USA 17U Tryouts: Session 1

A plethora of top notch talent from the 2015 and 2016 classes was in attendance last night for the first session of the 17U USA training camp in Colorado Springs. All of the players are vying for a spot on the eventual 12 man roster that will compete in the FIBA World Championships held in Dubai come August. The first four sessions are used as tryouts to cut the team down before practices begin in full on Sunday evening. College coaches are allowed to watch both the second and third sessions that take place Friday morning and afternoon.

Intro:

The camp got off to a slow start as introductions were made and players settled in. Stretching and some light drills kicked things off. Soon players were separated out by position and went to various baskets for skill work. After that they started with 4 on 4 and 3 on 2 drills. Towards the end of the session the group was separated into four teams with each team playing three games to close out the night. 

Injuries:

It didn’t take long for players to start dropping out of the drills. 6’8” power forward TJ Leaf was the first to bow out with an apparent leg injury and 6’10” center Diamond Stone came out shortly after. Unfortunately for Leaf, injuries seem to be the norm for the No. 10 prospect in the class of 2016. Previously in October the California native was only able to participate in the opening session of the Developmental National Team training. As for Stone, he is all but assured a spot on the team regardless of injury. Last year on the 16U team, the No. 1 ranked recruit in 2015 started all five games in the FIBA America tournament averaging 13.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Stone noted that he hurt his hip flexor in the Under Armour Finals last week and re-aggravated it as practice began. He thought the injury would need at least 3-4 days of rest before being able to get back out on the court. 

Top Practice Player:

Jayson Tatum, 6’7”, G/F, Chaminade College Prep (MO), 2016

Last year Jayson Tatum came off the bench for the 16U team averaging 10 points per game, but this year the 6’7” junior is looking to become a leader. He took a good first step Thursday night with his performance. The newly ranked top prospect in his class, Tatum certainly lived up to his ranking. During drills Tatum pushed the ball up the court and delivered several pin point passes leading to easy dunks for his teammates. Later, when it came time to scrimmage, Tatum showed off his diverse offensive skill-set. 

The first two words that come to mind when watching Tatum play are smooth and skilled. While not the most explosive athlete, Tatum usually has either a quickness or a height advantage on most defenders. When going against a long wing such as 6’6” Terrance Ferguson, Tatum would take two dribbles before releasing a soft floater in the paint. When faced with a smaller defender, Tatum went to the post backing his man down. At one point he made a 15 foot fade-away jumping off one foot. The fade-away was an extremely difficult shot for almost anyone, but one that looked natural for Tatum. He did get carried away in the last scrimmage as he tried to post up the 6’9” Ellenson. Tatum ended up taking another 15 foot fade away from the left baseline and luckily got bailed out by the ref who blew his whistle. 

There aren’t many weaknesses in Tatum’s offensive game, but if you want to nitpick it’s easy to point to his three-point shooting. During the Nike EYBL he shot just 28%; however during the scrimmages he knocked in outside shots from both corners which also happened to be from the international three point line as opposed to the college or high school line. 

Given his size and skills, Tatum currently is a match-up nightmare. He is comfortable playing point guard and distributing the ball, but he also loves to play in attack mode. Advanced footwork in the post and an improved form on his outside shot led to a strong first session for Jayson Tatum.

Three More Top Performers:

Eric Davis, 6’3”, G, Arthur Hill (MI), 2015

Throughout the scrimmages and drills, Eric Davis was extremely consistent. While more comfortable at the shooting guard position, Davis also played point and took great care of the ball. There was nothing flashy to his game, but he didn’t commit any unforced errors. Davis was also extremely efficient scoring wise. As one of the better shooters in camp, Davis hit several outside shots from the top of the key and the corner’s. His jump shot has good rotation after its release and he only took shots within the flow of the offense. Along with his outside shooting, the 6’3” guard also used his first step for penetration. Primarily driving from the left wing, Davis got to the basket and was seen finishing in the paint with either soft floaters or lay-ups. One month ago at the Top 100 Davis was either hot or cold, but last night he stayed hot pretty much the entire time.

