Georgia Tech Recruiting

2013 NBPA TOP 100 HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL CAMP — FINAL RECRUITING NOTES

By Matt Whitfield, Mid-Atlantic Recruiting Analyst

The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA)’s 20th Anniversary of the NBPA Top 100 High School Basketball Camp kicked off Wednesday at the University of Virginia’s John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville and concluded over the weekend. Media was allowed to begin attending sessions on Thursday and NBE was back on the road and in attendence.

The NBPA Top 100 High School Basketball Camp was created by the NBPA in 1994 to assist elite high school student-athletes in the development of their basketball and life skills. Throughout the last 20 years, the Camp has grown into one of the most highly touted and renowned camps of its kind and has seen hundreds of its participants go on to successful NBA careers. You can follow the camp on Twitter @Top100Camp and be sure to follow @NBESports for all of our updates as well.

To close our recruiting updates, NBE caught up with Craig Victor, Satchel Pierce, Khadeem Lattin, Abdul-Malik Abu, Brandone Francis, Skal Labissiere, Chinanu Onuaku, Kevon Looney, Trevon Blueitt and Trayvon Reed, which you can see below…

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2013 NBPA TOP 100 HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL CAMP — RECRUITING NOTES (PART I)

By Matt Whitfield, Mid-Atlantic Recruiting Analyst

The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA)’s 20th Anniversary of the NBPA Top 100 High School Basketball Camp kicked off Wednesday at the University of Virginia’s John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville. Media was allowed to begin attending sessions on Thursday and NBE was back on the road and in attendence.

The NBPA Top 100 High School Basketball Camp was created by the NBPA in 1994 to assist elite high school student-athletes in the development of their basketball and life skills. Throughout the last 20 years, the Camp has grown into one of the most highly touted and renowned camps of its kind and has seen hundreds of its participants go on to successful NBA careers. You can follow the camp on Twitter @Top100Camp and be sure to follow @NBESports for all of our updates as well.

IN our first recruiting notebook we take a look at the latest from

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RECRUITING NOTEBOOK (12/20/2012): JABARI PARKER DECISION NEARING; DAKARI JOHNSON CUTS LIST TO THREE

by Alex Schwartz

There have not been many high-major commitments of late, but there has still been a fair amount of news in the high school hoops world lately. In addition, one of the nation’s top prospects is set to announce his choice today.

First off, Jabari Parker is set to announce his college choice today on ESPNU, as originally reported by Joe Henrickson of the Chicago Sun-Times. Parker is a 6-foot-8 small forward out of Simeon (IL) who is ranked No. 3 in the NBE Sports Class of 2013 Post-July Top 125. KSL.com’s Greg Wrubell quoted Jabari’s father, Sonny Parker, as saying, “I think it will probably be between Duke and Michigan State.”

Samford landed a commitment from Jordan Capps, per Scout.com’s Evan Daniels. Capps is a class of 2013 small forward prospect from Peachtree Ridge (GA) who has some solid size at 6-foot-6.

St. Peter’s dipped into the JuCo ranks for a 2013 commitment, according to Brad Winton of JuCoRecruiting.com. He reported that the Peacocks landed Tyler Gaskins, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Lawson State Community College (AL).

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CLASS OF 2013 POST-JULY TOP 125

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By Brian Bosworth, National Recruiting Analyst

With stops during the month of July at the Hoop Group Elite Camp, Adidas Invitational, Nike Peach Jam, Nike Invitational and Live in AC…NBE’s National Recruiting Analyst Brian Bosworth is ready to release his Class of 2013 National Top 125. The list has exanded from the Pre-July Period Top 75 and also includes a new #1 player in the class.

The Class of 2013 certainly flexed their muscles on the camp and AAU circuit all July. The class is widely regarded as one of the best in recent memory with a deep pool of talent, especially near the top.

Read on below to see the current rankings as we begin to prepare for the 2012-2013 prep and high school season which will be here before we know it!

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ORLANDO AAU REPORT – FRIDAY

by Alex Schwartz

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Friday was a day at 11th Grade AAU Nationals where NBE Sports watched a number of games from outside the Gold pools. This allowed us to see some teams that might not be as nationally known and catch some players who might be flying under the radar a bit. However, we did check out some Gold games too and some of our top performers come from those squads too.

