Jahlil Okafor basketball Whitney Young

By Marcus Shockley

Scouting notes from the 2014 Hoop Hall Classic in Springfield, MA, featuring Chicago based powerhouse Whitney Young taking on Oak Hill, coached by the legendary Steve Smith. Whitney Young is led by Jahlil Okafor, a Duke commit, while Oak Hill features Cody and Caleb Martin, who are committed to NC State.

Jahlil Okafor (C, 6’10”, 2014) Whitney Young – I always like seeing true centers and Okafor certainly falls into that category. He has a back-to-the-basket game and establishes position in the paint expertly. He has great – emphasis on great – hands and really solid footwork. Generally a below-the-rim style big man, similar to Jared Sullivan or Tyler Hansbrough, but a bit more explosive in transition and has quicker footspeed. Already has a good set of post moves in his repertoire and is extremely hard for high school players to defend. He still needs to improve on his ability to recognize and pass out of the double team, and some of his defensive habits will make him foul-prone. He had a couple of really powerful monster dunks on the move, but his real asset is getting the ball in the post with his back to the basket. Committed to Duke.

Trevor Manual (PF, 6’9″, 2015) Oak Hill – Manual was the player that I enjoyed seeing the most in this game; he is explosive, long, active, and has great timing. He needs to add strength but he blasts up and down the floor in transition and is a high motor, high flying athlete who has good hands and really has a lot of upside. Manual is the type of player that can excel at the pro level, and that’s his upside, but he will need to show some shooting touch to go with that elite athleticism and length. Really impressed with his play in this one. Has a really nice old school running hook that should be a go-to move. Wake Forest and Michigan State have both offered Manual, and I think he’s a really solid prospect.

Paul White (SF/PF, 6’9″, 2014) Whitney Young – White and Trevor Manual have similar builds and athleticism, but White is better at putting the ball on the floor and has much better shooting range. Has great length and a high, quick release, but was more effective when Okafor was in the game, which made White the secondary focus of the defense. However, he’s definitely a high major player who looks like he will cause serious problems for slow footed power forwards at the college level. Has a very consistent elbow jumper and he’s a good shooter. Committed to Georgetown.

Caleb Martin, Cody Martin (SG/SF, 6’6″, 2014) Oak Hill – every time I’ve seen the Martins play over the past few years, Caleb has played the 2 while Cody plays the 3, even though, like most basketball twins, their games are extremely similar. Both are deadly from outside, great shooters with high releases, and both are elite athletes who can play above the rim. Caleb’s handle is slightly better than Cody’s at this point, but both are able to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim. They had trouble finishing inside against Okafor and White, but they are getting to the rim with ease and better than they ever have. Both are committed to NC State.

B.J. Stith (SG/SF, 6’5″, 2014) Oak Hill – It’s hard not to compare Stith with his father, who played at Virginia, where B.J. is committed. Like his father, Stith is an active and dynamic guard/forward, but B.J. looks like he’s a better deep shooter than his father was at this point. Stith is explosive and will scorch teams from deep, but has the ability to get to the rim and finish in traffic. He’s also a very good passer from the off guard position.

Rodney Miller (C, 6’11”, 2016) Oak Hill – Miller only is used sparingly due to the available upperclassmen, but he looks like a solid center prospect with great length and pro size. Still somewhat raw in the post, but looks like a player with a lot of upside – as in pro upside. Definitely a player to pay attention to.

Miles Reynolds (PG, 6’1″, 2014) Whitney Young – Reynolds was not shooting well in this one, but he’s a solid lead guard with a good handle and runs the offense. Defensively, he was very active and showed a knack for getting his hands on loose balls. Had a fantastic defensive block on Caleb Martin, which is impressive, as Martin is an elite slasher with several inches on him. Committed to St. Louis.

Terrence Phillips (PG, 6′, 2015) Oak Hill – With Shelton Mitchell likely out for the season, the burden of running the offense has fallen to Phillips, a very fast guard with a sure handle. Phillips is a pass-first point guard who shows a lot of potential. He does need more experience running the offense but didn’t turn the ball over and showed good awareness in transition. He showed excellent poise several times in the game by slowing the game down when Whitney Young started a scoring run.

