Daniels shows unique ability
Although most of the elite talent was back east exhibiting their talents at various events, if you were able to bounce around form gym (West Coast All Star Camp) to gym (Pangos Summer Sweet 16) you would have been able to discover a bevy of intriguing prospects.
The Double Pump West Coast All Star Camp was slight on talent (approximately 20 out of the 300 campers were Divison 1 prospects), but that didn't stop 6-5 senior Shelton Boykin (Long Beach, Calif./ Poly) from demonstrating his upside. In addition, the camp unveiled the physical gifts of a few impressive underclassmen in 6-10 sophomore Robert Upshaw (Fresno, Calif./ Edison), 6-3 sophomore Jordan Chatman (Ridgeview, Wash./ Skyview) and 6-2 freshman Jordan Mathews (Riverside, Calif./ J.W. North) -- who by the way is the son of Nebraska assistant Phil Mathews.
DeAndre Daniels (6-8, 180)
2011, Woodland Hills, Calif./ Taft
Daniels, who recently committed to Texas, is a unique talent. He has a feathery touch out to the stripe and improved ball skills. He can attack the rim in transition and despite his lack of strength (sinewy frame) he usually converts on a regular basis. However, he is a bit of a 'tweener at both ends. His lack of strength is evident and he needs to get stronger finishing and guarding in the paint area because he doesn't possess the lateral quickness yet to play the three at the next level.
Ben Vozzola (6-5, 160)
2010, Las Vegas, Nev./ Centennial
Despite having a willowy frame that needs a significant amount of strength, Vozzola is a high-major recruit. He is a deceptive athlete with good quickness and he can get to the rim off the bounce. The most intriguing aspect of his game is his perimeter skill package. His passing and handle are high level both in transition as well as in the half-court set. Despite a frame that is craving muscle he can break down defenders with his slick handle and either deliver a nifty assist or finish at the rim. His jump shot is streaky, but it's not uncommon for him to have games with more than 5 threes. He is much better in a catch and shoot situation because he lacks the strength to pull-up in traffic off the dribble.
Jahii Carson (5-11, 155)
2011, Gilbert, Ariz./Mesa
Carson has probably been the most complete point guard seen during the 1st week of the evaluation period out west. He is short in stature and has a tendency to over handle, especially when being pressured, but he is good at a number of the qualities you look for in a point guard. He is highly explosive off the dribble and can finish amongst the bigs. He advances the ball well in transition and is a pretty slick passer. His jump shot is solid out to the stripe and he gets good lift on it as well. On the other hand, he can get caught up going one-on-one too often and becoming turnover prone, but he is definitely a talent.
Shelton Boykin (6-5, 190)
2010, Long Beach, Calif./ Poly
Boykin has literally exploded this spring and early summer evaluation period. His improvement since the regular season has been remarkable. He was always known as a high-level athlete and rebounder, but now the other areas of his game are beginning to come around. He attacks the basket with authority and has the bounce to elevate well-above the rim. In addition, his jump shot has improved in the mid-range area, but still has to get much better to be considered a weapon. Boykin still plays too fast and forces it too much, but with his frame and athleticism he would be a definite asset at both ends of the floor in either in the Big West and/or WCC.
Surprise players
LaBradford Franklin (6-2, 165)
2010, Temecula, Calif./ Great Oak
Franklin is going to his third high school in as many years and his decision making can be erratic at times, but there is no question he is a talent. He can nail the 3-point shot with regularity and/or take it to the rim. He is best described as a scoring point guard and he has become much more athletic in the past couple of years. He can be explosive in transition and pull off the acrobatic play, but that is what haunts him most of the time during each game. He has a tendency to force the action instead of allowing the game come to him. Despite his scoring prowess, he does have the instincts to find open teammates, especially in a pick-n-roll set where his teammate slips the screen. If the game can slow down some for Franklin and improve his assist/turnover ratio, he should be a solid Division 1 point guard at the mid-high major level.
Damien Cain (6-6, 215)
2011, North Hollywood, Calif./ Harvard-Westlake
Although Cain is an undersized 5-man, he has definitely progressed since the regular season. He uses his strong frame, long arms, and savvy to score over taller bigshit a couple of nice turn around jump shots on 6-9 John Ryan. His feel is tremendous and he is a very astute passer out of the post. In addition, he nailed a spot-up 3-point jump shot and his stroke looked pretty smooth. Overall, he competes each and every time out and is an advanced player for his age.
Tre Johnson (6-7, 190)
2010, Reno, Nev./ Hug
Each time out Johnson continues to impress. He is still quite raw on the offensive end, but due to his length and exceptional bounce, he is a force to be reckoned with. Defensively, he has outstanding timing and is one of the quickest leapers on the west coast. Offensively, he attacks the glass with a vengeance and is able to convert a number of tip-ins and/or follow dunks. In addition, he displayed some savvy as well as he dropped off a couple of nice assists in the paint area. Johnson is an exceptional student and has the talent to play at the mid-major level despite being very raw.
