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REEBOK SUMMER CLASSIC EAST REVIEW

BY JEFF BORZELLO

After attending the Reebok U All-American camp in Philadelphia, it was off to Rider University in Lawrenceville, N.J. to check out another Reebok-sponsored event. The Summer Classic East pitted 32 of the top AAU teams in the region against each other in a bracket-style format. The U-16 group had its own separate tournament, with 26 teams facing off over a two-day period at a variety of locales. The Juice All-Stars, despite playing with just six players throughout the entire tournament, knocked off the New Jersey ShoreShots in the U-17 title game to win the championship. In the other division, the New York Panthers, coached by legendary street baller Rafer “Skip to my Lou” Alston, defeated Team NJ ABC in the final to win the title. Here’s a look at some of the top players and their school lists from the two days at Rider.

Class of 2009

Dante Taylor: Taylor is a 6-foot-9 forward with a nice array of skills offensively. He can really score the ball and is a difficult match-up problem for most defenders due to his athleticism and ability to take players his size off the dribble. Taylor is an aggressive player who loves to attack the lane. The newly minted Pittsburgh-commit can also score in the paint and runs the floor very well for his National Christian Academy squad. He has outstanding leaping ability and can finish extremely well around the rim. Taylor has the ability to score facing the rim or with his back to the basket. Defensively, he can block shots and he is also very active on both the offensive and defensive boards.

Mouphtaou Yarou: One player who has increased his stock exponentially – and that might be an understatement – over the past few months is Yarou, a huge 6-10 big man with endless potential and was suited up with Cecil Kirk at Rider for this event. Unlike most players who come over from other countries, the 6-foot-10 Yarou is already polished and is not raw at all. He has tremendous leaping ability and uses it to block and alter shots at one end and finish with authority at the other. Offensively, he finishes around the rim really well, and can also score with contact. He has a soft touch and has range out to about 15 feet. He has some nice post moves and gets good position near the basket because he moves so well without the ball. Defensively, he is an extremely good shot-blocker and is an intimidating presence around the rim. Yarou is a very good rebounder who can also make solid outlet passes. He also hustles for loose balls and does not give up after a mistake.

James Padgett: Playing without his Juice All-Star partner-in-crime down low in Joel Wright, who was out with an injured ankle, Padgett picked up the slack. The 6-foot-8 post player is a very solid scorer inside, and demonstrated a variety of post moves. He turns to the basket well and can finish with both hands around the rim. He is a very good offensive rebounder and is also active defensively. However, he does not dominate as much as he could, and is not as imposing defensively as his height and athleticism would seem to suggest.

Tamir Jackson: “Pop” is a very solid all-around performer who has a mature game and is a good leader. He can handle the ball and play both guard spots. He is quick and can get to the rim, but is not overly aggressive offensively. He works the pick-and-roll well and can also knock down three-point shots if open. Defensively, he is very good, sliding his feet and staying in front of his man. He is strong enough to body up against his opponent and guide him away from the basket. UAB is getting a solid player.

Brian Oliver: The 6-foot-6 Georgia Tech commit is a really tough player to stop when his jump shot is falling. He has a great mid-range game and can make tough shots on pull-ups and fade aways. Oliver has good body control and hang-time, which enables him to hit difficult turnaround jumpers over taller defenders. He can also take his defender off the dribble and get to the basket for finishes at the rim.

Darwin Ellis: “Buddha” is extremely quick and can make plays offensively in a plethora of ways for himself and his Juice All-Star teammates. His excellent first step allows him to blow past defenders and get into the lane to create scoring opportunities.. Despite his small stature (5-foot-10), he is fearless at going to the rim and can finish above taller players. He also a nice pull-up jumper and floater; he made several difficult shots throughout the tournament. Ellis is a good three-point shooter with range, which keeps defenders honest.

Keith Spellman: While he was also solid defensively, Spellman’s offensive game was extremely impressive. The 6-foot-3 guard has a quick crossover and consistently got into the lane. He can finish at the rim with both hands and knocked down plenty of difficult shots over the course of two days. He can knock down pull-up jumpers in the lane and also demonstrated the ability to dish it off to his teammates or score himself. Spellman is a very smooth offensive player.

