Basketball Spotlight Summer Camp Report: Class 2014

Brandon Austin (Philadelphia, PA)

Basketball Spotlight has the privilege of covering some of the top young camps in the country. We decided to end the summer with our top performers we saw at these events by class. Here’s a breakdown of the Top Performers in the Class of 2014.

Class 2014 Top Camp Performers

1. Brandon Austin Guard (Philadelphia, PA)- Austin got our nod at the #1 spot because his play at the Hoop Group Jr. Elite Camp came against players from higher classes. The lanky point guard showed the natural flow that leaves spectators in awe. He made some big plays and stood the challenge of some serious Class of 2012 ballers. He finished the camp as one of the top prospects regardless of class.

2. Parker Cartwright Guard (Van Nuys, CA)- I fell in love with Cartwright’s game at the Jr. All American Camp. The top notch point guard gave defenders the business the entire weekend. He set up teammates, drained the jumper and defended the rock very well. To my surprise he wasn’t invited to the Jr. Phenom Camp and that’s crazy when he has to be the best guard for the class in California.

3. Alonzo Trier Guard (Federal Way, WA)- Trier is worth the price of admission as the explosive guard put on a show at the Jr. All American Camp and at the Adidas Jr. Phenom Camp. His ball handling skills would make some high school players jealous and his play making ability is outstanding. He has some serious star quality.

4. James Blackmon Guard (Fort Wayne, IN)- Not many can score the ball like Blackmon. He will kill off the bounce or catching and shooting. He’s very physical with the rock and will bully defenders on this level. At the Jr. All American Camp Blackmon heated up from deep on many occasions and also broke down defenders with a sick handle. Finally, Blackmon finished as one of the top ranked players at Adidas Jr. Phenom Camp.

5. Victor Craig Forward (New Orleans, LA)- New Orleans is loaded with young talent and you can add Craig to this list. The long forward used his size to dominate the competition at the Jr. All American Camp. He blocked shots, rebounded and scored at ease on the offensive end. He has a chance to be a special player one day.

7. Dylan Portwood Forward (Georgetown, KY)- Portwood has good size on this level but can handle the rock like a legit wing player. At the Jr. All American Camp Dylan showed good promise while leading his team to the championship. He’s very fundamentally sound and plays with passion.

8. Wade Baldwin Guard (Montgomery, NJ)- Baldwin had his moments at the Jr. All American Camp and really displayed his skills at the Hoop Group Jr. Elite Camp. During this camp he heated up on a regular basis and also showed some point guard skills. His has a mean streak that helps him turn on the switch when needed.

9. Jerron Love Guard (New York, NY)- The next showmen from New York made his mark at the Jr. All American Camp. He got rid of defenders with quick crossover and hesitation dribbles. He does have some flash to his game but his substance is also high. Love is a name you will hear about for years to come.

10. Anton Beard Guard (North Little Rock, AK)- The lefty has a power game when driving to the hole. He scores inside and outside at ease sometimes. He has confidence in his jumper and works very hard on the defensive end of the floor. Check him out if you are ever in Arkansas. He was a joy to watch at the Jr. All American Camp.

Basketball Spotlight Hits Hoop Group Jr. Elite Camp

The Hoop Group Jr. Elite Camp will take place from Saturday August 2nd to Tuesday August and Basketball Spotlight will be in the building for exclusive coverage. The camp will consist of over 200 players from around the country. We will be providing you day by day breakdowns of the top performers as well as evaluations. Stay tuned as we fill in you in on all the action.

Event: Hoop Group Jr. Elite Camp
Place: College Of NJ
Dates: 8/2-8/5
Grades: Rising 7th thru Rising 9th

Hoop Group Jr. Elite Camp Day 4: NCAA Division

Trevonn Morton (Brooklyn, NY)

On Day 4 the action at the Hoop Group Jr. Elite Camp reached another level as the playoffs and championship rounds got underway today. Some top level players blossomed while others made their initial mark. Here’s a breakdown of the players that impressed us the last day of camp.

