Brian Crownover, Cincinnati Recruiting, Connecticut Recruiting, Pittsburgh Recruiting, Rutgers Recruiting, Seton Hall Recruiting, St. John's Recruiting, Syracuse Recruiting, Villanova Recruiting

BOO WILLIAMS REVIEWS, PART II

Brian Crownover spent Saturday of last weekend checking out the action at the Boo Williams Invitational and was able to check out many of the exciting young players participating in the event. In his second installment, Brian takes a look at home some of the elite prospects of the event and how they fared. Several could be very serious Big East targets over the next couple months.

Brian is the lead recruiting analyst for CAA Insider, where you can find more from Brian on the Boo Williams as well as local action around Philadelphia. Be sure to check out his earlier report for NBE Basketball Report from the events: Boo Williams Reviews, Part I.

This update takes a look at a Pitt-commit in the class of 2009, a Syracuse-commit from the class of 2010 and several other very familiar names on the recruiting trail to Big East teams.

Gauchos

Danny Jennings (2009 BF/C)
Danny looks much slimmer and trimmer than last year and it appears to have really helped his game. He actually now has a more ideal college body. The powerful post still asserted himself in the low block. His quickness looks to be improved and he’s still a monster on the boards. He opened up the game with four rebounds (two offensive). Danny showed a skillful left hand hook in the lane. He also banked in a shot on the inside. He was fouled and hit a pair of free throws. He’s actually a pretty solid foul shooter too. Danny should certainly have a nice summer and schools like Pittsburgh, Rutgers, St. John’s, Seton Hall and others will likely be joined by many in the pursuit of this quality big man.

Doron Lamb (2010 G/F)
I expect Doron to have a huge AAU season. He’s made great strides over the last year. The youngster can flat out score. He was actually rather quiet by his high standards in this one. He certainly made a few plays, but didn’t take over the game as he’s starting to become accustomed to doing. Doron hit a runner and scored on another drive and bank. On the inside, he followed up his own miss and scored in the post. He was a bit inconsistent converting though. Doron was solid, but look for him to have bigger games this summer.

Durand Scott (2009 G/F)
Durand didn’t have a big night and was injured in the contest. He did hit on a beautiful scoop shot under a defender and a pull up three pointer. He also hit a pair of free throws and had a block. Scott has high interest in Connecticut, where high school teammate Kemba Walker is headed next season.

Team Final

Lamar Patterson (2009 G/F)
The Pittsburgh-bound Patterson had a solid outing. He scored on an old fashioned three and then a pull up three point shot. Lamar is crafty and he showed that with a drive left and beautiful scoop finish. He’s a heady player who certainly knows a mismatch when he sees it. He clearly liked the match up he had inside, so Lamar began to post up. He banked in a post shot and was fouled for a three point play. He then hit a post turn around jumper. Lamar sure has a versatile game.

Dion Waiters (2010 G)
This talented young scoring guard certainly had an impact. He can light it up with ease. He had a drive and scoop finish, a transition dunk and an up and under conversion. Dion also mixed in an alley oop in transition and a runner. The explosive guard really struggled to find his jumper though. Waiters is a very early commitment to the Syracuse Orange program.

Michael Gilchrist (2011 F)
Playing up, this youngster didn’t see much action and struggled when he got in there. He had several misses inside and also couldn’t convert on a three point attempt. He still has tremendous talent though and can dominate at his age group.

Georgia Stars

Glen Rice, Jr. (2009 SG)
Glen made several terrific finishes in transition. He opened with a tough transition finish after contact on the break. He had an alley-oop throw down too. Surprisingly, Glen didn’t show a deadly jumper like his father had. Cincinnati of the Big East is one school who has taken notice.

Team Stat

James Bell (2010 SG)
James made an array of plays in transition. He had several lay-ups an athletic dunk and a nice touch pass. The wing handles the ball pretty well and attacks in the open court or in half court sets. He also stepped outside and hit a three pointer. James was blocked on the inside and did have several misses. This talented young player has quite a future.

Team NJ

Paris Bennett (2009 SF)
Paris is such a treat to watch. He possesses good size and can certainly make plays. He’s not the most athletic player or quickest ball handler around, but he’s very smooth and under control. He has an innate ability to finish plays no matter where he’s shooting from. Paris’ jumper is very smooth and he buried several three pointers as well as his usual pull up jumpers. He can get into the lane off the dribble and change directions. He uses his body and long strides very well to get by defenders. He’ll use the glass when needed. Paris’ most impressive play was a beautiful fade away mid range jumper after a spin move. This scorer just always seems to know where he is and what is necessary to hit the shot from that point on the floor. In this game, he pulled down several rebounds as well. It doesn’t take a long time watching this scorer play to recognize he’s a real talent. Rutgers and Villanova have expressed previous interest in the St. Patrick player.

Team Florida

Okaro White (2010 PF)
This young wing can get into the lane off the dribble. He’s a long strider who will get to the rim quickly. Okaro had a nice drive left and finish. He drew a couple fouls too. He hit a floater in the lane and that’s a shot where his length was surely an asset. Okaro grabbed some rebounds too. He does dribble a bit high and didn’t really show an outside game in this one. He is very talented though.

Darrick Brown (2009 G/F)
Darrick really struggled early on with a couple misses inside. He did have a put back and drew a foul while driving. He has a good handle and really likes to attack. Darrick drove left and finished back to the right on one play. He did hit from three, but for the most part was quiet from the perimeter. He crashed the boards throughout the contest too.

Alabama Challenge

Wendell Lewis (2009 PF)
This kid played inside like he was an assembly line. Wendell did the same thing over and over again every few minutes as he scored on put back after put back after put back. He possesses a nice pair of hands and good touch around the basket. For being just a freshman, he certainly has a nice build and is a solid athlete. He does like to use the glass and banked one home with his back to the basket in that fashion. He have to work on developing some more moves and such, but his work ethic inside was rarely matched on this day.

Baltimore Stars 16s

Tobias Harris (2010 F)
This big forward is productive every time out. He’s not flashy, but rather just steady and productive. Tobias started out slow with some perimeter misses. He then got going by banking in a jumper from the post. He had several put backs on the inside. Tobias moves well without the ball. He had a nice catch turn and finish around the rim. He was quiet from the perimeter, but has shown the ability to hit out there in the past. Tobias also rebounded very well inside. He has all the makings of a very good player.

Antonio Barton (2010 SG)
Antonio is another talented youngster from National Christian. He struggled a bit in this one. He hit from three and had a nice runner to end the half. He also rebounded well throughout the contest. He missed quite often from the perimeter though and could benefit by showing more consistency in his jumper than he did today.

CJ Fair (2010 SF)
CJ is a talented young player. He’s a lanky big man. He can put the ball on the floor some. He worked inside and grabbed a couple rebounds. He’s still just scratching the surface of becoming a dominant big man, but he’s certainly on his way.

King James

Marsel Holden (2009 G)
Marsell is an undersized combo guard who can really light it up. He caught our attention with a pair of three pointers. He didn’t stop there though. He came back with a head fake and pull up jumper inside the arc. Marsell continued the hot shooting by burying four more from behind the line. He’s also a pretty quick ball handler, but he obviously opted mostly for the outside shot in this one.

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