Jovan Adams, 6'0 185 (Houston, TX) Adams wasn't too much of a factor in his 1st game in camp, before turning it on in the second.  Still for a guy known specifically for his scoring prowess, he was kind of quiet on the offensive end and played more of a set-up role.  Despite being only 6'0/6'1, Adams has a lot skills that a 2 guard would have, and isnt afraid to go inside and get involved with bigger guys.  For the day, he averaged 7 ppg, 5 rpg, and 2 apg.

 

Devan Bawinkle, 6'5 185 (Winnebago, IL) We didn't get to see too much of Bawinkle today as the schedule worked out that we didnt get to see the Mavs (his team) play very much..  In the limited action we saw of him in his first game, he was more of a complimentary player who spent his time on the wings.  He added 5 points in game 1.

D'Andre Bell, 6' 5 185 Senior (Los Angeles, CA) Hardnose in your face defender, strong body, excellent quickness. Can play 2 or 3, but will ultimately be more of a 2. Bell has a lefty J and looks to score often. He's more of a scorer than a shooter and needs to work on consistently hitting the J. Can play on a big time team, and has a "Pro" type body. Karl loved his mentality on the court, he looks like and plays like he wants to be a winner.

Derrick Brown, 6'7 190 (Dayton, OH) Brown was less than efficient in the camp's first game, going only 1 for 3 from the field, and just 2 of 6 from the line.  On the defensive end he was more impressive, showing the ability to contest multiple shots, and he even blocked a few. 

 Unfortunately in game two, Brown was good for a DNP.  We're not sure about Brown's status, whether he missed the game due to injury or he left camp.  Some players left the camp early last night or this morning to return to Summer School or other previously scheduled engagements.

Wilson Chandler 6'7, 185 (Benton Harbor, MI)  Chandler was somewhat of a surprise today in that I was really expecting more of a complimentary player who would just run the wing, get some board, and call it a night.  But in both games playing for the Heat, Chandler was constantly involved in the action.  He was able to get 15 shots off during the day, which is a lot compared to most players in camp, but none of these shots we're really forces as he proved he can hit shots.  He showed he has some range, hitting a pair of threes and looking comfortable on the perimeter.

Earl Clark, 6' 7 Junior (Rahway, NJ) Clark is an exciting newcomer, a big strong athlete with point guard skills.  He handles like a little man, has a point guard mentality, and even shows deep 3 point range. Clark is so long that he plays against forwards on defense, rebounds and can be a one man fast break, ala Jason Kidd.  He has all the tools to be a star.

Mike Conley, 6'1 160 Junior (Indianapolis, IN)  Statistically Conley wasn't terribly impressive, but statistics has never been Conley's game.  Conley has always been a past-first guard, and playing on one of the more talented teams in camp, enabled him to focus on distibuting the ball.  He showed the ability to penetrate, but this never done to get inside and finish but just to kick it out to the open man.  He didnt really put up gaudy assist numbers, but to our eyes, it looked like he was making the smartest pass available in most cases.  Conley reminded Steve of Elijah Ingram if Ingram decided not to shoot so often.

Daequan Cook - 6'5", 210 (Dayton, OH)  Steve was pretty honest in praise about Cookm, "I love this guy." He can really put points up on the board, though he's not just a shooter, but a scorer. He finds so many ways to get his buckets, and his baskets look good because of good looking form in his jumper and great elevation. Cook had a quiet second game, but got off to a blistering start with 18 points in the first game (6-6 from the field). He's a superb athlete who really stood out as the best player on the court during that first game, a strong statement considering this gamen included the likes of Greg Oden, OJ Mayo, and Taylor King. If you give his shot too much respect, he has no problems takeing his man off the dribble and finishing strong inside. An exciting player to watch, and one to look out for playing with the Jazz all week.

