The purpose of the NBPA Top 100 Camp is to help in the development of the world's elite high school-aged basketball players and give them a taste of what it is like to play in the NBA. The NBA is an exclusive group (there has been less than 5,000 NBA players all-time since the league's inception) and this exclusive camp, held annual at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla., has featured some of the biggest names in basketball over the past 30 years, from the likes of Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards, Jaylen Brunson, Kyrie Irving and James Harden, plus a plethora of other future pros.

There is no doubt plenty from the 2024 crop of 110 campers will one day play in the NBA, but for now it was all about competing, learning and getting better, not to mention performing well in front of scouting representatives of every NBA team and hundreds of college coaches.

There was roughly 11 players on each of the camp's 10 teams coached by current or just retired NBA players going through a coaching mentorship program put on by the NBPA. The four-day camp was also one of attrition, as the participants play NBA regulation length games with NBA rules and on the last two days of the camp, each team played three games in a seven-hour period.

When the dust settled, the Houston Rockets team used balance and teamwork to post a 9-0 record, the last one a 120-119 championship game victory over a New York Knicks team that came into the contest 6-2. It was actually the Rockets' second victory over the Knicks, as they beat that team to start off the camp's final day, 106-101, in a competitive game. Even though the Rockets were no stranger to the attrition themselves, they did a good job of taking quality shots, hitting their free throws in seven of nine games, and making timely 3-pointers, particularly by 6-foot-5 2025 (rising senior) point guard Brayden Burries of Roosevelt (Eastvale, Calif.) and 6-foot-8 2025 wing Shon Abaev of Calvary Christian Academy (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.).

The Rockets played the first contest versus the Knicks without Burries, who was arguably the top guard in attendance with his strong frame, powerful drives, timely passing, clutch shot-making and presence. Rockets coach Terrance Mann of the L.A. Clippers had others step up in his absence, as five players scored in double figures with two more on the 10-man roster going for nine points. Mike Williams, a 6-foot-1 2025 guard from Jackson Academy (Miss.) and the son of former NBA guard and Jackson State coach Mo Williams, particularly stepped up with 16 points, including 2-of-5 3-pointers and 6-of-6 free throws, to go along with six rebounds and four assists. Williams' rebounding from the guard position, his instincts on defense and change of pace on offense was a huge lift for Mann all week at camp.

Seven-foot-1 2025 center Malachi Moreno of Great Crossing (Georgetown, Ky.) matched up with all-star selection, 7-foot 2025 Eric Reibe of Bullis School (Washington, D.C.), and came up with a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds. The left-handed Reibe was the most effective player on the court with 25 points, including 3-of-6 3-pointers, and added six rebounds and two assists. Reibe has a terrific feel and plays a style similar to former Kansas great Raef LaFrentz but with more shooting range and more ground covering. Six-foot-8, 250-pound 2025 Zymicah Wilkins of Christ School (Arden, N.C.) had a great impact in both games versus the Rockets with his power game, motor and relentlessness in crunch time. Wilkins finished the first contest with 17 points.

Burries returned for the eighth game, one in which Houston jumped out to a 29-10 lead over the Indian Pacers and never looked back in a 106-96 victory. He finished with 17 points, five rebounds and five assists. Moreno led seven in double figures with 19 points and eight rebounds. The center made all five of his free throws, but the rest of the Rockets were 8-of-18 in that second to last game.

After shooting so well from the charity stripe in its first seven games, that performance was an omen for the final game, as weary free throw legs and the never-say-die attitude of the Knicks kept them in the championship contest in the second half after trialing by as many as 19 points early. The Rockets were without Elijah Williams, a 6-foot-6 2026 (rising junior) wing out of Brother Rice (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) and the son of Detroit Pistons head coach Monty Williams, for the final two games and without Mike Williams in the championship rematch, but gutted out the one-point victory after building a 64-50 halftime lead by coming up with a defensive stop after Burries missed a free throw (worth two points) with under five seconds remaining in the game.

Reibe hurt the Rockets, in the first contest, but was neutralized more in the rematch, finishing with 14 points and five rebounds while not attempting a shot from 3-point range. Moreno matched him with 11 points and 10 rebounds, as he finished the camp with three triple doubles while missing another by just one rebound. Moreno is a team-oriented player with a great pace and understanding of the game and once he gets into his offensive move and makes his decisions on the block quicker, he's going to be an excellent college player. While Reibe was kept in check, the Rockets simply had no answer for Wilkins in the rematch, as he kept his team in it with relentless offensive rebounding, tough shot making on the move and even hit a key 3-pointer while the Knicks were making their second half run. He finished with 29 points and 14 rebounds and impressed college coaches and the NBPA Top 100 selection committee with his inspired play.

Burries finished the title game with 24 points, including 4-of-6 3-pointers, despite missing six of 10 free throws. As a team, the fatigued Rockets made 14-of-32 free throws, but dug deep to make 10-of-20 3-pointers. The leading scorer for the victors was 6-foot-1 2025 point guard Acaden Lewis of Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.), who made 4-of-7 3-pointers and finished the title game with 25 points, five rebounds and eight assists. Lewis impressed college coaches with his crafty offensive package, ability to finish in either direction and dominate in the half court, particularly in pick-n-roll sets. The Rockets don't go unbeaten without Lewis' efforts, particularly his 26-point effort in a 117-112 win over a L.A. Lakers team that might have been the camp's second most talented one. He made 4-of-9 3-pointers in that contest and was dominant enough to over the final two days to be selected to the camp's 10-man all-star team.

It's hard to envision the Rockets going unbeaten without the contributions of 6-foot-9 power 2025 forward Sebastian Williams-Adams of St. John's (Houston, Texas) as well. In the win over the L.A. Lakers, he had an incredible 11 offensive rebounds in a 18-point, 12-rebound performance and sealed the win a pass interception and close-out dunk. Twice he came up with a defensive play, steal and dunk to seal a win for his team and joined Burries and Lewis as Rockets players on the camp all-star team. Williams-Adams literally didn't take a bad shot all week and had 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting in the championship game win. Williams-Adams is also a complete defender and for the week shot 61-of-94 (.648) from the field in nine camp games.