Day 4 Top Performers (NCAA Division)

Class 2013

Trevonn Morton 5’11 Forward (Brooklyn, NY)- Morton was a major reason why his team took home the camp title. The long forward controlled the paint by rejecting shots and snatching down numerous rebounds. His post moves has shown improvements as the camp progressed which caused his confidence to soar. I like his energy.

Bryan Rivers 5’5 Guard (Princeton, NJ)- Rivers ability to play with either hand keeps opponents guessing about next move. His size on this level allows him to look over the defense and deliver on time passes. He protects the rock by shielding the ball with his body and switching hands frequently during his dribble.

Lamar Greer 5’10 Forward (Middle Township, NJ)- The son of the former South Jersey HS phenom doesn’t possess the guard type game of his father but was effective in his own way. Greer posted up defenders and used a soft turnaround shot and short jumper to get buckets.

Marcus Fulmore 5’7 Guard (Burlington, NJ)- Fulmore was a scoring machine with either hand for his team. He helped them reach the finals by muscling his way to the hole and finishing with silky lay up’s. He has a stocky frame that helps him penetrate the defense and protect the ball in traffic.

Floyd Preito 5’8 Guard (Philadelphia, PA)- Floyd bullied past the small defenders for points especially in transition. The opposition had no chance when Preito came at them full speed in the open floor. Once he got near the rim the conversion was usually automatic. I was curious about his shooting touch because I didn’t see him attempt a jumper while watching.

Jamal Carter 5’6 Guard (Harrisburg, PA)- Carter applied tremendous defensive pressure that helped his squad force numerous turnovers. When the ball got into his hands he pushed the pill and made some nice no look passes to teammates for buckets.

Class 2014

Wade Baldwin 5’3 Guard (Montgomery, NJ)- Baldwin was certainly considered for MVP honors as the combo guard dribbled and shot his squad to a championship. He displayed ball handling and unlimited range even of the dribble. He has a quick trigger and when he gets hot that stat sheet fills up in a hurry. Some of his long jumpers simply took the life out of the other team.

Shaquan Worthy 4’10 Guard (Trenton, NJ)- Worthy defensive intensity often frustrates his opponents. He aggressively denies the ball and makes opposing guards work to get the rock. If the ball is received Shaquan then moves his feet well and tries to beat the ball handler to the spot. Offensively he also was aggressive pushing the rock and shooting high arching treys.

Malik Smith 5’5 Guard (Philadelphia, PA)- Smith finished his camp off with an impressive showing. He’s very smooth running the team while dipping in and out of traffic easily. He knows he can get anywhere wants on the floor and he uses this advantage to scorch defenders.

Kaison Randolph 5’9 Forward (Trenton, NJ)- Randolph used his length to score inside on put backs and after receiving the ball in the lane. I like how he runs the floor and create opportunities for himself off the bounce. It appears that he will hit a growth spurt soon because of his long wiry arms.

Class 2015

Mikey Dixon 4’10 Guard (Wilmington, DE)- Dixon capped his week with a championship and winning camp MVP honors. The youngster never stops moving on both ends of the floor while not backing down from any challenges. I even watched him go inside and battle for a few rebounds among the giants. He was a crowd pleaser all weekend.

Class 2016

Tyler Jones 4’8 Guard (Lawrenceville, PA)- One of the youngest players in the camp didn’t get intimidated by the field. He ran a steady point and stays away from the flashiness that gets others in trouble. I like his poise and effectiveness in this setting.

Hoop Group Jr. Elite Camp Recap: Day 1 Class 2013

Shamiek Sheppard Was Pleasant Surprise At Jr. Elite Camp Today!

The Hoop Group Jr. Elite Camp kicked off and as promised Basketball Spotlight is in the building. We arrived this morning and went straight to work. In the morning session I got a chance to check out three games. We will break down our top performers by class.

