Wofford Camp Team Review Part 1
Trinity Christian The Lions did not shy away from competition at all last weekend, taking on schools like Charlotte Christian, Denmark, Wren, and Metrolina. Throughout the camp, 2020s Giancarlo Bastianoni and Brady Burnett carried the team. Bastianoni started out the…
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The Lions did not shy away from competition at all last weekend, taking on schools like Charlotte Christian, Denmark, Wren, and Metrolina. Throughout the camp, 2020s Giancarlo Bastianoni and Brady Burnett carried the team. Bastianoni started out the camp with a 34-point performance, displaying a full offensive arsenal in that game and continuing to produce each game afterwards. He has a reliable 3-point shot, can hit different types of mid-range jumpers, and finish through bodies. His HS and travel coaches have been imploring him to always assert himself and play hard. Bastianoni showed steps in the right direction in Spartanburg, rebounding at a high rate and being aggressive on the offensive end. There’s no reason he couldn’t end up with Division 1 offers after these upcoming June live periods.
Burnett always seem to have an impact on the game even without scoring. He takes charges, rebounds well on both ends, and provides TCS with vocal leadership. The last game I saw of Trinity’s was Burnett’s best offensive showing of the camp. He looked for his shot more often while staying efficient and still moving the ball well. Burnett can shoot from beyond the arc, he’s most comfortable and effective in the corners. He’s around 6’5 with a solid build, athleticism, and toughness, allowing him to finish inside consistently. His versatility and willingness to do the little things will gain the liking of college coaches over the next two months.
Isaac Brito and Sharmari Reed had nice weekends for the Lions as well. Both of them got downhill well and made things happen off penetration. Reed was especially good finishing inside, he’s strong and seeks out contact whenever he gets in the paint. He also showed some facilitating ability, which will be a big help for the TCS team. His speed and strength were assets throughout the camp.
Brito is a new player who recently moved from the Northeast, playing for We R1 on the Under Armour circuit. He has really good size for a guard and uses it well. Brito can see over top of the defenders for passes and clean looks at the basket. He is a crafty finisher and although his shot needs some improvement, he did show some flashes from mid-range multiple times. His vision and ability to create will be fun to watch this winter.
Denmark
Having already reached the Elite 8 as a first-year program, the Danes are looking to take another step forward in 2019-20. Like Trinity, they also challenged themselves with numerous tough matchups at camp. As expected, 2021 PG Sutton Smith set the tone and led the team, but numerous other guys also played important roles. I don’t’ have to say much about how I feel about Smith or about how vital he is to any team he plays on. His performances Friday were most impressive, ending the night with an overtime win over Metrolina in what was the best game I saw at the camp. Smith had people talking the entire game, impressing both Wofford’s players and coaches. He already has an offer from UAH and has recently been contacted by Elon and UGA. The next two weekends could be huge for him.
Adonnis Easton-Tolbert missed the first day of camp, but inserted himself into the lineup Friday and quickly made an impact. Tolbert is a strong, explosive athlete who had multiple above the rim plays that were impressive. Him and Smith play well together; Tolbert spaces well down low and positions himself where he can quickly catch and finish. He also searches for mid-range opportunities, elevating over defenders easily and hitting shots from around 8-12 feet.
New to the team after transferring from Holy Spirit, Robert Cowherd hasn’t needed much time to get comfortable with the Danes. Cowherd always comes in ready to shoot and is capable of hitting really difficult shots. Not just a shooter, he moves well off the ball and sneaks around inside where Smith will find him for easy baskets. Cowherd already has a thick body as a 2022 prospect and uses it pretty well. He’ll chip in rebounding the ball and can play above the rim on offense.
Joseph Scott will have an increased role on the team this year and he looks ready for it. Scott still has some growing to do but he is not afraid and stays active on both ends. He has a solid frame and great length, which he uses on both ends of the floor. Scott can hit shots beyond the arc and has decent touch inside. He has numerous parts to his game and could be a really good finished product with some refinement. Max Vinogradov provides some of the same qualities as Scott, although he is even less bashful when it comes to sticking his nose in and getting physical. He always try to get involved in the action in some way. Vinogradov will shows some flashes offensively and has impressive strength for a 2022 player. Guys like Michael Dougherty and Karson Kinnevy provided the Danes with outside shooting threats who understand their roles and have solid fundamentals.
Mill Creek
I said it a lot last year, but Mill Creek’s core of 2020 guards is very productive and entertaining. Zion Wimby, Sebastian Augustave, Jack Kostel, and Kendall Latney all had their moments throughout the weekend. They don’t care who gets the shine each game; all 4 are capable of solid scoring numbers and they adjust each game depending on who is hot.
Travel teammates on G3 Elite, Wimby and Augustave have seen their stock increase steadily since the spring began. Wimby is ultra-aggressive and confident on both ends. His intensity and desire to impact the game at all times usually results in good things for the team. He has a reliable outside shot, can hit deep jumpers off the dribble, and will finish through contact. Augustave is a cool, savvy guard who does a lot of different things. Although he is small, Augustave can play on or off the ball effectively. He is an effective outside shooter who can go on hot streaks out of nowhere. His vision is impressive; he threw multiple pinpoint passes in traffic that you didn’t think would get through. Augustave is also a better finisher for his size than you would expect and can make plays on defense.
Both Latney and Kostel have the ball in their hands a lot for the Hawks, and for good reason. Latney is a strong, athletic guard who is very tough to stop once he makes up his mind to get downhill. He initiates contact in the lane often and forces defenders to foul him. Latney is best attacking the basket and in transition, but shows some shooting ability too. He elevates well on pull-ups and has decent range. Kostel always plays a nice all-around game, facilitating and rebounding well for an undersized Mill Creek team to go with his scoring ability. He shoots it well but seemed to be looking to get inside more often at Wofford. His speed and crafty ball-handling allows him to penetrate and create plays consistently. He is playing through contact more effectively as of late, which will help his recruitment the rest of the summer.