HAMPTON, Va. – This year’s Boo Williams Nike Invitational was a little different. While the 16-under and 15-under divisions all had playoff rounds that led to champions being crowned, the 17-under division had nothing of the sort. Instead, teams played five games as part of a three-weekend stretch where they will attempt to qualify for the Nike Peach Jam in July. 24 teams will ultimately go.
One noteworthy change was that of a shot clock in 17-under games. Over the weekend, there were more than a few shot clock violations, owing in part to players not being used to having one in this competition and from the placement of them being in front of the scorer’s table instead of behind the baselines. There wasn’t much that could be done about the placement, but it probably contributed to some of the violations.
With that, here’s a look at some of the players in action this weekend.
Tyler Adams (6’10” Jr. PF-C, Brandon (MS) High) Part of a twin towers combination on his team, he has a good body inside and rebounded well. Although he was more aggressive later in an early Sunday game, he showed good but not great assertiveness inside and at times some bad body language.
Jose Agosto (6’6” Jr. SF, Gatlinburg (TN) Gatlinburg-Pittman HS) A wing with a good body, he finished well when he got near the basket en route to scoring 10 points off the bench in a game. His ball skills looked a little shaky, but he could get some Division I interest.
Jordan Akwenuke (6’7” Jr. SF-PF, Portland (OR) Jesuit HS) An intriguing prospect, he was active around the basket and finished well to go with having a body that can still mature a little more. He has some ball skills and is a plus athlete, and he showed a little penchant for play in the clutch with a big layup late in one game.
Mychal Ammons (6’6” Jr. SF, Vicksburg (MS) High) The big men on his team get a lot of attention, but this athletic forward is a solid prospect in his own right. He has a good body and scored in several ways, from post baskets to mid-range and long range jumpers in a 15-point outing. That mix of skills and athleticism makes him a high-major prospect.
Justin Anderson (6’6” So. SF-PF, Rockville (MD) Montrose Christian School) Highly-touted prospect has a mature body for his age and is active. The lefty didn’t play his best ball in an early game, as he struggled shooting until a few three-pointers went later on, and he also got a technical foul for smacking the backboard after a dunk.
Kyle Anderson, Jr. (6’8” So. SF, North Bergen (NJ) Paterson Catholic HS) He’s not very athletic, but has a lot of tools at his disposal and could one day be a big point guard. A baby physically, he has a smooth game and passes well, and had a short stretch where he made several nice plays in a row.
Ryan Anderson (6’8” Jr. PF, Lakewood (CA) Long Beach Poly HS) A solid, unspectacular post player, he has some length and a lower body that’s more developed than his upper body right now. In going for 15 points in a losing effort, he was one of the few bright spots for his team and scored mainly closer to the basket, although he did knock down a long two-point shot.
Brandon Ashley (6’9” So. PF, Dublin (CA) Bishop O’Dowd HS) Long post player came off the bench and helped his team not miss a beat, as he scored 18 points on 8-9 shooting in 14 minutes and grabbed six rebounds. His body has a ways to go, but he’s long, showed some good footwork that he can improve on and scored on quick post moves and dunks inside.
Zachary Banner (6’9” Jr. PF, Tacoma (WA) Lakes HS) A post player with a big body, he could stand to lose some weight, especially in his arms as it’s clear that not all of his weight is good. He worked to get some rebounds but was a non-factor offensively, showing that his footwork leaves something to be desired.
Gary Bell, Jr. (6’3” Jr. SG, Kent (WA) Kentridge HS) In an early game on Saturday, he limped off the court with a minor injury but came back shortly thereafter. Once the second half started, he came alive, scoring most of his 18 points to lead his team to a win. He did it with a variety of jumpers as deep as three-point range and some drives, although he also lost the ball in traffic, looking the part of a scorer more than a shooter although his jumper is more than respectable. High-major prospect.
Keith Bellfield (6’6” Jr. SF, Charlotte (NC) Cannon HS) He didn’t have a great shooting game early Sunday, but went for 13 points with three from long range. He’s not a baby physically and not the most athletic player, and he also faded on some of his shots, but his size and ability to make some shots will get him some Division I interest.
