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Trigonis Tidbits:
“Jennings Responds to His Critics…..
Makes Strong Case For #1 Status”
(August 10, 2007)
There was no Class of 2008 player who made more noise this summer than Southern California native 6’2” senior Brandon Jennings (Oak Hill Academy/Mouth of Wilson VA). In June - after garnering MOP honors at the Pangos All-American Camp in Los Angeles (was the leading scorer there – 25.8 ppg), BJ followed that effort up with an outstanding performance at the NBPA Camp in Charlottesville VA (where he was that event’s leading scorer as well as #2 in assists). July proved to be no different as he was among the top handful of players present at the inaugural RBK U Camp in Philadelphia PA and was thereafter selected to the Top 20 game at the
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Fullcourt Press All-West Camp were he was just sensational – 32 points/13 boards/5 assists plus a late-game mano y mano duel with Las Vegas native Leon Sutton that would have earned both invitations to the And 1 Mix Tape Tour. After those two individual events, Jennings attempted to do what no other player has ever done – win the Big Time and its heir - the RBK Summer Championships - with two different teams (SCA in 2006 and now Belmont Shore in 2007). Jennings was not to be denied for a second straight year as he willed Belmont Shore to the championship game where he provided the event with some late tourney heroics – hitting a 23 foot three-point shot as time was expiring to force OT and sparking Belmont Shore to the win in the extra period – completing an incredible come from behind victory over Team Breakdown (a team that would a week later capture the AAU 17 & under national title in Orlando FL). Jennings averaged 25.4 ppg in Sin City including a 37 point explosion against King of Court (a team that advanced deep into the RBK Summer Championships play-offs as well as the runners-up of the AAU 17& under National Championships). Jennings’ play as of late has not gone unnoticed as three of the most veteran recruiting “gurus” (Clark Francis, Bob Gibbons and Van Coleman) have anointed the Arizona-bound PG as the post-summer #1 prospect in the Class of 2008. Even Rivals (not exactly a great fan in the past) could not ignore Jennings’ terrific play and moved him up 4 notches from #12 to #8 in their recently released rankings. While Jennings has been criticized by some scouts for being more style than substance, his numbers and production this summer speaks volumes in the “substance” category…… ……….
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Another player having a great summer was 6’6” senior off-guard DeMar DeRozan (Compton/Compton CA). After turning heads by leading Belmont Shore to the finals of the Arizona Cactus Classic in late May, DeRozan was outstanding at the Pangos All-American Camp (being named the MVP of the Top 20 “cream of the crop” game there by virtue of his 30 point effort) as well as showing very well at the NBPA Camp in Virginia. But the USC-bound DeRozan took his game to another level when he attended the inaugural LeBron James Skills Academy in Akron OH where he displayed his awesome combination of athleticism and skill level that has catapulted him high atop the national rankings. Rivals just pegged him as the #2 Class of 2008 prospect in the nation and Scout pinned him at the #5 spot. After Akron, DeRozan (like Jennings) made an appearance at the West Coast’s #1 regional July camp – the Fullcourt Press All-West Camp - where he was an easy choice for the Top 20 game, again displaying his
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above-the-rim abilities. DeRozan’s play this past few months has locked him in as a solid 2008 McDonald’s All-American Game pick and has put him in position to challenge for the #1 overall spot in the near future. In fact Hoop Scoop’s most recent 2008 rankings has DeRozan just behind Jennings in the #2 slot…………Also moving rapidly up the charts is emerging 6’8” senior swingman Renaldo Woolridge (Harvard-Westlake/North Hollywood CA). The Fullcourt Press has been hyping Woolridge for quite sometime and in July “Waldo” starting showing why we have been fans for so long – that with the exception of DeRozan – there is not a prospect in the West with more upside than Renaldo. Woolridge’s play at the RBK U Camp (scored 17 points – on 7/8 shooting - in the top all-star game there) did not just start the high-major offers rolling in, but firmly established the son of former NBA star Orlando Woolridge as an elite high major player. Renaldo (now ranked #48 by Hoop Scoop and #59 by Rivals) has a
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long list of schools in pursuit including USC, Arizona State, Pepperdine, Georgetown, Illinois, Marquette, Miami FL, Michigan, Vanderbilt, Boston College, Seton Hall, Louisville, Maryland, UCLA, Cal, Oregon State, Tennessee, Syracuse, Colorado, Wake Forest, UNLV, Portland and San Francisco. Jennings and Woolridge were on a star-studded Belmont Shore team that outlasted a 224 team field to win last month’s Rbk Summer Championships in Las Vegas (the heir to the legendary Big Time tourney). Others equally instrumental in helping Belmont Shore win the title included 7’0” senior Jeff Withey (Horizon/San Diego CA), 6’6” senior JP Olukemi (Stoneridge Prep/Simi Valley CA), 6’6” senior Leonard Washington (Marshall/Compton CA), 6’2” junior Darius Morris (Windward/Los Angeles CA) and 6’3” senior James Dean (Hargrave Military Academy/Chatham VA). Withey is “hands down” the top center in the West and the