Chris Cantino: The 6-foot-7, multi-skilled Cantino was arguably the most talented player on the court against the Panthers, which is saying something considering his opponent. He showed off his inside-outside scoring ability, as he can take defenders off the dribble but also get points on post-ups. He is not a great shooter, but he is very active on the glass and also runs the floor extremely well for his Sam Rines team.

Winston Graham: The 6-foot combo guard is a very long combo who does not get the majority of the attention since he shares the backcourt with Sterling Gibbs with the NY Panthers, but the rising senior has a myriad of skills. He has a very good pull-up and mid-range game, and is also a very good three-point shooter. He can shoot the ball in transition or he can spot up to knock down perimeter shots. Graham has good athleticism, and he can take it to the basket and finish with both hands. However, he does force things at times and also takes a lot of shots. His dribbling ability is also questionable.

Carl Baptiste: Baptiste had a quiet but solid game against Playaz Red in the game I watched. The 6-foot-8 St. Joseph’s commit moves well without the ball and has a nice inside-outside game. He showed the ability to step out and knock down perimeter shots, but also score with his back to the basket. He runs the floor well and hustles after loose balls. Baptiste was also active on the glass for the NJ Shoreshots.

Chaz Williams: Too bad he already committed to Hofstra – this kid can really play. The 5-foot-8 guard has extremely deep range from three-point land, and gets good lift on his jumper. Williams has very good handle and has a quick crossover to beat his defender and get into the lane. He doesn’t look for his shot often, but penetrated and kicked out to his teammates on several occasions. He has a nice jump-stop in the lane, where he draws defenders and dumps it off down low. Defensively, he has quick hands and picks up steals for the NJ Shoreshots.

O.D. Anosike: Anosike, a 6-foot-7 forward, is very long and was almost the polar opposite of Playaz Red’s Trevor Clemmings – Anosike’s long and lanky body going up against the strong, muscular physique of Clemmings. Still, Anosike showed the ability to block shots for the NJ Shoreshots due to his length and athleticism. He was really solid on the defensive end, and was also a solid rebounder. However, he failed to box out on more than one occasion and was also not much of a factor offensively. He did not go up strongly on several inside shots and did not finish consistently.

Lance Brown: The 6-foot-3 Fordham commit – and the outcast amongst a sea of 2010 players at Paterson Catholic – had a very typical Lance Brown game. He was very solid all-around for the NJ Shoreshots, and used his athleticism to do a variety of things. He can do pretty much anything on the court, and his strong and well-built body was tough for some defenders to handle. He is quick and can get to the rim, where he finishes with effectiveness. He has a solid mid-range game, and crashes the offensive glass.

Curtis Loving: For a player that does not really do much besides rebound, run the floor and dunk the ball, Loving is fairly impressive and definitely fun-to-watch. The Huice 6-foot-5 forward is an extremely high-energy player and is very athletic. He runs the floor very well, and is a great rebounder for his size. He has unbelievable leaping ability and gets off the floor quickly. Defensively, Loving is a very good shot-blocker due to his athleticism and length.

Vince Council: Council is a solid complementary player who doesn’t panic and always seems to be under control for the Juice All-Stars. The 6-foot-1 guard can do nearly everything on the court, and can play both backcourt positions. He is quick getting to the lane and can finish well, but also pass to open teammates after drawing defenders. Defensively, he has quick hands and plays the passing lanes well.

Class of 2010

Devon Collier: Collier is a very long, athletic player who plays and looks a lot bigger than 6-foot-6. His versatility and length allow him to play at the top of the press, harassing the inbounds passer and forcing mistakes. He poses such a problem defensively because of his size and shot-blocking ability for New Heights 2010. Offensively, Collier can score around the rim and has a nice spin move to get around defenders. He also a nice touch from the mid-range and crashes the offensive glass for second opportunities. He needs to put on muscle in a major way, though.

