2005 ABCD Camp Revisited
TEANECK, N.J. – You could just feel it in the Rothman Center. Everyone there knew what was going on – fans knew it, coaches knew it, even the players knew it. It was reinforced when guys who might normally seem a bit shot-happy went out of their way to distribute the ball. And you could almost wonder if the first game played in the evening session on this court was planned as one that would go late (it was an overtime game), because this was the only game left at the end of the night and all eyes were on two players for a few minutes.
That was the atmosphere Friday night in a much-anticipated matchup of teams that featured Greg Oden and Derrick Caracter. The two matched up late in last year’s Reebok ABCD Camp and didn’t disappoint, with Caracter getting a slight edge. This time around, while Caracter certainly had his moments, Oden had the clear edge. He took it right to Caracter on the offensive end and looked to score often, and he made plays on the defensive end as well.
Far from being just a one-matchup hit, the 2005 Reebok ABCD Camp was loaded with talent and a solid event all around. It had a smaller field and had no more than three games going on at a time, which made it easier to see players, and the talent level was very high.
Camp Notes
- For the rising seniors (Class of 2006), the Players of the Week were Greg Oden (7’0″ C, Indianapolis (IN) Lawrence North HS) and Damion James (6’8″ SF, Nacogdoches (TX) High). Paul Harris (6’5″ SG-SF, Niagara Falls (NY) High) was surely right there in the running as well, especially after a solid defensive effort guarding O.J. Mayo (6’4″ PG-SG, Cincinnati (OH) North College Hill HS) on Friday night. For the underclassmen, the Players of the Week were Mayo and Kevin Love (6’9″ PF, Lake Oswego (OR) High), both rising juniors (Class of 2007).
- Camp director Sonny Vaccaro announced a new sportsmanship award prior to the all-star games in the name of legend Walt “Clyde” Frazier. Lance Thomas (6’8″ SF-PF, Neward (NJ) St. Benedict’s Prep) was named the winner after the Senior Game.
- Additionally, Thomas participated in both skills sessions on Friday morning, further evidence that he is a worker through and through.
- Like last year, underclassmen stole the show this year, as underclassmen accounted for six of the top ten rated players, and rising juniors made up seven of the top ten scorers. Only three of the top ten distributors were rising seniors, and only three were among the top ten in field goal percentage.
Class of 2006: The Studs
Wayne Chism (6’8″ PF, Bolivar (TN) Central HS) With a good week’s work as one of the top-rated seniors, he made the Senior Game. Chism has a wide body that moves very well and showed a touch from mid-range (including in Friday morning’s skills session) in addition to his work on the post.
Daequan Cook (6’5″ SG-SF, Dayton (OH) Dunbar HS) He had just two double-digit scoring games before scoring 14 in the Senior Game, but all in all was good. He looked good when he scored off the dribble from mid-range, which is his forte, and he made 46.2 percent of his three-pointers.
George Fotso (6’8″ PF, Jackson (MS) Piney Woods HS) Here’s a guy who quietly led the camp in rebounding with 8.6 per game. He got lost in the Senior Game, as the run-and-gun style didn’t suit him, but he put in an excellent week’s work on the inside.
Paul Harris (6’5″ SG-SF, Niagara Falls (NY) High) He got jobbed in the Player of the Week voting (and this takes nothing away from the week the two who were selected had), as he had a terrific week even aside from his excellent job defending O.J. Mayo on Friday night. He was the camp’s top scorer and one of the top ten rebounders, while also tying for third in steals.
Damion James (6’8″ SF, Nacogdoches (TX) High) He was workman-like as usual, always around the ball at both ends and making plays. With his size, skills, athleticism and nose for the ball, Oklahoma fans will be quite happy.
Greg Oden (7’0″ C, Indianapolis (IN) Lawrence North HS) Simply put, the top prospect in the class. The potential was always there, but this camp showed us one thing we hadn’t seen: Oden has an offensive game. He was aggressive trying to score on the post when he got the ball and looked like a bona fide post scorer, while continuing his usual play at the defensive end. He didn’t block as many shots (or try to) as he usually did, but still averaged 1.6 per game.
Alex Stepheson (6’9″ PF, Los Angeles (CA) Harvard-Westlake HS) Athletic forward has a decent frame and had a good week rebounding, as he was among the camp leaders in that category. He got many of his rebounds more from being active than anything else, getting his share on the offensive end. He didn’t show much offense on the post and wasn’t an offensive force, though he did show a mid-range touch in the Senior Game.
