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By
Borko Popic
4/15/08
Even though
many of the top seniors pulled out just before the start, the ones
that showed up displayed the depth and quality this senior class
possesses. For those who think this week is a waste of time, they
are seriously mistaken. The only reason not to show up would be
due to injury or a previously guaranteed invite to the Orlando Pre-Draft
Camp. The large number of NBA and European personnel in attendance
is not only an indication of the talent, but also a sign that this
is a great place for players to showcase their skills.
Below is a list
of the top prospects, and not necessarily the guys who put up the
best numbers, but rather those who showed the best skill sets needed
for the next level.
*All
Tournament First Team
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Gary
Forbes
Icon SMI |
*Gary
Forbes- 16ppg, 9apg, 7rpg
Statistically
and based on potential displayed, Forbes definitely had one of the
better showings of anyone this week. He has a swagger and tremendous
confidence that is necessary for the next level. He has a complete
skill set, and shows the ability to score in a variety of ways.
Questions about his selfishness were somewhat answered with the
9 assists he averaged, and even more so with the 13 he had in the
last game to go along with only 6 shots. Being a top prospect, means
his game will fall under more scrutiny because people want to know
exactly how he projects for the next level. In saying that, one
has to worry about his less than superb athleticism; while he was
able to effectively get into the lane this week, he showed that
he struggled finishing against bigger help defenders. Since he is
not able to finish over the top of guys, he tries to put up very
acrobatic shots that usually don’t go in for him because of
the high degree of difficulty. In other aspects, offensively, while
he is very good, he’s definitely not exceptional in any particular
thing. He did show that his outside shot is becoming more reliable
and consistent, and that could end up being his calling card for
the next level. One scout said “If Forbes is able to prove
that he's a dependable outside shooter, then he should have no problems
getting drafted,” a statement that wil likely prove to be
true.
*Pat
Calathes- 15ppg, 8rpg, 3apg
If the MVP went
to the most important player on the best team, then there is no
question Calathes would have been the right choice. From the early
going, he showed that he came ready to play, and delivered fine
performances throughout the week. At 6-10, his game is tremendously
effective on the perimeter, where he is able to shoot with range,
come off screens, break people down off the dribble, and handle
the ball in transition. With all of that being said, his best attribute
may be his passing ability, where he proved to be one of the best
playmakers overall. His vision is not only great in the half court,
but also in transition, where he always keeps his head up, looking
to make the right read. Being as tall as he is, one would like to
see some inside skills, but unfortunately he possesses absolutely
none, and is completely unwilling to play with his back to the basket.
While his shot is accurate, his form and release are a little awkward
because he holds the ball out too far as he brings it into the shooting
pocket. On the defensive end is where we see Calathes’ biggest
weakness, as he is not strong enough to match up with the more physical
power forwards, and his lateral quickness hurts him when he tries
to guard perimeter players. We saw a good example of this when he
was matched up with Forbes, and was completely unable to stay in
front of him. He was also a bit fazed by Forbes on the other end,
who got physical and into his comfort zone, forcing Calathes to
become very passive. Scary thing is that Forbes is only a marginal
defender; it will be a big question mark to see how effective Calathes
can be against the much more physical and aggressive defenders that
he is sure to face in Orlando (predraft camp). Although he is very
skinny and should put on substantial weight, the problem is his
frame and narrow shoulders, which means that his body type limits
his potential to get much bigger. All that being said, he is a well
liked, talented and intelligent player, who may be able to overcome
these deficiencies due to his great skill and fundamentals.
*Othello
Hunter- 16ppg, 12rpg, 2bpg
A great athlete
that showed nice flashes of potential, and continued to impress
throughout the week. His leaping ability gives him a great advantage
on the boards, where he was a man among boys. His niche is as a
very active and relentless player, who does not need many touches
to be effective, because he is able to create his own opportunities
with offensive rebounding as well as hustle plays. He gets into
open space well, and seems to always be open in drive & dish
situations, where he uses his good hands to catch tough passes and
then is able to finish in emphatic fashion because of his athleticism.
