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NBPA Top 100: Diallo, Thornton close strong

THERIVALS150:Classof2014|2015|2016
CHARLOTTESVILLE,Va.--The2014editionoftheNBPATop100CampcametoastrongconclusiononSaturday.CheickDiallo,DerryckThorntonandMalikMonkwerejustofthreemanyplayerswhosteppeduptotheleadtheKnickstoaverydeservedcampchampionship.
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Knicksearnchampionship
ThewaytheKnickswereplayingonSaturday,itbecomeclearprettyquicklythattheyweregunningforacamptitle.Theyfinishedthejoboffinimpressivefashionasprettymucheverybodyontheirdeeprostersteppedupandplayedtheirbestbasketball.
Fromtoptobottom,therewasn'tabetterteamincampandtheirtoptwoperformersallweekandSaturdaywere2015five-starCheickDialloandsoontobe2016five-starDerryckThornton.BothDialloandThorntoncementedthemselvesonRivals.com'sfivemanAll-NBPAcampteam--moreonthatlater--andhelpedmakesuretheirteamfinishedthejob.
Whilethemajorityofthebigmenwererunningoutofenergy,Dialloseemedtobefindingmore.Hecontinuedtooutrunopponentsandshowedsomerealemotiononthefloor.Thorntonseeminglymadetherightdecisionallweeklongandintheplayoffrun.Heisfindingthebalancebetweenhisoffensivegameandgettingothersinvolved,andthatmakeshimreallytoughtohandle.
PrettymuchjustasgoodasDialloandThorntononSaturdaywereDerrickJones,KobiSimmonsandMalikMonk.Jonesplayedsomestretchesasasmallfourman,butwasallovertherim,finishingintransitionandplayingwithagreatactivitylevel.LikeThornton,Simmonsisasafebettoascendtofive-starstatusintheclassof2016.Heisatallfloorgeneralwithoutstandingquicknesswhocanalsoslideofftheballandbecomeaplaymakingscorer.Monklookstohavefoundaperfectbalancebetweenhisjumpshootingandusinghisathleticismtoattackoffthedribble.
AlsoplayingwellonSaturdayfortheKnickswererecentWashingtoncommitDeJounteMurray,2016bigmanJarrettAllenandTresTinkle.MurrayplayedhisbestbasketballofthegrassrootsseasonatNBPAwhileAllenreallysolidifiedhimselfasahighmajorprospectandTinklemadetimelyshotsandmadethingshappenintheflowofthegame.
RoundingouttheRivals.comAll-Campteam
So,weknowDialloandThorntonmadeRivals.com'sfive-manAll-NBPAteam.Thequestioniswhoelsejoinsthem?
FirstuponthelististheplayerthatwastheMostOutstandingPlayerofthecamp,BenSimmons.TheLSUcommitsteppedhisgameupandconsistentlyperformedbetterthananybodyhewentupagainst.Hewastoughneartherimwhenheneededtobe,hittheglass,showedthathecanfacilitatesomeoffenseoutofthehighpostandgenerallyshowedoffthehighestskilllevelofthebigmenincamp.Thewayitislooking,SimmonshasmadeaprettyconvincingcasefortheNo.1spotinthe2015Rivals150whenitgetsupdatedintheverynearfuture.
Atthesmallforwardposition,wearegoingwithLasVegaswingRaySmith.Theconfidencethatheisplayingwithrightnowisatahighlevelandheisshowingsomethingneweachtimehehitsthefloor.Hisslashingandtransitionfinishingarestillhiscallingcard,buthispull-upjumpshootingandoverallfloorgameareroundingintoformquickly.
ItwouldbefairtosayAntonioBlakeneycouldimprovehisshotselectionalittle.But,itwouldn'tbeprudenttoputtoomanyrestrictionsonhim.Oneofthebestpurescorersintheclassof2015,Blakeneyhaspopinhislegs,getstohisspotsquicklyandisaveryconfidentshotmaker.HejustmissedmakingtheUSABasketaball18UteaminColoradoSpringslastweekbutbouncedbackinimpressivefashioninCharlottesville.
