Related:?Pangos All-South Notebook I

It was a near impossible task for this year's Pangos All-South Frosh/Soph Camp participants to top last year's exciting finish to the Cream of the Crop Top 30 All-Star Game reserved for the camps best players. After all, that game came down to a high bouncing free throw make with 0.2 seconds left by now junior Jed'Ethan Nansha of Hillcrest (Dallas, Texas) that made his teammates on the Black jersey-wearing club mob him after he clinched the thrilling 75-74 win for his team. In 2023, there would be no heroics as the Black club rolled to a 66-53 victory over their White jersey wearing counterparts.

Even though the final game wasn't as exciting as some from year's past, the camp games made all the difference as there was a nice combination of first-year campers to challenge the group of returnees, some of whom were considered among the camp's best players. That included 2022 Most Outstanding Player Phoenix Woodson, 6-foot-6 forward from Crossing Christian (Oklahoma City, Okla.) who returned as a sophomore (2026) after earning MOPs honors as a freshman. He didn't repeat those honors, but that was more a reflection of the outstanding quality of forwards (including wing, traditional, stretch and power) in attendance, more than any individual shortcomings compared to one year ago.

When the dust settled, two wing forwards off the victorious Black club were named co-Most Outstanding Player of this year's camp, one a returnee from last year and the other a newcomer who made a big splash. The returning player who stepped up his game was 6-foot-6 2026 (sophomore) Jacob Lanier of Maumelle (Ark.). Although he only made one field goal in the Cream of the Crop Top 30 All-Star game, he made some nifty passes and helped his team on the defensive side of the ball in their 66-53 victory. Besides, Lanier had already made quite the impression in his camp games with his shot-making, ability to run the floor and finish with pop, and improved offensive package. He's also light on his feet and with good instincts on both ends of the floor.

"I think I could have done alot better in the all-star game," Lanier said. "I shot it better during the camp games. I wanted to come in and show I was one of the best players here."

Joining Lainer as MOP was 6-foot-5 2026 Seven Spurlock of Memorial (Frisco, Texas), who had seven points and a game-high seven rebounds for the Black club in the Top 30 game. Of the group of wings and forwards, Spurlock was the most physically dominant with his attacking style. It wasn't a surprise to see him work the glass in the all-star game, as Spurlock plays with an edge that makes everyone (fans, teammates, referees, scouts, etc.) take notice of his presence. There wasn't a dull moment with the powerful lefty on the hardwood and his production here matched his approach.

Unlike last year when a few stars shined through, this year's top all-star game reflected the camp: one of balance and depth at the strongest position, which was wings/forwards. Only one player for each club netted double figures with 10 points each. For the Black club, it was 6-foot-3 2026 Silas Rodriguez of Guyer (Denton, Texas), a deft scoring guard who knocked down two of his team's three 3-pointers. For the White club it was 6-foot-4 freshman (2027) guard King Gibson, who made his club's sole 3-pointer and had some explosive finishes en route to 10 points.

Gibson was arguably the top freshmen in attendance and it so happened the five chosen to play in the top all-star game all played for the White club, which trailed at half-time 25-23. The White club also had the top game's lone 2028 (eighth-grader) participant in 6-foot-8 power forward Terrell Jackson of Berry Middle School (Mesquite, Texas). He made quite the impression with his rim protecting and activity level as a young big.

Jackson was not satisfied with just making the top game and was thirsting for more. "I think I could have done alot better overall," Jackson said. "I know I need to get stronger and I wanted to show I could move up and down the court."

Gibson was impressive enough to be named game MVP for his club, with 6-foot-6 2026 wing Alex Barther II of Eastern Hills (Ft. Worth, Texas) taking home honors for the victorious Black team. It's early, but Gibson has the look of one of the nation's best freshmen, while Barther came on as he got more comfortable. He got better and more intense as the event rolled along with his best effort coming in the camp's final game. Barther runs the floor well, is a plus athlete and had his pull-up and deep ball on display as the camp wore on.

In addition to Woodson and the previously mentioned crop, some of the other standouts among the camp's deepest position included, but is not limited to, 6-foot-6 2026 Davion Adkins of Oak Cliff Faith Family (Dallas, Texas), 6-foot-8 2026 Ethan Sheats of Denton (Texas), 6-foot-4 2026 Armon Almuttar of Parish Episcopal (Dallas, Texas) and Steve McLeod, a 6-foot-7 2027 from Grand Prairie (Texas).

In many camp games, including the two all-star games, points and outside shooting were at a premium. The paint action was heavy and many of the camp's smaller guards settled too much for heaves or over-dribbled to compensate for the lack of paint finishes. Among lead guards, the clear cut standout who exhibited the traits scouts and college coaches alike look for at the position was 6-foot-2 2026 James Sanderson of Frisco Emerson (McKinney, Texas). He handled the ball seamlessly, set up teammates consistently and displayed a high skill level in the key areas necessary to excel at the position.

"I try to get opportunities for teammates and be a true point guard," Sanderson said. "I just try to play the game the right way and I know that's what college coaches like."

Colleges across the South and the rest of the country are going to eventually covet many of the 220 campers from nine states in this group. When they look for 2027 point guards, the name for college coaches to begin with is 6-foot-2 Tyrone Jamison of Calvary Baptist Academy (Shreveport, La.). Jamison is a shifty guard with a nice shooting stroke, can change direction and also score the ball for himself. He was one of the five 2027s who played on the White team in the top all-star game.

There is always an argument for a few of the players selected for the Cream of the Crop Top 60 game being good enough for the Top 30 game. At this camp, that was certainly the case for game co-MVPs in the Black's 69-50 victory. For the winning Black club, 6-foot-5 2026 Anthony Hester of Mills University (Little Rock, Ark.) was play-making at a high clip and finished with a game-high 12 points. For the White club, 6-foot-1 2026 Keonte Greybear of Emerson (McKinney, Texas) shined throughout the camp with his finishing ability and defensive presence. He was even better in the second all-star game, finishing with 10 points and two assists.

While there wasn't much depth at the lead guard position, we'd be remiss not to mention one of the best in attendance even though he wasn't selected for either of the all-star games. That would be six-foot 2026 Trey Dorsey of Liberty (Baton Rouge, La.). He had it on a string and is well-versed on how to play the position.

Two other players worth mentioning not selected are Robert Moore, a 6-foot 2026 point guard from Timber Creek (Keller, Texas), and Jaiden Hall, a 5-foot-11 2027 point guard from Captain Shreve (Shreveport, La.). Both were hitting shots from the outside at a solid rate and were under control while doing so.

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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Jacob Lanier Put on A Scoring Exhibition

I remember my first time watching 2026 Jacob Lanier at this camp last year and he was impressive. This year, he’s been dominant. Scoring on all three levels, exhibiting improved vertical pop and composure with the ball in his hands. He averaged 37 ppg on Saturday and turned in a Camp MOP-worthy performance on the first day.

Dorion Bowen Will Be A Common Name

I had a few people call me about any surprise-type players in this event and Dorion Bowen was the first player I had in mind. A 6’5 guard out of Memphis that can impact games with his passing and scoring. He’s selfless, maybe at times to a fault, but he wants to win, too. If it requires scoring, he’ll do that with finishes at the rim and an occasional deep jumper when defenses go under on ball-screens. An intuitive passer that puts his teammates in position to score. He's a high major prospect that will be in the national polls once more guys get their eyes on him. 

2026 Standouts

Seven Spurlock, 6’6 Guard - Frisco Memorial (TX): Strong built guard that plays with power. Lefty that initiates contact on drives and finishes at the rim. Dunks in the open court, flashed his improved jumper and looked like a man amongst boys at moments. A name to know in 2026 that’s receiving high major recruitment.

Trent Perry, 6’4 Wing-Guard - Frisco Lone Star (TX): To me was the best prospect in this camp last year and he’s having another quality outing this year. Long, athletic, sports cleaner mechanics on his jumper and saw him connect off the bounce. A real problem in transition or in space because he makes athletic, coordinated plays no-one else at the camp can do. Perry showed why he’s ranked nationally.