Evaluating his post game, he has a decent touch on his hook shot,
but it is no secret that he has little else. One-on-one he struggles
defensively because he does not match up well with either post or
perimeter players, although he has great timing and as a result
is a great weakside shotblocker. Although he is seen as a role player,
he has shown this week that if he is put into the right system with
the right players around him, he can play much better than what
we have seen during his time at Ohio State.
*Josh
Duncan- 14ppg, 8rpg, 2apg
A fundamental
player with a workhorse mentality showed that he is one of the steadiest
players in this senior class. While there is nothing flashy or spectacular
to his game, at the end of the day he gets the job done and has
helped his team in the win column. He has a nice variety of post
moves, and is able to convert using both hands. His ability to step
out and knock down three’s, as well as put the ball on the
floor to get by people are qualities that make him very attractive.
While he is very versatile, there isn’t one thing that he
excels at, and is not a consistent scorer game in and game out.
His shot comes and goes, and it is a bit of feast or famine type
of inconsistency. Athletically, he is limited to say the least,
however, with his high IQ and ability to use his strong body he
shows that he can play with pretty much anybody, and that he should
be able to overcome his athletic shortcomings. A winner in every
sense of the word, his maturity and leadership are qualities that
are welcome in any locker-room.
Mark
Tyndale- 9ppg, 7rpg, 7apg
From the get-go
he showed that he was determined to prove himself as a legitimate
prospect, and he definitely didn’t fall short. Putting together
probably the most complete statline, which not only included points,
rebounds and assists, but also a great number of steals and blocks.
Offensively, he is not the guy you would give the ball to and tell
him to go to work, and he does not have any sort of jumpshot. That
being said, as a guy who is able to run the floor, get on the O
glass, and also make great cuts for easy layups, Tyndale is a very
effective scorer who does not require plays to be called for him.
Defensively, he has decent size, and is a nice athlete, but what
makes him so good is his heart and desire. He is very fundamental,
and has great positioning which allows him to stay in front of people,
irregardless of how quick and athletic they are. His feel for the
game is also very impressive, as he is able to get to rebounds,
intercept passes, and also block shots on his own man. His stat-filling
abilities, along with his reckless-yet controlled demeanour result
in a prospect that turned some heads this week, and one that should
be able to do the same down the road in Orlando.
Second
Team
*Kyle
Hines- 17ppg, 7rpg, 3bpg
Possessing the
most chiselled and defined body this week, and he surely knew how
to put it to good use. Coming from a small school (UNC-Greensboro)
he was a bit of an unknown, but from the first game he came out
strong and took people by surprise. He was very consistent in all
3 games, showing tremendous athleticism and body control while finishing
against much bigger players. He is relentless, never giving up on
a play, and constantly puts pressure on the opposing team with his
activeness. He has a deceivingly quick first step that seems to
surprise defenders; unfortunately his dribbling is very weak, limiting
his ability to break people down. His shooting is very questionable,
and he does not look to shoot anywhere outside of 12 feet. He does
not seem to have a position on the court because of some of these
limitations, but one does not need to categorize him as a SF or
PF, to realize that he is a basketball player. There have been plenty
of role players similar to him that have been able to make nice
careers in the NBA, and there’s no reason to believe that
he won’t have a similar chance.
*Reggie
Williams- 16ppg, 4rpg, 4apg
It may not make
any sense, but the leading scorer in the country needs to look to
shoot more. The entire week he only took what the defense gave him,
never forcing the issue, and always looking to give up the ball.
He is able to read the action very well, always knowing where to
find a teammate and when to throw the pass. When he did shoot, he
showed tremendous range and consistency on his jump shot. His surprisingly
long arms, and underrated athleticism not only allow him to finish
plays with some nice dunks, but they also help him get his hands
on a lot of balls causing deflections and steals. Early on he struggled
a bit defensively, but as the week progressed he got more comfortable
and was even able to match up with some smaller guys. Definitely
an interesting prospect who should be able garner even more attention
with a good showing at Orlando.
Martin
Zeno- 14ppg, 4apg, 2spg
If the MVP is
to be given to the player most responsible for his team winning
the championship, then Zeno would have as good of a case as anyone.
