Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Hoop Group Jr. Elite Camp Recap: Day 3 Youngsters Stand Out

Kohl Was A Force Inside!

The final day of the camp rolled around and we decided to show our love to the NCAA division. These youngsters got it going heavy today especially during the championship game. Here’s a breakdown of what we saw.

Top Performers

Tyler Kohl 5'11 Forward (Easton, PA)- Kohl team came up on the short end of the stick in the finals but this kid did everything except sale hot dogs. He punished defenders on the blocks with smooth post moves and a feathery touch. He knows his way around the floor and really impressed me with his passing ability. He does need to work on his sportsmanship a little but that should come with age.


Samir Taylor 5’4 Guard (Philadelphia, PA)- Taylor finished his day off good. His wiry frame and ability to maneuver through defenders allows him to get quick buckets in the half court setting. He also showed good judgment when decided to pull up over potential shot blockers.

Kevin Crutchfield 5’5 Guard (Coatesville, PA)- I like some of the skills this lefty displayed. He was on a guard dominated squad but when he got the chance to create he cashed in. He has good body control and the ability to score the rock.

Alex Dankl 6’0 Forward (Cinnaminson, NJ)- Alex battled Powell tough in the finals. His length helped him get a few buckets off and grad some boards. Right now his lack of strength didn’t allow him to dominate but he does seem to have a better upside for the inside position.


Jordan Holness 5’5 Guard (Toronto, Canada)- Jordan showed some skills in the finals. I like how he creates space with an array of dribbling moves and ended it off with a wet jumper. He has the type of handle that allows him to get into the lane at will. Expect a lot more from him in the future.

Deonte Hall 5’0 Guard (Toronto, Canada)- Speaking of getting into the lane this kid was one of the best at that. He was a blur with the rock and has the heart of a lion. He constantly beat defenders and even played good on the ball defense.

Tyrell Thomas 5’7 Guard (Hyattsville, MD)- Thomas has to be one of the most polished guards in this age group. He has that extra gear that helped him stand out in this bracket. Thomas can definitely score but I also saw him find teammates in transition.

Billy Clark 5’0 Guard (Brooklyn, NY)- Clark showed some flashes of a good playmaker. He created some space for his high arching outside shot and got to the cup a few times. On a few occasions he had the defender beat with his first move but his over dribbling gave them a chance to retreat.


Deante Cole 5’0 Guard (Ewing, NJ)- Cole ended his camp off in his usual fashion. He set up teammates and only took shots when necessary. He looked very good in the open floor nailing running teammates with no look passes.

Mike Jolaoso 4’11 Guard (Philadelphia, PA)- The hard nose guard got into the lane and created opportunities. I also like the way he turned ball handlers on defense and made them turn it over or get rid of the rock.


Jimmy Pazini 4’11 Guard (Spring Lake, NJ)- Jimmy got things going late in his game with a nice outside stroke and a few confident finishes near the cup. He didn’t back down at all from the comp.