Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Richard Kelly (6'5 Wing; 2012 Prospect)

Richard Kelly (6' 5", Wing, 2012)


Richard Kelly (6' 5, Wing, Douglas County High; 2012) had a terrific showing this past weekend as he helped the FCI Warriors claim the Championship of the 17U Big Shots Atlanta Tournament. Kelly is a highly athletic wing with strong upside potential. He averged 18 ppg and 7 rebounds on the weekend and brought the house down on multiple occasions with highlight reel dunks. He also showed the capacity to step up in the clutch, as his free throws in the closing seconds clinched  FCI's exciting Saturday evening victory over the Carolina Hornets (NC). Kelly, who is a native of Brooklyn - NY, is a very coachable and determined player who is improving at a rapid pace. Look for Kelly to be an attractive prospect in the Peach State's crop of 2012 prospects.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

2011 SEBA College Showcase (Review - Part II)

Here is the second part of the Camp review from the 2011 Southeast Basketball Academy (SEBA) College Showcase held on March 26th in Atlanta, Ga.

Link: Click here for Part I of the camp review

Additional Camp Standouts

(Listed in no particular order)

Clayton Williams (6’0, PG, North Gwinnett, 2011) – Skilled player who exhibited a well-rounded game. Really seems to understand the point guard position and making those around him better. All-Gwinnett County and All-Region selection.

Richard Kelly (6’ 5, Wing, Douglas County; 2012) - Long and bouncy wing player with tremendous upside potential. Does very well in transition game; has great vertical leap allowing him to finishes well above the rim with dunks. Needs to continue to improve offensive skills in half court set. With continued development and added upper body strength, he could very well evolve into an attractive target for Division I programs

Cy Cole (6’ 4, SG, Tabb – Virginia; 2011) - Complete player with good grasp of fundamentals; handles ball well and uses screens effectively. Good shooting touch and can finish in the paint. Has ability to successfully post up smaller defenders.

Myles Whitehurst (6’ 4, Wing, Montgomery Catholic – Alabama; 2011) – Long and athletic wing with good upside potential. Finishes very well at the rim. Good rebounder. Player whose current overall game is somewhat raw, but whose best ball is certainly ahead of him.

Michael Brooks (5’ 6, PG, Cedar Grove, 2011) – The smallest player in the camp but certainly one of the fastest. Is a blur with the ball and was able to penetrate at will throughout the day, dishing for assists or converting his own drives over much taller opponents. Plays with good poise and intensity.

Aquavius Young (5’ 10, PG, Cedar Grove, 2012) – The other part of Cedar Grove’s lightning quick backcourt, Young is a pure scoring threat who creates extremely well off the dribble. Has a vast array of dribble moves, combined with above average quickness. Creates good separation on pull up jumper. Averaged 19 PPG as a Junior.

Jordan Kinney (6’ 7, Forward, Harrison; 2011) – Late blooming forward who had a strong showing at camp. Played on strong H.S. team with much talent and depth; looked to embrace opportunity to be “go to” post option for camp team. Shot a high percentage throughout the day on a variety of post moves. For his size, he has above average shooting touch from 15-18 feet. Crashed offensive boards hard and showed ability to run floor. Stellar student with 4.0 gpa and 1180 SAT.

Jessie Jenkins (6’ 2, SF, Locust Grove, 2011) - Tough player who plays with a quiet but strong intensity. Brings many intangibles to table; the type of “glue guy” successful teams tend to have. Rebounds very well for his size. Has excellent leaping ability that sneaks up on opponents; can slash through lane and unexpectedly threw down power dunks in traffic. Top notch student with 3.7 GPA.

Randall Smith (5’ 10, PG, Archer, 2013) – Despite being one of the camp’s youngest players, Smith stepped up to the occasion with excellent all-around guard play. Has playmaking ability and court awareness above his years. Has ability to be a top notch guard in Georgia’s Class of 2013.

