ABCD Camp – Player Profiles – Class of 2005
TEANECK, NJ – The 2004 ABCD Camp had a new sponsor after years of carrying Adidas’ name. After camp director Sonny Vaccaro left Adidas and joined Reebok, he took the sponsorship with him, and this is the first year with the Reebok sponsorship. With that, the camp has now held the sponsorship of all three major shoe companies at one time or another during its 21-year history.
Saturday night featured the best matchup of all, as the top two rising juniors had at it with Greg Oden and Derrick Caracter going head-to-head. When the two faced off at the Houston Kingwood Classic in late April, it was a dud as neither player did much in the game, but this time around it was classic save for a few bad calls by the officials. In this case, the matchup was interesting very quickly, when Caracter got the ball on the post, backed Oden in, then scored right over him and got a foul. Later, Caracter scored a few more times on the post and hit a couple of jumpers, but also got called for a few offensive fouls. Oden scored a few baskets of his own and drew fouls on Caracter, but Caracter gets the slight edge in this matchup. It surely won’t be the last one between the two that will draw heavy interest over the next two years.
As great as that matchup was, Caracter and Oden were far from the only big-time talents there. In a year featuring a down rising senior class, the underclassmen stole the show as there were plenty of them. Even so, a number of top senior players were present. Some lived up to their billing, some didn’t play as well as expected, and a few really helped their recruitment with good performances in front of many coaches, including a number of head coaches. With that in mind, we take a look at some of the notable players.
Class of 2005
Chris Bethel (6’5″ SF, Bronx (NY) St. Raymond’s HS) He didn’t fill the stat sheets, especially in the scoring column as he was just so-so offensively, but he was a warrior as usual and was among the top rebounders at the camp. He’s a solidly-built athlete who has the potential to blossom at the small forward position later on. High-major minus prospect.
Andray Blatche (6’11” C, Syracuse (NY) South Kent School) He had a big spring, but his performance here wasn’t the best way to start off the summer. In front of many NBA scouts, he didn’t play well and stayed away from the basket too much, putting up just mediocre numbers and not being the factor inside he can be. He’s clearly better when he plays inside and doesn’t constantly stray out to the perimeter, instead limiting his forays there to keep defenders honest. Big-time prospect.
Michael Boyd (6’3″ SG-SF, Baton Rouge (LA) Dominguez HS) Athletic wing knocked down a few three-pointers over the weekend, but overall he only made about 31% of those shots. He’s more of a scorer than a shooter, but at his size he needs to shoot the ball better since he’s undersized for the small forward position. Mid-major/mid-major plus prospect.
Michael Bramos (6’5″ SG-SF, Harper Woods (MI) Grosse Point North HS) This wing player was impressive at the camp in how he played the game. He’s well-built and played hard and intelligently at both ends of the floor, finishing drives strong and also showing good shot selection on jumpers. He made 4 of 6 three-pointers he took, showing that he has the stroke but takes them when he’s open. High-major minus prospect could be a sleeper.
Wilson Chandler (6’7″ SF-PF, Benton Harbor (MI) High) One of the top rebounders at the camp, this athletic forward was a consistent presence for his team. He led the camp in field goal percentage, converting nearly 69% of his shots, finished several fast breaks and hit a few short jumpers from the post. High-major minus/high-major prospect.
Shane Clark (6’7″ SF-PF, Philadelphia (PA) Cardinal Dougherty HS) Whatever the reason, this combo forward didn’t play all that well on Saturday before looking better on Sunday. He’s still quite thin and needs to fill out more. In the Seniors game, he played well, knocking down a few jumpers. High-major prospect has committed to Villanova.
Leo Criswell (6’8″ SF-PF, Kansas City (KS) Piper HS) The first couple of days, this athletic combo forward was reportedly the top player at the camp, before coming back to earth the last two days. He’s very athletic, but his skills are more geared towards the power forward spot right now and he at times looked to be trying too hard to be a small forward. He capably rebounded and was among the top scorers, but his ball skills need some work, and though he can hit from three-point range, he often missed badly from there this weekend. High-major prospect.
