LONG BEACH, Calif. – Take note: These guys are really good. No fooling.
Just because the second assemblage of 30 players did not compete in the elite Pangos All-American Camp Cream of the Crop Game, doesn’t mean there was a huge drop off in talent. When the camp’s all-stars teams were announced Sunday afternoon here at Cabrillo High’s East Gymnasium after three days of intense, high-flying competition, several national analysts felt some of the players were interchangeable with the first 30.
Upon further review a razor’s edge separated the talent while some players, who were ticketed for a big weekend, failed to earn the nod for the top all-star game based on the weekend’s performance.
That doesn’t mean these players will take a major hit in national rankings but it might give them something to dwell on before the next key event or July’s NCAA “live period” opens for business.
The 10
Though there were 30 more in this game, 10 caught the eye. Here’s closer look at two handfuls of garlanded players, who are, well, a handful. (Players are listed alphabetically):
Deandre Ayton, 6-9, fr., Balboa City (San Diego): Originally from Bahamas, the speedy, aggressive rising freshman is already an impact player. Though still raw, he loves to attack the rack, glide the floor with huge strides and has shown a solid perimeter game. His wingspan is at least 7-8. He was a whisker away from the Top 30 Game. Sky’s the limit!
Casey Benson, 6-4, Corona del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.): Here’s another sharpshooter from the Valley of the Sun. The lefty left the area code for his treys. Heard a few whispers for MVP honors after torching the opposition’s matador defense.
Dillon Brooks, 6-6, jr., Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.): He’s only a junior and improving. Once again the Canadian pipeline is flowing to the desert and Brooks, who transferred from Ontario powerhouse Father Henry Carr (Toronto), is the next product. The Canuck showed an arsenal of three-point shots and the ability to slash. Will be a high major.
Jabari Craig, 6-10, Tucker (Ga.): Here’s a player that recruiters are drooling over. His long arms swat shots or redirect them. He plays the pivot with an instinct that will only age rapidly.
Leland Green, 6-2, soph., Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.): Green has made big strides in his all-around game in the last 16 months. He’s a lockdown defender with a mature body and headed to a become high-major prospect.
Jacob Hammond, 6-10, United Prep (Oklahoma City): The active post recently de-committed from Oklahoma, looking for a better ride. He’s still raw but talented. He’s instinctive firing a bullet outlet and exceptional on the offensive glass.
Michael Humphrey, 6-9, Sunnyslope (Phoenix): The senior power forward is a tenacious all-around player, with constant activity in the post. Definitely a high-major talent.
Kodi Justice, 6-5, Dobson (Mesa, Ariz.): It’s bombs away from three-point range when the Arizona State recruit gets the ball. He has a knack to find the seams of the defense and fearless with a hand in his face.
Rex Pflueger, 6-5, jr., Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.): The rising junior played well enough to earn MVP honors in the all-star game, demonstrating court awareness, spacing and ability to pull the trigger under duress while consistently scoring from deep. Plueger needs work on defense and maybe two more inches before reaching another plain in recruiting.
Terrence Phillips, 5-11, jr., Oak Hill Academy (Mount of Wilson, Va.): The junior point guard from southern California is a solid mid-major with a tremendous upside. He’s more aggressive, going to the rim and applying defensive pressure. Has good bloodlines, younger brother of Brandon Jennings from the Bucks.
Honorable Mention
Wait, there’s more.
With a little more polish, maturity or honing of skills, here are 20 players, who earned Pangos All-American Honorable Mention (all players are seniors unless denoted):
5-11 Noah Robotham, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas); 6-1 Miles Reynolds, Young (Chicago); 6-2 Jordan Corbitt, Heritage (Frisco, Texas); 6-3 Trey Kell, St. Augustine (San Diego); 6-3 Stephen Thompson Jr., junior, Bishop Montgomery (Torrance, Calif.); 6-4 Eric Cooper, St. Anthony (Long Beach, Calif.); 6-4 Antonio Singleton, Cabrillo (Long Beach, Calif.); 6-4 Robbie Berwick, Atascedero (Calif.); 6-5 Elijah Cain, Medford (N.J.) Tech; 6-5 Damon Wilson, junior, St. Benedict’s (Newark, N.J.).
6-5 Deonte North, Centennial (Corona, Calif.); Razhaun “Bear” Henderson, Alemany (Mission Hills, Calif.); 6-6 Dane Kuiper, junior, Corona del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.); 6-6 Ray Smith, junior, Las Vegas (Nev.); 6-6 Jeremiah Headley, junior, Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.); 6-6 Nate Grimes, junior, Desert Pines (Las Vegas); 6-7 Joseph Toye, junior, Young (Chicago); 6-7 Devine Eke, St. Benedict’s (Newark, N.J.); 6-8 Kaiser Gates, junior, St. Francis (Norcross, Ga.); and 6-8 Connor MacDougall, Corona del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.).
