Josh Leonard is Special
Anyone who attended the camp knows that Josh Leonard’s pure dominance was the primary takeaway. There’s something so unique about the calm manner in which Leonard is able to lead a team, dictate the action, and legitimately destroy opponents at a moment’s notice. It’s been this way for quite a few years, but his feel and skillset (particularly at his size) are truly unbelievable. He gets to the rim whenever he desires and can reliably finish with power or finesse. Leonard has such strong scoring polish that he could hunt for his own shot on every possession if he wanted to. However, he’s so intelligent, unselfish, and poised that he consistently makes the best possible decision with the ball in his hands. Leonard is a deft passer who reads the floor and sees the game ahead of others. He’s also a quality self-creator who can pick his spots as a scorer and mix it up enough to keep opponents guessing. Leonard can do basically whatever he wants offensively and yield positive results. Furthermore, he’s a strong rebounder who consistently battles on the glass (as opposed to leaking out) and then dictates the action in transition. He defends multiple positions, utilizing his impressive blend of length, motor, and instincts to regularly overwhelm opponents. Again, this isn’t anything new, but rather just an acknowledgment that Leonard is still a rare prospect and someone who should maintain his status as one of the top players in the country.
Committed Seniors Took Care of Business
Two of the top players in South Carolina, Jordan Watford (Queens) and Tristan Thompson (Coastal Carolina), both performed at a high level during camp. There’s so much to love about both guys and what they each bring to a team. Watford is a pure winner who leads by example in all facets of the game. He’s smart, tough, and versatile with the athleticism and skillset to cause a ton of problems for opponents. Watford is truly incredible at getting to the rim. He displayed the ability to knock down jumpers from distance and pull up from midrange, but remained at his best when getting downhill. Watford finishes very well through contact and above the rim yet also has the vision and playmaking instincts to set up others in scoring positions. He’s a reliable rebounder and defender across multiple positions, offering a great blend of motor, anticipation, and physicality. Meanwhile, Thompson also stands out as a versatile matchup problem for opponents. He’s a skilled wing who scores the ball with ease and efficiency from all levels. Thompson is a quality creator with the ability to apply pressure in a variety of ways. He’s capable of filling it up as a scorer yet possesses the vision, defensive instincts, and rebounding prowess to impact all areas of the game. Thompson shines as a leader and consistently contributes to winning. Both Watford and Thompson are two phenomenal young men who should be assets for their respective teams at the next level.
Rodrick “RJ” Davis Has So Much Appeal
We’ve seen a lot of young, noteworthy players throughout the years. Some end up reaching their ceiling, but many become complacent and expect their natural ability to carry them through life. Fortunately, it seems that Davis has the mentality to potentially harness his long-term abilities. After participating in the Freshman 40 last year (as an eighth-grader), it was easy to see the flashes. However, Davis has clearly taken a massive step in his progression. He applied seemingly constant pressure at the rim, both in transition and the half-court, and physically dominated opponents on both ends of the floor. Davis is a fluid athlete with great length, explosiveness, and toughness. Though his creation skills are still developing, he appeared comfortable handling the ball and knocking down jumpers along the perimeter. Given his toolkit, physical upside, and the fact that he’s being developed at one of the state’s top programs (Ridge View), Davis has all the resources to be an incredible talent.