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Carolina Challenge Standout and Evaluations: 2014 players

March 27, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Theo-Pinson-Cody-Martin

By Corey Pegram

Every year Dave Telep’s Carolina Challenge brings together the top players in the state of North Carolina, and this time around once again showed why the state is considered a hotbed for high school basketball talent.

Instead of gym hopping, I decided to park myself in the main gym for the whole day in order to see every player at least once and catch some of the elite position match-ups Dave prepared.

The take away? The 2014 class is loaded with depth. Here are your standouts in order of class of 2014.  Note: the standouts within each class were placed in no particular order.       

Xavier Mills – 2014 PG; Greenfield School

Mills may have done more for his status as a prospect than anyone else at camp.  The reason?  He was there to get better, and he was there to learn.  From the first session of games to the last session of games, Mills took control of his team on the court and from the bench.  He’s a true floor general, and he’s a true competitor.  At 6’0, Mills has point guard tendencies combined with scoring abilities.  He’s a guy who knows how to make the smart and simple play but can also make a tough, creative one when needed.  His ball skills and handling ability are high level, and his vision and willingness to be vocal on the court make him a complete lead man.  Getting into the lane isn’t a problem for him, and his shooting ability off the dribble kept defenders honest.  As he gains strength and absorbs bumps better, he’ll excel even more as a playmaking guard.  Defensively, he moves his feet very well and maintains a very high motor and level of focus throughout.  Added strength will once again help in this area.  A solid mid-level and up prospect, Mills should see his recruitment pick up in the spring and summer months.

Markell Lodge – 2014 PF; Christian Faith

Although somewhat undersized as a 6’6 four man, Lodge more than makes up for it with his high level athleticism and motor.  He rocked the Ravenscroft rims all day long and left the gym buzzing with his leaping ability and hard play.  While many young players often fail to utilize their athleticism, Lodge made the most of it every time he stepped on the floor Saturday.  He has one of the quicker and more explosive jumps around, and he used it to rebound in and out of his area, block and alter shots in the lane, and finish drop off passes.  Somewhat raw offensively, Lodge would benefit from developing a go to move in the post, but his presence is still a major factor down low.  The term “motor” was harped on all day, and this guy had his running harder than anyone else.  He’ll set good screens for you, run the floor, crash the glass, and guard his man.  His game is simple, explosive, and effective, and any mid major in the country would love what he brings to the table.

Torin Dorn – 2014 SG; Vance

The 2013 Carolina Challenge speaker was former South Carolina coach Darrin Horn, and in his speech, he spoke about a few things college coaches looked for in recruits.  Two of the questions he told players to ask themselves are: 1) Do you compete?  2) Do you have character?  When thinking about a player at the camp who does both, the name Torin Dorn immediately popped into my head.  Picture this.  It’s 6:00 p.m. and it’s the last game of camp.  Every player has been in the gym since 8:00 a.m.  The level of play has significantly dropped and even the fans watching are exhausted.   Yet somehow, Torin Dorn is playing this last session of games like it’s his first.  He’s sprinting back on defense, talking to his teammates, and fighting through screens. These are the types of things that give coaches answers to those questions, and with Dorn the writing on the wall is clear.  The guy cares about his teammates and flat out hates to lose.  Every time I have seen him play, the first thing I right down is “Winner.”  He does things that other players don’t want to do, and after you add a dose of talent to the equation, you have a special player.  From a pure basketball skill standpoint, Dorn serves as a versatile wing who can carry some ball handling duties, lock down multiple positions defensively, rebound his position, and provide timely point production with dribble drives and an occasional outside jumper.  There’s constant activity to his game, and he won’t ever let his individual production affect his team commitment.  Any mid major should take a look, as he will end up an important program piece when it’s all said and done.  Sporting a 4.0 GPA, Dorn already has several mid-level offers.

