2010 Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions Recap

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions was held its customary area this Memorial Day weekend, bringing together 128 teams in the three main high school age groups in a very well-run event. Every team has had strong showings in at least one tournament over the course of the year, so it’s always competitive and has some unexpected outcomes as well. This year’s event had some excellent individual talent at the top of each class, although the depth wasn’t what it has been in some other years of the tournament.

Before we get to the championship results, we want to mention that Bob Gibbons ran this fine tournament with a heavy heart as on Sunday morning he shared with everyone the news that his mother passed away on Saturday. Our thoughts and prayers are with Bob and his family at this time.

The 15-Under Select final was close for most of the game. Around the halfway point of the second half, the Wisconsin Playground Warriors opened up a 47-37 lead over the Garner Road Bulldogs. Garner Road then rallied slowly, ultimately taking a 55-54 lead late in the game. With just over a half minute to go, Bronson Koeing (6’1” Fr. SG, La Crosse (WI) Aquinas HS) hit a jumper to put the Playground Warriors up 58-57, a lead they would hang on to for the win. Koeing and Austin Mecca (6’7” Fr. PF, Manitowoc (WI) Lincoln HS) led the Playground Warriors with 16 points each and were named co-MVPs of the 15-Under Select.

In the 15-Under National final, Team United jumped out early on DC Assault, leading 29-10 before DC Assault rallied. Team United would finish the half strong to go up 39-23 at the break, and they kept the lead up for some of the second half. DC Assault’s rally picked up steam a little after the halfway point, and they got within 57-56 at one point before Team United scored consecutive baskets and then used free throws to seal a 66-61 win. Claiborn Byrd (5’10” Fr. PG-SG, Hickory (NC) High) and Kennedy Meeks (6’8” Fr. PF, Charlotte (NC) West Charlotte HS) led the winners with 15 points each. Romelo Trimble (6’3” Fr. SG, Temple Hills (MD) Progressive Christian Academy) led DC Assault with a game-high 24 points.

In the 16-Under Select final, Indiana Elite/Team Indiana led for most of the game, and although they never broke the game open they opened it up past one possession for stretches in the final minutes in a 71-66 win over the Charlotte Nets. MVP D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera (6’3” So. SG, Indianapolis (IN) North Central) led Indiana Elite with a game-high 28 points. Jarvis Haywood (6’4” So. SG, Charlotte (NC) Waddell HS) led the Nets with 24 points.

The 16-Under National final was a dandy between the Atlanta Celtics, whose teams have had great success in this tournament over the years, and the fast-rising CP3 All-Stars. CP3 got going early to take a 12-point lead on a few occasions in the first half, but the Celtics rallied to get within 40-36 at halftime. Early in the second, the Celtics grabbed the lead, then the game went back and forth. With CP3 holding a 68-67 lead with 5.3 seconds left, William Goodwin (6’8” So. PF, Decatur (GA) Southwest Dekalb HS) sank two free throws to cap a game-high 26-point performance, and CP3’s attempt at the buzzer missed as the Celtics took home the title with a 69-68 win. Goodwins was named the MVP. Braxton Ogbueze (5’11” So. PG, Charlotte (NC) United Faith Christian HS) led CP3 with 23 points and Reggie Dillard (6’4” So. SG, Greensboro (NC) Dudley HS) added 19.

The 17-Under Select final was not played, as one of the teams had a conflicting flight that could not be changed and their semifinal opponent and would-be championship opponent opted not to play the game.

The 17-Under National final started off as a close game, but the Long Island Lightning got most loose and 50-50 balls and took advantage, taking a double-digit lead late in the first half and a 41-28 edge over the Michigan Hurricanes at halftime. The Lightning then scored the first nine points of the second half, and although the Hurricanes slowly rallied to within 73-66 late, the game was never in doubt in the second half as the Lightning took the title with a 76-66 win. MVP Derrick Gordon (6’4” Jr. SG, Elizabeth (NJ) St. Patrick’s HS) led the Lightning with a game-high 23 points to cap off an excellent weekend. Darnell Harris (6’8” Jr. SF-PF, Milwaukee (WI) Alexander Hamilton HS) led the Hurricanes with 19 points.

Now, we take a look at some of the players who competed this weekend.

Tracy Abrams (6’1” Sr. PG-SG, Chicago (IL) Mt. Carmel HS) He has a solid national reputation and played well here, going for 21 in a quarterfinal win on Sunday. He plays hard and has some athleticism, although he didn’t look like the most fluid athlete, and knocked down several jumpers out to three-point range. High-major minus prospect has committed to Illinois.

