2008 adidas Nations Camp: Day 2

By Aran_Smith

Sun, 08/10/2008 - 2:07pm

On Saturday the Nations camp got into full swing with morning scrimmages between the college players followed by afternoon and evening games among the Nations U18 players. It's a bit of a 3-ring circus as at times all 6 courts are being used making it impossible to take in even half of the action at one time. So the dilemma is whether to sit and watch complete games or move around and try to take in as much action as possible. I find myself opting for the latter.

Saturday morning marked the first day that James Harden, rocking a mo-hawk, participated in games and scouts rushed to the far end of the gym to see him as soon as his game got started. There's no question he's the top player in camp, Harden has a presence about him, a certain confidence that great players have. He looks every bit a potential top 5 pick based on his play so far.

Day 2 Games


	James Harden

The roughly 20 college counselors were split up into the following teams:

Team 1: Darren Collison / Jrue Holiday / Diamon Simpson / Jarvis Varnado / Arinze Onauku

Team 2: Curtis Jerrells / James Harden / Quincy Pondexter / Mac Koshwal / Cole Aldrich

Team 3: Henry Dugat / Dar Tucker / Terrance Williams / Gani Lawal / John Bryant

Team 4: Shaun Dumas / Olu Ashaolu / Antonio Anderson / Wayne Chism / Luke Nevill

The squads faced off for two 10 minute quarters and then moved courts to face other teams.

Harden didn't force things letting the game come to him. He squared off with Terrence Williams getting by him for some nice drive and dishes. Harden scored baskets in the flow of the offense. He had roughly 6 points in each of the games showing excellent lift on his jumper.

His shot looked good in the practice session and although he didn't light the scoreboard on fire, his team won against T-Wills in a brief overtime 37-32. Harden's passing and ability to make teammates better from the 2g position is what really makes him so valuable.

Similar to a Manu Ginobili, Harden does whatever it takes to win, making those around him better. Maybe most impressive about his play today was the way he went down with what appeared to be a potential serious knee injury but was able to shake it off and continue.

That ability to not get injured on a play that had serious injury written all over it is a tribute to his tremendous athletic ability. While he may not look like a specimen, he's one of those deceptive types of athletes who is much more athletic than his body makes him appear.


	Darren Collison

The Collison/Holiday squad took care of business winning all three 20 minute scrimmages against the other squads.

It's apparent these two already play with a lot of continuity. Holiday's presence and unselfish style is sure to benefit Collison next season as Holiday commands a lot of attention on the offensive end. He gets into the lane at will and has a polished bag of tricks offensively. Collison has shown the ability to get to the rim with little resistance.

Unfortunately there isn't a great point guard in camp as there was at last year's Nations camp (Augustin) to test DC. While he may have been the most productive college guy in camp on Saturday, the fact that he's doing it against guys like Shaun Dumas and Henry Dugat leaves something to be desired.

Gani Lawal had the dunk of the day flushing a dunk in emphatic style in the night session. He appears to have put on some muscle (now likely in the 230 lb range) and appears on pace to become a first rounder in 2010. He's likely always going to be a little on the thin side, but his length make up for some of his lack of natural girth.

Curtis Jerrells was another impressive player. He's still not nearly the passer that he is scorer, but his speed and ability to blow by his man and get to the rim makes him an intriguing prospect. His college teammate Henry Dugat may not be a defensive stalwart but he remains one of the most aesthetically pleasing offensive players on the college level. Dugat is a bit of a poor man's Iverson with his amazing body control and degree of difficult finishes. The Baylor pair missed the bus on the first day causing them to miss the first set of games, but have rebounded and seem to be playing well.

Cole Aldrich has neither impressed nor disappointed, just showing solid play on both ends and some added bulk. He's got solid upside, but still appears a year away from being ready.

*Scotty Hopson was at the event but did not participate in the games due to an apparent injury.

Under 18s


	Tony Wroten

The European squad continues to play down to the level of their competition. They were able to squeak out a victory against the Latin American team after a late run almost got the gritty Latin bunch to pull out the win. The Euros had trouble extending a second half 10 point lead and the gap closed all the way to 2 with just a couple minutes left on the clock. Nihad Dedovic was the hero as he made all the big plays late carrying the European crew to victory. His late steal and bucket helped crush a late game push as the Euros were able to get a ten point victory, 76-66. Impressive young Czech 2-guard Tomas Satoranski looked solid today but suffered an injury and might be done for the rest of camp.

The Latin American guys lack any NBA potential players but are an extremely steady and tough bunch led by guards Vitor Benite and Vinicius Gobor of Brazil and Jayson Granger of Uruguay. Benite in particular impresses with his heart and determination showing excellent ball handling and shooting skills. The Latin group pushed the 2009 American squad the distance in the night cap with energetic coach Frank Johnson leading them. Johnson's passion and intensity is truly remarkable. The game got so heated that a questionable late call had assistant coach Antawn Jamison jumping out of his seat and running the length of the floor into the other gym.

The USA 2009 team was able to win both of their games keeping their record undefeated. Lance Stephenson continues to dominate the ball, which could ultimately spell doom in the later rounds as he often forgets his teammates and forces bad shots. Although he has made a number of key baskets lte in games to help seal 2009's victories. Derrick Favors has been solid but struggles offensively outside of dunking and garbage baskets.

The 2010 USA squad made short work of Asia Blue 105-77. The three player tandem of sophomore Tony Wroten, Jr., Brandon Knight and Joshua Smith makes them highly formidable. Wroten continues to be extremely unselfish looking to set up teammates first and find basekts for himself when necessary. Smith is a bull with soft touch who if he grows another inch or two could really turn into a serious prospect. Knight continues to impress with his speed/athleticism and feel for the game. Against Asia he had one very impressive two handed rebound dunk. This 2010 USA team may lack the experience of the 2009 USA team, but they appear to be the team to beat with their "big 3".