Armon Almuttar, 6’4 Wing - Parish Episcopal (TX): He’s someone that coaches and evaluators will try to figure out what he is from a positional standpoint. He’s 6’4, but plays like he’s 6’8. He doesn’t have a crazy strong handle but it’s hard to rip him because he has a stocky frame and broad shoulders. He’s not speeding past guys but he’s so strong that he creates space with his frame off the bounce.

Almuttar is a basketball player at the end of the day...He rebounds, he knows how to use his body and although the shot has improved, it has ways to go. He’s confident in it, however, and it'll go in from time to time. I can’t pinpoint what level he projects to but Almuttar is a D1 prospect and what he can become at his peak; he’ll be a matchup nightmare.

Silas Rodriguez, 6’4 SG - Denton Guyer (TX): Scored it well and efficiently. Silas shoots with range and can attack closeouts a lot better than he could a year ago. I can tell he’s worked on his body and ball handling as he’s more comfortable making plays off the bounce. Two 20 plus point game performances on Saturday.

Nasir Price, 6’4 PG - Seven Lakes (TX): Adequate positional size and length, Nasir exhibited a balance in his playmaking and scoring. Was strong in transition, saw some scoring off the bounce where he created separation with his fades and step-backs where I think there’s a lot of promise with. 

Bryce Dixon, 6’4 Wing - The Colony (TX) Tough minded wing that plays through contact. Saw a lot of grab and going after securing rebounds; Dixon plays with an edge and inner confidence that allows him to make his presence felt on the court. Just gets things done on the court. 

Bo Ogden, 6’6 Wing - St. Michaels (TX): Talk about someone that’s improved body and handle. Bo Ogden first hit my radar as a freshman at the TABC Scholastic Event in 2022 and he was connecting from deep in spot-up situations. He’s now comfortable attacking with either hand, solid at finishing at the rim and still lethal shooting from 3-point land. 

Davion Adkins, 6’8 PF - Faith Family (TX): Lefty with an ideal athletic and physical profile. Plays above the rim, covers ground on defense, rebounds out of his area and expanding his offensive game. Offensively Adkins shows real upside because he can mix it up. Either that’s rim running and finishing, making an open jumper, a driver to the rim, offensive rebound/putback guy, there’s a multitude of ways Adkins can score the basketball but once he figures out the right blend he’ll be a problem.

James Sanderson, 6’2 2/1 CG - Frisco Emerson (TX): Definitely in the scoring guard prototype, Sanderson is an adequate shot creator and is a willing passer. Albeit being very good at scoring, Sanderson uses the gravity he generates from the defense to find the open man in the half-court setting. Impressive outing. 

Ethan Sheets, 6’8 SF/PF - Denton: Good positional size and someone that can expand the court for the offense. Seen him make shots as a trail guy, spot-up on the wing and ran the floors well to get the ball and finish. Crazy upside with this one if he figures it out.

Alex Barther, 6’6 Guard - Eastern Hills (TX): Was solid. A big guard prospect that looked more comfortable on pull-up shots and was at his best when he was assertive with the ball and getting to the rim. Have seen him play better, but Barther showed why he’s receiving high major recruitment.

Jacori Jones, 6’ PG - Denton Braswell (TX): Lefty guard that can shoot with range. Gets in a rhythm well off the dribble and connects well off the bounce. Crafty as a finisher and knows how to contort his body vs rim protectors to finish. Can over dribble at times, but I thought overall was really good. 

Notables

DJ Ogoemeka, 6’11 C - WT White (TX)

Chandler Cornell, 5’10 PG - Lone Star (TX)

Solomon Bradshaw, 5’9 PG - Universal Academy (TX)

Luke Susko, 6’5 SF - Flower Mound Marcus (TX)

Phoenix Woodson, 6’7 PF - Crossings Christian (OK)

Lance Williams, 6’7 PF - Ischool (TX)

Chaz Wallace, 5’9 PG - Crandall (TX)

Robert Moore, 6’ PG - Keller Timber-Creek (TX)

Kingston Willis, 5’11 PG - Faith Family (TX)

Kelan Collins, 5’8 PG - Mexia (TX)

2027 & 2028 Standouts

Dawson Battie, 2027 6’7 SF - St. Marks (TX): Dawson will be someone known nationally when it’s time for that class. He has size, perimeter skills and his motor is coming along. Versatile offensively as he can play multiple spots and score it in multiple ways. 

Isaac Hayes, 2027 5’9 PG - North Crowley (TX): Productive lead guard that’s tough. Gets paint touches and makes the right play. Keeps his dribble alive and makes effective passes off the live dribble. Not a game I’ve seen in the fall period, where Isaac hasn’t made a positive impact to some capacity.

Terrell Jackson, 2028 6’8 C - Berry MS (TX): The big fella will be really good in high school. Coming along nicely as he understands how to rebound, use length to alter shots at the rim and offensively plays through contact on finishes. He’s raw and has a long way to go but what he’ll be at 18 yrs old can be something serious. 

DeMarrion Wickware, 20276’5 PF/SF - Kimball (TX): A skilled tweener that can mix it up inside and out. He’s a tough cover due to his size, touch and footwork. Looks to still be growing and has baby fat on him. Best basketball is ahead of him. 

Brandon Wright, 2027 6’2 CG - Little Rock Central (AR): A combo that played either guard position comfortably. Has a good feel as a passer, but Wright had the intent to score on Saturday. Off the dribble shooting and ability to the paint and score. 

King Gibson, 2027 6’4 Guard/Wing - The Burlington School (NC): Best 2027 prospect at the camp. Athletic, plays above the rim, capable shooter and has a plus wingspan. Been one of the best 2027 prospects I’ve seen nationally so far.

Kameron Hicks, 2027 6’2 Guard - Little Rock Christian Academy (AR): I like Kameron a lot. Rebounds well for a guard, understanding in a camp setting, if he wants to receive more touches, go rebound and push. A scorer that played through contact and showed adequate pull-up game.

James McCall Spears, 2027 6’6 PF: Lakeview (TX): He’s one that may be a late bloomer, but he may end up in the upper tier of his class when it’s all said and done. Skilled on the block and has footwork and touch. A broad frame and looks like he’s still growing. We’ll come back to this article in two or three years.

Tyrone Jamison, 2027 6’2 PG - Calvary Christian (LA): Last but definitely not least is Tyrone Jamison. He was the best 2027 guard at the camp. How fluid he is with the ball in his hands, his shooting stroke and play-making prowess stood out for me. He quickly came to my radar the first possession I saw the ball in his hands.

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One can always expect the unexpected at a showcase came for underclassmen, particularly when it comes to the Pangos Frosh/Soph series. The All-South version has produced memorable moments in recent years, including last year's defensive slugfest to a memorable Texas vs. Everybody Cream of the Crop Top 30 game in 2017 that will go down as the best all-star game in the event's history.

During the camp's second day of action, there were not tons of fireworks or emotion on the court and it was noticeable during the Cream of the Crop Top 60 game reserved for the camp's second-tier players. At times you could hear a pin drop. That all changed during the Top 30 game, as the participants selected as the camp's top performers were spirited and vocal on the bench and gave an all-out effort on the hardwood. It was only fitting that the game-winning points came down to a play made by 6-foot-6 2025 (sophomore) Jed'Ethan Nansha of Hillcrest (Dallas, Texas) because he was the hardest working and most encouraging among the 200 plus campers.

After a clutch 3-pointer with 7.7 seconds remaining by 6-foot-6 2026 (freshman) Jalen Montonati of Owasso (Okla.) gave the white jersey club a 74-73 lead, Nansha streaked down the court and was met at the rim by at least three players on the white club. One of them was whistled for a shooting foul with .2 seconds remaining to put Nansha on the charity stripe with the game in the balance. For the sake of evaluation purposes and to keep the game action flowing, a free throw is worth two points in this Pangos Camp setting. Nansha stepped to the line for his shot at camp glory, but his high-arcing attempt was way off and it appeared the white club had won the game...until the referee signaled a lane violation of the white club that is. That gave Nansha a chance to redeem himself. On the second attempt, it appeared the attempt with bounce high off the rim as the first one did. However, this time he got a softer bounce, as the ball went straight up towards the top of the backboard and gently fell through the rim to give the black jersey-wearing club a dramatic 75-74 victory.

