Houston Kingwood Classic Has Different Feel
HOUSTON – The Houston Kingwood Classic had a different feel this time around in several respects. Unchanged, fortunately, was the value in covering the event in terms of the basketball played and the opportunity to see a number of teams from various parts of the country, though primarily from the southeast, Midwest and west coast.
One big change was that headquarters moved from Westfield High School to the new Legends Sports Complex, a nice facility a few miles to the north. With its new headquarters, the tournament had a great setup in terms of all the complex operations that go with running an event of this scale. It did mean there were fewer gyms in the immediate vicinity, as the old headquarters had three courts and there were four more right around the corner, but that wasn’t a major issue.
Several coaches and a few other veterans of the event commented that this year’s was down from past years. In the sense that it wasn’t loaded with big-time individual talents – players who are either locks or excellent candidates for the McDonald’s All-American Game – that case could be made. The event still had plenty of top-notch talent and many future Division I players, although there wasn’t really a player or two who stood out to the point where everyone was talking about him.
Not helping was that the recruiting calendar has just two live weekends this April, and this weekend featured about a half dozen live events. That likely was a factor in the relatively low head coach turnout compared to other years, as they had to spread their staff out at five events this time around. (College teams can have just three coaches on the road at one time.) Mississippi State head coach Rick Stansbury was the first head coach we saw, and by our count there were over 30 head coaches present over the two live days.
Still, from an operational standpoint, this was as well-run an event as you’ll find. The Houston Kingwood Classic features essentially non-stop basketball for 48 hours starting on Friday evening. Sunday’s final games even started and ended early, after just about everything else all weekend long rang according to plan. On Saturday, the playoff bracket was done very quickly as the day went along and was ready to go in time for coaches and media to plan out the rest of their evening. The playoffs begin with no break following the last pool play games, so one can imagine the challenge involved in getting this done.
In the 17-under championship game, Howard Pulley broke an early tie and opened up a double-digit lead in the first half. They would hold that lead the remainder of the game, running it up over 20 in the second half at one point en route to a 69-58 win over Oregon-based Team Jones. Shantrell Henderson (6’8″ Jr. PF, Zimmerman (MN) Cretin HS) led Howard Pulley with 15 points, Mike Broghammer (6’9″ Jr. PF, Mound (MN) Hopkins HS) added 13 and Rodney Williams (6’6″ Jr. SF-PF, Plymouth (MN) Cooper HS) added 11 to go with several blocked shots. Team Jones was paced by Kalonji Paschal (6’0″ Jr. PG, Portland (OR) Jefferson HS), who scored 14 points.
Here are notes on some players who competed at the event.
Chad Adams (6’6″ Jr. SF, Albuquerque (NM) Highland HS) Athletic wing is a “potential” player based on what he showed in our viewing. He has a slight frame and didn’t make the most fluid drives to the hoop, so he has some work to do. His size and athleticism make him one to keep an eye on to see if the physical tools and skills come along.
Kori Babineaux (6’2″ Fr. SG, Folsom (CA) High) He caught our eye in an early Saturday game where he went for 23 points, though it was in a losing effort as his team was overmatched. He has a fairly mature body for his age and isn’t a great athlete, and didn’t impress as being able to score in one way better than another, all things that can get better as he develops since he’s young and played up in 17-under.
Dominic Ballard (6’3″ So. PG-SG, Renton (WA) O’Dea HS) Lefty guard looks like a combo guard as he has some ability at both spots. He has a good body and is athletic, with the big knock in our viewing being his jump shot looking a little questionable. That said, he shows good overall potential with what he did show as well as his physically tools.
Ryan Barbre (6’0″ Jr. PG-SG, Arlington (TX) Martin HS) His size dictates that he likely plays the point at the college level, but he didn’t show much there. Rather, his jumper looked very good over the weekend and that might get him some looks to play off the ball or try to learn the point guard position. He has a fairly mature body, so he’s probably done growing. Mid-major prospect.
Cortney Bell (6’5″ Jr. SF, Chicago (IL) Lincoln Park HS) Active wing looks like a complementary player, playing that role well on a team with some other talents. He has a good body and got his share of rebounds while going for 12 points in a support role in one game.
Steven Bjornstad (6’10” Jr. C, Vancouver (WA) Columbia River HS) A serviceable post player, he wasn’t his team’s go-to guy or key defender but certainly helped them get to the championship game. He’s a little slight and has a thin upper body, and it’s clear he has to get stronger. But he has some post moves and can finish, and when he gets some touches, he’s able to convert some of them into baskets. High-major/high-major minus prospect.
Devin Booker (6’9″ Jr. PF, Whitmire (SC) Union County HS) The younger brother of Clemson rising junior Trevor, he plays a very similar style. He has a good body and does his work inside, where he’s active and a garbage man and will score his points close to the basket. High-major prospect committed to Clemson.
