September 18-19 – Houston, TX
Darnell “Tate” Johnson
It was great to finally see Coach Lucas bring back his elite high school camp. There was a lot of Division 1 talent in the building and few that will have a chance to walk that NBA stage. The guard play was excellent and the kids competed. Listed below are a few kids that stood out to me.
2023 Brandon Williams 6’8 F (Christ the King) Queens, NY He played like a monster all weekend. He was one of the most physical and skilled players in the camp. He was excellent going off the dribble and attacking the rim off the bounce. He was outstanding stroking it from deep. He was aggressive on the boards on both ends. He definitely made a statement.
2023 Brandon White 6’10 C (Winston Salem Christian) Winston Salem, NC The young big fella has the talent to be one of the Best Big men in the class…hands down. He has great size, agile on his feet and has a very good touch around the basket. I really like his footwork in the post to create scoring opportunities in the paint. Has the goods but seems to make excuses when things aren’t going his way. Too talented for that, but hopefully that change will come through maturity.
2023 Jaland Lowe 6’2 PG (Ft Bend Marshall HS) Houston, TX This young man’s game has grown in leaps and bounds since my last sighting. He always had a high IQ for the game, but now he has elevated his aggression and his skill set is outstanding. He’s a crafty lefty with a sweet stroke, when left open he’s deadly from deep. He’s a floor general that gets everyone involved and has a uncanny way of getting to the basket and scoring. High majors need to take notice.
2023 Tristan Gross 6’5 G (St. Petersburg HS) St Petersburg, FL I talked to Tristan before the camp and he said he was on a mission. He played with lots of confidence and focus. Known as a deep ball threat, Gross has added the mid-range pull-up while utilizing his shooting ability to get to the cup and finish through contact. With all that being said, the thing that impressed me most was his play on the defensive end. He stayed connected to ball man principles and communicated to his teammates.
2023 Wesley Tubbs 6’7 G/F (Northside Christian) Charlotte, NC From drills to game play I really loved the energy he brought all camp. He filled the lane like a greyhound and finish above the rim quite a few times with authority, while knocking down the open three. His teammates fed off his energy and loved playing with him. High ceiling.
2023 Carlton Carrington 6’4 G (St Frances Academy) Baltimore, MD I haven’t seen many guards in his class play with the pace and IQ this young man plays with. He see’s the whole court and never gets rattled under pressure. This kid can get you buckets after buckets but making the right play and getting his teammates involved is his forte. He’s a very unselfish and to be real if I had one knock is at times I felt he was to unselfish. I can truly say the skies the limit for this young man.
2024 TreJohnson 6’6 G (Lake Highlands High) Garland, TX This was my first time getting a good look at the young man and guess what? He didn’t disappoint. He’s athletic and physical and plays down hill but has a nice stroke from deep and will pull up from mid-range. This young man has a tremendous upside.
2023 Blue Cain 6’4 G (Knoxville Catholic High) Knoxville, TN He has a offer from Tennessee see but I see more high major offers in the future. He plays with a chip and stays in attack mode. He’s tough getting to the basket and has bounce to finish upstairs in traffic. He’s a true combo guard who can beat you dropping 10 dimes or go for 40 points, how do you want it?
2024 Khani Rooths 6’7 G/F (Georgetown Prep) Washington, DC This was my first time laying eyes on the young fella and I was highly impressed. He’s your prototype 6’7 WF that can handle the ball , get in the lane and finish with authority at the rim. He has a real nice midrange game as well and plays with good poise for his age.
2023 Jacolb Cole 6’8 F (Bellaire High) Houston, TX I’m really impressed with how his game has developed. He has worked on his body, resulting in his energetic play. He’s physical, aggressive around the basket and showed the work he’s put into his handle. There’s no questioning his upside.
2023 Michael Willams III 6’4 G (Calvert Hall) Baltimore, MD He stayed on attack the whole weekend. He played like a young man with an attitude and something to prove. He was aggressive and kept the defense on their heels. He showed craftiness in the lane, finishing in a variety of ways. He got in a zone a few times finding the range from deep.Not just offensive mentioned his aggression extended to the defensive end.
2023 Gavin Atdelotte 6’10 C (The Benjamin School) Jensen Beach, FL This big man passed the look test and had the game to back it up. He is physical and very athletic for his size, has decent footwork and played with an outstanding motor. He was very active on the defensive end and lived on the glass.
2023 Hudson Norton 6’2 G (Trinity Lutheran) Cincinnatti, OH He was tagged as a shooter from Ohio pre-camp evaluations and he confirmed that, but he also attacks the basket and is a tough, hard-nosed defender. I really liked how he competed all weekend.
2023 Babacar Mbengue 7’0 C (Olympus Prep) Carney’s Point, NJ The big fella has a lot of work in front of him as an offensive threat but with his willingness to work I see him showing improvement in the area. In the meantime, he’s a high-motor, physical big who boards on both ends and seems to contest every shot. He really impressed me with his work ethic.