Jordan Adams (6’5” So. SG, Lawrenceville (GA) Central Gwinnett HS) The leading scorer on the 16-Under National champions, he had a nice weekend and an argument could be made that he was deserving of the MVP. He has a relatively mature body with some good offensive skill, including a touch from long range that he displayed a few times. In going for 20 points in the quarterfinals, he made his shots count as he hit some key three-pointers in the second half.

Obji Aget (7’0” So. C, Beckley (WV) Mountain State Academy) Very long post player is raw and a baby physically, but there’s reason to think he can improve to be more prospect than project. He didn’t show much at either end and is clearly a “potential” player right now, but his motor is good enough to think he has a chance.

Ryan Arcidiancono (6’3” So. PG-SG, Langhorne (PA) Neshaminy HS) At first, it looked like he might not play as he had a bandage above his right eye, but he played and did it well. He was the leading scorer in 16-under at nearly 32 points per game, scoring exactly that in a loss to the eventual champions, but more importantly he showed his excellent basketball I.Q. and ability to play both guard spots.

D.J. Balentine (6’1” So. PG-SG, Kokomo (IN) High) In an early game on Saturday, he led his team to a win over an in-state rival with 15 points, showing a good touch from long range. He has a good body and also was able to drive and dish.

Adjehi Baru (6’10” Jr. PF, Richmond (VA) Steward HS) A long post player with minimal physical maturity, the keys with him are upside and competitiveness. There’s plenty of the former given that his body has a ways to go, and no shortage of the latter as he competes all the time and runs the floor well. His game needs some work, not surprisingly, but the intangibles suggest his skills will one day catch up to his body. High-major prospect.

Deandre Bembry (6’4” Fr. SG-SF, Charlotte (NC) Independence HS) A wing with a good frame, he scored some in transition and was strong late in the second half of his team’s semifinal win, though he didn’t score much. His body isn’t there yet, but he has time for that to come along.

Cedrick Bowen (6’7” Jr. SF-PF, Woodstock (GA) High) A plus athlete with a good body, he was active and played assertively inside while running the floor. His body can mature more, which should mean he’ll get even better inside.

Chris Brown (6’8” Sr. SF, Tampa (FL) Taag Academy) Headed for a prep year next season, he has some length and a little athleticism but left us feeling like he’s a better player than he showed. He’s not smooth, but was active and in a lot of plays along the way. Mid-major prospect.

Robert Brown (6’6” Jr. SG-SF, Clermont (FL) Eastridge HS) An athletic wing with a thin upper body, he has a good reputation but didn’t play up to it in an early playoff loss. His body’s not there yet, and when he matures he will probably be better at driving and scoring, which he did a couple of times in scoring just seven points.

John Cannon (6’11” Jr. C, Burnsville (NC) Mount Heritage HS) Post player isn’t smooth but was active and effective. He has a mature body and showed a touch from mid-range en route to 10 points in a Saturday game. Mid-major/mid-major plus prospect.

Kareem Canty (6’1” Jr. PG, Brooklyn (NY) Bishop Loughlin HS) He’s been under the radar until recently, as he’s starting to break out after leading his team to a couple of recent championships. His floor leadership has been excellent, as he often found teammates for baskets while also knocking down mid-range shots and consistently scoring in the teens. With his play of late, he’s emerging as a mid-major prospect.

Akil Carr (5’8” Fr. PG, Baltimore (MD) Patterson HS) This small point guard was the story of his team’s win on Saturday when he put up 36 points against the Atlanta Celtics. He’s quick and hyper and plays with an edge, and when he started penetrating he constantly found the gaps and never missed a chance to get through them. When he wasn’t finishing or finding a teammate, he was drawing contact, and when he had a shot from deep he knocked it down at times, hitting four three-pointers. His size may ultimately be a limitation, so the hope is that he grows more.

Angelo Chol (6’9” Jr. PF, San Diego (CA) Hoover HS) Long lefty post player wasn’t a huge factor, but he had his moments. He lacks strength and will need to add it to be more of a factor, but he rebounded reasonably well and was a presence inside defensively while not being one offensively.

Shaquille Cleare (6’9” So. PF, Houston (TX) The Village HS) Post player has a big body inside and a lot of room for development. He missed close shots and in general showed an offensive game that’s rough around the edges, but his size gives him a chance if he can develop his game.