Leo Criswell, 6' 8 Senior (Kansas City, KS) Excellent 4 or 5 man who was a relative unknown at the ABCD Camp last year.  Active, quick leaper. Runs floor, has 3 pt range and displayed great athleticism. On one occasion got the rebound, outlet the pass and beat the D down the court. On another he stole a pass, crosscourted and received a return pass for big time slam. Easily one of the most impressive players in camp, and leading the camp in player rating after day #1.

Jabari Currie - 6'5", 210 (Detroit, MI) We only got to see Currie in the 1st session of the day.  He has impressive size for a two guard, and showed the ability to both score (12 points) and distribute the basketball (4 assists). Showed off a couple of nice moves going to the basket (one being of the behind-the-back variety) and showed a fearless ability to finish in traffic.  He's good on-the-ball defender as well, and guys have a tough time scoring against him.  He might not score as many points in the rest of the camp, but he does enough other things to impress even if he's not scoring.

Cassiem Drummond, 6' 10 Junior (Bloomfield Tech, NJ) Wide body with big time potential for such a young big. He's agile enough to defend and wear down people. Drummond has sound defensive fundamentals, but will struggle against bigger/stronger opponents. Despite size needs more strength and will have to work to stay in shape. Gets a little emotional and down at times but is still very young and must keep effort up at those times. His biggest fauilt is that he doesn't show much of a shot at this point but has good hands and nice release on free throws. Could develop into a big time player.
John Garcia, 6' 9 230 (Bay Shore, NY) Big time body, quick shot blocker and tough defender. Strong inside game with power moves and jump hook. Handles in the open court and took a pass on the wing and jammed over Tyrell Biggs and Shawn Taggart big time. Has size, strength and athletic ability to play at the highest level.

Larry Gurganious, 6'5 195 (Berkeley, CA) He's a surprisingly strong player who showed the abililty to finish with force in transition. He showed off a good vertical leap as well as a solid mid-range game. His biggest problem is his size. He really plays like a power forward, but his size better suits him for the wing. He does, however, make up for his lack of height with his tenacious play and ability to box out.  Its hard to tell whether he'll be able to shake that 'tweener label. He kind of resembles a smaller version of Ben Wallace, from his hair to his intensity and he gets a really good amount of offensive rebounds and blocked shots for a player his size.

Tom Herzog, 7'0 210  Junior (Flint, MI)  One of the first things that stuck out about Herzog was his weight.  210 will not cut it, and the word of him being on the softer/weaker spectrum of things rang true in limited times we saw him today.  He looked very long, but sometimes players can look longer simply because they're so thin.  He was one of the guys who we didnt get too see a terrible amount from today, so we'll wait to later before passing judgment.  It can not be understated that Herzog is a junior at camp, and often a lot of the younger players take a day to get themselves feeling comfortable in their surroundings.

Zack Hillesland, 6' 8 215 (Sylvania, OH) Long and lean wing forward who really caught Karl's eye. He's got great touch with excellent range, and is also a sharp passer. He's a very quick leaper who gets off the ground with ease, and has excellent lateral movement.  Hillesland is already committed to Notre Dame and projects to be a legitimate Big East contributor.

Marques Johnson, 6'6 198 Junior (Fort Wayne, IN) Its hard not to like this guy.  At first glance, he seems like a typical wing player who probably just floats around on the wing and cuts to the basket here and there. But no, he's a point guard...and a good one at that. Think Shaun Livingston junior, with more muscle, but without the breathtaking court vision. His game is also similar to that of Cedric Bozeman's. He didn't put up monster numbers, but he showed on more than one occasion the ability to blow by a smaller defender who one would think would be able to handle Johnson with his quickness. He finishes well after getting into the lane. It would help his chances of penetrating and finishing, if kept the defense a bit more honest by hitting the outside shot more often.  He posseses a great handle for a player of his size and can create at will. Johnson is entering his junior year and may not be done growing. With another inch or two and a dependable outside shot, Marques Johnson will be a load to deal with.

