NIKE SHOWCASES PLETHORA OF UNDERCLASSMEN TALENT

by Artie McLaughlin

The competition between the two major summer camps, NIKE and adidas, continues to be both dynamic and interesting. While adidas clearly had the lion's share of the top 25 rising seniors, Nike showcased a plethora of underclassmen talent. Leading the way were 6'3 Jr Marcus Taylor of Lansing (Waverly) MI, 6'1 Soph Dajuan Wagner of Camden (H.S.) NJ, 6'8 Jr Zach Randolph of Marion (H.S.) IN, and 6'9 Jr Jared Jefferies of Bloomington (North) IN, all of whom ranked among the top 10 players in camp regardless of class. In fact, each of the players mentioned above ranked at the top of their respective positions - Taylor and Wagner at the off guard (though Wagner could easily play the point in a pinch), Randolph at the post, and Jefferies at power forward. Another underclassman, 6'0 Jr Omar Cook of Middle Village (Christ the King) NY, ranked in the top five point guards in camp. Taylor's athleticism and outside shooting, combined with Wagner's poise and ability to drive to the hoop, clearly made this a backcourt duo that could start right away at most Division I schools. Randolph and Jefferies are as solid as they come for a frontcourt duo. Randolph thoroughly outplayed 6'10 Marvin Stone of Huntsville (Grissom), the consensus #1 player nationally before the start of the summer, the first day of camp and continued to impress both scouts and coaches alike with his physical style and willingness to play aggressive D - an extremely rare sight in the summer camp scene.

The emergence of exceptional underclass talent at NIKE does not mean that the class of 99 failed to make an impression. Seniors such as 6'3 Jason Williams of Metuchen (St. Josephs) NJ, 6'7 Rob Grizzard of Birmingham (Central Park Christian) AL, 6'3 Kevin Gaines of Las Vegas (Clark) NV, 6'11 Casey Sanders of Tampa (Prep) FL, Stone, and 6'9 Balasa Radunovic of Padagorica, Yugoslavia, all were among the top 10 players in camp. Radunovic, 6'3 Eric Seigrist of Poughkeepsie (Spackenkill) NY, 6'1 Jibrahn Ike of Minneapolis (St. Anthony) MN, and 6'7 Michael Bauer of Hastings (Senior) MN, who came into the camp with modest or unknown reputations, all played themselves into the highest levels of Divison I basketball after very impressive showings. Bauer, especially, elevated his status to the elite level with his athleticism and hard-nosed defense. Stone, who played hurt, needed some time to get adjusted to the camp environment, as he arrived late the first day. Waiting for him that first night was Randolph, who thoroughly out-played and out-hustled Stone. By the end of camp, however, Stone had re-solidified his prior ranking, and proved himself worthy of being recruited by Kentucky, Alabama, North Carolina, the Raptors, Grizzlies, Nuggets, et al. The camp list wouldn't be complete without mentioning at least one major, disappointing underachiever who refused to play hard enough to display his considerable talent. Hey, weren't you once Kareem Rush?

FINAL RANKING OF THE TOP PLAYERS AT THE NIKE CAMP

Rankings are based on performance in camp and not necessarily college potential

Rankings by Clark Francis, Artie McGlaughlin, Ralph Francis, Stephen Bell, Chris Johnson, and Marty Baker

