Adidas Unrivaled - Wrap Up

With the first July live period in the books, it’s time to take a look back at the first Adidas Unrivaled camp that took place in Chicago, IL. Adidas invited approximately 120 players, many of whom play on the Adidas AAU circuit to compete in a camp style atmosphere similar to Nike’s LeBron James Skills Academy. In its camp kickoff at the Quest Multiplex gym in the city’s west side (which also plays host to the McDonald’s All-American practices) the Adidas team definitely brought together a talented group that ended with two all-star games on Sunday. College coaches from all of the major conferences packed the sidelines to watch the drills and games each day.

Bad News:

On the first day of camp, 6’6” small forward Ray Smith fell to the floor in agony. It later turned out that the five-star wing tore his ACL ending any future AAU or high school play. Before he hurt his knee, Smith was riding high with a strong showing during the spring and June camp play establishing himself as one of the best slashers in the country. On Day 1 of the Adidas Unrivaled camp, Smith stood out with his play during the first drill session and also put together an impressive first game going 7-9 from the field. 

Almost immediately after the camp ended, Smith committed to the Arizona Wildcats. While the selection did not come as a surprise for the Vegas native, the timing might have caught some off guard. Given the lengthy recovery for a torn ACL, Smith will most likely begin to start testing his knee out next spring before heading to Tucson. Before his injury, Smith was strongest attacking the basket and finishing at the rim. With a smoothness to his game, Smith always seemed under control and his jump shot was getting more consistent at every showing. It might be hard for Smith to be 100% come the start of his freshman year due to the injury, but Arizona landed a top notch player for the future.

MVP:

 

Brandon Ingram, 6’8”, SF, Kingston (NC), 2015

Ingram - Growing Up In Chicago

Did the light finally come on for Brandon Ingram? Judging from his play in Chicago, the answer is a resounding yes. Just several weeks ago, Ingram looked lethargic and lacked aggressiveness during the NBPA Top 100 camp. That changed quickly on Thursday when he took his defender off the dribble for a left hand lay-up to kick things off. Soon the long armed Ingram was hitting three’s, attacking off the pick and roll, and posting up smaller defenders. He had a great Thursday before coming back to earth on Friday, but then scored 26 points on 10-16 shooting against Jaylen Brown and then ended the camp with 22 points on 10-13 shooting in the all-star game. During the week Ingram averaged 14.3 points while shooting 9-18 from the three point line. Once primarily a top recruit for the schools in North Carolina, Ingram now has the attention of Louisville, Kansas, and Kentucky.

Top Nine: 

Chase Jeter, 6’10”, PF, Bishop Gorman (NV), 2015

Chase Jeter has slowly risen up the rankings over the past year and he is not done yet. The five-star power forward got off to a rough start on Thursday, but started to dominate in front of Coach K and the Duke coaching staff on Friday and Saturday. Jeter put together several double-doubles and multiple 20 point games while outplaying Carlton Bragg in their head to head match-up. With his increased strength, Jeter was able to bang down low while also using his footwork in the post for short shots over his right shoulder. Jeter also ran the floor and blocked shots on the defensive end. He averaged 16 points and eight rebounds per game. Given the amount of attention paid to him from the Duke staff, it’s hard to see him heading anywhere other than Durham.

Jaylen Adams, 6’2”, PG, Cushing Academy (MA) 2015

Kevin Ollie should enjoy coaching the uber explosive Jaylen Adams in Storrs. The talented point guard did not put up eye popping scoring numbers, but he did have several games with nine assists. Adams is a sight to see in the open court and can finish with the best of them. He has a good handle and first step which allows him to get in the lane almost at will. Defensively, Adams has great lateral movement and is a shot blocking threat on the break as he perfectly timed several lay-up attempts by opponents throughout the week.

Tony Bradley Jr., 6’9.5”, PF, Barstow (FL), 2016

Used to playing against Nike kids on the EYBL AAU circuit, Bradley Jr. adapted quickly to the new competition. In his first game, Bradley Jr. scored 20 points on 10-15 shooting and eventually earned a starting spot in the underclassmen all-star game. For the camp, the Florida product averaged 14 points per game on 60% shooting. He runs the floor with a purpose which usually led to several lay-ups or dunks during the course of a game and he also possesses a soft touch on his jump shot or his hook shot. Bradley Jr. will need to work on his explosiveness under the basket, but for now his play earned him several looks from schools outside of Florida and the Southeast. He averaged 15.3 points while shooting over 65%.

Maverick Rowan, 6’7”, SF, Lincoln Park (PA), 2016

One of the words often overheard to describe Rowan’s game this past week was smooth. The lanky small forward had a sweet looking jump shot that routinely found the bottom of the net. The future Pitt Panther also showed an ability to finish at the rim on drives and hit the one dribble pull-up. Rowan hit several three’s in the all-star game to finish with 12 points. While most players were dead after the four day event, Rowan immediately went over to the side court to work on his game until the camp came to a close.

