Charles Clark

Immaculate Training Overseas Exposure Camp – Notes

Doneal Mack (6’5″, G) College Experience: Memphis– One of the better overall players at the event, he is a natural scorer that knows how to score the ball in numerous ways, he knocked down midrange and perimeter shots at a high rate and go to the paint at will for buckets or drawing fouls. For a Combo Guard he has good height which allows to see over defenders easily and to get off his shot without too much difficulty, his scoring ability and the way he scores the ball reminds me a little bit of how James Harden scores in the league. Both are smooth lefties with nice ball handling skills that understand how to use different angles to attack defenders and ways to put the ball off the glass for easy buckets. To make it plain and simple Mack is a bucket getter and even good defenders had issues with trying to slow him down once he gets going. Another attribute that was impressive was his overall team leadership throughout the game, he was constantly communicating with his teammates, at the beginning of the game his team was down by quite a few points and they just seemed to be out of whack with each other. So Mack asked the coach to take a timeout, he talked to his teammates about what they all could do differently and once they game resumed his team looked like an entirely different squad, when he made a bad pass on a play he wasted no time in raising his hand and letting everyone know that it was his fault. He also is a gifted passer which is a skill that can be sometimes be overlooked due to his high level scoring ability, but he definitely is a talented passer. Defensively he was solid and with his height has no problems guarding wings and even some bigs , he is a player that battles constantly and that you cannot take a play off on, there’s no doubt in my mind that he is a Pro.

Preston Ross (G, 6’4″) College Experience: Winston-Salem State– Had a solid showing throughout the day, in drills and games he showed that he is a very athletic player that finishes plays above the rim in transition but can also play the game in a half court setting by using his strong frame to battle with players inside. Can knock down the elbow and short corner jumper with consistency and showed some ability to knock down the trey ball but looks even more comfortable when he playing inside the paint. He crashes the offensive boards consistently and is always looking for the opportunity to make a play off the rim or provide an extra possession for his team. Defensively I loved the intensity he brought and his willingness to take on any challenge of who he was going to guard whether if it was a post player or a wing player it did not matter. What I liked most about Preston is that he didn’t try to do too much or force the issue, if his shot was not dropping then he crashed the boards or impacted the game in some type of way. Also showed how good of a teammate he is by being unselfish, at the beginning of his first game he got off to a quick scoring start but once his offense slowed down he still competed hard and only attempted to get the win instead of being a ball stopper or attempting to get his own stats up.

Vernon Payne (SF, 6’6″) College Experience: Campbellsville– was impressive throughout, brings a workman like attitude to the game, didn’t show a lot of flair or anything of that nature to his game but he flat out go it done. He has a very good motor so he’s constantly all over the floor, diving for loose balls, getting chase down blocks and do all the small things to come up with those 50/50 plays that can be the difference in a team win or loss. Has a very nice mixture of a long wingspan and athleticism that he uses well especially on the defensive end of the floor to come up with deflections, grab rebounds and play the passing lanes for steals. Vernon is the type of player that you do not need to draw up plays for and he still will end up with nice numbers, put back layups and all the dirty plays that some guys take off are plays that he loves to make. He is not the type of player that needs to dribble a lot to get points but instead moves with the ball very well he is a good shooter that knocked down shots when catching and shooting the ball, whether it was from a pass coming from out of the post or a pass from a guard the result was the same. Even though he does not force shots, he showed his ability to make difficult shots throughout the day, has a nice off balance floater that he makes pretty consistently.

Kyree Bethel (G, 6’2″) College Experience: Chowan– One of the best shooters at the event, was curious to see how he would perform play the PG position since he played off the ball quite a bit in college. Kyree was very solid throughout and played the PG spot well, didn’t try to over dribble and make the easy plays for his squad instead of trying to make the home run play. On defense he was constantly applying pressure and attempting to keep his opponent guessing as to what move to make next. On the offensive end he shot the ball from the perimeter very well and even had some plays where he got to the basket and finished plays without too much of an issue. Can be considered to have somewhat of a lean frame but plays pretty strong on both ends of the floor, especially offensively when getting to the basket and embracing contact. Has a good IQ for the game, and catches on to his opponents strength and weaknesses rather quickly, knows when to go over and under a screen defensively or even which defender would jump at a quick shot fake.

Phillippe Harris (PG, 5’11”) College Experience: Fayetteville State– Does all the things you want from a PG, has very good ball handling skills and quickness that he uses to get wherever he wants to go at whatever time he wants to get there. Also has a very strong frame which he uses to finish plays and fight through screens that are being set by much taller opponents. He is a pass first type of guard that always look to get his teammates going first but can create his own offense when the opportunity presents itself. Makes very good reads and on point passes to teammates to put them in positions to score very easily, when he looks to create his own offense he is pretty efficient , Has nice form and lift on his shot and seems to be the most comfortable when shooting the ball from the midrange area. Defensively he was one of the best on ball perimeter defenders throughout the entire event, he applied constant full court pressure and came up with a high amount of steals.

Aaron Brackett (F, 6’8″) College Experience: UNCG– One of the better passing bigs at the event, he plays the game at his own pace and does not allow himself to be speed up by opponents. The patience that he displayed especially on the offensive end of the floor is what truly makes him such a special and productive player in my opinion, he also has the ability to stretch the floor and knock down the shot, as well as beat opposing bigs off the dribble for buckets. When he gets the ball in the post he not only looks to use one of his many post moves but also surveys the floor to see where an open teammate will be and which play will be the most beneficial. His ability to make good decisions very quickly is something that you don’t see very often, simply put Aaron knows how to play this game at the highest level and make winning play. He is also a high volume rebounder, although he’s not the tallest or most athletic he always finds a body to box out every time a shot goes up which gives a great opportunity to secure rebounds.

