Teams

HOOP GROUP’S SOUTHERN JAM FEST: DAY THREE

by Alex Schwartz

HAMPTON, Va. – Sunday was the final day of the 2012 Hoop Group Southern Jam Fest and champions were crowned in the afternoon. Team Takeover beat BWSL Woods, 77-53, to win the U15 Gold championship and Team Takeover also won the U16 Gold championship with an 82-75 victory over the SC Raptors Elite. The U17 Gold title went to Garner Road, who beat UA Baltimore’s Fines, 49-44, in the championship.

TOP PERFORMER

Therence Mayimba: While the Team Takeover U16 team has several players who are more well-known, Mayimba was terrific in both the semifinals and championship. A 6’7 combo forward who attends Montrose Christian (MD), Mayimba is a bouncy player with a great frame. The 2014 prospect repeatedly sliced right down the lane past defends and to the rim, where he showed nice body control in air. He handles the ball pretty well and also does a nice job of getting rebounds. Mayimba has room to continue to improve as a player and will be someone whose stock will rise as time goes on.

TOP SLEEPER PERFORMER

Scott Spencer: BWSL Kelly made a surprise run to the championship game of the U15 Gold bracket and Spencer used that contest to show what he can do. He was the game’s top scorer, with 15 points, which accounted for nearly 30% of his team’s total in the lopsided defeat. Spencer is a 6’4 shooting guard who has great length and nice athletic ability. He is a bouncy wing who can really jump, but he is by no means only about his physical tools. Spencer has a nice midrange jumper from the baseline that he utilizes as well.

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HOOP GROUP’S SOUTHERN JAM FEST: DAY TWO

by Alex Schwartz

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hoop Group Southern Jam Fest kept rolling along on Saturday and NBE Sports was in attendance for the whole day, taking in a number of impressive performances and talking to a handful of players.

TOP PERFORMER

Dwayne Morgan: A big-time player in the class of 2014, Morgan is a 6’7 small forward out of Baltimore City College HS (MD) who plays for UA Baltimore’s Finest U16 team. While he did not put up huge numbers in the scoring column against Garner Road- Davis—Morgan finished with 14 points—he made his presence felt in many aspects of the game. He is a stellar athlete with major length and that allows him to be a terrific defender. Morgan blocks shots, gets steals and grabs rebounds. He is also adept at picking up boards on the offensive end, leading to putback dunks and tip-ins. Morgan passes well and has a nice feel for the game. He has all the physical tools one could ask for and if he develops a consistent jumper he has a chance to be an incredible player.

TOP SLEEPER PERFORMER

Ruben Tucker: The biggest surprise NBE Sports has seen thus far at the Southern Jam Fest has been Tucker, a largely unknown 6’2 shooting guard out of Bladensburg (MD). Tucker led the charge as his Maryland Pistons squad knocked off Team Melo (NY) on Saturday morning. He poured in 34 points in the victory and connected on six 3-pointers. Tucker is a bit undersized and has an odd shooting form where he releases from the side, but he simply scores the basketball. He is a solid athlete with a strong frame who can get to the cup if needed in addition to hit long range shots. While he may not be a conventional player, Tucker is flat out productive and gets things done.

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HOOP GROUP’S SOUTHERN JAM FEST: DAY ONE

by Alex Schwartz

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hoop Group Southern Jam Fest got underway on Friday at the Boo Williams Sportsplex and NBE Sports was on hand to take in the action. Throughout the night, we saw several standout performances and got to speak with a few players at the event.

TOP PERFORMER

Anthony Barber: The 6’2 point guard out of Hampton (VA) was absolutely sensational for Boo Williams in a blowout victory over the Stafford Hoyas to open up the event. Barber did basically anything he wanted with the ball and was nearly unstoppable when it came to getting to the rim. He scored at the basket, hit open teammates for layups, knocked down 3-pointers, and displayed a nasty crossover. Barber, an elite prospect in the 2013 class, had the look of a top 10 player as he dominated the game from start to finish in a number of different ways.

