ABCD Camp Wrap-Up
TEANECK, N.J. – There was plenty that happened over four days at the 2006 Reebok ABCD Camp. We saw a little of everything as far as players were concerned, and that’s nothing new as camps always have this. The fun part is finding out who fits each category.
So with that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the player highlights from this year’s edition.
Best of the Best
Kenny Boynton (6’2″ So. SG, Pompano Beach (FL) Blanche Ely HS)
William Buford (6’5″ Jr. SG-SF, Toledo (OH) Libbey HS)
Johnny Flynn (5’11” Sr. PG, Niagara Falls (NY) High)
J.J. Hickson (6’9″ Sr. PF, Marietta (GA) Wheeler HS)
Kevin Love (6’9″ Sr. PF, Lake Oswego (OR) High)
Rico Pickett (6’4″ Sr. PG-SG, Decatur (AL) High)
Bill Walker (6’6″ Sr. SF, Cincinnati (OH) North College Hill HS)
Boynton and Buford were the top two underclassmen at the camp, both excellent wing scorers. Syracuse-bound Flynn was excellent all the way and enhanced his standing in the class. Hickson wasn’t talked about much, but the work he did was solid and that’s not up for debate. Love led the camp in scoring and rebounding – enough said. Alabama-bound Pickett was solid running a team (tied for the lead in assists) and shooting the ball, and while he’s really a wing, he can play the point in a pinch and is an excellent prospect. Walker has made a case as the top prospect in the class with his play here, as he shot the ball well in addition to making a few trademark dunks.
Youth Movement: Best Underclassmen
Dante Anderson (6’4″ Jr. SG, Gainesville (FL) Eastside HS)
Olu Ashaolu (6’7″ Jr. SF-PF, Brampton (Ont.) Community Christian School)
Junior Cadougan (6’0″ So. PG, Toronto (Ont.) Community Christian School)
Greg Echenique (6’9″ So. PF-C, Ridgewood (NJ) St. Benedict’s)
Drew Gordon (6’9″ Jr. PF, San Jose (CA) Archbishop Mitty HS)
Karon Johnson (6’7″ So. SF, Richmond (VA) Patterson School)
Shaquille Johnson (6’3″ Jr. SG, Jacksonville (FL) Robert E. Lee HS)
Terrell Vincent (6’6″ So. SF, Baltimore (MD) Montrose Christian Schol)
Teondre Williams (6’4″ Jr. SF, Tucker (GA) Meadowcreek HS)
Anderson got better as the camp went along, finishing second among rising juniors in scoring and netting 22 in the Underclassman All-Star Game. Ashaolu seems to look better each time out, and the camp was no exception. Cadougan is just a solid floor leader already and was one of the leaders in assists. Echenique showed plenty of promise and is one to watch since he plays in a good program. Gordon had his second consecutive good showing at this camp, ranking second in blocked shots and being a constant factor. Karon Johnson didn’t put up huge numbers, but generally played well with a good offensive game and some athleticism. Shaquille Johnson was one of the better rising juniors, shooting well and making a highlight play with a tough driving scoop shot later in the camp. Vincent was third in scoring, rebounding, assists and blocked shots among all rising sophomores and could be a combo forward if he grows more. Williams is athletic and showed a touch from mid-range, and was aggressive at the offensive end.
Pleasant Surprises
Michael Eric (6’9″ Sr. PF-C, New Castle (DE) School at Church Farm)
Chris Grodnigo (6’7″ Sr. SF, Lake Charles (LA) St. Louis HS)
Elijah Holman (6’10” Sr. C, San Pablo (CA) Richmond HS)
Terrence Jennings (6’9″ Sr. PF, Sacramento (CA) Capital Christian HS)
Jon Leuer (6’10” Sr. PF, Long Lake (MN) Orono HS)
Wendell McKines (6’6″ Sr. SF-PF, San Pablo (CA) Richmond HS)
Tony Neysmith (6’5″ Sr. SG, Norcross (GA) High)
Zach Rosen (6’2″ Sr. PG, Colonia (NJ) St. Benedict’s)
James Tyler (7’2″ Jr. C, Murfreesboro (NC) Patterson School)
Bradley Wannamaker (6’4″ Sr. SG-SF, Philadelphia (PA) Roman Catholic HS)
Eric had five blocked shots in one game and finished fourth in the camp in that category. Grodnigo shot the ball well, has good size and is a plus athlete on the wing. Holman quietly owned the paint, finishing second in the camp in rebounding and leading in blocked shots by a wide margin with 3.4 per game en route to rating only behind Love in the entire camp. Jennings was one of the top players early, and while he didn’t play as well later on he was still solid. Leuer is skilled, knocking down jumpers out to three-point range and running the floor for a few baskets. McKines scored and rebounded while showing the physical tools he has, as he’s athletic and runs the floor well. Neysmith shot the ball well and has a good frame. Rosen was little-known before the camp, but the lefty had a 2.5 assist/turnover ratio and shot the ball well from long range. Tyler has a big body and could stand to lose some weight (330 pounds), but he’s more mobile than he looks, skilled and had a few good games working inside. Wannamaker just comes to play, as he’s active and not afraid of contact when driving or getting rebounds.
