The third annual CP3 Rising Stars Camp, which hosted something like maybe 240 players (on 24 teams), took place Saturday and Sunday at Lewisville (N.C.) Forsyth Country Day. Out of those 240 players, I've probably seen maybe seven or eight in the last year, and only four I think since January. It's kind of refreshing to watch players with a blank slate and no preconceived opinions or biases from reading what others think.
The last two years, I'd guess there are 40-50 that end up getting recruited at a high major level, and NC State has offered or showed interest to several past alums in the class of 2017 and 2018 already. From what I saw this weekend, I see no reason why that would slow down, especially with players from the Carolinas, which I'll start with.
I got a good feel for six players from North Carolina, and two from South Carolina, with the latter two guys playing for Team United, which is based out of Charlotte. They will probably get hard NC State looks over the next few years, and a few will likely get Wolfpack offers is my prediction. High schools could change in the next month history has shown.
Wendell Moore Jr., shooting guard, Concord Cox Mill High and CP3: Moore has gotten the early buzz and some who know him said he'll turn 14 this fall. If that is true, it does affect his evaluation because he's a full year younger than some of the other players in the camp, and there were some that were already 16 that played this past weekend. What I do know is that Moore impressed with his basketball IQ, determination and he is consistent. I'd like to see more on his deep jumper moving forward, but he already has a college ready body, jumps well and is just a solid, solid wing. It's too early to say he's a no-brainer top 20 guy down the line, but I don't think it is hyperbola to say he will be top 60 (I always side with conservatism on hyperbola).
Marcus Watson, combo guard, Clemmons West Forsyth and CP3: I had no idea who Watson was, but he quickly made sure I did. He had a great game Saturday, showing off great size for a guard, the ability to handle the ball, and he stuck three-pointers. Watching NC State coach Mark Gottfried over the years, he'd probably wished he could be a point guard, but he'll probably likely be a shooting guard in all likelihood. He did run his camp team though. Then on Sunday, he got matched up against Moore, so that made it must-see for me. I figured it will be the start (I hope) of several matchups over the years, and we won't have happen what happened with senior posts Harry Giles and Edrice Adebayo only play each other in March of their freshman year at Dave Telep's Carolina Challenge.
Moore won the matchup in the first half, and was just consistent all game. He has a quick first step and gets to the rim, and has a certain air of confidence about him. Watson couldn't knock down his jumper in the first half, and in the second he made the right adjustments. He started driving hard to the rim and would either get a basket, or make good assists to teammates. He got a little tired late, but he competes. Moore is still 13 apparently, and Watson I know is 15, so that plays a role in evaluating. Watson didn't make the top 20 game for DunkDog.com and that was the most notable omission in my mind. He belonged in that game, but he played in the top 40 game. So in all, saw Moore and Watson in three games and will probably end up seeing them in 20-plus by this time of their senior years.
Langley twins, point guards, Greensboro Southwest Guilford and CP3: Kobe Langley and Keyshawn Langley are both in that 5-11, 6-0 range and are fast, quick off the bounce and need to continue to work on their jumper. It's obviously not my first rodeo with twin brothers, but Kobe appeared to be ahead of Keyshawn, but I've seen things flip the other way with twins, and then flip back later, so plenty of time to figure that one out. They'll be exciting for SW Guilford and each has creativity. Kobe I think was the one that had a huge dunk when I saw them play each other Saturday (just pure luck I picked that game). Keyshawn had 10 points and seven rebounds in the top 20 game, plus two three-pointers, and Kobe had eight and seven boards. I'll be curious to see what they do down the road because each needs to put themselves in a position to run their team in college. The last twins I covered who I thought should both be point guards was Errick Craven and Derrick Craven, who attended Torrance (Calif.) Bishop Montgomery and played for USC. Errick played off the ball so Derrick could be the point guard, and I always felt that Errick had NBA point guard potential but never put himself in the position to develop those point guard skills.
B.J. Mack, center, Charlotte Catholic and Team United: Mack is a big, strong kid. He's going to have that Richard Howell in college body if he hits the weights, not that NC State wanted Howell to have that body. But Mack will never be that 6-6, 6-7 and 220-pounder type like Howell was when he was a sophomore in high school. Mack probably is north of 230 pounds and he'll need to trim up in the future, but he is a true back to the basket, post-up threat. He knows what he's doing in the paint, and that is refreshing in an era of big men wanting to be guards. Because he's from Charlotte and plays for Team United, he'll get compared to Kennedy Meeks of UNC in all likelihood. Or maybe because he's a B.J. and a bigger kid, someone might link him to BeeJay Anya of NC State. He played in the top 40 game.
