Scouting Vegas: Adidas Select Las Vegas Showcase Day 1
What’s both a blessing and a curse in Vegas this time of the year? There’s so much good basketball being played! While everyone was at the Cashman Center for the circus that was Zion Williamson vs. LaMelo Ball, I chose a different route and went to the College of Southern Nevada for a four game showcase set organized by Adidas Select and Zero Gravity. It started just after the live period started at 5:00 local time, and had four competitive games. Here were the results, and some of the standouts from the event.
Game 1: New England Playaz 16U 72 Colorado Titans 17U 68
Game 2: NY Rens 17U 58 K-Low Elite 17U 53
Game 3: Team Loaded VA 16U 56 Born Ready Elite 49
Game 4: New England Playaz 17U 66 NY Rens 17U 51
- Tyree Pickron | 6’3” WG | K-Low Elite | 2018
Despite a tough loss to the NY Rens, Pickney had perhaps the best individual performance of the day as he finished with 26 points on 6-for-12 shooting from deep. It was apparent early that he was a shooter, as he knocked down his first three from deep, demonstrating good form and a quick release. What was best about his performance is the way he competed. With K-Low Elite trailing by double digits with less than five minutes left, Pickney put the team on his back and scored 11 straight to keep them in the game. He holds over 15 offers, and whoever’s lucky enough to land him will get a big time shooter and tough competitor.
- Luke Johnson | 5’10” PG | Colorado Titans | 2018
There was simply no way I could leave this kid out. He isn’t the biggest, he’s an average athlete and won’t get any high major offers, but he’s a scrappy floor general that plays with heart and toughness on every play. He controls the pace of the game, can knock down shots from all three levels off the bounce and he’s a guy who will leave it all on the floor and do whatever it takes to help his team win. There may be more talented guys out there, but I would take him to lead my team any day.
- Philip Rebraca | 6’8” C | Colorado Titans | 2018
Rebraca, who should benefit greatly from his prep year, is an athletic big man that owned the middle in their loss to NE Playaz 16U. He doesn’t look it, but he’s an intimidating presence in the middle that finished plays above the rim offensively and protected the rim defensively. He showed good footwork and touch with both hands, and if he can play like that against high level competition there’s a good chance some division one guys will get on board.
- Tyler Bourne | 5’8” PG | NY Rens | 2018
It isn’t a secret that I love tough, little guards, and that’s what Bourne is. He has all the intangibles that a little guard needs to be successful against high level competition. He controls the tempo of the game, changes speeds well, has tremendous vision and is a crafty and tough shot maker from all over the floor. He isn’t going to wow you with his stats, but his ability to control the game always gives his team an opportunity to win.
- Nate Laszewski | 6’9” PF | NE Playaz | 2018
There were about 25 college coaches at the final game between the Rens and the NE Playaz, and most of the big time ones were there to recruit Laszewski. It isn’t hard to see why. At 6’9”, he’s extremely long as a forward, but his form is picture perfect off the catch. He’s the perfect trail four man, and he has great feel as a passer and moves well without the ball too. In the right system he’s a guy that could be really good at a high level in college.
- Bryce Wills | 6’5” WF | NY Rens | 2019
Talk about making the most of your opportunities, how does 14 points on just six shots sound? Wills filled it up without shooting his team out of the game, and he showed a lot of ability in doing so. He put it on the deck and created his own shot, knocked it down from all three levels and attacked the basket and got to the line. It’s all about consistency for him, but he scored in double figures in both of their showcase games on Wednesday.
- Patrick Kelly | 6’7” F | Team Loaded VA 16U | 2019
Kelly is known mostly as a shooter, but he’s also a glue guy who competes on both ends and hits the glass surprisingly well. In their win over Born Ready Elite, Kelly finished with 12 points and six rebounds, and made a ton of plays that help his team that didn’t come up in the stat sheet. He’s in between a three and a stretch four, but he looked good when he got his opportunities.
- Bennett Pitcher | 6’8” PF | NE Playaz 16U | 2021
Pitcher is one to keep an eye on if you recruit the New England area, because the big guy is already really talented and I’m not even sure he knows it yet. Pitcher still has some baby fat, but he has a strong upper body, good hands and feet and a great nose for the basketball. He showed touch around the basket with both hands, and he got after it on the glass as well. A double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds is a sign of good things to come moving forward.