2013 Summer Recap

With the travel intensive July recruiting session in the rear view mirror coaches are sending out new scholarship offers and standout players are beginning to trim their lists. In the spring, players such as Myles Turner and Devin Robinson made their mark and ascended up the rankings. While nobody made this type of impact in July, there were still numerous players that benefited from the increased exposure. Here’s a look at a few players that are due significant adjustments in the rankings, along with the top AAU teams, and other noteworthy observations. 

Summer Stock Risers:

Robert Johnson, 6’3”, 2014, SG, Boo Williams

A lot can change in one year. In the summer of 2012, Robert Johnson was coming off the bench for Eddie Jordan and the 17U DC Assault team. He was stuck playing behind future Tar Heel Nate Britt and future Terrapin Roddy Peters. When Peters got hurt in the UA Summer Jam, Johnson came off the bench and displayed his three point stroke in the playoffs. At this point in time VCU and a host of low to mid majors were recruiting Johnson. After transferring to St. Benedictine in Richmond and re-classifying to the class of 2014, Johnson has now made himself into one of the top names in the country. He recently received a scholarship offer to UNC and his list of seven schools includes five ACC schools along with Georgetown and Indiana. 

After scoring 10 points per game at the NBPA Camp, Johnson came out blazing at Peach Jam. He averaged 20.2 points per game and tied for the lead in made three pointers with 18 in five games. He helped Boo Williams pull off a miraculous comeback win over Mac Irvin (before having to forfeit) in their opening game and continued his strong play over the next two days. During the second live session, Johnson suited up for the USA East team at the Nike Global Challenge and averaged 11 points per game in front of all the major D1 coaches. To wrap things up, Johnson hit a few game winning shots down in Orlando to send his team to the Super Showcase Semi-Finals and put a bow tie on the month of July.

In all three weeks, Johnson performed at an elite level and proved to be one of the top scoring guards in country. He is currently rated 85^th by Scout.com but after his play in July he’ll soon rise at an accelerated pace up the rankings.

Reid Travis, 6’8”, 2014, PF, Howard Pulley

Reid Travis - Scarberry Media

After an excellent high school season at De La Salle in Minneapolis, Travis continued his strong play throughout all four EYBL sessions averaging approximately 18 points and 9 rebounds a game. With his strong play, Travis bumped himself into a top 50 player in his class but was not done with his climb. In the Peach Jam, Travis led his team in scoring at 22.8 points per game while shooting a remarkable 65.6% from the floor. After having one of the most impressive individual Peach Jam performances, Travis put up 22 points and 6 rebounds a game at the Global Challenge. If all this wasn’t enough, he dominated in the Super Showcase and played a key part in knocking off the top team in the country (E1T1) in the championship game. 

Travis is a key recruit for new Minnesota coach Richard Pitino and is considered one of the “Big 3” in Minnesota along with AAU teammate Tyus Jones and shooting guard Rashad Vaughn. With his stellar play, Pitino now faces competition from all parts of the country as coaches try to lure him away from Minneapolis. 

Riley LaChance, 6’3”, SG, 2014, Ray Allen Select

Three weeks in July proved that LaChance is one of the best, if not the best outside shooter in the class of 2014. Playing for the Milwaukee based Ray Allen Select, LaChance put up high scoring figures in the Next Level Invitational held at Homestead High in Mequon, WI. LaChance and Ray Allen Select spent week two in July at the same gym, but this time they played against some of the top teams and players in the country. He opened the tournament on fire and finished the tournament the same way. Despite losing in the championship game to DC Assault, LaChance put up 39 points on 15-25 shooting and hit 7-11 three’s. In Las Vegas, LaChance continued his torrid shooting display. While mid majors such as Drake and UC-Irvine were heavily involved in LaChance’s recruitment, the big boys finally started to reach out. He recently received offers from Oklahoma State and Butler and he is set to visit Missouri in the fall. 