TOP PERFORMER

Trevin Joseph gets the nod as the top performer of the day on Friday, though several players could put together a nice case for the honor. Joseph is the second straight 2013 shooting guard from Georgia to get the nod, following Ryan Wilkins on Thursday. Joseph is a 6’3 rising senior from Stockbridge (GA) who runs with Gold Coast and is part of a deep, talented backcourt. Joseph showed off some major scoring ability in the night’s final game and it was rare to see him actually miss a shot. A strong player with a very good build, Joseph s a knockdown 3-point shooter and is lethal off the catch. He is a smooth player and is his stroke looks quite good. Joseph is also adept at getting to the basket and he finishes once there. Overall, he is a talented offensive player who could be a stud scorer at the next level.
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2012 PEACH JAM REPORT — CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY

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By Brian Bosworth, National Recruiting Analyst

Championship Sunday in North Augusta capped an amazing 2012 Peach Jam by crowning champions in both the 16U and 17U divisions. The Texas Titans defeated the Southern Stampede in double overtime to win at the 16U level. A few hours later the Oakland Soldiers were crowned EYBL champions after defeating CIA Bounce 51-50 to capture the 17U title. In those games and the 17U semifinals before them, some players separated themselves from the competition. Here’s who stood out to NBE.

Top Performer of the Day:

Andrew Wiggins (CIA Bounce 2014) – While his team came up a point short of an EYBL title this day, this tournament, and the entire EYBL circuit have belonged to Andrew Wiggins. In the morning semifinal Wiggins looked passive and a non factor for much of the game until his team needed him down the stretch. He turned a tight game into a double digit lead in a matter of minutes by scoring at will in the game’s biggest moments. In the title game Wiggins’ stat line wasn’t his best of the week (7-22 shooting, 23 points) but his dominance was as evident as ever. The Soldiers had two future pros to throw at Wiggins defensively in Aaron Gordon and Stanley Johnson and frankly neither one stood a chance. He was too quick, too strong, too explosive, and too good for every elite defender that was thrown at him all week. Stanley Johnson was the best defender in this tournament and even he couldn’t handle Wiggins. While I’ve been on record since last year’s Peach Jam that Wiggins was the top prospect regardless of class, the 2012 Peach Jam erased that debate in everyone’s mind. Everyone else in America is looking up at Wiggins and the gap is rather substantial.
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2012 NY2LA UNDER ARMOUR SUMMER JAM RECAP – PART II

By N.D. Kendrick

Mequon, WI – The second July “live period” kicked off on Wednesday night and NBE Sports joined coaching staffs from numerous college programs at Homestead High School near Milwaukee to scout the prospects at the NY2LA Under Armour Summer Jam. Here is a rundown from Thursday’s long day of action…

Top Performance

T.J. Haws, Nick Emery and Eric Mika (Utah Reign) – Just had to go with this trio because they play like they are one. T.J. Haws has a little flash and flare to his game and is great ball handler that can shoot from distance but focuses on driving to the hoop. Emery is lethal from anywhere in the gym. He is not limited to being a catch and shoot player, he can take you off the bounce. Mika may be on the verge of becoming a household name (More on Mika below). They all three will be making noise at BYU in a few years.
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2012 PEACH JAM REPORT – DAY II (PART A)

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By Brian Bosworth, National Recruiting Analyst

After a fun sample of 16U action on Wednesday night, the 2012 Peach Jam kicked into full gear with 17U action taking center stage on Thursday morning. While plenty of players had standout performances, a trio of wings from the Oakland Soldiers squad separated themselves from the pack.

Top Performers of the Morning:

Aaron Gordon (Oakland Soldiers 2013) – After missing a large time of time this AAU season with a foot injury, Gordon seemed determined to erase any question marks about his health moving forward. He was better than ever before making plays from the wing that weren’t in his arsenal 12 months ago. Gordon flashed off the dribble skills that firmly project him as a SF going forward and make him an even more devastating player than I previously thought. In addition to his improved handle, Gordon remains the most electric finisher in high school basketball around the rim. He drew more than a few Blake Griffin comparisons after a series of ridiculous dunks in transition.
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2012 NY2LA UNDER ARMOUR SUMMER JAM RECAP – PART I

By N.D. Kendrick

Mequon, WI – The second July “live period” kicked off on Wednesday night and NBE Sports joined coaching staffs from numerous college programs at Homestead High School to scout the prospects at the NY2LA Under Armour Summer Jam.

