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This year’s adidas Eurocamp (June 7-9 in Treviso Italy) promises to be the most talent filled ever with 5 (Thon Maker, Jaylen Brown, Brandon Ingrim, Dennis Smith, Kobi Simmons) of the elite prospects on the high school level. The European list is headlined by potential first rounder in this year’s draft Vasilje Micic, as well as future potential first round combo forward Dragan Bender. With (60 plus) NBA GMs, executives and scouts on hand from every single team, this year’s adidas Eurocamp is sure to have a lot of buzz surrouding it.

Top USA Prospects

Dennis Smith 6’2" 170 PG Trinity Christian (NC) 2016

NBA Scouts are in for a treat in Treviso, Italy as Dennis Smith Jr. is quickly turning into the most electrifying point guard on the high school level in the mold of a Derrick Rose or Russell Westbrook. I had been hearing about this young point guard from North Carolina for over a year now. Well, he was well worth the wait. I watched and studied him for three straight games and each game he was by far the most dominant player on the court and one game had two potential McDonalds All Americans and possible future lottery picks in (2015 G Tyler Dorsey and 2015 W Ray Smith). I’ve seen three guards in the last ten years that blew up from out of nowhere (Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook and John Wall), and we know how the three of them turned out. Yes, I feel Dennis Smith Jr. can be that dynamic. He controlled the tempo of the game, attacked the cup and finished above the rim with authority. He also knocked down some timely threes with ease. He plays with a veteran’s confidence which separates himself from other point guards in the top two classes. He plays with three seperate gears, which is a gift to have.

Comparison: Russell Westbrook/Derrick Rose

Kobi Simmons 6’5" 175 PG St. Francis (GA) 2016

This may surprise some people, but I consider him one of the top 10 long term prospects in high school in any grade. This kid has all the tools to be a great college and NBA big point guard in the future. He has outstanding court vision, very good ball handling skills and has a jump shot that’s getting more and more dangerous. He has almost become unguardable and he’s only a rising junior. He can guard the one, two and three. The scariest thing about him is that he’s said to still be growing, which in my book doesn’t matter, because he still has the potential to be an NBA star, that’s just more icing on the cake.

Comparison: Shaun Livingston/Michael Carter-Williams

Thon Maker 7’1" 210 PF Carlisle (VA) 2016

Originally from Australia and now lives in the US. It’s been a pleasure watching this young man since he was in 7th grade. First and foremost what separates Thon for me, he developed a grown man’s work ethic at 13 years old. When he blasted onto the scene in the 7th grade from the John Lucas Middle School Combine and became a young hoops sensation, he embraced the target on his back. I ‘ve never seen a young kid so humble, and willing to put the work in. His skill sets is fabulous because he works hard and pays attention to detail. I’ve watched him work out hundreds of times and Thon’s a kid you don’t have to tell numerous times what to do. Also, he’s 7’1 and can lead his team on the break from coast to coast. He has a perfect form on his jump shot. He contests everything around the rim and he has great communication skills with his teammates on and off the court. Skill wise Thon has no glaring weaknesses, and like most 7’ youngsters his main issue for him is gaining weight and similar to KG, due to his frame he will probably be on the more skinny side even when he’s finished filling out.

Comparison: Kevin Garnett

Jaylen Brown 6’7" 215 SF Wheeler (GA) 2015

Jaylen’s game is almost a mirror image of 2014 stud Stanley Johnson. He’s physically more dominant than any three he’s faced and he has a sweet stroke from the mid range, out to behind the arc. He has a dominant back to the basket game and passes well out the double team. There not much he can’t do. I saw him explode for 40 points in an AAU game and it looked easy. It’s so ironic he plays for a powerhouse high school team in the south (Wheeler) like Stanley did for (Mater Dei) and with the talent he has around him next year, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him duplicate going undefeated and the top HS team ranking in the country like Stanley. With that being said, he’s a winner and always one of the hardest working players on the court.

Comparison: Jason Richardson/Stanley Johnson

De'Ron Davis 6’10" 230 PF Aurora (CO) 2016

Davis is a big kid with some touch and solid skill level for his age. Despite being from Colorado, which isn’t considered a hotbed of NBA talent, he’s been considered one of the top 10-20 players in his class for a few years now. He has trimmed down and added some quickness. He’s a

Comparison: Al Jefferson

*USA Player notes from Darnell "Tate" Johnson

Top Eurocamp Prospects

Vasilije Micic 1994 PG 196 cm – 6’5" SRB Mega Vizura

Micic is the best passing point guard to emerge out of Europe since Ricky Rubio. He’s an absolute magician with the basketball. One International scout described him simple as a "genius". He has an unbelievable feel for the game and finds the smallest crack to deliver passes and great imagination. His three major drawbacks as an NBA prospect are his lack of a great shot, lack of great speed and athleticism for the NBA game and a history of injury problems. If he can find a way to stay healthy, his positives should outweigh his negatives and make him a valuable asset as backup PG or even a possible starter down the line. Certainly the most interesting of the draft eligible prospects scheduled to participate in front of NBA scouts.

Dragan Bender 1997 SF/PF 205 cm – 6’9" CRO Maccabi

Bender was at the event last year but he was with the younger group. As a ’97 kid, he will be competing against players 5 years older than himself. So if he can at least hang with the group it will be impressive. Bender is very long and shows solid sped and athleticism. He needs to bulk up and settle on a position. He may be too long to move well enough on the perimeter eventually and be forced to become a 4, a la Dario Saric. But he shows a lot better foot speed at this point. The most intriguing of the non-draft eligible Europeans on the roster, at least of the known players.

