Tournaments

Arizona Cactus Scouting Reports: Top 125 Prospects

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 21 May 2008 21:48:47 -0400

The third annual Arizona Cactus Classic is now in the books, with the Houston Hoops winning the crown thanks to a 70-67 win over the Compton Magic Sunday afternoon. On a weekend in which the Class of 2009’s top prospect (LA Dream Team’s Renardo Sidney) showed up, along with quite a few others, it’s unfortunate that the Wear twins, Reeves Nelson and Keith “Tiny” Gallon weren’t on display. But there were plenty of other top-notch prospects, along with some other youngsters who have been under the radar for most of the year. Here are some scouting reports (broken down in three parts due to the number of reports) on a few of those quality players, and thanks to tournament director Jim Storey for running such a quality event this past weekend.

· Players are from the Class of 2009 unless noted otherwise.

· Ranking within the class and school choices are according to Rivals.com.

· Since members of these classes (2009-12) aren’t allowed to sign a National Letter of Intent at this time, any commitments as of this time are strictly verbal.

PART TWO

G Roberto Nelson (Santa Barbara, CA; Compton Magic; Rivals # 71)

Need a quick basket? Then chances are that Nelson (6-4, 190) can get the job done thanks to his explosive scoring ability. While he’s more than capable of getting to the basket and finishing, Nelson also exhibited good range from the perimeter this weekend. Not really sure who Nelson is looking at in regards to college, but it’s a safe bet that his stock rose with his performances this weekend.

PG Tommy Mason-Griffin (Houston, TX; Houston Hoops; Rivals #72)

He didn’t score as much as some of the other prospects on display this weekend, but Mason-Griffin (5-10) was extremely effective in leading his team to the championship. Name tournament MVP, Tommy was the quintessential lead guard who looked to get his teammates involved first and foremost. With a solid build (don’t sleep on the quickness, however), Mason-Griffin can absorb contact when he gets to the rim and he can also knock down outside shots. A former commitment to LSU (coaching change), Mason-Griffin has offers on the table from LSU, Baylor, Oklahoma and Texas.

G Michael Snaer (Moreno Valley, CA; Inland Reebok; Rivals # 74)

Snaer (6-4, 185) is another shooting guard in the Class of 2009 who can score either off the ball or with it in his hands from the start. Snaer’s tournament came to an end in Inland’s loss to Belmont Shore, something that should be blamed more on the coach’s decision to hold the ball until Belmont came out of its 2-3 zone (of course, they didn’t come out) than anything Snaer and his teammates didn’t do. But back to Snaer, who has some serious range on his shot as well. The shot selection wasn’t always there, but this can happen when you’re being chased by one or two guys throughout an entire game. On his list right now are Cal, Missouri, Arizona and a few other schools.

SF Mike Moser (Portland, OR; I-5 Elite; Rivals # 79)

Moser (6-7, 190) was another of the young prospects to make an upward move this past weekend, collecting an offer from Arizona due to his solid play according to goazcats.com. Despite a slender frame that upon first glance would lead you to believe that he stays out on the perimeter, Moser is adept at getting to the basket and will also hit the boards on both ends. His length helps him out on the defensive end, where he did a solid job both on the ball and helping out weak side. He’s got a few offers from which to choose from at this point, with both Washington schools and Oregon State being his other three Pac-10 offers.

F Victor Rudd (Sylmar, CA; 2D1 Basketball Academy; Rivals # 84)

Victor (6-9) was one of my favorite players to watch this entire weekend due to his explosive ability on the offensive end of the floor. When on the break, Rudd is an explosive leaper who can finish with authority. Within the offense, Rudd is a solid primary option who can beat his man off the dribble or let it go from deep. The only issue is that sometimes he can drift a little on the defensive end of the floor, but he had a very productive weekend. Along with Roberto Nelson, look for Rudd to make a move up the rankings in the near future. He’s got a small list of schools right now but look for that to change as well.

