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Big Shots II Saturday Afternoon

July 17, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Back in April, the Phenom Hoop Report was writing about guys “under the radar” on a national level. For example, we wrote about Troy Caupain from the NC Phenom 150 Camp and from the Hoop Group Pitt Jam Fest (see here and here).  Fast forward to June and the “under the radar” 6’3 combo guard from Team Loaded committed to the University of Cincinnati. Next up is 6’8 Devin Robinson of the Richmond Squires. The Phenom Hoop Report was once again ahead of the bell curve with our story on him in April. Since then, Robinson attended the Reebok Challenge in Philadelphia this past few weeks and the rest is history. He has now “blown up on the national level” and now is getting high major offers with the most recent being UConn. (See below comments from earlier stories)

Player: 6’3 2013 PG/SG Troy Caupain

March 29th, 2012 Evaluation:  First of all, don’t let the 6’3 listing fool you, Caupin plays MUCH bigger than that due to his freakishly long arms.  The sturdily built lead guard did it all on Sunday – led the break and finished every way imaginable.  Most impressively for the collegiate level was his knack at absorbing contact and finishing.  Has the kind of body control/subtle movement while in the air off the bounce that simply can’t be taught.  Many great attacking point guards have this.  Troy also happens to be a kid that always looks like he’s smiling – he has a true love for the game and it shows.  Range out to 20’, plays best with the ball in his hands but isn’t built like a typical PG.  Would like to see him in some PNR situations or on an island defensively against a high major D1 guard, but these events are what they are.  The X-Factor propelling Troy this far up the rankings was his tenacious rebounding.  He went after missed jumpers on both ends all day.  I was told by his coach at the event that he averaged 12 rebs/gm for his HS squad and it didn’t surprise me a bit.  Playing off the ball, negotiating screens, and defending perimeter talent with that extra gear are areas for Caupin to focus on.

Player: 6’7 2013 Combo/Forward Devin Robinson

April 26th, 2012 Evaluation:  Watching this kid on Friday night against the SC Raptors Elite (and outstanding 2014 F Dante Buford), I wondered how long it would take for him to blow up on the national scene.  With a handful of D1 head coaches in attendance, Robinson torched the nets from the opening tip, knocking down 3s from multiple spots on the floor and in different situations (a pull-up, coming off a ball screen, and a spot-up).  Form isn’t perfect but the result often is.  Also flashed a turnaround jumper from 17’ with a defender draped all over him.  What sold me on the versatile Jeremy Lamb stunt double was his unselfishness and court vision.  Slight frame could use 15+ pounds of muscle.  Eats space off the bounce now and can only imagine how effective he can be in 2 dribbles or less if he continues to grow.  Can probably guard the 2 + 3 positions in college but not physically ready to shutdown 4’s (even undersized 4s).  Has the length to wreak havoc on a stat sheet

Now, let’s take a look at some of the top performers Saturday afternoon that we were able to evaluate.

Player: 6’0 2014 PG/SG Trey Foster
City: Charlotte, NC
High School: West Charlotte
AAU Team:  Team United 16U
Evaluation: Foster was simply tremendous in the “upset” win over Team Loaded 16U on Saturday afternoon in the Big Shots II tournament. Foster torched the nets for 26 points knocking down crucial 3 pointers during a second half run that saw Team United overcome a 10 point deficit. Team United won 74-70. Foster had “ice water” in his veins as he continuously hit key shots and single handedly defeated a ‘loaded” roster from the opposing team. Foster is a fierce competitor and plays the game with passion. While many people view Foster as an undersized SG, he handled the PG position with moderate poise and should be garnishing interest from MM schools.

