Dick Weiss on College Basketball

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.– USA Basketball conducted its expanded mini-camp here at the Olympic training center this Columbus Day weekend with 58 players from the classes of 2018 and 2019 and 38 from the classes of 2021 and 2022.

The elite players in attendance are a preview for USA Basketball’s continuing efforts to identify and evaluate prospects its national U16 FIBA Americas Cup and U19 World Championship youth teams this summer and the Nike Hoop Summit and NCAA efforts to create a more controlled atmosphere in recruiting.  The top 10 prospects in the country—once point guard Cole Anthony of Oak Hill Academy, the most feared offensive player in the country who is ranked No. 1 in the class of 2019, arrived for the Sunday practices—were there and there were at least 40 future NBA players on the floor during the three- day camp.

And many seniors have either committed or narrowed down their choices.

Here’s a quick look at the Top ten blue chippers with projections on their future. .

   – Cole Anthony, 6-3, 185-pound point guard, Oak Hill Academy, Va. Undecided. Greg Anthony’s son, who played on the USA US18 gold medal team, can score off the bounce, is a lethal perimeter shooter who was the leading scorer in the EBYL. Anthony says he is wide open, but North Carolina appears to be the favorite with Notre Dame and Miami the dark horses at this point.

      –  James Wiseman, 7-1, 240-pound center, Memphis East. Old school center who uses his frame, length and dazzling array of low post moves dominate. Most scouts think his choice will come down to Kentucky and Memphis, where he was coached last year by Tigers’ coach and Memphis icon Penny Hardaway. But his mother says not to believe the rumors. Florida State, Kansas and Vanderbilt are his top 5.

      – Vern Carey Jr., 6-10, 285 pounds power forward, Southwest Ranches, Fla. Undecided. Star of US U17 World Championship team wants to play with another elite big and has been talking to Isiah Stewart and Wiseman about joining him in twin towers combination. Visited Michigan State last February. Has official visits scheduled to Kentucky, Duke, Miami and North Carolina.

      –  Isaiah Stewart, 6-9, 248-pound center, La Lumiere, Ind. School. Powerhouse who can overpower opponent in the paint, make medium range jump shots has already visited Washington, Kentucky. Other finalists are Indiana, Villanova, Duke, Syracuse, Michigan State.

       – Kahlil Whitney, 6-7 forward, Roselle Catholic, NJ. Kentucky Prototypical John Calipari wing has zoomed up the charts with explosive play, scoring instincts, has huge motor, is much better than a replacement for decommit DJ Jeffries.

      – Matthew Hurt, 6-8, 215 pound forward, Rochester John Marshall, Minn. Undecided. Star on the 2018 U8 gold medal team in FIBA Americas tournament in Canada. Wide open. Indiana and Kansas reportedly lead but Memphis, UCLA, Duke North Carolina, Villanova, Minnesota have all had in homes.  May sign late.

       – Tyrese Maxey, 6-3 guard, South Garland, Tex. Committed to Kentucky. Versatile guard who can beat you three ways on offense, defends. Temporarily considered reclassifying to play this season but changed his mind because

      – Jaden McDaniels, 6-10, 185 forward, Federal Way, Wash. Undecided. Thin, versatile player with springs can play all five positions.  Texas, San Diego, UCLA, Kentucky, Washington are final five.

      – Bryan Antoine, 6-5, 170-pound guard, The Ranney School, Tilton Falls, NJ. Committed to Villanova. Versatile guard who moved slightly ahead of teammate Scottie Lewis, can play all three perimeter positions in Jay Wright’s offense. First consensus top Ten to sign with Villanova since Tim Thomas of Paterson, NJ Catholic in 1995.

       There have been a lot of lobbying by committed players all weekend for Wiseman, Stewart and Carey.

              . . .

              Two impact players who could have made this list–6-5 Josh Green of IMG, Fla. Academy in Bradenton and point guard Nico Mannion of Pinnacle, Ariz. HS are internationals and ineligible to compete in US youth trials. Green (Australia) and Mannion (naturalized Italy) both signed with Australia.

             Other seniors here who have committed: Guard DeVion Harmon, Guyer, Tex. HS. Oklahoma; forward Romeo Weems, New Haven, Mich. (DePaul), center Armando Bacot (North Carolina); guard/forward Josiah James, Porter-Gaud School, Charleston, S.C. (Tennessee); point guard DJ Caton, Bettendorf, Ia. (Ohio State); guard Scottie Lewis, The Ranney School, Tilton Falls, NJ Falls (Florida); guard Casey Morsell of D.C. St. John’s (Virginia); point guard Justin Moore, DeMatha, Md. Catholic (Villanova) and forward Isaac Okoro, McEacheren, Ga. HS. (Auburn).

         This was a deep camp with size and talent in each of the four classes. Scottie Barnes, a 6-8 forward from University School in Southwest Ranches, Fla. and 6-10 Evan Mosley from Rancho Christian, Calif. and guard RJ Hampton, who apparently will not reclassify and stay as a 2020 were the best juniors in the camp. The best players we saw in the class of 2021 were 6-9 center Poalo Banchero of Seattle O’Dea and 6-6 small forward Terrence Clarke of Brewster Academy while 6-8 forward Emmoni Bates of Ypsilanti, Mich. Lincoln and 6-9, 235-pound center Jalen Duren of Philadelphia Roman Catholic were the best rising freshman.

      Both the NBA and the NCAA has representatives here to watch the event as college recruiting beginnings its restructuring.