CAMP TOWN, USA: What was learned at Pangos All-American event in California

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Summertime is unofficially here and that means only one thing: Dinos Trigonis, the grassroots guru of the great west, ushered in the elite schoolboy camp season. Considering it’s done on a shoestring budget, there’s a throwback quality that defines the Pangos All-American Camp.

Pangos, which concluded their eighth event after a three-day run at Cabrillo High School’s East Gymnasium, continued the tradition of beating the major shoe companies to the punch by holding a camp as school wraps up for most of the nation. Trigonis, the camp director, culls the nation for the best available talent.

The camp was heavy on California talent—there were nearly 50 players from the Golden State—and several players made the transcontinental trip from Maryland, New Jersey, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Florida, Virginia and New York. Trigonis also secured a couple of Canadians and a rising freshman Cassius Stanley, a 6-4 guard who will attend Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth, Calif.

There were future McDonald’s All-Americans here as well as unearthed gems that finally get to make their debut at a national event. At nearly 6-feet-10, 220 pounds, Steve Enoch of Norwalk, Conn., created the most buzz by late Friday night. A relative unknown until a club tournament in Pittsburgh during April’s “live period” Enoch flashed the raw, innate skills of player that was playing on the Norwalk junior varsity a year ago.

Understand Enoch is new to the game, having only played for the last two years. But once he hit a growth spurt and was properly coached by Connecticut club coach George Mathews, Enoch flourished.

Enoch, a rising senior, is not devoid of offers; every MAAC school is on board, along with several East Coast programs. Memphis joined the potential list of suitors in April and recently minted national champions Connecticut are suddenly in the mix. Though UConn “is a dream school,” Mathews says, the recruiting process needs to play and campus visits will get scheduled.

Enoch is a bouncy post player, with a feathery touch from the perimeter. He was added to the Pangos Top 30 Cream of the Crop All-Star Game—the top 30 players—after draining threes in each of his pool games, using his long reach to redirect shots, or least force players to reconsider a strong drive to the rim. Friday’s performance against 6-10 bruiser Nick Marshall of Lexington (Tenn.), where he totaled 13 points and xx rebounds, reminded onlookers that his days as flying under the radar are over.

Next fall, Enoch is headed to St. Thomas More School (Oakdale, Conn.), perennial prep powerhouse, where his skills will get refined by veteran coach Jere Quinn, whose latest instate project, Andre Drummond, was a lottery pick in 2013. Enoch will likely reclassify but his solid 3.3 grade-point average isn’t the reason. More seasoning and games against New England prep school giants will enhance his game.

Of the 115 players, all are Division I athletes, with most ranging from the mid to high levels.

A Dozen to Remember

Additionally there were several players that stood out. Here’s a list of 12, all from the Top 30 Cream of the Crop Game who caught the eye of the national analysts.

Kendall Small, Mayfair, Lakewood, Calif.: The smallish point has already committed to Oregon and that’s bad news for the rest of the Pac-12 beginning in 2015. At 5-11, Small is like a burst of energy with his first step. He left defenders flat footed and once in the clear he turned into a pass-first floor general. That guy is a double-double machine with points and assists.

Isaiah Briscoe, Roselle (N.J.) Catholic: Seems like the 6-3 Briscoe has been on the national scene for a decade. After spending time at national powerhouse St. Benedict’s (Newark, N.J.), he bolted for Roselle Catholic and his game has only gotten better.

Lonzo Ball, Chino Hills, Calif.: At 6-6, Ball was the bomb at Pangos. Rarely do you see explosiveness in such a tight package but Ball has the “it factor.” His legs are like trampolines giving him an extra glide in elevation. In transition, he’s instinctive attacking the glass with a clinical finish or eye-of-the-needle pass. The UCLA Bruins didn’t look too far for their future.  

Terrance Ferguson, Prime Prep, Dallas: The high-flying 6-6 rising junior is a future All-American. Even fellow campers strolled over to the court he was playing on to catch a glimpse. His offensive skills are developing but what’s really under-appreciated is defense. He can block shots, rendering his opponent to the sidelines. His court sense or anticipation is well-above average.