Labron Glover (6’ 0, PG, Claxton, 2012) – Good looking 2012 guard prospect. Excellent penetrator and setup man. Finishes well at the rim and on the break. True competitor who brings intensity each possession. Named Region “Player of Year” as a Junior.

Jeffrey Nobles (6’ 4, Wing, Centennial, 2011) – Prospect who played well and raised stock throughout the day. Has good length and wingspan. Has inside-out capabilities; displays versatility to score around rim all the way out to beyond the arc. Defensively played very well, blocking a number of shots and deflecting passes. Added upper body strength will allow him to take his game to a higher level and reach full potential.

Ryann Green (6’ 2, PG, Bannekar, 2011) – Versatile and all around successful guard with good size and length. Does a variety of things well and is the type of player who can fill up stat sheet in many categories. Sees the floor very well. Above average student in classroom.

Austin Biggs (6’ 7, Forward, Johns Creek, 2011) – Versatile forward with good size who had a good camp performance. Demonstrated good footwork in skills stations and back to the basket moves. Is comfortable in “pick and pop” situation and has range extending out to three point land. Impressed with willingness to battle underneath, as well as fight for loose balls, take charges, etc.

Jeremy Presley (5’ 10, PG, Harrison, 2012) – Lead guard with potential to put up points in bunches. Very good three-point shooter who can create shot off the dribble. Did good job of drawing defense off drive and kicking out to open teammate. Good intangibles and plays to win.     

Simeon Dennis (6’ 3, CG, Central Gwinnett; 2012) – Combo guard with good size who can score in a variety of different ways. Strong mid- range capabilities. Had a strong junior campaign averaging 18 PPG.  

Larry Thomas (6’ 1, SG, Langston Hughes; 2011) – Good outside shooter and scorer who can fill up the scorebook. Strong pull up jump shot off one dribble. Has effective floater uses when driving the lane. Named All-Metro and All-State Honoree this past season.

Rodrick Robinson (6’ 6, Forward, Bartow – Florida; 2011) – Aggressive and hard-nosed power forward with good athleticism. Battles on board and competes in the trenches. Can get out on break, run the floor, and finish with dunk on other end.

Alex Anderson (6’ 1, CG, McIntosh, 2011) – Strong guard with above average athleticism, who excels on both ends of floor. Has well rounded offensive skill set. Gets good dribble separation when creating shot. Good defender both on the ball and in passing lanes. Has type of game that should transition well to the next level. Very coachable and team orientated. First Team All-Region and All-County Selection this past season.

Ben Blythe (6’5, Forward, Pope, 2012) – Strong and active forward who defends the post very well. Has good arsenal of post moves with back to basket while also being effective facing the rim on wing. Has  three point range. Plays hard and with good intensity. Elite level academic credentials with 3. 8 GPA and 1280 SAT.

Taylor Birchett (6’ 4, SG, Roswell, 2012) - Excellent shooter with good size and fundamentals. Has the ability to light it up from beyond the arc. Uses screens very well to get open and get off quick shot. Has effective floater when slicing through the paint, as well as pull back jumper allowing him to shoot over defenders.

Jerry Coleman (6’ 2, Wing/Forward Central Gwinnett, 2011) – Tough and athletic forward who plays 3 or 4 inches bigger than his height. Has good physical strength and leaping ability. Excellent rebounder. First Team All-County Selection for Gwinnett County.

Aaron Fisher (6’ 8, Forward, Savannah Jenkins, 2011) – Forward prospect who could be a player to evaluate for programs looking to sign a forward this spring. As can often be the case in camp settings, big men need to pull down offensive rebounds and run the floor to get significant touches. Fisher did this well as well as providing solid interior defense in the paint (blocking and altering shots). Also showed pretty decent shooting touch.   

Joey Courseault (5’ 7, PG, Tucker, 2012) – Spark plug lead guard who was one of the top assist leaders in camp. Has excellent quickness and pure point guard mentality. Demonstrated ability and desire to pick up his man full court and play excellent pressure defense. Strong academic credentials in classroom.

