All American Jamboree : Notes (Big Men)
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This past weekend I was able to make it over to the All American Jamboree in Taveres. There was over 90 junior colleges / prep teams in attendance with over 300 college coaches watching across three days. While I snuck…
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Continue ReadingThis past weekend I was able to make it over to the All American Jamboree in Taveres. There was over 90 junior colleges / prep teams in attendance with over 300 college coaches watching across three days. While I snuck over to watch some Juco basketball from time to time, my main focus was on the SIAA schools in attendance.
These are some of the big men who stood out to me:
PF Owen Aquino 6-9 CPCA (2022)
Perhaps the find of the weekend, Aquino impressed me in all three games I was able to take in. He is brand new to the States, coming over from Spain just a month ago. The sturdy big man does two things at an elite level: block shots and pass the ball. In the first game I watched he blocked seven shots, and made defensive plays all over the court with active hands poking the ball away and deflecting passes. He moves his feet quite well for a sturdy 6-9, and showed that he is capable of switching onto onto guards in pick and roll situations. Aquino also had around five assists in each of the games that I watched. He was exceptional passing out of the high post, and drawing the defense on drives, dishing it off to teammates. In addition to his prowess as a passer, he also showed a high level of skill driving to the basket , and scoring in the post over both shoulders. Every year CPCA gets a couple players imported who end up moving on to the Division I level, and this year Aquino will be one of them.
C Pape Lamine Niang 6-10 CPCA (2022)
Niang has made huge steps forward in his development over the past year. He has put on about twenty pounds of good weight since enrolling at CPCA as a Junior. The true center, finishes around the basket efficiently, has good hands, and is a constant lob threat. He rebounds his area well, and provides rim protection. He still needs to work on finishing over his right shoulder more, but his prowess as a rolling to the basket makes him an intriguing Division I prospect. Thus far Florida International represents his lone offer.
PF Kennedy Charles 6-9 The Rock (2022)
This was my first live look at Charles since he arrived in the Florida via Canada this past summer. He is an intriguing stretch four who gets a majority of his work done facing the basket. Charles is also active on the glass at both ends,and runs the floor with great mobility. He is not afraid to mix it up underneath the basket although added weight/ strength could benefit him greatly. I came away with the impression that Charles was certainly a scholarship player.
C Christian Richardson Christian Richardson 7'0" | C Potter's House Christian | 2022 State FL 7-1 Potters House Christian (2022)
Richardson looked so much more comfortable on the floor than when I saw him last spring. He showed great IQ using his outrageous size and length to sneak passes to cutters out of the high /low post. He rebounded everything size and patrolled the paint as a true rim protector. His post game and footwork is also coming along well as he showed off a few nice hook shots and drop steps.
PF Ibrahima Traore Ibrahima Traore 6'9" | C West Oaks | 2024 State #193 Nation FL 6-9 West Oaks (2024)
With the Bewley twins moving onto the professional ranks, Traore is a likely candidate to fill a good amount of playing time at West Oaks this year. In the game I watched he was active around the basket getting putbacks, ran the floor well and blocked/altered shots. He has a grood frame that will add muscle easily, and the athleticism to be one of the top big men in the state for his class.