Tyrek Coger (6’8” Fr. PF, Raleigh (NC) Upper Room HS) Post player has a good body, though he’s not the most mobile post player and that was particularly noticeable when he got the ball down low. He couldn’t make a good post move, not helped by his lack of mobility, so a prime place for improvement would be getting his body into better shape.

Dantiel Daniels (6’6” Jr. PF, Wentzville (MO) Holt HS) An undersized post player, the lefty showed some good footwork at the offensive end that made him a scoring threat. In going for 10 points in one game and 19 in another, he worked inside at both ends of the floor and got to the foul line several times. Mid-major prospect.

Denzel Dillingham (6’3” Jr. SG, Hickory (NC) High) He has a good wing body and early on looked like a nice offensive player, knocking down a couple of good jump shots in the first half. But he was quiet in the second half of a loss for his team, not getting shots and finishing the game with just nine points. Still, he’s worth another look.

Wayne Ellenson (6’4” So. SG-SF, Rice Lake (WI) High) A solid blender player, he has a mature body and ran the floor well, at times getting out in transition. He’s more athletic than he looks and plays well within the team concept.

Austin Etherington (6’6” Jr. SG-SF, Arcadia (IN) Hamilton Heights HS) A wing with good size, he’s not overly quick or athletic but was aggressive, looking to drive often. In going for 15 points in a win for his team, he showed a touch shooting the ball but was usually looking to drive.

Kevin Ferrell (5’10” So. PG, Indianapolis (IN) Park Tudor HS) Nicknamed “Yogi”, he’s a baby physically but talented at the offensive end and played up in 17-under. He didn’t show a great deal of playmaking ability, but went for 16 points with a good stroke from long range in a pool win for his team on Saturday.

Amir Garrett (6’6” So. SG-SF, Lawndale (CA) Leuzinger HS) Lefty wing was one of the most promising players we saw on opening night in helping his team to a blowout win. He’s athletic and tough, going for 13 points that included a stickback, and his body’s not there yet so there is certainly some physical upside.

Anthony Gill (6’8” Jr. PF, Charlotte (NC) Christian HS) Athletic power forward has a good body that can still get better with added strength. He wasn’t a standout, but a solid player, and in a losing effort for his team on Friday night he scored 14 points and was a factor inside.

Derrick Gordon (6’4” Jr. SG, Elizabeth (NJ) St. Patrick’s HS) The easy choice for 17-Under National MVP, he’s a very nice pickup for Western Kentucky, where he committed a while ago. He’s not the most athletically gifted and won’t wow you in any way, but he’s fundamentally sound, scored often on driving field goals and mid-range shots, and finished with his left (off) hand when necessary. He was a consistent double figure scorer, especially in the playoffs as he had 21 and 25 leading up to the title game. Mid-major plus prospect.

William Goodwin (6’8” So. PF, Decatur (GA) Southwest Dekalb HS) The MVP of the 16-Under National got better as the weekend went along. In an early playoff game, he struggled to finish inside although he showed some good moves. He has a mature body, although not all of it is good weight, and he went to work inside instead of drifting away from the basket. He finished the weekend off with a nice championship game to lead his team to victory.

Derrick Griffin (6’7” Fr. SF-PF, Rosenberg (TX) Terry HS) What he showed in terms of skill shows he may be more likely to project as a power forward than a wing. Although he knocked down a three-pointer, he was just okay shooting the ball and doesn’t get much lift on his jump shot. He’s not lacking athleticism and has a more developed lower body than upper right now.

Cezar Guerrero (6’0” Jr. PG, Bellflower (CA) St. John Bosco) One of the best point guards in the tournament, he got to the hoop just about any time he wanted to with good quickness and by finding gaps and rode that to being the second-leading scorer in 17-under. He went for 30 and 22 in a couple of games, and his body’s not there yet, suggesting he can still get better physically. High-major prospect.

Aaron Harrison (6’5” Fr. SG-SF, Houston (TX) Strake Jesuit HS) Like his twin, he has a good body with some maturity for his age, although he didn’t look as good. He didn’t have the ball in his hands as often, although he did go for 13 points in one game we saw.

Andrew Harrison (6’5” Fr. SG, Houston (TX) Strake Jesuit HS) The better of the two young twins, he played up in 17-under and showed some promise, although it seems clear he doesn’t know the game yet. He has a good body and had the ball in his hands often, and he showed the ability to finish with his left (off) hand along the way. He passed up a few close shots he should have taken, and at times his body language wasn’t good, but he’ll be worth watching over the next couple of years.