Giovanni Mack – 2014 PG; Providence

In a camp setting, it’s often hard to find point guards who play the same as they would in a school environment with structure.  Mack, however, did just that.  The 5’10 compact guard is a true lead man who plays with pace and poise.  He’s a guy who can create and improvise but also run a set for you and do so confidently.  Simply put, he knows the game and the position.  Mack has great ball skills and is always moving forward towards the rim under control, using changes of speed and other dribble moves to beat his man.  His midrange jumper has become an important part of his game, and he has improved the range on that jumper, as well.  He makes difficult plays look surprisingly easy and because he takes care of the ball, he’s someone who you can trust to make good decisions in important situations.  His lack of size hurts him a little, but true point guards can be hard to find, and he fits that description to a tee.  Mid major schools would be wise to take a look.

Jordan Watkins – 2014 SG; Providence Day

Committed to Davidson, Watkins was one of the best shot makers at the event.  His range is unlimited, and his confidence never waivers.  He got hot early in the morning session and kept it going throughout, putting points on the board quickly and often.  He has that lethal combination of being able to make and create shots from anywhere on the floor, and it not only resulted in his own barrage of three pointers, but it also created space inside the arc for teammates to operate.  His form is consistent, and the elevation he gets on his jump shot negates his 6’1 size when shooting the ball, making him dangerous whenever he catches it.  Wildcat fans are going to love his point production, and don’t be surprised if his shooting ability alone wins games in the SoCon down the road.

Theo Pinson – 2014 SF; Wesleyan Christian

By now, pretty much everyone in North Carolina knows how talented Theo Pinson is, but what stood out on this day were the little things that Pinson can give a team on a daily basis.  He really didn’t shoot or score the ball that well in the game I saw, but he showed that he can affect the game in so many other ways.  The 6’5 Pinson makes plays with and without the ball in his hands, and even when he’s not scoring, it’s obvious he is one the best players in the gym.  He can break defenders down and make plays off the dribble, or he can serve as an off ball wing who cuts and crashes the glass.  He’s so good at making something out of nothing, and he does a great job of mixing it up on the offensive end, making him an unpredictable cover.  Defensively, he hawks the ball and his man, and his athleticism and length provide him with tremendous potential on this end of the floor.  His all-around ability as a basketball player makes him an elite 2014 prospect.  He’s a guy who embraces matchups and lives for the big stage, so don’t be surprised to hear his name frequently in March down the road.  Indiana has been on him hard as of late.

Gary Clark – 2014 SF; Clayton

I only got to watch Clark in one game Saturday but his performance in that one alone warrants recognition.  In my last viewing at the end of the summer, Clark’s transition from the four spot to the three had come a long way from where it had been six months previous to that.  Now, its development has taken shape even more.  Although still labeled a combo forward, Clark’s true position now lies closer to the small forward than it does the power forward.  The Clayton product is protecting the ball better when handling on the perimeter and in the open floor, and he appears much more confident and sure of himself operating with the ball in his hands.  Equally impressive was Clark’s level of aggression, as he attacked both in transition and the half court while maintaining good shot selection.  Physically, his frame has bulked up a little, and his high level athleticism was on display as usual.  Rebounding, shot blocking, and scoring ability all are major parts of his game, and an impressive capability as a passer contributes even more to a level of versatility and skill that is rare among 6’7 high school juniors.  He’s got good upside and plenty of room to grow, so expect him to land at a high major program when it’s all said and done.

Ricky Council – 2014 SG; Northern Durham

Council had quite the weekend, as he stood out at the Carolina Challenge on Saturday and then proceeded to impress even more at the Phenom150 Camp on Sunday.  He’s a high character kid with budding ability on both ends of the basketball court.  The 6’4 wing can be described as a North-South, end-to-end type player who excels in transition and always has his eyes on the rim.  He can disrupt offenses with his defensive activity, and he manages to get his hands in a lot of passing lanes, often leading to easy points off turnovers.  His motor is always going, and he has improved his jump shot in the areas of range and consistency, making him a multi-dimensional threat.  His weekend performances should really spark a surge in his spring and summer recruitment.

