NBPA Top 100 Scouting: Midwest Seniors (Part 1)
The NBPA Top 100 camp took place last week from Wednesday through Saturday at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, VA. The goal of the camp is to take some of the best talent around the country and have them compete in a controlled environment, all while learning from current and former NBA players what it takes to make it to the NBA and what it’s like once you make it there. The atmosphere was great, as there was tons of talent throughout the gym, national scouts everywhere and competitive games from the beginning to the end. It was a great place to evaluate, and over the next few days I will be giving my take and breaking down the game of some of the top performers I saw (there was no way I could see everyone). Here’s a look at part one of the rising seniors in the midwest.
Ayo Dosonmu | 6’2” PG | Morgan Park (IL)
Talk about a college ready PG, Dosonmu showed time and time again that he has the size and understanding of the game to step in right away and play at the next level. He was one of the most efficient shooters at the event, shooting over 61% from the field and 50% from deep. He averaged 13.3 points per game and scored in double figures in all seven of his games, and he made great reads in pick-and-roll situations. His length, toughness and ability to make shots efficiently from all over the floor bolds well for him moving forward.
Jordan McCabe | 5’11” PG | Kaukauna HS (WI)
This was McCabe’s second year in a row at the Top 100 camp, and he had a much better showing this year, playing well enough to be named to the All Star team. The West Virginia commit is a tight ball handler, uses both hands when making passes and when finishing in the lane and has a mix of toughness and high IQ that makes him a great presence to run a team. He finished second in the camp in assists at 4.9 per game, and played extremely well on Saturday in the semifinals and finals, finishing with games of 17 points 8 assists and 10 points 10 assists, respectively.
Joe Wieskamp | 6’6” WG | Muscatine (IA)
Another guy who played well enough to be named to the All Star team, Wieskamp was productive, efficient and showed that his game should translate easily to the next level. Between games four and seven, Wieskamp shot 27-for-35 from the field and scored 62 points in those four games. He showed good athleticism in transition finishing above the rim, made shots from all over the floor and was great in help defense. He had another big game in their final game, finishing with 19 points. He finished the camp averaging 12.4 points per game, good enough to finish in the top 10, and his size and athleticism means he should be an immediate impact at Iowa next season.
Jerome Hunter | 6’7” F | North Pickerington (OH)
Hunter showed flashes of brilliance throughout the camp, even if he didn’t put up the biggest or best numbers over the week. An athletic hybrid forward with good size and touch, Hunter ran the floor well, finished above the rim with aggression and showed that he can score and rebound with the best of them. His lateral quickness for his size is very good, allowing him to guard quicker perimeter players, and he’s also strong enough to bang with bigs and protect the rim in help side defense. His versatility isn’t just on the defensive end, as he’s able to score from all three levels, handle the ball in transition and he can score around the rim with both hands. It makes sense why so many programs across the midwest are highly involved with him.
Talen Horton-Tucker | 6’4” WG | Simeon (IL)
Horton-Tucker impressed me a lot with his versatility as well, because he has the build of an undersized four man, moves like a wing and he can dribble and pass like a point guard. A stocky 6’4”, he’s a strong finisher in traffic and when he gets downhill it’s almost impossible to stop him. His ability to see the floor and handle it in transition makes him a dangerous weapon, because you have to pick him up early before he gets too deep where he’ll finish, and he showed the ability to score it from all three levels in the half court as well. He needs to tone his body up, which should make him more explosive, but he has the ability to play almost every position on the perimeter now.