This first day was highlighted by star power match-ups, with Emmanuel Mudiay’s Texas Select team bumping heads with Kevon Looney and his Milwaukee Running Rebels squad. The Harrison Twins (Andrew and Aaron) also faced a tough challenge against the Atlanta Celtics featuring Georgia Tech-bound Solomon Poole and Kansas-bound Brannen Greene.

TOP PERFORMER

Aaron Harrison (Houston Defenders 17s) – Often overshadowed by his brother Andrew, Aaron put on a shooting clinic on day one. He made three straight triples early on to set the tone and to essentially prove that he was the best shooter in the gym. Harrison finished with an easy 24 points to lead all scorers. He is strong and quick. He understands how to play. He can score in a variety of ways, from three-point land, driving to the basket and finishing with either hand, posting up a smaller defender or getting to the free throw line by creating contact. If Aaron tightens up his scoring moves and adds a mid-range dribble pull up, he will be that much more dangerous of an option.

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2012 PEACH STATE SUMMER SHOWCASE REPORT – PART I

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by Alex Schwartz

AIKEN, S.C. – The second Live Evaluation Period of July tipped off on Wednesday night and NBE Sports was in the building at USC Aiken for the Peach State Summer Showcase.

While the tournament might not get as much hype as Nike Peach Jam does, Peach State is also loaded with talented prospects. Several of those players stood out on opening night and NBE Sports caught up with a few guys as well.

TOP PERFORMER

John Egbunu might not be 7-foot like he is listed, but the future South Florida Bull is an impressive player nonetheless. The Class of 2013 center out of Eagle’s Landing (GA) is a rugged interior presence who simply gets things done around the cup. Egbunu turned in an impressive performance for Douglas Brothers Elite in a victory over Birmingham Ice Xpress and was extremely difficult to defend in the low post. He finishes well and does a great job of grabbing offensive rebounds and then putting the ball back in the cup for an easy deuce. Possessing strength and power, Egbunu is also capable of throwing down a big-time dunk, as he most certainly showed on Wednesday night.
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2012 ADIDAS INVITATIONAL – SUNDAY RECAP

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By Brian Bosworth, National Recruiting Analyst

Sunday in Indianapolis concluded a great week featuring all the premier Adidas sponsored teams in America. Champions were crowned with Eric Gordon All Stars (15U), Louisville Magic (16U), and Florida Elite (17U) taking home the hardware. Players from those clubs and others managed to shine on the brightest stage.

Top Performance of the Day:

Kasey Hill (Florida Elite 2013) – verbal to Florida – The week belonged to Kasey Hill and he capped it with a signature performance in a semifinal victory over Dream Vision. With most of his team looking sluggish, Hill took matters into his own hands erupting for 46 points in the best individual performance I’ve seen this year. Dream Vision tried every perimeter defender they had on the roster and Hill burned them all exploding by guys off the dribble, pulling up for 3-pointers, and grinding his way to the free throw line. As he had been all week, Hill was devastating in pick and roll sets where his greatly improved jump shot combined with his elite quickness make him an impossible cover. When defenders went under the screen, he buried the long ball and when they followed him over it he turned the corner and finished at the rim. Billy Donovan had a noticeable grin sitting court side because he knows that he has one of America’s best players coming to Gator country to run the show.
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2012 ADIDAS INVITATIONAL – SATURDAY RECAP

By Brian Bosworth, National Recruiting Analyst

Saturday in Indianapolis was all playoff action at the Adidas Invitational and with higher stakes came stronger performances. All three age groups (15U, 16U, 17U) were represented at the main gym and players from all ages and all places managed to stand out. Here’s a sampling of who impressed.

Top Performers of the Day:

Daniel Hamilton (Dream Vision 2014) – The younger of the pair of brothers on Dream Vision’s 17U squad, Daniel is two inches taller and significantly longer than his older brother. While Daniel’s set of tools on the offensive end is not quite as refined as Isaac, he does have the middle game down to a science. He’s best scoring on runners or floaters going in either direction often using the back board from unusual angles. Hamilton has range out to the 3-point line but is consistently more successful when he puts the ball on the floor and pressures the defense off the dribble. Added strength, improved ball handling skills, and better shot selection can spring board Hamilton’s game to the next level.

