AAU Hoops
Next Factor Spotlight Camp
Meadowcreek H.S. – Norcross, GA
Reported by 4SHOT Hoops
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| The camps directory Stacy Allen (l) and assistant directory Horace Neysmith (r) got the camp off to a good start. |
The first of what I dare say may be many Reebok Next Factor Spotlight Training Camps in Georgia concluded two days of high-level hoop competition at Meadowcreek High School in Norcross, GA.
There was some 80 players on-hand from around the Southeast putting their basketball skills on display and 4SHOT Hoops was there to bring it to you “On a whole nother ‘ level”.
The camp's directory Stacy Allen and assistant directory Horace Neysmith got the camp off to a great start as they addressed the parents and players, then they introduced the camps coaches and staff. After all of the intros a member from Velocity Sports Fitness ran the players through several dynamic warm-up exercises.
Before the players broke out into their respective teams for some game action we got a chance to view them running through some fundamental One-on-One Drills, Post and Perimeter Moves and some Baseline Drills.
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| Velocity Sports Fitness ran the players through several dynamic warm-up exercises. |
The goal of the coaches during game action was to try and mesh the players into cohesive working units but let’s “Keep It Real” the players are here for one reason and one reason only, EXPOSURE and with a chance to possibly be chosen as one of ten players from the camp to participate in the prestigious Reebok ABCD Camp in July…oh it was on.
WeI have to give the coaches credit because they did a great job for the most part of getting the kids to listened and respond to how they wanted their teams to operate. However when the player/s juices got flowing it was go for what you know.
“X-Factors help Un-Usaual Suspects hit DA Bricks”
“Kut (On DA Bricks) & Klapp (Usual Suspect)” - 4SHOT Hoops
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| Joshua Smith |
Of course the highlight reel was in full record mode as the high-flyers took the stage. Klapp’s “Above the Rim” team included the likes of C.J. Williams, Joshua Smith, Demarquis Bost, Jordan Demercy, and Meadowcreek’s own, Teandre Williams. Williams certainly looked at home every time he stepped on the court. Alley-oops and putbacks came at ease for the slender forward. Showcasing nice range, Williams displayed a versatile game that included attacking the basket, as well as knocking it down from outside.
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| John Overton |
The Purple Heart goes to floor general, John Overton. Overton slowly became a leader on the floor for his Michigan State team. In these settings, flash normally sets precedence, but Overton became a fundamental leader on the court and his teammates followed. The no-looks were apart of his game, but the somewhat forgotten bounce pass was also. Overton hit the right man at the right time, and when it was needed, he’d pull a nice mid-range jumper out of his back pocket.
Kut’s take on the camp was as follows. The little big man award goes to the incoming freshman at Central Gwinnett High School in 5’8 Devonte White. White displayed tremendous ball control and wasn’t afraid to attack the basket. Devonte’s mid-range jumper was key in a couple of victories for the Wake Forest team. Whites only knock would be his size, which prevents him from guarding the bigger guards. Look for Devonte to be one of the Next Factors to watch in the future and finish his summer tour of duty with the Georgia Stars.
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| Ronnie Weston |
Kut’s take on the defensive player of the camp would have to go to Lovejoy High Schools Ronnie Weston. The 4Shot Hoops analyst agreed that Weston defense played a key role in the Michigan State team victories.
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| Aramis Phillips |
Ronnie has solid ball handling skills, can finish at the basket and sees the court well. His key to the next level will be his ability to aggravate his opponent and holding him to zero points. Look for Weston to be a Next Factor as he takes his game to Duval County Florida.
Kut’s go get it player would be Aramis Phillips who kept the motor running at all times. Phillips’ drive to the basket move was unstoppable and court decision played big in his teams’ wins. Even though Phillips seems winded at times, he never failed to get back on the defense. When the team needed a big basket Aramis would go get it and this year, is deemed Kut’s go get it player.
“Keep it real, who’s the real next X-Factor?”
L.A. (Street Talk) - 4SHOT Hoops
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| Demarquis Bost |
There were several players who right from the jump established that any “Street Talk” (If you want to find out the real deal about a true player hit the streets and listen to how the OB’s “Keep It Real” when it comes describing who’s got game and who doesn’t) that you may have heard about their game is true and that they were here to let everybody know that hey, I’m not your “Usual Suspect”, tell em’ Klapp.
