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UT Elite Camp Recap
The action is complete from the UT Elite Camp. Tons of talent from across the state and nation was on display these past two days in Austin. We'll go through some player by player info and how they performed this past weekend. Byron Eaton was our all star MVP, and overall MVP, we are not considering LaMarcus Aldridge and Daniel Gibson for this since they didn't play in half of the games. Lots of big names were left off the all star game roster. They included 2004 BF Trent Plaisted of San Antonio Clark (high major recruit had good weekend), 2005 PG/WG Curtis "C.J" Jerrells of Del Valle (elite high major had great weekend, made 5 threes in one game, double figures in every game but one, excellent unselfish play from the point guard spot). 2004 BF Patrick Britton of San Antonio Southwest ( high major recruit, had nice weekend, very active on boards and in the scorebook. Jason Grohman 2004 BF New Braunfels Canyon was left off as well, even though he was deserving. One of the shoe teams, dominated the selections placing 8 on the all star unit, despite 3 of those failing to score in morning games. Seemed a little fishy to TRB. Not knocking Team Texas but their All Star lineup should have gone with Darrell Arthur, Kevin Rogers and Jerel Hastings, not the whole squad, and the out of state teams didn't have all of the all stars either. Many other deserving athletes were left off.
Here's some recaps of some of the top Texas players and their weekends. Brief profiles follow.
Byron Eaton - 5-11 PG Dallas Lincoln 2005- Byron is our camp MVP. 14 points in the all star championship game is enough for us. Eaton was unstoppable all weekend, and gave the UT players 12 points last night in about 10 minutes. No one including highly touted Kyle Lowry of Philly and Andre McGhee (2005 PG Moreno Valley, California) could slow down B-Ton this weekend. Byron hit the jumper as well draining 2 threes in the all star finale. A few national sites have McGhee ahead of Eaton, McGhee played well, but Byron got the best of him. 1 word on Byron- unstoppable, an elite high major talent in 2005.
Fendi Onobun- 6-7 F Alief Taylor 2005- Fendi had a nice weekend. The strong forward hit jumpers and three pointers, showed the ability to handle the ball and cross some people up and was his usual tough self on the block. Onobun is definitely one of the top players in Texas in 2005.
Dion Dowell- 6-6 WF Texas City 2004- Dion knocked down the jumpers both days. A fine performance last night against the UT players when he poured in 15 including 3 threes. Dowell is smooth and versatile, an excellent player.
Calvin Miles- 6-6 WG Dallas Skyline 2006- Calvin had an excellent weekend showing off his sweet left handed stroke. He got to the hoop and finished with several big dunks. An excellent ball handler and passer, Miles is definitely an ELITE recruit in 2005.
Derrick Roberts- 6-4 PG/WG Aldine Nimitz 2004- Derrick showed exactly why he is a top 10 player in the class of 2004. Whether it be running the point and dropping dimes or running the 2 and scoring, this long athlete gets it done. Roberts was one of the top players in camp both days. Fittingly, Derrick capped the weekend and the all star game with a sick 360 slam.
Patrick Britton- 6-8 F San Antonio Southwest 2004- Patrick had a great weekend. Despite an all star snub, we felt Britton was a factor all weekend. This versatile athlete can d-up any position on the floor, and with the ball can do it all. Went for a double double yesterday. Britton is a high major recruit.
Trent Plaisted- 6-9 BF San Antonio Clark 2004- Plaisted also was snubbed for the all star contest. This athletic lefty had a nice weekend, can shoot the jumper and is a legit shot blocker. Plaisted is a high major recruit in 2004.
Sean Williams- 6-9 BF/C Mansfield 2004- Sean the Shot- swatter was swatting them this weekend and running the floor like the athlete he is. Williams was solid playing against UT, give this guy the rest of the summer and next season to develop even more, and look for this young 2004 (only 16) to be a huge sleeper and a high major recruit for 2004.
Curtis "C.J." Jerrells- 6-1 PG/WG Del Valle 2005- C.J. had a fine weekend, canning 5 threes in one half yesterday. This lefty had the jumper working this past weekend, and we already knew no one can stop him from getting to the hoop. Jerrells is a complete player, he can score, shoot, handle, defend, rebound, block shoots and distribute the rock. He and Byron Eaton's match-up in one on one drills was a treat, as both hit tough shots. Jerrells looks to be an elite high major recruit in 2005.
Kevin Rogers- 6-8 BF Dallas South Oak Cliff 2005- This big lefty used his jump hook and turn around jumper effectively all weekend. Rogers ran the floor well and got out for some big slams. Kevin is definitely an high major recruit in 2005.
Darrell Arthur- 6-8 BF Dallas South Oak Cliff 2006- Slim Shady was real once again. Our top rated player in 2006, Arthur showed his athleticism all weekend, and also stepped out to can some jumpers.
