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RELATED: WATCH Cream of the Crop Top 25 FULL GAME from Pangos Camp

It's never easy getting the nation's best players under one roof in their busy grassroots schedules and with shoe company influence steering them to particular events when not participating on one of the three major grassroots circuits: the Nike EYBL, adidas Gauntlet or Under Armour Association. With that in mind, the Pangos All-American Camp is the top independent camp on the circuit and this year the talent pool is arguably the best in its 14-year existence.

To give some perspective, veteran McDonald's All-American voter Frank Burilson feels there are 13 or 14 serious Mcdonald's All-American candidates in the fold, not to mention a vast amount of underclassmen who will be at that level in due time. Among those probable McDonald's picks next winter who have stood out so far include point guard Trevon Duval, who will be returning to his native Tri-States area for his senior season after playing as a junior at Advanced International Prep (Dallas), forward Michael Porter Jr., who will be moving to the Pacific Northwest after winning a Missouri Class 3A state title at Father Tolton (Columbia, Mo.), and Quade Green, who led Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia) to a state crown as well.

Here's a look at some of the Pangos Camp top performers so far (alphabetically):

DeAndre Ayton, Hillcrest Academy (Phoenix, Ariz.): The National Junior of the Year is critiqued to the tee at this level and he does need too improve his consistency being an anchor on defense, but there is so much to like about him as a prospect. Ayton has fluid moves, can pass and rebound well, and beat defenses in multiple ways. Ayton is running the court well and offensively around the basket can convert as he pleases, but some national scouts would prefer he didn't spend so much time on the perimeter. He's capable of making jumpers and they look fluid, which in itself is impressive for a seven-footer.

Hamidou Diallo, Putnam Science Academy (Putnam, Conn.): Diallo has been a ball of energy from the onset and it doesn't appear he'll slow down anytime soon. He's arguably the bounciest off-guard in the country and one of the most athletic players, period. He is beginning to show more consistency with his shooting and all-around ball skills. Diallo has been impressive so far getting by defenders on the wing and making solid decisions.

Trevon Duval, Advanced International Prep (Dallas): This Delaware native is the point guard the others are chasing and there hasn't been a more impressive all-around performer from the lead guard position. Duval has gained five to ten pounds of pure muscle in recent months and it hasn't compromised any of his lateral quickness. Duval feels more comfortable driving, but his somewhat inconsistent outside jumper is beginning to fall with more consistency and that makes him nearly unguarable at this level. Duval has split defenders and converted a powerful finish multiple times and has also shown some great defensive ability. He has a chance to be a quality defender and is the most physical two-way guard at this event.

Quade Green, Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia): A true lead guard, Green's tool box is one of the most impressive of any Pangos camper. At about 5-foot-11, Green can finish at the rack, is a capable mid-range shooter and can shoot the deep ball with innate scoring skills to boot. He knows how to set up teammates with what they need (soft/hard pass, location, etc.) and does a good job of keeping them engaged, even though he has the ball in his hands quite a bit. His passing versatility is about as good as you are going to see at this level.

Michael Porter Jr., Father Tolton (Columbia, Mo.): If he lands at a power program in the Pacific Northwest for his senior season such as Rainier Beach or Garfield, were talking about perhaps a Mr. Basketball USA front-runner for 2016-17. He's already one on the best candidates, regardless. Porter is that skilled, with excellent offensive ball skills combined with good footwork with the ability to cover ground. His size and athleticism combination would be enough to make him a high major prospect without the fundamentals and intangibles thrown in. National scouts have been impressed with his performances so far at this event and he is a strong Most Outstanding Player candidate.

Billy Preston, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.): He's topping out at close to 6-foot-10 and with his overall package, Preston has a tremendous ceiling. He can face and score, drive in either direction and finish, or draw and kick with good efficiency. Preston is most comfortable with the ball in his hands, but does have a good feel once the defense is drawn towards him. He has a tendency to handle too much and could utilize a back-to-the-basket game more, but the skill level he possesses at his size doesn't come around often at this level. What he lacks, can be taught and Oak Hill coach Steve Smith should be able to bring out the best in his game as a senior.

Here's a look at some of the fast-risers at the Pangos Camp (alphabetically): 

Victor Bailey, McNeil (Austin, Texas): This 6-foot-4 shooting guard was more of a role player on his 17U travel team last summer, but he is making quite the individual impact so far at Pangos. Bailey explodes by defenders and has the agility and athleticism to finish a high percentage around the rim. He is efficient as well and his shown unselfish tendencies with a strong work ethic. His type of game won't go unappreciated at the next level.

Jaylen Hands, Balboa School (San Diego, Calif.): He didn't get to the camp until Saturday (thereby missing a Friday matchup versus Trevon Duval), but no defender can keep him in front. His stop and starts are just too smooth and his explosiveness is quite uncanny for an athlete with a relatively thin frame. Hands also utilizes a strong pull-up jumper and can score from a variety of angles if he's gets pushed off balance. One area he needs more consistency at is taking the challenge of locking down defenders, but he's more than capable with solid feet and good instincts.

