Muhammad's stock continues to soar
The month of June, particularly the JSerra Summer Classic, is always one of the most beneficial times of the year to evaluate prospects. It's more refreshing to see talent in a structured environment with their high school teams rather than the club basketball circuit in which "one-on-one" basketball dominates. It's also the type of setting that allows new prospects to unveil their skill and savvy. Some of the breakout prospects of this event included seniors Robert Sandoval (Fresno, Calif./ Clovis East) and Julian Caldwell (Ontario, Calif./ Colony).
While 6-4 senior Tyler Lamb (Santa Ana, Calif./ Mater Dei) and 6-7 junior Angelo Chol (San Diego, Calif./ Hoover) were busy displaying their talents in Virginia at the NBPA Camp), a plethora of underrated prospects from the Class of 2010 made their mark at JSerra. Six-foot-4 senior Shelton Boykin (Long Beach, Calif./ Poly) and 6-5 senior Erik Swoope (North Hollywood, Calif./ Harvard-Westlake) are just a couple of names that dazzled onlookers with their performances.
Standout players
Gelaun Wheelwright (6-1, 160)
2011, Corona, Calif./ Centennial, PG
Wheelwright has the talent to be an elite level player, but his effort fluctuates between games. He's an undersized 2-guard at this stage, but due to his high level passing ability, the point guard position should be his ticket at the next level. He's at his best in transition -- he can nail the pull-up jump shot or deliver a nifty assist. His ballhandling (sloppy at times) and decision-making (can be turnover prone) need to get better, but he still has two more years of high school basketball. His jump shot is impeccable, especially in a catch and shoot situation -- he nailed a number of 3s at this event. If Wheelwright can learn to manage a game from the point guard position, particularly in the half court set, his stock will continue to rise.
Shabazz Muhammad (6-4, 180)
2012, Las Vegas, Nev./ Bishop Gorman, PG
Muhammad continues to mesmerize each time out. This lefty gives an honest effort every time out and loves to compete at both ends. He has a plethora of skills both inside and out and it will be interesting to see how he develops in the coming years. He is a tenacious rebounder who can lead the fast break and hand out the assist or post up smaller foes and give them a Bernard King-like turn around jump shot. He has a tremendous knack to score in the paint area and can hit the 3-point shot. If he can continue to hone his face-up skills (triple threat position) and mid-range game, he'll be an unstoppable force on this level.
Robert Sandoval (6-0, 170)
2010, Fresno, Calif./ Clovis East, PG
Sandoval doesn't pass the look test in terms of body type (stocky), but he is an outstanding high school point guard. In addition, his frame doesn't exactly scream upside either and that will be the most debatable aspect of his game in terms of him playing Division 1 basketball. On the other hand, he is a tremendous competitor who can hurt the opposition in an abundance of ways. He can stick the 3-point shot on a regular basis and has deceptive quickness and strength off the dribble -- he simply crushed 5-9 senior John Loyd (Las Vegas, Nev./ Bishop Gorman) in their matchup. Furthermore, he has a high basketball IQ and can manage a team in the half court set. Sandoval's upside is in question, but his savvy and internal drive cannot be denied.
Erik Swoope (6-5, 220)
2010, North Hollywood, Calif./Harvard-Westlake, PF
If there is a more powerful dunker than Swoope in high school basketball, I've yet to see him. Whether in transition or attacking the offensive glass, he simply assaults the rim. His frame is already physically mature; he looks more like an NFL defensive end than a basketball player. That said, he is a talent. His perimeter skills have improved immensely in the past year, and he projects to being an undersized 4-man at the next level. He can handle the ball well in transition and can even hit the 3-point shot. However, his shot is still a work in progress. He shoots more of a set shot at this stage and his release is slow, but it does have a soft landing. Overall, Swoope should be a Big West priority before the summer season ends.
