Flashback Friday: UC Irvine Team Camp superlatives
Earlier this month, I had a chance to attend the three-day UC Irvine Team Camp, put on without a hitch by the staff of the Big West champs. The camp doubles as an opportunity for high school teams to compete…
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Continue ReadingEarlier this month, I had a chance to attend the three-day UC Irvine Team Camp, put on without a hitch by the staff of the Big West champs.
The camp doubles as an opportunity for high school teams to compete in preparation for next season and to give the Anteaters staff a chance to identify future recruits.
Long Beach St. Anthony won the tournament over Balboa School of Escondido
Best prospect
DJ Allen, 6-7 2021 F, St. Anthony
Allen’s combination of length, rapidly improving skill set and upside caught the attention of Irvine’s staff all weekend. Scoring on straight-line drives, shots off the catch and post-ups, the Mary Star transfer helped lead the Saints to the camp championship.
Most intriguing
Fidelis Okereke, 6-7 2020 C, King Drew
Irvine has done a great job over the years identifying under recruited big men and developing them over time, which explains why the entire staff watched Okereke in his lone game at the team camp. Undersized, but blessed with elite length, explosiveness and a high motor, Okereke dominated the paint area against Balboa School. He is still quite raw offensively, but his other attributes more than compensate at this level.
Nick Hopkins, 6-5 2021 W, Aquinas
Hopkins was an imposing offensive force all weekend. He creates mismatches on offense due to his surprisingly quick first step and ability to power through defenders at the rim. He pairs with fellow rising junior Sheldon Grant III to comprise one of the more underrated 2021 duos in So-Cal.
Best scorer
Emmett Neal Jr., 6-4 2020 SG, Balboa School
On a team more known for its stifling defense, Neal provided the scoring punch from all three levels. A bit flat footed, Neal possesses impressive footwork off the dribble to create scoring opportunities. Crafty is the best word to describe his offensive repertoire.
Steve Stinson, 5-11 2020 G, San Diego
Stinson might be undersized, but can fill it up from three levels, as he displayed all weekend. He gets downhill and can absorb contact and finish around the basket at a nice clip for a player his size, and has a very strong pull-up game to boot.
Best defender
Gorden Boykins, 6-3 2020 G, St. Anthony
Boykins usually takes the task of guarding the opponent’s best perimeter player and does it with an intensity few can match. He possesses excellent footwork, sliding his feet and keeping his hands in proper defensive position, and does an excellent job denying a hot scorer the ball. Boykins can score it too, but his defense makes him special.
Best shooter
AJ Burgin, 6-3 2021 G, San Diego
Burgin got it going from all three levels throughout the camp, but his ability to stretch the floor from NBA range makes him a difficult cover.
Jadon Jones, 6-4 2020 G, St. Anthony
The lefty fired away from midrange and from deep all weekend, scoring at a prolific clip for the champs. An underrated athlete, too, Jones had a few highlight dunks sprinkled throughout the weekend.
Best 2022 prospects
Jack McCloskey, 6-5 SG, Santa Margarita
New head coach Justin Bell has a great piece to build around in McCloskey, a sharpshooting combo guard with a lanky frame and improving athleticism. He hit big shots all weekend for the Eagles, who nearly upset Balboa in a quarterfinals matchup.
Devon Arlington, 6-2 PG, San Marcos
Arlington’s scoring prowess off the bounce is well documented, but he used the camp to display his underrated playmaking ability, creating for others off the dribble and in the pick-and-roll. UCI’s staff attended several of his games this weekend.
Best “glue” guys
Max McCall, 6-2 2022 G, San Marcos and Jeric Lovgren, 5-11 2021 PG, San Marcos
While Arlington shoulders much of the scoring load, McCall and Lovgren have stepped up in a major way on both ends for the new-look Knights. McCall uses his length and nose for the basket to make an impact on the boards, where he is a force on both ends. Lovgren is a defensive specialist who also mans the point aptly in relief of Arlington.
Most improved
Rodney Robinson, 5-11 PG, Fountain Valley
The first thing I noticed about Robinson is that he’s grown at least 3 inches since the HS season. But Robinson still hasn’t lost the quick first step and crafty play off the dribble that makes him an under-the-radar 2022 prospect in OC. Along with teammate Jeremiah Davis, who also had a great weekend, Fountain Valley made a surprise run to the Final Four of the event.