Class 2013 Top Performers

Shamiek Sheppard 6’2 Forward (Brooklyn, NY)- Today Sheppard was very dominant finishing around the basket. Don’t get me wrong he is a legit wing in terms of handling the pill and creating opportunities. He has enough wiggle in his game to get past many defenders but his real strength is exploding to the rim once he gets deep in the paint or on the baseline. He stayed away from the outside shot so I don’t have a take on his jumper.

Rasheed Jordan 5’11 Guard (Philadelphia, PA)- Few could argue about this kids dominance this morning. He can give it to you with strength and with skills. Jordan has a unique knack of getting into the lane and making positive things happen. He’s good at getting teammates involved or scoring in traffic himself. I also love the way he competes.

Kavon Stewart 5’11 Guard (Paterson, NJ)- I’ve seen Stewart dismantle defenders for years and today wasn’t any different. The southpaw set up defenders with his slow dribble then blow pass them to get into the lane. His team was outmanned in terms of talent but Kavon stirred them to the victory. It’s time for him to hit the high school level.

Terrence Samuel 6’2 Guard (Brooklyn, NY)- I finally got a chance to see this kid rock and he has some skills. He’s very explosive when attacking the lane and has some springs in terms of finishing. His outside shot looks decent but he doesn’t seem to be confident enough to let many fly. I like what I saw and hopefully I can get a look at him later.

Reggie Cameron 6’4 Forward (Hackensack, NJ)- If there’s a such thing as a veteran on the grammar school level it has to Cameron. Reggie uses his wealth of experience to expose opponent’s weaknesses. He’s not the quickest but he’s knows how to get to spots and he’s not the most athletic but he understands box out positions. Today he showed a lot of different aspects of his game.

Cane Broome 5’8 Guard (East Hartford, CT)- Cane is a southpaw that primarily runs the point but can drain the open jumper if left open. He’s a good on ball defender and stays within his game when controlling the tempo. He represented himself well today.

Ian Rohde 6’1 Forward (Ringwood, NJ)- Rohde ran the floor well and benefitted from Stewart hitting him with on time passes. He’s not a super athlete but he uses his body well to shield defenders when scoring in traffic. His confidence grew as the game went on.

Austin Hawkins 5’9 Guard (Philadelphia, PA)- Hawkins is a scoring guard inside of a point guards body. He can fill it up in a hurry because his handle allows him to create space to get a shot off. But on the next level he will have to develop his point guard skills as the defenders will become bigger, stronger and faster.

Hoop Group Jr. Elite Camp Day 2 (Afternoon Session)

Morton Ran The Show Like A True Point Guard

In the afternoon session of the Hoop Group Jr. Elite Camp we decided to focus on the NCAA division, which consist of the top younger players. This division introduced us to quite a few new faces. Here’s a breakdown of who we saw this afternoon.

Day 2 Top Performers Afternoon Session

Class 2013

Christian Morton 5’6 Guard (Brooklyn, NY)- Morton has tremendous dribble penetration skills and doesn’t mind pulling the deep step back jumper. He has good command of his game on the floor and knows how to pick his spots to attack. Sometimes he does get into trouble while trying to dribble through the traps instead of splitting them. But overall I like his IQ and he seems like he enjoys the game.

Bobby Ahearn 6’1 Forward (Marshfield, MA)- Ahearn was a load down low on this level and he took full advantage. He got good position and waited for his teammates to swing the rock his way. Once he received the pill he used and drop step and soft touch to score off the glass. His size also played an important role on defense as he clogged up the lane with his presence.

Bryan Rivers 5’5 Guard (Princeton, NJ)- Rivers is very difficult to guard because he has size while dribbling and shooting effectively with both hands. He’s constantly surveying the floor when handling the rock and either delivers the rock to his teammates or scores over smaller defenders.

Stephen Vasturia 5’8 Forward (Medford, NJ)- The slender wing player enjoyed playing for his coach that encourages pushing the ball up the floor. He’s very versatile at this stage of his development; he sticks the jumper, handles the ball and passes the ball up the court quickly. He’s a playmaker.