Curtis Withers (F, 6’8″) College Experience: Charlotte– Is a veteran player that really knocks the game and can stretch the floor, puts the ball on the floor well and is a gifted passer. Can score the ball, as well as facilitate almost as if he playing the Point Forward position, making plays for himself and others. Is very comfortable in the post, and makes good passes from all over the floor. Was constantly seen instructing players on where they should be and what do in order to be efficient as a team, which is an attribute that you love to see from payers these days. Curtis also does a great job of making himself a good target for his guards to get the ball into and knows how to seal off his man well. Although he didn’t display jaw dropping athletic ability he definitely was productive by drawing fouls and getting to the line at a very high rate.

Tony Gallo (G, 5’11”) College Experience: Coppin State – Another player that definitely has played basketball on the pro level, has a certain poise and confidence that you only see from guards that have played this game for a long time. Tony knocks down the trey ball at a very high rate and makes sure that the ball moves very quickly when he is running the offense. He is a very craft ball handler but does not use that as a reason to over dribble but instead uses this ability to beat defenders off the dribble and cause the defense to collapse. Is a low turnover guard that can play the game at multiple speeds and seems to be comfortable playing against intense defensive pressure. One attribute that I really like about Tony was his competiveness, he doesn’t back down from any challenge no matter how tall an opponent is, which is something you have to love in your PG.

Southern Jam Fest Part 2

Jalen Spicer C/O 2017 Team CP3, Point Guard– Jalen is one or the more underrated guards in the state for the class of 2017, although he is not the tallest player on the floor by any means, he clearly knows how to play the game at a very high level and how the Point Guard Position is supposed to be ran. Unlike many young players that look to score more than pass, Jalen is a pass first PG that looks to get his teammates involved before he begins to score on his own. He has very good ballhandling skills and kept his defenders off balance and guessing throughout the entire event, combine this with his solid frame and good speed and you have the type of PG that can play an uptempo pace or slow it down and be productive in a half court setting. It’s easy to see how Jalen can get sometimes overlooked because of how many things that he does for his squad that will go unnoticed to the untrained eye. He communicates well with teammates and coaches on both ends of the floor and is what we like to call a ‘‘ floor general’’, when things are not going right he doesn’t try to take over on his own but instead looks to make the correct plays at the correct times. Its pretty evident when watching Jalen play that he is a team first guy and that it’s not about personal accolades for him, hes all about playing the right way and getting the win. The question that I always have with smaller guards is if they can knock down shots consistently, throughout the event he shot the ball well and showed good form and elevation on his shot. Defensively he is constantly applying pressure, beating his man to spots, playing passing lanes and disrupting the offense in numerous ways. Recently he received his first scholarship offer from FIU and took an unofficial visit to UNC-G, don’t be surprised to see more offers come in July and in the fall for Jalen.

Michael Hueitt Jr C/O 2017, Team CP3, Shooting Guard– It is well known that Michael is one the best shooters in the State without a doubt, so to see him knock down four or five treys in a game was no surprise at all. Instead I was more impressed with how well he rebounded the ball and defended throughout the event, he has a very long wing span combined with nice athleticism which allows him to pull down rebounds on both end of the floor. It seemed as if he was definitely making an effort to impact the game by rebounding the ball just as much as he impacted the game by scoring. Defensively I was impressed with his effort that he brought, he showed that he is clearly stronger than he may appear to be, his opponents attempted to post him up numerous times but were unsuccessful in scoring after posting up. Michael’s overall game is continuing to progress and it will be very interesting to see him throughout the remainder of the summer and into next season at High Point Christian

Mikey Dixon Class of 2016, Diamond State Titans, Combo Guard- Mikey is one those players that you already know is going to drop 30 points before the game even starts, he is a natural scorer that has a very high amount of moves in his arsenal. Unlike some players that use the wrong move at the wrong time, Mikey know when to use which move so that he can put himself in a great position to score. It doesn’t matter if he’s hitting a defender with a quick crossover, splitting a trap or using a timely euro step, he uses the right move at the right time and makes the game look easy. There are certain player that almost seem like they were born to score the ball and Mikey is one of them, not only does he get to the basket with ease but he also knows how to get separation from his defender on the perimeter so that he can get his shot off easily. Mikey was clearly one of the best natural scorer’s at the event and turned a lot of heads, watch out for him in July , as we are definitely expecting to see more colleges to come aboard for this young man.

Lavar Batts, Class of 2017, Team CP3, Point Guard – Lavar is a Point Guard that likes to play the game at an uptempo pace, he has good speed and quickness as well as a long wingspan that allows him to push the ball ahead quickly. Once he gets in the paint he finishes very well above and below the rim and is what we would call a craft finisher, although his frame is slender and is still developing he embraces contact well. One of the attributes that stuck out to me about Lavar in this event is how well he reads the defense and makes the correct plays at the correct time. Even though he is a solid finisher, he doesn’t not allow that to give him what I like to call ‘‘ tunnel vision’’ where he loses sight of teammates that are open in the corners. If the defense collapses then he makes the right decision to kick it out or drop a pass off to a big in the post, on the defensive end he was very solid, using his wing span and speed to play the passing lanes and come up with steals

J.P Moorman, C/O 2017, Team CP3, Forward – J.P is a prospect that is starting to see his stock rise, he’s played against some of the top Power Forwards in the country throughout his H.S season which has been a great experience for him to test his talent level. One attribute that I love about his game is his attitude, this young man does not back down from any challenge at all and is not afraid to bang inside with players that are much taller than he is. During this event he displayed his perimeter skills by knocking down some outside shots and beating his man off the dribble to finish at and above the rim. On the defensive end he displayed a nice IQ, providing help when needed and protecting the paint, it was also impressive to see him find a man to box out every time the shot went up and even taking a charge with the opportunity presented itself.