Jerry Easter II, a 6-foot-4 2025 shooting guard from La Lumiere who was our top rated performer at the recent Pangos All-American Camp, had 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists for the Rockets in the title game. Easter also contributed key defense and steady ball-handling and didn't force it much when the shots weren't dropping. Six-foot-8 2026 forward Sebastian Wilkins also provided quality defense and good finishing around the rim for Mann's team, 6-foot-10 2025 power forward Trent Steinour of Lake Norman (N.C.) showed potential as a rim-runner and flashes of pop around the rim, while 6-foot-9 2026 center Moustapha Diop of the Walker School (Powder Springs, Ga.) is oozing with potential as a shot blocker and long term impact college player with a bit more seasoning.

"It was a great opportunity to be able to coach these guys that are eventually going to be playing against me in a couple years," said Mann. "It was dope to see the high level of competition, and I was amazed by their skill and intelligence. These kids are special and the game is getting better and better."

The camp had talent at all positions, but was dominated by its interior play, as teams made it a point to get its pivots involved in its offensive sets. There was some terrific individual battles, as 46 campers were listed as being 6-foot-8 and taller. When it was completed, 6-foot-10 2025 Chris Cenac of Newman (New Orleans, La.) was named NBPA Top 100 Camp Most Valuable Player. Cenac's combination of fluidity, versatility, size and length made him stand out from a group of highly-regarded campers.

Cenac led the camp in rebounds (11.4) and finished third in blocks (1.6). All-star selection Meleek Thomas of Lincoln Park (Midland, Pa.), the recent Pangos All-American Camp MOP, was third in scoring (22.6) and first in assists (7.3). After winning two state title in Pennsylvania, Thomas recently accounted he'll be spending his senior campaign with Overtime Elite.

The scoring leaders in front of Thomas were 6-foot-5 wing Tounde Yessoufou of St. Joseph (Santa Maria, Calif.) at 23.1 and 6-foot-4 2025 wing Kiyan Anthony of Long Island Lutheran (Glen Head, N.Y.) at 28.5. Anthony is the son of future NBA Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony.

NBPA Top 100 Camp Top 5 Stock Risers
(selected by editor Ronnie Flores)
Phillip Davis Fogle, AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.) 6-8 SF 2025
Acaden Lewis, Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.) 6-1 PG 2025
Deron Rippey Jr., Blair Academy (Blairstown, N.J.) 6-1 PG 2026
Zymicah Wilkins, Christ School (Arden, N.C.) 6-8 PF 2025
Mike Williams, Jackson Academy (Jackson, Miss.) 6-1 CG 2025

NBPA Top 100 Top 5 Rising Juniors
(selected by editor Ronnie Flores)
Tajh Ariza, Westchester (Los Angeles, Calif.) 6-8 SF 2026
Aliou Dioum, Accelerated Schools (Denver, Col.) 6-10 C 2026
Caleb Holt, Buckhorn (New Market, Ala.) 6-4 PG 2026
Jordan Smith, Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) 6-3 SG 2026
Qayden Samuels, Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.) 6-6 SF 2026

2024 NBPA Top 100 Camp All-Star Team
(selected by camp selection committee)
MVP: Chris Cenac, Newman (New Orleans, La.) 6-10 PF 2025
Darius Adams, La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.) 6-4 SG 2025
Kiyan Anthony, Long Island Lutheran (Glen Head, N.Y.) 6-4 SG 2025
Brayden Burries, Roosevelt (Eastvale, Calif.) 6-5 PG 2025
Oswin Erhunmwunse, Putnam Science Academy (Putnam, Conn.) 6-10 C 2025
Acaden Lewis, Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.) 6-1 PG 2025
Eric Reibe, Bullis School (Washington, D.C.) 7-0 C 2025
Qayden Samuels, Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.) 6-6 SF 2026
Meleek Thomas, Lincoln Park (Midland, Pa.) 6-4 SG 2025*
Sebastian Williams-Adams, St. John's (Houston, Texas) 6-9 PF 2025
Tounde Yessoufou, St. Joseph (Santa Maria, Calif.) 6-5 SG 2025

*Meleek Thomas recently announced he will play at Overtime Elite in Atlanta for his senior season.

Editor's Note: Ronnie Flores is a member of the NBPA Top 100 Player Selection Committee.

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at?[email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter:?@RonMFlores

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NBPA Top 100 MVP

Cooper Flagg, Montverde Academy (Fla.) 2025 6’8 Wing
Was the camp MVP as his team won the championship game. Arguably the best player in 2025, Flagg orchestrated a strong week of play, averaging 22 points, nine rebounds, two assists and two blocks a game. He played hard every possession, was a big-time help-side shot blocker and attempted to get any shot that came off the rim. His shooting numbers weren’t the prettiest as we are accustomed to, but he still was able to be productive and ultimately win it all. Cooper is a special talent.

NBPA Top 100 All Star Team

A.J. Dybantsa, Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) 2026 6’7 Wing
Big-time wing prospect that brings a lot to the table. Long arms and explosive but also has great hang-time. He can score it with length on three levels. Led the camp in scoring, averaging 28 ppg. Physicality gave him some problems at times and that’s normal playing a few grades up, but still very advanced for a player his grade and age. It's hard to imagine him staying in high school for three more years.

Cameron Boozer, Columbus (Miami, Fla.) 2025 6’9 PF
Coop or Cam, Cam or Coop. That’s generally the argument of who's No. 1 in the 2025 class, but to me I say just enjoy both for free or paying a grassroots entry fee while we can. Boozer is a strong and skilled front-court player that brings versatility. He was efficient from the field (66 percent), scored inside-out and showed ability to defend out on the perimeter on switches. Averaged 24 ppg, 12 rpg and 3 apg.

V.J. Edgecomb, Long Island Lutheran (Glen Head, N.Y.) 2024 6’5 Guard
Athletic, tough and has improved as a scorer and shooter. Gets downhill to finish with the best of them. Defends with physicality and shows lateral explosion. One of my favorite players to watch in the 2024 class, although he didn't play a majority of the camp games here. Versatile and impacts games in multiple ways.

Jayden Quaintance, Overtime Elite (Ga.) 2025 6’9 C
Enjoyed the progression Quaintance has made in the past year and he really stepped up here. He’s young for his class, so it’ll take time to fulfill his huge ceiling but he has a freakish length which allows him to secure rebounds and block shots. He's also finishing better around the rim. Flashed a promising mid-range jumper that one day will be consistent from three. Was the best big man performer at the camp and was in contention for camp MVP.

