CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – By Memorial Day weekend, the outgoing senior prospects are almost entirely signed, sealed and delivered.
That brings the focus to the rising seniors and underclassmen taking over of the high school hoops stage.
Two big-time scoring guards who share the same hometown took their shots and fired away this weekend against top national competition at the Tournament of Champions on the campus of the University of North Carolina.
Following their efforts at the TOC, hearing from annual national championship contenders is certain to help the push through the long offseason – that long offseason that allows players to work on their game daily, play against the country’s best on the weekends and do it in front of some of the top college programs. Not that much of a drag if you think of it that way.
For the breakout talent of the tournament, Chris Jones capitalized and left with Duke University wanting the scoop on him while already-established backcourt stud Joe Jackson may have come into the weekend with some extra bounce knowing UCLA is looking to toss its name into the mix for him.
Jones had a breakout run of big games at the TOC very similar to the performance of another sub-six-foot scoring point guard last summer.
The 2011 prospect from Memphis, Tenn., Melrose may just be this year’s Ray Penn.
Penn, who starred at Travis High School of Richmond, Texas, signed with Oklahoma State after going from national unknown to hot name on major programs’ watch lists after leading all scorers at the Reebok Summer Championships last July.
After dropping in 33.6 points per game at the TOC, Jones' coach James Harrell of the Memphis Stallions reports that the Duke staff made contact and is looking forward to watching game film of him.
Jones’ high school coach Jermaine Johnson said in a MaxPreps report earlier today that he also had previous interest from Alabama, Marquette, Memphis and Missouri.
Another Memphis scoring point who’s proved to be one of the nation’s best at his position also has new interest from a national power.
Joe Jackson of White Station High School is being recruited by Memphis, Tennessee, Kentucky, Kansas, Ohio State, Duke, Arkansas, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Georgia Tech, Missouri, Marquette, and you can add a West Coast national power to that list.
UCLA has been "calling like crazy" recently according to his summer coach Eric Robinson of the Memphis Magic.
Jackson was the TOC’s fifth-leading scorer, averaging 24.8 points per game.
MORE FROM THE TOC
- Stacy Poole had a big 20-point second half in the consolation bracket semifinals to push the Jacksonville Lee Bulls into the championship. Winning a 38-17 cringer, Poole and teammate Patric Young led the slow charge to the title win.
Young is committed to Florida while Poole has a range of SEC, ACC and Big East interest with specific mention of Florida, Florida State, Miami, Marquette, West Virginia, Virginia, Indiana, Xavier, Oklahoma and Missouri.
Dezmine Wells, Word of God (Raleigh, N.C.)/CP3 All-Stars
Photo by Jim Redman
- The North Carolina-based CP3 All-Stars have top talent with major interest in rising seniors Reggie Bullock of Kinston (North Carolina commit) and Melvin Tabb (Wake Forest commit) of Raleigh’s Enloe, along with known underclassmen in P.J. Hairston of Greensboro’s Dudley and Dezmine Wells of Raleigh’s Word of God.
Fellow starters Emmanuel Chapman of Raleigh’s Enloe and Jay Canty of Greensboro’s Ragsdale helped gear their runner-up finish in the event’s national bracket playoffs and are also going through the recruiting process this summer.
Chapman’s recruitment currently ranges from Albany State, Elon and Jacksonville to Virginia Tech, Virginia and Miami.
Canty was once committed to High Point and is looking to be evaluated during the July live period after having opened his recruitment up to new suitors.
- The Mississippi-based Jackson Tigers made a deep run with big wins over the Memphis Magic and Grassroots Canada before bowing out to the eventual champions Team Final.
A pair of young beasts anchored the frontline and look like two top posts in the 2011 class.
Tyler Adams of Brandon High School is being targeted by nearly everybody in the SEC with Wake Forest, Memphis and Florida also noted.
Johnny O’Bryant of Cleveland’s Eastside is another prime SEC backyard target with Oklahoma making some early headway.
