COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- 88 of the nation's best prospects, spanning four different recruiting classes, ascended on the U.S. Olympic Training Center for three days of basketball and life skill development.
The camp is the first of four yearly events in the freshly designed partnership between USA Basketball, the NBA and the NCAA.
The action got going in a hurry on Monday, and the session was split into two gyms. The older prospects -- 2019 and 2020 recruits (plus a few others) -- were in one gym, while most of the 2021 and all of the 2022 players were in another.
After skill development, shell drills and team concepts, the players got into five-on-five action.
Who stood out on day one?
De'Vion Harmon, PG, 2019
A longtime member of the USA Basketball Youth Development Program, Harmon has been a success story given his constant improvement on the court. Harmon's experience in this setting helped him jump out to a quick start on Friday night. One of the top two-way point guards in the country, Harmon is a relentless defender who uses his toughness, feel and lateral quickness to frustrate opposing ball-handlers. On offense, Harmon hit threes, got to the basket and created for teammates. -- Josh Gershon
Recruiting: Harmon is committed to Oklahoma
Kahlil Whitney, SF, 2019
Whitney saved his best for last on Friday, as he had an extremely impressive showing in the last scrimmage of the night. At 6-foot-6 with a 7-foot wingspan, Whitney has the size and length to easily play the three and four at the college level, while defensively he'll be able to guard three positions. He's an explosive athlete with plenty of room to continue to develop physically. On Friday, Whitney flashed his midrange jumper, while defensively showed his versatility and rebounding ability. -- Josh Gershon
Recruiting: Whitney is committed to Kentucky
Evan Mobley, C, 2020
This is Mobley's second stint with USA Basketball after making his debut this summer, helping the USA win a gold medal in Santa Fe, Argentina, in the FIBA u18 World Cup. Since then, Mobley has put on 5-10 pounds and continued to develop his skill set and confidence. Mobley's size, length and athleticism are all very good, but his impressive skill set combined with those physical tools is what makes him such an elite prospect. On Friday, Mobley made his mark hitting jumpers on offense while cleaning up the defensive glass. -- Josh Gershon
Recruiting: Mobley is an extremely heavy lean to USC, where his father is an assistant
Emoni Bates, SF, 2022
Bates hasn't played a game of high school basketball yet, but he's already building a reputation in basketball circles. Bates is long, lean wing prospect with good athleticism, terrific size for the position (6-foot-8) and an advanced skill set. Just 14-years old, Bates started camp games with transition finishes and dunks at the rim, but as the session wore on, Bates started showing off his perimeter jump shot from distance. He showed good shots mechanics, impressive footwork and a comfort level shooting the ball off the bounce. It's early, but Bates, who will attend Ypsilanti (Mich.) Lincoln, has the look of a special type prospect. -- Evan Daniels
Recruiting: Kentucky, Michigan State
Kijani Wright, PF/C, 2022
As was the case with majority of the 2022 prospects, we didn't know Wright heading into camp, but he made his presence known on day one with his energetic style of play. A 6-foot-8 post player, Wright already has a strong base with long arms and impressive frame. Using that body, Wright was physical around the basket, pursued the ball off the backboard and finished plays around the basket. His energetic style of play and consistent effort was impressive, especially in a camp setting. It was a good first impressive for the post player headed to Los Angeles (Calif.) Windward. -- Evan Daniels
Recruiting: USC
Adrian Griffin, SF, 2021
From a physical standpoint, you won't find many prospects, especially playing in the younger group, as impressive as Griffin. At 6-foot-6, Griffin is already strong through his shoulders, and his powerfully build with a massive wingspan and a strong base. Griffin is a very good athlete, that already shows signs of potential as a multi-positional defender. He moved his feet particularly well during close out drills and gave good effort. During live action, Griffin was especially effective in transition, making plays for himself and others. -- Evan Daniels
Recruiting: Maryland, Pittsburgh, Providence, Rutgers, Seton Hall & a host of others
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- 88 of the nation's best prospects, spanning four different recruiting classes, ascended on the U.S. Olympic Training Center for three days of basketball and life skill development.