Jayvaughn Pinkson: Pinkston, despite having a generally poor body language, was one of the most difficult match-ups in the entire tournament. He has a big, strong body in his 6-foot-6 frame and uses a wide variety of skills that made him near impossible to defend down the stretch of games for New Heights 2010. He can score in the paint with his back-to-the-basket, but is at his best when taking his defender off the dribble and getting to the rim. Pinkston is also effective in the high post, where he can face-up or get good position and back down defender.

Isaiah Epps: Epps remains one of my favorite players in the class of 2010, mainly due to his unbelievably smooth offensive game and sweet shooting stroke. The 6-foot-2 lefty is a tremendous outside shooter with deep range who can get off his shot in a hurry. He steps into his shot well and looks calm and confident at all times. He has a slick dribble and can beat his defender to get into the lane. However, he struggles to take care of the ball at times and commits sloppy turnovers.

Fuquan Edwin: Like the Sterling Gibbs, Edwin looked like a completely different player than he did at the Reebok U All-American camp. The 6-foot-5 forward really is an outstanding all-around player who can do a little bit of everything on the court. Edwin loves to get out in transition and push the ball for fast-break points; he can find people or take it to the basket himself. Offensively, he has a decent mid-range game, but his shooting stroke from three-point range is fairly ugly. Defensively, Edwin has quick hands and routinely picks off errant passes.

Trevor Clemmings: Despite being listed at only 6-foot-6, Clemmings is an absolute beast on the inside. He has an extremely strong and wide body, and his broad shoulders make it difficult for defenders to keep him off the low block for the Playaz. He consistently gets great position and is very tough to stop once he gets the ball near the basket. Clemmings has a variety of moves and fakes inside, and draws fouls constantly. He can also finish with contact and is a strong rebounder.

Dave Coley: Coley reminds me of a smaller version of Syracuse’s Paul Harris. He is extremely active at both ends of the floor and plays much bigger than his listed height of 6-foot-2. He is very strong when going to the basket and can finish with contact. Coley runs the floor very well and is very impressive at changing direction while dribbling. He rebounds the ball at both ends and is also a solid passer with vision for the Juice All-Stars.

Tyrone Garland: Garland is a tough, 6-foot-2 Philly guard who is a pure scorer from all over the court for the Cuttino Mobley squad. He took over late in the game against National Christian, and single-handedly got his team the win. He can take it to the basket against most defenders and has a variety of finishes over taller defenders and around potential shot-blockers. He has great body control and is not afraid to use the backboard for baskets. He has a nice mid-range jumper and is also adept at shooting three-pointers from deep. Garland is also outstanding defensively, with his quick hands and ability to play the passing lanes.

Tyree Johnson: The extraordinarily quick, 5-foot-10 Johnson has an outstanding handle and can get into the lane against nearly anyone because of his first step and dribbling ability. He has great vision and finds open teammates consistently. Johnson doesn’t turn the ball over and runs the Cuttino Mobley offense well. He is also a solid leader who doesn’t back down from anyone despite his size. He is very shifty with the ball and is creative once he gets into the paint. If he wanted to penetrate to the rim on every possession, I’m not sure anyone would have stopped him.

Frantz Massenat: Massenat is a confident-looking player who can play both guard spots at 6-foot-4 for Team NJ ABC 2010, but has very good size for a point guard. He can handle the ball well and can run an offense. He works the pick-and-roll well, and is a good passer. Massenat does need to work on his right hand, but he still showed the quickness to beat his defender off the dribble. He has good body adjustment once he is in the air, and can finish at the rim or with a pull-up from the foul line. Defensively, he has quick hands and likes to get up on his opponent to try and force a mistake.

Dondre Whitmore: The diminutive 5-foot-8 point guard of Team NJ ABC 2010 is tremendously quick and has outstanding handle. He hardly ever turns the ball over and defenders have a difficult time staying in front of him because of his speed. He doesn’t panic once pressure comes and he finds the open man when he draws defenders off of penetration. Whitmore makes good decisions nearly every time he has the ball. Of course, his size is holding him back somewhat; if he was a few inches taller, he would have nearly every school in the country after him.

