2006 Kingwood Classic Recap
HOUSTON – The Houston Kingwood Classic is annually one of the very best AAU tournaments in the spring, and this year’s didn’t disappoint. This year’s edition, the 12th annual, was once again a huge tournament, with 255 teams in the 17-under division alone, and contained a number of elite teams and players.
As usual, numerous college coaches turned out on Saturday and Sunday to check out the talent on hand. Over 50 head coaches were among them by our count, with Maine head coach Ted Woodward being the first one we saw on Saturday morning. Among the new head coaches we saw were Tony Bennett (Washington State), Jeff Capel (Oklahoma), Bill Coen (Northeastern), Ed Cooley (Fairfield), Anthony Grant (VCU), Andy Kennedy (Mississippi) and Greg McDermott (Iowa State). Also present were three Final Four head coaches – Billy Donovan of national champion Florida, UCLA’ coach Ben Howland and George Mason leader Jim Larranaga.
The team that pulled off the unenviable task of winning four games on Sunday this year was the Southern California All-Stars, 66-58 winners over the Indiana-based SYF Players in the championship game. They got 21 points from Kevin Love and 17 from Duke-bound forward Taylor King, while SYF got a game-high 23 points from Scott Martin. Interestingly enough, the two teams were in the same pool and met in one of the first games of the tournament, also a victory for the Southern California team.
In the other Platinum final, the Long Island Lightning-Walsh got 16 points from Daryl Crawford in a 60-57 win over the Florida Rams.
Player Notes and Evaluations
Chris Allen (6’3″ Jr. PG-SG, Norcross (GA) Meadowcreek HS) He went for 16 in one game we saw, but his jumpers weren’t going like they normally do. As usual, he was active at both ends of the floor, as he’s very often a factor in a play. High-major prospect has committed to Michigan State.
Freddy Asprilla (6’10” Jr. C, Miami (FL) Calusa Prep) Wide-bodied post was active and a constant factor inside. He battled inside and while not overly quick, isn’t slow and he’s capable offensively. High-major prospect.
Kodi Augustus (6’9″ Jr. SF-PF, Houston (TX) Lee Academy) Athletic forward showed a nice offensive game, and that along with his size makes him a real sleeper. He shot the ball well from mid-range and long range to the tune of 18 points in one game, and he has a good frame. High-major prospect.
Jerryd Bayless (6’3″ Jr. SG, Phoenix (AZ) St. Mary’s HS) Strong and athletic wing again showed his great ability to score the ball, going for 25 in two games. His jumper was overall a bit shaky, but he did bury a clutch three-pointer in one game. Big-time prospect has committed to Arizona.
Doug Beaumont (6’0″ Jr. PG, Louisville (KY) Male HS) Lefty point guard isn’t overly quick, but penetrated often and tried to make things happen. Though he showed some playmaking ability, he tended to call his own number a bit more than a true point guard should, a couple of times hoisting ill-advised jumpers although his shot must be respected. Mid-major prospect.
Justin Benedetti (6’7″ Jr. SF, New Albant (IN) Providence HS) Not a big scorer, he operates well away from the basket with intelligent decisions with the ball. His shot selection was good and he has range to the three-point line, and he’s a good passer. He didn’t look to drive much, and his lack of athleticism doesn’t give him a great deal of upside. Mid-major prospect.
Andrew Bienert (6’2″ Jr. SG, Bellerose (NY) Chaminade HS) We got to see him in the later rounds and liked what we saw. He’s a combo guard who can handle well enough to play the point in a pinch and shot it well, also getting a couple of driving baskets along the way. He went for 20 in his team’s semifinal win.
John Brandenburg (6’11” So. C, St. Louis (MO) DeSmet HS) Good size post player showed some potential. As with many big men, he’ll need to mature physically a little more, and he’ll also have to improve his touch as he came up short on shots several times.
J’Covan Brown (6’3″ So. SG, Beaumont (TX) Kelly HS) Here’s a nice scoring guard who really filled it up against a good Juice team on Sunday, going for 24 points. Brown can score by driving or shooting, and also got out in transition a few times. There’s some good potential here, and he’ll be one to keep an eye on.