Reggie Brice (6’9″ Jr. PF, Snellville (GA) South Gwinnett HS) Very promising post player has a game that’s rough around the edges, but there’s a lot to like about him. He’s very athletic and active and has a good body, with a motor that keeps running the entire game. While his offense has a ways to go, he’ll get plenty of boards, and that alone makes him valuable before we even get to his upside. High-major prospect.
Mike Broghammer (6’9″ Jr. PF, Mound (MN) Hopkins HS) He’s not exactly a finesse player inside, as he has a big body and will use it to knock opposing players around at both ends. In going for double figures at least twice on the weekend, he used his body to score inside and played plenty of physical basketball.
Stanford Brown (6’8″ Jr. PF, Chicago (IL) Whitney Young HS) While he didn’t star and wasn’t much more than a role player, he looks much-improved from a year ago, when he was basically a non-factor in our viewing. His body is more mature, which some of the improvement can be chalked up to. His offense is an unknown as he almost never got any touches there.
Henry Buckley (6’10” Jr. C, Houston (TX) Wheatley HS) The biggest reason he was a non-factor was a lack of touches at the offensive end. But he’s long and athletic and can run the floor, which will get him plenty of looks and someone can take a flyer on him.
Reginald Buckner (6’9″ Jr. PF, Manassas (TN) High) Athletic post player has some length and a good body and does his work inside. He uses his athleticism to score more with quick moves and some finesse, scoring mainly close baskets en route to 17 points in a game to lead off Sunday morning.
Martell Buie (5’10” Jr. PG, Orlando (FL) Olympia HS) Well-built point guard will drive all day, where he makes things happen. He’s a capable scorer, but is very pass-first as he will pass on the move and facilitate the offense for his other guards and wings. Mid-major prospect.
Joe Burton (6’8″ Jr. PF, Hemet (CA) West Valley HS) Post player has a big body, though not all of it is good weight and he’ll clearly need to improve there. He competes inside and held up against some good competition, going for 16 points in one game.
Jordan Callahan (6’0″ Jr. PG, Marietta (GA) Blessed Trinity HS) Well-built point guard is actually a member of the class of 2008, but will do a year of prep. He has some quickness and showed a touch from mid-range en route to a 13-point outing in one of his team’s wins.
Colton Christian (6’6″ Jr. SF, Medina (WA) Bellevue HS) In an early Saturday game, he had perhaps the quietest 21 points in the tournament. He didn’t seem like he had such a big game, although he showed some talent as he has a mature body and ran the floor very well. He generally scored in close from getting the ball in a good position.
Cameron Clark (6’5″ So. SF, Dallas (TX) Sherman HS) Athletic wing has a slight frame but is fairly mature physically. He has the look of a blender player, capable of scoring some points but not necessarily looking to do that.
Michael Cobbins (6’8″ So. PF, Amarillo (TX) Palo Duro HS) Long post player has a thin upper body but a good frame, suggesting he can add weight as he matures. His need to add strength was apparent several times, but he also showed that he can become a nice player as he matures.
Adrian Coleman (6’5″ Jr. SG-SF, Stone Mountain (GA) Stephenson HS) Although he’s a scorer, he also showed the ability to find open teammates a few times as he drove and dished off. He isn’t physically mature yet, so there’s still some growing left and he already looks like a solid prospect.
Jack Cooley (6’9″ Jr. PF, Glenview (IL) Glenbrook South HS) Post player has a mature body and really uses it, as he constantly battles inside. He rebounds well and can finish, although he didn’t get to show much of the latter as he didn’t get the ball often in our viewing. His warrior mentality shows as he doesn’t take a play off and constantly out-works the opposition. High-major prospect has committed to Notre Dame.
Jay Crockett (6’6″ Jr. SF-PF, Clovis (NM) High) Athletic forward has a good frame that still has some filling out to do. He battled often on the offensive glass and generally did work close to the basket, going for 12 points in one game.
Quintin Dailey (6’5″ Sr. SF, Las Vegas (NV) Bishop Gorman HS) Well-built wing is athletic and looks like a scorer, although he didn’t put up a lot of points in a game we saw. He has the tools to be a scorer, including a mid-range jumper he showed off a couple of times, but left us feeling like he could do more.
Taylor Darby (6’7″ Sr. SF-PF, San Marcos (CA) Mission HS) A good role player on his team, he ran the floor and finished when he had the chance and helped in a reserve role. He has a good body and is a plus athlete. Mid-major prospect.
Aaron Dotson (6’4″ Jr. SG, Seattle (WA) Rainier Beach HS) Active guard has a good body and plus athleticism, which all makes his game go. He got his share of boards in a game we saw and showed a little shooting range at the offensive end. High-major minus/high-major prospect.
Dre Evans (5’10” So. PG, Dallas (TX) David W. Carter HS) Scoring point guard has a good body that looks like it’s still filling out. Though appearing to be more of a scorer than a shooter, he did show three-point range on his jumper in going for 21 points in one game.