The black club then celebrated and mobbed Nansha as if the team had just won a Texas University Interscholastic League playoff game at the Duncanville Fieldhouse in Dallas.

The talent level wasn't quite on par with the Texas vs. Everybody all-star affair that included future No. 1 NBA Draft pick Cade Cunningham, but Sunday's affair will go down as arguably the most intense all-star game in the annual frosh/soph camp series, as players were talking and sliding their feet on defense on each possession. Nansha's game-winning free throw culminated the black club's come-from-behind victory and leading the way in that effort was the player voted camp Most Outstanding Player. Phoenix Woodson, a 6-foot-6 freshman (2026) from Crossing Christian (Oklahoma City, Okla.), scored three field goals and made winning plays throughout the second half comeback and impressed with his basketball I.Q. and overall feel. It's not easy to predict what type of player Woodson will be down the line or to make a position-specific comparison to a current or former player. The only label that Woodson needs is "basketball player" and the one thing a scout or college coach needs to know about him is he'll be an immediate impact player at the high school level.?Woodson finished the Cream of the Crop Top 30 game with ten points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals.?

Scoring a team-high 13 points for the black club was 6-foot-2 2025 Jason Scott of Westbury Christian (Houston, Texas). Leading the way offensively for the white club with 15 points was Montonati, who canned three 3-pointers including the final one from straight-away that gave his team the lead until Nansha's "heroics". The other double-digit scorer (11 points) for the white club was 6-foot-3 2025 Camden Cowgill of Brennan (San Antonio, Texas).

There were players representing 13 different states in attendance, yet three of the Top 30 all-star selection's came from former NBA player Randy Livingston's program at Isidore Newman (New Orleans, La.). Included in the trio was the camp's top post player, 6-foot-8 2025 Christopher Cenac Jr., while another Christopher, 6-foot-7 2025 Christopher Birden also displayed terrific potential. The third Newman player selected was 6-foot-4 2025 Kobe Butler.

Joining Scott and Cowgill in the group of top camp guards were 6-foot 2025 Mike Williams of Hillcrest (Dallas, Texas) and 6-foot-5 2025 Dietrich Richardson of Manual (Peoria, Ill.). Williams, the son of former NBA guard and current Jackson State head coach Mo Williams, netted eight points in the top all-star game for the victorious black club.

Woodson, of course, was in the "basketball player" category all to himself with his ability to score in the front court, handle the ball well enough to keep perimeter defenders honest, drop soft passes in the interior and rebound on both ends of the floor.

Joining Cenac and Montonati among the top front court players in attendance was bouncy 6-foot-7 2025 Ethan Carter of Arlington Christian (Fairburn, Ga.) and 6-foot-6 2026 Isaiah Ward of Brennan (San Antonio, Texas). Because of travel considerations back home, Ward was unable to play in the Top 30 game but was easily the top prospect participating in the earlier Cream of the Crop Top 60 game.

The white jersey-wearing club came away with a 83-66 victory over its black counterparts in the Top 60 game. Named MVP for the white club was active wing Cortez Graham-Howard, a 6-foot-5 2025 from Hillsboro (Nashville, Tenn.). While Nansha was the hardest-working front court player at the event, the guard that turned heads the most with his defensive effort was black MVP Nehemiah Lawrence. The 5-foot-7 2026 from Allen (Texas) got in a stance every possession and made things happen throughout the event. He was selected to the Top 60 game mainly based on his defensive effort and like the all-star games themselves, did not disappoint.

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 Dallas Cowboys were victorious on Sunday afternoon, but the best defense in Big D wasn't being played at AT & T Stadium. It was being played at the Duncanville Fieldhouse at the Pangos All-South Frosh/Soph Camp. Throughout the event, easy baskets were at a premium, as defenders ball-hawked 84 feet, denied post entry passes and contested shot attempts at the rim.

That style of play made for a competitive environment and that competitiveness was most evident during the Cream of the Crop Top 30 Game designed for the camp's top performers. The White jersey-wearing club took a 28-27 halftime lead, but the club wearing the Black jerseys went on to record a 54-51 win after holding off a late White club rally in what was the lowest scoring Cream of the Crop Game in the annual event's history.

Leading the way in the late comeback attempt for the White club was 6-foot-8 freshman (2025) forward Parker Jefferson of Waxahachie (Texas), who scored on a variety of silky post moves and smooth baseline shots to put his club within range to tie the game on its final possession. Jefferson got three quality looks at a potential game-tying 3-pointer. Two of them were of the in-and-out variety and the third was on line, but just long.

The fact Jefferson's teammates kept feeding him the ball and he was able to get open speaks volumes of his ability and instincts for the game. Jefferson utilizes effective half hooks over both shoulders around the basket, smooth turnaround jump shots, bank shots off post entry passes and can finish well with either hand. He was by far the most polished pivot player at the camp and in one camp game looked like UCLA immortal Bill Walton vs. Memphis in the 1973 NCAA title game, continuously scoring on soft lay-ups off post entry lob passes over the top.

Jefferson netted 16 of his team's 51 points in the Cream of the Crop Top 30 Game to cap off his co-most outstanding player honor. It's fitting he was the game's only double digit scorer, as the co-Cream of the Crop Top 30 Most Valuable Players were the brother duo of 6-foot-9 sophomore (2024) Israel Nansha and 6-foot-8 2025 Jed Nansha of Hillcrest (Dallas). The Nansha brothers were rewarded for their relentless defensive effort, as they stood out among a plethora of all-star players who were crashing the defensive and offensive glass and contesting field goal attempts around the cup. Israel finished with two points and seven big rebounds for the victorious Black club, while his younger brother and teammate added six points and four rebounds.

Other Cream of the Crop Top 30 standouts for the Black club included 6-foot-3 2024 guard Jayden Gambrell of James Madison (Houston) with seven points and 6-foot-2 2024 guard Malek Archie of McKinney (Texas) with five points. For the White club, 6-foot-5 2025 wing Jai'Chaunn Hayes of White Hall (Ark.) had a nice game, finishing with seven points, while 6-foot-5 2024 wing Jakeel Registe of Episcopal (Bellaire, Texas) had a strong start and finished with eight points.

Special recognition must be given to coach Kelan Jones of Hillcrest (Dallas). Jones was coaching the Cream of the Crop Top 30 game with passion and quality communication and helped raise the level of intensity ten-fold. There is little doubt his coaching approach to a sometimes laid-back affair helped the campers perform admirably to close the event.

Skill, Shooting, Defense Stand Out

Jefferson's skill level is what separated him from a pack a quality big men with long term potential. From the wing forward position, the most skilled of the lot was 6-foot-5 2025 Hudson Greer of Lake Travis (Austin, Texas). He can score it in a variety of ways and is a quality shooter with lively legs who covers ample ground when he puts it on the deck. Greer didn't particularly stand out in the top all-star game (six points), but over the course of the camp's three games for each player he displayed terrific scoring instincts and a high offensive skill level. His father Josh Greer played at St Mary's (Calif.) after a standout career at Esperanza (Anaheim, Calif.) and son is easily tracking to play on the WCC level and beyond.

From the wing guard position, Hayes was locked in throughout camp and had high-scoring outputs in each game. Hayes can stroke it, has good passing ability and a nice combination of skill and instinct for the game. He was just one of the many 2025 (freshmen) standouts at this camp with mid to high major potential. In fact, one third (10 of 30) of the players selected for the Cream of the Crop Top 30 game were freshmen.

Among the sophomore (2024) lot, there was plenty to like about from 6-foot-5 wing guard Tre Johnson of Lake Highlands (Dallas). He was named camp co-MOP and it's easy to see why some evaluators are so giddy about his long-term potential. Johnson's size-ball skill ratio stands out and he was one of the most explosive campers in attendance with an ability to finish in and above traffic or make a spectacular play on the defensive end. Johnson has a knack for being around the ball at opportune times and just needs to continue to polish up his shot and tighten his handle to become a bonafide high school All-American candidate.

