Southwood Team Camp Stars of the Day
The Southwood Cowboys hosted their third one day team camp this week to close out their June. Returning district foe Natchitoches Central, 1A champion North Central, and 2-5A playoff team Alexandria High were the guest during this day competing against…
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Continue ReadingThe Southwood Cowboys hosted their third one day team camp this week to close out their June. Returning district foe Natchitoches Central, 1A champion North Central, and 2-5A playoff team Alexandria High were the guest during this day competing against local teams Green Oaks, Huntington, and host Southwood. While players like Derrick Tezeno and Kenny Hunter were missed during the camp, there were other standout players during the day. These were the players I call the stars of the day.
Desmond McQuain / 6’1″ / Alexandria / 2020
McQuain played the hardest and most consistent for his team on Tuesday. While he is known for his long range accuracy, he showed there was more to his game. When players closed out on him, McQuain displayed an ability to drive to the hole and get fouled. For someone who is counted on to score, that ability can not be overlooked. McQuain also defended both guard positions well and made the offensive players work harder. Often times prep shooters/scorers do not improve their defending. McQuain has obviously worked on it which makes him invaluable when he is on the floor. Because he can shoot, drive, and defend, he was one of our stars of the day.
Devonte Snow / 6’1″ / Natchitoches Central / 2020
Devonte Snow played in the shadow of Blinn signee CJ Carpenter on last season. In most games last season, his offense was lagniappe for the Chiefs. On Tuesday, Snow showed that he is ready to step into the lead role and play it at a high level. For a guard, he sticks his nose in and rebounds on both ends of the floor. He can score at all three levels as well and has a lot of offensive tools. His calling card might be his defense however. Snow is not scared to guard any perimeter player from point guards to wings. Snow makes them work on offense. He is quick at changing ends so if he gets a steal, there is no catching him. While he was my star of the day for the Chiefs, look for him to be the focal point of Natchitoches Central’s success this season.
Nikembe Johnson / 6’4″ / North Central / 2020
Johnson played well during the day at Southwood. For coaches that were in the gym seeing him for the first time, they should have definitely been pleased with his play. Johnson showed his diverse offensive game by shooting jumpers from three and the mid-range. He also was able to rebound misses for putbacks. In the open floor and in the halfcourt, Johnson displayed an above average handle for a post player. On one fastbreak attempt, he also showed the ability to take contact from a player and still get his shot off. In high school, he is the perfect inside-outside threat. His versatility was a main reason he was my star of the day for North Central.
Isreal Edwards / 6’2″ / Green Oaks / 2020
Probably one of the players that is flying under the radar in the 2020 class is Isreal Edwards. On Tuesday, he displayed an offensive and defensive game that was impressive to say the least. Isreal is an instinctive defender. He gets most of his deflections and steals by reading passes and anticipation. There were several steals he gained in the open court in that manner. On offense he attacks the paint constantly. While he can finish with floaters and layups, he is so effective when he kicks the ball to the opposite side of the floor. Edwards is a streaky three point shooter and was on more than off on Tuesday. His play sparked Green Oaks to a 2-0 day and he was definitely their star of the day.
Desmond Washington / 6’4″ / Huntington / 2022
While Kenny Hunter was absent, Desmond Washington stepped up as the main threat for the Raiders. He might not be 6’9″ but Washington posed a different set of issues for defenses during this day. Washington has a good handle for a big so he scored by taking bigs off the dribble. He also understood spacing so he created enough on the baseline to score when passed to. Desmond has great hands around the basket and can finish strong around the rim. For someone who will be going into his first year of varsity play, he understands small parts of the game. Washington played big for the Raiders and deserved star of the day status.
Daniel Ortiz / 6’0″ / Southwood / 2021
One of the best players in all three camps has been Daniel Ortiz. On day three, his performance was no different. Ortiz is a scorer in the purest form. He can get to the foul line, shoot the three extremely well, and score in the mid-range. His defense was at a heightened level on Tuesday also. He was more active with his on the ball defense and caused issues for the guards he faced. If Ortiz can defend like he did on Tuesday, he will shoot up the rankings in becoming more of a complete player. Competing at both ends is something he is becoming better at. Ortiz was a star of the day because of his play. He may become one of the top stars in the state if his development continues.
Southwood’s one day camps were so popular that various schools have contacted them about participating next summer. Look for more talent like these preps above to participate in the future.