Jerry Evans (6’6″ Jr. SF, Lawndale (CA) Leuzinger HS) Lefty wing has a little ways to go physically, as he’s thin and his lack of strength was evident several times in a game we saw. He has some range on his jumper, but also showed a shaky dribble.
Simi Fajemisin (6’8″ So. PF, Lynnwood (WA) High) Post player has a mature body and good hands, but he was a non-factor in his team’s opener. He has the physical tools to be a nice player down the road.
Dexter Fields (6’2″ Jr. SG, Orlando (FL) Olympia HS) Well-built guard is capable of big games offensively, although we’ve also seen him play the complimentary role well on a team full of capable players. He’s athletic and capable of scoring almost equally well on drives or shooting the ball out to three-point range.
Charles Ford (6’0″ Jr. PG, Orlando (FL) Dr. Phillips HS) Thin point guard had some struggles shooting the ball from long range. Although he hit a few, he missed more often while also knocking down a few shots from a little inside the arc, including a few off the dribble. He was better off being a scorer, as he can penetrate to the basket to make plays. Mid-major prospect.
Keith Gallon (6’9″ Jr. PF, Humble (TX) Oak Hill Academy) His size will jump out at you right away, as he has a big body that eats up space. But he also moves it very well and is quick off his feet and fluid, which means if he were to shed a few pounds and improve his conditioning, he could be lethal. As it is, he has some good skills for a big man, showing a couple of good moves inside and an ability to tip the ball to a teammate or to himself. We saw him go for 20 in one game where he was perhaps the best player on the floor. High-major prospect.
Nik Garcia (6’6″ Jr. SG, Skokie (IL) Niles West HS) He’s a little thin, but he can shoot from long range all day. If left open, the shot is likely going down and did often for him this weekend.
Edgar Garibay (6’9″ Sr. PF, Compton (CA) High) In going for 23 points in an early game, he showed a lot of good offensive tools. He has a good post body and uses it well inside, where he also showed some good footwork and aggressiveness. At times, he looked to score a bit too much, trying to score when he didn’t really have a good chance with the defense. He also hit a couple of long jumpers, showing he can step away. High-major/high-major minus prospect.
Bradley Gay (6’5″ Fr. SF, Houston (TX) Marshall HS) Not surprisingly, this rising freshmen looked a little physically overmatched, although he showed some promise as well. He’s a baby physically and lost the ball a few times from a lack of ball toughness, but also showed that he has some potential offensively down the road.
Jeff Georgatos (6’6″ Jr. SF-PF, Dallas (TX) Episcopal HS) A solid complementary player on his team, he didn’t put up big numbers but played no small role in his team making a deep run into Sunday. He has a mature body and a good feel for the game, runs the floor well and can score in a couple of ways. He was consistently a factor in games with plays that don’t necessarily show up in the box score.
Mario Gill (6’1″ Jr. PG, Portland (OR) Wilson HS) Well-built guard had his moments, but wasn’t the most consistent player this weekend. He showed a little touch from long range and had 15 points in a pool game, but wasn’t always a big factor.
Shawn Glover (6’6″ Jr. SF, Cedar Hill (TX) High) As his team made a deep run in the playoff rounds, he got better. His frame is a bit slight, but he’s athletic and active and scored well during the weekend, going for 22 in one game and 20 in another. One issue early on was that he often leaked out instead of rebounding as one of his team’s bigger players, but he did that less later on. Offensively, he’s not there yet as a small forward, although he showed a little touch shooting the ball. Mid-major/mid-major plus prospect.
Garlon Green (6’8″ Jr. SF, Missouri City (TX) Hightower HS) Gerald’s younger brother looks a lot like him, at least if this weekend is any indication. He’s very athletic and active and can score, although he didn’t score as prodigiously as his brother did at times. He showed a touch from long range as well, although that doesn’t appear to be his forte. High-major prospect.
Dylan Hale (6’0″ Jr. PG, St. Paul (MN) Central HS) Lefty point guard ran the show quietly and effectively for the tournament champions. He has a good body and is athletic, scoring a few times on driving field goals while facilitating the offense for the forwards who did a lot of the damage along the way.
Kenny Hall (6’9″ Jr. PF, Stone Mountain (GA) Redan HS) Very athletic post player isn’t a stud scorer with inside moves, but he’s active and has a good body. He uses those physical tools to be a factor, and while he won’t put up big scoring numbers, he’ll certainly help his team and has good upside given his physical gifts.
Willis Hall (6’7″ Jr. PF, Charlotte (NC) Christian HS) There’s never a doubt about the effort he puts forth, as he’s relentless and has a motor that’s always running. He works inside, where he grabs plenty of rebounds and creates and absorbs a lot of contact and shows an edge to his game. He got a few calls at the offensive end when trying to score, and while he has some post scoring tools, he’ll get a lot of points being a garbage man and also running the floor. High-major prospect.