Some of the perimeter shooters who stood out included 6-foot-4 2025 Adlan Elamin of Bishop O'Connell (Arlington, Va.), 6-foot-5 2024 S. Trap Johnson of Belton (Texas), 6-foot 2024 Drew Ward of Longview (Texas), and 6-foot-3 2025 Jaden Nickens of Milwood (Oklahoma City, Okla.). Nickens had it going during the Cream of the Crop Top 60 game, leading his team to an easy 79-34 victory by nailing two 3-pointers and finishing with a game-high 18 points.

Nickens was the one player we felt whose evaluation was deserving of a spot in the top all-star game. We also would have reserved a spot for 6-foot-3 2024 Anthony Bates Jr. of Seven Lakes (Katy, Texas).

Our cinch choice for player most deserving of a Top 60 selection was 6-foot-1 2024 Cornelius Brown of The Walker School (Marietta, Ga.). Brown was one of the most explosive players off the bounce in attendance.

Defense was the name of the game at this camp, and the one player who earned a Creme of the Crop Top 60 berth mostly because of his defensive performances was 5-foot-10 2024 Rondae Hill of Calvary Baptist Academy (Shreveport, La.)

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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RELATED: Cream of the Crop Top 30 Game (FULL HLs!)

The 2018 Pangos All-South Frosh/Soph Camp has all the ingredients necessary for a great underclass showcase event: deep numbers, size, talent, and most important...intensity. There were 11 states represented among the 261 campers in attendance and even more impressive than the raw numbers was all the long timber patrolling the paint during the camp games.

Guards tend to dominate grassroots showcase events, but at this camp with 25 players 6-foot-7 and taller, the perimeter players were met with plenty of resistance in the painted area. There were plenty of swats and shot alters during camp games and it carried over to the two Cream of the Crop all-star games at the conclusion of camp.

Sophomore KJ Adams is like a football player who decided he wanted to dominate in basketball ??? pic.twitter.com/iwrJV6ExB5

— www.ebooksnet.com (@Ballislife) October 15, 2018

In the Cream of the Crop Top 30 Game reserved for the most outstanding players as selected by veteran media members in attendance in conjunction with camp director and founder Dinos Trigonis, some of the best banging and battling was done by 7-foot sophomore (class of 2021) Onu Ayomide (Texas Christian, Houston), 6-foot-9 sophomore Jerrell Calbert (Sam Rayburn, Pasadena, Texas), 6-foot-10 freshman (class of 2022) Lee Dort (Bethany Christian, Plano Texas) and 6-foot-8 Arthur Kaluma (University Academy, Coppel, Texas) all had multiple blocked shots, many of the "ohhh" variety, in the White Team's 92-67 victory over the lads donning the Black-colored uniforms.

The camp's top all-star game had a wild beginning, but the competitive spirit of the campers took over and was well-played until the game's final minutes after the White team had pulled away. The White unit held a 34-21 halftime lead and put the game away during a key stretch where its defense took. Not only did Kaluma and Calbert come up with key blocks, perimeter players such as 6-foot-1 sophomore Devon Barnes (The Lawton Christian School, Lawton, Okla.) and 6-foot-3 freshman Nick Smith came up with some steals in the backcourt. The terrific defensive sequence concluded with a backcourt turnover by the black club that led to a 3-pointer by 6-foot-5 sophomore Terran Williams (Barton, Marianna, Ark.) that gave his White club a 56-41 lead with 12:38 remaining in the second half (20 minutes each was played).

From that point on, the White club put on a show and many of the highlights plays came courtesy of K.J. Adams, a chiseled 6-foot-6 sophomore from Westlake (Austin, Texas). Adams was arguably the most explosive big guard/wing forward in attendance, as he finished the Cream of the Crop Top 30 game with 17 points, four rebounds and two assists. With his physique and rim-attacking tendencies off two-feet, Adams reminds us of a mix between former NBA small forward Tremaine Fowlkes (CAL/Fresno St.) and current NBA forward Harrison Barnes (North Carolina). Adams took home game MVP honors in the top game.

Kaluma was excellent on both sides of the ball and for his overall two-way effort throughout and performance in the top all-star game, the ever-aggressive small forward was named 2018 Pangos All-South Frosh/Soph Most Outstanding Player. On the defensive end, Kaluma started his Cream of the Crop performance with a big swat and also got it done on offense. He loves attacking from the top of the key and shoots the deep ball well enough to keep defenders honest. Kaluma tied with Adams for game-high in points (17) while nailing three 3-pointers and also contributed four rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals. To us, his game is a bit reminiscent of former NBA forward Tim Thomas (Seton Hall), who was the No. 2 player in the national class of 1996 behind some player named Kobe Bryant. Thomas likely had more natural all-around talent at the same stages of development, but Kaluma has a motor that just doesn't stop.

Dort, a freshman who knows how to demand the ball and create space to operate in the post, had three blocked shots while Calbert added four rebounds and two blocks of his own for the winning White club. Smith, who was one of the final additions to the top all-star game and was nearly overlooked because of the vast amount of teams (28) competing in the event, quickly proved he belonged. The talented combo guard displayed a nice offensive repertoire and finished with 11 points and two steals. Another standout for the white club was 15-year old sophomore Alec Zambie, a member of the Lebanon Junior National team who attends Plano West (Plano, Texas). The 6-foot-5 Zambie can score in a variety of ways with either hand and can operate inside-out, as he displayed when he hit a beautiful turn-around fall-away jumper in rhythm that many next level players wouldn't be able to execute. He finished with eight points and five rebounds.

Nothing but straight blocks from Pangos All South Camp...yeah that’s right some actual defense. pic.twitter.com/DaPH0xpxgU

— www.ebooksnet.com (@Ballislife) October 15, 2018

It there was a MVP for the Black unit, it would have been 6-foot-3 sophomore Joseph Vandzant (Midland Christian, Midland, Texas). Vandzant displayed a terrific all-around floor game and put pressure of defenses with his efficient dribble drive attack and decision-making. He finished with 10 points and two rebounds.

Inside for the Black unit Ayomide had a standout game with six points, six rebounds and there spectacular blocks, while Dort had three blocks of his own. Offensively, 6-foot-6 freshman Jordan Walsh (Faith Family, Cedar Hill, Texas) put forth a nice effort with his rim-attacking style, finishing with 11 points.

More Talented Timber In Top 60 Game

Although a bit more raw and with less polish than their counterparts in the top all-star game, the big men in the Cream of the Crop Top 60 Game displayed plenty of promise and would have been candidates for the Top 30 game at other recent Pangos Frosh/Soph Camps. There was just that many big men with promise to choose from at this particular All-South camp.

The Black team jumped out to a quick 13-0 lead and never looked back, recording a 78-54 victory over their counterparts wearing the White uniforms. The unofficial MVP for the game was the Black team's 5-foot-10 freshman point guard Dallas Hobbs (Lakeridge, Mansfield, Texas), who finished with 14 points and four assists. Hobbs knows hot to effectively run a club with fundamental ball-handling and pinpoint passing and is a respected shooter. He knocked down two early 3-pointers to get the Black team rolling and had the best crossover of the camp, as he ripped one right in front of his defender and swished home a 14-foot jumper that got the crowd hyped up.

Among the big men who had relatively strong moments in the second all-star game were the Black's Vincent Iwuchuwn, a 6-foot-10 freshman from Cole (San Antonio, Texas), 7-foot sophomore Clayton White from Keller Central (Keller, Texas) and 6-foot-8 sophomore Damion Collins from Atlanta (Texas). Iwuchuwn, who hails from the same high school that produced NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal, contributed four rebounds and two blocks in limited time (there was at least 15 players on each team in both all-star games). White contributed four points and five rebounds while Collins, who look and game resembles 2018 McDonald's All-American and Maryland freshman Jalen Smith, had four points and three rebounds and displayed excellent long-term potential.

