Fullcourt Press Focus: Las Vegas By Dinos Trigonis (June 27, 2007) While Las Vegas is a common destination for coaches to observe players during events being held during contact periods in Sin City every year, the area of Las Vegas itself is very underrated and undervalued when it come to college basketball recruiting.  The Fullcourt Press is the only outside media outlet that goes into Sin City twice a year (fall & spring) to focus on the area’s top prospects.  One such recent occasion, the 2007 Fullcourt Press Las Vegas Spring Showcase was held earlier this spring on (Monday March 26th) at Bishop Gorman HS (Las Vegas NV).  On hand this year were scouts like Dinos Trigonis (Fullcourt Press), Gerry Freitas (Hoop Review), Etop Udo-Ema

(Fullcourt Press & Hoopmasters) and Chris Cook (Nevada Prep Report & Hoop 101) as well as Bob Gottlieb (Branch West Recruiting Assistance Service).  Here we focus on several of Vegas’ top prospects. Class of 2007  Henry Thorns Jr.     5’10”  Valley (Las Vegas NV) Very quick point that can really stroke the perimeter shot has been a long-time Vegas favorite of the Fullcourt Press.  The BJ Armstrong-type PG parlayed a great April into a signed letter of intent with Seth Greenberg’s Virginia Tech squad after receiving overtures from others like Kentucky, Virginia and Old Dominion.   Heiden Ratner     5’11”  Silverado (Las Vegas NV) Solid PG has plenty of poise running the show and has real ability to know down jump shots.  Signed with James Madison.   Dana Kendrid     6’4”     Las Vegas NV/Edison Prep NJ Randy Moss-type athlete can really elevate above the rim and is a terrific defender. Streaky shooter is on the verge of qualifying (final paperwork now at NCAA Clearinghouse) and could be a valuable 11th hour summer recruit.  Iowa and Long Beach State showing interest. Billy White     6’6”     Green Valley (Henderson NV) Long and athletic lefty is a Top 100 prospect that should be a future asset for Steve Fisher’s San Diego State Aztecs.

Donte Poole     6’2”     Mojave (North Las Vegas NV) Quick combo-guard has both a scorer’s mentality and touch.  Very underrated defender signed late with Colorado State.   Michael Loyd      6’2”     Palo Verde (Las Vegas NV) Slithering combo-guard is great off the dribble.  Signed with BYU.   Greg McWilliams     6’8”     Canyon Springs (Las Vegas NV) Raw big is very agile and has nice upside.   Chris James     6’1”     Cimmaron (Las Vegas NV) Strong combo-guard is a streaky scorer with D-I potential. Tommie Sanders     5’10”  Canyon Springs (Las Vegas NV) Quick point is hard to contain in the open court.   Trent Johnson     6’7”     Centennial (North Las Vegas NV) Scrappy post likes to bang in the paint.   Steve McCall     5’10”  Faith Lutheran (Las Vegas NV)  Solid PG plays hard on both ends.

Class of 2008 Darian Norris     6’0”     Mojave (North Las Vegas NV) Quick floor-leader led his team to state finals this past season – losing to Luke Babbitt’s Galena (Reno NV) squad.   Very good on-ball defender is equally adept knocking down perimeter shots as he is beating defenders off the dribble.  Mike Elliott     6’0”     El Dorado (Las Vegas NV) Excellent defender is another undervalued Vegas guard prospect that is a dependable ballhandler and fine passer.  Transferred to El Dorado from Canyon Springs (Las Vegas NV) late this spring.   Cal State Northridge and Seattle University are among the wise schools that have already offered this Pangos All-American Camp invitee.   Quinton (Q) Dailey     6’3”     Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas NV) Very improved wing guard has had a very successful spring period.  At the Arizona Cactus Classic, “Q” scored 30-plus points versus Belmont Shore while playing for the Bay Area Hoosiers.  Invited to the Pangos All-American Camp where his excellent play was taken notice by the scouts present and was selected to the Top 20 “Cream of the Crop” Game.  Father (of same name) was a USF star and NBA player. Kevin Loyd     5’9”     Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas NV) Small but very productive playmaker has a dangerous three-point stroke.  Very good ballhandler and defender is an attractive mid-major PG prospect. Raveon Samuel     6’5”     Canyon Springs (Las Vegas NV)  Strong and athletic wing forward is a high-flyer and very intriguing 2008 prospect.  Great upside!