Classof2016pointguardJaylenFisherClickQuietlybutsurely,MichiganStateClickMakinghiswayontothecamper-votedAll-CampteamwasNoahDickersonClickClassof2016five-starpointguardSeventhWoodsClickSaturdaynotesandobservationsHeretoviewthisLink.playedhisbestbasketballofcamp.TheSouthCarolinanativeisagiftedathletewhoattimesistoopassiveinhisplay.Partofitistransitioningintobeingafull-timedecision-makerandinitiatoroftheoffense,butabigpartofitseemstobelackofaggression.Duringtheplayoffs,Woodshadanattackmentalitythathadbeenmissingmuchofcamp.Hehadsomeconfidencewithhisjumperanddidanicejobofmakingplaysandscoring.HeretoviewthisLink..WewroteonFridayClickClassof2016five-starpointguardSeventhWoodsClickSaturdaynotesandobservationsHeretoviewthisLink.playedhisbestbasketballofcamp.TheSouthCarolinanativeisagiftedathletewhoattimesistoopassiveinhisplay.Partofitistransitioningintobeingafull-timedecision-makerandinitiatoroftheoffense,butabigpartofitseemstobelackofaggression.Duringtheplayoffs,Woodshadanattackmentalitythathadbeenmissingmuchofcamp.Hehadsomeconfidencewithhisjumperanddidanicejobofmakingplaysandscoring.HeretoviewthisLink.thatthefutureGeorgetownClickClassof2016five-starpointguardSeventhWoodsClickSaturdaynotesandobservationsHeretoviewthisLink.playedhisbestbasketballofcamp.TheSouthCarolinanativeisagiftedathletewhoattimesistoopassiveinhisplay.Partofitistransitioningintobeingafull-timedecision-makerandinitiatoroftheoffense,butabigpartofitseemstobelackofaggression.Duringtheplayoffs,Woodshadanattackmentalitythathadbeenmissingmuchofcamp.Hehadsomeconfidencewithhisjumperanddidanicejobofmakingplaysandscoring.HeretoviewthisLink.HoyawasplayingatahighlevelandthatcontinuedonSaturday.Strongrebounder,smartscorerwhogetsgoodpositionandhe'sgoingtobephysicallyreadyforhighmajorbasketball.HeretoviewthisLink.commitDeyontaDavisClickMakinghiswayontothecamper-votedAll-CampteamwasNoahDickersonClickClassof2016five-starpointguardSeventhWoodsClickSaturdaynotesandobservationsHeretoviewthisLink.playedhisbestbasketballofcamp.TheSouthCarolinanativeisagiftedathletewhoattimesistoopassiveinhisplay.Partofitistransitioningintobeingafull-timedecision-makerandinitiatoroftheoffense,butabigpartofitseemstobelackofaggression.Duringtheplayoffs,Woodshadanattackmentalitythathadbeenmissingmuchofcamp.Hehadsomeconfidencewithhisjumperanddidanicejobofmakingplaysandscoring.HeretoviewthisLink..WewroteonFridayClickClassof2016five-starpointguardSeventhWoodsClickSaturdaynotesandobservationsHeretoviewthisLink.playedhisbestbasketballofcamp.TheSouthCarolinanativeisagiftedathletewhoattimesistoopassiveinhisplay.Partofitistransitioningintobeingafull-timedecision-makerandinitiatoroftheoffense,butabigpartofitseemstobelackofaggression.Duringtheplayoffs,Woodshadanattackmentalitythathadbeenmissingmuchofcamp.Hehadsomeconfidencewithhisjumperanddidanicejobofmakingplaysandscoring.HeretoviewthisLink.thatthefutureGeorgetownClickClassof2016five-starpointguardSeventhWoodsClickSaturdaynotesandobservationsHeretoviewthisLink.playedhisbestbasketballofcamp.TheSouthCarolinanativeisagiftedathletewhoattimesistoopassiveinhisplay.Partofitistransitioningintobeingafull-timedecision-makerandinitiatoroftheoffense,butabigpartofitseemstobelackofaggression.Duringtheplayoffs,Woodshadanattackmentalitythathadbeenmissingmuchofcamp.Hehadsomeconfidencewithhisjumperanddidanicejobofmakingplaysandscoring.HeretoviewthisLink.HoyawasplayingatahighlevelandthatcontinuedonSaturday.Strongrebounder,smartscorerwhogetsgoodpositionandhe'sgoingtobephysicallyreadyforhighmajorbasketball.HeretoviewthisLink.finishedoffastrongcamp.Heseemstobecomingoutofhisshellandgetsalittlemoreaggressiveeachtimeout.Itwillbeinterestingtoseehowlongittakeshimtofullytapintohispotentialonthecollegelevel.Oncehedoes,lookoutBigTen.HeretoviewthisLink.hadhisbestoutingofcamponSaturdaymorning.Heneverquitefoundhisjumperduringcamp,butonSaturdayhefocusedonusinghisspeedtoattackoffthedribbleandmakeplaysforothers.Hegottothefreethrowlinealittletogetsomeeasypointsandseemedtogetenergizedbyhisteammatesknockingdownsomelooksoffhispasses.