In what was undoubtedly the best game of the week, and what ended
up being the tournament deciding game, against Norfolk Naval Shipyard
in the Semis, he came up with the game changing steal and the game
winning layup at the end. Aside from that, he had a very nice week
where he proved to be a lock down defender as well as a decent role
player on offense. Guarding the opposing team's best perimeter player
on a regular basis, Zeno showed that he is a force to be reckoned
with. His quick feet, long arms, and very strong body allow him
to shut people down completely. He was at his best guarding Forbes,
where he forced him into settling for outside shots, without even
thinking of going inside. Offensively, he has a very nice lefty
stroke that he is able to convert at a decent rate from midrange.
Unfortunately, he shows minimal ability to step out and shoot the
three. He is a decent penetrator, but at this point is nothing more
than a guy that will o score off of hustle and garbage points. His
potential will be based on his ability to lock people down, especially
the top level players that he could face in Orlando.
Jonte
Flowers- 13ppg, 5rpg, 2spg
All week he
made people believers, and should definitely have secured himself
a spot in Orlando. While he doesn’t do any one thing exceptionally,
he has a nice feel for the game, always finding himself in the right
spot. He is great at anticipating and cutting off passing lanes,
and his length makes him an unpredictable defender who is difficult
to get by. His shooting form looks very smooth and fluid, but his
shot is not very consistent, and he seems to lack confidence in
it. He is not dominant in any particular area offensively, but is
able to do many things fairly well.
Ramel
Bradley- 16ppg, 5apg, 2spg
Was in attack
mode all week, never backing down from anyone, and always looking
to take anybody in his way off the dribble. His aggressiveness earned
him the most trips to the charity stripe of anybody this week, which
is even more impressive considering the position he plays and his
size. Even though he is very good scorer, he has good vision, and
is willing to give the ball up. Although he does have a nice first
step, and is able to beat people off the dribble because of his
handles, he is not the most explosive athlete, and his outside touch
is inconsistent. Due to these limitations we could see at times
that he struggled to convert and as a result had some bad shooting
games.
Third
Team
Kentrell
Gransberry- 11ppg, 8rpg, 3spg,
Had somewhat of a slow start, but in the last game
showed glimpses of what he can do with his size and strength. Much
of the problem was that he did not get many touches, and a lot of
it had to do with him not demanding the ball. He did show that when
he made up his mind to attack, very few people could contain him,
or would even think of stepping in front. Showed not only a good
inside game, but that his handles are also very reliable when he
dribbled the ball on the break a few times, or when he put it on
the floor to go by his defender.
Bo
McCalebb- 9ppg, 3apg, 2spg
At times shows great flashes of NBA potential, unfortunately
they are few and far between. Although he is a decent playmaker,
he is more of a scoring type guard, but the problem is that he can’t
shoot. At his size, not being able to spread the floor hurts because
people can gap him, therefore negating his speed and quickness.
When he does get out into the open floor he is an assassin as he
attacks relentlessly, unfortunately he has struggled to finish on
many occasions. Defensively, he is exceptional, using his quickness
and strong body to completely lock people down, he was easily among
the best defenders this week.
*Jajuan
Smith- 15ppg, 8rpg, 5apg, 3spg
Had a very good
week, showcasing his smooth touch from the outside, but also contributing
in many other statistical categories. He doesn’t dribble the
ball too well, is not the greatest athlete, and also shows a frail
body, making him just a very one dimensional spot shooter on the
offensive end. Even though he shot the ball well, he needs to prove
that he can be a constant threat from long distance and not just
a streaky shooter.
Joe
Crawford- 19ppg, 2apg, 2rpg
Had a great
game the first night, showing off an increasingly consistent shooting
touch, as well as the ability to get into the lane. Unfortunately,
we were not able to see him again, because of an injury he was not
able to go. Hopefully, he recovers quickly and is able to showcase
more of his game in Orlando
Rob
McKiver- 16ppg, 4apg
Showed some
nice things this week, including his range, as well as the ability
to break people down and finish in the lane with a variety of moves.
