The third annual Southeast Summer Showcase wrapped on June 2, and with more attendees than ever it takes time to go through everyone’s notes, scour the film, and really assess everyone.

In case you missed it, you can read Part 1 of the reports here.

Here are the second set of notes available from the day of action:

Carlee Clemons (G, 6’1, 2014) Millbrook HS (NC) – What’s left to be said? Carlee’s monster dunk over two 6’8″ players went viral.One of if not the most explosive players at the showcase who had multiple highlght real dunks throughout the day. Loves to attack the rim hard with the dunk on you attitude. Only negative I can say for him is at his position he doesn’t have the shot that he needs to be a total offensive threat to beat you from outside. A good defender who understands he is a slasher and can fly will stay off of him and allow him to shoot from outside.

Ricky Council II (SG/SF, 6’5″, 2014) Northern Durham HS (NC) – Can beat you off the dribble and can beat you from outside. He’s a very good inside out guy. A leaper who is very shifty meaning good at changing directions in an instant, and very versatile. Explosive – almost threw down a dunk from the free throw line and looked like he could have gotten it with another shot.

Zaqwuan Matthews (G/F, 6’4, 2015) Myers Park HS (NC) Last year the athleticism and potential of Matthews was evident, and over the past year he’s become a star wing, able to play above the rim, dynamic and plays with purpose. Likes to run in transition and sees the floor extremely well from the off guard or small forward spot, has great length and really is a player for Division I colleges to be getting involved with.

Daryl Myers (PG, 5’9″, 2015) Fredricksburg Christian (VA) Myers is a wizard with the ball in his hands and is always looking to break ankles with masterful dribbles and a quick step. His added height now makes him a serious prospect who is a highlight reel on the floor, but not just with his ballhandling but in his ability to find teammates on the break. Definitely a player that colleges should be actively engaged in.

Michal Seals (PG, 5’8″, 2016) High Point Central HS (NC) Quick hands and has good body control slashing to the basket; Can finish with contact and likes to push the break right to the rim.

Austin Hatfield (G, 6’1″, 2014) Mt. Tabor HS (NC) Hatfield has continued to improve as a point guard and is a true combo guard, with the ability play the floor general or off of the ball; When playing the point, Hatfield runs the offense, looks for teammates or opportunities to slash to the hoop. Off of the ball, he moves well to make himself an open target and is a knockdown three point shooter who will scorch teams who leave him open.

Coye Simmons (PF/C, 6’7″, 2014) Winston-Salem Prep (NC) A legitimate post presence with bulk to bang in the paint and has good rebounding timing; great at cleaning up the glass, runs the floor well and has great hands; gets above the rim in transition and can finish on the alley oop, Simmons abused the rims several times during the day.

Jalen Gaddy (SG, 6’4″, 2015) Neuse Chistian Academy (NC) Athletic and fast, Gaddy is a player who can be hard to stop when slashing to the bucket. Good length and size for the collegiate 2-guard spot, continues to improve and make an impact on the floor. Good upside to Gaddy’s game.

Charis Fitzgerald (G, 6’2″, 2013) West Gadsden HS (FL) Last year’s MVP returned and showed more of his distributor personality, setting the table for teammates, including several lobs for dunks to some of the event’s high flyers. Fitgerald has great size for a guard and plays eyes-up, can beat his man with the pass or the dribble and his ability to finish at the rim makes him a hard matchup for smaller guards.

Sean Spry (G, 5’11″, 2014) South Rowan HS (NC) Tough, active guard with a high motor who seems to be involved in every play, either with the ball or without. Moves really well without the ball and takes defense seriously.

Austin Collins (G, 6’3″, 2014) Winston-Salem Prep (NC) Collins has a great build and is becoming more and more of a PG, pushing the ball or creating his own shot. Has the athleticism to play either on or off of the ball and is one to watch.

Coming next – Part 3.

The third annual Southeast Summer Showcase wrapped on June 2, and with more attendees than ever it takes time to go through everyone’s notes, scour the film, and really assess everyone. But here are the first notes available from the day of action:

Javis Howard (PF/C, 6’8″, 2014) Irmo HS (SC) – Javis has the size and agility to play the PF spot and the strength to play the C spot. But most people who have scouted Howard already knew that; what he’s improved on is his ability to face the basket. He has an excellent first step from the 15 foot range which creates serious matchup problems for plodding big men. He plays above the rim, has great hands and works hard in the post. A lot to like about Howard, who already held several Division I offers prior to the showcase and picked up several more since.

Gary Clark (F, 6’7″, 2014) Clayton HS (NC) He is your can do it all guy who really gets going when someone on the other team trys to take over, he then becomes the incredible hulk and breaks out. He is very unselfish if he sees someone open, very versatile, smart, high basketball IQ. Still has upside and more he can do.

Ronshad Shabazz (G, 6’3″, 2015) Knightdale HS (NC) One of the top guards at the event. Left handed scorer who can get to the basket, but also knock down the three ball if you don’t guard him. The defener has to respect that he get bet you more than one way and play him honest. He has a good motor and has a good basketball IQ, knowing when to drive and when to pull up, as well as distribute the ball.

Justice Cuthbertson (G, 6’2″, 2014) Westchester (NC) Cuthbertson showed a strong game all day and was one of the standouts of the overall event, being considered for MVP. Showing a powerful speed dribble, he pushes the ball at full speed end-to-end and can find teammates on the move. Overall point guard skills have improved dramatically and he already had great strength and toughness to his game.

