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| Wednesday, February 7 |
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| Strong crop of recruits at Mullen camp By Mark Mayemura and David Benezra Special to ESPN.com | |||
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High school recruits weren't the only college prospects on display during the recent July NCAA open-evaluation period.
At least, that's why head coaches like Gene Keady (Purdue), Billy Bayno (UNLV), Eddie Sutton (Oklahoma), Steve Robinson (Florida State), Kelvin Sampson (Oklahoma), Bill Self (Illinois), Jim Wooldridge (Kansas State) and John Brady (LSU) were in Tulsa, Okla., in late July. The aforementioned, as well as more than 300 other college head coaches and assistants, were on campus at Oral Roberts University for the ninth annual Jerry Mullen All-Star Review, the best showcase of junior-college talent in the country.
Mullen, considered by many as the country's foremost junior-college scout, attracted an overflow of talent to his camp. "This was probably my best camp ever," says Mullen. "We just had so much size there. Of the 360 campers, 165 were between 6-5 and 7-1. And we had so much athleticism, too."
Of the 230 rising sophomores on display, Mullen estimates that more than 150 were definitely going to be playing on the Division I level next year. Mullen even had 25 campers there who had exhausted their community-college eligibility but were looking to hook on immediately with a four-year school in September.
Six NBA scouts were in attendance -- scurrying between the four adjacent courts at ORU -- trying to evaluate the next Ernest Brown or Cory Hightower, the two junior-college players who made the jump this June directly from community college to the NBA draft. Brown was drafted by the Miami Heat, while Hightower was drafted by Orlando and then traded to the Lakers.
Here's a look at some of the top performers at Jerry Mullen's All-Star Review, along with some quotes from Mullen:
A highly touted high school star (Central HS/East Chicago, Ind.) who had a great season last year for Barton head coach Ryan Wolf, Baker is a big-time scoring machine.
Jerry Mullen: "What a player! He's so athletic and so good at scoring ... he can score from just about anywhere on the floor. ... Baker lives on the rim ... he's so long body-wise, he does so many things and scores in so many ways ... he had a great camp!" A good high school player (Moreno Valley HS/Moreno Valley, Calif.) who has matured and emerged in junior college, Beasley had an impressive Mullen camp. Jerry Mullen: "He's strong, rebounds well ... runs the floor ... has the ability to score from inside and outside ... nice touch around the basket." A Division I transfer from San Diego State, where he started a few games, Berokoff came to Tulsa to showcase his skills and to step up his recruiting. He's still going to sit out next season, but his outside shooting and toughness earned him several Division I admirers. Jerry Mullen: "He played really well here, I liked him ... he shoots the ball so well ... I know he'll get a mid- to high-major scholarship. Most anyone could use a shooter like him." Bobbitt, who committed to Florida State in high school, was one of the top shooting guards in high school (Mainland HS/Daytona Beach, Fla.). He has been considered a major talent for quite a while. He'll play two seasons at CSI, but there were still plenty of interested onlookers at the Tulsa camp. Jerry Mullen: "A talent ... he can really shoot it ... Bobbitt can play all three perimeter spots ... skilled, athletic ... has a nice stroke with a good handle." A St. Louis native, Brown is a solid big man who can contribute at the next level. Among the rumored early leaders are Iowa State, Nebraska, Tulsa, Iowa and Long Beach State. Inside scoop: Don't count out Long Beach, which has Ronnie Dean, one of the top assistant coach recruiters of JC talent around (plus, Dean, a native of St. Louis, is always a favorite for a top prospect out of his hometown). Jerry Mullen: "He's a load in the paint ... he's got great mitts and he finishes strongly around the hoop ... he's got a soft shooting touch." A former Pittsburgh recruit, Brown is a native of Washington, D.C., who has been known in recruiting circles for quite a while. Was destined for New Mexico where one of his former travel team coaches (Troy Weaver) was on the staff, but all bets are off now since Weaver has relocated to Syracuse. With the recruiting race wide open, Brown's coach at Seward, Dave Brown, has fielded plenty of phone calls from colleges. The most interested schools at this stage are UNLV, UNC-Charlotte, Providence, Rhode Island, Kansas State and Wichita State. Jerry Mullen: "Jamal's a warrior ... very aggressive around the basket, tough inside the paint ... a good athlete ... he hits the boards and gets a lot done." A native of Milwaukee, Chapman is a small point guard who plays with