Friday LeBron Skills Academy action cut in half

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LAS VEGAS — Friday’s Day III of the LeBron James Skills Academy became, in essence,  “Day II 1/2” of the event.

With injuries and fatigue shrinking the number of the “healthy, rested and rarin’ to go” players on hand, Nike grassroots officials made the administrative call to cancel the evening session of four games.

As of early Friday afternoon, Saturday’s “playoff schedule”, set to tip off with quarterfinal action (there are eight camp teams) at 9:30 a.m., is still a go.

So that left the four games that tipped off at 2:30 PT from which to cull my witty and insight comments and evaluations – more or less — that you’re about to peruse.

There are so many injured and otherwise “banged up” to what degree, who knows? We’ll know for sure, I supposed, when we see who is suiting up and lining up for opening tip-offs at the Peach Jam next week in Savanna.

But, here is my spin on some of fellows who laced ’em up and gritted it out:

*Haanif Cheatham (Kentucky/Pembroke Pines, FL): This was the first opportunity to watch the 6-foot-4 combo guard extensively. I was impressed, indeed, by both his scoring ability and his help his teammates get some pretty shots as well.

*Cheick Diallo (Kentucky/Centerreach, NY): Even as the enthusiasm of even a lot of the “healthy” hoopsters something short of energetic, Diallo kept sprinting lanes and jumping over the top of opponents and teammates alike for rebounds, dunks and layups.

*A.J. Harris (Kentucky/Dayton Dunbar): This is the best of the “little guys” (5-9) in the camp. Not that there are many of them, mind you, but, nevertheless, he’s been pretty good.

*Levan Alston (Syracuse/Haverford, PA, Haverford): This is one of the half-dozen or so players in the camp that I didn’t have a great feel for or had not seen in person at all beforehand. I’ve been quite taken with his ability to defend on and off the ball, and knock in jumpers, off the dribble or catch.

*Eric Davis (Syracuse/Saginaw, MI, Hill): A lot of evaluators call him a “shooting guard” or “combo”. I’d prefer to him as a “point guard, first and foremost, who also jump shoots quite well, thank you very much!

*Tres Tinkle (Syracuse/Missoula, MT, Hellgate): The 6-6 left hander play well over the first three days by way of a nice balance of post-up moves, transition finishes, tough either-direction drives and mid- and deep jump shots.

*Marcus Derrickson (Syracuse/Fairfax,VA, Paul VI): You ever wonder what an NFL left tackle would look like bouncing a basketball from near mid court or knocking in 3 pointers off the dribble? If so, check this guy out sometime soon.

*Antonio Blakeney (Georgetown/Orlando Oak Ridge): The moment he stepped foot onto the playing surfaces in the Cashman Center he was one of the four or five best scorers at the event.

*Edward Morrow (Georgetown/Chicago Simeon): Small forward? Power forward? I doubt if he really cares about his on-court designation. He’s too busy kicking people’s butts at both ends of the floor.

*Marques Bolden (Georgetown/Desoto, TX): He and another upper-tier Class of 2016 post prospect, Omari Spellman (Connecticut/Granby, MA, The Macduffie School), hooked up in the best individual match-up I watched Friday afternoon.