Athletic 6-foot-2 sophomore guard Tracy Steele (North Little Rock, Little Rock, Ark.) had 10 points for the Black and displayed good rebounding ability throughout the camp. Yet another outstanding performer for the winning club was 6-foot-5 sophomore wing Jaxson Robinson (Ada, Okla.). He has a smooth demeanor on the court and an effortless jumper that was on point most of the weekend. Robinson finished with eight points and three rebounds. The Black's Cason Wallace, a 6-foot-3 freshman combo guard from Richardson (Texas) was among the most active and productive players in either all-star game. He was consistently pushing the ball up court and finished with seven points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals.

Jesse Washington, a 6-foot freshman point guard from Annie Camp Junior High (Jonesboro, Ark.), lit it up for the White club, hitting four 3-pointers and finishing with 14 points. Washington has a terrific shot fake, knows how to get in the key to finish and is an excellent passer.

Among the big men on the White club, 6-foot-10 freshman Mohamed Ngom (Texas Christian, Houston) and 6-foot-11 eighth grader (class of 2023) David Oyona (Covington-Douglas, Covington, Okla.) had excellent moments. Ngom was protecting the paint all camp long and finished the all-star game with two points, seven rebounds and three blocks. Once Oyona gets more comfortable playing good competition and works on getting his hands ready to catch the ball in the paint, he'll be a terrific prospect down the line. He finished with four points, five rebounds and a block.

Other Pangos Standouts

There were nearly 100 prospects nominated for one of the two all-star games and we’d be remiss not to mention some of the better prospects who unfortunately just missed the cut. With the size of this particular camp, there were clearly some deserving players who could have easily made the Cream of the Crop Top 60 Game.

This 10th Grader Juan Reyna is shooting that thing here at Pangos All South? pic.twitter.com/h5RiGu9mBd

— www.ebooksnet.com (@Ballislife) October 14, 2018

Those players included 6-foot-1 freshman Karter Dutton of Summer Creek (Humble, Texas), 6-foot-4 sophomore Christopher Felix of Hightower (Houston), 6-foot-1 freshman David Martinez of Atascocita (Texas), 6-foot-2 freshman Myson Huff of Liberty (Frisco, Texas) and 6-foot-3 sophomore C.J. Noland of Waxahachie (Texas).

Dutton has nice ball skills and was penetrating with ease throughout the camp. Felix has some nice moments teaming up with 6-foot-1 sophomore Jonathan Box of Heritage (Frisco, Texas), who made the Top 60 game. Martinez has a nice burst and was active all weekend long. Huff is a talented scorer and Noland made positive things happen for his camp team.

Some of the assorted camp standouts who either didn't perform well in the all-star games or weren't able to play include 6-foot-5 sophomore Latrell Moore (Willowridge, Houston), 6-foot-3 freshman Keyonte George of Lewisville (Texas), 6-foot-5 freshman Tre White of Little Elm (Texas), 6-foot-8 sophomore David Dixon of Briarchrest (Memphis, Tenn.) and 6-foot-3 sophomore Juan Reyna of Antonian (San Antonio, Texas).

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 Texas Does it BIG at Pangos All-South! BIG Dunks & Blocks! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

The 2017 Pangos All-South Frosh/Soph Camp concluded with the most competitive Cream of the Crop All-Star Game we can recall in the 17-year history of the event. The reason it was so competitive? It was Texas vs. every other of the 12 states represented and in the end, the U.S. team pulled out a close win where everybody benefitted from how hard the two teams played.

RELATED: The Highlight Show at Pangos Camp Day 1! 

The Pangos Frosh/Soph Camps are designed to showcase the individual skill level of the campers in attendance. The four camps held across the country each fall designed for many of the nation’s top sophomore and freshman players are offensive-oriented and perimeter players tend to dominate the action. You often won’t find a ton of post entry passes or extensive offensive sets. The goal of showcasing individual talent sometimes leads to all-star games that only reinforce what was already learned over the course of the weekend.

The ending of this year’s Pangos All-South Frosh/Soph Camp was completely different. The Cream of the Crop All-Star game designed for the camp’s top 30 players as selected by event director Dinos Trigonis and respected national scouts in attendance turned out to be the most competitive game of the event. In fact, it was likely the most competitive Cream of the Crop All-Star game in the history of Pangos’ grassroots events and the nature of the game was the difference maker in many of the key evaluations of the camp's elite players much more than usually is the case.

When the teams were selected, it just so happen there were 15 players selected from Texas high school programs and 15 out of staters. It was quickly decided to pit the Texas players vs. those from outside the Lone Star State and it led to an ultra-competitive game that gave the fans at The Mac Athletic complex in Lewisville, Texas more than their money’s worth.

The Lone Star State team was much bigger and physical in nature and the game was definitely a physical affair. The United States team was smaller, but had the quicker and more skilled group of guards. At the beginning of the game, it looked like the Texans would just be too dominant inside and on the boards for the U.S. team to keep up with, as it jumped out to a 17-9 lead. A line shift, however, ignited a 30-18 U.S. run, as the visitors led 39-35 at halftime and rolled to a 81-74 game that was close to the very end.

The game went back and forth in the second half with both teams holding the lead and matters weren’t decided until 6-foot-4 sophomore (2020) Caleb London of Conway (Ark.) hit a baseline jumper to give the U.S. team a 73-64 lead with 1:45 remaining. With 1:15 remaining, the game clock was reset to 2:00 minutes and the game went to a one-and-one foul situation to keep it interesting. That case of home-cooking, however, didn’t deter the U.S. team to the delight of their raucous cheering section.

Leading the charge in the backcourt for the victorious U.S. team was creative 6-foot-1 sophomore point guard Gerald Doakes of North Little Rock (Ark.) and 6-foot-1 sophomore lead guard Chanse Robinson of Lincoln Prep (Ruston, La.). The complexion of the game changed when that duo had the ball in their hands. The Texas team simply couldn’t keep Doakes in front, as he consistently got in the lane and finished plays by scoring or dishing off for easy buckets. Doakes simply was the fastest and quickest player with the ball in his hands and was one of the few guards in attendance whose ability to break down defenders didn’t curtail in half court situations.

Doakes was named game MVP after finishing with 18 points, five rebounds and four assists. Robinson, who hit a timely 3-pointer to help the U.S. team regain its lead and some clutch baskets down the stretch, finished with 10 points and three rebounds.

Although his team didn’t win the game, the most impressive overall individual player in the Texas vs. Everyone affair was 6-foot-8 sophomore forward Greg Brown of Vandergrift (Austin, Texas). He dominated action early by blocking three shots and kept his team in the game with his big-time scoring ability and zest on the boards. As he did in camp games, Brown scored on a variety of spectacular power dunks and acrobatic moves around the basket. He finished with game-highs of 16 points and 13 rebounds, in addition to the highlight blocks.

Cade Cunningham, a 6-foot-6 do-it-all dynamo from Bowie (Arlington, Texas) also concluded his camp in spectacular fashion. The sophomore wing was relentless in his offensive attack, whether it was pull-up jumpers, long-range bombs or getting to the front of the rim under control. Cunningham has just the right blend of coordination, strength and athleticism to give even the toughest defender total fits. He finished the Cream of the Crop affair with 12 points, five rebounds and three spectacular assists.

Even though the Texas Team had the most impressive performer and arguably the best overall player in camp, the U.S. team played spectacular enough on the defensive end with their intensity, pressing and trapping to record the victory. Among those who contributed heavily on the defensive end and gave the Texans fits with their quickness included 6-foot sophomore Khalen Robinson of Bryant (Ark.), 6-foot-3 sophomore Matthew Murrell of Whitehaven (Memphis, Tenn.), 6-foot-6 sophomore Chris Moore of West Memphis (Ark.), and 6-foot-5 Moses Moody of North Little Rock (Ark.). Robinson finished with two steals, Murrell also was credited with two steals, Moore had seven points and three rebounds and Moody made a difference with relentless ball pressure in crunch time.