Floyd Preito 5’8 Guard (Philadelphia, PA)- Preito was a bully going to the basket. None of the young defenders dared to get in his way once he broke the free throw line. His finishing move was finger roll at the rim as he used his body to shield shot blockers.

Class 2014

Malik Smith 5’5 Guard (Philadelphia, PA)- Smith is a small but feisty guard with a bag full of moves. He loves going under basket and scoring with an over the head reverse type lay up. The shot looks very awkward but he seems to have it down pat. Malik also has a tight handle and the swagger that could scare other insecure ball handlers.

Trevon White 5’3 Guard (Philadelphia, PA)- The John Bagley type guard has deceptive speed and sees the floor well. I got into the lane at times and found teammates cutting in the seams. He’s definitely a pass first guard.

Class 2015

Trey Lowe 5’2 Guard (Ewing, NJ)- Lowe did his job for the squad to get the win. He hit his open shots, controlled the tempo when needed and converted in transition. Playing as the youngest player on the floor didn’t affect his approach or impact on the game.

Hoop Group Jr. Elite Camp Day 1

Jaylen Beckham Brought His Game From Kentucky

The Hoop Group Jr. Elite Camp kicked off today and Basketball Spotlight was in the building for the action. Today the campers played in organized scrimmages before in order the pick the squads. This gave us a chance to check out some of the top players we came across.

Day 1 Top Performers

Class 2012

Jaylen Beckham 6’0 Guard (Lexington, KY)- Beckham represented the Blue Grass State to the fullest. His has good size, swift moves and some big time swagger. He knows how to get rid of defenders with a strong crossover and other impressive dribble drives. Once he gets past he finishes at the cup very easy.

Nate McGinley 6’0 Guard (Louisville, CO)- McGinley can stick the jumper but also has some sneaky quickness which helps him explode to the bucket for scores. He plays with a lot of passion on both ends of the floor and he is one to watch the rest of camp.

Richard Hoskins 5’10 Guard (Philadelphia, PA)- Hoskins plays extremely hard as many Philly players do. He has a guard size but will stick his head in the lane for a couple of rebounds. I also like his nose for the ball and his knack for scoring.

Tyler Huffman 5’9 Guard (Hartford, CT)- Huffman is a hard nose guard with some slick moves with the rock. He thrives in the transition game where he usually sets up teammates or scores himself. I like his feel for the game and willingness to push the rock.

Class 2013

Kavon Stewart 5’11 Guard (Paterson, NJ)- The lefty didn’t have any competition in his scrimmage setting. He zipped past defenders for easy scores and hit unexpected teammates for passes. I like the fact that he played hard even though the competition appeared to be beneath his level.

Sterling Johnson 6’0 Forward (Wilmington, DE)- Johnson is a southpaw with a lot of strength and scoring ability especially in transition. In the half court set he drives to the cup hard but doesn’t have enough range on his jumper yet. I like his game though.

Britton Lee 5’10 Guard (Philadelphia, PA)- Philly keeps producing guards and Lee fits into the mold. He has the stocky Kyle Lowry type frame and the explosion to go along with it. He has decent moves off the bounce and prefers the pull up jumper for scoring. But don’t be mistaken he will also finish at the cup.

Trevis Wyche 5’2 Guard (Neptune, NJ)- I was glad to watch Wyche play because I didn’t really see him that much this year. I must say that he has packed some bulk on his frame but still has the quickness and court savvy to make plays. I looked very impressive in his showing also.

Class 2014

Brandon Austin 6’2 Forward (Philadelphia, PA)- Yes it’s him again and Austin showed why he is one of the top players in the country. I played primarily the wing against older competition and stood out. His ball handling skills continue to improve every time I see him and he makes every thing else seem very easy. Austin is by far the top player in this class in attendance and he might make a run at those honors in some of the older divisions.

Deante Cole 5’0 Guard (Ewing, NJ)- Cole seems to give me a good showing every time I check for him. The small lefty drives to the cup like the wind and either scores on scooping layups or drops off dazzling passes. The Mercer County product doesn’t back down from any opponents.