Curtis Malone     6’4”      El Dorado (Las Vegas NV) Crafty wing has a somewhat unorthodox game, but can really score.   James Dean     6’3”      Centennial (Las Vegas NV)/Hargrave Academy (VA) Very improved wing is an awesome student (4.75 GPA) who is attracting serious Ivy and Patriot League attention.  Dean will transfer to Hargrave Military Academy (Chatham VA) for senior season Tenacious Gibson     6’2”      Spring Valley (Las Vegas NV) Active defender has nice ability to work the offensive baseline for scoring opportunities.   Juron Criner     6’4”      Canyon Springs (Las Vegas NV) Underrated wing has a strong physique and has shown the ability to be a double figure scorer.   Ronnie Norsworthy     6’7”      Spring Valley (Las Vegas NV)   Athletic post is an effective slashing scorer who works hard rebounding and defending.   Jason Walter     6’3”      Spring Valley (Las Vegas NV) Agile wing has a nice bounce in his step and can really stroke the rock.   Gerald Pitts      6’2”      Spring Valley (Las Vegas NV) Athletic wing is a very good slashing scorer who missed his entire junior season due to a HS eligibility dispute.  Durango HS transfer is one of Vegas’ most underrated players.

Deremy Geiger     5’9”      Canyon Springs (Las Vegas NV) Very quick point has nice ability to beat defenders off the dribble and is a pesky defender.  Reportedly has committed to Utah State.   Jordan Hill     6’4”      Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas NV) Hill was injured at the time of our spring showcase, but we have seen him enough to know that Hill is an agile wing with a big-time body who competes every time out.   Cody Aughney     6’5”      Green Valley (Henderson NV) Big wing has a consistent stroke from the 3-point stripe.   Sandro Maric     6’4”      Durango (Las Vegas NV) Very good shooter has a nice basketball IQ.   Eric Lieder     5’9”      Cheyenne (North Las Vegas NV) Very good student has a rock-solid handle.   Ben Green     6’5”      Foothill (Henderson NV) We have not seen this very good student as much as some of the others on this list, but we do know that Ben has a very good perimeter stroke.   James Jackson     6’2”      Sierra Vista (Las Vegas NV) Off-guard has nice ability to beat defenders off the dribble.   Devonte Christopher     6’1”      Canyon Springs (Las Vegas NV) Solid defender plays hard at both ends.   Ricky Henry     6’5”      Cheyenne (North Las Vegas NV) Athletic combo-forward is a force on the glass.

Other 2008 players that participated include 5’10” DeMario Harris (Cheyenne/North Las Vegas NV), 6’3” D’Shanta Styles (Basic /Henderson NV), 6’1” Kimani Bullard (Desert Pines/Las Vegas NV) and 6’2” John McCoy (Legacy/Las Vegas NV). Class of 2009 Anthony Marshall     6’2”      Mojave (North Las Vegas NV) Savvy and athletic combo-guard has much promise and is Las Vegas’ #1 2009 prospect.   I have seen this area’s class as much any outsider and there is no doubt in my mind that Marshall, not 6’2” Elijah Johnson (Cheyenne/North Las Vegas NV) is the top dog in Sin City’s Class of 2009. Elijah Johnson     6’2”      Cheyenne (North Las Vegas NV) Johnson has received a lot of hype nationally, but it is premature to project him as an elite point guard.  While possessing many impressive physical tools, Johnson has yet to demonstrate that he can run a team or make teammates better.  The hype may be justified down the road, but he is presently an athletic wing that can elevate near the rim that has the potential to develop into a very nice combo-guard – not the point many are predicting.   Kylel Coleman     6’0”      Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas NV) Athletic pogo stick reminds me of former undersized UCLA off-guard Montel Hatcher…..…for those old enough to remember – rewind to the 1980’s.   Antonio Snow     6’1”      Canyon Springs (Las Vegas NV) Athletic combo-guard can score utilizing a variety of moves and is a credible on-ball defender.  Excellent D-I potential.