Kedrick Flomo (PG, 6’1″, 2014) North Forsyth HS (NC) A dynamic playmaker, Flomo’s heady play garnered him the MVP trophy for the 2013 showcase. A smooth game that can be deceptive, he is a solid shooter with good quickness who likes to make things happen. As he has become a more assertive player over his career, he’s become very hard to handle one-on-one and demands a double team much of the time.

Gerald Vaughn, Jr (G, 5’11″, 2014) Westwood HS (SC) One of the few defenders who was able to get any success against Kedrick Flomo, Vaughn played lock down defense against everyone he faced all day long and proved he was a hard-nosed guard who does not take plays off. Considering the loose play at showcase events, seeing someone play solid defense even in transition is something special, and it earned Vaughn the 2013 Coaches Award.

Mike Hughes (SG, 6’2″, 2014) Winston-Salem Prep (NC) Hughes is an explosive player who is extremely good in transition. Hughes is a player who can play guard or small forward effectively and plays above the rim. Has a good handle and is a solid slasher.

Stavian Allen (F, 6’8″, 2014) Christian Faith Center Academy (NC) Allen is an above-the-rim highlight type player, and he’s developed a consistent jumper to go with his elite hops. Allen was blistering from deep at times in today’s event, and he can hit from the mid range to the outside with a high release. Tends to fade a bit on his jumper, but Allen is a really solid prospect with great upside.

Gabe Devoe (G, 6’3″, 2014) Shelby HS (NC) It’s no secret that Devoe’s stock has continued to rise in the spring and it’s easy to see why, he is a powerful guard who likes to get up and down the court, has great strength and can finish with contact. Has a high basketball IQ and plays with purpose.

Read Part 2 of Reports Here

By Marcus Shockley

The 3rd annual Basketball Elite Southeast Summer Showcase is coming, June 2, 2013. This is one of the premier individual showcases on the East coast, and last year we were at full capacity – I love the success rate we’ve had at finding players who will play at the college level, but it’s a lot of planning and preparation in order to make it happen. We have to coordinate our coaches (several have won state basketball titles), and the overall schedule to make sure that players get a full day of solid instruction and play. Our goal for the showcase is the same every year:

“Walk out of the gym a better player.”

Over the years I’ve been fortunate enough to see some of the best basketball coaches, players and world class instructors on the planet. I love the fact that our staff is able to bring those same drills, experience and knowledge to players at all levels.

The results have been phenomenal. We’ve had a huge percentage of alumni who have gone on to play in college – just yesterday, TyQuan Bitting, an alumni from last summer, committed to play for Charleston Southern. On Saturday, our reigning dunk champion Craig Hinton competed on CBS for the National High School Dunk championship. Craig’s committed to VMI, by the way.

This year, I wanted to expand on the overall experience for players and parents who attend – so we’ll be adding new content and information before the event even happens. Registration for the event is not yet available – it will be soon – but if you want the free info we’ll be giving out beforehand, be sure to sign up on the events email list at this link.

It’s also the best way to keep up with what’s going on with registration.

So stay tuned, and sign up for the mailing list, because if the event sells out, the people on the list will be the first who have the opportunity to get a spot.

At showcase events, it’s not easy to make a full assessment of a player. The Phenom 150, organized by Rick Lewis of the Phenom Hoop Report, is one of the best organized individual showcase events in the country. Here are some of our notes from the Spring event.

Most notable players

Ricky Council (SG, 6’4″, 2014). Dynamic guard who can make a lot of good things happen in transition, Council has great court awareness and uses spacing to create mismatches on the break. Can score from outside or in the paint, plays hard and full speed. Agile. Quick hands. Has offers from Gardner-Webb and Radford.

Curtis Jones (SG, 6’3″, 2016) Surprise player of the camp. Best freshman of the camp. Excellent athlete who tremendous bounce. Has a low release on shot. High ceiling as player. Attacks the basket well. Already has several D1 schools in VA interested. High motor, explosive. Elite speed end-to-end.

Luke Maye (PF, 6’7″, 2015) Maye suffered a bruised knee in the previous day’s Carolina Challenge and wasn’t able to go for long at this event. In his few minutes he showed exactly why people are keeping an eye on him; he can score from anywhere with his shot – not just a deep range but mid range as well; and he’s not shy about using it. Can’t really complain about a great shooting big man who likes to get buckets. Also very strong already.

Greg Williams (PG, 6’4″, 2016) Solid prospect w/ length. Plays under control and can handle the ball. Has great size for a point guard but looks like he could become a wing with more size. Already has athleticism needed to be a college prospect.

Gabe Devoe (PG, 6’4″, 2014) Great size and a dynamic, stong guard, Devoe continues to show why he’s a player with Division I offers and a rising profile. Aggressive in transition, he also is effective in the half court and looks to score or find the right teammate with the pass. Always looking to attack and is a solid athlete. Plays solid defense and takes it seriously. Can defend smaller guards and shut them down.

Other standouts

Ashton Brown (SG, 6’3″, 2014) Great body control, crafty and slick, he finds ways to get off clean shots or pass to others for a better look. Great looking deep shot.