Shelton Mitchell – 2014 PG; Cuthbertson

The consummate floor general, Shelton Mitchell did what we’re used to seeing him do: run a team.  Not many guys have an ability to direct players they aren’t used to playing with, but Mitchell managed to do just that on Saturday.  The Wake Forest commit struck a good balance between scoring and distributing and showed an understanding of when to do which.  He beats you with instincts, feel, and vision.  He sees things before others do on the court, and he has an uncanny ability to read and react to what defenders and team defenses throw at him.  Also encouraging is his improved quickness and athleticism on the perimeter, as he displayed more explosion off the dribble and spurts of impressive on ball defense, in which he fought through screens and really measured his counterpart.  He’s the type who other players want to play with, and he could prove to be that connector of talent that Wake needs.

James Demery – 2014 SF; Northside Christian

Demery is turning into a very tough match-up on the wing because of how hard he plays, his improved upper body strength, and his always impressive athletic ability.  The explosiveness at which he moves is fun to watch, and his first step is big time.  He’s very good at generating early offense with straight line bursts to the rim, and his slashing ability in the half court is high level.  What really stood out on Saturday, however, was his defensive prowess.  His frame, length, and athleticism allow him to guard all three perimeter positions, and he can be a guy down the road who turns into a designated defensive stopper.  Coaches will love his motor, and he should be a target for various high level programs moving forward.  His Northside Christian teammate, Keyshawn Woods, impressed as well.  He’s tough, has ability on both ends, and it’s hard to find a player who plays with his level of intensity.  Mid-level schools should be all over him.

Cody Martin -2014 SG; Davie County

Both Martin twins had good showings, but Cody played particularly well in a matchup with fellow 2014 stud Theo Pinson.  Martin displayed improved ball skills and a break down ability off the dribble that allowed the athletic slasher to get into the lane and complete plays with his leaping ability and body control.  The fundamentals of the game come fairly easy to him, and he maintained a high level of focus throughout while showing that he has a good understanding of when to attack.  He was opportunistic in this regard and took advantage of any defensive lapses by his opponents.  The 6’6 Martin rebounds his position well and will give NC State a lot to work with down the road.

Coye Simmons – 2014 PF; Winston-Salem Prep

Opportunities to play and measure yourself against the other 80 best players in your respective state don’t come around very often, and Coye Simmons was one of the guys who really made the most of it.  He came into the event relatively unknown, but his steady performance throughout the day laid a good foundation for himself moving forward.  At 6’8, Simmons owns a strong upper and lower body and has energy to match it.  He showed a nose for the ball and a willingness to crash the boards, making him a consistent rebounder on both ends.  A solid athlete, Simmons manufactured points off put backs and garbage buckets, and even showed that there is a hint of a midrange game to his offensive repertoire, which bodes very well for his future.  He gets good rotation on his shot, and he has enough confidence to take and make shots from twelve feet and in without much space.  Simmons works hard for position on both ends of the floor and is turning into a quality low to mid-level recruit as a four man.

Phillip Haynes – 2014 PF; North Raleigh Christian

A third question that speaker Darrin Horn told players to ask themselves was: Do you know who you are?  Phillip Haynes knows who he is.  He’s an undersized four man who makes up for it with toughness, energy, and diligence.  He knows his limitations and excels in the areas in which he is capable.  Owning the look of a basketball player in a linebacker’s body, the 6’6 Haynes will outwork people for rebounds, loose balls, and baskets around the rim.  There is no flash to his game, but players like him help teams win games.  Low majors should write his name down.

Jaylan Robertson – 2014 PG; Word of God

Robertson came out of the gate fast on Saturday, as he consistently got into the teeth of the defense off dribble drives and made plays.  He’s a 6’0 physical scoring guard with explosiveness and athleticism.  Robertson owns a compact body that he uses to initiate and absorb bumps and get downhill off of ball screens and clear outs.  He knows how to get a piece of the paint, and while he can find the open man on the move, he is usually thinking score.  Defensively, his physicality and quickness are major assets, as he got into his man and made it tough on perimeter ball handlers.  He has the look of a solid mid-level recruit.

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Queen City Showcase: Part 1

July 16, 2012 by Leave a Comment

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.

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8th Annual North Carolina Phenom 150 Evaluation Camp: Part 1

October 26, 2011 by 1 Comment

The 8th Annual North Carolina Phenom 150 Basketball Evaluation Camp took place Saturday, October 15th, 2011 at the Gateway YWCA in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Each year, we uncover some of the top young prospects in the region. This year was no exception as 216 players participated in this regional event.