Wayne Blackshear (6’5” Jr. SF, Chicago (IL) Morgan Park HS) He has a pretty good reputation but put forth a rather underwhelming performance in one game his team lost. The Louisville commit has a good body that can still get better and rebounded well for a wing, suggesting he could be a power wing at the next level.
Malcolm Brogdon (6’4” Jr. SG, Norcross (GA) Greater Atlanta Christian HS) A wing with a good body, he scored from mid-range off the dribble and one time had a nice baseline drive and layup en route to 11 points in a win for his team. He also rebounded well for his position.
Macari Brooks (6’3” Jr. SG, Mattison (IL) Rich South HS) Athletic guard is a leaper, as he skied on a couple of occasions to make plays. He has a good body that can still get better, and looks to be more of a scorer than a shooter.
Jabari Brown (6’3” Jr. SG, Oakland (CA) High) He couldn’t miss in his team’s blowout win on Sunday, as he scored 33 points on 14-18 shooting, including 5-8 from deep. A lot of that damage was done in the first half, but he didn’t stop as his team blew the game open in the second half, also scoring on a couple of runners. High-major prospect.
Chris Bryant (6’7” Jr. SF-PF, Tallahassee (FL) Rickards HS) Athletic and with a thin upper body, he’s certainly got a ways to go physically but has a long wing span going for him. He didn’t score in any one way more than another but had 12 points in a winning effort for his team. Skill-wise, he’s probably more of a power forward than a small forward.
Dominique Bull (6’3” So. SG, Worcester (MA) Cushing Academy) A power guard who can score, he showed some nice improvement in areas aside from his scoring. He made good decisions with the ball and really seemed to show a better feel for the game.
Trey Burke (6’1” Jr. SG, Reynoldsburg (OH) Northland HS) One of the better shooting efforts in this event came from him, as he got hot in the second half en route to 27 points with five three-pointers. Besides his touch from long range, he scored on a nice baseline drive and runner and showed the ability to finish with his left (off) hand.
Renee Castro (6’2” Fr. SG, Milton (MA) Beaver Country Day School) His team swept through pool play and lost in the first round of the playoffs, but that can’t be placed on him. In their tournament-ending loss, his 13 points included two late free throws in regulation and a three-pointer in overtime that put them up by one. He has talent and mainly needs to grow in intangibles, although it would also be nice if he didn’t stand up much on the defensive end as it didn’t help him.
Alain Chigha (6’6” So. SF, Gainesville (FL) The Rock HS) Long and a baby physically, he he showed a range of ability that makes him an intriguing prospect. He rebounded well and scored in several ways, from a three-point shot to a couple of jumpers and even driving through the defense for a layup one time.
Matt Christiansen (6’8” So. PF, Oklahoma City (OK) Bishop McGuinness HS) Possessing a mature body inside, especially for his age, he’s a role player on his team. He didn’t get many scoring chances, mainly having to make his mark at the defensive end, which he did with a few blocked shots but not much else.
Rakim Christmas (6’9” Jr. C, Philadelphia (PA) Academy of New Church Boys) A big-time presence inside, his body isn’t there yet but he can dominate games with his shot-blocking and rebounding. He didn’t do that in an early game here, but he was more aggressive on offense, where he looked better but still needs a good deal of work to be an effective scorer. Big-time prospect.
Cameron Clear (6’7” So. PF, Memphis (TN) Central HS) A thick undersized post, he wasn’t a big offensive threat as he didn’t get the ball much but did a good job rebounding. He also ran the floor well, suggesting he can get appreciably better with better conditioning.
Kaleb Clyburn (5’9” Sr. PG, Orlando (FL) Montverde Academy) In a game that featured a number of big-time prospects, he was one of the better players. The lefty was aggressive, heady and competed all game, overcoming the fact that he’s not very physically gifted. He made a couple of shots from long range en route to 12 points, but did much more for his team than just score. Mid-major prospect.
Trevor Cooney (6’3” Jr. SG, Wilmington (DE) Sanford School) Big-time shooter didn’t play his best game but showed some of what’s made him a solid prospect. He moved well without the ball and knocked down a couple from long range, but he was also short on several shots in a 12-point outing. High-major prospect has committed to Syracuse.
