The first live period of July is in the books, and before you know it, we’ll be into the second one. July 22 is the first of ten more days of madness to close out the month. In nine days on the road, we learned a good deal about a number of players primarily in the northeast region, as that time saw us largely in New Jersey and Pennsylvania for events.
One thing that became quite clear, with this being the first time I went on a trip like this, is how wearing it can be. I wasn’t even playing in games, and felt road weary during the latter third of it, so I can only imagine how it was for the players, many of whom were playing 2-3 games daily each day. In light of that, it’s not a surprise that numerous players were playing through or sitting with bum ankles. More than a few players whose teams took off the final day or two of the first live period said they don’t mind because they could use a little rest. It all really just reinforces a comment last year from my colleague Jay Bilas, who noted that, “Individually, most of these events are very good. Taken as a whole, however, it is hard to justify the way things work for young players in our country, and it’s really hard to feel good about the state of the game.”
With Division I coaches unable to attend travel team tournaments in April, July has now become magnified for them and the kids. It’s unfortunate that such is the case, but we all have to live with the reality. And with numerous events going on, college coaching staffs aren’t going to see everyone they want to, try as they might. It’s tougher for kids to know where to go so as to get seen as well, even more so with the economy being the way it is as teams are not traveling quite like they did in past years.
These kids have about a week to rest and heal up after the end of the first live period, and then it all begins anew on July 22 for ten more days. In the meantime, here is our analysis of players we saw during the first live period. We break it up into several categories and list the ten best in each of the first three, then a few less for the last two, in alphabetical order only.
Best Players We Saw
Waverly Austin (6’11” Sr. C, Fernanding Branch (FL) Progressive Christian School)
Aaron Bowen (6’5″ Sr. SG-SF, Jacksonville (FL) Wolfson HS)
Andre Drummond (6’10” So. PF-C, Middletown (CT) St. Thomas More)
Tyrone Garland (6’1″ Sr. PG, Philadelphia (PA) John Bartram HS)
Sterling Gibbs (6’1″ Jr. PG, West Orange (NJ) Seton Hall Prep)
Kyrie Irving (6’2″ Sr. SG, Elizabeth (NJ) St. Patrick’s HS)
Durand Johnson (6’6″ Sr. SG-SF, Baltimore (MD) Parkville HS)
Cleveland Melvin (6’8″ Sr. SF-PF, Fitchburg (MA) Notre Dame Prep)
J.J. Moore (6’5″ Sr. SG-SF, Brentwood (NY) High)
Patric Young (6’9″ Sr. PF, Jacksonville (FL) Providence School)
Improved Their Stock the Most
Ike Azotam (6’7″ Sr. SF-PF, Roxbury (MA) Marianapolis Prep)
Melsahn Basabe (6’7″ Sr. PF, Long Island (NY) St. Mark’s School)
Naofall Folahan (6’10” Sr. C, Fitchburg (MA) Notre Dame Prep)
Khyle Marshall (6’6″ Sr. SF, Davie (FL) Charles Flanagan HS)
Frantz Massenat (6’3″ Sr. PG, Hamilton (NJ) Trenton Catholic HS)
Shabazz Napier (6’0″ Jr. PG, Charlestown (MA) Lawrence Academy)
Chase Plummer (6’6″ Sr. SF, Elizabeth (NJ) St. Patrick’s HS)
Ryan Rhoomes (6’8″ Sr. PF, Flushing (NY) Cardozo HS)
Ronald Roberts (6’7″ Sr. SF-PF, Jersey City (NJ) St. Peter’s Prep)
Ryan Romich (6’5″ Sr. SF, Groton (MA) Groton-Dunstable Regional HS)
Solid Under-the-Radar Players
Tavon Allen (6’7″ Jr. SF, New Haven (CT) Hillhouse HS)
Theo Boyomo (6’8″ Sr. PF, Kent (CT) School)
Darrun Hilliard (6’4″ Jr. SG-SF, Bethlehem (PA) Liberty HS)
Willy Kouassi (6’10” Jr. C, Miami (FL) Center of Life Academy)
Keaton Miles (6’6″ Jr. SF, Dallas (TX) Lincoln HS)
Frank Mitchell (6’6″ Sr. PF, Hillsborough (NJ) High)
Soutiri Sapnas (6’1″ Sr. PG-SG, Newtown Square (PA) Marple Newtown HS)
Daniel Stewart (6’6″ Sr. PF, Philadelphia (PA) St. John HS)
Anthony Taylor (6’2″ Sr. SG, Egg Harbor (NJ) Township HS)
Kerry Weldon (6’4″ Sr. SF, Bronx (NY) St. Agnes HS)
Left Something to be Desired
Devon Collier (6’8″ Sr. PF, Bronx (NY) St. Anthony’s)
Joey DeLaRosa (6’9″ Jr. C, Bronx (NY) St. Raymond’s HS)
Derrick Gordon (6’1″ Jr. SG, Elizabeth (NJ) St. Patrick’s HS)
Sidiki Johnson (6’8″ Jr. SF-PF, Bronx (NY) St. Raymond’s HS)
Khalil Murphy (6’7″ Sr. PF, Pennsauken (NJ) APEX Academies)
Young Players to Watch
Kyle Anderson (6’7″ So. SF, Paterson (NJ) Catholic HS)
Dallas Anglin (6’1″ So. PG-SG, Plainfield (NJ) St. Peter’s Prep)
Aaron Bodie (6’6″ So. SF-PF, Newark (NJ) Eastside HS)
David Joseph (6’0″ So. PG, Hollywood (FL) Zion Lutheran Christian School)
Tafari Whittingham (6’7″ So. SF-PF, Avon (CT) Old Farms HS)