Darius Acuff, Cass Tech (Detroit, Mich.) 2025 6’2 Hybrid Guard
This kid popped out onto the national scene this spring after a strong high school campaign. A confident hybrid guard that can score it in bunches (24.8 ppg). Changes speeds and direction well with the ball in his hands. Even when defenders play the drive, he’ll knock down enough threes to keep the opponent honest. Strong finisher at the rim and perhaps his best asset is he’s a competitor.

Derik Queen, Montverde Academy (Fla.) 2024 6’9 PF
A load in the paint. Skilled big man with good passing feel even if it doesn’t show in the assist column all the time. Uses his large frame and terrific footwork to create space with his back to the basket or facing up. Queen finished up the camp averaging an impressive 18 ppg and 10 rpg while shooting 65 percent from the field.

Darryn Peterson, Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy (Ohio) 2025 6’5 PG
Lead guard with good positional size. Balances scoring and passing well. Peterson got to the rim, showcased a nice mid-range pull-up, as he’s a precise passer off the live dribble. Defended on ball well and intercepted the passing lanes (led camp in steals with 2.2 spg). Strong overall stat-line with 15 ppg, 5 rpg, 3 apg, 2.2 spg and a high end motor.

Bryson Tucker, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) 2025 6’6 SG
Guard with good positional size as a two-man. Polished offensive game and can make tough shots versus length. Good balance and control when operating off the bounce. Just was smooth in the way he orchestrated his scoring performance as he finished the camp averaging 19 ppg.

Bryson Tiller, Overtime Elite (Ga.) 2025 6’8 PF
Holds a lot of translatable physical tools. Length, size and power stands out as a true 4-man in the mold of former Maryland and NBA standout Buck Williams. Had a very strong output at the camp, averaging 15 ppg, 7.8 rpg on 48 percent shooting.

Khani Rooths, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) 2024 6’7 SF
Displayed an array of ways to score with his size. Grabbing rebounds and initiating offense as a primary ball handler, he operated comfortably on the wing looking to score. Has an athletic, sturdy frame. It was the best I’ve seen him play in a while and with the size and skill-set, if he can put it all together, he’ll be a big-time mismatch guy at the next level.

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Approximately 120 of the top high school players from across the nation and beyond are participating this week at the NBPA Top 100 Camp. As part of the new NCAA sanctioned live period, this prestigious camp was open for viewing for NCAA Division I coaches, as well as NBA scouts.

The prevailing thought was, with the presence of college coaches,  camp games would be as crisp and well-played as they have in recent memory. With the combination of the camp's highly-regarded coaches and emphasis on teamwork and post play, many expected an upgrade from th game play over previous summer camps, including the Pangos All-American Camp held in Southern California two weeks ago. While some well-respected national scouts were disappointed and made their feeling known on social media, to us the camp's games didn't seem much different than in year's past and were what we expected: a high level of play and sloppiness at times.

Bottom line is, the presence of college coaches can't magically change the way elite high school players approach camp games in a short period of time. The habits they have developed and the way those players have performed that led to an invite is what they'll show. It's hard to expect anything else when players are rewarded for what some influencers see as bad habits. Lesser talented players would perform no better in the same setting. What we were looking for was players who could withstand the long and tedious format of the five-day camp where there  is much less down time than a majority of the other national camps. We also wanted to get progress reports on the top shelf talent unable to attend Pangos Camp for various reasons.

As far as college coaches being in attendance, they were able to view for a 24-hour period between Thursday and Friday and for some we spoke to, it wasn't an adequate amount of time based on travel time and travel ability to Charlottesville, Va. from destinations around the country. The camp is also not a recruiting venue for well over 50 percent D1 programs across the country. Those college we're speaking of realistically have minuscule to zero chance to land a high major prospect that attended this camp. We'll continue to monitor how the NCAA's new recruiting calendar impacts the grassroots landscape and recruiting. It's obvious there needs to be changes to the newly-implemented calendar to make sense for all, including grassroots event operators and non power conference college programs.

Five NBPA Top 100 Standouts We Wanted To Get A Good Look At

Jabri Abdur-Rahim, Blair Academy (Blairstown, N.J.) 6-7 2020
The son of former NBA standout Shareef Abdur-Rahim is one of the most talented wing scorers in attendance at the NBPA Top 100 camp and has impressed with his ability to score at all three levels. He is not the swiftest or most athletic, but Abdur-Rahim knows how to break down defenders and change direction. He also uses change of speed to lull defenders to sleep or keep them off-balance, and is one of the camps leading scorers (15.8 ppg). He's also had the long range shot falling (10-of-21 from 3-point range through Friday) and has displayed marked improvement in his overall game in the past calendar year.

Isaiah Cottrell, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) 6-10 2020
Unfortunately this talented post wasn't able to attend the Pangos All-American Camp because of nagging injuries, but he's made the most of his time here in Charlottesville so far. Cottrell is scoring with efficiency around the rim (66 percent field goal shooting) and mixing it up in a camp with an impressive lot of centers and power forwards. Cottrell runs the floor well, is light on his feet and has the ability to impact the game on both the offensive and defensive glass. Competing on the glass is what his college coach Bobby Huggins would like to see Cottrell do on a nightly basis. He committed to West Virginia over Kansas at the camp.

Chet Holmgren, Minehaha Academy (Minneapolis, Minn.) 7-1 2021
We didn't know that much about Holmgren coming in, but there is plenty to like. He moves his feet well laterally for a young prospect his size and knows how to get to the openings on offense and make offensive players feel him on defense. He is a high level shot blocker and had one that caught our eye against 2020 standout post Day'ron Sharpe on Thursday. Holmgren is also a skilled offensive player around the basket with good touch and finesse moves that makes him a tough check for heavier set bigs. Holmgren had a five-block game on Thursday and a 19-point, 10-rebound performance on Friday and is one of the best underclass players, regardless of position, in attendance.

Brandon Boston Jr., Norcross (Norcross, Ga.) 6-6 2020
This skilled wing has had a big reputation in his class for many years and most think his recruitment will come down to Duke or Kentucky when it's all said and done. Boston wasn't able to attend Pangos this year after playing well at the event as a rising sophomore. Boston is slight of frame, but his innate ability to score is surpassed by few, if any, in attendance at the NBPA Top 100. He uses long strides and good footwork to get by defenders and knows how to create separation. Boston is especially effective attacking from the top of the key and knows how to draw fouls. He 3-point shooting is not his strength, but he'll shoot it well enough down the line to keep defenders honest and at this camp, few have been able to check him, regardless. Boston had three consecutive double-digit scoring games to open camp before taking five shots and scoring six points in his final game on Thursday. With a big closing on Saturday, he could be right there with Abdur-Rahim among the top performing shooting guards/wing forwards in our camp player rankings. 