Anthony Davis (6’8” Jr. PF, Chicago (IL) Perspectives Charter School) Long post player was playing well before a bad landing on his left ankle led to his departure from an early game. He ran the floor well and was active on the boards, getting a rebound on the play in which he got hurt.
Kerrell Davis (5’9” So. PG, Memphis (TN) Hillcrest HS) A point guard with a slight frame, he’s quick and had a good showing in a losing effort. He made some good passes and scored with a jumper from deep and even got a stickback despite being one of the smallest players on the floor. As he’s still young, there’s some upside for him.
Myles Davis (6’1” Jr. SG, Plainfield (NJ) St. Peter’s Prep) Known primarily for his shooting and projecting as an undersized shooting guard, he now has a mature body and looked to drive more than shoot. He still has good range and knocked down some from deep, but his offensive game is looking more complete all the time. Mid-major plus/high-major minus prospect.
Nyles Evans (5’11” Jr. PG, North Canton (OH) Hoover HS) A small point guard, he’s a baby physically but didn’t let his lack of size stop him as he finished right over a defender and showed a jumper that must be respected en route to scoring 10 points in a losing effort.
George Fant (6’8” Jr. PF, Bowling Green (KY) Warren Central HS) A live body, he has some physical maturity and it can still mature more. He got some rebounds but was limited offensively, in part because he preferred to hang out away from the basket instead of being a factor inside. That leads one to believe he may be a better player than he showed.
Junior Fortunat (6’8” Jr. PF, Philadelphia (PA) Roman Catholic HS) A plus athlete who came off the bench for his team, he made an impact once he came into the game. He has some physical maturity and helped with his play inside, including a short turnaround jumper in the early going.
Alex Foster (6’8” Fr. PF, Chicago (IL) De La Salle HS) Another warrior in the Meanstreets program, he has some length and physical maturity. He battled inside constantly in an early playoff win, scoring 15 points and blocking shots at the defensive end.
Simuel Frazier (6’1” Jr. PG, Hampton (VA) Phoebus HS) Lefty point guard has above-average quickness but a questionable handle. He had his moments in a game where his team was dominated, but never set the tone at the offensive end and his counterpart had a big game.
Kiwi Gardner (5’9” Jr. PG, Ceres (CA) Manteca HS) A small point guard, he got the best of top prospect Marquis Teague early on, getting a steal and layup and ably defending him for a spell. He’s a good leaper whose body has a ways to go physically, and he put on a solid show with 19 points, seven assists and four steals in a blowout win.
Zach Garland (7’0” Jr. C, Jonesborough (TN) Davy Crockett HS) Post player has a good body that’s not fully mature yet. Although he showed a touch from mid-range, he didn’t get the ball often at the offensive end and wasn’t the factor he probably could have been on defense, not gobbling up rebounds or blocking/changing shots like players his size can do.
Mike Gilchrist (6’7” Jr. SF, Elizabeth (NJ) St. Patrick’s HS) In an early game, he put up the first clunker we’ve seen as he wasn’t the big factor he usually is. He was around the ball often and made a nice spin move to score, but in scoring 11 points he didn’t make as many plays as he usually does. As he’s been so consistently good, it can be overlooked in the grand scheme of things. Big-time prospect.
Kevin Gray (6’7” Jr. SF-PF, Chicago (IL) Brooks HS) A thin forward, he quietly contributed for his team in a reserve role. He was active and made his share of plays at both ends, not scoring much but finding the ball off misses and when it was loose. He has some upside since his body is not there yet as well.
Max Guercy (5’8” So. PG, Arleta (CA) Bishop Alameny HS) A small point guard, he was one of the few bright spots for his team in a bad losing effort on Saturday. He scored 20 points, most coming on the six three-pointers he hit, as he shot well from long range and did what he could to run the show. Several of those baskets came early when his team was struggling to score.
Aaron Hammons (6’11” So. C, Carmel (IN) High) Promising big man has some length and a decent body right now that can get better. His post moves look fundamentally good, although they can certainly get better, and at his young age he has time to develop.
Dominique Harris (6’5” So. SF, Southaven (MS) High) A thick wing, he was around the ball quite often at both ends. He didn’t score much, but he did knock down a shot from deep and rebounded well for a wing.
