Once again for the fourth straight year I was able to attend the Charleston Classic tournament in beautiful Charleston, SC held at the TD Arena downtown. This years 8 team field was pretty impressive and included defending National Champions Villanova, Miss. St, Wake Forest, and the hometown team College of Charleston. Villanova beat UCF in the championship game Sunday night 67-57.
Below I have put together my own version of the All-Tournament team (5 players) plus a few honorable mentions. These are players who I thought deserved it for the play in this tournament, so no other factors were included, such as hype coming in, or what the player had done in the past.
All Tournament Team
G-Jalen Brunson, G, 6’3”, SO, Villanova
Poised and strong true PG who does an amazing job of getting into the teeth of the defense and making plays. Lefty who has the ball on a string and is an extension of the coach on the floor.
G- Bryant Crawford, G, 6’3”, SO, Wake Forest
Strong and confident guard who can score it and finds teammates for easy scores. Had 3 solid games to help Wake go 2-1 here.
G- Quinndary Weatherspoon, G, 6’4”, SO, Miss St
One of the best pure scorers I saw here- can score it from all 3 areas. Underrated athlete and playmaker.
F- Josh Hart, G, 6’6”, SR, Villanova
High motor X-factor/glue guy type player who plays both sides of the ball. Had a career high in points in the 2nd game of the tournament.
C- Tacko Fall, C, 7’6”, SO, UCF
Had a big coming out party in front of a number of NBA scouts in attendance. Moves very well for size and scores at a high rate around the basket. Looks much more aggressive this year on both ends.
Video highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1J0KkqsBMtk
RJ White’s Spartan’s had the opportunity to test themselves against one of the best defenses in the #7 team in the country Virginia Cavaliers. RJ showed signs of why he has the potential to be a dominant inside force. RJ comes into the 2016-17 year looking like he dedicated himself in the offseason. White has the physical attributes to be successful in his position. Height, strength, weight, wingspan, and explosion all are check marks. RJ demonstrated mobility, catching in traffic, operate and finish in tight spaces.
Although RJ saw limited action in the first half due to 2 quick fouls, White attracted double teams almost every touch inside the three-point line. White’s wide ball screens help get his guards loose, he knocked down a three, operated a reverse pivot post jump hook, and emphatic dunk. At times Virginia’s double teams got the best of RJ as he had a couple of turnovers, but he didn’t give up on the play.
I had a chance to evaluate each of Wake Forest new players against Radford in a home game tonight. Each will have significant roles this season for a young Demon Deacon squad.
Brandon Childress, PG, 6’0”, FR
Played good minutes tonight as the backup PG and looked comfortable at times and rushed at other times. Once he figures out the speed of the college game I expect him to get better and better. He can get to the paint at will with good quickness and ball handling ability but needs to improve his ability to finish. Coming in as a true freshman from local Wesleyan Christian Academy, Childress was known to be a big time shooter from deep. He showed the ability transfers to the college game as he knocked down a few tonight.
Keyshawn Woods, G, 6’3”, R-SO
The transfer from Charlotte coming off of a redshirt season looked full of confidence early on. Provides really good energy, athleticism, and shooting off the bench. Solid on both sides of the ball and is a good overall scorer. Should be a big contributor this year and will see his role increase going into ACC play.
Austin Arians, F, 6’6”, GR
Austin arrives from playing at Milwaukee and will be doing a grad season at Wake. Smart player who got the start tonight. Opened the game with a really nice looking 3. Has a fundamentally sound stroke and his shooting will be counted on this year. Lacks athleticism but uses good basketball IQ and strength to compensate. Moves well without the ball. Underrated passer who plays unselfish basketball.
I was able to check out a recent practice at Combine Academy in Charlotte and see some of the talent they had once again this year. Combine is once again loaded and and several D1 prospects caught my eye. All of the players below play on Combine prep team and are post grads.
Darius Hicks, 6’10”, C, GR, *Iona Commit
Darius was simply a man among boys the entire practice. He is a strong and physical big who is very athletic for his size and strength. He finishes with a dunk whenever possible and has great hands. Patient in the post. He does a pretty good job of gaining post position and seals nicely. He needs to continue to improve his motor and run the floor harder but is a player that when he puts his mind to it can be the best on the floor.
