Playaz Spring Fling Recap
Nowadays, there is no real offseason in college basketball, as the spring AAU circuit gets going as the college season ends. That means college coaches are looking ahead to future years while some are still trying to land late recruits for the upcoming Spring Signing Period.
This weekend, the Playaz Spring Fling tipped off the spring AAU play in northern New Jersey. Most of the games were played at the Rothman Center at Fairleigh Dickinson University, while a few were played just down the road and a few more were played west of there at Paterson Catholic. Not only does it mark the beginning of AAU play, but it is also one of the few tournaments where the participating teams are not all sponsored by one shoe company. (On that note, the spring and summer AAU circuit is almost in a state of confusion with Sonny Vaccaro’s departure to Reebok, as Reebok now joins adidas and Nike in sponsoring teams and major events.)
The 15-under championship game was a dandy between the Long Island Lightning and North Carolina-based D-One Sports, a game that went into overtime. Long Island Lightning went up by nine points early in the second half, but D-One Sports gradually came back to force overtime. With 23.8 seconds left, MVP Kevin Williams (6’0″ PG-SG, Fayetteville (NC) Westover HS) hit a runner that proved to be the game-winner as D-One Sports scored a 71-68 win. Maurice Marley (6’6″ SF-PF, Durham (NC) Hillside HS) led D-One Sports with 21 points. T.J. Thomas (6’5″ SF, Oyster Bay (NY) St. Dominic HS), an all-tournament selection, led the Lightning with 22 points in defeat.
The 16-under championship game was never in doubt, as the Playaz Red easily handled Philly MJC, 79-63. Nick Vier (6’0″ So. PG, Oradell (NJ) Bergen Catholic) led the way with 22 points, while Kimmani Barrett (6’5″ So. SF, Paterson (NJ) Catholic) was the MVP.
Just like the 16-under final, the 17-under championship game was never in doubt. The NY Gauchos jumped out to a big early lead and never looked back in beating the Metro Hawks, 68-47. Tournament MVP Levance Fields (6’1″ Jr. PG, Brooklyn (NY) Xavierian HS) led the way with 23 points, while Nyan Boateng (6’3″ Jr. SG, Brooklyn (NY) Lincoln HS) capped off a solid weekend with 15.
Here are notes on some of the top players at this weekend’s tournament.
Class of 2005
The Gauchos don’t have a cast of known stars like last year, but they showed this weekend that they’re still solid; this time they’re simply more balanced. The aforementioned Levance Fields (6’1″ PG, Brooklyn (NY) Xavierian HS) and Nyan Boateng (6’3″ SG, Brooklyn (NY) Lincoln HS) both had solid weekends. Fields is basically a scoring point guard with some quickness, and he shot the ball well for much of the weekend. Boateng is solidly built and more of a scorer than a shooter, though he did knock down a couple of long range jumpers. Geoff McDermott (6’6″ SF) is a solidly built wing who is a better football player (quarterback), and he’s very athletic and seems to have a good feel for the game.
The Metro Hawks brought a good team in, including the stellar backcourt of Chris Lowe (6’0″ PG, Mt. Vernon (NY) High) and Herbie Allen (6’0″ PG-SG, Brooklyn (NY) Bishop Loughlin HS). Lowe was a defensive pest most of the weekend and showed his quickness at both ends, scoring a few baskets on runners as well. Allen shot the ball well from long range and let that open up his slashing game, which looked solid as well. Athletic combo forward Adam Walker (6’7″ SF-PF, Queens (NY) Christ The King HS) had a good showing as part of their inside tandem, as he was active on the glass and got a few close baskets. He looks a little more suited to playing power forward. Pittsburgh commitment Mike Davis (6’7″ PF, Brooklyn (NY) Xaverian HS) is the most highly-regarded player on the team, but he wasn’t overly impressive this weekend. The lefty has good size and had a couple of stretches where he was solid, but he has had better weekends overall.
The Playaz brought in an athletic group, and we’d expect no less from one of Jim Salmon’s teams, although they didn’t look like a team that will win a lot of games by shutting down the opposition. Brandon Costner (6’7″ SF-PF, Orange (NJ) Seton Hall Prep) was only there for one night, but he played well in showing more perimeter skills as his body continues to fill out. Ryan Ayers (6’6″ SF, Fort Washington (PA) Germantown Academy) played well, looking more aggressive on offense and hitting the mid-range jumper. Hashim Bailey (6’9″ PF-C, Passaic (NJ) Tech) has good size and got better as the weekend went along, showing some post moves inside. J.R. Inman (6’7″ SF, Montvale (NJ) St. Joseph’s HS) is a long, active wing who had his moments.