F Tevin Baskin (Stamford, CT; New York Gauchos; Rivals # 93)

Baskin (6-6, 185) is a wing player with a solid build who’s at his best when he’s getting to the basket. Also possessing a mid-range jumper, Tevin is still a work in progress from behind the arc. Baskin also did a good job on the glass, and can run the floor on the break as well. He’s got a long list of suitors as of right now, with offers on the table from Auburn, UMass, Rhode Island, Rutgers and Seton Hall to name a few.

PG Johnnie Lacy (Milwaukee, WI; Wisconsin Playground Elite; Rivals # 99)

Lacy (5-10, 160) is an explosive lead guard who in some respects reminded me of Jonny Flynn this weekend. While he’s not as athletic as Flynn, Lacy has the speed to get up and down the floor in a hurry, but under control while doing so. On occasion, however, he can over-penetrate and end up having to force this issue and the outside shot is a definite work in progress at this point in time. Still uncommitted, it looks as if Marquette has the inside track on keeping Lacy home in Milwaukee.

PF Joe Burton (Hemet, CA; Compton Magic; Rivals # 105)

Burton (6-7, 270) was one of the most impressive big men on display at the Cactus Classic despite being lower on the recruiting lists. On the block Burton proved to be a tough guard for opponents all weekend, and he was also a beast on the boards. He shot 62.7% from the field in seven games and racked up three double-doubles. His only offer as of right now is San Diego State, but look for more schools to make their desires known as Burton continues to impress.

C Deshawn Painter (Norfolk, VA; Boo Williams; Rivals # 110)

One of three Boo Williams players ranked in the top 30 of the Class of 2009 rankings, Painter (6-9, 210) is a solid post defender who also displayed some post moves this weekend. He’ll need to bulk up a little bit, as seen his their game against LA Dream Team’s Renardo Sidney, but Painter still growing into his body. Basketball wasn’t his top priority until a growth spurt added five inches to his frame, so there’s still some untapped potential there as well. Both ACC schools in the Commonwealth have offered Painter, as have Kentucky, Clemson, Florida, Louisville and NC State.

-Part One Includes Top 10 Prospects Like Renardo Sidney & John Wall

-Part Three will include 2010 stars and other recruits

Arizona Cactus Classic Scouting Reports: John Wall, Renardo Sidney & More

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 19 May 2008 14:17:27 -0400

The third annual Arizona Cactus Classic is now in the books, with the Houston Hoops winning the crown thanks to a 70-67 win over the Compton Magic Sunday afternoon. On a weekend in which the Class of 2009’s top prospect (LA Dream Team’s Renardo Sidney) showed up, along with quite a few others, it’s unfortunate that the Wear twins, Reeves Nelson and Keith “Tiny” Gallon weren’t on display. But there were plenty of other top-notch prospects, along with some other youngsters who have been under the radar for most of the year.

Here are some scouting reports (broken down in three parts due to the number of reports) on a few of those quality players, and thanks to tournament director Jim Storey for running such a quality event this past weekend.

--Players are from the Class of 2009 unless noted otherwise.

--Ranking within the class and school choices are according to Rivals.com.

--Since members of these classes (2009-12) aren’t allowed to sign a National Letter of Intent at this time, any commitments as of this time are strictly verbal.

Part One: Players #1 to 60 Nationally

PG John Wall (Raleigh, NC; D-One Sports; Rivals #1)

Recruiting experts have made the comparison between Wall and Derrick Rose, and with good reason. Wall (6’4, 184) is explosive in getting to the basket and is a more than capable finisher. And he’s also very adept at setting up his teammates, a requirement for any reputable point guard. Two issues for John: the outside shot is still a work in progress, almost mechanical at times. And on the defensive end of the floor, times of focus are followed by moments in which you wonder if he even knows who he should be guarding.

Still the best pure point in his class, look for Wall to possibly be one of the movers up into the top five in his class with a good summer. Like Sidney, he’s also got a broad list of schools to look at, with just about the entire ACC looking to acquire his services.

