Favors Highlights a Southern Crew Deep on Talent at the 2006 Pangos All-South Frosh/Soph Camp
by Dinos Trigonis & Patrick Stanwood
The inaugural Pangos All-South Frosh/Soph Camp debuted at Norcross HS (Norcross GA) this past weekend (October 14-15), featuring 80-plus top 2009 and 2010 players from Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Kentucky and Arkansas and it became very obvious that the region (especially the Peach state) has a deep group of talented young players. 6’9” super soph Derrick Favors headlined a rich pool of prospects that served notice that the South will be an area of paramount interest to college coaches in upcoming years. The camp began with a terrific dynamic agility workout presented by Sean Jones (R U Ready Sports) and continued with an excellent instructional skill session conducted by Motlow State (TN) Community College head coach (and former UC-Davis assistant) Bobby Steinberg and Hillwood HS (Nashville TN) head coach Kris Hooper.
Media/scouts present included event director Dinos Trigonis (Fullcourt Press & Hoop Scoop), Rob Harrington (Prep Stars), Patrick Stanwood (Hoop Scoop), Horace Neysmith (Hoop Scoop), Spencer Pulliam (Generation Next), Larry Williams (4 Shot Hoops), Will Harris (Videosportsscout.com), Aaron Butcher (Studentathlete.org), Alonzo Weatherby (Reebok), James Houston (Georgia Elite Magazine) and Tyrone Riley (All Metro Sports). Also present watching were McDonald’s All-American candidate 6’9” JJ Hickson (who just recently announced a commitment to NC State) and 6’7” soph Richard Howell who was unable to play due to injury but was kind enough to help out with the scorekeeping and cheer his classmates on.
The Top 20 “Cream of the Crop Game” was a see-saw affair and went down to the absolute wire as 6’3” soph Leslie McDonald (Briarcrest/Memphis TN) grabbed an offensive rebound off a missed free throw by Favors with 2.7 seconds remaining and calmly nailed the front end of his free-throw attempt to give his Black Squad a very narrow 107-106 win over the White Squad.
Players that were selected to the two all-star games include the following (listed by numerical jersey order):
Top 22 Cream of the Crop Game
0 Denzail Jones 5'8" So. Norcross (Norcross GA)
Quick guard is an exceptional shooter that also loves to apply tremendous defensive pressure. Jones will be the 6th man on a nationally ranked Norcross squad this season that includes bona-fide senior All-Americans 6’8” Gani Lawal (Georgia Tech-bound) and 6’5” Tony Neysmith (verbal to Oklahoma).
10 Phillip Taylor 5’9” Fr. Wheeler (Marietta GA)
Small, but crafty point has great confidence and a personality that earns the respect of teammates. Taylor has very nice ability to beat defenders off the dribble as well as hit the mid-range jumper.
16 Jamison Sterns 6’0 Fr. Waxahachie (Waxahachie TX)
Sterns is a burly and physical lead guard ala Oklahoma State point Byron Eaton, but with a ton more hops! This nationally elite freshman is an underrated defender and great competitor.
18 Bryant Strozier 6’0” So. Columbia (Lithonia GA)
Savvy lead guard loves to slice to the basket and competes well. Solid student too (3.0 GPA).
20 Trae Golden 6’2 Fr. McEachern (Powder Springs GA)
Very smooth perimeter operator can knock down outside shots with consistency. Excellent student (3.5 GPA) is a bull when he attacks the cup.
27 Brandon Reed 6'2" So. Whitfield Academy (Powder Springs GA)
Athletic wing guard is an excellent defender with ability to finish in transition. Reed performs well in the classroom too (3.4 GPA).
36 Lorenzo Brown 6’3” So. Centennial (Roswell GA)
Talented lead guard oozing with potential has a very nice all-around game. Brown (a bonafide Top 15 national soph prospect) is a extremely versatile player with ability to make big plays on both ends of the floor. Elite player has great future.