Bryce Thompson, Booker T. Washington (Tulsa, Okla.) 6-3 2020
After his terrific high school season in which he led Washington to the Oklahoma Class 6A state crown and a final No. 45 FAB 50 ranking, we were eager to get a look at the muscular shooting guard. We were not disappointed, as Thompson punishes defenders with his relentless ability to score in the key, push the ball in transition and shoot it deep. He's had his deep jumper working so far (7-of-11 through Friday) and has impacted every single game because he's a threat from every spot in the half court offense and his teammates look for him to take the big shot. He had 19 points, including 3-of-5 3-pointers, in a Friday game, with three assists and two steals.

Five More Who Impressed:

Jaemyn Brakefield, Huntington Prep (Huntington, W. Va.) 6-8 2020 PF
Cameron Fletcher, Vashon (St. Louis, Mo.) 6-7 2020 SF
Tramon Mark, Dickinson (Dickinson, Texas) 6-4 2020 PG
Dwon Odom, St. Francis (Alpharetta, Ga.) 6-2 2020 PG
D.J. Stewart, Whitney Young (Chicago, Ill.) 6-4 2020 SG

Banchero Stands Out Once Again

Paolo Banchero, O'Dea (Seattle, Wash.) 6-9 2021
This versatile power forward is in the running for top overall performer among forwards in camp to follow up on an excellent showing at the Pangos All-American Camp. In fact, with his performance at Pangos and NBPA Top 100, Banchero could challenge the likes of small forwards Jalen Johnson and Patrick Baldwin of Wisconsin and wing guard Terrence Clarke of New York for the top spot in the consensus national 2021 rankings if he closes out the summer the way he played on Friday. He had all the moves in his vast repitriore working, going 9-for-12 from the field for 28 points in a 82-21 victory in which teammate Johnson hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer. He also had nine steals in two camp games on Friday and is averaging 16.0 ppg (No. 3 in camp) while shooting over 63 percent from the field. Banchero has a relaxed and confident offensive approach and is near automatic in his mid-range field goal attempts.

R.J. Davis, Archbishop Stepanic (White Plains, N.Y.) 6-1 2020
After being selected for the top all-star game at the Pangos Camp, Davis has turned in another series of fine performances in a camp setting. Early on he had some flashy moments where teammates weren't ready, but since that first game Davis hasn't had more than one turnover in any game while scoring at an efficient clip. This combo guard is confident and can really push the ball to put pressure on defenses. He also is a square shooter and when he get his feet under him, it looks like every jumper is going down. He's seen his stock soar in the past few weeks and was recently offered by Vanderbilt and UCLA, as new Bruins boss Mick Cronin was recruiting him while at Cincinnati.

Zion Harmon, Marshall County (Benton, Ky.) 6-1 2021
It was going to be awfully tough for this dynamic point guard to top his Pangos performance, but he's done a good job of both getting teammates involved or creating his own scoring opportunities. The well-traveled junior-to-be gets it done offensively with a wicked handle, strength and the ability to find passing angles on the move. Harmon's greatest asset is it takes an elite, NBA-type defender to stay in front of him or slow him down. If he just works on cutting down on the flashy and low risk passes, there's no telling how high he could finish in the 2021 national rankings next year.  

Day'Ron Sharpe, South Central (Winterville, N.C.) 6-10 2020
This muscular force inside was one of our top dozen performers at Pangos Camp and will finish even higher at NBPA Top 100. Sharpe is simply relentless and as a majority of the guards showed signs of weariness and fatigue by the camp's third day, the forwards have helped serve while Sharpe has gotten stronger. Simply put, he's a load inside with his power moves and stands out even in the most physical matchups. North Carolina has to be salivating over what he'll bring to Chapel Hill and he'll likely be one of the top high school players in the country for the 2019-20 season. Heading into Saturday, Sharpe is averaging 15.0 ppg and 10.3 rpg (No. 1 in camp), including a 20-point, 10-of-11 from the field, eight-rebound performance in a Friday victory.

Many Sissoko, Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah) 6-9 2020
With the camp's format more regimented and its length a day or two longer than most of the similar elite national camps, the NBPA Top 100 is often a battle of attrition. The players that are in the best physical shape and display a love for competition are more often than not the ones who stand out late and rated accordingly. This camp traditionally contains more McDonald's All-American voters in one setting than any camp or event throughout the year and there is little doubt Sissoko has made a positive impression with his play. He was productive at Pangos Camp, but here his physical nature, relentless work around the boards and energy are contagious. Many times as skill wanes because of fatigue, simply playing the right way and consistently playing hard is the difference-maker at this camp and Sissoko embodies that notion. Sissoko makes defenders feel him and few can outwork him on the glass.

The amount of 5 star players in this game was crazy! @bboston_
@MakurMaker @Jalen_J23 @_pbaldwin23 pic.twitter.com/FoilHHF9Ps

— www.ebooksnet.com (@Ballislife) June 14, 2019

Five More Who Impressed:

Jaylen Clark, Etiwanda (Calif.) 6-6 2020 SF
Franck Kepnang, Westtown School (West Chester, Pa.) 6-10 2021 C
Ian Martinez, JSerra (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) 6-2 2020 SG
Cliff Omoruyi, Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.) 6-10 2020 C
J.T. Thor, Huntington Prep (Huntington, W. Va.) 6-9 2021 PF

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at [email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonMFlores

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In episode No. 26 of our  In The Paint Show," hosts Ronnie Flores and Devin Ugland go in hard on the 2019 NBA Finals, which will head to a game six with the Toronto Raptors one win away from its first NBA championship. Toronto led game five, 103-97, with just over three minutes remaining and let the game, and the championship, slip away. Did Toronto head coach Nick Nurse call a timeout at the wrong time? Did the team simply choke in the final minutes, or was it great Warriors shooting? Was Toronto shooting too many 3-pointers? The fellas GO IN on the hot topics surrounding the NBA Finals.

The other big news, of course, surrounding the Warriors-Raptors series was the potential achilles injury suffered by Golden State's Kevin Durant at the beginning of the second period of game five. Durant had missed nine games and a month's time with an injured "calf", but the two-time NBA Finals MVP is now obviously done for this series, and potentially the 2019-20 season.

