CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – One of the spring’s best events every year is the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions, held this past weekend in North Carolina. The tournament annually has many of the best teams from across the country and is very well-run, and that combines with the location to make it one of the real pleasures to cover.
This year, the best talent to be seen was in the underclass divisions, as the class of 2008 is shaping up to be nothing special. Meanwhile, the class of 2009 looks like it should be better, and although it’s early, the class of 2010 right now looks like it has a chance to be very good. This tournament reflected that to a large degree.
In the 17-under championship, Indiana Elite took control in the first half against King of the Court and led by double digits for most of the half. King of the Court made a late run, but still trailed by 11 at halftime. With a 10-point lead, Indiana Elite scored seven unanswered points to put the game away en route to a 71-50 win. Arizona commit Emmanuel Negedu (6’7″ Jr. PF, Wolfeboro (NH) Brewster Academy) and MVP Tyler Zeller (7’2″ Jr. C, Washington (IL) High) each capped an excellent weekend with 13 points each to lead the winners, while Ohio State commit Walter Offutt (6’2″ Jr. SG, Indianapolis (IN) Warren Central HS) also closed out a fine weekend with 12 points. King of the Court was led by 27 points from recent Michigan State commit Delvon Roe (6’8″ Jr. SF-PF, Lakewood (OH) St. Edward’s HS), who did everything he could to keep them in it.
With this championship, Indiana Elite has won arguably the two best and toughest tournaments this spring, as they won the Houston Kingwood Classic last month.
In other final games:
- A free throw in sudden death overtime by Brian McMikle (5’11” Jr. PG, Ft. Washington (MD) National Christian Academy) gave National Christian Academy a 61-60 win over the Wisconsin Playground Warriors in the 17-under select final. McMikle finished with a game-high 21 points, while Select MVP David Diakite (6’5″ Jr.SG, Ft. Washington (MD) National Christian Academy) had 12. Johnnie Lacy (5’10” So. PG, Milwaukee (WI) Bay View HS), who also suited up for his program’s 16-under team, led the Playground Warriors with 18 points.
- In the 16-under National final, Team Breakdown opened up a double-digit lead late in the half against Marquis Daniels Showtime Elite. In the second half, Team Daniels drew closer on a couple of occasions but could never get over the hump, as Team Breakdown took home the title with an 83-71 win. MVP David Loubeau (6’8″ So. PF, Davie (FL) Westlake Prep) led Team Breakdown with 30 points, while Brandon Knight (6’3″ Fr. SG, Ft. Lauderdale (FL) Pine Crest HS) had 18 and Ray Taylor (5’7″ So. PG, Opa Locka (FL) Monsignor Edward Pace HS) added 17. Charles Ford (6’0″ So. PG, Orlando (FL) Dr. Phillips HS) led Team Daniels with 18 points.
- Indiana Elite took the 16-under Select title, using a size advantage in its 73-53 win over DC Assault. MVP D.J. Byrd (6’5″ So. SF, Crawfordsville (IN) North Montgomery HS) led Indiana Elite with a game-high 23 points, while steady floor leader Jordan Hulls (6’1″ So. PG, Bloomington (IN) South HS) added 12. Wally Judge (6’8″ So. SF-PF, Bladensburg (MD) High) led DC Assault with 14 points.
- In the 15-under National, Mike Miller’s M33M took over in the second half and broke the game open en route to a 69-53 win over DC Assault. MVP Tyler Stone (6’6″ Fr. SF-PF, Memphis (TN) Central Baptist HS) led M33M with a game-high 16 points, while Masceo Harman (5’9″ Fr. PG, Memphis (TN) Central Baptist HS) added 13. DC Assault was led by 12 points from eighth grader Chris Martin, a 5’11” guard who will attend Washington (DC) St. Alban’s in the fall.
- The Playaz pulled away late and held on for a 69-67 win in the 15-under Select final over the Wisconsin Playground Warriors. MVP Fuquan Edwin (6’5″ Fr. SG-SF, Paterson (NJ) Catholic HS) scored 25 points to lead the Playaz, and all-tournament selection Chim Kadima (6’1″ Fr. SG, Milwaukee (WI) Lutheran HS) led the Playground Warriors with 23.
Now, we take a look at some of the prospects that competed in this tournament.
Isaiah Armwood (6’8″ Jr. SF-PF, Rockville (MD) Montrose Christian School) Lanky forward has a thin upper body but plenty of potential. He averaged 13 points per game for his team, generally going as far out as mid-range and showing a nice touch with a runner on one occasion.
Aaron Ashley (6’3″ Fr. SG, Cleveland Heights (OH) High) He started out Saturday well enough, going for 16 points by getting to the basket often and looking good. But this athletic wing didn’t replicate that success later on, although he played with a team that has plenty of scoring options. He’s a talent worth keeping an eye on, especially if he becomes more of a shooter.
