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COLORADO SPRINGS – The four threads that bound tightly each of the four sessions of the high school “mini-camp” that was hosted USA Basketball over the weekend were Henry Ellenson (Rice Lake, WI, High), Chase Jeter (Las Vegas Bishop Gorman), Caleb Swanigan (Ft. Wayne, IN, Homestead) and Stephen Zimmerman (Bishop Gorman).

Each of the four seniors was dominant throughout, both in the drills and scrimmages, and their respective energy and enthusiasm seemed to not only put their games in a high-octane mode but also seemed to motivate and push their younger counterparts from the Classes of 2018 and ’17.

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COLORADO SPRINGS – Some of the very best prospects in the national classes of 2018 and ’17 were among the 48 players on hand Saturday for the start of the two-day “mini-camp” being hosted by USA Basketball.

And, oh yes: There were 11 were darn good seniors doing their thing, as well.

There were a lot chronological – if not always physical – mismatches with those players often matching up with the freshmen and sophomores who were two or three years young across the board.

But they often went head-to-head (especially in drills), so it was a good opportunity to see four of the half-dozen or best “power forward/centers” in the class in the same setting: Henry Ellenson (Rice Lake, WI, HS), Chase Jeter (Las Vegas Bishop Gorman), Caleb Swanigan (Ft.

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FULLERTON, Ca. – The group of speakers has been expanded for the annual Fullcourt Press/Team Athletic Basketball Coaches Clinic, which is set for Wednesday at Hope International University.

Previously announced head coaches Russ Turner of UC Irvine (4:30 p.m.), Cuonzo Martin of Cal (5:30), Tad Boyle of Colorado (6:30) and Dana Altman of Oregon (7:30) will be joined by Larry Krystowiak of the University of Utah (8:30), speaking for about an hour or so apiece on various topics.

Admission is free for all basketball coaches, on any level, in California but RSVPs must be forwarded by e-mail (bob@tagear.com

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NORWALK, Ca. – Sunday’s Day II of the Pangos All-West Frosh/Soph Camp made it a bit easier to sort through the 200 or so players who attended the event at Cerritos Community College and pick out the 25 of those who most impressed me.

So here we go, beginning with 20 selections from the Class of 2017 (current sophomores) and five more from the Class of 2018 (freshmen). I’ll list them alphabetically, and then follow with some general comments:

SOPHOMORES

*L’Angelo Ball (6-4/Chino Hills, CA)

*Elias Ballstaedt (6-4/Heber, UT, Wasatch)

*Isom Butler (6-1/Etiwanda, CA)

*Daejon Davis (6-3/Seattle Lakeside)

*Myles Franklin (6-4/Villa Park, CA)

*Jalen Harris (6-1/Los Angeles Windward)

*Jalen Hill (6-8/Corona, CA, Centennial)

*Jacob Hughes (6-10/Anaheim Servite)

*Brandon McCoy (6-11/San Diego Morse)

*Matt Mitchell (6-6/Eastvale, CA, Roosevelt)

*Jailen Moore (5-10/Lake Elsinore, CA, Lakeside)

*Charles O’Bannon Jr.

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NORWALK, Ca. – Some of the very best high school guards from the western classes of 2017 and ’18 took center stage Saturday – literally and figuratively – during Day I of the Pangos All-West Frosh/Soph Camp at Cerritos Community College.

Approximately 200 players – the bulk of high school freshmen and sophomores but there were a smattering of impressive eighth graders on hand, as well – were on hand for the annual two-day event, which attracts a lot of the elite prospects from the western region in those classes.

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