June 19, 2013

Big Shots II: Saturday action

Player: 6’8 Jared Scott
City: Lumberton, NC
High School: Flora MacDonald
AAU Team:  South Carolina Elite
Evaluation: The physically mature Scott was absolutely in “beast mode” Saturday morning against Virginia Venom. Scott scored a game high 26 points without once demanding the ball. All his scoring came from within the offense and many were being in the right place at the right time. He scored many off garbage buckets, but also did a very nice job of squaring up and putting the ball on the floor for impressive drives to the basket. The sheer strength of Scott was too much for the opposing team and Scott’s play has him projected as a MM/MM+. He was one of the most productive PF at the event and in a numbers game, some HM school may take a chance on him.

Player:  6’7 WF 2013 TaShombe Riley
City: Orangeburg, SC
High School: Orangeburg Wilkinson
AAU Team: South Carolina Elite
Evaluation: The long and slender WF forward enjoyed a solid game Saturday morning and followed up with an equally impressive game later in the day. Riley has the ability to become a defensive menace with his length and lateral quickness. He has the ability to step out and knock down 3s or attack the rim and pull up. He has the ability to ability to create his own shot and is excellent in transition. Riley is a solid MM prospect.

Player: 6’6 2013 WF Austin Ajukwa
City: Columbia, SC
High School: Cardinal Newman
AAU Team: South Carolina Elite
Evaluation: Ajukwa is one of the more athletic and explosive players at the Big Shots event. His end to end speed is uncanny and has the ability to grab a rebound on the defensive end and be on the other end with a highlight dunk in a matter of seconds. He plays with passion and his energy level is top notch. He plays above the rim and finishes well in traffic. That being said, the next step in his development is to refine his perimeter skills. We were impressed with his size/length and ability to handle the ball in the open court. He is best shooting “off the dribble” once he gains rhythm in his shot. We strongly believe Ajukwa can be a HM prospect. One of the more impressive players at Big Shots with a great upside and ceiling.

Player: 6’6 2014 WF Josh Level
City: High Point, NC
High School: The Christ School
AAU Team: Team Loaded 16U
Evaluation: While the Martin twins get a lot of national media coverage and rightfully so, Level has always been known for his physically mature body and gifted leaping ability. Loss in the shuffle has been his ability to knock down perimeter jumpers especially from the 3 point line. We have seen Level be an effective 3 point shooter for his high school team and on Saturday morning, Level was dialed in from deep. He scored a team high 14 points knocking in four 3 pointers. While he may not be better than the Martin twins, he was the best player on the team with his play on Saturday. He is tracking as a HM- player.

Player: 6’6 Caleb and Cody Martin
City: Mocksville, NC
High School: Davie County
AAU Team: Team Loaded 16U
Evaluation: It was another solid/steady outing for the talented twins. Caleb does more of his damage from the perimeter while Cody is more effective in the paint and midrange. Both are excellent dribblers and passers. Their game is transition and once they are in the groove, they are simply fun to watch. They are highly skilled and rarely do you find 6’6 WG/WF players with their mobility, versatility and skill set. The next step in their game is to develop more of an alpha male mentality. Martin twins are HM prospects.

Player: 6’4 2014 Dirk Williams
City: Williamsburg, VA
High School: Williamsburg Christian Academy
AAU Team: Virginia Venom
Evaluation: Williams is a long and lengthy WG that just recently re-classed back to the 2014 class. He has excellent handles in transition with above average court vision. In the half court situation, Williams has some nifty and crafty ball handling moves for his size/position. He can easily create his own shot off the dribble. We liked his shooting touch from the perimeter and had a high release point and has excellent lift and elevation on his jumper. We feel Williams is a solid MM prospect.

Player: 6’4 2012 SG Colton Ray
City: Lafayette, VA
High School: Lafayette
AAU Team: Virginia Venom
Evaluation: We first saw Ray at the Queen City Showcase and really liked his game. It is not to imagine a youngster with his skill set not having a D1 offer, but that will quickly change after two back to back solid performances at the Queen City Showcase and Big Shots. A lethal shooter from the perimeter, Ray showcased a “moxy” and “cockiness” that was appealing. He has excellent ball handling skills and his Rondo impersonation was big time in the game against SC Elite. Some D1 school should snatch him up before he decides to attend prep school. He is rather thin and does need to add strength and weight, but that should happen once he arrives on campus.

