Washington, Jasey make “big” impressions Saturday

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LEWISVILLE, TX – Two of the top post players in the national Class of 2017 were on display Saturday during the first day of the Pangos All-South Frosh/Soph Camp and each more than lived up to his lofty billing.

P.J. Washington (Frisco, TX, Lone Star) and Isiah Jasey (Killeen, TX, Ellison) were oft-times spectacular – at both ends of the floor – during two games apiece for their camp squads at the MAC (Multi-sport Activities Center) in this Dallas suburb.

And their more-than likely head-to-head showdown could prove to be of highlights of the Top 20 Cream of the Crop All-Star game that is scheduled to tip off at 2:15 p.m. (CT) Sunday as the wrap up to the camp.

Camp games (each team will play twice) commence at 9 o’clock Sunday morning, with the Top 40 Cream of the Crop contest tipping off at 1:15 in the afternoon before being followed by the Top 20 game.

The MAC is located at 200 Continental Drive, about 10 minutes or so north of Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport.

Admission is $10.

Two of the best 2017 point-guard prospects in Texas hooked up in a Saturday afternoon clash and could likely face off again in the Top 20 contest Sunday afternoon.

The left-handed Tahjon Starks (DeSoto, TX) penetrated and scored a layup with three seconds to go to give his squad a 66-65 victory over a team led by Doc Nelson (Houston Episcopal).

Both were terrific, both in transition and in half-court situations, Starks hitting a couple of very deep 3s, crossing defenders at full speed and hitting cutters in the hands.

Nelson scored on a nifty finger roll (yea, ala George Gervin for those of you old enough to remember the master of the finger roll), changed speeds expertly and once split a double team about as well as fellows like Chris Paul can slice up doubles.

The two most vertically spectacular players on display Saturday were 6-4 Malik Hudson (Grand Prairie, TX, South) and 6-3 Zhaire Smith (Garland, TX, Lakeview), both sophomores.

The dead giveaway among Hudson’s leaping prowess came in the layup line before his first game, when he executed a couple of 360-degree dunks with the greatest of ease.

He threw down a couple of shots, after lob passes, during which both elbows were rim-level when he was slamming leather through that metal cylinder.

I didn’t see anyone get up any higher than Hudson Saturday, nor did I see anyone get up any quicker than did Smith, who would kill in those tests for flat-footed verticality that they perform at the NBA Pre-Draft Camp. He got a piece of at least one of the 6-9 Jasey’s turn-around jump hooks Saturday night.

I hesitate in proclaiming 6-3 Jordan Myers (Ft. Worth, TX, North Crowley) the best “2 guard” prospect from the Class of 2017 at the camp only in that I didn’t get a chance Saturday to watch the kid who is most likely his top challenger for that moniker, Trae Young (Norman, OK) – who, like Myers, was also impressive at this camp a year ago a ninth grader.

Oklahoma was also represented by three quality sophomore post prospects in 6-9 Cameron Martin (Yukon), who did a solid job of establishing low-block position on his opponents; 6-6 Winston Nelson (Norman North), who has a nice combination of back-to-the-bucket and face-up skills; and 6-7 Harrison Stoddart (Edmond North), who has a smooth shooting touch to the top of the key.

There were at least two sets of siblings I noticed Saturday, too.

P.J. Washington’s brother, Spencer, is a 6-3 left-handed freshman with a smooth jumper to near the arc.

And while 6-1 Zach Thomas (Duncanville, TX) was one of the better freshmen guards I watched Saturday, 5-11 Zarek Thomas is likely the most polished of the eight eighth graders in the camp.