Player: 6’6 2014 WF Josh Level
City: High Point, NC
High School: The Christ School
AAU Team:  Team Loaded 16U
Evaluation: There are not many wing players in the class of 2014 that combine the strength, explosiveness athleticism and shooting ability of Josh Level. We have seen Level countless times in the past and we are impressed with his improved stroke from the perimeter. He has good shooting fundamentals with excellent lift and elevation combined with a high release point. In addition, his strength and power allow him to make “beast” moves to the basket. In his game on Saturday against Team United, Level made a nifty left to right cross over move directly into a power “crow hop” followed by a monster dunk. This move alone showcased his skill and power all in one play! He has solid ball handling skills in transition and has good court vision. He is an adequate passer off the dribble, although he could improve his decision making at times. He finished with 17 points and may be one of the more under-rated players in the 2014 class and was probably the most consistent performer for Team Loaded 16U at Big Shots this weekend. Currently, he is tracking at a MM+/HM- player, but may have a higher ceiling and will definitely garnish interest from HM schools.

Player: 6’5 2013 SG RJ Curington
City: Dyer, Indiana
High School: Oak Hill Academy
AAU Team:  Team Loaded 17U
Evaluation: Curington is another undervalued player on a national level. Curington’s tenacious  play on Saturday afternoon allowed Team Loaded to easily defeat the Georgia Stars by the score of 64-56. People forget Curington was the best 3 point shooter on Oak Hill and averaged 48% from beyond the arch and still doesn’t get the credit he deserves. Curington plays extremely hard and that may be an understatement. He has a “full throttle” approach to the game that is refreshing. Without question, he was the best and most productive performer in the game against the Georgia Stars that included nationally ranked Jalen Lindsey and Jarquez Smith. (I’m not saying he is better, but just pointing out the fact he was the most productive performer in the game) His high motor propelled him to a game high 27 points with the majority coming off hard and aggressive drives to the basket and offensive rebounds that led to “put back buckets” for Team Loaded. He is excellent at using his “off hand” and utilized the reverse layup to perfection. A bubble player between a MM+/HM-, but strongly feel Curington will find suitors at the HM level based upon his intensity and maximized effort.

Player: 6’0 2013 PG Frank Mason
City: Petersburg, VA
High School: Massanutten Military
AAU Team:  Team Loaded 17U
Evaluation: Mason was originally in the 2012 class and committed to Towson University, but has decided to prep a year at nearby Massanutten Military School and will reclass to 2013. Mason tallied 14 points in their win over the Georgia Stars with the majority coming off FT attempts since he was fouled continuously during drives to the rim. Mason has a strong and physically mature body with excellent body control and is difficult to contain in a “one on one” situation. Defensively, he sits low to the floor and can be a lock down defender although he gets a little impatience and will reach at times. Mason is a hardnosed young man and would be an excellent gift in the “dribble drive” offensive scheme at the collegiate level. The next step for Mason is to develop and fine tune his perimeter and midrange game which would give him a more balanced attack and become more lethal on the offensive end of the court.

Player: 6’7 2014 SG Jalen Lindsey
City: Franklin, TN
High School: Christ Presbyterian
AAU Team:  Georgia Stars 17U
Evaluation: We were able to capture Lindsey in three separate games and simply put, the game comes relatively easy to the talented WG/WF. He has great size and a physically mature body and his jumper is usually on target. He has unbelievable lift and elevation and was dialed in early in the game against Team Loaded. He hit three early 3 pointers, but unfortunately Lindsey needed to re-introduce himself to his teammates as they simply “blew” him off and looked the other direction too many times in transition. Lindsey is a high level shooter and simply deserved more shots, but it is up to the guards to get him the ball at the right time during the course of the game. We feel Lindsey has the making of the “complete package” with his size, athleticism, skill, and ability to shoot the ball, however he does tend to “drift” way too much on the perimeter and fails to take advantage of his size over smaller opponents. That being said, he is a HM player and UNC assistant coach Steve Robinson was front and center to watch him.

Player: 6’3 2013 SG Donte Clark
City: Charlotte, NC
High School: Kennedy Charter
AAU Team:  Georgia Stars
Evaluation: Generously listed at 6’5 and even more national scouting service has him listed at 6’6, we feel like he is more like 6’3 range. That being said, we have been high on Clark in the past but this weekend at Big Shots had mix reviews. Against Flight 22, we had a solid performance and used his athleticism to score 13 points, but against the loss to Team Loaded, it was an “off day” at the office and one he would quickly like to forget. Clark is an intriguing prospect due to his ability to handle the ball and create his own shot. He is very athletic and is more comfortable handling the ball at the off guard position. That being said, he will attract HM interest based upon his athletic ability and willingness to score points in spurts.

