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PrintJune 19, 2008
By Van Coleman
CSTV & Hoopmasters.com
The NBPA Top 100 Camp started its game play Wednesday afternoon, and it was a sluggish start for many of the players in attendance as they got to know their teammates on their camp squad.
There were a number of players not in attendance, most notably John Wall, who had originally committed to be in Charlottesville, but reportedly was at a Five Star Camp. Others like Derrick Favors, Renardo Sidney, and Lance Stephenson had earlier commitments to Nike skill camps or summer school. But still no less than half of the top 20 prospects in the rising senior class along with stellar juniors Brandon Knight, Jeremy Tyler, Tristan Thompson and Jared Sullinger still make this a must see event.
The Class of 2009, like its predecessor in 2008, has some solid star power at the top, but really needs to see the gap close between those top talents and the best of the rest if it wants to rise above the average at best status 2008 enjoys. In the opening session, Knight led the early performers, while Thompson, Xavier Henry, Daniel Orton and Sullinger were close behind. With that in mind, I’d like to breakdown the top performers we observed on Wednesday’s opening day at the NBPA Top 100 Camp.
Top Performers on Wednesday
Rusian Pateev 6-foot-11 235 C Monteverde Academy (Fla.) – This fast developing Euro import has become much more aggressive in the paint, finishing with dunk and jump hook on the blocks. He hit 17-footer facing hoop and made pass to Sullinger on the block.
Aaric Murray 6-foot-10 225 C Concordville Glen Mills (Penn.) – This active big man was one of the opening session surprises as he can pop and face at 12-feet or roll to the block and score with jump hook. He runs floor very well and gets to hoop in a hurry in transition.
Daniel Orton 6-foot-10 235 C Oklahoma City Bishop McGuiness (Okla.) – This long and skilled big man has good feet and quicks on the blocks, he uses them to set up variety of moves in the paint. He faced hoop at 15 feet, knocked down jumper or made solid pass to block.
Ryan Kelly 6-foot-10 PF Raleigh Ravenscroft (N.C.) – This skilled big man can flat out shoot the perimeter jumper, he knocked down three and made some excellent passes to post and wing.
Milton Jennings 6-foot-10 PF Summerville Pinewood Prep (S.C.) – This long and athletic forward was on fire last night. He swatted shots, cleared the boards, dunked in transition and faced up and blew by opponents to the rim. One of top five on Wednesday Night.
Cadarian Rains 6-foot-9 C Petersburg, (Va.) – This long and lean shot blocker was one of the camp surprises on Wednesday Night. He blocked shots, filled a lane in transition (he can really run), and showed a soft jump hook in the lane.
Wally Judge 6-foot-9 PF Jacksonville Arlington Country Day School (Fla.) – He really picked it up last night, scoring with perimeter jumper and showing ability to make crossover and explode to hoop, too. He has really improved his face up game this past year.
Jared Sullinger 6-9 240 PF (2010) Columbus Northland (Oh.) – This physical rising junior was dominating around the hoop with power moves and ability to finish in traffic. He started a little slow, but by end of the game owned the glass on both ends of the court.
Donovan Kirk 6-foot-9 220 PF Beverly Hills Detroit Country Day (Mich.) – He had a surprising half, facing hoop and popping mid-range jumper, scoring on drive, or dumping off pass to open man on the backdoor cut. Solid face-up player impressed us with his versatility in the opening session.
Tristan Thompson 6-foot-8 210 CF (2010) Newark St. Benedict’s (N.J.) – This long and lean combo forward exploded to the hoop off the dribble, finished in traffic, and hit cutter with pass off the dribble. He knocked down elbow jumper and showed why he’s one of the top talents in the rising junior class.
Alex Oriakhi 6-foot-8 PF Tilton School (N.H.) – This physical power man dominated offensively in the paint, he hit jump hook, dunked on opponents, and crashed the glass on both ends. Made a real statement on day one in Charlottesville.