Vernon Teel (6’3″ SG, Flushing (NY) High) This slashing scorer wasn’t even listed in the camp media packet, but made the Senior Game and was among the top rated players. The only stat category he was high in was scoring, with under 12 per game, and he went for 14 in the Senior Game.
Dale Vanwright (6’6″ SF, Houston (TX) Bellaire HS) He didn’t set the world on fire, but had a solid camp overall. He’s athletic and has a good upper body, though his frame is a big slight, and made some jumpers in our viewing of him.
Doug Wiggins (6’0″ PG, East Hartford (CT) High) St. John’s fans will get to see some exciting floor leadership when he gets there if this camp was any indication. He’s very quick and made a number of good passes, especially in transition. He’ll need to get stronger, as he has a rather slight frame, but the Red Storm has their floor leader of the future.
Class of 2006: Good Camp
David Bullock (6’1″ PG, Jersey City (NJ) St. Anthony’s HS) Another in a long line of talented guards at the school, he had a solid showing. He’s quick, a nice leaper and showed a good touch on three-pointers. He was among the camp leaders in assists as well.
Mike Conley (6’1″ PG, Indianapolis (IN) Lawrence North HS) Another week at the office for this solid floor leader, who will join buddies Oden and Cook at Ohio State next year. He was fifth in the camp in assists and had a 4:1 assist/turnover ratio, shot the ball well and made free throws when he got to the line.
Casiem Drummond (6’9″ PF, Bloomfield (NJ) Tech) He’s shown that he can be very good at both ends inside, and he’ll even run the floor on occasion for a basket. The only things stopping him from being a star at the next level are his endurance and overall inconsistency.
Derek Glasser (6’2″ PG, Marina Del Ray (CA) Artesia HS) You know what you’re getting: a solid pass-first floor leader who can hit from long range when called upon. Glasser did nothing we didn’t expect, showing he can run a team well and especially when he has some talent around him.
Will Harris (6’5″ SF, Corona (NY) Brewster Academy) Solidly-built forward committed to Connecticut just before the camp and had a decent showing overall. He played well in the Senior Game in scoring a team-high 18 points. He continues to look a little better every time out, but he still looks to be between positions for the Big East level as his small forward game is still a work in progress.
Eugene Harvey (5’11” PG, Brooklyn (NY) St. Benedict’s Prep) Quietly, he had a good camp scoring and passing from the point guard spot. He was actually among the senior leaders in scoring with under 12 per game, looking to score more than before.
Phil Nelson (6’7″ SG-SF, Keizer (OR) McNary HS) The camp’s top shooter from long range, he looked a little one-dimensional but shined from his nearly 53 percent long range shooting. He also shot the lights out in Friday morning’s skills session, but the knock is that some of his shots in games looked a little forced.
Jamie Skeen (6’8″ PF, Charlotte (NC) North Mecklenberg HS) It would have been very easy to miss him initially – he was, after all, teammates with Greg Oden, Daequan Cook and Mike Conley – but his play ensured no one missed him. He was very active on the boards and got his fair share of offensive rebounds and stickbacks, and has a decent frame and a little touch from the outside to boot.
Underclassmen: The Studs
Olu Ashaolu (6’7″ So. PF, Brampton (Ont.) Community Christian School) Considered one of the top rising sophomores, he primarily made his mark on the glass in tying for fourth in rebounding, though he scored a little under ten points per game. He ran the floor well and showed some ball skills to go with a relatively mature frame.
Devin Ebanks (6’8″ Jr. SF-PF, Queens (NY) Bishop Loughlin HS) Versatile forward was solid all week, then was excellent in the Underclassmen Game. He’s a little slight and not a great athlete, but he can handle and score the ball well. He looks like he’s only going to get better, and with his size and skills the future seems bright.
Drew Gordon (6’8″ So. PF, San Jose (CA) Archbishop Mitty HS) The top rising sophomore at the camp, he’s athletic and showed some skills for both forward spots. Most of all, he was very active and got out on the break to make plays.
Daniel Hackett (6’5″ Jr. SG-SF, Downey (CA) St. John Bosco HS) Lefty guard handled the ball a lot during the camp. Although he’s not a jet, he has some quickness and also got to the basket from intelligently finding gaps and won’t shy away from contact. He has three-point range, although he looked to drive a lot more than shoot it.
Taylor King (6’8″ Jr. SF, Huntington Beach (CA) Mater Dei HS) After a good spring, he had a stellar camp. He was second in the camp in scoring (tops among underclassmen), sixth in rebounding and tied for third in steals. Besides doing a little bit of everything, he consistently showed a solid basketball I.Q. at both ends of the floor and shot the ball well.
