Will Barton Elite Camp-Standout Frontcourt Players
Last weekend, Will Barton hosted his annual elite camp that consisted of talent from all over the country, however the majority of the players were from the mid-Atlantic region. With no shortage of talent, the players took part in a morning session consisting of drills and stations, which were followed by a series of games. Each portion gave you a chance to dissect the strengths and weaknesses of the players. For this article, we’re going to take a look at some of the talented frontcourt players that attended and stood out.
Eric Dixon | 6’7 | ’19 Abington (DE)
Whenever Dixon walks into a gym, there’s a very good chance that no one else there can guard him. At 6-foot-7 and 250 pounds, Dixon is an absolute force when he gets the ball anywhere around the paint. The future Villanova Wildcat has ability to put the ball on the floor and play off the dribble as well, but he is most dominant with his back to the basket where he imposes his will. Defensively, he can be an anchor for a defense. He guarded the pick-and-roll well, made help side rotations and rebounded strongly throughout.
Olivier Nkamhoua | 6’8 | ’19 Bishop Walsh
The player list for the camp had Nkamhoua listed as a wing, and while the long, 6-foot-8 rising senior has the frame and tools to be in the future, he still has some work to do on his perimeter skills such as shooting and dribbling before he can be classified as such. With that being said, he had plenty of impressive plays where he was on the receiving end of a kick out pass from penetration, which he finished with strong dunks after one or two dribbles. Nkamhoua did a good job defensively protecting the rim both in the half court and transition. He plays with energy and is always looking for chase down blocks.
Victory Naboya | 6’7 | ’21 St. John’s College High School
Naboya was a workhorse throughout the entire camp. As a rising sophomore, he still has obvious polishing with his overall game, but there a few key things that he already has to ensure he’ll be a coveted prospect nationwide as a big. He can catch very well, has great athleticism and as stated before, works extremely hard on the glass on both ends of the floor. Defensively, he was distorting shots left and right. After doing so, sprinting down the middle of the floor as a rim runner or looking to feast off of missed lay ups.
Olisa Ngonadi | 6’7 | ’19 National Christian
Ngonadi is similar to Naboya in the sense that he is a relentless rebounder on both ends. What he has that Naboya doesn’t at the moment is overall mass that helps him be a bit more imposing. Ngonadi was effective rolling after setting ball screens and finishing. When he didn’t finish, he was determined to get his own rebound for a second chance at things. With good athleticism, the 6-foot-7 forward had a handful of impressive blocks after making help side rotations on driving guards. Ngonadi was an effective communicator defensively as well.
Detwan Montague | 6’7 | ’21 St. Frances
Montague doesn’t possess any of the athleticism similar to the players on this list, but it doesn’t mean he won’t have an impact on the game. The 6-foot-7 forward is incredible efficient whenever he gets the ball in the paint. Whether he’s shooting over this shoulder, a floater from 5-8 feet or being the beneficiary of a dump pass from a penetrating guard, Montague knows how to put the ball in the basket. Unlike other bigs his age, Montague isn’t a black hole when he gets the ball on the block. He has a good feel for the game and where open shooters will be on the perimeter whenever he takes a dribble. He runs the floor very well and rebounds with aggression.
Jason Murphy | 6’8 | ’19 St. Frances
Murphy had a very productive day throughout, but stood out the most during the game portion of the camp. The 6-foot-8 forward showcased his high motor by running the floor well on both ends and showed his improved ability efficiency offensively. Murphy has had an impressive summer overall and built upon that by being one of the standout bigs for this event. Defensively, he did a solid job of rotating and contesting shots around the rim. One constant with Murphy is his presence and effort on the defensive glass. He is above average at helping limit the opposition to one-shot possessions.