Arizona-bound post player is a strong 2008 McDonald’s All-American candidate who is an athletic and mobile as well as very skilled scoring the basketball. When you consider his prowess as a shotblocker and rebounder, Withey has a great upside for the college level and beyond. Olukemi may be the most underrated high-major wing in the country and he too played extremely well in Las Vegas - bouncing back from a concussion (that forced him to miss two games) to be a critical factor in Belmont Shore’s run to the crown. JP’’s three-point shot against SE Elite forced OT that resulted in a quarter-final win and his OT free-throws iced the win against Team Breakdown in the championship game. Washington was a beast all-tourney long and Belmont Shore needed all of his 25 points in the title game to become 2007 champions. Washington intends to be eligible by the upcoming winter break and will choose sometime soon between Kentucky, USC and Ole Miss with Oklahoma State still trying to become involved. Morris (currently ranked #79 in the 2009 class by Rivals) is arguably among the most intriguing 2009 PG prospects and combines great court savvy and ability to get to the basket with rapidly improving strength and athleticism. Morris’ sharp-shooting in Belmont Shore’s semi-final win over the Smyrna Stars was a key factor in Belmont cruising to the win. Dean is a scrappy player who also excels off the court (4.85 GPA) and his timely outside shooting against SE Elite allowed Belmont to stay within striking distance and gave his squad a chance to engineer what ultimately was a successful comeback victory……………Tucson’s Sporting Chance program really made its mark on the grassroots circuit this year, with several of its players attracting legitimate college interest: 6’8” senior Austin Smith (Ironwood Ridge/Tucson AZ) is a skilled forward that was an all-tourney selection at the recent Fullcourt Press End of the Trail Classic. Smith is hearing from an increasing number of schools including Liberty, Pepperdine, Richmond, Northern Arizona, Montana State, San Francisco and Portland. Tucson native 6’8” senior Enoch Andoh (Mitty/San Jose CA) is a strong low-post option that is drawing attention from Oral Roberts, Colgate, Brown, Santa Clara, Portland, Liberty and Yale. Tough 6’2” senior combo-guard Chase Adams (Salpointe/Tucson AZ) is getting sincere interest from Air Force, Cal State Northridge, Denver, Albany and San Diego State. Colorado-Pueblo is among the programs showing interest in smooth 6’0” senior point Kelly Gibson (Tucson/Tucson AZ). 6’3” senior shooting wing Tyler Gage (Salpointe/Tucson AZ) is getting looks from the likes of Princeton, Columbia, Oberlin, Pomona, Occidental and Amherst. One Sporting Chance player currently under the radar is 6’4” senior Brian Hill (Tucson/Tucson AZ) – an athletic off-guard that can really defend and is only a consistent jump shot away from being a valued D-I recruit…………..Speaking of Arizona HS prospects, 6’5” senior Ryan Howley (Sinagua/Flagstaff AZ) had a productive July – earning a selection to the Top 20 game at the FCP All-West Camp after an impressive camp showing. The agile and skilled swingman is drawing interest from Cal State Northridge, Portland, UC-Irvine, Santa Clara, Northern Arizona, Princeton, Columbia and Lehigh………………Class of 2007 grad 6’6” Dane Suttle (Westchester/Los Angeles CA) got some great news this past week when he learned that he had officially qualified for NCAA freshman eligibility. The 2006 LA City Player of the Year is a big wing with a tremendous outside stroke that was drawing serious interest from the likes of Kansas State, New Mexico State and Long Beach State before he was thought to have to go the JUCO route………………………6’3” senior Quamaine Crymes (Joel John/Los Angeles CA) is a strong and athletic wing that is hearing from Long Beach State, Portland State, Loyola Marymount and New Mexico State while Crymes’ Joel John HS teammate 5’11” point Marcus Johnson is attracting attention from programs like Columbia, UC-Irvine and Texas Pan-American………………One of the most underrated 2008 guards in the West is 6’3” Kelly Kaigler (Oakgrove/San Jose CA). Kaigler (a strong and assertive combo-guard with nice upside) is hearing from Montana, Pacific, American, Portland State, Loyola Marymount and Santa Clara and he would be an absolute steal for those programs…………6’6” senior forward Paul George (Palmdale/Palmdale CA) has reportedly committed to Santa Clara - giving rookie coach Kerry Keating a talented athlete with much upside…………Former Los Alamitos (Los Alamitos CA) swingman 6’5” Charles Hinkle was announced recently as a very late signee with Vanderbilt. Hinkle spent a 5th year this past season at Hebron Academy (ME)………....Although July had plenty of positive buzz, there was some bad news as well. While the reports of the passing of Wake Forest’s Skip Prosser was a major shock to the basketball community, we suffered another loss when Ken Lowenthal – the father of former Hawaii and current UC-Davis guard Todd Lowenthal - suffered a heart attack as I arrived in Las Vegas for the inaugural GBOA Challenge of Champions. There was no parent who loved his sons more than Ken nor was there anybody that I enjoyed chatting with than the San Diego resident who used to call me religiously with his latest inside scoop from the “high-speed sportswire.” Ken…….you will be missed not just as a great father and husband, but as a terrific friend who had a true passion for the game we all love. You will be truly missed my good friend. May your memory be eternal.
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