Southern Jam Fest Part 1

Jalen Harris, Team Wall (NC), 6’2, 2016, Point Guard- Jalen is the type of point guard that adjust his game to whatever his team needs him to be on that night and that was clearly evident throughout this tournament. Although he much rather get teammates involved first, he has no probably scoring the ball when his squad needed him to, which was shown by numerous games in the event where he scored 20+ points. His perimeter and midrange jumper have become very consistent and he’s added quite a bit of athleticism over the past year. However when his teammates got it going, he went into distributor mode racking up 19 Assist in a single game. Jalen has very good vision and puts his passes right on target so that his teammates can finish easily; he has some flair to his game that makes him fun to watch but is not a high turnover player. At this point he has numerous MM offers but he definitely is a HM Point Guard prospect, once he becomes a tad bit more vocal on the floor then I believe that will take him to an even higher level as a prospect.

Zach Reeves, Juice All-Stars (NC), 6’5, 2016, Wing- Zach was impressive throughout the tournament, he showed very good ball handling skills and nice athleticism that he uses on both ends of the floor. Zach seems to have a very good feel for the game and although he was aggressive to make plays, he was not selfish at all. Instead he looked to make the right play at the right time for his team, He has good height for a wing at the next level and shot the ball from outside well, is definitely one to keep an eye on throughout the summer.

Robert Colon, Juice All-Stars (NC), 6’0, 2016, Guard- Playing with Juice All-Stars this spring has finally given Robert the opportunity to show the college coaches the full package of his game. We all know that he is a deadly three point shooter, and he has a very quick first step that he uses to blow by defenders but he is also a gifted passer that gets teammates the ball in the right spots. On the defensive end he brought intensity, showed good lateral quickness and communicated well with teammates, he clearly showed that he can get it done on both sides of the floor. A question mark has been his midrange game, and I must as of late he has shown that he can knock down the midrange shot with consistency which makes him even more dangerous in transition. D1 schools have finally begun to take notice in his ability and I’m expecting to see him pull in some offers before the summer is done.

Matt Elmore, Team Wall (NC), 6’8, 2016, Forward- Matt made his first appearance with Team Wall in this tournament, although he clearly was still feeling his way out with the squad and attempting to build chemistry, he had a very solid performance on Saturday. Matt displayed his ability to finish plays inside the paint, rebounding the ball and even knocking down the outside trey ball. His final stats from the game that I watched him play were 13 Points and 12 Rebounds , he’s a type of player that you don’t have to run plays for and that does all the dirty work for his squad. He has a very solid frame so he battles inside with opposition very well and does a good job of creating a nice target for his guards to throw an entry pass when he’s posting up. Matt is one to keep an eye on closely this summer, once he gets more comfortable with his squad, I expect him to put together some outstanding performances.

Malik Johnson, Team Wall (NC), 2018, 6’, Guard– Malik has been on our radar for about two years now, he is a very athletic player that loves to play the game at an up-tempo pace. He has outstanding ball handling skills and court vision that is advance way beyond his years. His quickness caused issues for opponents as usual; he got to the basket on a regular basis and finished plays above the rim on numerous occasions. At a young age he already has many of the traits that you love to see in a H.S Point Guard, he communicates with teammates and coaches easily so that everybody is on the same page. Although he uses his athleticism to throw down dunks and finish plays offensively he also uses his athleticism on the defensive end to get into the passing lanes for steals deflections and blocks. Malik plays the game with a lot of intensity and he hates to lose, no matter who he’s matched up with he’s going to compete and give it all he has. He is one to watch closely as he definitely has the potential to be a HM and nationally ranked prospect at the PG spot before it all said and done.

Kyle Rawls, MD’s Finest (MD), 2015, Guard- Kyle really got after it on the defensive end, he clearly takes pride in playing defense and knows how to use his very strong frame to make things difficult for opponents. He is one of those specialty players that a coach loves to have on his team that he can send out to guard an opponent that has caught fire.

Jermaine Matthews, River City Reign (VA), 2016, 6’8, Post- This Young man brings all the intangibles that you could want from a post player, he runs the floor very well and displayed a high motor throughout the event. When his guards broke down the defense and gave him passes in the post, he made sure to finish plays without making things to complex. Jermaine can finish plays using different face up moves, or playing with his back to the basket, which makes him a very difficult player to defend. On the defensive end he challenged shots at every position and protected the paint throughout the tournament, he also is a prospect to keep a very close eye on.