Social media was quick to play the blame game with Durant's unfortunate injury, but is there fault to be place here, and if so, with whom? The Warriors' front office? The Warriors' team doctors who cleared him? Or was it just something that happens in pro sports?

The fellas also dish on a quick preview of the NBPA Top 100 Camp taking place this week at the University of Virginia that Ron is attending. Who are the talents that Ron looks forward to evaluating that were not at Pangos Camp?

To learn more about our hosts, Ronnie Flores and Devin Ugland, and to get more information about what "In The Paint" is all about, check out our intro below!

Subscribe to our new Podcast on iTunes here

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RELATED: Charles Bassey, Underclassmen Take Center Stage at NBPA Top 100 Camp

In a competitive setting grassroots camp that lasts four days, the unit with the most consistent performer is likely to capture the team championship. At the 2016 NBPA Top 100 Camp, that is exactly what happened as Zion Williamson, a powerful 6-foot-7 junior-to-be forward (2018) from Spartanburg Day School (Spartanburg, S.C.), was the top overall performer and led the Heat to the championship.

Williamson drew comparisons to names such as Jamal Mashburn, Mark Aguirre and even former UNLV and California legend Eldridge Hudson with his powerful finishes around the basket. He led the camp in scoring (14.6 ppg) and had 14 points in the title game, as the Heat defeated the Rockets, which was the top seed with a 5-1 record coming into Saturday’s playoffs.

With its relatively easy 109-89 victory, the Heat finished 8-1 overall. The lopsided title game win was spearheaded by point guard Chris Lykes, who earned All-American honors from www.ebooksnet.com and was the MVP of the powerful Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) as a junior. Lykes’ play was up and down during the camp, as he struggled finishing at times, but he put it all together when it mattered.

The 5-foot-8 point guard and Miami commit out of Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) made 3-of-5 shots from behind the 3-point line and finished the title game with 25 points, four rebounds, three assists and zero turnovers. Besides Williamson and Lykes, four other players scored in double figures for the Heat, including 14 points by 2017 shooting guard Alex Barcello of Corona del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.) and 13 points by 6-foot-10 2017 prospect Malik Williams of Snyder (Ft. Wayne, Ind.). Barcello had an excellent close to camp by adding nine rebounds, seven assists and two steals.

The Rockets looked like world-beaters up until the last game of the camp because they had arguably the top two producing point guards at the event: 5-foot-11 Tremont Waters of South Kent Prep (Kent, Conn.) and 6-foot-3 Jaylen Hands of Balboa School (San Diego, Calif.). Waters led the camp in assists (5.6 apg) and Hands was tied for second (4.7 apg) with Isaiah Washington of St. Raymond’s (Bronx, N.Y.), but they were struck some by misfortune in the title game.

Waters only played five minutes before a cut over his eye forced him to miss the remainder of the game. Hands, who played well at adidas Eurocamp the previous week, meanwhile, had seven assists against zero turnovers, but made only 1-of-11 field goal attempts from the field.

Tadas Sedekerskis, a 6-foot-7 small forward from Lithuania, led the Rockets with 24 points while Keldon Johnson, a 6-foot-6 2018 small forward out of Park View (South Hill, Va.), added 21 points.

Waters nailed a 3-pointer with one second remaining in overtime to propel the Rockets to a 77-76 semifinal victory over the Knicks. He finished with a game-high 18 points, five rebounds, eight assists and four steals. The Heat advanced to the title game with a 83-80 overtime semifinal victory over the 76ers. Williams hit a 3-pointer to send the game into an extra period and came up with a key block on Washington in the closing seconds to help his team secure the game. He finished with team-highs of 16 points and nine rebounds, in addition to collecting two steals.

Williamson and Waters were named camp co-Most Outstanding Player by the event’s selection committee. Zedekerskis and Hands also made the 13-man all-camp team.

Here were some other selected standouts were caught our eye at the NBPA Top 100 Camp:

Evan Battey, Villa Park (Calif.) 6-7 2017: Relatively unknown outside of California, the power forward helped himself tremendously from a national perspective. His activity level was off the charts and he scored from various spots on the court. Battey knows how to position himself to score, has good hands, and is much more agile that his frame might indicate otherwise. He finished third in the camp in scoring (12.9 ppg) and fifth in rebounding (6.8 rpg).

E.J. Montgomery, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 6-10 2018: Came into the nationally known high school academy program in Florida highly-regarded, but was a bit inconsistent his sophomore season. Montgomery seemed to take his game to another level once Isaiah Washington joined his 76ers club that advanced to the semifinals. Montgomery was active on the glass, ran the floor to beat other big men down and get into scoring position. He also displayed nice shooting touch around the basket. Montgomery averaged just a shade under 10 points per game (9.9) and was one of the camp’s leading rebounders at 5.4 per game.

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at [email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonMFlores

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The following list is based on evaluations from three days of games from the four-day 2015 NBPA Top 100 Camp. The list is based on performance at the camp only, not on performance combined with previous honors, national or state ranking. Some players did not play in every session of the camp and that was a factor in the final selections. This camp is likely the deepest on the summer grassroots circuit with regards to most national top 100 players in attendance. With the depth of players in the Top 100 range, there are some deserving players who just missed the Top 40 and would be in another evaluators’ list based on which game one focused on among the three playing courts. Our evaluations are based on all-around performance within the context of winning basketball. We also took into account statistics provided at the event and a player's class. For more information about the camp, visit top100camp.org.

View my NBPA Top 100 Camp Recap No. 1 | Link

View my NBPA Top 100 Camp Recap No. 2 | Link

View my NBPA Top 100 Camp Recap No. 3 | Link

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at [email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonMFlores

The post NBPA Top 100 Camp Mixtape: Thon Maker, Omari Spellman, Edrice Adebayo & Trevon Duval Lead Top Performers! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

View my NBPA Top 100 Camp Recap No. 1 | Link

View my NBPA Top 100 Camp Recap No. 2 | Link

All week at the 2015 NBPA Top 100 Camp, the talk of the camp was the dominance of the big men. Sky scrapers such as 7-foot Thon Maker of Orangeville (Canada), 6-foot-10 Edrice Adebayo of Northside (Pinetown, N.C.) and 6-foot-11 Udoka Azubuike of Potter's House Christian (Jacksonville, Fla.) dominated headlines and dominated in many statistical categories.

