The 19th annual NBPA Top 100 High School Basketball Camp was in full swing this morning as game action tipped off for the first time amongst a plethora of highly regarded scouts with some of the top prospects in the country on the hardwood at the prestigious event. A host of talented prospects impressed in the opening sessions of game play but 2014 SF Kevon Looney of Wisconsin was one who stole the show with an electric opening game performance. We look at that and more in our mid-day report from Virginia…
TOP PERFORMERS
(NOTE – LISTED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
ANTHONY BARBER – 2013 – G – BOO WILLIAMS
(6-2/165 – HAMPTON H.S. – HAMPTON, VA)
The talented guard attacked the rim well off the bounce, finished in transition, dropped in a few mid-range looks, and delivered some solid passes in an impressive performance. At one point he virtually took over the game and made it look easy in the process.
ZENA EDOSOMWAN – 2013 (RECLASS) – PF – BELMONT SHORE
(6-8/230 – HARVARD WESTLAKE – NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA)
The blue collar interior prospect banged his way to an impressive opening game effort filled with rebounds, dunks, and finishes in the post. He ran the floor well, played hard on both ends, and found a way to deliver a strong interior performance on both ends filled with energy and dominance at times.
KEVON LOONEY – 2014 - SF – MILWAUKEE REBELS
(6-7/185 – MILWAUKEE HAMILTON H.S. – MILWAUKEE, WI)
Delivered a resounding performance that was perhaps the best of the opening round of games. The very long lanky wing finished around the basket, scored in transition, knocked down some mid-range looks, etc. Equally impressive was the instincts, swagger, and overall feel for the game that he displayed, He’s playing at a high major impact level right now and the Wisconsin native continued to impress in the process this morning with a big time performance.
MAMADOU NDIAYE – 2013 – C – DOUBLE PUMP
(7-4/305 – BROTHER CHRISTIAN – HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA)
The massive interior prospect displayed the power and post prowess he’s regarded for as he slammed home a number of thunderous dunks in impressive fashion. Still raw in some areas, Ndiaye is a huge presence on both ends and he destroyed the rims at times in the opening round of games.
D’ANGELO RUSSELL – 2014 – G – LOUISVILLE MAGIC
(6-4/160 – MONTVERDE ACADEMY (FL) – LOUISVILLE, KY)
Highly regarded as an off guard on most boards, Russell took the floor general spot this morning and was exceptional in the process. Continue to love this talent more each time he takes the court as he can fill it up, has decent handles, sees the floor well, etc. His smooth floor game shines with the ball in his hands and he was very impressive in his opening game.
STOCK BOOSTERS
PARKER JACKSON-CARTWRIGHT – 2014 – PG – CALIFORNIA SUPREME
(5-9/155 – LOYOLA – LOS ANGELES, CA)
The undersized lead guard continued his impressive run of this past spring with a solid opening game performance. A pure lead guard in the truest sense, Cartwright handles the ball well, has excellent breakdown and dribble penetration skills, finds teammates in transition and the open court, and knows how to facilitate. The highly regarded talented from the west coast continues to elevate after another solid performance this morning.
THOMAS HAMILTON JR. – 2013 – F/C – MAC IRVIN FIRE
(6-9/285 – WHITNEY YOUNG – CHICAGO, IL)
Long regarded as one of the premiere 2013 prospects in the country, Hamilton looked really good at times on Wednesday morning as he brought energy to the floor on both ends. The Illinois native attacked the glass, finished around the basket, showed solid vision and passing skills, etc. and played physical and determined on both ends in a solid opening game effort.
RASHAD VAUGHN – 2014 – SF – NET GAIN SPORTS
(6-6/190 – ROBINSDALE COOPER H.S. – MINNEAPOLIS, MN)
Regarded by NY2LASPORTS.COM as a top 10 national prospect for the past year, Vaughn did nothing but further reinforce that notion this morning with some open court dunks and solid mid-range jumpers that found the bottom of the net. He excels in the open floor and continues to refine his half court skill package with each passing month. A solid debut at the NBPA Top 100 Camp this morning.
STAR WATCH
DEONTE BURTON – 2013 – SF – TP ELITE
(6-5/225 – MILWAUKEE VINCENT H.S. – MILWAUKEE, WI)
Shaking off a hand injury suffered in late May, Burton was impressive at times with his defensive prowess in the paint and on the perimeter while finishing, kicking out a couple dimes, and displaying his dominant physical rebounding efforts on both ends.