TOP SLEEPER PERFORMER

Rockell Lee-Vaughn: A little-known 5’9 point guard out of Springarn (DC), Lee-Vaughn had a superb showing in Metroball DC’s victory over East Coast Fusion. The class of 2012 prospect is clearly undersized, but he has a strong frame and quality quickness that help him make up for it. He can really hit shots from beyond the 3-point line and is also adept at making pull-up jumpers. Lee-Vaughn is a tough kid who also has some major leaping ability.
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FLORIDA ’13 PG RASHAWN POWELL PICKING UP RECRUITING INTEREST WITH STRONG SPRING

Dr. Phillips High of Orlando (FL) has been a steady supplier of Division 1-A basketball prospects. The names of highly recruited guards are familiar to college basketball fans and recruitniks across the country to come from the program in recent years: Chris Warren – Ole Miss; Shane Larkin – Miami; Jason Rich – Florida State; Mario Sisinni – Coastal Carolina, etc. The latest to come out of coach Anthony Long’s successful program is 6-foot, 175-pound point guard Rashawn Powell, a highly recruited Class of 2013 point guard in the Sunshine State.

“RaShawn is next in line in continuing Dr. Phillips’ run of excellent lead guards,” coach Long says on the Dr. Phillips High basketball website. “His skill set is really at an advanced level for a junior. He can get to the rim almost any time he wants and usually makes good decisions with the ball. He presents a lot of problems for defenses because if you play off of him, he’ll drain the perimeter shot, but if you play him tight he will get by you every time.”

‘Pookie’, as he is known by friends and teammates, has impressed onlookers this spring on the AAU trail with Florida Assault with his ability to be a pure point guard and able to score when needed to. He was very appreciatie of the NCAA restoringthe April evaluation periods as he was able to show the college coaches more of his game.

“It was exciting playing in front of college coaches, I know a lot of coaches haven’t really seen me play so I saw it as an opportunity to prove myself as a quality basketball player,” Powell told NBE Sports. “I hope they saw that I play with passion and intensity.”

In the immediate aftermath of the open evaluation period Oklahoma State and Florida State began their recruiting efforts of Powell. He also added a new offer.

“Memphis offered me Sunday night,” Powell said.

He is currently considering those three schools in the recruiting process along with schools that had been previously involved such as Maryland, Illinois, Central Florida, Murray State and Cincinnati. Powell admits the process is just geting rolling at this time in his recruitment.

“No leaders right now, I want to take some unofficials first before I get into having leaders or favorites,” he said.

While keeping his game sharp on the AAU circuit Powell will also work on his defense and strength over the summer. With excellent quickness and the ability to knock down shots and create for others, Powell is ready to work on the areas of his game he feels needs to improve to become an all-around lead guard that college coaches will covet.

While he is still in the early stages of his recruitment, Powell has an ideal plan mapped out on how his recruitment will shape up.

“I’m looking at shedding my list after July/August,” he said. “[The] most important factor is my happiness, it doesn’t matter the school name, it’s what makes me happy at the end of the day.”

You can be certain one lucky program will consider themselves lucky if RaShawn Powell picks their school at the end of the day! Stay tuned through the summer as we continue to follow Powelland his rising recruitment.

BRANDON RANDOLPH PICKS UP NEW OFFER; UPDATE ON TALENTED WEST COAST ’13 GUARD

Brandon Randolph is a 6-foot-2, 190-pound point guard who runs with Team Jennings on the AAU circuit and attends St. Bernard High School in Playa del Rey (CA) who has impressed college coaches with his play during the April evaluation period, leading one West Coast school to offer the Class of 2013 guard earlier this week.

Randolph is quick with the ball in his hands and has been aggressive goping to the basket. He is able to get into the lane and finish as he possesses solid strength for a guard. That strength also makes him a plus rebounder for a guard and he always plays with intensity. Randolph was hoping that college coaches took notice of his complete game during the April evaluation period, especially his ability to set up teammates.

“It was great so they can see me twice and not just once [in April],” he said o the open evaluaiton weekends. “I hope they saw my ability to pass [the basketball}."

Always known as a player that can score the ball it was important for Randolph to show the other aspects of his game, which he also continues to work to improve.

"I [work to] improve on my ball-handling everyday and try to keep my stamina up,” he said.

San Diego State has long been hot on the trail of Randolph, and were his first offer last fall. The Aztecs have company and the list of schools recruiting him will certainly continue to grow, aswill his offers, which increased by one this week.

“I got another from Pepperdine,” Randolph told NBE. He told NBE there are no current leaders and other schools involved include “SDSU, Arizona, UCLA, Texas A&M, Stanford and Washington for right now, but everything is open.”

Randolph expects to take his time in his recruiting, letting the AAU season and possibly the high school season play out before making a college decision.

“I’m probably looking at after high school season and just how I feel around the coaches and how much I really like the school,” he said of a time frame and the factors that will be most important in his decision.

