John Lucas Top 40/40 Camp

Houston, TX – With summer travel ball over we are constantly on the lookout for quality events to attend and with the John Lucas Top 40/40 camp we get just that. The 40/40 camp was loaded with talent from all over the country representing 22 states. The camp provided a competitive intense environment which translated into some great basketball. There were ballers from all age groups and regions of the U.S. trying to crossover, shoot, euro, and defend in effort to showcase their games in front of several scouts with several McDonald’s All American voting members in attendance. Here are several that caught and kept our attention.

2016 Ja’Tavia Tapley, the 6-2 Floridian wing, is long athletic and very active at both ends of the floor. Tapley runs the floor extremely. She handles the ball well for her length and size. Tapley plays tough hard-nosed defense on the post and she makes her opponent scrap and earn every point. Tapley has a nice low post game on the offensive end and a nice midrange game along with ability to hit the three ball. She also likes to face up and put the ball on the floor to attack the rim where she finishes well with contact. Tapley, the rising junior, will garner attention from multiple major DI programs.

Daijah Jefferson, the Hopewell, VA native, is a long smooth athletic 6-1 2017, she showed the ability to play on the perimeter as well as in the low post. From the wing Jefferson likes to face up and attack off the dribble, finishing at the basket or stroking the short pull-up jumper. Out on the perimeter, she can knock down the mid-range or 3-point shot. Jefferson loves to get out and finish on the break. She has a series of spin and hesitation moves that create space to finish at the rack. Jefferson uses her long arms to rebounds extremely well and can defend on the perimeter or in the post quite effectively. Once she adds strength to her long athletic frame Jefferson has the skills to give opposing coaches nightmares.

Straight from the Planet of Brooklyn 2017 Niya Johnson drew my attention. Johnson played a stellar all-around game. The 5-9 Johnson likes to attack off the dribble, with either hand, looking to create contact and finish in traffic. She also showed the willingness to manufacturer her shot by attacking off the bounce as well as consistently draining the spot up jumper and three pointers. Johnson did a great job of pushing the ball up the floor on made and missed baskets. She played aggressive at both end of the court and has a knack for being around the ball. Johnson rebounds well for her position. She has all the tools to be a big time point guard.

When attempting to describe Megan Walker in just threee words — She Got Game.  Defensively the 6-1 Walker tenaciously attacked the passing lanes with reckless abandon and defended the perimeter, consistently hounding her opposition into turnovers with steal after steal. Offensively Walker aka “Jesus Shuttlesworth” was raining threes from heaven. She shot the three extremely well, whether spotting up or off the dribble, and did an excellent job on using the dribble drive dish to spotting up teammates.  Walker also penetrated and finished in traffic. Walker, from Chesterfield, VA is an excellent athlete that flat out gets it down and should be considered a clear favorite to occupy the top spot in Class of 2017.

With such a loaded group of prospects it’s hard to believe a seventh grader would step up and shine bright. Well believe it 2020 5-8 Deja Kelly, from San Antonio, TX, did just that. Kelly isn’t always flashy unless it’s required to get the bucket or high maintenance; she simply gets the job done regardless of what that job might be. Kelly’s cool, calm demeanor didn’t waver when she faced of older tough competition. She proceeded to turn up the defense and when the opportunity presented itself she made big shot after big shot. Kelly attacked off the dribble she used a soft floater on more than one occasion to score against taller opponents. Kelly looked to create opportunities for herself but she was more than willing to drop dimes to her teammates. Defensively Kelly is a good on-ball and does a great job jumping into the passing lanes. Kelly’s game continues to grow the sky is the limit. Continue to watch.

Charlotte, NC, native 2016 Erin Whalen is a feisty crafty player that does all the intangibles that all coaches love. She stroked multiple treys and finished well off the break. The 6-1 wing also attacked the rim; and either produced in the paint or dropped dimes to her teammates. Whalen also displayed a nice mid-range and 3 point touch. Defensively, she has long arms and good footwork to cause havoc for her opponent. Simply put, she finds a way to make plays to help her team win. Whalen is an all-around player with a knack for making big plays and will make one college coach very happy.

Standing out among that group might be a challenge but 2017 6-0 forward Maya Dodson from Tallahassee, FL  offered up some play that set her apart from the crowd. Explosive and long and wiry, she has the tools to make plays at both ends and the capacity to do so dramatically. Offensively she’s active both roaming the high post and slashing in the paint. The ability is there to finish around the rim and there’s a jump hook that will give any defender a headache or a seat on their bench. If she’s not the outlet she gets out and runs the floor with the guards challenging her match up to keep up with her. Defensively she’s a factor using her wing span to clog up the paint and creating havoc on the perimeter. Dodson has a spring to her steps; she’s a presence on the glass at both ends and could be one of the top rebounders in her class. Dodson is just scratching the surface and may only be limited by how much work she’s willing to do. It’s up to her.