Vantrail Commings (6’ 3, Wing, Douglas County, 2012) – Well rounded and very physical- strong player. Plays game with tremendous intensity and Warrior mentality. Excellent rebounder from wing position. Sees floor and passing opportunities extremely well. Averaged an impressive 17 PPG and 12 rebounds per game for Douglas County this past season as a Junior.

A’Darius Porter (6’ 6, Forward, Woodland, 2011) - Strong and powerfully built forward. Good rebounder on both ends. Finishes strong and has nice touch around the rim. Overall game has improved significantly in past year, especially in his ability to shoot the mid-range jumper consistently. Has ability to pull rebound and initiate the fast break off dribble. Had good senior campaign while averaging 15 ppg.

Anthony Pronin (6’ 4, SG, Lake Ginninderra – Australia; 2011) – Australian player with aspirations of playing college ball here in the States. Exhibited a balanced and fundamental game at the shooting guard position. Physically strong; allows him to body up and finish well around the rim. Shoots the ball well from beyond the arc. Competes at the highest level of Amateur National play in Australia. Full NCAA qualifier with 22 ACT.

Honorable Mention Players

(Listed in no particular order)

Class of 2011: Garrison Webb (6’ 1, SG, Druid Hills); Avonte Hall (6’ 2, Wing, Duluth); Kameron Russell (6’ 5, Forward, Parkview); Jaihlen Teague (6’ 1, CG, Middletown – Ohio); Jordan Shaw (6’ 3, PG, Pickens); Rashod Lovett (6’ 1, CG, Claxton); Earl Farnum (6’ 4, Wing, Langston Hughes); Cole Arrington (6’ 6, Forward, St. Francis);  Jamal Watson (5’ 11, PG, Harrison); Joseph Neiner (6’ 3, SG, Pinecrest Academy); Peter Hage (6’ 1, SG, Providence Christian); Riley Sparks (6’ 4, Wing, Heritage – Catoosa); Darius Frazier (6’ 1, CG, Conway – South Carolina); Larry Williams (5’ 9, PG, Wolfson – FL); Kevin Haynes (6’ 0, PG, South Gwinnett); Jamarques McDowell (6’ 3, SF, Central Gwinnett); Justin Green (6’ 5, Forward, Lovejoy); Cameron Rodriguez (5’ 11, CG, Effingham County); Sean Overstreet (6’ 3, SG, Jacksonville Episcopal – FL); Babila Lima II (6’ 1, CG, South Forsyth); Avery Patterson (6’ 1, SG, Alexander);  Dominique Lindsey (5’ 10, PG, Sandy Creek); Valiant Taqi (6’ 8, Forward, Johns Creek); Rashad Greene (5’ 9, PG, Tri-Cities); Andres Chaparro (6’ 0, PG, Soutland Academy); Jose Hernandez (6’ 3, Wing, Southland Academy); Isaiah Wise (6’ 4, Wing, Paulding County); Coby Moore (6’ 3, Wing, Sandy Creek); Bruce McClain (5’ 11, PG, Sandalwood – FL); Titus Lamb (6’ 6, Wing, Westlake); Damiane Falconer (6’ 2, SG, Dunnellon – FL);  Josh Johnson (6’ 0, PG, Mt. Paran); Cedric Strickland (6’ 2, SF, Bowdon); Shaquille Carlyle (5’ 8, PG, North Paulding); Ricky Gibbs (6’ 2, PG, East Jackson); Jamier Hughes (6’ 2, SG, Cross Keys)