Zach Bailey (6’2″ Jr. SG, Pompano Beach (FL) Blanche Ely HS) Athletic guard has a live body that is always in motion making plays. His body is fairly mature and he was around the ball often at both ends of the floor. He went for 14 in one game and 15 in another, showing a jumper that must be respected in addition to scoring some close baskets on drives and off rebounds or loose balls.
Nick Barbour (6’2″ Jr. SG, Danville (VA) George Washington HS) Quick slasher had a nice weekend in averaging over 20 points per game, mostly coming on drives to the hoop. He could use more strength, especially considering the way he usually scores, and with added strength he’ll only be a better scorer.
Antonio Barton (6’6″ So. SF, Baltimore (MD) City College HS) Thin forward had a big weekend as the seventh-leading scorer here at 21 points per game, including 32 early Saturday morning. He showed a nice touch from long range in averaging almost three per game and looks like he could develop into a combo forward.
Devin Booker (6’8″ So. PF, Whitmire (SC) Union HS) The younger brother of Clemson forward Trevor, this athletic forward didn’t impress much in the scoring column but looks to have some potential. His athleticism helps on the low post, where he finishes well and has a good body.
Jordan Brewer (6’6″ Jr. SF-PF, Carmel (IN) High) Well-built forward is a nice role player on his team, contributing while not putting up big numbers. He’s a plus athlete and looks to be more of a power forward than small forward.
Ronald Brown (6’5″ Fr. SF-PF, Memphis (TN) Raleigh Egypt HS) Well-built forward currently has the game of a power forward and plays it well, as he battles inside. He didn’t score much all weekend, though he did well in the title game. He’s tough and strong inside, but as his body looks mature he’s probably done growing, meaning the ball skills he showed will be a key. On one play, he made a steal and then went three-quarters of the court for a layup.
Martell Buie (5’10” So. PG, Orlando (FL) Olympia HS) He led his team in scoring en route to the title game largely on the strength of his perimeter shooting, as only two players in the entire tournament made more three-pointers than he did (16). He also showed a touch from mid-range in keeping defenders honest, and his scoring off the dribble should only get better as his body continues to mature.
Reggie Bullock (6’4″ Fr. SG, Kinston (NC) High) Thin athlete showed some nice scoring tools for the shooting guard spot, notably a good touch from mid-range that included pulling up off the dribble.
D.J. Byrd (6’5″ So. SG-SF, Crawfordsville (IN) North Montgomery HS) The 16-under Select MVP is a ballplayer, quite simply. He’s skilled and very aggressive, often drawing contact on his drives to the basket, able to score inside and from long range, and comes to play. Physically, he has a good body and is an above-average athlete.
Junior Cadougan (6’1″ So. PG, Humble (TX) Christian Life Academy) We’ve been high on this floor leader before, but he was rather non-descript in a game we saw here. More concerning than that, however (as every player has an off-game or two), is that he looks to have gained weight, and not all “good” weight.
Joe Caldwell (6’5″ So. SF, Luthonia (GA) Miller Grove HS) Well-built wing was able to score the ball, going for 12 points per game in helping his team reach the semifinals. He didn’t show much from long range, but did go inside and score on the post one time, suggesting he can post up smaller players successfully.
Jay Canty (6’5″ Fr. SF, Jamestown (NC) Ragsdale HS) Athletic wing has a thin upper body, clearly showing that there’s more physical maturity ahead. The highlight in a game we saw was where he dribbled the length of the floor and drove for a basket, showing some of the potential he has.
Dominic Cheek (6’6″ So. SG, Jersey City (NJ) St. Anthony’s) He showed here why he’s one of the elite players in the class of 2009, as he tied for the lead in scoring in 16-under at 28 points per game. He does it in all ways, from drives to mid-range jumpers off the dribble and long range. He’s long and athletic and hasn’t even physically matured yet.
Adrian Coleman (6’4″ So. SG-SF, Stone Mountain (GA) Stephenson HS) Athletic guard had a nice weekend in scoring over 20 per game, leading his team to the semifinals of the 16-under Select. He has a relatively mature body and did everything he could to get his team to the final, going for 27 points with five three-pointers in his team’s semifinal loss. Though he only made one other three-pointer over the weekend, it’s clear he can get hot from long range.
Noah Cottrill (6’2″ Fr. PG, Poco (WV) High) He looked a little turnover prone in one game we saw, but he also showed a good scoring ability as he went for 20 points in that game and led his team in scoring at 17 points per game. He made some nice passes along the way and showed some promise as a floor leader.
Lenny Daniels (6’8″ Jr. SF-PF, Richmond (VA) Mt. Zion Christian Academy) Athletic forward runs the floor very well and looks like a 4/3 combo forward. He rebounded especially well, largely because he’s active inside, and posted up for some baskets in the halfcourt set. We saw him for 16 points in one game.
Bilal Dixon (6’8″ Jr. PF, North Arlington (NJ) Queen of Peace HS) Well-built post player was a nice role player on his team as he went to work inside. He’s quick off his feet and stays home, and won’t slow a team down as he runs the floor well.
