by Alex Schwartz

I know it is a bit late, but I figured better late than never to give my recap and scouting reports from the 2009 Rasual Butler All-City Basketball Classic. During the three games—there was one for each 2012, 2011, and 2010—I took notes on some of the players participating. Also, I jotted down a bit on how the games were going and ranked the top performers in each game. Here is the rundown:

The class of 2012 game was close throughout, with the White team holding a slim 60-57 lead in the final handful of minutes. Then, led by Ryan Arcidiacono of Neshaminy (PA), the squad pulled away for a 78-59 victory. The second half had much more scoring than the first—White led 29-22 at the break—as the players began to settle in. Ryan Arcidiacono was selected as the MVP from the White team, while Savon Goodman of Academy of the New Church (PA) was the honoree for the Black team. Amile Jefferson from Friends Central (PA), who was playing on the White squad, was chosen as the Most Unselfish Player (MUP), and Derrick Stewart of Neumann-Goretti (PA), also on the White team, was the Defensive MVP (DMVP). Here is my breakdown of the top performers:

Class of 2012 Game- Elite 8 Performers
1. Amile Jefferson, Friends Central (PA)
2. Savon Goodman, Academy of the New Church (PA)
3. Maurice Watson, Boys' Latin (PA)
4. Ryan Arcidiacono, Neshaminy (PA)
5. Brendan Kilpatrick, Malvern Prep (PA)
6. Richard Hoskins, Communications Tech (PA)
7. Arron Goodman, Council Rock North (PA)
8. Derrick Stewart, Neumann-Goretti (PA)

The second game, featuring the class of 2011, was probably the most exciting. The game was even at 31 apiece at the half and the teams traded buckets for much of the second period of play. Trailing 71-69 as the clock was about to expire, the White team took a long shot that fell short, but Jabril Trawick of Abington Friends (PA) was in the right spot at the right time, as he caught the airball and put it in just before the horn sounded. Lamin Fulton of Neumann-Goretti (PA), Joey Gripper of Abington Friends (PA), and Aquil Younger of West Catholic (PA) scored in OT for the White team, which did not allow a single point in extra time, taking a 77-71 victory. John Johnson of Girard College (PA) was named the MVP from the Black team, while Juan'ya Green of Archbishop Carroll (PA) brought home the trophy from the White squad. Aquil Younger was tabbed the DMVP, and Rashawn Cunningham of Life Center Academy (NJ) was named the MUP. Here are the players who stood out in this one:

Class of 2011 Game- Elite 8 Performers
1. John Johnson, Girard College (PA)
2. Jaylen Bond, Plymouth-Whitemarsh (PA)
3. Keith Coleman, Cheltenham (PA)
4. Juan'ya Green, Archbishop Carroll (PA)
5. Aquil Younger, West Catholic (PA)
6. Jerrell Wright, Dobbins Tech (PA)
7. Rashawn Cunningham, Life Center Academy (NJ)
8. Lamin Fulton, Neumann-Goretti (PA)

Much like the 2011 game, the 2010 affair came down to the wire. Wake Forest-commit Tony Chenault of Neumann-Goretti (PA) had carried his team for much of the game, and tried to even the score with a step-back trey at the buzzer, but his shot fell short and the Black team walked away with a 98-95 win. Jamir Hanner of Southern (PA) was named the MVP for the victors, while Tony Chenault was the honoree for the White team. Rakeem Brookins of Roman Catholic (PA) was the DMVP, and Tyree Johnson from Penn Wood (PA) was picked as the MUP. Here is a list of the standout participants:

Class of 2010 Game- Top 10 Performers
1. Jamir Hanner, Southern (PA)
2. Shaq Duncan, Frankford (PA)
3. Rakeem Brookins, Roman Catholic (PA)
4. Tony Chenault, Neumann-Goretti (PA)
5. Tyrone Garland, John Bartram (PA)
6. Danny Stewart, Neumann-Goretti (PA)
7, Deshon Minnis, Southern (PA)
8. George Harper, Phoenixville (PA)
9. Antonio Bland, Simon Gratz (PA)
10. Tyree Johnson, Penn Wood (PA)