Leroy Catlin (6’4″ Jr. PF, Chicago (IL) Brooks HS) Though very undersized for his position, he consistently holds his own inside. He’s very strong and will get post baskets, but we don’t know if he’ll consistently do that against players five and six inches taller. Not helping is that he doesn’t possess the athleticism or ball skills of a small forward, so he’s definitely a power forward. Mid-major prospect.
Jerald Colds (6’0″ Jr. PG, Bronx (NY) St. Raymond’s HS) He’s a prototypical New York guard, as he gets right up on you defensively and plays a tough brand of basketball. He steadily ran the show all weekend, using his quickness and ability to pass on the move often and keeping defenses honest with an occasional jumper.
Bill Cole (6’9″ Jr. PF-C, Peoria (IL) Richwoods HS) Very thin post player had a good showing. He hit a couple of three-pointers and scored in double figures a couple of times, and blocked his share of shots. On the down side, he can easily get pushed around inside, so he’ll need to add some strength, and his hands might be a question mark considering a few balls he didn’t handle.
Thomas Coleman (6’8″ Jr. PF, Louisville (KY) Jeffersontown HS) Good post player is solid and unspectacular, as he doesn’t possess any one attribute in great amounts. He’s a good athlete and has a good frame, though he won’t dominate anyone with his strength, and he was effective scoring and rebounding inside and generally didn’t try to be a small forward. We also liked his outlet passes after rebounding, allowing his team some running opportunities. Mid-major plus/high-major minus prospect.
Luis Colon (6’10” Sr. C, Miami (FL) Krop HS) Lefty post player has a big body and moves it well inside. He was a consistent force inside, going for 22 in one game and 14 in another we saw, and got some offensive rebounds along the way. High-major prospect.
Daryl Crawford (6’4″ Sr. SG, Bronx (NY) All Hallows HS) He impressed those looking for a late recruit for this year with his quick slashes to the basket. Not much of a shooter, he didn’t take a lot of jump shots and stuck to driving and creating for himself and others. Mid-major prospect has been fielding offers from teams in the greater New York area.
Demetrius Crowell (6’8″ Jr. PF, Mesa (AZ) High) Not the most athletic player, but he’s effective working inside and has some skills away from the basket. He played his role well and showed three-point range that must be respected. Mid-major plus/high-major minus prospect.
Justin Dehm (6’1″ Jr. SG, Peoria (IL) Richwoods HS) Dehm is known for his shooting, and he shot it well coming off the catch this weekend while also getting out in transition a couple of times. He can handle it reasonably well, but he won’t be playing the point for anyone. Mid-major/mid-major plus prospect.
Larry Dumas (6’2″ Jr. SG, Chicago (IL) Bloom HS) Athletic lefty impressed with his ability to simply score the ball. The only jumpers he hit were from mid-range, but they were typically off the dribble, and he found ways to score constantly.
Gavin Edwards (6’9″ Sr. PF, Mesquite (AZ) High) Very active post player was around the ball often, especially on the glass. He got a number of stickbacks and rebounded at both ends of the floor, playing his role well as he wasn’t asked to be a scorer. Mid-major plus/high-major minus prospect.
Angel Garcia (6’11” So. SF, Lake Forest (IL) Academy) Didn’t shoot the ball well here, though he has a reputation as a shooter. He has good size at his position, and though he’s not overly athletic, his size and ability to shoot the ball make him a prospect to keep an eye on.
Deandre Gilmore (6’2″ Jr. PG, St. Louis (MO) Cardinal Ritter HS) Wing guard has good size for the position and a mature body. He constantly attacked the basket to create for teammates while finding a way to go for 16 against a touch Gauchos team.
Javi Gonzalez (6’0″ Jr. PG, Miami (FL) Krop HS) Point guard was steady over the weekend, penetrating at times and shooting it at others. He finished with the left hand and had a deep three-pointer among his long range shots.
Jamychal Green (6’7″ So. PF, Montgomery (AL) St. Jude HS) Here’s one of the forwards we really liked in this tournament. Green is an active athlete who’s quick off his feet and a real presence on the boards, as he came in the game and was a constant factor. He has a little length, and as he gets stronger, he’ll be a force to contend with inside.
Blake Griffin (6’8″ Jr. PF, Oklahoma City (OK) Oklahoma Christian HS) Quite simply, he dominates the low post. He was making more shots, rebounding and blocking shots this weekend, consistently scoring well. At the next level, he may not be a big shot-blocker, but his scoring and rebounding are tough to stop. Big-time prospect.