Zach Bruns (CG, 6’1″, 2013) Bruns is a pure deep shooter who will get buckets from the perimeter; can pull up on the move, in transition, or in the half court and his shot is always bottom-of-the-net pure. Showed and ability to find breaking players with the deep look ahead pass. More scoring guard than point at this point, but active, aware and high basketball IQ.

Daryl Myers (PG, 5’8″, 2016) Myers is a highlight-reel ballhandler who plays with a flash that is uncommon; coached in this event by NC State point guard Tyler Lewis, who was a flashy point guard in his own right, Myers is crafty and is a wizard with no-look passes. His size is what colleges are no doubt paying attention to, but he’s a lot of fun to watch and has a swagger to his game that frankly reminds of Brandon Jennings.

Taylor Hatfield & Austin Hatfield (G, 6′, 2014) – We always try to scout the Hatfields independently, but the positives in their games are consistent with both guys; Fundamentally sound, they are more combo guards than pure points. Both are excellent deep shooters and passers. Austin tends to play more PG, while Taylor often plays from the SG or SF spot effectively. Both players looked like they have improved and are used to playing against high level competition; both have learned to score inside against bigger players with acrobatic finishes.

Zane Waterman (PF, 6’7″, 2014) Waterman is a player who has improved across the board over the past year – tracking higher across all scouting reports, he’s arrived as a solid post prospect with a great first step from the four and a bit of a nasty streak; in other words, he can beat big men off of the dribble and likes to dunk on you. Strong and bangs in the paint, he has a high motor and plays hard.

Tyler Creammer (C, 6’10″, 2015) Creammer is a testament to how fast a post player can rise with hard work. The first thing about Creammer’s game is that he works hard on the court, every play, from the first tip to the final buzzer. Considering that Creammer had played six games in two days, including three at the Dave Telep Carolina Challenge, the fact that he never slowed down shows how much he wants to compete. Creammer is a back-to-the-basket pure post player who fights in the paint and will be a force as he continues to add muscle and refine his offensive post moves.

Cory Hanes (SF, 6’5″, 2015) Hanes is a very strong small forward who plays above the rim and likes to get out and run in transition. He’s completed the transition from an undersized post player to a true wing and Division I colleges should definitely be looking at him.

Colton Bishop (PG, 6’2″, 2014) Forsyth Country Day (NC) Lock-down defender who is a smooth and crafty/ scorer. Being a scoring PG who is unselfish and makes the other players better by giving them open shots. Excellent 3-point shooter. Holds Division I offers and gym rat mentality has produced results.

Larry Curry III (PG, 6’3″, 2014) – strong PG with good speed and athleticism. Showed an improved ability to hit the 3 today as well.

Will Tibbs (SF, 6’5″, 2014) Has good length and has become a solid wing with a good looking deep shot. Great form and high release.

Austin Collins (G, 6’2″, 2014) Solid all around guard with good awareness and good vision, knows how to find teammates and also knows where he is supposed to be on the floor.

Hakeem Coney (PG, 6’2″, 2014) True point guard with solid physique- already has the build of a college guard. Directs the offense- throws excellent wrap around passes. Leader on the floor. Tough nosed defender. Solid scorer. Competes on both ends. Low release on his jumper and he tends to reach a little too much.

Benjamin Bennett (SF, 6’4″, 2015) Solid athlete who has a lot of the basic tools needed, still a little raw offensively. Has good elevation on jump shot and needs to work on overall consistency, but overall one to keep an eye on. Runs floor really well and looks to get involved.

Ibrahima Diallo (C, 6’10″, 2014) Much stronger showing from the big man this time around, finishing inside consistently and really showing his mobility. Legitimate big man that colleges should be checking out.

Jaron Withers (G, 6’3″, 2014) Attacks the basket hard every time. Very aggressive lefty who is a big time athlete.

Chris Freeman (SG, 6’3″ 2016) Fluid player who can shoot from deep, passes very well and makes an impact in a lot of ways. Has a good handle at the off guard spot and good size/length. High release on his jump shot and can hit the 3 consistently.

Nathan Williams Jr (PF/C, 6’8″, 2015) – Good length- solid offensive rebounder- needs to improve defensive rebounding. Shot needs to get better- no rotation. Has good second bounce and definitely a player who colleges should be monitoring.

JuWuan Wright (SF, 6’4″, 2015) Good length- stood out on several plays and showed good activity. Good athlete.

Final notepad

DeSean Murray (G, 6’3″, 2014) Solid athleticism

Stephen Misenheimer (SG/SF, 6’4″, 2016) A player w/ length who has a nice shooting stroke.

Jeffrey McIlwain (C, 6’8″, 2015) Strong shouldered big who should be able to continue to become a serious post presence. Good rebounder with good hands.

Brandon Gulley (C, 6’7″, 2015) Has good size and plays back-to-the-basket, decent hands and rebounding timing – needs to be more aggressive and polish post game.

Johnathon Pickler (PG, 5’10″, 2015) Can hit the deep shot, knows where to be on the floor, finds teammates consistently with wrap around passes. Release is consistent but low.

Tristan Reese (PG, 5’11″, 2016) Fluid, good change of speed, has grown two inches since last seen and runs the offense eyes-ahead.

James Chavis (SF, 6’5″, 2013) Very good offensive rebounder. High motor- always cleaning up plays.

James Scott (PF, 6’6″, 2014) Finishes well inside.

Kwinton Hinton (SG/SF, 6’5″, 2015 ) Good explosiveness – gets in on a lot of plays on both ends.