Daren Jordan, 6'0 170 (Phoenix, AZ)  It's easy to spot Jordan because of his great quickness and his on-the-ball defensive intensity. In a camp such as this one, where there's usually just a lot of run and gun basketball, those who truly commit themselves to playing defense really stand out.
Jonathan Kale, 6' 8 245 (St. Andre's School, Barrington, RI)  Kale isn't a Grade A athlete, but he's very clever down low and possesses great hands.  These hands didnt translate into an impressive jump shot, bue he did have a nice touch from the line.  If Kane can continually play with the same amount of effort he did today, then he'll be more than alright.

Dior Lowhorn, 6'7" 215 (Berkeley, CA) After the first round of games, Lowhorn was the camp's top ranked player due to a big 20 point and 11 rebound effort. He finished with 8 points and only a few rebounds in the nightcap, and dropped down amongst the statistical leaders. Although he filled up the box score fairly well, it was almost as if he was disinterested for long stretches and appeared a step slow on the court. He gets a lot of garbage baskets, in large part due to his smart positioning on the offensive glass. People are talking about Lowhorn as a guy to look out for, but only if he comes through with 100% effort in each game.

Sean McCurdy 6'1(Jersey City, NJ)  He's a combo guard generously listed at 6'1", but looks closer to 6'0" at best.  Still, despite the size, he's got a strong looking frame which enables him to play bigger then his height suggests.  An interesting comparison is that he's a poor man's Geoff Billet.  Like Billet, he's stuck between being a 1 and a 2 though McCurdy may be a bit tougher.  Besides a generally effective jumpshot, he's also able to release the ball very quickly, improving his efficiency. He had a nice sequence during his day game in which he scored two consecutivel baskets, dished out an assist, and then forced a 5-second call on defense. On-the-ball defensively, he's not terribly quick, but he's smart enough to know when to turn it up a notch and when to hold back.  McCurdy's a vocal player, and his team seems to run much smoother when he's on the court.  It doesn't look like he's a program maker, but a guy who can certainly play in the Big East.

Tasmin Mitchell, 6' 7 245 Senior (Denham Springs, LA) Arguably the top player in camp, this combo forward was very impressive. He's got a big body with athletic ability, and can play in the post like a 4 or shoot the ball like a 3.   There is no doubt he genuinely understands the game, as he sees the floor well and plays in the team concept. For a 3/4, he handles very well as he took the middle in a pair of fast breaks tonight. Has an all-around game very unusual for his size and age. Mitchell still looks like he has some baby fat, but it doesn't seem to hurt his quickness. Will be a star.

Bryan Mullins, 6'2 185 (Downers Grove, IL) Mullins can really handle the ball with both hands. You can tell he's a student of the game when watching him play defense, because he has a nice solid stance and plays great help D.  He went into the paint on several occasions and though he cant dominate down there, he certainly held his own. He makes solid entry passes and really utilizes a good hesitation dribble to make up for his lack of blinding speed.

Ahmad Nivins (Jersey City, NJ) - As often is the case with St. Anthony's basketball players, they do not play particularly well in wide open ad lib basketball. St. Anthony's stresses team defense first and everything else flows from that. Nivins shows very good athletic abitlity, is long and lean and shows that he is learning the fundamentals of the game. His offense was limited to setting picks and back screens and attacking the offensive glass. He is thin and as a quick leaper is a better offensive rebounder than defensive. He was continually overpowered in the first game by Cassiem Drummond, a wide 6'10 Junior from Bloomfield Tech of NJ. Nivins was more active in the second game without a big body leaning on him. Nivins has his SAT score so he is being looked at by Rutger's, St.Joes, Marquette, Seton Hall, Villanova, Texas and Va Tech. Look for mid-majors to get involved.

Sead Odzic - 6'3 (Skokie, IL) Odzic is a typical smart, in control, fundamental shooting guard. His best attribute is his shot.  He works hard and is very savvy on the court, althought at times he was more concerned that his teammates were set up correctly offensively than getting involved in the open style of play. Very much a team player with adequate skills but does not show potential to be a point guard where he would be good with his mental outlook of the game. Odzic is a bit small, at a slight 6-3, to belly up defensively in a high major situation. Has offers from mid-majors Illinois State and Valparaiso and should wind up at a school of that calibre.

