CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – A number of the top talents in the state of North Carolina are proving to be some of the country’s best as they compete against top national talent at the Tournament of Champions.
The 17-Under division is loaded with 64 elite teams playing at gyms throughout the area and the Tar Heel state’s C.J. Leslie (Raleigh’s Word of God Academy), Reggie Bullock (Kinston) and Dezmine Wells (Word of God) all had big performances on day one of pool play inside the Dean Smith Center at the University of North Carolina.
Other notables at the 'Dean Dome’ included the night-high of 32 points from R.J. Slawson (Charleston, S.C., Forth Dorchester) while top of the class underclassmen Mike Gilchrist (Elizabeth, N.J., St. Patrick’s) and LaQuinton Ross (Jackson, MS Murrah) led their teams.
2010 Tristan Thompson (Henderson, Nev., Findlay Prep) was sidelined with a high-ankle sprain but could play later in the weekend.
CLASS OF 2010
C.J. Leslie, Word of God (Raleigh, N.C.), Carolina Cobras
File Photo By Jim Redman
C.J. Leslie (6-9 PF/Carolina Cobras/Raleigh, N.C., Word of God) – Scored 12 points in a win against Jackson MBA Elite of Mississippi. Came out the gates with big energy on defense and explosive finishes in transition to build early lead. Elite difference maker and one-time North Carolina State verbal will unofficially visit North Carolina this week. Has long list of suitors with no plans for a summer decision.
Okaro White (6-9 PF/Team Florida/Clearwater, Fla.) – Scored 13 points in win over Los Angeles Rage of California. Bulled his way inside for near double-digit rebounds, showed a big motor and had an aggressive dunk off the drive on a waiting defender at the rim. Top 100-talent and committed to Florida State.
Kyrie Irving (6-2 CG/NJ Roadrunners/Elizabeth, N.J., St. Patrick) – Scored 23 points in mercy rule win over Wisconsin Playground Warriors. Kept teammates involved while mixing in his scores that came whenever he wanted. Impressive with the change of speeds with his off-hand to get in the lane for both a floater and a score at the rim. Top national backcourt target gave long list of Indiana, Duke, Kentucky, Duke, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, Seton Hall, Maryland, Marquette, Georgia Tech and Florida at the moment.
Casey Prather (6-6 G-F/Nashville Celtics/Jackson, Tenn., North Side) – Scored 12 points in close win over Houston Clippers of Texas. Didn’t shoot it well and got into some early foul trouble but stayed with it on defense. North Carolina’s Roy Williams, Clemson’s Oliver Purnell and Florida’s Billy Donovan came by in April to see him at school. Notre Dame, Memphis, Michigan, and Vanderbilt also visited him. Said Wake Forest and Minnesota made contact during the school season as well. Will play out the process.
Reggie Bullock (6-7 SG-WF/CP3 All Stars/Kinston, N.C.) – Scored 13 points in team’s win over Colorado Chaos. Not one of his better games but has tools and frame to be one of the better wings in class. Committed to North Carolina and had future teammates Ed Davis and Larry Drew there to watch him.
Melvin Tabb (6-8 CF/CP3 All Stars/Raleigh, N.C., Enloe) – Led loaded team in scoring with 16 points in win. Showed off athleticism around the hoop on scores and catalyst with energy on both ends that led to pulling away and closing the game on the big run. Committed to Wake Forest.
Dwight Powell (6-9 PF/Grassroots Canada/Bradenton, Fla., IMG Academy) – Scored 7 points in close win over Team Truth of Georgia. Hit some off-balance shots in the paint and altered a handful of others on the defensive end with his long, lanky frame. No summer decision expected and listed Miami, Harvard, Stanford, California, UCLA and Marquette among what’s a long list of schools that he’ll narrow down after July.
Cory Joseph (6-3 CG/Grassroots Canada/Henderson, Nev., Findlay Prep) – Scored 16 points in team’s win over Team Truth of Georgia. Played mostly off the ball and knocked down a pair of long jumpers during key stretch that saw team fight for the win down the stretch.
Dion Waiters (6-4 CG/Team Final/Burlington, N.J., Life Center) – Scored 6 points in win over Michigan Hurricanes. Took over set-up role during team’s second half run that led to victory. Left one short at the rim and mis-timed a dunk but blew past smaller defenders with combination of size and hesitation moves. One of the top backcourt talents in class committed to Syracuse.
R.J. Slawson (6-8 CF/Team TNP/Charleston, S.C., Fort Dorchester) – Scored the day’s high in the Dean Dome of 32 points against Juice All Stars of New York. His team was getting manhandled early and down double digits but he made a ton of plays on both end. South Carolina, Texas A&M, Clemson, Georgia, Auburn and Temple showed interest in April.
CLASS OF 2011
Mike Gilchrist (6-7 WF 2011/Team Final/Elizabeth, N.J., St. Patrick) - Scored team-high 24 points in win over Michigan Hurricanes. Struggled from the line and could have powered through for dunks on some close finishes but did majority of work on the interior with spin moves and overpowering with size and quickness to finish at the rim. Elite talent is top five-talent nationally in class.
LaQuinton Ross (6-9 WF 2011/MBA Elite/Jackson, Miss., Murrah) – Scored 23 points in comeback attempt but fell to Carolina Cobras. First tournament since a Level-3 ankle sprain that’s had him out for a month. He’s smooth as they come, almost too smooth at times, but did show some noticeable reluctance to explode and defend with more energy that’s been seen from him in the past. Duke, North Carolina State, Memphis, Kentucky, Georgetown, Southern Mississippi and most of the entire SEC all made trips to school in April. A top national target and one of best overall in the rising junior class.
Dezmine Wells (6-5 CG 2011/CP3 All Stars/Raleigh, N.C., Word of God) – Scored 10 points in close game that eventually blew open late to be a 20-point win over Colorado Chaos. A horse inside with his offensive rebounding efforts, finished through contact underneath and in transition, and a great demeanor from an underclassman with his encouragement of teammates to ignite late rally. Backyard target for entire ACC and Villanova also with early interest.
Myck Kabongo (6-2 PG 2011/Grassroots Canada/Newark, N.J., St. Benedict’s) – Scored 15 points in team’s win over Team Truth of Georgia. Got by quick, smaller defenders and showed real control with his left-hand drives. Defensively came up with a number of deflections that led to run outs. One of best at position in class is committed to Texas.
Angelo Chol (6-9 PF-C 2011/So-Cal All Stars/San Diego, Calif., Hoover) – Scored 3 points battling foul trouble in a mercy rule loss to Gaters Blue of North Carolina. Big early deficit affected his and his team’s ability to execute, finish shots around the hoop and rebounding efforts. One of the top early recruiting targets on the West Coast among frontcourt players.