Byron Eaton (5’11” PG, Dallas (TX) Lincoln HS) Solidly-built floor leader had a good, not great, showing, though he was a co-MVP of the Seniors game with 16 points, 7 rebounds and 10 assists. He’s confident running the team and uses his left hand well to finish, and he gets to the basket with quickness as well as strength. He didn’t shoot very well, but handled the point guard responsibilities very well. Big-time prospect.
Monta Ellis (6’3″ SG, Jackson (MS) Lanier HS) This quick scoring guard did nothing unusual at this camp – he scored, scored, and scored, and played as hard as anyone at both ends of the floor. He has a slight frame, but wasn’t afraid to go inside and get some offensive rebounds and stickbacks. Big-time prospect has committed to Mississippi State.
Bobby Frasor (6’3″ PG-SG, Blue Island (IL) Brother Rice HS) Excellent combo guard was relatively inconspicuous, but had a solid camp. He didn’t score a lot, though he went 4-4 from long range and had nine assists in the Seniors game, but he quietly ran the show effectively all weekend and had a nearly 7:1 assist/turnover ratio for the entire camp. That went along with his 40% shooting from long range, which one can expect from him. Big-time prospect has committed to North Carolina.
John Garcia (6’9″ PF, Bay Shore (NY) Brentwood HS) Well-built post player had an excellent showing that should give his recruitment a boost. He showed good post moves and played hard inside at both ends of the floor, ranking among the camp leaders in blocked shots and scoring and rebounding well. High-major prospect.
Danny Green (6’5″ SF, North Babylon (NY) St. Mary’s HS) He was the camp’s highest-rated player with their statistical formula, but he certainly wasn’t the best player here. He’s a great athlete who can get to the basket and finish above the rim, and he grabbed a few offensive rebounds. He was also the camp’s top three-point shooter. High-major prospect.
Gerald Green (6’8″ SF, Houston (TX) Gulf Shore Academy) Unquestionably one of the top performers at the camp, this exceptional athlete was the top scorer with over 19 points per game. He did it with drives, transition finishes and three-pointers, shooting well along the way and contributing five rebounds per game. Big-time prospect.
Lawrence Gurganious III (6’5″ SF, Oakland (CA) St. Mary’s College HS) This active wing quietly had a nice camp. He showed a nose for the ball and played bigger than his size, and showed a good mid-range touch and finished some close shots. He was also efficient and put up good rebounding numbers. Mid-major plus/high-major minus prospect could be a steal for someone.
Will Harris (6’6″ SF-PF, Troy (NY) Redemption Christian Academy) Here’s one player who had a better showing than his overall numbers would indicate. This solidly-built combo forward played well on the weekend days, scoring on the break, mid-range jumpers and some three-pointers, though he didn’t shoot very well. He got some rebounds as well, a good number from the small forward position. High-major prospect.
Jonathan Huffman (6’11” C, Montgomery (AL) Central Park Christian HS) Thin post player looked active and athletic, and didn’t seem afraid to mix it up inside. He put up some decent numbers save for his field goal percentage (42% for an inside player), and with added strength (especially in the upper body) he should only get better. High-major/high-major minus prospect.
Austin Jackson (6’2″ SG, Denton (TX) Billy Ryan HS) An elite baseball prospect, Jackson had a good showing here. He’s a quick, shifty guard with a good body and a good first step, and he showed some good shot selection as he made a high percentage of his shots. He didn’t take a lot of three-pointers, preferring instead to drive to the hoop and finish strong, but he showed that he can shoot it during Saturday morning’s skills stations as he was consistently knocking down jumpers. High-major prospect.
Davon Jefferson (6’7″ SF, Lynwood (CA) High) This very active athlete put together one of the top performances of the camp. He was constantly around the ball, whether it was on the boards or getting loose balls, scored often on the break and with driving dunks and did a little of everything. He showed a good handle and also scored on quick post moves when he took a defender inside. Big-time prospect.
Amir Johnson (6’10” C, Los Angeles (CA) Westchester HS) Long post player still needs strength, but overall looked good. He wasn’t a huge factor inside save for the Seniors game, where he had 17 points on 8-9 shooting and had 5 blocks. He was among the top seniors in blocked shots and generally did more on defense than offense, though he showed a good jump hook during the Saturday morning skill stations. With added strength, he’ll just get better. Big-time prospect has committed to Louisville.