Jordan Chatman (6-3, 180)
2012, Ridgefield, Wash./ Skyview
Chatman is a tremendous scorer and projects to being a solid Division 1 two-guard at the mid-major level. He has a solid looking frame with long arms and he possesses a real knack for putting points on the board. He can knock down the 3-point shot with regularity and he gets good lift on his shot as well. In addition, he has quick 1st step to the basket and he maneuvers well around traffic. He does have a tendency to hunt for his own shot and he'll need to learn how to create for others in the half court set to expand his game. On the other hand, in transition he delivered a number of fine assists for easy baskets. Overall, in the coming seasons it will be interesting to see how his frame fills out as well as his skills to determine the level of his recruitment.
Jordan Mathews (6-2,175)
2013 Riverside, Calif./J.W. North
Mathews was one of the pleasant surprises of the West Coast Camp. Although he has yet to play a regular high school game, his skills and overall profile standout. He has a great frame with ideal length for the scoring guard position and the athleticism to boot. He has natural instincts for this game inside and out as well. He has a smooth looking stroke out to the stripe and he gets great lift on his shot. He handles the ball well especially in transition and generally makes good decisions. Mathews will definitely be one of the most promising freshmen entering high school in the fall.
West Coast Notes
• Josh Huestis, a 6-7 senior out of Henderson, Nev./ Findlay Prep, is one of more interesting sleepers out west. Originally out of Montana, Huestis will apparently enroll at Findlay Prep. He has lengthy frame, solid bounce, and a nice touch out to 15 feet.
• Eli Mara, 6-4 senior out of Surrey, BC. (Canada)/ White Rock Christian, was one of the many surprises during the West Coast All Star Camp. He has a chiseled frame, tremendous savvy, and deceptive bouncehad a number of strong finishes in traffic over the course of the event.
• No prospect in the west may have more upside than 6-10 sophomore Robert Upshaw (Fresno, Calif./ Edison). He has enormous hands, long arms, and can even knock down the 3-point shot.
• His frame is narrow but 6-2 junior Spencer Dinwiddie (Woodland Hills, Calif./ Taft) may have the best feel of any guard in California for his class. His savvy and demeanor are outstanding considering his youth.
• If he can continue to tighten up his decision making, 5-10 junior Cezar Guerrero (Bellflower, Calif./ St. John Bosco) is a legitimate Division 1 point guard. His quickness and pull-up game are high level.
• If he ever develops a consistent jump shot, 6-5 senior Bryce Jones (Woodland Hills, Calif./ Taft) may have the highest ceiling out of all the wing-types out west. He gets great lift on his shot but he has a tendency to drift. However, what makes him special is how he effects the game on many different levels (defense, rebounding, passing, and finishing).
• After a subpar performance in April, 6-9 senior Richard Solomon (Los Angeles/ Price) is playing with much more assertiveness at both ends. He still needs to get considerably stronger, but his face-up game and savvy around the basket are beginning to improve.
• He may not have a true position at the next level, but 6-5 senior Kareem Jamar (Los Angeles/ Westchester) does a lot of the little things (rebounding, passing, and defense) that make you win ball games.
• Godwin Okonji, a 6-8 senior out of Henderson, Nev./ Findlay Prep, has a great frame, soft hands, and good instincts around the basket. He may be one of the better rebounders on the west coast.
• No prospect in the west has more savvy and skill for his size than 6-8 senior Alex Tiffin (Thousand Oaks, Calif.). His lack of elite bounce and quickness will be the only attributes keeping him from playing at the highest level.
• Wesley Saunders, a 6-5 junior out of Los Angeles/ Windward, is a beast in the paint area. He is one of the best rebounders for his size in the west. He can lead the break and finish strongly in transition, but his jump shot needs a lot of polishing.
• If you're looking for a prototypical blue collar 5-man than 6-9 senior John Ryan (El Segundo, Calif.) is your man. He has solid length, good hands, and is pretty skilled in and around the paint area.
• He plays in spurts, but 6-1 junior Gelaun Wheelwright (Corona, Calif./ Centennial) is a talented and explosive combo-guard headed to USC during the 2011-12 season.
• Troy Leaf, a 6-1 senior out of Ramona, Calif./ Foothills Christian, is one of the most prolific shooters/scorers in the west. He lacks upside, but he is a relentless competitor.
• If he ever commits himself to being great, 6-9 junior Norvel Pelle (Compton, Calif./ Dominguez) could be special. He has a long ways to go in terms of fundamentals and strength, but he is the most explosive big out west without question.
• Ramon Eaton, a 6-8 junior out of Sacramento, Calif./ Sheldon, continues to demonstrate why he'll be one of the most highly coveted face-up 4-men in the west. This lefty has a wiry frame, but he can step out and knock down the 3-point shot and his face-up game is quite crafty as well.