Player: 5’11 Andrew Rowsey
Hometown: Lexington, VA
School: Rockbridge
Grade: 11 (Class: 2013)
Evaluation: Andrew Rowsey enjoyed an absolutely stellar performance at the NC Phenom 150 Camp. Last year, Rowsey was nationally known as an undersized shooting guard, but within the past year has worked extremely hard to become a true PG. With his performance, we can honestly say “Mission Accomplished.” Rowsey has a swagger and confidence factor that is unequalled by his peers. Once he stepped onto the court, he demanded the ball and quickly took complete command of the game. He was excellent in dribble penetration and kicking out to open teammates and definitely made his teammates better. Throughout the day, he was constantly knocking down jumpers and made an equal impression on the defensive end of the floor. He accepted all challenges and was one of the favorites by all the scouting services in attendance. He came into the camp looking to “prove his value,” and he did exactly that. We believe he is on the verge of being a top 100 player and schools in the MM+ should definitely be recruiting this young man. 

Player: 6’6 Caleb & Cody Martin
Hometown: Mocksville, NC
School: Davie County
Grade: 10 (Class: 2014)
Evaluation: Caleb and his twin brother Cody came into the camp as two of the hottest prospects in the country for the class of 2014. Both of them already have several ACC offers and the talented wing duo have a complete fluidness and smoothness to their game. They are highly skilled wings that do a little bit of everything well. They have good size, athleticism, but it is their overall skill set that separates them from their peers. They are fundamentally sound and have a high basketball IQ. Both of them have outstanding ball handling skills and have a soft shooting touch from the 3 point line. They also have excellent court vision and they thrive in the open court. They are team players and are extremely unselfish. Both are multi-dimensional players and are without question HM+ prospects.

Player: 6’3 Patrick “Microwave” Rooks
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
School: Charlotte, NC
Grade: 11 (Class: 2013)
Evaluation: Coming into the camp, Rooks was nationally known as one of the top shooting guard in his class. Rooks has already verbally committed to Clemson of the ACC and it looks like they have a player with is still improving and putting his finishing touch on his high school resume. His jump shot is simply “textbook.” He has excellent fundamentals, elevation, lift, extension and follow- through. He has tremendous range and he has worked hard in the off season on his ball handling and passing. He elevated his game at camp and has become a better all around player. He will no longer be known as just another shooter.

Player: 6’6 Andrew White
Hometown: Chester, VA
School: The Miller School
Grade: 12 (Class: 2012)
Evaluation: Andrew White is a consensus top 75 player nationally and much has been written and reported on his improvement over the spring and summer. He currently has offers than a kid has on Halloween. He is entertaining offers from Kansas, Texas, Louisville, NC State and others. The talented WG already sports a college ready frame and a silky smooth jump shot. He has a beautiful release on his jumper and has outstanding range. That being said, he made an unofficial visit to NC State earlier in the day and drove to Winston-Salem to participate in his 4th NC Phenom 150 Camp. While his performance was solid, it was not the usual performance we were accustomed to seeing during the summer.

Player: 6’9 Kovacevic Dusan
Hometown: Rabun Gap, GA
School: Rabun Gap
Grade: 9 (Class: 2015)
Evaluation: As always, our camp provides an opportunity for relative unknown players to make a name for him. Not only was Dusan a virtual unknown and would be our “surprise player,” most of the scouting services in attendance and many thought he may have been the best overall prospect. We are talking about a 6’9 PF that has the mobility and versatility to his game. He can step out and knock down the 3 pointer or make plays off the dribble. Like most European players, he has exceptional ball handling and passing skills for his size and position. While he may not be the most athletic guy on the court, he played with a passion and purpose that quickly made him a favorite.  Without question, MM+ and even HM- schools should definitely monitor his progress.

