Tourney Recap: Fall Jam Fest
The Hoop Group Fall Jam Fest featured a handful of 2009 players, such as 6-foot-5 SF Dalton Pepper (Fairless Hills, Pa.), who will play his college ball at West Virginia next fall. However, a number of younger teams, with talented underclassmen playing prominent roles on their rosters, competed in the 17-under division. Having so many younger teams provided evaluators with plenty of opportunities to scout a number of younger prospects who have yet to establish themselves on the national recruiting scene at this point. With additional time to go along with more solid performances, many of these unheralded players will become household names in recruiting circles very soon.
Dalton Pepper, 6-5, PF
Pepper used his considerable strength and athleticism to place his imprint on games throughout the event. He has decent enough quickness to put the ball on the floor and penetrate to the hole if he faces defensive pressure. He works effectively off the bounce and uses the pull-up jumper in the midrange area of the floor to complement his forays to the rim, due to his ability to rise up over the outstretched arms of defenders for the jumper. Pepper will also hit the perimeter jump shot with range that extends out to the 3-point line. His physical style of play on the defensive end tends to wear down opponents and force them into bad shots and/or turnovers.
Quick, strong perimeter players can speed up Pepper on offense and force him into wild shots at times when he drives to the paint. Oftentimes, players who use their strength for effectiveness and prefer to initiate contact do not appreciate it when an opposing player utilizes the same tactics. It appears that Pepper loses his focus at times and reacts negatively to a player matching his level of physicality and contact. He will have to keep his composure; he will see a number of players on the next level who will use their strength and toughness to play him on the perimeter.
Jerrod Davis, 6-5, PF
Sophomore, Lakewood, N.J.
Davis has incredible athleticism and leaping ability, which he uses to affect the game on both ends of the court, a rarity for a young player with elite talent. He leaps high and quickly gets off the floor, which makes him an outstanding offensive rebounder. Davis continues to work for rebounds, even when he encounters a box-out, making him a very effective rebounder on both ends of the floor. He runs the floor very well and excels in the transition game, often finishing off the break above the rim. He needs to continue to improve the range and consistency of his jump shot. But to his credit, he seems comfortable in the midrange and rarely ventures beyond the 3-point line for offense. He will also benefit immensely from improving his ballhandling skills. Davis excels on the defensive end by using his lateral quickness to harass ball handlers in addition to his length and hops for blocking shots.
Kyrie Irving, 6-1 PG
Junior, Elizabeth, N.J./St. Patrick
Irving has the ability to score almost at will with the ball in hands. He has a nice, efficient jump shot that extends beyond the 3-point line. He also can get into the midrange area for jumpers. His shooting ability allows him to also spend time off the ball and work around screens for shots. Irving easily gets to the paint due to his ability to maximize his quickness by keeping defenders off-balance through deftly changing speeds. Given his impressive offensive arsenal, one would expect him to take a number of bad shots, but Irving rarely forces the issue and does a good job of involving his teammates. He gets a number of assists by driving to the rim and dishing to open teammates on the wings or bigs in the paint. Irving has an even temperament on the court and rarely seems to lose his poise, a trait that coaches covet in point guards.
Carson Desrosiers, 6-10 C
Junior, Lawrence, Mass./Central Catholic
Desrosiers has very good skills at this point, but he also has a ton of untapped potential. Although he does not have a muscular, chiseled frame, he has rather wide shoulders and developed legs, which signals that he has the potential to develop into a monster. At this point, Desrosiers relies on finesse and skill for effectiveness. He has very solid footwork and post moves, which makes him a good back-to-the-basket post player, though he prefers to play in the midpost or away from the basket on the perimeter, where he can get off his jumper that he shoots out to 3-point territory. On the block, Desrosiers has a deadly turn-around jumper. A right-hand dominant player, he has the ability to use counter moves in the post and finish with his left hand around the rim. He runs the floor very well and can also pass out of double-teams when he encounters them in the post. With added strength, Desrosiers will have the tools needed to hold his position in the post, which will make him a better rebounder, post defender and scorer in the paint.
Isaiah Epps, 6-2 PG
Junior, Plainfield, N.J./Plainfield
Epps, a lefty, drains his fluid jump shot with regularity. He has very good rotation, which naturally points to proper follow-through on the shot. He catches defenders off-guard in transition by opting to pull up on the break, and he hits 3s in the defender's face often. Epps' potent jumper can also hamper him at times; he tends to rely on the shot a little too much instead of correctly opting to put pressure on the defense through penetration. When he does decide to penetrate, Epps has the quickness to blow by defenders on a regular basis. He also has good vision and passing ability, which he needs to make use of even more throughout the course of games.