Malik Harper, 6’7″, PF
I really liked Malik activity and motor and the fact that he is highly versatile. He can score both inside and outside. He has a soft touch and can hit the occasional 3 but is a good mid range shooter. Would be a good get for just about any LM.
Dajour Joseph, 6’5″, SG/SF
Solid athlete who is very versatile. Has a quick first step and loves to finish at the rim. Can easily create his own offense and can beat you multiple ways. Currently holds an offer from La Salle and would be considered a solid MM target.
Jon Brown, 6’5″, PG/SG
The more I watched Jon the more I liked him. Really smooth player who can play both on and off the ball. Is a good passer with solid court vision and who is willing to make the extra pass. Made the simple pitch ahead pass today, the fancy behind the back in transition pass, and fed the post nicely today. Good playmaker with a solid IQ. Has a low release and didn’t shoot it much today from the outside but was told he could light it up. Is a full qualifier who should have a host of D1 schools checking him out.
I was able to catch a few hours of the Phenom Hoops HS Summer Jam Fest today in Greensboro. Over 15 HS teams competed on 3 courts while being watched by several scouting services and college coaches alike. No player stood out however as much as 6’8″ guard Joel Ntambwe for Forest Trail Academy, coached by Antonio Lowe.
Joel just recently came to NC after playing his sophomore year in Kansas. He showed off the entire package today and scored 24 points in game 1 in a big win.
Joel can play up to 4 positions if needed and spent all season last year playing the PG for his team which I saw him do some today. He has the ball handling and passing ability to do so. He uses his height to be able to see over the defense where he delivers on time and on target passes to cutters. He is an unselfish player as well.
He is a good athlete and really fluid as a player. Joel has good length which he uses to contest shots on the defensive end.
I didnt see him shoot much from the outside today but his FT stroke looked solid. He attacked the goal relentlessly and was able to get to the rim almost at will.
After already attracting the attention of most HM programs in Kansas, dont be surprised to see him quickly garner attention in NC and the surrounding southeast.
For the 6th straight year, I was able to attend the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in Portsmouth, VA (commonly known as the PIT). The overall field of players was one of the best I had seen in recent memory. Once again nearly every NBA team has personnel on hand to scout the action, in addition to multiple D-League and overseas teams. AJ English from Iona was crowned MVP after helping lead Roger Browns Restaurant team to win the championship. Below I have put together my All-Tournament team with brief reports beside each player. I also did some reports of other standout players.
All-Tournament Team
MVP : AJ English, G, 6’4”, Iona
Fluid and smooth PG can can create his own shot as well as making plays for others. Terrific ball handler and 3 pt shooter. Showed a nice floater too. Dont be surprised if English is on an opening day NBA roster.
Isaiah Cousins, G, 6’4”, Oklahoma
Solid player on both sides of the floor. Natural scorer who also did a nice job of playing some PG this tournament. Good shooter from both the 3 and mid-range. I can see him landing on an NBA roster this year.
Abdel Nader, F, 6’6”, Iowa State
Smooth and athletic wing who can score from all 3 areas. Had his best performance in day 1. I expect to see him getting good minutes in the D-League next season.
Thomas Walkup, G, 6’4”, Stephen F Austin
This kid does all the little things and is a winner. Helped lead his club to the championship. Unselfish player who did a nice job making plays for others. Strong slasher who can also hit the 3.
Ryan Anderson, F, 6’9”, Arizona
Had a terrific week and would of been my 2nd choice for the MVP award. Skilled and athletic big who is at his best 18′ and in. Uses angles well and understands different ways to score without being a shooting threat from the perimeter. Good rebounder and was able to finish with either hand. I would give a serious look at him for the next level, and I believe he will play some NBA games next season.
Isaiah Miles, F, 6’7”, Saint Joseph’s
Was 2nd in the tournament in scoring per game (19 ppg). Jump shot looked good all week and has a quick release especially for someone his size. Has good length. Should be a solid D-League guy.
Dorian Finney-Smith, F, 6’8”, Florida
Athletic wing who shoots a straight ball from the 3 pt line. Played excellent in 2 out of the 3 games. Can rebound the ball and advance it with the dribble. Underrated passer who could find his way onto an NBA roster next season.
