Jordan Brand Classic Standouts
PrepHoops Network saw the class of 2017 nationally graduate on Friday night. The elite players in the country played for many of them their last high school basketball game at the Jordan Brand Classic. Check out the top performers from the game! A lot of future NBA players here!
SF Brian Bowen (La Lumiere, IN)
Bowen showed why he is one of the most coveted recruits in the country on Friday night. The big wing has length and size to play at the NBA level in a couple years. Will need to continue to add strength. He really impressed us with what he does best and played to his strengths. Bowen can really shoot it from deep and did that at a high clip at the Jordan Game. Quick release with pure mechanics and is lethal off the catch. Showed more of a complete game than we saw at McDonald’s. Mixed in a couple slashes and shows some versatility on the defensive end of the floor. Factor in transition as a wing finisher. Projects as a mid-first round pick in 2018. Bowen had 26 points on 10-13 FG.
PG Quade Green (Neumann Gorretti, PA – Kentucky)
Green is a strong point guard that has a high basketball IQ. Knows how to play the game the right way from the point guard position. Vision and feel finding his teammates both in the half court and transition. Electric passer that sees the floor tremendously well. Also has the ability to shoot it pulling up. Strength allows him to get in the lane. Look for him to make an immediate impact replacing De’Aaron Fox next season. We could see him emerging in what will not be as strong of draft at the PG position as a mid-first round pick. Green only scored 8 points, but dropped a game high 10 assists along with 5 rebounds.
C Brandon McCoy (Cathedral Catholic, CA)
McCoy has great physical tools at 6’11” with a strong frame, broad shoulders, and long arms. Really liked the motor that McCoy played with in this game. He has had a solid post season combining this effort and what he did at the McDonald’s Game. Powerful finisher around the hoop and rebounds at a high rate. Plus offensive rebounder that goes right back up to slam it home. Can also step out and hit a mid-range jumper on occasion. Defensively has potential as a rim protector. That combined with his high field goal percentage on the offensive end should see him land in the lottery of the 2018 NBA Draft. McCoy finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds.
C Mitchell Robinson (Chalmette, LA – Western Kentucky)
What a first half for Robinson. The 7’0” center from Louisiana has incredible length. He ran the floor hard all half and was rewarded for that! Robinson had multiple alley-oop slams in the transition game. Powerful finishing in the paint with tip dunks and getting on the offensive glass. Rebounds well in traffic and shoots a high percentage. Has elite shot blocking potential. Offensive skill will need to be refined, but has a lot of raw physical tools you just can’t teach. Robinson has lottery upside in the 2018 NBA Draft. He was 7-7 from the field for 15 points.
SF Jarred Vanderbilt (Victory Prep, TX – Kentucky)
Vanderbilt shot the ball at the best clip we have seen in his career while at McDonald’s a couple weeks ago. Didn’t look to shoot it much from three in this one rather showing his versatility handling and slashing to the rim. Explosive handles in transition and gets in the lane with ease. Has NBA size for the small forward position. Finishes well around the hoop and gets there with ease. Likes to use floaters and euro steps in the lane. Best part of his game might be his ability to rebound at a high level and take it coast to coast for either a score or assist. Vanderbilt hurt his ankle pretty bad at the end of the game, but he still finished with 17 points and 7 rebounds. Vanderbilt has lottery talent in the 2018 NBA Draft.
C DeAndre Ayton (Hillcrest Prep, AZ – Arizona)
Ayton is a lock to be a top 3 selection in the 2018 Draft. The 7’0” center has an elite physical profile with height, strength, length, and athleticism on the interior. Ayton is a beast rebounder that snatches them with two hands in traffic like nobody else in high school basketball. High level rebounder on both ends of the floor. Had several tip dunks for put backs. Powers his way through contact to score. Good footwork on the block. Ayton had 19 points and 8 rebounds.
C Mo Bamba (Westtown, PA)
Bamba is my favorite player in this class. His combination of NBA potential and off the charts personality will make him a fan favorite wherever the uncommitted prospect chooses. Bamba is a big time rebounder that high points basketballs in traffic. Extremely quick to the offensive glass. When he gets even an inch of space he is cleared for takeoff. Will need to continue to add strength to be able to finish through more physical defenders. Runs the floor great and gets a lot of his points as a rim runner. Elite shot blocking presence. Bamba finished with 6 points and 10 rebounds. Top three pick in the NBA Draft after he gets in a college weight program and continues to progress as an offensive player.
PG Matt Coleman (Oak Hill, VA – Texas)
Coleman is a lefty point guard that is headed to Texas next season. The thin and wiry point guard is electric with the ball in his hands. Pushes it in transition and is an exciting passer that likes to make the highlight reel dish. His speed in the open floor along with his ability to find others will make him an instant impact player at Texas next season. Coleman can hit a mid-range pull up jumper. He had 8 points and 8 assists. Could be a first round pick after a couple years under Shaka Smart.
SF Kevin Knox (Tampa Catholic, FL)
Solid, but not spectacular game for Knox. We are big fans of what this 6’8” small forward brings to the table. Silky smooth perimeter game that allows him to get where he needs on the floor to let his shot fly. Think of a more college ready body version of Brandon Ingram. Knox has a feathery jumper and an overall outstanding skill set. The uncommitted prospect and future top 10 pick in 2018 had 12 points.
PG Collin Sexton (Pebblebook, GA – Alabama)
Nobody might have helped their stock more in the all-star games than Sexton. He came into it known as an elite undersized scoring guard and is coming out of them as potentially the top point guard in the 2018 NBA Draft. First part that stands out about Sexton is his elite motor. This kid brings it every single possession! Explosive speed with the ball in his hands allows him to blow past his opponent in both transition and the half court. Likes to get to the rim as a scorer. Really showed he can dish it again as he made a few more spectacular passes. Finished with 11 points.
SG Lonnie Walker (Reading, PA – Miami)
Walker was co-MVP of the game with Bowen. He was a standout at McDonald’s and that continued over to this game. Walker is a well built two guard that has solid athleticism. He ran hard in the open floor which helped him get a few dunks in transition. Overall smooth handles and is explosive in transition. His three point shot is definitely his strength at this stage. Walker is one of the elite three point shooters in the country. Silky smooth stroke that he drills both pulling up and off the catch. He had 19 points. Has first round ability as a one and done if he can round out his complete game.