Each team actually had one player who technically should have played for the opposite team, but they didn’t want to join forces with whom they considered the enemy in this intense contest. Sekou Kalle, a 6-foot-10 freshman (2021) from Apsire Academy (Louisville, Ky.), is a San Antonio, Texas product. He played for the Texas team and even though he didn’t play his best in the all-star affair, he still finished with four points and four rebounds. He was one of the best long-term prospects in attendance.

Donald Ghostone, a 6-foot-7 sophomore forward at Grand Prairie (Texas), hit two big 3-pointers for the U.S. team. The Arkansas native recently relocated to the Lone Star State and was adamant about playing with his comrades from the Razorback State.

Other Pangos Standouts

The Cream of the Crop Top 60 Game wasn’t a matchup based on geographical boundaries and wasn’t quite as competitive. As one can guess, the final score also wasn’t as close as the Top 30 game, as the White Team built a sizable advantage early and rolled to a 97-71 victory.

The game MVP and most impressive player was southpaw point guard Jackie Johnson III, a 6-foot freshman from Wichita North (Wichita, Kan.). The smooth and confident guard nailed four 3-pointers and dished off a handful of assists for the winning club.

Had the Black club came out victorious, the MVP likely would have been Grant Bulmash, a 6-foot-4 sophomore wing from Greenhill (Addison, Texas). Bulmash combined a nice blend of instinct and intensity to capture the attention of the scouts in attendance. The blue-collar worker finished with eight points and six rebounds, a few with were of the spectacular variety.

Another standout for the white club with his offensive ability was 6-foot-6 sophomore Evan Williams of Plano East (Plano, Texas). He made some nice moves and cuts around the basket to free himself loose to the tune of 12 points. Six-foot-3 sophomore Jarren Cook of Newman Smith (Carrollton, Texas) also turned in a 12-point performance.

Two eight-graders (class of 2022 prospects) also shined in the Cream of the Crop Top 60 game. From the lead guard position 6-foot Keyonte George (eight points) of Lewisville, Texas was a smooth operator whose possessed one of the best feels of any player in attendance. Shooting guard Tre White, a 6-foot-4 eighth-grader from Frisco, Texas, impressed with his passing and also had five rebounds.

There were nearly 100 prospects nominated for one of the two all-star games and we’d be remiss not to mention some of the better prospects who unfortunately just missed the cut.

Those players included 5-foot-11 sophomore Andre Howard Jr. of Lone Star (Frisco, Texas), 5-foot-11 sophomore Kendall Fair of OD Wyatt (Ft. Worth, Texas), 6-foot sophomore Sebastian Kinney of International Community School (Winter Park, Fla.), 6-foot-4 freshman Toney Green of OD Wyatt (Ft. Worth, Texas), 6-foot-5 freshman Alden Applewhite of Lausanne Collegiate (Memphis, Tenn.) and 5-foot-7 sophomore Darryl McNealy of Duncanville (Texas).

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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Related: Texas vs. EVERBODY at Pangos South All-Star Game!

Athleticism will always be one of the first and easiest attributes to identify when scouting young basketball players. Even though it's not hard to spot that aspect of a player's overall evaluation, it was hard to ignore the amount of talented athletes at the 2017 Pangos All-South Frosh/Soph Camp. Among over 200 campers from 13 states, the big guard and wings were easily the positions that produced the most standouts on day one of the two-day affair at The Mac Sports Complex in Lewisville, Texas. Many of them have the necessary size and length to excel on the wing at the next level and the lack of point guards with plus size made the wings stand out even more.

Arguably the two best prospects among the 204 in camp were lengthy wings with an abundance of skill: 6-foot-6 Cade Cunningham, a sophomore (2020) from Bowie (Arlington, Texas), and 6-foot-8 sophomore Greg Brown from Vandergrift (Austin, Texas). Cunningham had the most complete performances on Saturday in terms of scoring, transition game and beating defenders in a variety of ways. Cunningham has a strong frame, good body balance and combines a nice combination of explosiveness and confidence to dominate camp defenders. Brown was scoring in droves, whether making moves off the dribble or scoring around the basket. Brown, who is coming off participating in the 2017 USA Junior National Team Mini-Camp in Colorado Springs, Col. last weekend, was also blocking shots at a good clip and can finish a variety of shots.

Other day one standouts on the wing included Caleb London, a 6-foot-4 sophomore from Conway (Ark.), Jaylin Posey, a 6-foot-2 sophomore from Grand Prairie (Texas), Jerry Lliya, a 6-foot-6 sophomore from CGM Prep Academy (Phoenix, Ariz.), Chris Moore, a 6-foot-6 sophomore from West Memphis (Ark.), Moses Moody, a 6-foot-5 sophomore from North Little Rock (Little Rock, Ark.), and Matthew Murell, a 6-foot-3 sophomore from Whitehaven (Memphis, Tenn.).

London has a high skill level while Posey can score on all three levels and is quite bouncy to boot. Speaking of bounce, Lliya was attacking the rim with a vengeance and displayed a relentless motor in both of his Saturday games. Moore was one of the camp's most impressive performers on day one, according to veteran talent scout Van Coleman of The Basketball Channel. He displayed a multitude of skills and got things done for his team. Moody didn't score at a high clip, but he made plays in the backcourt, showed his defensive prowess and continues to develop his body. Murrell is a combo guard who can really glide to the basket, gets good lift on his jumper and uses his aggressive nature to demoralize defenders.

One of the most punishing scorers in the camp so far has been Hayden Brittingham, a 6-foot-4 sophomore from Crowley (Ft. Worth, Texas). A beastly scorer around the rim, this physical specimen is a bit undersized for the skill level he brings to the table, but if he continues to develop his face-up game he could develop into a nice combo forward prospect. Regardless of Brittingham's projection, at this camp very few players want a piece of him!

Although there weren't too many plus size lead guards we evaluated, there are some standouts at the one spot. Among the day one point guard standouts included 5-foot-11 sophomore Andre Howard Jr. of Lone Star (Frisco, Texas), 6-foot sophomore Khalen Robinson of Bryant (Ark.) and 6-foot-1 sophomore Gerald Doakes of North Little Rock (Ark.). Needless to say, there are many standouts from the state of Arkansas at this event and it bodes well for the future of high school and grassroots basketball in the Razorback State.

Besides Arkansas and the Lone Star State, the other nine states represented at this deep camp include Oklahoma, Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama, Illinois, New Mexico, Kansas, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky and Arizona.

One shooter deserving of recognition for his excellent first day of camp is 6-foot-2 Juan Reyna, a freshman (2021) from Antonian College Prep (San Antonio, Texas). The lefty was confidently knocking down long range shots at a high clip and has an abundance of crafty skill.

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 The Highlight Show at Pangos Camp Day1! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

RELATED:  Breakout Performances For Guards Avery Anderson & Jahari Long 

Dallas -- Everything in Texas is big, so it was only fitting the 2016 Pangos All-South Frosh/Soph Camp's MVP turned out to be the player with the largest name and game. That would be one 6-foot-10 Charles Bassey of St. Anthony of San Antonio, who dominated the camp from start to finish with consistent paint performances.

Bassey is just too athletic and skilled for nearly any big man in the country to handle, and even though a couple of post players turned in valiant individual efforts against the sophomore wunderkind, he rose to the occasion in every outing. Bassey operates with efficiency in the half court, rarely taking a bad short and passing with precision from the post. He's also a terror in the open court and handles the ball well enough to push it, dish it and get the return pass for the finish.

Although Bassey was just as dominant this past weekend as he was at last year's camp, we won't spend much time on his exploits because most who follow the grassroots and high school landscape know all about him. The buzz didn't center on one player; as there was a large group of standout performers with similar abilities. The slew of talented wingmen and offensive-minded point guards, not to mention the sheer number of participants, made for some tough choices for the Cream of the Crop Top 30 and Top 60 All-Star Game selections. To be honest the discussions were as heated as the West Texas sun can be, and as a result there were likely deserving players who didn't receive all-star recognition.