Marcus Johnson (6’6″ SF, Los Angeles (CA) Westchester HS) One of the best athletes in the class, he didn’t show anything unusual at the camp. He scored plenty in transition, finishing often with high-flying dunks en route to making nearly 64% of his field goal attempts. He made a few jump shots, but that’s still his weak point; to his credit, he didn’t take very many of them and played within himself. Big-time prospect.
Jonathan Kale (6’7″ PF, Barrington (RI) St. Andrew’s) This post player reportedly played well early in the camp, but over the weekend he showed some lackluster play Saturday after a good shooting performance in the morning skill stations and looked better on Sunday. He consistently knocked down mid-range jumpers in the morning, then came to play Sunday and especially in the Seniors game, where he had 15 points. He was among the leading rebounders in the camp and his body is in much better shape, making this Providence commitment not look like as much of a reach as he was initially thought to be.
Charles Little (6’6″ SF, Cleveland (TN) High) This camp was his coming-out party, though his best games came before the weekend. The well-built and aggressive athlete had games of 30 and 21 points en route to being one of the top scorers at the camp and made 55.6% of his shots. He didn’t show much from long range and wasn’t a big defensive factor, but he played well within his talents. Mid-major plus/high-major minus prospect.
Chris Lowe (6’1″ PG, Mt. Vernon (NY) High) It was a mixed weekend for this floor leader known more for his defense. On one hand, he looked more offensive-minded than he often does, but his numbers weren’t very pleasing – he didn’t shoot the ball well at all and he had almost as many turnovers as assists. Mid-major plus/high-major minus prospect.
Dior Lowhorn (6’7″ PF, Oakland (CA) Berkeley HS) Good size athlete in the post had an excellent camp. He showed a few good moves inside and a touch from mid-range en route to being the fifth-leading scorer in the camp and making over 64% of his shots, but he wasn’t just an offensive star as he was third in blocked shots (tops among rising seniors) and in the top ten in rebounding. High-major prospect.
Kyle McAlarney (6’2″ PG, Staten Island (NY) Moore Catholic HS) Take away his Senior game performance and he had a very good weekend. The Senior game was a little like his weekend in that he didn’t score, but was effective with 4 assists and no turnovers despite forcing a couple of bad three-pointers. He looks like a solid floor leader with a good stroke from long range, capably handled the press and also played some good on-the-ball defense. High-major/high-major minus prospect has committed to Notre Dame.
Ben McCauley (6’8″ SF-PF, West Newton (PA) Yough HS) McCauley didn’t light it up, but he showed a touch from mid-range and ran the floor well. He has a good frame and likes to face the basket, while his size will allow him to play inside as well. High-major prospect.
Sean McCurdy (6’2″ PG-SG, Jersey City (NJ) St. Anthony’s HS) After a good spring, he didn’t play very well at the camp. He was generally a non-factor, especially because he wasn’t making the hustle plays he’s known for, and it leaves one to wonder if the point is the best position for him. He’s capable of running a team, though he does have a little bit of a scorer’s mentality, but it seemed like it restricted his game as he wasn’t all over the floor like he normally was, often staying out at the perimeter as plays happened. High-major prospect.
Cyrus McGowan (6’9″ PF, Meridian (MS) High) Role player inside was a solid complement to his teammates, as he was active and scored some garbage baskets. He showed some good post moves and is athletic inside, and was a constant presence. High-major minus prospect.
Nate Minnoy (6’4″ SG, Chicago (IL) Hales Franciscan HS) The fourth-leading scorer at the camp, this solidly-built power guard will get his points. He gets them in several ways and did so this weekend, though he didn’t shoot the ball exceedingly well save for the Saturday morning skills stations. He didn’t score much in the Seniors game, but overall it was a good weekend. High-major minus prospect.
Tasmin Mitchell (6’7″ SF-PF, Denham Springs (LA) High) This is a fine example of a player who does many things well, but no one thing exceedingly well except playing the game. Mitchell is solidly built, athletic but not explosive, and can fill a stat sheet with his play within the team concept. He’s a warrior at both ends of the floor with good post moves inside and range on his jump shot. At this camp, it became noticeable that when he tried to play the game at a faster speed, he doesn’t play as well; he has to play at his own speed and let the game come to him. Big-time prospect.