Keith Hornsby (6’3” Jr. SG, Williamsburg (VA) Oak Hill Academy) One of the few bright spots for his team in an early game, he showed a good touch from long range and has a mature body for the wing position. He also made a nice drive and dish play, showing he’s not just a shooter. Mid-major prospect.
Ty Houghton (6’9” So. PF, Miami (FL) Dr. Krop HS) A long post player, he missed some time after getting poked in the eye early in one game but was able to return later. He didn’t get a lot of good chances on offense, but when he did he showed that he has some work to do as he has shaky footwork, nearly traveling several times.
Desmond Hubert (6’9” Jr. PF, Cream Ridge (NJ) New Egypt HS) A post prospect to keep an eye on, he has some length and a body that’s not there yet. He ran the floor and finished, a couple of times with dunks, and was a factor inside although he also got into some late foul trouble.
Alex Hutson (6’2” Jr. SG, Tipton (IN) High) At first he handled the ball for his team, but before long it became clear that he’s a gunner rather than a point guard. The lefty is limited physically, so he’s not going to be very effective doing much more than shooting, and he struggled while putting up some ill-advised shots from deep.
Nino Jackson (6’2” So. SG, Ardmore (OK) High) A baby physically, he’s an intriguing prospect as he’s athletic and showed some quickness on a drive to the basket, while also knocking down a three-pointer in a game he didn’t score much. He’ll be worth keeping an eye on given his physical gifts.
Kevin Johnson (6’10” Jr. C, Los Angeles (CA) Taft HS) His big body will grab attention, as he has good size to play inside, but he didn’t put forth a good showing. He showed shaky footwork, struggled to finish en route to 10 points against a team that wasn’t loaded with players his size, and was in foul trouble as well. In addition, he wasn’t the most mobile player inside. Mid-major prospect.
Nick Johnson (6’3” Jr. SG, Phoenix (AZ) Findlay College Prep) Well-built combo guard has a mature body and is very unselfish. In a game his team won by 52, he scored just eight points but had five assists and could easily have had a few more. He didn’t hunt his shot, although he’s shown himself to be a capable scorer, and he helped ride the hot hand as a teammate couldn’t miss on the day. High-major prospect.
Richard Johnson (5’9” Jr. PG, Akron (OH) St. Vincent-St. Mary HS) A tough on-the-ball defender, he plays more like an undersized shooting guard. He can shoot, showing a touch from deep and a couple from inside the arc, while also getting a nice steal and layup. Mid-major prospect.
Tyrone Johnson (6’2” Jr. SG, Plainfield (NJ) High) Although he started off as his team’s point guard and brought the ball up, he looked much better off the ball. He has a good body but struggled shooting, where his release is just about a set shot, and didn’t take the best care of the ball.
Ryan King (6’7” Jr. SF, Mebane (NC) Oak Ridge HS) A baby physically, he had a quiet 18 performance to help his team win. He finished well near the basket and got a couple of stickbacks, and while he didn’t necessarily leap out at you he was productive on the court and has some upside.
Austin Kuemper (6’9” Jr. PF, Portland (OR) Westview HS) A solid post prospect, his body’s not there yet and that means better things should be ahead. He showed a nice touch scoring inside and on some jumpers that included a short turnaround jumper and and shots from the baseline and free throw line. In going for 29 points to start Saturday, he also finished the break a couple of times and got stickbacks as well.
Trever Lacey (6’3” Jr. SG, Huntsville (AL) High) A well-built guard with a wide frame, he showed again that he can shoot, whether off the catch or off the dribble. He’s not very athletic, and it’s not clear he can get his own shot off the dribble, although he did a couple of times in a 17-point outing.
Devin Langford (6’6” Jr. SF-PF, Huntsville (AL) Central HS) Playing in a game that featured several big-time prospects, he was arguably the best player on the floor. He has a good body and is athletic, was active at both ends and made a number of plays in addition to scoring 17 points. He has some ball skills and scored with stickbacks that included a follow-up dunk, and he rebounded well.
Deng Leek (7’0” Jr. C, High Point (NC) Wesleyan Christian HS) An intriguing prospect, he’s long and has a more developed upper body than lower body, and while raw doesn’t appear to entire lack post moves. He clearly needs work offensively, but showed some potential with a couple of post baskets, while he also committed a blatant moving pick and wasn’t a big factor defensively.
