LEWISVILLE, Texas – It didn’t take long on Saturday to grasp that event founder and director Dinos Trigonis had assembled another strong group of players for his Pangos All-South Frosh/Soph Camp at the MAC Center in this Dallas suburb.
Approximately 180 players were on hand and, during the two camp games each participated in Saturday afternoon evening, some standouts made their selves noticeable immediately.
The tallest – and most impressive – in that group was 6-foot-10 Charles Bassey, a freshman at St. Anthony High in San Antonio who didn’t migrate to the United States (from Nigeria) until about three months ago.
Bassey apparently was the dominant performer at the John Lucas Midwest Invitational in Louisville last weekend (Oct. 3-4) and he didn’t need a whole lot of minutes on the floor Saturday afternoon for the Tulsa team and then, later that night, for the Rice squad, to show off his immense basketball gifts.
He may have blocked 12 to 15 shots, retrieving the ball on nearly every occasion. The guy never left his feet until the shot was in the air no matter how many pump or head fakes were thrown at him.
His speed, hand-eye coordination and lateral mobility is about as good as you’re going to see in a 6-10 high school kid – regardless of his class standing. He is apparently going to play for Wes Grandstaff’s Team Texas travel ball program.
An overall evaluation of the national Class of 2019 is certainly barely into the formative stages.
But, if there is anyone in the class near Bassey’s size who is as impressive on the court, now, and possesses anything approaching his long-term “upside”, well . . . it’s going to be a hell of a class for sure.
Another freshman from the Texas Class of 2019 who often dazzled on Saturday was 6-2 Zarek Thomas (Cedar Hill).
Thomas scored 15 points and was selected the Most Outstanding Player in the Top 50 Camp a year ago as an eighth grader at this event.
Twelve months later he’s grown about three inches and may be as gifted a point guard prospect as there is in camp.
His body-type, skill-level and approach remind me of another ninth grade guard I saw two years ago at Trigonis All-East Frosh/Soph Camp – Trevon Duval, a standout for two seasons at St. Benedict’s in New Jersey.
Ironically enough, Duval – now member of the Dallas area-based Advanced Prep International program that also includes the likes of Billy Preston and Terrence Ferguson – was watching the action in the building Saturday night.
Thomas’ brother, now-sophomore Zack Thomas, was a Top 30 Game selection a year ago here and also played well Saturday.
Among other Texas standouts on Saturday from the Class of 2018 were 6-8 Chris Smith (Fort Worth Country Day) and 6-6 Jordan Phillips (Arlington Grace Prep).
Smith has a nice combination of inside-out offensive skills who should be cautioned against trying to do quite as much from the perimeter as he did at times Saturday.
Hey, even the 6-foot-5-and-under guys in the NBA are ass-kickers in the low post, which a lot of high school guys – and their parents and coaches – seem to forget in a emphasis on a player trying to show off his “perimeter game” even if might be 6-8 or taller.
Phillips, one of very few 2018 players to participate in the Pangos All-American Camp in Long Beach (CA) in June, had a nifty – and spirited – battle with LaDarius Marshall in one of the first games played Saturday afternoon.
The 6-7 and 225-pound (gift or take) Marshall may be the most aggressive and “attacking” player here.
He attends Forest Hill High in Jackson (MS). He’s difficult to envision there being many “power forward-types” as good – and forceful – as Marshall is right now in the Class of 2018, nationally much less than just in the South.
North High in Norman (OK) was well-represented by current 2017 players Trae Young and Winston Nelson in the past two All-South camps.
And it has another quality prospect here this weekend, from the Class of 2018, in 6-2 (at least) guard Jalen Crutchfield.
Crutchfield has long arms (his father, University of Oklahoma assistant coach Chris Crutchfield, said his son has a 6-7 wing span and is still sprouting), very big hands and a very soft – and quite accurate – jump shooting touch from deep.
Also representing their respective states quite well Saturday was, among others, guard Cameron Phillips (Huntsville, AL, Columbia) and 6-7 Chandler Owenby (Covington, LA, St. Paul’s).
Phillips could prove to be the best 2018 backcourt prospect here while Owenby demonstrated exceptional low-post footwork and some impressive vertical and horizontal explosiveness, too – most notably on a dunk try over the top of Chris Bassey which drew a foul call, if not a bucket.
Camp games resume at 9:30 Sunday morning, with the event’s Top 50 and Top 25 Games at 1:30 and 2:30 p.m., respectively.