intelligence. He was impressive in Tulsa with his sound, fundamental play. North Carolina-Wilmington, Utah State, Wichita State and Southeast Missouri State are recruiting him the hardest right now Jerry Mullen: "A really good player ... a point guard who knows how to run the show ... has toughness ... defends ... very quick and athletic... makes good decisions." A slashing small forward with big-time leaping ability, Dupree got good playing time last season at CSI. USC, New Mexico, Duquesne, Iowa State, UTEP, San Jose State and Xavier are among the more interested parties. Jerry Mullen: "He's a big-time athlete ... really plays over the rim ... he'll dunk on anyone ... and he can shoot the ball, too." Eze has a tremendous upper body and plays with verticality. A very athletic runner-jumper, Eze, who originally committed to Louisville, plays with the Nigerian National Team. Although he's got two years to play at CSI, Eze -- whose nickname is "The Helicopter" -- is already being recruited by North Carolina State, Duquesne, New Mexico, Iowa State, Oklahoma, Utah, UNLV, USC and a host of others. Eze has a wingspan of 7 feet, 6 inches. Jerry Mullen: " A talent, he's mobile and has a great body. He's a big-time shot-blocker with an NBA body. He's still a little raw from an offensive standpoint, but Derek (Derek Zeck, CSI head coach) is a good coach and Eze will continue to improve. He reminds me of a young Mutombo." A strong, muscled athlete out of the Bay Area's St. Joe's program (St. Joseph HS/Alameda, Calif.), Blandon Ferguson started on last year's CSI team that made it to the national championships in Hutchinson, Kan. An all-Conference pick as a freshman, Ferguson is getting plenty of college attention. North Carolina-Charlotte, San Jose State, Iowa State, Duquesne and UTEP are among the interested schools. Jerry Mullen: "He's an explosive, big, strong player, who is a strong slasher to the bucket ... he's a good mid-range shooter ... Ferguson plays hard and he's a tough defensive matchup for a guard." Gardener will graduate this year and have three years of Division I eligibility. A native of Detroit (Cooley HS), Gardener established himself at the Mullen camp as one of the top junior college point guards. Jerry Mullen: "Gardener is quicker than quick ... made very good decisions ... he's a very good passer with a solid handle ... can shoot the ball, too." A transfer from Lamar, Holden scored 15 points as a Lamar freshman against Duke in the NCAA Tournament last spring. Holden had a good showing at the Mullen All-Star Review. He's a combo who can play straight point guard or look to score if needed. The early leaders for Holden are Louisiana Tech, Utah State and Arkansas-Little Rock. Jerry Mullen: "This kid really played well ... Holden is really quick ... can really score ... solid handle and he's unselfish, looks to pass." A transfer from Eastern Kentucky, this Michigan native has been getting rave reviews this summer. We've heard reports that Kansas State coach Jim Wooldridge was closely monitoring his play. Jerry Mullen: "Sam's got a complete game. He's got a big old body and he's very skilled ... he's a player. He's tough in the post ... or can step out and shoot it ... he'd be an impact player at a high major conference, like the Big Ten." A major talent, this Milwaukee native starred as a freshman for coach Brian Ostermann's Colby College program. House turned quite a few heads in Tulsa with some exciting dunks, and more than 25 colleges have called coach Osterman since House's play at the Mullen Review. Nebraska, Minnesota, Kansas, Kansas State, South Alabama, Wichita State, Louisiana Tech and Utah State are showing plenty of interest. Jerry Mullen: "A big-time athlete! ... Unbelievable leaping ability ... he can really get to the hoop ... has shown improved ability to knock down the mid-range jumper ... improved stroke and range to go along with super athleticism." Ike had his moments as a freshman on last season's national championship team, but didn't get the lion's share of minutes. He will get plenty of time this season. Look for him to put up impressive numbers. Jerry Mullen: "Very athletic ... he can really score ... tough off the dribble ... shoots it and can create his own shot." A transfer from San Diego State who started every game for the Aztecs last season, Jackson is a highly thought of speedster who excels at pushing the break, penetrating and creating for his teammates and running the show. He's also known as a strong defender. By the end of the season, Jackson will have his pick of top schools. Jerry Mullen: "He could easily be the top point guard in junior-college basketball. I like him a lot ... he's a true point guard who can really run a team. I love the way he controls the tempo ... he does a great job of distributing the ball on what could be one of the best junior college teams ever. Southern Idaho is loaded and he'll be a major factor in their success." A