For the second day in a row, Carlton BraggClick P.J. DozierClick Class of 2015 power forward Samir SehicClick Here to view this Link. made a pretty strong argument for inclusion in the rankings with his play at NBPA. His game is all about using his strength to get position and then using his skill to score on defenders. He never gets too high or too low and just keeps producing. That consistent production is awfully tough to dismiss.Here to view this Link. seems to be closing in on 100 percent physically and looks to have shaken off most of the rust caused by missing his junior season due to a knee injury. He has grown to around 6-foot-6 and projects as a wing that can make plays with his passing and scoring. He is patient, mature and has a great game to build on. His overall showing at camp was a very good one.Here to view this Link. was a highlight reel. KansasClick P.J. DozierClick Class of 2015 power forward Samir SehicClick Here to view this Link. made a pretty strong argument for inclusion in the rankings with his play at NBPA. His game is all about using his strength to get position and then using his skill to score on defenders. He never gets too high or too low and just keeps producing. That consistent production is awfully tough to dismiss.Here to view this Link. seems to be closing in on 100 percent physically and looks to have shaken off most of the rust caused by missing his junior season due to a knee injury. He has grown to around 6-foot-6 and projects as a wing that can make plays with his passing and scoring. He is patient, mature and has a great game to build on. His overall showing at camp was a very good one.Here to view this Link., KentuckyClick P.J. DozierClick Class of 2015 power forward Samir SehicClick Here to view this Link. made a pretty strong argument for inclusion in the rankings with his play at NBPA. His game is all about using his strength to get position and then using his skill to score on defenders. He never gets too high or too low and just keeps producing. That consistent production is awfully tough to dismiss.Here to view this Link. seems to be closing in on 100 percent physically and looks to have shaken off most of the rust caused by missing his junior season due to a knee injury. He has grown to around 6-foot-6 and projects as a wing that can make plays with his passing and scoring. He is patient, mature and has a great game to build on. His overall showing at camp was a very good one.Here to view this Link., IllinoisClick P.J. DozierClick Class of 2015 power forward Samir SehicClick Here to view this Link. made a pretty strong argument for inclusion in the rankings with his play at NBPA. His game is all about using his strength to get position and then using his skill to score on defenders. He never gets too high or too low and just keeps producing. That consistent production is awfully tough to dismiss.Here to view this Link. seems to be closing in on 100 percent physically and looks to have shaken off most of the rust caused by missing his junior season due to a knee injury. He has grown to around 6-foot-6 and projects as a wing that can make plays with his passing and scoring. He is patient, mature and has a great game to build on. His overall showing at camp was a very good one.Here to view this Link., LouisvilleClick P.J. DozierClick Class of 2015 power forward Samir SehicClick Here to view this Link. made a pretty strong argument for inclusion in the rankings with his play at NBPA. His game is all about using his strength to get position and then using his skill to score on defenders. He never gets too high or too low and just keeps producing. That consistent production is awfully tough to dismiss.Here to view this Link. seems to be closing in on 100 percent physically and looks to have shaken off most of the rust caused by missing his junior season due to a knee injury. He has grown to around 6-foot-6 and projects as a wing that can make plays with his passing and scoring. He is patient, mature and has a great game to build on. His overall showing at camp was a very good one.Here to view this Link., ArizonaClick P.J. DozierClick Class of 2015 power forward Samir SehicClick Here to view this Link. made a pretty strong argument for inclusion in the rankings with his play at NBPA. His game is all about using his strength to get position and then using his skill to score on defenders. He never gets too high or too low and just keeps producing. That consistent production is awfully tough to dismiss.Here to view this Link. seems to be closing in on 100 percent physically and looks to have shaken off most of the rust caused by missing his junior season due to a knee injury. He has grown to around 6-foot-6 and projects as a wing that can make plays with his passing and scoring. He is patient, mature and has a great game to build on. His overall showing at camp was a very good one.Here to view this Link. and Ohio StateClick P.J. DozierClick Class of 2015 power forward Samir SehicClick Here to view this Link. made a pretty strong argument for inclusion in the rankings with his play at NBPA. His game is all about using his strength to get position and then using his skill to score on defenders. He never gets too high or too low and just keeps producing. That consistent production is awfully tough to dismiss.Here to view this Link. seems to be closing in on 100 percent physically and looks to have shaken off most of the rust caused by missing his junior season due to a knee injury. He has grown to around 6-foot-6 and projects as a wing that can make plays with his passing and scoring. He is patient, mature and has a great game to build on. His overall showing at camp was a very good one.Here to view this Link. are in the mix and he will likely cut his list within a month or so of the summer's end. He said that he's planning to visit UK in the fall and the feel is that both Kansas and Illinois are quite strong as well.
Eric Bossi is the national basketball recruiting analyst for Rivals.com. You can click here to follow him on Twitter.
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