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2012 ADIDAS INVITATIONAL – THURSDAY RECAP

By Brian Bosworth, National Recruiting Analyst

The Adidas Invitational in Indianapolis brings together all the Adidas sponsored AAU teams from around the country and in doing so collects one of the largest pools of talent of any tournament all summer. It was on full display throughout the day Thursday with high major talent playing in front of college coaches. A selection of players was able to separate themselves from the pack led by a pair of teammates from the Memphis area.

Top Performers of the Day:

Leron Black (Team Thad 2014) – Black is a 6-foot-7 power forward who has a motor that runs nonstop. His energy wore down the opposition to the point that he was beating his man down the floor every single time. Team Thad’s offensive system is similar to that of the old Loyola Marymount teams of the late 80s and early 90s that routinely scored over 100 points on the college level. They run and run and run until they can’t run anymore and over time this style wears down the opponents. Black never wore down himself but rather got stronger as the game went on dunking on four consecutive possessions at one point in the second half. His energy and smile on the court are infectious as the whole team seemed to rally around him after he got going in the 2nd half. Black even showed a developing face up game beating taller opponents off the bounce on his way towards more dunks at the rim. On top of the big finishes, he’s also a fantastic rebounder both in and out of his area, particularly on the offensive end. Every college program in the country that plays and up tempo style should be banging down Black’s door begging him to become part of their family.
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CLASS OF 2013 PRE-JULY LIVE PERIOD TOP 75

By Brian Bosworth, National Recruiting Analyst

After an exhaustive spring, hitting the EYBL at Boo Williams, Rumble in the Bronx, Playaz Spring Fling, Elite 75 and elite high school events like the National Prep School Invitational, Hoophall Classic, City of Palms Classic, National Prep Showcase & more, we are ready to publish our Class of 2013 pre-July Live Period ranking of the top 75 players in the class. These rankings will be fine tuned and expanded following the busy month of July which included stops at the Hoop Group Elite Camp, Adidas Invitational, EYBL Peach Jam and Live at AC to close the month, and maybe a few other stops in between.

So, here is the Top 75 players in our eyes for the Class of 2013:

 

