackson from Bakersfield, CA, decided that they would be their team's primary ball handler on offense, while playing the four or the five on defense.  Not only did this kill their team's chemistry, but it left most of the smaller and less talented players without a role.  We do have to give most of the players in camp an "A" for effort, but a "D" for lack of defense.  Among the most notable exceptions were the players who were named by the camp coaches to the camp's All-Defensive Team.  This list includes 5'11 Frosh Nicholas DeLeon from Bentonville, AR, 6'4 Frosh Brett Bailey from Spokane, WA, 5'9 Frosh Dejon Burdeaux from San LeAndro, CA, 6'7 Frosh Dylan Jones from Houston, TX, 5'10 Frosh Christian O'Neal from Lubbock, TX, 6'2 Frosh David Blackmon from Clovis, NM, 5'10 Frosh Jamison Andrus from Waco, TX,  4'11 8th Grader Anthony Buserwini from Antelope, CA, 5'7 8th Grader Lance Tejada from Orlando, FL, 5'8 8th Grader Andrew Dossman from Long Beach, CA, 5'9 8th Grader Hayden Mosley from Lake Mary, FL, 5'10 8th Grader Mitchell Baldwin from Birmingham, AL, 6'0 8th Grader Nazim Tahar from Phoenix, AZ, 5'10 8th Grader Paris Estrada from Las Vegas, NV, 6'1 8th Grader Nathaniel Chow from Sierra Madre, CA, 5'6 8th Grader Ryan Ubry from Loomis, CA, 6'3 8th Grader Dmitri Thompson from Orlando, FL, 6'1 8th Grader Xavier Jones from Cutler, CA, 5'11 8th Grader Avery James from Las Vegas, NV, 5'4 8th Grader Malik Leaks from Salem, OR, 5'8 8th Grader Myles Brewer from Nampa, VA, 5'4 8th Grader Malik Stewart from Las Vegas, NV, 5'6 8th Grader Kamar Reese from San Ramon, CA, 5'6 8th Grader Connor Kim from Atascadero, CA, and 6'2 8th Grader Jonathan Joseph from Orlando, FL.   Also very important is the list of players who received recognition for Sportsmanship.  It includes 6'1 Frosh Treyson Kennedy from Las Vegas, NV, 5'6 Frosh Michael Clemons from El Paso, TX, 5'6 Frosh Sean Williams from McDonough, GA, 6'3 Frosh Tyrell Robinson from San Diego, CA, 5'8 Frosh Raymund Gonzalvo from Elk Grove, CA, 5'9 Frosh Wyatt Houston from Santa Fe, NM, 5'8 Frosh Jeffery Keys from LaPlace, LA, 5'8 Frosh Forrest Riley from Ramona, CA, 5'10 8th Grader Kevin Saiz from Colorado Springs, CO, 5'7 8th Grader Aaren Edmead from Deer Park,, NY, 6'5 8th Grader Ryan Ashbaugh from Placitas, NM, 5'11 8th Grader Obim Okeke from Reno, NV, 5'10 8th Grader Mitchell Baldwin from Birmingham, AL, 5'7 8th Grader Anthony Bryant from Gilbert, AZ, 5'9 8th Grader Mickelle Amoranto from Long Beach, CA, 5'9 8th Grader Noah Rootham from Las Vegas, NV, 5'4 8th Grader Brock Stepteau from Colleyville, TX, 5'10 8th Grader Spencer Benson from Murrieta, CA, 5'6 8th Grader Marcus Jackson from Killeen, TX, 5'9 8th Grader Teron Davis from Harker Heights, TX, 6'0 8th Grader Cameron Delaney from Harker Heights, TX, 6'2 8th Grader Bola Alade from Murphy, TX, 5'4 8th Grader Malik Henry from Quitman, CA, 5'9 8th Grader Daniel Gonzales from Pittsburgh, CA, 5'9 8th Grader Justin Claus from Rio Dell, CA, 5'11 8th Grader Joshua Adams from Mission Viejo, CA, 5'9 8th Grader Jordan Seals from Cedar Hill, TX, and 5'11 8th Grader Malik John-Rocha from Fresno, CA.

Thursday, June 24, 2010, Friday, June 25, 2010, & Saturday, June 26, 2010

I have good news and bad news.  We'll start with the bad news, which is that the hard drive on my five-year-old computer crashed on Thursday while en route to the adidas Phenom 150 Camp in San Diego, CA.  The good news is that after some serious scrambling the last several days I have a brand new computer complete with an eight-hour battery life and the latest unlimited verizon wire card, which means I should be able to write and upload files from my computer to the HOOP SCOOP's web site with total ease and from just about anywhere.  And now that this major headache is out of the way I can turn my complete focus onto covering the just mentioned camp, which features a long list of excellent players that we've already seen including 6'5 Frosh Chris Thomas from Denver, CO, 6'3 Frosh Tyree Robinson from San Diego, CA, 6'3 Frosh Tyrell Robinson from San Diego, CA, 6'1 Frosh Bryce Alford from Albuquerque, NM, 6'3 Frosh Cullen Neal from Albuquerque, NM, 6'6 Frosh Jordan Swopshire from O'Fallon, IL, 6'0 Frosh Travon Landry from San Antonio, TX, 5'6 Frosh Akil Bordelon from Oakland, CA,6'10 Frosh Mike Tobey from Harmin, NY, 6'7 Frosh Jeffery Beverly from League City, TX, 5'10 8th Grader Ta-Ron Ayers from Beckley, WV, 6'0 8th Grader Derrick Brooks from Los Angeles, CA, 6'0 8th Grader Darryl Gaynor from Las Vegas, NV, 5'6 8th Grader Shawn Roundtree from Glen Carbon, IL, 5'10 8th Grader Shaquille Carr from North Las Vegas, NV, 5'6 8th Grader Anthony Buserwini from Antelope, CA, 6'6 8th Grader Brady Anderson from Carmichael, CA, 5'10 8th Grader Jaylen Hunter from Katy, TX, 5'10 8th Grader Mitchell Baldwin from Birmingham, AL, 5'10 8th Grader Paris Estrada from Las Vegas, NV, 6'1 8th Grader Termir Durham from Philadelphia, PA, and 8th Grader Brocke Stepteau from Colleyville, TX.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Our Ohio Editor Chris Johnson and special correspondent Devon Smith talked with a number of the players late last week at the  NBA Players Association Top 100 Camp at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA and they found out some very interesting things about their recruitment.  We start with 6'10 Jr Anthony Davis from Chicago (Perspectives Christian) IL, whose list, which now includes Ohio State, Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, Louisville, Syracuse, Duke, and North Carolina, has quickly become like a Who's Who of basketball's elite.  West Virginia and Louisville are believed to be the leaders for 6'7 Jr Chane Behanan from Bowling Green (H.S.) KY.  But he also mentioned Cincinnati, which is the school that he committed to when he was a freshman, Texas, Kansas, Connecticut, Oklahoma State, Georgia, and Florida.  The list for 6'4 Jr B.J. Young from Florissant (McCluer North) MO includes Indiana, Baylor, Marquette, Purdue, Xavier, Arizona, Southern Illinois, Illinois State, Iowa, and Virginia Tech.  We still think Indiana is the school you have to beat for 6'10 Jr Cody Zeller from Washington (H.S.) IN, but Purdue, Butler, Michigan, Ohio State, Florida, Texas, Wake Forest, and North Carolina promise to make things interesting.  The early list for 7'0 Soph Isaiah Austin from Arlington (Grace Prep) TX includes Kentucky, Baylor, Arkansas, Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, North Carolina, Duke, Georgetown, Syracuse, Miami-FL, Colorado, Texas, Texas A&M, Ohio State, and USC.  It looks like Kansas, Oklahoma, Georgetown, Wake Forest, and Oregon are the leaders for 6'2 Jr Josiah Turner from Sacramento (H.S.) CA.  St. John's, Cincinnati, Xavier, Baylor, Ohio State, Michigan State, Tennessee, USC, Miami-FL, Dayton, Kent State, and Akron were mentioned by 6'8 Jr Jakarr Sampson from Akron (St. Vincent-St. Mary's) OH.  The final five for 6'7 Jr Sam Thompson from Chicago (Whitney Young) IL are Ohio State, Florida, Oregon State, Kansas, and Georgetown.   It's appears to be a three-horse race among Georgia, Georgia, Tech, and N.C. State for 6'9 Jr Nick Jacobs from Atlanta (South Atlanta) GA.  Kansas, Kansas State, Memphis, Oklahoma, Stanford, North Carolina, USC, Wake Forest, Kentucky, and Wichita State are already involved with 6'8 Soph Perry Ellis from Wichita (Heights) KS.  Clemson, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Penn State, and Davison make up a very interesting list for 6'7 Jr Bernard Sullivan from Huntersville (North Mecklenburg) NC.  Washington, Oregon, Oregon State, California, USC, Gonzaga, Texas, Georgetown, Florida, Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, and Harvard were the schools mentioned by 6'8 Jr Landon Lucas from Portland (Sunset) OR.  Notre Dame, Indiana, Minnesota, N.C. State, Ohio State, Purdue, Northwestern, Duke, Virginia, and LSU are all in the hunt for 6'11 Jr Marshall Plumlee from Arden (The Christ School) NC.  The long list for 6'9 Jr Mikael Hopkins from Hyattsville (DeMatha) MD includes Syracuse, West Virginia, Miami-FL, Florida State, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Georgetown, Maryland, Villanova, Ohio State, Kansas, Texas, and Boston College.  It looks like 6'2 Jr Bishop Daniels from Raleigh (Word of God) NC doesn't want to go to far away home as his top five are Wake Forest, Georgetown, Clemson, South Carolina, and Miami-FL.  The early list for 5'11 Soph Tyler Lewis from Lewisville (Forsyth Country Day) NC includes North Carolina, Virginia, N.C. State, Miami-FL, Boston College, Wake Forest, Boston College, Mississippi, Virginia Tech, Virginia Commonwealth, Davidson, Richmond, Stanford, Baylor, Marquette, and Notre Dame.  The race is on among Massachusetts, South Florida, Villanova, Ohio State, and Maryland for 6'8 Jr Greg Lewis from Baltimore (St. Frances) MD.  Gonzaga, Wake Forest, Kansas, and all of the schools in the Pac-10 Conference are recruiting 6'9 Jr Kyle Wiltjer from Portland (Jesuit) OR.  Penn State, Wake Forest, West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Louisville, Syracuse, Georgetown, Stanford, Texas, Ohio State, and Florida State are showing the most early interest in 6'7 Soph Amile Jefferson from Wynnewood (Friends Central) PA.  The race is already on among schools like Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Wisconsin, Miami-Fl, Virginia, and Florida for 6'1 Soph Marcus Paige from Marion (Linn-Mar) IA.  Arkansas, Mississippi, Baylor, Memphis, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Florida, Miami-FL, Georgia Tech, and Georgetown are involved with 6'4 Jr Rashad Madden from LePanto (East Poinsett) AR.  West Virginia, Arizona, Providence, Boston College, Virginia Tech, and La Salle are showing the most interest in 6'7 Shaquille Thomas from Newark (Nia Prep) NJ.  The list for 6'3 Jr Jeremiah Davis from Muncie (Central) IN includes Michigan State, Indiana, Dayton, Tennessee, Ohio State, Cincinnati, Miami-FL and UNLV.  Among those already showing early interest in 6'6 Soph Soph J.P. Tokoto from Menomonee Falls (H.S.) WI are Marquette, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana, North Carolina, Iowa, Iowa State, Maryland, Texas, Duke, Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, and Arizona. 

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Our Florida Editor Rick Staudt was at the Hoop Mountain Junior Elite Showcase over the weekend in Orlando, FL and this event "is designed to bring the best players on this level from around the state into one place for a weekend of skills training and challenging games.”  At the top of the list is 6’1 8th Grader Joel Berry from Apopka, FL, who is HOOP SCOOP's #1-ranked player nationally in the Class of 2014.  “He’s got all the makings of a high-major guard at a very young age,” says Staudt.  “He scores well in traffic, hits the pull-up jumper, knocks down threes, handles the ball well against pressure, handles the ball well in traffic, makes good decisions, rebounds, and maybe most impressive of all defends like there is no tomorrow.”  The second best performer in camp was 6’4 8th Grader Rohan Blackwood from New Port Richey, FL.  “If there was a rebound or loose ball, it was Blackwood who got it," says Staudt.  "He was most likely the leading rebounder in the camp.  Even against bigger players, he got to the basketball first.  Blackwood doesn’t always make the first shot.  But 99.9% of the time he gets the ball back and makes the second.”  Right behind Berry in terms of talented perimeter players and ranked #3 in camp by Staudt was 6’2 8th Grader Richard Lee from Fort Lauderdale, FL.  “Lee is a strong bodied guard who is gifted offensively," says Staudt.  "He can score at the rim going to his right or left, has range out to the arc, and knows when and where to hit his teammates for easy buckets.”  The surprise of the camp was 6’1 8th Grader Elie Richards from Davie, FL.  “This guy backed down from nobody and challenged Berry on every possession when they squared off against one another." says Staudt.  "He’s not a highly skilled player.  But he’s strong, plays hard, is physical on the glass, and is nearly unstoppable when heading to the basket where he scores with consistency.”  The final player in the top five of the event was 6’6 8th Grader Michael Gilmore of Jacksonville, FL.  “Artis Gilmore’s nephew is long, runs the court well, shuts down the lane at the defensive end, and showed a good touch around the basket," says Staudt.  "He was definitely the best post player at the event.” The rest of Staudt’s top 60 players in the camp include 6) 5’10 8th Grader Isiah Thomas from Tampa, FL, 7) 6’3 8th Grader Blake McClain from Jacksonville, FL, 8) 6’5 8th Grader Kobe Eubanks from Fort Lauderdale, FL, 9) 6’2 8th Grader Marquel Willis from Orlando, FL, 10) 5’11 8th Grader Marshall Holmes from Tampa, FL, 11) 5’10 8th Grader Mitchell Wilbekin from Gainesville, FL, 12) 6’5 8th Grader Chase Litton from Tampa, FL, 13) 6’2 8th Grader Troy Willis from Leesburg,  FL, 14) 6’2 8th Grader Jace Hogan from Palm Bay, FL, 15) 6’1 8th Grader Austin Harrell from Gainesville, FL, 16) 5’10 8th Grader Lance Tejada from Orlando, FL, 17) 6’1 8th Grader Adonys Henriquez from Orlando, FL, 18) 5’9 8th Grader Lance Crawford from Davie, FL, 19) 6’4 8th Grader Isiah Jackson from Gainesville, FL, 20) 6’0 8th Grader Grayson Allen from Jacksonville, FL, 21) 6’6 8th Grader John Childs from New Port Richey, FL, 22) 6’4 8th Grader Dmitri Thompson from Orlando, FL, 23) 5’10 8th Grader Zac Johnson from Miramar, FL, 24) 5’9 8th Grader Hunter Osceola from Hollywood, FL, 25) 6’5 8th Grader Tyrell Williams from Miami, FL, 26) 6’6 7th Grader Cedric Wright from Fort Lauderdale, FL, 27) 6’1 7th Grader Matthew Milon from Winter Springs, FL, 28) 5’8 7th Grader Elijah Farley from Maitland, FL, 29) 5’11 7th Grader Andrew Fleming from Jacksonville, FL, 30) 6’4 7th Grader Edward Porter from Hawthorne (FL), 31) 6’3 7th Grader Eric Turner from Gainesville, FL, 32) 5’10 8th Grader Reggie Oliver from Orlando, FL, 33) 6’2 8th Grader Barry Johnson from Gainesville, FL, 34) 6’0 8th Grader Vosean Crumbie from Tallahassee, FL, 35) 6’0 8th Grader Kyle Brown from Winter Park, FL, 36) 6’4 8th Grader Chivarsky Corbett from Tampa, FL, 37) 5’10 8th Grader Justin Massey from Cooper City, FL, 38) 6’4 8th Grader Daquan Horton from Daytona Beach, FL, 39) 5’11 8th Grader Marvin Biggens from Tallahassee, FL, 40) 6’6 8th Grader Michael Clark from Tampa, FL, 41) 6’1 8th Grader DeAndre Turner from Orlando, FL, 42) 5’10 8th Grader Nick Marder from Stuart, FL, 43) 5’9 7th Grader Khalil Clerkley from Orlando, FL, 44) 6’1 7th Grader Antonio Blakeney from Sarasota, FL, 45) 5’4 6th Grader Andrew Wilbekin from Gainesville, FL, 46) 5’4 7th Grader Jordan Corblin from Boca Raton, FL, 47) 6’0 8th Grader Jason Massey from Cooper City, FL, 48) 6’1 8th Grader Jaquan Strawder from Gainesville, FL, 49) 6’3 8th Grader Jonathan Joseph from Orlando, FL, 50) 5’11 7th Grader Winston Joseph from Orlando, FL, 51) 6’4 8th Grader Devin Gooden from Tampa, FL, 52) 5’11 7th Grader Hannif Cheatham from Miami, FL, 53) 5’9 8th Grader Hayden Mosley from Lake Mary, FL, 54) 6’1 7th Grader Jacknelson Joseph from North Miami, FL, 55) 5’7 7th Grader Michael Green from Miramar, 56) 5’9 8th Grader Lee Norwood from Jupiter, FL, 57) 5’10 8th Grader Delvin Roberts from Miami, FL, 58) 5’4 7th Grader Matthew Hein from Windemere, FL, 59) 5’8 8th Grader Derrick Burns from Titusville, FL, and 60) 6’1 8th Grader Andy Wang from Weston, FL.