F Renardo Sidney (Los Angeles; LA Dream Team; Rivals #4)

Standing at 6-10 and 230 pounds, the rising senior from Fairfax HS can dominate a game due to his size alone. But don’t let that fool you; the young man is skilled, with the ability to make his way to the basket when guarded by one defender or find the open man when doubled. On the other end of the floor, it’s extremely tough to score on him straight up and he does a good job of helping weak side.

The issue with Sidney: sometimes the game can become so easy that he loses focus. As long as he focuses solely on dominating the game from start to finish, he’ll remain atop the ranking for his class. He’s got a broad list of schools to choose from right now, dominated by Pac-10 schools.

F John Henson (Round Rock, TX; Franchize All-Stars; Rivals #5)

Coming in at 6-10, 200 pounds (I think the weight may be a tad inflated) the North Carolina commit has the athletic ability to make his mark on a game. Possessing extremely long arms, Henson can get across the lane on defense to either block or alter opposing teams’ shots. His back to the basket game is decent for a player of his build, something that will only improve as his body matures and fills out.

John also does a good job of attacking the offensive glass, but he needs to be more assertive in regards to defensive rebounding. Combined with the Wear twins and whichever experienced bigs remain in Chapel Hill, head coach Roy Williams won’t be lacking interior options in 2009.

PG Abdul Gaddy (Tacoma, WA; Northwest Panthers; Rivals #14)

Right behind Wall in the point guard rankings is Gaddy, a lead guard (6’3, 170) who has a very good feel for the game. If his team needed scoring, then he brought that to the table. And when they simply needed him to get the ball to the right people in the right spots, he did that as well. One of the early treats of the tournament was the matchup in pool play between Gaddy and Wall, and neither disappointed. The game, however, did show that Gaddy has to improve on the defensive end of the floor.

A verbal commit to Arizona, Gaddy stated this weekend that he’s still a go to Arizona as of now, even with the departure of assistants Miles Simon and Josh Pastner (Pastner hasn’t left just yet, but many expect him to take a position at Memphis).

G Avery Bradley (Tacoma, WA; Northwest Panthers; Rivals # 17)

Along with Abdul Gaddy, Bradley (6-3, 175) helped form one of the tougher backcourt tandems in the event. Of the seven games he played, the combo guard went for at least twenty in six of those contests and scored thirty or more in consecutive games. Suffice it to say, when Bradley decides that he’s going to score then you may as well mark the points down in the scorebook. Three of the four Pac-10 Northwest schools have offered Bradley (not Washington), with conference foes Arizona, Cal and USC following suit. The list right now is a long one, so it’s anyone’s guess where he could end up.

G Nolan Dennis (North Richland Hills, TX; Dallas Mustangs; Rivals # 36)

Yet another spectacular guard who was on display this past weekend, Dennis (6-5, 185) would best be described as a combo guard at this point in time. He can fill it up from just about anywhere on the floor, although he did struggle from behind the arc in the Mustangs’ four games. Also good at finding the open man, Dennis displayed himself as a player equally comfortable on or off of the ball on offense. And when the ball’s in his possession, you may as well forget about taking it from Nolan; his handle is that good. He’s already received offers from a number of schools, most notably Memphis, North Carolina and UCLA.

F Marshawn Powell (Crozet, VA; Boo Williams; Rivals # 45)

Powell (6-6, 230) wasn’t 100% this weekend, but there were some flashes of the skills that have him in the same boat as club teammates Painter and Spurlock in regards to his recruitment. He’s got a quick first step, allowing him to get to the basket off the dribble, and if you play off of Powell he can knock down the open jumper. He’s the type of player that won’t wow you with individual plays, but when you look up he’s on the verge of a double-double. Powell can also be effective with his back to the basket, and he’s a solid defender. With an offer from Arkansas in tow, look for Powell to sift through a few more offers as the summer season progresses.