Jordan Hamilton (6’7″ Jr. SF, Compton (CA) Dominguez HS) Although he didn’t put up his best game on the opening night, he still played very well by most standards and did much more to help his team than just score. While going for 14 points, he handed out several assists in helping his team to a win. He has a good body and is very athletic. Big-time prospect.
John Hayward-Mayhew (6’8″ Sr. PF, Eugene (OR) South HS) Although he showed a few signs of ability away from the basket, he’s best suited to playing inside. There, he uses his good body to be active inside and make plays. He has a little mid-range touch at the offensive end. Mid-major plus prospect.
Crandall Head (6’5″ So. SG, Richton Park (IL) High) Athletic guard shows a lot of potential with his skill package. He showed some point guard ability as he handled the ball a fair amount, while using his athleticism to score and showing some range on his jumper.
Shantrell Henderson (6’8″ Jr. PF, Zimmerman (MN) Cretin HS) A stud lineman on the football field, this thick post player is a bruiser who moves well inside. He’s a capable post scorer when he gets the ball, even showing a lefty hook shot along the way. High-major minus/mid-major plus prospect.
Taylor Hoffer (6’8″ Jr. PF, Poulsbo (WA) North Kitsap HS) Early on, he struggled to finish inside while getting several opportunities either from teammates setting him up or offensive rebounds. Later, he finished his shots en route to 14 points, and his rebounding was good the entire game.
Kammeon Hosley (6’8″ Jr. PF, Sparta (GA) Hancock Central HS) A fine complementary player with a lot of ability, he played his role well on a team loaded with talent. With his good body, he rebounded often inside, where he did most of his work, and he also got out often in transition. A couple of times, he finished, and on others he influenced the play by getting to the other end of the floor. High-major minus prospect.
Tavarres Jefferson (5’9″ Jr. PG, Hermitage (TN) Ensworth HS) Strong point guard was in constant attack mode en route to a fine 22-point outing. He has a solid body and finishes strong when he gets to the basket. The down side from our viewing is that he didn’t show a great deal of playmaking ability, which is important given his size.
Willie Jefferson (6’7″ Jr. PF, Beaumont (TX) Ozen HS) A post player with good mobility and a good body, he didn’t show much offensively but really held down the fort inside. He rebounded well and was a presence to help his team win some games.
Blake Jenkins (6’7″ Jr. SF-PF, Knoxville (TN) Bearden HS) In an early Sunday morning game, he caught our eye as a potential sleeper. His game is a little rough around the edges, but he has a good motor and some physical gifts, as he’s athletic and has a good body. He has the potential to be a combo forward down the line. Mid-major plus prospect.
John Jenkins (6’4″ Jr. SG, Hendersonville (TN) Station Camp HS) Early Sunday morning, he helped his team build a big lead with his hot three-point shooting, a lead they later lost before winning in overtime. They stopped getting him shots, as he scored most of his 22 points early. His body can still mature and his jumpers came both off the catch and off the dribble. High-major minus prospect.
Derek Johnson (6’7″ Jr. SF, Houston (TX) Woodlands Christian HS) A solid prospect, he has good size and showed a nice touch from long range en route to a 24-point outing on Saturday. He looks like he might be more of a blender, but is clearly capable of having a big game and especially when his jumper goes down.
Noel Johnson (6’7″ Jr. SF, Lovejoy (GA) Fayette County HS) He looks more mature physically and still can mature further, which has stood out because his skills have generally looked good. Here, he missed his share of close shots, but hit his jumpers and showed good ball skills. At times he played like a point-forward type, which will make him more dangerous since he’s shown that he can shoot it well from long range before. High-major prospect.
Tony Johnson (5’10” Jr. PG-SG, Folsom (CA) High) His size dictates playing the point, but he’s more of a shooter and might be good enough at it to get teams to consider taking a flyer on him if he doesn’t show more point guard ability. He has a good frame and good range on his jumper, using his touch to knock down three-pointers en route to 13 points.
Terrence Jones (6’8″ So. SF, Portland (OR) Jefferson HS) One of the stars of the runners-up, the lefty caught the attention of many in attendance. He’s very athletic and has a good body, with some skills that need improvement but also show the potential for just that. He dribble is just okay, as he’s not the most fluid when he drives to the basket, and he can knock down shots from long range with a high arc on his jumper. His efforts included 21 points against a team full of good guards and wings.
Nate Jones (6’4″ Jr. SG-SF, Bartlesville (OK) High) More of a prospect than a good product currently, he’s athletic but doesn’t seem to have much of a feel for the game. As a result, his athleticism can be seen but he didn’t accomplish much on the court during a game we saw.
Parfait Kipasa (6’2″ Jr. PG-SG, Grand Prairie (TX) Arlington Bowie HS) An aggressive guard, he handled the ball often but seems to have a game that’s more geared to playing off the ball. He has good size and a good frame and plays stronger than he looks, and looks to be more of a scorer than a shooter offensively.