Player: 6’10 2013 SF/PF Jarquez Smith
City: Had, Georgia
High School: Jones County
AAU Team:  Georgia Stars
Evaluation: Without question, Smith has all the physical tools at 6’10. He is long and athletic and has one of the better shooting strokes in the country for his size/position. He has the ability to step out and knock down 3 pointers which makes him a nightmare problem at the next level. At times, he is a willing rebounder and does block shots on the interior and creates havoc in altering shots, however he does have a tendency not to use his physical size to his advantage. He does “float” on the perimeter too much at times and his production doesn’t always  match his potential, but the nationally ranked Smith is multi-talented and has excellent mobility and range.

Player: 6’7 2013 PF Elijah Wilson
High School: TBD
AAU Team:  Flight 22
Evaluation: Wilson was originally in the 2012 class and will attend prep school and reclasss to 2013. He was previously committed to the College of Charleston and has decided to open things back up. Wilson probably helped his stock over the weekend as much as any one player. The physically mature PF has the ability to play either on the interior or step out and consistently knock down 3 pointers. Against the Georgia Stars, he tallied 25 points including two 3 pointers. He has the ability to put the ball on the floor and make nifty but strong power moves to the basket. Several times, he had his back turned to the basket and made a beautiful drop step move that directly led to a slam dunk. We saw him in two games and his performance was simply sensational and look for his stock to rise drastically this summer.

Player: 6’8 2013 PF Ifeanyi Onyekaba
City: Roanoke, VA
High School: Virginia Episcopal
AAU Team:  East Coast Fusion
Evaluation: Onyekaba is one of the most improved players since last summer. Onyekaba was simply a “man-child” in his game against Seattle Rotary. The physically imposing PF has a wide body and has a chiseled frame. He was one of the most productive players the entire weekend and was relentless on both ends of the court. He is a willing rebounder, defends, and does all the dirty work necessary for his team to compete and win. While he is limited offensively, he scored a game high 21 points against Seattle Rotary. He doesn’t demand the ball, but attacks the glass on both ends of the court. He is patience in the post area and rarely forces action and is willing to make the outlet pass and reposition himself for low post position. He has been well coached by his AAU coach and will catch a lot of attention this summer. While he have him tracking as a MM prospect, some MM+/HM- programs may will be willing to take a chance on the rapidly improving Onyekaba.

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Big Shots II: Saturday action

July 16, 2012 by 1 Comment

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.

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Scout Focus Elite 80 Showcase

March 19, 2012 by Leave a Comment

We traveled to Greensboro, North Carolina Saturday to cover the Scout Focus Elite 80 Showcase and once again Joe Davis had his fair share of campers. Over 180 campers took part in his “Showcase” and we will take a close look at some of the top players in attendance plus two players we knew little about in 6’11 Yousoppha Kane of Word Of God and 6’6 Craig Hinton of East Forsyth.

Player: 6’11 Yousoppha Kane
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
School: Word of God
Class: 2013
Evaluation: Kane didn’t suit up this past season for the Holy Rams of WOG, but we expect him to be a name mid majors schools will want to keep track of. Kane is a slender and lanky 6’11 and has room to add weight and muscle to his frame. He is extremely long and his strongest attribute is his “activity” on both ends of the court. Offensively, he is still somewhat raw but does an excellent job of getting out in transition and finishes well in traffic. While you don’t want him handling the ball, he has surprising solid ball handling and passing skills in the open court. Defensively, he is intimidating with his length and ability to block shots. He has excellent timing and does a superb job of putting block shots into play and not out of bounds. He has quick hands and feet and can guard smaller opponents 15 feet away from the basket. Kane played with a lot of energy and was active all day.

