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ORLANDO AAU REPORT - WEDNESDAY

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by Alex Schwartz

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The third and final Live Evaluation Period of July got underway on Wednesday and NBE Sports was present at the ESPN Wide World of Sports for the 11th Grade AAU Nationals. Although due to the new July format there are not quite as many talented teams in action, there are still numerous quality squads in the event. There were several players who stood out on the first day of the tournament.

TOP PERFORMERS

Derrick Griffin is an absolutely elite level athlete with truly incredible leaping ability. A 6’6 power forward from Terry (TX), Griffin is a 2013 prospect who has committed to Texas A&M as a football player. A member of the Houston Defenders, Griffin put on an absolute show in the squad’s nationally televised game on Wednesday night. He as a great body, pretty good length and is both strong and powerful. He threw down a number of very impressive, crowd pleasing dunks and also swatted shots at the other end of the floor. Griffin rebounds the ball well and is an effective interior presence despite his relative lack of height. He is an exciting player to watch and he will have a nice career on the hardwood in the SEC if he plays both sports.

TOP SLEEPER PERFORMER

Terrance LeFlore stepped up at the point guard spot for the Alabama Challenge with Tennessee-bound Travon Landry out due to injury. A class of 2013 prospect from Wetumpka (AL), LeFlore is a 6’0 lead guard who is a talented offensive player. He handles the rock well and is connecting on shots from 3-point land. LeFlore is a smooth player who possesses nice court vision and can distribute. He is a bit thin, but that does not really hold him back. LeFlore’s most impressive play of the game was probably a stellar block from behind on a fast break the other way. He is a quality all-around player and is a guy to keep an eye on.

OTHER TOP PERFORMERS

Dwayne Bacon is a talented 6’5 combo guard out of McKeel Academy (FL). A superb class of 2015 prospect who plays for the Florida Showtime Ballers, Bacon has a smooth game and some nice scoring ability. He has a solid frame, can connect from beyond the 3-point line and seems to play the game with ease.

Chai Baker of Malone (FL) is a 6’3 shooting guard for the Alabama Challenge who can really score the rock. A class of 2014 recruit with a strong build, Baker has been mostly a 3-point shooter in the past, but he showed some greatly improved ability to attack off the bounce. He is clearly making some strides in his game.

Allerik Freeman, a 6’4 shooting guard in the class of 2013, turned in a nice performance for Boo Williams in the TV game. A North Carolina native who will attend Findlay Prep (NV), Freeman is a kid who can get hot in a hurry and put points on the board. He has a strong frame and can score both at the rim and from the perimeter.

Harold Givens of Norcross (GA) had a quality showing for Southern Select on Wednesday. A 6’7 small forward in the class of 2013, Givens is a long wing with a good body who is productive when on the court. He made a mark on the defensive end, where he showed the ability to get steals and also contested shots.

Aaron Harrison might not be quite as highly ranked as his brother, but the 6’5 shooting guard is a big-time player in the 2013 class. A member of the Houston Defenders who attends Travis (TX), Harrison has very deep shooting range an is a high level scorer. He is very athletic and can get to the rim as well.

Andrew Harrison, like his twin brother, is a 6’5 class of 2013 prospect from Travis (TX) and the Houston Defenders. However, Andrew is a point guard and has terrific height for the position as well as some impressive court vision. Harrison is quick, handles well, gets to the rim, and is a capable scorer in his own right.

Stuart Jackson was a pleasant surprise for Kentucky Elite Basketball. A 6’5 small forward out of Louisville Central (KY), Jackson is a smooth wing with a strong frame who plays hard. He has nice bounce and can knock down shots from beyond the 3-point arc. Additionally, the 2013 recruit is a fairly crafty offensive player.

Keon Johnson is a diminutive point guard at 5’7, but the 2013 prospect can really go. A member of All-Ohio Red who attends Mansfield Senior (OH), Johnson is extremely quick and is very tough to stop from getting to the rack off the bounce. He accelerates well and has a great frame, especially for a player his height.

John McCloud, Jr. had a good showing for the Indiana Elite Stars in the nightcap. A 6’7 combo forward who hails from Lawrence North (IN), McCloud has a quality frame and does a ice job of rebounding the orange. The class of 2013 recruit has solid leaping ability and is adept at scoring the ball. He can connect from long range.

NOTES

Kentucky‘s John Calipari sat next to Maryland‘s Mark Turgeon watching elite 2013 guards Andrew and Aaron Harrison, and each coach was flanked by an assistant. They were both front and center on the baseline near the Houston Defenders bench. Right near them was Baylor‘s Scott Drew. Other head coaches at the night’s main draw-the Defenders played Boo Williams in an ESPNU-televised game-included Vanderbilt’s Kevin Stallings, South Carolina’s Frank Martin, Alabama’s Anthony Grant, Texas’ Rick Barnes, and Houston’s James Dickey. Both Duke and North Carolina had two assistants at the contest, likely for Allerik Freeman and Troy Williams, respectively. Some of the other high-major schools in attendance at the WWOS included Iowa, Michigan State (Izzo), Ohio State, North Carolina State, Auburn, Villanova, Miami, Pitt, and others.

RECRUITING UPDATES

Rene Castro, a class of 2013 prospect who plays for BABC, has a wide variety of college interest. The 6’2 combo guard from Worcester Academy (MA) listed offers from George Washington, Duquesne, UMass, Rhode Island, Northeastern, Hofstra, Pittsburgh, Temple, Drexel and Seton Hall, plus others. He said that South Carolina is another school he is hearing from. Asked if he has any favorites, Castro replied, “Not really, but I could say George Washington and Duquesne [are coming at me] the hardest right now.” Castro is hoping to make his commitment before the high school season begins and he would like to take a visit to George Washington. The only schools he has tripped to thus far are Pitt and Duquesne.

William Lee is a talented 6’8 class of 2014 power forward for the Alabama Challenge. Lee, who attends Dallas County (AL), listed scholarship offers from Alabama, Auburn, Mississippi State, Georgia and UAB, in addition to others he could not recall. He said there is not a school or two standing out to him at this point. Lee noted that he has visited all five schools he mentioned and no other trips planned. Location will not be a factor for Lee as he moves towards his college choice, when he plans to make between his junior and senior years.

Daxter Miles, a combo guard from Baltimore who attends IMG Academy (FL), listed offers from Kansas State, Virginia Tech, Xavier, Colorado State, Oklahoma State, and Miami. The 6’2 class of 2013 prospect is also hearing from North Carolina State, USC and more. Miles, who runs with Nike Baltimore Elite, said that he has a top five right now. That top group, in order, is North Carolina State, Miami, Kansas State, Oklahoma State and Virginia Tech. Miles said that he is planning to take visits to North Carolina State and Kansas State, and then will commit late in the fall.

Rashawn Powell, a 5’11 point guard from Dr. Phillips (FL), listed a number of high-major scholarship offers. A class of 2013 prospect who runs with the Florida Showtime Ballers, Powell said hat Memphis, Virginia Tech, Cincinnati, Central Florida, Virginia, Oklahoma State, Alabama and Murray State have extended offers. He said that the offer from Alabama came in last week. Additionally, Powell said he is being pursued by Florida State and noted that Miami is no longer involved with him. He claims no favorites at this point in time. Powell plans to to wait until the late signing period to make his college choice, as he wants to be sure he has no regrets about his selection.

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