F Jamil Wilson (Racine, WI; Wisconsin Playground Elite; Rivals # 58)

Wilson (6-7, 211), like a few of the other top swingmen in the Class of 2009, has an impressive wingspan that helps him out on both ends of the floor. He’s not a speed demon, but he does have the handle necessary to get to the basket. He can hit the outside shot when it’s given to him, but he’s more comfortable either at mid-range or close to the basket. On defense, Jamil is a good weak-side defender and can also attack the passing lanes thanks to his length. He’s got quite a few offers on the table right now, with in-state powers Wisconsin and Marquette both hoping to keep him in the state.

F Tristan Spurlock (Rockville, MD; Boo Williams, Rivals #66)

Spurlock (6-6, 216) is an athletic wing who at this stage in his development may be more comfortable as a slasher than an outside shooter. This past weekend he struggled somewhat with his offensive game, but Spurlock is a “stat sheet stuffer” who can find a way to contribute even when his shot isn’t falling. This also highlights his versatility, possessing the strength to go inside along with the ball-handling to be more than capable of playing on the perimeter. With offers from Georgetown, Virginia and Maryland already in tow, look for Spurlock to accumulate even more (Wake Forest?) as the summer progresses.

Check back tomorrow for Part Two, which includes more great Top 100 prospects.

Primetime Recruiting Recap: Monroe, Jennings, Jones, Stephenson

CJ Watson — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:21:27 -0500

Top prospects from Primetime Shootout in Trenton, NJ

Class of 2008

Greg Monroe 6’10/220 (Georgetown) (Helen Cox, LA)
24 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists

Greg Monroe is a 6’10 combo forward who has a tremendous amount of skills to go along with his long frame. He showed a lot of different aspects of his game on Saturday night including putting a full effort into the game. He scored from all over the floor hitting the 3 and midrange jumper along with a solid job on the boards. At 6’10 he has the ability to bring the ball up the court effortlessly showing his court vision to find open teammates on the break. He will fit in perfectly at Georgetown next season; he is an unselfish player who doesn’t need the ball to impact the game. The main thing people want to see from Greg is for him to play hard every time out on the court. Sometimes he just doesn’t seem like he feels like playing just going through the motions but he showed great effort in this game.

Kevin Jones 6’7/215 (West Virginia) (Mt. Vernon, NY)
27 points, 13 rebounds and 4 blocks

Kevin Jones is going to be a big time player at (WVU) next season playing for Coach Huggins. He is a solid athlete who doesn’t try and do anything on the court out of his limitations. At 6’7 he is an undersized power forward but he does most of his damage on the inside finishing strong. He also has the ability to step outside and hit the mid-range jumper with the occasional 3 pointer. Coach Huggins is known for getting the most out of players considered tweeners which Jones falls into that group.

Samardo Samuels 6’9/240 (Louisville) (St. Benedict’s, NJ)
25 points and 7 rebounds & 30 points and 6 rebounds

Samardo Samuels is headed to Louisville next season to play for Coach Pitino in the Big East. He is a Big East type player who is big, strong and tough. He will make an impact as a freshman at Louisville. He is more agile then people would think looking at his frame being able to step outside and hit the mid-range jumper. He does most of his damage down low being able to seal defenders on his back and finish strong. He does a great job on the boards grabbing everything up off the glass. Samardo has had a tremendous season so far receiving MVP awards at almost every stop on St. Benedict’s (NJ) national tour this season.

Kemba Walker 6’1/175 (Connecticut) (Rice, NY)
23 points

Kemba Walker is a floor general who has the ability to take over games with his scoring ability when needed. He also has excellent floor vision being able to find players when they look covered. Kemba will have the chance to step right in at Uconn and make an impact by playing many minutes early on. He has the ability to get in the lane and finish on an array of different moves.