Monday, June 21, 2010

The Generation Next All-Star Camp, which was held over the weekend in the Kern Center in Milwaukee, WI, featured a number of the top players from the Midwest and around the nation.  And, believe it or not, I was there on Sunday and got to see the final two sessions of the camp.  The best player in camp clearly was 6'5 8th Grader Trevon Blueitt from Indianapolis, IN.  Not only was Blueitt named the co-MVP in the Rising 9th Grade Division, along with 6'1 8th Grader Dominique Collier from Denver, CO, but he also is versatile enough to play any position on the basket court.  Blueitt is active on the boards, has a knack for finding ways to score around the basket, is quick enough defensively to defend out on the perimeter, can shoot the three, is a good passer, and handles the ball extremely well for his size.  However, after that it gets tough as there was very little separation among Collier, 6'6 8th Grader Ricky Landers from Wauwatosa, WI, 5'8 8th Grader Shawn Roundtree from Glen Carbon, IL, 6'2 8th Grader Jonathan Carson from Milwaukee, WI, and 6'4 8th Grader Kevin Looney from Milwaukee, WI.  Looney is a multi-dimensional who uses his explosiveness to thrive in transition and score around the basket.  Carson is a great rebounder and a force to be reckoned with on the boards.  Roundtree is a scoring point guard with big time athleticism, that competitive edge, and the foot speed and quickness necessary to be a great defender,  Landers is a long lanky athletic big man with the ability to score, rebound, block shots, and pass out of the post.  Collier is an athletic point guard who is an excellent passer, makes good decisions, and does a nice job of making everybody around him better.  We also were impressed with 6'0 8th Grader Riley LaChance from Brookfield, WI, 6'4 8th Grader Jake Wright from Minneapolis, MN, 5'8 8th Grader Brad Newman from Milwaukee, WI, 6'2 8th Grader Jarelle Duberry from Milwaukee, WI, 6'6 8th Grader Sean O'Mara from Glen Ellyn, IL, 6'3 8th Grader Shawn Lenz from Mason City, IA, 6'5 8th Grader David Burrell from Milwaukee, WI, 5'10 8th Grader Lamonte Beardon from Milwaukee, WI, 5'11 8th Grader Reed Timmer from New Berlin, WI, and 6'1 8th Grader Michael Lukashewich from Appleton, WI.  And it appears that Antonio Curro, who is the driving force behind this camp, was also impressed with Lukashewich, as he took home the camp's Mr. Hustle Award.  Timmer is another high energy guy with good anticipation and timing and he always seemed to finished first or second in the sprints and conditioning drills.  Beardon is a slashing athletic 2-guard who likes to go coast-to-coast.  Burrell is a long lanky athletic shot blocker who is active around the basket.  O'Mara is a skilled big man with a good hands, excellent post moves, and a tremendous wing span.  Newman is small quick point guard who is an excellent passer and ball handler and makes things happen in transition.  Wright has the size and willingness to compete necessary to get it done inside and the 3-point shot and perimeter skills necessary to play away from the basket.  LaChance is an excellent passer and he knows how to get his shot, which made him one of the most effective 3-point shooters in camp.  The guy who pretty much stole the show in the younger age group was 5'9 7th Grader Sedrick Barefield from Temecula, CA.  Not only was Barefield named the Best Rising 8th Grader in Camp, but he also was our choice for MVP honors in the all-star game and he has the complete package for a point guard with the explosiveness necessary to beat his man off the dribble, the willingness to defend, good ball handling and passing skills, the ability to shoot the three, and a high basketball IQ.  There also was 5'10 6th Grader Amir Coffey from Brooklyn Park, MN, who clearly was the best of the 10 6th Graders who were playing up a year in camp.  Coffey has excellent size for the point guard spot and he did a good job running the show with his excellent ball handling and passing skills.  However, when the smaller and quicker point guards decided they wanted a piece of the action, Coffey also was adept at stepping over to the wing spot and nailing his jump shot and defending out on the perimeter.  We also really liked 7th Grader 6'3 7th Grader Darion King from Racine, WI.  Not only does have big time athleticism and is active around the basket and tough on the boards, but he also knows how to get his shot and come off the screen.  The guy with the best scorer's mentality in camp was 6'0 7th Grader Kamil Williams from West Palm Beach, FL.  This multi-dimensional athlete gets to the hole, can score off the dribble, and has deep shooting range.  On the other hand, Williams is not a good passer and more often than not doesn't see open teammates.  Also falling into the multi-dimensional athlete 2-guard category and making more than his share of big shots was 5'8 7th Grader Deonte Woods from Racine, WI.  We also want to mention 5'8 6th Grader Bobby Hambright from Milwaukee, WI, 4'11 6th Grader Jacob Gilyard from Lees Summit, MO, 5'9 7th Grader Joseph Binyoti from Milwaukee, WI, 5'9 7th Grader Johnnie Coleman from Royal Palm Beach, FL, 5'11 7th Alex Dykema from Grand Rapids, MI, 6'7 7th Grader Tyler Jackson from Naperville, IL, and 6'1 6th Grader Sebastian Baugh from Pella, IA.  Baugh has a great combination of size, coordination, and athleticism for somebody his age.  And to make this one even more intriguing is the fact that he's expected to grow perhaps another foot, which will make him a 7-footer someday.  Jackson doesn't have the foot speed and athleticism to thrive in a camp setting like this.  However, he scores, rebounds, and competes around the basket and he's is 6'7 7th Grader, which means his upside and potential are off the chart.  Dykema is a tough hardnosed competitor with good athleticism and a nice looking 3-point shot.  Coleman is a scoring point guard who is good at getting into the lane and scoring off transition.  Binyoti is an athletic wing who plays excellent defense and can shoot the three.  And so can Gilyard.  However, this pint sized point guard also is an excellent playmaker with good ball handling and passing skills and a knack for pushing the ball in transition.  Hambright is another undersized point guard and he was named the Best Rising 7th Grader in Camp.  For even more insight about the players and coverage of this camp, click onto NY2LA Sports.com.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Now is a good time to take a minute and offer some final thoughts and observations about this year's NBA Players Association Top 100 Camp at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA, which, at least at the top, turned out to be a lot better than we originally expected it to be.  And, if you don't believe it, just check out the fact that 6'10 Jr Anthony Davis from Chicago (Perspectives Christian) IL and 6'2 Jr Myck Kabongo from Henderson (Findlay Prep) NV both impressed us so much that they will be ranked among the top five players nationally in the Class of 2011, along with 6'8 Jr Michael Gilchrist from Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ, 6'4 Jr Austin Rivers from Winter Park (H.S.) FL, and 6'2 Jr Marquis Teague from Indianapolis (Pike) IN, when we update our nationally rankings at the end of this month.  And 6'7 Jr Chane Behanan from Bowling Green (H.S.) KY, 6'4 Jr B.J. Young from Florissant (McCluer North) MO, and 6'6 Jr Branden Dawson from Gary (Lew Wallace) IN should be locks for next spring's McDonald's All-American Game, which means the camp featured five juniors who are legitimate top 20 players nationally.  However, the real story is the emergence of Davis into the chief challenger to Gilchrist for National Player-of-the-Year honors in the Class of 2011.  He's not there yet.  But, if he continues to develop at his current pace and doesn't get corrupted by all of the notoriety and attention, then he may get there by the end of the summer.  We're talking about a 6'10 and growing athletic agile big man whose upside and potential is off the chart.  He doesn't have the sky hook and he's four or five inches shorter than Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar).  But this is an interesting comparison when one thinks about the slender silky smooth demeanor, the chance to block or alter almost any shot, and the coordination, athleticism, agility, and energy necessary to always be one of the first players up and down the court in an up tempo setting.  And even more amazing is the fact that Davis finished ranked #10 in the camp in scoring with 11.7 ppg and had 16-point, 20-point, and 12 point games in the quarterfinals, semi-finals, and championship game, despite the fact that he's still very raw in terms of big man skills and offensive post moves.  Remember, this is a guy who has grown seven or eight inches in the last two years and, as a result, has perimeter skills, which include hitting the 3-point shot and handling the ball out on the perimeter.  Speaking of the leading scorers in camp, 6'6 Jr P.J. Hairston from Chatham (Hargrave Military) VA finished at the top of this list with 15.8 ppg.  But also never saw a shot that he didn't like and, as a result, gets our vote for the Top Gun in Camp.  Next is 6'4 Jr B.J. Young from Florissant (McCluer North) MO, who finished with 14.7 ppg and rallied in his final game with 23 points after falling off with only nine points on Friday night and only six points in the first round of the camp playoffs.  Also checking in with 14.7 pgg was 6'7 Jr Chane Behanan from Bowling Green (H.S.) KY.  However, it was his double-digit rebounds, incredible work ethic, and tough hardnosed demeanor that made him our choice for Best Rebounder in Camp.  And, even more important, Behanan also is the guy who was officially named the camp's Most Outstanding Player.  This next one may come as a surprise, but 6'10 Jr Cody Zeller from Washington (H.S.) IN finished with 21 points, 11 points, and 25 points in his last three game and averaged 14.3 ppg, which means he finished ranked #4 in the camp in scoring.  Thus, explains why Zeller was one of the players who climbed the fastest in our rankings as the camp wore on.  And right behind Zeller was 6'6 Jr Michael Gbinjie from Chester (Steward School) VA, who was another player who did very little the first afternoon, but whose value steadily rose as the camp wore on en route to 14.0 ppg and a #5 ranking in scoring.  Next was 5'10 Jr Ryan Boatright from Aurora (East Aurora) IL with 13.0 ppg.  However, we didn't may any attention to Boatright's numbers due to the fact that he's a chemistry killer and his team failed to win a single game during the course of the entire camp.  On the other hand, we paid a lot of attention to the fact that 6'6 Jr Nick Faust from Baltimore (City College) MD finished ranked #7 in the camp in scoring with 12.8 ppg, as he was one of the best 3-point shooters in camp and was clearly the biggest sleeper to emerge at the camp.  Also finishing ranked among the top 10 in camp in scoring just ahead of Davis were 6'3 Jr DeAngelo Harrison from Sugar Land (Ft. Bend Dulles) TX with 12.5 ppg and 6'2 Jr Josiah Turner from Sacramento (H.S.) CA with 11.8 ppg.  The MVP in the playoffs went to 6'4 Jr Dezmine Wells from Chatham (Hargrave Military) VA, who was sensational as he finished with 25 points for the losing team in the title game.   But this can easily be explained when one finds out the scoring on the winning team was very balanced and there was no star player, as 6'6 Jr Nick Faust from Baltimore (City College) MD and 6'7 Jr Sam Thompson from Chicago (Whitney Young) IL had 12 points apiece, 6'8 Jr DeAndre Daniels from Woodland Hills (Taft) CA had 11 points, and 6'6 Frosh Jabari Parker from Chicago (Simeon) IL had 10 points for the winning team in the championship game.  The official winner of the Leadership Award was 6'2 Jr Myck Kabongo from Henderson (Findlay Prep) NV.  However, there also is no doubt that Kabongo would have gotten Best Player, Best Defender, and the award for Sportsmanship, if those awards had been handed out.  We also think it's important to mention that 6'5 Jr Wayne Blackshear from Chicago (Morgan Park) IL edged out 5'10 Jr Ryan Boatright from Aurora (East Aurora) IL for the Stock Market Award, which goes to the player who was the most up-and-down in camp.  Blackshear followed up a terrific performance on the first evening of camp with five, eight, and two-point games prior to scoring 27 points, which was the highest individual single game scoring performance for the entire week, in his final game.  The least impressive player in camp was 6'5 Soph J.P. Tokoto from Menomonee (Menomonee Falls) WI, who averaged only 2.0 ppg and didn't score a single point until the 6:35 mark in the second half of his fourth camp game.  And this is important, because Tokoto is currently ranked among the top five players nationally in the sophomore class by a lot of our competition.  In contrast, one of the most impressive performances of the week was turned by the camp media director (Penny Rogers) with her first class handling of the media and ability to provide timely updates via email soon after the competition of each session of camp.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

The HOOP SCOOP's Final Ranking of the Top 40 Players at the NBA Players Association Top 100 Camp at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA, which were compiled by HOOP SCOOP Editor Clark Francis, HOOP SCOOP Ohio Editor Chris Johnson, and special correspondent Devon Smith, are as follows:  1) 6'10 Jr Anthony Davis from Chicago (Perspectives Christian) IL, 2) 6'7 Jr Chane Behanan from Bowling Green (H.S.) KY, 3) 6'2 Jr Myck Kabongo from Henderson (Findlay Prep) NV, 4) 6'4 Jr B.J. Young from Florissant (McCluer North) MO, 5) 6'6 Jr Branden Dawson from Gary (Lew Wallace) IN, 6) 6'6 Jr Nick Faust from Baltimore (City College) MD, 7) 6'8 Jr Rodney Hood from Meridian (H.S.) MS, 8) 6'6 Jr P.J. Hairston from Chatham (Hargrave Military) VA, 9) 6'4 Jr Dezmine Wells from Chatham (Hargrave Military) VA, 10) 6'10 Jr Cody Zeller from Washington (H.S.) IN, 11) 6'8 Jr DeAndre Daniels from Woodland Hills (Taft) CA, 12) 6'6 Jr Michael Gbinjie from Chester (Steward School) VA, 13) 6'4 Jr Quddus Bello from High Point (Westchester Country Day) NC, 14) 6'8 Jr C.J. Barksdale from Danville (George Washington) VA, 15) 6'9 Jr Tyler Adams from Brandon (H.S.) MS, 16) 6'5 Jr Wayne Blackshear from Chicago (Morgan Park) IL, 17) 5'8 Jr Chris Jones from Memphis (Melrose) TN, 18) 6'8 Jr Jakarr Sampson from Akron (St. Vincent-St. Mary's) OH, 19) 6'8 Soph Perry Ellis from Wichita (Heights) KS, 20) 6'10 Jr Joseph Uchebo from Raleigh (Word of God) NC, 21) 6'10 Jr Hunter Mickelson from Jonesboro (Westside) AR, 22) 6'2 Jr Josiah Turner from Sacramento (H.S.) CA, 23) 6'6 Jr Sheldon McClellan from Houston (Bellaire) TX, 24) 6'4 Jr Julien Lewis from LaMarque (H.S.) TX, 25) 6'2 Frosh Rodney Purvis from Raleigh (Upper Room) NC, 26) 6'2 Jr Shannon Scott from Alpharetta (Milton) GA, 27) 6'1 Jr Derrick Wilson from Lakeville (Hotchkiss School) CT, 28) 6'7 Jr Sam Thompson from Chicago (Whitney Young) IL, 29) 5'11 Jr Naadir Tharpe from Wolfeboro (Brewster Academy) NH, 30) 6'9 Jr Nick Jacobs from Atlanta (South Atlanta) GA, 31) 6'4 Jr Jabari Brown from Oakland (H.S.) CA, 32) 6'10 Jr James "Zac" Price from Lakewood (St. Edwards) OH, 33) 6'9 Soph Landen Lucas from Portland (Sunset) OR, 34) 6'6 Jr Bernard Sullivan from Huntersville (North Mecklenburg) NC, 35) 7'0 Soph Isaiah Austin from Arlington (Grace Prep) TX, 36) 6'3 Jr DeAngelo Harrison from Sugar Land (Ft. Bend Dulles) TX, 37) 5'10 Jr Jahii Carson from Mesa (H.S.) AZ, 38) 6'1 Soph Marcus Paige from Marion (Linn-Mar) IA, 39) 6'9 Jr Mikael Hopkins from Hyattsville (DeMatha) MD, and 40) 6'8 Jr Aaron Ross from Little Rock (Parkview) AR.  Our Ranking of the Top 17 Centers in Camp is as follows:  1) 6'10 Jr Anthony Davis from Chicago (Perspectives Christian) IL, 2) 6'10 Jr Cody Zeller from Washington (H.S.) IN, 3) 6'9 Jr Tyler Adams from Brandon (H.S.) MS, 4) 6'10 Jr Joseph Uchebo from Raleigh (Word of God) NC, 5) 6'10 Jr Hunter Mickelson from Jonesboro (Westside) AR, 6) 6'10 Jr James "Zac" Price from Lakewood (St. Edwards) OH, 7) 7'0 Soph Isaiah Austin from Arlington (Grace Prep) TX, 8) 6'9 Jr Mikael Hopkins from Hyattsville (DeMatha) MD, 9) 6'9 Jr Kyle Wiltjer from Portland (Jesuit) OR, 10) 6'9 Jr Sidiki Johnson from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA, 11) 6'9 Jr Adjehi Baru from Chester (Steward School) VA, 12) 7'0 Soph Kaleb Tarczewski from Southborough (St. Mark's) MA,13) 6'8 Jr Kenyatta Smith from Sun Valley (Flintridge Prep) CA, 14) 6'8 Jr Greg Lewis from Baltimore (St. Frances) MD, 15) 6'11 Jr Michael Chandler from Indianapolis (Lawrence North) IN, 16) 6'9 Jr Desmond Hubert from New Egypt (H.S.) NJ, and 17) 6'11 Jr Marshall Plumlee from Arden (The Christ School) NC.  Our Ranking of the Top 16 Power Forwards in Camp is as follows:  1) 6'7 Jr Chane Behanan from Bowling Green (H.S.) KY, 2) 6'8 Jr DeAndre Daniels from Woodland Hills (Taft) CA, 3) 6'8 Jr C.J. Barksdale from Danville (George Washington) VA, 4) 6'8 Soph Perry Ellis from Wichita (Heights) KS, 5) 6'9 Jr Nick Jacobs from Atlanta (South Atlanta) GA, 6) 6'9 Soph Landen Lucas from Portland (Sunset) OR, 7) 6'6 Jr Bernard Sullivan from Huntersville (North Mecklenburg) NC, 8) 6'8 Jr Anthony Gill from Charlotte (Christian) NC, 9) 6'7 Soph Amile Jefferson from Wynnewood (Friends Central) PA, 10) 6'8 Soph Robert  Carter from Thomasville (H.S.) GA, 11) 6'7 Jr Julian Royal from Alpharetta (Milton) GA, 12) 6'9 Jr Derrick Randall from South Kent (Prep) CT, 13) 6'9 Jr Mike Shaw from Chicago (De La Salle) IL, 14) 6'8 Soph Jarnell Stokes from Memphis (Central) TN, 15) 6'7 Jr Anthony Norris from Houston (Sam Houston) TX, and 16) Soph Jordan Goodman from Temple Hills (Progressive Hills) MD.  Our Ranking of the Top 21Wing Forwards in Camp is as follows:  1) 6'6 Jr Branden Dawson from Gary (Lew Wallace) IN, 2) 6'6 Jr Nick Faust from Baltimore (City College) MD, 3) 6'8 Jr Rodney Hood from Meridian (H.S.) MS, 4) 6'6 Jr Michael Gbinjie from Chester (Steward School) VA, 5) 6'8 Jr Jakarr Sampson from Akron (St. Vincent-St. Mary's) OH, 6) 6'7 Jr Sam Thompson from Chicago (Whitney Young) IL, 7) 6'8 Jr Aaron Ross from Little Rock (Parkview) AR, 8) 6'5 Jr Ben McLemore from St. Louis (Wellston) MO, 9) 6'7 Shaquille Thomas from Newark (Nia Prep) NJ, 10) 6'5 Jr Amir Garrett from Lawndale (Leuzinger) CA, 11) 6'4 Soph Jordan Price from Chattanooga (McCallie) TN, 12) 6'7 Jr  Dorian Finney-Smith from Portsmouth (Norcom) VA, 13) 6'5 Jr Byron Wesley from Etiwanda (H.S.) CA, 14) 6'5 Jr Achraf Yacoubou from Brookville (Long Island Lutheran) NY, 15) 6'8 Jr LaQuinton Ross from Burlington (Life Center) NJ, 16) 6'6 Jr Ryan Taylor from Indianapolis (Lawrence North) IN, 17) 6'6 Soph Nick Stauskas from Southborough (St. Mark's) MA, 18) 6'7 Jr Paul Jesperson from Merrill (H.S.) WI, 19) 6'5 Jr Quinton Chievious from Chicago (Notre Dame) IL, 20) 6'7 Soph Alex Poythress from Clarksville (Northeast) TN, and 21) 6'6 Frosh Jabari Parker from Chicago (Simeon) IL.  Our Ranking of the Top 22 2-Guards in Camp is as follows:  1) 6'4 Jr B.J. Young from Florissant (McCluer North) MO, 2) 6'6 Jr P.J. Hairston from Chatham (Hargrave Military) VA, 3) 6'4 Jr Dezmine Wells from Chatham (Hargrave Military) VA, 4) 6'4 Jr Quddus Bello from High Point (Westchester Country Day) NC, 5) 6'5 Jr Wayne Blackshear from Chicago (Morgan Park) IL, 6) 6'6 Jr Sheldon McClellan from Houston (Bellaire) TX, 7) 6'4 Jr Julien Lewis from LaMarque (H.S.) TX, 8) 6'2 Frosh Rodney Purvis from Raleigh (Upper Room) NC, 9) 6'4 Jr Jabari Brown from Oakland (H.S.) CA, 10) 6'3 Jr DeAngelo Harrison from Sugar Land (Ft. Bend Dulles) TX, 11) 6'4 Jr Rashad Madden from LePanto (East Poinsett) AR, 12) 6'4 Jr Kevin Ware from Conyers (Rockdale County) GA, 13) 6'3 Jr Tyrone Johnson from Plainfield (H.S.) NJ, 14) 6'4 Jr Trevor Lacey from Huntsville (Butler) AL, 15) 6'2 Jr Delonte Bishop Daniels from Raleigh (Word of God) NC, 16) 6'2 Jr Carlton Brundidge from Southfield (H.S.) MI, 17) 6'3 Jr Dai-Jon Parker from Alpharetta (Milton) GA, 18) 6'3 Jr Norman Powell from San Diego (Lincoln) CA, 19) 6'3 Jr Jeremiah Davis from Muncie (Central) IN, 20) 6'6 Jr Brandon Kearney from Detroit (Southeastern) MI, 21) 6'2 Jr Chase Fischer from Ripley (H.S.) WV, and 22) 6'5 Jr Levi Randolph from Madison (Bob Jones) AL.  Our Ranking of the Top 18 Point Guards in Camp is as follows:  1) 6'2 Jr Myck Kabongo from Henderson (Findlay Prep) NV, 2) 5'8 Jr Chris Jones from Memphis (Melrose) TN, 3) 6'2 Jr Josiah Turner from Sacramento (H.S.) CA, 4) 6'2 Jr Shannon Scott from Alpharetta (Milton) GA, 5) 6'1 Jr Derrick Wilson from Lakeville (Hotchkiss School) CT, 6) 5'11 Jr Naadir Tharpe from Wolfeboro (Brewster Academy) NH, 7) 5'10 Jr Jahii Carson from Mesa (H.S.) AZ, 8) 6'1 Soph Marcus Paige from Marion (Linn-Mar) IA, 9) 6'3 Jr Michael Carter-Williams from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI, 10) 6'2 Jr Tracy Abrams from Chicago (Mt. Carmel) IL, 11) 5'10 Jr Ryan Boatright from Aurora (East Aurora) IL, 12) 6'4 Jr Jamal Branch from Arlington (Grace Prep) TX, 13) 5'11 Soph Tyler Lewis from Lewisville (Forsyth Country Day) NC, 14) 6'3 Soph Ryan Arcidiaconno from Langhorne (Neshaminy) PA, 15) 6'2 Jr Gary Bell from Kent (Kentridge) WA, 16) 5'8 Jr Myles Mack from Jersey City (St. Anthony) NJ, 17) 6'0 Jr Marquis Rankin from Chatham (Hargrave Military) VA, and 18) 6'3 Jr Cedrick McAfee from Memphis (Melrose) TN. 