Stanford Dulaire (6’5″ Jr. SF, Hartford (CT) Watkinson HS) This athletic wing impressed in his role by being active and playing bigger than his size in a complementary role. He has a good body and does things besides score (although he went for 14 in one game we saw) to help a team. Mid-major prospect.
Eladio Espinosa (6’8″ Jr. PF, Charlotte (NC) Victory Christian HS) Athletic forward runs the floor very well and showed some good inside play at both ends of the floor. He showed some good post moves and absorbed contact inside as he made plays.
Dakotah Euton (6’8″ Fr. PF, Ashland (KY) Rose Hill Christian School) Post player has a mature body for his age and used it inside, although at times not as much as we’d like to see as he also settled for some three-pointers that didn’t go. He did show a touch on short jumpers and scored inside en route to 20 points in one game we saw.
C.J. Fair (6’6″ Fr. SF, Baltimore (MD) City College HS) Thin wing is a lefty who showed some nice scoring ability, mainly on close shots. He finished well in close and also scored by posting a defender up. His perimeter shooting will be a key to his upside as he develops.
Dexter Fields (6’2″ So. SG, Orlando (FL) Olympia HS) Well-built guard really scored the ball well and did it often in averaging over 18 points per game. He scored often on drives and had an emphatic dunk on a fast break, and showed enough of a touch from long range to indicate that his jumper must be respected.
Courtney Fortson (5’10” Jr. PG, Montgomery (AL) Jefferson Davis HS) Lefty guard isn’t afraid to go inside, as he’ll drive into the trees all day and go for rebounds and loose balls there as well. He has a knack for coming up with a lot of those balls, and can score it as evidenced by a 22-point outing we saw and an 18.2 points per game average over the weekend. High-major prospect.
Kenny Frease (7’0″ Jr. C, Massillion (OH) Perry HS) Mature-bodied post player showed good moves and continues to play well in the role of complementary player. He stays inside to do what he does best, and we saw him go for 18 points in one game. High-major minus prospect has committed to Xavier.
David Gibbs (6’4″ Jr. SG, West Simsbury (CT) Masters Prep) Quick and athletic scorer gave DC Assault fits in his team’s big win on Friday night, where he went for 21 points. He did knock down a few jumpers, which is not his strong suit, but on the down side, he went for just 2 points in a blowout loss later in the weekend. High-major minus prospect has committed to UMass.
Delwan Graham (6’6″ Jr. SF, Dunwoody (GA) High) Solidly built lefty is a scoring wing who didn’t put up his best numbers but generally looked good. He’s certainly more of a scorer than a shooter and did nothing to dispel that here. High-major minus/high-major prospect.
Kenny Hall (6’9″ So. PF, Stone Mountain (GA) Redan HS) Long, thin post player has a ways to go physically but showed a good deal of potential here. Though he has a slight frame, he’s athletic and was active on the boards, getting a few stickbacks along the way, and also knocked down a long jumper although that’s not his forte. We saw him go for 17 in one game, and for the weekend he averaged just below that.
Willis Hall (6’6″ So. SF, Charlotte (NC) Christian HS) Scrappy forward is a max-effort player. He has a good frame and runs the floor well, and finds a way to be involved in the action when he’s on the court at both ends. Though not offensively gifted, he did go for 13 points in one game we saw.
C.J. Harris (6’2″ So. PG-SG), Winston-Salem (NC) Mt. Tabor HS) Combo guard has a good body and showed nice scoring ability, as he drove to score often and isn’t afraid to take some contact when going to the basket.
Tabias Harris (6’6″ Fr. SG-SF, Dix Hills (NY) Half Hollows Hills West HS) Brimming with potential, we saw him go for 30 points to open up Saturday’s play, and that wasn’t an aberration as he was the 10th-leading scorer in the 15-under division. He scored in close, in transition and from long range, and he’s barely begun to mature physically, so he’ll be one to keep an eye on.
Desmine Hausley (6’6″ Jr. PF, Marion (NC) McDowell HS) Although he didn’t score much, we like how this undersized post player went to work inside at both ends of the floor. He works inside to do the dirty work, while his teammates on the perimeter did much of the damage offensively.
Lonnie Hayes (6’1″ Jr. PG, Pittsfield (ME) Maine Central Institute) Well-built guard likes to drive and did so at will in one game we saw. He showed the ability to score on drives, but also was very good at getting to the line – in one game, he got to the line nearly 30 times! He scored 37 in that game and was tied for second in the tournament in scoring. On the down side, at his size he projects as a point guard, and he didn’t show much in the way of floor leadership. High-major minus prospect.
Terrence Henry (6’9″ Jr. SF-PF, Monroe (LA) Carroll HS) Long forward is a good leaper with a thin upper body and a clearly unpolished game. He’s active and got his share of offensive rebounds, and played well as he got good minutes. High-major minus prospect.