Shawn Long (6’8” Jr. PF, Morgan City (LA) High) A post player with a good body, he finished inside and got a couple of stickbacks as he was active, although he didn’t own the boards. He did show some range on his jumper, including one from deep, but he projects to be a power forward.
Myles Mack (5’9” Jr. PG, Paterson (NJ) Catholic HS) In one of the first games of the tournament, he was the single biggest reason his team dominated the opponent as he was clearly the best player on the floor. He’s a small guard but had a big impact on the game, from hitting shots to stealing the ball to get a layup at the other end, from getting lots of loose balls to stopping and popping for short jumpers, and even going right by a defender to put home a runner. He found teammates often, especially his big men, and although point totals were not available for that game he had to have topped 25 points. His size is a concern for the high-major level, but he’s at least a mid-major plus/high-major minus prospect.
Elijah Macon (6’8” So. PF, Columbus (OH) Marion Franklin HS) Incorrectly listed as a Class of 2010 player in the tournament program, he’s athletic and his body isn’t there yet. He wasn’t a big factor and looks like he can be a better player, scoring on a stickback but not doing much else.
George Marshall (6’2” Jr. SG, Chicago (IL) Brooks HS) One of the few individual bright spots in a loss for his team, he led the way with 15 points, most coming on four three-pointers. That helped keep them in the game, and that along with his size will certainly earn him some Division I attention.
Makai Mason (5’10” Fr. PG, Hatfield (MA) Bement HS) He has a great motor, which can make up for his lack of size to some degree, and it showed as he was effective. He’s a baby physically and right now plays more like a shooting guard, going for 15 points in one game.
Quincy Miller (6’10” Jr. SF-PF, Winston-Salem (NC) Quality Education HS) He had the best individual game performance we saw, going for 40 points in one game that included five three-pointers. He long and has some ball skills, which he showed one time when he went coast-to-coast for a layup. On the down side, he lacks strength and was guilty of basket-hanging on one occasion, making his team play four-on-five when he could have run back to help his team out. Big-time prospect.
Ante Mioc (6’10” Jr. C, Charlotte (NC) Northside Christian HS) He has a good body inside that isn’t fully mature yet, and didn’t look like a bad defensive presence although he could have been better. He was around the ball inside and got a few rebounds, while also scoring nine points in an early Sunday loss.
Telvin Mitchell (6’3” Jr. SG, Shreveport (LA) Huntington HS) A baby physically, he shot the ball well from long range en route to 11 points in a losing effort. He didn’t do much else, but his size and ability to shoot should get him some mid-major looks.
Darian Nelson-Henry (6’10” So. C, Kirkland (WA) Lake Washington HS) A wide-bodied post player, he’s not the swiftest inside player but isn’t bad. He made a heady save to a teammate for a layup on one play but generally was little more than a space-eater. With a little better conditioning, he could develop into a decent role-playing big man.
Victor Nickerson (6’7” Jr. SF, Norcross (GA) High) A wing with a thin upper body and some length, he’s a plus athlete and looks like a nice complementary player. His body should still mature more and he rebounded well at the offensive end, and helped his team win aside from the box score.
Nerlens Noel (6’9” So. C, Everett (MA) High) He didn’t play the kind of minutes he normally would as he’s still recovering from a leg injury suffered during the high school season. He’s very long and has potential, but it was hard to see here because he’s not really in shape to play as he’s not fully healed from the injury.
Ike Nwamu (6’4” Jr. SF, Greensboro (NC) High Point HS) A well-built guard, he’s athletic and drove for baskets several times, even getting a dunk while fouled on one occasion. On a team with a couple of big scorers, he didn’t stand out, but did reach double figures in a game and showed scoring ability.
Johnny O’Bryant (6’10” Jr. PF, Cleveland (MS) Eastside HS) Although he has a big-time reputation, a lot of that appears to be about upside. He’s more mature physically and can score, going for 13 points in a win for his team, but he tends to hang on the perimeter too much. That’s a problem because he’s not a smooth ball handler at all and tends to travel with the ball. While he’s not the most polished on the post, he scored inside and got to the foul line as well. High-major/big-time prospect.