6-5, Jr.-Teandre Williams (Meadowcreek H. S. - Norcross, GA) was one of those players and he didn’t waste any time establishing that nobody was going to come into his house and do anything other than via for the other 9 spots to be selected for the ABCD Camp. Williams showed off his aerial display of dunks and one-on-one skills much too the delight of everybody in the house.
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| C.J. Wendell |
6-2, Sr.- Demarquis Bost (Concord H.S. - Concord, NC) was another player who got off right out the box; he show cased an array of moves and a sweet stroke. Bost’s camp teammate 6-5 Sr.- Spencer Gay (Mill Creek H.S. - Hoschton, GA) also showed his skills were very diverse.
Williams wasn’t the only high flyer who beeped on the 4SHOT Hoops radar screen, 6-4, Jr.- C.J. Wendell (Jack Britt H.S. - Fayetteville, N.C.) threw down a couple of show stopping dunks and ran the floor very well. 6-5 Jr.- Jordan Demercy (Norcross H.S. - Norcross, GA) showed some exceptional hops and a nice game in and around the basket.
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| Jordan Demercy |
It really didn’t surprise me that the leapers stole the show early on with their lively legs. Besides the aforementioned players 6-3 Sr.- Aramis Phillips (St. Francis/IMG Prep - Bradenton, FL), 6-3, Sr.- Chaisson Allen (Oakland H.S. - Murfreesboro, TN) and 6-3, So.- Ebuka Anyaorah (North Gwinnett H.S. - Suwanee, GA) each registered some dunk-quakes on the radar and established that they were going to have to be dealt with.
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| Kelvin McConnell |
There were a few sharp shooters on-hand who caught my eye with their long range bombs, in particular 5-10, Sr.- Kelvin McConnell (Whitefield Academy – Mableton, GA) who’s range seems to be unlimited. 5-10, Jr.- Ryan Lively (South Forsyth H.S. - Cumming, GA) was starting to hone in on the three-point target until he went down with an ankle injury. While his range may not have been as deep as McConnell or Lively’s, 6-4, Jr.- Mark Yacklon (Chamblee H.S.- Chamblee, GA) showed a sweet mid-range stroke.
South Carolina has long been known for ballers that have a nice blend of atheism and basketball skills and I think I may have found another one in 6-4, So.- Joshua Smith (Myrtle Beach H.S. – Myrtle Beach, SC). Smith has a lot of tools to work with but still needs to keep working on his overall game….we’ll be watching.
6-1, So. - Mfon Udopia (Miller Grove H.S., Lithonia, GA) is another really talented young player to keep an eye on. Udopia, who is a lefty shows no fear when it comes to attacking the whole. His jumper and handle are coming along nicely but like Smith he can’t just rest on being a good young player with loads of potential he has to keep working hard.
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| Damier Pitts |
As in most camps and all-star games the big men are usually the last ones to get a touch and it wasn’t any different here although a couple of the “BIGS” like 6-7, So.- Darnell Wilks (Pioneer Christian Academy, Nashville, TN), 6-7, So.- Jeremy Olsen (Collins Hill H.S., Lawrenceville, GA) and 6-8, Jr.- Amadou Sampou (Jacksonvillle ACD - Jacksonville, FL) did manage to hold my attention long enough to get a check-mark next to their names.
Now the other thing that usually takes place at all-star camps is that the natural Point Guards evolve from the pack quickly because they generally want the ball, not necessarily to hog it but to distribute it and make something happen. 5-9, So.-Cory Tower (Wheeler H.S. - Marietta, GA), 5-8, Jr.- John Overton (Buford H.S. - Buford, GA), 5-8, Jr.-Bobby Grier (McEachern H.S. - Powder Springs, GA), 5-7, Jr.- Dewitt McDonald (Raleigh, NC), 6-0 and So.- Damier Pitts (Charlotte Christian - Charlotte, NC) were the early “Floor Generals” that made things happen when they had the ball in their hands.
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| Devonte White |
There was one youngster 5-7, 9th Grader - Devonte White (Central Gwinnett H.S. - Lawrenceville, GA) who hit “Da Bricks” and let’s “Keep It Real” he did his thing. White at times ran the point like a seasoned veteran and never backed down; write the name down, I’m telling you.