Brandon Jennings 6’1/175 (Arizona) (Oak Hill Academy, VA)
27 points & 35 points 6 assists and 5 rebounds

Brandon Jennings the # 1 (PG) in the class of 2008 had a so-so weekend playing great on Friday night at Rutgers (RAC) in a blowout. He then came back and played an uninspired game against another national powerhouse in a loss on Saturday night. I mean there is no denying his ability but sometimes you wish he put up more of an effort. I know that this team isn’t like the usual Oak Hill teams but if they are going to be able to win they need a big offensive night from him every time out. He is a big-time scoring (PG) with the ability to score from anywhere on the floor. He also has the best court vision in the country making extremely difficult passes look completely effortless. Brandon will make a huge impact next season at (PG) University where he will be running the show from Day 1 when he arrives on campus.

David Bruce 6’9/225 (Linden, NJ)
35 points and 15 rebounds

David Bruce didn’t come into this event with one of the biggest names out there in his class but he sure made a name for himself. He has continued to improve his game this season showing college coaches that he can be more consistent. He was dominating on both ends of the floor in this contest earning MVP award for his team. He has seen his recruitment pick up lately with his big senior season. He picked up an offer from St. John’s on Sunday after his big performance. Other schools who have offered him are mostly Big East and A-10 schools.

Class of 2009

Lance Stephenson 6’5/215 (Lincoln, NY)
33 points, 17 rebounds and 2 blocks

Lance Stephenson showed why so many people have called him a pro already on Saturday night. He was the best prospect at the Primetime Shootout event on Saturday & Sunday. He came out of the locker room on fire in this huge game against (Rice, NY). Lance showed off his entire game on this night scoring with his smooth jumper along with strong drives to the hoop and dominating inside play. He also was a monster on the boards dominating on both ends of the floor. He is one of the top 5 players in his class and has the ability to have a great future at whichever campus he lands on for as long as he is there. Lance has been in the spotlight for so long now being involved with the famous Rucker Park league when he was only 14 years old. If he continues to progress his game at the pace he is now the sky is the limit for him.

Lamont “MoMo” Jones 6’0/180 (Louisville) (American Christian, PA)
25 points & 24 points

Lamont Jones is a tremendous outside shooter who caught fire this weekend from the outside connecting on 15 three pointers. He has adjusted well to arriving at his new school this year since transferring in from Rice (NY). He is headed to play for Coach Pitino in two years where he should fit in nicely with his shooting ability and athletic game.

Dexter Strickland 6’3/185 (North Carolina) (St. Patrick, NJ)
29 points and 4 rebounds & 17 points

Dexter Strickland is a very gifted athlete who is trying to transition to playing the (PG) instead of the (SG) for the next level. He finishes strong at the rim when attacking the basket and also has a nice mid-range game. He has range to beyond the arc and is also starting to improve his floor vision by playing the (PG). Dexter can score in bunches putting baskets in a flurry. He sat out of the 1st quarter of Friday night’s game against cross-town rival St. Benedict’s (NJ) b/c of disciplinary action. He made up for it quickly scoring a quick 6 points when he stepped onto the floor. He should fit in fine at North Carolina when he arrives there with the talent they have coming in with him. Right now they have the # 1 recruiting class in the country for 2009.

Durand Scott 6’5/190 (Rice, NY)
17 points

Durand Scott is one of the most talented players in (NYC) this season. He is a skilled (SG) who can fill it up from anywhere on the floor. He is playing out of position right now running at (SF) for Rice since they have two great guards. He plays hard every time he is out on the floor impacting the game in many different ways. Durand has a nice shooting touch out beyond the arc. He is also a very athletic prospect who has a number of Division 1 schools watching him closely. They include Memphis, St. John’s, Rutgers, Seton Hall, Wake Forest, Duke, Arizona and others.

Maalik Wayns 6’1/190 (Villanova) (Roman Catholic, PA)
26 points & 4 assists

Maalik Wayns is one of the best point guards in the class of 2009 and that’s why Villanova came in early to scoop him up. He has a very good feel for the game being able to get through the lane and finish everything. Maalik is able to get separation from defenders with his ultra quick cross-over and knock down the open jumper. He has good floor vision that is improving each time out on the floor. As he continues to improve his game he should definitely see heavy minutes as a freshman for Coach Jay Wright.

