GARDEN GROVE, Ca. – The final weekend of the Under Armour Association spring competition proved a nice Southern California showcase for the caliber of high school talent – from classes to 2017 to 2019 – that is under the sports’ apparel grassroots’ umbrella.
The two-day competition wrapped up late Sunday afternoon at the multi-court MAP Sports Complex and the UAA’s two best point guards from the Class of 2017 were again on display, front and center.
Paul Scruggs (Indianapolis Southport) directed things from both ends of the court as the Indy Hoosiers won each of its four games to improve to 8-4 on the season.
Scruggs, who plays with the calm and level-headedness of a college senior, averaged 14.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and just 1.5 turnovers.
He’s likely one of the five best prospects in the national class, and No. 1 in the Midwest, at the position. Amazingly enough, a lot of scouting/rating Internet sites have listed him as a “shooting guard” over the past two years. And jump shooting is probably the least of his multiple strengths.
Delaware-based WE R1 dropped both of its games on Saturday but bounced backed nicely on Sunday to go .500 on the weekend and improve to 9-3 overall.
And that’s been largely due to the presence of Trevon Duval (a Delaware resident who attended Advanced Prep International in Dallas this past school year), who was the probably the consensus choice as the No. 1 point guard in the Class of 2017.
Those who supported that opinion prior to the weekend probably weren’t dissuaded from that opinion after he averaged 13.8 points. 3.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.5 steals in the losses to Louisiana Elite and Earl Watson Elite on Saturday and the wins against the South Jersey Jazz and Oklahoma Run on Sunday.
A possible matchup between Duval and the other consensus Top 2 PG in the class, Trae Young (Norman, OK, North/he plays for MOKAN Elite on the Nike-EYBL circuit) could take place during the Pangos All-American Camp at Cerritos College in Norwalk this weekend.
Scruggs will not be at that camp.
Here are 15 other players who most impressed me quite a bit at the MAP over the two days (note based strictly on college potential):
*Ty-Shon Alexander (6-4/2017/Mouth of Wilson, VA, Oak Hill/Team Charlotte):
FB Says: Right now he’s one of the best “combo” guards in the class for an UAA program that is 11-1 and has won back-to-back championships. He could be a point guard in college (he’s committed to Creighton).
*Josh Anderson (6-4/2017/Baton Rouge, LA, Madison Prep/Louisiana Elite 17s):
FB Says: He’s a terrific scorer and defender and is one of the more underrated/underappreciated prospects in the class.
*Jermal Baker (6-3/2017/Eastvale, CA, Roosevelt/Earl Watson Elite 17s):
FB Says: No one explodes, vertically, into his jump shot like this Cal-commit does. He hit six 3s in a win over Duval and WE R1 Saturday night
*Jalek Felton (6-3/2017/Mullins, SC/Team Felton 17s):
FB Says: Like Alexander he is more “combo” now but could be a PG in college (he’s North Carolina-bound).
*Decorian Jeffries (6-7/2019/Olive Branch, MS/Team Thad 16s):
FB Says: There were quite a few extraordinary players from his class at this event but none were better than this guy who, like Paul Scruggs, already plays with the maturity, savvy and know-how of a two- or three-year college veteran. He may have been the best “prospect” here – regardless of class.
*Louis King (6-8/2018/Jersey City, NJ, Hudson Catholic/Sports U 16s)
FB Says: He does so many things well on offense to be labeled strictly a “power forward”.
*Ira Lee (6-8/2017/Napa, CA, Prolific Prep/Earl Watson Elite 17s):
FB Says: No frontcourt player here played any harder than did this guy who dominated games for stretches over the weekend.
*Scotty Lewis (6-4/2019/Tinton Falls, NJ, Ranney/Team Rio National 16s):
FB Says: He got the slightest of edges over classmate and teammate (both in high school and UAA team) Bryan Antoine. He’s the East Coast’s version of the West Coast’s Cassius Stanley (Studio City, CA, Harvard-Westlake).
*Koran Moore (6-9/2018/Baltimore Saint Francis Academy/Baltimore United 16s)
FB Says: He had too much strength and too much low-post savoir fare for the guys he played against here
*D’Shawn Schwartz (6-5/2017/Colorado Springs Sand/KC Run GMC 17s):
FB Says: One of the West’s – and the nation’s – most underrated players in the Class of 2017. He does so much so very well.
*Ju’vante Smart (6-4/2018/Scotlandville, LA/Team Beastmode 17s):
FB Says: He did everything very well except jump shoot over the weekend
*Nate Watson (6-9/2017/Washington, DC, Gonzaga Prep/DC Premier 17s)
FB Says: He’s not the most explosive (vertically) of big men to be found in high school but few play with his understanding of how to rebound and score in and around the lane.
*Kris Wilkes (6-8/2017/Indianapolis North Central/Indy Hoosiers 17s):
FB Says: He’s a very good scorer, from deep or mid range, or inside the lane or along the baseline. He and Paul Scruggs are as good a PG-forward combo as is on the UAA circuit.
*Austin Wiley (6-10/2017/Spark Park, AL/Team Thad 17s):
FB Says: Wiley suffered a fractured leg nearly a year ago while playing on the Nike/EYBL circuit but has rounded back into the form that will have him ranked among the very best post prospects in this class going into next season. He’s committed to Auburn, where his mother was an All-American.
*Keith Williams (6-4/2017/Brooklyn Bishop Loughlin/New Heights 17s):
FB Says: He’s one of the best shooting guard prospects in 2017, not only in the East but nationally, as well. He’s an exceptional scorer while rarely forcing ill-advised attempts.
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