Kevin Love (6’9″ Jr. PF, Lake Oswego (OR) High) All he did was take home co-Player of the Week honors among the underclassmen by finishing second in rebounding and doing solid work on the low post. Although he’s not known for running the floor, we saw him do that once on Saturday for a basket.
O.J. Mayo (6’4″ Jr. PG, Cincinnati (OH) North College Hill HS) Although he’s the top prospect in the class of 2007, he wasn’t at his best at the camp. His shot selection wasn’t as good as usual and as such, he didn’t shoot the ball very well. Still, he had a very good few days and remains the top prospect in the class of 2007.
Herb Pope (6’8″ Jr. PF, Aliquippa (PA) Senior HS) Though he was somewhat non-descript in our limited viewing of him, he had the second-highest player rating at the camp behind Greg Oden in their system. Athletic and with combo forward potential, he tied for second in rebounding and was also among the leaders in field goal percentage and blocked shots.
Renardo Sidney (6’9″ Fr. PF, Jackson (MS) Piney Woods HS) The sky is the limit for this athletic forward. He was the top scorer among rising freshmen and sophomores and third in rebounding, and he has a decent frame and runs the floor well. He was the top rising freshman at the camp.
Lance Stephenson (6’4″ Fr. SG, Brooklyn (NY) Bishop Loughlin HS) He wasn’t far behind Sidney among rising freshmen, and fans certainly took notice as he’s quick and finished drives with both hands, though he also looked a bit erratic. Before long, college coaches will take just as much notice, especially once his play settles and he becomes less erratic.
Alexander Tyus (6’7″ Jr. SF, Florissant (MO) Harmony Community School) Here’s a player who really emerged at the camp with an excellent showing. A very active forward, he was around the ball often and took shots he could make, as evidenced by his finishing in the top ten in the camp in scoring and field goal percentage.
Underclassmen: Good Camp
Elgin Bailey (6’9″ Jr. PF, Baton Rouge (LA) Glen Oaks HS) Well-built post player will be one to keep an eye on. He didn’t put up big numbers and took some questionable shots, but his frame allows him to compete inside and the lefty showed a mid-range touch.
John Flynn (6’0″ Jr. PG, Niagara Falls (NY) High) He’s made nice strides since last year at the point, and it showed here as he had a nearly 2:1 assist/turnover ratio while shooting it well from long range. He was also among the camp’s leaders in steals.
Darius Gabriel (6’2″ So. PG, Queens (NY) Bishop Loughlin HS) The snub of the camp was this floor leader not making the Underclassmen Game after leading the camp in assists by more than one over the next best distributor. Granted, he didn’t set the camp on fire aside from his passing, but overall he was solid.
Kalvin Grady (5’11” Jr. PG, Ada (MI) East Grand Rapids HS) Very quick floor leader has a decent frame and really seems to use his lack of stature well in penetrating. He did a good job of passing the ball, ranking fourth in the camp in assists, and took good care of the ball with a 2.9 assist/turnover ratio. For good measure, he also shot it well from long range and was a pesky defender.
James Harden (6’4″ Jr. SG-SF, Lakewood (CA) Artesia HS) Versatile wing had the ball in his hands often, as he at times brought it up the floor and also got his share of rebounds and loose balls. He didn’t put up big numbers, but the lefty comes to play and does several things on the floor to help his team.
Mac Nyal Koshwal (6’9″ Jr. PF, Chicago (IL) Julian HS) In our viewing of him, the native of Sudan was primarily a non-factor, but he made the Underclassmen Game with a solid week that included some good rebounding. One thing is clear from our viewing of him here and earlier in the spring: he is at his best when he stays down low to use his size and post moves.
Hamidu Rahman (6’11” Jr. C, Somerset (NJ) Franklin HS) This was his national coming-out party, and while he wasn’t a star, he was effective. He has a solid frame and good size, but will need to improve his mobility since right now it is just okay.
Corey Stokes (6’4″ Jr. SG, Newark (NJ) St. Benedict’s) Well-built wing had himself a good camp, shooting it well from long range en route to 12.7 points per game. It’s safe to say he did nothing to hurt his status among the top prospects in the class.
Isaiah Thomas (5’8″ Jr. PG, Tacoma (WA) Curtis HS) Putting aside the public address announcer annoyingly calling him “Zeke” when he scored during the Underclassmen Game (in reference to his namesake), he had a solid camp and showed more of his potential. He was third in assists and fifth in three-point shooting (just under 45 percent), and though he is tiny in stature, his impact on a game isn’t small.