Classes of 2012 & 2013: Justin Gonyea (6’ 2, PG, Hayesville – NC, 2012); Subby Adetujoye (6’ 4, Wing, Harrison, 2012); Max Eaton (6’ 7, Forward, Admiral Farragut – FL, 2012); Michael Pack (5’ 10, PG, Centennial, 2012); Charles Pack (5’ 10, PG, Centennial, 2012); Evan Jacks (6’ 1, SG, Northview, 2012); Sam Heery (6’0, PG, Frederica Academy, 2012); J.B. Stephens (6’ 4, Wing, Bowdon, 2012);  Lekeigh McQuillan (5’ 9, PG, Fletcher – FL); Shaquille Davis (6’ 3, Wing, Paulding County, 2012); John DePalma (6’ 6, Forward, Pinecrest Academy, 2012); Brandon Goodson (6’ 0, SG, Dacula; 2013); Nick Graff (6’ 6, Forward, South Forsyth, 2012); Jeremy Mogged (6’ 2, SG, East Lake- FL, 2012)

Post Grad: Matt Porter (6’ 7, Forward, Pope); Chris Bellamy (6’ 2, Forward, Claxton); Te’Quiero Copeland (6’ 6, Forward, Mt. Zion); David Wagner (6’ 7, Wing, East Paulding)

2011 SEBA College Showcase (Review - Part I)

The Southeast Basketball Academy (SEBA) held their 2011 Atlanta College Showcase on March 26th at Oglethorpe University. The Annual Event, now in its 6th year, has established itself as one of the nation's largest exposure camps for unsigned seniors and post grads looking to receive college scholarships and playing opportunities at the next level. This year's camp featured a bevy of talented and available prospects from Georgia and nine other states. The opportunity for exposure was certainly there for the players, as the Oglethorpe facility was packed with NCAA Division II, III, NAIA, and Junior college coaches throughout the day.

All of the players in attendance participated in skill stations for the first part of the camp. They then progressed to to the scrimmage portion of the camp, where each team played three games throughout the day. The Camp concluded with a Top 30 All-Star Game, as chosen by the scouts and coaches in attendance.

Here is a breakdown of the top performers from the event:

Camp’s Elite Performers (Super 15)


(Note: Players Listed in random order)

Thomas Higginbotham (5’ 10, PG, Brookwood; 2011)
Impressive Point guard with good quickness, tight handle, and the ability to score himself or set the stage for others. Exhibited a very consistent pull up jumper off the dribble. Sees floor well and delivers passes right on the mark. On ball defense is above average. Seems to possess all the qualities which will allow him to competently step up and play the lead guard position at the college level. One of the top guards in talent rich Gwinnett County the past two seasons.

Trevor Berkeley (6’ 6, Wing, Tucker; 2011)
Good looking prospect with ability to score both inside and on the perimeter. Has good three point range and was consistent with jumper throughout the day. Showed ability to clean the boards, especially on offensive end. Legit double-double player on most nights. Strong leadership skills.

Rob Greer (5’ 10, Point Guard, Marietta; 2011)
Quick lead guard with great first step; that and strong build allows him to repeatedly get into the lane off penetration. Was a tough matchup for defenders throughout camp as three point shot was “on” throughout the day. Tough competitor who looks to enjoy being floor general and making big plays for his team when necessary.

Jordan Enadaghe (6’ 3, Shooting Guard, Jonesboro; 2011)
One of the more intriguing prospects in attendance; he has the ability to contribute as an excellent defender and offensive slasher at the next level. Drives baseline really well and gets to the rim quick. Not afraid to attack defensive with athletic drives to the rim. Converted the three pointers he attempted. Has the physical makings to be a lock down defender. Key player in Jonesboro High’s advancement to Georgia AAAA Final Four.

Stantavious Maxwell (6’ 3, Wing, Madison County; 2011)
Very athletic and physically strong wing player who creates his own offense well. Excellent rebounder from the wing position; has very good reactions and quick jump, relentless on offensive glass. Solid mid-range game. Can be terrific defender at college level. Averaged 19 ppg and 13 boards this past season at Madison County.

Arkaylus Thomas (6’ 0, PG, Pearl-Cohn, Tennessee; 2011)
One of the camp’s top overall prospects. Complete Guard with high scoring-playmaking ability. Has athleticism to get to the rack with the ability to also score often from the outside. Has excellent body control and smoothness to his game; plays under control. 1000 point career scorer at Nashville’s Pearl-Cohn High.

