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INDIANAPOLIS -- A roundup of news and notes out of the Nike All-American Camp:
Around the Gym
It doesn't look like touted 6-foot-8 rising junior Al Jefferson (Prentiss H.S./Prentiss, Miss.) is going to make it to the Nike All-American Camp. The early word was that he was going to show up on Sunday, but he was a no show. Todd Kelly, reporter for the Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss., told us that he heard that Jefferson was tired from playing in a national AAU tournament and might not be coming to Indy. Another rumor that started making the rounds Sunday night was that Jefferson may have defected to the rival adidas ABCD Camp in New Jersey later this week.
Good news and bad news for Nike regarding the battle for the nation's top players with adidas. The Stewart twins decided to attend Nike this summer
(after going to adidas ABCD last summer), but Lodrick (the lefty) has tendonitis in his knee, keeping him at home in Seattle, rehabbing. His other
half, Rodrick is in camp and he's been playing well.
Injury Report: One of the nation's top recruits, 6-8 Brian Randle (Notre Dame H.S./Peoria, Ill.), sprained his ankle on the first night of camp
and is doubtful to play for the rest of Nike. ... 6-10 Jermareo Davidson (Stone Mountain H.S./Stone Mountain, Ga.) also hurt his ankle and watched
games from the bench. Davidson, who is walking on crutches, is out for the rest of camp. ... Six-foot point guard Brandon Cotton (DePorres H.S./Detroit), an early verbal to Michigan State, is hurt and not in camp.
Who Looked Good
Jeremy Case (McAlester H.S./McAlester, Okla.): An early verbal by Case to Kansas raised eyebrows, however Case, while a bantamweight (weighed by Nike at
154 pounds), is quick, shoots it, smart and makes good decisions.
A camp teammate of Case's, Blake Ahearn (DeSmet Jesuit H.S./St. Louis, Mo.) is the hottest jump-shooter in camp right now. Nike is saving net maintenance money
on their camp budget as Ahearn continues to dust the nets on every basket he shoots at.
Derrick Caracter (St. Patrick's H.S./Elizabeth, N.J.): The spelling of his name proves that he's no character actor, this Caracter has superstar
appeal. Listed at 6-9, 286, Caracter will be a freshman this fall. Has the size of a baby-Shaq, but showed equal ability to play inside and outside
as he finishes an incredible play that he started on the right wing, using his
off-hand (left hand), he took two dribbles to his left and finished the play
at the rim. Also shows very nice shooting form and touch. Caracter already
shows his ability to be the leading man in the Class of 2006.
C.J. Anderson (Cincinnati, Ohio): Anderson is relentlessly in motion, constantly attacking
the glass at both ends, constantly running the floor and never takes a break.
As a result, Anderson is in every play. The 6-6 athlete is a very good
slasher off the dribble. He is a garbage man-par excellence. Oops,
sanitation engineer. Anderson makes a lofty living off of garbage, a la Tony
Soprano.
Daniel Gibson (Jessie James H.S./Houston, Texas): The 6-2 rising
junior displayed why he is one of the very best players in the Class of 2004,
regardless of decision. Playing the point, Gibson looked like he could be
working for IBM, the way he ran the offense with efficiency. "Gibby" just
takes care of business, doesn't mess around, doesn't force the action, yet, he
can make plays. His sweet deep stroke just opens up the floor for him.
Diminutive Dez Willingham (DeSoto H.S./DeSoto, Texas), the early verbal to
Kansas State, out-dueled Wake Forest-bound Chris Paul (Clemmons H.S./West
Forsyth, N.C.) in showing a great feel for the game. The 5-9 Willingham
has poise on the floor, an excellent jump shot and he finds open teammates.
Paul Milsap (Gramling H.S./Grambling, La.): This undersized (measured 6-6
barefoot at Nike) power forward, knows what he's good at -- jumping and putting
the ball in the basket from 5-feet and in. He's a dunker, finisher deluxe
with good footwork in the paint.
Marquie Cooke (Nansemond River H.S./Suffolk, Va.): This 6-3 rising junior is one of the stronger off-guard prospects
in his class. He has a great frame, he can push the ball in the open floor and takes strong rides to the basket. And Cooke can definitely shoot the
ball.
Who Didn't Look Good
While you see the talent in Chris Paul, the 5-11 point guard from North
Carolina, and while he hasn't played poorly, he doesn't seem to be in sync
with his teammates. As a result, he looks a little unsure of himself when
trying to find people. Look for Paul, who is one of the better point guards
in the Class of 2003, to finish with a strong camp.
Matt Causey (Berkmar H.S./Lilburn, Ga.): Looks fine when dribbling and giving up the ball early, but
when pressured, looks like a rabbit being chased by the hounds. Causey, who verballed early to Georgetown, needs to make better decisions under pressure.
Harrison Schaen (Mater Dei H.S./Santa Ana, Calif.): Schaen has matured over the
years and is showing more toughness, but the result seems to be that he takes
more falls than Steve O in a weekend marathon of MTV's Jackass. He wasn't get
much done out there Sunday night.
Another player who is struggling is Colin Falls (Loyola Academy/Chicago, Ill.). The 6-foot-3 shooting guard seems to have caught a case of turnoveritis—whenever a defender is within arm's reach of Falls on the dribble, he gives the ball up.
David Benezra and Mark Mayemura cover the national college basketball recruiting scene. E-mail at: hoopsusa@mindspring.com or call (818) 783-2244 or (818) 783-2212 for subscription information.
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