{"id":167845,"date":"2019-06-14T18:26:48","date_gmt":"2019-06-15T01:26:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bilcomprd.wpengine.com\/?p=167845"},"modified":"2023-03-21T14:24:24","modified_gmt":"2023-03-21T21:24:24","slug":"sets-of-fives-ballin-at-nbpa-top-100-camp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ballislife.com\/sets-of-fives-ballin-at-nbpa-top-100-camp\/","title":{"rendered":"Sets of Fives BALLIN at NBPA Top 100 Camp!"},"content":{"rendered":"

We wanted to evaluate two main sets of players at the 25th annual NBPA Top 100 Camp at the University of Virginia (Charlottesville, Va.): those who participated in the Pangos All-American Camp two weeks ago and those top-level talents who were unable to attend. What Pangos campers were able to keep up a consistent high level of play? Which players we haven't seen since early in the spring or the high school season made a favorable impression? We take a look and break down five in each category.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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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<\/em>. 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.<\/p>\n

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<\/em> 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Five NBPA Top 100 Standouts We Wanted To Get A Good Look At<\/h3>\n

Jabri Abdur-Rahim, Blair Academy (Blairstown, N.J.) 6-7 2020<\/strong>
\nThe 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.<\/p>\n

Isaiah Cottrell, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) 6-10 2020
\n<\/strong>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.<\/p>\n

Chet Holmgren, Minehaha Academy (Minneapolis, Minn.) 7-1 2021<\/strong>
\nWe 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.<\/p>\n

Brandon Boston Jr., Norcross (Norcross, Ga.) 6-6 2020
\n<\/strong>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. 
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\nBryce Thompson, Booker T. Washington (Tulsa, Okla.) 6-3 2020
\n<\/strong>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.<\/p>\n