Tyreek is Geeked in Cream of the Crop Game 

Among those selected for the top all-star game, nobody did more to help his overall showing at the event than 6-foot-8 forward Tyreek Smith of Advanced International Prep (Dallas). Smith led his White team to a 106-58 victory over the Black team by scoring 24 points and grabbing eight rebounds while adding two second half steals. The White team led 34-26 at halftime, but pulled away in the second half by converting the Black team's missed field goal attempts into easy transition buckets on the other end.

No one played with more consistent energy through the camp's conclusion than Smith, as consistent effort was one of the major differentiators in this camp. Some of the more talented players tailed off near the end, but Smith's game grew as he got more comfortable with the playing atmosphere. Smith wasn't sure of himself or his role in his first game, but loosened up and played like one of the camp's top players on Sunday. Smith has large and strong hands and just needs to work on his touch around the basket to take his game to the next level.

Charles Smith IV, a 6-foot-5 2019 prospect from Westbury Christian (Houston) who was one of the camp's better freshman in 2015, also had a strong performance for the victorious White team with 19 points and four rebounds. Smith was consistent with his shooting and offensive play-making throughout the event. Bassey also played for the winning club, finishing with six points and four blocks in a game played with two, 25-minute running clock halves and 15 players per team.                   

Another consistent performer who got better as the weekend went on was 6-foot-4 guard Moses Moody of Parkview (Little Rock, Ark.). Moody has a smooth approach to the game and excels at both guard positions. He is best at slashing to the basket or pulling up for a quick jumper, but he's also an excellent passer in the half court set. Moody, who was a standout at the Pangos Junior All-American Camp last February, was one of the top three freshmen at the Pangos All-South Frosh/Soph Camp along with 6-foot-5 Cade Cunningham (Bowie, Arlington, Texas) and 6-foot-6 Jerry Lliya (Redemption Christian, Troy, N.Y.).

The best of the lot among eighth-graders (2021 prospects) was small forward Arthur Kaluma of Frankfort Middle School in Dallas. He had 11 points and six rebounds in the top all-star game, but even more importantly improved as the camp wore on. Kaluma can handle the ball well in the open court for a small forward-type and is relentless driving to the basket. He has a solid first step and is especially potent operating on the baseline.

Other All-South Standouts

With over 220 campers, it was easy to overlook a couple of standouts despite the heated discussions about the merits of the best players.

Some of the top standouts in the Cream of the Crop Top 60 game included 6-foot-3 2020 prospect Jaylen Posey of Grand Prairie (Texas), 5-foot-10 2020 prospect Mike Miles of perennial Texas power Lancaster, and 6-foot 2019 prospect Ty Archibald of Katy (Texas). Miles shot the ball well for the wining White club and Archibald stood out on the defensive side of the ball in a game where defense was non-existent for the most part.

There were also a trio of standouts who didn't make either all-star game. Those "snubs" were 6-foot-2 2020 prospect Jahari Long of Episcopal (Houston, Texas), 5-foot-10 2019 prospect Christian Williams of Conway (Ark.) and 6-foot 2019 prospect Jalen Jackson of Wagner (San Antonio, Texas). Long was one of the event's best passing point guards, while Williams and Jackson played with intensity and purpose.

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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RELATED: Major HEAT at Pangos All-South Frosh/Soph Camp!

Dallas -- With over 215 campers at the Triple A/Focused Learning Academy looking to showcase their skills at the Pangos All-South Frosh/Soph Camp, it hasn't been easy to standout from the pack for a vast majority of the campers. There are just so many young players with a similar skill level -- and similar size. The strength of campers are the wing-types in attendance who are able to finish in the open court and are physically the most advanced group of players.

Most of those players are between 6-foot-3 and 6-foot-7 and with the wide-open, up-and-down nature of the camp, they are able to finish around the rim with explosive moves. They are generally too big for the guards to handle and are able to beat the big men down the court to score in abundance. Some of the standouts that fall into this category include 6-foot-5 2020 prospect Cade Cunningham (Bowie, Arlington, Texas), the younger brother of former SMU big man Cannen Cunningham, 6-foot-3 2019 prospect Tyrese Maxey (Garland, Texas), one of camp's most efficient players so far, 6-foot-5 2019 prospect Trey Williams (The Colony, Texas), 6-foot-6 Jalen Wilson (Guyer, Denton, Texas) and 6-foot-6 Jerry Lliya (Redemption Christian, Troy, N.Y.).

Cunningham is a straight line player who takes it to the front of the rim with authority. He knows how to change direction with little wasted motion and beats defenders in the easiest manner possible on a consistent basis. Expect him to be in the Cream of the Crop Top 20 All-Star game, as he's impressed the large contingent of scouts in attendance. Maxey is a relentless scorer with a high IQ on both ends of the court. He can finish on all three levels, covers ground with his dribble penetration and works on the defensive end, too. Maxey is a jack-of-all-trades type; even though he may not appear to overly excel in any one aspect of the game, there is no aspect of the game he is weak at.

Lliya, a native of Nigeria with family in the Lone Star State, is one of the top out-of-state standouts among the campers. There are 12 states represented along with the District of Columbia at the event, and Lliya is easy to point out with his length, athleticism and motor. He was putting in work defensively, including a couple of impressive run down blocks.

While the wings excelled as a group on day one, it has been a mixed bag for the lead guards so far. There are a large number of small guards (under 5-foot-11) and unfortunately some of these young players don't quite understand they must be even more outstanding in their performance and approach to the game than bigger players who more often than not receive the benefit of the doubt when it comes to earning scholarships from college coaches. Too often one day one the point guards missed open players on the wings, didn't quickly advance the ball up court with a well-timed pass or dribbled with their head down while teammates stood around.

All was not lost in the backcourt, however, as Avery Anderson and Jahari Long were two that stood out among the bigger guards on the first day. Anderson, a 6-foot-3 2019 prospect out of Northwest (Justin, Texas), displayed outstanding ability to break down defenders, draw the defense and hit the open man. Anderson did this in spectacular fashion in the open court and was also effective in the half court with knifing passes. The lefty has some flash to his game and plenty of confidence, while Long also was deft at hitting the open man. Both are excellent ball-handers who don't overly worry about primary defenders because they are concentrating on where the help is coming from after they break down or blow by. Long is particularly effective in slicing past defenders and finishing around the rim from a variety of angles.

Among the diminutive guards, 5-foot-6 2019 prospect Bryce Cook (South Grand Prairie, Grand Prairie, Texas) turned heads with his ball-handling wizardry, confidence and scoring ability. He took no prisoners on day one and put together a couple of memorable scoring outings that impressed his peers and the new age media members. Traditional media members and scouts would like to see him tone down the flashy play a bit, but his production and ability is undeniable for a small guard.

Among the bigs, it was no surprise to see Charles Bassey (St. Anthony, San Antonio, Texas) at the top of the list of performers. The 6-foot-10 center was last year's top player at this camp, last season's National Freshman of the Year and has done nothing so far that would take away from his status as arguably the top prospect in the national 2019 class. He's not the consensus top prospect in the class among the most respected national scouting services, but it's hard to deny his potential as a franchise-type big man down the line.

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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RELATED: Charles Bassey Makes Big Impression | Pangos All-South Frosh/Soph Official Mixtape   | Pangos All-West Frosh/Soph Camp Official Mixtape 

Lewisville, Texas --  When there are all-star games at the conclusion of individual camps, there is always worry that the event's big men won't get to showcase their skills because those games tend to be dominated by guards. Because the Pangos All-South Frosh/Soph Camp was full of talented big men, scouts and interested onlookers held their breath to see how the top game would play out.

The guards did a solid job of not being selfish and finding the big men -- and there were plenty of good ones on both teams. When the dust settled, the game was competitive and the post players were just too talented and impactful to be denied, as the Black club rode the ability of Franklin Aguananne and LaDarius Marshall to a 95-94 victory over the White team.

Aguananne, a 6-foot-9 sophomore (2018 class) at Denton (Denton, Texas), was dominant on the glass and displayed solid offensive post moves for a young player so physically dominant. Aguananne would be a force in a high school game even if he didn't score because he make his presence felt by taking up space (defenses must account for him in the paint) and with his relentless nature to go after the ball. He dominated action for the Black club in the first half to help keep his team within range as the White led 39-37 at intermission.