Friday, June 18, 2010

The big story earlier today at the NBA Players Association Top 100 Camp at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA was the consistency and total dominance displayed 6'7 Jr Chane Behanan from Bowling Green (H.S.) KY, who once again checks in as the second leading scorer in camp with 16.0 ppg.  However, even more important, Behanan is one of those blue collar players who doesn't take any prisoners, as he does all the dirty work inside and always seems to garner every rebound.  We also think 6'10 Jr Anthony Davis from Chicago (Perspectives Christian) IL may have closed the gap some today on 6'2 Jr Myck Kabongo from Henderson (Findlay Prep) NV in the race for our #1-ranking in camp.  But really this is almost like comparing apples and oranges.  Kabongo is arguably the best pure point guard to come the pike since Brandon Jennings and he is so quick off the dribble and so explosive with the ball that it's almost impossible to stop him when he decides to penetrate and/or dish.  He also has outstanding ball handling and passing skills, plays excellent defense, is a tremendous competitor, has a knack for making those around him better, and is a very good outside shooter, which is a part of his game which he has not displayed much of in this camp.  Davis also is a tremendous competitor and he's got an incredible wing span, great timing and anticipating, and a great nose for the ball, which he uses to alter more than his share of shots and dominate on the boards.  He does need to get bigger and stronger physically.  But we suspect that Davis is not done growing (he's grown seven or eight inches in the last two years) and he still runs the court and has the mobility, agility, and coordination of the guard that he used to be.  In other words, with normal progression and development, we're talking about somebody with the potential necessary to be a superstar at the highest level.  And, if he doesn't get corrupted by all of the hype and exposure that is sure to come his way and continues to play like he has at this camp the rest of the summer, then there is no doubt that he will be a legitimate top five-ranked player nationally in next year's senior class.  There also is no change after the second day in camp with regards to our #3-ranked player in camp, as 6'4 Jr B.J. Young from Florissant (McCluer North) MO is now ranked #3 in scoring in camp with 14.8 ppg.  He also showed that he can beat you off the dribble with a hand in his face from behind the arc with a 22-point performance today's morning session.  Rounding out our top five is 6'6 Jr Branden Dawson from Gary (Lew Wallace) IN, who brings that Gary toughness and an improved jumper and perimeter skills to the table.  The leading scorer in camp is 6'6 Jr P.J. Hairston from Chatham (Hargrave Military) VA with 16.8 ppg.  But Hairston also may lead the camp in most shots attempted, which explains why he checks in at #7 on our list, instead of in the top five.  The three players who helped themselves the most today in terms of moving up in the rankings were 6'10 Jr Cody Zeller from Washington (H.S.) IN, 6'8 Jr Rodney Hood from Meridian (H.S.) MS, and 6'9 Jr Tyler Adams from Brandon (H.S.) MS.  And the most inconsistent player in camp has to be 5'10 Jr Ryan Boatright from Aurora (East Aurora) IL, who has finished with five points, 18 points, 24 points, and zero points respectively in his four games in camp.  Boatright also had the highest point total in a single game.  On the other hand, he lacks the basketball IQ and the leadership characteristics necessary to be a point guard.  So it's not hard to see why his team has yet to win a game in camp and why he is not included in our Exclusive Ranking of the Top 30 Players in Camp after the second day, which are as follows:  1) 6'2 Jr Myck Kabongo from Henderson (Findlay Prep) NV, 2) 6'10 Jr Anthony Davis from Chicago (Perspectives Christian) IL, 3) 6'4 Jr B.J. Young from Florissant (McCluer North) MO, 4) 6'7 Jr Chane Behanan from Bowling Green (H.S.) KY, 5) 6'6 Jr Branden Dawson from Gary (Lew Wallace) IN, 6) 6'8 Jr DeAndre Daniels from Woodland Hills (Taft) CA, 7) 6'6 Jr P.J. Hairston from Chatham (Hargrave Military) VA, 8) 6'10 Jr Cody Zeller from Washington (H.S.) IN, 9) 6'6 Jr Nick Faust from Baltimore (City College) MD, 10) 6'6 Jr Michael Gbinjie from Chester (Steward School) VA, 11) 6'8 Jr Rodney Hood from Meridian (H.S.) MS, 12) 6'4 Jr Quddus Bello from High Point (Westchester Country Day) NC, 13) 6'8 Jr C.J. Barksdale from Danville (George Washington) VA, 14) 6'9 Jr Tyler Adams from Brandon (H.S.) MS, 15) 5'8 Jr Chris Jones from Memphis (Melrose) TN, 16) 6'8 Soph Perry Ellis from Wichita (Heights) KS, 17) 6'10 Jr Hunter Mickelson from Jonesboro (Westside) AR, 18) 6'2 Jr Josiah Turner from Sacramento (H.S.) CA, 19) 6'8 Jr Jakarr Sampson from Akron (St. Vincent-St. Mary's) OH, 20) 6'6 Jr Sheldon McClellan from Houston (Bellaire) TX, 21) 6'2 Jr Shannon Scott from Alpharetta (Milton) GA, 22) 6'1 Jr Derrick Wilson from Lakeville (Hotchkiss School) CT, 23) 6'7 Jr Sam Thompson from Chicago (Whitney Young) IL, 24) 6'10 Jr Joseph Uchebo from Raleigh (Word of God) NC, 25) 5'11 Jr Naadir Tharpe from Wolfeboro (Brewster Academy) MA, 26) 6'10 Jr James "Zac" Price from Lakewood (St. Edwards) OH, 27) 6'9 Jr Nick Jacobs from Atlanta (South Atlanta) GA, 28) 6'4 Jr Julien Lewis from LaMarque (H.S.) TX, 29) 6'3 Jr DeAngelo Harrison from Sugar Land (Ft. Bend Dulles) TX, and 30) 6'2 Frosh Rodney Purvis from Raleigh (Upper Room) NC.  Our Ranking of the Top 17 Centers in Camp is as follows:  1) 6'10 Jr Anthony Davis from Chicago (Perspectives Christian) IL, 2) 6'10 Jr Cody Zeller from Washington (H.S.) IN, 3) 6'9 Jr Tyler Adams from Brandon (H.S.) MS, 4) 6'10 Jr Hunter Mickelson from Jonesboro (Westside) AR, 5) 6'10 Jr Joseph Uchebo from Raleigh (Word of God) NC, 6) 6'10 Jr James "Zac" Price from Lakewood (St. Edwards) OH, 7) 6'9 Jr Sidiki Johnson from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA, 8) 6'9 Jr Adjehi Baru from Chester (Steward School) VA, 9) 7'0 Soph Kaleb Tarczewski from Southborough (St. Mark's) MA, 10) 7'0 Soph Isaiah Austin from Arlington (Grace Prep) TX, 11) 6'8 Jr Kenyatta Smith from Sun Valley (Flintridge Prep) CA, 12) 6'8 Jr Greg Lewis from Baltimore (St. Frances) MD, 13) 6'9 Jr Desmond Hubert from New Egypt (H.S.) NJ, 14) 6'9 Jr Kyle Wiltjer from Portland (Jesuit) OR, 15) 6'9 Jr Mikael Hopkins from Hyattsville (DeMatha) MD, 16) 6'11 Jr Marshall Plumlee from Arden (The Christ School) NC, and 17) 6'11 Jr Michael Chandler from Indianapolis (Lawrence North) IN.  Our Ranking of the Top 16 Power Forwards in Camp is as follows:  1) 6'7 Jr Chane Behanan from Bowling Green (H.S.) KY, 2) 6'8 Jr DeAndre Daniels from Woodland Hills (Taft) CA, 3) 6'8 Jr C.J. Barksdale from Danville (George Washington) VA, 4) 6'8 Soph Perry Ellis from Wichita (Heights) KS, 5) 6'9 Jr Nick Jacobs from Atlanta (South Atlanta) GA, 6) 6'8 Jr Anthony Gill from Charlotte (Christian) NC, 7) 6'7 Soph Amile Jefferson from Wynnewood (Friends Central) PA, 8) 6'6 Jr Bernard Sullivan from Huntersville (North Mecklenburg) NC, 9) 6'9 Soph Landen Lucas from Portland (Sunset) OR, 10) 6'7 Jr Julian Royal from Alpharetta (Milton) GA, 11) 6'9 Jr Derrick Randall from South Kent (Prep) CT, 12) 6'9 Jr Mike Shaw from Chicago (De La Salle) IL, 13) 6'8 Soph Robert  Carter from Thomasville (H.S.) GA, 14) 6'8 Soph Jarnell Stokes from Memphis (Central) TN, 15) 6'7 Jr Anthony Norris from Houston (Sam Houston) TX, and 16) Soph Jordan Goodman from Temple Hills (Progressive Hills) MD.  Our Ranking of the Top 19 Wing Forwards in Camp is as follows:  1) 6'6 Jr Branden Dawson from Gary (Lew Wallace) IN, 2) 6'6 Jr Nick Faust from Baltimore (City College) MD, 3) 6'6 Jr Michael Gbinjie from Chester (Steward School) VA, 4) 6'8 Jr Rodney Hood from Meridian (H.S.) MS, 5) 6'8 Jr Jakarr Sampson from Akron (St. Vincent-St. Mary's) OH, 6) 6'7 Jr Sam Thompson from Chicago (Whitney Young) IL, 7) 6'5 Jr Ben McLemore from St. Louis (Wellston) MO, 8) 6'7 Shaquille Thomas from Newark (Nia Prep) NJ, 9) 6'5 Jr Amir Garrett from Lawndale (Leuzinger) CA, 10) 6'4 Soph Jordan Price from Chattanooga (McCallie) TN, 11) 6'7 Jr  Dorian Finney-Smith from Portsmouth (Norcom) VA, 12) 6'8 Jr Aaron Ross from Little Rock (Parkview) AR, 13) 6'7 Jr Paul Jesperson from Merrill (H.S.) WI, 14) 6'8 Jr LaQuinton Ross from Burlington (Life Center) NJ, 15) 6'6 Jr Ryan Taylor from Indianapolis (Lawrence North) IN, 16) 6'6 Soph Nick Stauskas from Southborough (St. Mark's) MA, 17) 6'5 Jr Quinton Chievious from Chicago (Notre Dame) IL, 18) 6'7 Soph Alex Poythress from Clarksville (Northeast) TN, and 19) 6'6 Frosh Jabari Parker from Chicago (Simeon) IL.  Our Ranking of the Top 22 2-Guards in Camp is as follows:  1) 6'4 Jr B.J. Young from Florissant (McCluer North) MO, 2) 6'6 Jr P.J. Hairston from Chatham (Hargrave Military) VA, 3) 6'4 Jr Quddus Bello from High Point (Westchester Country Day) NC, 4) 6'6 Jr Sheldon McClellan from Houston (Bellaire) TX, 5) 6'4 Jr Julien Lewis from LaMarque (H.S.) TX, 6) 6'3 Jr DeAngelo Harrison from Sugar Land (Ft. Bend Dulles) TX, 7) 6'2 Frosh Rodney Purvis from Raleigh (Upper Room) NC, 8) 6'4 Jr Dezmine Wells from Chatham (Hargrave Military) VA, 9) 6'4 Jr Jabari Brown from Oakland (H.S.) CA, 10) 6'5 Jr Wayne Blackshear from Chicago (Morgan Park) IL, 11) 6'4 Jr Kevin Ware from Conyers (Rockdale County) GA, 12) 6'3 Jr Tyrone Johnson from Plainfield (H.S.) NJ, 13) 6'4 Jr Trevor Lacey from Huntsville (Butler) AL, 14) 6'4 Jr Rashad Madden from LePanto (East Poinsett) AR, 15) 6'2 Jr Delonte Bishop Daniels from Raleigh (Word of God) NC, 16) 6'2 Jr Carlton Brundidge from Southfield (H.S.) MI, 17) 6'3 Jr Dai-Jon Parker from Alpharetta (Milton) GA, 18) 6'2 Jr Gary Bell from Kent (Kentridge) WA, 19) 6'3 Jr Norman Powell from San Diego (Lincoln) CA, 20) 6'3 Jr Jeremiah Davis from Muncie (Central) IN, 21) 6'6 Jr Brandon Kearney from Detroit (Southeastern) MI, and 22) 6'2 Jr Chase Fischer from Ripley (H.S.) WV.  Our Ranking of the Top 16 Point Guards in Camp is as follows:  1) 6'2 Jr Myck Kabongo from Henderson (Findlay Prep) NV, 2) 5'8 Jr Chris Jones from Memphis (Melrose) TN, 3) 6'2 Jr Josiah Turner from Sacramento (H.S.) CA, 4) 6'2 Jr Shannon Scott from Alpharetta (Milton) GA, 5) 6'1 Jr Derrick Wilson from Lakeville (Hotchkiss School) CT, 6) 5'11 Jr Naadir Tharpe from Wolfeboro (Brewster Academy) MA, 7) 5'10 Jr Jahii Carson from Mesa (H.S.) AZ, 8) 6'2 Jr Tracy Abrams from Chicago (Mt. Carmel) IL, 9) 5'10 Jr Ryan Boatright from Aurora (East Aurora) IL, 10) 6'4 Jr Jamal Branch from Arlington (Grace Prep) TX, 11) 5'11 Soph Tyler Lewis from Lewisville (Forsyth Country Day) NC, 12) 6'1 Soph Marcus Paige from Marion (Linn-Mar) IA, 13) 6'3 Jr Michael Carter-Williams from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI, 14) 6'3 Soph Ryan Arcidiaconno from Langhorne (Neshaminy) PA, 15) 5'8 Jr Myles Mack from Jersey City (St. Anthony) NJ, and 16) 6'0 Jr Marquis Rankin from Chatham (Hargrave Military) VA. 