Kyran Bowman, Team Wall (NC), 2016, 6’2, Guard- Kyran recently made news by letting everyone know that he had to decided to de-commit from UNC football to focus solely on basketball now. Many people asked why but after this weekend we could see that he has the potential to be a good basketball prospect. He has outstanding athleticism and a very quick first step that is a nightmare for defenders to try and slow down; I lost count of how many dunks he threw down in traffic against opponents throughout the event. He has good ball handling skills and keeps defenders guessing and uses his outstanding athleticism to get his shot of quickly and over opponents. Defensively he blocked shots, came up with steals, deflections and did a solid job of containing his man; you can see that his time to focus solely on basketball is taking his game to another level. Kyran was impressive through the tournament and will be one to watch closely throughout the summer and even into next school year.

Luke Romeo, USA United (NC), 2016, Guard- Luke can flat out shoot it!! During their game against River City Reign he started the game knocking down three treys in the first few minutes. He has a fairly quick release on his shot and is very efficient when he’s catching and shooting, also showed a nice shot fake that he uses when defenders are attempting to block his shot from the perimeter. Also has a nice midrange game and comes off screens effectively, Luke is not just a player that is going to stand in the corner so he can catch and shoot. He moves without the ball and reads the defense well to make sure he’s taking a high percentage shot.

Alexander Schachne, Hoop Heaven (NJ), 2018, 5’9, Point Guard- At each event I go to I always try and watch closely for an under the radar prospect, at this event there were quite a few but one of the young prospect was Alexander. Matched up against Team Wall 16u we really got a chance to see what he was made of, he cased headaches for Team Wall defenders with his combination off outstanding ball handling skills and knock down three point shooting. It got to the point where he would end up being face guarded full court the entire 2^nd half so that his impact on the game could be minimized. Alex has a very good natural feel for the game and makes good reads and passes to teammates, one thing I really liked about him is that he can make on point passes with his off hand just as well as he does with his dominant hand. He does not get frustrated with teammates and always seems to have a very calm demeanor on the floor. Alex is a player that you shouldn’t be surprised to see making a lot of noise over the next few years up in New Jersey.

Notes from Grassroots Tip Off Classic Part 1

C/O 2016 Deshawn Patterson (5’9, Point Guard, River City Reign)- During this tournament Deshawn showed his ability to run a squad and get everybody else going. Even though he can knock down shots of he is own he looked to pass very often and made good reads to put his teammates in the position to score. His on court communication with his coach and players is something that you love to see from a player that plays his the P.G spot. Deshawn also is a very fierce competitor, he doesn’t back down from any challenge and brings an enthusiasm to the floor on both ends and throughout the entire game.

C/O 2016 Jay Huff (6’10, Forward, Carolina Flyers)- Jay has a very high amount of potential , he can step out and knock down the three point shot and even though he has a slender frame at this point, he battles inside with anybody hes matched up with. He has good hands especially for a player his size and passes the ball well from the high post area as well as making good reads to pass out of the post when he is double teamed. Jay is definitely a player that will continue to progress and will be getting plenty of offers before it’s all said and done.

C/O 2016 Jordan Sheppard (6′, Point Guard, Team Vision)- Jordan has a very good IQ for the game, he displayed his IQ especially in pick and roll situations. He knows when to : pass, shoot, split the defenders, etc . when coming off the screen, which causes issues for his opposition that attempts to guard him. He has nice length and a floater that he makes with consistency, as well a midrange shot that he knocked with consistency. He’s not the fastest player you will see but he is very smart and knows how to change speeds and direction to keep defenders off-balance.

C/O 2016 Kendrick Baird (6’4, Forward, East Coast All-Stars)- Kendrick has a lot of potential and raw talent, he gets after it on both ends of the floor and has very high motor. On the defensive end he blocks shots and rebounds the ball very well, he sometimes can be overlooked because he is constantly doing the small things for his team that get overlooked. Also has good athleticism which he uses on the offensive end to get rebounds and finish plays above the rim

C/O 2016 Justin King (6’1, Point Guard, Fayetteville Elite)- Justin had a very good showing at the tournament, he displayed the full package of his game and also showed why he was such a big factor in Terry Sanford winning the 3A State Championship. Justin shows good patience on the offensive end of the floor and did a great job of getting his team into their sets, when he’s open he knocks down the outside shot with consistency. He also got to the basket with ease, and displayed nice athleticism + strength which helped him finish through contact and above the rim.

C/O 2016 Davion Mintz (6’4, Point Guard, Charlotte Nets)– Davion had multiple high scoring games throughout the tournament, as a taller Point Guard he uses his height to his advantage by shooting over smaller defenders any time he wants. He also has good athleticism which was on full display as he threw down multiple dunks during the tournament. Even though Davion took on more of a scoring role for this event, he still looked to get his teammates involved and is not a selfish player at all. Numerous schools at the MM level have already offered and you can definitely tell why with the way he played at the event.

C/O 2019 Joey Baker (6,5, Wing, Team Felton)- Simply put, Joey Baker has star potential and is a young man that schools at the HM level should begin to track now, he knocks down shots from the outside at a high level but is not afraid to attack the rim at any time. His ball handling skills are advanced for his age and height, as well as his IQ for the game, Joey also protects the paint well by blocking and altering shots when guards come inside. He is somewhat slender at this point but that mostly due to his age and physically development so as the years go on he would more than likely add more muscle to his frame and has a chance to be a very special player.