2022 Luke Johnson 6’8 F (Central Catholic High) Portland, OR This young man is just getting on the national scene and I think he would be a steal for some D1 programs. He’s a pure shooter and will surprise you with his sneaky athleticism. Played as a straight post early in his career allows him to get in the paint to bang and board.
2025 Shon Abaev 6’4 G (Miami Country School) Coral Springs, FL He just continues to impress with his outside shooting. With his step up in class, his production didn’t change. I haven’t seen a better contested shooter in his class. If left open, you can almost count it as good money.
2022 Wesley Yates 6’4 G (Beaumont United) Beaumont, TX He has a great body and knows how to use it. He’s a physical combo guard that plays better at the two. He’s explosive off the dribble and fills the lane with passion. His jumper can be streaky, but when it’s on he’s almost impossible to guard. What most impressed was his intensity on defense.
2023 Andrew McKeever 6’11 C (Granada High) Livermore, CA Big country doesn’t pass the look test but he balled all camp. He was light on his feet, has good moves in the post and a soft jump-shot. He surprised me with how well he ran the floor. Like most kids, picking the right school will impact his ability to be successful on the college level.
2024 Aaron Powell 5’10 PG (Barnhart School) Altadena, CA He’s a heady and under control point guard, with poise of a senior, that consistently makes the right decisions. He can give it you in an uptempo setting or half court set without skipping a beat. He has a nice stroke from outside and knows how to navigate in the lane through traffic. Getting stronger is his next goal.
2023 Mason Hanback 7’0 C (Tennessee Prep) Memphis, TN He’s a very under the radar big man who was one of the most physical and active big men in camp. He impressed me with his effort and skill around the basket and his effort running the floor was outstanding. He showed decent touch from 15-feet in. He’s reclassified to 2023 so I expect his recruitment to pick up.
Other players that stood out:
2023 Tyler Ringgold 6’7 WF (Southern University Lab School) Baton Rouge, LA He’s athletic and loves to attack basket. He finishes above rim. Excellent athlete.
2023 Jaylen Smith 5’9 PG (Edgewater High) Ocoee, FL Lefty, physical, complete PG. Good IQ and nice range.
2023 James Lerner 5’11 PG (Maret School) Washington, DC He’s a real heady, not flashy PG. He knows how to play.
2023 Jayden Spillman-Martin 6’9 F (Calvary Day School) Mocksville, NC He’s long with a real smooth game. He’s very skilled.
2023 AJ Johnson 6’5 G (Taft Charter High) Woodland Hills, CA Has a smooth game. Good upside.
2024 Nathaniel Law 6’3 G (St Thomas Episcopal) Houston, TX Has a little flair. Good stroke, nice vision.
2024 Nasir Mohammed 6’5 F (Myers Park High) Charlotte, NC Good size. Real solid. Good range.
2023 Paris Johnson 6’5 G (Kell High) Atlanta, Ga Game keeps getting better. Games becoming complete.
2024 Zoom Diallo 6’4 G (Curtis High) Tacoma, WA Good size. Impressive guard skills. He plays strong
2023 Chase Dawson 5’11 PG (Cary Academy) Durham, NC Jet quick, boucey, good court vision, competes big time.
2023 DJ Delancy 6’4 G (Sommerset Academy) Pembroke Pines, FL Camp veteran. Knows the game. A strong, physical CG.
2023 Sarmartine Bogues 5’5 PG (Calvert Hall) Baltimore, MD Most intense and energized player all weekend.
2024 Luke Bamgboye 6’9 C (St Francis Academy) Baltimore, MD Long energy guy that competes. Tremendous upside
2023 Q Murphy 6′ PG (Calabasas High) Calabasas, CA Excellent shooter, ice in his veins and good IQ.
2024 Dennis Scott III 6’9 F (Mount Vernon High) Atlanta, GA Deadly shooter from deep. He knows how to get his shot off. When he tones up, game will take off.
2025 Eian Lowe 5’2 PG (The Kincaid School) Missouri City, TX Youngest in the camp and showed he belonged.
2024 Ojani Bowen 5’10 G (TMI Episcopal) San Antonio, TX He’s very active. He has good skill work, good IQ.
2024 Isaiah Williams 5’10 G(Calvert Hall) Baltimore, MD He’s a good strong, quick young PG.
2024 Jahvin Carter 6’2 G (Alcoa High) Alcoa, TN One of best shooters in camp. Big shots in 3-on-3.
2025 Treyvon Maddox 6′5 G (White Knoll High) West Columbia, SC He’s long bouncy, runs the floor and must get stronger.
2024 Caelum Harris 6’6 F (Stewart’s Creek High) LaVergne, TN He’s big, physical and skilled but not very athletic.
2023 Mouhamed Dioubate 6’7 F (Putnam Science) Queens, NY He’s a physical goon that’s very aggressive on offense but needs to step up on D.
2024 Isaiah Brooks 6’6 F (Klein HS) Spring, TX He’s young physical, bouncy and good post skills.