Jeremy Pargo (6’2″ PG-SG, Chicago (IL) Paul Robeson HS) This quick and athletic guard may have answered some of the questions about his position at this camp, where he was excellent overall. He’s always been able to score and had the mentality, but here he was better as a floor leader and still got his points, including 21 in the Seniors game where he was a co-MVP. High-major prospect.
Brandon Rush (6’7″ SF, Durham (NC) Mt. Zion) If he could shoot the ball consistently, this super athlete would be the top player in this class hands-down. He tended to play a little more for show than effect, though he did score 21 points in the Seniors game en route to being a co-MVP. He can get to the basket and finish in transition, and he’ll get a few offensive rebounds. Big-time prospect.
Matt Samuels (6’1″ PG-SG, Greenbelt (MD) Eleanor Roosevelt HS) Well-built scoring guard looks to be more of a shooting guard, though he at times has played the point. He had a couple of nice scoring games and averaged just under 10 points per game, while making over 45% of his three-pointers. He doesn’t have great quickness, but can use his strength. High-major minus/mid-major plus prospect.
Kahiem Seawright (6’7″ SF-PF, Uniondale (NY) High) He’s a fine example of a player whose value to a team doesn’t lie in his stats. He’s athletic and battled inside at the camp, and he was around the ball and making plays on a consistent basis. High-major minus prospect.
Shawn Taggart (6’10” PF-C, Richmond (VA) Mt. Zion Christian Academy) Thin post player really improved his stock with a terrific showing here. He had one of the top ten overall ratings and was among the top ten in field goal percentage, hitting a few three-pointers along the way. He ran the floor well and battled inside, and with added strength he should only get better inside. High-major prospect.
Jermaine Taylor (6’5″ SF, Tavares (FL) High) Well-built athlete has the look of a nice role player. He scored in double figures in three games and also handed out a few assists. Mid-major plus prospect.
Adrian Thomas (6’9″ PF, Pembroke Pines (FL) Flanagan HS) He slipped under the radar, not making the Seniors game, but he had a quietly outstanding camp. He’s athletic and was a constant inside presence at both ends of the floor, rebounding well and converting 64% of his field goals. He even showed a terrific touch away from the basket, converting 10 of 11 three-pointers during the tournament.
Kristopher Thomas (6’4″ SG, Dunwoody (GA) High) Very athletic and active guard never really got untracked at either end, and it showed in his numbers and how he looked. He can get to the basket and finish, but didn’t do it very often here. High-major/high-major minus prospect.
Ricky Torres (6’4″ SG, Bronx (NY) St. Raymond’s HS) Although he shot the ball well from long range, this good size wing never really got going. He wasn’t a big factor at either end and didn’t get many touches, eventually not making the Seniors game as some might have expected coming into the camp. Still, he’s a high-major prospect.
Shawne Williams (6’8″ SF, Memphis (TN) Laurinburg Institute) Off to do a year of prep school, this very athletic wing seemed to be trying to play a guard spot since he handled the ball often. That didn’t look like a good move, as he certainly doesn’t have the quickness to beat a guard off the dribble and doesn’t have a distributor mentality. Big-time prospect is still committed to Memphis, and has to stick to being a small forward.
Marquis Young (6’9″ PF, Chicago (IL) Austin HS) Thick post player was by far the top rebounder at the camp and played very well. He uses his frame well to get position inside, has solid mobility and showed some decent footwork on the post. He might do well to shed a few pounds, though he looked very good at his current weight. High-major prospect.
Other Seniors who played well:
Raymond Blackburn (5’11” PG, Lackawanna (NY) High)
Jeremiah Bryant (6’8″ SF-PF, Chicago (IL) Harlan HS)
Jabari Currie (6’5″ PG-SG, Detroit (MI) Persing HS)
Eric Devendorf (6’3″ PG-SG, Bay City (MI) Oak Hill Academy)
Lawrence Hill (6’8″ SF-PF, Glendale (AZ) Deer Valley HS)
Cameron Lewis (6’8″ SF-PF, Silver Spring (MD) Philips Exeter Academy)
Artem Wallace (6’8″ PF, Toledo (WA) High)
