It was an early round Three Stripes tournament game at Hofstra on Long Island last month. Jason Fraser, 6-9 and 215 pounds, had just blocked a shot for his AAU team, the Long Island Panthers.

As Panthers' guard Taquan Dean weaved his way through several defenders, he caught a glimpse of Fraser behind him. Dean flipped a lob pass toward the basket and in one quick, thundering motion, Fraser grabbed the ball and slammed it home. The basket vibrated and shook violently up and down so much that a little boy who was sitting behind the basket but on the platform that holds it, jumped up in fear. The little boy's daddy, standing next to the basket, smiled and said, "You just experienced what people in California feel sometimes -- a quake!"

These actions produced by Fraser at this event were repeated over and over again this summer. Fraser was eventually named tri-MVP of the Three Stripes Classic. He followed this up by winning the MVP at the Big Time Event in Las Vegas and finished out the summer by helping the Panthers win the Best of the Summer tournament.

"He's a young Patrick Ewing," one high level head coach from the South told us. "He is a great defensive player who ambushes you if you try to score on him."

Maybe Fraser does not have the size right now that Ewing had. But it's the attitude that Fraser possesses that makes him such a high priority for several top division one programs. Fraser has this mindset that if you come into his house, you are going to be kicked down the stairs. Fraser's strengths for sure are his ability to rebound, play defense, block shots and throw an outlet pass.

"Jason has always worked hard on all parts of his game," said his high school coach Jack Agostino. "He is constantly working on it in practice. Now that the AAU sessions are over, he can get in the gym and start practicing again."

Agostino said the best is yet to come for Fraser. "Jason has many low post moves on the offensive side," Agostino said. "He just needs to have the confidence to use them. So far it's come easy for him not to use them because he is such a great rebounder and scorer inside."

True. Fraser is very tough to keep off the offensive glass. He has long arms and more importantly, he has a big heart with plenty of desire. As Fraser becomes more confident in his offensive game (heck he was pretty good this summer in that category anyway), Agostino says it will be very tough to double and triple team him.

"First Jason is a great passer," Agostino said. "He can find the open man. He did that so many times last year with Tristan Smith (now at St. John's). And he has the moves. He just gets better shots right now when he drives inside."

The outlet pass is a lost art. Fraser seems to have revived it on the high school level. And Fraser can do it rather quickly. Once Jason grabs a rebound, his next thought process is to throw the outlet pass. It was a very successful combination last year for Amityville High School when Tristan Smith was the point guard. Smith is now at St. John's.

But one aspect many of the assistant and head coaches mentioned to us about Fraser's game is probably the most important -- he brings his lunchpail to every game he plays. "Jason is a great competitor," said Agostino, who many believe his Amityville High School team will tri-peat as State champs this season. "He takes anyone scoring on him personally. This makes him such a great player."

There have been many hours spent in the gym by Agostino with Fraser. And Jason appreciates it. Fraser also has a strong family background. He has a mom and an uncle who always show up at his games, no matter how hot and humid it is inside the gym.

"I am really excited about having Jason back this season," Agostino said. "And it is good to see that his play is being recognized. I always knew he was going to be a great player when I first had him. It was going to take time. It appears now that time is here."

It is also time to recognize Fraser's great summer. Our consensus is that Jason Fraser was the best player from the class of 2002 this summer from start to finish. And it is with great pride that we name Jason Fraser of Amityville High School in New York as Alliance Sports' number one player for the class of 2002.

*We congratulate Fraser and his family. We thank Jason for taking so much of his time this summer to speak to us before and after games.

We also again thank Jack Agostino, Amityville High School coach for his cooperation and help over the past year.

We also want to express our appreciation to Gary Charles, head coach of the Long Island Panthers who has always cooperative with us at the Insiders Report.