6-9, Fr.- Kristopher Sherard (Mt. Zion Academy - Durham, NC) has some work to do but he has a big body and showed he could block shots, has to get more aggressive and work on his footwork. The good thing is he’s only a freshman and has time to develop.
Here is a list of some other players I earmarked for another look before camp ended.
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Carlos |
Powell |
Berkmar H.S., GA |
2009 |
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Jason |
Lary Jr. |
Druid Hills H.S., GA |
2008 |
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Justin |
Garner |
Hiram, GA |
2008 |
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Travis |
Johnson |
Pk Young |
2007 |
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Andrew |
Anderson |
North Gwinnett, GA |
2008 |
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Ronnie |
Weston |
Lovejoy, GA |
2008 |
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Arie |
Stewart |
Banneker, GA |
2009 |
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Arie |
Jones |
Duluth, GA |
2009 |
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Clifton |
Hardy |
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Jeremy |
Burgess |
Athens Academy, GA |
2010 |
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Jopseph |
Orukotan |
Everglades H.S., FL |
2007 |
4SHOT Hoops - Camp Conclusion
In all, it was a very successful event. The kids had the opportunity to better themselves fundamentally while having fun playing a sport they all seemed to love. Players from neighboring states even made the journey to showcase their skills. The Next Factor’s Training Camp was certainly a camp well worth it, and the first of hopefully many more camps to come into the Atlanta area.
Special thanks to Evangela Booker and Bryan Bartley for their assistance.
While the three of us may have disagreed as to what degree of talent some players possessed during the camp at the end of the day, like we do, we all agreed on who our selections were for the 4SHOT Hoops - Reebok Next Factor Camp All-Star Team and who garnered MVP honors.
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| Meadowcreek's Teandre Williams was our pick for camp MVP. |
Weekend Hoops Camp Provides Exposure Opportunity
For Prep Talent
NEXT FACTORS SPOTLIGHT CAMPS PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY FOR SELECTION IN ELITE ABCD CAMP AND CAMP NEXT
Click here to register
Atlanta, GA- The nation’s top prep exposure camps ABCD and Camp Next have created a gateway for prep athletes to showcase their talents and earn a coveted invitation to their elite camps. Eighty players will be selected from a series of twelve Next Factors Spotlight Training Camps to attend either Camp Next for rising sophomores and juniors or the elite ABCD Camp for the best high school players regardless of class. Atlanta’s Next Factors Spotlight Training Camp will be hosted on June 3-4, 2006 from 10:00am -4:30pm at Meadowcreek High School and is one stop in the national series that includes additional camps in Boston, MA; Ft. Wayne, IN; Orlando, FL; Pittsburgh, PA; Sacramento, CA; Houston, TX; Jackson, MS; Riverside, CA; Tacoma, WA; Huntington Beach, CA; and Neptune, NJ.
The Next Factors Spotlight Training Camps are open to high school players graduating in 2007, 2008 and 2009. The weekend basketball experience will consist of high level individual skill sessions, physical assessments and intense full court games.
“I’ve spent virtually my entire life searching for Next Factors,” says grassroots basketball legend Sonny Vaccarro. “For 42 years now, I have watched the evolution of players and the game. I have seen so many who have made it all the way to the League. That’s what the Next Factors path is all about: opportunity.”
Meadowcreek High School is located at 4455 Steve Reynolds Blvd, Norcross, GA 30093. The cost to attend a Next Factors Spotlight Training Camp is $150. For camp registration information log onto nextfactors.com or contact national camp director Christopher Rivers at (503) 682-1375.
About ABCD Camp
In its 21st year of existence, the ABCD Camp continues the tradition as the country’s top exposure camp for prep athletes. Past participants include Lebron James, Shaun Livingston, Dwight Howard, Tony Parker, Carmelo Anthony and Kobe Bryant.
About Camp Next
Created in 2003 by the “Father of Grassroots Basketball,” Sonny Vacarro, Camp Next is a three-day, on court athletic seminar focused on educating and contributing to the complete mental, physical, athletic and nutritional development of its talented participants.
Media Contact: Evangela Booker
Evangela@thepulseinc.com
(404) 697-3857
© Copyright 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 by 4SHOT Sports
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