The NBPA Top 100 Camp took over the courts at the John Paul Jones Arena last week with many of the nation’s top basketball recruiting prospects in action. With Virginia active on the recruiting trail for the 2018 class, that included many players with UVA interest.
I took notes throughout the camp while snapping pictures on the baseline to give an up-close take on some of the prospects. First, let’s hit a few quick provisos and guidelines for the breakdown capsules that follow.
- I generally don’t watch or read too much on any of these recruits or their highlight film until the Top 100 Camp. One, I prefer to see whole games rather than selected highlights. Two, I want to have a clean slate for the capsules. I saw a little of Jahvon Quinerly on a highlight reel that had Ty Jerome in it for example, but I don’t remember seeing some of the others at all prior to last week.
- The statistics are likely incomplete or missing for some players. The Top 100 Camp has stats available, but I took the averages from the team’s game total without knowing how many games each player saw action. Think of those as a snapshot vs. hard-line stats or efficiency measures.
- I try to watch with Virginia and a possible fit with its style in mind.
- I try to watch with a coaches’ eye vs. a recruiting reporter eye.
With that in mind, some capsules from the Top 100 Camp.
2018
Darius Bazley, Princeton High/Cincinnati, Ohio
Top 100 Camp (No. 68 ) stats:
35-79 (44.3%), 6-15 3-pointers (40%), 22-28 free throws (78.6%), 98 points (12.3), 61 rebounds (7.6), 12 assists (1.5), 8 turnovers (1), 4 steals (.5), 7 blocks (.88)
A tough matchup as a versatile forward because at 6’9” and 195 pounds with ball handling skills, he could create off the dribble against many other players his size. Lefty. Smooth movement on the court. Ability to touch the paint regularly, but only set up teammates sporadically. Elevates well on runners, floaters, and jumpers off those drives. Long arms. Needs to add strength. Could be a good defender with those tools but didn’t make a big imprint on that end. Spurs went 4-4.
J’Raan Brooks, Garfield/Seattle, Wash.
Top 100 Camp (No. 63 ) stats:
Unavailable
Skilled post at 6’9” and 220 pounds. Limited touches in games I saw, but when he did get chances he showed off several moves including a face-up move into a Ewing fade-away (leg up to protect spacing) and a nice right-handed jump hook going to the middle. Stayed active on the glass. Keeps some rebounds alive with timing. Not as vertically explosive as some posts, but good body positioning and strength to make up for it. That helps him defensively as well. Could excel in a system like Virginia’s on both ends of the floor. 76ers went 2-6.
David Duke Jr., Cushing Academy/Ashburnham, Mass.
Top 100 Camp (No. 32 ) stats:
17-36 (47.2%), 3-12 3-pointers (25%), 4-7 FTs (57.1%), 41 points (5.1), 17 rebounds (2.1), 8 assists (1), 7 turnovers (1.1), 6 steals (.75), 3 blocks (.38)
Strikes me more as a wing with combo guard skills than a combo guard with wing skills, meaning he can step in as a third ball handler with ease. Handled the ball quite a bit in this camp and showed ability to protect the ball and get the offense started. Did not break down the defense consistently so he’s not a full-fledged distributor at this stage. Can score as a slasher and driver from the wings, but didn’t see many instances of creating his own jumper. Runs the floor well. Good defender that keeps his base and spacing; potential to be very good on that end of the floor. Overall a good all-around player that may not have an elite skill to set him apart in rankings. Likely will be a solid career contributor at next level. Warriors went 3-5.
A.J. Green, Cedar Falls High School/Cedar Falls, Iowa
Top 100 Camp (No. 12 ) stats:
18-49 (36.7%), 8-26 (30.8%), 13-13 FTs (100%), 57 points (7.1), 29 rebounds (3.6), 27 assists (3.4), 6 turnovers (.75), 2 steals (.25), 0 blocks
There are no reports indicating Virginia interest here, but he’s got a UVA feel to his game and could be someone to eye on the recruiting trail as the July period picks up. Iowa State, Northern Iowa (his dad is an assistant there), and Clemson are among the schools mentioned. Very sound with the ball, limited turnovers, and defenders had a hard time manipulating him – he went where he wanted to go at the pace he wanted to get there. Great first step with the ball and angles off defenders well with that and his upper body lean (non-dribbling shoulder preserves space well). Has the ability to get the offense going and to get into space, but maybe not all the way to the rim at the same elite level as others in this class. Very strong pull-up mid-range game, but scoring at the rim and from 3-point range may be a question mark for some. Spurs went 4-4.