JABARI PARKER – 2013 – SF – MAC IRVIN FIRE
(6-8/230 – SIMEON CAREER ACADEMY – CHICAGO, IL)
Struggled a bit early mainly as a result of defenders being overly physical with him with a lot of grabbing and hand checking but settled in and started to find a rhythm as the game went along. Drained a trey ball, finished around the basket, make some nice passes, etc. Expecting a big evening session from him tonight.
WAYNE SELDEN – 2013 – G – BABC
(6-5/225 – TILTON SCHOOL – TILTON, NH)
Found the bottom of the nets this morning with an impressive performance and could’ve easily been listed amongst the top performers but we slid him in here instead. Knocked down jumpers, scored off the bounce, etc. and basically took over the game offensively at times. Impressive opening game effort.
QUENTIN SNIDER – 2014 – PG – LOUISVILLE MAGIC
(6-0/160 – BALLARD H.S. – LOUISVILLE, KY)
Was impressive at times in the opening session of games as he showed solid leadership, nice range, playmaking skills, and the ability to control the temp. Drilled a couple trey balls, finished off the bounce, etc. and delivered a quality floor effort this morning.
DUANE WILSON JR. – 2013 – PG – PLAYGROUND ELITE
(6-3/170 – DOMINICAN H.S. –MILWAUKEE, WI)
Was active in attacking in the open court and made some solid decisions in transition while also finding ways to get to the rim as well and create contact. Was an integral part in a run at one point as he paired with future Marquette teammate Deonte Burton to help lead a solid charge built off of defense and open court baskets.
NEWS AND NOTES
2013 SF Semi Ojeleye was solid in the opening session of games. The talented wing and 2010 NY2LASPORTS.COM Futures Camp MVP has Duke, Indiana, UCLA, Arizona, Oregon, and Kansas State on his radar with a late October early November decision timeframe currently in mind.
2014 PF Cliff Alexander of Chicago Curie H.S. (IL) continued his torrid play this month as he delivered a 12 point 4 rebound effort in the opening game. The MVP of the 2011 NY2LASPORTS.COM Futures Camp continues to look the part of one of the top 2-3 prospects in the country in the 2014 class nationally.
Highly regarded 2013 G Aaron Harrison indicated that Kentucky, Maryland, Villanova, and Baylor are out in front recruiting wise and the explosive perimeter talent said he will make a decision on October 28th.
2013 F/C Dominic Woodson and 2013 F/C Kennedy Meeks were exceptional this morning as well as Woodson delivered a session high 22 point effort while Meeks powered his way to 16 points and 11 rebounds. Both are highly regarded interior prospects nationaly and each were some of the top performers of the opening session.
Anthony Barber delivered an exceptional opening game performance and then withstood a flurry of questions thereafter in impressive fashion. The talented guard said Kansas, Alabama, Virginia, Baylor, Florida State, Florida, Georgia Tech, etc. are a few of the schools in hot pursuit and he could be looking at a decision date at some point this July or August.
Breakout 2013 PG Demetrius Jackson of Marion H.S. (IN) said Notre Dame, Michigan State, Illinois, Florida State, and Butler have offered while Missouri and Kansas have expressed interest in recent weeks.
2013 SG Keith Frazier mentioned that Texas A&M and Arizona are pursuing him the hardest right now. The talented wing is regarded as one of the premiere scoring talents in the country.
Caught up with 2014 G D’Angelo Russell afterwards and he confirmed our story of yesterday on schools (i.e. Cincinnati, Louisville, Indiana, Ohio State, and Xavier, etc.) while also adding Missouri into the mix as well.
SCORING LEADERS
Dominic Woodson - 22
Sindarius Thornwell - 19
Mamadou Ndiaye - 19
Aquille Carr - 18
Kennedy Meeks - 16
Anthony Barber - 16
REBOUNDING LEADERS
Kennedy Meeks - 11
Dominic Woodson - 8
Zena Odosomwan - 7
ASSIST LEADER
Thomas Hamilton Jr. - 8
Stay tuned to NY2LASPORTS.COM for complete coverage of the 2012 NBPA Top 100 High School Basketball Camp…
(Kevon Looney photo courtesy of Davide Depas)