On Sunday it's live bullets as the games will spell elimination for the losing teams.

Rosters

adidas Team Europe

Nicolo Melli	SF	Italy
Moritz Lanegger	SG	Austria
Branislav Djekic	C	Serbia
Andreja Milutinovic	SG	Serbia
Tomislav Zubcic	PF	Croatia
Leon Radosevic	PF	Croatia
Nihad Dedovic	SG	Bosnia
Tomas Satoranski	SF	Czech Repblic
Josep Franch de Pablo	PG	Spain
Carl Ona Embo	PG	France
Richard Grznar	PG	Slovakia
Deniz Kilicli	PF / C	Turkey

2009 adidas US National Team

Peyton Siva	PG	Seattle, WA
GJ Vilarino	PG	McKinney, TX
Dexter Strickland	PG	Rahway, NJ
Lance Stephenson	SF	Brooklyn, NY
Dominic Cheek	SG	Jersey City, NJ
Noel Johnson	SG	Fayetteville, GA
Jerry Brown	SF	El Sobrante, CA
Christian Watford	SF	Birmingham, AL
Tyler Griffey	PF	Wildwood, MO
Brendan Lane	PF	Rocklin, CA
Stephan Van Treese	PF	Indianapolis, IN
Derrick Favors	C	Atlanta, GA
Erik Murphy	PF/C	Southborough, MA

2010 adidas US National Team

Ray McCallum	PG	Bloomington, IN
Trae Golden	G	Powder Springs, GA
Brandon Knight	PG	Fort Lauderdale, FL
Trey Zeigler	G	Mt. Pleasant, MI
Tony Wroten, Jr.	G	Seattle, WA
LaQuinton Ross	SF	Jackson, MS
Jared Sullinger	PF	Columbus, OH
Julian Washburn	PF	Duncanville, TX
Joshua Smith	C	Kent, WA
Adreian Payne	PF/C	Dayton, OH
Evan Anderson	C	Eau Claire, WI

adidas Team Canada

Player	Position	Country
Tristan Thompson	PF	Canada
Junior Cadougan	PG	Canada
Kadeem Coleby	PF	Canada
Alwayne Bigby	SG	Canada
Myck Kabongo	PG	Canada
Cory Joseph	SG	Canada
Dwight Powell	C	Canada
Jason Calliste	SG	Canada
Renaldo Dixon	SF	Canada
Brady Heslip	SG	Canada
Richard Armardi	SF	Canada

adidas Team Latin America

Player	Position	Country
Vitor Benite	SG	Brazil
Gregory Echenique	C	Venezuela
Rafael Maia	PF	Brazil
Fabrico de Melo	C	Brazil
Jonathon King	SG	Brazil
Rafael Luz	PG	Brazil
Fabian Rameriz Barrios	SF	Argentina
Jose Victor Ferreira Jeronimo	PF	Brazil
Jayson Granger	SG	Uruguay
Diego Gerbaudo	PG	Argentina
Vinicus Gobor
Andre Silva	SF	Brazil

adidas Team Africa

#	Player	Position	Country
	Bandja Sy	PF	Mali
	Harouna Abdoulaye	PG	Niger
	Amadou Kaba	SG	Mali
	Lens Aboudou	SG	Chad
	Amath Mbaye	SF	Senegal / France
	Eric Katenda	SF	RD Congo / France
	Mohamed Koita	PG	Mauritania / France
	Youssaoupha Mbao	C	Senegal
	Abdou Niang	PF	Senegal
	Remi Dibo	SF	Ivory Coast
	Negueba Samake	C	Mali / France

adidas Team Asia Blue

Player	Position	Country
Dion Brewster (Dallas only)	SF	New Zealand
Liam McInerney	PF	Australia
Mitchell Young	PF	Australia
Shengyu Lim	Forward	Singapore
Calvin Chia	PG	Singapore
Changmin Lee	G	Korea
Tsz Kin Chau	SG	Hong Kong
Ka Wai Li	C	Hong Kong
Sanggu Lee	C	Korea
Shengyu Lim	SF	Singapore
Kevin Louie Alas	G	Philippines
Jose Eduardo Llanes	G	Philippines
Yi-Hsiang Chou	F	Taiwan
Yu-Hsuan Sung	F	Taiwan

adidas Team Asia Red

Player	Position	Country
Guo Ai-Lun	PG	China
Tang Han-Lin	SF	China
Jiang Jun-Qi	SG	China
Wang Chao	PG	China
Chen Fei	PF/SF	China
Toa Han Lin	C	China
Cai Chen	PF	China
Raymond Tapusoa
Samer Jassar
Mingyu Lin
DeAndre Metloc	C	China

adidas College Players

Player	School
Cole Aldrich	Kansas
Antonio Anderson	Memphis
Olu Ashaolu	La Tech.
Tyrell Biggs	Pitt
John Bryant	Santa Clara
Wayne Chism	Tenn
Darren Collison	UCLA
Henry Dugat	Baylor
Shaun Dumas	Xavier ( La)
James Harden	ASU
Jrue Holiday	UCLA
Scotty Hopson	Tennessee
Curtis Jerrells	Baylor
Dominique Jones	South Florida
Mac Koshwal	Depaul
Gani Lawal	Georgia Tech
Luke Nevill	Utah
Arinze Onauku	Syracuse
Quincy Pondexter	Washington
Diamon Simpson	St. Mary's
Dar Tucker	DePaul
Jarvis Varnado	Mississippi State
Terrance Williams	Louisville

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