Jordan Laguerre, 6-1 SG
Junior, Manchester, N.H./Trinity
Laguerre has very good quickness and athleticism, which makes him a nightmare for opposing defenses. He remains in attack mode on the offensive end at all times, constantly placing pressure on the defense. When he gets the ball, he uses his quickness to get into the teeth of the defense constantly. He also has good body control and leaping ability, which allows him to adjust in the air and convert on a number of difficult layup attempts. He's capable of using either hand for the finish, though he catches defenders off-guard due to the fact that he plays as a left-handed player. Laguerre also can shoot jumpers from the land of 3 with a high amount of success. His offensive and athletic gifts can get him into trouble at times, causing him to believe that he can always make something out of nothing, and it sometimes results in a turnover or a bad shot. To his credit, Laguerre plays the defensive end with the same reckless abandon he displays on offense, playing passing lanes for steals and pressuring opponents with his intense on-ball defense. Laguerre will have to improve his point guard skills for the next level.
Halil Kanacevic, 6-7 PF
Senior, Staten Island, N.Y./Curtis
Kanacevic does not have explosive athleticism, leaping ability or quickness, but he has enough in all three categories to make a positive effect on games. Kanacevic compensates for any lack of natural ability by making use of his skill level and high basketball IQ. He has range on his jumper that allows him to play on the perimeter. Kanacevic can also pass the ball very well, and his passing ability combined with his jumper makes him a great fit for the high spot on high-low offensive alignments. His jump-shooting prowess also makes him a threat when teams use pick-and-pop, quick-hitter plays on the offensive end. Kanacevic does a good job playing in the midpost, utilizing his ability to turn and face for shots or to pass to open teammates. Through effort and great positioning, he rebounds the ball on both ends consistently.
Dylan Talley, 6-5 SG
Senior, Burlington, N.J./Life Center
Talley has a very developed body and makes great use of his strength on the offensive end. He has average athletic ability and quickness, therefore the added muscle and strength allows him to initiate contact with defenders and create space for his jumper. Due to his frame, he does not mind contact and can take a hit at the rim, adjust in the air and convert the bucket. Talley also overpowers smaller guards on his way to the bucket for layup attempts. He will hit the 3-pointer on occasion, but he does not rank as a great shooter at this time. Talley also has to alleviate his tendency to overdribble and hunt down shots when he has the ball. Although he forces the issue at times on offense, Talley has the ability and vision to pass the ball. He needs to continue to use his considerable strength to harass opposing ball handlers on the defensive end.
Cameron Gunter, 6-8 PF
Junior, Folsom, Pa./Ridley
Gunter has a very wiry build; he will have to add muscle to his frame as he prepares for playing in the paint at the next level. However, he has great quickness and athleticism and remains active throughout games, which helps him to outwork opponents. Gunter hits the glass on both ends with great effort, using his length and quick leaping ability to retrieve rebounds on both ends of the court. He also has decent footwork and post moves in the paint, though he lacks the overall strength needed to hold deep position in the paint for scoring and rebounding. Gunter contest shots on the defensive end very well and runs the floor with relative ease, making him a great fit for the transition game. Gunter plays with a good amount of effort and rarely takes plays off.
• 2011 prospect Blaise Mbargorba (Newark, N.J./St. Benedict's), a 6-11 center, has the length, athleticism and upside that makes college coaches drool when they search for young big men. He runs the court very well and blocks shots at a very high rate. As he continues to mature and improves his post game, Mbargorba will become a high-major prospect before long.
• 2010 prospect Danny Lawhorn (Hartford, Conn./Hartford Public), a 5-10 point guard, has electrifying quickness and the ability to change speeds, both of which greatly complements his impressive ballhandling skills. He can get to the paint almost at will for layups and dishes to open teammates.
• 2011 prospect Desmond Hubert (New Egypt, N.J./New Egypt), a 6-8 power forward, has all of the tools to develop into a big-time interior player in the future. He has great length, athleticism and leaping ability. Hubert just needs to become more determined and use his gifts for the duration of games, instead of just in spots.
• 2009 prospect Khalil Brown (Queens/St. Joseph's of the Palisades), a 6-10 power forward, has the ability to step away from the basket and connect on jumpers, a very impressive trait given his height. In the paint, he also can use either hand when finishing at the rim. Brown needs to become stronger and play hard throughout the course of a game. He said he has offers from Jacksonville and Appalachian State, though he intends on going to prep school.
Antonio Williams is a recruiting coordinator for Scouts Inc. He previously worked as an NBA scout for Marty Blake Associates.
