Pangos Jr. All-American Camp: Top Guards (Part I)

<p>Norwalk, Calif. — Cerritos College was the site for the the Pangos Junior All-American Camp, featuring more than 100 of the top 6th-8th grade players from all parts of the country.</p> <p>The two-day event featured camp games and skills instruction from former NBA player and college head coach Reggie Theus.</p> <p>We attended Sunday's camp games and all-star games and here is the first set of top guards we watched at the event.</p> <p><strong>Kyle Jones</strong> (2023/Atlanta, GA)</p> <p>Jones, at 6-feet-3, is tracking as an impact high school player from the get-go. He has an impressive combination of ball skills, change of speed to get into the paint, and is a willing and capable passer. Jones got to the rim at-will and showed the ability to finish through and around contact.</p> <p><strong>Frederick Payne</strong> (2023/Ruston, LA)</p> <p>The 6-footer is dynamic in transition, using his speed to blow-by defenders on the break and elusiveness to evade shot blockers in the paint. Payne has nice size, length and fluid athleticism for an eighth grade guard. His ability to finish with either hand around the basket is what set him apart in this event.</p> <p><strong>Andrew Mayock</strong> (2023/New Canaan, CT)</p> <p>The lost art of perimeter shooting in the current state of youth basketball is not lost on the 5-foot-10 Mayock. He has fundamental and smooth shooting mechanics, doesn't need much time or space to get his shot off and is consistent from just about every spot on the floor.</p> <p><strong>Gavin Hightower</strong> (2024/Cerritos, CA)</p> <p>The 5-foot-6 seventh grader is the epitome of a pass-first point guard. In the mixtape era of hoops, Hightower keeps the game simple with his vision, passing and scoring. He showed the leadership ability and unselfishness coaches look for in a true point guard and finished over length in the paint despite his small stature.</p> <p><strong>Tyler Rolison</strong> (2023/Los Angeles, CA)</p> <p>Rolison is an athletic slasher who is difficult to stop when he gets downhill on the break. The 6-footer gets off the floor quickly and can absorb and finish through contact. Rolison thrives in an uptempo setting and uses his length and lateral speed to create turnovers defensively.</p> <p><strong>Jeremiah Johnson</strong> (2023/Oklahoma City, OK)</p> <p>Johnson showed impressive stop-and-go ability in transition, which made it easy for him to get into the paint where he has a variety of finishes, but can also kick to an open teammate. The 6-foot-1 eighth grader can also knock down a rhythm 3-pointer.</p>