Daniel Hackett (6’5″ Jr. PG-SG, Bellflower (CA) St. John Bosco HS) Don’t be fooled by his low-scoring games from time to time – Hackett is a very capable combo guard who has a basketball pedigree since his dad played in the Final Four at Syracuse. The lefty is not overly quick, but capable of scoring in flow and making good passes, and he played better later on in the weekend. High-major prospect.
Ryan Harp (6’5″ Jr. SG-SF, Abilene (TX) Cooper HS) Lefty wing scored in several ways over the weekend. He scored 18 against a good Illinois Fire team, getting out in transition a few times and scoring in the halfcourt. He’ll need to get stronger, but he’s a good mid-major prospect.
Copperyale Harris (6’4″ Jr. SG-SF, Detroit (MI) Redford HS) Athletic slasher was aggressive this weekend, playing stronger than he looks and battling inside. He got some transition baskets and also a few from offensive rebounds, going for 24 in one game we saw. Mid-major plus prospect.
Cameron Hayward (6’6″ Jr. PF, Atlanta (GA) Peachtree Ridge HS) Thick post player moves well and is a complementary player. He went for 12 in one game, showing a little touch on a short range jumper.
James Henley (6’7″ Jr. SF-PF, Chicago (IL) Lincoln Park HS) He has combo forward size but doesn’t seem to have the skills for the wing. His dribble is high and he mainly scored in close, and his good frame would seem to suit playing power forward.
J.J. Hickson (6’9″ Jr. PF, Marietta (GA) Wheeler HS) Possessing good size and a live body, Hickson really puts in work on the inside. He has some ball skills but is more of a power forward, capable of scoring inside as evidenced by going for 18 and 17 in two games we saw. High-major prospect.
Darrington Hobson (6’7″ Jr. SF-PF, San Fernando (CA) Calvary Baptist HS) Very active wing showed good ball skills and was around the ball a lot. He was excellent in transition both leading and finishing the break. Academics could be an issue, as he’s reportedly a fifth-year junior right now.
B.J. Holmes (6’0″ Jr. PG, Alief (TX) Hastings HS) Though he has some combo guard abilities, he’s better off at the point. He made a few quick drives and some nice passes, and he’ll still find ways to score in the flow of the offense, as evidenced by going for 21 in a nice win during the playoff round.
Robert Hummel (6’8″ Jr. SF, Valparaiso (IN) High) Nice complementary player ran the floor and scored on some mid-range jump shots, including one off the dribble. Mid-major prospect.
Courtney Jackson (6’8″ So. PF, Paris (TX) High) Long combo forward is very active and around the ball often. The lefty got his share of offensive rebounds and was definitely a factor at both ends of the floor.
Brandon Jennings (6’1″ So. PG, Compton (CA) Dominguez HS) One of the best players in the class of 2008, Jennings has grown and clearly continued to improve. The lefty is smooth and did it all, running his team and scoring just about any way he wanted to, while finishing some fast breaks with dunks.
Aaron Johnson (5’9″ Jr. PG, Chicago (IL) Hubbard HS) Penetrating point guard had a nice weekend running the show for his team. While he can score the ball with runners or the occasional long range jumper, he really excels at running the team and creating through his quick penetration. As the spring has gone along, we’ve seen him get better. High-major prospect.
Gary Johnson (6’7″ Jr. SF-PF, Houston (TX) Aldine HS) Simply put, no one in this class has a more lively and active body than this combo forward. Possessing a mature body, he comes to play and uses his athleticism and strength, and he always goes strong to the basket. He had two more double-digit scoring games that we saw this weekend, and likely a few in games we didn’t see. Big-time prospect.
Eshuante Jones (6’4″ Jr. SG, (IN) Northside HS) Although not overly quick, he can certainly shoot it, as evidenced by his 20-point outing we saw where he made several three-pointers.
Morgan Kelly (6’9″ Jr. PF, Queens (NY) Archbishop Molloy HS) Nice post player showed a lot of upside. He’s a little thin, but plays stronger than he looks as we saw him rebound consistently and really work inside. At the offensive end, he’s skilled and also made a nice drive to the basket for a field goal that shows what he may be capable of doing.