Deng Adel, 6’6”, SF, Rock Prep (FL), 2015

Always under the watchful eye of Rick Pitino or a Louisville assistant it came as no surprise that small forward Deng Adel committed quickly after camp. Adel put together an extremely efficient camp performance and played with a high motor throughout with the ability to rattle off six to eight points in a row before the opponent knew what hit it. A blur on the break, Adel also displayed a soft touch on his jump shot inside the arc. He was extremely comfortable from about 15-17 feet out on the right baseline and also routinely beat his man off the dribble. 

Jaylen Brown, 6’7”, SF, Wheeler (GA), 2015

Brown is the top small forward in the country and while he struggled on Thursday and early on Friday, he used his upper body strength and speed to turn things around. He went for 26 on Friday night in one of the most dominant performances of the week. A high level leaper, Brown averaged 16 ppg during camp and was always a tough cover on the offensive end. 

Kobi Simmons, 6’5”, PG, (GA), 2016

The tall, lanky junior point guard was impossible to keep out of the lane and out of the scoring book. With a strong handle, Simmons constantly beat his defender off the dribble and scored at the rim whether in the half court of fast break setting. He led the camp in scoring at 16.5 points per game but also kept his teammates involved leaving them with pinpoint passes at the basket. Simmons received an offer from Kansas subsequent to camp and will be one of the most sought after point guards going forward. Given his height, he will also be on the NBA radar for the next few years.

TJ Leaf, 6’8”, PF, Foothills Christian (CA), 2016

TJ Leaf lived up to his top 10 ranking this week going 26-39 from the floor over a three day span. The California junior always seemed to be in the right place at the right time and displayed his versatility on the perimeter and in the post. He knocked down three’s when he had the chance and finished at the rim over defenders using his long arms or a crafty reverse lay-up. Leaf is a solid athlete but has room for improvement in his lateral quickness and leaping ability to make the next step. Even so, there were plenty of Pac 12 schools in hot pursuit of Leaf this past week and Louisville offered a scholarship after their viewings.

Kenneth Nwuba, 7’0”, (MS), 2018

One of only two rising freshmen at the camp, Nwuba impressed with his coordination and defensive ability. Nwuba is a lanky athlete that has a quick first jump. His offensive skill in the post is quite raw at this point, but he is seriously advanced on the defensive end which led to the youngster earning a spot in the underclassmen all-star game.

Other Notes:

Junior point guard Peyton Pritchard was impressive in the underclassmen all-star game on Sunday. He shifted speeds constantly keeping his defender off balance and had his jump shot working from all areas of the court. After a strong start, Pritchard’s shot started to slide on Saturday. The 6’0” Oregon point guard spent about an hour on Saturday working on his shot and the hard work paid off with 15 points in the all-star game and 3-4 from the three point line. Pritchard is also a hot commodity in the recruiting world with coaches from the PAC 12, Big 10, and Big 12 after him. Recently Pritchard made unofficial visits to Wisconsin and Indiana.

UA Summer Jam: Day 2 Recap

Two days down in Mequon, Wisconsin for the UA Summer Jam and this time the 16U age group got to share the main stage at Homestead High School. On Day 1, the who’s who of college basketball filled the bleachers to watch Cliff Alexander take on Myles Turner and while several big time match-ups occurred it was the young kids that drew the coaches in the morning.

Top Players (16U):

Diamond Stone, 6’10”, 2015, PF/C, Young Legends

photo from NY2LA Sports

One of the top players in the class of 2015 drew the most attention early in the morning on Day 2. For Stone’s game against Dream Vision, he had head coaches such as Roy Williams, Rick Pitino, Tom Izzo, Travis Ford, Buzz Williams, and Bo Ryan front and center. Stone flashed his skills for the coaches and while he struggled at times he still finished with 22 points. He scored off put-backs, on the break, and in post-up situations. While Stone dropped weight this spring, he still has his strength which allows him to overpower opponents in a graceful manner. He didn’t connect on his jump shots in the first game, but nailed a three in his second game against DC Assault. One area that Stone will need to continue to fine as he continues to play in the 16U age group relates to his concentration. He missed on four dunks during the day which should not happen with a player his size and athletic ability. Despite the misses, all of the coaches were imagining how good he would look suiting up for them in two years.

Ray Smith, 6’6”, 2015, G, LV Prospects

In the first game of the day, Smith had UNLV head coach Dave Rice front and center at 8am along with a variety of other west coast schools. Smith is a long and lean wing player with a high arching shot. He didn’t waste any time as he nailed a three to start the game en route to seven first half points. In the second half, Smith helped spur a comeback from double digits with his all around play. He grabbed key rebounds and also dished to cutting teammates when he wasn’t too busy driving to the basket. He had a key assist off of penetration in the remaining seconds of the game before the opponent forced overtime. Smith is a talented wing that can do a little bit of everything and a guy that all the west coast schools would love to have.

