2011 Fullcourt Press Northern Exposure Camp Report
by Dinos Trigonis
(December 3, 2011)

 The 5th annual Fullcourt Press Northern Exposure Camp was held last month (November 5-6) at Rundle College High School in Calgary, Canada. This event featured an event record 120-plus players from Calgary and other areas of Alberta, Canada (including Edmonton) as well as players from British Columbia and Saskatchewan.  The camp was directed by John Hegwood (a former Gary IN native, University of San Francisco star and professional player now living in Calgary) and continued with several competitive rounds of games that showcased the talent present.  Calgary (with 1 million-plus residents) is one of North America’s most modern and diverse cities and there is a growing base of aspiring and developing players here and throughout Western Canada.

Recent NCAA players from this area of Canada include 6’9” James Johnson (Virginia), 7’2” Jordan Bachynski (Arizona State), 6’0” Ryan Wetherell (USC/Cal State Los Angeles), 6’8” Braeden Anderson (Fresno State/originally a Kansas signee), 6’11” Dallin Bachynski (Utah signee) and 6’1”  Vishal Banipal (Idaho State).  United States players that have attended this camp include 6’2” Devon Bookert (Florida State signee), 6’5” Kyle Bailey (Biola) and 6’4” Brett Bailey (Spokane WA/committed to University of San Diego).

Besides ourselves, other media and scouts present included Tariq and Elias Sbiet (Northpolehoops.com) and Bob Gottlieb (Branch West).

The camp’s top 40 players were selected by North Pole Hoops and I and were showcased in two “cream of the crop” games held at the conclusion of the event. In the Top 20 Game, it was Joe De Ciman (28 points) and John Hegwood Jr. (12 points) combining for 40 points to lead their Black team to an 80-73 win over the White squad.  In the Top 40 Game, Seun Olutogun (11 points) and Quinn Beaver(10 points/6 boards) sparked their White squad to a 67-55 victory over the Black team.

Listed below are six players that stood out above the rest:

John Hegwood Jr.                         6’4”     2012   Bishop Grandin (Calgary AB CAN)
Skilled and smooth combo-guard skills has continued to develop at a nice clip.  Dependable ballhandler with length also has a potent perimeter stroke that extends past the 3-point arc.  “LJ” has a fluid style of game that reminds me of Anthony Brown (Stanford).  The talent is there to project at least mid-major potential but this deceptively good athlete has a good chance to be recruited as high as the high-major level if he elects to attend prep school for a year starting in the Fall of 2012 (he is a year young for his grade). 

Although he had a solid but not spectacular effort in the Top 20 Game (scored 12 points) LJ was this camp’s most consistently productive player.

Joe De Ciman                                  6’4”     2012   Leboldus (Regina SK CAN)
Physical swingman is a strong and athletic slasher to the basket.   De Ciman scored a game high 28 points (along with 6 rebounds) in the Top 20 Game to garner Camp MOP honors.  Joe (a hawking defender) has improved his outside shot since we last saw him here a year ago (knocked down 3 “threes” in Top 20 Game) and if he can continue to connect from beyond the arc on a consistent basis, I believe that he can contribute at the mid-major plus level.

Dave Morrison 5'9" 2012 Bishop McNally (Calgary AB CAN)
 Undersized but strong point guard has plenty of court savvy and his ability to beat defenders off the dribble with regularity was evident all camp long. “DJ” capped a strong camp with a 12 point/7 board/5 assist performance in the Top 20 Game earning him co-MVP honors (along with Kevin Ndahiro) for his White squad. Morrison also has 3-point range but it is his leadership and toughness that are intangibles worth noting.

Emmett Cook                                  6’5”     2013   Winston Churchill (Calgary AB CAN)
Cook was one of this camp’s most pleasant revelations.  Athletic wing can elevate in transition and also displayed an accurate perimeter shot that was at times red hot (hit 5 straight “threes” in one camp game).  Quick release on jump shot allows him to get his shot off in traffic or under duress.  Cook has excellent agility and his speed in the open court was impressive.  Emmett is a sleeper in the 2013 class and worth monitoring for mid-major programs on up.

Kevin Ndahiro                                 6’7”     2014   Archbishop O’Leary (Edmonton AB CAN)Promising young and athletic hybrid forward is an Ottowa, Ontario transplant that moved to Edmonton recently.  Kevin needs to improve his motor but the physical tools are present to make him a Western Canada prospect worth tracking.  Ndahiro played well in the Top 20 Game – producing a double-double (16 points/10 boards) and being named co-MVP of the White squad in the process.  Kevin has mid-high major potential and North Pole Hoops currently rates him as a Top 20 member of his 2014 class in Canada.     

Other Top 20 Game players worth highlighting include (in alphabetical order):

Mark Fernandes                             5’10”  2012   Bishop McNally (Calgary AB CAN)
Good three-point shooter (had two “threes” in the Top 20 Game).

Denver Foote                                  6’0”     2014   Western Canada (Calgary AB CAN)
Athletic combo-guard defends well and is an effective slashing scorer.  Denver is an underrated passer too (handed out 3 assists in the Top 25 Game).

Raymond Goff                                 6’5”     2012   Foothills (Okotoks AB CAN)
Combo-forward can score on the block but needs to extend the range on his perimeter shot.

Lucas Hesse                                   6’2”     2013   Bishop McNally (Calgary AB CAN)
Off-guard has solid “catch and shoot” ability.

Adonis Monfort-Palomino            5’8”     2014   Winston Churchill (Calgary AB CAN)
Quick playmaker creates well for others and pushes rock well in transition.

Terrell Murdaugh 5’9” 2012 Dalmeny (Dalmeny SK CAN)
Solid floor-general makes sound decisions and handles defensive pressure well.

OJ Ojullo 6’7” 2013 Father Lacombe (Calgary AB CAN)
Long post-forward is athletic but raw. OJ impressed me with his shotblocking and rebounding ability here (collected 10 boards in Top 20 Game).

Deiter Posein 6’8” 2012 Bishop Grandin (Calgary AB CAN)
Hard-working PF was active all camp long and his 15 point effort in the Top 20 Game proved that he could finish in the paint.