One item definitely not missing from Najeeb Echols' game is confidence.

The senior-to-be at Whitney-Young High (Chicago, Ill.) unabashedly calls himself "The best player in my class", but after a co-MVP showing at the National Basketball Players Association Camp at American University (Washington, D.C.) this past week, the 6-foot-7, 220-pounder may have a point.

Well, 20 to be exact.

	Najeeb Echols is a hot prospect.

While pivot standout and recruitment-darling Eddy Curry, also of Illinois, rode the pine with a sprained ankle he sustained in the opening practice, Echols dominated the camp's tournament action, averaging 20 points, six rebounds and eight assists and playing everywhere from point guard to power forward with equal fluidity. His co-MVP was 6-foot-1 Jefferson High (Portland, Ore.) point guard Aaron Miles.

"He's got to be the fastest-rising guy in his class right now," says Echols' Amateur Athletic Union coach, Stan White, who also coaches Curry. "He's comfortable anywhere on the floor. You have to see him to believe him. This guy could be a top-five [prospect] in a matter of weeks."

In Chicago Public League action at Whitney-Young last season, Echols averaged 20 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists for the Dolphins, who finished as runners-up to Westinghouse High, No. 5 in the final SchoolSports.com National Top-25 poll, in the city championship.

Even so, the NBPA Camp was Echols' first coming-out party amongst predominantly elite competition. In his estimation, he played well on the national summer camp circuit in '99, but with little notoriety.

"I was anticipating this trip a whole lot," says Echols, 17. "I knew what I was capable of doing and I was determined to showcase all my talents. I knew I was going to have a good camp. I've been playing with big-time players all my life. I haven't seen anybody that was better than me or that I couldn't compete with."

Asked to critique his game, Echols said his abilities to "go in and out, push the ball off the defensive rebound and make a play" are his strong suits. He's also pleased to be re-acquiring confidence in his jumper, which despite having range beyond the 3-point arc, he lost a feel for during his junior scholastic season.

"You stop me in one area, I'm going to shine in another," says Echols, who added he wants to "weigh out all my options" regarding a career path after graduation next June, including the 2001 NBA draft. "Keeping that versatility is a key. It's good to see positive stuff about me out there now."