Player: 6’6 Craig Hinton
Hometown: Kernersville, NC
School: East Forsyth
Class: 2013
Evaluation: We knew very little of the lanky and slender Hinton prior to Saturday, but is another definite mid major prospect that schools should put in their SIM CARD. Hinton is extremely explosive and has tremendous leaping ability, but also has the ability to step out and knock down the mid range jumper. He does sport a soft shooting touch although he could have a higher release point on his jumper. What was impressive was his ability to grab a rebound underneath the basket and go quickly up with two feet for impressive dunks during the course of the day. Hinton’s strongest attribute is his athleticism and his skill sets have improved tremendously over the course of his high school career according to Coach Short of East Forsyth. One thing is for certain, there are not many wings in the state of North Carolina that has his ability to quickly get off the floor. Hinton is a player that looks like he could add 20-30 pounds to his 190 pound frame. With added muscle and skill, he could be one to watch over the summer and his senior season. Check out a brief you tube video

Player: 6’2 Josh Newkirk
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
School: Word of God
Class: 2013
Evaluation: Newkirk shared the PG responsibilities this past season with Jaylen Robertson of WOG. This summer, he will be the lead PG for D One Sports. Newkirk has good length and athleticism and looks like he could grow a few more inches. Newkirk has all the physical intangibles to become a high major PG with his explosiveness in the open court and tremendous leaping ability. His ability to get into the lane is effortless and will continue to be one of the upper tier PG in the state for the 2013 class. The next step for Newkirk is to develop a consistent outside jumper. His mechanics are solid and with the ability to become a consistent threat from the 3 point line will only enhance his value as a PG.

Player: 6’6 Shane Whitfield
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
School: Word of God
Class: 2013
Evaluation: Whitfield is a strong and active PF that has a tremendous skill set for his size/position. He has the ability to use his strength near or around the basket to finish well, but loves to get out in transition as he is exceptionable at running the lanes. In addition, he has adequate ball handling and passing skills for his position especially in the open court. His strongest attribute is his desire to play hard and play hungry. He plays both ends of the court and is a true competitor. He does a lot of the little things that goes unnoticed such as boxing out, which is usually non-existent in a camp setting. Whitfield is a hybrid SF/PF that can play on the interior or step out and knock down the open 15 foot jumper. He is very versatile and has good mobility.

Player: Jaylen Robertson
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
School: Word of God
Class: 2014
Evaluation: Robertson is one of the top players in the 2014 class for the state of North Carolina especially at the PG position. Robertson has tremendous athleticism and explosiveness in the open court and has unbelievable leaping ability for his size and doesn’t mind trying to make the “crowd appealing” dunks in transition. While he has exceptionable ball handling abilities, he does have a tendency to make careless turnovers. That being said, he has excellent court vision and has great ball speed, but we also like his ability to change speeds and change of direction. Like Newkirk, he has little to no problem getting into the teeth of the defense. While his mechanics on his jump shot are solid, he doesn’t take many outside shots basically since he has the ability to dribble penetrate and use his athleticism and speed so effectively. The next step in his development is to become more vocal and develop on the court leadership skills. As we alluded to earlier, Robertson has all the physical intangibles in terms of athleticism; he now needs to become more of a cerebral PG.

Player: 6’7 Gary Clark
Hometown: Clayton, NC
School: Clayton
Class:  2014
Evaluation: Gary Clark is a promising young prospect at the WF position. He has good length and will surprise you with his ability to handle and shoot the basketball. His ball handling and passing skills are tremendous for his size, position and youth. While he is excellent in transition, he has the ability to step out and knock down the open jumper. More importantly, he is a very unselfish player and will hit the open teammate when open. He really plays the game the right way and his team first attitude is refreshing especially in a camp setting. He has tremendous upside and potential with a skill set to match.

