Ball, Leaf & Thompson headline camp’s first day

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NORWALK, Ca. – The Fullcourt Press All-Frosh/Soph Camp annually attracts some of the better underclassmen from within the realm of western-based high school hoopdom.

And, based upon Saturday’s first day, the 2013 version of the event appears right on track with the mode of operation.

Approximately 150 players were on hand at Cerritos Community College and “the best of the best” showed off why they’re grouped in that category.

The best sophomore (Class of 2016) guard (Lonzo Ball of Chino Hills in Southern California) and forward (T.J. Leaf of El Cajon, CA, Foothills Christian) were teammates on one especially camp team – made all that more so by the presence of one of Southern California’s two best freshmen (Class of 2017) in 6-foot-1 Ethan Thompson of Torrance, CA, Bishop Montgomery.

Ball and Leaf’s regional and national reputations – with recruiting analysts (loads of whom were on hand Saturday) and college coaches – have long been established.

There wasn’t much – if anything – for them to gain by attending the camp.

But props to them for showing up and competing about as hard as any of the players did who showed up minus any Internet hyperbole.

Rivaling Thompson for “best frosh in SoCal” honors this season will likely be 6-7 Billy Preston (Bellflower St. John Bosco) who – as was the case with Ball and Leaf – pretty much did anything he wanted to, offensively, Saturday afternoon and evening.

Ball was anything but the only terrific Class of 2016 guard on display Saturday.

Milan Acquaah (Pasadena, CA, La Salle) – who may end up transferring to Montebello, CA, Cantwell-Sacred Heart or Bellflower, CA, St. John Bosco before the regular season starts; he is playing football for LaSalle right now – got into the lane, and scored and dished for teammates’ buckets – pretty much anytime he was so inclined Saturday.

Two other sophomore guards who looked to be among the 10 or so best players in the camp – on Saturday, at least – are Dikymbe Martin (Riverside, CA, JW North) and Jonah Mathews (Santa Monica, CA).

Camp action resumes on 9 a.m. on Sunday, with all-star games at 2:30 and 3:30 p.m.