Starting Five: Under Armour, Nike events
Many of the nation's elite prospects could be found in either New York City for the Under Armour Elite 24 or in the Bahamas for Nike's The Trip over the weekend while St. John's and Rutgers picked up Sunday additions. We take a look back at those events, talk about who should be in the discussion for a move to No. 1 in 2017 and look ahead to more in this week's Starting Five.
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Five observations from the Elite 24
This isn't just an Elite 24 observation but more of a last-three-months observation that was driven home during the game. It's time for Trevon DuvalClick Under Armour hosted the 10th anniversary of its Elite 24 game on Saturday night. Played at the Pier Two basketball facility in Brooklyn, with lower Manhattan and the East River as a backdrop, the ESPNU-broadcasted game is visibly aesthetic and featured some big-time talent. Here's five quick observations from the game that saw Edrice Adebayo lead team Doo Be Doo to a win over Josh Jackson and Team EZ Pass.Here to view this Link. to be looked at as a legitimate candidate to not only move up from No. 5 in 2017 but possibly leapfrog to No. 1. The point guard is tough, makes plays for others and has showed up big on each and every stage.
Though he earned one of the four MVP awards given out, 2016's No. 1 player Josh JacksonClick I'm starting to get a serious Taj Gibson vibe when watching Dewan HuellClick Frank JacksonClick If you had never seen Adebayo play before Saturday night, you got a pretty good representation of his game. The five-star senior has elite quickness, athleticism and motor, and is a dunking machine. Even in an all-star setting, he was intense and competed.Here to view this Link. showed why he jumped into the national top 15 and why defending national champion DukeClick If you had never seen Adebayo play before Saturday night, you got a pretty good representation of his game. The five-star senior has elite quickness, athleticism and motor, and is a dunking machine. Even in an all-star setting, he was intense and competed.Here to view this Link. has made him a priority. The senior guard is a big-time athlete, plays hard and is wired to score.Here to view this Link.. The five-star big man just quietly goes about his business and is productive no matter the setting. Rebounds, runs the floor and scores opportunistically.Here to view this Link. didn't have his best game. His jumper was errant and he seemed a little out of it. From checking with some of the NBA scouts in attendance, though, Jackson received a lot of high marks for his play in the two workout sessions that preceded the game. Multiple NBA scouts compared Jackson to NBA All-Star Demar DeRozanClick I'm starting to get a serious Taj Gibson vibe when watching Dewan HuellClick Frank JacksonClick If you had never seen Adebayo play before Saturday night, you got a pretty good representation of his game. The five-star senior has elite quickness, athleticism and motor, and is a dunking machine. Even in an all-star setting, he was intense and competed.Here to view this Link. showed why he jumped into the national top 15 and why defending national champion DukeClick If you had never seen Adebayo play before Saturday night, you got a pretty good representation of his game. The five-star senior has elite quickness, athleticism and motor, and is a dunking machine. Even in an all-star setting, he was intense and competed.Here to view this Link. has made him a priority. The senior guard is a big-time athlete, plays hard and is wired to score.Here to view this Link.. The five-star big man just quietly goes about his business and is productive no matter the setting. Rebounds, runs the floor and scores opportunistically.Here to view this Link..
