Las Vegas Future Legends Training Showcase Review: Oregon Prospects

<p>This past weekend, the Oregon Prospects received a late invite to participate in the Las Vegas Future Legends Training Showcase, a special elite event that included several top 17U teams from AAU programs up and down the West Coast. Led by The Hoop Salem director James Johnson, the Prospects brought a hodgepodge roster containing the top Class of 2021, 2022, and 2023 players in the program and overall they held their own.</p> <p>On the weekend the Prospects finished 1-3; their win over Showtime Ballers, and were plenty competitive in the other games. We had the opportunity to catch the games on stream and here’s a look at how the players on the team did (note stats are missing about six minutes of action in the team’s final game).</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="787678" first="Lamar" last="Washington"] (2022 Jefferson)</strong> - Washington led the Prospects in scoring (16.5 ppg) on the weekend, showing the ability to put the ball in the basket at all three levels. The 6-foot-4 guard was knocking down from long range (8-for-19) as well as using his new trim body to create off the dribble, absorbing contact and finishing around the hoop, including a couple of dunks. Washington had some solid dishes to open teammates but did struggle a bit with turnovers but that has come with his transition to playing at the point.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="855929" first="Dane" last="Erikstrup"] (2021 Beaverton)</strong> - Erikstrup had a solid weekend and ended up the team’s second-leading scorer (11.0 ppg) and tied for the rebounding lead (5.3 rpg). The 6-foot-10 post usually is anchored in the post in high school, so with the freedom to float outside he showed he can knock down catch-and-shoot threes, although he may have been a little too love with the shot as over half of shot attempts were from beyond the arc. Erikstrup did post up strong down low and had great touch near the basket.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="861099" first="Marquis" last="Cook"] (2023 Jefferson)</strong> - Much is expected out of Cook, but sometimes it’s easy to forget he’s playing against guys two-plus years older. He certainly showed flashes of his immense potential with a number of highlight reel dunks and blocked shots during the weekend, including one finish of an alley-oop against Vegas Elite where his head seemingly was right at the rim. Overall though he looked more to blend in, didn’t force the issue much and work hard on the boards and on the defensive end.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="855934" first="Roy" last="Bunn"] (2021 Jesuit)</strong> - He didn’t necessarily light up the scoreboard but Bunn had an outstanding weekend playing pure point guard. The 5-foot-9 floor leader calmly measured up his defender and then used hesitation and a quick burst to get into the lane and dish it off to the open man for an easy bucket. While his outside shot is still coming along, what Bunn also contributed in a surprising way was helping out on the defensive boards.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="857346" first="Luke" last="Johnson"] (2022 Central Catholic)</strong> - Johnson didn’t get a ton of touches on the offensive end so his focus was largely on rebounding - where he tied for the team lead (5.3 rpg) - and defense, where he registered at least seven blocks. The athleticism of the 6-foot-8 forward was on display throughout the event, as was his willingness to battle bigger and athletic players down low. And when he did get a touch, he was sharp with his mid-range jumper.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="606248" first="Nathan" last="Rawlins-Kibonge"] (2021 Jefferson)</strong> - The reigning 6A Player of the Year only played in two games, but the Oklahoma commit performed much as you would expect he would - with a lot of energy and really making an impact, especially on the defensive end. He was simply a shot-eraser in the paint - you didn’t dare dunk it on him - and he also got a couple of tip blocks on close-outs on three-point shooters. Rawlins-Kibonge was efficient offensively with high percentage makes inside.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="855952" first="Jalen" last="Adams"] (2021 Jefferson)</strong> - Much like his role with Jeffesron, Adams spent most of his time spotting up for three - of which he had modest success over the weekend, hitting 4-for-15 from deep. But what the 6-foot-2 guard was able to show was his ability to really score and finish in transition, as he often got loose downcourt to receive the long pass and finish at the hoop.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="674422" first="Koren" last="Johnson"] (2022 Garfield)</strong> - The last addition to the team, Johnson was on loan from Seattle Rotary and he got into a couple of games. In those games he didn’t play but half of those contests but just watching his limited minutes you can immediately see why he’s one of the top players in his class. Johnson was a scoring machine, whether it was his quick-release threes or slithery drives to the hoop, and he was active in finding open teammates with smooth passes as well.</p>