Jarion Henry (6-7, 175)
2011, Cerritos, Calif./ Gahr, SF
Henry may have as much upside as any prospect in the West for his class. The left-handed willowy wing-type possesses an array of skills that are very impressive. He plays extremely hard at both ends and he can be very physical despite his slight frame. He projects to be an elite-level 3-man because of his improved handle and innate ability to locate the open man off the dribble. He is a relentless rebounder -- although he has a tendency to try to dribble through traffic instead of out-letting the ball to his point guard. His jump shot needs polishing because his release is quite slow. However, he does do a nice job facing up his opponent to take him off the bounce. Overall, Henry has all the tools to play at the highest level. If he can continue to hone his skills and temper his emotions, his ceiling is unlimited.
Wesley Saunders (6-4, 190)
2011, Los Angeles/ Windward, SF
Saunders is a physical specimen who is slowly developing into a possible high-major 3-man. He has a terrific frame with long arms and broad shoulders, and his skills appear to be getting better by the day. He is very tough to stop off the dribble; he utilizes a variety of moves to separate himself from defenders. Whether it's the pump-fake or hesitation dribble he has a way of getting to the rim. Although he is a tad undersized for the wing, his physical frame and ability to hang in the air allow him to gather a number of 3-point plays in the paint. What separates him from the top wings in the country is his lack of a true jump shot. His 3-point shot is a set shot, and he takes a while to get it off. In addition, he has shown no signs of a midrange pull-up. At the next level he will not be able to get to the rim as consistently as he does now, thus his mid-range game, particularly his jump shot, must improve to play at the high-major level.
Surprise players
Shelton Boykin (6-4, 190)
2010, Long Beach, Calif./ Poly
Boykin is one of the most improved prospects on the West Coast. He has always been known as a high-flying wing with limited skills. However, this spring he has exhibited much-improved ball skills and a smoother jumper. He plays in attack-mode at all times at both ends. He is a relentless defender who utilizes his long arms and exceptional lateral quickness to lock-down opponents. Offensively, he is getting better at creating his own shot and has no problem attacking the rim. His jump shot has improved as well; he gets exceptional lift on it, especially in the mid-range area. His shot, overall, is still flat, but it has definitely progressed in recent months. A year ago, Boykin was projected to the junior college ranks, but with the recent improvements in terms of his offensive game, the mid-majors should be calling shortly.
Khalil Kelley (6-7, 200)
2010, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./ Los Osos, PF
Kelley has gone from project to prospect in less than a year. He has a lengthy frame with long arms and he has the shoulder width to pack on weight. His offensive repertoire has improved greatly since the regular season. He has a soft touch out to the elbow and his face-up skills are pretty sound. His comfort spot is posting on the left block where he can turn over his left shoulder for the baby jump hook. In addition, when given space he can finish with a dunk. He is a tad methodical with his footwork, but he was very effective this weekend converting in the paint area. The brightest aspect of his game may be his energy level. He hustles at both ends and can really sprint down the court. Kelley is definitely a sleeper, but he should garner interest from schools from the Big Sky and Big West during the summer.
Katin Reinhardt (6-3, 180)
2012, Santa Ana, Calif./ Mater Dei, SG
After Tyler Lamb graduates, Reinhardt -- think a young J.J. Redick -- appears to be the next Division 1 scoring guard/wing out of this prestigious school. He has a solid looking frame with decent length and overall upside. Reinhardt plays with great energy at both ends and despite being very young he moves well without the ball. His ball skills are solid and he has deceptive quickness and speed. He has a tight handle and had one of the moves of the tournament when he performed a "reverse spin dribble" along the baseline and handed out a nifty one-handed pass to an open teammate. His jump shot is tight with range beyond the stripe and he has great rotation. He is especially effective coming off of a screen for the catch and shoot. Depending on where his body is headed, Reinhardt is definitely one to track over the coming years.