Greg Echenique 6’9/240 (St. Benedict’s, NJ)
12 points and 10 rebounds & 14 points

Greg Echenique is a prospect that has improved each time I have seen him this season. He continues to get more agile and athletic each time out. He has extended his range out to the foul line on his jumper and also does a great job on the boards. He has also seen his recruitment start to pick up even more lately with Coach Billy Donovan coming to his school last week to watch him workout. He has a school list of Miami, Pittsburgh, Duke, Notre Dame, Penn, Memphis, Rutgers, Maryland and Florida.

Kevin Parrom 6’6/200 (St. Raymond’s, NY)
16 points and 10 rebounds

Kevin Parrom has really opened some eyes in the last couple of weeks with his outstanding play in some major events. He had a great performance up at Spalding HoopHall Classic a few weeks ago and turned in another monster game on Sunday at Primetime Shootout. He has the ability to step outside and hit the jumper or bang down low to score his baskets. He also does a great job on the defensive end along with the boards. He has seen an increase in his recruitment with schools such as Rutgers, Clemson, Marquette, St. John’s, Pittsburgh, Xavier and with other schools from the ACC, A-10 and Big East.

Class of 2010

Doron Lamb 6’4/170 (Bishop Loughlin, NY)
28 points

Doron Lamb is a legit top 20 player in the class of 2010 and he put on a show Sunday afternoon. He is able to put it in from anywhere on the floor and does a good job finding open teammates in transition. He is one of the best scorers in the class of 2010 who will continue to improve his game in the coming years. Doron has a great feel for the game and plays hard the whole time he is on the court.

Class of 2011

Michael Gilchrist 6’6/180 (St. Patrick’s, NJ)
10 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks

Michael Gilchrist is only a freshmen but he has had to grow up fast this season playing for national power St. Patrick’s (NJ). He has earned a lot of minutes this season for his team. He came in with a lot of hype behind his play and rankings from last year. He showed a tremendous upside this weekend on Friday & Saturday night in two big games that his team ended up splitting. He is a very athletic player who is still learning the game but shows flashes of a elite prospect. He is definitely a player to watch for in the coming years.

Top Primetime Shootout Performers: Samuels, Burton, Robinson

CJ Watson — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 12:45:28 -0500

The Top Performers at Primetime Shootout in Philadelphia

Samardo Samuels (St. Benedict’s, NJ) #7 Class of 2008 (Louisville)
27 points and 17 rebounds

Samardo has completely dominated this season so far earning MVP awards at each tournament his team has attended. He is a very strong post player with the ability to step out and hit the mid-range jumper but does most of his damage down low. He is going to be an impact player next year in college he combines size with agility and does a great job on the boards.

Karon Burton (Chester, PA) Class of 2008
32 points and 4 steals

Karon is an extremely quick guard who has the ability to hit the big shot when his team needs him to step up. He is able to use his quickness to get in the lane to create for teammates. Karon also has great floor vision being able to find people open when they look defended. He shows no fear being able to finish strong on the inside against the towers. Whichever college ends up landing him will get a tough minded Philadelphia guard who can run the show for their team and be successful.

Nasir Robinson (Chester, PA) #105 Class of 2008 (Pittsburgh)
18 points and 17 rebounds

Nasir Robinson is headed to Pittsburgh next year to play for Jamie Dixon. Nasir has a motor that never stops. He plays hard every time he hits the floor and is an undersized combo forward. Nasir brings that Philly toughness to the floor every night. He dominates on the inside grabbing up everything around the rim. Nasir has a nice feel for the game not only does he play strong on the inside, he sees the floor and makes the big play when needed.

Tyreke Evans (American Christian, PA) #6 Class of 2008
33 points on 14-34 FG

There is no denying his tremendous amount of talent but on this night he might just have shot his team out of a chance to win the game. He has the ability to get his shot off anytime with his quick first step and handle. Tyreke also has the ability to slash in the lane and finish on an array of different moves. He is the top uncommitted player left from his class. The schools that remain for his services include Louisville, Memphis, Villanova, Texas, Connecticut and Seton Hall.

