by Alex Schwartz

All of the 2009 and 2010 as well as the 2011 and 2012 school lists and committed player/college player interview information from the Providence Jam Fest has been posted, so it's now time to provide you with the scouting reports I got at the event, as well as a small rundown. I was busy running around much of the time I was there, so I was only able to really sit and watch a few games, but at some of those I took the time to take notes on some of the players. I have scouting info on players from two of the semifinalists in the U17 age division, Boo Williams and Mass Rivals (finalist), both of which fell to the eventual champion NJ Celtics. Here's what I've got:

BOO WILLIAMS (VA) SCOUTING REPORTS

Andre Dawkins '10, Atlantic Shores Christian (VA), Duke
The future Blue Devil, a 6'5 shooting guard, is a smooth and fluid player who has nice athleticism. Dawkins is a smart player and can shoot the ball lights-out, but he is streaky from beyond the arc. Dawkins is definitely a two-guard, though he does pass the rock well. What makes him a pure two and not even a combo is that he can get sloppy with the ball at times. Overall, Dawkins was one of the three best players on the Boo Williams team this weekend, which is certainly says something about how talented he is.

Kendall Marshall '10, Bishop O'Connell (VA), North Carolina
A 6'4 pass-first point guard, Marshall showed off a nice skill set in Providence, he just struggled to put those skills to use, as he had a rough weekend. He is quick off the bounce and gets to the cup well, though he had problems finishing once he got around the rim. The UNC-bound Marshall displayed a good handle and the ability to start and stop well. He has the tools to become a fine player, it just seems like it's a question of how well he will use them.

Travis McKie '10, John Marshall (VA), Wake Forest
The third member of the ACC-bound teammates on Boo Williams, McKie out shined his more heralded future foes on this weekend. A tremendous athlete with great dunking ability, the 6'6 wing has a chance to become a special player for Dion Gaudio and Co. McKie was probably the second best performer on the high-powered team, scoring points left and right.

Luke Cothron '10, Flora Macdonald Academy (NC)
Rounding out the quartet of big-time juniors on the Boo Williams team, the squad's newest addition had a sub par weekend in the Ocean State. Cothron, an uncommitted 6'8 power forward, looked as though he did not even want to be playing basketball. He appeared disinterested and was unenthusiastic and lazy. On the positive side though, Luke—who listed North Carolina, North Carolina State, Duke, Memphis, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Alabama, Texas A&M, Texas, South Carolina, and Florida State—displayed an uncanny ability to get to the charity stripe, though he was inconsistent once there. In the team's final game, Cothron finally turned it on and played well, leading the team in scoring in a losing effort. Although he did not bring his A game to Providence, Cothron showed some flashes and definitely has potential.

James McAdoo '11, Norfolk Christian (VA)
Boo Williams played mostly a core group of seven guys in each game, and not only was McAdoo the only sophomore in that bunch, he was a starter and the only true big man. He was also the best of the group. McAdoo outperformed his ACC-bound teammates Dawkins, Marshall, and McKie, as well as Cothron, Old Dominion-pledge Dimitri Batton '10 and Brian Richardson '10. At 6'9 with a chiseled frame, James looks more like a sophomore in college than a sophomore in high school. A superb athlete with nice hops and great size and solid hands, McAdoo is still not a finished product. He has great low post moves and does a very good job of rebounding the basketball. On the defensive side of the ball, James is active and moves well, those he does overextend at times. In the post, his first instinct is to block shots. Although Michael Gilchrist '11 really ouplayed Mcadoo when the duo squared off in the semis, McAdoo is going to be a very, very special player one day.

MASS RIVALS (MA) SCOUTING REPORTS

Evan Smotrycz '10, New Hampton Prep (NH), Michigan
A recent Michigan pledge, Evan Smotrycz should fit in well in John Beilein's system. A big wing at 6'7, he has a great crossover that he uses effectively. On the other end of the court, Smotrycz plays great on-the-ball D. Evan does need to add some bulk to his frame, but that will come with time. All said, Smotrycz may never been a star in the maize and blue, but he will fit in well and should be able to contribute.

Carson Desrosiers '10, Central Catholic (MA)
Since last time I posted a scouting report on Desrosiers, he hasn't really grown, but he does seem to have improved his outside game a bit, almost to the point where he is a big wing. When on offense, Carson seemed to stand around on the wing waiting to receive the ball, despite his height advantage. A legit 6'10, Desrosiers—who listed UNLV, Arizona State, Stanford, Providence, Syracuse, Purdue, Marquette, and Georgia Tech—needs to bulk up, and that may well make him more comfortable in the low post. You can't teach size, and the Bay State big man has a great deal of that, so he should be a nice player at the next level.

Matt Brown '10, Northfield Mt. Hermon School (MA)
A 6'2 point guard, Matt Brown was not one of the biggest names participating in the Providence Jam Fest, but he was one of the top performers. A top-notch shooter with range that extends beyond the arc, Brown has a good frame with a solid and muscular build, which makes sense, considering that he is also a talented football player. An athletic floor leader, Brown is a quality guard with a nice offensive skill set.

TOURNAMENT RUNDOWN

At the U-17 level, the NJ Celtics, led by Kyrie Irving '10 and Michael Gilchrist, defeated the Mass Rivals in the championship. "We played together as a team. [The] team chemistry was great. [It really] carried over from the high school season," said Irving, on how the  NJ Celtics—a group of players from St. Patrick's (NJ)—were able to win the tournament. Irving, who was phenomenal himself, dropping 42 points on the Albany City Rocks—featuring Will Regan '10 and Penn State-commit Taran Buie '10—and averaging 36 points a game on the final day, said, "I just worked on my athletic ability and my quickness, and [I am] just trying to bring my game to the next level because I have a different gear that I didn't show people in the high school season," on how he was able to perform at such a high level.

In the U-16 age group, a completely loaded Expressions (MA) squad defeated the Albany City Rocks in the finals. Led by Alex Murphy '12, Tyler Strange '11, Billy Soriano '11, and Khem Birch '12 amongst other, Expressions was a fantastic team. The City Rocks didn't have the firepower that many other teams did, but that didn't stop the New York team from playing great basketball. Jerrell Scott '11 of Bishop Maginn (NY) was a player who really led the way for the City Rocks.

BABC (MA) was dominant from start to finish in the U-15 division, winning a pool play game 87-21 and scoring 104 points in a Gold bracket contest. Despite boasting roster without any big-time freshman, BABC was able to defeat Hoops Heaven Heat (NJ) in the finals. The New Jersey features a trio of core players all from Gill St. Bernard's (NJ) in Dominic Hoffman '12, Alex Mitola '12, and Jaren Sina '13.

For more info, check out my audio blogs on Roundball Recruiting from the event: Day 2 and Day 3
More coverage to follow soon, with a list of top performers and some notes on those players.

Note- photo is from http://scouthoops.scout.com/