While the Denton High big man patrolled the paint early, Marshall, a 6-foot-6 sophomore forward at Forest Hill (Jackson, Miss.), took over down the stretch to seal the win for the Black club. The athletic and muscular forward hit a big 3-pointer and had a conventional 3-point play down the stretch. He then made the play of the game, stealing the inbounds pass after teammate Zarek Thomas scored on a driving baseline lay-up, and then converting that steal into another conventional 3-point play with approximately 13 seconds remaining to account for the game's final one-point margin.

Marshall finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds -- with 10 of those points coming in the closing minutes. Aguananne finished with 16 points and 15 rebounds to earn game co-MVP honors with his teammate. Marshall does need to develop a post game and improve his face up game in terms of driving past defenders with solid moves, but his explosiveness, power and jumping ability allowed him to stand out and dominate at times over the two-day event. His style attacking the basket and dunking with powerful windmills is similar to former Michigan St. and NBA forward Jason Richardson.

Thomas, a 6-foot-2 freshman (2019) guard out of Cedar Hill (Cedar Hill, Texas), hit two 3-pointers and finished with 18 points for the winning club.

Charles Bassey Leaves No Doubt

It was clearly evident early on that Charles Bassey, a 6-foot-10 freshman at St. Anthony (San Antonio, Texas), was the best prospect in attendance at the Pangos All-South Frosh/Soph Camp. The talent evaluators on hand wanted to see if he could retain his focus and intensity and put forth a dominant performance with the camp's best players on the floor.

The answer was a resounding yes, as Bassey dominated in the Cream of the Crop setting as much as he did during a regulation camp game. Bassey's ability to finish around the rim with a quick drop step, spin move, or blow by in tight quarters is something you see from a freshman his size perhaps once every five years. He has that much talent and potential. Bassey's timing with regards to block shots and getting to ones out of his area is also special.

Bassey led the White club with 20 points, eight rebounds and six blocked shots, including four of the you-got-to-be-kidding me variety where he swatted away jump shots or balls you normally don't see ninth or tenth-graders getting to.

Other Top 30 participants that stood out both statistically and with their combination of production and potential included 6-foot-8 sophomore forward Chris Smith (Country Day, Ft. Worth, Texas) with nine points and nine rebounds, 6-foot-3 sophomore Chris Mullins (Mansfield-Timberview, Mansfield, Texas) with 13 points and four steals, and 6-foot-8 Tyreek Smith (Advanced Preparatory International, Dallas, Texas) with eight points six rebounds.

Shooters Stand Out In Top 60 Game

While a vast majority of the top big men participated in the Top 30 Game, there were some excellent shooters and wing types in the Cream of the Crop Top 60 Game -- and a few of them would have been deserving of a spot in the camp's top game.

The White club rolled to a 120-74 victory over the Black club by shooting the ball with remarkable accuracy in the first half. The White club made 10 3-pointers and shot over 50 percent on those attempts to build a big lead and roll to victory.

Leading the way was Max Abmas, a 6-foot freshman guard out of Jesuit (Dallas, Texas). He made four 3-pointers, displayed sold shot selection and also showed good rebounding ability from the guard position.

Another standout was Jeremiah Gambrell, Jr., a 5-foot-11 sophomore guard out of Madison (Houston, Texas). Gambrell made positive plays happen with his good ball-handling, passing and shooting ability. What stood and was unique in this particular camp was his ability to push the ball and pass ahead with either hand.

The Top 60 game didn't have all the top shooters, however, as 6-foot-2 Jalen Crutchfield of Norman North (Norman, Okla.) displayed his fine stroke throughout the weekend. He only made one 3-pointer in the top all-star game, but left little doubt he was arguably the best spot up shooter at the camp. The son of University of Oklahoma assistant coach Chris Crutchfield has a mature approach and good length for a 2018 guard who is still growing. He does need to improve on attacking defenders and finding lanes off the dribble, but he's already a solid high school player who should contribute to a talented team likely to begin the season ranked in the FAB 50 national rankings.

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 LaDarius Marshall, Franklin Aguananne, Charles Bassey Show Out at Pangos All-South Frosh/Soph Camp appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

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Lewisville, Texas -- Usually at a camp featuring up-and-coming young talent such as the Pangos Frosh/Soph series, there is a feeling out process and it takes a while to establish a pecking order to determine the event's top prospects.

That certainly wasn't the case on the first day at the Pangos All-South Frosh/Soph Camp in Dallas.

Charles Bassey, a thin and ultra-talented 6-foot-10 14-year old freshman (2019) from St. Anthony (San Antonio, Texas), wasted no time establishing himself as the top prospect at Dinos Trigonis' two-day event reserved for some of the best sophomores (Class of 2018) and freshmen from Texas and other Southern states. With his smooth gait, patient offensive approach to go along with his combination of size, skill, jumping ability and athleticism, it's going to be hard to find a better prospect in the freshman national class than Bassey.

We first started hearing about Bassey's immense potential from Clark Francis of the Hoop Scoop after his performance at the John Lucas Enterprises 40/40 Combine in The Woodlands, Texas a month ago. According to Francis, Bassey was even better at the John Lucas Enterprises Midwest Invitational in Louisville, Kentucky last weekend.

Bassey can finish above the rim two notches higher than nearly everyone at the Pangos Camp and his springs are also quick and quite coordinated for a kid who began taking the game seriously at the age of 12. Bassey also has a great feel for moving to the correct openings on the court, whether it's throwing a pass and sliding into the paint or cutting in from the wing.

We'll see if Bassey concludes the camp strong on Sunday and if he can dominate the competition as he did on Saturday in the Crème of the Crop Top 25 game. Either way, he made quite the lasting impression on the first day.

Ordinary Names Among Pangos Standouts

Chris Smith and Charles Smith are common American names. In the basketball realm, there was a Charles Smith who played forward for the Los Angeles Clippers and New York Knicks around the same time in the late 1980s Georgetown University had a slick guard with the same name. In the same era, UConn had a guard by the name of Chris Smith who played at the same high level as Georgetown's Smith.

At the Pangos All-South Frosh/Soph Camp, 6-foot-4 2019 prospect Charles Smith IV from Westbury Christian (Houston) and Chris Smith, a 6-foot-8 2018 prospect from Country Day (Ft. Worth, Texas), made a name for themselves with their play on the first day.

Charles Smith finished well and displayed quality scoring moves around the basket, while Chris Smith impressed scouts with his highly-coveted skill package.

Chris Smith along with Bassey, was one of the half dozen or so big men (6-foot-8 or taller) who got the most attention from scouts and the media contingent on hand -- and rightfully so.

"Really I came here to see my weaknesses against better competition and know what I have to work on to get better," Chris Smith said. "I need to get in better shape and get better dribbling the basketball. My strength is being a facilitator and leader and putting teammates in the right position."

Chris Smith definitely has an unselfish approach to the game and is capable of facing up and knocking down the perimeter shot. Combine that with his long limbs and explosive first step and you have a high-riser in the national 2018 class.

Some of the other big men who turned heads on the first day of camp included 6-foot-5 2018 prospect Jordan Phillips of Grace Prep (Arlington, Texas), 6-foot-6 2018 prospect LaDarius Marshall of Forest Hill (Jackson, Miss.), 6-foot-8 2019 prospect Tyreek Smith of Advanced Preparatory International (Dallas), 6-foot-6 2018 prospect Joshua LeBlanc of Madison Prep (Baton Rouge, La.), 6-foot-9 Franklin Aguananne of Denton (Denton, Texas) and 7-foot Ousmane Ndim of St. Louis Academy (St. Louis, Mo.).

Marshall is one of the most explosive finishers in the national 2018 class and while they are not quite the prospects or as far along in their development as Bassey, Aguananne and Ndim are intriguing in their won right. That duo went toe-to-toe in an opening camp game with Aguananne coming up with the big plays to help his team win. It was a physical battle inside that Aguananne ended by converting a contested lay-up in sudden-death overtime.

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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