PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Over 100 players were mixed into 12 teams at the Reebok All-American Camp and college coaches from across the country packed the stands evaluating the recruits whose play during the school year and spring time drew them invites for the event.
Two teams who matched up in the morning of the final day would play again later that night for the camp championship.
The camp’s breakout player, Ryan Rhoomes of Middletown, N.Y./Cardozo, helped turn things around in the rematch by leading his team to a 81-70 final win after losing the earlier matchup by 20-plus points.
Thirty players were also named all-stars by the camp staff, with the selections highlighted by Joe Jackson (Memphis, Tenn./White Station) and Patric Young (Jacksonville, Fla./Paxon School).
CLASS OF 2010
Ryan Rhoomes (6-8 PF/Middletown, N.Y./Cardozo) – This was the winner of the week with his play. Rhoomes is true to his position with his height, length and he’s filled out some. He’s willing to bang and gets off the floor with instincts to dunk the ball. Finishing with 18 points and near double-digit rebounds in the camp championship matched up against another New Yorker in 6-8 Sidiki Johnson, he gave him fits right from the start with three straight buckets and some offensive rebounds. A late addition to the camp when they needed big men, he left as a potential big addition for a college team.
Patric Young (6-9 PF/Jacksonville, Fla./Paxon) – In the best shape of any big man in camp, Young scored through players with his right hook and out-maneuvered them for rebounds. His touches were limited in the championship game with a lot of fast breaks and jump shots going up. Young vs. Rhoomes would have been the matchup to see but the two were on opposite groups of five. Still, he played to his reputation as one of the better big men in his class and potential All-American. Committed to Florida.
Stacey Poole Jr. (6-5 SG/Jacksonville, Fla./Andrew Jackson) – Poole was a unique perimeter player in camp with his solid build and length and he had the smarts to utilize it. He camped out in the post and drew fouls while also showing some spring when he darted up to the rim off two feet for a dunk. After a top three scoring average at NBA Camp, this was more of a shared effort with his summer teammates Young and Aaron Bowen.
JJ Moore (6-5 WF/Brentwood, N.Y.) – There were a lot of players walking wounded and Moore was no different, bothered by a tweaked back in the camp championship game that had his shots not dropping. His teammates picked him up en route to the title but he ended up missing the All-Star game thanks to the pain. He left an impression on coaches in games earlier in camp with his deep ball shooting and athleticism at the rim. His interest from schools can only expand this month as most were yet to see him in person until here.
Lenzelle Smith (6-2 CG/Zion, Ill./Benton) – It was in the middle of a game getting away from them but Smith seemed to be the only one on his team who had an idea of how to chip away. Aside from his backing down smaller players on the block and powering past others with his dribble from the perimeter, he called out mismatches for his team to feed to and defensively overplayed and trapped to try and force turnovers. Committed to Ohio State.
Walter Lemon (6-3 CG/Chicago, Ill./Fenger) – Blessed with a quick first step and good length, he got to the rim at will and led a comeback against what you could call Team Mississippi, a squad down to six guys on the final day with four being from the state. Lemon would go down himself, showing typical Chicago toughness when he was forced to the bench with a cut near his eye and thus ending his efforts toward helping gut out a win.
Jason Carter (6-7 PF/Richmond, Texas/Thurgood Marshall) – A true big body inside who brought physicality, Carter was playing hard for the coaches in the stands when he was matched up against another Texas prospect in Michael Cobbins. He contested a handful of shots in his first set of minutes along with showing a fluid step-through on a post-up basket. His motor was still charged for the second half where he was mainly relegated to putbacks and boards from trigger-happy guards firing off outside shots.
Michael Cobbins (6-9 PF/Amarillo, Texas/Palo Duro) – It was an ugly site to start the day when Cobbins and Carter were battling for a rebound and Cobbins came down awkwardly. A dislocated knee wasn’t a pretty site that made a lot of people turn away, but after 10 minutes on the floor and a ride to the hospital, Cobbins did have it popped back into place. His summer is cut short after coming off a good NBA Camp and few days here that got him an All-Star nod.
Joe Jackson (6-0 PG/Memphis, Tenn./White Station) – Coming in as highest profile player in camp, Jackson left with the same rep as he went for 34 points on the final day before leaving early to play with his AAU team in an event back home.
CLASS OF 2011
Sidiki Johnson (6-8 PF/Bronx, N.Y./St. Raymond) – The camp championship game saw him matchup with Rhoomes and it was a battle for position inside. Johnson hit the boards hard on misses from the outside and offensive rebounded his own misses, coming up with two straight on a possession that ended with him going to the line and knocking down both free throws.