Larrentis Thomas (6’4, Wing, Henry County; 2011)
Well rounded and versatile player who had strong senior season (averaged 20 ppg and 10 rpg). Can score in a variety of ways; is most effective around the rim but has pretty good mid-range jumper. Needs to continue to improve range out to three-point area. Runs floor well. Has ability to attack defense and finish with authority. Very active inside and is excellent rebounder for his size.

Daniel Salomon (6’ 8, Forward, Admiral Farragut, Florida; 2011)
Developing Post player with good size and length. Looked comfortable on the low block and facing the basket. Has fairly good agility for his size and touch around the hoop. Blocked a few shots and altered several more while we were observing. Demonstrated good instincts. Will need to put on some weight/strength for next level. Could make for a worthy target for programs looking to sign a big man with upside this spring (especially for higher end academic schools as he has a 3.5 and good test scores).       

Fineto "Andy" Lunguana (6’ 2, CG, West Forsyth; 2012)
High potential combo guard, one of the best 2012 players in attendance. Very active and explosive player who gets to rim and utilizes his athleticism and strength to finish consistently. Exhibited good looking shooting stroke from three point range. Can finish above the rim. Very coachable young player with great future.

Zac Hale (6’ 4, SG, Coosa; 2011)
Intriguing prospect at the two guard spot. Jumps very well as evidenced by several emphatic dunks throughout the day (including impressive two hander in traffic on opening play of Top 30 All-Star game). Has nice touch on jumper and knocked down three point shot throughout the day. Looks to be a player who will continue to develop and has much upside.

Larry “LJ” Erves (6’ 4, Wing, Fayette County; 2011)
Athletic and powerful wing that plays with a good motor. Attacks the basket very aggressively on penetration and finishes well. Has the strength to play thru contact and convert shot. Excellent defender with versatility to guard every position at the high school level. Is good at running the lane on the break as well pushing the ball up himself. Further development of jumper will make him into a difficult matchup for opposing defenses.  

Dante Campbell (6’ 4, Forward, Stockbridge; 2011)
Wing player with inside-out capability that had a terrific senior season (averaged 23 ppg, 8 rebounds and 5 assists per game) on way to numerous honors/awards, including First Team All-State in Georgia’s Class AAA. Campbell is a very effective scorer inside 15 feet and has significantly improved his range out to three point land. Hard nosed defender inside who uses excellent physical strength to control paint. Playing ability combined with Top notch academic credentials (3.8 GPA and 26 ACT score) should make him an attractive target prior to spring signing period.

Cyrus Lavant (6’ 1, CG, North Gwinnett; 2011)
Explosive combo guard with tremendous athleticism. Has scorer’s mentality and prefers to use quick step to drive in the paint and create. Excellent finisher who has the ability to finish way above the rim. Has good court vision. Solid midrange and three point shot. Has all the physical attributes to be a very good guard at the next level. Needs to continue to learn finer points of the lead guard position as well as improve movement without the ball. High upside potential.

Jordan Nelson (6’ 3, Wing, Union Grove; 2011)
Athletic wing prospect that has significantly improved his skillset and consistently added to his offensive repertoire over the past 18 months. Was previously reliant on natural athleticism to produce on the offensive end. However, has developed a good looking pull up jumper to compliment ever improving ball handling skills. Very effective attacking the rim and either converting shot or drawing foul. Will be able to defend a variety of positions and players at the next level. Excellent rebounder from guard spot. Very coachable; 3.4 GPA and 23 ACT score.

Corbyn Moye (6’ 2 Winchendon Prep, Massachusetts; 2011)
Guard prospect with college ready game and body; has used year of Prep School to fine tune his game and has improved significantly. Showed out as one of the top overall guards in attendance, he is a solid all-around guard with good handle, excellent passing skills, and ability to put points on the board. Very good mid-range shooter. Demonstrated quarterback mentality and floor leadership. Plays with intensity and enthusiasm for the game.

Additional Camp Standouts  posted in 2nd Report