Over the last week or two, Adam Ayalew and I had the opportunity of sitting in for Team Durant ‘s training camp as they prepare for a few independent events going on later this summer. There’s been an unusual gap…
Over the last week or two, Adam Ayalew and I had the opportunity of sitting in for Team Durant
‘s training camp as they prepare for a few independent events going on later this summer. There’s been an unusual gap of no live action due to COVID-19 concerns. Team Durant
was diligent in following all protocols to keep a controlled, safe environment and for us scouts, it was a chance to get back to our safe haven.
For this article, Adam and I discuss our findings from our time in the gym.
Shawn Simmons of Friends Central (PA)
1. What were your takeaways watching the 15U group?
Ayalew:
– My first takeaway was about how talented the 15U group is. They’re right up there with any 15U team I’ve seen.
– Takeaway #2 involves a few standouts from the group. From my seat, Johnathan Lamothe was the most complete player on the team. Not only does he make others around him better, but he can also score and defend. Some others who played well include Jayden Harris, Shawn Simmons,and Jamie Kaiser. Harris, a lanky 6-foot-3 guard from Christ Chapel, is a lockdown defender who can score with the best. Simmons, a 6-foot-6 forward from Friends Central, is a freak athlete who is a versatile and vigilant defender. Simmons still has a ways to go offensively, but finishes above the rim consistently and in time he could become dominant on that end as well. Kaiser, a 6-foot-4 wing from Lake Braddock, is a flat-out workhorse. A standout on the gridiron, his playmaking instincts stood out on the defensive end where he was active, alert, and aggressive. Kaiser also rebounded out of his area and scored in many ways.
– My third takeaway involves the playmaking potential I see in Kwame EvansKwameEvans
6'9" | SF Montverde | 2023State#20NationFL. At 6-foot-8, he’s a gifted scorer, but one thing I noticed is that he’s a clever passer. When coaches pushed him to involve others a bit more, his keen eye and unselfishness was on full display. Needless to say, Evans will become a force as he grows into his body.
Giacubeno: The initial takeaway most would gather from this team is their size. Evans stands 6-foot-8, Simmons is 6-foot-6 and you have a number of others that stand 6-foot-4 or 6-foot-5. Evans and Simmons aren’t just tall, they’re both extremely versatile and skilled. Simmons blows you away with his athleticism for such a young age and Evans’ combination of length and shooting ability create a cheat code floor spacer.
A couple of Baltimore guards in Ace Valentine and Jahn Lamothe impressed me. Valentine is a 6-foot-1 guard who spent his freshman season on junior varsity at Mount St. Joe. He’s a three-level scorer, and underrated passer and overall just wants to win. Lamothe got valuable experience with St. Frances this season playing a big role off the bench. He’s improved his body and his game off the bounce, which should suit well for taking on a bigger role for the Panthers as a sophomore.
2. Did anyone separate themselves among the 16U group?
Ayalew: I think Colby will agree with me on this, but Trey ThomasTreyThomas
6'3" | PG Wise | 2022MD put on an absolute show with the 16’s. A pick-and-roll maestro who can score at all three levels, he’s very crafty with the ball and has some wiggle off the bounce. Thomas also held his own on the defensive end.
Giacubeno:Trey ThomasTreyThomas
6'3" | PG Wise | 2022MD
had his way throughout the portion of training camp. His knack for scoring from all three levels kept his defender guessing at all times. He also knows how to find open teammates and anticipate rotating weak side defenders. Lou Hutchinson is one of the hardest working players I’ve seen. He wanted to win every drill, every suicide and every game that was played. At 6-foot-6 with a decent outside shot, his work ethic is something that helps set the tone through an entire team. Darren Buchanan Jr.DarrenBuchanan Jr.
6'7" | PF Woodrow Wilson | 2022State#101NationMD
‘s athleticism came to light a few times. The 6-foot-5 wing has brute strength and can really get above the rim on finishes in the open floor or off put-backs.
3. The 17U team is loaded with nationally coveted prospects, of which already have an established recruitment picture. If there would’ve been a spring/summer travel season, who could’ve possibly boosted their stock the most?
Ayalew: Well, there are already a couple of 5 star prospects on the team in Jalen Warley and Dariq Whitehead, but I strongly believe Jordan HawkinsJordanHawkins
6'5" | SF DeMatha | 2021State#41NationMD would have and still probably will play his way into that conversation. The athletic and skilled 6-foot-5 wing improves each time I see him. Hawkins gained a ton of confidence at DeMatha last season. He’s become an elite defender and his offensive arsenal is potent. Perhaps my favorite part about Hawkins is how easy he makes the game look. His IQ shines on every possession. He’s efficient with the ball and knows where to be when he doesn’t have it. In 9 months time we could be talking about DeMatha’s next McDonald’s All-American.
Giacubeno: As Adam said, there are a number of players who have their recruitment rolling on this team including Hawkins, but still, he blew me away with how much he has improved. I never like to compare high school prospects to professionals, but Hawkins’ jumper is a approaching a pro level. His smooth approach to the game as a scorer by using dribbles efficiently is something that most upperclassmen in college are still adjusting to. If we had a live evaluation period, I have a strong feeling countless power 5 schools and maybe even a blue-blood program would begin tracking Hawkins closely.