In the meantime you can expect plenty of West Coast coaches to make their way out to see Brandon Randolph at St. Bernard and then again when the AAU circuit heats up in the summer. Randolph is a player that will likely see an uptick in his recruitment in the coming months while school slike San Diago State and Pepperdine hope their early offers hold off the major conference foes.

HIGH SCORING ’13 G ZACH LAVINE HAS A FAVORITE

One of the top prospects in the Class of 2013 on the West Coast is Zach LaVine, a 6-foot-4, 165-pound guard attending Bothell (WA) High School. LaVine has brought comparisons to Steph Curry as a silky-smooth scorer with a slender frame. LaVine enjoyed the recent April evaluation period on the AAU trail where college coaches were out on the road.

“[It was] good to see the coaches out there,” LaVine told NBE. “I just hope they saw all the aspects of my game.”

Speed and scoring ability are always the immediate aspects that stand out with LaVine’s game. He is also a slick passer with a feel for setting up his teammates. There are also areas of his game the rising senior point guard continues to work at improving to prepare himself for the college game in the future, but most of his attention goes toward improving his frame.

“I’m trying to get stronger,” he said.

College coaches have long been aware of LaVine, especially in the Pac 12 conference, but his recruitment has gone national in the recent months. Missouri, Baylor and Texas have recently come into his recruitment and Louisville offered toward the end of the season. Those schools can be added to his long list of other offers that come from Arizona, Arizona State, Washington State, California , Colorado, Gonzaga, UCLA, USC, Utah and Washington. As has been the case for some time, one school on the West Coast continues to lead the pack for his services.

“UCLA is my favorite right now,” said LaVine.

LaVine is not quite ready to pull the trugger as he plans to play out the AAU season with Friends of Hoop out of Seattle and asses the situation at that time in regards to his recruitment.

“I think I’ll pick toward the end of AAU season and just comfortability level [will be the biggest factor],” he said of a decision timeframe and likely deciding factor in a school.

College coaches will be back on the road in July and at that time NBE hopes to catch Zach LaVine in action as well. Stay tuned here for any news on his recruitment as this talented Class of 2013 scoring point guard could be off the board by summer’s end. Will UCLA seal the deal? We shall find out!

CLASS OF 2013 SPRING STOCK RISER: B.J. JOHNSON

The Team Final 17U AAU squad that hit the road in April for the first two legs of the Nike EYBL had plenty of names familiar to college coaches and recruiting followers throughout their rister. Rondae Jefferson, Davon Reed, Austin Colbert and newly added Jaren Sina need little introduction to the masses. One player many were not very familiar with was B.J. Johnson, a 6-foot-6 wing from Ardmore (PA) Lower Merion High School.

Through the first two legs of the EYBL Johnson is third on Team Final in scoring in EYBL action as his team is off to a 5-4 start. Johnson is shooting 46% from the field overall and connecting on 40% from three-point range. He is also tied for second on the team in rebounds and leads the team in steals. Getting a chance to showcase his ability in front of college coaches has been a welcomed opportunity for Johnson.

“It was exciting to get to play in front of a lot of big-time coaches like Coach K and many others,” Johnson told NBE. “I hope they saw what I do well on both the offensive and defensive side of the floor as well as how much effort I put into what I do.”
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MBA SELECT G DEMETRIUS JACKSON IMPRESSIVE ON SPRING AAU TRAIL

MBA Select guard Demetrius Jackson has been opening many eyes on the AAU trail this spring. The Marian (IN) High School standout combines strength and athletic ability to be a dominant backcourt defender on one end of the floor and a dangerous offensive threat finishing in the lane on the other. An improving outside game has been on display this spring and will certainly raise his profile nationally among the top guards in the Class of 2013 in the country.

The 6-foot-1, 182-pound point guard talked to NBE about the qualities college coaches are expressing major interest in him with.

“[Coaches like my] leadership qualities and my ability to make a play for myself and others,” said Jackson. “And also [my] versatility.”

Jackson seemed destined for a quick recruitment a few months ago, but he is slowing things down to take his time as his profile raises from an impressive regional prospect to one of the guards in most demand nationally in the rising senior class. He talked with NBE on his preferred timeline for a decision.

“Fall [is my decision time frame],” he said. “Before my senior season of basketball.”

Most of the Big 10 region is hot on the trail of Jackson, whose current home in Indiana is also not far from South Bend.

“Missouri, Illinois, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Butler, Xavier and Florida State,” said Jackson of the schools that are actively recruiting him that he is currently considering. “No leaders [at this time], blessing to have all the schools recruiting me.”