Player: 6’11 Chuck Ogbodo
Hometown: High Point, NC
School: High Point Christian
Grade: 11 (Class: 2013)
Evaluation: Ogbodo is a very long and athletic center that is starting to garnish interest from ACC schools. He is a quick leaper and is excellent in transition. He has a tremendous wing span and is definitely a defensive presence in the paint. He alters and blocks a lot of shots due to this length and timing. Like many athletic big men, he is more advanced on the defensive end of the floor, but is making huge strides in his overall offensive development. If he continues to improve his overall game in the next year as he has in the past year, he will definitely be a major target of HM schools. When you are 6’11 young, energetic, athletic and have the length, quickness and bounce, high majors will quickly take notice. The next step for his development is play hard consistently on both ends of the court.

Player: 6’8 Tyrek Coger
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
School: Upper Room Academy
Grade: 11 (Class: 2013)
Evaluation: Coger will have to overcome the “on again, off again, on again and off again” recruitment to the University of Missouri. Without question, he benefited greatly by playing on the same team as Andrew Rowsey and Coger enjoyed the passer friendly PG from Lexington, VA. In his first game of camp, Coger went 8-9 from the floor and actually ran the floor really well. He looked more agile than this past spring and summer, and he looked like he had something to prove and if his performance at camp can translate into the same during the high school season, he should be a major target of MM+ schools. He has soft hands and rebounded well and an excellent job of keeping the ball high on offensive put backs. In addition, Coger scored off dribble drives from the high post area to show off his versatility.

Player: 6’0 Jaylan Robertson
Hometown: Clayton, NC
School: Word of God
Grade: 10 (Class: 2014)
Evaluation: Robertson recently transferred to Word of God in Raleigh. He is a superb athletic PG that can flat out score. He has exceptional quickness and speed and one of his crowd pleasing transition dunks through traffic was the highlight of the day. The bouncy guard has all the physical intangibles and the next step in his development is knowing how to run a team effectively and efficiently. Currently, he is a score first PG who is oozing with confidence, but also needs to harness his confidence into better court awareness and higher basketball IQ. That being said, he is on track to be a MM+ prospect at worst case scenario.

Player: 6’5 Gejuan Long
Hometown: Winston-Salem, NC
School: Mt. Tabor
Grade: 11 (Class: 2013)
Evaluation: Without question, Long was the surprise player on the camp. Simply put, Long introduced him to the scouts and spectators in attendance with a dribble drive baseline move for a power dunk that sent the gym into frenzy. More importantly, he has a high motor and his overall intensity on both ends of the court was contagious. He is long, lanky and athletic wing that attacks the basket with vengeance at every opportunity. His full throttle approach to the game and his lock down pressure defense was refreshing to see. He definitely made a name for himself this past weekend with his freakish athleticism. He has good handles and is excellent in transition. The next step in his development is to play under control and develop a consistent outside jump shot. That being said, MM schools should carefully monitor his progress with Coach Mike Muse of Mt. Tabor. 

Player: 5’11 Diante Baldwin
Hometown: Greensboro, NC
School: High Point Christian
Grade: 11 (Class: 2013)
Evaluation: Baldwin recently “reclassed” to the 2013 class with his transfer to High Point Christian and he is another name MM schools will want to monitor. Baldwin has “sneaky” athleticism and has exceptional ball handling and passing skills. He sees the floor really well. Baldwin does have good strength and athleticism and even had a few nice dunks in transition. Overall, Baldwin is a very active PG that has good fundamentals and basketball IQ.

Player: 5’10 Jonathan Williams
Hometown: Chester, VA
School: St. Patrick HS (NJ)
Grade: 10 (Class: 2014)
Evaluation: Go ahead and put this young man in your memory bank!  Williams will be suited up for Team Loaded next season and is currently enrolled for national powerhouse St. Patrick of New Jersey. Williams has a unique blend of athleticism and high basketball IQ. Without question, Williams is a true PG from the word “go.” We are talking about a strong and fast PG that can push the ball up the court in transition, but make excellent decisions with his court awareness and high basketball IQ. In addition to having many physical intangibles, he is truly gifted as a great teammate. He celebrated teammates for making good plays and also gave him high fives whenever he checked in or out of the game.  He is extremely unselfish and the next step for Williams is to develop a consistent long range jumper. He looks physically mature so I’m guessing he will be a sub 6 foot PG, but this young man has the “it factor.” He has all the skill sets to be an excellent floor general and a candidate for MM+/HM- schools. He is that good!

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