Uncommon Exposure Camp Review

Because of a recommendation by a friend of mine in coaching, I took three players from central Louisiana to Coach Russell Vanlandingham’s Uncommon Exposure Camp in Longview, Texas. There was a limited number of participants, and they all had to either be invited personally by Coach V or be recommended by a high school coach. So there was definitely no shortage of talent at Letourneau University, as guys from Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas made up the 45-player field.

The Uncommon mission is to be a leader in matching under-recruited prospects, with legitimate college potential, to college programs that fit. And I have to say, the platform was as good and legit as advertised. Every prospect I spoke to said it was one of the best camps they’ve ever attended. It was intense, competitive, and definitely exposed who is college ready and who isn’t. With that said, let’s take a closer look at a few of the Louisiana participants. (Players are listed in order by UC jersey number.)

Daylen Turner // 5’11″ PG // Holy Savior Menard // 2022

Turner has been flying under the radar for quite some time, but he turned heads by earning one of the ’Top 9 Prospects’ spots at camp. He played with great control, was alert, and always made the right pass. He has a smooth jumper, quick burst, and plays bigger than his size. He is a true point guard with huge upside. With his work ethic and attention to detail, I look for his recruitment to start picking up very soon.

Keesean Johnson // 6’2″ PG // Ringgold High // 2022

This was the first time I’ve seen Johnson play, and he did not disappoint. He is a tenacious defender that can guard all five positions well. His quickness enables him to stay in front of guards, and his strength makes life difficult on post players. Keesean also was a handful on offense. His size, burst, and soft touch around the rim added up to several finishes in the paint.

D’evin McDonald D’evin McDonald 6'3" | CG Red River | 2022 State LA // 6’3″ CG // Red River High // 2022

I’m beginning to think few people can stay in front of McDonald off the dribble. Coupled with a variety of step-back jumpers and pull-up 3-pointers, there were times he seemed impossible to guard. He also caught Coach V’s attention in the 3-on-3 defensive drill, displaying college potential as he locked up whoever was in front of him. Red River’s guard is certainly on the rise. Keep your eye on him.

Ja’Quevius Thompson // 6’3″ CG // Caldwell Parish // 2022

Thompson was another guy that I hadn’t seen before, but he caught my attention on a couple of occasions. He is very quick going left off of the dribble, and he showed the ability to finish with both hands once in the lane. But what really stuck out to me was his hustle on the offensive boards. He read angles and the trajectory of shots well, and ran down several misses, including a couple of his own.

Braiden Wagner Braiden Wagner 6'2" | CG Peabody | 2022 State LA // 6’3″ CG // Peabody Magnet // 2022

Wagner is tough as nails and isn’t afraid of the moment. He was one of the best in camp at getting to his spots and scoring the ball. In fact, he earned a ’Top 9 Prospects’ nod by winning the one-on-one challenge. He was one of the few guys able to score consistently at all three levels. He is strong, competitive, and guarded all five positions. Braiden was contacted immediately following camp by a college coach, and I expect more of the same.

Marquis Harris Marquis Harris 6'5" | SF Bossier | 2022 State LA // 6’5″ SF // Bossier High // 2022

It’s a well-known fact that Harris’ athleticism is otherworldly, and his elite size, strength, and speed were evident to everyone present. He has the potential to be a defensive specialist at the D1 level, and I’m not just saying that. He has the physical tools already but needs to be more disciplined and taught how to guard. I have no doubt he’ll do it, though, because he’s humble and teachable. Look for his stock to continue to rise.

Noah Jonker // 6’6″ PF // Alexandria Senior High // 2022

Jonker has worked himself into one of the most complete offensive players in the Boot, and he continued to score in a variety of ways at UC. But it was his defense and playmaking skills that set him apart and earned him ’Top 9 Prospects’ status. He guarded very well in one-on-one situations, stayed down on pump fakes, and was aware on help-side defense. I expect Noah’s recruitment to take off shortly.

Patrick Mccraney // 6’2″ CG // Neville High // 2022

Although McCraney was a late add to the list of campers, he made the most of his opportunity. He is no stranger to Prep Hoops and was the fourth Louisiana player to be named a ’Top 9 Prospect’. The Neville guard played with great energy at both ends of the floor. I love his willingness to close out and get up into opposing players on defense. He also knocked down a couple of big shots for his team in key situations.

Overall, I was impressed with my first Uncommon Basketball experience, and I appreciate the platform Coach V has created for high school ballers across the country. I look for many of our guys from Louisiana to gain interest from colleges because of their play in Longview.

**Be sure to check out www.uncommonbasketball.com for more info about Coach V and his upcoming events.