Jackson is looking forward to the summer camp season. Right now the only concrete plans on his schedule is a stop at the Butler Elite camp, but he will fill in the rest of his time as summer nears.

Expect Demetrius Jackson to continue to see a rise in his national profile as a top recruit for the Class of 2013. NBE is looking forward to seeing him throughout the spring and summer months as his recruitment will heat up along with the weather.

CHINONSO OBOKOH TURNING HEADS WITH CITY ROCKS ON EYBL CIRCUIT

Chinonso Obokoh is still a new name to many fans who follow college basketball recruiting. However college coaches are becoming more and more familiar with Obokoh’s name and his game. The 6-foot-10, 217-pound big man plays his high school ball out of Rochester (NY) Bishop Kearney High School and had a successful two-weekend run on the EYBL circuit with Albany (NY) based City Rocks. It was an opportunity that Obokoh cherished to have the chance to perform in front of college coaches.

“It’s always extra nice to play in front of the coaches,” Obokoh told NBE Basketball Report. “I’m excited to play in that atmosphere. I just want them to recognize how hard I play and that I just want to win.”

Obokoh certainly showed college coaches what he is capable of. Over the two weekends of the EYBL during the April open evaluation period he deomstrated improved skill offensively along with a solid defensive presence and is one of the leaders in blocked shots in the EYBL. He enjoys playing in the City Rocks program because it is a definsive minded team that fits right into his own mentality.
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SPIECE BILL HENLSEY MEMORIAL RUN-N-SLAM PLAYER EVALUATIONS

By N.D. Kendrick, special to NBE Basketball Report

Midwest star power was on display this past weekend in Fort Wayne, Indiana where some of the top clubs from the middle of the country and a few from other locations took part in the Bill Hensley Memorial Run-n-Slam.

Quite possibly the attraction that brought in the most basketball junkies was a battle between Spiece Indy Heat, featuring Indiana-commit Trey Lyles, Purdue-bound Bryson Scott and JaQuan Lyle, facing Mac Irvin Fire, which was tabbed as the favorite to win the event.

Mac Irvin Fire got a quiet 20 point effort out of the Gatorade National Player of the Year Jabari Parker, and won by the score of 80-70. Both the Mac Irvin Fire and Spiece Indy Heat – arguably the two most star-studded rosters – failed to reach the championship games of their respective brackets.

The Derrick Walton (Michigan-commit) and Monte Morris led Michigan Mustangs emerged as the champions of the 17u tournament when the coaches of The Family decided to forfeit due to several players cramping up.

Run-n-Slam allows you to evaluate several prospects due to the format and way the massive gym is set up. The focus of the weekend was incoming juniors and seniors. Provided are several prospects (not in any particular order) that impressed over the weekend…
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JOHN MARINATTO RESIGNS AS BIG EAST COMMISSIONER

Statement provided by the BIG EAST conference

Providence, R.I. — The BIG EAST Conference today announced the resignation of Commissioner John Marinatto.

“After a great deal of thought and prayer, I have decided to step down as Commissioner of the BIG EAST Conference and formally advised our Board of Directors,” stated Marinatto. “I have been associated with this league for my entire adult life and have had the tremendous honor of serving as its Commissioner since 2009. Our recent expansion efforts have stabilized the Conference for the long term, and we are likewise well positioned for our very important upcoming television negotiations. As a result, I felt this was the right time to step aside and to let someone else lead us through the next chapter of our evolution. I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish and would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank both our membership and my staff for their unwavering encouragement, support and loyalty — especially during this past year. I am extremely confident about the future of this league that I love very much.”

“I know I speak for the entire Conference when I express my sincere gratitude to John for his leadership and dedicated years of service,” said Dr. Judy Genshaft, President of the University of South Florida and Chair of the BIG EAST Conference. “John helped build the BIG EAST into what it is today, and played a critical role in our successful expansion efforts, and for all of that we thank him.”

Joseph A. Bailey III will today assume the position of interim Commissioner of the BIG EAST until a new Commissioner is selected. Bailey has extensive experience in the global sports industry as a leader, advisor and recruiter. He has served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Miami Dolphins, Chief Operating Officer of the World League/NFL, Vice President of Administration of the Dallas Cowboys and other senior positions. Most recently, he has served as the Managing Director of RSR Partners, a leading executive recruiting firm.

“Joe is a proven leader who will do a terrific job guiding the conference through this time of transition,” said Genshaft. “His experience as a manager and his knowledge of the sports industry make Joe uniquely qualified to serve as interim Commissioner. He will move the Conference forward with a steady-hand as we explore new opportunities.”