USA High School Roster

Thon Maker 7’1" 210 PF Carlisle (VA) 2016
Danta Hales 6’9" 205 PF Bowie (TX) 2015
Matur Maker 6’10" 190 PF Carlisle (VA) 2017
Jaylen Brown 6’7" 215 SF Wheeler (GA) 2015
Carlton Bragg 6’8" 210 PF Villa Angela-St. Joseph (OH) 2015
De'Ron Davis 6’10" 230 PF Aurora (CO) 2016
Brandon Ingram 6’8" 185 SF Kinston (NC) 2015
Maverick Rowan 6’6" 175 SG Lincoln Park Performing (PA) 2016
Dennis Smith 6’2" 170 PG Trinity Christian (NC) 2016
Kobi Simmons 6’5" 175 PG St. Francis (GA) 2016

Eurocamp Alphabatized Roster

Awudu Abass 1993 PF 196 cm – 6’5" ITA Cantù
Victor Arteaga 1992 C 212cm – 7’0” SPA Murcia
Dragan Bender 1997 SF 205 cm – 6’9" CRO Maccabi
Eleftherios Bochoridis 1994 SG 193 cm – 6’4" GRE Aris
Nedim Buza 1995 SG 205 cm – 6’9" BIH Spars
Berkay Candan 1993 SF 205 cm – 6’9" TUR Fenerbahce Ulker
Nemanja Dangubic 1993 SF 204 cm – 6’9" SRB Mega Vizura
Amedeo Della Valle 1993 SG 192 cm – 6’4" ITA Ohio State/Reggio Emilia
Moussa Diagne 1994 C 210cm – 6’11" SEN Fuenlabrada
Safak Edge 1992 PG 188cm – 6’2” TUR Banvit
Marcus Erikkson 1993 SG 200 cm – 6’7" SWE Regal Barcelona
Moustapha Fall 1992 C 218cm – 7’2” FRA Poitiers
Cristiano Felicio 1992 PF/C 206 cm – 6’9" BRA Flamengo
Jaime Fernandez 1993 PG/SG 186 cm – 6’1" SPA Estudiantes Madrid
Rafael Freire 1992 PG 188 cm – 6’2" BRA Obradorio
Viktor Gaddefors 1992 SF 201cm – 6’7" SWE Virtus Bologna
Rokas Giedraitis 1992 SF 198 cm – 6’6" LTU BC Siauliai
Niels Giffey 1991 SF 201cm – 6’7" GER Connecticut
Marius Grigonis 1994 SF 198 cm – 6’6" LTU Zalgiris Kaunas
Ilja Gromovs 1994 C 207 cm – 6’10” LAT Jurmala
Ludvig Hakanson 1996 PG 190cm – 6’3” SWE Regal Barcelona
Hugo Invernizzi 1993 SF 198 cm – 6’6" FRA Le Havre
Dmitry Kulagin 1992 SG 197 cm – 6’6" RUS Triumph
Mikhail Kulagin 1994 SG 188 cm – 6’2" RUS Triumph
Louis Labeyrie 1992 PF/C 209cm – 6’10" FRA Paris Levallois
Lucas Mariano 1993 PF/C 207 cm – 6’10" BRA Franca
Paolo Marinelli 1995 PG 191 cm – 6’3" CRO Olimpija Lubljana
Dominik Mavra 1994 PG/SG 191 cm – 6’3" CRO Cibona Zagreb
Daniel Mayr 1995 C 217 cm – 7’2" GER Jena
Vasilije Micic 1994 PG 196 cm – 6’5" SRB Mega Vizura
Yannis Morin 1993 PF/C 207 cm – 6’10” FRA Cholet
Boubacar Moungoro 1994 SG 196 cm – 6’5" Mali Fuenlabrada
Phillip Neumann 1992 C 210cm – 6’11" GER Artland Dragons
Zoran Nikolic 1996 C 208 cm – 6’10" MNT Joventut Badalona
Ioannis Papapetrou 1994 SF 203cm – 6’8" GRE Olympiakos Piraeus
Klemen Prepelic 1992 PG/SG 191 cm – 6’3" SLO Banvit
Artem Pustovyi 1992 C 216 cm – 7’1" UKR Khimik
Orlando Sanchez 1988 SF 206cm – 6’9” DR St. John’s
Ojars Silins 1993 SF/PF 200 cm – 6’7" LAT Reggio Emilia
Ovie Soko 1991 PF 203cm – 6’8" ENG Duquesne
Strahinja Stojacic 1992 SG 197cm – 6’7” SER Mega Vizura
Emir Sulejmanovic 1995 C 204 cm – 6’9" BIH Regal Barcelona
Guillem Vives 1993 PG 192 cm – 6’4" SPA Joventut Badalona
Johannes Voigtmann 1992 C 210cm – 6’11" GER Frankfurt Skyliners
Adin Vrabac 1994 SG 203cm – 6’8" BHI Spars

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4 Comments

  1. Interestingly enough Carleton

     Interestingly enough Carleton University (CIS/Canada) will be participating. They have a player in Phil Scrubb who has been the POY for the past three seasons in Canada. Will be an upcoming fifth year senior for Carleton this year. Good player.

  2. Interestingly enough Carleton

     Interestingly enough Carleton University (CIS/Canada) will be participating. They have a player in Phil Scrubb who has been the POY for the past three seasons in Canada. Will be an upcoming fifth year senior for Carleton this year. Good player.

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