Bryn Forbes, G, 6’3”, Michigan State
Led the tournament in scoring. Possibly best shooter there who was not shy about putting up shots.
Melvin Johnson, G, 6’4”, VCU
Had a solid overall tournament. Played mostly on the ball and had some nice reads out of the PnR. Has a scoring mentality and was one of the top 3 pt shooters at the PIT.
Other Standouts
Nathan Boothe, F, 6’9”, Toledo
Nathan was solid all 3 games, with his best performance in game 1. He showed he could hit the NBA 3 off the pick and pop. Showed some good patience in the post. Rebounding and athleticism are his biggest question marks.
Michael Carrera, F, 6’5”, South Carolina
Hardest working player at the PIT this year. Love his motor, aggressiveness, and hustle. Coaches dream. Terrific defender both on and off the ball. Showed he could hit open 3.
Jameel McKay, F, 6’9”, Iowa State
Probably led the tournament in dunks– shot over 56 % from the field for the week. Has a good motor and uses it on both ends. Overall offense is still a little raw but would be a good pickup for an overseas team who can take 3-5 Americans.
Egidijus Mockevicius, C, 6’10”, Evansville
Highly efficient skilled big who did a great job on the glass all week. Showed he can hit the mid-range open shot as well.
Gabe York, G, 6’3”, Arizona
Looked comfortable in the PnR. Tremendous on- ball defender. Is tough and competes. Can create his own shot at the end of the clock situations.
James Kelly, F, 6’8”, Marshall
Looked good all week and showed good energy on the boards and on defense. Didnt settle for many outside shots and was able to use his size and athleticism to get to the rim.
Trey Freeman, G, 6’2”, ODU
Overall had a very solid week and was one of the top 3 players in assists per game. Showed he could get his mid-range shot off against elite athletes and he took care of the ball as the PG. Definitely helped himself.
Mike Tobey, C, 7’0”, Virginia
Coming in Ill be honest, I didnt expect a lot out of Tobey, but after watching him play 3 games, I came away impressed. He might of helped himself as much as or more then anyone here. Showed he could hit the perimeter shot, rebound the ball on both ends, and defend without fouling. He didnt play outside his capabilities and was solid all 3 games.
Angel Rodriguez, G, 5’11”, Miami
Tough guard who uses screens very well. Gets others involved and is a solid on-ball defender. Needs to continue to improve his 3 point shot out to NBA range.
Alex Caruso, G, 6’5”, Texas A & M
High IQ player who did a nice job playing the PG position all week. Highly unselfish. Used his height and length to bother opposing guards.
Matt Costello, F, 6’9”, Michigan St
Smart player who knows how to set screens and what to do afterwards. Solid pick and pop shooter. Excellent rebounder. Wouldnt surprise me if he played a few NBA games next season from a 10 day.
Marcus Georges- Hunt, G, 6’5”, Georgia Tech
Underrated player but did a lot of good things. Good size and strength for a wing. Can hit the NBA 3 and finish in transition.
Andrew Andrews, G, 6’2”, Washington
Strong scoring combo guard who can create his own shot. Would be a perfect player for most European leagues.
I was able to travel to Las Vegas as my last stop of a busy college season to cover the inaugural Vegas 16 Tournament held at the gorgeous Mandalay Bay resort. Bd Global did a tremendous job branding and showcasing the tournament and securing solid teams and some big time talent. The PG play in the tournament was the real story with talented guards such as Trey Freeman (ODU), Ge’Lawn Guyn (ETSU), Alex Hamilton (LA Tech) and Key Felder (Oakland) to name a few. Below I have given my All-Tournament Team which is based strictly on Tournament play (regardless of position) along with my MVP. ODU was able to win the tournament behind Trey Freeman’s solid play throughout and that is why he gets MVP.
Basketball Elite Vegas 16 All-Tournament Team
MVP :Trey Freeman, G, 6’2”, SR (ODU)
Kay Felder, PG, 5’9”, JR (Oakland)
Ge’Lawn Guyn , G, 6’2”, SR (ETSU)
Aaron Bacote, G, 6’3”, SR (ODU)
Brandan Stith, F, 6’7”, SO (ODU)
Reports
Trey Freeman (ODU)
Freeman was able to punctuate a spectacular season by leading his team to the championship by doing what he has been doing all year, scoring the ball at a high rate. He is very efficient with or without the ball in his hands and is one of the best in the country moving without the ball and hitting the midrange jumper. His high release allows him to get his shot off against anyone. He doesnt turn the ball over and rebounds the ball very well for his position.