Five observations from The Trip
Class of 2017 shooting guard Gary Trent Jr.Click Five-star forward Miles BridgesClick Harry GilesClick Point guard De'Aaron FoxClick Five-star forward Jonathan IsaacClick While the Elite 24 took place in NYC, Nike took a team of the best players from its Elite Youth Basketball League to the Bahamas for workouts and a game against the Bahamas 19U national team. The game itself was pretty much a layup and dunk festival as the EYBL team ran away to win by some 60 points. But, any chance to see that many elite level prospects together is worthwhile and we've got five quick observations from the webcast of the game.Here to view this Link. is going to be moved from small to power forward for now. The Florida StateClick While the Elite 24 took place in NYC, Nike took a team of the best players from its Elite Youth Basketball League to the Bahamas for workouts and a game against the Bahamas 19U national team. The game itself was pretty much a layup and dunk festival as the EYBL team ran away to win by some 60 points. But, any chance to see that many elite level prospects together is worthwhile and we've got five quick observations from the webcast of the game.Here to view this Link. commitment continues to grow and at 6-foot-9, maybe even 6-10, he is growing into the position of the new age four-man who can play around the rim, run the floor and step out to make shots facing up.Here to view this Link. is making a serious push for the national top five in 2016. He's simply too big at nearly 6-foot-4, too athletic and too dynamic of a playmaker to not make at least a bit of a move up from his current No. 9 ranking in 2016.Here to view this Link. and Jayson TatumClick Point guard De'Aaron FoxClick Five-star forward Jonathan IsaacClick While the Elite 24 took place in NYC, Nike took a team of the best players from its Elite Youth Basketball League to the Bahamas for workouts and a game against the Bahamas 19U national team. The game itself was pretty much a layup and dunk festival as the EYBL team ran away to win by some 60 points. But, any chance to see that many elite level prospects together is worthwhile and we've got five quick observations from the webcast of the game.Here to view this Link. is going to be moved from small to power forward for now. The Florida StateClick While the Elite 24 took place in NYC, Nike took a team of the best players from its Elite Youth Basketball League to the Bahamas for workouts and a game against the Bahamas 19U national team. The game itself was pretty much a layup and dunk festival as the EYBL team ran away to win by some 60 points. But, any chance to see that many elite level prospects together is worthwhile and we've got five quick observations from the webcast of the game.Here to view this Link. commitment continues to grow and at 6-foot-9, maybe even 6-10, he is growing into the position of the new age four-man who can play around the rim, run the floor and step out to make shots facing up.Here to view this Link. is making a serious push for the national top five in 2016. He's simply too big at nearly 6-foot-4, too athletic and too dynamic of a playmaker to not make at least a bit of a move up from his current No. 9 ranking in 2016.Here to view this Link. both look really good from a physical standpoint. The No. 2 player in the country, Giles is slowly adding muscle to his wiry frame. At No. 3 in 2016, Tatum is starting to fill out his broad shoulders and his midrange and post-up games are big-time for a 6-8 small forward. Both have gotten bouncier as well.Here to view this Link. threw down the dunk of the grassroots season. The website 10th Year Seniors had the webcast of the game and caught this absolute gem, which is the first of two nasty dunks in this linkClick Harry GilesClick Point guard De'Aaron FoxClick Five-star forward Jonathan IsaacClick While the Elite 24 took place in NYC, Nike took a team of the best players from its Elite Youth Basketball League to the Bahamas for workouts and a game against the Bahamas 19U national team. The game itself was pretty much a layup and dunk festival as the EYBL team ran away to win by some 60 points. But, any chance to see that many elite level prospects together is worthwhile and we've got five quick observations from the webcast of the game.Here to view this Link. is going to be moved from small to power forward for now. The Florida StateClick While the Elite 24 took place in NYC, Nike took a team of the best players from its Elite Youth Basketball League to the Bahamas for workouts and a game against the Bahamas 19U national team. The game itself was pretty much a layup and dunk festival as the EYBL team ran away to win by some 60 points. But, any chance to see that many elite level prospects together is worthwhile and we've got five quick observations from the webcast of the game.Here to view this Link. commitment continues to grow and at 6-foot-9, maybe even 6-10, he is growing into the position of the new age four-man