Vaughn Johnson (CG, 6′, 2015) Good scorer, deep shooter, can hit mid range.

Ashley Williams (SF, 2014, 6’5″) long player w/ solid athleticism.

Hunter Seacat (PF/C, 6’8″, 2015) Good hands, size, most effective in halfcourt at this time. Needs to increase explosiveness and be more aggressive finishing over other post players. Can get shot off against other bigs but still working on finishing.

Camryn Fort (SG/SF, 6’4″, 2014) Good athlete, can get above the rim, showed a lot of different things worth taking notice of.

RJ Hunt (G, 6′, 2015) Good looking deep shot, consistent, high release.

Douglas Elks (SG, 6′, 2017) Although a middle schooler, showed ability to get to the bucket and good slashing ability against high school players.

Eris Winder is a 2013 guard with great court vision – and is still on the board for 2013.

By James Kerti

This time of year, much of the recruiting discussion understandably shifts toward the destinations of the top unsigned prospects. Let’s take a break from that conversation.

Here are a few west coast players I’ve evaluated who aren’t being heavily recruited, but who can absolutely contribute at the Division I level.

PG 6-0 Eris Winder, Palo Verde HS, Las Vegas, NV: Crafty point guard with good fakes and change of speed/direction. Great court vision. Gets into the lane and can finish in a few ways. Pull-up game from the foul line in is a nice weapon. Potential mid- to high- major sleeper.

PG 6-0 Iseah Rodgers, Birmingham HS, Van Nuys, CA: Efficient point who can dish or finish inside. Averaged 14 and 6 this year. Capable outside shooter. Needs to be more consistent but has big scoring outbursts at times. Scrappy defender. Division I prospect.

CG 6-2 Elijah Smith, Foothill HS, Henderson, NV: Tough on-ball defender with athleticism and a good feel for the game. Strong rebounding guard with nice touch in the basket area. Son of UNLV great Robert Smith. Nice Division I prospect.

PF 6-6 Jamal Aytes, JSerra HS, San Juan Capistrano, CA: Wide body with good hands and feet. Not super bouncy but gets the most out of his body. Can hit the midrange jumper with consistency. Can play at the high-major level.

CG 6-4 Rashad Muhammad, Bishop Gorman HS, Las Vegas, NV: Versatile scoring guard who can shoot from outside or score off cuts to the basket. Can drive and score as well, especially from the wing or high ball screen. Shabazz’s younger brother can play at a high level.

James Kerti is National Scout & Managing Editor for PremierBall. Read more at PremierBall.com.

Winston-Salem Prep and North Rowan HS meet at halfcourt before the Western Regional 1-A playoffs.

By James Blackburn

Scouting Notes from North Carolina Basketball 1-A Western Regional Championships on March 8.
East Surry defeated Hendersonville 73-65 in game 1 at UNC-G and W-S Prep beat North Rowan in Double-OT 72-70 in game 2.
Here are notes on some of the top players.

East Surry

Scott Meredith (PG, 6’1”, 2014) Meredith struggled for the most part this game with Hendersonville’s pressure defense, but got it going in the second half to help lead his team to the win. He is a leader on the floor and doesn’t get rattled. He has a high basketball IQ and is an extension of the coach on the floor. He is a good 3-point shooter with his feet set and he also has a floater in his offensive arsenal.
Good rebounder for a PG and for his size. Meredith finished with 12 pts, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists and is a player D3 schools should definitely be watching.

Seth Brim (C, 6’4”, 2014) Although Brim is undersized for the center position, he makes up for it with good strength and hustle. He is aggressive and is a solid defender. Dominated the first quarter this game to keep team in it. Good rebounder and he finishes around the rim with 2 hands. Will need to make the move to the forward position and develop more perimeter skills but D3 and NAIA schools should monitor. Finished with game high 8 rebounds along with 12 pts and 4 blocks.

Hendersonville

Shawn Rogers (PG, 5’10”, 2013) Steady throughout the game, Rogers led Hendersonville offensive attack. He is a bit undersized but has a strong upper body. Strong slasher who got to the rim repeatedly. More of a scoring guard then true PG, but he is a solid passer finishing with a team high 3 assists and had several no look passes as well. Finished with 23 pts and 4 rebounds.
Rishad Felton (G, 5’9”, 2013) I would be remiss if I did not mention Felton in this report as he lit it up tonight. Felton has a smooth stroke from the perimeter and most of his makes didn’t even hit the rim. Very quick guard who can shoot off the dribble. Finished with 18 pts and 4 made three pointers.

Winston-Salem Prep

RaeKwon Harney (PG, 6’0”, 2013) I have seen Harney play numerous times over the past few years and he never ceases to amaze me with his ball handling and ability to get to the lane. Was huge down the stretch this game and made big play after big play. Struggled in the first half as he over penetrated and got his shot blocked or turned the ball over, but had a big bounce back second half and finished with a game high 26 points and also had 3 steals. Harney’s ball handling is next level ready and he can use and finish with either hand. He is virtually un-guardable one on one and has a knack for getting to the lane and drawing contact. Lighting quick and is a very good on ball defender with quick hands. One of the top guards in the state and is a player who is still unsigned. Has a D2/LM interest and would be a steal for a D2 program.