Johnnie Lacy (5’10” Jr. PG, Milwaukee (WI) Bayview HS) Very quick point guard initially had a tough time against a guard who could match his quickness, but he got going later on. He’s more of a scorer than a floor leader, finding ways to score on drives and with a solid touch from long range and on pull-up jumpers. His pull-ups are hard to stop because of how quick he is. If he was about 5-6 inches taller, we would be talking about a big-time scoring guard; as it is, he’ll need to improve his playmaking to make his scoring tools that much more dangerous. High-major prospect.
Wendell Lewis (6’9″ Jr. PF, Selma (AL) High) Athletic post player has a good body for the post. He also ran the floor and showed the ability to finish while being fouled and looks to have a developing game at the offensive end.
Edward Ludwig (6’8″ Jr. PF, Metaire (LA) Park Country Day School) Teammate Kourtney Roberson has the physical tools, but Ludwig makes himself a factor on the floor. He has a fairly mature body is a solid, unspectacular complementary player who just makes plays. His offensive game isn’t really well-defined save for being a garbage man, though he did knock down a nice mid-range runner one time, and he can rebound from having a nose for the ball and will get a few stickbacks. Mid-major/mid-major plus prospect.
Mike Mapple (6’8″ Jr. PF, Orlando (FL) The First Academy) Mature post player is on a guard-oriented team but does his job inside. Mainly, he eats up space and does some dirty work, occasionally getting garbage baskets and rebounds. Mid-major prospect.
Andre Marhold (6’7″ Jr. PF, Charlotte (NC) North Mecklenburg HS) A role player on his team, he has a good body and ran the floor. He’s a garbage man on his team and that’s how he generally scored, although he did show a post move to score on one occasion.
Cedric Martin (6’3″ Jr. SG, Minneapolis (MN) Washburn HS) While the forwards on his team did a lot of damage all weekend, he kept defenses honest away from the basket, going for 16 points in one playoff game. He showed good range on his jumper and has a fairly mature body.
Cameron McCaffrey (6’1″ Jr. SG, Hillsboro (OR) Century HS) He doesn’t have the best body, as he’ll need to improve his conditioning, but he shot the ball well for a good portion of the weekend. In a semifinal game, he scored 15 points, hitting shots when teammates created chances for him on the perimeter. Mid-major prospect.
Jordan McCoy (6’6″ Jr. SF-PF, Orlando (FL) Olympia HS) Steady post player does a nice job in his role on a perimeter-oriented team. He’s a plus athlete who can run the floor and looks like he could be a 4-3 combo forward with further development. Mid-major prospect.
Patrick McCollum (6’3″ Sr. PG-SG, San Diego (CA) High) He has the potential to be a combo guard, as he handled the ball often but also called his own number a good deal. That’s not entirely a bad thing as he showed some scoring ability en route to a pair of 16-point outings, mostly from drives as he didn’t take many jumpers. He has a good body that’s not fully mature yet. Mid-major/mid-major plus prospect.
Keith McDougald (6’0″ So. PG-SG, Jacksonville (FL) Andrew Jackson HS) He fearlessly uses his good body to drive to the basket, as he did that all day long. It didn’t always result in a basket or assist, but he has the ability to get inside and create. He loves to play fast, and it might be the only speed he really plays at right now.
Tyler Melville (6’3″ Jr. SG, Plano (TX) West HS) He didn’t really stand out, but was a solid player for his team as their best backcourt player. He has a good body and showed the ability to score in several ways, although he didn’t put up big numbers as he looked to involve others and generally plays well within the team concept.
DeAndre Metlock (6’8″ Sr. PF, Fresno (CA) Clovis West HS) He has the body to be a solid inside player, but didn’t appear to have much in the way of ability for a while. Then he came alive later in the same game, getting better as it went along with a few post baskets and rebounds along with a mid-range jumper. Mid-major plus prospect.
Khris Middleton (6’7″ Jr. SF, North Charleston (SC) Porter-Gaud HS) It’s clear in watching him that he has a lot of potential that doesn’t show. He has a good frame that can carry more weight as he matures physically, and he’s plenty athletic and can shoot from long range. At times, it almost looks like he’s taking it easy and not playing hard, but that might just be a sign of how good he can be that he’s this effective while appearing not to expend his full effort. High-major prospect.
Corbin Miller (6’2″ Fr. PG-SG, Sandy (UT) Brighton HS) A heady floor leader, he capably ran his team and also showed off his shooting stroke. His jumper has plenty of range as he knocked down a couple of shots from very deep en route to 15 points on opening night.
Darius Morris (6’3″ Jr. PG-SG, Los Angeles (CA) Winward HS) More of a point guard, he’s a capable scorer but stood out by quietly facilitating the offense. He has good size for the position and wasn’t flashy, just effective, while adding 16 points in his team’s win. High-major prospect.
Michael Moser (6’8″ Jr. SF-PF, Portland (OR) Grant HS) If he gains some strength, this potential combo forward could be a nice player at the next level. He has the frame to carry a little more weight and some scoring ability, going for double figures at least twice during the weekend. He’s not the most athletic player and his jumper is almost a set shot, which means he could get it blocked if he’s up against a bigger or more athletic player.