Nazier Chew 5’5 Guard (Trenton, NJ)- When Chew decides to turn it on no one can stop him from getting to the cup. He got through the defense with dribbles moves with either hand and made some tough finishes at the rim. He just has to continue to play inspired on the floor.

Wade Baldwin 5’3 Guard (Montgomery, NJ)- Baldwin had his wet jumper flowing but also showed a lot of work on defense and when attacking the goal. I like his energy on the floor and he seems to have enormous work ethic.

Class 2015

Mikey Dixon 4’10 Guard (Wilmington, DE)- Dixon is a blur with the rock and can over dribble at times but you disregard that when you watching his work. He hits the gaps so quickly and usually makes go decisions with the pill. He’s very competitive and wants the rock in his hands each time down the floor.

Hoop Group Jr. Elite Camp Day 4: NBA Division Class 2013

Britton Lee (Philadelphia, PA)

On Day 4 the NBA division had some many top performers we decided to break them into two reports. There were some serious games going on including several multiple overtime contests. First we take a look at the Class of 2013 which featured some serious prospects.

Day 4 Top Performers (Class of 2013)

Britton Lee 5’10 Guard (Philadelphia, PA)- The City of Brotherly Love product explodes like a cannon ball when driving to the hole. He used this speed and strength to lead the All Star Game in scoring with 23 points. He said he will be attending Roman Catholic in two years. If Lee wants to be the next Maalik Wayns he will have to grow a few more inches, work on his jump shot, strengthen his left hand and get teammates involved more often.

Kavon Stewart 5’11 Guard (Paterson, NJ)- The Nick Van Exel clone didn’t let up on the final day. He got to the cup with a mean crossover dribble combined with a behind the back twist. Once he has the defender back pedaling he can pull up and drain the mid range jumper or floater. Stewart was also one of the best defensive guards in the camp.

Carlton Carter 5’6 Guard (Woodbridge, VA)- Carter is a vocal leader that instructs teammates on where they need to be on the floor. This is important because he’s a point guard with a nice frame and some sneaky athleticism. I like his drive and kick game in the flow of the offense. I also like the fact that he wants the ball in his hand at the end of games. Some players shy away.

Larry Morton 6’2 Forward (Lexington, KY)- Morton has the size and talent that could make him a big time prospect one day. He’s versatile while using his quickness to zip past post players and using his size to shoot over guards. He has an awkward one hand release on his shot but he gets up so high he gets a clean look at the basket often.

Jamal Adu-Peasah 6’0 Guard (Lexington, KY)- Jamal plays his position well. He’s a catch and shoot player that has the size to get his shot off. Off the dribble he needs to be a little more aggressive attacking the basket but that will probably come in time.

John Vasser 5’6 Guard (Marlboro, MA)- The southpaw loves to get into the lane and cause havoc. He has some deceptive moves and knows how to change speed while dribbling. Though he’s wasn’t the biggest guard in camp he used his athleticism to make up the difference. He flourishes in the open floor and transition.

Trevis Wyche 5’4 Guard (Neptune, NJ)- You know exactly what you are going to get from Wyche. He’s heady point guard that runs the team and doesn’t turn the ball over. Trevis brought this type of game to the Jr. Elite Camp and sometimes it’s not appreciated because of its lack of flash. Any coach would love a point guard like this Neptune product.

Class 2014

Brandon Austin 6’2 Guard (Philadelphia, PA)- The youngster marveled the crowd with his ball handling and natural decision making during the weekend. But like every other player he does have things he needs to work on to get better. First he must get used to playing against physical players that like to push and keep their hands on you. Then he has to understand that sometimes he doesn’t have to defer to his teammates because he’s the most talented. The latter might be harder because he has that true point guard pass first instinct. It’s not something you teach.

Hoop Group Jr. Elite Camp Recap: Day 2 NBA Division

Jackson Brought His "A" Game Today!