1	Jabari Parker	SF	Simeon (IL)
2	Julius Randle	SF/PF	Prestonwood Christian Academy (TX)
3	Aaron Gordon	SF/PF	Archbishop Mitty (CA)
4	Andrew Harrison	PG	Travis (TX)
5	Aaron Harrison	SG	Travis (TX)
6	Kasey Hill	PG	Montverde Academy (FL)	Florida
7	James Young	SG	Troy (MI)
8	Chris Walker	PF	Holmes County (FL)
9	Wayne Selden	G	Tilton School (NH)
10	Anthony Barber	PG	Hampton (VA)
11	Rondae Jefferson	G/F	Chester (PA)
12	Isaiah Hicks	PF	Webb (NC)	North Carolina
13	Tyler Ennis	PG	St Benedict’s Prep (NJ)
14	Nick King	SF	Memphis East (TN)
15	Keith Frazier	SG	Kimball (TX)
16	Isaac Hamilton	SG	St John Bosco (CA)
17	Rysheed Jordan	PG	Vaux (PA)
18	Kuran Iverson	SF	Northwest Catholic (CT)
19	Beejay Anya	F/C	Dematha Catholic (MD)
20	Sindarius Thornwell	G/F	Oak Hill Academy (VA)
21	Ishmail Wainright	G/F	Montrose Christian (MD)
22	Jabari Bird	G/F	Salesian (CA)
23	Derrick Griffin	SF/PF	Terry (TX)	Texas A&M (football)
24	Jermaine Lawrence	SF/PF	Pope John XXIII (NJ)
25	Marcus Lee	PF	Deer Valley (CA)
26	Bobby Portis	PF	Hall (AR)	Arkansas
27	Kennedy Meeks	C	West Charlotte (NC)
28	Johnathan Williams III	PF	Southwind (TN)
29	Nate Britt	PG	Gonzaga (DC)	North Carolina
30	Troy Williams	SF	Oak Hill Academy (VA)
31	Kameron Williams	SG	Mount St. Joseph’s (MD)
32	Jordan Mickey	PF	Arlington Grace Prep (TX)
33	Shadell Millinghaus	PG/SG	Evelyn Mack Academy (NC)
34	Matt Jones	SG	Desoto (TX)	Duke
35	Dominic Woodson	F/C	Vermont Academy (VT)
36	Stephen Domingo	G/F	St Ignatius (CA)	Georgetown
37	Solomon Poole	PG/SG	Terry Parker (FL)	Georgia Tech
38	Brannen Greene	SG	Tift County (GA)	Kansas
39	Jimmie Taylor	C	Greensboro (AL)	Alabama
40	Moses Kingsley	C	Huntington Prep (WV)
41	Tyler Roberson	SF	Roselle Catholic (NJ)
42	Aquille Carr	PG	Patterson (MD)	Seton Hall
43	JaJuan Johnson	SG	Southwind (TN)
44	Brandon Austin	SF	Imhotep Charter (PA)	Penn State
45	Karviar Shepard	C	Arlington Grace Prep (TX)
46	Nigel Williams-Goss	PG	Findlay Prep (NV)	Washington
47	Xavier Rathan-Mayes	SG	Huntington Prep (WV)
48	Semi Ojeyele	SF	Ottawa (KS)
49	Jarquez Smith	PF	Jones County (GA)
50	EC Matthews	PG/SG	Romulus (MI)
51	Anton Gill	SG	Ravenscroft (NC)	Louisville
52	Deonte Burton	SF	Milwaukee Vincent (WI)	Marquette
53	Reggie Cameron	SF/PF	Hudson Catholic (NJ)
54	Duane Wilson Jr.	PG	Dominican (WI)	Marquette
55	Allerik Freeman	SG	Findlay Prep (NV)
56	Stevie Clark	PG	Douglass (OK)
57	Kris Jenkins	SF/PF	Gonzaga (DC)
58	Devon Hall	PG	Cape Henry Collegiate (VA)	Virginia
59	Bryson Scott	PG/SG	Northrop (IN)	Purdue
60	Josh Hart	SF	Sidwell Friends (MD)
61	Marc Loving	SF	St John’s (OH)	Ohio State
62	Mike Young	SF/PF	Hudson Catholic (NJ)
63	Josh Brown	PG	St Anthony (NJ)
64	Davon Reed	SG	Princeton Day (NJ)
65	Stanford Robinson	SG	Paul VI	Indiana
66	Akoy Agau	SF/PF	Central (NE)
67	Jarell Martin	SF	Madison Prep (LA)
68	Dayshon Smith	PG	Putnam Science Academy (CT)
69	Jairus Lyles	PG/SG	Dematha Catholic (MD)	VCU
70	Roschon Prince	SF	Long Beach Poly (CA)
71	Soma Edo	PF	Berkner (TX)
72	Brian Bridgewater	PF	Episcopal (LA)
73	Kendrick Nunn	SG	Simeon (IL)
74	Shane Rector	PG	St Raymond’s (NY)
75	Deandre Bembry	SF	St Patrick’s (NJ)

ELITE 75 REVIEW – PART II (MASS RIVALS & BABC EDITION)

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By Brian Bosworth, National Recruiting Analyst

Mass Rivals is another of New England’s dominant AAU programs that was well represented at the Elite 75. Kaleb Joseph (2014 PG), Dmitri Floras (2014 PG), Idris Taqqee (2014 SG), Tyonne Malone (2016 SF) and Josh Sharma (2015 F) all suited up and were joined by injured stars Noah Vonleh (2014 F, ankle) and Jeremy Miller (2015 F, concussion.) Both Vonleh and Miller told me they expect to be healthy and ready to go for the kickoff of the July live period at the Adidas Invitational in Indianapolis. Chris Baldwin (2015 F) was also invited to the event but stayed home to nurse a sore back.

Of the Mass Rivals guys in attendance Kaleb Joseph had the best day attacking the basket in early drills and getting everyone else involved once five-on-five action got going. He caught up with NBE before things started to discuss his expanding recruitment. Read more

JOSH HART EMBRACING UNLIMITED CONTACT RULE WITH RECRUITING

Josh Hart, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard out of Washington, DC’s Sidwell Friends School, has had a productive spring and word has spread. Playing with Team Takeover on the AAU trail it has come as no surprise that college coaches are hitting up regularly since the unlimited contact rule went into effect at midnight on June 15th. One school showed their strong interest in Hart by making sure they were the first school he heard from.

