Oladipo Camp: Wednesday observations

The second evaluation period kicked off on Wednesday evening as the class of 2018 is nearing the end to their travel basketball careers. In Washington DC, the Victor Oladipo Skills Academy got under way as Talen Horton-Tucker and Noah Locke continue to see their stock pick up steam and a 2020 duo are set to being their own stories as nationally followed prospects.

A prospect that has shown that no ceiling exists when it comes to his development, Talen Horton-Tucker has continued to make major strides both with his body and game. The total package at the small forward position, the top-150 recruit began his story as a lightly recruited regional prospect and now sits with offers from some of the top programs nationwide.

Sporting Georges Niang-like abilities as a point-forward, Michigan State was the latest to jump in with an offer. Dispatching an assistant to watch his lone outing on Wednesday, Horton-Tucker finished with a cool 22 points off of eight of 12 shooting from the field. A more cut list is expected next month as a group consisting of Florida State, UNLV, Iowa State, DePaul, MSU, Northwestern, Illinois, Purdue, Xavier and Ohio State is likely to make it through to the next round.

The value of a shot maker has never been more evident in today's game which has made Noah Locke such a highly coveted prospect. A 6-foot-2 combo guard that has a decent feel for the game, where Locke goes to work is creating shots for himself within the confines of his team's half-court offense.

While he is just an average athlete, it is Locke's IQ for the game, ability to properly use the high ball screen and proper mechanics on each attempt that separates himself from his peers. Being watched by Xavier head coach Chris Mack and Florida head coach Mike White, along with assistants from Ohio State, Maryland, Pitt, Michigan, Providence, Florida State and Virginia, Locke finished with game high honors of 13 points. The deadliest of shooters that led the Nike circuit in 3-point jumpers made this summer, look for a more cut list to be made in August as Virginia, Providence, Xavier, Kansas, Michigan and Florida look to be in a good spot.

Villanova fans have every right to be excited about the early commitment of Cole Swider. Last month, the top-50 forward selected the Wildcats over a slew of heavy hitters yet he hasn't seen his game stall one bit. A 6-foot-8 mismatch forward, the value of Swider was on full display Wednesday evening.

Knocking in four perimeter jumpers which helped him finish with game high honors of 24 points, Swider couldn't have found a better landing spot than Villanova. Most likely, he will be used as a power forward in smaller ball lineups, a playing style that has flourished on the Main Line since the days of Kyle Lowry and Randy Foye. Swider is a mature, hardworking prospect that should only improve as he sees more court time. He was a major standout to kick things off in DC as he further cemented his standing as a top-50 prospect nationally.

The break out of the event on Wednesday evening, Xavier Castaneda was tremendous setting the floor for his unit as he made every play and took care of the ball whenever pressure was applied. In a class where there is a lacking crop of capable lead guards that can make others better, Castaneda may be the next ballplayer to see his name pop up on a number of high major recruiting boards.

Blessed with great length and an excellent feel and pace for the game, Castaneda's playmaking acumen was on total display. Finishing with 12 points off of just three shots from the field to go along with his three assists, the Meanstreets product took the perfect time to showcase his strengths as a facilitator and ball hawking defender. Iowa State, Missouri, and Tulsa have all offered while a handful of others have kept in touch.

They are just entering their sophomore years but it is going to be difficult to find 25 better class of 2020 prospects than Earl Timberlake and Jeremy Roach. Members of the Team Takeover travel program, each bring excellent, long-term value to their position but are more than ready to compete again the best, despite being two or three years younger than their competitors.

Roach, an absolute blur with the basketball, held a Virginia offer before touching foot onto a high school hardwood. Tough, aggressive and a complete competitor, Roach tracks as arguably the best point guard in 2020 as he will be heavily pursued from this day forward.

Timberlake, a 6-foot-5 wing with playmaking skills, will transfer into DeMatha Catholic this fall, as he should become the next great product of the famed program. A lefty built in the mold of a young Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Timberlake defines what it means to be a utility knife type of prospect, one that will also be highly followed.