37 Glen Rice Jr. 6’3” So. Walton (Marietta GA)
Son of former NBA star Glen Rice Sr., has really improved over the last several months and was terrific here – at both ends of the court. Rice has the makings of being a formidable offensive machine as he showed ability to score from all areas in the half-court (including one very sick drive and dunk over a defender). Good student (3.2 GPA) is nowhere close to peaking physically and really got after it defensively.
39 Chad Jackson 6’3” Fr. Rosehill (Ashland KY)
Skilled point with nice size has solid handle and great upside.
42 Mfon Udofia 6'2" So. Miller Grove (Stone Mountain GA)
I absolutely love this kid’s heart, toughness and leadership qualities! Mfon has very nice scoring ability including the capacity to both hit perimeter shots and finish his athletic drives to the hoop. Udofia is a strong combo-guard that is an excellent defender. Definitely one to watch!
56 Mario Vasser 6'4" So. South Gwinnett (Snellville GA)
Scrappy wing-forward is a very athletic and effective slashing scorer who makes a living hanging around the basket. Solid student (3.0 GPA).
60 Leslie McDonald 6’4” So. Briarcrest (Memphis TN)
Watching McDonald play for the first time, it is no wonder that Prep Stars has this complete very guard listed as the #9 prospect in the class of 2009. Excellent student (3.5 GPA) has a textbook jump shot with range as well the ability to create his own shot. Great kid is extremely coachable!
64 Ari Stewart 6'6" So. Banneker (College Park GA)
Athletic jumping jack swingman has as much physical upside as anybody in Georgia!
67 Dakota Euton 6’6” Fr. Rosehill (Ashland KY)
Watching Euton play is like watching the ESPN Classic channel and catching a game featuring former Denver Nugget Dan Issel. While not exceptionally fleet of foot or acrobatic, Dakota still has the skills and basketball IQ to beat you in many different ways - whether it be knocking down outside shots (range to the three-point arc), finding the open man cutting to the basket for an easy score or getting great position to grab a rebound or make a defensive stop. Scored 15 points in top all-star game here.
80 Jeremy Olsen 6'9" So. Collins Hill (Atlanta GA)
Skilled post player has nice back-to-the-basket offensive capabilities. Solid rebounder and defender is a great student (4.0 GPA).
90 Derrick Favors 6’9” So. South Atlanta (Atlanta GA)
Potentially the best prospect out of Atlanta since Dwight Howard, Favors is a big and athletic post with an emerging skill set (showed a nice ability to push the ball in transition) and is a terrific kid with a great head on his shoulders. Favors was the unofficial MVP of the top all-star game as he scored 25 points and had double-digit rebounds but more importantly was a dominating factor on both ends of the court.
Favors (who is just 15 years old) has the upside to challenge both 6’9” Renardo Sydney (Artesia/Lakewood CA) and 6’9” DeMarcus Cousins (Birmingham AL) for #1 status in the Class of 2009.
92 Robert Chubb 6'9" So. McIntosh (Peachtree City GA)
Hardworking center with nice potential did a good job competing with Favors inside and displayed a ruggedness and work ethic that bodes well for future development.. Chubb is agile and has a nice touch around the basket. Very good student too (3.3 GPA).
93 Torin Walker 6'9" So. Northside (Columbus GA)
Good-looking athletic big man runs the floor well and is an excellent rebounder and defender. Walker has great potential and is definitely one to track in this class. Solid student (3.0 GPA).
260 Jelon Kendrick 6’5” Fr. New Creation GA Elite (Stockbridge GA)
Young swingman runs the floor well and is scrappy on the defensive end.
264 James Vincent 6'9" So. Northside (Columbus GA)
Physical power forward is a tough defender and outstanding rebounder. Vincent, along with teammate Torin Walker, gives Northside an imposing young Southern frontline.
268 Shun Thurmond 5’10” So. Winder Barrow (Statham GA)
Quick as lightning point is difficult to contain in the open court and has a nice perimeter stroke.
278 Jesse Voom 6’3” Fr. New Creation GA Elite (Stockbridge GA)
Promising wing is a Dutch import and a name we will be hearing about in coming years.