“The BIG EAST has a terrific future,” said Bailey. “I’m excited to participate in shaping a new structure and strategic plans for the Conference, and I look forward to engaging on these matters with the leadership of all of the Conference’s members, old and new alike.”

The Conference also announced that it has retained The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) to review its organizational design and structure. As the BIG EAST transitions to a national conference, its members will take this opportunity to position the Conference to maximize its media rights, branding and other strategies.

The search for the new Commissioner of the BIG EAST will be chaired Dr. Gregory H. Williams, the President of the University of Cincinnati and a member of the BIG EAST Executive Committee.

MARY KLINE CLASSIC RECRUITING NOTEBOOK

By Alex Schiffer

Austin Colbert, a 6-foot-8 forward who attends the Hotchkiss School in Connecticut. The New Jersey native plays AAU basketball with Team Final in the EYBL. Prior to the underclassman game at the 2nd annual Mary Kline Classic Colbert talked with NBE on his current recruiting situation.

“So far Florida, Baylor, Georgetown, Harvard, Seton Hall are all looking at me,” said Colbert.

At this point in time Colbert is thinking about cutting his list down, but hoping to see some additional offers before doing so.

“I’m currently looking to narrow down my list but it would be nice to pick up a few more offers,” he said.

Since the open evaluation periods of April are now past, Colbert has a clearer view of the schools willing to put more effort into his recruitment and is looking to visit one of the schools entering the picture of late.

“Temple is starting to get on my really hard and Baylor, Georgetown, Harvard, Seton Hall are on me mad tight,” he said. “Also Texas is looking at me. I plan on making a trip down to Austin pretty soon.”
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One of the hottest names from the previous two weekends in the April open evaluation period in the Class of 2013 in NYC native Jermaine Lawrence, who is currently attending Pope John XXIII in Sparta (NJ). The 6-foot-9 PF has put a strong of impressive performances together with the New Rens AAU team and his recruitment has quickly taken off.

“Cincinnati, Rutgers, St. John’s, UCLA [and] Florida are all looking at me, Miami as well,” said Lawrence.

A couple Big East programs are among the new schools quickly entering the mix following his April performances.

“UConn and Villanova as well as Temple have all started with me recently.

Lawrence has no current favorites, but is looking into taking a couple visits in the near future.

“I have no favorites right now but I’m working on making a visit to Rutgers right now as well as Cincinnati,” he said.

Lawrence kept rolling on Saturday night, scoring a game-high 27 points in the underclassman contest of the Mary Kline Classic, earning one of the two MVP honors.
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Jared Nickens, a 6-foot-5 wing out of St. Patrick in Elizabeth (NJ) listed the schools currently recruiting him as VCU, Seton Hall, St. Joe’s, SMU, Georgetown, Charlotte and Mississippi State.

“Mississippi State, Georgetown and Charlotte all recently started with me,” he said. “I have a visit to Georgetown June 16th. My current favorite is VCU.”
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Nickens’ teammate at St. Pat’s DeAndre Bembry is also drawing plenty of recruiting interest at this time.

“Vanderbilt and Georgetown just showed interest in me,” said Bembry on Saturday night. “Villanova just offered me. UNC-Charlotte and Richmond as well as South Carolina are all giving me looks.”

Bemnbry also mentioned Virginia Tech had been recruiting him hard as well. There are no favorites for Bembry yet, but he is starting to look into which school she would like to visit.

“[I] should be making some arrangements for visits in a few weeks<' said Bembry. "I'm going to try and visit UCF, Georgetown and Villanova.”
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From a pure talent standpoint, Tyler Roberson has as much of a ceiling as anyone in the Class of 2013. The 6-foot-7 forward out of Roselle (NJ) catholic and the NJ Roadrunners AAU club certainly has the recruiting list to back that up as well.

“Kansas, Rutgers, Seton Hall, South Carolina [and] Syracuse are all recruiting me,” said Roberson. “Everyone is coming at me really hard.”
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Jaren Sina, the 6-foot-1 point guard out of Gill St. Bernard’s in New Jersey made the switch this spring to Team Final on the EYBL circuit and the added exposure paid off with a Big East offer this past week.

“Pittsburgh offered me last week after the Nike EYBL,” said Sina.

Sina, who is coached by his father Mergin Sina at Gill St. Bernard’s was once committed to Alabama. The Crimson Tide remain involved but have plenty of company in the competition for his services.