Jordan Hulls (6’1″ So. PG, Bloomington (IN) South HS) We really like the way this tough and heady floor leader runs a team. Though he never lit up the stat sheet, although he went for 12 points in the championship game, he made so many plays running the team and grabbing key loose balls that his importance can’t be overstated.
Lewis Jackson (5’9″ Jr. PG, Decatur (IL) Eisenhower HS) Quick and strong point guard led his team to another major title, running the show and being a scoring threat all the while. He showed a touch from long range, but generally scored on driving field goals where he would go right by his man. High-major prospect.
Tamir Jackson (6’2″ So. SG, Newark (NJ) St. Benedict’s Prep) Quick scoring wing normally does most of his scoring on drives to the basket, and this weekend was no different as he went for over 18 points per game that way. Those efforts included 24 and 26 in two games we saw, and although his shooting isn’t his forte, his jumper must be respected out to three-point range.
Milton Jennings (6’9″ So. SF, Summerville (SC) Pinewood Prep) Promising forward has plenty going for him, including good size to play on the wing and a body that hasn’t fully matured yet. He’s a plus athlete who runs the floor well and is a capable scorer, going for 19 points per game here.
Terrance Jennings (6’10” Jr. PF-C, Durham (NC) Mt. Zion Christian Academy) Post player has a good frame and finds a way to score inside. His consistency is there in that you know what you’re getting: good post scoring and rebounding. High-major prospect.
Karron Johnson (6’6″ So. SF, Durham (NC) Mt. Zion Christian Academy) One of the top players thus far in the class of 2009, he has all the tools to be a star if he can keep it together off the court. He’s athletic and has a mature body, and in between making some highlight-reel dunks, he rebounded well from the small forward spot.
Noel Johnson (6’7″ So. SG-SF, Fayetteville (GA) Fayette County HS) Known for his shooting, this big athletic wing showed something different this time around as he scored his fair share in transition. He actually averaged less than one three-pointer a game for the weekend, although he also played up on the loaded 17-under Atlanta Celtics team, so he was in a complementary role.
Darius Johnson-Odom (6’2″ Jr. SG, Raleigh (NC) Wakefield HS) Well-built leaper had a good showing in one game, going for 21 points against a good Team Breakdown. The lefty showed a little touch from three-point range but is more of a slasher than a shooter.
Eshaunte Jones (6’4″ Jr. SG, Fort Wayne (IN) North HS) No one buried more three-pointers at the tournament than the 25 he knocked down in five games. He did very well moving without the ball to get it in a place to score, and his shots were going all weekend long. He tied for second in scoring at 26 points per game. High-major prospect.
Devoe Joseph (6’3″ Jr. SG, Pickering (Ont.) High) The younger brother of recent Michigan State transfer Maurice has a relatively mature body and can really light it up from long range. Evidence of that was his 26-point effort we saw which included five three-pointers. For the tournament, he averaged 16 points per game.
Brandon Knight (6’3″ Fr. SG, Ft. Lauderdale (FL) Pine Crest HS) Here’s one of the elite players in the class of 2010, as he was the fifth-leading scorer in 16-under in leading his team to the championship. He has a good body and can flat-out score in all ways, but especially shooting the ball from mid-range and long range. Word is that he’s also a terrific student as well.
Aru Kok (6’10” Jr. C, Patterson (NC) School) Long post player didn’t get many touches and wasn’t a huge factor, but he seems to have a decent feel for the game. The game didn’t seem too fast for him and he was never lost at the defensive end and made a few plays.
Johnnie Lacy (5’10” So. PG, Milwaukee (WI) Bay View HS) He tied for the lead in scoring in 16-under at 28 points per game and also had a nice game in the 17-under final, so it’s clear that he can score the ball. He’s dangerous from three and quick with the ball, and as his floor leadership continues to improve, his stock will keep rising.
Cedric Lindsay (5’11” Fr. PG, Washington (DC) Gonzaga College Prep) Quick penetrating point guard will be one to keep an eye on. He’s thin right now, so he’ll surely be better with added strength as his body matures.
David Loubeau (6’8″ So. PF, Davie (FL) Westlake Prep) The MVP of the 16-under National capped off a great weekend with a 30-point outing in the final to go with 23 in an earlier effort. He was sixth in scoring in 16-under, as he was active on the boards and got plenty of stickbacks in addition to scoring in the post and getting to the foul line. At times he owned the boards, using his long arms to his advantage, and he has a relatively mature body that still has more to come.
Tashawn Mabry (6’5″ Fr. SG-SF, Rocky Mount (NC) High) Athletic wing has a mature body for his age and had a nice weekend in averaging 15.5 points per game. He showed a good post move when he went inside once, and looks right now to be more of a scorer than a shooter.
Rodney McGruder (6’4″ So. SG-SF, Washington (DC) Archbishop Carroll HS) Athletic wing had a good weekend leading his team to the 16-under Select final. He averaged 13.7 points per game and showed a touch from long range, a key since he has shown the in-between game and the ability to work inside. In the final, he didn’t get the offensive rebounds he’s been known to get against the bigger front line.