Chris Harrison-Docks (5’11” So. PG, Okemos (MI) High) He played a little like an undersized shooting guard here, but shot the ball well from long range to lead his team to a championship. He had 14 points in the title game after 11 in the semifinals, and he’s just a baby physically so he may grow more before it’s all said and done.

Jarvis Haywood (6’4” So. SG, Charlotte (NC) Waddell HS) A scoring wing, he played well in a couple of late playoff games as his team reached the final. His body isn’t there yet, and he looks to be more of a scorer than a shooter right now, although he did show a touch from mid-range in scoring 16 points in the semifinal (11 in the second half) and led his team with 24 in the final.

Derrick Henry (6’3” Jr. SG, Newton (GA) High) Scoring wing has a good body and had a nice late pool game on Saturday in going for 20 points. An all-tournament selection, he has a good body and scored a few times from mid-range off the dribble and also knocked down a couple of three-pointers.

Andre Hollins (6’2” Jr. SG, Memphis (TN) White Station HS) Well-built guard showed the ability to light up an opponent from long range, going for 24 points in a semifinal game on Sunday. He gets good lift going up for his shot, and that along with his body means he should be able to score off the dribble if opposing defenses try too hard to stop his jump shot.

Patrick Ingram (6’2” So. SG, Indianapolis (IN) North HS) Athletic guard drove often and had his share of success, going for 14 points in an early Saturday win. He has a good body that can mature more and used it to finish when he got inside.

Chris Jones (5’8” Jr. PG, Memphis (TN) Melrose HS) He’s small and has a slight frame, which may limit the level he ultimately plays at, but there’s not much doubt about his offensive ability. One of the top scorers in 17-Under at just under 22 points per game, he can shoot, knocking down several mid-range shots along the way.

Frank Kaminski (6’10” Jr. C, Woodridge (IL) Benet HS) Although he has high-major offers, it’s hard to see him playing at that level based on what we saw here. His inside game was lacking as he’s not the most fluid with his moves and he goes up soft with the ball, while his made three-pointer suggests he could be a face-up big man but he didn’t impress greatly in that respect.

Brian Kelly (5’11” Fr. PG, Takoma Park (MD) Don Bosco Prep) Well-built guard is athletic and tough, as he battled the entire time he was on the floor. He drove to the basket all day, finishing well and fearlessly working inside for offensive rebounds.

Shane Larkin (6’0” Jr. PG, Orlando (FL) Dr. Phillips HS) In his team’s playoff-ending loss, he didn’t have his finest hour, although it didn’t help that he was playing on a bum ankle as that took away his ability to get by defenders. That wasn’t a minor matter as he loves to drive all day, but he also tried to score a little too much and was selfish at times. At the defensive end, he can be a real pest and was very active.

Damian Leonard (6’4” Jr. SG, Greenville (SC) J.L. Mann HS) Don’t be surprised if this shooter busts out in July, as he’s flown under the radar thus far but shouldn’t much longer. A baby physically, he has the frame to carry more good weight and got hot from long range en route to 28 points in a losing effort on Friday night. His shooting will get him noticed, and if he improves his ball skills, there’s a lot of upside for this high-major prospect.

Isaiah Lewis (6’2” Fr. SG, Queens (NY) Christ The King HS) Young guard has some talent, as he has a slight frame but isn’t afraid to go inside and draw contact to get to the foul line. Where he clearly needs work is his feel for taking shots, as he often went up off-balance even when not closely guarded and tended to go up too soon when he had room to take another dribble and get a better shot.

Tyler Lewis (5’11” So. PG, Lewisville (NC) Forsyth Country Day School) Looking at him, one probably wouldn’t think he’s much of a basketball player as he’s small and not very physically gifted. But he has a great motor and can simply shoot the ball from long range, and he also made some nice passes while showing that he’s not slow despite the lack of physical gifts. He forced some shots in his team’s tournament-ending loss, but that came after a solid weekend of games leading his team into Sunday.

Ryan Manuel (6’4” Jr. SG, Houston (TX) Fortbend Austin HS) Scoring wing is a plus athlete whose body isn’t mature physically. He didn’t show one way of scoring that stood out in a 20-point effort we saw on Saturday, but noticeable was a couple of runners he hit in the lane.

