NYBA & Paul Biancardi Camp All-Star Team Breakdown
The following players were selected for the All-Star game presented by Puma and Vertical Academy. Here is a breakdown of Team VA… Caiden Botts (6’5/CG/2024) High School Team: Silverdale Baptist Academy Instagram: Caiden.botts Twitter: @caidenbotts00 Caiden has excellent positional size and…
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Continue ReadingThe following players were selected for the All-Star game presented by Puma and Vertical Academy. Here is a breakdown of Team VA…
Caiden Botts (6’5/CG/2024)
High School Team: Silverdale Baptist Academy
Instagram: Caiden.botts
Twitter: @caidenbotts00
Caiden has excellent positional size and played with tremendous poise. He plays with a nice pace yet never gets sped up. He is patient off the bounce and waits until the times are suitable for his attack. He understands how to hit angles and attack through contact. He flashed his athleticism and his versatility throughout the day. He was active on the glass and often started the break himself after securing the defensive board. When pushing the rock, he showed his ability to make the right decision with the ball in his hands. Caiden is a tough cover for many as he has so many tools to work with. He can score off the bounce, in c&s opportunities, and from beyond the arc. He is poised to have a solid junior season, and I look forward to covering him over the next two years.
He is patient off the bounce and waits until the times are suitable for his attack.
Terry J. Drake
Carter McDole (G|F/2023)
High School Team: N/A
Instagram: N/A
Twitter: N/A
Carter is a lefty that is exceptionally gifted with exceptional footwork. He is a slasher with good length and can really finish at the rim. He thrives in the open court and loves to get downhill, looking to put players on a poster. He has a high skill level and excels at penetrating the lane and scoring from mid-range and at the rim. A fascinating asset about Carter is that you can run an offense through him or around him, and when it boils down to it, he is such a luxury to have on your team. He is the caliber player that is both fully capable of taking a team over the top and fully aware of how much help it takes to win. Teammates love Carter because he draws so much attention and leaves them room to operate while not having so many eyes on them each possession. A lot of eyes were on him at camp, and I am sure the spotlight will continue to be on him.
He is a slasher with good length and can really finish at the rim.
Terry J. Drake
Daunte White Daunte White 6'6" | PF LaVergne | 2024 State TN (6’6/F/2024)
High School Team: LaVergne High School
Instagram: Daunte__W
Twitter: @DaunteWhite21
Daunte came to work and did it all in an impressive manner. He is a multi-level scorer that had a toolbox full of tools, and he was digging deep down into the box. Physically he has length that contributed to his versatility on both ends of the floor. He is really skilled with a nice handle and can turn the corner and get to the rim with a really impressive burst. Then when he gets to the rim, his athleticism is put on display, and he is flying high and finishing above the rim. He showed his ability to shoot the trey ball, and he may shoot it at a good percentage, but he did not give me many looks to guage his consistency; but if he shoots it from deep at a high percentage, it makes him a bigger threat than what he already is. He did not limit the impact of his versatility to the offensive end of the floor as he used his physical tools on the defensive end and showed the potential to lock up ball handlers and guard in space. He rebounded at a high rate, got out in transition, and put pressure on the rim. One thing I have to mention about Daunte is his excellent footwork in the paint. He is very crafty when getting in the paint and maneuvering to score the rock. He is ready for a junior campaign that should be exciting to watch.
He is a multi-level scorer that had a toolbox full of tools, and he was digging deep down into the box.
Terry J. Drake
Mardrecus Moreland, Jr. (CG/2024)
High School Team: N/A
Instagram: N/A
Twitter: N/A
The surprise of the camp was Mardrecus and by the time camp was over, he had everyone in the gym talking about him. He has a game that is exciting to watch and a nightmare to play against. He is a guard that thrives in space and is the ultimate playmaker with the ball in his hands. Mardrecus is a dominant force with the ball in his hands and had one of the deepest bag of tricks off the dribble of all who was in camp. He is also a dangerous off-ball spacer as he can efficiently knock the trey ball. So whether he is at the lead guard spot or the off-guard spot, he is walking production. He has court vision and awareness and is super tough to contain in iso situations because he was constantly in attack mode, and when the defense sold out to stop him, he was dropping dimes to open teammates. He was one of the brightest young talents at camp, and we will be keeping a close look on Mardrecus over the next two years.
The surprise of the camp was Mardrecus and by the time camp was over, he had everyone in the gym talking about him.
Terry J. Drake
Obian Howard (5’10/PG/2023)
High School Team: Elizabethtown HS
Instagram: Ob.howard
Twitter: @4howardOB
One of the best floor generals at the camp was Obian. He is an extremely heady player that is the epitome of being a coach on the floor. He has very good vision and passing skills and improves everyone around him because of his ability to orchestrate and distribute. He is an aggressive PG, constantly putting pressure on his defender and the rim. He embraces contact on his attack off the bounce and has excellent body control in the paint and on his attack on the rim. He plays with his head up, sees the floor well, and is always thinking pass-first, but make no mistake about it; he can score when needed. He was highly productive with the mid-range jumper. As he embarks upon his senior year, look for Obian to make some noise and get eyes from the next level on him.
He is an extremely heady player that is the epitome of being a coach on the floor.
Terry J. Drake
Reynolds Escher (6’0/CG/2025)
High School Team: Saint Francis
Instagram: rescher13
Twitter: @reynoldsescher
Reynolds came into camp and wasted no time establishing himself on the court. He brought energy and effort and played as though he had nothing to lose. His activity on both ends of the floor is what separated him and got him selected to the All-Star game. Every time he touched the ball, he kept the offense flowing or found his way to the cup. He showed he was a great finisher at the rim, and he manufactured points by hitting the offensive glass and getting easy put-backs. With three years ahead of him and time to cultivate his game, look for Reynolds to continue increasing his stock.
He brought energy and effort and played as though he had nothing to lose.
Terry J. Drake
Sam Parson (6’2/SG/2025)
High School Team: Grundy County HS
Instagram: sam_parson15
Twitter: @Sam03120894
Sam was one of the hardest working guys at camp. One thing that separated Sam from many other players at camp was his tenacity and sheer will to outwork everyone on both ends of the floor. He stayed in the paint, breaking down defenses and creating open scoring opportunities for his teammates. He was one of the best interior passers when he got into the paint and decided to dish the rock. He’s not the most explosive athlete and doesn’t have the quickest first step, but he uses his IQ and gritty play to make himself a major contributor on both ends of the floor. He is a young player that is still developing, and as he continues to improve his long ball and his speed, he will continue to increase his stock.
One thing that separated Sam from many other players at camp was his tenacity and sheer will to outwork everyone on both ends of the floor.
Terry J. Drake