NCAA Academy South Region: Louisiana Recap

Tai’Reon Joseph- Joseph might have taken home the award for my favorite player to watch between both sessions in Houston. He was looking to make an impact on the game on seemingly every possession, and usually did. Joseph is an athletic lefty who plays with supreme confidence and has the skill to back it up. He connected on lots of pull-up 3’s throughout the camp and showed his ability as a crafty, acrobatic finisher. Joseph is thin but has some wiry strength and toughness to him. The energy he played with all camp set him apart from others. SEMO offered him over the weekend and it appears that more should be on the way soon.

Salle Wilson- Wilson proved to be one of the top shooters in Session 1, but also showed that he’ll hurt you in other areas during camp. He has exceptional upper-body strength and uses it to his advantage. Wilson is a capable ball-handler and can shield off defenders or create space with his body when he decides to attack off the dribble. Although he is an exceptional shooter, I liked that Wilson didn’t just hunt his shot and fall in love with shooting deep ones. When he missed a few in a row, he would look to assert himself inside before going back to the perimeter. Wilson has skills that are desired by college coaches and a body that will adapt well to the college game.

Emareyon McDonald- Each segment of camp that I saw McDonald in, he was looking to prove himself as the best shooter in the gym, and he might have had a good argument for that spot. My lasting memory of him was one of his games in Houston’s practice gym. McDonald came into the game on fire, hitting 4 3’s quickly in the 1st half. His shot is very soft which allows him to get favorable rolls if it isn’t going straight in, along with having a quick release. McDonald shoots with range and confidence, forcing the defense to identify him almost immediately after he crosses half court.

Carvell Teasett- What a surprise…..another shooter. Teasett played on arguably the most explosive offensive team in Session 1 and contributed consistently. Teasett showed he could play on or off the ball effectively at camp. He found teammates well, playing under control and got different guys involved. Teasett shot efficiently from the outside and was smart in his shot selection. If it wasn’t a clear one, he didn’t force it, resulting in a good percentage from beyond the arc. He understands how to move without the ball, and values possessions when the rock is in his hands.

Collin Holloway- It had been over a year since I last saw Holloway, but he was just as impressive in Houston as he was in Atlanta last May. A righty who loves to go left, Holloway is a strong, physical driver who initiates contact and finishes well. At 6’5 215+, Holloway can exploit mismatches very well at the high school level. He is adept at squaring up from the elbow and blowing by forwards, along with taking perimeter players down to the block. Holloway can handle the ball in transition and rebounds aggressively. His athleticism is solid, especially off of two feet. His tough, hard-nosed style is fun to watch.

Chanse Robinson- Robinson came into the camp with a significant reputation, but did not take it easy on his opponents. His pull-up jumper looked particularly good, he has the quickness and ball-handling ability to get clean looks and connect off the bounce often. It seemed like Robinson made a nice effort to be a leader for his team at camp. His group was filled with talent and Robinson was able to make sure things ran smoothly and make sure each player got opportunities to show what they could do. Robinson scored when needed but set a good example for his team with mature, controlled play.

Carlos Stewart- One of the better all-around scorers at the camp, Stewart was a threat whenever he had the ball in his hands. Stewart is a strong guard with a determined, no-nonsense approach. His finishing ability quickly caught my attention; he goes up in traffic and adjusts very well among the trees to convert. Shortly after showing that part of his game, Stewart began to connect on jumpers at different distances from numerous spots on the floor with fundamental form and good elevation. Stewart brings the same mentality to the defensive side as well, helping with rebounding and guarding the ball effectively. He’s one of those guys who can thrive in almost any situation.

Derrick Tezeno- I always look for guys with high motors who make a mark on the game outside of scoring. Tezeno gives you just that. A multi-faceted guard, Tezeno is comfortable in a variety of roles and does quite well in each. He has a thick body that provides him with good leaping ability and the strength to finish inside. Tezeno can facilitate the offense and showed adequate passing ability throughout the camp. He is very active on the court, constantly looking to mix it up for loose balls and rebounds. Tezeno didn’t take a ton when I watched him, but his jumper looked reliable and consistent. His style of play benefitted him very well in the camp setting where touches can be limited.

Byron Joshua- I mentioned it during camp, but Joshua did not allow his size to hinder him from producing in Houston. I don’t think I saw a better mid-range shooter than Joshua in either session of camp. He has a variety of moves to create space and get to his spots before elevating and hanging to get his shot off. Joshua is super confident and for good reason; every time he was shooting a pull-up, I had a good feeling it was going to drop. People always worry about size, but some guys figure out how to negate some of their size disadvantage and Joshua has done just that.