If you want more recruiting/scouting information like this, you can follow Marcus Shockley on Twitter.

JD Lewis Center Fall League Garner Road 2013

By Marcus Shockley and James Blackburn

Notes from Session II of the J.D. Lewis High School Fall League for 2013:

Austin Burnette (SF, 6’6″, 2015) Burnette’s calling card have long been his fluid length and ability to consistently score from the elbow. He’s also shown an improved handle and runs the floor extremely well. Burnette is a true SF with a versatile skill set. Committed to Rutgers.

Jalen Jones (G/F, 6’4″, 2014) Jones has a solid build and can play multiple positions effectively. Seems he will be best sliding between the 2G and 3G at the collegiate level, but can run the point some as a combo guard and is a good decision maker. Good athleticism and plays through contact, high basketball IQ. Division I prospect.

Kalen Cooper (2016, 6’7”) Cornith Holder HS
Raw player with good length. Excellent rebounder on both ends. Rebounding is his strongest skill set- strong on the boards. Stronger then his frame would suggest. Needs to improve on the defensive end and add weight. Good hands and is in the right spot most of the time for tip-ins. Soft touch around rim. Runs the floor well, especially on offensive end. Needs to be more aggressive. Needs to finish better and stronger- goes up for 1 hand flip shots instead of 2 hands around rim. Has potential and will continue to improve.

Julius Barnes (PG, 5’8″, 2015) Pure PG with good quickness. Sure handed ballhander with good change of speed and ability to beat his man on the perimeter. Tends to fade on his shot a bit. Likes to push the ball but is adept at running the half court set.

Anthony Staton (2016, 6’2”) Harnett Central HS
Good finisher around rim. Decent athlete who has a high motor. Better off the ball help defender then on the ball at this point. Can knock down the corner 3 ball with consistency. Has a low release but was able to get it off.

Ian Hinckley (G/F, 6’3″, 2017) Heritage HS
Good length, active, can shoot from deep and solid passer from the 2 or 3 spot. Good in transition, good athlete, a wing player with upside. Needs to lower dribble but definitely a perimeter player.

Thomas Allen (G, 6′, 2017)
Combo guard who can play on or off of the ball, has an ability to score and is very good in transition. Smooth game and an ability to get to the rim and get himself to the free throw line. Plays solid D in the passing lanes.

Jalen Gaddy (2015, 6’3”, Prominence Academy)
Got better as the day progressed. Athletic with a lot of natural skill but needs to improve consistency. Is a threat to hit the long ball but can be streaky. Settled for too many contested outside shots and often did not look to make the extra pass. Scorer’s mentality. Has the talent but needs to be more consistent.

Grayson Kelley (2015)
High IQ high motor player who does a lot to help you and little to hurt you on the floor. Has a funky shot release in front of his body, but can knock down shots off the catch and off the dribble. Underrated passer who is also solid on the boards. Runs the floor and is strong.

Zach Boggs (SG, 5’10, 2013) – very good defender who is a bit undersized. Has sped up his shot release a bit and shoots a straight ball from the 3 pt line. Plays hard and has a high motor, can handle contact. Always involved.

Keith Gatlin knows all about basketball talent, having played at Maryland with Len Bias and had a pro career of his own in Europe. Now he shepherds young phenoms who are being recruited by the most major programs in the nation, and in today’s interview, he discusses how they are making it work. This interview came during postgame wrap up after Gatlin’s Wesleyan Trojans downed conference rival Greensboro Day.

Whitney Young basketball
Paul White, L.J. Peak and Whitney Young have hit the top 5 across several polls. Photo Source: MaxPreps

By Marcus Shockley

This national high school basketball ranking combines multiple available polls for a period of time into a single poll, and creates a ranking for each team based on their average ranking, number of times they are ranked in the various polls, the highest ranking that teams has in those polls and the average ranking. Read more about today’s cumulative ranking below.