Milos Knezevic      6’7”     Liberty (Henderson NV) Skilled forward has nice offensive face-up skills.   Good student.   Reggie Shaw     6’3”     Cheyenne (North Las Vegas NV) Sleek athlete is an impressive slashing scorer and underrated defender Melvin Washington     6’7”      Western (Las Vegas NV) Raw and improving post forward is one to keep an eye on.   Tommy Tebbs     6’0”      Coronado (Henderson NV) Skilled combo-guard has a text-book perimeter jump shot.  Good football player too.   Taylor Jantz     6’7”      Faith Lutheran (Las Vegas NV) Skilled forward has intriguing long-term potential.  One to track.   Kris Bennett     6’7”      Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas NV) Hard-working big man runs floor well and gets the job done on the defensive glass. Kevin James     6’5”     Mojave (North Las Vegas NV) Big wing is a legitimate scorer who does so very often via slashing drives to the cup. Jamel Morgan       6’6” Coronado (Henderson NV) Good-looking post rebounds well and can score on the block James Holmes     6’6”      Basic (Henderson NV) Athletic forward rebounds well and is a West Coast sleeper in this class.

Czar Robotham     5’9”      Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas NV) Excellent shooter is small but a real threat when he gets an open look.   Vince Postell     5’7”      Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas NV) Quick point handles defensive pressure well.   Other notable 2009 players include 5’9” Johnquez Banks (Valley/Las Vegas NV), 5’10” Kevin McCabe (Bishop Gorman/Las Vegas NV), 6’0” Johnny Diggs (Western/Las Vegas NV), 6’0” Demetric Williams (Cheyenne/North Las Vegas NV), 6’1” Recee Kendrid (Spring Valley (Las Vegas NV), 6’0” Nick Mathews (Mojave/North Las Vegas NV) and 6’2” Marcus Moreland (El Dorado/Las Vegas NV). Class of 2010 Moses Morgan     6’3”      Palo Verde (Las Vegas NV) Great looking wing prospect is athletic and has very nice all-around skills.  Father Winston Morgan played at Indiana.  High-major potential.   Jonathan Lloyd     5’7”      Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas NV) Nasty playmaker is a pest on the defensive end and is very difficult to control when he has his paws on the rock.  Outstanding competitor has high-major potential if he gets anywhere near 6’0”.  Younger brother of Kevin and BYU signee Michael.   Christopher Perry     6’3”      Desert Pines (Las Vegas NV) Athletic wing is a nice slashing scorer.  Another young Vegas prospect with huge upside.

Jaylen Henry                6’5”      Cheyenne (North Las Vegas NV) Strong forward is an excellent defender and effective rebounder and defender.   J’Quon Wroten             5’10”    Cheyenne (North Las Vegas NV) Quick point has a nice handle and can really find open teammates.  Father James Wroten coaches the local AAC All-Stars club program.   Tyland Copeland                      5’6”      Basic (Henderson NV) Small but crafty PG handles rock with care.   Taylor Spencer             6’1”      Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas NV) Very good shooter with range is an underrated defender.   Xavier Grimble             6’3”      Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas NV) Mobile wing is a solid defender.   Anson Winder              6’2”      Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas NV) Very good shooter has nice court instincts.   Other 2010 prospects include 5’10” Gary Rowe (Coronado/Henderson NV), 5’10” Davion Pearson (Liberty/Henderson NV), 6’1” Nick Sangchaloay (Green Valley/Henderson NV), 5’9” Marcus Mitchell (Cheyenne/North Las Vegas NV), 5’10” Ben Siebert (Del Sol (Las Vegas NV), 5’10” Zack Rancher (Coronado/Henderson NV), 6’3” Lawrence Chambers (Silverado/Henderson NV) and 6’3” Brandon Glanz (Coronado/Henderson NV).   Class of 2011   Michael Thompson      6’2”      Canyon Springs (Las Vegas NV) Excellent young wing talent was very impressive and is a factor on both ends of the floor.  One young Vegas name we will be hearing about in the future.

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