Top players at Big Shots I Tournament

We traveled down to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to capture the final day of the Big Shots I Tournament. Below is a recap of the top players we observed.

Breakout Performances

Player: 6’4 2014 SG Grayson Allen
City: Jacksonville, Florida
High School: Providence Christian
AAU Team: Douglas Brothers
Evaluation: In the 16U championship game against Flight 22, Allen was simply sensational and wowed the crowd with his overall skill and surprisingly athletic ability. He tallied 25 points and they were coming from all spots on the floor. He was knocking down 3 pointers, driving fiercely to the basket, making mid-range pull up jumpers, and was also on the receiving end of an alley oop pass. At 6’4 Allen, has solid ball handling and passing skills and can slide over to the PG if needed, although he is more effective at the SG position. He has a soft shooting touch with a high release with excellent extension and follow through. He has an outstanding touch at the free throw line. On the defensive end, he showcased his athleticism by getting back in transition and swapping an attempted layup high off the glass. Allen has huge hands and feet and looks like he has room for additional growth. He won over many of the coaches in attendance Friday and one coach thought his game reminded him of Bobby Sura. Look for Allen’s stock to roar this summer. He is fun player to watch. He combines the blend of fundamentals, basketball IQ and the athletic ability to make him a MM+/HM prospect.

Player: 6’5 2013 WF Trevaunte Williams
City: Seattle, WA
High School: Garfield
AAU Team: Seattle Rotary
Evaluation: Seattle Rotary lost a tough 64-59 game to the bracket champions South Carolina Ravens, but not without the fight and competitive nature of the athletic WF from Seattle. Williams played at a high level and displayed a high motor throughout the game. His workmanship attitude was evident on both ends of the court. He can score from multiple spots on the floor and has the ability to put the ball on the floor in transition. His speed and strength attacking the basket created problem for the Ravens. Williams finished with a game high 25 points and played with a level of passion and intensity which is refreshing today.

One More Year

Player: 6’0 2013 PG Frank Mason
City: Petersburg, VA
High School: Petersburg HS, but will prep a year at Massanutten
AAU Team: Team Loaded 17U
Evaluation: Mason was originally in the 2012 class and now has decided to prep a year at Massanutt Military Academy. The best words to describe Mason’s game is “tough as nails.” The strong and athletic PG was impressive in his performance in the semi-finals to the SC Ravens. He tallied 16 points mostly off strong and explosive drives to the basket and periodically knocked in a few perimeter jumpers. In addition, he was able to get into the lane at ease and made good decisions kicking out to open teammates. Mason is a strong defender and does sit low on the defensive. He has superb lateral quickness and will be a hot prospect for MM+/HM schools.

Surprise Players

Player: 5’9 2013 PG  Caleb Dougan
City: Murrells Inlet, SC
High School: St. James
AAU Team: Flight 22
Evaluation:. Dougan led Flight 22 to the 63-58 upset win over Grayson Allen and 7’0 John Ebgunu to win the Slam 16U Championship bracket. Dougan finished with 22 points and effectively ran the show for the well coached and disciplined Flight 22 team and may have earned himself some D1 offers from his play at Big Shots. He handled the full court pressure extremely well and dribbled low to the floor making it difficult for the quicker and more athletic opponents to guard. He has advanced ball handling and passing skills and used a variety of dribble moves to constantly evade defensive pressure. His ability to get into the lane caused tremendous problems for opposing teams and made nifty and crafty passes around the rim. Left open from the perimeter, he would bury the 3 point shot with consistency.

Player: 5’11 2014 PG Dantez Bennamon
City: Charleston, SC
High School: Goose Creek
AAU Team: TMP
Evaluation: Bennamon played an outstanding floor game in the championship defeat to Team Loaded by the score of 56-51. On paper, TMP was simply outmanned and didn’t possess the overall talent or athleticism of their opponent, but the steady and strong play of Bennamon kept his team close until the end. He tallied 10 points, but it was his decision making ability that constantly put pressure on Team Loaded. He was effective on the perimeter by using pump fakes directly into a 1-2 dribble drive pull up. He is a strong and explosive guard with a good shooting touch.