School Location High AVG Qty TrueRank™
1. Montverde Academy Montverde,FL 1 1 4 34.250
2. Findlay Prep Henderson,NV 1 1 4 33.750
3. Lone Peak HS West Highland,UT 3 4 4 30.000
4. Whitney Young Magnet HS Chicago,IL 3 5 4 28.750
5. Mater Dei HS Santa Ana,CA 3 6 4 27.500
6. Poly HS Long Beach,CA 5 6 4 26.500
7. La Lumiere School La Porte,IN 4 8 4 24.750
8. Huntington Prep Huntington,WV 4 8 4 24.250
9. St. Benedict Prep Newark,NJ 5 9 4 23.500
10. Prime Prep Academy Dallas,TX 4 10 4 22.500
11. St. Anthony HS Jersey City,NJ 7 10 4 21.250
12. Oak Hill Academy Mouth of Wilson,VA 10 10 4 20.250
13. Desoto HS Dallas,TX 8 11 4 20.000
14. Simeon HS Chicago,IL 11 13 4 16.500
15. Omaha Central HS Omaha,NE 11 14 3 13.333
16. Bishop Montgomery Torrance,CA 15 15 4 12.750
17. Iowa City West HS Iowa City,IA 15 17 4 10.750
18. Lake Oswego HS Lake Oswego,OR 14 18 4 9.750
19. Southwind HS Memphis,TN 16 17 3 7.667
20. Bishop O’Connell Arlington,VA 18 20 3 3.333
21. Pershing HS Detroit,MI 18 22 3 0.333
22. Blanche Ely HS Pompano Beach,FL 22 22 3 -1.333
23. St. John Bosco Los Angeles,CA 21 23 3 -1.667
24. Germantown HS Germantown,WI 23 23 3 -3.000
25. Midwest City HS Midwest City,OK 17 23 2 -7.000
26. Bishop Gorman HS Las Vegas,NV 20 23 2 -9.000
27. Olympic HS Charlotte,NC 23 23 2 -10.500
28. Gonzaga HS Washington,DC 20 20 1 -24.000
29. Christ the King Middle Village,NY 20 20 1 -24.000
30. Thurgood Marshall HS Dayton,OH 22 22 1 -30.000

Notes: This week’s poll includes four sources: Hoopniks, ESPN, USA Today and PrepNation. MaxPreps also released polls during this period but I haven’t included them, due to the fact that they segment private academies from public high schools. I am not sure how, or if, I will incorporate their rankings back into the cumulative rankings.

The top two in the poll remain the same, although all polls have Montverde Academy at #1, with the exception of USA Today, which has Findlay Prep at the top spot. However, movement in the rest of the rankings, as polls vary widely on schools such as Prime Prep, Huntington Prep and St. Anthony. Once again I’m listing the top 30.

Finally: In the poll listing, the ‘high’ value represents the highest ranking in any poll that team received during the ranking period.
‘Qty’ represents how many polls they were ranked in. ‘AVG’ represents their average ranking in all polls where they were ranked.

Want to know more? You can follow Marcus Shockley on Twitter.

TrueRank is ™ and © 2013 Neptune Media Group, LLC.

Student Athlete World Logo 1Basketball Elite

We’re happy to announce that our guest speaker at this year’s Southeast Summer Showcase is Tim Ryerson of Student Athlete World. Tim brings his years of experience and in-depth knowledge of the recruiting process to help parents navigate the entire process. Tim’s presentation about the realities of recruiting were one of the highlights of last year’s showcase.

It’s important for players and parents to get information that cuts through the hype and noise of today’s recruiting process, especially in an era where top players are shown in prime time all-star games on ESPN while most players toil in complete obscurity. Tim and his staff are able to share a view of the recruiting landscape that is invaluable, and they’ve worked with hundreds of players to find them a place playing at the next level. This falls right into our philosophy for the showcase, which is finding players for every level of college basketball.

For more information on Tim and Student Athlete World, we recommend visiting their website here.

To sign up for the Southeast Summer Showcase, go here.

Chase Ward-Mcewan Southeast Summer Showcase

Student Athlete World

Today’s highlights feature a matchup between Mt. Tabor HS (NC) and Davie HS (NC), a game with multiple players who are prospects to play at some level of collegiate basketball.

Player Highlights:

Cody Martin (SG/SF, 6’6″, 2012) a fluid player with a decent first step and the ability to pull up from mid range. Reportedly has offers from NC State, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest. Twin brother Caleb Martin also has the same offers but is currently sidelined with a broken foot.

