Spring Preview Camp Top Performers Part I
Another Spring Preview camp is in the books and I think this one topped last year. We had some of the top available seniors and younger prospects in the gym for this one. I got a chance to see some familiar and new faces that earned their way on to my radar. Here is the first batch of the top overall performers.
What is not to like about this kid from a PG position? In my opinion he was the top PG in attendance at the camp and he played better each game. For starters, he takes care of the ball which is one of the main traits people want to see at the position. Hampton plays at a really good pace and does not let defenders dictate his tempo. The way he gets the ball up the floor in a hurry is one of my favorite aspects of his game. He is constantly looking up looking to push the ball up by passing the ball rather than dribbling. He excelled in the PnR game with a few of his teammates and his 3-point shot looked really good; a good number of them hardly touched the net. m
"You must have watched Lebron last night?" is what the opposing coach asked Hendricks after his first game. At 6-foot-6, Hendricks has a strong, sturdy frame that he utilized to punish opponents in the paint. There were a lot of possessions where he would catch the ball in the short corner and go up straight off two feet for a powerful slam. The two sport athlete is very fluid which you do not always see out of super physical players. He also showed his ability to step out and knock down shots from behind the arc as well.
From the first play of the game, Mathis made his presence known. He hit his defender with a quick snatch back into a step back three that went straight through the net. From then on he continued to show his scoring prowess. 3-pointers, midrange, attacking the rim, you name it. Wherever he wanted to go, he got there and scored it. Not only was he one of the top scorers at the camp, but he was one of the top defenders, too. He played with that same high activity level on both ends which resulted in steals and even more offense for him. I enjoyed watching the passion he brought to the floor.
Chaydon is typically on our top performers list in just about every event we are fortunate to have him at. He is one of the most consistent scoring guards that I have seen in the state and it usually seems to come fairly easy to him. Stone is not the fastest or most explosive guards, but he moves with a purpose and with tactic. There are hardly any wasted dribbles and once he identifies his spots, he gets to them quickly. The way he navigates through the defense is a sight to see.
I got my first chance to see the star freshman at our Elite Preview Camp back in October. I think he may have grown even more since then. The 6-foot-8 Wilson is incredibly fun to watch due to his polished skill set. He uses his long, lanky frame to get up the court in just a few dribbles. When inside the paint, he is an immediate threat to catch a lob or go up for a quick put back. Out on the perimeter, he is comfortable breaking defenders down off the dribble and knocking down threes. Wilson looked really good in the midrange area today where he used his footwork and size advantage to rise up over defenders. Defensively, he has all of the tools to be an elite rim protector.
Freshly removed from leading Rockdale to a few playoff wins, Witter came in making an impact right away. He is a quick twitch athlete that is most effective when he is being active around the rim. He used his athleticism to his advantage throughout the day, attacking time rim, crashing the offensive boards, and jumping the passing lanes. Witter is dangerous in the open floor due to his leaping ability and good decision making. I'd say he was one of the top two way players at the event.