Isaiah Philmore 6-foot-8 CF Bel Air John Carroll (Md.) – This blue collar forward finished around the hoop and showed a solid 15 foot game as well. At his best when he establishes low block game then pops out to face hoop.
VAN COLEMAN
Van is one of the nation's premier recruiting experts.
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Christian Watford 6-foot-8 WF Irondale Shades Valley (Ala.) – This explosive wing scorer drove and created highlights in the paint. He set it up with solid perimeter jumper, but his quickness was key to getting to hoop in Charlottesville.
Karron Johnson 6-foot-7 WF Durham Mount Zion (N.C.) – This skilled wing can knock down the three, but can really dominate isolating, breaking you down one on one. He made some real highlights off the dribble last night.
Harrison Barnes 6-foot-7 WF (2010) Ames (Ia.) – This young wing has really come as far as anyone in last year. He knocked down the three, can finish in paint and is an excellent rebounder. He is making adjustment in Charlottesville very well.
Jordan Hamilton 6-foot-7 215 WF Compton Dominguez (Calif.) – He was more aggressive this afternoon than we’ve seen at recent events, as he drove to hoop, finished in traffic or made dup off pass to open man. That set up a couple open jumpers from just inside the arc that he hit off the dribble. When his game is balanced he’s a top ten type talent.
Damon Powell 6-foot-6 200 WF Oakland McClymond’s (Calif.) – One of the opening day sessions top surprises, this explosive leaper knocked down three before putting on a dunk show off the dribble. He can explode to hoop and finishes with highlights. He’s one to watch as week progresses
Xavier Henry 6-foot-6 205 SG Oklahoma City Putnam City (Okla.) – He flat out knocked down three in opening half and exploded to hoop and finished with people hanging on him when we watched. He was right behind Knight as first session’s top performer while we watched.
Roger Franklin 6-foot-5 WF Duncansville (Tex.) – He struggled in game one, but last night he really woke up on offensive end, he hit pull-up jumper from 15-17 feet and set up drive. He reminded me of player we saw at the Pangos last night!
Kendall Marshall 6-foot-4 180 PG (2010) Arlington Bishop O’Connell (Va.) – He did his usual solid job of setting up teammates with pinpoint passes and explosive moves to hoop. He hit open jumper to keep defense honest, and picked a couple pockets of his own in open court.
Anthony Marshall 6-foot-3 180 CG Las Vegas Mojave (Nev.) – He just flat out beat his opponents to the hoop in transition scoring off the dribble or with pull-up jumper. He made some highlights off the dribble slashing to hoop to finish with dunk. No one could stay in front of him this afternoon.
Abdul Gaddy 6-foot-3 PG Tacoma Bellarmine (Wash.) – This smooth point guard prospect can deliver the rock to post or wing, and is extremely quick in transition. He hit three to set up penetration. One of top lead guards in Charlottesville.
Brandon Paul 6-foot-3 PG Gurnee Warren (Ill.) – This smooth lead guard was stellar when we watched yesterday, he set up drive with a deadly three point jumper, made excellent passes to the post, and ran break with best in Charlottesville.
Michael Dixon 6-foot-2 PG Lee’s Summit West (Mo.) – He’s an explosive scoring point guard who can knock down deep three or finish in traffic at the rim. He is a solid passer with a knack to get rock to the post.
Brandon Knight 6-foot-2 170 PG (2010) Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest (Fla.) – He clearly was the top player in the opening session. He drilled jumper off the move or from behind the arc. Penetrated and dished to open man, and flat out attacked defense in transition game. He finds open man on post as well as anyone in the camp.
Tommy Mason-Griffin 6-foot 190 PG Houston Madison (Tex.) – Since dropping fifteen to twenty pounds he’s really lifted his game back to levels we observed in freshman year. He can knock down three, score in traffic, or hit open man off penetration. Return of quickness has made him effective against best in class.