Musa Jallow, Bloomington North/Bloomington, Ind.
Top 100 Camp (No. 38) stats:
8-28 (28.6%), 2-16 3-pointers (12.5%), 20 points (2.9), 9 rebounds (1.3), 3 assists (.43), 2 turnovers (.29), 3 steals (.43), 2 blocks (.29)
Clearly not a good showing offensively if you look at the stats as he took the most shots on the team, but didn’t shoot a high percentage. It sure didn’t feel like he was taking a lot of shots, though. That’s probably because this team didn’t use as many ball handlers as others and he didn’t seem to get the ball in comfortable spots very much. He didn’t get many opportunities in screen-and-roll or other concepts as the creator in the games I watched. The tools appear to be there as a slashing scorer and if put in good spots, his mechanics were good enough to shoot a better number. Had a dunk in transition and on an offensive board in one game. The good news? He didn’t let that effect his energy overall or his effort defensively. He showed versatility in defending multiple types of guards, though he had a little trouble stopping shorter quicker types early in camp. Has length and a good stance on defense. Willing to stick his nose in there on the ball or to challenge shots off the ball when in help spots; gets off the floor quickly in help defense. Bulls went 3-4.
Brandon Johns Jr., East Lansing High/East Lansing, Mich.
Top 100 Camp (No. 104) stats:
13-22 (59.1%), 1-4 3-pointers (25%), 11-16 FTs (68.8%), 38 points (5.4), 20 rebounds (2.9), 3 assists (.43), 2 turnovers (.29), 2 steals (.29), 3 blocks (.43)
An understated player that flew under the radar at this camp I thought. Solid build at 6’8” and 220 pounds; good strength and held his own around the basket. Didn’t get a lot of touches, but good mechanics on two-foot hop jumpers with range inside the 3-point line. Liked the two-foot power hop on post moves that reminded me of Anthony Gill. Can gather himself to be explosive. Active and used his body well. Bulls went 3-4.
Keldon Johnson, Huntington Prep/South Hill, Va.
Top 100 Camp (No. 57) stats:
45-92 (48.9%), 3-14 (21.4%), 42-48 FTs (87.5%), 135 points (16.9), 48 rebounds (6), 21 assists (2.6), 14 turnovers (1.8), 10 steals (1.3), 2 blocks (.3)
Explosive player off the dribble with a great first step. Angles defenders off well with his 6’6” and 210-pound frame. Really tough to handle when he gets on a line to the basket. Draws contacts and lots of free throw attempts (keep in mind, you only get 1 FTA on each foul in this camp so he took the equivalent of 96 free throws in 8 games despite the constant subbing in this event); that’s an attractive skill considering UVA’s issues at free throw rate this past season. Can score at all three levels (rim, mid-range, and 3’s), though he’s not a set-up shooter really and wants to attack with the bounce. Ball handling needs more improvement, particularly to the off hand (left), but would be a solid wing and third ball handler in that area. Really needs the ball in his hands to be successful offensively, though. Tendency to disappear for stretches, usually related to playing without the ball it looked like. Competes defensively and has the size to be effective; lateral footwork and body angles are adequate but will need to improve at next level. Earned co-MVP recognition at the camp. Spurs went 4-4.
David McCormack, Oak Hill Academy/Norfolk, Va.
Top 100 Camp (No. 105) stats:
13-26 (50%), 0-0 3-pointers, 11-14 FTs (78.6%), 37 points (5.3), 19 rebounds (2.7), 2 assists (.29), 2 turnovers (.29), 3 steals (.43), 2 blocks (.29)
Big body in the traditional post player mold at 6’10” and 279 pounds. Great footwork and body position on the blocks. Uses that and strength to create shots or to draw fouls. One move was a face up move to a baseline reverse layup to give an idea of the footwork. Converted regularly at the free throw line, including a game winner in overtime. Flashed a mid-range jumper as well. Outstanding hands. Grabbed rebounds and caught passes in traffic throughout camp. Great timing on rebounds to go get the ball at its high point. Lost verticality here and there on defense. Willing on that end of the floor and didn’t back down from challenges on switches. High UVA interest. Bucks went 3-5.