Mike Hughes (G, 6’4”, 2014) Poised, calm, versatile guard who is the definition of a basketball player through and through. Does it all on the court. Defends, rebounds, attacks the rim, and can shoot the 3-ball. Athletic player who is dangerous in transition. Good footwork. Understands the game and chooses and knows his spots. Moves well with-out the ball. D1 prospect who would be a solid get for a program as he plays hard and helps his team win. Finished with 17 pts, 5 rebounds and 2 steals.

Coye Simmons (C, 6’8”,2014) Solid post player who is one of the best rebounders I have seen this year. Box score had him credited for 12 boards, but I think he may have had that just in the first half. He was all over the offensive boards and is a tough player to box out. Active and long. Loves to battle and isn’t afraid of physical play. Good FT shooter. Midrange and offensive game have gotten better. Does everything with 2 hands. Sometimes is too quick to get rid of ball after rebound and turns it over. College prospect that LM schools need to track. Finished with 14 pts and 12 rebounds.

North Rowan

Oshon West(F, 6’3”, 2013) Big bodied forward who uses his size and strength to his advantage. He is a well rounded scorer who can hit the perimeter shot as well as beat you off the dribble. His shot is a little flat but he has a quick high release that he can get off even against good defense. His FT shooting could also improve. Oshon not only brings scoring but also toughness and a winners attitude. Would be a solid get for a NAIA/D2 school. Finished with 16 points.

Jalen Sanders (G, 6’1”, 2016) Plays beyond his years and does not look or play like a freshman. High basketball IQ- makes the right play and does not force the issue. Poised and does not get rattled even on the big stage. Capable of playing either guard position. Very good in transition but is also solid in the half court too. Solid defender who can guard a 1-3 with good strength and was in good help position to make plays. Draws contact and gets to the FT line. Efficient player. Did struggle at times with Prep’s pressure but came through at crucial times with big plays. Has potential to be really good. College prospect that schools from all 3 divisions should begin to monitor. Scored a team high 19 pts to go along with 9 rebounds and 5 assists.

Timothy Bates (PG, 6’1”, 2013) Solid as a rock and tough nosed guard. Leader for this North Rowan team. Refused to go down this game as he fought through contact and cramps. Excellent midrange game- can pull up on the dime. Consistent 3 point shooter as well who you cant leave open. Good use of the jab step to get around defender. Can create his own shot and is a solid scoring guard. True competitor. Finished with 18 pts on a very efficient 8-12 from the field. Unsigned senior who would be a good pick up for a NAIA program.

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Mt. Tabor and Dudley HS square off in the Western Regional 4-A playoffs.

By Marcus Shockley

Scouting notes from the North Carolina High School basketball 4-A regional matchups, March 7, 2013:

Mt. Tabor HS

Nate Long (SF, 6’5″, 2013) Long has become a very explosive player – his ability to elevate on the move has improved vastly over the past year. Because he plays with such a talented roster, and he really didn’t hit his stride until his senior season, he’s probably one of the more overlooked players in the state. Good length, athletic and active in the passing lanes, he’s got a full speed explosive ability that has become a consistent trademark of his games. In this game he had two dunks, one of which was a breakaway windmill slam. Has been getting more college interest as the season is progressing. Scored 14 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists. I am upgrading my rating for Long to a LM Division I prospect, although now he’d be a rock solid Division II or NAIA-Division I player.

Matt Madigan (G, 6’3″, 2013) Madigan’s best weapons are size, ability to play on or off the ball, a deep shot and elite quickness. His signature move is a spin around the defender to create an open shot or find a teammate. Handles most of the PG duties and does not turn the ball over. Has become a major engine for Tabor as they continue their run in the playoffs. Tracking as a Division I LM/MM. Committed to Brown.

Ty’Quan Bitting (C, 6’8″, 2013) Bitting has continued to improve throughout the last two seasons where he has become a solid post presence. His best assets are shot blocking – had 5 in this game, which is not unusual – and length around the basket. Will need to continue to get stronger in order to handle the physical post play in college, but has shown an increasing nimbleness with his back-to-the-basket game. Primarily a half court center, but he does front and seal. Wants the ball and will post players up. With more strength, he’ll be able to use his hook shot very effectively. Bitting’s scoring is limited to post play, and he’s an undersized center at the collegiate level. However his shotblocking and overall potential are what I like about his game. Tracking as a Division I LM with multiple offers.

Lepreece Lynch (SG, 6’4″, 2013) Lynch is a prolific scorer, with a quick release. He can put up points in a hurry, has good size for the shooting guard spot and has a knack for being in the right place at the right time to grab a loose ball and score before the defense can react. His offensive footwork is naturally better than most players, and it gives him a half step on the defender. He can be streaky from deep but overall, he’s a bucket machine. Scored 17 points and dished 3 assists in this game. Issues with Lynch are his build – he will need to add much more strength for the college game, and his overall defense. However, his defense has improved since last season. He does need to close out much quicker on shooters. That being said, the focus of his defense in this game was to help in stopping Dudley’s star Sam Hunt – Lynch was a major factor in trapping and limiting Hunt to only 3 points. I have been tracking Lynch as a Division I shooting guard at the LM level since last season and I think he’d be a bit of a steal at the Division II/NAIA-Division I level. He’s also a vocal leader, pumping up his teammates and being a solid team player. Holds several Division I and Division II offers.