Disappointments
Teeng Akol (6’11” Sr. C, Centereach (NY) Our Savior New American School)
Chris Allen (6’3″ Sr. PG-SG, Lawrenceville (GA) Meadowcreek HS)
Kodi Augustus (6’9″ Sr. SF, Pearland (TX) Mt. Zion Christian Academy)
Kelvin Grady (5’11” Sr. PG, Ada (MI) East Grand Rapids HS)
Zane Johnson (6’6″ Sr. SF, Phoenix (AZ) Thunderbird HS)
Eshaunte Jones (6’4″ Sr. SG, Ft. Wayne (IN) Northside HS)
Renardo Sidney (6’9″ So. PF, Jackson (MS) Piney Woods HS)
Malik Story (6’5″ Jr. SG, Cerritos (CA) Artesia HS)
Akol didn’t get the ball much, but when he did he was ineffective. Michigan State-bound Allen was a player we thought could really have a good camp, but he was unimpressive. Augustus is offensively skilled and athletic, but he didn’t make a lot of good decisions. Grady didn’t play as well as he did here last year, as he struggled shooting the ball and had more turnovers than assists. Johnson, who recently committed to Arizona, struggled shooting the ball. Jones being on this list isn’t entirely his fault, as he simply didn’t get many shots and that’s what he needs since he’s an excellent shooter. Sidney was inconsistent overall, looking very good at times and like a non-factor at others. USC commit Story didn’t get the kind of shots he normally can when playing with his stacked AAU team, and it showed as he didn’t shoot well.
Silence is Golden: Players Who Quietly Had a Nice Camp
Cole Aldrich (6’11” Sr. C, Bloomington (MN) Jefferson HS)
Jonathan Baldwin (6’5″ Jr. SF, Aliquippa (PA) High)
DeJuan Blair (6’7″ Sr. PF, Pittsburgh (PA) Schenley HS)
Braxton Dupree (6’8″ Sr. PF, Baltimore (MD) Calvert Hall College HS)
Devin Ebanks (6’7″ Jr. SF, Long Island City (NY) Patterson School)
Carlton Fay (6’8″ Sr. PF, Hennepin (IL) Putnam County HS)
Taylor King (6’8″ Sr. SF-PF, Huntington Beach (CA) Mater Dei HS)
Alex Legion (6’5″ Sr. SG, Southfield (MI) Oak Hill Academy)
Demitri McCamey (6’3″ Sr. PG, Bellwood (IL) St. Joseph HS)
Marshall Moses (6’7″ Jr. PF, Greensboro (NC) Forest Hills HS)
Edwin Rios (6’1″ Sr. PG, Miami (FL) Chaminade Prep)
Eric Wallace (6’6″ Sr. SF, Winston-Salem (NC) Glenn HS)
Aldrich has the look of a solid player at the next level, though he’s a step slow; here, he rebounded and hit a couple of face-up jumpers. Baldwin didn’t stand out, but did a little of everything as he’s athletic, ran the floor and finished well. Blair is a prototypical power forward: well-built, a plus athlete, rebounds very well and has good hands, and he can also run the floor. Maryland commit Dupree is similar to Blair and was a constant presence on the offensive glass, while his offense wasn’t as good. Ebanks played well in the Underclassman All-Star game and generally scored on drives and fast breaks. Fay is a solid role player who plays hard, rebounds and can hit the mid-range jumper facing the basket. King had a very good camp doing a little of everything, and while he won’t be a star at Duke, he’ll be a nice four-year player. Legion handled the ball often, and though he wasn’t like a true point guard, he handled that role reasonably well and also scored like he is capable of. Illinois-bound McCamey isn’t overly quick, but has good size and passed the ball well from the point guard spot. Moses was active on the boards and has good mobility inside. Rios shot the ball well, but also looked to do things normally expected of a point guard more, namely driving to the basket to create for himself and others. Wallace is a well-built athlete with a solid body, and if he can ever consistently hit a jumper, he could be a stud since he has the physical tools in good supply.
Infirmary: Players Who Missed Significant Time Due to Injury
Darnell Gant (6’9″ Sr. SF-PF, Los Angeles (CA) Crenshaw HS)
Al Nolen (6’1″ Sr. PG, Brooklyn Center (MN) Patrick Henry HS)
Derrick Rose (6’2″ Sr. PG, Chicago (IL) Simeon HS)
We looked forward to seeing more of Gant, who missed a good portion of the camp with an arm injury as he had his arm in a sling. Minnesota commit Nolen also missed a significant portion. Rose’s much-anticipated matchup with O.J. Mayo never materialized due to a bum ankle. Although he only played on the first day, Rose was somehow selected to the Senior All-Star Game.
