COLORADO SPRINGS -- Though a handful of players had to sit out Sunday's action due to various bumps and bruises, the second and final day of the USA Basketball Fall minicamp featured two high-level sessions of hoop. While the 2016 class flexed muscle during the final scrimmage rounds, 2017 five-star big man Mohamed Bamba may have had the most impressive day.
Bamba breaks out
Five-star junior Mohamed Bamba had some moments on Saturday, but the New Yorker who plays his high school ball for the Westtown (Pa.) School had a breakthrough Sunday.
The slim 6-foot-11 big man had looked somewhat overwhelmed by the pace and length of the day on Saturday. On Sunday, though, he came ready to play, brought incredible energy and the rest took care of itself as he spent the entire day playing above the rim and changing the game on both ends of the floor.
Already ranked No. 5 in the class of 2017, it doesn't come as a surprise that Bamba played well. But, the added offensive skill, real dedication to protecting the rim and constant energy allowed him to play at a level even above his lofty ranking.
Bamba's size, length and athleticism always made him an elite prospect, but if he keeps showing a complete game like he did Sunday, his value is potentially through the roof.
Currently ranked No. 20 overall in the class of 2016, five-star power forward Jarrett Allen is one of the more intriguing cases in the senior class.
At 6-foot-9, he's a thin but long-armed and fluid athlete with soft touch, good footwork and skill out to 12 feet. He runs the floor and he can be a rim protector with his shot blocking. Those attributes make him a potentially elite prospect.
However, he has also been a bit inconsistent so it can he hard to get a good read on how he projects to the next level.
Sunday, Allen didn't leave much room to wonder about where he might project. He was engaged and effective all day long on both ends of the floor. He scored over the rim on lobs and spin moves, he flipped in jump hooks from six feet and sprinkled in some 10-12 foot jumpers.
Allen said he's yet to set up any official visits and he wasn't sure when he and his family would do so. Because of that, it's reasonable to expect that his recruitment could run through to the spring, but Allen said he didn't yet know if he would sign early or late.
Smart shows versatility
The No. 3 player in the class of 2018, Javonte Smart really turned up his game during the last session when he found himself playing against teams filled with mostly older players.
A 6-foot-4 combo guard, Smart played both the point and shooting guard positions and was effective in both roles. As a point, he penetrated and found teammates or scored at the rim. Off the ball, he drained jumpers and filled lanes for a few alley-oops on the break.
He didn't do anything but enhance his status as one of 2018's top players and he still looks to have great upside.
Smart told Rivals that he hasn't paid much attention to his recruitment just yet but did mention that he's seen LSU and Alabama come through this fall.