Class of 2014 Rankings: Post Summer

#	Name	Pos	HT/ WT	High School (ST)	College
1	Jahlil Okafor	C	6-11/260	Whitney Young (IL)
2	Tyus Jones	PG	6-1/175	Apple Valley (MN)
3	Rashad Vaughn	SG	6-5/185	Findlay Prep (NV)
4	Emmanuel Mudiay	PG	6-4/190	Prime Prep (TX)
5	Stanley Johnson	SF	6-6/225	Mater Dei (CA)
6	Cliff Alexander	C	6-9/240	Curie (IL)
7	Myles Turner	C	7-0/240	Trinity (TX)
8	Trey Lyles	PF	6-9/210	Arsenal Tech (IN)
9	Justin Jackson	SF	6-7/180	HCYA (TX)	North Carolina
10	Kevon Looney	PF	6-8/210	Hamilton (WI)
11	Justise Winslow	SF	6-6/205	St. John's (TX)
12	Karl Towns	C	6-10/225	St. Joseph (NJ)	Kentucky
13	Devin Booker	SG	6-4/175	Moss Point (MS)
14	JaQuan Lyle	PG	6-4/200	Bosse (IN)	Louisville
15	Isaiah Whitehead	SG	6-4/195	Lincoln (NY)
16	Craig Victor	PF	6-8/225	Findlay Prep (NV)	Arizona
17	D'Angelo Russell	SG	6-4/180	Montverde Academy (FL)	Ohio State
18	Joel Berry	PG	6-1/185	Lake Highland Prep (FL)	North Carolina
19	Reid Travis	PF	6-7/215	De La Salle (MN)
20	Josh Perkins	PG	6-2/180	Huntington Prep (WV)
21	Theo Pinson	SF	6-5/170	Wesleyan Christian (NC)	North Carolina
22	Devin Robinson	PF	6-8/180	Christchurch School (VA)
23	JaQuan Newton	SG	6-1/165	Neumann-Goretti (PA)	Miami
24	Jonah Bolden	SF	6-8/185	Findlay Prep (NV)
25	Chris McCullough	PF	6-9/205	Brewster Academy (NH)	Syracuse
26	Romelo Trimble	PG	6-3/185	Bishop O'Connell (VA)	Maryland
27	Kelly Oubre	SF	6-6/195	Findlay Prep (NV)
28	Daniel Hamilton	SF	6-7/175	St. John Bosco (CA)	Connecticut
29	Dwayne Morgan	SF	6-7/205	St. Frances (MD)	UNLV
30	Tyler Ulis	PG	5-8/150	Marian Catholic (IL)
31	Joe Burton	SF	6-5/180	Atascocita (TX)
32	Shaqquan Aaron	SF	6-7/175	Rainier Beach (WA)	Louisville
33	Kameron Chatman	SF	6-7/200	Long Beach Poly (CA)
34	Keita Bates-Diop	SF	6-7/185	University (IL)	Ohio State
35	Jordan McLaughlin	PG	6-0/165	Etiwanda (CA)
36	Leron Black	PF	6-7/195	White Station (TN)
37	Robert Johnson	SG	6-3/170	Benedictine School (VA)
38	Malik Pope	SF	6-8/210	Laguna Creek (CA)
39	Dion Wiley	SG	6-4/175	Potomac (MD)	Maryland
40	Angel Delgado	PF	6-8/215	Huntington Prep (WV)	Seton Hall
41	Quentin Snider	PG	6-1/150	Ballard (KY)
42	James Blackmon	SG	6-2/170	Marion (IN)
43	Goodluck Okonoboh	C	6-9/205	Wilbraham & Monson (MA)
44	Trevon Bluiett	SF	6-5/185	Park Tudor School (IN)
45	Phil Booth	SG	6-4/180	Mount Saint Joseph (MD)	Villanova
46	L.J. Peak	SG	6-4/183	Gaffney (SC)	Georgetown
47	Parker Jackson-Cartwright	PG	5-9/145	Loyola (CA)	Arizona
48	Brandone Francis	SG	6-4/205	Arlington County Day (FL)	Florida
49	Chris Chiozza	PG	5-10/155	White Station (TN)	Florida
50	Caleb Martin	SF	6-6/175	Davie County (NC)	NC State
51	Elbert Robinson	C	6-11/260	Lakeview Centennial (TX)
52	Terry Larrier	SF	6-7/185	Phelps School (NY)