Tyreke has been playing and excelling against older competition for years now and it’s thought he will end up a one and done for whatever college campus he lands on next fall.

Terrelle Pryor (Jeannette, PA) #28 Class of 2008
21 points and 9 rebounds

Terrelle has a unique athletic ability not only is he the # 1 football recruit in the country but is also a top 50 basketball player in his class. He is considered by some as the next Vince Young on the football field combining his 6’5 220 lbs frame with a 4.4 40 yard dash time.

He has decided to focus clearly on football in college next year and not pursue a career at both on the next level. The schools still on his list include Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State and Oregon.

Terrelle showed why he can play basketball at the top level as well making aggressive moves to the basket. He also had a couple of monster dunks and did a good job on the boards.

Jason Morris (The Hotchkiss School, CT) Class of 2010
20 points and 4 blocks

Jason Morris is an extremely athletic shooting guard who played very well on Friday. He showed the ability to hit the mid-range shot along with 3 point range. Jason also was able to get in the lane and finish strong. He did a decent job on the boards and played tough harassing defense causing plenty of turnovers.

Primetime Shootout at Villanova Review: Tyreke Evans and Samardo Samuels

CJ Watson — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 12:23:48 -0500

This past weekend I spent a couple of days at Villanova University covering two high school showcases promoted by Primetime Shootout and Scholastic Play by Play. On Friday night the Primetime Shootout featured three nationally ranked teams in St. Benedict’s (NJ) # 3, Chester (PA) # 6 and American Christian (PA) # 3 in the prep poll. This event also included Jeannette (PA) who has the # 1 football recruit in the country Terrelle Pryor.

The headliners did not disappoint with standout seniors Tyreke Evans (American Christian, PA) finishing with a showcase high 33 points in defeat, Karon Burton (Chester, PA) totaled 32 points in a victory and Samardo Samuels (Louisville, St. Benedict’s, NJ) dominated with 27 points and 17 rebounds in a big win.

Here is a recap of Friday night’s action at Villanova.

Game 1 – The Hotchkiss School (CT) vs. Our Savior New American (NY) 72-58

In this contest The Hotchkiss School jumped on Our Savior New American from the start opening the game on a 12-2 run. This quick start was led by freshmen Derrick Wilson who had 7 points in the 1st quarter and was able to get his team into their offensive sets effectively. They led 22 to 14 at the end of the 1st quarter. Also adding a spark in the 1st quarter was Jason Morris an athletic wing from the class of 2010.

The 2nd quarter started just the same as The Hotchkiss School was able to expand their lead and really frustrate the Our Savior New American team. The play of the game also came in the 2nd quarter when sophomore Jason Morris took it right down the lane for a monster jam in traffic. His team led 45 to 27 at halftime.

Our Savior New American came out of the locker room with some answers to their first half woes holding The Hotchkiss School to only 6 points. The Pioneers outscored (THS) 16 to 6 in the 3rd quarter cutting the 18 point halftime lead to just 8 points going into the final quarter.

That was as close as the Pioneers would get before losing to the Bearcats by 14 points.

The game MVP’s for each team were Jason Morris for the Bearcats he finished with 20 points and 4 blocks. He showed a tremendous amount of upside with his athletic ability he is a prospect to keep an eye on. The other MVP was Gerardo Suero from the Pioneers who finished with a game high 22 points and 4 rebounds. He seemed to be the only offensive spark for the Pioneers.

Game 2 – Timber Creek (NJ) vs. Plymouth-Whitemarsh (PA) 55-52

This game went back and forth for a while before Timber Creek took control of the game in the 2nd quarter and continued their dominance for much of the game. Plymouth-Whitemarsh had a chance to send the game into overtime on a 3 point attempt by Anthony Scott but it didn’t fall for them.

The Colonials came back from 14 points down in the 4th quarter showing their never stop fighting attitude. Their comeback came up a little short never being able to recover from their sluggish start to the game.

