by Alex Schwartz

With the summer evaluation period having come and gone, it’s time for the grassroots basketball world to move on from college showcase events. That’s where The Hoop Group Junior Elite Camp comes in. Some of the top rising sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth graders in America are at The College of New Jersey for the best in Instruction, Competition, and Exposure. Although these kids are not yet playing for college scholarships, and many have not even begun to think about high school, there are a number of talented kids on hand. Numerous players caught my eye today during the tryout phase of the camp: 

5′10 Danny McKinless ‘12, St. Joseph’s HS (Ringwood, NJ)
6′2 Brandon Austin ‘14, Carnell MS (PA)
5′2 Malcolm Robinson ‘12, Bayonne HS (NJ)
5′6 Christopher Banks ‘12, Community MS (NJ)
5′9 Cody Combs ‘12, Holy Spirit HS (NJ)
5′10 Britton Lee ‘13, Wilson MS (PA)
5′11 Michael Capozzoli ‘12, St. Ann Regional HS (NJ)
5′4 Mark Granville ‘12, Solebury Prep (PA)
6′0 Sterlin Johnson ‘13, Talley MS (DE)
5′6 Carlton Carter ‘13, Christ Chapel Academy (VA)
5′11 Robert Lawler, III ‘12, John Handley HS (VA)
5′11 Steven Parr ‘12, East Catholic HS (CT)
6′2 Armando Gomez ‘12, Harrisburg HS (PA)
5′8 Floyd Prieto ‘13, Greenfield MS (PA)
5′9 Darrien Banks ‘13, Community MS (NJ)
6′2 Larry Morton ‘13, Baumont MS (KY)
5′4 Austin Malone-Mitchell ‘13, Shorewood Intermediate (WI)
5′2 Isiah Powell ‘14, Chapin School (NJ)
5′10 Jamal Adu-Peasah ‘13, Baumont MS (KY)
4′10 Mikey Dixon ‘15, St. Peter’s (DE)
5′3 Wade Baldwin ‘14, Montgomery MS (NJ)
5′6 Jamal Carter ‘13, Harrisburg MS (PA)
5′11 Trevonn Morton ‘13, JHS 288 (NY) 

Mikey Dixon is a great example of a kid who does not let size hold him back. The rising sixth grader from Delaware is sub-five foot, but that has not stopped him from generating a lot of buzz already. Dixon, who will be in only sixth grade next year, has a lot of talent. The little man has great dribbling skills and is fearless on the court. Watch out for Mikey down the road. Another camper from the First State grabbed my attention on Saturday, Sterlin Johnson. The rising eighth grader was phenomenal. He has a complete game and can play either forward spot. People can rip on Delaware for not being a great basketball state, but there is some young talent there is Dixon ‘15, Johnson ‘13, and Trevor Cooney ‘11. The best pure prospect in camp is probably Brandon Austin, a rising seventh grader from Philadelphia. Already 6′2, Austin is a complete man amongst boys, despite the fact that he is playing up. Austin is the type of kid who is the real deal as a youngster and stays good for a while. I say this because although he is 6′2 in seventh grade, Brandon is a swingman rather than a post player. Thus, even if he stops growing, he will have the perimeter skills necessary to be successful. Brandon Austin is the real deal. Another “underclassmen” from Philly stood out today, Britton Lee. The class of 2013 stud has the biggest name of everyone in camp. The combo guard has a lot of talent, and is quick and athletic. He is almost six feet tall already, and it will be interesting to see how Lee performs as other kids in his class catch up to his speed and athleticism. Either way, Britton is a nice kid off the court and a fine talent on it. Apparently Kentucky has some talent in its middle school ranks. Larry Morton and Jamal Adu-Peasah are two of the four Bluegrass State prospects in camp. Morton is a big man who can also run the floor and has a nice handle. Adu-Peasah is a complete package with a lot of talent. Malcolm Robinson, a rising freshman, is a nice floor general at the point guard spot. He is quick and distributes the ball well. Richard Hoskins, a rising freshman, will be attending a Philadelphia powerhouse, Imhotep Charter, and for good reason. Hoskins can flat out ball. The kid has a nice shot and will be one to keep an eye on during camp and beyond. Another player that deserves a specific mention is Armando Gomez. Harrisburg High School is loaded with talent, and Gomez will come in and be someone for the program to build around. The rising freshman is an absolute beast in the paint. He has nice post moves and snatches a lot of boards.

DREAM SCHOOLS- 

Brandon Austin ‘14, Carnell MS (PA): None, ”I don’t really have one.” 

Malcolm Robinson ‘12, Bayonne HS (NJ): USC, “I want to go to USC. My favorite football and basketball players went there: Reggie Bush and OJ Mayo.” 

Britton Lee ‘13, Wilson MS (PA): Memphis or Villanova/Temple, “[It was] Memphis, but now I’m thinking about staying closer to home [at] . . . Temple or Villanova.” 

Armando Gomez ‘12, Harrisburg HS (PA): Duke or North Carolina, “but whatever school is . . . looking to give me a scholarship I’ll go to.” 

Darrien Banks ‘13, Community MS (NJ): Kansas 

Isiah Powell ‘14, Chapin School (NJ): Florida and Tennessee 

There are exactly 100 players in the NBA Division of The Hoop Group Elite Junior Elite Camp. This group features all of the rising freshmen, and a select handful of younger players. The draft took place tonight. Here’s how the top three picks at each position went: 

Centers: #1- 6′6 Matt Banas ‘12 of Hershey MS (PA), #2- 6′4 Damien Williams ‘12 of Plymouth Whitemarsh (PA), #3- 6′4 Malcolm Allgood ‘12 of Kelly MS (CT) 

Point Guards: #1- 5′10 Britton Lee ‘13 of Wilson MS (PA), 5′11 Haisheen McIntyre ‘13 of Harrisburg MS (PA), #3- Carlton Carter ‘13 of Christ Chapel Academy (VA) 

Small Forwards: #1- 6′2 Brandon Austin ‘14 of Carnell MS (PA), 6′2 Stanley Lumpkin ‘13 of Harrisburg MS (PA), #3- Michael Capozzoli ‘12 of St. Ann Regional HS (NJ)  

Power Forwards: 6′2 Larry Morton ‘13 of Beaumont MS (KY), #2- 6′2 Logan McDonald ‘12, #3- 6′0 Sterlin Johnson ‘13 of Talley MS (DE) 

Shooting Guards: #1- 6′0 Jaylen Beckham ‘12 of Lexington Catholic (KY), #2- 5′10 Danny McKinless of St. Joseph’s HS (Ringwood, NJ), #3- 5′10 Richard Hoskins of Imhotep Charter (PA)

The Hoop Group Junior Elite Camp should be a fun time for everyone involved. Who doesn’t love to watch kids just go out and enjoy the game? Prior to the actual camp even starting, there were kids in the TCNJ Rec Center playing full court pickup games. This should be a great camp, so make sure you check back for more updates on the action!

For more on the high school/AAU basketball world from The Hoop Group, check out http://www.hoopgroup.com/hoopgroup/index.php.