53	Isaac Copeland	PF	6-7/185	Brewster Academy (NH)	Georgetown
54	Namon Wright	SG	6-5/185	Findlay Prep (NV)
55	Abdul Malik Abu	PF	6-8/235	Kimball Union Academy (NH)
56	Brekkott Chapman	PF	6-8/200	Roy (UT)	Utah
57	Ben Bentil	PF	6-8/220	St. Andrews (DE)
58	T.J. Haws	PG	6-3/170	Lone Peak (UT)	BYU
59	Grayson Allen	SG	6-3/180	Providence School (FL)	Duke
60	Jaylen Johnson	PF	6-8/200	Ypsilanti (MI)
61	Paul White	PF	6-8/210	Whitney Young (IL)
62	Lourawls Nairn	PG	5-10/175	Sunrise Christian Academy (KS)
63	Jae'sean Tate	SF	6-5/205	Central (OH)	Ohio State
64	Shelton Mitchell	PG	6-3/180	Cutherberson (NC)	Wake Forest
65	Ahmed Hill	SG	6-4/180	Aquinas (GA)
66	Kaleb Joseph	PG	6-2/185	Cushing Academy (MA)	Syracuse
67	Donte Grantham	SF	6-6/200	Hargrave Military Academy (VA)
68	Ahmaad Rorie	PG	5-10/170	Lincoln (WA)	California
69	Tadric Jackson	SG	6-2/190	Tift County (GA)	Georgia Tech
70	Dominique Collier	PG	6-1/160	Denver East (CO)	Colorado
71	Anton Beard	PG	6-0/175	Parkview (AR)	Arkansas
72	Devin Mitchell	SG	6-3/165	Collins Hill (GA)
73	Jalen Lindsey	SF	6-6/180	Huntington Prep (WV)	Providence
74	Jakeenan Gant	PF	6-8/200	Effingham County (GA)	Missouri
75	B.J. Stith	SF	6-5/175	Oak Hill Academy (VA)	Virginia
76	Paschal Chukwu	C	7-1/235	Fairfield College Prep (CT)
77	Vic Law	SF	6-7/185	St. Rita's (IL)	Northwestern
78	Riley LaChance	SG	6-3/170	Central HS (WI)
79	Alex Robinson	PG	6-1/160	Timberview (TX)
80	Chinanu Onuaku	C	6-9/210	Riverdale Baptist (MD)
81	Zylan Cheatham	PF	6-7/200	South Mountain (AZ)
82	Jared Terrell	SG	6-3/205	Brewster Academy (NH)
83	Trayvon Reed	C	7-0/215	Shiloh (GA)
84	Malek Harris	SF	6-7/200	Sandburg (IL)	Marquette
85	Khadeem Lattin	C	6-9/190	Home School (TX)
86	Sandy Cohen	SG	6-5/170	Seymour (WI)	Marquette
87	Jared Nickens	SF	6-6/170	Westtown School (PA)	Maryland
88	Mikal Bridges	SF	6-6/185	Great Valley (PA)	Villanova
89	Lamonte Bearden	PG	6-1/165	Germantown (WI)
90	Obi Enechionyia	PF	6-9/195	Saint James School (MD)
91	Tra Holder	PG	6-1/170	Brentwood (CA)	Arizona State
92	Makinde London	PF	6-9/210	Summit (TN)
93	Tariq Owens	PF	6-8/185	St. Vincent Pallotti (MD)	Ohio
94	Nick Babb	SG	6-4/195	Martin (TX)	Arkansas
95	Jordan Barnett	SF	6-7/180	Christian Brothers College	Texas
96	Robert Cartwright	PG	6-3/165	Flintridge Prep School (CA)
97	Larry Austin	PG	6-1/165	Lanphier (IL)	Tennessee
98	josh cunningham	SF	6-7/180	Morgan Park (IL)
99	Adonys Henriquez	PG	6-5/190	Orlando Christian Prep (FL)	Miami
100	Thomas Welsh	C	7-0/245	Loyola (CA)
101	Darrell Davis	PG	6/4/170	Douglass Academy (MI)
102	Chris Sandifer	SG	6-4/175	Juniper Serra (CA)	Missouri
103	Andre Adams	PF	6-9/205	Westview (AZ
104	Riley Norris	SF	6-7/185	Albertville (AL)	Alabama
105	Payton Dastrup	C	6-10/230	Mountain View (AZ)