Xavier Saddler Mee (6’1” Jr. SG, Raleigh (NC) Wakefield HS) Clearly the best player on a team that got blown out early on Friday, this shifty guard has a slight frame and loves to drive. He found ways to get to the basket often, as he was in attack mode all night and got fouled several times after drawing contact. He didn’t show the jump shot, so that’s an unknown quantity.

Shaq Morris (6’1” Jr. PG-SG, Norcross (GA) Meadowcreek HS) Well-built guard is not a jet but consistently found a way to get to the basket. He had a pair of 14-point games, showing a nice drive and spin move on one play and knocking down a couple of clutch three-pointers in his team’s tournament-ending loss.

Shabazz Muhammad (6’5” So. SG-SF, Las Vegas (NV) Bishop Gorman HS) It’s too bad he was playing on a bum ankle on Saturday, as he has a great reputation but didn’t play up to it at all in a loss for his team. The lefty looked just about average athletically and wasn’t a big factor as he scored just 10 points, with his three-pointers not going down. He has a good body and it’s not fully mature yet, and hopefully we’ll see him later at full strength since many have him as one of the top few players in the class of 2012.

Alex Murphy (6’8” So. SF, Wakefield (RI) St. Mark’s School) He’s looking like the player he was last spring and summer, and on Friday night a lot of observers liked what they saw as he went for 30 points with a variety of good offense. He shot it from deep, scored on the break with a reverse layup, scored off the bounce and made a couple of good moves to finish. After the tournament was over, he stayed to visit Duke unofficially on Monday.

Kamari Murphy (6’8” Jr. PF, Yonkers (NY) Lincoln HS) A consistent inside presence at both ends of the floor en route to a championship, he has a good body and isn’t physically mature yet. He has some length and blocked some shots in addition to rebounding, making his mark more at the defensive end as his post offense looked a little iffy right now.

Phillip Nolan (6’10” So. PF-C, Milwaukee (WI) Vincent HS) Long and lanky post player gets overshadowed on his team but is a fine prospect. He competed inside, where he used his length to block shots and influence others, and the biggest areas of need right now look to be offense, though he scored 12 points in his team’s semifinal loss, and a lack of strength. As he develops, he’ll be worth keeping an eye on.

Bobby Parks, Jr. (6’4” Jr. SG, Memphis (TN) Melrose HS) Talented guard has a good body and showed that he can use it, and was the main bright spot with 31 points in a losing effort on Saturday. The lefty shot the ball well from long range, including a tough off-balance shot, while also getting to the basket. The latter was highlighted by a play where he drove, did a ball fake and finished once he got by his man. High-major prospect.

Hanner Perea (6’8” So. PF, Charlotte (NC) United Faith HS) Long post player has lots of potential once his body matures and he adds strength. He’s a plus athlete who takes contact inside at both ends and rebounded well, but at the offensive end he had a tough time scoring as he lost the ball or had it slapped away from him often in part because he lacks strength right now.

Marshall Plumlee (6’11” Jr. PF-C, Arden (NC) Christ School) Lanky post player has a long wing span and used it well to block shots and get his hands on a lot of balls. He ran the floor well and showed some post scoring ability, though the latter wasn’t in abundance on a team that had a few inside options. Like his older brothers, he has the potential to be a nice inside player.

Solomon Poole (6’1” Fr. SG, Jacksonville (FL) Providence School) The younger brother of Stacey, who is headed to Kentucky in the fall, he’s a well-built guard who was often in transition. He shot the ball better from long range later in a Saturday game where he scored 18 points, and at his size he’ll need to do that if he proves to be a shooting guard although he could still grow more.

Norman Powell (6’3” Jr. SG, San Diego (CA) Lincoln HS) Although he looks to be a talented shooter, he was a bit of a gunner in a Saturday game as he hoisted up some shots that were a little questionable. He scored 13 points in a losing effort, knocking down a couple of the shots, and his body’s not there yet, so there is some upside.

Warren Powers (6’4” Fr. SF, Ellicott City (MD) Glengle Country School) A nice wing player with a good body, he scored 19 points mostly with a nice in-between game. He moved well without the ball and posted up a smaller player with a nice move.

Rodney Purvis (6’3” Fr. SG, Raleigh (NC) Upper Room HS) The leading scorer in 15-Under, he was certainly one of the better young prospects at this tournament. A well-built and athletic guard, he did more than just score as he passed through the defense a couple of times and looks like an above-average ball handler for the shooting guard spot. A highlight was a play where he drove and dunked while getting fouled.