C/O 2016 Raekwon Long (7’1, Center, PSB Select)- Raekwon displayed the full package of his game as well during this tournament, he did everything that you want from your center. He blocked shots, rebounded well, altered the shots that he didn’t block and finished plays inside when his guards got him the ball. Although he still has some raw areas of his game Raekwon played very well and was a huge part of the reason his squad performed so well through the tournament

C/O 2016 Ray Kowalski (6’3, Shooting Guard, PSB Select)– Ray can flat out shoot it, he has a very smooth shooting stroke and release his shot rather quickly so that defenders do not have much time to contest it. He also displayed a nice shot fake and a one dribble pull up jumper from mid-range that he knocked down with consistency throughout the event. He has as a solid frame and is would be classified as what I would call a physical defender as he makes his opponents work to get any type of free space .

C/O 2016 Eric Young (5’10, Point Guard , East Coast All-Stars)– Eric was productive for his team, especially in their game against the NC Blazers, he knocked down the trey ball with consistency and finished plays at the basket very well. He was just as impressive on the defensive end by applying constant pressure and coming up with numerous steals, Eric has good lateral quickness and quick hands that’s really makes things difficult for whoever he is guarding.

Dicks Sporting Goods High School Nationals

A few weeks ago I had the privilege of scouting the National High School Tournament in New York City, the atmosphere was amazing and each day the gym was full of talented fans, media and players. Listed below are our very own awards for their tournament as well as some younger players that have the potential to be very special in the future. A special thanks must be given to : Christ The King HS staff, Madison Square Garden Staff, and the Dicks Nationals Staff for the wonderful hospitality and making things very easy and accessible for everyone!

All-Tournament Team:

Montverde Senior F Ben Simmons– (MVP) Simmons had a rather quiet showing during the first round game against Greensboro Day , but as the tournament went on he showed why he is considered the #1 prospect in the country. Ben can score the ball and rebounds it very well, but his most impressive trait was his passing ability and court vision. It was very impressive to see a player of his size make the passes that he made and although he had many opportunities to score the ball, he took on the facilitator role until his team needed him to score. He is a very versatile player at his height, can not only score inside but has a smooth shooting stroke from midrange and can handle the ball very well, will love to see him knock down the trey ball with more consistency. Headed to LSU

Oak Hill Senior PG Terrance Phillips– Terrance is more than just a Point Guard, he is a floor general that knows to lead a team and gives everything he has on the floor. He has very good vision and knows how to score it but always looks to get his teammate involved first, he is constantly communicating with his teammates and coaches. Terrance is what I would call a pesky defender , no matter what move you hit him with he recovers quickly to get back into the play. He takes charges, blocks shots, get steals, jumps over scorers tables and probably would sell concessions if you needed him too, Plain and simple this young man does a little bit of everything! Headed to Missouri next year

Wheeler H.S Senior F Jaylen Brown- Jaylen wasted no time getting going, once the game started he had already scored multiple buckets with a minute, this young man is a natural scorer and has the combo of height, strength and athleticism that causes serious problems for defenders. He can knock down the outside shot very efficiently but doesn’t choose to settle, instead he gets to the cup and forces defenses to back off of him which allows him to then go to his perimeter game. At one point his team was trailing by quite a few points but Brown continued to work and with the help of his squad would tie the game in the final moment but would eventually come up short. Brown finished with 29 points and 15 Rebounds in a close loss to Huntington Prep

Blanche Ely Senior G Laquincy Rideau– Laquincy had a very good showing in the 1st round of the tournament, although his team would eventually lose to Findlay Prep , he clearly showed his ability to play at the division 1 level. He has a very strong frame which allows him to embrace contact with no problem, and also is a very gifted ball handler that seems to know how to keep defenders guessing .Although he has gifted ball handling skills, he did not over dribble but instead looked to get into the paint and scorer regardless of who was defending. He didn’t have his best shooting day but he was very aggressive for his squad and displayed an attitude of fearlessness when playing against taller opponents. He is definitely a player that we look forward to seeing progress over the year since he will be playing in our state next year, While talking to Laquincy after the game, he informed that he had committed to Garner Webb University

Findlay Prep Senior G Allonzo Trier- Allonzo seems to play the game of basketball with a chip on his shoulder and does not back from any challenge, he loves to initiate contact on both ends of the floor and has a very smooth shooting stroke. Throughout the tournament he showed the ability to break down his defender and get to the basket and finish over the rim. At 6’5 he has good size for a combo guard at the next level and seems to be very comfortable running the PG spot when called upon. From watching his body language throughout the tournament , it seemed as if he was playing with an injury but he fought through it to help his squad as much as he could. There is no question about the talent of this young man and although it seems as if he somewhat of a strong demeanor when speaking to his teammates, he has the potential to be a very special player. Allonzo is headed to Arizona next year

Huntington Prep Senior F Thomas Bryant- Thomas is a versatile big man that can bang inside or step out and knock down perimeter shots, On the first day of the tournament he was absolutely dominant throughout the game and showed great leadership qualities with his squad. Thomas was very efficient from the perimeter knocking down numerous treys throughout the game and was a beast on the boards pulling 19 Rebounds in the first game. One attribute that I loved about Thomas more than anything else was his intensity and extremely high motor, it seems as if he truly loves to play the game and absolutely hates losing. On the final day of the event Thomas announced his decision that he will be attending Indiana next year

Wings Academy Senior PG Desure Buie– Desure was one of the better ball handlers that we saw throughout the tournament, he kept his defender guessing with a variety of different crossover and hesitation moves. Although he has somewhat of a slender frame, he plays fairly strong and does not get pushed around easily, with his crafty moves and crossovers Desure definitely was a player that the crowd loved and he was one of my favorites to watch as well! Is headed to Hofstra University next year