“Northwestern, Pitt, Stanford, Rutgers, Cincinnati, Penn State, Alabama, Butler are all involved,” said Sina. Alabama and Northwestern as well as Penn State there all coming at me pretty hard.”

Ina ddition to the three coming at Sina the hardest, he mentioned three others schools specifically when asked where he might plans visits in the near future.

“I’m probably visiting Pitt, Michigan [and] maybe Villanova.”

Sina produced 10 points and 14 assists in the all-star game contest Saturday night, sharing game MVP honors with Jermaine Lawrence.

2ND ANNUAL MARY KLINE CLASSIC RAISES OVER $20,000 FOR CANCER RESEARCH

By Alex Schiffer

One of the biggest questions people probably asked themselves after last night’s Mary Kline Classic was probably whether or not the event affected their love for hoops, or their heart. The event’s second run was twice as big as last year as a sold out gym witnessed some of the nation’s best player’s show off their skills as way to aid in the fight to against cancer.

The event was created last year by RecruitScoop founder Alex Kline. Just 17 years old, the recruiting guru used his relationships with some of the best players in the country to bring them all together to play in memory of his late mother Mary, who died of a brain tumor when he was ten years old. Despite the compliments he’s received for being able to bring together such an extraordinary group of talent for such a great cause, Kline has continually said that he’s only doing it so his mother is remembered and honored the right way.

The evening started off with two children who recently lost their father to a brain tumor talking about Kline and how he’s helped them through the grieving process. The children easily moved the crowd and as the daughter finished her speech with a standing ovation. The crowd also got involved with the national anthem as the microphone was having trouble working, both the players and crowd assisted in the song.

Finally, the underclassmen game tipped off. The game would go back and forth the whole 40 minutes between the blue and red teams before the blue team would pull away in the fourth quarter and win by a score of 143-122. Jaren Sina would gather MVP honors for the red team as he finished with 10 points and 14 assists. Sina was clearly the most distributive player on the floor throwing ally-oops to Austin Colbert and Tyler Roberson which received a round of applause from the crowd. Jermaine Lawrence took home MVP honors for the winning blue team as he finished with 27 points.

In between games, three competitions would take place between the players. First up was the 3-point shootout which featured players such as Alex Mitola, Karl Towns, Jared Nickens, and other top marksman. Hallice Cooke would edge Towns by a single shot in the final round to take home the title. Ryan Arcidiacono, a late addition to the event would win the skills competition as the future Villanova Wildcat displayed why he had the most “pop” in his shot. Last up was the highly anticipated dunk contest which was sponsored by Fuse.

In the first round of the dunk contest, Austin Colbert stole the show by dunking over his AAU teammate Jaren Sina to get the crowd going. Wayne Selden would send the gym into frenzy after throwing the ball off the ball and finishing with a memorizing one hand jam. Seldon would move onto the final round where he would face Rondae Jefferson. Jefferson would then jump over Colbert to prove he had just as much air as Colbert did. Jefferson and Selden would share the dunk title.

The senior game capped off the evening and it was once again a back and forth affair for a while with Penn-State bound Brandon Taylor trying to break the backboard with his incredible slam dunks. The blue team would spark a rally in the fourth quarter and come back to win 123-111 with Wagner-bound Eric Fanning and Yale-bound Justin Sears garnering MVP honors for their teams.

At the end of the game it was announced that Kline had raised $20,000 for cancer research, double his original goal. Kline was more than happy with how the event saying “It was everything I ever wanted to be. I thought it was a great combination of players because they wanted to be there and wanted to help the cause. This was my wildest dream two years ago and I just wanted to raise so much money. It was amazing from beginning to end.”

NBE will also have a recruiting notebook from the event as some of the top underclassmen also discussed their current recruiting situations. Congrats to Alex Kline for a successful 2nd annual Mary Kline Classic and everyone is already looking forward to next year!

NERLENS NOEL IS THE NEXT TRENDSETTING SHOT BLOCKER AT KENTUCKY

By Erin Ashley, special to NBE Basketball Report

Now this is the story all about how, Nerlens Noel’s lift got flipped, turned upside down. I’d like to take a minute, just sit right there as I explain how Nerlens became the icon of Hi-Top Hair. Well, maybe not the icon of Hi-top hair, but in a day and age where it is uncommon to see this coiffed hair, Nerlens does certainly rock it!