1. Marcus Taylor, 6'3, Jr, Lansing (Waverly) MI

2. Jason Williams, 6'3 Sr, Metuchen (St. Josephs) NJ

3. Dajuan Wagner, 6'1, Soph, Camden (H.S.) NJ

4. Zach Randolph, 6'8, Jr, Marion (H.S.) IN

5. Rod Grizzard, 6'7, Sr, Birmingham (Central Park Christian) AL

6. Kevin Gaines, 6'3, Sr, LasVegas (Clark) NV

7. Jared Jeffries, 6'9, Jr, Bloomington (North) IN

8. Casey Sanders, 6'11, Sr, Tampa (Prep) FL

9. Marvin Stone, 6'10, Sr, Huntsville (Grissom) AL

10. Balasa Radunovic, 6'9, Sr, Padgorica, Yugoslavia

11. Joe Forte, 6'4, Sr, Hyattsville (DeMatha) MD

12. Aloysius Anagoyne, 6'7, Sr, Detroit (St. Martin DePorres) MI

13. Ndu Egekeze, 6'7, Sr, Augusta (Westside) GA

14. Donnell Knight, 6'7, Sr, Phoenix (St. Mary's) AZ

15. Jibrahn Ike, 6'1, Sr, Minneapolis (St. Anthony) MN

16. Michael Bauer, 6'7, Sr, Hastings (Senior) MN

17. Brian Cook, 6'11, Sr, Lincoln (Community) IL

18. Ray Henderson, 6'7, Sr, Charlotte (East Mecklenburg) NC

19. Demetrius Hunter, 6'2, Sr, Las Vegas (Cheyenne) NV

20. Omar Cook, 6'0, Jr, Middle Village (Christ the King) NY

21. Keith Kincade, 6'5, Sr, Compton (Dominguez) CA

22. Eric Seigrist, 6'3, Sr, Poughkeepsie (Spackenkill) NY

23. Eddy Curry, 6'9, Soph, South Holland (Thornwood) IL

24. Jamal Crawford, 6'5, Sr, Seattle (Rainier Beach) WA

25. George Leach, 6'9, Sr, Charlotte (Olympic) NC

26. Micah Brand, 6'11, Sr, Milford (Academy) NY

27. Rashaad Carruth, 6'3, Soph, Decatur (Cathedral) GA

28. Andrew Zahn, 6'9, Jr, Redondo Beach (Redondo Union) CA

29. Arthur Barclay, 6'6, Jr, Camden (H.S.) NJ

30. Bernard King, 6'5, Sr, Gibsland (Gibsland-Coleman) LA

31. Lukas Ridnour, 6'0, Jr, Blaine (H.S.) WA

32. Derek Smith, 6'5, Sr, Ft. Thomas (Highlands) KY

33. Tito Maddox, 6'4, Sr, Compton (H.S.) CA

34. Gavin Groninger, 6'5, Sr, Plainfield (H.S.) IN

35. Leland Anderson, 6'8, Sr, North Attleboro (H.S.) MA

36. Antonio Meeking, 6'7, Sr, Farmerville (H.S.) LA

37. Ezra Williams, 6'5, Sr, Marietta (H.S.) GA

38. Kevin Smith, 6'3, Sr, Baltimore (Lake Clifton) MD

39. Damien Wilkins, 6'6, Sr, Kensington (Newport Prep) MD

40. Derrick Goode, 7'0, Jr, Severn (Archbishop Spalding ) MD

41. Terrell Taylor, 6'5, Sr, Virginia Beach (Tallwood) VA

42. Chuck Eidson, 6'7, Sr, Summerville (Pinewood) SC

43. John Stewart, 6'11, Sr, Indianapolis (Lawrence Central) IN

44. Jerrance Howard, 6'0, Sr, Peoria (Central) IL

45. Demon Brown, 6'1, Sr, Randallstown (H.S.) MD

46. James Thomas, 6'8, Sr, Schenectady (H.S.) NY

47. Kenny Walker, 6'9, Sr, Jacksonville (Wolfson) FL

48. Draper Housley, 6'1, Sr, Choushatta (H.S.) LA

49. Kelvin Torbert, 6'1, Soph, Flint (Northwestern) MI

50. Rolando Howell, 6'7, Jr, Hopkins (Lower Richland) SC

TOP PLAYERS BY POSITION AT THE NIKE CAMP

CENTERS

1. Zach Randolph, 6'8, Jr, Marion (H.S.) IN

2. Casey Sanders, 6'11, Sr, Tampa (Prep) FL

3. Marvin Stone, 6'10, Sr, Huntsville (Grissom) AL

4. Eddy Curry, 6'9, Soph, South Holland (Thornwood) IL

5. Micah Brand, 6'11, Sr, Milford (Academy) CT

6. Andrew Zahn, 6'9, Jr, Redondo Beach (Redondo Union) CA