The floor leader of a fine New Heights Warriors team, Sean McCurdy (6’1″ PG-SG, Jersey City (NJ) St. Anthony’s HS) had a fine weekend despite his team not making it out of pool play. He showed some good point guard skills – he normally plays shooting guard – and was his usual self in playing with reckless abandon at both ends. He showed good range on his jumper, and while he had some struggles finishing drives, he did well penetrating and also dishing off. His high school teammate and good friend, Ahmad Nivens (6’8″ PF, Jersey City (NJ) St. Anthony’s HS) had his moments, looking much more fluid and active than when we saw him last year, and he blocked some shots inside. Cameron Lewis (6’7″ SF-PF, Washington (DC) St. Alban’s HS) and Skylar Khalil (6’6″ SF, Queens (NY) Cardozo HS), both of whom will prep next year, had good shows among the beneficiaries of McCurdy’s passes. Lewis is athletic and tough inside, capable of finishing inside and drawing fouls while not shying away from contact. Khalil is a little more perimeter-oriented and scored more on drives.
Syracuse commitment Emanuel Mayben (6’2″ PG, Troy (NY) High) had a decent showing, though his team didn’t make it out of pool play. He’s a quick pass-first floor leader, though at times he tends to get a little too fancy with his passes. Teammate Joe Bova (6’7″ PF, Albany (NY) Christian Brothers Academy) showed some promise, as he was active on the glass and played some good interior defense. At the offensive end, he didn’t score a lot, though he seems to have a decent stroke when he steps away from the basket.
The Bronx Ravens don’t have a stud like they have had in recent years, but they have two solid players in sharp-shooter Ricky Torres (6’4″ SG, Bronx (NY) St. Raymond’s HS) and warrior Chris Bethel (6’5″ SF-PF, Bronx (NY) St. Raymond’s HS). Torres isn’t very quick, but he scored on drives as well as shooting lights out long range. Bethel is solidly built and made some good defensive plays while being around the ball often.
Philly MJC brought in a good team that didn’t make it out of pool play. Villanova commitment Shane Clark (6’6″ SF-PF, Philadelphia (PA) Cardinal Dougherty HS) got hurt and didn’t play much in their last game. Bilal Benn (6’4″ SG-SF, Philadelphia (PA) Cardinal Dougherty HS) is planning to do a year of prep school, and here he played like he normally does – physical basketball, scored in a few ways, got some offensive rebounds and had a nose for the ball. One player who had a nice showing was Noel Wilmore (6’1″ PG, Chester (PA) High), who shot the ball well and scored on some drives. High school teammate Devon McClendon (6’4″ SG, Chester (PA) High) is very athletic and can really score, while Ken Tribbett (6’9 PF-C, Chester (PA) High) didn’t look as good as in some previous events. He’s gradually become more fluid, but still needs work to that end.
One of the better big men present was Andrew Bynum (6’9″ PF-C, Metuchen (NJ) St. Joseph’s HS). He has long arms and a solid frame, and was solid on the glass at both ends. He can run the floor well, though his stamina might be a question mark, but he can block shots and also got his hand on a lot of passes and missed shots that he didn’t rebound. He was flanked by two athletic wings in Jaron Griffin (6’6″ SF, Manchester (NJ) High) and Andre Davis (6’6″ SF, Elizabeth (NJ) St. Patrick’s HS). Griffin is the better of the two, showing a better long range jumper, while Davis led them in scoring in one game.
Playing for the New Jersey Panthers, Kiwon Smith (6’6″ SF, Laurinburg (NC) Institute) had a nice showing, as he’s very athletic and was active on the boards at both ends of the floor. He was around the ball often and also knocked down a couple of long range jumpers, and looks like a nice prospect.
Class of 2006
Derrick Caracter (6’8″ PF, Scotch Plains (NJ) High) didn’t light it up this weekend, but he still showed all the potential in the world at times. His team could have done a little better at getting him the ball, but he scored inside and hit a few shots away from the basket, and continued to show good mobility and post moves.
