Jeff Bendel brings us his standouts from the Summer Havoc Showcase, Day 1
Upward Stars Upstate- White (2020)
Starting off with a player that was clearly a major asset to his team on both ends of the floor, 6’8 Paul “PJ” Hall (2020). Hall immediately captures the attention of all spectators with his strong physique and long body. Offensively, he can post-up or run the two-man game, making him a constant threat to score. Hall’s ability to run the floor heightens his sneaky athleticism, as he finishes nearly everything in transition; he will try to dunk anything in reach but still understands his limitations. On the other end, the big man is a tremendous defensive anchor, swatting shot after shot into the stands and snatching most every rebound in sight. Hall has a terrific feel for the game and consistently plays with a high IQ; only time will tell just how good of a player he can be.
His teammate, 6’2 Howard Davis-Wiles (2020), proved to be an extremely effective all-around wing that is capable of playing with or without the ball. Offensively, Davis-Wiles was the primary ball handler for much of the day and continued to make one great decision after another, looking for teammates and assisting or finishing on nearly every fast break. His length is disruptive on defense, allowing him to easily accumulate steals through loose balls and jumping passing lanes. With Davis-Wiles’ tremendous vision and IQ, it wouldn’t be a stretch to play him at the lead guard full-time.
Upward Stars Upstate- White (2019)
Arguably the best player of the day was Landrum star, 5’11 Trey Smith (2019), who put the full arsenal on display en route to a quality win. Smith is already well known in the South Carolina area as the sophomore that just amassed 2,000 points; it wouldn’t be a hard sell to imagine him being the state’s all-time leading scorer by the time he graduates. Already a dominant three-level scorer, Smith is incredibly poised when on the floor and plays the point guard position with amazing feel and IQ. He is always looking to make the smartest possible play for the team and frequently does so. Smith may be overlooked because of his size, but it simply doesn’t matter, as he has proven time and again that he can score against anyone willing to stand in his way. He’s a quality defender with pristine position and deceptive quickness. Smith belongs at the next level and it’ll definitely be fun to see which schools figure out how skilled he is.
Despite dealing with early foul trouble, 6’10 Cooper Fowler (2019) found his way back onto the floor and was utterly dominant. Fowler already possesses a college-ready frame and understanding of the game; he is more than just a rim-runner, as he showcased three-level scoring ability to pair with his deft touch on the low block. He’s a phenomenal rebounder, typically snagging them with two hands and immediately moving the ball up the floor. His rim protection was also a major plus, as he continually sent shots flying and made sure opponents knew the paint belonged to him. Fowler is certainly a buy-now prospect that still possesses big upside; he will pay dividends on both sides of the ball at the next level.
SR1 All-Stars
If there was one player that did everything possible for his team, it had to be 6’3 Earl Smith (2019). Smith consistently brought it on both ends of the floor; somehow he was both the leading scorer and glue guy of the team. He scored efficiently on three levels but also committed to his rebounding and hard-nosed play on the defensive end. Smith began heating up and simply never cooled down, which is just another reason why he’s so intriguing. He played with a high IQ, utilized his long arms well, and could certainly become one of the many SR1 studs that have emerged in the recent years.
Team Boost (2019)
Finishing up, we look at a player that was turning heads from the opening possession to the final one, 6’8 Julius Marble II (2019). Marble is a strong-bodied forward that can do a number of things on the floor, both offensively and defensively. He can score in a wide variety of ways and is especially effective inside the arc, where he’s capable of gathering a full head of steam that no one dares to mess with. It should be reiterated that Marble is strong like an ox and showed that he will put opponents in the rim if they choose to contest his drives. He is a terrific two-way rebounder that has all the tools to be a really impactful defender. Marble plays with a mean streak and his game heightens when opponents challenge him; he has the combination of production and potential that should warrant a handful of offers sooner than later.