John Newman III, Greensboro Day School/Greensboro, NC
Top 100 Camp (No. 34) stats:
22-40 (55%), 8-15 3-pointers (53.3%), 17-23 (73.9%), 69 points (8.6), 16 rebounds (2), 14 assists (1.8), 9 turnovers (1.1), 12 steals (1.5), 1 block (.13)
Plays hard and stays engaged/active throughout his minutes; probably a top 5 motor in camp based on what I saw. Lefty. Long and wiry frame that is disruptive on defense, using fundamental jabs and movement to bother drivers as a help defender and good lateral movement as on-ball defender. Could be a big factor on that end in college in any system. Slasher type on offense and could thrive getting buckets in transition or on cuts with a good distributor as his lead guard; has the ability to get to the rim off the dribble as well where his length can cause trouble for the defender. Showed one nice up-and-under move off the dribble. Sprinkled in some jumpers and shot a high percentage because of his decision-making on which ones to take and which ones not to take. Seemed to twist his lower body a little bit on some shots. Needs to work on his right hand as he didn’t trust it on drives as much or even on basic handoff skills or perimeter passes. Sounds like someone whose offense is growing with more polish and that makes him an interesting player to watch this summer. Bucks went 3-5.
Immanuel Quickley, The John Carroll School/Bel Air, Md.
Top 100 Camp (No. 5 ) stats:
12-24 (50%), 5-6 3-pointers (83.3%), 9-16 FTs (56.3%), 38 points (5.4), 9 rebounds (1.3), 10 assists (1.4), 7 turnovers (1), 3 steals (.43), 0 blocks
Didn’t watch too closely because Virginia is pretty much out of the running, but at 6’4” and 185 pounds he’s got the long frame and explosiveness off the dribble to be a headache for defenders. He can pretty much get into the lane at will and finishes or gets fouled on a high percentage of those drives. Shooting touch ebbed and flowed. Ball dominant and didn’t set up teammates as well as someone with that dribbling ability could. Very clear that he is an open floor menace and can score in chunks. Bulls went 3-4.
Jahvon Quinerly, Hudson Catholic/ City, NJ
Top 100 Camp (No. 26 ) stats:
33-74 (44.6%), 10-25 3-pointers (40.0%), 4-6 FT (66.7%), 80 points (10.0 points), 21 rebounds (2.6), 22 assists (2.8), 17 turnovers (2.1), 9 steals (1.1), 1 block (.12)
Should be and is one of Virginia’s top targets in this class. Great handle with both hands; changes dribble speed, height, and angle; loves between the legs to set up his body movement. Creates angles with that dribble and quickness; really understands how to get past a defender and into spots to be effective. Can shoot outside his frame going to the rim. Also sets up teammates off the dribble. High level playmaker/distributor. Also a strong jump shooter, particularly with his feet set on catch/shoot. Tied a camp game in final 10 seconds on a designed out of bounds play with a 3-pointer (he did miss two free throws in the final minute of that game, but made up for it with that 3); he played off the ball for that 3-point attempt and can do that at times; not as ball dominant as some others in this class in that sense. At 6’1” and 165 pounds, has quickness to be a good defender but didn’t influence the game in the same way on that end. Teams with big guards can try to post him up. Bucks went 3-5.
AJ Reeves, Brimmer and May/Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Top 100 Camp (No. 42 ) stats:
40-84 (47.6%), 22-54 3-pointers (40.7%), 6-9 FTs (66.7%), 108 points (13.5), 21 rebounds (2.6), 10 assists (1.3), 13 turnovers (1.6), 5 steals (.63), 1 block (.13)
Possibly the most complete wing on Virginia’s 2018 target list at this stage. Did a lot of things well on both ends of the floor and did them with consistency. Played very well off the ball; didn’t get the chance to be an on-ball lead guard much in my viewings but handles the ball well in secondary role. At 6’6” and 195 pounds, has the strength and size to get his own shot or to knock down set jumpers. His shooting/scoring ability are possibly an elite skill at the college level. Elevates on jumpers and can get to the rim to throw down a dunk. Good in transition as well. Gets involved in rebounding and defense too. Appeared to have the skills to be a consistent defender and played well on that end. Kept similar sized guards in check, stayed active, and contested shots. Very impressive overall with a hint of Joe Harris in his game, though not a clone comparison there. UVA is in his final four. Spurs went 4-4.
Jalen Smith, Mount Saint Joseph High/Baltimore, Md.