Brandon Huffman, Word of God (Raleigh, N.C.): Inside Huffman has simply been a monster playing alongside DeAndre Ayton. When he gets the ball around the rim, he finishes with authority and the rim just sounds different when he flushes it compared to any other camper. Huffman can utilize the half hook and does a good job of keeping guards from racking the ball away despite his penchant for catch and gather, two-handed finishes. One area he needs to improve upon is his physical conditioning, so he can remain engaged at all times on the court.

Brandon Williams, Crespi (Encino, Calif.): This two-time state champion shooting guard packs a big punch in his 6-foot frame. He's one of the most fearless guards in the country; he doesn't think any guard in this event, or anywhere else for that matter, is better. Williams can score from all three levels and is one of the few smaller guards in the camp who can shoot the jumper over longer defenders. Williams is relentless in his offensive attack with a short memory should he miss or make the wrong read. Williams is also adapt and keeping the dribble alive in tight quarters and makes quality, under control decisions at full speed.

Keith Williams, Bishop Loughlin (Brooklyn, N.Y.): One of the nation's most underrated shooting guards, Williams is a relentless competitor who puts winning before individual accolades. He was terrific on Friday night, but wasn't quite as effective on Saturday. With his approach, a quality outing should be expected on Sunday. Williams has a scorer's mentality and doesn't let defenses dictate what shot attempt he goes after.

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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Travel basketball has been around a lot longer than the average basketball fan thinks. When teams were first formed in the 1970s and early 1980s, there was one or two teams per each large geographic region such as a county or small state. In other words, kids really had to be highly-regarded to earn a spot on a team. There wasn't a lot of media attention and some of the best high-level, high school games ever seen were played in front of only a handful of fans and a small number of scouts.

Today, the travel ball scene is totally different. There is an endless number of teams -- and we mean that in the literal sense. If the parents of a young player are not happy with their son's situation, they might form their own team and enter it in NCAA-sanctioned events. More often than not, the son is one of the featured players on the team. "Daddyball," as the phenomenon is coined, runs rampant in tournaments across the country and is especially scoffed at by basketball scouts and writers when the featured player is not a legitimate, high level college basketball prospect.

Thousands of players hit Las Vegas every year for the final July NCAA recruiting period with hopes of catching the eye of college coaches. Realistically, only a handful will eventually play in the NBA although thousands harbor that dream. Many didn't play in front of a single college coach the entire five-day period; then there is the large crop whose play determined at what level colleges will seriously recruit them.

Meet Victor Bailey Jr., a junior-to-be at McNeil (Austin, Texas) who plays for Mo Williams Academy Elite. He falls into the latter category -- and for him it can doubly tough to stand out because he plays for one of the most talent-laden 17U grassroots teams in the country.

To give some perspective on the competition numbers Bailey and the other college hopefuls face, MWA Elite is participating in the Las Vegas Fab 48, one of the three concurrent tournaments running throughout Sin City July 22-26. The Las Vegas Fab 48 alone hosted 475 teams in the high school portion of its tournament with five different championship brackets in 17U ball, not to mention its 16U and 15U brackets.

Bailey could join a lesser team and perhaps score more points, but in this exclusive BIL video he talks about maintaining the proper balance between playing his game and doing what is necessary for a team that advanced to the Fab 48 17U Invitational division semifinals. Bailey also talks about what he brings to a team with three or four high level college recruits with realistic NBA aspirations and coming off the beach as a sixth man, as opposed to starring for his high school team.

THE LINE ON VICTOR BAILEY

MWA Elite's sixth man is a 6-foot-4 slashing guard who is always around the action when he doesn't have the ball in his hands. Although he's not a lead guard in the true sense of the term, Bailey has good vision and is always looking for the throw ahead pass.

Bailey's left-handed shooting stroke is not consistent yet, but he's a good enough all-around player to be ranked No. 32 in the 2017 class by ESPN.com and No. 56 by Rivals.com. He's holds an offer from Missouri and is getting interest from high major schools and Harvard. Ultimately, his development over the next calendar year will decide the right fit for him on the next level.

Bailey is a pesky defender and loves to knock down long passes. That shouldn't be surprising considering his football background. After leading at halftime 49-37, Bailey's energy helped MWA Elite open up a 20-point lead en route to a 106-76 victory over Louisiana Elite in the invitational division opening round of the Las Vegas Fab 48. Bailey finished the game with 16 points. He played four minutes in the first half, but got the second half start and played the first three minutes and the last nine.

Bailey, the son of Victor Sr. and Tonja, first played basketball in fourth grade and joined his first travel ball team in seventh grade. He carries a 3.5 GPA and his goal is to play four years of collegiate basketball -- and if the opportunity allows itself to play pro ball.

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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