Matt Madigan (PG/SG, 6’4″, 2013) quick with the ball and can play effectively at the PG or SG spot.

Nate Jones (PG/SG, 5’11”, 2012) explosive guard with elite hops and deep shooting range.

Shannon Dillard (SF/PF, 6’5″, 2012) nimble leaper who can wow with reverse dunks and shot blocks, but very strong rebounder as well.

Deion Robinson (PF, 6’4″, 2012) incredibly consistent around-the-basket player who rarely, if ever, makes mistakes.

Ty’Quan Bitting (C, 6’7″, 2013) long shot blocker who is improving quickly. Runs the floor well and is a factor in the paint.

Lepreece Lynch (SG/SF, 6’4″, 2013) deft scorer who has a deep well of moves to get buckets. Can finish inside, mid range or deep.

Nate Jones defends Matt Madigan on the perimeter
Nate Jones defends Matt Madigan on the perimeter

By Marcus Shockley

Last year about this time we published the Right-Wrong Awards for the previous year, in which we admitted to some of our incorrect predictions from the past and gloated about some that we got right. I was planning to do another RW this year, but instead, as 2011 comes to a close, I wanted to spend some time reflecting on the year we had at Basketball Elite, some of the great events we’ve been involved with over the past year.

It’s been a great year, with, honestly, too many terrific experiences to detail at one time, but here are some of my favorite items from the past year.

During the winter, high school, college and pro basketball are in full swing so our focus is on catching players during game action. 2011 was a little different, as we began scouting players who would be candidates to participate in our first-ever showcase in the summer. We managed to find several players who ended up participating, including big man Tony Nunn (PF, 6’8″, 2013), who now has several D1 offers, and Zeb Richardson (PF, 6’8″, 2012), another post player we really like.

After attending multiple showcases and AAU events following the high school season, we dropped by the Jordan Brand Classic, scouting the international and regional games that take place before the nationally televised all star event. It’s no secret that James Micheal McAdoo and Anthony Davis are solid players, but it’s still great to see them on the big stage. We also spotted a few players that were under the radar, but weren’t for long, including Andrew Wiggins (SG/SF, 6’7″, 2014) a player who some now have as the #1 player in the 2014 class.

We talked to several of the big name recruits in attendance, several of whom are now making their mark on the college stage. Anthony Davis and McAdoo were the Co-MVPs of the game, and Davis showed that he was ready for prime time by handling the press conference like a pro.

The summer was incredibly busy, with our inaugural Southeast Summer Showcase taking place in between AAU, collegiate camps and other big time events like the Chris Paul elite guard camp. Our goal with the showcase was to offer one of the best mid-level showcases available to players, where they not only got a chance at college exposure but also walked away as better players. It was an incredible amount of work, and we made some missteps, but I was ecstatic with the event and the level of talent. We know that at least four players in attendance have been offered or are playing in college after our event, and we expect several more before the players finish their high school careers.

The highlight of the day was our dunk contest, which came down to a battle between Chase Ward-McEwan (PG/SG, 6’2″, 2012) and Craig Hinton (SF, 6’6″, 2013). Honestly, I’m glad I wasn’t a judge in the dunk contest, because I don’t know how you pick between Ward-McEwan’s dunk over three (yes, three) people and Hinton’s behind-the-bank slam that took home the trophy. Regardless, it was one of the best high school dunk contests I’ve ever seen, and Dime magazine featured the highlights on their High School Hoops website.

An event we love to cover every year is Chris Paul’s elite guard camp, partially because it’s great to see some of the nation’s best guards in high school and see how their games are progressing, and also because it’s a chance to see some of the college players during the summer and see what’s changed in their game. This past summer we spotted Jordan Taylor of Wisconsin and pegged him as our breakout player for the upcoming season, but we also noted that Harrison Barnes’ had an improved handle, which meant trouble for UNC foes. The camp also gave us a chance to speak with several of the top players about what they were working on to improve for the upcoming year.

The summer was all AAU, since the NBA decided to argue for several months, meaning we did not cover the NBA Summer League as we have in the past, but that didn’t mean there weren’t highlights, such as the Pro Am games featuring John Wall and Kyrie Irving, as well as the tour of Lebron James, Chris Paul and other stars as they waited to the lockout to end.

