There were a ton of college coaches at the Upward Stars Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina this past week for our Summer Havoc. Some of the top players and teams from all around the region were in attendance. Hundreds of coaches walked through our doors and scholarships were given throughout the week. Here were some of my top players from the event:
6’3 ’19 Josh Dupree (South Fulton Lions)
There were a lot of quality leaders on display throughout Summer Havoc, but none as evident as Josh Dupree. He’s a combo-guard who will most likely play off-ball at the next level, though he has the necessary passing and craftiness to operate as a secondary ball-handler in a pinch. Dupree possesses a quality frame with strength and long arms, which he understands how to utilize on either side of the floor. Offensively, Dupree can simply do it all, from generating offense to spotting-up, everything is in his arsenal. Few players were able to dominate in transition and the half-court quite like Dupree. He shoots the ball incredibly well from all three levels, but also isn’t afraid to showcase his athleticism, especially on dunks and finishes at the rim. His IQ and playmaking go hand-in-hand, which is just part of what makes him a special prospect. Dupree wasn’t seen during the first college evaluation period because of his phenomenal success as a track-and-field star. That being said, he was an exceptional two-way player throughout his showing in Spartanburg and should see an uptick in recruitment as a result.
6’6 ’19 Marlowe Gilmore Jr. (Columbia Hoyas)
The Summer Havoc stage is used as a recruiting tool for these young men to showcase their abilities, and improvements, over a periodic amount of time. A player like Marlowe Gilmore Jr., is a perfect example of what we hope to find at this event. Our last time seeing Gilmore was in October at SC Top 80, where he was named defensive player of the event. However, at that time, Gilmore had very little definition of his skillset, making the most impact as a versatile defender and high-level athlete. Now, nearly ten months later, we see the 6-foot-6 prospect showcasing a whole new level of offensive ability. Throughout the weekend, Gilmore was putting the ball on the floor, creating some offense, and even showing the makings of a reliable jumper. His lack of recruitment is somewhat confusing, since his development has been rapid, especially over the aforementioned period of time. That’s likely to change though, especially if he continues to perform at a high level on both ends of the floor.
6’0 ’19 Matthew Gonzalo (Atlanta All-Stars)
There were very few floor generals who could match the impact of Matthew Gonzalo on either side of the ball. Despite his lack of size, Gonzalo was incredible throughout this event and destroyed every opponent in his sights. He is able to initiate offense and create extremely well for the entire team while applying pressure as an efficient scorer from all three levels. Opponents really struggled to stay in front of Gonzalo, especially in transition or going downhill, because he is such a polished decision-maker. His box score numbers aren’t going to make spectators go insane, but that’s part of what makes him special. Gonzalo’s ability to carve out a role in every single game, on both ends of the floor, is incredible to watch. There were multiple situations where Gonzalo should’ve been outmatched in terms of sheer size, but he shut down the opposing guard every time, and did so with no issue. His game management and ability to run a team cannot be overlooked, as it will likely be his ticket to the next level, but Gonzalo will become a coach-favorite upon the first day of practice due to his incredible work ethic.
5’11 ’19 Bryson Childress (Team Denver-NC)
The amount of buzz surrounding Team Denver was amazing, given their newest coaching addition in Bobby Lutz, but mainly due to the lights-out play of Bryson Childress. Everyone could be found watching the undersized point guard dominating the competition, regardless of opponent. Childress is an incredibly skilled playmaker and shooter, but his sky-high basketball IQ is what most people immediately notice. He plays with such a quick-twitch that opponents really struggle to stay in front of him on a consistent basis. He makes very sharp movements and motions, doing everything with a purpose and agenda. Childress was probably one of the best two or three shooters throughout the whole event, knocking down one after another with varying degrees of difficulty. He can spot-up or hit shots off the bounce, both with phenomenal efficiency. It’s almost crazy to think that he and Jackson Gabriel share the same backcourt, considering the high-level of shooting that opponents are forced to account for. There were numerous college coaches who didn’t have Childress on their radar coming into the week, but left with a much different feeling. It’ll be interesting to see how his recruitment continues to unfold, especially after this week at our JMAC Showcase and CP3 Live events.
6’1 ’20 Justin Wright (Team Loaded)
There were so many talented guards on display at Summer Havoc, but few were able to match the poise and polish of Justin Wright. The Team Loaded guard is pretty vocal on the floor, but his leadership is by example. Don’t let his calm demeanor fool you, because he is an absolute killer on the hardwood. Offensively, Wright is about as skilled as they come, able to make plays or score whenever he desires. His IQ is exceptionally high and his decision-making is second-to-none. Wright takes care of the ball better than nearly every point guard in the region and manages a team the correct way. He’s from the mold of an efficient scoring guard, but he maintains a high level of unselfishness and thrives off creating opportunities for others. Intentional or not, he and off-guard Jordan Battle have an incredible chemistry, and that pairing seems to knock down a three-pointer every time a pass is made from Wright to Battle. This group is extremely fun, but it all starts with the play of Wright, who continues to make his case as a high-level point guard.