Cameron Ridley (6’9” So. PF, Houston (TX) Fortbend Bush HS) Although he has a mature post body, he’s not the most mobile inside and that was clear several times when he got the ball. He scored 19 points in a game we saw on Saturday, and he was able to finish inside, but usually he struggled if he didn’t get the ball in just the right spot. Improving his mobility will go a long way toward improving his offense.

Chasson Randle (6’2” Jr. PG-SG, Rock Island (IL) High) A plus athlete with a solid national reputation, he didn’t play up to that as we weren’t all that impressed. He has a more developed lower body than upper and scored 11 points in a playoff win for his team, but he wasn’t a big factor and at times it was hard to know he was out there while a couple of lesser-known teammates impressed more.

Desmond Ringer (6’9” Fr. PF, McDonough (GA) Eagles Landing HS) Post player has a mature body for his age, which means he might be done growing. That’s not a bad thing, especially since he showed some signs of post scoring ability although he didn’t get the ball inside enough to be a big factor. He already has good size and now needs to let his post skills come along.

Emonte Rogers (6’5” Fr. SF-PF, Fairfax (VA) Paul VI) Well-built forward is more of an undersized post player right now, but it’s not hard to imagine him making the move to small forward down the road. He finished strong all the time, even while getting fouled, and helped lead his team to the 15-Under final.

Jay Rome (6’7” Jr. PF, Valdosta (GA) High) Well-built forward is not a bad athlete and reportedly a good football player as well, which isn’t hard to believe considering his body. He has a wide frame but a good amount of weight on it, and was consistently active inside with good post moves to score and the occasional stickback, and he also ran the floor well, including a nice pass on one fast break. He went for 20 points in his team’s tournament-ending loss, a game where he was very good inside. High-major/high-major minus prospect.

Tevon Saddler (6’2” Fr. SG, Aberdeen (MD) High) The younger brother of Delaware-bound Devon has a good body that still has some development to come. Like his brother, he’s active and has a good motor, and although he didn’t star at the offensive end he was better later in the game.

Winston Shepard (6’7” So. SF-PF, Henderson (NV) Findlay College Prep) It’s too bad he went down with an apparent right ankle injury in a Saturday game for a couple of reasons. For one, his team was never the same after he went out. Additionally, he looked like a nice prospect, although he doesn’t have the smoothest ball skills. His body isn’t there yet, but he was an active presence before the injury and has a solid reputation.

D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera (6’3” So. SG, Indianapolis (IN) North Central) Well-built wing had a solid weekend in leading his team to a championship, consistently scoring well but doing more than that. He averaged just under 24 points per game, but more importantly he competed, was active, made good decisions as he had the ball in his hands often, and he scored in several ways that included using his left (off) hand to finish.

Ronnie Stanley (6’6” So. PF, Las Vegas (NV) Bishop Gorman HS) Lefty post player is undersized with a wide body that he moves reasonably well inside. He was a factor for his team in a playoff game before he went down with a left leg cramp, scoring 12 points along the way.

Quinton Stephens (6’7” Fr. SF-PF, Decatur (GA) Lakeside HS) Long and athletic, he certainly passes the look test as he’s just a baby physically. He was active and around the ball, leading his team in scoring, but right now his skills need to come along and catch up to his body.

Tyler Strange (5’10” Jr. PG, Leominster (MA) Notre Dame Prep) A big reason his team made the run they did was his play at the point. When he runs the show like he did here – unselfishly and trying to find teammates first and foremost – his teams often win. He’s a capable scorer, but can get into a mode where he looks for his shot too much, and he didn’t fall into that here.

Bernard Sullivan (6’8” Jr. PF, Charlotte (NC) North Mecklenburg HS) Lefty post player showed a good deal of potential in an early game on Friday night. In going for 25 points, he showed that he’s a plus athlete with the ability to knock down a mid-range shot, even fading away, and his body isn’t there yet, so he should only get better as he matures.

Kaleb Tarczewski (6’11” So. C, Claremont (NH) St. Mark’s School) The young big man went to work inside this weekend and had a good showing overall. His game is still rough around the edges, but he has some solid fundamentals offensively and got to the line a good deal, making a good percentage of his free throws. While he missed some close shots he normally makes, he kept competing and was consistently scoring in double figures.