Beyond his years!

Player: 6’2 2016 SG Seventh Woods
City: Columbia, SC
High School: Hammond Middle
AAU Team: South Carolina Ravens
Evaluation: Woods was simply outstanding in the semi-final game against a talented 17U Team Loaded squad. The youngster played more like a rising senior rather than a rising freshman. Woods played with tremendous poise and has a beautiful shooting stroke from the perimeter as he continued to knock down clutch 3 pointers in the come from behind victory. He tallied 15 points but the skill, athleticism and overall understanding for the game is off the chart for his age/grade. In a hard fought game, Woods showed the composure of a truly special player and will be one of the premier players in the 2016 class.

Rock Steady

Player: 6’6 2014 WF Caleb Martin
City: Mocksville, NC
High School: Davie County
AAU Team: Team Loaded 16U
Evaluation: Team Loaded breezed through the competition of the 16U division, but did face a solid challenge from a pesky and persistent TMP team. Although, Team Loaded had balanced scoring, it was the timely 3 point shooting of Martin was the big difference in the game. Martin knocked down four 3 pointers in route to his 14 team high points. Martin is excellent in transition and has tight handles for his size/position and has outstanding court awareness and vision. He has advanced passing skills and enjoyed another “rock steady” performance on Friday.

Best of the Rest

Player: 6’9 2013 PF/C TJ Williams
City: Wilmington, NC
High School: Wilmington Ashley
AAU Team: Flight 22
Evaluation:. The NC Phenom 150 Alum banged and battled NBPA alum John Egbunu the entire evening. He didn’t back down from the challenge and the talkative Williams is fun to watch. Rarely, do you find young players that talk more on defense than Williams. He is totally engaged in the game on both ends and is active especially on the defensive end of the court. While he has modest offensive moves, the development in his offensive arsenal will help determine the appropriate level. Currently, he is project at a MM level.

Player: 6’6 2014 Dante “Dr. Dunk” Buford
City: Greenville, NC
High School: Oakwood School
AAU Team: Team Loaded 16U
Evaluation: Buford earned his nickname early in the contest and made his presence known. A freakish athletic combo/forward, Buford is a highlight waiting to happen. His quick and explosive leaping ability is impressive. He is strong attacking the basket and usually finished with contact or draw the foul. No doubt, Buford has the athleticism to play at a high level. The next step for Buford is to fine tune his midrange and perimeter game.

Player: 6’3 2013 PG/SG Troy Caupain
City: Chesterfield, VA
High School: Cosby
AAU Team: Team Loaded 17U
Evaluation: The Cincinnati commit had a strong/solid showing. He is a physically mature guard that loves attacking the rim. He has mastered the “crow hop” move efficiently and effectively and finished at a high rate. He is a high character young man and plays the game the right way. The next step in his development to be more comfortable with his perimeter game.

Player: 6’10 2013 Chuck Ogbodo
City: Greensboro, NC
High School: High Point Christian
AAU Team: Team Loaded 17U
Evaluation: In the second half of the semi-final game vs. the SC Ravens, Ogbodo used his height and length to muster 10 points off missed shots. He was active on both ends of the court with keeping his hands above his head. In addition, he used his length to create problems for the opposing team. The next step for Ogbodo is to develop more refined low post moves or a “go to move” in the paint.

Player: 6’6 2013 WG Travis Hammonds
City: Columbia, SC
High School: Gray Military Academy
AAU Team: South Carolina Ravens
Evaluation:. Hammons should be a high target for MM schools that are looking for an athletic WG with good shooting skills. He is active defensively and plays with good intensity. He finished with 11 points in the 2 point win over Team Loaded. The next step for Hammonds is to “tighten up” his ball handling skills.

Player: 6’2 2013 PG/SG Eric Eaves
City: Hopkins, SC
High School: Gray Military Academy
AAU Team: South Carolina Ravens
Evaluation:. Eaves was one of the better performers in the SC Ravens/Team Loaded semi-final game. He has the ability to be team facilitator or easily create his own shot off the dribble. He scored 15 points from various spots on the court. He knocked down 3 pointers, made midrange jumpers and attacked the basket. He was also very effective in dribble penetration and kicking out to 2016 Phenom Seventh Woods.