Thursday, June 17, 2010

The early returns are in from this year's NBA Players Association Top 100 Camp, which is being held today, tomorrow, and Saturday on the campus of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA and our Exclusive Ranking of the Top 30 Players in Camp after the first day is as follows:  1) 6'2 Jr Myck Kabongo from Henderson (Findlay Prep) NV, 2) 6'10 Jr Anthony Davis from Chicago (Perspectives Christian) IL, 3) 6'4 Jr B.J. Young from Florissant (McCluer North) MO, 4) 6'6 Jr P.J. Hairston from Chatham (Hargrave Military) VA, 5) 6'5 Jr Wayne Blackshear from Chicago (Morgan Park) IL, 6) 5'8 Jr Chris Jones from Memphis (Melrose) TN, 7) 6'4 Jr Kevin Ware from Conyers (Rockdale County) GA, 8) 6'3 Jr Tyrone Johnson from Plainfield (H.S.) NJ, 9) 6'6 Jr Branden Dawson from Gary (Lew Wallace) IN, 10) 6'8 Jr DeAndre Daniels from Woodland Hills (Taft) CA, 11) 6'2 Jr Josiah Turner from Sacramento (H.S.) CA, 12) 6'10 Jr James "Zac" Price from Lakewood (St. Edwards) OH, 13) 6'7 Jr Chane Behanan from Bowling Green (H.S.) KY, 14) 6'6 Jr Michael Gbinjie from Chester (Steward School) VA, 15) 6'4 Jr Quddus Bello from High Point (Westchester Country Day) NC, 16) 6'2 Jr Delonte Bishop Daniels from Raleigh (Word of God) NC, 17) 6'6 Jr Nick Faust from Baltimore (City College) MD, 18) 6'3 Jr DeAngelo Harrison from Sugar Land (Ft. Bend Dulles) TX, 19) 6'7 Soph Amile Jefferson from Wynnewood (Friends Central) PA, 20) 6'4 Soph Jordan Price from Chattanooga (McCallie) TN, 21) 6'5 Jr Amir Garrett from Lawndale (Leuzinger) CA, 22) 6'4 Jr Trevor Lacey from Huntsville (Butler) AL, 23) 6'2 Frosh Rodney Purvis from Raleigh (Upper Room) NC, 24) 6'2 Jr Shannon Scott from Alpharetta (Milton) GA, 25) 6'6 Jr Bernard Sullivan from Huntersville (North Mecklenburg) NC, 26) 5'10 Jr Jahii Carson from Mesa (H.S.) AZ, 27) 6'2 Jr Tracy Abrams from Chicago (Mt. Carmel) IL, 28) 6'8 Jr C.J. Barksdale from Danville (George Washington) VA, 29) 5'11 Soph Tyler Lewis from Lewisville (Forsyth Country Day) NC, and 30) 6'9 Jr Sidiki Johnson from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA.  Our Ranking of the Top 16 Centers in Camp is as follows:  1) 6'10 Jr Anthony Davis from Chicago (Perspectives Christian) IL, 2) 6'10 Jr James "Zac" Price from Lakewood (St. Edwards) OH, 3) 6'9 Jr Sidiki Johnson from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA, 4) 6'10 Jr Hunter Mickelson from Jonesboro (Westside) AR, 5) 6'10 Jr Cody Zeller from Washington (H.S.) IN, 6) 6'9 Jr Adjehi Baru from Chester (Steward School) VA, 7) 6'10 Jr Joseph Uchebo from Raleigh (Word of God) NC, 8) 6'9 Jr Kyle Wiltjer from Portland (Jesuit) OR, 9) 6'8 Jr Greg Lewis from Baltimore (St. Frances) MD, 10) 6'9 Jr Desmond Hubert from New Egypt (H.S.) NJ, 11) 6'9 Jr Tyler Adams from Brandon (H.S.) MS, 12) 7'0 Soph Kaleb Tarczewski from Southborough (St. Mark's) MA, 13) 6'9 Jr Mikael Hopkins from Hyattsville (DeMatha) MD, 14) 6'11 Jr Marshall Plumlee from Arden (The Christ School) NC, 15) 7'0 Soph Isaiah Austin from Arlington (Grace Prep) TX, and 16) 6'11 Jr Michael Chandler from Indianapolis (Lawrence North) IN.  Our Ranking of the Top 16 Power Forwards in Camp is as follows:  1) 6'8 Jr DeAndre Daniels from Woodland Hills (Taft) CA, 2) 6'7 Jr Chane Behanan from Bowling Green (H.S.) KY, 3) 6'7 Soph Amile Jefferson from Wynnewood (Friends Central) PA, 4) 6'6 Jr Bernard Sullivan from Huntersville (North Mecklenburg) NC, 5) 6'8 Jr C.J. Barksdale from Danville (George Washington) VA, 6) 6'9 Jr Mike Shaw from Chicago (De La Salle) IL, 7) 6'8 Soph Jarnell Stokes from Memphis (Central) TN, 8) 6'9 Soph Landen Lucas from Portland (Sunset) OR, 9) 6'7 Jr Julian Royal from Alpharetta (Milton) GA, 10) 6'8 Soph Perry Ellis from Wichita (Heights) KS, 11) 6'9 Jr Derrick Randall from South Kent (Prep) CT, 12) 6'9 Jr Nick Jacobs from Atlanta (South Atlanta) GA, 13) 6'8 Jr Anthony Gill from Charlotte (Christian) NC, 14) Soph Jordan Goodman from Temple Hills (Progressive Hills) MD,15) 6'8 Soph Robert  Carter from Thomasville (H.S.) GA, and 16) 6'7 Jr Anthony Norris from Houston (Sam Houston) TX.  Our Ranking of the Top 16 Wing Forwards in Camp is as follows:  1) 6'6 Jr Branden Dawson from Gary (Lew Wallace) IN, 2) 6'6 Jr Michael Gbinjie from Chester (Steward School) VA, 3) 6'6 Jr Nick Faust from Baltimore (City College) MD, 4) 6'4 Soph Jordan Price from Chattanooga (McCallie) TN, 5) 6'5 Jr Amir Garrett from Lawndale (Leuzinger) CA, 6) 6'8 Jr LaQuinton Ross from Burlington (Life Center) NJ, 7) 6'8 Jr Rodney Hood from Meridian (H.S.) MS, 8) 6'7 Jr Sam Thompson from Chicago (Whitney Young) IL, 9) 6'8 Jr Jakarr Sampson from Akron (St. Vincent-St. Mary's) OH, 10) 6'8 Jr Aaron Ross from Little Rock (Parkview) AR, 11) 6'7 Jr Paul Jesperson from Merrill (H.S.) WI, 12) 6'6 Jr Ryan Taylor from Indianapolis (Lawrence North) IN, 13) 6'6 Soph Nick Stauskas from Southborough (St. Mark's) MA, 14) 6'7 Soph Alex Poythress from Clarksville (Northeast) TN, 15) 6'7 Jr  Dorian Finney-Smith from Portsmouth (Norcom) VA, and 16) 6'6 Frosh Jabari Parker from Chicago (Simeon) IL.  Our Ranking of the Top 16 2-Guards in Camp is as follows:  1) 6'4 Jr B.J. Young from Florissant (McCluer North) MO, 2) 6'6 Jr P.J. Hairston from Chatham (Hargrave Military) VA, 3) 6'5 Jr Wayne Blackshear from Chicago (Morgan Park) IL, 4) 6'4 Jr Kevin Ware from Conyers (Rockdale County) GA, 5) 6'3 Jr Tyrone Johnson from Plainfield (H.S.) NJ, 6) 6'4 Jr Quddus Bello from High Point (Westchester Country Day) NC, 7) 6'2 Jr Delonte Bishop Daniels from Raleigh (Word of God) NC, 8) 6'3 Jr DeAngelo Harrison from Sugar Land (Ft. Bend Dulles) TX, 9) 6'4 Jr Trevor Lacey from Huntsville (Butler) AL, 10) 6'2 Frosh Rodney Purvis from Raleigh (Upper Room) NC, 11) 6'3 Jr Dai-Jon Parker from Alpharetta (Milton) GA, 12) 6'4 Jr Dezmine Wells from Chatham (Hargrave Military) VA, 13) 6'4 Jr Jabari Brown from Oakland (H.S.) CA, 14) 6'3 Jr Norman Powell from San Diego (Lincoln) CA, 15) 6'6 Jr Brandon Kearney from Detroit (Southeastern) MI, and 16) 6'6 Jr Sheldon McClellan from Houston (Bellaire) TX.  Our Ranking of the Top 16 Point Guards in Camp is as follows:  1) 6'2 Jr Myck Kabongo from Henderson (Findlay Prep) NV, 2) 5'8 Jr Chris Jones from Memphis (Melrose) TN, 3) 6'2 Jr Josiah Turner from Sacramento (H.S.) CA, 4) 6'2 Jr Shannon Scott from Alpharetta (Milton) GA, 5) 5'10 Jr Jahii Carson from Mesa (H.S.) AZ, 6) 6'2 Jr Tracy Abrams from Chicago (Mt. Carmel) IL, 7) 5'11 Soph Tyler Lewis from Lewisville (Forsyth Country Day) NC, 8) 5'11 Jr Naadir Tharpe from Wolfeboro(Brewster Academy) MA, 9) 6'1 Jr Derrick Wilson from Lakeville (Hotchkiss School) CT, 10) 6'3 Soph Ryan Arcidiaconno from Langhorne (Neshaminy) PA, 11) 5'8 Jr Myles Mack from Jersey City (St. Anthony) NJ, 12) 6'1 Soph Marcus Paige from Marion (Linn-Mar) IA, 13) 6'4 Jr Jamal Branch from Arlington (Grace Prep) TX, 14) 5'10 Jr Ryan Boatright from Aurora (East Aurora) IL, 15) 6'0 Jr Marquis Rankin from Chatham (Hargrave Military) VA, and 16) 6'3 Jr Michael Carter-Williams from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI.  Especially noteworthy is the fact that our top three-ranked players after the first day of camp have picked where they left when we last saw them.  If you will recall, 6'10 Jr Anthony Davis from Chicago (Perspectives Christian) IL first burst onto the scene a month-and-a-half ago at the Bill Hensley Memorial Run-n-Slam All-Star Classic in Ft. Wayne, IN, 6'4 Jr B.J. Young from Florissant (McCluer North) MO was our #1-ranked players three weeks ago at the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions in Chapel Hill, NC, and 6'2 Jr Myck Kabongo from Henderson (Findlay Prep) NV totally dominated the Pangos All-American Camp two weeks ago in Long Beach, CA.  And, while the camp lacks its normal array of star power, as many of the top-ranked players in the nation are at the 2010 USA Basketball Men’s Developmental National Team’s training camp at the University of Texas-San Antonio, it is absolutely loaded at the 2-guard spot, as is evident by the fact that 10 of the top 30-ranked players in camp play that position.  We also think it's important to point out that the leading scorer in camp after the first day was 6'6 Jr P.J. Hairston from Chatham (Hargrave Military) VA with 17.5 ppg.  Next on this list is 6'7 Jr Chane Behanan from Bowling Green (H.S.) KY with 16.5 ppg, followed by 6'2 Jr Josiah Turner from Sacramento (H.S.) CA with 15.0 ppg, 6'4 Jr B.J. Young from Florissant (McCluer North) MO with 14.0 ppg, and 6'3 Jr DeAngelo Harrison from Sugar Land (Ft. Bend Dulles) TX with 13.5 ppg.  We also have to give Young credit, because he more than held his own against 6'2 Jr Myck Kabongo from Henderson (Findlay Prep) NV in their big head-to-head match-up, which took place in the second set of games in the evening session of camp.  The biggest surprise was 6'6 Jr Nick Faust from Baltimore (City College) MD, who right off the bat impressed us with his athleticism and demonstrated that he was one of the best 3-point shooters in camp.  We also think it's important to point out that there were a number of highly touted players in camp, like 6'5 Jr Ben McLemore from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA, 6'4 Jr Jamal Branch from Arlington (Grace Prep) TX, 6'11 Jr Michael Chandler from Indianapolis (Lawrence North) IN, 6'6 Soph J.P. Tokota from Menomonee Falls (H.S.) WI, 7'0 Soph Isaiah Austin from Arlington (Grace Prep) TX, who did not come close to living up to their press clippings.  However, the same can be said about 6'2 Kyrie Irving from Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ, who was awful at this camp a year ago.  And Irving went onto become one of the top five-ranked players nationally in this year's senior class and was a legitimate National Player of the-Year candidate.  It's also important to point out these rankings are based primarily on camp performance and, not necessarily college potential. 

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

The most interesting thing that has happened in the last week in the recruiting world involves the pair of verbal commitments that 6'10 Jr Frank Kaminsky from Lisle (Benot Academy) IL and 6'5 Jr Traevon Jackson from Westerville (South) OH have made to the University of Wisconsin.  Neither player is ranked among our top 100 juniors nationally.  But they both appear to be tailor made to fit into Badgers head coach Bo Ryan's system.  Jackson is not that athletic and he's not known for his outside shooting.  But he is a chip off the old block, as the son of former Ohio State All-American Jimmy Jackson has a strong powerful body, which he uses to slash to the basket, and has an extremely high basketball IQ.  Kaminsky is a skilled white kid with good post moves and the potential to grow several more inches, which makes him very intriguing, despite the fact that he's a little mechanical and is better going to North to South than East to West.  Kaminsky and Jackson join 6'7 Jr Devon Hodges from Bolingbrook (H.S.) IL and 5'11 Jr George Marshall from Chicago (Brooks) IL in a recruiting class that is now ranked #12 on our list of the Top Recruiting Classes To-Date for the Class of 2011.  And this comes right on the heels of their current recruiting class, which includes 6'11 Evan Anderson from Eau Claire (North) WI, 6'4 Josh Gasser from Port Washington (H.S.) WI, 6'2 Ben Brust from Mundelein (H.S.) IL, and 6'8 Duje Dukan from Deerfield (H.S.) WI.  In other words, it looks like Ryan and his staff have plenty of bodies to replace 6'10 Jr Jon Leuer, 6'0 Sr Trevon Hughes, 6'2 Sr Jason Bohannon, 6'8 Jr Keaton Nankivil, all of whom graduated this spring or will graduate next spring.  There also is the verbal commitment by 6'2 Jr Nick Marshall from Rochelle (Wilcox County) GA to the University of Georgia, the fact that 6'2 Frosh Brady Heslip is transferring from Boston College to Baylor, and the decision by 5'10 Dwan McMillan from Indian Hills (JC) IA to return home and play for Hofstra.  McMillan played high school basketball at Brooklyn (Boys & Girls) NY and then was ranked #36 on our List of the Top 5th Year Players two years ago when he spent a year at Newark (St. Benedict's) NJ and signed a National Letter-of-Intent with South Florida.  McMillan averaged 10.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg, and 3.8 apg this past season in the junior college ranks.  But that only tells part of the story, as we're talking about a lock-down defender who thrives in an up tempo setting.  He also is the older brother of 6'0 Devon McMillan from Uniondale (H.S.) NY, who originally signed with Hofstra, but now is planning on going the prep school route and then follow Tom Pecora and his staff to Fordham.  Heslip joined the Boston College team in December after playing for New Hampton (Prep) NH last fall, where averaged 15.0 ppg and 7.0 rpg.  However, is he best known for his great outside shooting and the spark that he provided to the Grassroots Canada AAU team when they won the adidas Super 64 Tournament in Las Vegas, NV in July of 2008.  Heslip will sit out next year, along with 6'10 Soph J'Mison Morgan, who is transferring to Baylor after averaging 1.9 ppg and 1.3 rpg this past season at UCLA, and then have three years to play.  The commitment b Marshall is big for a number of reasons.  First, Marshall is a multi-sport athlete who plans to sign a National Letter-of-Intent to play football, which means he's won't require one of the 13 scholarships from the basketball program.  Second, Marshall is a very good basketball player, as is evident by the fact that he is ranked #87 nationally in the junior class by the HOOP SCOOP and #8 in the state by our Georgia Editor Horace Neysmith.  Third, he's an excellent 3-point shooter and an in-state kid, which makes him exactly what the doctor ordered as Bulldogs head coach Mark Fox and his staff continue to build a strong foundation and keep the top players in the state at home.  It also looks like 6'8 Soph Jordan Goodman from Temple Hills (Progressive Hills) MD has decided to follow former Georgetown assistant coach David Cox, who recently was the named as the top assistant coach at Rutgers.  If you will recall, Goodman committed to Georgetown in early March, but soon after changed his mind and re-opened his recruitment.  Goodman is long and athletic.  But he's more comfortable shooting 3-pointers and handling the ball out on the perimeter than putting a body on you and battling for rebounds inside. 