Khris Middleton (6’6″ So. SG, North Charleston (SC) Porter-Gaud HS) One of the better shooters we saw among the underclassmen, he was the fourth-leading scorer at 25 points per game, doing plenty of damage from long range. He went for 20 points in a game we saw, with six three-pointers accounting for most of the scoring, and he also showed a touch from mid-range as well.
Nate Miles (6’7″ Jr. SF, Fitchburg (MA) Notre Dame Prep) He had an excellent weekend in going for 22 points per game, making him one of the leading scorers in the 17-under division. For good measure, he didn’t do it against bad competition, as he went for 25 against eventual champion Indiana Elite. He has a thin upper body but is athletic and really shot it well from long range.
Kwamain Mitchell (6’0″ Jr. PG-SG, Whitefish Bay (WI) Dominican HS) Combo guard may be more of a shooting guard than point guard, although he can defend on the ball. He led his team in scoring at 18.6 points per game, as he’s an adept shooter and has above-average quickness. High-major minus prospect.
Tony Mitchell (6’6″ Jr. SF, Swainsboro (GA) High) Athletic wing scored the ball well, often in transition, and was active and around the ball a lot. He went for under 21 points a game, not many from the perimeter, so he looks to be more of a scorer than a shooter, and he’ll get to the line a few times a game as well. High-major prospect.
John Moran (6’1″ Jr. PG, Algonquin (IL) Harry D. Jacobs HS) He’s exactly the kind of hard-nosed player we’ve come to expect from the Illinois Wolves. He quietly and capably runs the team, not really standing out until you realize at the end of the game that he’s been out there for most of it and has actually made his fair share of plays.
Mathiang Muo (6’6″ Jr. SF, Patterson (NC) School) Athletic wing has a good body but isn’t the most fluid runner, which negates some of his athleticism. He was a role player offensively for his team with a jumper that must be respected out to three-point range.
Emmanuel Negedu (6’7″ Jr. PF, Wolfeboro (NH) Brewster Academy) Now he’s starting to look scary good, as his skills are starting to catch up with his body and intangibles. He’s always been strong and tough, and has come to play, but now the skills are really being seen. He was active as usual and showed a touch from mid-range and even dropped in a three-pointer along the way, and finished the tournament with four consecutive double-digit scoring games. Big-time prospect.
Walter Offutt (6’2″ Jr. SG, Indianapolis (IN) Warren Central HS) It can be easy for him to get lost on the loaded team he plays for, but that didn’t happen this weekend as few had a better showing than he did. This athletic guard has a solid body and competes all the time, and is a nice scorer with a good mid-range touch that was constantly on display. The only thing missing was a long range touch, but that can’t take away from the way he played here. High-major prospect has committed to Ohio State.
Brian Oliver (6’6″ So. SF, New Castle (DE) William Penn HS) It was another fine weekend for this talented and versatile wing, who does several things well. He’s athletic and has a good body, scores inside and out, and rebounds very well from the wing. It was all on display as he went for 21 points per game, which looks better considering he had just six in one game as his teammates took over the game.
Kevin Powell (6’6″ So. SF, Fayetteville (NC) Seventy First HS) Well-built forward showed a nice overall game at both ends of the floor. Offensively, he showed a very good mid-range touch and was active on the boards, going for 14 points in one game we saw. Defensively, he duplicated the effort on the glass and played bigger than his size. High-major minus/mid-major plus prospect.
Chris Prescott (6’2″ Jr. PG, West Hartford (CT) Northwest Catholic HS) He’s not the quickest point guard, but he has good size, his quicks are passable and he’s very adept at finding gaps in the defense to drive through. He has a mature body and capably runs a team, and his scoring ability means a defender can’t lay off him. In his team’s big win over DC Assault on Friday night, he went for 17 points. High-major minus prospect.
Terrelle Pryor (6’6″ Jr. SF-PF, Jeannette (PA) Senior HS) Athletic forward is also a stud quarterback on the gridiron and is being highly recruited there. On the hardwood, he has some good skills for his position, including an above-average handle. We saw him go for 26 points in one game, and he was fifth in the 17-under division in scoring for the weekend after scoring over 25 per game. High-major prospect.
Kyle Randall (6’0″ So. PG-SG, Hermitage (PA) Kennedy Catholic HS) Slight scoring guard looks like he may be more of a scorer than a floor leader, as he scored over 17 per game including a nice 24-point effort we saw. In that game, he scored on slashes as well as from long range, showing a nice touch on the latter.
Colin Reddick (6’8″ So. PF, Atlanta (GA) Whitefield Academy) Well-built post player can get lost on his team that’s stocked with talent, but he has some of his own. Though he didn’t score much, he showed some post moves with the ball and knocked down a shot from mid-range as he faced the basket.