Now have a look at the brief scouting reports that I garnered at the event:

Maurice Watson '12, Boys' Latin (PA)
A very undersized point guard, Watson is extremely quick and plays the game very smoothly. He has a nasty crossover, does a good job of getting to the cup, and also distributes the rock to his teammates. Although he definitely could use some more height, Watson is a talented player.

Savon Goodman '12, Academy of the New Church (PA)
One of the most highly regarded rising sophomores in the country, Goodman is a hard worker on both ends of the court. That shows in his rebounding prowess. A big-time athlete, Savon is active on the offensive end, especially around the hole. He enjoys shooting the rock, maybe a bit too much, but is nonetheless a superb talent.

Brendan Kilpatrick '12, Malvern Prep (PA)
Kilpatrick has a good frame for a player his age, and that helps him to work hard down low, where he is active on the boards. Brendan can also step out and knock down a shot from beyond the arc. He won't make you jump out of your seat, but Kilpatrick is a gifted baller.

Richard Hoskins '12, Communications Tech (PA)
For a guard who has completed just his first year of high school, Hoskins has a very good frame. The point guard has a nice handle, though he can be overly fancy at times. Hoskins does need to work on his shot selection, especially from the outside, where he is inconsistent. This is definitely a kid to watch for down the road.

Amile Jefferson '12, Friends Central (PA)
If S. Goodman has a rival for best 012 baller in Philly, it's Amile Jefferson. Although he has a lot of work to do on his long and lanky frame, including adding a lot of bulk, Jefferson is a quality basketball player. He is active on the defensive end, and also does a good job grabbing offensive rebounds. Amile does a very good job of driving to the hoop, and once there is adept and dumping the pill off to an open teammate on the low block.

Ryan Arcidiacono '12, Neshaminy (PA)
Arcidiacono may well be the next big-time player to come out of the Suburban One League, but he needs to become more consistent. At times he was the team's best offensive threat, and at others he was taking poor shots. With an above average handle—the crossover could use some work—Ryan can handle the ball if need be. He is athletic and drives to the hoop well, and once there he finds a way to put the ball in the basket.

Keith Coleman '11, Cheltenham (PA)
If there is one word to sum up Keith Coleman it would have to be large. Although he moves awkwardly on the court, Coleman's huge frame, paired with his ability to step out and hit a mid-range J, make him special. In the paint, Coleman does a good job on the glass and dunks just about everything down there. He is still somewhat raw, but has the look of a big-time player.

Lamin Fulton '11, Neumann-Goretti (PA)
Despite being undersized, Fulton is still a gifted offensive player. This is primarily due to the fact that he is a 2 that is quick and has a very good crossover. Lamin could use some more size, but gets by without it.

John Johnson '11, Girard College (PA)
An outstanding scorer and a quality athlete, Johnson gets to the hoop well, and once there usually turns it into two points, though the fact that he always tries to finger roll it at 6'1 could be a problem when he faces more big guys at the next level. Johnson showed that he can do more than shoot, and displayed why he has been on the scene for such a long time.

Joey Gripper '11, Abington Friends (PA)
The 6'0 guard does not have a game that will wow you, but that is because he is a true point guard. Gripper is a very good distributor and sees the floor very well. His offensive arsenal is still improving—his jumper needs some work, in order to compliment his ability to get to the cup—but Joey has the makings of a solid point guard and floor general.

Jerrell Wright '11, Dobbins Tech (PA)
Standing about 6'6, Wright looks much bigger due to his imposing physique. He does not have a major skill set just yet, but he rebounds the rock well and with his body type, it looks like he could definitely become a player down the road.