Greensboro Day Senior F/C Peter Agba- Peter is a player that we have seen quite a few times, even though his squad was playing on a big stage and against the #2 ranked team in the country, it was business as usual for Peter. He played with a very high motor and was solid inside scoring the ball as well as being very active on the glass, on the defensive end he gave it everything had and battled throughout the night. Is headed to Akron to play for the Zips next year

High Character Player Award: Findlay Prep F Justin Jackson– Justin is a young man that plays the game the right way, although he competes hard and is very talented he always shows high character. Although he has a very talented game and is a 2016 player that you have to love, I don’t believe that his basketball talent is even his best attribute. It doesn’t matter if he’s helping a teammate up off the ground or breaking up a scuffle, you always know that he is doing what right. He understand that for his squad to be successful the whole team has to be on one accord and happy, It was very refreshing to see a player of his talent caliber that has character that is just as impressive as his talent on the floor

Mr. Garbage Man Award: Montverde Senior F Noah Dickerson- Noah does all the things on the floor that go unnoticed to your average basketball fan and possibly even some basketball scouts. He has good height and a frame ,that clearly looks like he has spent sometime in the weightroom recently , to go along with a toughness that you don’t see everyday on the court. It was impressive to see how many: charges he took, loose balls that he dove for, jump balls that he forced , and even shots he altered by being in the right position at the right time. Noah is headed to Florida next year

Younger Players to keep an eye on:

Montverde Freshman E.J Montgomery- at 6’9 with a very long wingspan, this young man is one to keep an eye on for the future. He already seems to have a lot of confidence in his game and plays under control on the offensive end, reminds me a lot of Tayshaun Prince in his younger years.

Findlay Prep Sophomore P.J Washington- Has a very good combo of size,strength and athleticism at a young age. He’s not only 6’8 but he has a very nice frame to go with his height already and he does not mind mixing it up with the older guys inside. P.J may have had one of the best dunks of the tournament when he threw down a monster jam in the semifinals.

Greensboro Day Freshman Will Dillard- Will is an young man with very good athleticism and poise, he has a smooth game and a demeanor of calmness that is beyond his years. Although he didn’t have his best showing, you can clearly see the potential he has to be a very special player in the future.

2014-2015 All Cumberland County Basketball Awards

All-County Awards

Player of the Year: Trinity Christian Point Guard Dennis Smith Jr.

Rookie of the Year: Northwood Temple Point Guard Dakari Johnson

Hand Down Man Down Award (Best Shooter): Village Christian Michael Hueitt Jr. & Northwood Temple James Wilson

Hustle/High Motor Award: Westover HS Senior Forward Jozef Vanderhorst

Teams of the Year: Terry Sanford HS, congrats to the team, Coach Boyette and his staff on winning the 3A State championship.

First Team

	Dennis Smith Jr. (Trinity Christian, Junior, Point Guard)-(Player of the year Award Winner, Won the award last year as well) – Dennis had another outstanding year for his squad, was called on to take on more of a scoring role this season and did not disappoint, Holds offers from NC State, Duke, UNC, Kansas and numerous other top HM programs. Top PG in the Country for the Class of 2016, Averaged 23 Pts and 7 Ast per game
	Mark Gilbert (Terry Sanford HS, Junior, Shooting Guard)- is an outstanding scorer , once he gets it going he is a very difficult player to stop, plays with toughness and heart. Led Terry Sanford to the 3A state Championship and was named Cape Fear Valley Conference Player of the Year. Hold Numerous offers from BCS schools for football, Averaged 18.4 Points and 2.8 Assist Per game
	Jatrious Smith (EE Smith HS, Sophomore, Wing) – Last year’s Rookie of the Year Award winner, started off the year slowly but as the year progressed he returned to his form, has a very good mixture of strength, speed and athleticism and showed a much more consistent jump shot from the perimeter this season, current holds offers from Va Tech & Old Dominion and is receiving interest from numerous HM Schools. Averaged 19.4 Pts, 5.9 Rebs, and 3.8 Assist Per game
	Kwinton Hinson (Village Christian, Senior, Wing)- One of the top Unsigned Seniors left in the state, plays strong inside but can step outside and knock down the trey ball, had a very successful season for Village and currently holds offers from UNCW and App State, with interest from numerous other LM and JUCO schools. Averaged 22.2 Points and 8.1 Rebounds Per game
	Isaiah Vinson (South View H.S, Senior, Guard)-Very High IQ player that can score at any time but is constantly looking to get other involved, has a calm demeanor on the court. Can shoot it from outside and midrange but also attacks the cup very well, is a Great students and will truly be an asset to whichever schools he chooses to attend next season. Currently holds offers from Garner Webb, Winthrop, High Point, Liberty, and Fayetteville State University. Averaged 17.0 Pts, 5.3 Rebs and 2.0 Ast per game
	Marko Tomic (Freedom Christian, Senior, Forward) – Is a stretch Forward player that plays with intensity on a nightly basis, although he can knock down the trey ball consistently, he has no problem with going inside the paint and mixing it up with opponents. It is still a mystery as to why no LM schools have tried to snatch him up as of yet but he currently hold a D2 offer from Barry University and has received interest from various LM and D2 schools.
	Josh Bryant (71^st H.S, Senior, Guard) – Has a knack for scoring the ball and has what I call sneaky athleticism, Josh is a very solid ball handler and knows how to score the ball with ease. Has improved on his perimeter shooting and had quite a few games this season where he was impressive on the defensive end. Is still unsigned at this point but has been receiving interest from numerous Division 2 and Juco Colleges. Averaged 14.1 Points, 3.5 Ast and 3.1 Rebs Per game