Goodluck Okonoboh (6’6” Fr. PF, Boston (MA) Tilton School) A big man with some potential, he showed some of that on the offensive end while struggling with foul trouble defensively. He showed some better post offense overall, though he made a few shots very high off the window, and his motor generally looked better and hence he was more effective.
Obi Omegano (6’3” Jr. SF, Edmond (OK) Memorial HS) A power wing, he came in off the bench and had his way with bigger players en route to 20 points against the Mac Irvin Fire. He’s well-built and used his strength well to finish, scoring at times on the post and a couple of times on drives. He was around the ball often and played bigger, but he’s not the most athletic and projects as a wing so that might limit his recruitment some. Mid-major prospect.
Tony Parker (6’9” So. PF, Lithonia (GA) Miller Grove HS) Although he has a big-time reputation, at times he didn’t look like it in an early Sunday game. He’s solidly built and rebounded well, but at times he got pushed off the post, elbowed a defender on a move to the basket and didn’t seem to have the best motor. But he scored 12 of his 17 points in the second half, and has the look of a player who can be tough to stop when he wants to be.
Jeffrey Perkins (6’6” Jr. SF, Seattle (WA) Rainier Beach HS) Lanky wing has the look of a “potential” player, as he didn’t do much in terms of numbers or stand out but passes the look test.
James Prices (6’10” Jr. C, Richmond Heights (OH) St. Edward’s HS) Lefty post player showed a live body inside that made things happen, especially at the defensive end. He blocked a few shots and rebounded well, in part from being active as he has some physical maturity but can still mature more. Offensively, he didn’t get a lot of chances.
Rashawn Rembert (6’3” Jr. SG, Odessa (FL) Sickles HS) A talented and athletic wing, he had a nice 14-point outing in one game with several baskets coming in the very early going. His body isn’t there yet and he can shoot out to long range, but most of his baskets seemed to come a little closer to the basket.
Austin Rivers (6’4” Jr. SG, Winter Park (FL) High) A very talented guard, he shot the ball well from long range en route to 17 points against Team Final. One shot came behind a good screen and he had a stretch where the shots kept falling, and he showed a good feel for the game. Big-time prospect recently backed off a commitment to Florida.
Andrew Roundtree (6’3” Jr. SG, Portland (OR) Jefferson HS) A baby physically, he’s a plus athlete who doesn’t hurt his team as a complementary player and late in one game made a couple of key field goals to help his team win. He also went coast-to-coast off a rebound and got fouled near the basket.
Tyler Russell (6’0” Jr. PG, Goodyear (AZ) Millenium HS) Don’t let his slight frame fool you: he competed every second of the game we saw and was a big reason his team had a chance. He constantly attacks on offense and is a tough floor leader who passes well and has a body that’s almost fully mature. He scored just 11 points, knocking down a mid-range shot off the dribble along the way, but his play at the point had his team in the game.
Jakarr Sampson (6’8” Jr. SF, Akron (OH) St. Vincent-St. Mary HS) Very athletic wing struggled in an early game, leaving the impression that he’s a better player than he showed. His body isn’t there yet, especially the upper body, and the only field goal he knocked down was a long two-point shot, suggesting he may have some range.
Mike Shaw (6’9” Jr. SF-PF, Chicago (IL) De La Salle HS) Well-built forward was active but didn’t do much that showed up in the box score in one game we saw. Foul trouble didn’t help, but he didn’t sit most of the game and when he was in was not really a factor in a game his team lost.
Shayok Shayok (6’7” Jr. SF-PF, Chicago (IL) Boys to Men School) Thin wing had a nice showing for his team despite being a little raw. He scored on a stickback and from mid-range off the dribble, and battled against a bigger player inside. With his body not there yet, there’s some upside in him.
Dorian Smith (6’8” Jr. PF, Portsmouth (VA) I.C. Norcom HS) Long forward is raw and has a ways to go physically but showed some potential. His ball skills aren’t bad and he goes to the hoop often, both with and without the ball as we saw him get a nice follow-up dunk.
Hakeem Stewart (6’4” Jr. SG-SF, Seattle (WA) Rainier Beach HS) The better of two twins on his team, he has a good body and showed a nice touch shooting the ball. Besides a nice finish while getting fouled, he knocked down shots from mid-range and long range en route to 21 points in a losing effort.
