NORWALK, Ca. – The first 15 Pangos All-American Camps always overflowed with terrific “juniors-to-be” among their 100-plus players from all across the country – and beyond, of course.
But the 16th version of the camp, which wrapped up its second day Saturday night, includes a bunch of athletes from the Class of 2020 that could prove to surpass all of those other “junior-to-be” groups.
And, after the Friday and Saturday action (in which the 10 camp teams played three games apiece), three guys have stood well above of their 2020 classmates – and pretty much everyone else in the camp, as well.
Evan Mobley (Temecula, CA/Rancho Christian) and Xavier Foster (Oskaloosa, IA/Community) – each in the “6-foot-10” range – are joined by 6-4 Jaden Springer (Charlotte, NC/Rocky River) as three players that belong on any national “Top 5” list for the Class of 2020.
Foster is the best shot blocker in a camp that has more of them – including Charles Bassey, the co-Most Outstanding Player in the 2017 camp – than any of the first 15 camps.
He swatted a combined five or so attempts by Mobley and older brother, Isaiah, in Miami’s game with the siblings’ Duke squad Saturday afternoon.
But the younger Mobley (PICTURED) answered Foster’s shot-blocking (and shot-altering) ability with savvy moves inside (pump-faking Foster off his feet once and then slamming over the top of him with his off – left – hand), drives and even deep jump shots.
There are multiple “shooting guard-types” in the Class of 2020 rated ahead of the 15-year-old Springer on many of the national rating lists.
That won’t – or, at least shouldn’t – be the case by the end of the summer for the son of former NBA forward Gary Springer.
Springer, who doesn’t turn 16 until Sept. 25, has a combination of strength, athletic explosiveness and skill as a handler, passer and jump shooter that made him the best “non-big guy” in the camp over the first two days.
Some of the other performances that impressed me Saturday included:
*Six-six Cade Cunningham (Arlington, TX/Bowie) challenged Springer as the “best non-point guard perimeter player” Saturday. He reminds me somewhat of Kyle Anderson (San Antonio Spurs) in his feel for the game and oh-so-calm approach but with a tighter jump shot and athletic “pop” than Anderson had as a prep standout in New Jersey;
*Jake Kyman (Santa Margarita in Southern California’s southern portion of Orange County), who recently committed to UCLA, was perfect on five attempts from well beyond the 3-point arc for Notre Dame Saturday night during its 97-66 smack down of North Carolina. He also showed why he is an under-appreciated rebounder, defender and passer;
*He may be a better “scorer” than he is a “playmaker” right now but there isn’t a better point-guard “prospect”, in the Class of 2019, in this camp than Tre Mann (The Villages, FL/Villages School), who hit seven threes while being credited with a cumulative seven assists in Cal’s two Pac 12 wins Saturday.
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