Beekman, Coleman III Among Virginia Targets Expected At 2019 NBPA Top 100 Camp

The 2019 NBPA Top 100 Camp, held once again at the John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, begins next Wednesday (June 12) and runs through Saturday, June 15. The initial camp roster (subject to change) has been released, and the field of participants includes some of the University of Virginia men’s basketball program’s top class of 2020 and 2021 targets.

Reece Beekman, a name Virginia basketball recruiting fans know well by now, is listed as one of the camp participants. The 6’2” rising senior point guard at Scotlandville Magnet (Baton Rouge, LA) has been high on head coach Tony Bennett’s wish list since last summer. This will be Beekman’s second trip to Charlottesville … the first came last November, when he made an official visit to UVA.

Whether or not Beekman will take this opportunity to further explore UVA before or after the camp remains to be seen. On a side note, though, the Cavaliers have recently gotten two more 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions for the talented point guard, who has enjoyed a stellar spring (10.8 PPG, 6.9 APG in 12 games) on the Nike EYBL AAU circuit with a loaded Phenom University (WI) program. Beekman grew up in Milwaukee before moving to Baton Rouge when he was in the 8th grade.

Other Top 100 Camp participants claiming a Virginia offer include …

Jabri Abdur-Rahim, SF, Blair Academy (Blairstown, N.J.), Class of 2020
Henry Coleman III, F, Trinity Episcopal Academy (Richmond, VA), Class of 2020
Isaiah Cottrell, F, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, NV), Class of 2020
Cam Hayes, PG, Greensboro Day (Greensboro, N.C.), Class of 2021
Keon Johnson, SG/SF, Webb School (Bell Buckle, TN), Class of 2020
Trevor Keels, SG/SF, Paul VI (Fairfax, VA), Class of 2021
Mark Williams, PF/C, Norfolk Academy (Norfolk, VA), Class of 2020
Terrance Williams, F, Gonzaga College (Washington, D.C.), Class of 2020

Henry Coleman III has made multiple unofficial visits to Virginia but remains patient in his decision-making process, tweeting last week that he remains open in his recruitment.

Keon Johnson, a 6’5” wing with tremendous athletic ability, has taken an official visit to UVA and includes the Hoos in his final three along with Tennessee and Ohio State. He is expected to make his college commitment on August 6. Tennessee remains the favorite in my opinion.

Virginia hosted Terrance Williams on an official visit last September along with class of 2019 recruits Casey Morsell and Kadin Shedrick. The 6’6” rising senior, a gifted scorer, has DePaul, Georgetown, NC State, Notre Dame, South Carolina, Stanford, and UVA as his final seven schools. He has taken officials to Virginia, Stanford and Notre Dame.

Williams attended last year’s Top 100 Camp but was unable to play due to injury.

Abdur-Rahim is a new name on the offer list, landing a scholarship from the Hoos last month. It’s too early to tell right now where Virginia stands. However, we could get a clearer picture next week.

Neither Cottrell, who did not include Virginia in his top eight when he revealed the list this past March, nor Mark Williams are likely to end up in Charlottesville. Williams has visited UVA unofficially, but I’m not sure what the interest level from either side is right now.

Meanwhile, at this point there appears to be legitimate interest in UVA from the highly touted rising juniors listed above. Hayes and Keels took unofficial visits to Virginia this past season. Bennett has offered both players.

Hayes plays alongside UVA class of 2020 commit Carson McCorkle at Greensboro Day, while Keels competes in the highly talented WCAC.

The Top 100 Now An Evaluation Time For Division 1 Coaches

In a change from previous years, Division 1 college coaches will be able to evaluate this year’s camp. More specifically, there are one-and-a-half days of evaluation allowed. Tony Bennett and his staff can catch the action all day Thursday and until 2 p.m. on Friday.

No doubt there are more prospects than who has been mentioned here the Virginia coaches will be interested in scouting, and some may emerge that may not yet be on their radar. But here are some prospects the Cavalier staff may scout …

From the class of 2020, IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) combo guard Noah Farrakhan and Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.) point guard Jamal Mashburn Jr. are players UVA has been linked with. Farrakhan more last summer. There were some reports last month that Mashburn Jr. landed an offer from Virginia. We checked in with Brewster Academy head coach Jason Smith and an offer has not been extended, though the Cavaliers could be evaluating.

Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA) 5-star point guard Devin Askew and Steward School (Richmond, VA) 7-footer Efton Reid are among the class of 2021 prospects UVA is evaluating. In this interview with Rivals, Askew mentioned UVA has reached out to him.