Daquan Bracey, 5’11”, 2016, PG, Baltimore’s Finest

Bracey is a jet quick guard that wanted the ball in his hands even though he was the youngest player on the team. He made his mark early on coming off the bench with his quick first step and ability to get by defenders off the dribble. He hit one three in the first half but then turned up his play which led to increased playing time. After a basket by the LV Prospects which put them up two with five seconds left, Bracey went coast to coast for a right handed lay-up that sent the game into overtime. He eventually miss-fired on a three pointer to put the game into a second overtime, but one has to admire his cojones. 

Kani Coles, 6’6”, 2015, SF, Baltimore’s Finest

Playing forward for Baltimore, Coles attacked the offensive boards throughout the game. In the first half he scored 10 points with six of them coming off offensive put-backs. On all the put-backs Coles flew through the air for the rebound before tipping the ball in or going back up for a contested lay-up. He continued his domination on the glass in the second half and created many additional scoring opportunities for his team.  

John Davis, 6’2”, G, 2015, DC Assault

DC Assault went 2-0 on the day with Davis playing a huge role as a key scorer. The combo guard was explosive and strong with the basketball and mixed in outside shots with athletic drives to the basket. In both games, Davis went for double digit points and kept the defense off balance all day long. Upon penetration, if Davis did not have a lay-up he also had enough court vision to find the open man for a lay-up.

Leroy Butts, 6’7”, F, 2015, DC Assault

The senior to be at Bishop O’Connell was the leader of the DC Assault team and led through his stellar play in both the morning and afternoon games. The lanky left-hander showed a smooth touch on his jump shot and excelled in knocking down anything within 15 feet. He also could score in the post and often caused problems on the defensive end when he guarded the other team’s center. The DC Assault team had a variety of east coast college’s at their games with Butts being a major recipient of their attention. 

Nick Blair, 6’4”, SF, 2015, Dream Vision

In an early morning loss to Diamond Stone and the Young Legends, Nick Blair was one of the bright spots for the west coast based AAU team. Blair combined his leaping ability and strength to score off drives to the basket. He also showed off an outside shot connecting on two three pointers. Overall, Blair finished with 18 points and was a tough wing to contain.

Players of Interest (17U):

Daryl Gaynor, 6’2”, 2014, G, LV Prospects

A combo guard out of Nevada, Gaynor played a key role in two wins for the Las Vegas Prospects. His key attribute is his quickness which he showcased frequently in transition. In an up-tempo first game, Gaynor pushed the pace and knifed his way to the basket. In his second game, Gaynor continued to push the pace and put defenders back on their heels. Against Team Loaded – NC, Gaynor went off for 24 points on 10-17 shooting.

TJ Haws, 6’3”, 2014, G, LV Prospects

Gaynor’s back court mate in the two wins was TJ Haws, the star from Lone Peak. With Gaynor pushing the pace, Haws was able to slide over to his more natural shooting guard position. Haws scored 13 points in the first game on 5-8 shooting and 14 points in the second game on 5-10 shooting. During the games he used several basket cuts for right and left handed lay-ups while also draining several smooth looking outside shots. 

DJ Wilson, 6’8”, 2014, SF, Team Superstar

In the morning session against the LV Prospects, DJ Wilson had the college coaches buzzing with his play. Standing at 6’8” with a skinny frame, Wilson showed off a text book jump shot and went 3-3 from behind the line in a strong first half performance. His shot was smooth and effortless with range several feet behind the arc. When pressured Wilson used a pump fake to drive to the basket and finished with a soft floater. A Sacramento native, Wilson could see his stock start to rise after his first game in the tournament.

The Headliner:

Similar to Day 1, there were two top notch individual match-ups going on at the same time. Unfortunately coaches had to choose one or the other as the Cliff Alexander vs. Karl Towns Jr. match up was going on in a side gym, while the Myles Turner vs. Kevon Looney match-up was going on in the main gym. 

Both Turner and Looney had their moments in their match-up, but it was the 5’7” Demontrae Jefferson that stole the show and helped lead his Milwaukee Rebels team to a win. While super athletic, Jefferson can often play out of control and force shots from all over the court. For the most part that wasn’t the case as he went 11-21 for 23 points and dished out six assists. Jefferson got out on the break and finished at the rim time and time again and also ran the pick and roll with Looney and other teammates leaving them with pin point passes for easy baskets. Looney finished 13 points and eight rebounds while Turner scored nine points to go along with nine rebounds. Looney’s offense came primarily off drives to the basket and shots down low, while Turner hit a deep jump shot and turnaround over Looney to go along with two baskets down low. The coaches came for the big men, but were instead treated to highlights from Jefferson.

Other Notes:

Joe Burton scored in the 30’s again as he went for 31 points on 12-20 shooting.

The Utah Prospects put on a rare performance in the afternoon holding ISTI Elite from Houston scoreless in the first half. At halftime, the Prospects had a 28-0 lead behind the shooting of Brekkott Chapman and Jared Stutzman. ITSI featured center Tacko Fall who was listed at 7’5.” He went 1-3 from the field in a 48-12 ball game.