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Believe it or not I have never been to the NIKE Hoop Jamboree, which takes place annually at this time of year in St. Louis, MO.  However, our North Carolina Editor Rick Lewis was in attendance this year and he tells us that "without a doubt" 6'8 Frosh Julius Randle from Plano (Prestonwood Academy) TX was the best player in camp.  "Randle is a southpaw with tremendous athleticism and he made a strong case for being the #1-ranked prospect in the Class of 2013," says Lewis.   "Randle is long, lean, and mean inside the paint.  He plays the game with passion and a purpose, which is unique for someone with his skill set and athletic ability.  Randle plays with a high motor and, once he gets his hands on the ball in the paint, he is an absolute beast."  The first player that Lewis mentions from the Class of 2012 is 6'9 Soph Cameron Ridley from Richmond (Ft. Bend Bush) TX.  "He's a wide body that is tough to defend in the low post," says Lewis.  "Simply put, Ridley is a beast on the inside and his sheer size and strength creates problems for opposing players.  He does an excellent job of using his body and establishing low post position."  Another player that stood out was 6’7 Soph Brandon Ashley from Oakland (Bishop O’Dowd) CA.  "Ashley has a long and lanky frame, but his sheer athleticism and quickness creates mismatch problems for opposing teams," says Lewis.  "His ability to utilize his explosive leaping ability allows him to easily score over bigger and stronger players in the paint.  In addition, he has the ability to step out and knock down the 10-15 foot jump shot.  More importantly, he has exceptionable ball handling skills for a player his size and beats most defenders with the dribble drive."  One of the top wing guards in the Class of 2012 is 6’4 ½ Soph Ricardo Ledo from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI.  "Ledo is a high level athlete with a smoothness to his game," says Lewis.  "Ledo also has the speed and quickness to blow by defenders and the ability to knock down the open jumper.  Very few wing guards displayed Ledo's combination of athleticism, skill, and basketball IQ."  And 6’4 Soph Archie Goodwin from Little Rock (Sylvan Hills) AR was simply outstanding. "This southpaw did it all," says Lewis.  "If Goodwin wasn’t knocking down open jumpers, he was attacking the basket and making some nifty reverse lay-ups.  But even more important, Goodwin has the ability to create his own shot.  Last, but not least, Goodwin showcased his excellent ball handling skills and even played point for his team.  Like Ledo, Goodwin displayed a nice combination of athleticism, skill, and basketball IQ."  Lewis also tells us to be on the lookout for 6’4 Frosh Deonte Burton from Milwaukee (Vincent) WI.  "Burton is a fierce competitor and plays extremely hard.  And I do mean extremely hard, as he utilized a variety of offensive skills during the event.  He knocked down jumpers, but also could dribble drive and create an effective pull-up jumper.  On the defensive end of the floor, he was tough as nails."  It also looks like 6’8 Frosh Kuran Iverson from West Hartford (Northwest Catholic) CT continues to make a name for himself this spring.  "The young Iverson reminds me of a younger version of Quincy Miller," says Lewis.  "But Iverson may be more developed at the same age.  Iverson also has more athleticism than Miller.  So it will be interesting to see if can maintain being one of the top five players nationally in the Class of 2013.  Iverson is extremely long and already has all the tools to be a high level athlete and player.  On the defensive end of the floor, he uses his length to block shots and has great timing on the boards.  Once he secures the rebound, Iverson is talented enough to start the break in transition.  Iverson has all the tools and intangibles and will challenge Randle over the next few years as one of the top players in the Class of 2013."  Other players that enjoyed a solid and productive camp was 6’2 ½ Frosh Nigel Williams-Goss from Henderson (Findley Prep) NV, 6’7 Frosh Jabari Parker from Chicago (Simeon) IL, 6’6 Soph Jarmal Reid from Decatur (Columbus) GA, and 6’7 Soph Charles Mitchell from Marietta (Wheeler) GA.

Monday, June 14, 2010

The next big event on our calendar is the NBA Players Association Top 100 Camp, which will be held June 16th-19th in Charlottesville, VA and once again is expected to be one of the premier events of the entire year.  And the list of players who are expected to be in attendance includes 6'1 Jr Myck Kabongo from Henderson (Findlay Prep) NV, 6'8 Jr Quincy Miller from High Point (Westchester Country Day) NC, 6'10 Jr Anthony Davis from Chicago (Progressive) IL, 6'6 Jr Brandon Dawson from Gary (Lew Wallace) IN, 6'5 Jr Wayne Blackshear from Chicago (Morgan Park) IL, 6'2 Jr Jamal Branch from Arlington (Grace Prep) TX, 6'7 Jr LaBryan Nash from Dallas (Lincoln) TX, 6'5 Jr P.J. Hairston from Greensboro (Dudley) NC, 6'6 Jr Amir Garrett from Lawndale (Leuzinger) CA, 5'11 Jr Deville Smith from Jackson (Callaway) MS, 6'4 Jr Damien Leonard from Greenville (J.L. Mann) SC, 6'3 Jr Trevor Lacey from Huntsville (Butler) AL, 6'5 Jr Sheldon McClellan from Houston (Bellaire) TX, 6'8 Jr LaQuinton Ross from Burlington (Life Center) NJ, 6'5 Jr Ben McLemore from St. Louis (Wellston) MO, 6'4 Jr Trevor Cooney from Hockessin (Sanford) DE, 6'6 Jr Michael Gbinjie from Chester (Steward School) VA, 6'7 Jr Jakaar Sampson from Akron (St. Vincent-St. Mary's) OH, 6'3 Jr Kevin Ware from Conyers (Rockdale Valley) GA, 6'9 Jr Adjehi Baru from Chester (Steward School) VA, 6'2 Jr Josiah Turner from Sacramento (H.S.) CA, 6'9 Jr Kyle Wiltjer from Portland (Jesuit) OR, 5'9 Jr Chris Jones from Memphis (Melrose) TN, 6'9 Jr Amir Williams from Beverly Hills (Detroit Country Day) MI, 6'7 Jr Rodney Hood from Meridian (H.S.) MS, 6'10 Jr Michael Chandler from Indianapolis (Lawrence North) IN, 6'7 Jr Aaron Ross from Little Rock (Parkview) AR, 6'7 Jr Julian Royal from Alpharetta (Milton) GA, 6'2 Jr Dai-Jon Parker from Alpharetta (Milton) GA, 6'2 Jr Shannon Scott from Alpharetta (Milton) GA, 6'7 Jr DeAndre Daniels from Woodland Hills (Taft) CA, 6'9 Jr Mikael Hopkins from Hyattsville (DeMatha) MD, 6'3 Jr Julien Lewis from LaMarque (H.S.) TX, 5'11 Jr Naadir Tharpe from Wolfeboro (Brewster Academy) NH, 6'3 Jr Jabari Brown from Oakland (H.S.) CA, 6'3 Jr Quddus Bello from High Point (Westchester Country Day) NC, 6'9 Jr Tyler Adams from Brandon (H.S.) MS, 6'7 Jr C.J. Barksdale from Danville (George Washington) VA, 6'11 Jr Cody Zeller from Washington (H.S.) IN, 6'4 Jr Brandon Kearney from Detroit (Southeastern) MI, 6'3 Jr DeAngelo Harrison from Sugar Land (Ft. Bend Dulles) TX, 6’6 Jr Michael Carter-Williams from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI, 6'6 Jr Sam Thompson from Chicago (Whitney Young) IL, 6'6 Jr Bernard Sullivan from Huntersville (North Mecklenburg) NC, 6'8 Jr Nic Jacobs from Atlanta (South Atlanta) GA, 5'10 Jr Jahii Carson from Mesa (H.S.) AZ, 6’9 Jr Hunter Mickelson of Jonesboro (Westside) AR, 6'8 Jr Michael Shaw from Chicago (De La Salle) IL, 6'2 Jr Achraf Yacoubou from Brookville (Long Island Lutheran) NY, 5'11 Jr Marquis Rankin from Charlotte (Vance) NC, 6'5 Jr Ryan Taylor from Indianapolis (Lawrence North) IN, 6'2 Jr Gary Bell from Kent (Kentridge) WA, 6'4 Jr Levi Randolph from Madison (Bob Jones) AL, 6'2 Jr Carlton Brundidge from Southfield (H.S.) MI, 6'4 Jr Kentavious Caldwell from Greenville (H.S.) GA, 6'4 Jr Dezmine Wells from Raleigh (Word of God) NC, 6'10 Jr Joseph Uchebe from Oak Ridge (Military Academy) NC, 6'8 Jr Desmont Hubert from New Egypt (H.S.) NJ, 6'8 Jr Derrick Randall from Paterson (Catholic) NJ, 6'5 Jr Byron Wesley from Etiwanda (H.S.) CA, 6'11 Jr Marshall Plumlee from Arden (Christ School) NC, 6'4 Jr Rashad Madden from LePonto (East Poinsette) AR, 6'4 Jr Cedrick McAfee from Memphis (Craigmont) TN, 6'6 Jr Chane Behanan from Bowling Green (H.S.) KY, 6’10 Jr James "Zac" Price from Lakewood (St, Edwards) OH, 6'2 Jr Tracy Abrams from Chicago (Mt. Carmel) IL, 6'8 Jr Anthony Gill from Charlotte (Christian) NC, 6'7 Jr Paul Jesperson from Merrill (H.S.) WI, 5'11 Jr Shane Larkin from Orlando (Dr. Phillips) FL, 6'2 Jr Jeremiah Davis from Muncie (Central) IN, 6'9 Jr Kevin Johnson from Woodland Hills (Taft) CA, 6'10 Jr Nnanna Egwu from Chicago (St. Ignatius) IL, 6'8 Jr Sidiki Johnson from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA, 6'2 Jr Tyrone Johnson from Plainsfield (H.S.) NJ, 6'5 Jr Austin Etherington from Arcadia (Hamilton Heights) IN, 6'7 Jr Dorian Finney-Smith from Portsmouth (Norcom) VA, 6'6 Jr Shaquille Thomas from Newark (Nia Prep) NJ, 6'5 Jr Aaron Brown from Lansdowne (Penn Wood) PA, 5'10 Jr Ryan Boatright from Aurora (East Aurora) IL, 6'6 Jr Anthony Norris from Houston (Sam Houston) TX, 6'7 Jr Kenyatta Smith from LaCanada (Flintridge Prep) CA, 6'9 Jr Timothy Dixon from Columbus (Kendrick) GA, 6'7 Jr Chris Bryant from Tallahassee (Rickards) FL, 6'5 Jr Nicholas Faust from Baltimore (City College) MD, 6'8 Soph Perry Ellis from Wichita (Heights) KS, 7'0 Soph Isaiah Austin from Arlington (Grace Prep) TX, 6'9 Soph DaJuan Coleman from Dewitt (Jamesville-Dewitt) NY, 6'9 Soph Khem Birch from Winchendon (School) MA, 6'4 Soph Jordan Price from Chattanooga (McCallie) TN, 6'7 Soph Amile Jefferson from Wynnewood (Friends Central) PA, 6'4 Soph Ryan Arcidiancono from Langhorne (Neshaminy) PA, 6'5 Soph J.P. Tokoto from Menomonee (Menomonee Falls) WI, 5'10 Soph Tyler Lewis from Lewisville (Forsyth Country Day) NC, 6'8 Soph Landon Lucas from Portland (Sunset) OR, 6'0 Soph Marcus Paige from Marion (Linn-Mar) IA, 6'7 Soph Jarnell Stokes from Memphis (Central) TN, 6'3 Soph Derrick Wilson from Camp Springs (Progressive Christian) MD, 6'7 Soph Alex Poythress from Clarksville (Northeast) TN, 6'8 Soph Jordan Goodman from Bowie (Seneca Valley) MD, and 6'4 Frosh Jabari Parker from Chicago (Simeon) IL.  Our Ohio Editor Chris Johnson, our North Carolina Rick Lewis, and yours truly (HOOP SCOOP Editor & Publisher Clark Francis) will provide you with the highlights and rankings of the top players in camp on a daily basis.  So stay tuned!

Friday, June 11, 2010, Saturday, June 12, 2010, & Sunday, June 13, 2010

Sometimes even the most carefully laid plans of mice and men can go astray.  And this was especially evident over the weekend when most of the big name players who we were told would be in attendance at the Rumble in the Bronx at Fordham University in the Bronx, NY did not show up and most of the top teams that we expected to go deep into the playoff were knocked off early in the tournament.  But that doesn't mean that things still weren't interesting, as East Coast Elite beat the Connecticut Basketball Club, 62-59, in the 17-Under Division Championship Game.  And in that game 6'11 Jr Malcolm Gilbert from Bryn Athyn (Academy of the New Church) PA didn't score a single point, but did have double-digits rebounds, six or seven blocked shots, and was the primary reason why 6'11 Soph Andre Drummond from Oakdale (St. Thomas More) CT was forced to take his game out on the perimeter and score only 11 points in what was a lackluster performance at best.  Unfortunately this was indicative of the way Drummond played all weekend, as he showed flashes of brilliance, but never was the consistent dominant force that we expect him to be.  Instead, the Connecticut Basketball Club advanced to the championship game thanks to a well balanced attacked that included the likes of 6'7 Tavon Allen from Worcester (Academy) MA, 6'4 Greg Langston from Lee (Academy) MA, 6'11 Jr Vince Van Nes from Northfield (Northfield-Mt. Hermon) MA, and 5'11 Jr Phil Gaetano from Wallingford Choate) CT.  Allen was the big hero in the semi-finals when he hit a pair of deep 3-pointers in the last minute to help bring his team back from a double-digit deficit against the New York Panthers and he is clearly getting under recruited, as is evident by the fact that this athletic wing forward told us that he has a list of schools that includes Drexel, Rhode Island, Siena, Charlotte, Fordham, and Hartford.  Langston provided the perfect complement out on the perimeter with his athleticism and ability to slash to the basket.  Van Nes is a skilled big man with a mid-major future and Gaetano is a tough hardnosed point guard who knows how to run the show, makes great passes and big shots, and has Ivy League-like grades.  The big hero in the championship game for East Coast Elite was 6'4 Jr A.J. English from Middletown (Appoquinimink) DE, who finished with 28 points and six 3-pointers and also impressed us with his athleticism and craftiness to the basket.  Two other guys who put up prolific numbers in the tournament were 6'7 Jr Maurice Harkless from South Kent (Prep) CT and 6'3 Jr DeAngelo Harrison from Sugar Land (Ft. Bend Dulles) TX.  However, Harkless, who did most of his damage when we saw his team in pool play with 31 points against 518 Hustle and 25 points points against Gold Coast, was embarrassingly non-productive in the playoffs.  Instead, 6'0 Jr Sterling Gibbs from West Orange (Seton Hall Prep) CT, 6'3 Jeff Short from South Kent (Prep) CT, and 6'6 Shaq Thomas from Newark (Nia Prep) NJ, and 6'0 Jr Dahaun Wiggins from North Bridgton (Bridgton Academy) ME were the ones who stepped up and were primarily responsible for leading the New York Panthers into the final four of the 17-Under Division playoffs.  Harrison finished with 37 points and eight 3-pointers in one game and led his team all of the way to the title game in the Silver Division Tournament.  However, it was 6'5 8th Grader Mavin Saunders from Houston, TX who stepped up and stole the show for the Franchise Allstars in their first game in pool play.  And another highly touted rising freshman - 6'4 8th Grader Joe Burton from Houston, TX - also stepped up and complemented 6'4 Jr Michael Carey from Sugar Land (Trent International) TX, 6'6 Jr Anthony Norris from Houston (Sam Houston) TX, and 6'10 Barry Winslow from Humble (Christian Life) TX for the Franchise Allstars this weekend.  We also were very impressed with the 23-point performance turned in by 6'9 Frosh Nerlens Noel from Everett (H.S.) MA in the championship game in the 16-Under Division and with the 19-point performance by 6'8 8th Grader Dekari Johnson from Georgetown (Scott County) KY in pool play on Friday night in the 15-Under Division.  Johnson's mother lives in New York, which explains why he plays for the New York Gauchos, his father lives in Lexington, KY, and he promises to be the next great player to come out of the Bluegrass State.  Johnson has great hands, excellent post-up moves, good anticipation, and willingness to run the court, which makes him a force to be reckoned with inside.  And, when you add the fact that his mother is at least 6'6, then you get the idea that it's kind of scary just how good this rising freshman could become.  And it's already scary how much Noel has improved in the last year.  Noel still has a long way to go in terms of developing physically.  But he's still only 15-years-old and has an incredible wing span and has excellent post moves.  He also has become much more aggressive offensively, is a great passer, and a very fluid athlete.  He's also has the upside and potential necessary for a number of the scouts who were in attendance to agree with me when I told them that I like Noel's upside and potential a lot more than that of Drummond, who doesn't play nearly as hard and is several years older in age.  As a matter of fact, I liked Noel so much that I'd have rank him ahead of 6'8 Frosh Kuran Iverson from West Hartford (Northwest Catholic) CT, who previously was the best freshman prospect in the nation that I'd previously seen this spring.  We also liked 6'8 Jr Angel Nunez from Winchenden (School) MA.  Not only does he have big time athleticism, a long wing span, and live body, but he also impressed us with his 3-point shot and strong moves to the basket en route 20 points.  We also were intrigued by the three best players - 6'9 Jr Jonathan Holton from Coral Gables (H.S.) FL, 6'10 Jr Adrian Diaz from Hialeah (Miami-Lakes), and 6'4 Jr Austin Keel from Winter Park (H.S.) FL - on Gold Coast.  Keel was one of the best 3-point shooters that we saw all weekend, as he knocked down three treys both times I watched his team play.  Diaz is an extremely mobile big man, as is evident by the fact that he often guarded the point guard at the top of the press.  However, he does need to get bigger and stronger physically and figure out that he's an inside guy, instead of a perimeter player, in order to step in and make an immediate impact year after next at someplace like Miami-FL, Florida, Florida State, North Florida, East Carolina, Indiana, or Tennessee, all of which are currently in the hunt.  Holton did nothing in the first half the first time I watched his team play and nothing in the second half the second time I watched his team play.  But in between this multi-dimensional athletic combo forward was one of the best players I saw in the entire tournament.  He handled the ball, slashed the basket, stepped out and hit the three, rebounded well for his size, was great in transition, and played with a lot of energy and confidence.  Some other players who played well enough to mention include 6'0 Jr Chris Martin from Washington (St. John's) DC, 5'9 Jr Myles Mack from Jersey City (St. Anthony) NJ, 6'8 Jr Kamari Murphy from Brooklyn (Lincoln) NY, 6'6 Jr Wyatt Polk from Haddonfield (H.S.) NJ, 6'5 Jr Lucious Jones from Jersey City (St. Anthony) NJ, 6'2 Jr Cornelius Henry from Miami (Monsignor Pace) FL, 7'0 Jr Dennis Clifford from Milton (Academy) MA, 6'9 Jr Desmond Hubert from New Egypt (H.S.) NJ, 6'2 Jr Kareem Canty from Brooklyn (Boys & Girls) NY, 6'2 Jr Jeff Romeus from Lantana (Santaluces) FL, 5'10 Jr Derek Millinghaus from Schenectady (H.S.) NY, 6'5 Jr Jherrod Stiggers from Terrell (H.S.) TX, and 6'4 Jr William Thompson from Ft. Lauderdale (Pine Crest) FL.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

