by Alex Schwartz

It's that time again, the Live Evaluation period has restarted and NCAA DI coaches have hit the recruiting trail again. I am currently in Orlando for the AAU Super Showcase, which features some of the nation's best teams in the U15, U16, and U17 age groups. Wednesday was day two for the U15 squads—the end of pool play and start of playoffs—and day one for the U16 teams. The U17 games do not begin until Friday, and that is when many more coaches will file into Disney's Wide World of Sports for this top-notch event. Wednesday I had a chance to see several games, featuring a number of quality teams and some big-time players. Here's a look at the school lists that I collected:

Wayne Martin '11, Providence School (FL), Memphis YOMCA: Virginia Tech, Florida, Florida State, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Clemson, Miami, and Memphis
                             Offers: Virginia Tech and Ole Miss
                             Favorites: "Virginia Tech is like my favorite. I like Memphis and I like Florida State [too]."
                             Note- Martin said that he and fellow AAU teammates Andre Hollins '11 and Nino Johnson '11 have "talked about" the possibility of going to school together.

Andre Hollins '11, White Station (TN), Memphis YOMCA: Florida State, Virginia Tech, Stanford, Oregon State, Purdue, George Mason, Ole Miss, Memphis, UAB, and Florida
                             Offers: Oregon State, Ole Miss, and Memphis
                             Favorites: "I'm liking Florida State, Virginia Tech, and Memphis. Oh yeah, Stanford too."

Nino Johnson '11, White Station (TN), Memphis YOMCA: Virginia Tech, Florida, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Memphis, Mississippi State, Dayton, and Cincinnati
                              Offers: None
                              Favorites: Virginia Tech, Tennessee, and Memphis
                              Note- Johnson, who is transferring into White Station from Melrose (TN), said that "most likely" the trio will go to college together, add that, "yes sir," it would be all three.

Ryan Sawvell '11, Mundelein (IL), Rising Stars Gold: Davidson, Loyola Chicago, Iowa State, Illinois State, Iowa, Evansville, and Albany
                             Offers: None
                             Favorites: "I like Loyola because I've been talking to them the most and I've been going to their camps since I was little. . . . Illinois State would probably be my second favorite."

Christian French '11, Kennedy (IA), Martin Brothers Select: Iowa, Iowa State, Drake, Creighton, South Dakota State, North Dakota State, and Southern Illinois
                                 Offers: None
                                 Favorites: "It's tough, I kind of like Iowa State [Pause] and Drake and Iowa."

TJ Warren '12, Riverside (NC), Garner Road Bulldogs: South Carolina, East Carolina, Wake Forest, North Carolina State, Oregon State, and The Citadel
                       Offers: None
                       Favorite: "I like Wake Forest."

Isaiah Miles '12, Glenelg Country School (MD), Nike Baltimore Elite: Xavier, Wake Forest, Oregon, Florida State, and South Florida
                           Offers: None
                           Favorites: Xavier and Florida State

Chris Walker '13, Holmes County (FL), Georgia Blazers: Florida State, Georgia, and Virginia Tech
                          Offers: None
                          Favorite: "Probably Florida State so far."
                          Note- Walker's AAU coach Ron Williams helped with the list.

Chris Walker
I saw a lot of great players Wednesday, but one of them truly stood out as an elite player and prospect; Chris Walker '13 of Holmes County (FL). A 6'7.5 big man who has yet to enter high school, Walker is one of the premier players in his class in the nation, and I'm not talking top 50. I'm talking top 15. We're talking about a long and lanky kid with a frame that can be worked with, who moves well and is active at both ends of the floor. A big-time shot blocker who can get above the rim to block shots, Walker is also skilled on the offensive end. The big man has some nice low posts moves and can also rebound the basketball. He is not quite there yet, but he has the look of a kid who has a chance to not only be top 15 as I said above, but maybe even top five. Remember you heard it hear first, Chris Walker is a very special prospect. This is a player for whom I found one article through Google searches, and it was about one of his middle school football games. There is nothing on the future star for basketball. According to Walker's AAU coach with the U15 Georgia Blazers, Ron Williams, the big man does not turn 15 until December, so he is a legitimate 2013 player, not one who is old for his grade. In the game that I saw, Walker scored 19 points to lead his team. Don't forget the name; Chris Walker.

Garner Road Bulldogs vs. Georgia Blazers U15
In addition to the Chris Walker show, his team actually played a playoff game against the Garner Road Bulldogs (NC), and he was not the only standout player. TJ Warren '12 of Garner Rd went off for 36 points—he was listed at 33, but I added it up and he had 36—in his squad's overtime victory. In overtime, the 6'3 shooting guard had nine points, including a trey, which helped his team take am 83-78 win. Mario Nixon '12, a 6'5 wing, was another big scorer for Garner Rd, as he chipped in 21 points in the victory. Rashawn King '12, a 5'11 guard, only had five points, but he had some nice flashes here and there for the Tar Heel State team, and he works hard on the defensive end. As for the GA Blazers, besides Walker, the team had three other players in double-digits: 6'4 forward Emmanuel Ezouga '12 had 18, 6'3 wing Rasamuel Mahogany '12 added 17, and 6'3 guard Brannen Green '13 chipped in 10. The team from the Peach State also has another solid prospect in Jabari McGhee '12. The squad actually features four players—three of whom get major minutes—who are originally from Africa, which is not something you see frequently. The GA Blazers have a very bright future.
The game between these teams was truly great, with Garner Road nailing a trey with under two seconds in regulation to send it to OT, and then getting the W once there. The contest had me raving about it for quite some time, due to the talent on display and the level of play on the court.