“After the rule change North Carolina State texted me first and that was at 12:01 AM,” hart told NBE Sports this evening.

Some of the players we have talked to the last couple days have been a little lukewarm on the new unlimited contact rule, wondering if it will become cumbersome as the months pass. Right now most players are out of school for the summer and the new rule adds excitement. Hart is one that is ready for the calls and texts to come and understands the way society is today that the constant contact is more of the norm.
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NBPA TOP 100 HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL CAMP: RECRUITING NOTEBOOK (MIKE YOUNG & JARELL MARTIN)

by Alex Schwartz

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – By most accounts, Jarrell Martin and Mike Young were two of the most impressive players at the recent Pangos All-American Camp.

Both players also made their way to the University of Virginia last week to participate in the NBPA Top 100 High School Basketball Camp, where NBE Sports had the opportunity to talk recruiting with each of them.

Jarrell Martin, a 6-foot-8 power forward, has a list that is mostly comprised of schools south of the Mason-Dixon Line. That certainly makes sense, considering he goes to Madison Prep Academy in Baton Rouge, La.
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NBPA TOP 100 HIGH SCHOOL CAMP NOTES (FRIDAY)

By Ron Bailey

Following are a few observations/thoughts from Friday, the second NBAPA Top 100 Camp day open to media personnel, where one BIG EAST-commit had the camp stop and stare on more than one occassion…

Standout Performer – Aquille Carr, the 5-foot-6 Class of 2013 point guard showed why he’s one of the most electric performers in high school America, and also why he can also be puzzling. All in the same contest.

First, the good: Carr finished today averaging 16 points, three assists and three rebounds over two games, in spectacular fashion. During the day’s first set of games, Carr, battling with fellow Class of 2014 guard Tadrick Jackson, coming down and hit a number of impossible shots around the hoop, including leaners and through contact. He also finished via layups, including one in which while on the break he simply dipped his shoulder, got under the defender’s shoulder and blurred to the cup. It was startling.
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NBPA TOP 100 HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL CAMP: FRIDAY AFTERNOON RECRUITING NOTEBOOK

By Matt Whitfield

HARVARD GOT A GOOD ONE!
It did not take long to become really impressed with Zena Edosomwan. The Class of 2013 verbal commitment for Harvard already has a college-ready body. Edosomwan easily could have been recruited to any conference in America, but is going to get a great education.

Edosomwan is long and atletic and has a non-stop motor that continues to hustle on both ends of the court. Maybe the strongest player on the floor in the game NBE saw him in action. So strong he has to be double-teamed at times near the rim on the offensive end to prevent him from scoring easily. He also has a decent shooting stroke for a big man that keeps his upside potential impressive. Will impact immediately at the college level and will also be an elite rebounding force.
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2012 RUMBLE IN THE BRONX RECAP (PART II)

By Brian Bosworth, National Recruiting Analyst

The Rumble in the Bronx got back into swing on Saturday at gyms all over the greater NYC area. I had the opportunity to take in the action at both Baruch College in the morning and John Jay College in the evening. While younger players in the 2014 and 2015 classes stole the show for much of the day it was still a member of the 2013 class who gets top billing for Saturday.

Top Performance of the Day:

Dayshon Smith (NY Lightning 2013) – Affectionately called “Scooch” by just about everybody, Smith is an old school New York City point guard. He uses spins, hesitation moves, crossovers, and herky-jerky head fakes to constantly work his way into the paint and make plays. Once inside he’s equally likely to use a soft floater, explode towards the rim, or whip a pass out to a 3 point shooter at any and all angles. While his physical skills are impressive it’s the mental side of the game where Smith truly separates himself from the competition. He has a unique understanding of when to get others involved and when to look for his own offense. In the first half of a Saturday night victory Scooch ran the show and got everyone else the ball in spots where they could be successful. Then down the stretch of the second half with the outcome still in the balance he took matters into his own hands and seemed to score on every possession down the floor. This is not the first time I’ve seen Smith master the balance of keeping teammates happy for 3.5 quarters and then closing the game out himself in the final moments. It’s unusual for players at the high school level to already understand that just because they can get their own shot any time doesn’t always make it the right decision. Scooch is ahead of the game in this area and it’s a mindset that will continue to serve him well at the next level.
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