Top 100 Camp (No. 88 ) stats:
27-40 (67.5%), 1-4 3-pointers (25%), 9-13 FTs (69.2%), 64 points (7.1), 43 rebounds (4.8), 6 assists (.67), 5 turnovers (.56), 6 steals (.67), 3 blocks (.33)
Long and wiry build at 6’10” and 205 pounds. Moves well for his height, particularly laterally. Hedge defense potential is high for the next level. Needs to add strength; easy to push around and box out in stretches. Overshadowed as a scorer by camp teammate Armando Bacot; showed ability to hit 15-foot jumpers and to dunk when not getting overpowered. Activity level varied. Celtics went 5-4.
Elijah Weaver, Oldsmar Christian School/Oldsmar, Fla.
Top 100 Camp (No. 6 ) stats:
20-59 (33.9%), 3-23 3-pointers (13.0%), 0-4 FTs (0%), 43 points (5.4), 18 rebounds (2.25), 18 assists (2.25), 15 turnovers (1.9), 8 steals (1), 3 blocks (.38)
Certainly looks the part of a D-1 player at 6’4” and 200 pounds. Can move in space and has long arms to bother opponents as a defender. Willing on that end, but not continuous and did not impact the game there. Long arms allow him to shoot outside his frame on drives. Appears to have a good shooting stroke, but numbers didn’t bear that out at this camp; may be inconsistent with that category. Looks like a combo guard in movement, shot creation, and setting up teammates but appeared to need the ball in his hands to be most effective and could get lost in the flow without the ball. On a team with several players that needed the ball to be effective. Bucks went 3-5.
2019
Armando Bacot, Trinity Episcopal/Richmond, Va.
Top 100 Camp (No. 83 ) stats:
43-77 (55.8%), 1-4 3-pointers (25%), 14-24 FTs (58.3%), 101 points (11.2), 69 rebounds (7.7), 3 assists (.33), 12 turnovers (1.3), 2 steals (.22), 5 blocks (.56)
Strong, traditional post at 6’10” and 235 pounds. Great footwork on the blocks and uses his body well to shield or bump away defenders. Showed variety of post moves. Active on the glass on both ends of the floor. Seemed comfortable setting on-ball screens. Not as explosive as some posts, but can rim protect and dunk with space. Defensively, strong enough to battle with guys his size and didn’t overuse his hands and arms on the blocks. Expect him to be a big name on the recruiting trail a year from now. Celtics went 5-4.
Matthew Hurt, Rochester John Marshall/Rochester, Minn.
Top 100 Camp ( No. 100) stats:
36-65 (55.4%), 13-30 3-pointers (43.3%), 14-15 FTs (93.3%), 99 points (12.4), 49 rebounds (6.1), 9 assists (1.1), 6 turnovers (.75), 4 steals (.5), 10 blocks (1.3)
A face-up forward at 6’8” and 205 pounds, he can be a matchup problem because he can space the floor in a big way. Great 3-point touch; excellent pick-and-pop player that can catch and shoot or catch and make the next play. Good feel for the game and anticipating what’s next. Can play off the bounce against bigger players. Competes throughout this minutes on both ends of the floor. Stays vertical with post defense and has the length to bother and block shots. On UVA’s radar for a full year at least as the Hoos were among the first to offer. Spurs went 4-4.
Scottie Lewis, Ranney/Tinton Falls, NJ
Top 100 Camp ( No. 40) stats:
26-50 (52%), 6-13 (46.2%), 18-24 FTs (75%), 76 points (8.4), 30 rebounds (3.3), 25 assists (2.8), 16 turnovers (1.8), 8 steals (.89), 8 blocks (.89)
Possibly the most complete wing player in this year’s camp. A long and agile build at 6’6” and 180 pounds, he did a little bit of everything offensively scoring off the dribble, off jumpers, off his defense, and in transition while also getting to the free throw line (keep in mind, you only get 1 FTA on each foul in this camp so he took the equivalent of 48 free throws in 9 games despite the constant subbing in this event). He’s crafty with the ball and his angles and just knows how to get to the rim or to the line; quick first step. Used those skills to distribute well too. Didn’t take enough jumpers to get a really good feel for it, but his mechanics were there to be a solid shooter too. Tops it off with a high motor (top 5 in camp easily) and willingness to compete on both ends throughout his minutes. Leader on the floor as well. Will be a high national recruit. Received a Rodney Rogers Courage Award for the camp. Celtics went 5-4.