Caleb Swanigan, 6’8”, PF, Homestead (IN), 2015

This event was Swanigan’s first experience in a USA setting and despite a travel day that started with a 6am flight the beefy big man did not show any signs of being tired. “You just have to make it through three days, that’s it,” said Swanigan. “I want to do all the things that other players don’t want to do. It all starts with rebounding and effort.”

Rebounding and effort were definitely two things that Swanigan showed early on. While there were eight other big men participating that were at least 6’8”, Swanigan was one of the few that enjoyed banging down low in the post. He pushed weaker opponents aside and was always around the basket looking for rebounding opportunities on both sides of the court. Now, with his body size Swanigan is definitely not the quickest of leapers and he did have trouble converting second chance opportunities at times. Despite several tough shots in the paint, Swanigan was never deterred and always kept attacking. 

While not a jump shooter by any means, Swanigan impressed with his soft feet and fundamental form during shooting drills for the big men group. In both short catch and shoot / one-dribble situations, Swanigan looked comfortable and confident. 

Daniel Giddens, 6’10”, Wheeler (GA), 2015, Ohio State

Daniel Giddens

On the Fourth of July, Daniel Giddens ended his college recruitment and committed to Thad Matta and Ohio State. Now he is focused on retaining his spot with the USA team after getting 13 minutes of action per game last year. The 6’10” power forward / center is well-known for his defensive abilities and chiseled frame, but last night Giddens looked very comfortable and confident on the offensive end. Early on he connected on a jump shot from 14 feet out and later on he backed down a weaker defender and finished with a right handed hook shot in the paint. He also attacked the glass with his quick first leap and was an overall solid contributor in all of the scrimmages. If Giddens can combine some of the scoring skills he flashed in the first session with his shot blocking abilities, he might just make his second straight appearance on Team USA.

Other Notes:

6’4” shooting guard Malik Newman was the leading scorer for the 16U team last year averaging 16.2 points per game on 47% shooting. He was forced to miss the Peach Jam last week and appeared at camp with a heavily bandaged hand. Newman started slow taking several tough step-back jump shots usually with a hand in his face, but he turned it on towards the end. In the last scrimmage he blew by Eric Davis on the right side of the court and finished with an emphatic slam. This led to a few more blow by’s and dunks as none of the opposing big men wanted to challenge the athletic Newman in the air. After some time off the top scoring guard in the country looked a bit rusty, but he seemed to grow more confident as the night went on.

Last October after the USA Developmental Camp it was safe to say that Henry Ellenson didn’t have much of a shot making the final 17U team. Fast forward 10 months and the 6’9” forward from Rice Lake is probably a lock. Ellenson got out on the break for easy baskets and showed off his shooting touch in drill work and occasionally during the games. He definitely gets a little too comfortable behind the three point line but on back to back possessions he drove by Caleb Swanigan for a dunk and then finished with contact using his left hand. Last week at the Nike Elite Invitational, Ellenson primarily played outside of the paint, but these tryouts will force him to bang down low while proving the opportunity for a pick and pop when the time is right. 

6’9” Harry Giles started the first two games in last year’s 16U tournament before tearing his ACL. He is slowly starting to get more comfortable on the court with his movements, but still is a long way from being 100% healthy. The rising junior ran the court well and was the recipient of several Tatum assists throughout the day. In the drills, Giles looked smooth but it also appeared he was thinking about every move in his mind instead of just reacting naturally. Little by little Giles will get there.

Ivan Rabb is rated the No. 1 player in the country by ESPN, but you wouldn’t have known that last night as the 6’10” power forward from Oakland blended into the big man crowd. At times he looked to be limping which could have been an injury or a carryover from a strenuous Peach Jam. Initially he tried to take some defenders off the dribble but was usually cut off before he could get in a good scoring position. In the last scrimmage, Rabb did come alive displaying his fundamental footwork in the post. He is comfortable finishing and shooting with either hand and converted several shots in a crowded paint area. 

Just like Caleb Swanigan, this was Dennis Smith’s first USA basketball experience. The 6’1” guard from North Carolina shot up the rankings this past spring and is considered the best point guard in the class of 2016. Playing with USA “veterans” such as Newman, Tatum, and Giles, Smith still managed to stand out. Despite his size he can finish well above the rim which was evident when he threw down a violent right hand dunk. His ball-handling skills are also off the charts and he broke down his defender to create scoring opportunities for his veteran teammates throughout the scrimmages. While he has deep range on his outside shot, this is an area of improvement for Smith as he miss-fired badly to the left and right of the basket on several outside attempts.