7. Derrick Goode, 7'0, Jr, Severn (Archbishop Spalding ) MD

8. John Stewart, 6'11, Sr, Indianapolis (Lawrence Central) IN

9. Kenny Walker, 6'9, Sr, Jacksonville (Wolfson) FL

10. James Jones, 6'8, Jr, Hialeah (American) FL

11. Curtis Borchardt, 6'10, Sr, Redmond (Eastlake) WA

12. Wesley Wilson, 6'11, Gr, Vallejo (H.S.) CA

13. Zach Johnson, 6'8, Sr, Shreveport (Woodlawn) LA

14. Samuel Dalembert, 6'11, Sr, Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ

15. Shawnson Johnson, 6'9, Sr, Shreveport (Green Oaks) LA

16. Demetrius Williams, 6'8, Sr, Chicago (Martin Luther King) IL

17. Ian Caskill, 6'8, Sr, Virgina Beach (Frank Cox) VA

18. Nick Smith, 7'0, Jr, Valrico (Bloomingdale) FL

19. Isaiah Fox, 6'9, Soph, Santa Monica (Crossroads) CA

20. Yao Ming, 7'5, Shanghai, China

POWER FORWARDS

1. Jared Jeffries, 6'9, Jr, Bloomington (North) IN

2. Aloysius Anagoyne, 6'7, Sr, Detroit (St. Martin DePorres) MI

3. Donnell Knight, 6'7, Sr, Phoenix (St. Mary's) AZ

4. Michael Bauer, 6'7, Sr, Hastings (Senior) MN

5. Brian Cook, 6'11, Sr, Lincoln (Community) IL

6. Ray Henderson, 6'7, Sr, Charlotte (East Mecklenburg) NC

7. George Leach, 6'9, Sr, Charlotte (Olympic) NC

8. Leland Anderson, 6'8, Sr, North Attleboro (H.S.) MA

9. Antonio Meeking, 6'7, Sr, Farmerville (H.S.) LA

10. Terrell Taylor, 6'5, Sr, Virginia Beach (Tallwood) VA

11. James Thomas, 6'8, Sr, Schenectady (H.S.) NY

12. Rolando Howell, 6'7, Jr, Hopkins (Lower Richland) SC

13. Erwin Dudley, 6'8, Sr, Uniontown (R.C. Hatch) AL

14. Richard Wright, 6'7, Sr, East Chicago (Central) IN

15. Michael Sweetney, 6'8 Jr, Oxon Hill (H.S.) MD

16. Larry Satchell, 6'8, Sr, Waco (H.S.) TX

17. Nick Anderson, 6'7, Jr, Baton Rouge (Southern Lab) LA

18. Robert Davis, 6'6, Sr, Baton Rouge (Glen Oaks) LA

19. Donnie Wallace, 6'8, Sr, Goddard (H.S.) KS

18. Eric Zwayer, 6'9, Sr, Sebring (H.S.) FL

19. Anthony Lane, 6'8, Sr, Tifton (Tift County) GA

20. Rick Rickert, 6'9, Soph, Duluth (East) MN

21. Djahue Rodrigue, 6'7, Sr, Miami (Northwest) FL

22. Ivan Howell, 6'6, Sr, Hopkins (Lower Richland) SC

WING FORWARDS

1. Rod Grizzard, 6'7, Sr, Birmingham (Central Park Christian) AL

2. Balasa Radunovic, 6'8, Sr, Padgorica, Yugoslavia

3. Ndu Egekeze, 6'7, Sr, Augusta (Westside) GA

4. Keith Kincade, 6'5, Sr, Compton (Dominguez) CA

5. Arthur Barclay, 6'6, Jr, Camden (H.S.) NJ

6. Derek Smith, 6'5, Sr, Ft. Thomas (Highlands) KY

7. Damien Wilkins, 6'6, Sr, Kensington (Newport Prep) MD

8. Draper Housley, 6'2, Sr, Choushatta (H.S.) LA

9. Chris Ogden, 6'5, Sr, Seminole (H.S.) TX

10. Mike Tucker, 6'6, Sr, Shaker Heights (H.S.) OH

11. Jibran Kelley, 6'7, Sr, Lee's Summit (H.S.) MO

12. Gerald Riley, 6'6, Jr, Milledgeville (Baldwin) GA

13. Greg Brittian, 6'8, Sr, Mt. Dora (H.S.) FL

14. Tyrone Hayes, 6'5, Sr, Augusta (Josey) GA

15. Julian Swartz, 6'6, Sr, Waukesha (South) WI

16. Jarvis Smith, 6'7, Sr, Milledgeville (Baldwin) GA

17. Nathaniel Williams, 6'7, Sr, Raleigh (Ravenscraft) NC

18. Antwan Robinson, 6'6, Sr, New Smyrna Beach (H.S.) FL

19. Keith Willis, 6'6, Sr, Norfolk (Norview) VA