Other Impressions

6’6 2013 Kristofer Acox of South Carolina Ravens 17U

6’4 2013 Matthew Howard of South Carolina Ravens 17U

6’7 2013 Treshawn Patterson of Flight 22 17U

6’0 2013 Rian Hollard of Flight 22 17U

5’11 2013 Marquis Davis of Seattle Rotary 17U

Queen City Showcase: Part 1

The inaugural Queen City Showcase held at the Carolina Courts was a huge success for opening day of the July “live period.”  Over 80 teams participated and over 60 Division I coaches were in attendance. Without question, event organizer Trent McAllister deserves special credit for pulling off a well-organized and professional event. The coaches packet was one of the best I’ve seen in many years covering live events. Action started promptly and finished on time!  The competition was fierce and there were some hard fought contests between CP3 All Stars, Upward Stars, and Team United.

Below is list of players from Part 1 of the Queen City Showcase

Player: 6’2 2014 PG Marcus Stroman
City: Columbia, SC
High School: Keenan
AAU Team: Keenan
Evaluation: Keenan lost a hard fought contest to a well-coached and disciplined Charlotte Reign team by the score of 52-49, but the recent South Carolina commit had a solid showing in front of new South Carolina Head Coach Frank Martin. Stroman showcased his ultra-quick cross over repeatedly as he had little to no problem getting into the lane. Eventually, the opposing team went to  a 2-3 zone to help stop his dribble penetration. Stroman has a nice arsenal of offensive moves and his “euro step” in transition is impressive. He has a solidly built frame and has good athleticism and plays taller with his long arms. His athleticism and skill set should be well utilized in Coach Martin’s up tempo style at South Carolina. The next step for Stroman is to develop a floater and mid-range game.

Player: 6’4 2013 SG Dustin Dodd
City: Charlotte, NC
High School: Hickory Grove
AAU Team: Charlotte Reign
Evaluation: Dodd is a throwback to the fundamentally sound player with a high basketball IQ. He simply knows how to play the game. He finished with 15 points and scored from a variety of spots on the floor. He is a deadly perimeter shooter and has excellent extension and follow through on his jumper. In addition, Dodd has surprisingly advanced ball handling and passing skills for his size and position and was useful in handling the ball against the full court pressure by Keenan High School of Columbia, SC. Dodd should be a target of schools in the Big South and Southern Conference.

Player: 6’6 2013 WF James Chapman
City: High Point, NC
High School: High Point Wesleyan
AAU Team: Charlotte Reign
Evaluation:  Chapman sometimes was the player that often got overlooked on his high school team that featured Montay Brandon (FSU) Theo Pinson, and JaQuel Richmond last season, but the long and athletic wing made some big time moves that intrigued many of the D1 coaches in attendance. Chapman is extremely active on both ends of the court and does have an effective mid range game. He has excellent lift and elevation on his jumper. Chapman has long arms and big feet and looks like he has plenty of room for growth height wise and physical growth. What you see with Chapman is definitely not the finished product, but many of the lower tier D1 conference should continue to monitor his progress.

Player: 6’4 2014 WG Charles Smith
City: Columbia, SC
High School: Keenan
AAU Team: Keenan
Evaluation: Smith a strong physical WG that plays with a relentless motor on the court. He has a blue collar work horse mentality and battles each and every possession. Smith was playing up a grade and his play did not indicate him being an underclassman. He finished/tied with a game high 10 points for a well balanced Keenan attack. Lower tier D1 programs should continue to monitor his progress.

Player: 6’4 2014 WG Mike Hughes
City: Winston-Salem, NC
High School: Winston-Salem Prep
AAU Team: CP3 16U
Evaluation: A quick and athletic WF that is excellent in transition. Hughes has the ability to grab a defensive rebound and go coast to coach with his advanced ball handling skills for his size/position. He matched his athleticism with a beautiful “euro step” in full speed transition into a reverse layup which may have been one of the nicest offensive moves all night. Hughes has tight handles and made solid decisions in all the games we watched.