One player who is probably a long shot to make the team is 6’10” junior center Terrell Brown from Barrington, RI. Despite this fact, Brown more than held his own against his more highly touted peers. Right now Brown is lacking in the strength department, but he used his length to corral several offensive and defensive rebounds. He ran the court well and even knocked in a corner three towards the end of the night. 

6’6” Terrance Ferguson is another Team USA veteran and the Texas native is athletic with a nice mid-range jump shot in his repertoire. He averaged just under 6 points per game last year on the USA team and is definitely one to keep an eye on through the remaining tryouts. 

Where Are The Shooters?

Last year the USA team as a whole shot 27.8% from three. Seventh Woods (4-11) and Malik Newman (10-28) were the only players that finished above 35%. In the tryouts, there still aren’t any knock down shooters, say like a James Blackmon Jr. from the class of 2014. Tatum’s shot is improving and the 6’9” Ellenson is more than comfortable from behind the arc, but the outside shooting situation is still a little dicey. For my money 6’0” point guard Peyton Pritchard is the best pure shooter in camp, but he will have his hands full making the team with all of the talented point guards in camp.

USA Camp: 2015 Big Men

Yesterday the focus was on the players from the class of 2014 that attended the USA Developmental Camp. Today we take a look at the big men that are competing for a spot on the 17U FIBA World Championship team in Dubai next summer. 

The Cream of the Crop:

Diamond Stone, C, 6’10”, Dominican H.S. (WI), #3

There are a plethora of good big men in the class of 2015 and Diamond Stone staked his claim as the best of the bunch in Colorado Springs. The big man was adept at finishing with both hands in the post and probably had the strongest off-hand (left) of any big man in camp. Stone also showed that he could sprint the floor which resulted in some easy baskets for the big fella. On occasion he stepped out of the paint and displayed a nice touch on his jump shot. During the AAU season Stone proved that he could step out to the three point line but in Colorado he kept his jump shots to within 15 feet. On the defensive side, Stone used his size to keep defenders away from the basket and forced them into tough fade-aways. While not exactly a “springy” center Stone did block the occasional shot and showed why most of the big name college programs have made him a priority in the class of 2015.

Thomas Bryant, PF, 6’9”, Huntington Prep (WV), #13

Bryant (Bart Young / USA)

Bryant put on quite the performance over the weekend and made the biggest impression regardless of class. There was no one that came even close to playing with Bryant’s intensity and aggression. He went hard at all times and was a force down low. Whether it was drills or scrimmages Bryant attacked the rim. He punished the rim with forceful two hand dunks every session and usually let out a primal scream afterwards. When he caught the ball in the post, Bryant went straight at his defender’s chest. If he didn’t score initially, he attacked the offensive glass until he saw the ball go in the basket. On the defensive side of the ball Bryant blocked shots and made life miserable for any defender that ventured into the lane. The USA coaches positioned him at the front of their full-court zone trap and let Bryant cause havoc on the opposing guards. The one downside for Bryant was that he didn’t score much outside of the paint but he didn’t need to as hard as he was attacking the rim. 

A Notch Below:

Ivan Rabb, 6’9”, PF, Bishop O’Dowd H.S. (CA), #4

Bothered by ankle and back injuries, the California power forward still managed to show off his versatile skill-set. Rabb worked well in the low post with lefty hook shots and also stepped out to drain jump shots from the foul line extended. Rabb noted, ““I’m real versatile which is my strength, but I still do the dirty work. I get offensive and defensive rebounds and block shots.”  Rabb also excelled in pick and roll situations as he looked comfortable rolling to the basket for a lay-up or popping out for a mid-range jump shot. Rabb’s motor can be questioned at times as he showed a tendency to disappear for long stretches during AAU play, but on Sunday morning he taped up his ankle after having thoughts about sitting out and competed hard. 