Summer Awards: Part 1

Most Dominant Player:

Stanley Johnson, 6’7”, 2014, F, Oakland Soldiers

Stanley Johnson - Adidas / Kelly Kline

A well-known name on the circuit for many years, Stanley Johnson was the most dominant player from beginning to end this past spring and summer. He averaged 18.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game during the EYBL regular season while leading his Oakland AAU team to the Peach Jam. In 18 regular season games, Johnson scored in double figures the first 17 games before playing limited minutes in the final game. 

During the Peach Jam, Johnson stepped his game up even more in front of a group of college coaches that included John Calipari, Sean Miller, Steve Alford, and Andy Enfeld. He was pretty much un-guardable in his five games averaging 25.6 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. In a 33 point game, Johnson was hitting from the outside and driving to the basket at will. In his next game he went for 24 points against the EYBL runner-up in CP3 which also included a game winning floater. 

While his AAU team didn’t repeat at the Peach Jam, Johnson did lead his USA West team to the Nike Global Challenge title one week later when he scored a team high 23 points and added in 11 rebounds. To cap off his stellar summer play he averaged 11.5 points and 2.5 assists per game at the Adidas Nations where he played a key part in helping his team advance to the televised finals. 

Johnson made his name as a freshman at Mater Dei, but increased his skill set year over year. As a sophomore he gave Shabazz Muhammed fits on the defensive end by using his strength and power. A year and a half later, Johnson now knows how to use his strength on the offensive end as well. By combining his strength and quickness with an improved ability to handle the ball, Johnson played a fair amount of point-forward over the past few months. 

The main weakness and criticism of Johnson pertains to his outside shooting. Never known as a strong shooter, Johnson made strides over the past few months and shot 30% from the three point line throughout EYBL play. 

Despite his inconsistencies on the perimeters, Johnson was still the toughest player to guard on the AAU scene. He used his quickness to beat defenders off the dribble and his strength to finish at the rim time and time again.  He attended events all over the country and never shied away from the competition while dominating any defender that tried to slow him down.

Stock Riser:

Myles Turner, 6’11, C, 2014, Texas Select

This one comes as no surprise as Myles Turner burst onto the scene in April and quickly made his way into a top 10 player nationally. In a class lacking dominant big men, Turner’s ability to run the floor, shoot from the outside, and block shots certainly stood out. He began his ascent at several of the Under Armour events in the spring and he solidified his reputation at the NBPA camp in June. Turner tested his skills against Cliff Alexander and Jahlil Okafor in July and August and more than held his own. After having a lengthy list of suitors in July, Turner cut his list down to a manageable eight schools:  Arizona, Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, and Texas. 

Myles Turner - Adidas / Kelly Kline

Standing close to 7 feet, Turner sports a nice touch from outside of the paint and with his long arms has a jump shot that can’t be blocked. He can hit mid-range shots and three’s from all areas of the floor. He runs the court well and establishes a nice post presence in the block where he can finish in the paint or shoot a quick turnaround shot off the glass. On the defensive side of the ball, Turner patrols the paint and blocks shots while keeping the majority in play. In his first match-up with Alexander, Turner bothered him with his length and forced him into a 5-15 performance.