NY Gauchos vs. Nike Baltimore Elite U15
The other players that I got school lists from were some of the other standouts on the day. Isaiah Miles '12 is about 6'6, and looks like he probably will keep growing. A tenacious offensive rebounder who looks to be a high-major player down the road, Miles was fantastic in his U15 team's first round loss to the NY Gauchos. Speaking of the 'Chos, they had a couple standouts too. Omar Calhoun '12 of Christ the King (NY) is a big-time scorer to gets to the cup—and the free throw line—with ease. He dominated Nike Baltimore Elite in the first half, but cooled off in the second. His talent, though, was evident. A player who did not do much, but showed that he has the potential to be great was Dakari Johnson '14, who is merely a rising eighth grader. At about 6'6, he already has a good frame and works hard down low. His skill level is not great, but he is still young.

Memphis YOMCA U16
Wayne Martin '11, Andre Hollins '11, Nino Johnson '11, Marvin Williams '11, Davon Hays '11, Steven Kaspar '11, and Tevin Moore '11 are the core players for Memphis YOMCA, a top-notch U16 team that has a shot to win the whole thing down here. The first three—the trio that I interviewed—are the best looking prospects. Hollins is a sturdy 6'3 lead guard with nice athleticism. Johnson is a tough, hard working, 6'6 low post player who rebounds and scores the ball very well. Martin may have the most potential of them all, as he is raw, but has a fantastic frame and is athletic. Williams is a huge body, who, once he sheds a few pounds and improves his finishing ability, can be very good, as he is 6'7 already. Hays is a similar player to Johnson, but is not quite at that same level, yet he is 6'5 and tough. Kaspar, at 6'0, is a shooter who also works hard on D and has an above-average handle, which is nothing something you see every day. Tevin Moore is a big guard at 6'3 who can score the ball and gets to the stripe. Tarik Flowers is another quality. Watch out for this team down the road.

U16 Prospects in the Midwest
I caught a couple of U16 games featuring a few Midwest teams, including Rising Stars Gold (IL) and Martin Brothers Select (IA). The Rising Stars squad featured a couple of players who are borderline Big Ten prospects in the right system (i.e. Michigan, which was on hand to watch). Ryan Sawvell '11 is a long, 6'7 wing who can shoot the ball. He is reminiscent of Michigan-bound Evan Smotrycz '10, yet he is not quite as athletic or big. Smotrycz is a more advanced prospect and a better player, but Sawvell is talented in his own right, and looks like he would be a good fit in the mid-major to mid-major plus level. Jack Ryan '11 is a 6'6 wing who can also shoot the rock. Not quite at the same level at Sawvell, Ryan is still a quality player. Big man Drew Anderson '11, a 6'8 player, is also a solid-looking prospect with some nice potential.
Moving on to the other Midwest squad, Martin Bros, the main player I liked was Christian French '11. Although he is very raw, the 6'6 French has a terrific frame and nice athleticism, which is why he is garnering some high-major interest. Another 6'6 Martin Bros player, Tavian Pomlee '11 of Central (IA), is also a nice-looking player, as he has a solid all-around game that makes him appealing to college coaches. Martin Bros also has some solid big men who are worth a look. Matt Bohanon '11 is a good shooter, and although he's not be at the same level as his brother Jason Bohannon (Wisconsin) or even the middle one, Zac Bohannon (Air Force), Matt is talented. Not only can hit shoot the rock, he is athletic and can get to the cup. Martin Brothers Select U16 is a feeding ground for mid-major schools.

Other U16 Players to Watch
The All-Ohio Red U16 squad might not be at the same level as the U17 team, but the group is very good nonetheless. I am not including the team in the above Midwest section, as I did not get to see enough of the team to fully evaluate them, but 6'0.5 Eddie Norrils '11, 6'8.5 Nate Anderson '11, and 6'7.5 Raphael Carter '10 are three players that really caught my eye and I hope to see more of this week.
The Garner Road U16 team is good too, and although the squad lost to Martin Bros, a trio of players stood out. Moise Somadjagbi '10 is a knockdown shooter from anywhere beyond the arc, as he has range that extends very deep., yet he is only 6'2. Jaylen Parker '10 is undersized at 5'11, but he is a hard-nosed player who runs the team well. Shaquille Dance '11, who stands 6'3, was the other player from Garner Rd that caught my eye, as he has a nice ability to score the ball.
Malcolm Brogdon '11 of the Georgia Stars was a kid who did a great job of scoring the basketball. At 6'4, he has good size and is a very good player. His squad fell to Team NJABC, though, as Khalid Lewis '11 and Dwaun Anderson '11 had big games. Lewis El is a solid athlete who can get to the solid and has an above-average handle, while Anderson is an phenomenal athletic specimen who can jump out of the gym.

Schools at the Event
Some of the schools I saw here Wednesday: LSU, Florida State, Michigan, Iowa, Michigan State, Tennessee State, Evansville, St. Francis (PA), Hartford, Howard, Bryant, Lafayette, Old Dominion, Wright State, Wofford, Creighton, Delaware, St. Bonaventure, La Salle, North Florida, Lipscomb, and more.

Stayed tuned for more from the AAU Super Showcase here in Orlando, Florida over the next few days. Also, be sure to follow me on Twitter at NorthstarBball.