Basketball at all levels, however, has become a guard's game, so it's only fitting the camp's top overall backcourt performer, 6-foot-3 rising junior Trevon Duval from St. Benedict's (Newark, N.J.), led his team to the team championship with two sensational performances on the camp's final day.

In the semifinals, Duval netted 30 points (the camp's individual single-game high mark) on 11-of-14 shooting in the Cavaliers' 90-75 win over the Wizards. Duval made both his 3-point attempts, converted all six of his free throw attempts, collected four rebounds and dished out five assists against two turnovers. In the championship game, Duval set the tone early with his gamesmanship and ability to create for teammates -- or score when necessary. Duval scored a team-high 16 points and added five rebounds and five assists in the Cav's 78-75 victory over the Maker-led Rockets.

_{NBPA Top 100 Camp Sat. Highlights Feat: DJ Harvey, Billy Preston Markelle Fultz & More}

Duval is a prototype of the new age lead guard who is big enough and skilled enough to interchange between the point and shooting guard position and can score with regularity -- in addition to handling the duties of running a team. At the highest levels of the game, a point guard has to keep defenses honest as a scoring threat and with his strong frame and skills, Duval fits that mold perfectly.

Duval finished the camp tied for No. 10 in scoring (13.3 ppg) with teammate Markelle Fultz of DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.), a 6-foot-5 rising senior. Duval led the camp in assists (4.7 apg) and was just as good at the point guard slot as he was at the two-guard. When 6-foot-1 rising junior Matt Coleman of Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) was in the game, Duval slid over to the two-guard spot with no drop off.

As for Fultz, he capped off a strong week with 11 points and four assists in the championship game for the Cavs, who had to win a six-minute, play-in game early Saturday morning to advance in the championship bracket. Fultz's play in the spring and summer makes him one of the fastest-rising players in the national 2016 class. He played confidently all week and combines good athleticism with deep range on his shooting stroke.

In the semis, Fultz was one of three Cavs players to score 10 points. Six-foot-7 rising senior Mario Kegler of Arlington County Day (Jacksonville, Fla.) and 6-foot-10 rising senior Jethro Tshishumpa of Mountain Mission (Gundy, Va.) were the others to hit double figures. In the title game, Kegler and 6-foot-6 Sam Cuncliffe of Rainier Beach (Seattle) joined Duval and Fultz as double-digit scorers with 12 points each.

Maker capped off his week with game-highs of 21 points and 10 rebounds in the championship game and was named MVP of this year's NBPA Top 100 Camp. Maker, who will remain in the 2016 class and could challenge names such as Josh Jackson of Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) and Harry Giles of Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.) as its top prospect, was productive and engaged the entire week. He finished No. 2 in the camp in scoring (15.8 ppg) behind Adebayo and No. 1 in rebounding (7.9 rpg) and No. 5 in blocked shots (1.2 bpg).

Maker received plenty of defensive attention all week and his presence helped open up opportunities and scoring lanes for other players on his team. One Rockets player who particularly took advantage as the week wore on was 6-foot guard Xavier Simpson of Central Catholic (Lima, Ohio). In fact, NBPA Top 100 Camp committee member Frank Burlison of BurlisonOnBasketball.com felt Simpson was the Rockets' best player over the final six games of camp. After his 11-of 13 performance for 25 points on Thursday night, Simpson stayed hot and had standout scoring games on an efficient number of shots. He had outings of 14 points, 27 points on 10-of-16 shooting with 5 rebounds and 5 assists, 13 points, 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting in the semifinals and 15 points, 5 rebounds, and three assists in the title game.

Joining Maker, Simpson, Fultz, Duval, Adebayo, and Azubuike on the 12-man NBPA Top 100 Camp All-American team were 6-foot-8 rising senior Omari Spellman of MacDuffie School (Granby, Mass.), 6-foot-3 rising senior Frank Jackson of Lone Peak (Highland, Utah), 7-foot rising junior DeAndre Ayton of Balboa City School (San Diego, Calif.), 6-foot-3 rising senior Kyle Guy of Lawrence Central (Indianapolis), 6-foot-9 rising junior Billy Preston of Prime Prep (Dallas) and 6-foot-4 rising junior Hamidou Diallo of Woodstock Academy (Woodstock, Conn.).

Trae Young and Gary Trent Jr. Battle - See the video here - Link

Not often in a competitive setting such as the NBPA Top 100 Camp do you get two players who go at it playground style. "Battling" is usually reserved for outdoors or in a controlled setting such as the BallUp tour. Among elite high school players, they don't play outdoors as much as previous generations and usually can't sustain the crowd in a battle because they haven't developed enough playground style moves to keep it entertaining beyond a few possessions.

Still, it was highly entertaining to see guards Trae Young of Norman (Norman Okla.) and Gary Trent Jr. of Apple Valley (Apple Valley, Minn.) go at it in a Saturday game. They didn't use a lot of trick moves, but were draining deep 3-pointers and jump shots while guarding each other, while their teammates cleared out in order for the duo to take center stage. Teammates on the bench and other campers got engaged and were supportive of the battle and Young shut it down when he nailed an off-balance jumper in front of the bench.

Although this camp was not a traditional setting for a battle, it was quite entertaining.

Here's more standouts from the NBPA Top 100 Camp that we wanted to prominently mention (listed alphabetically):

D.J. Harvey, DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.) 6-6 SF 2017: Joined high school teammate Markelle Fultz as a standout at this camp with steady performances. Harvey used his strong frame and a variety of moves around the basket to score at an efficient pace. Harvey was No. 8 overall in points (109) and averaged 12.1 ppg. Fultz averaged 13.3 ppg.

Temple Gibbs, Seton Hall Prep (Scott Plains, N.J.) 6-4 SG 2016: One of those players who grows on you when you realize his impact on the outcome of games. Gibbs is not an elite athlete, but he knows how to use his body to finish with contact and around bigger players. He can also score in bunches. In one camp game, Gibbs converted a 4-point play and scored the game-winning lay-up.

Brandon McCoy, Morse (San Diego, Calif.) 6-11 C 2017: This rising junior started on the title-winning Cavs club and made positive strides, despite statistics that were not overwhelming. McCoy knows what he is and rarely takes a bad shot and does anything out of his element. He was battling on the boards and did a good job of being in the right spots in order for his team's scorers to excel. McCoy is a shade below the very best prospects in the national 2017 class, but is a bonafide McDonald's All-American candidate.

