September 30, 2008
Elite 75 Prep Showcase...
By Patrick Stanwood stanwood@hoopmasters.com
Nearly 150 of the top high school players from the southern region head to Charlotte for the Elite 75 Prep Showcase...
Each Fall, nearly 150 of the top high school players from the southern region head to Charlotte for the Elite 75 Prep Showcase. It has been the proving ground for many top talents, as you may remember that HoopMasters first wrote about John Wall after seeing him at Elite 75 back in October 2006...Who will be the next John Wall, well here are some of the players that caught our eye this year at the Elite 75:
Top Prospects -
6-5 Soph Michael Gbinije from Christ Church School, VA - It won't be surprising if Gbinije plays his way into the Top 15 in this coming year. This long yet physical wing can bring the ball up the floor, score at will in mid-range, around the rim and even from behind the arc. He'll make the right pass, plays well off the ball and can defend nearly any position on the floor. He is already hearing from a school list that includes North Carolina, Florida, Clemson, Memphis and Virginia Tech.
5-10 Soph Marquis Rankin from Charlotte Vance, NC was very probably the top PG at the entire camp. Already one of the quickest guards in the country, Rankin shoots it to three point range, has a quick first step which allows him to get in the paint where he scores with high regularity.
This Charlotte native also possesses long arms which when combined with his quickness allow him to menace his opponent for easy steals. He finished with 17pts, 5 assists and 2stls in perhaps Sunday's most high anticipated matchup of Rankin vs. fellow elite 2011 guard Delonte “Bishop” Daniels (see below)
He visited Wake Forest on Saturday where he picked up an offer to go with interest from Virginia Tech, Louisiana Tech, Florida (who might be the leaders to grab this lead guards services- Coach Smart recruited him while at Clemson) and Auburn.
6-2 Soph Delonte “Bishop” Daniels from Raleigh Word of God, NC is really making a case for being a Top 30 guy in the Class of 2011. He's super athletic, an elite scorer (though he did miss his fair share of layups), has solid passing skills, appears to be a good teammate.
He can already claim to have offers from the likes of Wake Forest and Memphis as well as interest from Clemson, N.C. State, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Oklahoma. He also mentioned he likes North Carolina, Duke and Georgetown. He finished with 16pts and 2 assists in his matchup with Rankin.
6-9 Senior Hassan Whiteside from Lenoir Patterson Shool, NC This emerging PF/C is best when operating down low where his length and athleticism allow him to score over both bigger and smaller opponents (scored 26pts in one game we watched Sunday. Will be recruited at the high major level.
6-2 Junior Ian Miller from Charlotte United Faith, NC is virtually without a peer with regard to jumping ability which he often used to finish at rim level. Miller absorbs contact well, has a great on and off the court demeanor which is no doubt a reason for Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Virginia Tech and Memphis offering this athletic combo guard.
6-8 Soph Chris Coleman from Durham Mt. Zion, NC looks every bit a top 50-75 kid at this point in his career…Coleman told us West Virginia, Ohio State and Pitt have all offered and the Virginia Tech, Syracuse, Clemson, George Mason, Texas, Wake Forest, Providence and Tennessee has shown early interest.
6-6 Junior Jarell Eddie from Concord Cannon School, NC showed glimpses of being an ACC level contributor-this Virginia Tech commit often leaves fans and talent evaluators wanting more-he'll at times knock down a perimeter jump shot, make a nice pass, even grab a tough board in traffic…But for the most part his game is played at one speed and one speed only…If he can ever find that extra gear consistently he'll emerge as an elite level Top 100 Player.