For those who do not know the history of the Hi-top fade (better known as a Flattop) this sleek style originated during the 1980s when rappers like Schooly D and Doug E. Fresh bravely set the stage with the first version of the hi-top fade in hip hop. This fashion trend represented the “Golden Era” of a musical genre and a hairstyle, where in all its glory, the higher the peak the better the fade. But like any pop culture fad, this hairstyle faded away.
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NIKE EYBL SESSION #2 – BOO WILLIAMS (TOP PERFORMERS)

By Brian Bosworth, National Recruiting Analyst

Now that a couple of days have passed since the Boo Williams Invitational and I’ve had time to process all the basketball I watched, it’s time to evaluate which prospects performed best this weekend. Below are rankings by class of all the prospects I was able to watch down in Hampton. As always, these rankings are based strictly on performances from the weekend’s tournament and do not reflect my overall views on these players. It should also be noted that given the amount of talent playing at any given time I was unable to see every prospect in Hampton and thus some players miss out on this list because I didn’t evaluate them. Julius Randle, Theo Pinson, Bobby Portis, and Duane Wilson Jr. all played to rave reviews over the weekend and likely would have cracked these rankings if I’d had the chance to see it for myself. Andrew Wiggins was also the best player at the event by all accounts but happened to have his one modest performance the only time I was courtside and therefore he doesn’t squeeze into the rankings either. Enough setup, here’s who dominated in Hampton.

Class of 2013 Rankings:

1) James Young (The Family) – One of the nation’s elite scorers, Young put up points in bunches from all three levels with Kentucky’s John Calipari tracking his every move. In addition to the interest from UK, his admitted leader, Young mentioned scholarship offers from Michigan State, Ohio State and Providence to NBE over the weekend.

2) Jarquez Smith (Georgia Stars) – Smith’s stock arguably rose more than anyone else’s with his weekend performance as the 6’9” forward mixed deep 3 point range with electric above the rim finishes. Florida State and Georgia as the leaders for his services at this point.

3) Kameron Williams (Baltimore Elite) – One of the tournaments purest scorers, Williams dropped 30 in a thrilling comeback victory over King James by unleashing a brilliant shooting display.

4) Keith Frazier (Houston Hoops) – Another pure scorer, Frazier mixed NBA 3 point range with relentless attacking of the rim netting himself 16 free throw attempts in one outing. Arizona, Texas, Texas A&M, Providence, Tennessee, Kansas, Baylor, Marquette, and Kentucky along with local North Texas, were the schools mentioned by Frazier when asked about his recruitment.

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KENDRICK NUNN TALKS RECRUITING

by Alex Schwartz

HAMPTON, Va. – Kendrick Nunn of Simeon (IL) High School is one of the top guard prospects in the class of 2013. The 6-foot-2, 180-pounder, who runs with Mean Streets on the AAU circuit, spoke with NBE Sports on Sunday at the Nike EYBL Session #2.

Nunn said that he holds scholarship offers from Texas A&M, Texas, Nebraska, Iowa State, Memphis, UCLA, Illinois, DePaul, Missouri, and others. In addition, he is garnering interest from Kansas.

The rising senior has no favorites at this point, but has taken visits to Ohio U., Illinois, Memphis, and Texas A&M. Nunn has no visits planned, but that does not mean he will not be taking any trips in the near future.
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NIKE EYBL SESSION #2 – BOO WILLIAMS (DAY III)

By Brian Bosworth, National Recruiting Analyst

The Boo Williams Invitational wrapped up on Sunday and with it concluded the second session of Nike’s EYBL circuit. Unlike the majority of AAU tournaments Sunday is not playoff day at Boo Williams but rather just continued EYBL regular season play as all 40 teams are competing for spots in July’s Peach Jam. Star performances showed up in droves just as they had on the first two days. Below are a sampling of the best showings NBE has the pleasure of viewing.

Top Performance of the Day:

Kameron Williams (Baltimore Elite 2013) – Despite being undersized for the shooting guard position at 6’2”, 170 pounds Williams is an elite scorer. His most dangerous weapon is the jump shot but labeling him as “just a shooter” is rather short sighted. Players who are strictly shooters rely on others to create open shots for them but Williams is more than capable of creating his own looks. He’s smart enough to know that at his size challenging the trees in the paint is a low percentage shot whereas his jump shot is very efficient. Williams makes deep three balls off the dribble or the catch but is most effective using 2-3 dribbles to create space and then burying midrange shots. In an afternoon comeback victory over King James Shooting Stars he put on a scoring clinic going for 30 points on 11-18 shooting including 5 triples. I honestly don’t recall him missing a shot in the entire second half as his Baltimore Elite squad made their furious comeback. Kam Williams is a scoring machine and not enough high major programs have looked past his lack of elite size to realize that yet.