While Turner improved dramatically in such a short time span, he still has weaknesses that need addressing. The first one is his actual strength. While Turner bothered Alexander with his length, he also struggled when it came time to bang bodies down low. Alexander muscled up Turner for several of his baskets. Also, Turner can tend to float around the perimeter for long stretches on the offensive end. 

Despite these areas of improvement, Turner’s stock was scorching hot during the spring and summer.

Mr. Turnaround:

D’Angelo Russell, 6’4” G, 2014, Each 1 Teach 1

A Louisville native, Russell is fresh off a stellar month July and August and was recently featured in Sports Illustrated’s “Faces in the Crowd” for his play. While the summer ended on a high note for Russell, the last five months were definitely a roller coaster ride. 

He started the AAU season just after helping Montverde Academy win the prestigious National High School Invitational championship where he played in the same backcourt as top ranked point guard Kasey Hill. Last year, Russell teamed up with Quentin Snider on the Louisville Magic 16U team that ran a version of “40 minutes from hell.” While Russell could have gone for a 3-peat at the Adidas Invitational, he decided to switch allegiances and joined up with a new AAU program in the Florida based Each 1 Teach 1. High expectations were created as Russell teamed up with future UNC point guard Joel Berry to form a dynamic backcourt.  

Russell - Adidas / Kelly Kline

A seamless transition to new surroundings was expected; however that was far from reality as Russell struggled mightily in his first few Nike tournaments. In the two April live periods, Russell struggled to adapt to his role on a new AAU team. In a total of eight games that took place in L.A. and Hampton, Russell averaged a solid 12.6 points per game which came from shooting just 35% from the field and 20% from the three point line (8-40).

A few weeks later in May, Russell began to round himself into form and averaged 15.8 points per game on 57% shooting as his team went 4-0 in Dallas. His play improved and he decided to end his recruitment early by choosing to play for Thad Matta and the Ohio State Buckeyes. With the pressure off of him to pick a school, his play was expected to continue to improve. This was not the case when he attended the NBPA Camp in late June. At this camp, Russell averaged five points per game over a three game stint. While this performance was nothing to write home about, it was also the last time Russell would struggle on the court.

In July, Russell’s play took off and he showed why he was considered one of the top shooting guards in his class. During the Peach Jam, he was one of the main pieces of a championship team that went 8-0 in playoff and pool play. Over this four day stretch, he averaged 14.1 points per game while shooting 49% from the field and 36% from three. While his scoring noticeably picked up, he also led with his all around skill set by averaging 5.8 rebounds and 5.9 assists. In the semi-finals he recorded the lone triple double in the EYBL season with 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists. 

A few days later at the Nike Global Challenge, Russell averaged a team high 19.8 points per game on 54% shooting and won co-MVP of the tournament as his team lost by three points in the finals. After a stellar July, Russell finished off his summer in L.A. at Adidas Nations. He took charge of his senior laden USA team and became the teams’ alpha dog on the offensive end early on. He played with a confidence and aggressiveness not seen in April and was one of the main reasons his team won the championship. Throughout the event he averaged 13.6 points per game and knocked in three’s from the wings and mid-range jump shots to go along with his athletic drives to the basket. 

After years of playing with a different AAU team, it took Russell awhile to get going. He finished off his summer in the exact same gym as where he started four months earlier. It’s safe to say that once he settled into his new surroundings his confidence soared and as did his play.

Scouting Report

Adidas Nations: Carlton Bragg

Many of the USA underclassmen struggled this past weekend competing against their older peers at the Adidas Nations in California; however power forward Carlton Bragg did not fall into that category.  

Bragg is a 6’8” forward out of Cleveland, OH and he capped off a fantastic summer by turning in one of the most impressive underclassmen performances of the weekend. In three games Bragg averaged 11.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while shooting 54% from the field, 60% from three, and 83% from the line. 

Carlton Bragg - Kelly Kline/Adidas

The sample size was small, but Bragg’s performance level increased throughout each game culminating with an 18 point, 4 rebound performance against the USA team featuring Jahlil Okafor, Kevon Looney, and Stanley Johnson. 

