Cp3 Camp 2028 Immediate Takeaways
Players from across the country landed in the ATL to be a part of what is known as one of the best middle school camps in the country. On day one, I spent a lot of time watching the 2028…
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Continue ReadingPlayers from across the country landed in the ATL to be a part of what is known as one of the best middle school camps in the country. On day one, I spent a lot of time watching the 2028 class, and here are my immediate takeaways…
Jaylen Byers (5’3/PG/2028)
School: Davidson K-8
Instagram: jmoney2028
Twitter: N/A
Jaylen may have stood only 5’3, but he had a big game out of the gates. From his vision to his ability to knock down the trey ball, JB had a great showing. He is a PG that was a reliable ball-handler and orchestrator. He was extremely tough in the up-tempo game, and he really pushed the pace of play which put a lot of pressure on the defense. He’s got nice handles and does a good job of using hesitation and change of speed to beat his man. His vision was superb, and he was feeding his teammates so all could eat. He shot the ball with efficiency both in c&s opportunities and off the bounce. The pressing question that will overshadow his game is how much growth is in his future. Since we can’t answer that now, let’s enjoy what he is bringing to the game right now, and needless to say, he brought it on day one.
From his vision to his ability to knock down the trey ball, JB had a great showing.
Terry J. Drake
Tre Pittman (5’7/Combo Guard/2028)
School: Pelham Park Middle
Instagram: Tp3.tre_day
Twitter: N/A
I have put ink on Tre before, so I was looking for development since the last time I saw him. He showed his strengths as it pertains to his handles, perimeter shooting, IQ, and ability to create off the bounce. He plays with a poise that seems, at times, a lull in his activity on the court, but don’t let it fool you, as he is often just probing for the right angle for his attack. Then when he finds the seam, he is aggressive on his drive and finishes very well at the cup. His playmaking ability is one of his best attributes, and he is definitely a player in the 2028 class to keep an eye on. With him being in my home state, you will be hearing more from this emerging CG.
He showed his strengths as it pertains to his handles, perimeter shooting, IQ, and ability to create off the bounce.
Terry J. Drake
Boston Sheppard (5’6/Point Guard/2028)
School: James Weldon Johnson
Instagram: boss2shifty
Twitter: N/A
Boston caught my eyes early and had me locked in every time he was on the court. He is an instinctive PG that was locked in on the pulse of the game. He is an emerging PG in his class that showed his scoring and defensive instincts throughout the course of the game. He has excellent vision and court awareness that nourishes an offense. He is a headstrong attacker off the dribble and a confident pick-and-roll practitioner, and it becomes evident that everything he did and does on the court creates possibilities for his team. He benefits his team on the defensive end just as much as he does on the offensive end by turning offense into defense by creating turnovers and stops brought about by his defensive play. His play on both ends of the floor makes Boston useful in all sorts of situations. He is a player whose growth we will continue to monitor.
He is an instinctive PG that was locked in on the pulse of the game.
Terry J. Drake
Syn’Nare McCoy Turner (6’1/PF |C/2028)
School: Bayside Middle School/ Bayside High School
Instagram: nari_vsthewrld
Twitter: N/A
Syn’Nare was a huge problem for his team’s opponents in the paint. He is a big-post player with athleticism who can quickly get off the floor. I really liked his usage of his big body in ball-screen action and his ability to roll hard out of the ball-screen action. He is an adept pick-and-roll partner for any guard and was one of the best in setting screens. I would love to see his development with rolling into a hard seal under the rim which would make him more of a threat that could put the defense in a vulnerable position. He doesn’t need the ball in his hands much to be effective, and he makes the most of his shots. The reason for his effectiveness is that he puts himself in good position to receive drop-off passes, he battles hard on the offensive glass and gets easy put-backs, and he runs the floor hard, receiving kick-ahead passes in transition. Syn’Nare even showed a little point-forward skills and showed that he can lead the fast break. He has to continue working on his handles and expanding his game outside of the paint, but he is a player to keep an eye on coming out of this camp. There is one thing that I want to share with Syn’Nare if he reads this article, as I may not get the chance to share with him, but there was a play when he turned the ball over and never got back on defense; instead, he stood for a second or two then began walking his way back to the other end of the floor. He is too good of a prospect to have that kind of moment on the type of stage the CP3 camp provides. Many eyes were watching, and he has to remember that you never know who is watching.
Syn’Nare was a huge problem for his team’s opponents in the paint.
Terry J. Drake
Cole Amonett (5’11/Point Guard/2028)
School: Pickett County K-8
Instagram: Colejamonett23
Twitter: @Colejamonett24
What got me writing about Cole was his energy and activity on the glass. He rebounded at a high rate and used his size and physical play to be a factor on the boards. At times he struggled to finish the put-backs, but as the game went on, it was as though his energy could not be matched by opponents. He simply outworked opponents and made big plays for his team out of sheer effort and determination. Another thing that emerged as the game continued was that the tools in Cole’s toolbox became apparent. He began to show that he had skills with the ball in his hands and that he could stretch the floor with the trey ball. He is a listed PG but spent most of the time playing in the front court. He is a two-way player that plays both ends with the same intensity and passion.
He rebounded at a high rate and used his size and physical play to be a factor on the boards.
Terry J. Drake
Kadden Irwin (6’1/Forward/2028)
School: Belfair
Instagram: K5_kaden
Twitter: N/A
The times that I have seen Kadden play, it has been with his AAU squad, and he is sharing the court with the phenom Erick Dampier. What I saw today can easily get overshadowed at times by Dampier’s presence, but Kadden was the best player on the court in both games that I saw him play. He is a force to be reckoned with as he brought a lot of energy to the floor. He was a high-volume scorer with so many ways to score the rock, and he was showing them all. He was running the floor, getting easy buckets in transition, scoring on put-backs off offensive boards, scoring with his back to the basket, and facing up and attacking off the bounce. Playing under the tutelage of Coach Erick Dampier is helping Kadden come into his own, and you can see the impact that Coach Dampier is having on Kadden’s overall game and confidence.
He is a force to be reckoned with as he brought a lot of energy to the floor.
Terry J. Drake
Erick Dampier, Jr. (6’7/Forward/2028)
School: MRA
Instagram: Edampjr2028
Twitter: N/A
One of the most anticipated players that people wanted to get their eyes on was Erick. If you are close to grassroots basketball, you have heard about him. I give a lot of credit to his dad for helping to maintain barriers that keep him humble through this process. As far as his on-court play, he continues to develop in areas a year ago that needed attention. He is a lot more patient on the low block after his paint touches, he is handling the rock in the open court with more confidence, and his interior passing is looking better. He still had moments where he brought the ball down low at times, making himself smaller, but like all players this age, they all have things to work on. I will be putting ink on Damp a lot over the next few years, so I won’t be extensive with my writing in this article on him. The takeaway that was needed to see was there, and that is he continues to develop.
As far as his on-court play, he continues to develop in areas a year ago that needed attention.
Terry J. Drake