Second Team

	Xavier Robinson (South View H.S, Senior, Shooting Guard)- Knock down shooter from outside, has a very strong frame which allows him to embrace contact very well, led public schools in scoring for the second straight year. Is headed to Fayetteville State University in the fall, Averaged: 21.5 Pts, and 4.3 Rebs per Game
	Dakari Johnson (Northwood Temple, freshman, Point Guard) – (winner of the Rookie of the Year Award) this young man has a game that definitely exceeds his age, he’s very calm and under control and has all the tools that are need for an outstanding PG, has received interest from University of Virginia already. Averaged 16 Pts, 6 Ast Per game
	Zo Tyson (Trinity Christian, Senior, Forward)-Zo is a player that has very good length and athleticism, he does a great job finishing plays above the rim and is now knocking down the midrange shot with more consistency, he has signed with High Point University, Averaged: 11.6 Points and 5 Rebs per game
	Michael Hueitt Jr. (Village Christian, Sophomore, Shooting Guard) (Co-Winner of the Hand Down Man Down Award, won the award last year as well) – One of the best shooters in the state, showed some improvement as the season went along on the defensive end and has all the tools to be an outstanding player, currently hold offers from James Madison University and Liberty University. Averaged 15.5 Points per game
	Christian Lathan (Westover HS, Senior, Point Guard) – A player that you can definitely classify as a true Point Guard and a floor general, he plays with intensity while at the same time always keeping his poise and making the right plays, he is till unsigned and will be great fit for a college that is looking for a true PG. Averaged 10 Pts and 4.1 Ast Per game
	Juwuan Wright (Village Christian, Senior, Forward)- Was a double-double machine this season, can handle the ball very well for a guy his size and does not back down from any challenge or opponent, is still unsigned at this point but will be a steal for a program looking for a stretch four type of player. Averaged 14.5 Pts, and 8 Rebs per game
	A.J Baldwin (Cape Fear H.S, sophomore, Point Guard) – this young man is one to definitely keep an eye on; he is an outstanding passer and playmaker and has only gotten better as the year went on. Led Public Schools in Assist per game, but also can score it when needed. Averaged 13.1 Points and 6.2 Ast per game

Third Team

	Chris Thomas (71^st H.S, Senior, Point Guard)- Very quick PG that knows how to get to the basket as well as knock down the outside shot, is still unsigned but is receiving interest from D3 schools. Averaged: 15.5 Pts, 3.3 Ast Per game
	Cam May (Pine Forest H.S, Senior, Wing)- High Motor player that can really score it once he gets going, plays with a toughness that you don’t see from a lot of players his age, receiving interest from Sandhills CC and Averett University. Averaged: 13.8 Pts, 8.1 Rebs Per game
	T.J. McAllister (Jack Britt H.S, Senior, Point Guard)- Floor general, very unselfish player but can score when called upon, plays with a ton of heart and really gets after it on the defensive end, he’s receiving interest from: Sandhills CC, Davidson CCC, and multiple NCAA D3 schools. Averaged: 8.2 Pts, 2.5 Ast Per game
	Thank God Avar (Freedom Christian, Junior, Forward) – very strong player that can jump out of the gym!! Does a very affective job of protecting the paint on the defensive end, as well as finishing plays inside, is still somewhat raw but has a good amount of potential and will be one to watch over the summer, currently receiving interest from: Rice, Elon & Georgia Southern.
	Nassyr Daniels (Grays Creek H.S, Sophomore, Forward/Center)- is a younger player with a lot of potential, blocks shots at a very high rate and rebounds the ball well, also is getting better each day at finishing thru contact. Averaged: 13.4 Pts, 7.1 Rebs and 4.8 Blks Per game
	Telligence Johnson ( Terry Sanford H.S, Sophomore, Wing)- Athletic player that is now showing a much improved midrange and perimeter game, is much better this season at creating off the dribble and defends on and off the ball very well. Averaged: 9.6 Pts, 6.3 Rebs per game
	James Wilson (Northwood Temple, Senior, Wing)- (Co-Winner of the Hand Down Man Down Award) A three point specialist that put on numerous outstanding shooting displays throughout the season, plays with a ton of hear and intensity, provided much need Senior leadership to a young squad. Is receiving interest from various NCAA D3 and NAIA Schools, Averaged 15 Points Per game.
	Damani Appelwhite (Westover H.S, Junior, Forward)- is a player that has an old school flavor to his game, can step out and knock down the midrange shot but also has a nice face up game when he plays in the post, very good length and height. Averaged: 7.9 Pts, 4.9 Rebs per Game

Honorable Mention

Tre Hales-Jack Britt

Mike Melvin- Freedom Christian

Gunnar Hardarson-Freedom Christian

Isaiah Stalling-Terry Sanford

Deonte Harris- Douglas Byrd

Shawn Barnes- EE Smith

Jozef Vanderhorst- Westover

Malik Johnson-Terry Sanford

Justin King- Terry Sanford

Dane Davis- 71^st

Martaye Sembley- Fayetteville Christian

Leon Williams- Westover

Todd Smith- Freedom Christian

Brandon Ingram, The KD of NC High School Basketball: ‘‘It’s about We not about Me’’

My first time seeing Brandon Ingram play was during his sophomore year at Kinston H.S during the Eastern Regionals of the NCHSAA tournament, led by star Point Guard Josh Dawson.

