On Friday evening, the Super 80 Showcase, organized by Chad Groth, would kick-off a busy weekend of basketball in Arizona. With several big events taking place throughout the weekend, the Super 80 Showcase did not disappointe the coaches, scouts and media in attendance as numerous talented underclassman prospects, and some unknown future top-rated prospects in the state emerged on the night.
Held on the campus of Arizona Christian University again, this year's event backed up another exciting event last year at the same time. The idea is excellent by Groth, as college coaches are already in town to take part in the ACCAC JUCO Jamboree each year on Saturday, allowing coaches to see some of the state's best talent before their desired juco event.
The evening consisted of all-star games for the 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015 classes, and also a final Showcase game of the best overall talent from the event. With a good amount of coaches from smaller college programs in attendance, there were some players that rose to the occasion in a big way on the evening, with the majority of these prospects playing in the final game on the night.
Planet Athlete Academy is absolutely loaded with talent this year, and no one works harder than their organizer and Director of Operations, Eric Bowman. Bowman has brought together some of the best basketball talent in America to the state of Arizona this season, and he will have college coaches living at his practices this season.
The top overall performer and prospect on the evening was Planet Academy's 7-foot prep post Lamous Brown from Chicago, Illinois. Brown came into Friday night's event as the player that everyone wanted to see play, and he was up for the task. Brown is a long and very athletic post talent with a high motor and raw offensive skills. Brown is very exciting to watch as he tries to make every play and goes hard, trying to dunk anything inside the paint or even outside of it. His shot selection can be questionalbe at times, but hje makes shots and looks like he is right at home as the ball swishes through the net.
An unsigned prep prospect, Brown has the size and potential that will have numerous high major division-I college programs going crazy this spring, as more schools learn of him and his talents. Brown reminds me of former Mesa JC (AZ) standout and Miami Heat draft pick Ernest Brown.
Another strong performer and also a terrific prospect is Kwintin Williams, a 6-foot-7 prep forward from Planet Athlete Academy. Williams is a native of Alaska and just as he is from a different culture, he also looked different on the basketball court - showcasing some serious basketball talent. Williams is a strong and athletic wing prospect with excelent overall size - possessing a college-ready body. He has a variety of offensive skillsets with nice range on his jump shot and an ability to play well above the rim.
Williams advised me after the game that he currently has no offers on the table, but that many high-major division-I schools are in pursuit. He listed such schools as Syracuse, Texas, and Baylor as some of the schools that he has talked to currently. Take it from me, this young man is a high-major division-I talent and should receive loads of interest this hig hschool season - especially since Planet Athlete is traveling all over the country this season.
Central High School's 6-foot-7 senior forward Famoun Miller put on a show on the evening and really showcased, once again, just how good he is as a basketball player. Miller took players off the dribble, scored in traffic, scored from the wing, and also scored from the perimeter with range. Miller is a complete offensive and defensive package with an advanced skill-set and approach to the game. He actually outplayed Kwintin Williams in head-to-head competition - igniting the fans in attendance. Miller is a high-major prospect, and I have said it all along and will continue to harp on just how good this kid is. Of course, there is the obvious issue of academics, but I am pulling for him to make it, despite his antics after the game on Friday evening.
In the 2017 All-Star Game on the evening, Chaparral's 6-foot sophomore point guard Colton Kresl put on a scoring exhibition in the game - scoring from anywhere he wante to on the floor. Of course Kresl shot the basketball almost every time he touched it, but he is a big-time offensive talent with an excellent feel for the game and a knack for scoring the basketball with defenders draped all over him. Kresl is one of my favorite players in the state to watch play. He seems to be really enjoying himself as he torches defenders.
Other prospects on the night that performed very well included Hill Crest Academy talented 6-foot-5 junior point guard Asante Patterson, a strong, well-sized guard with a nice handle and feel for the game. Patterson is already being recruited by several schools in the SEC and also Utah State; Gilbert Christian High School's 6-foot-7 sophomore forward Nate Graville, one of the state's elite young prospects with an excellent shooting touch and size for the small forward position. Graville is a serious prospect for the future; Gilbert Christian's 6-foot-4 junior guard Cameron Satterwhite, one of the most athletic prospects in the state. Satterwhite is very long and athletic and has a very good feel for the game. Satterwhite currently holds offers from NAU, Rice, Portland, Portland State and Weber State; Mountain Pointe HS 6-foot junior guard Malik Simmons also performed well and showed a nice handle and ability to make plays off the dribble; Plante Athlete 6-foot-3 senior guard Zdravko Bogdanoski was a nice surprise on the evening, possessing a strong, athletic build and a nice shooting stroke with range. He is from Macedonia and will raise some eyebrows this season; Mesa Mountain View HS 6-foot-6 senior forward Trevon Crider was a very intriguing prospect that I saw for the first time - a definite sleeper prospect with a strong, athletic frame. One of the best sleeper prospects from the event, as he is tough and an excellent defender and also deceivingly athletic. Look for him to make a big jump in our next rankings; Another very good sleeper prospect was Moon Valley High School's 6-foot-4 junior wing Bryce Chaney, a very pleasant surprise as well. Chaney has very good size and length and has a good overall skill level. Definitely one to watch this season and a player that could make a nice jump in our next rankings as well.