Jordan Tebbutt (6’6” So. SG-SF, Tualatin (CA) Horizon Christian HS) A plus athlete with a good body, he showed nice potential in an early Friday game. In going for 13 points in a blowout win for his team, he drove off a pump fake nicely to show he can score off the bounce, and he hit jumpers out to three-point range.

Adonis Thomas (6’6” Jr. SG-SF, Memphis (TN) Melrose HS) An athletic guard whose frame is a bit slight, he averaged 18.6 points as his team made a run to the final of the 17-Under Select. He’s athletic and his body isn’t there yet, with the ability to play either wing position.

Jean-Pierre Tokoto (6’6” So. SF, Menomonee Falls (WI) High) A big-time athlete, he nearly brought the house down in a game on Sunday when he just about jumped over a defender but missed the dunk. He’s a baby physically, meaning there’s plenty of physical upside, and he showed the ability to go left and finish with that hand. Foul trouble didn’t help him in his team’s semifinal loss, where he scored 14 points.

Dedrick Turner (6’2” Fr. PG, Conyers (GA) Salem HS) Aggressive guard has a little physical maturity and got out in transition. He was one of two to score in double figures in a loss for his team early on Saturday, scoring in transition and on a nice runner in the lane.

Kevin Ware (6’4” Jr. PG-SG, Conyers (GA) Rockdale County HS) Athletic guard has a good body that can mature more and is capable of putting up points. He went for 23 in a win on Saturday, knocking down shots from deep and then attacking the basket later. All told, he was one of the better looking guards here.

Jordan Washington (6’7” Fr. PF, Queens (NY) Pathways HS) A plus athlete with a relatively mature body for his age, he’s talented but rough around the edges. He was in foul trouble in a pool game we saw where he scored 10 points before fouling out, but he battled while on the court and effort wasn’t an issue. The big areas for improvement are feel for the game and getting into better shape since not all of his weight is good weight.

Anton Waters (6’6” Fr. SF-PF, Baltimore (MD) Walbrook HS) A baby physically, he’s not very long but was active and around the ball often. He got some stickbacks that included a dunk off the rebound and isn’t a bad athlete, although that won’t stand out about him.

Ryan Watkins (6’8” Sr. PF, Reseda (CA) High) One could be forgiven for overlooking him a little at first, especially considering the underclassmen on his team, as he doesn’t stand out at first. He has a good frame and a mature body but isn’t the swiftest post player inside. But he was effective, getting his share of rebounds, then he opened some eyes when he ran the floor and finished the break with a dunk where he had to reach to throw it down as he got fouled. Mid-major/mid-major plus prospect.

Terry Whisnant (6’3” Jr. SG, Cherryville (NC) High) A wing with a good body, he played bigger than his size in a fine outing for his team on Saturday. He rebounded well, finished the break a couple of times and even knocked down a three-pointer en route to 15 points, showing he can score in a couple of ways.

Carren (C.J.) Wilson (6’0” Fr. PG, Conyers (GA) Rockdale County HS) His size dictates that he plays the point guard spot unless he grows more, but he showed a nice touch scoring the ball largely from good shooting. In going for 22 points in a Saturday game, he knocked down several from deep. Since he’s a baby physically, he may not be done growing yet and may later have better size for playing off the ball.

Eric Wortham, Jr. (6’5” Fr. SF, McDonough (GA) Eagles Landing HS) Well-built wing looks very much like a “potential” player right now since he passes the look test but didn’t put up big numbers. He was active and used his body well, getting several stickbacks at the offensive end.

B.J. Young (6’4” Jr. SG, Florissant (MO) McCluer HS) This high-scoring wing – he was third in scoring in 17-under – might have been the best individual talent here. At the very least, he had the best single-game performance as he opened the tournament with a 43-point outing on Friday where he carried his team to a win. He’s not physically mature yet, but he’s athletic and can score very well slashing to the hoop, from long range, on pull-up jumpers and stopping and popping in transition. Most impressive is that he did a lot of the latter two, while also passing well on the move. High-major/big-time prospect.

Cody Zeller (6’11” Jr. PF-C, Washington (IN) High) The younger brother of Luke and Tyler, he’s not all that different in being a fundamentally sound post player. His body can still get better and he was active on the boards, getting some stickbacks at the offensive end, and he showed good post moves inside en route to 16 points in a late pool win for his team. High-major prospect.

Vincent Zollo (6’8” Jr. PF, Winchester (KY) Rogers Clark HS) A good role player on his team, he ran the floor and played well alongside more talented post players on his team. His body could still get better and he was able to use his left (off) hand to finish, so while not a big offensive threat, he wasn’t absent at the offensive end.