20. Nick Jacobson, 6'3, Sr, Fargo (Shanley) ND

21. Brent Jolly, 6'5, Sr, Sparta (White County)TN

22. Liberto Tetimadingar, 6'8, Sr, France

23. Kareem Rush, 6'5, Sr, Kansas City (Pembroke Hill) MO

SECOND GUARDS

1. Marcus Taylor, 6'3, Jr, Lansing (Waverly) MI

2. Dajuan Wagner, 6'1, Soph, Camden (H.S.) NJ

3. Joe Forte, 6'4, Sr, Hyattsville (DeMatha) MD

4. Demetrius Hunter, 6'2, Sr, Las Vegas (Cheyenne) NV

5. Eric Seigrist, 6'3, Sr, Poughkeepsie (Spackenkill) NY

6. Jamal Crawford, 6'5, Sr, Seattle (Rainier Beach) WA

7. Rashaad Carruth, 6'3, Soph, Decatur (Cathedral) GA

8. Bernard King, 6'5, Sr, Gibsland (Gibsland-Coleman) LA

9. Gavin Groninger, 6'4, Sr, Plainfield (H.S.) IN

10. Ezra Williams, 6'5, Sr, Marietta (H.S.) GA

11. Kevin Smith, 6'3, Sr, Baltimore (Lake Clifton) MD

12. Chuck Eidson, 6'7, Sr, Summerville (Pinewood) SC

13. Desmond Farmer, 6'4, Jr, Flint (Northwestern) MI

14. Rodney Bass, 6'4, Sr, Baltimore (Lake Clifton) MD

15. Jon Higgins, 6'3, Sr, Shaker Heights (H.S.) OH

16. Brandon Mouton, 6'4, Jr, Lafayette (St. Thomas More) LA

17. Abdul Mills, 6'3, Pr, Cheshire (Academy) CT

18. David Young, 6'3, Sr, New Castle (H.S.) PA

19. Craig Calloway, 6'1, Sr, Long Beach (Jordan) CA

20. Robert Findley, 6'4, Sr, Pittsfield (Maine Central Institute) ME

POINT GUARDS

1. Jason Williams, 6'3 Sr, Metuchen (St. Joseph) NJ

2. Kevin Gaines, 6'3, Sr, LasVegas (Clark) NV

3. Jibrahn Ike, 6'1, Sr, Minneapolis (St. Anthony) MN

4. Omar Cook, 6'0, Jr, Middle Village (Christ the King) NY

5. Lukas Ridnour, 6'0, Jr, Blaine (H.S.) WA

6. Tito Maddox, 6'4, Sr, Compton (H.S.) CA

7. Jerrance Howard, 6'0, Sr, Peoria (Central) IL

8. Demon Brown, 6'1, Sr, Randallstown (H.S.) MD

9. Kelvin Torbert, 6'1, Soph, Flint (Northwestern) MI

10. Janavor Weatherspoon, 5'10, Sr, Camden Wyoming (Caesar Rodney) DE

11. Sherrod Teasley, 6'2, Sr, Frederick (Prospect Hall) MD

12. Adrian Jackson, 6'0, Jr, Pompano Beach (Ely) FL

13. Steve Scoggin, 5'11, Jr, Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA

14. Charles Frederick, 5'11, Soph, Boca Raton (Pope Paul II) FL

15. Victor Tarver, 5'9, Sr, Baton Rouge (Southern Lab) LA

16. Reggie Brown, 6'3, Sr, Briarwood (Archbishop Molloy) NY

17. James Thomas, 5'10, Jr, Jackson (Lanier) MS

18. Edward Scott, 5'11, Sr, Hopkins (Lower Richland) SC

19. George Baker, 6'2, Sr, Lexington (Dunbar) KY

20. Marshall Strickland, 6'1, Frosh, Braintree (Thayer) MA

UNDERCLASSMEN

1. Marcus Taylor, 6'3, Jr, Lansing (Waverly) MI

2. Dajuan Wagner, 6'1, Soph, Camden (H.S.) NJ

3. Zach Randolph, 6'8, Jr, Marion (H.S.) IN

4. Jared Jeffries, 6'9, Jr, Bloomington (North) IN

5. Omar Cook, 6'0, Jr, Middle Village (Christ the King) NY

6. Eddy Curry, 6'9, Soph, South Holland (Thornwood) IL

7. Rashaad Carruth, 6'3, Soph, Decatur (Cathedral) GA

8. Andrew Zahn, 6'9, Jr, Redondo Beach (Redondo Union) CA

9. Arthur Barclay, 6'6, Jr, Camden (H.S.) NJ

10. Lukas Ridnour, 6'0, Jr, Blaine (H.S.) WA

11. Derrick Goode, 7'0, Jr, Severn (Archbishop Spalding ) MD

12. Kelvin Torbert, 6'1, Soph, Flint (Northwestern) MI