Bo Reliford (6’7″ Jr. PF, Hollywood (FL) Chaminade College Prep) An undersized power forward, he’s well-built and not very athletic but goes to work inside and doesn’t try to be a wing. He reached double figures in scoring in two games we saw, mostly from battling inside and making plays.
Delvon Roe (6’8″ Jr. SF-PF, Cleveland (OH) St. Edward’s HS) Cementing his spot as one of the elite players in the class, he continued to do what he does best and has done all spring. Namely, that means get after it at both ends with plenty of energy, come through in the clutch, and put up solid scoring numbers, although here he seemed to miss a few more shots close to the basket. He averaged over 24 points per game in leading his team to the title game. Big-time prospect has committed to Michigan State.
Zach Rosen (6’1″ Jr. PG, Newark (NJ) St. Benedict’s Prep) Steady floor leader really competes and quietly gets the job done in running the team. He is pass-first and has enough quicks to be more than effective, and he’s a capable scorer who went for over 14 per game here. He usually scores from finding the gaps, and he’ll often make a nice pass on the move after finding a gap to drive through. Mid-major/mid-major plus prospect.
Earnest Ross (6’5″ So. SG-SF, Cary (NC) Panther Creek HS) Well-built wing has a mature body and good physical tools, but the basketball aspects are a question mark. He fades unnecessarily on his jumpers and didn’t always make the best decisions with the ball, although he looks to be capable of scoring the ball on drives.
Matt Roth (6’3″ Jr. SG, Washington (IL) High) A perfect fit on his team, he’s a stone cold set shooter with deep range on his three-pointers. That’s the main way he scores, as 90 percent of his scoring came from the three, but he’s so dangerous shooting it that he can be someone’s designated shooter at the next level.
Josh Sewell (6’6″ Fr. SF, Louisville (KY) Trinity HS) Athletic wing has some good tools to be a scorer on the wing, including a nice jumper off the dribble that he showed a few times en route to 14 points in one game we saw.
Steadman Short (6’8″ Jr. SF, Simpsonville (SC) Hillcrest HS) Good size forward scored the ball well, going for 17 in one game we saw and averaging 15 for the tournament on a team with a couple of high-scoring guards. He was a fine complementary player who didn’t show much from the perimeter, being more of a scorer.
Chris Singleton (6’9″ Jr. SF, Canton (GA) Cherokee HS) This big small forward has plenty of potential, especially at that size. He has the tools to play the position, from the ball skills to the three-point touch he showed that were especially evident in a 22-point showing we saw, and he has a good body that he can use inside if he has a smaller man on him. Big-time prospect.
Lance Stephenson (6’5″ So. SG-SF, Brooklyn (NY) Lincoln HS) He scored his points as usual, going for over 18 per contest, but looked like he wasn’t forcing as much this time around. Although he made some nice transition passes along the way, he also dribbled too much a few other times and didn’t get much out of the possession.
Don Stewart (6’6″ Jr. SF, Champagne (IL) Central HS) Versatile wing is a plus athlete who can do several things, although none of them very well. He can score the ball, as evidenced by his 18-point effort in his team’s final game, with a touch out to three-point range, although he’s not going to put up 20 points per game or shoot lights out from long range. Mid-major plus/high-major minus prospect.
Ray Taylor (5’7″ So. PG, Opa Locka (FL) Monsignor Edward Pace HS) This diminutive point guard is a sparkplug that made his team go all weekend long, right to the 16-under championship. He’s hard-nosed and around the ball often, and he used his quickness to drive and create as well as to occasionally get to a loose ball. Though more of a scorer, his three-point shot must be respected, and he averaged over 17 points per game.
Tony Taylor (5’10” Jr. PG, White Plains (NY) Archbishop Stepinac HS) His play suggests he’s more of an undersized shooting guard, although he showed some point guard ability and seems to have the quicks for it. He really shined shooting the ball, both off the dribble and the catch, going for 21 points in a big win for his team. Mid-major prospect.
Tyshawn Taylor (6’3″ Jr. SG, Jersey City (NJ) St. Anthony’s) Athletic slasher was true to his reputation here, scoring on drives and in transition but not from the perimeter. He led his team in scoring at under 15 points per game and did not hit a single three-pointer all weekend. High-major minus/mid-major plus prospect.
Howard Thompkins (6’10” Jr. PF, Mouth of Wilson (VA) Oak Hill Academy) Well-built post player had a quietly good weekend, averaging under 21 points per game to lead his team. He didn’t really stand out on the loaded team he played with, but at the end of each game he quietly had good numbers, including 16 and 20 in two games we saw. High-major prospect.
Daryl Traynham (5’9″ Fr. PG, Washington (DC) Archbishop Carroll HS) Quick point guard led his team in scoring en route to the 16-under Select title game, scoring often on his drives to the basket and also from getting to the line. That all showed that he’s not afraid to go inside, and he’s capable of slicing through the defense to get there.
