Trevon Duval - 6-2/170 - from Wilmington, DE, who played his last two years at St. Benedict's Prep in Newark, N.J. has left the NBA Players Top 100 Camp as the best PG in the class of 2017. He led his team to the Championship defeating 7-1 Thon Maker's team with a 30 point performance on 11 0f 14 shooting, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Duval is an explosive athlete who can totally control the game and can score almost at will. He splits defenders well, has nice hesitation moves and sees the court very well. He has the ability to create for others and when he gets into the lane he always makes the right decision. He puts pressure on the defense and nobody in the camp came close to him in terms of making the proper decisions as well as score. Trevon is a soft spoken kid both on and off the court. He is the type of player who lets his "game" do the talking on the court.
It appears that he is going to leave St. Benedict's and transfer to another school. The location of that school could really have implications on our abiliuty to get him. Jay has been on him for two years now and just recently came for a campus visit . Trevon said he had 11 offers before the camp and that Oregon and Indiana are recuiting him the hardest right now. He does love Pitino and Louisville's style of play. He can be a combo guard which Jay will have to sell him on with Jalen Brunson in the program. Of course, once Jalen leaves the keys to Jay's offense would be in Trevon's hands.
This will be a real tough get now that he's really blown up with this camp performance and will have offers from every school in the nation. Also throw in the Jalen factor. The key will be - where does he transfer to?
D.J. Harvey - 6-6 SG/WF from DeMatha. #8 highest scorer from the Camp. Consistent, steady performance throughout the Camp. Has a strong frame and a very good mid-range game and his stroke from behind the arc is getting better and better. Was one of the top perimeter scorers all week.Will be another top 10/15 recruit from the class of 2017.
Cats have never had success recuiting DeMatha (basketball) players but Jay has opened up the Baltimore to D.C. area with Phil Booth, Josh Hart and Kris Jenkins. Josh Hart's success will certainly get us in the door with D.J. Harvey. Maybe Brian Westbrook can help us a little. Will be a tough get.
Omari Spellman - 6-9/280/PF - made the 12 man "All-American" team from the Camp as one of the top performers along with Trevon Duval. Played like a man amongst boys at times. He is very physical on the blocks. Uses his bulk, his strentgh and some nice crisp moves to score on defenders. But wait. His game includes a nice face-up jump shot that he can hit out to and beyond the arc. A nightmare match-up for defenders with his ability to bully defenders down low or take them outside and hit a three. I like the Jarred Sullinger comparison that many have used on the Board.
Mohamed Bamba - 6-11/200/PF - in just two and a half years has gone from a two star to a four star and probably a five star player by the end of his Junior year. He is rim protector on defense, runs the court and right now is a dunking machine on offense. However, he is working hard on improving his deveoping face-up game. He is from Harlem but is tucked away at a little boarding school in West Chester, PA at the Westtown School. Don't think for a moment that he is unknown on the recruiting trais. Was a top 5 performer at the Pangos All-American Camp in May.
Cats have a legitimate shot at Bamba since Daniel Ochefu played at Westtown. The better Ochefu plays this year, the ability to get drafted and depending on his pick in the draft, could make or break our case witn Bamba.
Markelle Fultz - 6-5/CG from DeMatha. Made the top performers 12 man All-American selection at the NBA Camp. Villanova showed some interest earlier in the year but has backed off since only a year separates Brunson and Fultz. Cats are saving their "last" 2016 scholarship for a big man.
Note - 13 scholarships is the max but Jay has a "quiet" rule of keeping it to 10. Keep in mind that he prefers to play only 8 but sometimes will use a 9th man off the bench. This is going to be an interesting year in that it seems he has 10 players who can capabaly contribute. How will he divide up the minutes? (I'll talk about this at a later date/post). Of course, Jay broke his 10 man limit this spring with the addition of 6-6 Fordham transfer Eric Paschall. However, Paschall must sit out the 2015-2016 season. But he casts a long shadow on the recruiting trail. With his signing I personally think that eliminates Lamar Stephens and Rawle Alkins.
Hamidou Diallo - 6-4/175/SG - from the Queens in New York but is playing ball in high school at Woodstock Academy in CT. Also made the selection to the NBA Top 100 All-America based on his performance. Class of 2017. Cats looked to get involved but Diallo is a strong UConnn lean. Cats have decided to put all their eggs in the Lonnie Walker basket. Not a bad decision either. Walker appears to be a Villanova lean at this point.
Rawle Alkins -6-5/200/SF - looks like he is leaving Christ the King in New York and will transfer to a Prep School as a 5th year Senior. He is a man-child on the court and takes no prisioners on his drives to the basket. Only thing that keeps him out of the NBA is a lack of a shot. Still has time to develop one. Had the 6th best rating of all players at the Pangos Camp last month.
Taurean Thompson - 6-10/220/PF - from St. Anthony's in Newark, NJ. Anybody know anything about him? Was rated 3rd best player at the Pangos All-American Camp in May but missed most of the NBA Camp with injuries. Xavier is all over this kid and wants him bad. If Jay decides to give out another scholarship for the 2016 class and it's only for a "big" - this kid is in our "backyard". Have to think he's much better than Dylan Painter but maybe he doesn't fit the "Villanova Culture". Jay won't recruit you if you don't.
