Jared Sullinger and Perry Jones earned a spot on Scouts Inc.'s all-star team with their play at this week's LeBron James events in Ohio

Originally Published: July 10, 2009

Sullinger, Jones among all-star picks

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By Reggie Rankin
Scouts Inc.
Archive

With so much elite talent in Akron and Cleveland for this week's LeBron James events -- the King City Classic and Nike Skills Academy, which concluded Thursday -- picking the all-star teams was no easy task. These 15 prospects made the final cut.

LeBron James camps All-stars

First team
PG: Phil Pressey (5-11, 162) School: 2010, Dallas/Episcopal Breakdown: Pressey pushes the ball with great speed and quickness and gets in the lane at will. He's an excellent passer with matching court vision. A tough competitor, Pressey takes on all comers in the lane. He tends to overpenetrate and gets lost from time to time. He showed improved decision-making and can hit pull-ups and floaters in traffic in addition to knocking down open 3s. Don't let his size fool you; Pressey can play. SG: Will Barton (6-6, 161) School: 2010, Baltimore/Lake Clifton -- committed to Memphis Breakdown: This kid can flat-out score. Barton plays in attack mode on offense on every catch. He can convert on acrobatic finishes in the lane, pull-ups, step-backs. Although he's streaky from 3, he can knock down two or three in a row when in the flow. He's an above-the-rim finisher with a clear path. Although he's wiry strong, Barton needs to add weight and muscle. SG/SF: Trey Zeigler (6-5, 183) School: 2010, Mount Pleasant, Mich. Breakdown: Zeigler played well all week and was more aggressive than when I saw him in the spring. He's very active on defense -- especially in the passing lanes, where he came up with steals and turned them into scores. He was terrific in the open court as he attacked the rim or hit the open man running ahead. Zeigler knocked down open 3s off the catch and finished his slashes to the basket. He is capable of scoring in bunches, in a variety of ways. PF/C: Jared Sullinger PF/C (6-9, 270) School: 2010, Columbus, Ohio/Northland -- committed to Ohio State Breakdown: A load to handle in the low post and on the glass, Sullinger is the best area rebounder in the 2010 class. He scores in the post through contact with a variety of moves. If the defender allows him to maintain contact, he's going to score or get fouled. Sullinger plays with heart and has the ability to face and attack off the dribble or hit the open jumper with time and space. Body maintenance and conditioning are the keys to Sullinger's becoming a great player. C: Perry Jones C (6-10½, 220) School: 2010, Duncanville, Texas -- committed to Baylor Breakdown: Jones is extra long, very athletic and has terrific skill in the post. He has the ability to attack off the dribble and knock down midrange jumpers. He must improve his back-to-the-basket moves to complete his offensive game. He runs the floor like a deer and rebounds on both ends. Jones must learn to sustain his energy level to be great because his size and talent are undeniable.
Second team
PG: Josh Selby (6-3, 183) School: 2010, Baltimore/Lake Clifton -- committed to Tennessee Breakdown: A scoring point guard who can break the game open with a flurry of scores, Selby finishes above the rim with flare in transition. He hits deep 3s off the catch or dribble and can deliver the ball in the lane when he draws a second defender. He must learn not to look for the home run play all the time because that's when he turns the ball over. Selby keeps the pressure on his defender at all times. He looks to make a play on every catch and has the talent, skill and toughness to get it done. SG:Jamail Jones (6-6, 200) School: 2010, Stone Mountain, Ga./Green Forest Christian Breakdown: Jones is a strong and physical wing who can make open shots. Jones knocks down 3s off the catch or dribble in transition or in the half court. He's a strong driver who can hit the floater in the lane, mostly going left, and he finishes through contact. A good passer and ballhandler, Jones must work on scoring moves off the dribble. Jones competes and uses his size to be a reliable defensive rebounder. SF: Harrison Barnes (6-8, 209) School 2010, Ames, Iowa Breakdown Barnes, the No. 1 player in the ESPNU 100, is a smooth and skilled wing who does everything very well. I would like to see him attack more often, but Barnes is still very productive. He scores on slashes to the rim with great body control. He also hits the open 3 off the catch or dribble and is an excellent rebounder and coast-to-coast threat. Barnes competes and gets the job done on defense -- defending the ball and being alert on the weak side in order to help a teammate. PF: C.J. Leslie (6-8, 205) School: 2010, Raleigh, N.C./ Word of God Academy Breakdown: Leslie played with energy, effort and intensity all week. He ran the floor with great urgency and finished above the rim on every opportunity. He hit the glass hard and scored in the post with quick athletic moves. He must develop his perimeter ballhandling and shooting to take his game to the next level, but you never have to look for this high-energy forward when he is on the floor. C: Dwight Powell (6-10, 212) School: 2010, Melrose, Mass./IMG Academy Breakdown: Powell has size, skill and a good basketball IQ. He has a terrific-looking stroke and knocked down midrange jumpers and 3s while making it look easy. He ran the floor and displayed good touch and feel around the basket. Defensively, he understood how to take advantage of his great length and competed. He must become more of a presence on the glass and play more physically, but it's fun to watch this big guy knock down jumpers and play with passion.
All-junior team
PG: Marquis Teague PG (6-2, 165) School: 2011, Indianapolis/Pike Breakdown: Teague has big-time speed, quickness and explosiveness with the ball. He can score in bunches. He gets to the rim in transition and knocks down pull-ups. Although he's a little streaky from 3, Teague can make you pay from behind the arc, as well. Teague is an underrated passer because he can score so well from the point. PG/SG: Austin Rivers (6-4,189) School: 2011, Winter Park, Fla. -- committed to Florida Breakdown: Rivers is a skilled and confident guard who can do everything pretty well. He can get his own shot whenever he wants and finishes in traffic consistently. An excellent ballhandler and passer, Rivers simply makes plays. SF:Michael Gilchrist (6-6, 216) School: 2011, Elizabeth, N.J./St. Patrick Breakdown: Gilchrist continues to impress with his ability to rebound and defend positions 2, 3 and 4 with ease. His jump shot is improving rapidly, and Gilchrist is a coast-to-coast threat in transition, in addition to being a willing passer. All the hype about the nation's top-rated junior is legit. PF: Johnny O'Bryant (6-8, 218) School: 2011, Cleveland, Miss./East Side Breakdown: O'Bryant is a high-energy post who has improved his perimeter jumper to the arc when he has time and space. He runs the floor with great energy and rebounds on both ends. He must finish plays in the lane with better consistency and continue to improve his back-to-the-basket scoring. O'Bryant is a good face-up ballhandler and midrange shooter. He plays hard and competes on every possession. PF/C: Rakeem Christmas (6-9, 230) School: 2011, Philadelphia/Northeast Catholic Breakdown: Christmas had a great week. He continues to expand his game. He scores in the lane with jump hooks, faces off the post and knocks down midrange jumpers. Plus, he attacks off the dribble from the low wing and high post extremely well. He blocks shots and finishes everything or get's fouled. He must add strength to hold his post position better, but what a talented big.