One of the better rising juniors in the state of New Jersey is Caracter’s high school teammate, Lance Thomas (6’7″ SF, Scotch Plains (NJ) High), who had a good showing this weekend.
Playing with the 17-under Playaz were two of the top guards in the class, Jawan Carter (5’11” PG, Tatnall (DE) High) and Wayne Ellington (6’4″ SG, Philadelphia (PA) Episcopal Academy). Carter is already known for having plenty of quickness, but this weekend did a little more scoring. Most of it was done on forays to the hoop, but he knocked down a few three-pointers, and if he keeps that up he’ll have an easier time keeping defenders honest. Ellington can flat-out shoot the ball, and he really got going in their semifinal loss on Sunday. A lesser-known guard who really shined was Luis Guzman (6’2″ SG, Paramus (NJ) Catholic), an athletic scorer who got to the basket and shot the ball well when he got looks from long range.
Meanwhile, a couple of Paterson (NJ) Catholic players had good weekends for the younger Playaz squad. 16-under MVP Kimmani Barrett (6’5″ SF) had a good all-around weekend, playing well at both ends and not afraid to mix it up as usual. He has a good frame and will score, rebound and do little things to help his team. Teammate Terrell Williams (6’7″ SF) had a good showing, scoring well primarily on drives and hitting some jumpers along the way. Last year, twin Jerrell (6’7″ SF) looked to be the better of the two twins most of the time, but they may be drawing even.
Kevin Durant (6’8″ SF, Fort Washington (MD) National Christian Academy) was injured and didn’t play after Friday night’s game. Durant has plenty of tools to be a star, but as has been said before, the biggest thing for him will be the maturity of his body, which is about as rail thin as that of any player in the class. He didn’t play his best ball on Friday night, but he still got his points, often closer to the basket when he normally likes to shoot the ball.
Jon Mitchell (6’7″ SF-PF, Mt. Vernon (NY) High) had a good weekend for the Metro Hawks, though he didn’t show much outside the paint. He’s a solid post scorer who needs to add strength, although he is athletic enough to play outside but lacks the skill consistency right now. He’s between positions, but has plenty of potential for either one.
The younger Gauchos team has a guard to watch in this class in Edgar Sosa (6’1″ PG-SG, New York (NY) Rice HS), a slashing scorer who also knocked down some jump shots. He led them in scoring in a couple of games, scoring mainly on drives and a few mid-range jumpers.
Class of 2007
The top freshman here might have been Terrell McKenzie (6’2″ SG, Paramus (NJ) Catholic), who had a nice weekend for the younger Gauchos. He’s a slasher who’s not overly quick, but he isn’t afraid to challenge big men on drives and finds gaps when driving to the basket. His jump shot looked good, when he did shoot, as it doesn’t appear to be his forte at the moment.
One who wasn’t far behind is Corey Stokes (6’4″ SG, Newark (NJ) St. Benedict’s HS), an all-tournament selection in the 16-under tournament. The athletic wing consistently scored the ball and knocked down three-pointers to help his team to the championship.
Another good freshman was Maurice Marley (6’6″ SF-PF, Durham (NC) Hillside HS), one of several players on D-One Sports to keep an eye on. The athletic forward made several key plays late in the 15-under championship game to help his team win. He showed some good range on his jump shot and held his own inside. A few of his teammates in this class to keep an eye on are Dequan Joyner (6’5″ SF, Goldsboro (NC) High), quick floor leader Shelton Perry (5’10” PG, Millbrook (NC) High) and Chris Turner (6’3″ SG, Northern Durham (NC) High).
On the losing end of the championship game, the Long Island Lightning had an impressive player in T.J. Thomas (6’5″ SF, Oyster Bay (NY) St. Dominic HS). He has good size and couldn’t be stopped inside or away from the basket, and he will certainly be a player to keep an eye on.
Michael Beasley (6’6″ SF-PF, Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy) played well for the DC Assault 16-under team. He scored well inside against smaller players and can run the floor, but he’s also very left-handed and at times will stay on the perimeter a little too much. His teammate, much-hyped Nolan Smith (6’2″ PG, Washington (DC) St. John’s College HS) was decent at best this weekend. He fouled out of one game and didn’t show a lot of quickness when driving to the basket, but later in the weekend he showed some good vision and made good passes on the move, while also playing some pesky on-the-ball defense.