Deion Robinson (PF, 6’4″, 2013) All you need to know about Deion Robinson is that he’s rock-solid consistent all the time, and has been for the four years he’s been at Mt. Tabor. He’s an undersized PF but now his mid range shot from the elbow is also falling, giving him more options when playing bigger defenders. He is strong and has great hands, and he has a knack for just making the smart, safe play. Committed to Northwestern Ohio.

Dudley HS

Sam Hunt (G, 6’1″, 2013) The focus of the entire Mt. Tabor defense coming into the game was on slowing down Hunt – Tabor Head Coach Andy Muse thought if they could hold Hunt to 15 it would be a solid defensive effort. Their plan was effective – Hunt went 1-15 in this game and only finished with 3 points after dealing with the multiple traps and defensive focus of Tabor. However, this game is not a reflection on how dynamic a player Hunt is – fluid and strong, I’ve seen Hunt score against nationally ranked teams, both at the high school level and last summer playing in the EYBL with his CP3 All-Stars AAU team. I’ve tracked Hunt as a LM/MM player throughout his career at Dudley. Committed to Jacksonville.

Devan Gregory (SG, 6’4″, 2013) With the defensive focus on Hunt, Gregory took advantage and showed an ability to consistently knock down the 3, leading all scorers in the game with 21 points, including 4-7 from the perimeter. Gregory has good size and is a true guard, and can shoot. Biggest issue for Gregory is his release speed; it needs to be much faster. When the defender closed on him on the perimeter, his shooting percentage dropped to 0%, and that’s because he needs to be able to get the shot up before the defender closes. That being said, his size, overall agility and shooting touch make him a player colleges should be tracking.

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B.J. Gladden and Luke Maye were matched up often in this 4-A Regional game.

By Marcus Shockley

Scouting notes from the North Carolina High School basketball 4-A regional matchups, March 7, 2013:

Olympic HS

B.J. Gladden (SF/PF, 6’5″, 2013) Gladden is a strong, powerful forward who has a good first step and can finish with contact. But he was the best player on the floor in his game tonight; after Hough big man Luke Maye got into early foul trouble and had to sit for an extended period, nobody on Hough was able to effectively slow Gladden down. Quick and physical, he was either able to blow by his defender and get inside, or pull up and shoot over them if the defender sagged. Scored 16 points in the first half and finished with 21 points, 9 rebounds. Will need to improve his off hand dribble. I have tracked Gladden as a very solid MM because he is an undersized 3/4, but he looked like he could get playing time at some high majors in this game. Missed quite a bit of time earlier because of eligibility issues, but Gladden is a high character guy – when he was eligible to play in December, the coach told him the issue was trying to figure out who they would take out of an existing starting lineup. Gladden replied “Coach, I don’t care if I start. I know I’m going to play. I just want to win.” Committed to Akron.

Jevon Patton (PG, 5’8″, 2013) Patton is a very elusive and aware guard who has a consistent ability to score from both the perimeter and consistently uses floater shots to score over bigger players in the lane. His handle is solid, good enough for the collegiate point guard level and he can go right or left with ease. Patton has always had a slingshot-style release which has improved a bit but will still need to be worked on. Issue is size; Scored 18 points. Currently tracking as a Division II/NAIA-D1 player.

Dereice Parks (SG/SF, 6’5″, 2013) Parks has had a great shooting stroke for some time and he showed it again in this game. Good extension, high release, and consistently solid elevation, he has good size for a collegiate shooting guard. Active with really good length, he works hard to get his hands on loose balls. had 3 steals in this game. Has good hands and can catch and finish at full speed. Needs to add strength but I have had Parks as an underrated LM/MM Division I prospect for some time and I’ve seen nothing to change that. Would be a very solid get for a Division II or NAIA- Division I.

Trey Mitchell (SG/SF, 6’5″, 2013) Mitchell is one of the more underrated players in the state, with an ability to slash, score and shoot from deep. Can play the 2 or 3 at the college level. Had a very tough defensive assignment for much of this game, defending against Luke Maye, Mitchell used good defensive footwork and technique to defend. Shot 6-8 from the field and finished with 14 points. The biggest thing I have always liked about Mitchell is his mental toughness and calm presence on the court. Still needs to add quite a bit of bulk, but with that added, Mitchell is a sleeper. I am tracking Trey as a MM Division I player. Would be considered a very solid get at the Division II level.

CJ Jackson (G, 5’11″, 2014) Active guard who has to find ways to contribute among so many older, talented teammates but consistently makes good plays and finds a lot of ways to make things happen. As an example in this game, he dished 5 assists, grabbed 3 steals, 3 rebounds and added 6 points. One to keep an eye on as he takes more of the burden over the next season.

Hough HS

Luke Maye (PF, 6’7″, 2015) Maye is very strong already as a sophomore and has extremely good hands. Very soft touch around the basket. Not really an explosive player, his best assets are strength, great hands, and a solid shooting touch from very deep. His release is very high and he squares up extremely well. He’s not really a jump shooter, more of a set shooter, and his release is still a bit slow. I haven’t seen enough of Maye to make a confident collegiate projection, but he is definitely a Division I athlete. Issues are that he is a 6’7″ power forward at this point – a little undersized for most HM programs – and his overall quickness could be improved. He is a fairly agile player and he was the only player on Hough who was strong enough to be able to slow down B.J. Gladden at all. He is also has two more years to work on his game, being in the 2015 class, so definitely one to be tracking. After sitting for an extended period in the first due to foul trouble, produced a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Theo Mack (G, 6’1″, 2014) Mack impressed me with his defensive technique and high shot release. He plays eyes-up and understands where he is supposed to be, and looks like a true combo guard who may be a primary ballhandler in the future.