Joey Shaw, 6' 6 (Chandler, AZ) Arizona product has a lean body and can be a good wing in the right system, i.e. he's more of a complimentary player. Has athletic ability but needs strength and he's basically a) puppy right now. Shaw did not play particularly well and seemed intimated by the stronger players guarding him in the game. In game #1 tonight D'Andre Bell was able to shut him down. His game right now is transition and open court, but not much in the half court. Shaw had trouble getting into the flow which is not uncommon in games like this as the more aggressive players dominate the action. With his athletic ability, some additional strength, and being placed in the right system add up to being a complimentary player at a high major. Has Pac 10 offers in his pocket.

Shawn Taggart, 6' 11, 210 (Richmond, VA) Lean and long big man, with an emphasis on long. He's more of a finesse player then one who relies on sheer force. Taggart has a nice mid range game and quick moves around the glass. Strength and toughness are clearly his biggest weaknesses, but he looks like an ACC type of player who impressed a lot of scouts today.

Josh Tarver - 6' 2, 170 (Portland, OR) Good athlete with long arms for a point guard and quick feet. Changes directions extremely well and has an excellent handle and crossover, which he uses effectively to create space.  Looks to drive and dish and/or find the open man in the post. Shows good range on his jumper and should be able to knock down 3's. His best attribute may be defensively with his quick lateral movement and long arms. He will be able to take his opponents best move away from him. Very fluid player on both ends of the court. Can play high major.

Willie Walker, 5'10, 150 (Romeoville, IL) Another lean point guard. Only 5-10 160 at this point but is only a Junior. Quick but needs strength to play on a high level. Excellent passer with several no-look and several off the dribble passes. Heady team player that did not display his outside shot tonight. Has quickness and lateral movement to play on ball defense but size may hurt him. If he shows outside shot, as has been advertised, can be a high major prospect.

Team & Other Notes:

The Jazz are one of the important teams to watch this week, as they feature Greg Oden, Taylor King, and Mike Conley. Its kind of odd that Conley and Oden, AAU teammates ended up on the same team as each other.  None of these guys are seniors, so their youth adds a bit of intrigue into their play. The Jazz won both of their games by decent amounts, though the 2nd was a pure blowout.  Oden was consistent, though not dominant throughout the day.  He averaged 11 points and 3.5 blocks, and outperformed senior Andray Blatche in the 1st session.  Blatche looked the better player early on, but Oden stepped it up in the 2nd half leading his team to the win.  Because Oden is on a very solid team, he probably won't show as much dominance as if he was on some other's.  Taylor King, the impressive sophomore, also scored 11 ppg on the day.  King has shown, both last year and this year already, that he's got knack for scoring the ball.  While other guy's productiveness fluctuates, he manages to get around double digits every single time out there.

Playing on the same team as Blatche on the Magic, is Taylor's fellow sophomore stud, OJ Mayo.  Mayo was more impressive then I've ever seen him in this game.  He really looked comfortable handling the point guard role, and he had 8 assists in one game, and tied for the camp lead in dimes after day one.

Nate Minnoy, although being an awkward 6-5, 250 lbs, was very impressive on day one.  He now leads the camp in scoring at 20 ppg, and had 25 in the night session.  This 25 point outburst was against Brandon Rush, who was not spectacular during the day.

Some players not really on CHN's radar, such as John Garcia of NYC were very impressive today, and he outplayed local Top 50 playe Tyrell Biggs in game 2.  In other more local news, Derek Caracter, a top 5 2006 player will be transfering to St Patrick's high school in Elizabeth, NJ.

I was very happy to see Lawrence Hill, a Stanford signee, play well.  He's up amongst the leaders in scoring, efficiency, steals and 3 PT FG% early on.  In the past, I've been critical of his game, but we'll need to keep an eye on him the rest of the week.