Player: 6’4 2013 PF Sharwyn McGee
City: Raleigh, NC
High School: Upper Room Academy
AAU Team: CP3 17U
Evaluation: We have written about McGee on several occasions from our Phenom 150 camp to other exposure camp setting. The physically mature PF is like a bull in a china closet. He plays the game at one speed and that is with his foot all the way down. He is a blue collar  workhorse that simply gets the job done. While he will not overwhelm you with any single skill set, but at the end of the day you can count on productivity. He seems to be in double digits in scoring and rebounding almost every single game.

Player: 6’92013 PF/C Kennedy Meeks
City: Charlotte, NC
High School: West Charlotte
AAU Team: Team United 17U
Evaluation: Meeks plays marginal minutes in opening night of the Queen City Showcase.  With the busy June schedule that rivaled an NBA schedule, we were surprised and shocked to see Meeks play in the QCS. While his minutes were limited, one must give him credit for being there for his teammates. We wrote about Meeks at the Nike EYBL in Hampton and he simply put on a clinic against California Supreme and 6’8 Marcus Lee. Generally regarded as one of the best passing big men since Wes Unseld, Meeks is just as humble and polite off the court as he is physically noticeable on the court. We were able to get up with Meeks afterwards and he stated his top five schools were NC State, UNC, Georgetown, IU, and UL.

Player: 6’5 2013 SG  Sindarius Thornwell
City: Lancaster, SC
High School: Oak Hill Academy
Evaluation: Like Meeks, we didn’t expect Thornwell to be in attendance or much less play. While the game is centered around the individual play of so many young players, he is refreshing to see players like Thornwell and Meeks to be there in support of their team. This speaks volume and shows these young guys have their priorities in order. While Thornwell didn’t play a lot of minutes, it was the fact that he participated that caught our attention.

Player: 6’4 2013 SG Matt Howard
City: Columbia, SC
High School: AC Flora
AAU Team: Team United 17U
Evaluation: We have always been impressed with the play of Howard. Last night, he scored a team high 16 points from all spots on the floor. He has a smooth mid-range game but has the strength and athleticism to make impressive dunks in transition or off missed jumpers. Howard is the ultimate “glue guy” and seems to do all the little things needed for his team to be successful. He can be the team leader while Thornwell and Meeks are on the bench or assume the role of the perfect teammate and unsung hero. That being said, the talented and multi-skilled SG has a bright future ahead of him. He is an excellent student and the likes of Harvard and Stanford are schools in the hunt for Howard. Assistant Coach Mike Schrage of Stanford was front and center for his opening night game.

Player: 6’5 2012 SG Colton Ray
City: Lafayette, VA
High School: Lafayette
AAU Team: Virginia Venom
Evaluation: Coming into the event  Colton Ray had zero offers, but they may have changed after his outstanding shooting performance against a powerful Team United team. He tallied a game high 18 points knocking in 6 long distance 3 pointers. The slender and lanky SG has a smooth shooting touch with excellent shooting techniques  and fundamentals. In speaking with Ray afterwards, he stated there was a strong possibility of attending a prep school. Without question, he has the ability to play D1 basketball and if any school is looking for a dead eye shooter, need to look no further!

Player: 6’4 2013 PG Gregory Wilson
City: Waccamaw, NC
High School: Waccamaw Academy
AAU Team: Team United 17U
Evaluation: Wilson is a strong and physically mature PG/SG. He had a strong showing opening night and utilized the Earl the Pearl Monroe “reverse spin move” to perfection. He was very effective in utilizing his strength by getting into the lane repeatedly where he showcased a nice mid-range game. In addition, he played under control and showcased his leadership abilities. He could be a steal at the Big South level.

Player: 6’2 2013 SG Clay Byrd
City: Morganton, NC
High School: East Burke
AAU Team: Team United 17U
Evaluation: A smart and heady player that maximizes his ability to the fullest. The southpaw has a silky smooth shooting touch and showcased the ability to slash and attack the basket. A fundamentally sound player with a high basketball IQ that should be a high priority for  schools in the Big South and Southern Conference.

Player: 5’10 2013 PG Darren Williams
City: Red Springs, NC
High School: Flora MacDonald
AAU Team: Team United 17U
Evaluation: We watched Williams repeatedly in high school, but his most impressive performance may have come at the Nike EYBL in Hampton, VA when he went head to head against super sophomore PG Parker Jackson Cartwright. Williams picked the talented PG twice in the open court and won the individual battle plus his team pulled off the upset against California Supreme. Williams is a stout/strong PG that plays with a little moxy and has a bulldog mentality. His decision making at the PG position is improving and will probably be a strong MM prospect.