Other players who caught our attention:

Bryan Akinbugbe (6’9” Jr. PF, Charlotte (NC) Brisbane Academy)

Kelvin Amayo (6’4” Jr. SG, Newark (NJ) NIA Prep)

Darius Andrews (6’8” Jr. PF, Orlando (FL) Cypress Creek HS)

Rashaud Bell (6’6” Jr. SF, Atlanta (GA) South Atlanta HS)

Tre Bowen (6’4” So. SF, Washington (DC) Maret HS)

Darrell Bowi (6’6” So. SF-PF, Wauwatosa (WI) East HS)

Andre Brown (6’5” Jr. SG-SF, Clarksville (TN) High)

Michael Brown (6’2” So. SG, Charlotte (NC) West Charlotte HS)

Deonte Burton (6’5” Fr. SF, Milwaukee (WI) Vincent HS)

Tekele Cotton (6’3” Jr. SG, Smyrna (GA) Whitefield Academy)

Samuel Dekker (6’6” So. SF, Sheboygan (WI) Lutheran HS)

Donovan Gilmore (6’8” Fr. PF, Greensboro (NC) Western Guilford HS)

Byron Gladden (6’4” Fr. SG-SF, Charlotte (NC) Vance HS)

Ge-Lawn Guyn (6’3” Jr. SG, Culver (IN) Academy)

Darnell Harris (6’8” Jr. SF, Milwaukee (WI) Alexander Hamilton HS)

Deandre Harris (6’4” So. SF, Milwaukee (WI) Washington HS)

Demetris Henry (6’8” Fr. SF-PF, Ft. Lauderdale (FL) Northeast HS)

Isaiah Hicks (6’8” Fr. PF, Oxford (NC) J.F. Webb HS)

Jeremy Hollowell (6’8” So. SF-PF, Indianapolis (IN) Lawrence Central HS)

Rob Hubbs (6’3” Fr. SG, Newbern (TN) Dyer County HS)

Xavier Johnson (6’7” So. SF, Murrieta (CA) Chapparal HS)

Peter Jurkin (7’0” So. C, Charlotte (NC) United Faith)

Kennedy Meeks (6’8” Fr. PF, Charlotte (NC) West Charlotte HS)

Jaylon Moore (6’7” Jr. PF, Olive Branch (MS) High)

Abdel Nader (6’6” Jr. SF, Skokie (IL) Niles North HS)

Nick Osborne (6’8” So. PF, Muncie (IN) High)

Jalen Packer (6’2” Jr. PG, Princeton (IN) High)

Norvel Pelle (6’9” Jr. PF, Los Angeles (CA) Price HS)

Gavin Pettiford (6’4” So. SF, Baltimore (MD) Poly HS)

Sequan Richards (6’3” Jr. SG, New York (NY) Satellite Academy)

Jaquel Richmond (6’1” Fr. PG, Greensboro (NC) Dudley HS)

Tyquan Roberts (6’6” Jr. SF, Jamestown (NC) Ragsdale HS)

Tyree Robinson (6’4” Fr. SG, San Diego (CA) Lincoln HS)

Evan Rocqamore (6’3” Jr. PG-SG, Las Vegas (NV) Foothill HS)

Patrick Rooks (6’3” Fr. SG, Charlotte (NC) Christian HS)

Terrance Samuel (6’3” Fr. SG, Brooklyn (NY) South Shore HS)

Shamiek Sheppard (6’4” Fr. SG, Brooklyn (NY) South Shore HS)

K.K. Simmons (6’2” Jr. SG, Marietta (GA) Wheeler HS)

Nigel Snipes (6’6” Jr. SF, Atlanta (GA) Paideia HS)

Romelo Trimble (6’3” Fr. SG, Temple Hills (MD) Progressive Christian Academy)

Cameron Walton (5’10” Jr. PG, Cary (NC) Academy)

Chris Washington (6’7” Jr. PF, Augusta (GA) Aquinas HS)

Andrew White (6’6” Jr. SG-SF, Chester (VA) Thomas Dale HS)

Cedric Williams (6’9” Jr. PF-C, Murfreesboro (TN) Siegel HS)

Jacob Williams (6’5” Jr. SG-SF, Chicago (IL) St. Patrick HS)

Damien Wilson (6’6” So. SF, Mableton (GA) Peeblebrook HS))