ORLANDO “There used to be a few camps in June, but also a lot of rest for prospects, coaches and scouts. Now is possibly the busiest month of the year. There are more camps than ever, there are several live periods, players attend in June, and then the month ends with the NBPA Top 100 camp. The kids in attendance look rightfully jaded, and with each game played, a few more drop out. So, on the second day, energy and effort went a long way, and we want to focus on those who stood out to us in those areas. We can’t get to all of them, but here are some that stand out.
Impossible to tell if Omaha Billew saw that we wrote that the path to No. 1 in 2023 lies through G. G. Jackson and we don’t assume he will be No. 1. However, we assume that the five-star rising senior, who is currently ranked 16th in the class of 2023, gave Jackson the toughest test when he matched him and the reasons why he did, were simple.
At 6’8″, with long arms and top-notch athleticism, Billew has the physique to get Jackson in trouble. It’s another thing to have athleticism, but the energy and drive to make the No. 1 player work the way Billew did is not easy. In Thursday’s afternoon game, his energy was off the charts as he flew all over the floor and showed what a threat he can be defensively.
He did not score a lot of points, but he achieved something by attacking the ring. However, the overall effort is what stood out. As far as Iowa, Kansas, Oregon and the G League, he was rumored to be leaning towards returning to his home state of Iowa. If he does go with the clones, he could be a game changer on both ends for a few years.
Having been able to watch him play in several tournaments over the past few months, 247Sports has become a big supporter of the big man from Idaho. Blake Buchanan as a legitimate high-profile prospect. Buchanan is currently ranked 107th in the class of 2023. He got rid of a shaky first day to have a productive Thursday, and he has a good chance of moving up to four-star status after the summer.
When it comes to Buchanan, there is no secret sauce. He runs on the floor, fights on glass, scores from 10 feet and up, and he shows the potential to grow into a big man who can also pick and pop into the three-point line during his college career. He uses his length, continues to play hard no matter the situation, and therefore finds ways to be productive.
He went down to Gonzaga and Virginia, a decision will be made soon, and we saw both. Tony Bennett I watched him carefully both days, and maybe this is a sign. Most likely, it is still very close and we should find out his choice in the very near future.
Five star big man The Baye Affair had a really good camp and confirmed his status as the top center in the class of 2023 with a 14th overall finish. On Wednesday he was solid and on Thursday he was one of the most productive players in camp as he used his length, speed and lift off the floor to create problems at both ends of the floor.
Everyone in this business needs comparisons. Some good, some not so good. However, if we had to do it for the fall, we think Robert Williams of the Boston Celtics would be a good candidate.
Fall is actually a little taller than Williams, but what he does, defending the rim, getting up for dunks, and making it look like he’s got a good ball time, seems like it. We know players want to be compared to the big names, but Williams has carved a big role for himself on a championship-level team in Boston, and it’s not hard to see Fall eventually making it to that level. Arkansas is often mentioned to him when he talks about potential destinations, and they are certainly there, but Seton Hall, among some other contenders, has a real chance here as well.
After an epic performance at the Pangos All-America Camp and the Section 7 team event, there were high hopes for the shooting guard. True Washington. He is currently ranked 122nd overall and is the 24th shooting guard in the class of 2023. There are a few guys in front of him that he has a real chance of beating in the rankings. However, this is not the main thing.
What matters is that after a tough opening day, the Washingtons came back on Thursday morning and utterly trashed it by 20 points.
Well-built, with long arms, an athletic build and the ability to score quickly, he hit deep threes, went to the rim and mixed points. His stamina and physical attributes suggest that he can also be a dynamic defender. When we spoke to him just recently, he mentioned that he would like to visit Arizona State and UNLV, while many others have joined us. It would be surprising if from that moment on he was not the most closely watched guard in the West.
They couldn’t get their team to win in Thursday’s first leg, but Muhamed Diubat as well as Arrinten Page were one of the funniest duos to watch. The 6ft 6″ forward ranked 137th nationally and the 6ft 9″ forward ranked 57th each matched their own rankings and did so much.
Pound for pound, Dioubat is as strong as any 2023 class player, and he knows how to make it work for him. He runs around the court defending several positions and really succeeds on glass and as a chopping driver. This guy is ruthless and has earned himself a lot of fans with his acting.
As far as Page is concerned, in college he will most likely be an A because he can move and switch and recover and recover and he also has real stamina. He jumps around the rim, finishes with power, but also shows enough touch to suggest he can develop an attacking game in front of the rim over the next few years.
Kudos to these two for how they attacked the day and made the most of their chance on Thursday in front of the coaches.
Headed to Georgia Tech, three-star security guard Blue Cain persevered, and he was one of the most consistent performers. In a sea of potential customers who want to be flashy or play crazy trying to prove their point, Cain let the game come to him and did it productively. He scored open jumpers, made good pick-and-roll passes to teammates, and was simply one of the most reliable players to hit the floor.
Quiet, Jace Posey he had a pretty good camp. The athletic combo defender made it to the rim, played solid defense and made the most of his wiry, strong body. He knows how to use the glass to finish at sharp angles, move the ball and just get it. He mentioned Arizona State, TCU, and Vanderbilt at 247Sports as schools he’d like to attend, and he could do some damage in any of those places.
When it comes to physical and athletic defenders, Kome Emuobor established himself as one of the best in the camp. He slides his feet; he’s tough and has the athleticism to take on just about any match. When he attacks the ring, takes what the defense gives him and doesn’t force jump shots, he also shows some aggressiveness to match what he can do as a guy who prides himself on keeping his match from scoring a goal.
Source: 247sports.com