Shoe camps jump start busy July

July's travel period is finally here. The nation's top players are en route to Atlanta, Indianapolis and Teaneck, N.J. for the adidas, Nike and Reebok All-American camps and college coaches are packing their bags for a flurry of trips across the nation to evaluate their future players. And Rivals.com will be there along the way all month long.

Starting on July 5, the adidas and Nike camps will kick the summer off. Both camps are filled with stars.

In it's first year of existence last year, the adidas Superstar camp had it's moments but the event organizers were even more excited for the years to come. The 2006 camp is loaded at the top with guys like Thaddeus Young, Wayne Ellington, D.J. Augustin, Stanley Robinson, Javaris Crittenton and all coming to Hotlanta.

The class of 2006 is Nike strong at the top. With over half of the Rivals.com five-star players in attendance, the swoosh camp looks to be the best place to evaluate the nation's best players.

Guys like Kevin Durant, Spencer Hawes, Brandan Wright, Vernon Macklin, Damion James, Curtis Kelly, Tywon Lawson, Sherron Collins, Ramar Smith, Obi Muonelo, Michael Washington, Keith Clark and Mike Jones are all expected to be in Indianapolis.

The Reebok ABCD camp has always been the magnet for the nation's top players. Tracy McGrady jump started his national reputation there. So did LeBron James. Sebastian Telfair and Darius Washington had some classic battles at Farleigh Dickinson University. The 2005 camp is bringing in two of high school hoops' biggest names starting July 6.

Fresh off a commitment to Ohio State, Greg Oden will hit the hardwood for the first time on a national scene since placing a Buckeye hat on his head. The nation's number one player was under a microscope at last year's ABCD camp and this year should be no different.

Returning for his third ABCD camp is rising junior O.J. Mayo, the No. 1 player in the class of 2007. Much like LeBron, Mayo is building his legend status through camps much like the ABCD. He's becoming a fixture in Teaneck and this could be his year where he shines far and above the rest of the field.

Daequan Cook, Chase Budinger, Darrell Arthur, Paul Harris, Lance Thomas, Earl Clark and Willie Kemp are some of the five-star players rolling into the Northeast this week.

Rivals.com will cover the country once again this summer to bring you the most extensive look at the July period. Jerry Meyer, Tim Watts, Justin Young, Mark Reeves and Rob Matera will hit the road this week at all three major shoe camps.

After the shoe camps, Rivals.com will stop by the adidas Top Ten camp in Suwannee, Ga., featuring some of the top talents from the class of 2007, 2008 and 2009. Then it's off to the Nike Peach Jam in North Augusta, S.C. and the adidas Showtime Nationals in Suwannee, Ga.

A trip to New Orleans for the 16 and under AAU Nationals is on the docket and then it's out to Las Vegas for the Big Time, adidas Super 64 and the Main Event. The winner of the adidas Super 64 will play the winner of the Main Event on Fox's Best Damn Sports Show Period. Rivals.com will conclude the summer at the National Youth Basketball Championships tournament in Las Vegas.

Stay logged onto Rivals.com all month for breaking news, exclusive interviews, in-depth analysis and reports from coast to coast.