Rasham Suarez (6’2” Jr. SG, Hampton (GA) Jonesboro HS) Although he came off the bench for his team, he was one of their better players in an early morning win on Sunday. His effort was solid and he has a mature body, and in scoring 11 points he showed a touch shooting the ball out to three-point range.
Freddy Tagaloa (6’9” So. PF-C, Vallejo (CA) Salesian HS) He has a big body, but not all of the weight is good. On his team, he’s a little deep on the bench, but he got in for a lot of minutes since the game was a blowout and he had nine rebounds in about 10 minutes. If he can improve his conditioning, he could develop into a Division I post player.
Stevie Taylor (5’10” Jr. PG, Gahanna (OH) Lincoln HS) A baby physically, he ran the show very capably for his team while scoring 14 points. He was able to shoot from long range and had more shots go later in the game than early on, but he ran the offense the entire game while making himself a scoring threat.
Marquis Teague (6’1” Jr. PG, Indianapolis (IN) Pike HS) His team’s blowout loss wasn’t the best game to evaluate him, especially once he went down with a bad left ankle in the second half with the game’s outcome already decided. He scored 17 points, first on some close shots and later on a couple of very deep three-pointers with his man right on him, showing some flashes of the potential he has. He’s very quick and clearly has a world of potential despite a slight frame.
Josiah Turner (6’3” Jr. SG, Sacramento (CA) High) Overshadowed by more highly-touted teammates and one who had a big game, he quietly scored 17 points and had nine rebounds from his wing position as his team won in dominant fashion. He has a good body and overcame a slow start, hitting jumpers for a number of his points.
Judd Welfinger (6’5” Jr. SG, Laveen (AZ) Basha HS) After a first half in which he seemingly couldn’t miss, he scored just three of his 17 points in the second half of an early Sunday game. He has good size and is more than a shooter, as he showed a good passing ability and good shot selection even while the shots were going down.
Jalen West (5’10” Jr. PG, Bossier City (LA) High) A solid guard, his size is the one thing that might limit his recruitment as he showed good fundamentals. He used screens well and was adept at stopping and popping instead of charging into a defender, and later made a nice give-and-go with a backdoor cut for a basket. He also drove through the defense for a basket and later passed on the move. He scored 17 points in a losing effort but had a solid showing. Mid-major prospect.
Tevin Westbrook (6’7” Jr. PF, Winter Garden (FL) Pinecrest HS) Post player has a mature body that isn’t all good weight. Although he was active, he’s not the most fluid player, and on a team with a lot of talent he didn’t get many touches on offense.
Delean Wheelwright (6’0” Jr. PG, Corona (CA) Centennial HS) A solid, unspectacular point guard, he played well in a game where his team struggled. He finished the break and showed a touch from long range, while one of his passes that stood out was a nice touch pass after a long pass was sent his way.
Darrice Whitley (6’4” Jr. SG, Greenville (SC) J.L. Mann HS) Lefty wing has some length for his position and a little athleticism but didn’t show the best fundamentals. He didn’t take the best shots, especially in traffic, and took a mid-range shot off the wrong foot on one play.
Scottie Wilbekin (6’2” Jr. SG, Gainesville (FL) The Rock HS) A scoring wing, he’s a gunner who can get hot shooting the ball. In going for 17 points in a win, he scored on drives and from deep, while also taking some questionable shots, and his body isn’t there yet.
Telvin Wilkerson (6’3” So. SG, Memphis (TN) Melrose HS) Although he led his team with 15 points in a losing effort, he showed he has a good deal of work to do. He knocked down shots from deep and had a nice drive and finished with his left (off) hand, but he also traveled with the ball and his ball skills appear to need a good deal of work.
Alan Williams (6’7” Jr. PF, Phoenix (AZ) North HS) Thick undersized post player was in foul trouble in an early Sunday game we saw but had his moments when he was in the game. He goes to work inside and has a good motor, but his endurance looks like a question mark and he fouled out on a play away from the ball, never good for a post player. There are some things to like if he can improve his conditioning, and he’s a mid-major prospect.