“I’ve been doing pretty well,” said Bragg. “I’ve progressed a lot, really, with all of the talent out here. It feels good, lots of great competition.”

In this game, Bragg had both his inside and outside game firing on all cylinders. He ran the court well and finished down low with several vicious right handed dunks. Bragg scored several times on post moves, but he also knocked down several mid-range jump shots and a three pointer.

“My motor, getting back and forth, and my inside game are my strongest areas,” said Bragg. “I’ve been working a lot on my outside game though.”

The work paid off as the long and athletic forward showcased his new and improved outside jump shot. Bragg’s shot mechanics and follow through looked good and even when he missed, his shot was right on target.  

He also displayed a set of intangible attributes that not many players possess. A high functioning motor and a joy for the game were evident when watching Bragg on and off the court. Despite a double digit deficit to the older USA team, Bragg still went 100% and when on the bench he was busy cheering on his teammates and shouting out encouragement. 

“Oh yeah,” said Bragg with a smile. “I’m always trying to get into the game on the court and the bench.”

Bragg wrapped up his sophomore year with a state championship at Villa Angela-St. Joseph’s and began the spring ranked20^th in his class. He slowly worked his way up the rankings after stellar play at the Pitt Jam Fest in April and the Spiece Run N Slam in May. 

He entered the summer at the number 12 spot, but after a dominant performance at the Adidas Invitational he will most likely see his ascent up the ranking list continue. 

While his overall ranking keeps increasing, so does the attention from college coaches. In June, Bragg took unofficial visits to Illinois and Ohio State and he wants to get to Indiana and Kentucky. 

If the past few months are any indication, Bragg is just starting to scratch the surface of his potential. While some of his peers struggled this past weekend, Bragg stepped up to the challenge and went blow for blow with the top players in the senior class.

Adidas Nations: Recap

The 2013 Adidas Nations tournament took place this past weekend in Garden Grove, CA and wrapped up with a televised championship game in Long Beach, CA. Some of the top talent in the 2014, 2015, and 2016 classes played against each other and against foreign teams from Africa, Asia, Australia, Latin America, and Russia. After four months of continuous travel, the players were on their last fumes but still managed to compete. Here’s a look at some of the standout players.

2014:

Stanley Johnson, 6’7”, F, Mater Dei (CA)

Johnson continued his impressive summer play and led his team to the championship game. His team lost by four points, but Johnson finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds. He used his strength and speed to find open shots in the lane and also hit two shots from behind the arc. On a stacked team, Johnson averaged 11.8 points per game and proved that he is one of the toughest players to guard in the high school ranks.

Jahlil Okafor, 6’10”, C, Whitney Young (IL)

Kelly Kline / Adidas

The top player in the country used his massive size to put up 13.7 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. After being named to the first team of the U19 FIBA World Championships, Okafor had somewhat of a quiet summer on the AAU circuit. In California, it didn’t take long for Okafor to establish his dominance. He scored on his patented left to right hand spin move along with numerous lay-ups and dunks. Okafor even had a few possessions where he grabbed the defensive rebound and went coast to coast through traffic for baskets.

D’Angelo Russell, 6’4”, G, Montverde Academy (FL)

After a very rough April – June period, it’s safe to say that Russell has returned to claim one of the top spots in the shooting guard hierarchy. His confidence was on full display this weekend as he took a team high 59 shots in five games. The lefty was knocking in three’s from the wing just like he did this past year at Montverde and was also hitting pull-up jump shots and attacking the basket. His versatility was also seen in the championship game as he finished with 11 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Ahmaad Rorie, 6’0”, PG, Lincoln (WA)

The only true point guard on his squad, Rorie helped guide his team to the championship game and scored seven points on 3-4 shooting. Throughout the tournament, Rorie set-up the team’s offense but also provided some scoring from the point guard spot. He has a quick release on his shot and was efficient in his shot selection which included an 11 point game on 5-7 shooting. 