Joey Baker, small forward, Fayetteville Trinity Christian and Team Felton: The 6-5 or so Baker played last year as a member of the class of 2018, but then reclassed into 2019, but was still on Fayetteville Trinity Christian's varsity squad. He caught my eye a year ago when he played with 7-2 center Connor Vanover, a Little Rock, Ark., prospect who already has four SEC offers. However, Baker is much improved and made the top 20 game and had 12 points on 6 of 10 shooting. He also was in the slam dunk contest and has good "hops" and has good looking form on his jumper. He's not there yet, as he showed when I saw him Saturday, but he has a chance to develop into an ACC target one day. He'll be a mid-major lock probably though.
Now on to the two South Carolina kids with Team United, and point guard Jalen Williams of Charleston (S.C.) Pinewood Prep will be pretty solid too.
Juwan Gary, small forward, Columbia Gray Collegiate Academy and Team United: He's simply a freaky athlete at about 6-5. He has long arms and won the dunk contest, and played in the top 20 game. He apparently shot the ball well Saturday when I didn't see him, but he did not shoot the jumper well in three games I watched Sunday. That might be the difference between NC State offering him or evaluating him because the Wolfpack always like to talk about getting wings that can shoot, but then they have also made some exceptions with guys who are great athletes. But Gary will be a lock high major recruit because you can't teach that kind of God given athleticism.
Christian Brown, small forward, Columbia A.C. Flora and Team United: In a year, the comparison to Virginia Tech freshman forward Chris Clarke will make sense, but then not many have probably ever seen Clarke. Brown is about 6-6, and has long hair (like Clarke) and just flies around the court with great athleticism. He's not as athletic as Gary, but the dude can go. I watched 22 out of 24 teams for a full game, and one game was just for a half because court four was way ahead of schedule Sunday. Naturally, Brown was in that game and then he passed on the all-star game (I think he got picked for top 20 game). Even so, he showed in a half all I needed to see when it comes to his ability to finish in transition and make plays around the rim (like Clarke will do at VT). Florida landed a forward from St. Louis once upon a time that finished up high school in Cincinnati, Alex Tyus, and he is another comparable player (and also had long hair).
The last two years, I'd guess there are 40-50 that end up getting recruited at a high major level, and NC State has offered or showed interest to several past alums in the class of 2017 and 2018 already. From what I saw this weekend, I see no reason why that would slow down, especially with players from the Carolinas, which I'll start with.
I got a good feel for six players from North Carolina, and two from South Carolina, with the latter two guys playing for Team United, which is based out of Charlotte. They will probably get hard NC State looks over the next few years, and a few will likely get Wolfpack offers is my prediction. High schools could change in the next month history has shown.
Wendell Moore Jr., shooting guard, Concord Cox Mill High and CP3: Moore has gotten the early buzz and some who know him said he'll turn 14 this fall. If that is true, it does affect his evaluation because he's a full year younger than some of the other players in the camp, and there were some that were already 16 that played this past weekend. What I do know is that Moore impressed with his basketball IQ, determination and he is consistent. I'd like to see more on his deep jumper moving forward, but he already has a college ready body, jumps well and is just a solid, solid wing. It's too early to say he's a no-brainer top 20 guy down the line, but I don't think it is hyperbola to say he will be top 60 (I always side with conservatism on hyperbola).
Marcus Watson, combo guard, Clemmons West Forsyth and CP3: I had no idea who Watson was, but he quickly made sure I did. He had a great game Saturday, showing off great size for a guard, the ability to handle the ball, and he stuck three-pointers. Watching NC State coach Mark Gottfried over the years, he'd probably wished he could be a point guard, but he'll probably likely be a shooting guard in all likelihood. He did run his camp team though. Then on Sunday, he got matched up against Moore, so that made it must-see for me. I figured it will be the start (I hope) of several matchups over the years, and we won't have happen what happened with senior posts Harry Giles and Edrice Adebayo only play each other in March of their freshman year at Dave Telep's Carolina Challenge.