Terrance Noel (6’3″ Jr. SG, Albany (GA) Westover HS) Athletic guard showed a nice combination of offensive ability and intangibles. He has a slight frame, but played tough when he ventured inside, which he did at times and also showed a little touch shooting the ball en route to 11 points.
Ronnie Norsworthy (6’7″ Sr. PF, Las Vegas (NV) Spring Valley HS) A clear work in progress, we didn’t see much from him at the offensive end, in part because of a lack of touches. But he has a fairly mature body and can rebound, and he’s a little above average athletically. Looks to be more prospect than project.
Josh Orta (5’10” Jr. PG, San Antonio (TX) Stevens HS) A ball of energy, he caught the attention of many with the way he played Johnnie Lacy early on. He made plays on the offensive end and defended Lacy well for a good while. He’s a blur going to the basket and uses ball fakes all day, sometimes ending with a spectacular pass and other times with a pass to seemingly no one. He tended to dribble into trouble at times and lacks size, the former of which he can certainly improve on. Mid-major prospect.
Kalonji Paschal (6’0″ Jr. PG, Portland (OR) Jefferson HS) Possessing good physical gifts, he helped lead his team to the title game with a good weekend, although at times he left us wanting more. He’s athletic and has a good body, can be solid defensively, and while he’s capable of scoring, he tended to make some ill-advised drives along the way. High-major minus/mid-major plus prospect.
Kevin Perry (6’8″ Jr. SF-PF, Houston (TX) Westbury Christian HS) He didn’t stand out among his teammates since he’s not a go-to guy, but his size, body and athleticism as well as how he runs the floor make him one to keep an eye on.
Mychal Pinson (6’1″ Jr. PG, El Paso (TX) Chapin HS) Although he doesn’t have the physical gifts of some others we saw, he made up for it in toughness as he was constantly around the ball and took his fair share of contact. He’s fairly mature physically and isn’t overly quick, but his intangibles look good, and that helps for a floor leader. Mid-major prospect.
Aaron Plunkett (6’7″ Jr. PF, San Antonio (TX) Stevens HS) Athletic post player didn’t show a lot offensively in our viewing, but he anchored the post for his team. He’s well-built and active inside, making himself a factor. Mid-major prospect.
Eric Randall (6’9″ Jr. PF, Santa Fe (OK) Edmond HS) A nice player facing the basket, he doesn’t try to do too much and makes plays at the offensive end. He has a slight frame and his conditioning appears to need some work, but the fundamentals are there and he was a factor when we watched him.
Corey Remekun (6’7″ Jr. PF, Mesquite (TX) High) The best inside player on his team, he got better as the weekend went along in helping his team through their playoff run. His motor didn’t look consistent, but it was better later on and that seemed to help guide his play. He’s a little slight, but he rebounded well and is quick off his feet. Offensively, he didn’t get a lot of good opportunities in the halfcourt, but did show a little post scoring game along the way. Mid-major prospect.
Glen Rice, Jr. (6’6′ Jr. SF, Marietta (GA) Walton HS) He doesn’t shoot the ball like his father, but he looks to have improved quite nicely in the past year. In going for 26 in one game and 12 in another on a good team, he looked more aggressive on offense and looks to be more of a scorer than a shooter. He’s fairly mature physically, but the growth of his game in the past year is reason to think more growth is coming. High-major prospect.
Larry Richards (6’0″ Jr. PG-SG, Portland (OR) Roosevelt HS) His size dictates that he’s a point guard at the next level, but at times he looks like his game is better suited to playing off the ball. He has a mature body and is very active and finds the ball often. Offensively, he made a nice long bounce pass early and a couple of nice passes later, but his best asset may be his long range shooting, as he knocked down three in one game and each was more than just a half step behind the arc.
Jereme Richmond (6’7″ So. SF, Waukegan (IL) High) Very athletic forward has some physical maturity and plenty of potential. He’s active and shows some skills at the small forward spot that should make him a nice prospect. Committed to Illinios.
Kourtney Roberson (6’9″ Jr. PF, Arcadia (LA) High) Although he has a solid post body and can run the floor, he seems to just look the part as he wasn’t the kind of factor one would expect. He wasn’t a big factor on the glass and didn’t show a great deal offensively, although he went for 12 in the game where his team was eliminated.
P.J. Roberson (7’0″ Sr. C, Oklahoma City (OK) Heritage Hall HS) Post player has a good body but is very raw and might not be much more prospect than project. That said, he quietly scored 16 points in a game we saw where he didn’t appear to be much of a factor, so perhaps he can be a role player for someone at the right level. Mid-major/mid-major plus prospect.
Terrence Ross (6’6″ So. SF, Portland (OR) Jefferson HS) Athletic wing has a thin upper body and is a little raw offensively. He’s clearly an “upside” player at the moment, although he did go for 11 points in one game in helping his team reach the title game.