Jalen Johnson, 6’9”, F, Yipsilanti (MI)

Johnson took a backseat to his talented teammates but the up and coming power forward’s potential was evident during the weekend. He only averaged 4 points and 2 rebounds per game but he did put together a six point, eight rebound performance in extended minutes. Right now, Johnson is still a bit raw, but can run the floor and his length and bounce allows him to block shots in the post.

2015:

Carlton Bragg, 6’8”, PF, St. Joseph (OH)

The 6’8” forward was one of the most impressive underclassmen in the tournament. He averaged 11.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while shooting 54% from the field. His stat line improved each game, culminating in an 18 point, 4 rebound performance against a senior laden USA team. In three games, Bragg’s inside/outside game was on full display. He threw down viscous dunks off of rebounds, hit short post-ups, and knocked in several three’s. Normally known as an inside player, Bragg has worked hard on his outside game and made significant strides in this area. Expect his rise up the rankings to continue.

Moustapha Diagne, 6’9”, PF, Pope John XXIII (NJ)

One of the top risers during the spring on the east coast, Diagne averaged 8.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. His best game came in his last game, where he put together an 11 point, 8 rebound performance. He showed off fancy footwork in the post which created easy scoring opportunities and he also hit several jump shots from just past the foul line. Diagne ran the floor hard and was one of the few players that never coasted during a game.

2016:

Josh Jackson, 6’6”, G, Consortium College Prep (MI)

One of the top players in his class, Jackson did not show any fear going against guys one or two years older than him. In three games he averaged 12 points and four rebounds. A legit 6’6”, Jackson used his height to score over defenders in the post and also shoot over them on the wing. He earned high praise for his play in Vegas and carried it over to the weekend in California. Jackson shot just a tad under 50% as he went 16-33 from the field, but is definitely a kid that will have all the major coaches at his games down the road.

Derryck Thornton, 6’0”, PG, Findlay Prep (NV)

Despite his small stature, Thornton controlled games better than almost every other point guard in the tournament. Great ball-handling skills allowed him to find spaces in the defense for open shots or passes to teammates. He scored 9 points a game and had a 4-4 performance in game two. Thornton’s quickness gave him an advantage over most defenders but will need to continue to work on his strength. 

Foreign Teams:

Sidy Ndir, 6’3” G, Africa

The athletic guard finished 3rd in the tournament with 16.4 points per game including a 23 point performance in the 3^rd place game. Ndir went 3-7 from the three point line in this game, but showcased his speed and quickness throughout the event. In a pool play game, Ndir caught the ball on the left wing and blew by his man and in one dribble finished with a graceful two hand dunk.

Jonah Bolden, 6’8”, F, Australia

Bolden is set to come to the States to suit up for Findlay Prep, but in this tournament he scored 13 points per game and added in seven rebounds in three games for Australia. A long and athletic forward, Bolden displayed his inside / outside game throughout. With his height and length, Bolden was able to score in the post off hooks and short jump shots, but he also stepped outside the paint and went 3-8 from three. On his shots, Bolden had nice rotation and good looking form and will soon enjoy a much heavier dose of attention from recruiters.

Other Notes:

While the high school games were going on the college camp counselors were playing against each other in front of a plethora of NBA Scouts. When watching the high school and college games simultaneously it was remarkable at how much stronger the college players were despite some of them being just a year or two removed from their own participation at Adidas Nation’s.

Only two freshmen played in the games, both of them from Kansas in wing Wayne Seldon and center Joel Embiid. The strength of Seldon was remarkable as was the increased skill level of Embiid from just over a year ago. Technically, Seldon could have been playing with the high school kids since just last year he was considered a 2014 recruit. At times Seldon was dominant with the college kids due to his physicality and should provide Coach Bill Self with a nice presence on the wing next year.

Other standout players included Jahii Carson of Arizona State, Russ Smith of Louisville, and Cory Jefferson of Baylor.

JUCO star and future Louisville point guard Chris Jones made an appearance. Despite only standing 5’9”, the future Cardinal is extremely strong and quick and will have no problem adjusting to the college game.