Top Teams:

Each 1 Teach 1:

The Florida based Nike team went on a ridiculous win streak and won all of their games in May and July before losing in the Super Showcase championship. While they lost this championship, they did come away with the prestigious Nike EYBL title after an impressive 8-0 run in North Augusta, SC. E1T1’s win streak began in the Dallas EYBL after they added center Trayvon Reed to their starting line-up and Duke bound Grayson Allen as their 6^th man. Point guard Joel Berry ran the show for this team and shooting guard D ‘Angelo Russell picked up his play in July to take home the honors of the best team in the summer of 2013.

DC Assault:

While they didn’t face off against Nike teams, DC Assault certainly won their fare share of championships. In the first live recruiting session in April, they gave up a last minute lead in the championship game of the Pitt Jam Fest. However, in July they were able to take home the UA Summer Jam Championship as well as the Fab 48 title in back to back weekends. Future Terrapin point guard Romelo Trimble led the way as he elevated his play throughout the summer. A tough and experienced team, DC Assault also got help from Byron Hawkins, Rashard Kelly, and Chinanu Onuaku. 

Bad Timing:

Paul White, 6’8”, 2014, F, Meanstreets

Paul White is a tenured veteran as a four year varsity player and two time member of the 17U circuit. He first gained national recognition as a freshman when he received substantial playing time for Whitney Young which featured high flyer Sam Thompson as well as fellow freshman Jahlil Okafor. As a sophomore, White was forced into point-forward duty for most of the season due to a lack of guard play and then began his foray into the 17U AAU circuit. During his junior season, the lanky forward teamed up with a few other well known D1 prospects to form one of the top teams in the country. Despite all of his time in the spotlight, fans, coaches, and analysts were still waiting for Paul White to dominate games. He was always good for scoring in double figures and grabbing rebounds, but never took control of a game like his high school teammates Okafor or L.J. Peak did during the season. 

All that looked to have changed at the start of Peach Jam. In game number two, White went for 22 points and 11 rebounds and then followed that performance up the next morning with 20 points and 10 rebounds. After these performances, the buzz started to grow, but then in a blink of an eye it stopped. One minute into his game with Reid Travis and the Howard Pulley Panthers, White went down and broke his arm as he tried to cushion his fall. After the injury, White went into surgery and is expected to be ready for his senior season with Whitney Young. The past two years White and Whitney Young bowed out early in the Illinois sectionals. If they are to make a state title run, Paul White will need to unleash the beast on a consistent basis. 

Random Musings:

This time last year, the class of 2014 featured Andrew Wiggins, Noah Vonleh, Wayne Seldon, and Dakari Johnson. Despite the reclassifications of these players the top 10 of 2014 is still extremely strong, even without a player that is head and shoulders above his peers. 

Speaking of the 2014 top 10, the Midwest is the place to be. When looking at most rankings, the Midwest area features the top point guard in Tyus Jones (Minnesota), the top shooting guard in Rashad Vaughn (Minnesota), the top power forward in Cliff Alexander (Illinois), and the top center in Jahlil Okafor (Illinois). The area also includes two other players in the top 10 in power forward Trey Lyles (Indiana) and forward Kevon Looney (Wisconsin). 

Tom Izzo and his Michigan State crew are the most active school recruiting the top players in the Midwest as they are heavily recruiting Jones, Okafor, Alexander, and Looney. Despite making multiple visits over the past three years to Minneapolis, Chicago, and Milwaukee there is a good chance that Izzo and the Spartans could be left out in the cold. Duke, Kentucky, and Kansas are all making strong plays for these Midwest players.

The package duo of Tyus Jones and Jahlil Okafor has long been rumored and discussed. Schools that are recruiting both include Duke, Michigan State, Kentucky, Kansas, Ohio State, and Baylor. Duke has been rumored as one of the front runners to land the package deal and with Coach K’s Olympic connections they have also been rumblings of a three player package which includes Okfaor’s USA teammate Justise Winslow. While Winslow is in the mix for Duke, it might be another Midwest forward in Kevon Looney that is more likely. In Milwaukee, assistant coach Jeff Capel spent the first few days watching Looney and then another assistant in Nate James finished off the trip. In Las Vegas, Coach K was front and center for Looney. Whatever happens in the upcoming months, one can be sure that the majority of these talented Midwest kids will soon be off to other parts of the country.