The game MVP’s were Collin Johnson for Timber Creek who finished with 18 points and Allen Williams for Plymouth-Whitemarsh totaled 22 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals.

Game 3 – Chester (PA) #6 vs. Jeannette (PA) 80-70

Chester High is one of the more exciting teams in the country to watch live with their pressure defense and up-tempo style of play. This was the 5th or 6th time I had seen Chester play this season and each time I watch them they impress me more. They jumped out quickly like usually taking a 24-17 lead at the end of the 1st quarter.

The 2nd quarter seemed be no different for Jeannette as Chester increased their lead to 15 points at halftime and outscored them 20 to 12 in the quarter. Karon Burton had 14 of his game high 32 points in the first half. He was unstoppable getting in the lane and creating baskets for teammates along with finishing strong inside. Terrelle Pryor had 8 points in the 1st half for Jeannette.

Karon Burton continued his hot offensive hand in the beginning of the 3rd quarter and got some help from Pittsburgh signee Nasir Robinson who dominated on the inside finishing with a game high 17 rebounds. Chester took a 19 point lead into the final quarter.

Jeannette team made a big run in the 4th quarter but never got any closer than 8 points. Terrelle Pryor had 9 points in the quarter to lead the comeback.
The game MVP’s were Karon Burton for Chester who totaled 32 points and 3 steals along with Terrelle Pryor from Jeannette finished with 21 points and 9 rebounds.

Other players who had nice games were Nasir Robinson (Chester, PA) 18 points and 17 rebounds, Rhalir Jefferson (Chester, PA) 15 points, Moziah Harris (Jeannette, PA) 18 points, Shaw Sunder (Jeannette, PA) 14 points and Jordan Hall (Jeannette, PA) 13 points.

Coaches from Ohio State, Michigan and West Virginia football teams were in the house to watch star Terrelle Pryor. National Signing Day is February 6 on this day Terrelle Pryor is suppose to announce his college decision live on ESPN U.

Game 4 – St. Benedict’s (NJ) # 3 vs. American Christian (PA) # 3 77-70

This game was a huge match-up of two of the most talented teams in the country. It included top 5 players in the country Tyreke Evans and Samardo Samuels from the class of 2008. There was a tremendous amount of Division 1 talent on the floor between these two teams.

American Christian came out strong hitting three 3 pointers in the first 2:00 minutes of the game. St. Benedict’s was not able to get the ball inside where they clearly had an advantage in the early stages of the game. American Christian used a fast paced attacking style of play to control the game.

Lamont Jones and Jeremiah Kelly did most of their damage from beyond the arc. Tyreke Evans started slow but picked up the pace in the 2nd half. American Christian had a 41 to 34 lead going into halftime.

The Gray Bees took until the end of the 3rd quarter to take a lead in this game. In the 2nd half Samardo Samuels was able to dominate on the inside American Christian didn’t have an answer for him. Going into the final quarter St. Benedict’s had a 54 t0 50 lead after a buzzer beating shot by Tamir “Pop” Jackson.

The game MVP’s were Samardo Samuels from St. Benedict’s with 27 points and 17 rebounds along with Tyreke Evans from American Christian with a game high 33 points.

Other key players were Lamont Jones (Louisville, American Christian, PA) 21 points, Jeremiah Kelly (American Christian, PA) 12 points, Greg Echenique (St. Benedict’s, NJ) 15 points and Tamir “Pop” Jackson (St. Benedict’s, NJ) 18 points.

Tyreke Evans shot 14-34 from the field and might have shot his team right out of a chance to earn a victory.

AAU National Championship & Super Showcase

Thu, 20 Jul 2006 03:00:00 -0400

Purdue recruits E'Twaun Moore & Scott Martin impressed in Orlando

Reebok Summer Classic East: Day One

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 03:00:00 -0400

Top talent shined like Michael Beasley, Nolan Smith, Johnny Flynn, and Jeff Jones..