It as a pleasure watching 2018 point guard Jenna Brown dominating games during Top 40/40 camp.  It was challenging try to keep up with the lighting quick Brown dribble by defender after defender.  Brown, who hails from Marietta, GA, and is a relative to legendary coach Larry Brown, is a tremendous defender and an even better passer. She dropped several no look dimes that completely fooled defenders leaving them reaching for air Brown’s court vision is second to none. When you combine that with her great bounce, explosiveness and sweet stoke you get a prospect that is amongst top of her class.

TCU commit 6-0 Kianna Ray guard can flat out shoot the rock she knocked down multiple 3 pointers in this showing. Ray also showed that she can stroke the mid-range shot as well as attack off the bounce. At 6-0 she also rebounds exceptionally well for her position. Ray has the ability to be a good on ball defender that both anticipates and jumps into passing lanes. She also pressured her opponent into several turnovers and was responsible for multiple steals. Ray has a very smooth game that will translate nicely with the Horned Frogs.

Nadia Fingall 2016 6-2 the solid athletic post from Navarre, Fla played really well against several highly touted prospects and Fingall more than held her own. She did a good job hitting the boards at both ends and even managed a several offensive put backs. Fingall ran the floor and played solid defense in the low post and on the perimeter. She also converted several transition baskets. I really liked her energy and effort.

This 5-7 speedy 2017 guard played extremely well. Channise Lewis, a Florida product, had her entire repertoire on display. She used a killer crossover coupled with her explosive first step to attack the paint looking to score or dish to slashing teammates. Lewis used her speed and quickness to get out and finish off the break while weaving in and out of traffic handling the rock equally well with both hands. She also showed that she can consistently stroke the midrange jumper as well as be a threat from beyond the arc. Lewis demonstrated the ability to translate her speed and athleticism into dividends on the defensive end by forcing turnovers and cashing in on the ensuing possession. She’s definitely a guard on the rise and with continued development has a chance to very good. Keep your eyes on this one.

Texas early commit 2018 6-4 Chari Collier put on quite a show playing with her back to the basket with a nice array of low post moves which included a nice baby hook and facing up to create off the dribble or hitting 10-15 foot jump shots. Collier runs the floor well and was vocal on the back end of her team’s defense. She was a force to be reckoned with on the glass at both ends. When you combine those things with her soft hands and defensive presence in the paint, the Crosby, TX native, with continued development will be a great fit with the Longhorns.

Ariana Abdulmassih a 2017 6-0 power forward is good all-around player that plays well with her back to the basket, and is equally comfortable facing up, she has a sweet stroke out to 18 feet. The San Francisco, CA native Abdulmassih rebounds at both ends, runs floor well and isn’t afraid to push the ball up on the break. Defensively, she does a good job defending on the perimeter as well as the low post. Abdulmassih game will translate quite well on the next level will only get better with time.

The 2015 uncommitted 5-10 guard Aliyah Mazyck who hails from Charlotte, NC  has excellent handles is quick off the dribble and has a true legitimate mid-range jump shot that extends out to the 3 point arc. Good foul shooter with nice form and touch. Handles pressure situations well, doesn’t get rattled. Play extremely well at the Top 40/40 rising eyebrows and potentially garnering a few McDonald’s game votes. Only time will tell.  

If you’re looking for an athletic all-around player that plays the game the way it is supposed to be played, then 6-0 Xaria Wiggins is your prospect. Wiggins, who hails from Virginia Beach, VA, has a solid body with long arms that take up space in the lane. Wiggins plays a very aggressive game at both ends of the court. She has a nice low-post game and finishes well in the paint or gets to the line where she is a good free-throw shooter. Wiggins also showed that she has a smooth face-up game. She used her long arms and good leaping ability to dominant the boards and push the ball up the floor. Defensively, Wiggins defended the low post and perimeter extremely well with a fearless, reckless abandon, blocking several shots. Wiggins has a tremendous upside a major DI caliber prospect.

Zoe Young from Urbandale, Iowa is a feisty crafty 2019 5-8 guard that does all the intangibles that all coaches love. She handles the rock like it’s a part of her hands. Young pushed the ball up the floor. Young also attacked the rim; and either produced in the paint or dropped dimes to her teammates. She also displayed a nice mid-range touch as well as knock down the occasional trey. Defensively, Young aggressively defended the opponent’s guards forcing them into multiple turnovers. She is an attacking point guard with ability to make plays. Young has the potential to be a solid DI prospect.

Taylor Sutton, a 2018 5-0 athletic speedy guard from Hampton, GA played extremely well showing why she size doesn’t matter. Sutton used her killer crossover, coupled with her explosive first step to attack the paint looking to score or dish to slashing teammates.  She used her speed and quickness to get out and finish off the break while weaving in and out of traffic handling the rock equally with both hands.  Sutton also showed that she can consistently stroke the mid-range jumper as well as be a threat from beyond the arc in turn forcing opponents to choose their poison.  Additionally, she demonstrated the ability to translate her speed and athleticism into great dividends on the defensive end forcing turnovers and cashing in on the conversion.  Sutton may be small is size but showed she is a top notch point guard with a big time game.