The Rumble in the Bronx this weekend at Fordham University in the Bronx, NY will feature three of the top 10-ranked freshmen, three of the top five-ranked sophomores, and one of the top five freshmen in the nation.  And, in addition to featuring 6'8 Jr Michael Gilchrist from Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ, 6'7 Jr LaBryan Nash from Dallas (Lincoln) TX, 6'10 Jr Rakeem Christmas from Bryn Athyn (Academy of the New Church) PA, 6'11 Soph Andre Drummond from Oakdale (St. Thomas More) CT, 6'9 Soph Dajuan Coleman from Dewitt (Jamesville-Dewitt) NY, 6'7 Soph Kyle Anderson from Jersey City (St. Anthony) NJ, and 6'8 Frosh Kuran Iverson from West Hartford (Northwest Catholic) CT, the field also will include the New Jersey Playaz, which is arguably the best club team in America right now and features players like Anderson, 5'8 Jr Myles Mack from Jersey City (St. Anthony) NJ, 6'2 Jr Myles Davis from Jersey City (St. Peter's) NJ, 6'8 Jr Desmond Hubert from New Egypt (H.S.) NJ, 6'8 Jr Keith Lumpkin from Jersey City (St. Peter's) NJ, and 6'5 Jr Vaughn Gray from Ramsey (Don Bosco Prep) NJ; Team Final, which is the defending tournament champion and returns Gilchrist, 6'9 Jr Rakeem Christmas from Bryn Athyn (Academy of the New Church) PA, 6'2 Jr Tyrone Johnson from Plainfield (H.S.) NJ, 6'4 Jr Trevor Cooney from Hockessin (Sanford) DE, 5'11 Jr Lamin Fulton from Philadelphia (Neumann-Goretti) PA, 6'5 Jr Deon Jones from Hockessin (Sanford) DE, and 6'5 Soph Aaron Brown from Lansdowne (Penn Wood) PA; and the Long Island Lightning, which recently won the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions and features an unheralded bunch that includes 6'4 Jr Derrick Gordon from Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ, 6'8 Jr Kamari Murphy from Brooklyn (Lincoln) NY, 6'1 Jr Kareem Canty from Brooklyn (Bishop Loughlin) NY, 6'2 Jr Devin Brooks from Bronx (St. Raymond's) NY, and 6'4 Jr Kelvin Amayo from Newark (Nia Prep) NJ.  Also on hand in the 17-Under Division will be most of the top club teams from the East Coast and a number of quality teams from around the country, as Pool A will have the Albany City Rocks, Arizona Golden Gators, Portchester Kingz, and Rising Stars; Pool B will have the Metro Hawks, CBC, Dwight Howard, Team Albany; Pool C will have the South Florida Elite, Westchester, Riverside Hawks, and Mass Rivals 2, Pool D will have the New York Panthers, Gold Coast Florida, South Jersey Rising Stars, and 518 Hustle; Pool E will have the Dallas Mustangs, Juice All Stars, New Jersey Roadrunners, and Lone Wolf Vermont; Pool F will have the Northeast Playaz, Sports U Izod, Philly Elite, and Central Jersey Hawks; Pool G will have the Franchise All Stars, New Jersey ABC, Middlesex Magic, and Upstate Elite; Pool H will have the Texas Gauchos, Mass Rivals 1, Mirimar Canes (FL), and Hoop Heaven; Pool I will have the Long Island Lightning, Houston Red, Crusader Nation, MYCW; Pool J will have the Southern Kings, East Coast Elite, Raising Champions, and Rip City; Pool K will have the New Jersey Playaz, Connecticut Elite, Fairfax Stars, and South Florida; Pool L will have Garner Road, Connecticut Select, York County Ballers, and Sharks Hoops Factory; and Pool M will have Team Final, New Heights, Bay State Magic, and South Jersey Select.  Things will tip off tomorrow night will a full set of games at 6:00 PM, followed by three more sets of games at 7:15 PM, 8:30 PM, and 9:45 PM.  And Saturday, June 12th, promises to be a full day, as things will tip off at 8:00 AM and run continuously until the first round of the playoffs begin at 8:30 PM and 9:45 PM.  Then, things should really get interesting on Sunday, May 13th, as the 15-Under and 16-Under Quarterfinals will tip-off at 8:30 AM, followed by the Gold and Silver Quarterfinals in the 17-Under Division at 9:45 AM, the 15-Under and 16-Under Semi-Finals and the 14-Under Quarterfinals at 11:00 AM, the Gold and Silver Semi-Finals in the 17-Under Division at 12:15 PM, the 14-Under Semi-Finals and the 15-Under and 16-Under Championships at 1:30 PM, and the 14-Under Championship and the Gold and Silver Championships in the 17-Under Division at 2:15 PM.  Some other players we expect to be include 6'1 Jr Sterling Gibbs from West Orange (Seton Hall Prep) NJ, 5'11 Jr Naadir Tharpe from Wolfeboro (Brewster Academy) NH, 6'8 Jr Sidiki Johnson from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA, 6'7 Jr Devonta Abron from Dallas (Seagoville) TX, 6'6 Jr Keaton Miles from Dallas (Lincoln) TX, 6'8 Jr Tyler Harris from Dix Hills (Half Hollow Hills West) NY, 6'0 Jr Jabarie Hinds from Mt. Vernon (H.S.) NY, 6'5 Jr Jermaine Sanders from New York (Rice) NY, 6'1 Jr Derrick Wilson from Lakeville (Hotchkiss) CT, 6'6 Jr Maurice Harkless from Forest Hills (H.S.) NY, 6'2 Jr Davontay Grace from Brooklyn (Thomas Jefferson) NY, 6'8 Soph Alex Murphy from Southborough (St. Mark's) MA, 6'8 Jr Ryan Rhoomes from Bayside (Cardozo) NY, 6'4 Jr Najee Whitehead from Mt. Vernon (H.S.) NY, 5'8 Jr Isaiah Morton from Richland (St. Augustine) NJ, 5'10 Jr Darrell Lucky from Brooklyn (Paul Robeson) NY, 5'10 Jr Chris Gayot from Bayside (Cardozo) NY, 6'3 Soph Omar Calhoun from Middle Village (Christ the King) NY, 6'8 Soph Wannah Bail from Sugar Land (Trent International) TX, 6'7 Soph Tavon Allen from Worcester (Academy) MA, 7'0 Soph Kaleb Tarczewski from Southborough (St. Mark's) MA, and 5'11 Frosh Jevon Thomas from Centereach (Our Savior New American) NY.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

It looks like Oregon State may have stolen one with the verbal commitment they received on Monday from 6'9 Jr Daniel Gomis from Sun Valley (The Community School) ID.  We're talking about a long athletic wing forward who runs, jumps, rebounds, and gets to the rim.  He's also very polished for an international kid and right now he is still very much under the radar after arriving in the United States a year ago from the Senegal.  However, he won't be under the radar next year, as he plans to transfer this fall to Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, VA.  Speaking of players who are planning to play next year for the legendary Steve Smith, it also look like 6'5 Jr Ben McLemore from St. Louis (Eskridge) MO, 6'8 Jr Sidiki Johnson from Newark (St. Benedict) NJ, 6'4 Soph Jordan Adams from Lawrenceville (Central Gwinnett) GA, 6'4 Soph Damien Wilson from Austell (Pebblebook) GA, 6'6 Jr Torian Graham from Durham (Hillside) NC, and one of the premier point guards in the Class of 2011 who will remain nameless for now will be joining 6'3 Jr Keith Hornsby and 6'4 Frosh R.J. Curington, who are the only two players currently in the program that will return next year.  We also have confirmed that Arizona State has added 6'6 Carrick Felix from Southern Idaho (JC) ID and 6'7 Kyle Cain from New Hampton (Prep) NH to a recruiting class that is tied at #15, along with Oklahoma, on our list of the Top Recruiting Classes To-Date for the Class of 2010 and already includes 6'6 Keala King from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA, 6'7 Chanse Creekmur from Marshalltown (H.S.) IA; 6'2 Brandon Dunson from Wabash Valley (JC) IL, 6'3 Corey Hawkins from Goodyear (Estrella Foothills) AZ, and 7'0 Jordan Bachynski from Calgary (Centennial) AB.  And the Sun Devils are getting both players on the rebound.  If you will recall, Felix signed this spring with Duke, but soon after had a change of heart and asked for and was granted his release.  In the case of Cain, he reneged on the commitment he originally made to Rhode Island.  He's athletic enough and has the ability to go East and West necessary to be good defensively out on the perimeter.  But what he does best is run, jump, and be athletic around the basket.  Cain also is an excellent rebounder and a tough Chicago kid who is originally from Thornton (Fractional North) IL and we liked his game when he played AAU ball for Larry Butler and the Illinois Warriors.  The addition of these two players give Arizona State head coach Herb Sendek a little bit of everything in this recruiting class.  King has world class athleticism and is the star of the class, as is evident by the fact that we have him ranked #37 nationally in the senior class.  Dunson is an athletic point guard who averaged 12.0 ppg and 5.0 apg and shot 46% from beyond the arc this past season in the junior college ranks.  Hawkins is an athletic 2-guard with great hops and the ability to put up prolific number (he is now the leading scorer in the history of the state).  Creekmur is the sharpshooter and Bachynski is a 7-footer who is back from a mission.  There also is the addition of 6'3 Brock Turson from Plymouth (H.S.) OH to Central Michigan's recruiting class, which is now ranked #10 on our list of the Top Recruiting Classes To-Date for the Class of 2010 and also already includes 6'5 Trey Zeigler from Mt. Pleasant (H.S.) MI, 6'0 Derek Jackson from Cleveland (Benedictine) OH, 6'7 Colin Voss from East Grand Rapids (H.S.) MI, 6'0 Paris Paramore from Triton (JC) IL, 6'10 Nate Van Arendonk from Grand Haven (H.S.) MI, 6'9 Andre Coimbra from Northeastern Oklahoma (JC) OK, and 6'8 Jevon Harden from Detroit (Loyola) MI.  And making the story even more interesting is the fact that Turson is ranked #663 nationally in the senior class by the HOOP SCOOP and he plans to walk-on next year due to the fact the Chippewas don't have any more scholarships available.  We also have several late additions from players in the junior college ranks, as 6'0 Dexter Ellington from Chipola (JC) FL has picked Texas Southern and 6'0 Bryce Cartwright from Paris (JC) TX has signed with the University of Iowa.  The latter is an up tempo point guard who can push the ball and, as a result, appears to be tailor made for the way new Hawkeyes head coach Fran McCaffery will want his team to play.  The former was ranked #114 in the junior college ranks this past season by JucoJunction.com and averaged 10.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg, and 3.0 apg. 

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

I was not surprised by the death of John Wooden.  I had heard the night before on the radio that he was at the Ronald Reagan Medical Center and that it was only a matter of time.  However, I was surprised upon arrival on Friday night at the 2010 Pangos All-American Camp at Cabrillo High School in Long Beach, CA that nobody was talking about what had just happened.  Instead, it was business as usual, which leads me to believe that younger people don't fully grasp and the rest of us have forgotten just what John Wooden meant to the game of basketball.  Most people can tell you that Wooden's teams won 10 NCAA Championships in 12 years, that he coached two of the great college basketball players to have ever lived (Lew Alcindor and Bill Walton), that UCLA won 88 straights game, which is a record that may never be broken, and that a year ago he was named as "the greatest coach of all-time in any sport" by the Sporting News.  But most people have never heard of Wooden's Pyramid of Success.  Nor do they know that Wooden was the first player ever named a consensus All-American three straight years when he played at Purdue in the early 1930's.  He also led the Boilermakers to the 1932 National Championship, which at the time was determined by a panel of sports writers, and was the first person ever to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a coach and a player.  However, even more important, Wooden was an even better person than he was a basketball player or a coach.  He was always humble, loyal, down to earth, and the perfect role model for a game that during his heyday continued to achieve new heights.  I remember reading a book about basketball when I was a kid and in the foreward of the book the author talked about a school teacher asking her students what UCLA was an abbreviation for.  Most of the students correctly answered the University of California at Los Angeles.  A handful didn't know.  And one very astute kid said "basketball."  So, with that in mind, now is a good time to take a minute and reflect upon what Wooden meant to the game.  Not only was he a great role model and terrific ambassador for the sport, but he also is the single person who has had the most impact on the sport in the history of the game and, as a result, the Wooden Award, which annually is given to Player-of-the-Year in college basketball, is appropriately named.  And, in addition to the seemingly endless number of great players (Lew Alcindor, Bill Walton, Sidney Wicks, Gail Goodrich, Keith Wilkes, David Meyers, Lucius Allen, Walt Hazzard, Marques Johnson, Richard Washington, Michael Warren, Henry Bibby, Curtis Rowe, et al.) that Wooden coached at UCLA, he continued to have a profound influence upon the sport for at least another decade as his former player and top assistant coach (Denny Crum) guided the University of Louisville to six final four appearances in 1972, 1975, 1980, 1982, 1983, and 1986, two NCAA Championships in 1980 and 1986, and was the coach of the 80's.  Wooden also worked for Eddie Einhorn, who negotiated the first weekly television package for college basketball in 1976 and is widely regarded as the grandfather of college basketball on television, as a television analyst the year after he retired as the coach of UCLA.  And quite honestly, the only reason I remember that is that I ran into Wooden at the NABA Convention on Sunday Night after the Coach of the Year Banquet at the Sheridan at the NCAA Final Four in Philadelphia, PA.  When I told Wooden that I really enjoyed listening to his analysis and commentary on television, he introduced me to his boss and I talked with Wooden and Einhorn for about 10 minutes.  Neither knew me for atom.  But it's still really neat to look back on all the things that I was privy to as a kid and know that I've seen the whole thing evolve. 

