RockyTopHeel
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I had originally intended to do an article for VolNation, but since Peach Jam wasn't exactly ripe with Tennessee prospects (even Murfreesboro Stars' Keith Ramsey didn't show up), here's just a few notes of interest for Tennessee fans:
Duke Crews, 6-6 BF, BWSL - It's looking more and more like Tennessee isn't going to make the short list for Crews, which is a shame. First, the criticism: Crews doesn't have much offensive skill and really can't score outside of 5 feet. Now the praise: Crews is relentless on the boards, is a strong, tough defender that physically dominates opponents, has a nasty streak in him that makes him an ultimate competitor, blocks a lot of shots for a guy that's only 6-6, and is good for one or two highlight dunks per game. At this point, I expect him to land in the ACC or maybe the Big East, where exactly I'm not sure. I do know this, though--Brandan Wright really doesn't like going up against Crews.
Kenny Belton, 6-8 BF, BWSL (2007) - On a loaded BWSL squad, Belton doesn't get many minutes. He's got good size, is a pretty good rebounder and has decent face up skills. He might not end up being good enough for the elite ACC programs, which could be good news for Tennessee--but it's hard to say now because he barely plays.
Leonard Washington, 6-6 BF/WF, Louisiana Select (2007) - The good: I really like Washington's game. He's only about 6-6 and while most of his game resembles a power forward, he showed the ability to hit a long three pointer. He's also got decent dribble moves and an ok handle, but more than anything he's strong, athletic, and finds ways to score and rebound. He's the kind of guy you'd like to go to war with. The bad: Washington didn't list Tennessee at the Peach Jam.
Ramar Smith, 6-3 WG, The Family - I only saw one of Smith's games, where The Family got pounded by the Murfreesboro Stars (a huge upset) and nobody--including Smith--really did much for the boys from Detroit. I know he's better than this, but what a disappointing performance for the whole team.
Possible Future Targets:
AJ Stewart, 6-8 WF/BF, Miami Tropics (2007) - Stewart is athletic and has great size for a face-up combo forward. He's bouncy and has a nice jump shot, and looks like he's ready to start making an impact nationally.
Chin Orane, 6-6 WF, Miami Tropics (2007) - Orane was a no-name before the tournament, but after several big scoring performances, he's placed himself on the national radar. He's a very good perimeter shooter, is athletic, and showed the ability to score from mid-range via a nice floater. He's one to watch.
LaShay Paige, 6-1 WG, SC Ravens (2008) - Paige is the "next big thing" from Latta, SC, the home of Raymond Felton. Unlike Felton, though, Paige is a definite wing guard and loves to shoot. The lefty pushes the ball a little on his outside shot, but it's still effective and he's got a great quick release. Not only that, but he has scoring tools from pretty much everywhere on the court. He'll have to improve his decision making, but he's got plenty of time to refine his game--for now, his talent is undeniable and I'm almost certain we'll see him in the SEC or ACC when his time comes.
Michael Holmes, 6-7 BF, SC Ravens (2007) - Holmes and Dendy were two of my favorites among the players I hadn't seen before. In my first viewing, Holmes teased with a crossover dribble to shake his defender and then nail a 19' jumper. That play would prove to be an anomaly, though, as Holmes does his work in the paint. He's physical, tough, and athletic, and one of the better offensive rebounding prospects I've seen recently. He's got a knack for finishing around the basket despite fouls, and he has a nice stroke from the foul line. He also likes the baseline jumper off glass. He's potentially a big-time power forward.
LaRon Dendy, 6-8 WF/BF, SC Ravens (2007) - Dendy doesn't get as many minutes as his teammate Holmes, but he's got more potential. He's got long arms and handles the ball fairly well. His defense (particularly on the ball -- he had a great showing vs. Lance Thomas) is ahead of his offense at this point, but that's not to say he's not without offensive skills, including a fadeaway jumper out of the post and face-up jumpers from 8-15 feet. He's a good shot blocker, very quick and bouncy, and runs the court like a deer. He's got the look of a future star, even if he didn't put up big numbers at Peach Jam.