Maurice Nelson '11, Chester (PA)
The younger brother of Orlando Magic All-Star point guard Jameer Nelson, Maurice is a solid player in his own right. Though he is small, Nelson drives well and is athletic. He has a good handle and does a good job of running the break. Maurice is really a two-guard, as he is much more of a scorer than a distributor, but his size makes him a point guard, and an undersized one at that.

Jaylen Bond '11, Plymouth-Whitemarsh (PA)
Bond has the potential to become an extremely special talent at the next level. A versatile forward with a good frame, standing about 6'6, Jaylen is truly a physical specimen and a great athlete. A ferocious dunker who also boards well, Bond still needs to smooth out his all-around game, but he has the makings of a very good player.

Juan'ya Green '11, Archbishop Carroll (PA)
Green might not be talked about as much now as he used to be, but he is still a very talented baller. Active on both offense and defense, Green has a good frame. He is extremely smooth, and that combined with the fact that he has a mean crossover, allow him to get to the hoop quite well.

George Harper '10, Phoenixville (PA)
Harper is an interesting prospect. His basketball IQ is not quite up to par—some good coaching should do the trick—and neither is his passing ability, but he has an outstanding frame and can also shot the ball well. Once the mental aspect of the game reaches the physical part of the game for George, he will be a very solid player.

Rakeem Brookins '10, Roman Catholic (PA)
Brookins is truly a combo guard. Standing under 6'0, he is forced to be a 1, and that works because he is quick and gets to the cup well. At the same time though, Brookins is a score-first player and a good long ranger shooter, making him a better fit at the 2. Regardless of what spot he is at on the floor, Rakeem is a fine basketball player.

Tony Chenault '10, Neumann-Goretti (PA), Wake Forest
The future Demon Deacon does have some work to do to before he gets to college, but all the physical tools are in place for Chenault. A very good athlete, Tony does a good job of getting to the cup, but he does have to improve on his long-range jumpshot. Although a bit undersized, Chenault has a good frame for a 1.

Shaq Duncan '10, Frankford (PA)
The 6'8 power forward put on a dunking clinic in this one. An athletic player with long arms, Duncan scores just about all of his points within three feet of the hoop. Many of these are on dunks, and he is comfortable coming from one side to the other for a reverse jam too, making him a bit harder to cover. Shaq does need to bulk up, but the raw talent is there, it just needs to be molded.

Deshon Minnis '10, Southern (PA)
A point guard with a good handle and a nasty crossover, "Biggie," as he is called, does a very good job of getting to the cup. Minnis is a solid offensive player, and is a tough baller.

Jamir Hanner '10, Southern (PA)
One of the most impressive players on the evening, Hanner is quite an athlete, though he does need to bulk up. Jamir is a good dunker, much like Duncan. The two are actually similar, but Hanner is a bit shorter and far more polished.

Antonio Bland '10, Simon Gratz (PA)
Although he was a fill-in, Bland did not play like one. He is an undersized big man, but is huge, which helps him to be an effective offensive rebounder. When he has the ball in the paint, Antonio does a good job of putting it up and in for two points.

Tyrone Garland '10, John Bartram (PA)
Garland is definitely a talented offensive player, but he needs to work on the consistency of his outside jumper. A combo guard with good size, Tyrone is a quality athlete. He has a nice game, but just needs to keep on improving in order to become the player that he can be.

Danny Stewart, Neumann-Goretti (PA)
The undersized 4 was another player who put on a show dunking the basketball, doing so just about every time he touched the ball in the paint. Stewart needs to add some bulk to his frame, and could really use another inch or two—that is if he does expand his game and become more of a combo forward—but he is a superb athlete and a very good player.

The Rasual Butler All-City Basketball Classic was a great event with a lot of top-notch players on display!
Click HERE for the school lists that I got at the event, and click HERE for the link to the article on three of players that I wrote for NBE Basketball Report.