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.