Rodrick Rumble (6’3″ Sr. SG, Oak Harbor (WA) High) Well-built guard isn’t afraid to mix it up inside with bigger players, as he constantly went into the paint. His quickness is okay, and while he has three-point range, he seems to have just one speed (fast) and his dribble is a little shaky. Mid-major prospect.
Julian Sargent (6’9″ Jr. PF, Clearwater (FL) High) Post player has a good body to play inside but had a relatively limited role offensively. When he did get touches, he showed a good jump hook a couple of times, and later got in trouble one time when he tried to drive to the basket as he committed a charge and didn’t look good doing it.
Jared Shaw (6’10” Jr. PF-C, Dallas (TX) David W. Carter HS) This long post player showed some nice potential once he matures physically, even though he’s not bad right now. In going for 18 points in one game, he showed a promising jump hook that he may be a little too reliant on when making post moves and a touch from the short corner. His lack of strength showed, especially from losing the ball too easily and against smaller players, but he has the frame for more weight and will get even better with some refinement of his post scoring ability. High-major prospect.
Mike Shaw (6’8″ Fr. SF, Chicago (IL) De La Salle HS) He’s long and generally played away from the basket at the offensive end. While showing a touch from mid-range, he didn’t have much of a role on his team and looks very much like a “potential” player at this stage.
Pedrito Sierra-Ortiz (6’9″ Jr. PF, Houston (TX) Christian Life HS) Lanky post player has a ways to go physically but showed some promise. He’s active inside and will get a stickback or two, and while he got few chances offensively to show what he can do, he did knock down a long jumper along the way.
E.J. Singler (6’7″ Jr. SF, South Medford (OR) High) Kyle’s younger brother isn’t quite as talented, but he’s probably about as versatile. He was very active and scored often with his jumper, which has range out past the three-point line, as he struggled to finish in close at times.
Tony Smith (6’2″ Sr. SG, Memphis (TN) Treadwell HS) This lefty shooter didn’t have any trouble with a game starting bright and early on Sunday, as he shot the lights out. He went for 24 points, including six three-pointers, showing an ability to drive but preferring to shoot from long range. High-major minus/high-major prospect.
Quinton Thomas (6’6″ Jr. SF, Greenville (SC) Southside HS) Athletic forward showed a nose for the ball and converting it into points. He was very active and got his share of stickbacks, while scoring a few baskets on drives and in transition.
Hollis Thompson (6’7″ Jr. SF, Los Angeles (CA) Loyola HS) He won’t wow you with athleticism or a particular skill, but he’s a very nice player to watch because he’s so fundamentally sound. At first glance, he might not look like an elite prospect, but he’s solid in many aspects of the game, is athletic and simply makes plays, though not often of the highlight-film variety. High-major prospect committed to Georgetown.
Jeremy Tyler (6’10” So. PF-C, San Diego (CA) High) At first glance, it’s clear he has plenty of potential and definitely looks the part. He has a good body and can still fill out more, and at times he can score and block shots. The down side is that he doesn’t appear to have much of a motor, and as a result isn’t always the dominating factor one would expect from his physical gifts.
Joseph Uke (6’5″ Jr. SF, El Paso (TX) Franklin HS) Athletic forward looks more like a “potential” player based on what we saw. He’s athletic and has a good body, to go along with a nose for the ball as he found it often. Offensively, he struggled to finish, although he did get a few garbage baskets en route to 12 points. He didn’t show a whole lot offensively, but if that develops he’ll be a nice prospect because he has the physical tools and effort isn’t a question.
Torin Walker (6’10” Jr. C, Columbus (GA) Northside HS) Long post player wasn’t a big factor on offense, but did hold his own on the glass. Even in that respect, there is clearly room for improvement as his hands look questionable from the many times he didn’t snatch rebounds that he should have had. High-major minus prospect.
Oliver Webb (5’11” So. PG, Cedar Hill (TX) High) Thin guard is athletic and looked a little more like a scorer than a floor leader. In going for 13 points, he showed a touch from long range and also scored once on a nice runner in the lane.
Okaro White (6’8″ So. PF, Clearwater (FL) High) He’s long and has a thin upper body, indicating he has a ways to go physically. While he generally assumed a power forward position, he also showed a hint of good ball skills.
Royce White (6’7″ Jr. SF, St. Paul (MN) Hopkins HS) One of the best players at the tournament, he has a good body and is a plus athlete. While skilled, no particular skill will jump out at you, but he was solid and consistent all weekend and made plays in part from being very active. High-major prospect.
Lanard Whittington (6’1″ Jr. SG, Beaumont (TX) Westbrook HS) Quick lefty guard showed some nice offensive abilities, mostly those of a shooting guard. Though he’s undersized for the position, he has a good upper body and scored in several ways, from driving and showing the ability to finish to knocking down three-pointers, including a clutch shot in an early playoff game.
