Top Scorers at PHTop250 Expo

If you followed the social media coverage coming out of the #PHTop250 in Cartersville, GA, you know that the camp was loaded with talent. Here are some of the elite-level scorers that knew how to get buckets. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/70-Vladimir-Ivan-1.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1301017 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/70-Vladimir-Ivan-1-242x300.jpg" alt="" width="242" height="300" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="1300751" first="Vladimir" last="Ivan"] - G (6’3/2022/Furtah Prep-GA) I was watching a game and looked over to an empty court and saw a player shooting form shots. That was intriguing to me because, as a trainer, I have always stressed the importance of simple form shooting. Unbeknownst to me, the young man that I saw was Vladimir. It wasn’t long that he showed me that he was lethal from behind the arc. As scouts/evaluators, we often say players are aggressive, but when I put this adjective upon Vladimir, it should be a part of his name somehow because he plays for the offensive end of the court. Defenders knew he was coming at them and was coming to get a bucket, but they had very few answers to stop him. <blockquote> He attacks off the bounce, but the strength of his scoring arsenal comes from behind the arc. </blockquote> Opportunities for Growth: Vladimir can definitely find himself at the next level, and in preparation for that, I’d like to see him continue working on coming off screens going into c&s opportunities, as well learning how to use screens to get separation.   <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/100-Eltramon-Smith-1.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1301018 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/100-Eltramon-Smith-1-252x300.jpg" alt="" width="252" height="300" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="1201501" first="Eltramon" last="Smith"] - G/F (6’7/2023/Tri-Cities-GA) Eltramon is an athletic, lengthy wing that got it done at all levels. He is a lefty that showed he can knock down the trey ball. He got out in transition a lot and finished above the rim with numerous dunks. He showed that he has a lot of scoring tools in his toolbox that he needs to continue to hone. He has a scoring package and produces with what he has, but he can be more efficient. <blockquote> He has nice size that allowed him to be versatile in his scoring choices. </blockquote> He showed that he can post smaller guards and showed that he can score with the mid-range J. Eltramon has two more years in high school to prepare for the next level. He currently holds an offer from Morgan State. Opportunities for Growth: I would like to see Eltramon continue to work on his handles.   <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/84-Johnny-JC-Curry-1.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1301019 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/84-Johnny-JC-Curry-1-240x300.jpg" alt="" width="240" height="300" /></a>Johnny ’JC’ Curry - G (6’4/2022/Hart County HS-GA) JC set the tone for me when it came to what I expected to see the rest of the camp. From the tip, JC was in attack mode. He has a quick first step and is quick off his feet. He is a slasher who got to the rim and finished strong through contact and when shot-blockers tried altering his shot. He was deceptive with his ball-handling that kept defenders guessing. As a player that can switch between playing on-ball and off, scoring is definitely the strength of his game. <blockquote> He got out in transition and was an excellent finisher in the open court. </blockquote> He knows how to play in ball-screen action; as he showed repeatedly, he makes good decisions based on reading how the D was playing the action. As a ferocious playmaker, he constantly broke down defenders off the bounce and put defenders at his mercy. He was one of the best scorers that I saw at the camp, hands down. He currently holds offers from Jacksonville State, Voorhees College, and Life. Opportunities for Growth: I expect this young man’s stock to rise as he has a productive senior year, so I encourage JC to get ready for the next level. Work on his strength and quickness, making sure his body is prepared for the level of play at the next level. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/174-Reginald-RJ-Kennedy-Jr-1.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1301022 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/174-Reginald-RJ-Kennedy-Jr-1-254x300.jpg" alt="" width="254" height="300" /></a>Reginald ’RJ’ Kennedy, Jr. - G (6’1/2023/Fayette County HS-GA) When the coach you are playing for in camp tells you that a kid can shoot while you are walking on the court for the tip, just maybe you should listen. Ok, I can give players the benefit of the doubt if they did not hear him the first time., but after the player has made back-to-back treys and the coach is still yelling out that he can shoot, it leaves everyone watching the game clueless. The kid that I am talking about that the coach warned his team about was RJ. During the games that I covered, I did not see anyone that could shoot the rock better than RJ. <blockquote> In the words of Dick Vitale, ’He can stroke the rock BABY!’ </blockquote> In the game I watched, I counted 5 trey balls made, and I may have missed a couple. He has fantastic range in c&s situations. When defenders finally started running him off the arc, RJ showed his ability to create his shot off the bounce. Opportunities for Growth: RJ played to the strength of his game and showed that he could put the ball on the floor, but I would like to see him continue working on creating space to get his shot off. Continue to work on his finishes, as well as add finishing moves, once he gets in the paint.   <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/81-Chaydon-Stone-1.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1301023 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/81-Chaydon-Stone-1-274x300.jpg" alt="" width="274" height="300" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="1300708" first="Chaydon" last="Stone"] - G (6’3/2022/Jones County HS-GA) Chaydon made it look easy at camp. As a senior putting his skills on display at the #PHTop250, he had a mature performance throughout. His ability to change speeds was one of his weapons that he used that led to many of his scoring opportunities. <blockquote> He is a creative ballhandler that was relentless off the bounce. </blockquote> He literally could get anywhere on the court he chose. He was terrific scoring in transition. He played well in ball screen actions and used the screen to create scoring opportunities. In a camp setting, when there can be sporadic play at times, Chaydon was a consistent bucket getter. Opportunities for Growth: Chaydon has what it takes to find a spot at the next level. I encourage him to continue to work on his shot from behind the arc and prepare his body in the weight room for a shot at the next level.   I will be bringing you more coverage from #PHTop250, so stay tuned.