Moore won the matchup in the first half, and was just consistent all game. He has a quick first step and gets to the rim, and has a certain air of confidence about him. Watson couldn't knock down his jumper in the first half, and in the second he made the right adjustments. He started driving hard to the rim and would either get a basket, or make good assists to teammates. He got a little tired late, but he competes. Moore is still 13 apparently, and Watson I know is 15, so that plays a role in evaluating. Watson didn't make the top 20 game for DunkDog.com and that was the most notable omission in my mind. He belonged in that game, but he played in the top 40 game. So in all, saw Moore and Watson in three games and will probably end up seeing them in 20-plus by this time of their senior years.
Langley twins, point guards, Greensboro Southwest Guilford and CP3: Kobe Langley and Keyshawn Langley are both in that 5-11, 6-0 range and are fast, quick off the bounce and need to continue to work on their jumper. It's obviously not my first rodeo with twin brothers, but Kobe appeared to be ahead of Keyshawn, but I've seen things flip the other way with twins, and then flip back later, so plenty of time to figure that one out. They'll be exciting for SW Guilford and each has creativity. Kobe I think was the one that had a huge dunk when I saw them play each other Saturday (just pure luck I picked that game). Keyshawn had 10 points and seven rebounds in the top 20 game, plus two three-pointers, and Kobe had eight and seven boards. I'll be curious to see what they do down the road because each needs to put themselves in a position to run their team in college. The last twins I covered who I thought should both be point guards was Errick Craven and Derrick Craven, who attended Torrance (Calif.) Bishop Montgomery and played for USC. Errick played off the ball so Derrick could be the point guard, and I always felt that Errick had NBA point guard potential but never put himself in the position to develop those point guard skills.
B.J. Mack, center, Charlotte Catholic and Team United: Mack is a big, strong kid. He's going to have that Richard Howell in college body if he hits the weights, not that NC State wanted Howell to have that body. But Mack will never be that 6-6, 6-7 and 220-pounder type like Howell was when he was a sophomore in high school. Mack probably is north of 230 pounds and he'll need to trim up in the future, but he is a true back to the basket, post-up threat. He knows what he's doing in the paint, and that is refreshing in an era of big men wanting to be guards. Because he's from Charlotte and plays for Team United, he'll get compared to Kennedy Meeks of UNC in all likelihood. Or maybe because he's a B.J. and a bigger kid, someone might link him to BeeJay Anya of NC State. He played in the top 40 game.
Joey Baker, small forward, Fayetteville Trinity Christian and Team Felton: The 6-5 or so Baker played last year as a member of the class of 2018, but then reclassed into 2019, but was still on Fayetteville Trinity Christian's varsity squad. He caught my eye a year ago when he played with 7-2 center Connor Vanover, a Little Rock, Ark., prospect who already has four SEC offers. However, Baker is much improved and made the top 20 game and had 12 points on 6 of 10 shooting. He also was in the slam dunk contest and has good "hops" and has good looking form on his jumper. He's not there yet, as he showed when I saw him Saturday, but he has a chance to develop into an ACC target one day. He'll be a mid-major lock probably though.
Now on to the two South Carolina kids with Team United, and point guard Jalen Williams of Charleston (S.C.) Pinewood Prep will be pretty solid too.
Juwan Gary, small forward, Columbia Gray Collegiate Academy and Team United: He's simply a freaky athlete at about 6-5. He has long arms and won the dunk contest, and played in the top 20 game. He apparently shot the ball well Saturday when I didn't see him, but he did not shoot the jumper well in three games I watched Sunday. That might be the difference between NC State offering him or evaluating him because the Wolfpack always like to talk about getting wings that can shoot, but then they have also made some exceptions with guys who are great athletes. But Gary will be a lock high major recruit because you can't teach that kind of God given athleticism.
Christian Brown, small forward, Columbia A.C. Flora and Team United: In a year, the comparison to Virginia Tech freshman forward Chris Clarke will make sense, but then not many have probably ever seen Clarke. Brown is about 6-6, and has long hair (like Clarke) and just flies around the court with great athleticism. He's not as athletic as Gary, but the dude can go. I watched 22 out of 24 teams for a full game, and one game was just for a half because court four was way ahead of schedule Sunday. Naturally, Brown was in that game and then he passed on the all-star game (I think he got picked for top 20 game). Even so, he showed in a half all I needed to see when it comes to his ability to finish in transition and make plays around the rim (like Clarke will do at VT). Florida landed a forward from St. Louis once upon a time that finished up high school in Cincinnati, Alex Tyus, and he is another comparable player (and also had long hair).