Despite the length of the lockout, players managed to stay in the public eye with these all star games, which weren’t really competitive but did give fans a chance to see their stars abusing a few rims around the country. We also talked with a few NBA players during the lockout to get their thoughts on the process, such as David West and #1 draft pick Kyrie Irving.

The fall was a chance to catch up on a few more showcases, such as the Adidas Phenom 150, but then it’s back to high school season again, with team like Oak Hill looking strong. Several players on Oak Hill are players we’ve watched grow and improve, like Jordan Adams and Tyler Lewis. It was also great getting to know players like A.J. Hammons, a 7-footer who has committed to Purdue and has a legitimate shot to make it to the NBA.

Of course, we love grassroots basketball, and we hit a ton of gyms to catch players everywhere we can, from JD Lewis Center in Raleigh, home of the Garner Road AAU program, to gyms in Atlanta and Florida, we are always looking to spot players who we should keep an eye on.

So, 2011 is winding down. It’s been a solid year. The new year is more packed than ever – we expect to cover the NBA summer league again as well as several new events, and we are already working in the 2012 Southeast Summer Showcase. I thank everyone who has worked with Basketball Elite this year, and look forward to what’s coming.

Josh Spainhour Frank Spencer basketball
Josh Spainhour slashes to the hoop as West Stokes HS takes on Winston-Salem Prep
Photo Credit:TriadSportsCoverage.com


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Braeshaun Dozier Frank Spencer basketball Reagan High School
Braeshaun Dozier slashes to the hoop as Reagan HS takes on West Stokes HS
Photo Credit:TriadSportsCoverage.com

The second round of the Frank Spencer Holiday Classic saw more surprising results and one near-rerun of an earlier game in the season.

Both #1 bracket seeds advanced to the championship games, with Forsyth Country Day getting the win over North Davidson, 62-42. FCD was led by SG/SF Andy Bell (SG/SF, 6’3″, 2013), who scored 19 points, while combo guard Jack Young (PG/SG, 6’0″, 2012) added another 11. Forsyth Country Day will face West Forsyth, who won their game over McMichael in a close match, 66-64. Alex McAlister (PF, 6’7″, 2012) was a force for West, pouring in 23 points and was almost perfect from the field. McAlister is a two-sport star, but he’s known for being a high major football prospect, with 16 Division 1 offers already in his back pocket. Quan Mims (PG, 5’9″, 2014) was solid again for McMicheal, scoring 21 points.

Alex McAlister Frank Spencer basketball West Forsyth High School
Alex McAlister with a short jumper as West Forsyth HS takes on McMicheal HS
Photo Credit:TriadSportsCoverage.com

Meanwhile, in the Champion bracket, history repeated itself as Raekwon Harney’s (PG, 5’9″, 2013) last second buzzer-beating shot downed Mt. Tabor. Harney hit a buzzer beater to beat Tabor the last time they met, and the win sent #1 bracket seed Winston-Salem Prep to the championship game. Harney is a true point guard with elite ballhandling skills, and has an offer from UNC-Wilmington. Prep was led in scoring by Mike Hughes (SG, 6’2″, 2014), a fluid scorer who pumped in 22 points for the Phoenix.

Prep will face West Stokes, who advanced to the championship after being seeded #7. West Stokes overcame the underdog role for the second game in a row to defeat defending Spencer champion Reagan HS, led by Braeshaun Dozier (PG/SG, 6’1″, 2012), 52-47. Alston Furr led West in scoring with 16 points.

Greg McClinton Frank Spencer basketball Winston-Salem Prep
Greg McClinton scores two as Winston-Salem Prep takes on Mt. Tabor HS
Photo Credit:TriadSportsCoverage.com

Special thanks to TriadSportsCoverage.com for their photo work during the tourney.

By Justin Byerly

Dominique Adams 5’10” 165 Forestview HS (Gastonia, NC)
Also, a running back for the football team, Adams averages around 16 points per game for Forestview HS. He is receiving some college interest from a few schools as of right now. He was named the NC player of the week in football this season. The two-sport star set the Gaston County record for most rushing yards in a game against Bessmer City HS, earlier this year. Scored 18 points against Lincolnton HS (Lincolnton, N.Car) with 10 assists.

