Dr1ven Timesland Invitational Senior Standouts
Sunday at North Cross School in Roanoke, Dr1ven Training put on the third annual “Dr1ven Timesland Invitational,” bringing together some of the best players in the SWVA area. There aren’t many local opportunities for the 540/434/276 prospects to show their abilities, but over the past three years event director David Williams has packed the gym with college coaches and great trainers to help the kids get maximum exposure and get better at the same time. With over 30 kids in attendance, coaches and scouts had their hands full trying to evaluate so much talent. Here’s a look at some of the seniors that stood out to me.
CJ Rosser | 6’2” WG | Heritage (Lynchburg)
One of the breakout candidates in the Lynchburg area, Rosser showed that he’s a dual threat option that can score it and distribute the basketball while playing both on and off the ball as well. He’s a creator off the bounce who can run the pick-and-roll, shoot it from all three levels and can run the show in transition, and off the ball he moves well with good footwork off the catch. He made good decisions throughout the event, taking and making good shots, and he showed that he’s ready to take on the load as the go-to guy for Heritage this year.
Nick Price | 6’1” PG | Northside
Price has been one of the best players in the Roanoke area over the past three seasons, and going into his senior season he looks better than ever. He’s improved in almost every aspect, including getting quicker on both ends of the floor, and he plays with such a calm demeanor that translates through his teammates in a leadership kind of role. He’s a lock down on ball defender, has great awareness in the open floor and he’s become even more aggressive on the offensive end. He’ll lead a stacked Northside team that was the runner-up in the VHSL 3A State Championships last year.
Ean Bassham | 6’3” WG | Abbingdon
Bassham gets my vote for breakout player of the event, but that’s also because I had not seen him prior to the event. A strong wing with good guard skills, he was extremely aggressive attacking the basket and found ways to get easy looks in the paint both on and off the ball. He showed good footwork, was a good finisher with both hands in traffic and played his tail off the entire time he was on the court. If he has a big senior season and continues to improve his consistency on his jump shot he could be a solid steal at the next level.
Ramon Hampton | 6’6” PF | William Fleming
When it comes to potential, Hampton may have had the highest ceiling of anyone at the event. A long and athletic 6’6” forward, he’s improved on his shooting and ball handling, but it’s his ability to get up and down the floor with guards that makes him so effective. He’s a good rim protector, he hits the glass hard on both ends of the floor, and he can finish above the rim but also showed a soft touch in the paint with both hands as well.
Terrell Smith | 6’1” WG | William Byrd
Smith impressed in a number of ways on Sunday ranging from his body, his production level and his high motor as well. He’s a strong kid, built like a linebacker and he isn’t afraid to throw his weight around when banging down low with bigger guys. He shot the ball extremely well throughout the event, especially in the first game where he went 4-for-5 from behind the arc. He’s also a hard working kid, that played his tail off in both drills and in the live games, meaning he’ll likely get better moving forward.
Josh Thomas | 6’5” WF | Staunton River
Thomas may not be the most athletic guy, but man can he shoot it! The 6’5″ lefty was lights out for the entire event, and his mechanics are so smooth and textbook to watch. It starts with his feet, where he squares them up nicely off the move, and he’s always aware and shot ready making him a threat at all times. He has a perfect release point, and it looks the exact same every time he shoots it. The fact that he’s 6’5″ allows him to be a threat not just off the move but also off of pick-and-pop situations too. He was arguably the most consistent shooter in the gym along with Smith.
Andre Pullen | 6’4” F | William Fleming
Pullen’s mix of size and skill definitely caught the eye of some of the coaches in attendance. At 6’4″, Pullen has a strong and athletic build, he gets up and down the floor and can shoot the ball from deep. He got better as the day went on, but what’s really intriguing with him as well is that he only seems to be scratching the surface and could improve a lot with some work over time. He needs to tighten his handle and learn to use his strength in the post, but he could be a sleeper moving forward.
Noah Lichtenstein | 5’11” G | Hidden Valley
Lichtenstein stood out in game one by making some impressive moves and shots off the dribble. He isn’t the biggest guy, but he created space well off the bounce, and when he made his space he was able to get into his shots quickly and knock them down. He showed supreme confidence when shooting the ball, and that’s always a good thing coming from your senior leader.
Jake Martin | 6’0′ WG | George Wythe
Last year he showed out in a big way in the state championship game, scoring 12 of his 18 points in the third quarter to get Wythe back in it before dropping a heartbreaker to Radford at the last second. Martin showed much of the same confidence on Sunday, as he’s never afraid to let it fly. He’s a true shooter, always shot ready and will likely make you pay. After a slow start, he found his groove and really got it going. Just as impressive as his shot is his toughness. He’s always coming back harder after missing a shot or getting knocked down, and that’s what makes him a go-to guy when times get tough.
Cameron O’Conner | 6’2″ WG | Northside
Another shooter, O’Conner showed that he can knock it down but also showed some other things as well. He showed his athleticism with a dunk in 3-on-3, his high IQ on both ends of the floor and most importantly, never took a bad shot or got out of his role. He isn’t as one dimensional as we thought, but his biggest strength is that he’s still one of the best shooters in Roanoke, if not the entire state.