Saturday, June 5, 2010, Sunday, June 6, 2010, & Monday, June 7, 2010

The big story at the 2010 Pangos All-American Camp, which was held over the weekend at Cabrillo High School in Long Beach, CA, was the total dominance from start to finish by 6'1 Jr Myck Kabongo from Henderson (Findlay Prep) NV, who was named the camp MVP and now appears to be well on his way towards becoming the best player to ever play at Henderson (Findlay Prep) NV.  And that's saying a lot when one remembers that Avery Bradley, Cory Joseph, and Tristan Thompson all hail from this basketball factory that has emerged into one of the premier high school programs in the nation in recent years.  Nobody played harder and was more consistent in the camp than Kabongo.  He also did a great job of running the show for his team and was totally unselfish, played great defensive, and was unstoppable, as he made a living penetrating and dishing in transition.  He also was the player with the first question in the question and answer session with the national scouts and was one of everybody's favorite players, as he was always personable and had a smile on his face.  After that it gets a little bit more difficult, as there was not a lot of separation among the next dozen or so players in camp.  However, in the final analysis it was 6'6 Jr Amir Garrett from Lawndale (Leuzinger) CA and 6'4 Jr Quddus Bello from High Point (Westchester Country Day) NC, 6'9 Jr Quincy Miller from High Point (Westchester Country Day) NC and 7'0 Soph Isaiah Austin from Arlington (Grace Prep) TX that round out our top five-ranked players in camp.  Garrett and Bello also were two of the best athletes in camp.  The former also took home Top 25 Cream of the Crop All-Star Game MVP honors for his team with 12 points, most of which came when the game was on the line.  Miller was one of the most prolific scorers in camp and Austin was arguably the best defender in camp, thanks to his incredible shot blocking ability and the fact that his confidence level and willingness to compete continued to obtain new heights as the camp wore on.  The other MVP in the Cream of the Crop 25 All-Star Game was 6'8 Jr DeAndre Daniels from Woodland Hills (Taft) CA, who finished with 16 points and was equally effective slashing to the basket and knocking down the outside shot.  Also finishing with 16 points in the Cream of the Crop 25 All-Star Game and totally dominating on the boards was 6'7 Jr Thomas Gipson from Cedar Hill (H.S.) TX.  The biggest sleeper in the camp has to be 6'6 Jr Jalen Jones from Mansfield (Timberview) TX, who currently is getting looks from schools like UTEP, Tulane, Houston, Arkansas-Little Rock, Baylor, Murray State, UNLV, and Wichita State.  However, before anybody gets too excited about this one, it's also important to know that Jones is very raw skill-wise and he had trouble finishing in the Top 25 Cream of the Crop All-Star Game when he was playing against the top players in camp.  And 6'8 Soph Charles Mitchell from Marietta (Wheeler) GA, who was another one of our favorite players in camp and, based on performance during the course of the weekend, should have been in the Cream of the Crop 25 All-Star Game, instead of the Top 50 Cream of the Crop All-Star Game, had problems finishing in the all-star game.  Part of the problem was that Mitchell spent too much time taking mid-range shots, instead of camping out around the basket and using his body to dominant on the boards and excellent post moves and soft touch to score around the basket.  We also were really impressed with the athleticism, ability to run the court, and excellent outside shooting touch displayed by 6'8 Soph Rosco Allen from Las Vegas (Bishop Gorman) NV, who has to be one of the fastest rising players nationally in his class.  Allen does need to get bigger and stronger physically, but he's not afraid to compete inside and also has good timing and an excellent nose for the ball, which makes him a good rebounder.  Two other players who should have been in the Cream of the Crop 25 All-Star Game, but weren't, are 6'2 Jr Delonte Bishop Daniels from Raleigh (Word of God) NC and 6'7 Jr Devonta Abron from Dallas (Seagoville) TX.  The latter finished with 13 points and was named the MVP in the Top 50 Cream of the Crop All-Star Game.  He also impressed us with his ability to rebound, block shots, and step out and hit the open three.  Daniels is a high energy athletic 2-guard who makes a living in transition and slashing to the basket.  One of the biggest disappointments in camp was 6'4 Jr Brad Beal from St. Louis (Chaminade) MO, who finished with only three points in the Cream of the Crop 25 All-Star Game and did not separate himself from all of the other athletic wing players in the camp like a top five or 10-ranked player nationally should.  We also expected more from 6'7 Jr LeBryan Nash from Dallas (Lincoln) TX, who finished with nine points in the Cream of the Crop 25 All-Star Game, but did not live up to his lofty top five nationally ranking by the HOOP SCOOP.  And what's happened to 6'8 Jr LaQuinton Ross from Burlington (Life Center) NJ?  He used to be able to no try and score 20 points in every game.  However, this time around he was just another player in camp and had only two points in the Cream of the Crop 25 All-Star Game.  The HOOP SCOOP's Ranking of the Top 60 Players at the 2010 Pangos All-American Camp includes 1) 6'1 Jr Myck Kabongo from Henderson (Findlay Prep) NV, 2) 6'6 Jr Amir Garrett from Lawndale (Leuzinger) CA, 3) 6'4 Jr Quddus Bello from High Point (Westchester Country Day) NC, 4) 6'9 Jr Quincy Miller from High Point (Westchester Country Day) NC, 5) 7'0 Soph Isaiah Austin from Arlington (Grace Prep) TX, 6) 6'1 Jr Quinn Cook from Hyattsville (DeMatha) MD, 7) 6'8 Soph Rosco Allen from Las Vegas (Bishop Gorman) NV, 8) 6'8 Jr DeAndre Daniels from Woodland Hills (Taft) CA, 9) 6'7 Jr Thomas Gipson from Cedar Hill (H.S.) TX, 10) 6'2 Jr Norman Powell from San Diego (Lincoln) CA, 11) 6'4 Jr Brad Beal from St. Louis (Chaminade) MO, 12) 6'3 Jr Josiah Turner from Sacramento (H.S.) CA, 13) 5'11 Jr Naadir Tharpe from Wolfeboro (Brewster Academy) NH, 14) 6'7 Jr Devonta Abron from Dallas (Seagoville) TX, 15) 6'2 Jr Delonte Bishop Daniels from Raleigh (Word of God) NC, 16) 6'6 Soph Savon Goodman from Bryn Athyn (Academy of the New Church) PA, 17) 6'7 Jr LeBryan Nash from Dallas (Lincoln) TX, 18) 6'8 Jr Charles Mitchell from Marietta (Wheeler) GA, 19) 6'2 Jr Chasson Randle from Rock Island (H.S.) IL, 20) 6'5 Jr Byron Wesley from San Bernardino (Cajon) CA, 21) 6'6 Soph Xavier Johnson from Temecula (Chapparal) CA, 22) 6'6 Jr Keaton Miles from Dallas (Lincoln) TX, 23) 6'8 Soph Grant Jerrett from La Verne (Lutheran) CA, 24) 6'5 Soph Jordan Tebbutt from Tualatin (Horizon Christian) OR, 25) 6'6 Jr Jalen Jones from Mansfield (Timberview) TX, 26) 6'8 Jr Nino Johnson from Memphis (White Station) TN, 27) 6'7 Jr Darnell Harris from Milwaukee (Hamilton) WI, 28) 6'8 Jr Sidiki Johnson from Newark (St. Benedict) NJ, 29) 6'8 Jr Jacob Lawson from Oak Ridge (Military) VA, 30) 6'8 Jr LaQuinton Ross from Burlington (Life Center) NJ, 31) 6'2 Jr Andre Hollins from Memphis (White Station) TN, 32) 6'5 Soph Uche Ofogebu from San Antonio (Stephens) TX, 33) 6'4 Frosh Rashad Muhammad from Las Vegas (Bishop Gorman) NV, 34) 6'6 Max Hooper from Wolfeboro (Brewster Academy) NH, 35) 6'9 Jr Joseph Uchebo from Oak Ridge (Military) VA, 36) 6'8 Jr Braeden Anderson from Plantation (American Heritage) FL, 37) 6'7 Jr Ryan Anderson from Long Beach (Poly) CA, 38) 6'5 Jr Vaughn Gray from Ramsey (Don Bosco Prep) NJ, 39) 6'7 Jr David Andoh from San Jose (St. Teresa) CA, 40) 6'10 Jr Henry Uwadiae from Henderson (Findlay Prep) NV, 41) 6'8 Soph Landen Lucas from Portland (Sunset) OR, 42) 6'8 Jr Ronnie Stevens from Gardena (Serra) CA, 43) 5'10 Soph Cameron Golden from Memphis (Ridgeway) TN, 44) 6'5 Jr Christian Garrett from Westlake Village (Oaks Christian) CA, 45) 5'10 Jr Charles Lee from Milwaukee (Hamilton) WI, 46) 7'4 Soph Sim Bhullar from Saltsburg (Kiski) PA, 47) 6'3 Jr Tre Demps from San Antonio (Reagan) TX, 48) 6'2 Jr Davon Potts from Cerritos (Gahr) CA, 49) 6'4 Frosh Issac Hamilton from Los Angeles (Crenshaw) CA, 50) 6'7 Jr Eric Norman from San Diego (Parker) CA, 51) 6'10 Jr Robert Garrett from Sacramento (H.S.) CA, 52) 6'9 Jr Daniel Green from Grapevine (H.S.) TX, 53) 5'9 Jr Austin McBroom from North Hollywood (Campbell Hall) CA, 54) 6'8 Soph Jordan Goodman from Bowie (Seneca Valley) MD, 55) 6'7 Frosh Aaron Gordon from San Jose (Archbishop Mitty) CA, 56) 6'2 Jr Ben Dillard from Frisco (H.S.) TX, 57) 6'7 Jr Luke Mergerson from Duncanville (H.S.) TX, 58) 5'11 Soph Michael Gaffey from Corona (Centennial) CA, 59) 6'8 Jr Kenyatta Smith from La Canada (Flintridge Prep) CA, and 60) 6'8 Jr Ryan Watkins from Reseda (H.S.) CA.

Friday, June 4, 2010

We continue to track a slow trickle of signings and commitments and the most significant one we're run across within the last week is the one made by 6'1 Coco Ware from East Mississippi (JC) MS to Mississippi Valley State.  And this athletic 2-guard who can flat out score and is terrific in transition finished ranked #29 nationally in scoring and #31 nationally in steals en route to 19.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.1 apg, and 2.7 spg and First Team NJCAA National Junior College Athletic Association) All-American honors.  He also averaged 23.3 ppg in his team's last dozen games en route to an appearance in the NCJAA Tournament in Hutchinson, KS.  The addition of Ware moves the Delta Devils recruiting class, which also already includes 6'8 Paul Crosby from Navarro (JC) TX, 6'4 Falando Jones from Mississippi Delta (JC) MS, and 6'2 Jerome Harris from Spoon River (JC) IL, into a tie at #83, along with Vanderbilt, Wisconsin, Rutgers, Alabama, Idaho, UTEP, and Coastal Carolina, on our list of the Top Recruiting Classes To-Date for the Class of 2010.  We also have yet to mention the fact that 6'4 Jeffrey Short from Bronx (John F. Kennedy) NY made a verbal commitment last week to Fordham.  And, despite the fact Short plans to enroll this fall at South Kent (Prep) CT, he still counts with the Rams' current recruiting class, because there is still a possibility that he could make it academically and be eligible to play college basketball next season.  Short is currently ranked #304 nationally in the senior class by the HOOP SCOOP.  But, after watching him score 18 points and three 3-pointers in a game this past weekend at the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions (he had 18 points and three 3-pointers when we were watching), there is no doubt in our mind that he is better than his ranking.  He also is an important catch due to the fact that he is a local kid and, as a result, it looks like the new regime will continue to maintain the same philosophy that made them successful over the years when they were at Hofstra.  However, they will have to do so without Van Macon, who has worked for new Fordham head coach Tom Pecora for the last nine years and has been Pecora's right hand man for the last three years.  On the other hand, this gives Fordham assistant coach David Duke, who previously was at Hofstra for 12 years (10 as an assistant coach and two as a graduate manager) and is one of the bright up-and-coming guys in the business, a chance to move up the ladder.  It also looks like the new coaching staff at Iona College has stolen one in 6'8 Aleksander Kosic from Huntington (Prep) WV and the University of Rhode Island has a good catch in 6'5 P.J. Lockridge from Martinsville (Heat Academy) VA.  The latter is a tremendous athlete and has a good bloodline, as is evident by the fact that he is the nephew of former University of Connecticut All-American Caron Butler.  The former is an athletic wing with an excellent 3-point shot and the ability to defend both bigger guys inside and smaller guys out on the perimeter.  It also looks like this is a time when the Providence College coaching staff needs to regroup, as 5'11 Jr Naadir Tharpe from Wolfeboro (Brewster Academy) NH and 6'4 Joe Young from Houston (Yates) TX both reneged on the Friars earlier this week.  And the situation with Young, who signed a binding National Letter-of-Intent with Providence last fall, is especially interesting as he now wants to go to school closer to home due to the fact that there is an ill aunt in the family.  However, the Friars do not appear to be be inclined to want to give him a release, which means Young will either have to sit out next year as a transfer at another four-year Division I school or he can go the prep school route at someplace like Humble (Christian Life) TX, which is right in his backyard.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

If everybody show up at the 2010 Pangos All-American Camp, which will be held this weekend at Cabrillo High School in Long Beach, CA, then this will clearly be the best camp in the eight-year history of the camp.  And that's saying a lot, as Dinos Trigonis, who is the driving force behind the camp, has hosted a long list of elite talent over the years, which includes players like 7'1 Robert Swift from Bakersfield (Highland) CA, 5'11 Kyle Lowry from Philadelphia (Cardinal Dougherty) PA, 6'4 Arron Afflalo from Compton (Centennial) CA, 6'7 Dorell Wright from Lawndale (Leuzinger) CA, 6'7 Taylor King from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA, 6'7 Shane Clark from Philadelphia (Cardinal Dougherty) PA, 6'4 Gabriel Pruitt from Los Angeles (Westchester) CA, 6'6 Jawaan McClellan from Houston (Milby) TX, 6'11 Greg Steimsma from Randolph (H.S) WI, 6'6 C.J. Miles from Dallas (Skyline) TX, 6'8 Lance Thomas from Scotch Plains (H.S.) NJ, 6'7 Jamal Boykin from Los Angeles (Fairfax) CA, 6'8 Devon Jefferson from Lynwood (H.S.) CA,6'9 Jr Theo Davis from Bayside (Cardozo) NY, 6'9 Jeffrey Pendergraph from Etiwanda (H.S.) CA, 6'9 Jr Vernon Goodridge from Philadelphia (Lutheran) PA, 6'3 Wes Matthews from Madison (Me morial) WI, 6'6 Dior Lowhorn from Berkeley (H.S.) CA, 6'5 Bryan Harvey from Compton (Dominguez) CA, 6'9 Alex Stepheson from North Hollywood (Harvard-Westlake) CA, 6'5 Jarvis Crittenton from Atlanta (Southwest Atlanta Christian) GA, 6'10 Anthony Randolph from North Little Rock (H.S.) AR, 6'8 Gani Lawal from Riverdale (H.S.) GA, 6'10 DeAndre Jordan from Houston (Episcopal) TX, 6'9 James Hickson from Atlanta (Southwest Atlanta Christian) TX, 6'6 Justin Holiday from North Hollywood (Campbell Hall) CA, 6'3 Danny Williams from Lynwood (H.S.) CA, 6'9 Jr Taylor Harrison from San Clemente (H.S.) CA, 6'0 Jonathan Gibson from Simi Valley (Stoneridge Prep) CA, 6'9 Derrick Favors from Atlanta (South Atlanta) GA, 6'8 Jamelle Horne from San Diego (Hoover) CA, 6'6 James Harden from Lakewood (Artesia) CA, 6'9 Drew Gordon from San Jose (Archbishop Mitty) CA, 6'3 Senario Hillman from Irwinton (Wilkinson County) GA, 6'9 Austin Daye from Irvine (Woodbridge) CA, 6'4 Chris Allen from Lawrenceville (Meadowcreek) GA, 6'9 Chandler Parsons from Winter Park (Lake Howell) FL, 6'4 Jeremy Hazel from Lenoir (Patterson School) NC, 6'1 Brandon Jennings from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA, 6'6 Demar Derozan from Compton (H.S.) CA, 6'8 Luke Babbitt from Reno (Galena) NV, 6'7 Hollis Thompson from Los Angeles (Loyola) CA, 6'6 Daquan Jones from Marietta (Wheeler) GA, 6'6 Tony Mitchell from Swainsboro (H.S.) GA, 6'7 Troy Gillenwater from Simi Valley (Stoneridge Prep) CA, 6'6 Leonard Washington from Lake Charles (Washington Merion) LA, 6'10 Anthony Jones from Houston (Yates) TX, 6'3 John Wall from Raleigh (Word of God) NC, 6'5 Michael Snaer from Moreno Valley (Diamond Ranch) CA, 6'5 Roger Franklin from Duncanville (H.S.) TX, 6'3 Roberto Nelson from Santa Barbara (H.S.) CA, 6'8 Joe Burton from Hemet (West Valley) CA, 6'5 Anthony Brown from Huntington Beach (Ocean View) CA, 6'2 Gary Franklin from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA, 6'1 Tyrone Garland from Philadelphia (Bartram) PA, 6'7 Derrick Williams from La Mirada (H.S.) CA, 6'5 Tyler Lamb from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA, 6'7 Harrison Barnes from Ames (H.S.) IA, 6'3 J.T. Terrell from Burlington (Cummings) NC, 6'6 Will Barton from Baltimore (Lake Clifton) MD, 5'11 Joe Jackson from Memphis (White Station) TN, 5'11 Ryan Harrow from Marietta (Walton) GA, 6'8 Nick Jacobs from Atlanta (South Atlanta) GA, 6'4 Doron Lamb from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA, 6'9 Terrence Jones from Portland (Jefferson) OR, 6'9 James Johnson from San Diego (Morse) CA, 6'7 Travis McKie from Richmond (John Marshall) VA, 6'4 Shabazz Muhammad from Las Vegas (Bishop Gorman) NV, 6'9 Godwin Okonji from Henderson (Findlay Prep) NV, 6'5 Adonis Thomas from Memphis (Melrose) TN, 6'8 Quincy Miller from Winston-Salem (Quality Education Academy) NC, 6'8 Melvin Tabb from Raleigh (Enloe) NC, 6'7 DeAndre Daniels from Woodland (Hills Taft) CA, and 6'2 Tony Chennault from Philadelphia (Neumann-Goretti) PA.  The tentative schedule for this year's camp begins with the out-of-the-area check-in of players at the Hyatt Regency in Long Beach, CA between 2:00 PM-5:00 PM on Friday, June 4th.  Dinner at the hotel will be between 5:00 PM-6:00 PM, the shuttle departs the hotel to Cabrillo High School at 6:00 PM, Camp Registration & Gear Distribution at Cabrillo High School will be between 6:00 PM-6:45 PM, Opening Remarks and Instruction will be between 7:00 PM-7:15 PM, Individual Instruction by Dave Miller will be between 7:15 PM-8:30 PM, the first round of games will be between 8:30 PM-10:30 PM, and a late night snack at the hotel will be between 11:00 PM-Midnight. The schedule on Saturday, June 5th, will begin with Breakfast at Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles between 8:00 AM-9:00 AM.  There will be free time at the hotel between 9:00 AM-11:30 AM, the shuttle departs the hotel to Cabrillo High School at 11:45 AM, lunch at Cabrillo High School will be between Noon-1:00 PM, Individual Instruction by Dave Miller will be between 1:00 PM-3:00 PM, the second round of games will be between 3:00 PM-5:00 PM, dinner at Cabrillo High School will be between 5:00 PM-6:00 PM, the Recruiting Roundtable (Questions & Answers with national scouts) will be 6:00 PM-6:30 PM, the third round of games will be between 6:30 PM-8:30 PM, and a media reception will be at Legends Sports Bar in Belmont Shore between 10:00 PM-Midnight.  The schedule on Sunday, June 6th, will begin with Breakfast at Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles between 7:30 AM-8:30 AM.  Then, the shuttle depart will depart from the hotel to Cabrillo High School at 8:30 AM, the fourth round of games will be between 9:00 AM-11:00 AM, an announcement of All-Star Teams/Final Remarks will be between 11:00 AM-11:30 AM, the "Cream of the Crop" Top 40 All-Star Game will be between 11:30 AM-12:30 PM, the "Cream of the Crop" Top 20 All-Star Game will be between 12:30 PM-1:30 PM, and campers depart/transport out-of-state campers to the airport will be between 1:30 PM-2:00 PM.  The list of players who are expected to be in attendance at this year's camp includes 6'3 Jr Bradley Beal from St. Louis (Chaminade) MO, 6'7 Jr LaBryan Nash from Dallas (Lincoln) TX, 6'6 Jr Adonis Thomas from Memphis (Melrose) TN, 6'8 Jr LaQuinton Ross from Burlington (Life Center) NJ, 6'1 Jr Myck Kabongo from Henderson (Findlay Prep) NV, 6'9 Jr Anthony Davis from Chicago (Perspectives) IL, 6'0 Jr Quinn Cook from Hyattsville (DeMatha) MD, 6'7 Jr C.J. Barksdale from Danville (Washington) VA, 6'2 Jr Josiah Turner from Sacramento (H.S.) CA, 6'7 Jr DeAndre Daniels from Woodland Hills (Taft) CA, 6'0 Jr Cezar Guerrero from Bellflower (St. John Bosco) CA, 5’11 Jr Jahii Carson from Mesa (H.S.) AZ, 6’4 Jr Jabari Brown from Oakland (HS) CA, 6'2 Jr Andre Hollins from Memphis (White Station) TN, 6'3 Jr Norman Powell from San Diego (Lincoln) CA, 6'9 Jr Norvel Pelle from Los Angeles (Price) CA, 6'6 Jr Thomas Gipson from Cedar Hill (H.S.) TX, 6'5 Jr Keaton Miles from Dallas (Skyline) TX, 6'7 Jr Jarion Henry from Dallas (Kimball) TX, 6'3 Jr Quddus "Deuce" Bello from High Point (Westchester Country Day) NC, 6'8 Jr Jacob Lawson from Oak Ridge (Military Academy) NC, 6'9 Jr Ronnie Stevens from Gardena (Serra) CA, 6'9 Jr Kevin Johnson from Woodland Hills (Taft) CA, 6'10 Jr Joey De La Rosa from Las Vegas (Trinity International) NV, 6'8 Jr Darnell Harris from Milwaukee (Hamilton) WI, 6'5 Jr Elgin Cook from Milwaukee (Hamilton) WI, 6'10 Jr Robert Garrett from Sacramento (H.S.) CA, 6'9 Jr Sidiki Johnson from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA, 6'1 Jr Jerome Seagers from Red Springs (Flora MacDonald Academy) NC, 6'4 Jr Derrick Gordon from Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ, 6'4 Jr Kory Alford from Albuquerque (La Cueva) NM, 6'4 Jr Spencer Dinwiddie from Woodland Hills (Taft) CA, 6'7 Jr Nino Johnson from Memphis (Melrose) TN, 6'5 Jr Darius Nelson from Sacramento (H.S.) CA, 6'4 Jr Byron Wesley from Etiwanda (H.S.) CA, 6'5 Jr Wesley Saunders from Los Angeles (Windward) CA, 6'7 Jr Ryan Anderson from Long Beach (Poly) CA, 6'5 Jr Devonte Abrams from Dallas (Spruce) TX, 6'7 Jr Kenyatta Smith from La Canada (Flintridge) CA, 6'5 Soph Shabazz Muhammad from Las Vegas (Bishop Gorman) NV, 6'6 Soph Savon Goodman from Bryn Athyn (Academy of the New Church) PA, 6'7 Soph Xavier Johnson from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA, 5'11 Soph Tyler Lewis from Lewisville (Forsyth Country Day) NC, 6'10 Soph Joseph Uchebo from Oak Ridge (Military Academy) NC, 6’9 Soph Brandon Ashley from Oakland (Bishop O’Dowd) CA, 6'8 Soph Rosco Allen from Las Vegas (Bishop Gorman) NV, 6'6 Soph Jordan Tebbutt from Tualatin (Horizon Christian) OR, 6'0 Soph Gabe York from Orange (Lutheran) CA, 6'7 Soph Grant Jerrett from La Verne (Lutheran) CA, 6'8 Soph Jordan Goodman from Camp Springs (Progressive Christian) MD, 6'6 Soph Charles Mitchell from Marietta (Wheeler) GA, 6'8 Soph Landen Lucas from Portland (Sunset) OR, 6'4 Soph Torian Graham from Durham (Hillside) NC, 6'6 Soph Anthony Bennett from Beckley (Mountain State University Academy) WV, and 6'5 Frosh Roschon Prince from Long Beach (Poly) CA.  Trigonis also tells us that the status of 6'4 Jr Tony Wroten from Seattle (Garfield) WA, 6'5 Jr Wayne Blackshear from Chicago (Morgan Park) IL, 6'6 Jr Amir Garrett from Lawndale (Leuzinger) CA, and 6'7 Soph Perry Ellis from Wichita (Heights) KS is questionable.  However, he's hoping that those last four players will also show up at the camp. 