Gani Lawal (6’8″ Jr. PF, Norcross (GA) High) Although he’s been described as being rail-thin, he didn’t look it here, so he’s apparently put on some good weight as he has a solid body. He’s an active athlete who runs the floor well and has a polished look to his game, although he’s still developing overall. The potential is all evident, and this big-time prospect has committed to Georgia Tech.
Nathaniel Lester (6’4″ Jr. SG-SF, New York (NY) Canarsie HS) Active in his team’s press, he’s a good athlete who scored off the press at times and also showed a little mid-range touch.
Kevin Love (6’9″ Jr. PF, Lake Oswego (OR) High) Simply put, Love has made a strong case as the top player in the class. Just when it may have looked like he couldn’t get much better, he’s definitely done that. He plays with great desire and dominates the boards, scores inside and out (his three-pointer must be respected), draws plenty of fouls on his post moves. He also shows a great feel for the game, which is easily missed in light of everything else he does, and we saw that in part with how quickly he looks downcourt after a rebound to see if he can zip one of his trademark 60-foot passes to a teammate for a breakaway layup. Big-time prospect.
Jai Lucas (5’10” Jr. PG, Bellaire (TX) High) Floor leader had a good weekend scoring the ball, getting some driving field goals and generally shooting it well. He went for 13 in two games along the way and led his team deep into the playoffs. High-major prospect.
Scott Martin (6’8″ Jr. SF-PF, Valparaiso (IN) High) Lefty combo forward had a nice weekend at both ends of the floor and got better as the weekend went along, leading his team with a game-high 23 points in the championship game. Although he’s a role player on a stacked team, he managed to score in double figures a couple of times, shot it well and also had a key blocked shot in one game. High-major minus/mid-major plus prospect.
O.J. Mayo (6’5″ Jr. PG-SG, Cincinnati (OH) North College Hill HS) Didn’t play his best basketball this weekend, in short. While he scored plenty of points and even led a big rally in one game, Mayo too often forced bad shots and also got called for several charges when driving right into trouble. He also seemed to settle for jumpers often, and put that all together and he wasn’t making many good decisions. He also looked more like a shooting guard this weekend. It’s safe to say he has some competition for the top spot in this class at this point.
Dimitri McCamey (6’3″ Jr. SG, Belwood (IL) St. Joseph HS) Well-built wing athlete showed solid guard skills. He handled the ball and found ways to score without being a shooter, going for 12 points in a win for his team that we saw.
Brandon McGee (6’8″ Jr. SF-PF, Chicago (IL) Crane HS) One of the more impressive forwards we saw this weekend, McGee has a good body and was aggressive on the offensive end. He scored inside and out, showing three-point range and some good drives to the basket.
Gary McGhee (6’10” Jr. PF-C, Anderson (IN) High) A role player on his team, he has a good body and is active inside. He made a couple of hustle plays and held down the fort inside, and also showed a mid-range touch offensively in addition to some close baskets. High-major prospect.
Terrell McKenzie (6’2″ Jr. SG, Paramus (NJ) Catholic) This was an excellent weekend for the offensively skilled guard. Athletic and possessing great ability to get to the basket, he scored on a number of drives and used both hands to finish, while keeping foes honest with the occasional jumper from long range. He over-dribbled at times, but generally kept that in check and went for over 20 points twice in games we saw. High-major prospect.
Cassey Mitchell (6’4″ Jr. SG, Savannah (GA) High) Well-built wing shot the ball well from both mid-range and long range. He doesn’t do much else on his team, but he’s a good complement to the inside presence they have. Mid-major/mid-major plus prospect.
E’Twaun Moore (6’3″ Jr. SG, East Chicago (IN) Central HS) Nice scoring guard had a good weekend overall, hitting double digits in several games. His handle is above average for his position, while he scored on drives and shooting it from long range, with his jump shooting getting better as the weekend went along. High-major prospect.
Nick Okorie (6’0″ Sr. PG-SG, Houston (TX) Ft. Bend Kempner HS) Talented guard looks to be more of a scorer than a lead guard, but he does that well. He went for 18 in a game we saw, shooting it well and showing some quickness. At his size, he’s a mid-major/mid-major plus prospect.
