Phenom Hoops Top 20 Game
CP3 Rising Stars
By Jamie Shaw
Year after year the CP3 Rising Stars Camp is a great accumulation of talent. Possibly the best accumulation of talent of any camp in the country. At this age, kids still want to play against the best. They don’t protect their top spot or ranking, they don’t dodge events, the CP3 Rising Stars Camp has found a way to bring in the best of the best and have them compete against one another for one full weekend.
This year’s, the camp’s fifth, is no different. Players flew in from across the country to compete. Chris Paul was there to speak to them and they were given an itinerary that comprised of skill stations, learning stations and games.
This camp has an all star game where the counselors vote on the Top 20 players and they compete agins one another. So falling in line with the flavor of the camp, we wanted to put together our Top 20 game. Remind you, Phenom Hoops has nothing to do with this camp other than covering it, we did not have a vote for the actual game.
How we watched this event was to sit on court one and be able to watch every team once. Due to circumstances, we were not able to watch the Grizzlies, Mavericks, Rockets, Warriors teams but we were able to sit down and closely evaluate 20 of the 24 teams who played. It was an unbelievable mix of talent and one that was not easy to only put 20 together. However, here is how we would have made the Top 20 game.
**Players are Listed in Random Order
6’ JaCobi Wright (#39/Bucks)
York Prep (SC)
Wright was a blur with the ball, making all the right plays. Consistently he showed his ability to make shots at all 3 levels. He handled the ball with confidence, in both the half and full court, and he made great reads, distributing the ball. His third game on Saturday was one of the elite performances, and certainly the most complete game of the day
6’3” Gavyn Elkamil (#135/Cavaliers)
Pittsburgh HS (KS)
Elkamil has a sturdy frame which he really knows how to use. He is confident on the ball, as he makes good decisions, rarely turning the ball over. While Elkamil does not have elite speed, he has a great change of pace. He is able to get his defender on his hip and keep him out of the play. When the game was on the line, not only did Elkamil demand the ball, but his team mates looked for him. It was nice to see a young player take charge like that, in this type of setting.
6’9” Nnanna Njoku (#238/Cavaliers)
Sanford School (DE)
Njoku was a load on the block, so off the rip he had a leg up due to shear size. However, he was atypical of a big in today’s game, especially one this young, in that he had a nice feel with his back to the basket. Njoku displayed great footwork and plus hands. He set a big target on the block and took his time with the ball. In today’s game, there are so many run and jump face up guys, it is refreshing to see a load on the block really embrace that.
6’6” Terrence Clarke (#176/Cavaliers)
The Rivers School (MA)
Clarke was perhaps the most physically gifted player in the camp. He has great size, athleticism, skill set, etc…all the tools you would want in a player. At times he looked as if the game was too easy for him, which in all honesty, even among the best…it may have been. We will be interested to see if Clarke can really develop that fire in his belly to be the best, because the sky is the limit with this one.
6’7” Keon Edwards (#230/Hawks)
Sam Rayburn HS (TX)
Edwards is one of those players who is not quite there yet, but you can just see the potential oozing out of him in his game. Edwards has great length and smooth, if not pure, looking jump shot. He was able to put the ball on the floor, as a wing, and he crashed the boards flying high above the rim. Things are a little loose right now for him, but as he grows into his body, they are sure to tighten up. His best basketball is ahead of him and is one who could be a mainstay in the nation’s top 10 as everything starts to click.
6’9” Bretner Mutumbo (#207/Heat)
Potter’s House Christian (FL)
Mutumbo had the unique ability, especially at this same age, to affect the game on both ends of the floor at a high rate. His body style, coordination and game is somewhat similar to a John Henson with his ability to run and jump under control. Mutumbo has great timing on defense and is a strong 2-handed rebounder, both in and out of area. With how he moves his feet, he does well in the pick and roll and offensively he has solid hands as a rim runner/short corner type.
6’7” Jonathan Kuminga (#244/Hornets)
Iona Prep (NY)
Kuminga was the most physically dominate player at the camp. He has such a unique game in that he handled the ball very well, showed high level passing and was a terror when he got downhill and attacked the rim. Kuminga played from start to finish with the pedal to the floor, which is also a great quality for such a dominating player, so young. Kuminga is tracking as one of the top players in this class, and has a chance to be a very special prospect.
6’8” Caleb Furst (#232/Jazz)
Blackhawk Christian (IN)
From our eyes, Furst was the best player in camp. He was incredibly skilled both on the block and away from the basket, when watching him it is truly hard to fathom he is only an 8th grader. In one 3-play sequence, Furst hit a corner three, ripped through and knocked down a 2 dribble pull up and then attacked the rim and finished high above the rim in traffic. Interesting he is from the same state as Josh McRoberts as there are some similarities there. He truly has a complete game, already. He rebounded, he saw the floor and he scored on everyone. MVP of the camp and a top prospect, moving forward, nationally.
6’ Ryan Conway (#28/Knicks)
St Agnes (MD)
Conway had some of the most hype surrounding him of possibly any player. He had a camera crew following him around, documenting his time at the event. Once the whistle blew, Conway played with the utmost confidence and had the ball on a string. He was able to touch the paint at will, and showed an ability to finish at the rim. Moving forward, it will be interesting to watch him progress and what he becomes. The tools to be a dominate lead guard are there.
6’9” Moussa Diabate (#205/Nuggets)
Florida Air Academy (FL)
Diabate has as much upside as anyone in this camp. He has great length to go along with his skill set and ability to move both vertically and laterally. Diabate’s upside is reminiscent of Jonathan Issac with his natural tools. Diabate has some stuff to work on, he plays too straight up, needs to tighten skill set, but make no mistake he has elite level upside.