Drexler Clark (PG, 5’11″, 2013) Clark is the kind of guard who is always looking to attack, either with the dribble or the pass, and he has excellent speed. His best asset may be his extremely quick hands; he can swipe the ball away in a blur and aggressively looks for those opportunities. Sure handed with the dribble and purposeful in his actions, he’s explosive as a small guard.

Tucker Thompson (C, 6’10″, 2014) Thompson has height and length but only really saw action spelling Luke Maye when Maye sat with early foul trouble. That said, Thompson is a 6’10″ center who could be a major factor with more size. He has decent hands and works to front the post. Thompson is a true center, and will be most effective with his back to the basket. Not super explosive but most of Thompson’s work involves adding muscle. He already understands how to play the post, he just needs the bulk to effectively do it.

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Kerrion Moore of Hunter Huss runs the offense against Antonio Blalock of Ashbrook

By Marcus Shockley

Scouting notes from the North Carolina High School basketball 3-A regional matchups, March 6, 2013:

Hunter Huss HS

Kerrion Moore (PG, 5’9″, 2014) Although Moore is a football player, he’s a dynamic basketball player as well. Quick, calm and always under control, Moore is lightning-in-a-bottle. He can find open teammates with precision passes, score after contact and shoot from deep. He has a low crossover dribble that he uses going left or right, has great body control and always plays eyes-up. Moore looks so calm and collected that it looks like the game is going at half-speed for him. He has several offers to play football, but could no doubt play collegiate basketball as well. The knock on him as a basketball player would be his height, but in this game he was lights-out. Finished with 20 pts, 8 assists, 5 rebounds and 3 steals.

Jaelan Kennedy (SG/SF, 6’4″, 2013) A solid wing player, Kennedy has great elevation on his shot and a high release; spots mismatches and immediately attacks on offense, elevating over smaller defenders. Has an ability to stop and pop, squaring up for a good shot. Solid free throw shooter, loves to run in transition, handle is good enough to play the 2 or 3 offensively. Effective half court player but really likes to get out and run in transition. Scored 18 points and dished out 8 assists. Tracking as a very solid Division II prospect with interest from multiple schools.

Jerimiah Hunter (SF, 6’4″, 2013) Active and has a solid build. A small forward but because of his physical frame he can bang in the paint some and absorb contact. Good rebounding SF, he finished with 18 points and 6 rebounds. Hunter is also a good shot blocker and uses the correct hand to block depending on which side of the paint he’s on. Currently tracking as a NAIA level player.

Chadrickus Mackins (PF, 6’4″, 2014) Mackins is an undersized post player but works his tail off on both ends of the floor. Sets screens effectively and bangs in the paint. Mackins is a junior playing with a lot of seniors, but he gets a lot of minutes and does a lot of little things that will make him a player to continue to watch.

Ashbrook HS

Antonio Blalock (G, 5’11″, 2013) Has good speed and ability to shoot from the mid range on the move. Has a good high release and can play either on or off of the ball. Undersized but a decent scorer. Finished with 18 points. Tracking as an NAIA/2 or Division III prospect.

Trey Dillinger (PG, 5’9″, 2014) Undersized, but has an elite handle. A pass-first pure point guard who can weave through multiple defenders with shifty ballhandling. Does work to find teammates and run the offense. Issue is size, overall athleticism. His handle and passing are very solid.

Grant Stafford (SF, 6’2″, 2013) Stafford has a good release, poise and the ability to stop and pop on the move. Undersized at the forward spot, he did most of his work inside, racking up 10 points and a couple of blocks.

Statesville HS

Marquis Willis (PG, 5’9″, 2013) Quick guard who can go either right or left with ease. Undersized but a really solid passer, both in transition and in the halfcourt. Very good in transition. Finished with 15 points and 4 assists. I haven’t seen Willis enough to make a collegiate projection, but definitely a player to track as he takes on Kerrion Moore and Huss in the Western Regional Championships on May 9.

Jaqwuan Warren (G, 6’1″, 2013) Athletic and quick, which is a theme for this year’s Statesville team. Warren moves really well without the ball and likes to jump the passing lanes by anticipating. Grabbed 3 steals and led all scorers with 17. Needs to improve handle under pressure, particularly left hand. Does have an explosive ability, had a monster dunk in transition over a trailing player.

Breon Borders (G, 6’1″, 2013) Another quick, active senior guard for Statesville. High energy – all of Statesville’s guards are – and moves to make himself an option. Grabbed 7 boards against a big Harding team as a guard, scored 8 points.

Josh Gaither (SG/SF, 6’2″, 2013) I’ve seen Gaither play before and he’s extremely consistent; rarely makes mistakes and does a lot of things that make the team better. Grabbed 12 rebounds and scored 9 points, playing more minutes than any other player in this game. Could be more aggressive offensively; passed up mismatches a couple of times.

Austin St. John (SG, 6′, 2013) Came in off of the bench and was a spark for the team, showed very solid shooting touch and was very productive in limited minutes. Scored 9 points, dished out an assist, a rebound and a steal in 11 minutes of action, which is production that any coach has to like. Note – I am not 100% sure the minutes are right on that due to a comment from the statkeeper, but St. John’s productivity in limited action was still evident.