At times he over dribbles and dominates the ball too much, leaving
his teammates just standing around watching. He needs to become
a better playmaker, and look to set other guys up, because due to
his height and less than exceptional explosiveness, he is definitely
not a SG for the next level. But he is surely a quality shooter
who never saw a shot he didn't like,
Honorable
Mention
Charles
Rhodes- 12ppg, 8rpg
Another guy
that fell victim to the injury bug. He showed that he is more than
just an energy type guy by stepping out to 15 feet and showing a
soft touch. In his repertoire he possesses and nice little step
back jumper that is almost unstoppable because of his length and
high release. He is a bit on the soft side, as he would rather settle
for jumpshots instead of battling with the big boys inside, and
he got outmuscled by Elegar on a number of occaisions.
Mike
Green- 12ppg, 6rpg, 5apg
A very steady
week, showing great leadership and maturity throughout. He has some
nice dribble attack moves, and the ability to deliver the ball to
the right spots, but he lacks the explosiveness to consistently
get by people, as well as the shooting touch to spread the floor.
He should be able to find a place overseas for a long career.
*Deron
Washington- 17ppg, 6rpg, 2bpg
A great athlete
that at times showed he can knock down the jumper. Unfortunately,
other than that his game is very limited. He has minimal ability
to get by people as his dribble and first step are less than adequate,
and his slender frame limits his ability to attack and finish against
contact. While he's a jawdropping athletic specimen, he struggles
to find ways to effectively use it in the context of a game.
Patrick
Ewing Jr. - 6ppg, 6rpb, 2bpg
Due to injury,
he only played in one full game and a small portion of the second
before he went down. For the short time that he did play, he showed
an intriguing package of athleticism and hard work. Offensively
he lacks any sort of 1-on-1 moves either in the post or on the perimeter,
but knows how to play without the ball which allows him to score
without getting many plays run for him. Even though he didn’t
get a chance to show much, it should still be enough to earn a trip
to Orlando.
Frank
Elegar- 14ppg, 6rpg, 3bpg
A tremendous athlete who is able to use his length
very effectively on both ends of the floor. Showed that he has some
skills off the dribble as he displayed some very nice moves and
even the ability to hit a midrange pull-up. The main issue is that
he tends to disappear at times, as his energy comes and goes in
spurts. He is a bit on the skinny side, and is somewhat of a tweener,
because he lacks any reliable post moves, and his touch while decent,
is not consistent.
Quan
Prowell- 14ppg, 8rpg, 2spg
Played very well all week, showing his ability to
score in different ways. He is a good rebounder, at times showing
his leaping ability by snatching rebounds way above the rim. He
is very aggressive, and is constantly moving, making him a very
difficult guy to matchup with.
*Chris
Lofton- 20ppg, 4rpg
Caught fire
at the end, showing that his shooting has not betrayed him for good.
Unfortunately, that is the only aspect of his game that stands out,
in everything else he’s simply below par. He is very slow,
cannot handle the ball too well, is not a distributor, and is unable
to contain anybody on defense. If there is even a glimmer of hope
to conceal these shortcomings, it would have to be a continued success
of making long bombs like he did at the end of the week.
# Jamar
Butler- 14ppg, 3apg
The fact he
was named MVP of the week is definitely debatable, even though he
played fairly well for the championship winning team. Showed a nice
shooting touch, and the ability to fill it up in a hurry. His quick
feet allow him to get by people on offense, and also to stay in
front of them on the defensive end. He does everything pretty well,
but by no means is he in the same class as some of the other players
this week.
Daily Recaps
April 9th, PIT Day 1
April 10th, PIT Day 2
April 11th, PIT Day 3
April 12th, PIT Day 4
Rosters
CHERRY, BEKAERT & HOLLAND
Coaches : Martin Oliver & Larry Ward
Brian Butch 6-11 245 PF/C Wisconsin Sr.
Patrick
Ewing Jr. 6-8 238 SF Georgetown Sr.
Charron Fisher 6-4 230 SF Niagara Sr.
David Gomez 6-7 235 SF/PF Tulane Sr.
Parfait Bitee 6-2 190 PG Rhode Island Sr.
Joe
Crawford 6-4 205 SG Kentucky Sr.
Derrick
Low 6-1 186 PG Wash. St. Sr.
Jajuan
Smith 6-2 195 PG Tennessee Sr.
HOLIDAY INN - PORTSMOUTH
Coaches : Dave Trickler & Eric Acra
Gavin
Grant 6-8 208 SF NC State Sr.
Anthony King 6-9 242 PF Miami Sr.