The camp is the first of four yearly events in the freshly designed partnership between USA Basketball, the NBA and the NCAA.
The action got going in a hurry on Monday, and the session was split into two gyms. The older prospects -- 2019 and 2020 recruits (plus a few others) -- were in one gym, while most of the 2021 and all of the 2022 players were in another.
After skill development, shell drills and team concepts, the players got into five-on-five action.
Who stood out on day one?
De'Vion Harmon, PG, 2019
A longtime member of the USA Basketball Youth Development Program, Harmon has been a success story given his constant improvement on the court. Harmon's experience in this setting helped him jump out to a quick start on Friday night. One of the top two-way point guards in the country, Harmon is a relentless defender who uses his toughness, feel and lateral quickness to frustrate opposing ball-handlers. On offense, Harmon hit threes, got to the basket and created for teammates. -- Josh Gershon
Recruiting: Harmon is committed to Oklahoma
Kahlil Whitney, SF, 2019
Whitney saved his best for last on Friday, as he had an extremely impressive showing in the last scrimmage of the night. At 6-foot-6 with a 7-foot wingspan, Whitney has the size and length to easily play the three and four at the college level, while defensively he'll be able to guard three positions. He's an explosive athlete with plenty of room to continue to develop physically. On Friday, Whitney flashed his midrange jumper, while defensively showed his versatility and rebounding ability. -- Josh Gershon
Recruiting: Whitney is committed to Kentucky
Evan Mobley, C, 2020
This is Mobley's second stint with USA Basketball after making his debut this summer, helping the USA win a gold medal in Santa Fe, Argentina, in the FIBA u18 World Cup. Since then, Mobley has put on 5-10 pounds and continued to develop his skill set and confidence. Mobley's size, length and athleticism are all very good, but his impressive skill set combined with those physical tools is what makes him such an elite prospect. On Friday, Mobley made his mark hitting jumpers on offense while cleaning up the defensive glass. -- Josh Gershon
Recruiting: Mobley is an extremely heavy lean to USC, where his father is an assistant
Emoni Bates, SF, 2022
Bates hasn't played a game of high school basketball yet, but he's already building a reputation in basketball circles. Bates is long, lean wing prospect with good athleticism, terrific size for the position (6-foot-8) and an advanced skill set. Just 14-years old, Bates started camp games with transition finishes and dunks at the rim, but as the session wore on, Bates started showing off his perimeter jump shot from distance. He showed good shots mechanics, impressive footwork and a comfort level shooting the ball off the bounce. It's early, but Bates, who will attend Ypsilanti (Mich.) Lincoln, has the look of a special type prospect. -- Evan Daniels
Recruiting: Kentucky, Michigan State
Kijani Wright, PF/C, 2022
As was the case with majority of the 2022 prospects, we didn't know Wright heading into camp, but he made his presence known on day one with his energetic style of play. A 6-foot-8 post player, Wright already has a strong base with long arms and impressive frame. Using that body, Wright was physical around the basket, pursued the ball off the backboard and finished plays around the basket. His energetic style of play and consistent effort was impressive, especially in a camp setting. It was a good first impressive for the post player headed to Los Angeles (Calif.) Windward. -- Evan Daniels
Recruiting: USC
Adrian Griffin, SF, 2021
From a physical standpoint, you won't find many prospects, especially playing in the younger group, as impressive as Griffin. At 6-foot-6, Griffin is already strong through his shoulders, and his powerfully build with a massive wingspan and a strong base. Griffin is a very good athlete, that already shows signs of potential as a multi-positional defender. He moved his feet particularly well during close out drills and gave good effort. During live action, Griffin was especially effective in transition, making plays for himself and others. -- Evan Daniels
Recruiting: Maryland, Pittsburgh, Providence, Rutgers, Seton Hall & a host of others
https://desimpul.blogspot.com/2018/10/usa-basketball-who-stood-out-on-opening.html
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