An intriguing 6-11 Soph face-up post prospect is Matt Gorski from Richmond Crosby, VA. He has expanded his shooting range out to three and told us Virginia, Virginia Tech, Florida, North Carolina, Clemson, Wake Forest, VCU, and James Madison have all show interest of late…
Other prospects that college coaches should take notice of include-
Seniors - Class of 2009
6'6 Jay Jones from Charlotte (Vance) NC / 5'8 Nick Parsons from Lexington (HS) NC / 6'2 Mack Hickey from Charlotte (Waddell) NC / 5'10 Hunter Robinson from China Grove (South Rowan) NC
Juniors - Class of 2010
6'3 Kristopher Coleman from Charlotte (Garinger) NC / 6'6 Jermaine White from Charlotte (Butler) NC / 6'7 James Carlton from Greenville (South Central) NC / 5'11 Lewis Miller from Durham (School of The Arts) NC / 6'2 Kendall Wicks from Winston Salem (R.J Reynolds) NC / 6'6 Charles Robinson from Charlotte (Vance) NC / 6'7 Michael Humphries from Charlotte (Myers Park) NC / 6'2 Jamal Mitchell from Charlotte (Northside Academy) NC / 5'8 Sam Mozon from Charlotte (Vance) NC / 5'11 Errick Davis from Raleigh (Millbrook) NC / 6'0 Josh Curry from Gaffney (HS) SC / 6'0 Montez Singleton from Charlotte (Vance) NC /6'7 Troy Hill from Durham (Mount Zion) NC / 6'7 Eric Howell from Charlotte (Olympic) NC / 6'2 Reynolds Maharajh from Charlotte (Christian) NC.
Sophomores - Class of 2011
6-0 Dontae Harper from Greenville (South Central) SC / 6'5 Jacoby Davis from Charlotte (Vance) NC / 6'7 C.J Barksdale from Danville (George Washington) VA / 6'4 Paul Stone from Danville (George Washington) VA / 6'2 Deandre Alston from Rocky Mount (Rocky Mountian) NC / 6'4 Soph Donte Harper from Greenville (South Central) NC / 6'8 Jervon Pressley from Charlotte (Waddell) NC / 6'7 Tre Leonard from Raleigh (Wakefield) NC / 5'11 Cameron Cornelius from Derby (HS) KS / 5'9 Stevie Taylor from Gahanna (Lincoln) OH / 5'9 Torey Burston from Richmond (Henrico) VA / 6'8 Jason Lee from Raleigh (Wakefield) NC / 6'6 Enoch Hood from Charlotte (Vance) NC / 5'11 Torri Tillman from Waxhaw (Marvin Ridge) NC / 6'8 Daniel Clark from Danville (George Washington) VA / 6'1 Brian Darden from Hampton (Phoebus) VA / 6'0 Greg Lewis from Mechanicsville (Hanover) VA.
Freshman - Class of 2012
6'0 Madison Jones from Raleigh (Ravenscroft) NC / 5'10 Nate Bucher from Lawrenceville ( Providence Christian) GA / 6'7 Tony Menton from Charlotte (Waddell) NC / 6'2 Frosh Julius Hamilton from Charlotte (West Charlotte) NC / 5'6 Isiah Rogers from Westerville (South) OH / 6'0 Calvin Davis from Charlotte (Berry) NC / 6'3 Oscar Torres from Gainesville (East Hill School) GA / 6'3 Brandon Hooks from Raleigh (MiddleCreek) NC / 6'4 Shaq Patterson from Martinsville (HS) NC / 5'9 Brandon Bibbs from Newport News (Pennisula Catholic) VA / 6'3 Jasen Eddie from Concord (Cannon School) NC / 6'3 Nate Simms from Douglasville (Chapelhill) GA / 5'9 Waymond Wright from Raleigh (Word of God) NC / 6'5 Darian Clark from Conyers (Rockdale) GA.
Diaper Dandies -
6'1 8th Grader (2013) Rodney Purvis from Raleigh, NC / 6'6 8th Grader (2013) Tyrek Coger from Raleigh, NC / 6'0 7th Grader (2014) Tadric Jackson from Ashburn, GA / 6'7 7th Grader (2014) Nick Giorski from Richmond, VA.
For more on some of the top junior high and high school events this fall contact Patrick at patrickstanwood@yahoo.com.