Charles
Rhodes 6-8 240 PF Miss.St. Sr.
Will Thomas 6-7 230 PF George Mason Sr.
Demetric Bennett 6-4 210 SG South Alabama Sr.
Alex
Harris 6-6 185 SG UCSB Sr.
Bo
McCalebb 6-0 180 PG New Orleans Sr.
Brian
Roberts 6-2 180 PG Dayton Sr.
K&D ROUNDS LANDSCAPING
Coaches : Jim Markey & Larry Smith
Longar
Longar 6-11 232 C Oklahoma Sr.
Kentrell
Gransberry 6-9 270 PF So.Fla Sr.
Rob Kurz 6-8 235 SF/PF Notre Dame Sr.
Arizona Reid 6-5 205 SG High Point Sr.
Folarin
Campbell 6-4 205 SG George Mason Sr.
Sundiata Gaines 6-1 210 PG Georgia Sr.
Mike
Green 6-1 184 PG Butler Sr.
Cliff Hammonds 6-3 200 SG Clemson Sr.
NORFOLK NAVAL SHIPYARD
Coaches : Billy Mann & John Kelly
Frank
Elegar 6-9 230 PF Drexel Sr.
Bryant
Dunston 6-8 233 PF Fordham Sr.
Deron
Washington 6-7 205 SG/SF VT Sr.
Adrian Banks 6-3 190 SG Arkansas State Sr.
Gary
Forbes 6-7 220 SG UMass Sr.
AJ
Graves 6-1 160 PG Butler Sr.
Anthony
Morrow 6-5 205 SG G.Tech Sr.
Jason Richards 6-2 190 PG Davidson Sr.
NORFOLK SPORTS CLUB
Coaches : Mike Head & Mark Butts
Steven
Hill 7-0 250 Arkansas Sr.
Dwayne Curtis 6-8 280 PF Mississippi Sr.
Dion
Dowell 6-6 195 SG/SF Houston Sr.
Jonte
Flowers 6-5 185 Winona State Sr.
Drew
Lavender 5-7 153 PG Xavier Sr.
Chris
Lofton 6-2 200 SG Tennessee Sr.
Quan Prowell 6-8 215 SF/PF Auburn Sr.
Jonathan
Wallace 6-1 180 PG G'town Sr.
PORTSMOUTH SPORTS CLUB
Coaches : Tony Holloway & P.J. Honore
Chris
Daniels 7-0 260 C Texas A&M CC Sr.
Kyle
Hines 6-6 240 PF UNC Greensboro Sr.
Haminn Quaintance 6-8 220 PF Kent State Sr.
Mykal
Riley 6-6 180 SG Alabama Sr.
Reggie
Williams 6-6 185 SG VMI Sr.
Jaycee
Carroll 6-2 175 SG Utah St. Sr.
Dominique Kirk 6-3 185 PG/SG Texas A&M Sr.
Rob
McKiver 6-3 195 PG/SG Houston Sr.
SALES SYSTEMS LTD
Coaches : Leo Anthony & Mac Carroll
Jiri Habalek 6-11 225 PF/C Iowa St. Sr.
Justin Hawkins 6-7 205 SF N.Mex.St.Sr.
Othello
Hunter 6-9 225 PF Ohio St. Sr.
Brian
Laing 6-5 215 SG Seton Hall Sr.
Williams Leon 6-8 255 Ohio PF Sr.
Ramel
Bradley 6-1 179 PG Kentucky Sr.
Stanley
Burrell 6-2 205 PG/SG Xavier Sr.
Marcus Hall 6-1 190 PG Colorado Sr.
TIDEWATER SEALANTS
Coaches : Max Gillespie & Jerry Hasty
Shaun
Pruitt 6-10 255 C Illinois Sr.
Pat
Calathes 6-10 220 SF St.Jospeh's Sr.
Joseph
Jones 6-9 250 PF Texas A&M Sr.
Mark
Tyndale 6-5 210 SG Temple Sr.
Aaron
Bruce 6-2 180 PG Baylor Sr.
Jamar
Butler 6-0 180 PG Ohio St.
Josh
Duncan 6-9 230 PF Xavier Sr.
Martin
Zeno 6-5 208 SG Texas Tech Sr.
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