Caleb Patterson (7’0″ Jr. C, Dallas (TX) Ringwood HS) Thin post player didn’t show a lot of skill, but at his size the attention will be there. He can run the floor some, but he’s raw offensively, badly needs to gain strength as we saw him get bullied by a guard, and the speed of the game looks to be a concern for him as well.
Patrick Patterson (6’8″ Jr. PF, Huntington (WV) High) He continues to have a good spring, rebounding and finishing inside when he got the ball. Not spectacular, he just works inside at both ends.
Zach Payton (6’5″ Jr. SG, Fort Wayne (IN) Laurinburg Institute) A nice wing player, he scored the ball well to the tune of 18 points in an early Saturday game and also brought the ball up often. While he can handle better than an average wing, he’s not a point guard, and he’s better off scoring on some drives and with mid-range jumpers.
Devon Peterson (6’3″ Jr. SG, Brooklyn (NY) Lincoln HS) One of the few bright spots in his team’s tournament-ending loss on Sunday, he went for 24 points and scored in a few ways. He hit several mid-range jumpers, while extending to long range and getting a couple of drives to the hoop.
Steffphon Pettigrew (6’5″ Jr. SF, Elizabethtown (KY) High) He’s almost a gunner, as he’s clearly not afraid to put up shots. A capable shooter, he’ll put up some ill-advised ones but make his share, and they’re of the rainbow variety as you wonder if they’ll ever come down from being up so high. Mid-major prospect.
Jelani Poston (6’6″ Jr. PF, Chicago (IL) Simeon HS) A warrior inside, he gamely battled bigger post players inside as a rebounding presence and going for 17 points against a bigger team. Many of his baskets were in close, using his good body to get position and get a good shot. Mid-major plus/high-major minus prospect.
Anthony Randolph (6’10” Jr. SF-PF, Dallas (TX) Woodrow Wilson HS) One of the more impressive prospects in the class, Randolph has the tools to be an excellent combo forward. He has great length and athleticism, can finish and shoot it out to long range, and has the ball skills to play the small forward spot. Put him at the top of a zone or press, and he’s trouble with his length. The lefty will need to get stronger, but the tools are there. Big-time prospect.
D’walyn Roberts (6’8″ Jr. PF, Duncanville (TX) High) Long athlete has some small forward skills, but looks more like a power forward. Though not a huge factor in the game we saw, he played a role and also hit a couple of jumpers later on. High-major/high-major minus prospect.
Jonathan Rodriguez (6’5″ Sr. SF, Miami (FL) Calusa Prep) Athletic wing was a consistent scorer all weekend. He has three-point range, but seems to prefer scoring in other ways, and on his drives we saw him use both hands well. Mid-major prospect will likely play college next season, with offers currently from Duquesne, Drexel and UCF.
Vincent Rogers (6’7″ So. PF, Brooklyn (NY) Community Christian HS) Post player has a good frame and is athletic, going for 13 in his team’s tournament-ending loss.
Kramer Soderberg (5’11” So. PG, St. Louis (MO) St. Charles West HS) The son of the Saint Louis University head coach, he’s a heady floor leader who really uses pump fakes well. While he had some struggles against the press and over-dribbled a couple of times, the overall impression was good as he can find a way to score and is a capable shooter.
Malik Story (6’5″ So. SG, Lakewood (CA) Artesia HS) Well-built wing can really shoot it, and he did at times in a reserve role for the loaded Southern California All-Stars with almost unlimited range. He’s also athletic and can get to the basket in transition, but he shines shooting the ball and generally sticks to his bread and butter.
David Terrell (6’5″ Jr. SF, Houston (TX) Worthing HS) An explosive athlete, he got the attention of observers with a couple of his dunks. He went for 13 points in a game we saw and made his athleticism clear to all watching.
Isaiah Thomas (5’8″ Jr. PG, Tacoma (WA) Curtis HS) Quick, well-built point guard does everything on the move. He is skilled at maneuvering in traffic, hitting mid-range shots off the dribble and passing on the go, and he scores the ball well including the three-pointer. High-major prospect.
Evan Turner (6’6″ Jr. SF, Chicago (IL) St. Joseph HS) Turner shows plenty of potential at the small forward spot. He’s athletic and has good ball skills, rebounds well inside despite his thin upper body, and he’s adept at either scoring or drawing fouls when he drives to the basket and can finish with his left hand.