Player: 5’10 2014 PG Jaylan Robertson
City: Raleigh, NC
High School: Word of God
AAU Team: Team United 17U
Evaluation: Robertson is one of the most athletic PG in the country for his size. He has quickness and explosiveness that allows him to elevate quickly near the rim. He has many of the physical attributes and once his decision making matches his athleticism, his ceiling will only continue to rise.

Player: 6’4 2015 PG/SG Michael Baez
City: Huntersville, NC
High School: Hopewell
AAU Team: Queen City Thunder
Evaluation: Baez is a promising young prospect. He is physically mature and has a strong physique. He has solid fundamentals and plays under control and rarely makes mistakes. He has a soft shooting touch, but is best at the mid-range jumper. He is aggressive in attacking the basket and finishes well due to strong and sturdy frame. We loved his instincts on the court and his IQ is advanced for his age/grade, but also sports nice athleticism. He has advanced ball handling skills for his size and can easily transition into the PG. He played a lot of minutes at the PG position and we look for his stock to rise over the summer. We strongly feel he has mid major possibilities.

Breakout Performance

Player: 6’7 2015 PF Luke Maye
City: Charlotte, NC
High School: William Hough
AAU Team: Queen City Thunder
Evaluation: The Adam Morrison clone enjoyed a breakout performance at the Queen City Showcase on opening night against Team United and followed up with an even more impressive performance on the second day. We first watched Maye at the Dave Telep Carolina Challenge and his performance was marginal at best. That being said, he has improved and looked more comfortable in a team setting. Maye is fundamentally sound and has a high basketball IQ. He has solid ball handling skills for his size/position, but is advanced in his court vision and passion skills. He is an excellent perimeter shooter with a high release point and his range is uncanny. What separated Maye from many players his position, he didn’t float on the perimeter but rather worked hard on the interior for low post position. If he didn’t receive the ball in the low post, he was patience and then popped out to the perimeter where he is quite lethal. While Maye is not a high flyer or the most athletic player, he can develop into a high major prospect. Currently, he has a lone offer from UNCC but look for his offer list to grow this summer. South Carolina and Virginia Tech were on hand to watch his impressive performance.

Player: 6’5 2014 PF BJ Gladden
City: Charlotte, NC
High School: Kennedy Charter
AAU Team: CP3 16U
Evaluation:  The strong and powerful combo/forward showcased a game of strength and finesse in CP3’s win over SKG. He finished with 12 points and was the game’s leading scorer. He made two consecutive moves to the basket utilizing his weak hand making many coaches in attendance questioning which was his strong hand. Gladden is an excellent finisher in the lane and uses his girth and strength extremely well to his benefit. He is a hardnosed kid and plays with a sincere passion and purpose. He has a surprisingly quick first step and his extremely difficult to stop in transition. In addition, he is excellent in utilizing pump fakes on the interior and getting defenders off their feet to initiate contact. A borderline HM prospect, and if he can fine tune his perimeter skills his ceiling will continue to grow. Currently, he is getting some high major interest but with improvements in certain areas, the interest may turn into offers.

Player: 6’4 2014 SG LJ Peak
City: Gaffney, SC
High School: Gaffney
AAU Team: Upward Stars 16U
Evaluation: The nationally ranked SG probably was the leading scorer in the Queen City Showcase. He put up big numbers each day and showcased a solid all around game. Known basically as an athletic slasher, Peak was consistent with his perimeter jumper. While Peak doesn’t play with a lot of emotion, his game speaks for itself. He has a physically mature body and he utilized this full offensive repertoire both days and looked like he has fully recovered from a groin pull earlier in the summer. One thing is for certain, Peak plays under control and rarely gets frustrated or upset. One of his biggest attributes is his consistency and his consistency is usually at a very high level. We watched Peak play in two games and he tallied over 25 in each of the games. He seemed more comfortable from the perimeter and when his shot is falling from long distance, he is very difficult to contain. Peak is a no miss high major prospect.