Clarence Trent (6’8″ Jr. PF, Gig Harbor (WA) High) Well-built post player is an above-average athlete for the low post, and he used it well. We saw him go for 20 points in one game, and he averaged 13 per game for the tournament. High-major prospect.
James Tyler (7’2″ Jr. C, Winston-Salem (NC) home school) He’s still carrying plenty of weight, but he looks to be in better shape now. He ran the floor a little better and looked more mobile inside, though he didn’t get a lot of touches on offense. If he can get it together off the court, where he has had some issues, he could be a nice pickup for LSU, where he has committed.
Stephan Vantresse (6’9″ So. PF, Indianapolis (IN) Lawrence North HS) Well-built post player showed solid offensive skills, mostly inside. He’s aggressive and scored well in close, going for 21 in a playoff win, and facing the basket a few times as well.
Eloy Vargas (6’10” Jr. SF-PF, Plantation (FL) American Heritage HS) In about a year, he’s come quite a ways at both ends of the floor. He’s very long and still has a ways to go physically, although he looks more mature now, but it’s his skills that look so different. He showed some post moves, solid ball skills that included some nice passes, was active on the boards and showed a little range shooting the ball, though his jumper was inconsistent. Besides the consistency, he didn’t shoot it well off the dribble. High-major prospect has plenty of potential, especially after the improvement he’s shown thus far.
Terrell Vinson (6’7″ So. SF, Rockville (MD) Montrose Christian School) We love the way this highly-skilled forward plays the game. He’s athletic and shows a very nice feel for the game, one that’s seemingly advanced for his age, and is versatile as he can score and pass the game. Simply put, he can play the game, and don’t let his low scoring numbers here (just over eight points per game) fool you, as he’s capable of scoring big but doesn’t try to do too much.
Erving Walker (5’8″ Jr. PG, Middle Village (NY) Christ The King HS) Scoring point guard got hot shooting the ball at one point in a game we saw, going for 15 points largely on that hot streak. Otherwise, he wasn’t quite at his usual level as he averaged just over 11 points per game. Some of those shots were of the pull-up variety, and he showed a good dribble when he brought the ball up. High-major prospect has committed to Florida.
Brian Walsh (6’4″ Jr. SG, Coraopolis (PA) Moon HS) He’s a good scorer who finds ways to score, especially with his movement without the ball. Several times, we saw him work to get the ball in a good position to score with it en route to 16 points in one game. Mid-major plus/high-major minus prospect.
Leonard Washington (6’7″ Sr. PF, Lake Charles (LA) Washington Merion HS) A post player who signed with USC but will do a year of prep school, he has a big body and moves well inside, and he seemed to thrive in the complementary role he played on his championship team. He often scored on loose balls and broken plays, but also finished a couple of fast breaks, and he scored in double figures a couple of times.
Christian Watford (6’7″ So. SF, Trussville (AL) Hewitt Trussville HS) There is certainly some potential here, as he has good size and a good body and some skills for the wing. He showed some ball skills and scored on drives and off the dribble, going for 20 points in one game. The only issue is that you get the feeling he’s a better player than he shows.
Malcolm White (6’8″ Jr. PF, Mendenhall (MS) Genesis One Prep) This active post player impressed by being around the ball often and a solid contributor inside on a team that had a star and some depth. He has a good upper body and runs the floor very well, which allowed him to finish a few fast breaks, and was solid inside overall between his post scoring and rebounding. High-major prospect has committed to Mississippi.
Elliott Williams (6’4″ Jr. SG-SF, Collierville (TN) St. George’s HS) Excellent scorer tied for second in the tournament in scoring at 26 points per game for a great weekend. The lefty found several ways to score, often on drives and including plays where he absorbed contact and at times drew fouls. He had his struggles early in one game we saw, but shook it off and was excellent the rest of the way. Big-time prospect.
Jamil Wilson (6’7″ So. SF-PF, Racine (WI) Horlick HS) One of the better players here in the class of 2009, he has a good body and some combo forward ability. He’s capable of scoring, as evidenced by his 15.7 points per game, but he can help a team in other ways with his high skill level.
Cashmere Wright (6’0″ Jr. PG-SG, Savannah (GA) Urban Christian Academy) Quick guard can really score the ball, as he tied for sixth in the 17-under in that department at under 25 per game. We saw him go for 32 in one game, showing athleticism and plenty of aggressiveness. The down side is his size, as he’s small for the shooting guard spot and doesn’t look like a point guard. High-major minus prospect committed to Clemson during the tournament.
Tyler Zeller (7’2″ Jr. C, Washington (IL) High) Not many players have had a better spring than this highly-skilled post player, who seems content to be a blender player and occasionally be more than that since he’s capable of it. He runs the floor very well and is very active, finding a lot of loose balls and getting offensive rebounds, and he has some range to about the college three-point line. Big-time prospect.