Demond Watt (6’7″ Jr. SF, Calumet City (IL) T.F. North HS) Athletic wing had a nice weekend, getting to the basket and finishing drives. He went for 16 in a playoff game. High-major minus prospect.
Lavoris Weathers (6’7″ Jr. SF-PF, Greenwood (MS) High) We liked what we saw in limited action from this well-built forward. He’s athletic and strong and looks like he could play a little of both forward spots.
Jimmy Williams (6’8″ Jr. SF-PF, Milwaukee (WI) Custer HS) Good size forward is long and scored some baskets inside. He’ll need to have better ball skills if he is to play away from the basket, but the potential is there. Mid-major plus prospect.
Nick Williams (6’5″ So. SG, Mobile (AL) Leflore HS) He put on a nice shooting performance early on Saturday, as he shot the ball well to the tune of 23 points. He’s not afraid to put it up and has good size for his position.
Others to keep an eye on:
Quinton Branch (6’1″ Jr. PG, (TX) Euless Trinity HS)
Jenirro Bush (6’7″ Jr. SG-SF, Artisa (MS) East Oktibbeha HS)
Nick Calathes (6’4″ Jr. SG, Winter Park (FL) Lake Howell HS)
Kevin Cantinol (6’9″ Jr. PF, Clearwater (FL) Calvary Christian HS)
Charles Corbin (6’6″ Jr. PF, Griffin (GA) High)
Justin Cummings (6’3″ Jr. SG, Brighton (AL) Pleasant Grove HS)
Ed Davis (6’8″ So. SF-PF, Mechanicsville (VA) Hanover HS)
Cordarryl Desmond (6’5″ Jr. SF, Birmingham (AL) McAdory HS)
Courtney Dunn (6’8″ Jr. PF, Dallas (TX) Lake Highlands HS)
Jeremy Fonteneaux (6’8″ Jr. PF, DeSoto (TX) High)
Xavier Gibson (6’10” So. PF-C, Northview (GA) High)
A.J. Hardemann (6’8″ Jr. PF, Houston (TX) Del Valle HS)
Jay Higgins (6’5″ Jr. SF, Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy)
Zane Johnson (6’7″ Jr. SF-PF, Phoenix (AZ) Thunderbird HS)
Jeff Jordan (6’2″ Jr. PG, Highland Park (IL) Loyola Academy)
Christopher Kaba (6’8″ Sr. SF-PF, Andrean (IN) High)
Kenny Kadji (6’10” So. PF, Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy)
Kalin Lucas (6’0″ Jr. PG, Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary’s HS)
Dwight McCombs (6’8″ Jr. PF, Chicago (IL) Whitney Young HS)
Phillip McDonald (6’2″ So. SG, Houston (TX) Cypress Springs HS)
Dwight Miller (6’9″ Fr. PF, Cleveland (TX) Westbury Christian Academy)
Jonathan Montgomery (6’4″ Jr. SG-SF, Chicago (IL) Lincoln Park HS)
Jamar Moore (6’4″ Jr. SG-SF, Coolidge (GA) Thomasville HS)
Wayne Ogunoya (6’7″ Jr. PF, Cedar Hill (TX) High)
Raymond Penn (6’0″ Fr. PG, Houston (TX) Bush HS)
Miles Plumlee (6’9″ So. SF-PF, Warsaw (IN) High)
Evan Schmidt (7’0″ Jr. C, Chesterton (IN) High)
Michael Sosanya (6’6″ Jr. SF-PF, Oklahoma City (OK) McGuinness HS)
Tim Taylor (6’7″ Jr. PF, Chicago (IL) Westinghouse HS)
Steve Tchiengang (6’9″ So. PF, Houston (TX) Ct. Community Christian)
Brett Thompson (6’11” So. C, Vienna (IL) High)
Erving Walker (5’9″ So. PG, Queens (NY) Christ The King HS)
Christian Watford (6’7″ Fr. SF-PF, (AL) Hewitt-Trussville HS)
Adrian Williams (6’1″ Jr. PG-SG, Smyrna (GA) Wheeler HS)
Rolandis Woodland (6’4″ Jr. SG-SF, St. Louis (MO) Lutheran North HS)