Player: 6’6 Donte Reynolds
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
School: Word of God
Class:  2013
Evaluation: This was the first time watching the athletic WF from Word of God and we came away impressed. Granted, it was a camp setting and sometimes players do “show out” in exposure camps vs. a regular high school game. That being said, He is really good in the open court and he can put the ball on the floor and go court to court. More importantly, Reynolds played hard and was motivated. He was aggressive and assertive on both ends of the court. He stated offers from ECU, NC Central, and Rutgers. In our opinion, he should be a can’t miss mid major prospect.

Player:  6’0 Robert Story
Hometown: Durham, NC
School: Southern Durham
Class:  2012
Evaluation: This is the second opportunity to watch Robert Story. We last watched him at the Scout Focus Elite 80 camp last October. Nothing much has changed in our evaluation of him. He is one of the “freakiest” athletes in the state of North Carolina. This young man is super athletic and has tremendous leaping ability. Naturally, with his athleticism he loves to attack the rim. Story has a strong and powerful frame and has excellent quickness in the open court.

Player: 6’4 Josh Level
Hometown: High Point
School: The Christ School
Class: 2014
Evaluation: Josh Level is a strong and athletic WF that is developing into a solid outside shooter. He has great elevation and lift on his jumper and sports a high release point. He has a nice blend of athleticism and skill set to help separate him from his peers. He has developed in a complete player by showcasing his leaping ability on the interior by attacking the basket, but also has the ability to be an effective and efficient 3 point shooter. The next stage in his development is to tighten up his handles.

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Then & Now: Looking back at Carolina Challenge players part 2

February 23, 2012 by 1 Comment

We will took a look at last year’s Dave Telep Carolina Challenge yesterday and highlighted some of the players at the event and how they are doing today. We continue our series today with more players from the prestigious event.

Theo Pinson – 6’5”, 170 SG (2014 – High Point Wesleyan)

THEN: Just looking at Pinson’s frame gets people in basketball excited.  At 6’5” and a wingspan that goes for days, there’s no telling how tall TP will be in three years time.  At this moment in time the young SG (WF?) is flashing a fairly consistent stroke from deep and above average ball handling.  Continued honing of his perimeter skills and a couple more inches, which seems inevitable when you look at the kid, could mean Pinson could fill any number of needs for a high-major college coach.  Quincy Miller-like upside? That being said, Pinson is a very unselfish (team first) player, which is an unusual character trait of someone so young and talent.

NOW: Theo Pinson is widely considered one of the elite level players in the 2014 class. Pinson has solid basketball IQ and fundamentals accompanied with his athleticism. The next stage in his development is to fine tune his shooting technique and become more of a consistent outside threat. Pinson is extremely dangerous off the dribble and has little to no problem getting into the lane and finishing well at or near the rim. He will become a major recruiting target on Tobacco Road in the ACC. 

Patrick “Microwave” Rooks – 6’3”, 170 SG (2013 – Charlotte Christian, Charlotte, NC)

THEN: Rooks took over the first game of the day.  Mixing in a steady diet of runners, pull-ups, and gliding finishes around the rim with both hands, the 6’3” lefty did more than announce his arrival as one of the best players in North Carolina – he screamed it.  Beautiful mechanics on the jumper and can light it up quickly and in bunches and thus why we nicknamed him “microwave.” He is long and lanky and looks like he could fill out to a 6’5 or taller frame. He is definitely one to put in your SIM CARD.

NOW: Since the DTCC, Rooks has verbally committed to the University of Clemson. Rooks is currently one of the premier shooters in the state for the 2013 class. He has deadly accuracy from the perimeter and his shot is textbook. He has proper lift and extension and outstanding ball rotation. He is one of those guys that when he shoots, every shot looks like it is going through the net. He has worked hard in the off season to improve his ball handling and passing skills and is now a better all-around player. 

Madison Jones – 6’1”, 165 PG (2012 – Ravenscroft, Raleigh, NC) –Jones

THEN: Completely dominated the first game of the day in Gym 2, producing points for his squad virtually every time down the floor.  The junior point guard thrives in the open court and, like the injured Tyler Lewis, has flair to his game while managing to keep his passes “user-friendly”.  What that means for onlookers is that he’s fun to watch.  Jones dialed it up from long range, finished in transition with both hands (including dunks with both hands), and fought through contact to manufacture buckets on a couple occasions.  Midrange game is something we didn’t see Saturday (because he didn’t need it in the up and down affair), but Jones’ well rounded offensive game would be even more polished with a consistent floater in the arsenal and a consistent outside jumper.