Justin Daniels (PF, 6’2″, 2013) Daniels is a small post player but outworked the much bigger Borrough in this game, scoring 8 points and grabbing 6 rebounds against a much bigger opponent. Fronted the post extremely well and boxed out the bigger Harding players repeatedly.

Harding HS

Aaron Linton (PG, 5’4″, 2013) Linton is a sure handed, pure point guard who was the best option for Harding in this game, leading all scorers with 15 and handing out 5 assists and grabbing 4 steals. His size is an issue, but he can score from deep and understands how to penetrate and score against taller players. Very fast.

Emmanual Patton (SF, 6’5″, 2013) Patton is a player who has continued to improve as a perimeter player over the past year; he’s a solid slashing SF now, which he also showed over the summer in AAU. He has good quickness from the wing and a soft touch around the basket. Did not shoot from outside in this game. Has good length. Patton is tracking as a Division II prospect but I’ve seen games where he looked like a Division I possibility.

Steven Burrough (C, 6’9″, 2013) I like Burrough’s game and I’ve seen him have monster games in the past. Unfortunately, this wasn’t one of his better games. He did snag 7 rebounds but allowed himself to be fronted far too often and was boxed out of the rebounding action. Burrough is a Division I prospect based on games I’ve seen in the past, and he has the size and build. He would be a solid get for a Division II program but I still expect a LM will land him.

Statesville High School head coach Sonny Schofield and his players address the media following their win over Harding High School

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Chris Wray of Shelby snags a rebound in his team’s 84-46 win over Smoky Mountain

By Marcus Shockley

Scouting notes from the North Carolina High School basketball 2-A regional matchups, March 5, 2013:

Shelby HS

Chris Wray (SF, 6’6″, 2013) – Lengthy small forward who can handle and slash from the wing and has good size at 6’6″. A couple of times, beat his man off of the dribble from the perimeter in a halfcourt set and handled the ball extensively in the second half. Should be able to play some SG at the college level. Wray had a solid overall game, with 13 points and 12 rebounds, but also registered 6 blocks and grabbed 2 steals. He also had multiple deflections which caused havok as Smoky Mountain attempted to push the ball in transition. Agile and slender, he will need to add quite a bit of bulk but a solid player. Committed to St. Mary’s.

Gave Devoe (CG, 6’3″, 2014) – Strong combo guard who is a solid passer and vocal leader on the floor. Squares up well on his shot and can finish with contact. Solid ballhandler and passer, and should be considered a true combo guard. Physically strong; good in transition and moves well without the ball in the halfcourt. Can use either hand with the dribble but has slightly less control with his left hand. Offered by several Division I programs, including UNCG, who offered after this game.

Donte Falls (SF, 6’5″, 2013) – active athlete with a soft touch and high release. Struggled with consistency in the first half but really became productive in the second half – led all scorers with 20 pts for the game and grabbed 8 rebounds. Falls is a great free throw shooter, athletic and long. Squares up well on his shot and is poised. Definitely a college prospect with gaining interest from several schools.

Notes: Shelby HC Aubrey Hollified says that all three players have been big all season, and when one of them isn’t having a good game, the other two have been able to step up. Shelby won this game 84-46 and will face Cuthbertson in the Regional finals on Saturday, March 9

Smoky Mountain HS

Jayce Wolf (PG, 5’9″, 2016) Wolf is undersized but very quick. He has a very good hesitation dribble and a solid handle. Had 6 assists to 3 TO’s in this game. Size is an issue at this point, but has an ability to get off a floater in the lane over bigger defenders.

Cuthbertson HS

Shelton Mitchell (PG, 6’3″, 2014) Dynamic guard with an elite handle in traffic and ability to beat multiple defenders off of the dribble. Size, poise and length makes him a matchup problem for smaller guards. Was consistent from outside in this game – shot 2 of 3 from deep- but made his living at the line in a game where opponent stalled for most of the second half. Shot 12-16 from the line. There’s a lot to like about Mitchell and his game; he has a high basketball IQ and awareness; an ability to score and run the point; poise. The biggest knock on Mitchell’s game continues to be his shot form, which is a slingshot style – this will be an issue against bigger guards with length at the college level. However, Mitchell is a high major player without question. Committed to Wake Forest.

Lucious McMillon (SF, 6’5″, 2013) Solid athlete with bounce and good quickness. Moves well without the ball and has the athleticism to potentially play at the college level. Definitely looks like he could play and defend the 3 spot. Division II colleges should take a look.

Isaiah Cureton (SF, 6’4″, 2013) Another solid athlete who has a good build and can play the wing. Free throw shot form looks good and stuck with his man against a very disciplined motion attack from Trinity HS. Division II colleges should be looking.

Trinity HS

Jarrod Rogers (PG, 5’10″, 2014) Slender, but true point guard with really good quickness and passing. Very poised and can hit the deep shot. Commits on defense. Right now tracking as a Division III prospect, but with more strength could rise.

Daniel Newcomer (SG, 6’0″, 2014) Scoring guard with tenacious defense and solid ability to score. Undersized and slight of build, but still showed an ability to beat his man and score against the solid athletes of Cuthbertson. I am tracking Newcomer as a Division III prospect at this time.

Wake Forest commmit Shelton Mitchell of Cuthbertson addresses the media following his team’s 46-30 defeat of Trinity HS.

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