Julian Caldwell (6-2, 180)
2010, Ontario, Calif./ Colony, SG
Caldwell was the No. 1 surprise at this event, and his future appears to be quite promising considering he hasn't come close to tapping into his potential. He has a terrific frame with long arms and overall nice length for the one and/or the two. He is one of the better looking combo-guards in California and his ceiling is quite high. Despite playing on a team that exhibits up-tempo at all times, he possesses a nice feel for how the game is to be played at both ends. He has solid speed and quickness off the dribble, but he isn't someone that can blow by his opponent. He is a very good passer and always has his head up while handling the ball. His jump shot is smooth and he gets nice lift on his shot as well. He can finish with either hand while attacking the rim and his overall athleticism is quite good. Look for Caldwell to be one of the fastest rising players in the west coast class of 2010.
Rosco Allen (6-6, 180)
2012, Las Vegas, Nev./ Bishop Gorman, SF
Fellow teammate Shabazz Muhammad has garnered the most press between the two intriguing prospects, but Allen appears to be headed in the same direction. He has wiry frame that should fill out nicely and he is very agile as well. He is an allusive scorer in transition and can finish with either hand. It's hard to project what position he'll play in college, but depending on how his frame fills out I feel he's probably going to be a hybrid 4-man. He has nice face-up skills and has the skill to get to the rim and/or hit the mid-range jump shot. In addition, he has an innate ability to convert around the paint area. Overall, Allen is one of the more promising sophomores on the west coast.
West Coast Notes
• Dennis Kramer, a 6-9 senior out of Encinitas, Calif./ La Costa Canyon, displayed his versatile game over the weekend. He has deceptive bounce and a nice 3-point touch, but he needs to get considerably more physical in the paint area.
• His frame is quite frail, but 6-2 senior Delon Wright (Hawthorne, Calif./ Leuzinger) has the tools and upside to play Division 1 basketball on some level. He has a soft touch out to the stripe and handed out a number of fine passes.
• Michael Caffey, 5-11 junior out of Corona, Calif./ Centennial, continues to demonstrate why he'll be rated amongst the top point guards on the west coast for his class. He is a true lead guard who gets rid the ball early in transition and always has his head up. His jump shot has improved as well as he hit a few nice 3-pointers over the weekend.
• You can add Gerry Blakes, a 6-2 two-guard out of Hawthorne, Calif./ Leuzinger, to the list of intriguing sleepers in the class of 2011. This lefty is extremely quick and can affect the game on many levels.
• Mater Dei picked up another transfer in 6-9 junior Mike Van Kirk. He is originally out of Palmdale (Paraclete), but now will be suiting up with the Monarchs this winter. He has a long ways to go in terms of development, but the upside is there. He has soft hands and a nice touch out to the elbow.
• He is a bit undersized for the wing position, but 6-3 senior Anson Winder (Las Vegas, Nev./ Bishop Gorman) is very intriguing. He is an explosive athlete that can knock down the 3-point shot.
• Damiene Cain, an 6-6 undersized junior out of North Hollywood, Calif./ Harvard-Westlake, plays the game with an even keel. He isn't overly bouncy, but he has precise post moves and is an outstanding passer out of the post.
• Two of the best freshmen exhibited their respective talents over the weekend at the J Serra tournament. Roschon Prince, a 6-5 wing-type will be attending Long Beach, Calif./ Poly while 6-4 Chauncey Hill will enroll at Los Angeles (Windward). Prince has a mature all-around game while Hill utilizes his length and athleticism to convert in the paint as well as off the dribble.
• Nick Stover, who is the younger brother of UCLA recruit Anthony Stover, has grown since his freshman season and looks to be pushing 6-4 now. His shot needs polishing (mechanical release), but he has a lengthy frame and improved ball skills.
• Matt Shrigley, a 6-5 sophomore out of Carlsbad, Calif./ La Costa Canyon, has a terrific all-around game for someone so young. His jump shot is big-time beyond the stripe and his passing skills are high-level.
• If 5-7 junior Chris Anderson (Anaheim Hills, Calif./ Canyon grows a couple of more inches he is undoubtedly a Division 1 recruit. Anderson is very slick with the ball and has savvy beyond his years. He is the younger brother of current UCLA sophomore Jerime Anderson and he possesses similar attributes as his older sibling.