File photo by David Steutel
Kori Babineaux, Folsom (Calif.)
Kori Babineaux (6-4 SG/Folsom, Calif.) – The shooter to stop in the championship game, he came out letting it fly and got the winners going with a pair from long range and a hanging jumper. Having built a 20-point lead in the second half, he helped maintain the edge with some deflections on defense that led to easy baskets.
Shabazz Napier (5-11 PG/Randolph, Mass./Lawrence Academy)- Ran the show for the second unit of the runner-ups and faced a rare matchup with someone quicker than him in 5-foot-6 Maurice Jones of Arthur Hill High School in Saginaw, Mich. They made each other work but Napier showed some nice stop-and-go moves, dropped in a pair of triples when the defense lost him in screen situations, and flashed some quick hands for a steal when isolated with Jones at the top of the key. His highlight of the final had to have been the drive and pass fake to the wing into a scoop lay-up.
Keaton Miles (6-6 WF/Dallas, Texas/Lincoln) – Showed off a little bit of everything and looked like the best player on the court in the final day’s morning session. A turn-around jumper, drive through traffic, and a defensive rebound leading to a coast-to-coast assist was an impressive personal run before the buzzer rang for substitutions.
Bobby Ray Parks (6-4 SG/Cordova, Tenn./St. George’s) – A look through the stat sheets from the week and his name was the one with a couple 20-point games next to it.
ALL-STAR SELECTIONS
Class of 2010
Tarik Black (6-8 PF/Memphis, Tenn./Ridgeway)
Michael Cobbins (6-9 PF/Amarillo, Texas/Palo Duro)
Dominique Carr (6-5 SF/Riverside, Calif./JW North)
Tony Chenault (6-2 PG/Philadelphia, Pa./Neumann-Goretti) *Committed to Wake Forest*
Devon Collier (6-8 PF/Jersey City, N.J./St. Anthony)
Jarrell Eddie (6-6 SF/Concord, N.C./Cannon) *Committed to Virginia Tech*
Fuquan Edwin (6-5 SG/Paterson, N.J./Catholic) *Committed to Seton Hall*
Tyrone Garland (6-1 PG/Philadelphia, Pa./John Bartram) *Committed to Virginia Tech*
Pe’Shon Howard (6-3 CG/Mouth of Wilson, Va./Oak Hill Academy)
Joe Jackson (6-0 PG/Memphis, Tenn./White Station)
Khyle Marshall (6-6 PF/Pembroke Pines, Fla./Flanagan)
JJ Moore (6-5 WF/Brentwood, N.Y.)
Jesse Morgan (6-4 SF/Philadelphia, Pa./Olney)
Dominic Morris (6-7 PF/Wynewood, Pa.)
Travis McKie (6-5 SF/Richmond, Va./Community) *Committed to Wake Forest*
Ashton Pankey (6-9 PF/Jersey City, N.J./St. Anthony)
Stacey Poole Jr. (6-5 SG/Jacksonville, Fla./Andrew Jackson)
Ryan Rhoomes (6-8 PF/Middletown, N.Y./Cardozo)
Lenzelle Smith (6-2 CG/Zion, Ill./Benton) *Committed to Ohio State*
Isaiah Sykes (6-5 SG/Redford, Mich./Finney)
Joel Wright (6-6 SF/Brooklyn, N.Y./Jefferson) *Committed to Fordham*
Patric Young (6-9 PF/Jacksonville, Fla./Paxon) *Committed to Florida*
Class of 2011
Devonta Abron (6-6 PF/Seagoville, Texas)
Tyler Adams (6-10 PF/Brandon, Miss.)
Korie Babineaux (6-4 SF/Folsom, Calif.)
Chris Coleman (6-9 C/Durham, N.C./Mount Zion) *Committed to Florida International*
Sterling Gibbs (6-1 PG/West Orange, N.J./Seton Hall Prep)
Jabarie Hinds (6-0 PG/Mount Vernon, N.Y.)
Myles Mack (6-0 PG/Paterson, N.J./Catholic)
LeBryan Nash (6-7 SF/Dallas, Texas/Lincoln)
Tyler Olander (6-9 SF/Worcester, Mass./E.O. Smith)
LaQuinton Ross (6-8 SF/Jackson, Miss./Murrah)
Deville Smith (5-11 PG/Jackson, Miss./Callaway)
Class of 2012
Kyle Anderson (6-7 SF/Paterson, N.J./Catholic)
Deion Jackson-Houston (6-0 PG/Duncanville, Tex.)