Kay Felder (Oakland)
This was my first time seeing Felder all season although I had heard a lot about him. He helped lead Oakland to the championship game where they came up just short against a talented ODU team. Felder is small in stature, but is super aggressive, athletic, and explosive. He can fill it up from behind the arc and is not afraid to drive into the paint. He can break down his defender at will and is a tremendous passer and playmaker. Loved his energy and overall play this tournament.
Ge’Lawn Guyn (ETSU)
The Cincinnati transfer had a superb game in the opening round and had more energy and a higher motor then anyone I saw. He is highly aggressive on both ends and hits the 3 enough to where you cant leave him open. Rebounds outside his area.
Aaron Bacote (ODU)
Played 2 good games and 1 great game in the semi final round. Was close in my mind for getting MVP. Made good decisions when he was the PG and also showed he could score the ball at a high clip on and off the ball. Was on fire from behind the arc and the 1-2 punch that him and Freeman provided is why ODU won the tournament.
Brandan Stith (ODU)
While this All-Tournament team and the tournament all together was guard dominated, Stith gets a mention because of his rebounding and solid inside play. He came up big and with his best game in the tournament by registering a double-double. Strong frame who plays w/ energy and rebounds.
Old Dominion (22-13) and Tennessee Tech (19-11) tipped things off here in the inaugural Vegas 16 tournament held at the beautiful Mandalay Bay Hotel. Both teams are led by terrific guards, Freeman for ODU, and Rowe for Tech. This was the key match-up in a tournament that is filled with good guard play.
Both teams came out and played man from the get go but Tech switched to a 2-3 zone after about 5 minutes to make an adjustment. Tech showed 4 or 5 defensive looks in the 1st half including some match-up zones and presses.
ODU used its size to control the boards and their guards controlled the tempo. Tech showed a ton of energy on the defensive end and used its speed to score.. After starting out on fire from the field to start, ODU eventually cooled off and Tech weathered the storm to be down by just 2 at the half.
Tennessee Tech continued to show mostly zone in the 2nd half and this helped contain ODU offense. ODU used some good defense and was able to go on a big run midway through the 2nd half by scoring in transition. The 2nd half had a great flow and ODU really pushed out the lead by scoring inside and got the win 75-59.
Trey Freeman scored 18 point and was the best player in this game in my opinion. He is a poised guard who can score off the dribble and has one of the best mid-range pull-ups Ive seen. Senior guard Aaron Bacote really played consistent throughout this one and had 16 points . BJ Stith controlled the game with his size and defense and came alive on the offensive end in the 2nd half as well. Torrance Rowe had 22 points for Tenn. Tech to lead all scorers.
After covering the Big South Tournament, my next stop took me to Birmingham, Al to watch the highly competitive Conference USA Tournament. Most college basketball experts have agreed that the C-USA would be a 1 bid league so a lot was on the line for these games. I was really impressed with Western Kentucky, who came in with a record barely over 500. This team was way better than their record indicated however, and ended up getting 2 of their players on my All-Tournament team. Old Dominion made a great run (including knocking off #1 seed UAB) before eventually falling to the number 2 seed Middle Tenn in a close championship game. Below I have given my All-Tournament team, honorable mentions, and my defensive player of the tournament. As before, this is based solely on tournament play and not their play during the year.
Basketball Elite All- Tournament Team
Justin Johnson, F, SO, 6-7 (WKU)
Nigel Snipes, F, SR, 6-6 (WKU)
Trey Freeman, G, SR, 6-2 (ODU)
Robert Brown, G, SR, 6-5 (UAB)
Reggie Upshaw, F, JR, 6-7 (MTSU)
Reports
Justin Johnson (WKU)
Strong player who plays hard and is highly efficient around the basket. Big time rebounder on both ends. Not afraid to get physical.
Nigel Snipes (WKU)
Best pure shooter I saw in Alabama. Good size for the 2 or the 3 spot. Puts in effort on both ends of the floor.
Trey Freeman (ODU)
Best player in the tournament in my opinion. One of the top midrange shooters in the country. Scorers in bunches.