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Our West Coast Editor Alan Utter spent the Memorial Day Weekend at the NIKE EYBL (Elite Youth Basketball League) Tournament, which was held at the Hanger Athletic Xchange in Hawthorne, CA, and he tells us that a lot of the top players in the nation, including 6’8 Jr Mike Gilchrist from Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ, 6’3 Jr Austin Rivers of Winter Park (HS) FL, 6’2 Jr Marquis Teague from Indianapolis (Pike) IN, 6’8 Jr James McAdoo from Norfolk (Christian) VA, 6’8 Jr Quincy Miller from High Point (Westchester Country Day) NC, 6’4 Jr Bradley Beal from St. Louis (Chaminade) MO, 6’9 Jr Rakeem Christmas from Bryn Athyn (Academy of the New Church) PA, 6’6 Jr Brandon Dawson from Gary (Wallace) IN, and 6’8 Soph Kyle Anderson of Patterson (Catholic) NJ, were in attendance.  However, the big story was the impressive number of less heralded players, like 6’5 Jr Ben McLemore from St. Louis (Eskridge) MO, 6’5 Jr Josh Richardson from Edmond (Santa Fe) OK, 6’8 Jr Jakarr Sampson from Akron (St. Vincent-St. Mary) OH, 5’11 Jr Jahii Carson from Mesa (H.S.) AZ, 6’3 Jr Melvin Cook from Milwaukee (Washington) WI, 6’8 Jr Angel Nunez from Fitchburg (Notre Dame) MA, 6’4 Jr Jabari Brown from Oakland (HS) CA, 6’2 Jr Myles Davis from Jersey City (St. Peter’s) NJ, 6’9 Soph Brandon Ashley from Oakland (Bishop O’Dowd) CA, 6’3 Jr Nick Johnson from Henderson (Findley Prep) NV, 6’6 Jr Michael Carter-Williams from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI, 6’9 Jr Hunter Mickelson of Jonesboro (Westside) AR, 6’10 Jr James "Zac" Price from Lakewood (St, Edwards) OH, and 6’0 Jr Zeveral Jackson of Hammond (St. Thomas) LA, all of whom are ranked among Utter's top 25 players at the event.  Utter was particularly impressed with the play of McLemore, Richardson, and Sampson.  All three are super athletes who have great skills and play hard at both ends of the court.  McLemore also was the best shooter at the event and he picked up the slack for Beal who was sick and, as a result, only able to play about half of each game.  "Richardson is just about unstoppable going through the key and never fails to finish at the hoop," says Utter.  "He also has a nice variety of shots out to the 3-point line and is relentless on defense.  Sampson is a 6’8 wing who runs the offense and handles the rock like a point guard.  He is long and very coordinated with a nice jump shot and great moves to the basket."  Utter also gives special mention to Carson, who is a fast rising athlete who plays the point, but also can score like a two guard.  "He sees the floor, makes great passes, jumps over people, and gets to the hoop with ease," says Utter.  "He's a top priority for now for everybody in the Pac-10."  Cook was arguably the biggest sleeper to emerge, as he kept hitting clutch threes and scoring in bunches.  "Every time the other team would  make a run, he'd make a three and cut their heart out," says Utter.  "He's also a quick athletic 2-guard who appears to be wide open in his recruitment.  Nunez is a long athletic wing player with quickness, the ability to defend smaller wing forwards, and a nice looking jump shot.  Brown is a strong athletic 2-guard who shoots the three and scores well in the key.  Davis is a fast tough athletic 2-guard who can shoot the lights out.  Ashley is a good all around player who is getting better every day and is drawing a lot of early interest from schools in the Pac-10.  Johnson is the son of former Arizona State star Joey Johnson and he's got good athleticism, a nice shooting touch, good moves to the basket, and the versatility necessary to play either the one or the two.  Carter-Williams impressed me with his size, athleticism, and ability to score.  Mickelson is a long lanky shot blocking inside guy with a good athleticism, the ability to run the court, and a huge upside.  Price was strong in the key, had nice moves to the basket, and blocked a lot of shots and got a lot of rebounds.  Jackson is point guard who is moving up in the rankings sees the floor, makes good passes, and hits jump shots when needed."  Utter's list of the top 25 players at this event is as follows:  1) 6’4 Jr Bradley Beal from St. Louis (Chaminade) MO, 2) 6’5 Jr Ben McLemore from St. Louis (Eskridge) MO, 3) 6’8 Jr Mike Gilchrist from Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ, 4) 6’9 Jr Rakeem Christmas from Bryn Athyn (Academy of the New Church) PA, 5) 6’8 Jr Quincy Miller from High Point (Westchester Country Day) NC, 6) 6’2 Jr Marquis Teague from Indianapolis (Pike) IN, 7) 6’8 Soph Kyle Anderson of Patterson (Catholic) NJ, 8) 6’5 Jr Josh Richardson from Edmond (Santa Fe) OK, 9) 6’8 Jr Jakarr Sampson from Akron (St. Vincent-St. Mary) OH, 10) 6’6 Jr Michael Carter-Williams from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI, 11) 6’8 Jr James McAdoo from Norfolk (Christian) VA, 12) 6’2 Jr Myles Davis from Jersey City (St. Peter’s) NJ, 13) 6’9 Jr Hunter Mickelson of Jonesboro (Westside) AR, 14) 6’3 Jr Nick Johnson from Henderson (Findley Prep) NV, 15) 6’4 Jr Jabari Brown from Oakland (HS) CA, 16) 5’11 Jr Jahii Carson from Mesa (H.S.) AZ, 17) 6’10 Jr James "Zac" Price from Lakewood (St, Edwards) OH, 18) 6’6 Jr Brandon Dawson from Gary (Wallace) IN, 19) 5'8 Jr Myles Mack from Paterson (Catholic) NJ, 20) 6’8 Jr Angel Nunez from Fitchburg (Notre Dame) MA, 21) 6’3 Jr Melvin Cook from Milwaukee (Washington) WI, 22) 6'9 Jr Amir Johnson from Beverly Hills (Detroit Country Day) MI, 23) 6’9 Soph Brandon Ashley from Oakland (Bishop O’Dowd) CA, 24) 6'6 Jr Wayne Blackshear from Chicago (Morgan Park) IL, and 25) 6’0 Jr Zeveral Jackson of Hammond (St, Thomas) LA.  It also should be noted that 6’4 Jr Austin Rivers of Winter Park (HS) FL sprained his ankle seven minutes into his first game Saturday morning and did not play again.  The best team clearly was the New Jersey Playaz, which went undefeated and beat the New York Gauchos 64-53 in the final game on Monday morning.  And, ironically the St. Louis Eagles, which featured the two top-ranked players in the event (Beal and McLemore), came into the tournament after having gone undefeated in Hampton, VA and Houston, TX, but lost twice to ICP  and the Drew Gooden Soldiers. 

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Our Philadelphia/Eastern Pennsylvania/South Jersey Editor Allen Rubin, our Ohio Editor Chris Johnson, and yours truly (HOOP SCOOP Editor & Publisher Clark Francis) talked with a number of coaches and players at the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions over the weekend in Chapel Hill, NC and we found out some very interesting things.  We start with what appears to be more than just a rumor with regards to 6'5 Jr P.J. Hairston from Greensboro (Dudley) NC, 6'0 Jr Marquis Rankin from Charlotte (Vance) NC, and 6'4 Jr Dezmine Wells from Raleigh (Word of God) NC all transferring to Chatham (Hargrave Military) VA.  We also were intrigued by the fact that Steve Smith was seen at several of Team Philly's games, which makes us believe that 6'2 Jr John Johnson from Philadelphia (Girard College) PA, who is already verbally committed to the University of Pittsburgh, will probably end up playing next year at Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, VA.  There also was the early list of schools mentioned by 6'5 Soph Shabazz Muhammed from Las Vegas (Bishop Gorman) NV, who is the #1-ranked sophomore in the nation by the HOOP SCOOP.  It includes Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky, UCLA, Kansas, Louisville, UNLV, USC, and Texas.  The top five for 6'11 Soph Andre Drummond from Oakdale (St. Thomas More) CT are Connecticut, Georgetown, Louisville, North Carolina, and Duke.  The early favorites for 6'4 Soph Ryan Arcidiancono from Langhorne (Neshaminy) PA are St. Joseph's, Rutgers, Rice, Notre Dame, Syracuse, Penn State, Wake Forest, and Temple.  The list for 6'7 Soph Amile Jefferson from Wynnewood (Friends Central) PA already includes Wake Forest, West Virginia, Penn State, Villanova, Syracuse, Georgetown, Virginia Tech, Temple, St. Joseph's, and La Salle.  The race also is already on for 6'6 Soph Savon Goodman from Bryn Athyn (Academy of the New Church) PA, who mentions Penn State, Villanova, North Carolina, Michigan, Temple, Texas, Georgetown, Pittsburgh, Xavier, La Salle, and St. Joseph's.  The list for 6'4 Jr B.J. Young from Florissant (McCluer North) MO includes Baylor, Indiana, Illinois, Purdue, Iowa, Southern Illinois, Xavier, Tulane, George Mason, Hartford, Virginia Commonwealth, Illinois State, Arizona, and Minnesota.  However, before anybody gets too excited, it's important to know that Young still has a lot of work to do in the classroom in order to be eligible as a college freshman year after next at a Division I college or university.  Everybody thinks 6'5 Jr Adonis Thomas from Memphis (Melrose) TN is a done deal for the University of Memphis.  However, he gave us a long list that also includes schools like Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Ohio State, Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Miami-FL, Florida State, Indiana, UCLA, Georgia Tech, Alabama, and Duke.  The list for 6'0 Jr Cezar Guerrero from Bellflower (St. John Bosco) CA includes UNLV, UTEP,  USC, Arizona, Arizona State, Auburn, Gonzaga, Maryland, Virginia, San Diego State, and Marquette.  The top five for 6'8 Kadeem Jack from New York (Rice) NY are Arkansas, Arizona, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Miami-FL.  However, that list will probably get longer before it gets shorter, as Jack is expected to go to prep school next year at South Kent (Prep) CT.  UCLA, Arizona, USC, Boston College, Oregon, Stanford, California, and Arizona State are all in the hunt for 6'3 Jr Norman Powell from San Diego (Lincoln) CA.  UCLA, Mississippi State, Memphis, Vanderbilt, Arkansas, and Providence were the schools mentioned by 6'4 Jr Bobby Parks from Memphis (Melrose) TN.  Georgetown, USC, and Florida State are already showing a lot of interest in 6'9 Frosh Kuran Iverson from Hartford (West Catholic) CT.  Indiana, Ohio State, Illinois, Tennessee, Xavier, Cincinnati, Louisville, Florida, and Iowa are the early favorites for 6'8 Soph Jeremy Hollowell from Indianapolis (Lawrence Central) IN.  Clemson, Georgia, Florida, Arkansas, and Tennessee are the leaders for 6'7 Jr Jay Rome from Valdesta (H.S.) GA.  And, just like his father (Stan Rome) who was an All-American in two sports at Clemson, his son is getting recruited to play both football and basketball by all five schools.  Maryland, Virginia Tech, Virginia, and Xavier are the schools you have to beat for 6'9 Jr Adjehi Baru from Chester (Steward School) VA.  Texas, Kansas, Butler, Duke, Arizona, Boston College, and Florida make up the early list for 6'8 Soph Alex Murphy from Southborough (St. Mark's) MA.  Wake Forest, Charlotte, N.C. State, Virginia, North Carolina, Baylor, and Stanford are the schools showing the most interest in 5'11 Soph Tyler Lewis from Lewisville (Forsyth Country Day) NC.  Baylor and Indiana lead Tennessee, Alabama, and Cincinnati in the race to get 6'8 Soph Hanner Perea from Charlotte (United Faith Christian) NC.  The early list for 5'11 Soph Kevin Farrell from Indianapolis (Park Tudor) IN includes Indiana, Illinois, Ohio State, Virginia, Washington, Notre Dame, Butler, Kentucky, and Florida.  The list for 6'0 Jr Quinn Cook from Hyattsville (DeMatha) MD includes Villanova, UCLA, Wake Forest, North Carolina, Rutgers, and Georgetown.  It looks like Clemson, Virginia Tech, Virginia, Penn State, and Davidson have the inside track for 6'8 Jr Bernard Sullivan from Charlotte (North Mecklenburg) NC.  Southern Illinois, Fairfield, Miami-OH, and UT-Martin are the favorites for 6'6 Jr Dantiel Daniels from Wentzville (Holt) MO.  Miami-FL, Syracuse, Seton Hall, Clemson, Purdue, Wake Forest, and N.C. State are the schools you have to beat for 6'8 Jr Jacob Lawson from Oak Ridge (Military) VA.  South Carolina, Villanova, Virginia Tech, Virginia, Miami-FL, Rutgers, Marquette, Providence, and St. John's were the schools mentioned by 6'5 Jr Jermaine Sanders from New York (Rice) NY.  Oregon, Georgia, Virginia Tech, Cincinnati, Clemson, Florida State, Miami-FL, Charlotte, and Alabama are all in the hunt for 6'7 Jr Nick Jacobs from Atlanta (South Atlanta) GA.  Connecticut, Iowa State, West Virginia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Virginia, and Virginia Tech are already heavily involved with 6'6 Soph Daniel Dingle from Bronx (St. Raymond's) NY.  Kansas State, Miami-FL South Carolina, Central Florida, Fairfield, Richmond, Old Dominion, and George Mason make up a very interesting list for 6'8 Jr Jason Pimentel from Ocala (Trinity Catholic) FL.  UNLV, Arizona, Washington, Washington State, Oregon State, Gonzaga, Fresno State, California, UCLA, and USC make up the early list for 6'8 Soph Grant Jerrett from La Verne (Lutheran) CA.  Cincinnati, Stanford, Memphis, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania were mentioned by 6'2 Jr Andre Hollins from Memphis (White Station) TN, who has a 4.5 gpa and was one of the bigger unsung heroes of the weekend.  The race is on among Wake Forest, USC, UCLA, Florida State, Miami-FL, Alabama, Harvard, Marquette, Iowa, Nebraska, South Florida, Virginia Commonwealth, Florida, and Central Florida for 5'11 Jr Shane Larkin from Orlando Dr. Phillips) FL.  The list for 6'3 Jr Juan'ya Green from Radnor (Archbishop Carroll) PA includes George Mason, Boston University, Temple, St. Joseph's Providence, Rutgers, Georgetown, and Georgia Tech.  The list of schools recruiting 6'8 Jr Jackson Simmons from Smokey Mountain (H.S.) NC covers the entire spectrum, as Davidson, Stanford, California, Clemson, Purdue, George Mason, Furman, UNC-Wilmington, Duquesne, Temple, St. Joseph's, Pennsylvania, Harvard, Butler, Princeton, Radford, East Carolina, Appalachian State, and Elon College all appear to be in the hunt.