Billy Preston, Prime Prep (Dallas, Texas) 6-9 SF 2017: Was No. 3 overall in total points (123) and tied with Blazers teammate Frank Jackson for No. 4 in scoring (15.4 ppg). Preston continues to make strides in his overall offensive ability, but must continue to work on executing quick offensive moves because often times the ball stops once he touches it. On too many possessions, teammates stood around while he operated and it would expand his game if they played off him better. Still, there is a lot to like about his overall game and you have to love Preston's confidence. When pressed to get his opinion on whom is the top player in the 2017 class, Preston is always quick to say, "I am."

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at [email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonMFlores

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View my NBPA Top 100 Camp Recap No. 1 | Link

View my NBPA Top 100 Camp Recap No. 3 (Final Day) | Link

The theme of the 2015 NBPA Top 100 Camp is thinking and executing like a pro. In this camp atmosphere, where players are gaining valuable experience playing the NBA game (24-second shot clock, 12 minute quarters, etc.), those who adjust their games to be as efficient as possible are the ones excelling: quick decisions, decisive movements and thinking the game one play ahead. The elite players who get away with bad habits against lesser players are the ones struggling.

The smart players are noticing and making the adjustments necessary to excel.

_{Payton Pritchard at NBPA Top 100 Camp via Kelly Kline/Under Armour}

"I love the pace of the games," said 2016 point guard Payton Pritchard of West Linn (West Linn, Ore.). "I feel like I need to work on being more efficient and making a quick decision when I get into the lane. Luckily, I can dump it inside to Udoka (Azubuike)."

In addition to Azubuike, there are a few other big men that are making their presence known down low with quality and powerful finishes. Of course, in most instances it takes a guard to feed them the ball, but Azubuike and Omari Spellman, a 6-foot-8 power forward out of MacDuffie School (Springfield, Mass.), are making their touches count.

Spellman was particularly devastating in a Friday morning game with 24 points. He was efficient around the rim (8-of-12 field goals) and made both his 3-point field goal attempts. He added seven rebounds, three blocks in three steals in arguably the most well-rounded performance of the camp so far.

Obviously statistics are not everything with regards to best performances -- as the timing of plays and hitting clutch shots also factor in. One of the best clutch performances so far was turned in by 2017 point guard Trae Young of Norman (Norman, Okla.). With his team trailing late, Young made up for a turnover by nailing a 3-pointer to send the game into overtime. In the sudden death format, Young then led his team to victory by scoring off dribble penetration and finishing the play with a driving lay-up.

Young, who will take an unofficial visit to Duke on Sunday after the conclusion of the camp along with 2017 forward Michael Porter of Father Tolton (Columbia, Mo.), finished the game with a team-high 18 points. He made all five of his free throws, 3-of-6 3-pointers, and added two assists.

_{NBPA Top 100 Friday Highlights; Omari Spellman, Trae Young, Miles Bridges and more}

Below are some other standouts from the first two and a half days of the NBPA Top 100 Camp (listed alphabetically):

_{Deandre Ayton at NBPA Top 100 Camp via Kelly Kline/Under Armour}

DeAndre Ayton, Balboa City School (San Diego, Calif.) 7-0 C 2017: This prodigal talent has long been considered the best prospect in the 2017 class, but the race is far from over. Ayton has had his moments here, but is spending more time facing the basket and shooting from the perimeter than dominating on the block. He is displaying a multitude of skills that are rare at his size, but Ayton must continue to work on dominating from the inside-out. At times, he shied away from challenging Udoka Azubuike while the 2016 hulk guarded him on the other end. In that game, Ayton still made 6-of-10 shots and finished with 12 points. Ayton also had a 11-point,11-rebound outing and is shooting a high percentage from the field.

Mohamed Bamba, Westtown (West Chester, Pa.) 6-10 PF 2017: When it's all said and done, Bamba could challenge for the top spot nationally in the strong 2017 class. After his show-stopping performance at the Pangos All-American Camp earlier this month, Bamba's impact at this camp is just as prominent. A strider in transition who covers plenty of ground, the rising junior impacts the game in every way imaginable. He even picked a few pockets defensively on the perimeter, is hedging well on ball screens and blocking shots out of his area. Comparisons to future NBA Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett are a bit premature (after all, Garnett is likely the best high school player of the 1990s), but we see him more like a young Rasheed Wallace mixed with some LaMarcus Aldridge in his game. He had a 17-point, 7-rebound performance on Thursday and started off the camp by not missing a field goal or free throw (8 points) in his team's two-point victory.

_{Brian Bowen at NBPA Top 100 Camp via Kelly Kline/Under Armour}

Brian Bowen, Arthur Hill (Saginaw, Mich.) 6-7 SF 2017: This smooth wing prospect has some great versatility in his scoring ability. Bowen excels in finding gaps in the defense and attacking them. He also knows how to get loose from defenders with crafty moves, although he must work on tightening up his crossover, especially when he is handling it in his left hand and attacking right towards the middle of the key. On Thursday afternoon, Bowen had a productive 13 point performance of 5-of-6 shooting from the field.

_{Trevon Duval at NBPA Top 100 Camp via Kelly Kline/Under Armour}

Trevon Duval, St. Benedict's (Newark, N.J.) 6-3 SG 2017: There is a strong group of 2016 shooting guards in attendance at the NBPA Top 100 camp, including Frank Jackson of Lone Peak (Highland, Utah), Markelle Fultz of DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.) and Kyle Guy of Lawrence Central (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Duval is in the conversation among them as having the most impact despite being a rising junior. Duval plays confidently and uses his strong upper body to absorb contact from defenders to finish plays. The Wilmington, Del. native knows what to do with the ball when he gets it into the key and is creating for teammates at a high rate. Unofficially, he leads the camp in assists so far and the We R1 standout impacts high level games in a fashion similar to former DC Premier and current Maryland guard Romello Trimble. Duval, who started off camp with a 13-point, 8-assist, 3-steal performance, reportedly will be attend another high school for the 2015-16 season.

