Notebook: Adidas Select Session VI: Senior Stories
With the second live period not having a huge “Go-To” event, Adidas took advantage by having a series of events surrounding their big time programs across the country. They had one in Richmond, featuring the Team Loaded family and a number of programs from across the state. Here’s a notebook breaking down what we saw from the rising senior class in this event.
Team Loaded VA Holds Down the Hometown
In essentially their home building, Loaded VA 17U protected their home turf by winning the championship before they head out to the Adidas Summer Finale in Las Vegas. After some big wins on Saturday, they beat two of their brother teams in Team Loaded 757 and Team Loaded NC to win the Championship.
It’s been a busy month for Loaded, who went 2-2 in Spartansburg at the Adidas Championships, 2-0 in Myrtle Beach last Sunday and went 3-0 in Milwaukee earlier this week beating two EYBL teams in CIA Bounce and Mac Irvin Fire. They finished this weekend 4-0, playing perhaps their best basketball they’ve played all July, and head into Vegas at 11-2 in July and are considered one of the favorites in the Summer Finale if they play with that same intensity.
In Loaded’s championship win, they really got contributions from a lot of players and played one of their best overall games I have personally seen them play. Their point guard Rasir Bolton led the way with 18 points, scoring it well in a number of different ways and controlling the tempo throughout the game. He committed to Penn State after the game.
If Loaded builds on this momentum and continue to play as a team in Vegas they should have a good chance to play for another championship.
College Coaches Come out in Packs
One of the best things to see were the number of college coaches at each level that were in the building on both Saturday and Sunday for the event. There were over 70 college coaches in attendance, including coaches from almost every high major conference in the country. Some of the bigger schools in attendance included Villanova, UNC, Illinois, Purdue, Oklahoma State, Clemson, Florida State, Rutgers and Georgia. There were even some big name head coaches in the building, including Bill Self of Kansas, Tony Bennett of UVA and Buzz Williams of Virginia Tech, just to name a few.
Rahim Jenkins Makes it Reign
One of the biggest breakout performances of the event came from River City Reign guard Rahim Jenkins. Still without an offer, Jenkins has been lighting it up in July, as he averaged over 20 points per game in Myrtle Beach and continued that roll as he had multiple big time outings in Richmond this weekend.
Jenkins was one of the most consistent scorers at the event with games of 22, 26, 18 and 36 points for an average of 25.5 points per game. His only game under 20 points came against Team Loaded VA, and his 18 points came while shooting 55.2% from the field and led all scorers in a game with multiple high major guards. His 36 point game came when River City Reign only had six players due to injuries, and he easily could have had 40-50 if he didn’t get exhausted late and miss a few shots he made throughout the game.
What’s unbelievable to me is that Jenkins doesn’t have a single offer, despite averaging over 20 points per game this summer. He didn’t see much time as a junior because LC Bird had four guards who contributed close to 90% of their scoring and all signed full scholarships to college, but this year he’ll likely be the go-to guy on this year’s team. He’s a combo guard, so he isn’t a true point guard and a little small at 6’0” to be a shooting guard, but he can score it against anyone, which he proved this weekend. He’s a three level scorer that can play on and off the ball, and while his game isn’t traditional he’s still super effective and can light it up on any given day.
Take 5: Stockboosters
- Jaelin Llewellyn | 6’2” PG | Team Loaded VA
Llewellyn committed to Princeton University the Monday after the event, but if he hadn’t committed for academic reasons he was likely going to have a ton of high major programs come knocking at his door. He has great size for a lead guard, is shifty and dynamic off the bounce and controls the game by playing with pace and breaking down the defense off the bounce. Landing guys like him, who could go to much bigger basketball programs, is why the Ivy League is considered on the way up right now.
- Jonathan Norfleet | 6’1” PG | Team Loaded 757
Norfleet went right at Llewellyn when they matched up, finishing with 16 points in front of 50 plus college coaches. He plays really well in spurts, and he had one spurt where he scored eight straight points when Loaded VA looked like they were about to run away with it to keep them in the game. He excels in uptempo situations, has shown improved shot making ability and is a dynamic playmaker on both ends. He holds around 10 offers now, and if he can be consistent this last week in July he should see more roll in.
- Kam Harris | 6’0” WG | Team Loaded 757
A tweener guard, Harris is often overlooked because he’s not a true point guard or shooting guard, but his athleticism and high motor opened eyes this past weekend, and he picked up his first offer from division two Washington Adventist University. A streaky scorer, Harris can fill it up in bunches, but it’s the other stuff he does that makes him a scholarship level player. He can defend, rebounds well for his size and has an “all-out” mentality that makes it so you can’t take him out of the game.