Brandon Clyburn 2012 6’8″ 195 Southwest Guilford HS (Greensboro, NC)
Clyburn is a long slender forward, that has a nice three-point shot for a 6’8″ guy. Runs the court well, and has a nice post game with a nice baby hook shot when in the paint. He has been receiving the most interest from East Carolina University, Appalachian State University, Navy, Jacksonville University, High Point University and the Citadel. Clyburn transferred from Greensboro powerhouse Dudley HS this season.

Gary Clark 2014 6’6 200 Clayton HS (Clayton, NC)
Interest from ECU, App, South Carolina, WF, NC State, and UVa. Clark should be in the mid-high major category. He is skilled at his position and is very athletic, hits the glass well also. He runs the floor really well for a bigger kid and has a nice three-point shot. Should only get better over the next three years. Should be considered a high-major prospect by his senior season.

Steven Burrough 6’8″ 2013 210lbs Harding University HS (Charlotte, NC)
He is averaging around 6 points per game this season to go along with nearly 6 rebounds and 4 blocks. He is only a junior, so should see minutes rise even more over the next year. Should be a Division Two or Low Division One player, he is a stat sheet filler. Not getting much interest as of now from when I last talked to Steven but that could all change with a break-out game soon with his size and shot blocking ability.

Willy Akasson 6’3″ 2012 SG Northwood Temple Academy (Fayeteville, NC)
Akasson is a good scorer, gets through his screens well, and can get to the rim with ease with his quick first step. Has a nice three-point shot, and good form on it. He is a senior, so needs to have a good season to get some better looks from colleges.

AJ Clark 5’10” 2012 Western Alamance High Scool (Elon, NC)
Clark is a very good penetrator. He gets into the lane to open up other guys and usually either scores when he is in the lane or has a very nice assist set up. He is not the tallest player out there, but uses his jumping ability and cross-over to make seperation and free himself for a good look or easy floater or jumper. He finsihes in traffic well and always has his head up. Should get some college looks this season.

Shaquille Dance 2012 6’4″ 180 Neuse Christian (Raleigh, NC)
The 6’4 guard/small forward is averaging close to 16 points per game, to go with nearly 7 rebounds per game. He has good size and can get to the rim to finish with ease. Should be a college recruit by the end of the season.

Darryl Davender 2013 5’11” PG, Body of Christ HS (Raleigh, NC)
One of the fastest guards that I have saw in a long time. This kid can scoot. He is very good scorer for his size also. He may grow a little more, which would make him even more hard to guard. Has a quick first step and can get from baseline to baseline as fast as I have seen in a while. He is getting interest from Tenessee, Gardner-Webb, Radford University, Wisconsin,Virginia Tech, Mercer University and has got a little interest from Miami University he informed me. Keep an out for Darryl.

Zach Davis 6’3″ 2012 G United Faith Christian (Charlotte, NC)
A very talented guard at 6’3, he gets to the hoop easy and can shoot well. Very athletic, and blocks shots against taller players. He finishes well on fast-breaks and dunks with authority. He has scholarship offers from Navy, Mercer, Wofford University and Univeristy of Tenessee at Chattanooga. Plays on a talented United Faith team that has Indiana commit 7’1 Peter Jurkin and 6’0 Florida commit Braxton Ogbueze.

Demarcus Lewis 6’3″ 2013 Berea HS (Berea, SC)
Lewis is averaging nearly 17 points per game along with almost 5 rebounds. He was selected as the MaxPreps Player of the Week for December 4th 2011 after getting 38pts, 15 rebounds 6 blocks in a game. They are playing in the Erskine (S.Car) Holiday Tournament over Christmas break. You should keep an eye on this kid, he has Berea off to a 7-1 start.

Dustin Dodd 6’5″ 195 2013 Hickory Grove Christian School (Charlotte, NC)
Averaging 22 points per game, 6 rebounds per game and is getting college interest from Davidson College, Richmond University, Elon, UNC Charlotte, UNC Greensboro, Jacksonville University & UT Chatanooga.


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