E.J. Montgomery, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 6-9 PF 2018: There are three rising sophomores listed on the camp roster and Montgomery had the most impact before a scary injury slowed him down on Thursday. He was a contributor to the nation's top high school basketball team as a freshman this past season, but others elite 2018s such as Arizona's Marvin Bagley III and California's Jordan Brown had bigger roles on their respective teams. They made more of an impact and even though that duo has surpassed Montgomery in the eyes of many national scouts, Montgomery has a multitude of skills and here at UVA it's evident he'll be in the conversation as a top five national prospect in the coming months and years. The lanky forward has good instincts around the basket and displayed a solid shooting form. Towards the end of a Thursday game, he fell awkwardly and it looked like his knee buckled or leg was bent in a compromising position. After staying down for a minute, Montgomery got up on his own power and was able to put pressure on his leg and walk through the handshake line after the game. He participated in limited minutes in Friday morning games.

Shamorie Ponds, Jefferson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 6-0 PG 2016: When a guard is limited in size, he must defend and create for teammates and Ponds foots that bill. He gets down in a stance and defends as well as any lead guard in attendance and is a crafty play-maker on the offensive end. He is conservatively, one of the top 15 overall performers so far. On Friday morning, Ponds had 12 points, including 2-of-4 3-pointers, to follow up on a 16-point, 3-steal performance on Thursday night. Earlier on Thursday, he had 17 points of 5-of-6 shooting from the field and 5-of-6 from the line. Now that's efficient!

Xavier Simpson, Central Catholic (Lima, Ohio) 6-0 PG 2016: This combo guard, a cousin of 1992 McDonald's All-American Greg Simpson (Ohio State/West Virginia), had one of the camp's best statistical outings on Thursday. Playing off Thon Maker, Simpson found openings and converted them in addition to hitting the outside shot. Simpson made 11-of-13 field goal attempts, including 3-of-3 3-pointers, to finish with a game-high 25 points in his team's 18-point win. He also had a game-high four assists while Maker finished with 22 points.

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at [email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonMFlores

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View my NBPA Top 100 Camp Recap No. 2 | Link

View my NBPA Top 100 Camp Recap No. 3 (Final Day) | Link

The annual NBPA Top 100 Camp kicked off Wednesday at John Paul Jones Arena on the campus of the University of Virginia with plenty of the nation's top overall prospects in attendance competing in NBA-length games. In terms of elite prospects in one camp setting, the NBPA Top 100 Camp, top to bottom, is arguably the top stop on the summer grassroots scene even with a few elites deciding not to play or unavailable because of USA Basketball commitments/tryouts.

Over the first two days of camp, there has been some excellent play on the court, but the big news came off it as 7-foot Thon Maker of Orangeville Prep (Canada) announced to a group of reporters that he would remain in the Class of 2016. That means Maker won't enroll in college until the 2016-17 season.

Previously Maker had looked at the option of graduating in December and enrolling at a college for the second semester of the 2015-16 season.

"I'm definitely going to stay and play it out," said Maker, who participated in and was one of the MVPs of the 2015 Ballislife All-American Game in early May. Maker might be the first player in grassroots basketball history to play in a national all-star game in the spring and return to high school basketball in the fall.

Maker's announcement coincided with the fact he has played excellent over the first two days of camp. He's looked relaxed and in sync and is the camp's leading scorer (17.8 ppg) and rebounder (7.8 rpg). Maker has shot the ball extremely well, moved well without it and been vocal with teammates. In his first game Maker had 12 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots in a victory. He had 18 and eight in his second game, 19 points, three blocks and 3 steals in his third and 22 and seven in his fourth.

There is some speculation that realistically Maker, who is originally from South Sudan, will never play a minute of college basketball. In light of today's announcement, the two schools that are the early leaders to land his services should he are Arizona State and Indiana.

_{Thursday Evening NBPA Top 100 Highlights Feat; Thon Maker, Deandre Ayton, Trevon Duval & more}

Zach Brown Picks Up Kentucky Offer

It's still early in the recruiting process for 2017 center Zach Brown of Miami Senior (Miami, Fla.), but it's always big news when Big Blue Nation, otherwise known as the University of Kentucky, offers a scholarship. According to Brown, his father spoke to Kentucky head coach John Calipari on Thursday and the Wildcats offered the 7-foot, 270-pound junior-to-be a scholarship.

Brown stated Kentucky has always been his dream school because of how they utilize their post players, but he was also quick to point out it's early in the recruiting process and doesn't know much about the schools that are recruiting him the hardest. Brown has taken an unofficial to UCLA and lists Miami as one of his favorites. Since college programs have been allowed to contact recruits on June 15, Brown has heard from North Carolina, South Carolina, and Ohio State in addition to the Wildcats and Bruins. Besides Miami, he hasn't narrowed down his other favorites yet.

On the court, Brown has demonstrated the ability to finish around the basket with both hands and has a nice left-handed half hook in his arsenal. In a Wednesday game, Brown particularly shined with 8 points on 4-of-5 shooting and five rebounds.

Among an above average group of big men in attendance, Brown has been most impressed with 2016 Udoka Azubuike, a 6-foot-11, 280-pound force from Potter's House Christian (Jacksonville, Fla.). After two days of camp, Clark Francis of the Hoop Scoop has Azubuike rated the camp's No. 2 overall performer behind Maker

We'll have our own list of standout performers after the conclusion of the camp on Saturday evening.

General NBPA Top 100 Camp Observations

There are three games simultaneously played at the camp and an individual can evaluate no more than two at a time. The statistics provided at the camp give us a great frame of reference for what's happening, but whom we feel are the best players so far is not necessarily reflected in the statistical output.

There are 12-minute quarters and a 24-second shot clock, so players that can create their own shot have a tremendous advantage over those that need to be set up by teammates. Brian Bowen of Arthur Hill (Saginaw, Mich.), a 6-foot-7 2017 small forward, is one of the players that has displayed the ability to score in a variety of ways.

The guard play has mirrored what elite high school players see from the professional ranks -- a score-first mentality and a movement away from true play-making from the lead guard position. Guards are more interchangeable than ever and at the highest level the lead guard has to be able to score the ball. The backcourt players at the NBPA Top 100 Camp are doing that with mixed results.

We'd still like to see the traditional emphasis on play-making, running a team and getting others involved and will reward that style of play at camp's conclusion. One who certainly fits that mold is Trevon Duval of St. Benedict's (Newark, N.J.). The 6-foot-3 2017 prospect leads the camp so far with 5.0 assists per game and has turned in individual games of 12 points and three assists and 13 points, eight assists and three steals.

Our second report from the NBPA Top 100 Camp will include a rundown of our observations of the camp's top performers through the first two and a half days.

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at [email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonMFlores

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