Donald Sloan- 6-2 WG Dallas Seagoville 2006- Donald was playing down in the NBA East Division, but this athletic sharpshooter has big time written all over him. A nasty finish of an alley oop off the glass highlighted Sloan's Saturday. Donald got way up to deny a dunk attempt by highflying '06 forward Terrell Reese. Sloan has an excellent jump shot and showed the ability to really handle the rock. He's an elite high major talent as is his teammate Derrick Roland.
Derrick Roland- 6-3 WG Dallas Seagoville 2006- Roland is EXTREMELY athletic wing who can get way up and throw down on you. Roland has a nice jumper, and can really get to the hoop. As nice as Don's slams were, Derrick is still the best dunker of the twin towers (sorry Donald it was a tight slam though) . Roland looks like he could end up as a 6-7 or so wing guard. Derrick and Donald should have been with the big boys, these two elite high majors can play with anyone.
A.J. Abrams- 5-9 G Round Rock McNeil 2005- Abrams shot and shot and scored and scored all weekend. This righty has a sweet stroke from deep, canned many threes in the camp.
Jason Grohman- 6-7 F New Braunfels Canyon 2004- Athletic strong warrior, really goes to battle inside. Grohman is a tough rebounder, who can get up and dunk on you. He showed a nice mid range jumper during drills Saturday morning.
Bryan Beasley- 5-10 G Pflugerville 2006- Quick guard can really get in the lane and score. Very good athlete, shoots the ball well.
Terrell Reese- 6-4 F Pflugerville 2006- Athletic forward can really get up and leap. Finished just about every dunk except when the 6-2 Sloan denied his dunk effort. Fine performance by this athletic sophomore to be.
Catrell Currie- 6-2 PG Cedar Hill 2005- Catrell found the stroke from long range, twice draining 3 threes in a game. This tall point guard's ability to shoot the rock and see the floor were on display this weekend. Look for Catrell who averaged 19 points and 8 assists last year to be a huge factor for the Longhorns of Cedar Hill.
Roderick Rodgers- 6-4 WF Dallas Lincoln 2005- Another fine weekend for Rodgers, who picked up where he left off last weekend. Rodgers is knocking down the threes and getting to the rack for slams. Roderick and B-Ton will lead the Tigers of Lincoln next year.
Jerel Hastings- 6-4 WF Dallas South Oak Cliff 2005- Jerel is an athletic wing forward who got out in transition for some big slams. Hastings also showed a much improved jumper.
Austin Johnson- 6-3 PG Amarillo Palo Duro 2005- Austin distributed the ball and didn't get many shots this past weekend. He showed off his athleticism with a huge two handed tomahawk flush. Johnson combined with others to win the 3 on 3 title. He hit the jumpers and showed an ability to pass the ball and get into the lane. As he gets stronger look for this tall athletic one man to be a high major recruit.
Jerayle Franklin- 6-5 WF Bay City 2004- Franklin picked up where he left off in College Station, shooting the ball very well. Franklin showed a nice mid range game, and is athletic, handled the ball well and rebounded well also.
Marquiz Haynes- 6-1 G Irving Nimitz 2005- Haynes had a great weekend. He showed the ability to knock down the three, penetrated well and finished mid range and around the hoop. Haynes also got out for a huge flush on the break. Definitely will climb in the 2005 rankings.
Shawn Rouse- 6-6 G/F San Antonio Jay 2006- Shawn had a nice weekend shooting the ball. This long athletic wing hit 3's and pull ups and got to the hoop where he finished. Rouse has a chance to be an elite player in 2006.
Courtney Thomas- 5-9 PG Austin Reagan 2006- This competitive little guard showed an improved jumper and passed the ball well. A young sophomore to be Thomas has a chance to be one of the top guards in 2006.
Dale Van Wright- 6-5 WF Houston Bellaire 2006- Dale played well this past weekend and showed the ability to shoot the ball and get into the paint. A chance to be a big time player in 2006.
Josh Lomers- 6-10 C Boerne 2006- Developing big man, really did some good things and blocked some shots.
Brandon Webster- 6-9 C Bryan 2006- Huge young inside player has a chance to develop into a really good player.
Leslie Jackson- 6-4 F Bryan 2006- Athletic forward can really get up. Should break out with a big year for the Vikings.
Our write-ups on out of staters will be up on the message boards (national high school hoops board). We leave you with the dunks of the camp.
1. tie....2004 G 6-4 Derrick Roberts finishing the camp with a 360 slam. 2006 6-2 G Donald Sloan catching the oop off the window for a big finish.
2. Rich Roby 2004 WF Groton, Massachusetts... Roby got in two dunks over people (we'll protect the names). Nasty flushes both days for this athletic wing.
3. LaMarcus Aldridge 6-11 2004 pulling out the gadget arm to reach way back and throw down an alley from Daniel Gibson last night.