NOW: We have always been a big fan of Madison Jones and he has enjoyed an outstanding senior season for Ravenscroft, which is one of the premier teams in the state. Jones has good length and surprising athleticism and does possess good hops and quick leaping ability. The next stage in his development to gain strength and muscle which will come in due time once he gets to college. 

Allerik Freeman – 6’4”, 200 SG/PG (2013 – Olympic, Charlotte, NC)

THEN: The best way to describe Freeman is this: he’s the random guy nobody’s heard of who’s lighting up your favorite college team before the conference season starts.  Freeman scored in transition, from midrange off the bounce, and finished at the rim in the half court.  He’s exceptionally well built for a HS soph. and uses his upper body strength quite well to get to “kill spots” from 15’ in.  Prospect to watch!  Does EVERYTHING well, though not exceptional at anything. Freeman will also need to work on shot selection, but is going to be a promising young prospect for 2013.

NOW: Freeman used the DTCC as a springboard for his rapid accession in the national rankings accompanied by an outstanding performance at the Nike Camp in St. Louis. Freeman does sport a college ready frame and his strength and power for his position is appealing. While many people are touting Freeman as a potential PG, we see Freeman best used as a SG at the next level. He is excellent in creating his own shot off the dribble and is extremely dangerous in attacking the rim. 

Josh Level – 6’4”, 190 SF (2014 – Christ School, Arden,  NC)

THEN: Level has really grown into his body over the last year and he’s now reaping the benefits against high level competition.  The freshman SF played well above the rim at the CC and displayed a level of athleticism that was a notch above most of the other ‘athletes’ in attendance.  Finished with his left hand through contact.  Showed range out to 20’ spotting up.  If he can hit those shots off the dribble this time next year, he’ll shoot way up this list.

NOW: Level has attended the NC Phenom on several occasions and he has always been one of our favorites. He sports high elite level athleticism and could easily fill up a “mix tape” with acrobatic dunks in a hurry. He has worked extremely hard on his outside shooting and has become a lethal 3 point shooter for Christ School. Level is only scratching the surface on his ability as he as the unique blend of skill and athleticism that will project him as a high major prospect. 

James Demery – 6’4”, 170 SG (2014 – Oakwood School, Greenville, NC)

THEN: Demery lit it up in the final game of the day in Gym 2.  The long SG utilized ball fakes nicely before blowing by opponents for pull-ups or finishes at the rim.  Absolutely fearless for a kid his age/size.  HIGH ceiling with his skill set – I’m not sure how high, but he was one of the quickest and more explosive players at the CC. In addition, he played extremely hard on the defensive end and counted for countless steals in the game I watched. Clearly, he was one of my favorite young players at the event.

NOW: Demery is one of those young prospects that doesn’t realize how good he can become. He has elite level athleticism combined with advanced skill sets in his ball handling and passing ability. More importantly, Demery is a high character young man and when speaking with Demery, he is a “yes sir, no sir” type of kid and has already mastered the words “thank you.” While Demery has a high ceiling, he is very well grounded in his approach to the game and life in general. He is a very humble young man! Don’t be surprised to see him skyrocket up the national rankings this spring and summer.

 

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Oak Hill Moves to 35-0

February 6, 2012 by Leave a Comment

There’s an old saying, “what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger” and after a brutal four day stretch the Oak Hill Warriors were able to escape the Roy Stanley Memorial Shootout with an overtime win over the Christ School by the score of 71-63. It was the 3rd game against nationally ranked teams in four days for the Warriors. Oak Hill started the week with a national showdown with Arlington Country Day in Beckley, West Virginia on Wednesday night. The Warriors were victorious with a 77-52 win.  The team then traveled to Bristol, Virginia to play undefeated West Oak Academy on Friday night. West Oak Academy featured several high major prospects and the Warriors were able to win by the score of 93-73. Unfortunately, for the Warriors they had to travel back to Mouth of Wilson since they had school on Saturday before making the trip to Salem, Virginia to play Christ School in the finale of the Roy Stanley Memorial Shootout.