Other SEC Players:
Chadwick Gray, 6-7 BF/WF, Peach Jam Select - The first of two South Carolina commitments on the local Peach Jam Select, Gray is a former FSU football commitment whose athleticism is his best asset. He isn't particularly skilled--just a raw athlete--but his athleticism is at such a rare level that it allows him to do some things, mostly block shots, rebound, and play defense. He did hit a three pointer, but his form wasn't exactly textbook.
Austin Steed, 6-8 BF, Peach Jam Select - Another USC commit, Steed is a slender forward that will need strength to compete game in, game out in the SEC. That being said, he's a good rebound and has very good shotblocking instincts. His defense shows good potential, and I think he'll be a nice player for the Gamecocks.
Nick Calathes, 6-5 PG/WG, Team Florida (2007) - Calathes is a player, no doubt, but I can't yet tell whether the future Gator will be a role player or star in Gainesville. He's a good shooter and very intelligent with the ball, and he has some very nice scoring skills off the dribble, like leaving floaters and layups off the glass. He's also a good (and sometimes flashy) passer and can control an offense, even if his handle doesn't yet look good enough to run full-time point guard in the SEC. If he hits a growth spurt like his brother did and shoots up to 6-11, Florida will have one of the most versatile big men in the conference. If not, they'll have a very good guard that can both score and run an offense.
I also must commend Murfreesboro guards Jimmy Oden, Darius Roper, and Joshua Bone for playing well above their talent level all tournament long. All three might have earned themselves some strong mid-major scholarships this weekend.
Other players that impressed: Tywon Lawson (UNC), Spencer Hawes, Blake Griffin (07), Scotty Reynolds, Chris Wright (07), Jamelle McMillan (07), Isaiah Thomas (07), Josue Soto (FSU), Lucas Hargrove, Doneal Mack, Danarius Robinson (08) , Robbie Hummel (07), Jamil Tucker, Demond Carter (Baylor--he had by far the best game I've ever seen him play in four years of watching him against the DC Devils), Durrell Summers (07), Lance Thomas, Gilbert Brown (Pitt--the Panthers got a tremendous wing in this guy), Jeff Jones (07), Vernon Macklin, Jon Scheyer (Duke), Jeff Ryan, Bill Cole (07), Robert Shannon, Gary Johnson (07), Nic Wise (Arizona), Mike Singletary (07), and Chris Goodwin.
Duke Crews, 6-6 BF, BWSL - It's looking more and more like Tennessee isn't going to make the short list for Crews, which is a shame. First, the criticism: Crews doesn't have much offensive skill and really can't score outside of 5 feet. Now the praise: Crews is relentless on the boards, is a strong, tough defender that physically dominates opponents, has a nasty streak in him that makes him an ultimate competitor, blocks a lot of shots for a guy that's only 6-6, and is good for one or two highlight dunks per game. At this point, I expect him to land in the ACC or maybe the Big East, where exactly I'm not sure. I do know this, though--Brandan Wright really doesn't like going up against Crews.
Kenny Belton, 6-8 BF, BWSL (2007) - On a loaded BWSL squad, Belton doesn't get many minutes. He's got good size, is a pretty good rebounder and has decent face up skills. He might not end up being good enough for the elite ACC programs, which could be good news for Tennessee--but it's hard to say now because he barely plays.
Leonard Washington, 6-6 BF/WF, Louisiana Select (2007) - The good: I really like Washington's game. He's only about 6-6 and while most of his game resembles a power forward, he showed the ability to hit a long three pointer. He's also got decent dribble moves and an ok handle, but more than anything he's strong, athletic, and finds ways to score and rebound. He's the kind of guy you'd like to go to war with. The bad: Washington didn't list Tennessee at the Peach Jam.
Ramar Smith, 6-3 WG, The Family - I only saw one of Smith's games, where The Family got pounded by the Murfreesboro Stars (a huge upset) and nobody--including Smith--really did much for the boys from Detroit. I know he's better than this, but what a disappointing performance for the whole team.
Possible Future Targets:
AJ Stewart, 6-8 WF/BF, Miami Tropics (2007) - Stewart is athletic and has great size for a face-up combo forward. He's bouncy and has a nice jump shot, and looks like he's ready to start making an impact nationally.