The Up and Comer:

Horace Spencer, 6’9”, PF, Findlay Prep (NV), #36

Broad shouldered and full of fast-twitch muscle fibers, Spencer was one of the pleasant surprises of the USA camp. He ran the floor well and was one of the best athletes at camp. Similar to Thomas Bryant, Spencer attacked the rim hard and got most of his baskets near the hoop. On the defensive end, Spencer did well blocking shots, rebounding, and playing solid low post defense. While his motor was always running, Spencer is still working on his offensive game. A year spent practicing at Findlay Prep should help.

Solid Performers:

Daniel Giddens, 6’10”, C, Wheeler H.S. (GA), #34

Giddens averaged 13 minutes a game this past summer on the U16 team along with 6.8 points per game. Always one of the stronger big men in his class, Giddens used his strength in the one on one post drills and scrimmage match-ups. His offensive game looked a bit improved, but developing a go-to post move is a must. He sat out the second day of camp with an injury.

Chase Jeter, 6’8”, PF, Bishop Gorman (NV), #19

This was Jeter’s first appearance at a developmental camp and Jeter was thrown in with the wolves early on. Right off the bat Jeter matched up with Jahlil Okafor in one-on-one post drills and found out what it was like to go against the nation’s top player who also had at least 50 pounds on him. While he got thrown around initially, Jeter slowly improved throughout the event. While he struggled with the size and strength of some of the other post players he did have his moments. He used his long strides to run the floor on the break and was rewarded with easy lay-ups and dunks on Saturday morning. In the post he hit a few face-up bank shots from the right side. Right now, Jeter’s biggest weakness is his physical strength. He noted that he is lifting to get stronger and is seeing steady weight gains. Right now, numerous Pac-12 coaches have stopped by Bishop Gorman to watch him play in addition to Kansas, Duke, UNLV, Vanderbilt, and UNC.

On the Outside Looking In:

Henry Ellenson, 6’9”, PF, Rice Lake H.S. (WI), #53

Overall, Ellenson did not have much luck in the scoring department during the USA camp, but he still put in a solid effort. He possesses good height and a strong build for a power forward but separates himself from others by his outside shooting ability. Unfortunately for Ellenson the few outside shots he did get did not connect. Athletically, Ellenson was a notch below his peers which forced him into the role of a stand still shooter. On the defensive side of the ball, he used his strong frame to contain defenders in the post and force them out of their comfort zone. As of right now, Ellenson mentioned that Creighton is one of the schools recruiting him the hardest along with Iowa State. 

Jessie Govan, 6’9”, PF, St. Mary’s H.S. (NY), #38

Govan did some things well throughout the camp, but overall he struggled to make an impact during the scrimmages. For a big man his size, Govan can rebound, run the floor, and can operate inside and outside of the paint. While Govan’s shooting stroke looked respectable for a power forward he failed to connect on the ones he took. He scored at times off hook shots over his right shoulder but did not have a strong impact overall.

Doral Moore, 6’11”, C, Luella H.S. (GA), #21

After the USA camp, Rick Pitino and Louisville offered Moore a scholarship. Along with this scholarship offer, Moore has generated strong interest from many high major programs and rightfully so given his height and play on the AAU circuit over the summer. While the interest is strong it is obvious that Moore’s expected growth plays a large part. During the USA Camp, Moore started off strong in the first session. He was the biggest player on the court and used that to his advantage while also showing off a soft touch. After his initial showing, things went south for Moore in a hurry and come Sunday it looked as though his confidence had been crushed. Once Moore’s confidence started to wane, his performance deteriorated quickly and he became a non factor on both sides of the ball and struggled in all of the drills. There is no doubting Moore’s potential, but he has a long way to go in order to compete with the other big men invited to the USA Camp.

*Note – All rankings are from Scout.Com. Also, Stone, Bryant, Rabb, and Giddens all played on the 16U team this past summer.

Peach State Showcase: Day 1 Review

The first July live period kicked off summer recruiting with the Peach State Showcase held in Aiken, SC. Numerous assistant and head coaches trickled in throughout the evening which featured a total of 15 games spread over three courts in the USC-Aiken Convocation Center.

