Team 4
Coach: Darius Williams
#30: 5'6 '22 Joshua McNair (Greensboro, NC)
Starting things off, we look at a player that showcased a fairly well-rounded skillset during his time at camp, Joshua McNair. He's a young point guard prospect with solid IQ and a strong team-first approach to the game. McNair is a capable scorer, but typically looks to get others involved and score as needed. He's a decent defender that works hard and plays with quality energy on that end of the floor. Next in his development process is working to improve his off-hand, as it would make him a more polished floor general. Coach Williams on McNair: 'Joshua has a nice jumper and will attack the basket when he sees an open lane. He plays with his team, but needs to become more vocal as a point guard and be more aggressive on both ends of the floor. Joshua continually improved and attacked the basket more often throughout the day.' McNair enjoyed a solid showing during camp and should build off his performance going forward, as he has the time and ability to continue getting better.
#83:5'10 '22 Evan Ashe (Raleigh, NC)
Next, we look at a player that was able to highlight his ability to affect various facets of the game on a regular basis, Evan Ashe. He's a young, wiry guard prospect that was able to get downhill and consistently make plays. Ashe is a quality penetrator with heady instincts and a solid feel for his skillset. He doesn't force the action and has nice maturity for his age. Ashe pursues rebounds well on both ends of the floor and looks to push transition play whenever possible. His vision is pretty sharp and he has the potential to become a really useful playmaker. Next in his development process is working on his finishing ability, as it'll make him an even deadlier penetrator. Coach Williams on Ashe: 'Evan is a very good guard that can get to the basket, but needs to work on his consistency as a finisher. He should commit to playing defense, because opponents struggle when he properly utilizes his length.' Ashe's play at camp definitely stood out, especially upon realizing his age, so it'll be interesting to see his continued progression.
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#91:5'11 '21 Camden Kepley (Mooresville, NC)
Moving onto a player that provided his team with an extremely balanced presence on both ends of the floor, Camden Kepley. He's a wiry guard prospect that embraces his role well and rarely forces the action on either end of the floor. Kepley showed the ability to knock down shots from the perimeter, but also proved to be a capable penetrator with the necessary strength to finish through contact. He moved well without the ball and frequently mixed up his approach on offense. Kepley defended the point of attack well and was able to force a few turnovers during camp. Next in his development process is working on his transition defense, as it would help his team in countless ways. Coach Williams on Kepley: 'Camden is a good shooter, but was very successful at getting to the basket. He needs to work on seeing his man and the ball while on defense. Camden can be more vocal and work on his ball-handling.' Kepley was a solid two-way contributor for his team and should be able to continue steadily developing over the next few years.
#109:6'0 '20 Xavier Jones (Knightdale, NC)
Continuing onto a player that has a lot of intriguing qualities and clear long-term upside, Xavier Jones. He's a guard prospect with nice length, quality all-around athleticism, and the ability to cause constant pressure in transition. Jones is a decent penetrator that was able to knock down the open jumper. He moved quite well without the ball and scored numerous times from cutting opportunities. Next in his development process is working on his all-around defensive presence, as he possesses the necessary tools to become an impact player on that end of the floor. Coach Williams on Jones: 'Xavier is very athletic, but has to learn how to utilize his size and be more vocal on both ends of the floor. He did a good job of running the floor, but can't take plays off.' Jones has a lot of useful tools, but must play harder and continue working in order to maximize his on-court impact.
#110:6'0 '19 Jaelen Whitley (Charlotte, NC)
Next, we look at a player that stood out with his ability to relentlessly score the ball during camp, Jaelen Whitley. He's a strong-bodied guard prospect with a deceptive handle and nice athleticism for his position. Whitley is a very capable scorer that can get going from all three levels with relative ease. He effortlessly generates shots off the dribble and loves to attack the midrange area, especially when going downhill or in transition. Whitley utilized his body well when penetrating and finishing through contact at the rim. Next in his development process is working on getting others involved, as he has the necessary vision to make plays for others, but can get caught trying to do much on his own. Coach Williams on Whitley: 'Jaelen is very athletic, but must work on not taking plays off. He can play the game at a high level, but can often be too casual on the court. Jaelen has a very high skillset, just needs to play the entire game.' Whitely was among the leading offensive performers for his team and has the ability to play at the next level, especially if he's willing to add in more playmaking to his approach.
#117:6'3 '21 Adonijah Whitley (Greensboro, NC)
Moving onto a player that raised a lot of intrigue with his ability to make nonstop contributions on both sides of the ball, Adonijah Whitley. He's a long, wiry forward prospect that plays hard and possesses a solid feel for the game. Whitley scored the ball efficiently from all three levels during camp while actively looking to make plays for others whenever possible. He's a well-rounded athlete with solid two-way versatility and plenty of remaining upside. Next in his development process is continuing to add strength to his wiry frame, as it'll make him an even more physically imposing player on both ends of the floor. Coach Williams on Whitley: 'Adonijah is a very good shooter that should work on developing a midrange game. He played very well in the first game, but can still improve as a ball-handler. Adonijah does a good job on the boards and was very active in the post.' Whitley should certainly emerge as one of the main pieces for his high school team going forward.
#142: 6'3 '19 Joshua Oliver (Greensboro, NC)
Continuing onto a player that was able to offer his team a strong glue-guy presence throughout camp, Joshua Oliver. He's a strong-bodied forward prospect that willingly looks to make any possible hustle plays on both sides of the ball. Oliver embraces his role, never forces the action, and pursues rebounds at a reliable rate. He doesn't necessarily require offensive touches in order to make an impact, but was able to finish well and knock down the perimeter shot when open. Next in his development process is working on establishing a go-to scoring avenue, as it would allow him to be more assertive on offense. Coach Williams on Oliver: 'Joshua improved each game and gave great effort throughout the day. He looks to attack and is capable of shooting the three-pointer. He can continue to work on his basic fundamentals, as he has good upside. Joshua is capable of getting better if he wants to.' Oliver worked hard during camp and was able to make a quality impact as a result.
#151:6'4 '21 Aaron Oates (Jacksonville, NC)
Finishing up, we look at a player that has great physical tools, a useful skillset, and clear long-term upside, Aaron Oates. He's a long, wiry wing/forward prospect that effectively scored the ball from all three levels while consistently attacking the basket and finishing strong through contact. Oates handles the ball very well for his size and has a solid feel for the game, which allows him to control the offensive action in a pinch. He's very productive on offense, but arguably has more upside on defensive, especially given his blend of length and athleticism. Next in his development process is working on improving his all-around defensive presence, as he possesses the necessary tools to become a quality two-way player. Coach Williams on Oates: 'Aaron is a very good scorer, but has to sit low on defense and be active. He has good size and length with a rebounder's mentality. Aaron can work on bringing energy to the entire game and being vocal.' Oates was possibly the most intriguing prospect on this team, so it'll be exciting to see how his skillset develops going forward.