Chin Orane, 6-6 WF, Miami Tropics (2007) - Orane was a no-name before the tournament, but after several big scoring performances, he's placed himself on the national radar. He's a very good perimeter shooter, is athletic, and showed the ability to score from mid-range via a nice floater. He's one to watch.
LaShay Paige, 6-1 WG, SC Ravens (2008) - Paige is the "next big thing" from Latta, SC, the home of Raymond Felton. Unlike Felton, though, Paige is a definite wing guard and loves to shoot. The lefty pushes the ball a little on his outside shot, but it's still effective and he's got a great quick release. Not only that, but he has scoring tools from pretty much everywhere on the court. He'll have to improve his decision making, but he's got plenty of time to refine his game--for now, his talent is undeniable and I'm almost certain we'll see him in the SEC or ACC when his time comes.
Michael Holmes, 6-7 BF, SC Ravens (2007) - Holmes and Dendy were two of my favorites among the players I hadn't seen before. In my first viewing, Holmes teased with a crossover dribble to shake his defender and then nail a 19' jumper. That play would prove to be an anomaly, though, as Holmes does his work in the paint. He's physical, tough, and athletic, and one of the better offensive rebounding prospects I've seen recently. He's got a knack for finishing around the basket despite fouls, and he has a nice stroke from the foul line. He also likes the baseline jumper off glass. He's potentially a big-time power forward.
LaRon Dendy, 6-8 WF/BF, SC Ravens (2007) - Dendy doesn't get as many minutes as his teammate Holmes, but he's got more potential. He's got long arms and handles the ball fairly well. His defense (particularly on the ball -- he had a great showing vs. Lance Thomas) is ahead of his offense at this point, but that's not to say he's not without offensive skills, including a fadeaway jumper out of the post and face-up jumpers from 8-15 feet. He's a good shot blocker, very quick and bouncy, and runs the court like a deer. He's got the look of a future star, even if he didn't put up big numbers at Peach Jam.
Other SEC Players:
Chadwick Gray, 6-7 BF/WF, Peach Jam Select - The first of two South Carolina commitments on the local Peach Jam Select, Gray is a former FSU football commitment whose athleticism is his best asset. He isn't particularly skilled--just a raw athlete--but his athleticism is at such a rare level that it allows him to do some things, mostly block shots, rebound, and play defense. He did hit a three pointer, but his form wasn't exactly textbook.
Austin Steed, 6-8 BF, Peach Jam Select - Another USC commit, Steed is a slender forward that will need strength to compete game in, game out in the SEC. That being said, he's a good rebound and has very good shotblocking instincts. His defense shows good potential, and I think he'll be a nice player for the Gamecocks.
Nick Calathes, 6-5 PG/WG, Team Florida (2007) - Calathes is a player, no doubt, but I can't yet tell whether the future Gator will be a role player or star in Gainesville. He's a good shooter and very intelligent with the ball, and he has some very nice scoring skills off the dribble, like leaving floaters and layups off the glass. He's also a good (and sometimes flashy) passer and can control an offense, even if his handle doesn't yet look good enough to run full-time point guard in the SEC. If he hits a growth spurt like his brother did and shoots up to 6-11, Florida will have one of the most versatile big men in the conference. If not, they'll have a very good guard that can both score and run an offense.
I also must commend Murfreesboro guards Jimmy Oden, Darius Roper, and Joshua Bone for playing well above their talent level all tournament long. All three might have earned themselves some strong mid-major scholarships this weekend.
Other players that impressed: Tywon Lawson (UNC), Spencer Hawes, Blake Griffin (07), Scotty Reynolds, Chris Wright (07), Jamelle McMillan (07), Isaiah Thomas (07), Josue Soto (FSU), Lucas Hargrove, Doneal Mack, Danarius Robinson (08) , Robbie Hummel (07), Jamil Tucker, Demond Carter (Baylor--he had by far the best game I've ever seen him play in four years of watching him against the DC Devils), Durrell Summers (07), Lance Thomas, Gilbert Brown (Pitt--the Panthers got a tremendous wing in this guy), Jeff Jones (07), Vernon Macklin, Jon Scheyer (Duke), Jeff Ryan, Bill Cole (07), Robert Shannon, Gary Johnson (07), Nic Wise (Arizona), Mike Singletary (07), and Chris Goodwin.