There were two major story lines for the number one ranked Oak Hill Warriors. First of all, SG D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera simply put together two of the best back to back performances of the season. On Friday night, Smith-Rivera scored 29 points going 10-14 from the floor (4-4 from the 3 point line) and a perfect 5-5 from the free throw line. On Saturday night, he was sensational once again as he tallied 37 points with 11 of them coming in the overtime period. Smith-Rivera went 11-19 from the floor (2-5 from the 3 point line) and 13-15 from the free throw line. He also had 3 rebounds and had 5 steals while dishing out 3 assists.  Without question, Smith-Rivera two game performances against West Oak Academy and the Christ School were simply spectacular.

The next story line was the play of PG Tyler Lewis. Lewis scored 10 points Friday night and dished out 7 assists and on Saturday night he had 8 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds and 2 big steals down the stretch for Oak Hill. While these are modest numbers for Lewis, he battled and fought through the weekend with stomach virus. Going into Saturday’s game against Christ School, he was up the entire night throwing up and spent the majority of Saturday morning in the school infirmary and was unable to eat anything in the past 24 hours. Prior to the Saturday night game, Lewis had less than two hours of sleep and was still sick with a fever and was questionable for the game. Jordan Adams of Oak Hill finished with 14 points and collected 9 rebounds. He also had 2 steals and dished out 2 assists. Others that got into the scoring column were Damien Wilson and Darion Clark with 4 points each while Montarius Hall and AJ Hammons tallied 2 points. Hammons was also nursing an ankle injury and was not 100% and did not have the same mobility on both ends of the court.

For Christ School, the story line was the play of 6’6 junior PF Will Weeks and 6’5 sophomore WF Josh Level. Weeks finished with 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds while Level finished with 14 points but knocked down key three pointers during the last minutes of the game when the Greenies of Christ School trailed Oak Hill 57-45. In addition, Jerome Hairston also enjoyed a solid game with 12 points while Alabama commit Shannon Hale finished with 8 points. Weeks is a strong, active and aggressive power forward and his inside play was key for Christ School throughout the game. His play was impressive and should see his stock continue to climb. More importantly, he plays the game with passion and purpose and his work ethic on the court was impressive. Sophomore Josh Level continues to make monumental strides in his game. Level has been known as an elite level athlete with his explosive leaping ability, but he has worked extremely hard on his perimeter game and his three pointers were big time in the rally for Christ School. If he continues to improve in the next two years as he as in the past year, high major schools will be knocking on his door. Jerome Hairston is a strong and aggressive guard that is a major steal for Towson State.

In overtime, it was the Smith-Rivera show as he used his size and strength to score all 11 points for Oak Hill and the Greenies had no answer for him.  He used a vast arsenal of offensive moves either to score or get fouled and he was almost automatic from the free throw line.

In the game Friday night against West Oak Academy, there were several players that deserve mentioning for the team from Florida. 6’6 sophomore Boubacar Moungoro is one of the elite level athletes in the 2014 class. He finished with 15 points against Oak Hill but he has a nice blend of elite level athleticism combined with a nice skill set that will make him a high priority of high major schools. He is extremely long and explosive and is absolutely fantastic in transition. 6’9 junior Demba Konate finished with 15 points and already has an offer from Florida according to Coach Tony Atkins. Konate is a strong and active rebounder and is relentless on the boards. He is quick off his feet and will be a player to watch in the 2013 class nationally. 6’2 senior SG Sheldon Hagigal (Cincinnati) chipped in 17 points while 6’5 Kedar Edwards (South Carolina signee) chipped in 15 points.

Oak Hill is now 35-0 for the season and will resume action this week as they play Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

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