Jonathan Williams (6’8” Fr. SF-PF, Memphis (TN) Southwind HS) A lefty forward with a good frame, he might have the most potential of anyone on his young team. He’s actually a rising freshman, with a thin upper body and appearing to have a chance to be a combo forward. He’ll be worth watching over the next few years.
Andrew Wilson (6’6” Jr. SF-PF, Tulsa (OK) Central HS) An active and athletic forward, he has some length and a live body that makes him a factor. He was in a lot of plays but didn’t make as many, and despite some struggles offensively in part due to bad shots he took near the basket, he made a couple of clutch field goals in a win for his team. Mid-major/mid-major plus prospect.
Lester Wilson (6’6” Jr. SF, Knoxville (TN) Carter HS) A well-built wing, he scored 18 points but left the impression he could have done even more. He scored on drives and from long range, showing a pretty complete package offensively, and he could be something of a sleeper prospect. High-major minus prospect.
Kyle Wiltjer (6’9” Jr. PF, West Linn (OR) Jesuit HS) A fundamentally sound post player, the highlight of the game we saw for him was when he blocked a shot and went coast-to-coast for a layup that the opposing team probably didn’t appreciate since the game was a blowout and it was the last minute. That aside, he boxed out well, showed a touch from the elbow with his jumper and was able to use his left (off) hand.
Tony Wroten, Jr. (6’6” Jr. SF, Seattle (WA) Garfield HS) Seeing his first action since tearing his ACL in a football game, it’s clear the lefty doesn’t have the explosiveness back yet but he looked better as the game went along. He drove the baseline and finished while getting fouled and passed the ball well, but was short on jump shots as he didn’t show a lot of lift when getting up to shoot. High-major prospect.
Isaiah Zierden (6’2” Jr. SG, Brooklyn Park (MN) BSM) In a late game, he showed a great touch from long range, making six from behind the arc in a half. Several came from the right wing, but that wasn’t his only spot as he moved well without the ball to get open. His ball skills look okay, although it’s questionable if he’s a combo guard based on this observation. Still, his shooting makes him a prospect to keep an eye on.
Jared Zoller (6’6” Jr. SF, Glendale (AZ) Mountain Ridge HS) One of his team’s best players, he came off the bench and gave them a big lift in an early Sunday game. He went for 15 points, scoring on jumpers as deep as three-point range and showing a good baseline drive on one play. His body’s not there yet and he was active on the offensive glass.
Other players who caught our attention:
Alex Allen (6’5” Fr. PF, Graniteville (SC) Midland Valley HS)
Devonte Anderson (6’2” Fr. SG, Columbia (SC) Richland Northeast HS)
Darian Barnes (6’8” Jr. PF, Yeardon (PA) Pennwood HS)
Jaylen Brantley (5’9” Fr. PG, Springfield (MA) Central HS)
Julius Brown (5’11” Jr. PG, Country Club Hills (IL) Hillcrest HS)
Anthony Fields (6’0” Jr. PG, Winston-Salem (NC) Quality Education HS)
Miles Gatewood (6’1” Jr. SG, Portland (OR) Westview HS)
Vaughn Gray (6’5” Jr. SF, Elmwood Park (NJ) Don Bosco Prep)
Mychal Henry (6’5” Jr. SF, Riverdale (IL) Orr HS)
Javaria Jones (6’9” Jr. PF, Shreveport (LA) Huntington HS)
Dejuan Marrero (6’5” So. SF, Gary (IN) Theo Bowman HS)
Harvey McMurray (6’3” Jr. SG, Durham (NC) Academy)
Kendrick Nunn (6’1” Fr. SG, Chicago (IL) Simeon HS)
Raschon Prince (6’6” Fr. SF, Long Beach (CA) Poly HS)
Derrick Randall (6’8” Jr. PF, Paterson (NJ) Catholic HS)
Josh Richardson (6’5” Jr. SF, Edmond (OK) Santa Fe HS)
Jarvis Summers (6’3” Jr. SG, Jackson (MS) Provine HS)
Tarique Thompson (6’5” Fr. SF, Fayetteville (NC) Christian HS)
John Walton (6’6” So. PF, Memphis (TN) Mitchell HS)
Dustin Watts (6’2” Jr. SG, Renton (WA) O’Dea HS)