Robert Brown (UAB)
Versatile scorer who can score off the dribble and with the pull-up shot. Smart player who plays with in the system.
Reggie Upshaw (MTSU)
Was consistent every game scoring inside and rebounding the ball. Helped lead team to win the championship. Solid is the word for him.
Honorable Mention
Eric Katenda, F, GR, 6-9 (North Texas)- Skilled big who can score and score 15’ and in
Marcus Evans, G, FR, 6-2 (Rice)- Athletic guard who can break down the defense.
Aaron Bacote, G, SR, 6-4 (ODU)- True combo guard who can score from outside/inside
Denzell Taylor, F, JR, 6-7 (ODU)- Big time rebounder w/ a high motor
Earvin Mooris, G, 6’4″, SR (UTEP)- Versatile scorer who can shoot it- solid defender
Defensive Player
Brandan Stith, F, SO, 6-7 (ODU)- Best rim protector I saw in the tournament. Great rebounder as well.
For the third straight year I had the privilege of covering the Big South Conference Tournament, held this year at the beautiful facility of Campbell University (The tournament had been held at Coastal Carolina). There were a few upsets along the way this year. Gardner-Webb made a good push as the 6 seed and was able to knock off the 3 seed Coastal Carolina to advance to the semi-finals. The Winthrop Eagles advanced to the championship game for the third year in a row. But it was the 4 seeded Asheville who punched its ticket to the Big Dance, coming back from a 9 point halftime deficit to knock off Winthrop 77-68. Below I have put together my All-Tournament teams, based solely on their play at the tournament. These were my top 5 players (I didnt worry about having to put different positions on it). I gave Dwayne Sutton, a freshman from UNC Asheville, the MVP award. He was terrific all tournament, but was sensational when it mattered most, scoring 25 points and grabbing 18 boards in the championship game.
Basketball Elite Big South All-Tournament Team
MVP: Dwayne Sutton (Asheville)
Tyrell Nelson, F, 6’7”, JR (Gardner- Webb)
Shaquille Johnson, F, 6’5”, SR (Longwood)
Ahmad Thomas, F, 6’4”, SO (Asheville)
Miles Bowman, F, 6’6”, JR (High Point)
Xavier Cooks, F, 6’8”, SO (Winthrop)
Reports
Tyrell Nelson (Gardner-Webb)
Strong and physical. Tremendous rebounder. Efficient scorer around the basket and also showed he could hit the midrange. Draws contact at a high rate. Underrated athlete. Was named 1st Team All Conference for a reason. Single handedly led Gardner-Webb to first 2 wins.
Shaquille Johnson (Longwood)
After having an OK showing in game 1, Johnson exploded in game 2 for 28 points. Possibly the best overall athlete in the conference whose name isn’t John Brown. Good rebounder. Unselfish player who can score off the dribble.
Ahmad Thomas (Asheville)
Powerful and fearless player who showed he could score inside against the big boys. Terrific rebounder who can lead the break with the dribble after rebounding the ball. This tournaments Draymond Green. If he is hitting his 3, watch out.
Miles Bowman (High Point)
Good rebounder and rim protector who is a terrific finisher. Solid pick and pop guy who can hit the 3 with consistency. Plays with a competitive spirit and puts it all on the line. Winner.
Xavier Cooks (Winthrop)
Originally from Australia, Cooks had a terrific tournament, helping to lead his team to the championship. He is highly skilled and is an underrated passer/unselfish too. Terrific from the high post. Can put the ball on the floor and change directions with the dribble. Has a high arc on his 3 which he can hit with his feet set and has great touch.
Honorable Mention Team
Armel Potter, PG, 6’1”, FR (Charleston Southern) *PG w/ good vision, can hit the 3, and play the P/R game
Dwayne Sutton, G, 6’5”, FR (Asheville) *Great rebounding guard who can really defend- plays hard
Jimmy Gavin,G, 6’3”, SR (Winthrop) *Athletic scoring guard who can really shoot it.
Dylan Smith, G/F, 6’5”, FR (Asheville) *Versatile wing w/ good length. Can hit the 3 and has a decent handle.
DeSean Murray, F, 6’5”, SO (Presbyterian) *Undersized forward who plays hard. Strong. Good rebounder.