transfer from North Texas State, Jackson is a native of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. He's big, strong and knows where to pass the ball. He should make an easy transition to the next level. Jerry Mullen: "A great post-up player, he uses his big body to get position very well ... Jackson posts up strong ... attacks the glass ... he's got a nice turnaround jumper." One of the top wing players in the country, Kilgore had a very good Mullen camp. Purdue head coach Gene Keady seemed to be paying special attention to his game. Jerry Mullen: "Has a great body ... athletic, a 2-3 swingman ... shoots it well ... Kilgore can put it on the floor and take it to the basket ... shoots with good range ... another big-time prospect." Madison, who hails from Alabama, had previously committed to Indiana out of high school. He's still very close with Indiana assistant coach Mike Davis and it appears likely that they'll be reunited soon. Still, there were plenty of admirers at the Mullen All-Star Review. Jerry Mullen: "He's a 6-9, 225-pound athlete with skills. Kei's very skilled. He's got a chance to be a special player. He can put it on the floor and get to the rack." A good high school player (Lincoln HS/San Diego, Calif.), who has blossomed in the junior-college ranks into a much better collegiate prospect. He opened quite a few eyes here with his performance and should have plenty of college suitors. One coach who seemed to be visibly impressed by McGuire was UNLV coach Bill Bayno. Jerry Mullen: "He's really improved from the middle of last season ... he has gotten much stronger and his confidence is booming ... he's going to be a player ... think Marcus Camby with more skills ... really athletic, really skilled ... shoots it and can get to the rack." Another member of the Nigerian National Team, Okafor started last season for Southern Idaho's Hutchinson-bound Golden Eagles. He has a wingspan of 7 feet, 7 inches, and according to one former NBA coach, "he runs the floor like a deer." Was impressive at the adidas/ABCD Camp workouts, where NBA and college coaches swarmed to watch his play. Okafor is being recruited by North Carolina State, Utah, Memphis, UNLV, Florida State, Duquesne, Xavier, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma. Jerry Mullen: "Okafor is such a force with that long wingspan of his ... He's athletic, he's strong and he attacks the glass, a true low post player ... And he's a strong shot blocker, too. ... His defense and rebounding are ahead of his offense, but he's a big-time talent." A Polish import, Storozynski is coming off a good freshman season. All the big name schools in Tulsa were all over him after watching him play. Has a nice outside stroke. Jerry Mullen: "This kid does a lot of different things ... he's got a big, strong body and he's very mobile ... really rebounds the ball ... he's very skilled and has especially strong skills for someone who's 6-8 ... he runs the floor ... can step outside and shoot the ball." Ward arguably had the biggest camp of anyone. Although he has played only two years of organized ball, and played on a weak squad last season at Sandburg that won fewer than five games, the Flint (Mich.) native got his "A" game together in Tulsa and his name spread like wildfire in the camp. He recently got his Associate of Arts degree from Sandburg and he's immediately eligible to play Division I this coming season. He had no fewer than 25 Division I schools offering him a scholarship after his play at Mullen. Jerry Mullen: "Now this is a great story ... spending less than 72 hours in Tulsa and he goes from having nothing to being seriously recruited by more than 20 schools ... really athletic ... and he shoots it ... he's a small forward who can handle the ball and stroke it from the wing ... really nice kid, too!" Washington is living proof of what a great camp can do for a player. He sat out at Barton last season after spending a couple of weeks at Howard JC in Texas (where Barton assistant coach Lou Gudino previously worked and recruited him). Think of former Ohio State star Chris Jent, but with a better stroke. Jerry Mullen: "Wow, did he blow up at the camp ... all it took was one game and he went from a relative unknown to one of the hottest names in camp ... a lefty with a big-time stroke and deep range ... a skilled small forward ... he's got some bounce and good skills with the ball ... really raised his stock!" Mark Mayemura and David Benezra cover the college basketball recruiting scene, both high school and junior college recruiting, at the Recruiting USA (www.recruitingusa.com) website. | |
ALSO SEE Recruiting: Higher profile Trojan hoops Recruiting: Will Kuqo follow Self? Updated list of top basketball recruits Recruiting: A look into the future Recruiting: Adidas shows its depth Recruiting: Still Dajuan Recruiting: Chandler an early star at Nike | |
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