Markese Tucker: This active but undersized (6-foot-5) forward for Team NJ ABC 2010 reminds me somewhat of former Texas star P.J. Tucker – and not just because they share the same last name. He is very physical around the rim and can get loose balls and offensive rebounds inside for easy put-backs. Tucker is aggressive in the paint and outmuscles taller opponents for second chances and extra opportunities. His perimeter game is a question mark, but he was a huge match-up problem for most defenders all weekend.

Class of 2011

Sterling Gibbs: As opposed to the passive, unaggressive Gibbs we saw at the All-American camp, this version of the rising sophomore was much more confident and, as a result, more productive here with the Panthers. He was a completely different player, taking the ball to the basket and trying to create his own shot inside the lane. Gibbs was not afraid to shoot the ball from the perimeter and also found holes in the defense to get to the rim for either finishes at the rim or floaters in the paint.

Grassroots Canada

Tramar Sutherland: The versatile perimeter player had a great all-around game, demonstrating solid ability at both ends of the floor. He plays the passing lanes very well, and picked up several steals leading to easy transition points for himself and his teammates. Sutherland is athletic and can get to the rim consistently. He can also handle the ball well, and is a solid passer with good vision.

Yonas Berhe: Berhe is extremely quick with the ball, but he also tends to make mistakes by trying to do too much. He beat his defender on multiple occasions, but also was out of control inside the lane and committed turnovers and offensive fouls. Still, he has a very good handle and is really quick when driving to the lane. He has a decent shooting stroke and pushes the ball in transition effectively.

School Lists

Mouphtau Yarou listed Massachusetts, UCLA, Georgetown, Villanova, Kansas State, Georgia State and Jacksonville, but that is just the tip of the iceberg as he said that “everyone” is after him, but his favorite conference is the Big 12

James Padgett sees a lot of Big East interest with West Virginia, Pittsburgh, St. John’s, Rutgers, Seton Hall and Providence as well as Maryland (offered) and South Carolina

Darwin Ellis claims offers from both St. John’s and Seton Hall while Juice backcourt mate Keith Spellman lists St. John’s, Rutgers, George Mason, Seton Hall and Hofstra as schools of interest.

Chris Cantino gave CAA Insider a long and varied list of Rhode Island, Kansas State, Providence, Louisville, Baylor, Seton Hall, Temple, Nebraska, Kentucky, Siena and Rider.

Winston Graham mentioned Drexel, Cincinnati, St. Francis, Manhattan and Quinnipiac

Devon Collier listed Fordham (offer), St. John’s (offer), LSU (offer), Miami (Fl.) (offer), Syracuse, Hofstra, Virginia (offered), Virginia Tech and Florida while New Heights teammate Jayvaughn Pinkston rattled off a list of St. John’s, Villanova, Xavier, Rutgers (all offered), Florida and Memphis

Isaiah Epps has Maryland as a favorite because of the opportunity for immediate playing time and also has a trio from the Big East in Pittsburgh, Seton Hall and Rutgers heavily involved.

The interest in Fuquan Edwin continues to grow as his lists has expanded to include South Carolina, Rutgers (offered), Seton Hall (offered), La Salle (offered), Providence and Texas. Indications are that Rutgers holds an early lead for his services.

Another Playaz and Paterson Catholic 2010 star is Trevor Clemmings and his list of colleges is growing more impressive with each event. Currently Rutgers (offered), Seton Hall (offered), La Salle, Providence and Massachusetts are schools of interest.

Dave Coley is picking up early interest from Hofstra (offered), Providence, St. John’s and Lehigh.

Tyrone Garland lists La Salle (offered), Temple, St. Joseph’s, Nebraska (offered), Maryland, St. Bonaventure and Penn State while Tyree Johnson has Nebraska, Penn State, La Salle, St. Joseph’s, Temple, Mount St. Mary’s, Drexel and Delaware

Sterling Gibbs has Pittsburgh, Seton Hall and Rutgers from the Big East with Florida and Maryland on his list

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