Steve Enoch, St. Thomas More, Oakdale, Conn.: Here’s really stood out about the Norwalk, Conn., native. Even though is Saturday night game was completed, Enoch stuck around and went to check out fellow big men play. “Just checking out what the other bigs are doing,” he says. That’s refreshing when most of cohorts were zoning out to tunes on their IPods. Enoch admits he needs to add about 20 pounds of muscle, pushing his weight to 240 pounds, to absorb the rigors of high-major college ball. Too much upside here, college is a stopover before the pros.

Djery Baptiste, Prestonwood Christian Academy, Plano, Texas: At 6-11, the Haitian big man really drew rave reviews from several analysts. At least one outspoken scout claimed Baptiste was the “top player in the camp.” The thick post seemed to peak with his play on Friday, owning the paint, but did demonstrate skills at both ends of the floor in the all-star game.

Terrence Phillips, Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va.: His measurements say 5-11, but you cannot measure the size of his heart and drive. When Phillips is clicking, he’s setting up others and makes a difference in dictating the pace of the game. At Oak Hill, he displayed rare courage for a rising senior during the Dick’s Sporting Good High School National Tournament at Madison Square Garden in April. Last weekend, Phillips orchestrated the offense, showed expanded range on his shot, and played sticky defense. He was impressed with Auburn but the Atlanta resident is far from making a college choice.

Tyler Dorsey, St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif.: The top all-around guard at Pangos, Dorsey is a future McDonald’s All-American. He’s 6-4 but plays bigger or smaller in the most exceptional ways. He can guard taller wings and play the point. His keen anticipation allows Dorsey to sense the play before it develops.

Cody Riley, Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif.: Perhaps the most complete all-around forward at the camp and he’s only going to be a sophomore.  He’s a physical specimen at 15 years old. Riley, 6-7, is a ferocious attacker of the rim, clearing out anyone in his path. The lefty is a high-flyer with a game that only will get better rounded and better with age. This is future All-American who is still growing.

Marquese Chriss, Pleasant Grove, Elk Grove, Calif.: The Washington-bound 6-8 power forward is slender. On Day Two, he was paired up guarding 6-11 behemoth Schnider Herard (of Prestonwood Christian Academy) and did not back down. That’s the fearless approach that will help Chriss until his body develops. By the way, he was the camp’s leading scorer at 21 points per game.

Horace Spencer, Findlay Prep, Henderson, Nev.: He’s till earning game but Spencer has one thing going for him: relentless pursue of the ball. Whether it’s on the deck or on the glass, the 6-8 rising senior is there. During most sequences, he was active on the offensive end, playing volleyball with rebounds until he finished. It came as no surprise he was the top rebounder at camp.

Nick Marshall, Lexington (Tenn.): The thing that stands out about Marshall is defense. His long, muscular arms are human fly swatters. In one game, he rejected seven shots and owned the boards at both ends of the floor. Yes, his post moves and footwork need work, but Marshall left camp as the top big. Hard to argue with his dominant play over three days. According to his AAU coach, Georgia Tech has offered and appears to be a strong suitor, but earlier in May, Indiana became a player for his services.

10 more eye-openers

6-10 junior Jayce Johnson, JSerra, San Juan Capistrano, Calif. (he runs a great screen-and-roll game); 5-9 junior Alani Moore and 6-7 junior Joe Hampton, both of DeMatha Catholic, Hyattsville, Md., (Moore was co-MVP of the Top-60 all-star game and the promising Hampton will grow to at least 6-9); 7-0 senior Rickie Brice, Jr., Pantego Christian, Arlington, Texas (suffered a concussion on Saturday, but should be ready for the July’s open period); 5-11 senior Jesse Wade, Davis, Kaysville, Utah (already verballed to Gonzaga, but will serve a two-year church mission beginning next summer); 6-8 senior LaRond Williams, St. Anthony, Long Beach, Calif. (has committed to nearby Long Beach State and is a deadly accurate shooter); 6-5 senior Damon Wilson, Our Savior New American, Centereach, N.Y., (already committed to Pittsburgh and is a offensive-minded guard); 6-7 senior Joseph Toye, La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (a Vanderbilt commit who said academics were the No. 1 reason he’s going to Nashville); 5-10 senior Justin Jenifer, Milford Mill Academy, Baltimore (the playmaker  led the camp in assists); and 6-5 senior Nick Blair, Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (a proven scorer with an accurate touch).