Game of the Night:

Team Thad vs. Game Elite

Last year Team Thad started the July AAU season at the Adidas Invitational in Indianapolis and this year they took their show to Aiken, SC. In a lackluster first half, Team Thad was down almost double digits in a low scoring first half. Upcoming junior Daniel Giddens controlled the paint for Game Elite and Jaylen Brown used his strength to get to the basket for lay-ups early on. Once the second half started, Team Thad turned up the intensity and quickly closed the deficit. In a back and forth affair, point guard Chris Chiozza created opportunities for teammates off of penetration, LeRon Black finished down low, and Riley Norris ran the court for streaking lay-ups and dunks. Also, the newly committed Marcanvis Hymon made a second half impact battling for rebounds and put backs while also knocking down his free throws. Team Thad displayed just enough energy to squeak out a four point victory.

Dunk of the Night:

Jaylen Brown, 6’5”, SF, 2015, Game Elite

The elite small forward from the class of 2015 made his mark in the first half with powerful drives to the hoop. At the 10:17 mark in the 2^nd half Brown was dribbling the ball up the court and at the half court line he realized that his defender was missing. Brown picked up speed as he dribbled with the right hand and started to attack the basket. He rose off one foot and flew through the paint for a vicious one handed dunk that woke the crowd up. Brown showed off his strength early on and later his leaping ability.

Speedster:

Jawun Evans, 6.0”, PG, 2015, SC Raptors Elite

Speed Demon - Jawun Evans

In a full evening slate of games, Evans was far and away the quickest player to step foot on court 1 in the Convocation Center. The South Carolina native got into the paint whenever he wanted whether it came in a pick and roll situation or just a simple blow-by. Evans pushed the pace in transition and found his big men when a shot wasn’t available and finished the game in double figures. The Clemson coaching staff rolled three deep for Evans’ game which included head coach Brad Brownell in what was the last game of the night.

Top Performers:

Javis Howard, 6’8”, PF, 2014, Upward Stars

Despite a losing effort, Howard had the game of the night. The Upward Stars got off to a slow start but Howard’s first half scoring barrage kept his team in the game. He scored 14 points in the first half which came in a variety of ways. Howard started off with a short right hand hook shot that he went to several more times during the course of the game. He hit a 15 foot jump shot and also was the recipient of several put backs after attacking the offensive glass. The scoring slowed down in the second half but he still hit a three pointer and finished the night with 21 points. While he had a stellar offensive game he also made a few steals and was the point defender in the half court press while corralling any rebound that came in his area. Jason Capel and Appalachian State was front and center for his game, but Howard might have piqued other schools interest with his opening night performance.  

Eric Lockett, 6’5”, SF, 2014, Aim High

Lockett’s team played in the first game of the live period on the main court and impressed all of the coaches that arrived at the onset. In a blowout win, Lockett finished with 18 points. An impressive athlete with a great leaping ability Lockett scored the majority of his first half points off drives or put-backs in the paint. He also handled the ball on the break a fair amount and made good decisions without turning the ball over. In the first half he added a 10 foot jump shot and then hit a three towards the end of the game. While Lockett is a great leaper in the paint, he only got minimal lift on his jump shot which caused a few shots to fall short. Even with these misses, Lockett still put on a show to kick off July.

James Demery, 6’4”, SG, 2014, Team Charlotte

In a win over the Upward Stars, Demery led the way with 17 points. He hit one three in the first half and then used his college ready body to score off basket cuts and put-backs. During the game Demery shot two air-balls from three, but besides for those attempts he played well in front of a some ACC coaches that are recruiting him hard. An athletic shooting guard with a strong frame, Demery was a key part in Charlotte’s opening night win.

Grant Bryant, 6’7”, SF, 2014, Southern Kings

Bryant made his mark all over the court as he often played point forward for his Southern Kings team. With a massive wing span Bryant often corralled a defensive rebound and then began the break on the offensive end with his dribbling ability. After giving the ball up, he often found himself down low close to the basket and finished strongly several times. In a game that was competing for attention, Bryant impressed the coaches that stayed around with his versatility and length.

Head Coaches in Attendance:

Some of the college coaches noted included: Brad Brownell (Clemson), Jamie Dixon (Pittsburgh), Greg Marshall (Wichita State), Josh Pastner (Memphis), Leonard Hamilton (FSU), Brian Gregory (Georgia Tech), Jason Capel (App State), and Doug Wojcik (College of Charleston).