Other players who caught our attention:
Evan Anderson (6’11” Fr. C, Eau Claire (WI) North HS)
Emarri Bailey (6’6″ So. SG-SF, Jacksonville (FL) Arlington Country Day School)
Bak Bak (6’9″ So. PF, Plantation (FL) American Heritage HS)
Frank Barnes (6’9″ Jr. PF, Davie (FL) Westlake HS)
Cecil Bent (6’7″ Jr. PF, Swainsboro (GA) High)
DeMarquis Bost (6’3″ Jr. PG-SG, Concord (NC) High)
Bobby Capobianco (6’9″ So. PF, Loveland (OH) High)
Andre Clark (6’10” Jr. PF-C, North Little Rock (AR) West HS)
Trevor Clemmings (6’6″ Fr. PF, Teaneck (NJ) Paterson Catholic HS)
Robert Crisp (6’8″ Fr. PF, Chapel Hill (NC) High)
Givon Crump (6’5″ So. SG-SF, Tilton (NH) Academy)
Janzy Cruz (5’8″ Jr. PG, Springfield (MA) High)
Mike Davis (6’9″ Jr. SF-PF, South Kent (CT) School)
J. Ritchie Edwards (6’7″ So. SF, Lakeland (FL) High)
Fuquan Edwin (6’5″ Fr. SG-SF, Paterson (NJ) Catholic HS)
Isiah Epps (6’2″ Fr. SG, Plainfield (NJ) High)
Charles Ford (6’0″ So. PG, Orlando (FL) Dr. Phillips HS)
Greg Foster (6’1″ Jr. PG, Indianapolis (IN) Howe Military HS)
Eddie Gilgenbach (6’2″ Jr. SG, Fond du Lac (WI) High)
Justin Green (6’7″ Jr. PF, Brooklyn (NY) Lincoln HS)
Nick Greenbacker (6’9″ Jr. PF, Manchester (CT) East Catholic HS)
Masceo Harman (5’9″ Fr. PG, Memphis (TN) Central Baptist HS)
Chris Henderson (6’8″ Jr. PF, Warren (OH) Warren G. Harding HS)
Anthony Hitchens (5’11” Jr. PG, Chillicothe (OH) High)
Josh Humphrey (6’2″ Jr. SG, Matthews (NC) Butler HS)
Chad Jackson (6’5″ Fr. SG, Ashland (KY) Rose Hill Christian School)
Austin Johnson (6’7″ So. SF-PF, Blairstown (NJ) Blair Academy)
Deonta Johnson (6’8″ Jr. PF, Cincinnati (OH) Sycamore HS)
Theodore “Mookie” Jones (6’6″ Jr. SF, Peekskill (NY) High)
Chim Kadima (6’1″ Fr. SG, Milwaukee (WI) Lutheran HS)
Nate Lubick (6’8″ Fr. PF, Southborough (MA) St. Mark’s School)
Korie Lucious (5’11” Jr. PG, Milwaukee (WI) Pius Xi HS)
Jeronne Maymon (6’6″ So. SF, Madison (WI) Memorial HS)
Todd Mayo (6’4″ Fr. SG, South Point (OH) High)
Ray McCallum (6’1″ Fr. SG, Bloomington (IN) North HS)
James Mills (5’11” Jr. PG, Laurinburg (NC) Prep)
Will O’Huaregbe (6’8″ Jr. PF, Greensboro (NC) New Horizons Prep)
Romero Osby (6’8″ Jr. SF-PF, Meridan (MS) East Lauderdale HS)
Chris Parrish (6’2″ So. SG, Riverside (IL) Brookfield HS)
Kevin Parrom (6’6″ So. SF, Bronx (NY) St. Raymond’s HS)
Cordell Passley (6’2″ Jr. SG, Indianapolis (IN) Pike HS)
Tim Peete (6’3″ Fr. SG, Memphis (TN) Central Baptist HS)
Jordan Prosser (6’8″ So. PF, Eureka (IL) High)
Darious Redding (6’5″ So. SF, Tallahassee (FL) Amos P. Godby HS)
Glen Rice, Jr. (6’4″ So. SG, Marietta (GA) Walton HS)
Brian Robinson (6’3″ Fr. PG-SG, Wilson (NC) Greenfield HS)
Damien Steadman (6’0″ Fr. SG, Sanford (NC) Southern Lee HS)
Jerel Stephenson (6’4″ Jr. SG, Augusta (GA) Glenn Hills HS)
Tyler Stone (6’6″ Fr. SF-PF, Memphis (TN) Central Baptist HS)
Gerardo Suero (6’4″ Jr. SG, Centereach (NY) Our Savior New American School)
Todd Thomas (6’3″ So. SG, Beaver Falls (PA) High)
Justin Watts (6’6″ Jr. SF, Durham (NC) Jordan HS)
Darnell Wilks (6’9″ Jr. SF, Nashville (TN) Pioneer Christian HS)
Jordan Williams (6’7″ So. PF, Torrington (CT) High)
Nathan Zastrow (6’0″ So. PG-SG, Manitowoc (WI) Lincoln HS)
