Pangos All-American: Best Big Men
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LAS VEGAS — The 2023 Pangos All-American Camp has become a must-attend event for top prospects from around the country. Bishop Gorman high school was crawling with media, writers, scouts and NBA personnel for the three day event. We were…
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Continue ReadingLAS VEGAS — The 2023 Pangos All-American Camp has become a must-attend event for top prospects from around the country. Bishop Gorman high school was crawling with media, writers, scouts and NBA personnel for the three day event. We were able get eyes on every team and every player in attendance. Below is a breakdown of the best big men we saw.
Aiden Sherrell Aiden Sherrell 6'10" | C Prolific Prep | 2024 #39 Nation CA-N , 2024, Prolific Prep (CA)
Sherrell was one of the most agile and mobile big men in the camp and it showed when he got up and down the floor in transition. The rangy 6-foot-11 center took advantage of the camp style of play – which was transition, transition and more transition – to consistently beat his assignment down the floor for easy baskets. When the game did slow down and half-court execution was necessary, Sherrell showed he had hands and touch as the screener and roller in ball-screens and was a lob threat out of the dunker spot on guard penetration.
Flory Bidunga Flory Bidunga 6'9" | C Kokomo | 2024 State #7 Nation IN , 2024, Kokomo (IN)
Bidunga was dominant from start to finish which ended with him sharing co-Most Outstanding Player honors after the Top 30 game. The 6-foot-9 lefty is an elite defensive and rebounding center whose quickness off the floor, timing on shot contests and ability to execute various ball screen defensive coverages make him one of the most coveted big men in the country. Bidunga showed his defensive prowess as a shot blocker and changer at the rim – and on the perimeter as he closed out and tipped a handful of perimeter jumpers. Offensively, Bidunga is a rim-runner and power finisher at the rim whose strength and explosiveness allow him to absorb and finish through contact.
James Brown James Brown 6'9" | C Link Academy (from Chicago) | 2024 #66 Nation MO , 2024, Link Academy (MO)
Brown is a high energy and big time effort player on both ends of the floor. At 6-feet-10, the rising senior is an active rim-runner with the hands, footwork and agility to catch, gather and finish hit-ahead passes from guards. Brown has really good pop off the floor when elevating and finishing above the rim and has the ball skills and coordination to put the ball on the floor for straight-line drive finishes in the half-court and transition settings.
Jayden Williams Jayden Williams 6'9" | C Overtime Elite (GA) | 2024 #145 Nation GA , 2024, Overtime Elite (GA)
Williams was another wiry, athletic and high motor big man who really thrived when running the floor in transition. At 6-feet-10, Williams is a fluid athlete with good hands and quickness when elevating off the floor for lobs or finishes off of dump-off passes from guards. Defensively, Williams has the anticipation to contest shots around the rim and can also contain guards in ball screen action due to his lateral mobility and length.
Thomas Sorber Thomas Sorber 6'9" | C Archbishop Ryan | 2024 State #58 Nation PA , 2024, Archbishop Ryan (PA)
Sorber was among the traditional type of big men in this camp in that he did most of his damage in the painted area and on the boards. The 6-foot-9 Georgetown-commit used his broad shoulders and strong base to absorb and finish through contact around the rim. Sorber has good feel with his back to the basket and touch on his right-hand jump hook but can also finish with power through defenders. He’s most effective on the defensive end as a physical low-block defender who isn’t afraid to mix it up when blocking out, pursuing rebounds and contesting shots.
Tyler McKinley Tyler McKinley 6'9" | PF Winton Woods | 2024 State #78 Nation OH , 2024, Link Academy (MO)
McKinley recently announced his commitment to Cincinnati and the Bearcats landed one of the more intriguing big men I have seen over the last year or so. The 6-foot-9 center has a combination of traditional power and new-age skill in his game that makes him a pretty versatile prospect at the high school level. McKinley was one of the better passing big men in the camp with his ability to find cutters out of the mid-post, hit shooters with skip passes and play as the trigger man at the top of the key with ball reversals into ball screens.