Legend HS was the place for elite prep hoops Sunday

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PARKER, Co. – Based upon the quality of players in attendance Sunday – and the caliber of play by those athletes – five words are all that are needed to describe the first-ever West Coast Elite Scouts Camp/Colorado at Legend High:

“It was a smashing success.”

Many of the best high school players in Colorado were on hand, with a healthy heaping of quality players from California, Nevada, Minnesota, Montana and Nebraska sprinkled in, as well.

First and foremost from among the in-state participants was one of the elite post prospects in the national Class of 2016.

And 6-foot-9 De’Ron Davis (Aurora Overland) more than lived up to that reputation, playing with both-ends-of-the-floor dominance in stretches of the two games he played in the morning and early afternoon, as well as the Top 20 All-Star contest early Sunday evening.

He did so even when matched up against some of the non-Colorado standouts such as 6-foot-11 Southern Californians Chance Comanche (Class of 2015/Los Angeles Viewpark) and Jayce Johnson (2016/San Juan Capistrano JSerra), as well as 6-9 Alex Illikainen (2015/Grand Rapids, MN).

Davis has added a lot of polish, offensively and defensively, since the last time I watched him play (at the same venue in an event also put on by Ryan Silver of the Southern California-based Earl Watson Elite program).

Another Colorado post player who showed out very well Sunday was Zach Pirog (Highlands Ranch Thunderridge), a 6-10 prospect from the Class of 2015 whose standing with college recruiters should climb immensely by the time he steps foot into a classroom as a senior for the first time in the fall.

One of the camp surprises, of sorts, was 6-7 Chris Moody (2015/Parker Chaparral).

Like Pirog, recruiters are going to do double-takes when they get a look at this fellow in the spring and summer.

No one played harder at both ends of the floor Sunday.

Davis’ prep teammate and classmate, 5-9 Austin Conway, was the speediest player on display on Sunday in each of the three games (including the Top 20 affair) that he stepped foot on the floor for.

He’s also a highly recruited football standout but said Sunday that he prefers playing basketball over football in college.

The most versatile of a bunch of very good freshmen at the event was the best ninth grader in Colorado, 6-4 left hander D’Shawn Schwartz (Colorado Springs), who could prove to be among the best half-dozen or so prospects in the 2017 class in the west.

And there wasn’t a better jump shooter at the event than another Colorado ninth grader, 5-10 Braxton Bertolette (Ft. Collins Fossil Ridge).

By the time he was on the floor for the Top 20 Game spectators – me included – were startled to see him miss a shot.

The host school’s program has a trio of terrific jump shooters itself from the Class of 2016.

Six-four Danny Garrick (one of the better athletes at the event), 6-2 Riley Matticks and 6-1 Monroe Porter each played in the Top 20 Game and deservedly so.

I would doubt that the Titans are going to see many zone defenses over the next two seasons with that trio line the lineup.

The explosive vertical athlete – aka, “the quickest and biggest jumper in the camp” – on display was 6-4 Troy Green (Denver Montbello).

As was the case during the camp in November, Green – who needs a lot of polish on his jump shot – had no issue scoring whenever he was in the lane on Sunday: He just jumped over the top of anyone in his path and dunked.

Landon Walker was one over the very best freshmen at the November camp put on by Silver’s organization and that was so again Sunday.

The 6-7 Walker (Scottsbluff in Nebraska) once more demonstrated succinctly that he is going to be on the short list of the very best hoops prospects recently turned out in his state.

And Illikainen (who is scheduled to play for the Howard Pulley program on the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League circuit this spring) showed why he also is a prime recruiting target for a lot of programs in the Big Ten Conference.

Only Davis dunked and rebounded frequently and ferociously as did the pleasant youth man who has just the slighted hint of a “Minnesota accent”.

The best “wing” prospect at the event was the 6-6 ½ Tinkle (the son over University of Montana Coach Wayne Tinkle), a left hander who was the most versatile scorer – potent stick-backs; deep 3s off the dribble or catch; slashing drives; resounding dunks . . . he’s got the whole bag of tricks – on display Sunday.

Tinkle is a standout student and has an A on-court-GPA, as well.

Just about every major program in need of a “wing-type” is going to being pursuing him to some degree.

The same can be said of Comanche for those programs in need of a big and skilled (he’s become an exceptional jump shooter) post from the Class of 2015.

He and the ambidextrous Johnson are going to give the Earl Watson Elite No. 1 squad as potent a 1-2 post punch as might exist on the grassroots circuit over this spring and summer.

Two other players who are among the very best the Class of 2017 in the west has to offer were other Top 20 Game choices Sunday.

And the 6-4 Popoola (a left hander who is equal parts crafty and explosive) and 6-5 O’Bannon (the smooth-shooting and quick-jumping son of Charles O’Bannon, who, with brother Ed O’Bannon, helped lead UCLA to the 1995 NCAA title) will team with high-profile 2015 posts Stephen Zimmerman and Chase Jeter and some other talented returnees to help Las Vegas Bishop Gorman challenge for a mythical 2015 national championship.