Day 2 of the Hoop Group Jr. Elite Camp gave us a chance to check out some new prospects and watch some familiar faces dominate the session. Today we decided to break our reports into two parts; a NBA division and NCAA division. Here’s the NBA report.

NBA Division Top Performers

Justin Jackson 6’5 Forward (Toronto, Canada)- Jackson moved up to the NBA division and delivered instantly. The lanky forward excelled on the wing by using his length and ball handling to get by defenders. His match up with Brandon Austin was a joy to watch as the rising 7th Grader gave Austin all he could handle. Jackson hasn’t even tapped into his potential. Remember this name!

Brandon Austin 6’4 Guard (Philadelphia, PA)- You have to love when this guy is running the show. He has a natural point guard feel and sometimes can be a little too unselfish. Austin got it going after Jackson woke him up and stayed in attack mode for the rest of the afternoon. His crossover is lethal because his length makes the defender bite on his first move.

Joshua Blagrove 6’5 Forward (Brooklyn, NY)- The rugged space eater has decent touch around the basket but enjoys banging bodies on the blocks. His post moves are developing and we will be keeping our eye on him.

Mike Young 6’7 Forward (Pittsburgh, PA)- Young is the tallest player in the camp and I expected him to be a post player. On defense he does a good job on the blocks but on the other end he prefers the face the cup. I like how he pushes the rock with confidence and his ability to play over the rim.

Carlton Carter 5’7 Guard (Stafford, MD)- Carter gave a good showing by showing some point guard and scoring skills. He beat defenders down the floor and stopped at the foul line for his pull up. On defense he stayed low to the ground and harassed ball handlers.

Geno Thorpe 6’3 Guard (Pittsburgh, PA)- Geno attacks from the wing and finishes with authority. He excels in transitions and looks very good when slashing to the hole. I like his upside because he has a strong but lanky frame.

Tarin Smith 5’5 Guard (Ocean, NJ)- Smith looked very smooth in his afternoon game. He was able to draw contact and convert at the basket. He also knew when to hit teammates and when to become a little selfish.

Hoop Group Jr. Elite Camp Recap: Day 1 Class of 2015 and 2016

Cheyenne Nettleton Got It Done!

The youngest bracket at the Hoop Group Jr. Elite Camp had some fine ballers. We spent the afternoon checking out some of their work. Here’s our breakdown of the Class of 2015 and 2016.

Class 2015 Top Performers

Cheyenne Nettleton 5’4 Guard (Brooklyn, NY)- Nettleton is playing the highest level at camp and performed very well his first game. He was difficult to contain off the dribble and delivered laser passes to teammates. Cheyenne does need to fine tune his outside shot a little but overall he had a standout showing.

Justin Jackson 6’5 Forward (Toronto, Canada)- That’s right this towering forward came down from Canada and didn’t waste the trip. He’s still in project stage but in a few years he should be a force to reckon with. I like his willingness to put the rock on the floor at this young age.

Stevie Jordan 5’0 Guard (Philadelphia, PA)- It was a tale of two halves for Jordan. In the first stanza he started slow and a few turnovers but when the second half came around he got it together. Jordan quickly caught fire from the perimeter and burned the nets.

Antonio Kellem 5’10 Forward (Freedom, PA)- Kellem has extremely long arms that he uses to alter shots and eat rebounds. He needs to improve his touch around the basket but I love his hustle and nose for the ball.

Marquis Irizarry 4’11 Guard (Elizabeth, NJ)- One day this kid will be an excellent coach for someone’s program. Marquis is constantly yelling instructions and taking charge of the squad while running the point. He likes to set up the dribble drive but understands his limitations when driving in traffic.

Class 2016


Tyler Jones 5’2 Guard (Lawrenceville, NJ)- Jones gave another stellar performance. He had the jumper flowing and was able to attack a bit. I think today he was a little too unselfish when he was near the tin.

Keith Washington 5’1 Guard (Sicklerville, NJ)- Washington has enough dribble moves to get around any defender. Once he gets a little stronger he will be able to finish in traffic. I also like his poise as a floor general.