- Chris Ford | 6’8” PF | River City Reign
I called it about two years ago that this kid was one to watch as a project big man, and his unreal rate of improvement has coaches noticing now. After picking up his first offer last week from division two Catawba in Myrtle Beach, Ford was a breakout performer at Oladipo Skills Camp, leading the camp in field goal percentage with numerous high major and nationally ranked players, and he followed it up with multiple double-doubles this weekend. His high motor and high ceiling have coaches thinking that he will only get better in a big way, and he picked up two more offers, one from division one Norfolk State and one from division two Chowan.
- Antwan Miles | 5’11” PG | Team Loaded 757
Miles is the forgotten guy in the Loaded 757 backcourt, and it needs to stop! He may be the shortest guy at 5’10”, but he’s an unreal athlete with a natural feel to the game and the ability to create and make tough shots from all over the floor. The fact that they have so many ball handlers doesn’t help him, because he’s a playmaker with the ball in his hands, but when he got the opportunity he showed that ability in flashes and his toughness and athleticism negate his small stature. Coaches who don’t mind smaller guards who just get after it, this is the one for you!
Take 5: Sleepers and New Faces
- Josh Whelan | 6’8” PF | SQBA
The Fort Defiance big man showed a lot of potential in Richmond, and if he played in a bigger market like Richmond, NOVA or the Hampton Roads area he’d have college coaches calling and sending him mail on the regular. Still, his name is starting to get out there, and I could see why. He’s a legit 6’8” with a good, solid upper body frame, and he moves really well for his size. He ran the floor well, showed good moves in the low post and showed a high motor on both ends of the floor.
- Cartier Key | 5’10” PG | SQBA
While Whelan showed his ability in the low post for SQBA, the Albemarle guard was the catalyst in their close loss to VA Bullets that I watched. Key is a tough nosed PG that is the definition of a playmaker. He’s scrappy, reads the ball screen well and lives in the paint where he can find open teammates and is a crafty finisher in traffic. He makes open shots, is a vocal leader and a scrappy on ball defender as well.
- Tru Haskins | 6’0” G | VA Bullets
Haskins is a glue guy that seems to get better as the game goes on. In their last minute win over SQBA, Haskins made a number of big plays, including a put back to win the game at the buzzer that was all hustle as he finished it among four players, all that were bigger than him. Throughout the event he looked good as a three and d guy, as he can knock down open shots from deep and isn’t afraid to guard the opponents best defender.
- Anthony Williams | 6’4” F | VA Bullets
Speaking of a glue guy, a lot of division two and division three coaches were asking me about this hybrid forward from EC Glass, and his play this weekend only helped his case moving forward. At 6’4” he isn’t the best athlete, but he’s long and versatile as he can guard multiple positions, play on the perimeter where he’s a good passer and he’s a walking mismatch that can bring post players to the perimeter or take guards and wings to the post. If he continues to develop his body and his guard skill set he could continue to boost his stock moving forward.
- Mareng Gatkuoth | 6’5” WG/WF | Team Loaded 757
A transfer from Alaska who will be attending Jamestown this coming season, Gatkuoth is a long and versatile guard who can hurt defenses in a number of ways. He can stroke it from deep, has good feel and vision when handling in transition and he’s able to use his length to finish above the rim as well. He needs to fill out and has somewhat struggled with the physicality of playing in the lower 48, but as he continues to get used to that he should be a big time impact guy at Jamestown this year who’s going to need help scoring in the backcourt. He says he’ll likely take a prep year after this season, which should also help with his body and recruitment.
Still Available Sleepers Ball Out
- Tahkey Williams | 6’6” F | River City Reign
Williams has improved immensely after a prep year at Liberty Heights, and whether he chooses to go JUCO or to college next year he seems to not only be ready, but it would make sense that he’ll likely get even better moving forward. He’s a solid 6’6” guy that moves his feet well defensively, can rebound on both ends of the floor and is a knock down shooter from deep. In their last game of the day, Williams hit six three-pointers, including four in a row, on the way to scoring 24 points. If schools are looking for an available utility guy with a winning background and can be an immediate impact as a glue guy, Williams is one to take a look at.
- EJ Williams | 6’4” WF | Higher Level Elite
Williams will likely take a prep season at Mount Zion Prep, and the way he played against RCR he should be looked at by scholarship coaches. He has great size, shot the lights out from deep and showed the ability to make tough, contested shots in isolation situations. He’s able to guard multiple positions with his size and athleticism, and he only got better as the game got closer, as he hit big shots including the game clincher in overtime.
- Antonio Youngblood | 6’4” WF | LT3
I had never seen Youngblood, but when I watched him I was impressed with his athleticism and aggression as he attacked the basket and showed the ability to finish way above the rim in transition. He’s not only athletic in transition, but he’s also good laterally and showed the ability to block shots when coming helpside. He wasn’t a bad shooter either, and if I had seen him in high school he likely would have been in our rankings.