July 6th, 2005

ABCD Camp Day One: Players S to Z and Others

Scouting reports of ABCD Camp participants.

72 - Rakim Sanders (2007) - Barrington, RI - 6’4 - 200 - Sonics

Sanders was playing on the stacked team with Oden, Conley, and Cook. I’d never seen this kid play before, but he was highly impressive. Even amongst the big names, he was a major contributor, finishing with strength, and even showing off a smooth outside shot from three. In the evening game, he hit two solid threes, including one of the step back variety, in about a two minute period.

101 - Richard Semrau - Grafton, OH - 6’9 - 225 - Celtics

Despite being 6’9, Semrau doesn’t have much of an inside game, and he plays smaller than he looks. The only thing I really noted from him today is a lot of pouting. When you’re 6’9, there’s no need to start pouting when you don’t get the ball on the three-point line on the break. How bout going inside and letting the guards do what they do..

100 - Renardo Sidney (2009) - Jacksonville MS - 6’9 - 210 - Clippers

Sidney is obviously a great athlete, and I had no clue he was so young before I looked at the roster book. His jumper is way to flat, and needs major work. I’ll need to spend some more time focusing on this young forward.

89 - Jimmy Smith - Encino, CA - 6’5 - 187 - Jazz

Smith is listed as a point guard, but he didn’t look comfortable in that position compared to a lot of the kids in camp. He really struggled early, and the team played better with sophomore Brandon Jennings handling the ball instead.

98 - Perry Stevenson - Lafayette, LA - 6’9 - 190 - Celtics

This kid showed some versatility for a 6’9 kid. He made some nice passes, but he was most impressive on defense, where he used his long arms to block a couple of shots. His most impressive block was when a kid pulled up for a mid-range jumper, and he was able to reach up and block despite being seemingly half way between the offender and the basket.

35 - Vernon Teel - New York, NY - 6’3 - Suns

Teal is a very nice player, who was being guarded by the weaker #190. He’s got a quick first step, and played the whole game with a bit more intensity than most players. This equated to being effective on defense, getting his hands in the way, and causing problems throughout. In the evening, he was impressive once again, even taking a nice charge on the break. Teel definitely came out looking to prove himself to the various coaches in attendance.

8 - Isaiah Thomas (2007) - Tacoma, WA - 5’8 - 157 - Mavs

With his name, he better at least some kind of game to back it up. Thomas’ biggest fault is his noticeable lack of size and strength. But he makes up for this by being very quick on defense, getting his hands into passing lanes. However, he’s most comfortable passing the ball, particularly in transition, where he made some nice lob passes for easy baskets.

120 - Lance Thomas - Scotch Plains, NJ - 6’8 - 210 - Mavs

Thomas is obviously a big talent, but he needs to stop with the fashion flair (colored headband around the neck and around his sock) and let his game do the talking. Thomas is most comfortable running on the wings, where his long legs and arms come in handy. He tries to get out on the break and runs very well, despite having a somewhat awkward bow-legged physique. He still needs to get stronger, so that he can finish with strength and not have to avoid the contact.

194 - Rob Thomas - New York, NY - 6’6 - 220 - Knicks

Thomas is rock solid, and plays bigger than his 6’6 size would suggest. Thomas always seems to be around the ball, and he finishes with ease. Unlike a lot of player in camp, Thomas is more than just a dunker, but he finishes strong from various angles and manages to deal with the contact well. He was guarded by the inexperienced Anthony Randolph earlier in the day, and was far superior. On one fast break, he made Randolph look silly with a little hesitation move.

145 - Alexander Tyus (2007) - Florrisant, MO - 6’7 - 210 - 76ers

I’d never seen Tyus play before, but he was extremely impressive. His team (with Mayo and Walker) is stacked, but Tyus was playing on a different five than those guys. Tyus was a one man dunk-a-thon, and he really caught fire in the evening session. His shot needs work, as it comes off as a set shot, which is surprising for a guy who can jump like Tyus can. However, at the end of the 1^st quarter in the evening game, he hit a bank three-pointer right as the buzzer expired. Tyus looks like a definite underclassmen all-star.

197 - Bill Walker (2007) - Cincinnati, OH - 6’6 - 222 - 76ers

Walker is a physical freak. He jumps out of the building and is probably the best dunker in camp. The question though is can he do anything else. Always playing with Mayo, he never has to do much else, and that was no different today. I was disappointed to see him verbally chastising Keenan Ellis at one point, as you’d like to see a more positive attitude. His best play of the day was a power dunk where he exploded from the flat-footed position.

183 - Martez Walker (2008) - LaPlace, LA - 6’6 - 200 - Suns

Walker definitely looks bigger than just being 200, which is impressive for a kid whose from the class of 2008.

198 - Eric Wallace (2007) - Winston-Salem, NC - 6’6 - 210 - Lakers

Wallace is a nice athlete, and one of many quality juniors in the 6’6-6’7 range. He gets up easily, and at one point, he dunked the ball with ease from a seemingly flat footed position. Wallace has a very high arcing shot which looked very hard to block.

11 - Ryan Wetherell - Calgary, AB - 5’10 - 160 - Cavs

I focused on Wetherell for just a few minutes, and I kept waiting to see something impressive. You figure a 5’10 kid from Calgary has to have some kind of plus talent or he wouldn’t be at that camp, but I’ve yet to find out what that is.

Others:

47 - Chris Allen (2007) - Lawrenceville, GA - 6’3 - 179 - Suns

He’s got nice hops, but you can tell he’s a younger player, as he seems to have a very timid personality.

48 - Jeremy Allen (2007) - Oak Park, MI - 6’3 - 184 - Rockets

Allen caught the corner of my eye, by showing off an impressive first step on a few occasions.

142 - Durrell Arthur - Dallas, TX - 6’8 - 220 - Mavs

189 - DiMaria - Celtics

Showed off a nice stroke from three. However, besides his 3 for 4 long range shooting in the first game, he didn’t offer that much else. However, 3 for 4 three point shooting is nothing to scoff at.

131 - Davon Jefferson - Hawthorne, CA - 6’8 - Celtics

163 - Zane Johnson (2007) - Phoenix, AZ - 6’6 - 195 - Knicks

199 - Franklin Jones - Niagara Falls, NY - 7’0 - 275 - 76ers

164 - Xavier Keeling - Huntsville, AL - 6’6 - 218 - Cavs

190 - Nee - Celtics

Had a tough time going against Vernon Teal. Perhaps he’s a late edition to the camp, but was probably the least impressive of any player in the camp thus far.

122 - Jamie Skeen - Charlotte, NC - 6’8 - 207 - Sonics

94 - Seth Tarver - Portland, OR - 6’5 - 205 - Mavs

..Return to Day One: Players A to J (Clark, Conley, Cook, Harris and more..)

..Return to Day One: Players K to R (King, Love, Mayo, Oden, Pope, and more..)