Grant Sherfield, North Crowley High/Arlington, Texas
Top 100 Camp ( No. 97) stats:
242-62 (38.7%), 7-21 3-pointers (33.3%), 6-9 FTs (66.7%), 61 points (7.6), 15 rebounds (1.9), 19 assists (2.4), 11 turnovers (1.4), 3 steals (.38), 0 blocks
Plays low to the ground with good balance at 6’2” and 185 pounds. Flashed a good pull-up jumper going to his left as a right-hander. He got by Musa Jallow a couple times in an early game. Set up fellow 2019 recruit Matthew Hurt for a dunk in one game. Overall, showed ability to create off the dribble and get himself or teammates involved. Good lateral quickness and discipline as a defender. Played on a team with a lot of players that needed the ball in their hands. UVA has done some preliminary work on the recruiting trail. Spurs went 4-4.
Matthew Van Komen, Pleasant Grove High/Pleasant Grove, Utah
Top 100 Camp ( No. 102) stats:
13-20 (65%), 0-0 3-pointers, 0-2 FTs (0%), 26 points (3.7), 26 rebounds (3.7), 1 assist (.14), 3 turnovers (.43), 1 steal (.14), 9 blocks (1.3)
An interesting recruit to monitor in future classes. Listed at 7’3” and 225 pounds, he stayed active and competed in his minutes despite other bigs having the strength advantage. Kept a lot of balls alive in rebounding action. Seemed to be in the right spot a lot on both sides. Good timing on shot-blocking. Keeps ball up high on offense and with rebounding. Spurs went 4-4.
Trendon Watford, Mountain Brook High/Birmingham/Ala.
Top 100 Camp ( No. 91) stats:
16-25 (64%), 3-8 3-pointers (37.5%), 2-5 FTs (40%), 37 points (4.6), 18 rebounds (2.3), 6 assists (.75), 6 turnovers (.75), 1 steal (.13), 1 block (.13)
Interesting recruit for the next class. At 6’8” and 218 pounds, he has a wider build and is a deceptive offensive player. Has a little bit of a Boris Diaw vibe in that sense. He was active with a nose for the ball that got his hands on a lot of loose balls, rebounds, and deflections. Finds ways to score with a mix of jumpers, drives, and dribble-in post moves. Good use of fakes to get position and to create angles for moves. Good shooting range a step inside the 3-point line; form breaks down behind the line at times. His team spread out the minutes quite a bit. 76ers went 2-6.
Other notes
- I didn’t watch lead guard Devon Dotson out of Providence Day in Charlotte much so no extensive scouting report. Listed at 6’2” and 180, he appeared to have more strength that some guards at that size. He said during camp that he was eliminating Virginia from his list, but recruiting takes some twists and turns at times and Bennett has Charlotte connections obviously.
- Tony Hopkins, a combo guard out of Indianapolis, really competes and has versatile skills. Great first step, set feet 3-pointers, and ability to set up teammates. Strong build. Played very limited minutes in camp (39).
- 2019 point guard Cole Anthony is one to monitor. His build and style in limited viewing reminded me a lot Villanova’s Jalen Brunson (Anthony is 6’3” and 175 per the NBPA roster, while Brunson is 6’2” and 190 per Villanova’s roster).
- Tyger Campbell is a point guard headed to play at DePaul for Dave Leitao.
- One-time UVA offer and now a UNC commit Coby White looked like he could score, but did not distribute as well as many guards in this camp.
- Virginia is monitoring Saddiq Bey, a 2018 combo forward out of Washington D.C. He’s versatile in a bigger frame (6’7”, 192 pounds) but seems like a ‘tweener when it comes to UVA’s style in the past.
- Christian Brown, a 2019 wing out of South Carolina, didn’t play in the latter parts of camp so didn’t get a look at him in action. Keep the name in mind for long-term recruiting, though.
- Gerald Liddel, a 2018 wing out of Texas, had a long wing span and could operate well in space.
- Louis King, Jahvon Quinerly’s teammate at Hudson Catholic, has a long frame with good quickness and body control.
- Jeremiah Robinson, teammate at Bishop Miege with UVA freshman Franceso Badocchi, looks like one to monitor in the 2019 class. Does a lot of things well, competes defensively and is good on that end of the floor. Rockets team won the Top 100 Camp title.
- Charles Bassey, a 6’11” and 225-pound player out of Texas in the 2019 class, has the build that could keep him high in the recruiting rankings. Good footwork on the blocks and ability to face up.