Latavious Williams (6’8″ Jr. SF-PF, Baton Rouge (LA) Progressive Christian Academy) Long and athletic, he has a world of upside. He has a thin lower body right now, but once that fills out, he’ll only be better than he was here, where he went for 14 in helping his team pick up a good win.
Rodney Williams (6’6″ Jr. SF-PF, Plymouth (MN) Cooper HS) Like teammate Royce White, he was one of the best players here, and he has a world of upside. This thin forward has a slight frame but is athletic and a ways from being physically mature, and he made a lot of plays over the weekend. He finished when he got the ball near the hoop and in transition, while also blocking some shots. High-major prospect.
Eric Wise (6’5″ Sr. SF-PF, Riverside (CA) Martin Luther King HS) At first glance, one might not think he’s much of a player. He’s thick and not all of the weight is good weight, and he’s more of an undersized power forward than anything. But he has some ball skills, a good motor and most importantly, a nose for the ball as he’s capable of scoring as a garbage man. He had three solid scoring games that we saw at least part of, going for 15, 17 and 18. Given what he did here, one can just imagine what he might do if he gets in better shape. Mid-major prospect.
Evaldas Zabas (6’2″ Sr. SG, Toronto (Ont.) St. Michael’s College HS) Athletic guard has the potential to be a combo guard, as he handled the ball a good deal in addition to scoring. He has a good body and keeps it in constant motion whether he has the ball or not. High-major minus prospect.
Other players who caught our attention:
Mike Allison (6’9″ Jr. PF, Lynen (Ont.) St. Mary’s HS)
Kenny Anderson (6’8″ Fr. PF, Houston (TX) Dobie HS)
Dominique Andrews (6’6″ Sr. SF, Missouri City (TX) Hightower HS)
Mangisto Arop (6’5″ Jr. SF, Edmonton (Alberta) Ross Shepherd HS)
Emarri Bailey (6’6″ Jr. SF, Jacksonville (FL) Arlington Country Day School)
Marvin Baynham (6’7″ So. PF, Miami (FL) Norland HS)
Herbert Brooks (6’3″ Jr. SG, Eufala (AL) High)
Sherwood Brown (6’3″ Jr. SG, Orlando (FL) Olympia HS)
Marlin Butler (6’3″ Jr. SG, Greenville (SC) Southside HS)
Terran Carter (6’6″ Jr. SF, Woodland Hills (CA) Taft HS)
Caden Dickerson (6’4″ Jr. SG, Argyle (TX) High)
Abdi Farrar (6’8″ Sr. PF, San Diego (CA) High)
William Green (6’7″ Jr. SF, Gotha (FL) Olympia HS)
Raymond Gregory (6’8″ Jr. PF, Conyers (GA) Redan HS)
Chase Hallum (6’3″ Jr. SG, Mesquite (TX) High)
Michael Holton (5’11” Jr. PG, Portland (OR) Sunset HS)
Marcus Jordan (6’3″ Jr. SG, Chicago (IL) Whitney Young HS)
Terrell Mack (6’4″ Sr. SG-SF, Vancouver (WA) Fort Vancouver HS)
K.J. Manigault (6’4″ Jr. SG, Charleston (SC) Pinewood Prep)
Steven McClellan (6’7″ So. PF, Fresno (CA) Edison HS)
Marcus Moreland (6’3″ Jr. SG, Las Vegas (NV) Eldorado HS)
Everick Morris (5’10” Jr. PG, Olive Branch (MS) High)
David Murray (6’2″ Jr. SG, Birmingham (AL) Leeds HS)
Kentari Nettles (6’9″ So. PF, Mobile (AL) Leflore HS)
Anthony Norris (6’6″ Fr. SF-PF, Hobbs (NM) High)
Tobi Oyedeji (6’8″ So. PF, Missouri City (TX) Bellaire HS)
Rashad Perkins (6’5″ So. SF, Starkville (MS) High)
Darius Redding (6’5″ Jr. SF, Tallahassee (FL) Godby HS)
Henry Riasco (6’4″ So. SG, Katy (TX) St. Pius X HS)
Augustine Rubit (6’8″ Jr. PF, Houston (TX) Smiley HS)
Drew Sellers (6’5″ Fr. SF, Brazoswood (TX) High)
Shannon Sharpe (6’1″ Sr. SG, Coron (CA) Centennial HS)
Calvin Thomas (6’1″ Jr. SG, Eufaula (AL) High)
Keith Thompson (6’7″ Sr. PF, Lakeview (CA) Mayfair HS)
Zeke Upshaw (6’6″ Jr. SF, Chicago (IL) University HS)
Evan Washington (6’7″ So. PF, Dallas (TX) DeSoto HS)
Tramel White (6’3″ Jr. SG, Houma (LA) H.L. Bourgeois HS)
C.J. Wilcox (6’6″ Jr. SF, Pleasant Grove (UT) High)
Marcus Williams (5’11” Jr. PG, Minnetonka (MN) Hopkins HS)