who can play around the rim, run the floor and step out to make shots facing up.Here to view this Link. is making a serious push for the national top five in 2016. He's simply too big at nearly 6-foot-4, too athletic and too dynamic of a playmaker to not make at least a bit of a move up from his current No. 9 ranking in 2016.Here to view this Link. and Jayson TatumClick Point guard De'Aaron FoxClick Five-star forward Jonathan IsaacClick While the Elite 24 took place in NYC, Nike took a team of the best players from its Elite Youth Basketball League to the Bahamas for workouts and a game against the Bahamas 19U national team. The game itself was pretty much a layup and dunk festival as the EYBL team ran away to win by some 60 points. But, any chance to see that many elite level prospects together is worthwhile and we've got five quick observations from the webcast of the game.Here to view this Link. is going to be moved from small to power forward for now. The Florida StateClick While the Elite 24 took place in NYC, Nike took a team of the best players from its Elite Youth Basketball League to the Bahamas for workouts and a game against the Bahamas 19U national team. The game itself was pretty much a layup and dunk festival as the EYBL team ran away to win by some 60 points. But, any chance to see that many elite level prospects together is worthwhile and we've got five quick observations from the webcast of the game.Here to view this Link. commitment continues to grow and at 6-foot-9, maybe even 6-10, he is growing into the position of the new age four-man who can play around the rim, run the floor and step out to make shots facing up.Here to view this Link. is making a serious push for the national top five in 2016. He's simply too big at nearly 6-foot-4, too athletic and too dynamic of a playmaker to not make at least a bit of a move up from his current No. 9 ranking in 2016.Here to view this Link. both look really good from a physical standpoint. The No. 2 player in the country, Giles is slowly adding muscle to his wiry frame. At No. 3 in 2016, Tatum is starting to fill out his broad shoulders and his midrange and post-up games are big-time for a 6-8 small forward. Both have gotten bouncier as well.Here to view this Link.. Here to view this Link. has solidified his spot as a five-star prospect. He's strong, he's thinking score at every opportunity and he's as good a shooter as there is in the country, regardless of class.
Parker picks Rutgers
Make no mistake, Rutgers is building a team that could be highly entertaining on the fast break. After landing one of 2015's premier high flyers in point guard Corey Sanders, it added one of 2016's best leapers in shooting guard Kwe Parker.
The 6-foot-1 senior from High Point (N.C.) Wesleyan Christian is a true high flyer and big-time finisher on the break who currently ranks No. 90 in the Rivals150.
While Parker is a highlight reel on the break and shows great potential as a defender, the rest of his game has not progressed as hoped over the last year so exactly what Rutgers is getting is a bit of a mystery. Parker has to improve as a shooter and upgrade his ball-handling if he wants to be a consistent player in the Big Ten. For now he is likely going to slip a bit in the next 2016 rankings update.
Yakwe to 2015
New head coach Chris Mullin continues to get it done at St. John's. Class of 2016's No. 57 player, Kassoum Yakwe, has elected to enroll as a 2015 prospect and the 6-foot-8 power forward has signed scholarship papers with the Red Storm.
One of the top rebounders and shot blockers in the country, the product of Centereach (N.Y.) Our Savior has a motor that runs non-stop. He's added a good deal of bulk over the last six months and projects as a guy who can provide immediate energy and help on the defensive end in the Big East.
Provided he is cleared academically by the NCAA, Yakwe is a big boost to a strong 2015 recruiting effort by Mullin and his staff. The four-star prospect joins a group that already includes four-star point guard Marcus Lovett, highly regarded Italian point guard Federico Mussini, three-star shooting guard Malik Ellison, three-star juco combo forward Darien Williams and three-star center Yankuba Sima.
Unofficial visits coming for Floyd
Currently an unranked three-star small forward in the class of 2017, Greg Floyd will make a debut in the 2017 Rivals150 in the near future.
The 6-foot-7 wing from Las Vegas (Nev.) Desert Pines is a thin athlete with a good-looking shot and deep range who has turned the heads of many college coaches. Soon, Floyd will be hitting the visit trail.
Floyd's summer coach, Lamar Bigby of the Las Vegas Knicks, told Rivals.com that Floyd will be making unofficial visits to Nevada (Sept. 3), UNLV (Sept. 8) and Memphis (Sept. 19). Floyd has offers from all three schools and he'll be joined on the trip to Nevada by fellow 2017 prospects and Knicks teammates Trevon Abdullah and Tyler Bey.
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