Brandon Austin (Philadelphia, PA)Basketball Spotlight has the privilege of covering some of the top young camps in the country. We decided to end the summer with our top performers we saw at these events by class. Here’s a breakdown of the Top Performers in the Class of 2014.
Class 2014 Top Camp Performers
1. Brandon Austin Guard (Philadelphia, PA)- Austin got our nod at the #1 spot because his play at the Hoop Group Jr. Elite Camp came against players from higher classes. The lanky point guard showed the natural flow that leaves spectators in awe. He made some big plays and stood the challenge of some serious Class of 2012 ballers. He finished the camp as one of the top prospects regardless of class.
2. Parker Cartwright Guard (Van Nuys, CA)- I fell in love with Cartwright’s game at the Jr. All American Camp. The top notch point guard gave defenders the business the entire weekend. He set up teammates, drained the jumper and defended the rock very well. To my surprise he wasn’t invited to the Jr. Phenom Camp and that’s crazy when he has to be the best guard for the class in California.
3. Alonzo Trier Guard (Federal Way, WA)- Trier is worth the price of admission as the explosive guard put on a show at the Jr. All American Camp and at the Adidas Jr. Phenom Camp. His ball handling skills would make some high school players jealous and his play making ability is outstanding. He has some serious star quality.
4. James Blackmon Guard (Fort Wayne, IN)- Not many can score the ball like Blackmon. He will kill off the bounce or catching and shooting. He’s very physical with the rock and will bully defenders on this level. At the Jr. All American Camp Blackmon heated up from deep on many occasions and also broke down defenders with a sick handle. Finally, Blackmon finished as one of the top ranked players at Adidas Jr. Phenom Camp.
5. Victor Craig Forward (New Orleans, LA)- New Orleans is loaded with young talent and you can add Craig to this list. The long forward used his size to dominate the competition at the Jr. All American Camp. He blocked shots, rebounded and scored at ease on the offensive end. He has a chance to be a special player one day.
7. Dylan Portwood Forward (Georgetown, KY)- Portwood has good size on this level but can handle the rock like a legit wing player. At the Jr. All American Camp Dylan showed good promise while leading his team to the championship. He’s very fundamentally sound and plays with passion.
8. Wade Baldwin Guard (Montgomery, NJ)- Baldwin had his moments at the Jr. All American Camp and really displayed his skills at the Hoop Group Jr. Elite Camp. During this camp he heated up on a regular basis and also showed some point guard skills. His has a mean streak that helps him turn on the switch when needed.
9. Jerron Love Guard (New York, NY)- The next showmen from New York made his mark at the Jr. All American Camp. He got rid of defenders with quick crossover and hesitation dribbles. He does have some flash to his game but his substance is also high. Love is a name you will hear about for years to come.
10. Anton Beard Guard (North Little Rock, AK)- The lefty has a power game when driving to the hole. He scores inside and outside at ease sometimes. He has confidence in his jumper and works very hard on the defensive end of the floor. Check him out if you are ever in Arkansas. He was a joy to watch at the Jr. All American Camp.