6’6” Johnathan Lawson (#88/Pelicans)
Memphis East (TN)
By now, the Lawson family is well known among basketball circles. Dedric is a former McDonald’s All American and averaged 19 & 10 this year at Memphis. Dedric and brother KJ (12 & 8) are now at Kansas sitting out their transfer year. His brother Chandler is a Top 20 prospect in the 2019 class and now Johnathan is next in line. Johnathan may be the most athletically fluid of the bunch. They all have great size and ball skills, but Johnathan is most comfortable on the ball in the half court. He set up the offense and he was able to touch the paint often. Seeing where his brothers are, it will be interesting to see how Johnathan develops. With two brothers as probably McDonald’s All Americans (assuming Chandler stays where he is), Johnathan is tracking to be at least as good as them.
6’5” Redford Dunton (#101/Pistons)
Heritage HS (NC)
Dunton has a growing reputation around the region as a bouncy player who really excels in transition. He showed in this camp he has so much more than that. Dunton is very skilled, with a high IQ in the half court. He plays an efficient game, attacking his kill spots off the ball and showing great footwork prior to the catch. He has a longer release on his jump shot, reminiscent of Larry Bird, but he gets it off with a high/soft release and shoots it consistently. It will be interesting to see how he moves forward, his game IQ is far ahead of his age and when you match that with high level athleticism and size he has the change to track at a high level.
6’1” Jalen Blackmon (#140/Raptors)
Marion HS (IN)
Blackmon may have been the most natural scorer in the entire camp. He scored it with a swag and confidence. He had everyone on the sideline thinking everything he put up was going in. He is the younger brother of James and Vijay and shows an upside to compete at their level. He has a good handle in the half court and a nice wiggle attacking the basket. His release is quick and he is able to find his way in the mid range with 1 and 2 dribble pull ups. With strength and the couple more inches, that should come with his age, watch out.
6’5” Alexis Reyes (#174/Wizards)
Rectory School (MA)
Reyes plays with a great motor and showcased an intriguing skill set. He’s an athletic player who plays aggressively on both ends of the floor. His combination of length, athleticism and aggression allowed him to play both forward positions at this level. Reyes was best as he ran the wing in transition, finishes at and above the rim. We are interested to see him progress, there are some innate things in there that really stand out.
6’1” Carter Whitt (#103/Wizards)
Trinity of Raleigh (NC)
At first, when you look at Whitt, some may laugh when told he is among the elite point guards in the country. Then you watch Whitt play, and he immediately makes fools of those who laughed at him. He has an unbelievable feel for the game, seeing the floor at an elite level. He shoots the ball well and is able to get to the rim at will. Whitt’s pace of play is great, making him even quicker than he naturally is. He is the type of player who goes for 20 and still makes everyone on his team better. He will always have to answer questions defensively, however, offensively he is advanced as there is.
6’6” Khailieo Terry (#233/Heat)
Marymont School (US Virgin Islands)
Terry is an elite athlete, possibly even a freak athlete if you want to go so far. He plays on both ends as if he has been shot out of a cannon, making a defensive stop and then streaking down the floor and finishing well above the rim. Like a bull in a china shop, he has complete disregard if anyone is around him. Defensively, he has great instincts. Offensively he is best in transition and on lobs. It will be interesting to watch and see how his skill set rounds out, but it is hard to take your eyes off him when he is in the game.
6’10” Franck Kepnang (#216/Celtics)
The MacDuffie School (MA)
Kepnang really stood out on the defensive end of the floor. He is incredibly athlete with good strength and length. During his first game of the day, Kepnang and 11 blocked shots. He got them from all angles as well, chase down, weak side and straight up. He showed to be an active rebounder and he had an understanding of what to do on offense. He is in the mold of an Amidou Brimah who just naturally affects the game defensively, makes a team better with his high level ability to protect the rim.
6’8” Trey Patterson (#189/Warriors)
Rutgers Prep (NJ)
It would be hard to talk about the top 2021 prospects and not mention Trey Patterson. He is firmly in the conversation, right now, as the top prospect in the class and why not, he has the entire package. He is a lengthy wing, with the ability to put it on the floor and the explosion to finish in traffic. Already standing 6’8” and possessing fluid wing skills he is able to do what he wants on any floor we walks on, at age. Things come so easy to Patterson it will be interesting to monitor how his demeanor develops as his peers catch up to him physically. But as it stands right now, if you were to call him the number one prospect in the class, we would not disagree.
6’8” Georges Lefebvre (#192/Bulls)
Cape Fear Christian (NC)
Lefebvre has the tools, he has the size, he can slash, he can shoot. Even against some of the top players in the country, for his class, Lefebvre just bleeds upside. Like with most his age and size he will need to continue to develop physically and figure out his game, but he has so much time to do that. Lefebvre plays with a good pace and has the ability to get to the basket in the half court. Off the catch, he has range and touch on his jump shot. There is great length on his frame and explosion around the basket.
6’5” Tevin Smith (#217/Knicks)
Danville HS (IL)
What stood out the most with Smith was his confidence and pace on the floor. He played on a team that had guys who came in with high reputations, but the ball always seemed to find its way back into Smith’s hands. He has a sturdy frame, right now, and good ball skills as a secondary handler and a play maker in the half court. Smith displayed good vision and shot making ability and he was a tough, and strong, rebounder. I heard a couple of people ask about his quickness, which may be a question that continues moving forward, but as long as he continues to make plays, he is a high level glue guy that makes a team better.