USA Basketball 16U team trials: Knox delivers
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COLORADO SPRINGS -- Friday morning, many of the top players from the classes of 2017 and 2018 were back at it on the floor of the US Olympic Training Facility for the 16U team trials. 2017 forward Kevin Knox emerged during the spring and continues to trend up in Colorado Springs while 2018 big man Carte'Are Gordon has showed that he belongs.
Knox fitting right in
Headed into the spring, Tampa (Fla.) Catholic forward Kevin Knox was a relatively unknown player in the class of 2017. Playing in Nike's Elite Youth Basketball League with Each 1 Teach 1 he began to carve out an identity as an active combo forward. Through two sessions of the 16U team trials, Knox has only built upon the body of work he compiled over the past few months.
A quarterback on the football field, Knox -- a 6-foot-7 195 pounder -- lacks nothing when it comes to toughness. He has been crashing the glass on both ends of the floor, playing good defense and showing explosion when attacking the rim. He can make medium to deep jumpers and has a very nicely balanced game.
Currently unranked in the class of 2017, Knox is a lock to enter the rankings when they get updated in late June and he will do so as a four-star prospect. In the past few months he's picked up offers from Miami, Xavier, Florida State, USF and Memphis.
This weekend, rankings and offers are the last things on Knox's mind; all he's worried about is making the team.
"I think I've done well," Knox told Rivals.com. "There's a lot of good coaching, a lot of good drills and a lot of intensity. You have to come here with your A game and you can't slack and just do nothing. You have to take care of your body and the coaches are expecting a lot out of you. I think I have the ability to do it."
Gordon tough in the post
From watching the first two rounds of tryouts, it has become clear that those players who were able to attend USA Basketball's mini camp back in October have a bit of an advantage when it comes to knowing what is expected of them and how to pace themselves. 2018 power forward Carte'Are Gordon is certainly evidence of that.
A 6-foot-7 245 pound power broker from St. Louis (Mo.) Vianney, Gordon has been tremendous so far. He has showed off good footwork around the rim, exploded to the hoop and been a beast on the glass. For Gordon, it's all about doing what he knows he can do.
"I'm just trying to play my hardest and do what I usually do," said Gordon. "I'm not trying to come out here and do something I'm not able to do.
"I want to make the team and I'm doing what it takes to get there. Possibly getting cut puts more emphasis on things and makes you want to go harder and show what you can do."
One of the top young post players in the Midwest, Gordon has already scored offers from Missouri, Illinois and Kansas State to go with early interest from Virginia, North Carolina, Saint Louis, Stanford, Wisconsin and Kansas.
One of the top players in attendance, 6-foot-4 guard JaVonte SmartClick Another class of 2018 prospect who is finding his way after a few practices is 6-foot-5 wing Jaedon LedeeClick He's still pretty small at around six-foot tall and 140 pounds, but Darius GarlandClick Pound for pound, there may not be a tougher player in attendance than Jaylen NowellClick Columbus (Miss.) High wing Robert WoodardClick One of the top jump shooters in attendance is Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman's Charles O'Bannon. The No. 46 player in the class of 2017 has been both confident and accurate from deep. He told Rivals.com that he's working on improving his off the dribble game. O'Bannon listed offers from ArizonaClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link., UCLAClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link., USCClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link., WashingtonClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link., CaliforniaClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link., UNLVClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link. and Texas TechClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link. to go along with inquiries from Kansas, ConnecticutClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link. and LouisvilleClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link.. Here to view this Link. is pretty well put together for a kid just finishing his freshman year. He's a solid 210 pounds with long arms and good instincts on the floor. Known for his ability to power to the rim, Woodard has surprised with his jump shooting. He's been very good from deep and has had a nice few days. Woodard had offers from both TennesseeClick One of the top jump shooters in attendance is Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman's Charles O'Bannon. The No. 46 player in the class of 2017 has been both confident and accurate from deep. He told Rivals.com that he's working on improving his off the dribble game. O'Bannon listed offers from ArizonaClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link., UCLAClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link., USCClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link., WashingtonClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link., CaliforniaClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link., UNLVClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link. and Texas TechClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link. to go along with inquiries from Kansas, ConnecticutClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link. and LouisvilleClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link.. Here to view this Link. and Mississippi StateClick One of the top jump shooters in attendance is Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman's Charles O'Bannon. The No. 46 player in the class of 2017 has been both confident and accurate from deep. He told Rivals.com that he's working on improving his off the dribble game. O'Bannon listed offers from ArizonaClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link., UCLAClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link., USCClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link., WashingtonClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link., CaliforniaClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link., UNLVClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link. and Texas TechClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link. to go along with inquiries from Kansas, ConnecticutClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link. and LouisvilleClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link.. Here to view this Link. before they changed coaches and feels confident those offers would still stand were he to call and tell the new staffs he wanted in. A member of Da House summer program, Woodard mentioned interest from Notre DameClick One of the top jump shooters in attendance is Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman's Charles O'Bannon. The No. 46 player in the class of 2017 has been both confident and accurate from deep. He told Rivals.com that he's working on improving his off the dribble game. O'Bannon listed offers from ArizonaClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link., UCLAClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link., USCClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link., WashingtonClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link., CaliforniaClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link., UNLVClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link. and Texas TechClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link. to go along with inquiries from Kansas, ConnecticutClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link. and LouisvilleClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link.. Here to view this Link., VanderbiltClick One of the top jump shooters in attendance is Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman's Charles O'Bannon. The No. 46 player in the class of 2017 has been both confident and accurate from deep. He told Rivals.com that he's working on improving his off the dribble game. O'Bannon listed offers from ArizonaClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link., UCLAClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link., USCClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link., WashingtonClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link., CaliforniaClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link., UNLVClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link. and Texas TechClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link. to go along with inquiries from Kansas, ConnecticutClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link. and LouisvilleClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link.. Here to view this Link. and Wake ForestClick One of the top jump shooters in attendance is Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman's Charles O'Bannon. The No. 46 player in the class of 2017 has been both confident and accurate from deep. He told Rivals.com that he's working on improving his off the dribble game. O'Bannon listed offers from ArizonaClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link., UCLAClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link., USCClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link., WashingtonClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link., CaliforniaClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link., UNLVClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link. and Texas TechClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link. to go along with inquiries from Kansas, ConnecticutClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link. and LouisvilleClick More Friday morning notesHere to view this Link.. Here to view this Link..Here to view this Link.. A 6-foot-5 wing from Seattle (Wash.) Garfield who ranks No. 24 in the class of 2017, Nowell is an intense competitor, finishes in transition and plays lockdown defense. Though he isn't yet a great jump shooter from deep, Nowell can make mid-range jumpers and he is also a terrific rebounder for a wing. It isn't a perfect comparison, but with his nasty on-floor disposition and commitment to defending, he's got some Tony Allen in his game.Here to view this Link. plays without fear or regard for his own safety. The 2018 prospect from Nashville (Tenn.) Brentwood attacks holes in the defense once they open up and he's a deadeye jump shooter with a quick release and plenty of range on his shot.Here to view this Link. from Houston (Texas) Kinkaid. A smooth wing scorer, Lee struggled early with his jumper but got to the rim, filled lanes in transition and got on the glass. As he's adjusted to the pace and demanding nature of practices, Lee has settled in with his jumper.Here to view this Link. had an excellent morning. Capable of playing as either a point or shooting guard, Smart showed off his strength, athleticism, smarts and ability to impact as a scorer, defender and facilitator. The release point on his jumper could probably be raised a bit (he pushes it off his chest a bit) but there's not much in his game that needs major repair, and his future is quite bright.
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