Top 44 Cream of the Crop Game
13 Alex Coxworth 5'11" So. Centennial (Roswell GA)
Excellent shooter has range on jump shot. Terrific student (3.5 GPA).
14 DeVonta’ White 5’9” Fr. Central Gwinnett (Lawrenceville GA)
Quick point can knock down shots and has nice ability to penetrate defenses.
15 Jacoby Davis Jr. 5'11” 8th Cedric James Martin MS (Charlotte NC)
Promising point showed poise and a solid handle. Very good student (3.58 GPA).
17 Chris Taylor 6’0” So. Central (Little Rock AR)
Athletic combo-guard attacks the basket with authority.
19 Daniel Parker 5’11” So. Battleground Academy (Brentwood TN)
Combo-guard has a sweet stroke and excellent academic credentials (3.89 GPA).
21 Kevon Jenkins 6'1 So. Gwinnett (Snellville GA)
Good student (3.3 GPA) is an excellent defender and capable ballhandler.
22 Jeff Jackson 5’11” So. Central (Little Rock AR)
Solid ballhandler and fine passer is a very good student too (3.38 GPA).
25 Jamar Simmons 6'1” Fr. Olympic (Charlotte NC)
Solid student (3.0 GPA) pressures the ball well and gets out quick on the break.
34 Nick Henry 5’10” So. Berkmar (Lilburn GA)
Solid ballhandler and defender.
35 Marcel Hawkins 6'3" So. Carver (Columbus GA)
Athletic wing is an outstanding defender who has ability to score in bunches.
50 Maliek Daniels 6’3” So. Shaw (Columbus GA)
Cousin of former Auburn star and NBA player Marquis Daniels is a promising wing player and an excellent student (3.9 GPA).
52 Isaiah Goldwire 6'4” Fr. East Mecklenburg (Charlotte NC)
Big-time frosh wing prospect has three-point range and the physical tools to be a defensive stopper.
53 Corey Davis 6'5” So. Hickory Grove (Charlotte NC)
Aggressive combo-forward runs floor well and is a nice offensive rebounder.
54 Manny Atkins 6’5” So. Tucker (Stone Mountain GA)
Two-sport star is an excellent athlete and a strong rebounder and defender.
55 Jordan Talbert 6’5” So. Central (Little Rock AR)
Long and lanky lefty has a nice skill package and the upside to develop into a sought-after D-I recruit.
63 Kameron Belin 6'6" Fr. Centennial (Roswell GA)
Undersized post is athletic but raw on the offensive end. Very good rebounder and defender.
65 Ariel Jones 6'6" So. Duluth (Duluth GA)
Athletic swingman runs floor well and can finish with regularity.
66 Johnny Williams 6’6” So. Memphis (Byhalia TN)
Chuck Hayes-type power forward is a physical rebounder who can finish down low.
70 Pierre Tyson 6'5" Fr. Luella (Locust Grove GA)
Good-looking wing is athletic with nice upside.
72 Andre Marhold 6'6” So. North Mecklenburg (Huntersville NC)
Athletic combo-forward is a tenacious defender and solid student (3.0 GPA).
75 Charles DeCosta 6’7” So. Southwest Atlanta Christian (Atlanta GA)
Agile forward has huge upside (wears size 18 shoe). Very active interior player is a good student too (3.3 GPA).
181 Jordan Callahan 5’9” So. Blessed Trinity (Marietta GA)
Good student (3.2 GPA) is a fine passer with nice court instincts.
190 Prince Kent 6’4” So. Norcross (Norcross GA)
Strong and athletic swingman is a rugged rebounder and aggressive defender.
193 Marquis Horne 6’4” So. Wheeler (Marietta, GA)
Long and athletic wing has nice handle and can get to the basket. Excellent defender and underrated shooter.
242 Devin Summerville 6’3” Fr. Chapel Hill (Douglasville, GA)
Very good student (3.4 GPA) is a slashing scorer.
First of a two-part article recapping the 2006 Pangos All-South Frosh/Soph Camp
This article is also available online at www.fullctpress.net