Brandon was clearly the most intriguing prospect on the squad, as he was a 6’7 wing that could shoot the ball well with sneaky athleticism and loads of potential. After watching him play I wrote down a lot of words and notes about him but one main statement that was written really sticks out to me today, ‘’ the next Kevin Durant’’.

Little did I know that his off the court actions would resemble that of the humble superstar Kevin Durant just as much as his on the court play and even his slender frame. Kinston would go on to repeat as state champions and the following year would win again to make it 3 rings in 3 years for the young fella.

Well let’s fast forward to the summer prior to his senior season for Kinston HS, in July ECI in Jacksonville, NC takes place, which is an event for high school teams to attend and scrimmage against each other over a span of three days. Although the camp is great for teams there are many players who miss the camp to attend AAU events, especially the Division 1 prospects, however Ingram attended ECI with his teammates to try and get an early start on preparation for another state championship and to spend time with his squad.

Many times the higher a player is rated, the more of an ego that player will have, but this is definitely not the case for Ingram. Time and time again he has impressed me with his selfless attitude and the way he puts his teammates before himself, whether he’s diving on the floor for a loose ball, encouraging a teammate after they make a mistake, cheering for them while he is on the bench, or even keep a straight face when the announcer at Eastern Regionals calls you ‘‘The Slim Reaper’’ during introductions.

Simply put, Brandon does all the small things that you love for any player on your team to do but especially if it’s your star player, One moment during this season stood out to me above all the rest, Kinston had just suffered a loss to Goldsboro despite 31 Points from Brandon on the night.

After the game my twitter timeline was absolutely insane with everyone discussing what had just had happen, but Brandon only had six words to say ‘‘on the way to the gym’’. That type of attitude and work ethic helps us all to understand how this young man finished with 4 state championship rings and scholarships from basically every top college basketball program in the country. It shows that you don’t have to be a selfish superstar to be successful and that hard work and determination will pay off in the end. So to all the young athletes please remember that it’s not about me, it’s about we, put your team first, work hard, and everything else will fall into place.

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Want more scouting notes? Follow Charles Clark on Twitter, right this second @CHC3

Hot 100 Scouting Notes

Jalen Benjamin, C/O 2019– Has a very good feel for the game, good IQ player with outstanding court vision, knocks down shots and knows how to run a team. Has all the tools to be a very good PG in the future, Has impressive lateral quickness that he use to stay in front of his opponent on the defensive end of the floor.

Derrick Robertson, C/O 2019– One of the best passers at the event, has an unorthodox shooting form but was pretty consistent shooting the ball throughout the event.

Jarius Northam, C/O 2020– Is a natural scorer that seems to always know how to get to the cup, has a lethal spin move that he uses on the regular to shake off defenders. Also has good quickness and is a strong player.

Jalen Breazeale, C/O 2021– Knock down shooter that was consistent scoring off the dribble, although he looked to score throughout his time at camp, he also showed on numerous occasions that he has exceptional passing abilities.

Ricky Council IV C/O 2020– Has a very nice midrange game and finishes well through contact when attacking the basket, was one of the best passers at camp. Seems to enjoy making the right pass to a teammate just as much as he enjoys scoring points.

Ronnie Thompson Jr. C/O 2021– One of the youngest and smallest players at the event, but he definitely turned heads with his ability to play the game, can shoot it from the perimeter and has outstanding ball handling skills. Has no issue at all breaking down his defender because of the numerous amounts of moves that are in his arsenal

Jahzeer Baker C/O 2019– Outstanding feel for the game, this young man was one of my favorite players at camp, he was one of the top ball handlers and seemed to thrive in pick and roll situations. One attribute that really stood out to me about him was how patient he was when getting his squad into their offense; he really knows how to allow the game to come to him.

Jalen Williams C/O 2019- Very athletic player that can get up and down the court in a hurry, he is always looking to attack the basket, he shot a very high percentage throughout the camp and has a very solid frame.

Silaa Mason C/O 2020– Smooth lefty player that showed how versatile of a player that he can possibly be, can play inside as well and step out and shoot the ball, moves well without the ball and got after it on the defensive end of the floor.

Joseph Green C/O 2019– Was outstanding on the defensive end, has a very good motor and brought consistent energy for his squad throughout the day, has a very smooth handle and handles defensive pressure very well.

Greg Gantt Jr C/O 2019– Already very has good height and size for a wing at the H.S level, attacks the paint well and was solid rebounding the ball. Has solid ball handling skills and is a very good on ball defender. Came up with quite a few: steals, blocks, deflections throughout the day, definitely one to watch.

Joey Baker C/O 2019– Joey has been a player that I’ve watched closely all season; he was very a solid role payer for his varsity squad during the season so I knew he would dominate when playing against players his age. He can play inside as well as stepping out and shooting the trey ball, his ball handling skills are very solid especially for a player who is 6’5, definitely a prospect with HM potential.

Juwan Gray C/O 2019– Juwan showed tremendous athleticism throughout the entire day at camp, he is a strong player that finishes through contact. As camp went on he showed that he was more than just simply an athletic player, he showed that he can pass the ball as well as handling the ball through pressure. Defensively he had numerous blocked shots and even more shots that he was able to alter because of his length and athletic ability. Juwan has a chance to be a very good player and will be a prospect to definitely keep an eye on; he was awarded MVP of the camp