Alex Schwartz caught up with Williams on Friday night as the Red Hot Williams is Picking Up Recruiting Interest and he proved once again this weekend that more high majors should be in pursuit.
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NIKE EYBL SESSION #2 – BOO WILLIAMS (DAY II)

By Brian Bosworth, National Recruiting Analyst

After a short day on Friday, the Boo Williams Invitational found its sea legs with a long day of hoops of Saturday. Action was fast and furious with the majority being the 17U Nike EYBL games with a little bit of 16U and 15U sprinkled in. Mobs of players had big performances in the star filled field and here are a few that NBE had the pleasure of viewing.

Top Performance of the Day:

Tyus Jones (Howard Pulley Panthers 2014) – Jones is the best point guard in America and showed all the reasons why in a masterful performance on Saturday night. A college head coach will be able to turn the ball over to Jones immediately as a freshman and be able to completely trust the young man. He plays with a maturity that is almost surreal for such a young player seemingly making the correct decision with the basketball every time down the floor. Jones can shoot it with range but only does so when the defense calls for it. He can slip passes into the tightest of windows on the money but only does so when the defense takes away an easier option. Perhaps most impressive was how every one of Jones’ passes seemed to land right in the hands of his teammate putting them in a position to score. Jones has a unique understanding of exactly where his teammates want the ball and he puts it right there. His recruitment with be crucial to the entire 2014 class because elite players are going to want to play alongside the elite playmaker. Tyus Jones is a bona fide stud.
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KENTUCKY CHECKS OUT JAMES YOUNG AT EYBL – BOO WILLIAMS

by Alex Schwartz

HAMPTON, Va. — In a 2013 class that is very strong at the top, James Young is one of the best of bunch. The 6-foot-5 small forward out of Troy (MI) is an elite scorer and he continues to develop as a player.

NBE Sports spoke with Young on Saturday at the Nike EYBL after he led The Family to a convincing win against the Tennessee Travelers.

Young only listed scholarship offers from just Michigan State, Ohio State and Providence, though he did note that there are a “couple others” he could not remember. Additionally, Young said he is receiving interest from Kentucky.

The Michigander grew up a fan of UK and said that Wildcats are his favorite right now.

“I love the offensive system,” Young said of what appeals to him about UK. “[John] Calipari is a good coach. I like the way they play offense and defense, and it’s a good educational school too.”

Calipari has only been in Lexington, Ky. for three years. So, why did Young like UK growing up even before Coach Cal got there?

“I must watched them growing up,” Young said. “I just always liked them. I liked how their offense is. They like to win [and] that’s something I like to do.”

Calipari was at Young’s game on Saturday night, something that did not go unnoticed by the athletic scorer.

“It means a lot, it’s a blessing,” Young said. “Not every kid gets that.”

Despite his interest in the reigning national champion, Young admits that there is some local pull to go to Michigan State.

“Yeah, I do [feel that],” Young said. “A lot of my friends, family, they want me to say home, attend Michigan State. I don’t know.”

Young, who compares his game to that of James Harden, spoke about the type of player he is.

“My strongest point is definitely getting to the hole,” Young said. “A lot of guys don’t know how to handle [me being left handed].”

Young said that his right hand is the weakest part of his game at this point.

NIKE EYBL SESSION #2 – BOO WILLIAMS (DAY I)

By Brian Bosworth

The Boo Williams tournament got underway on Friday night and with it the second session of Nike’s EYBL circuit. The amount of sheer talent in the gym was almost overwhelming as all eight courts were filled with future division 1 players all night long. Even in a field loaded with star power some players managed to separate themselves from the pack and here is sampling of Friday night’s best.

Top Performance of the Night:

Tahj Shamsid-Deen (Southern Stampede 2013) – Shamsid-Deen made a name for himself last weekend as the EYBL circuit kicked off in Minneapolis and continued his strong play Friday night. The 5’10” lefty point guard was deadly pulling up from midrange going in either direction. He used a quick first step to create space and then elevated over defenders to get off jump shots from 8-18 feet. While impressive scoring the ball for the majority of the game, Shamsid-Deen showed his true worth in the final moments with his team trailing by a point and 15 seconds on the clock. Southern Stampede ran an iso set for Shamsid-Deen and as he had done all game he got a step on his defender and pulled up from 10 feet. The ball slipped through the net giving Southern Stampede a one point lead and ultimately a victory. Both his desire to take the shot and ability to make it in that big spot spoke volumes about Shamsid-Deen’s leadership and accountability at the point guard spot.
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