THE INNOVATIVE AMPLIFICATION CONTINUES. MOST IMITATED, MOST RESPECTED, THE BEST.

Notes from the 2008 University of Illinois Team Camp
June 9, 2008

Mike Shaw 6’9” Forward 2011 De La Salle – Shaw isnt the same kid we watched a year ago.  He played much more assertive and wasnt shy about shooting the ball.  He has good touch, can handle it, and is aggressive around the basket.  He is very versatile with great size.  In a matchup with Illinois bound Jereme Richmond, Shaw was definitely the aggressor.

Rich Fisher 6’0” Guard 2009 De La Salle – As we stated last season, Fisher is the glue to the team...he makes them go.  He's a heady point guard with good strength and a nice stroke.  He makes good decisions and is a fearless warrior everytime he steps on the floor.  The kid is very underrated.

Derek Needham 6'1" PG 2009 De La Salle - Needham looked more under control today.  He ran both guard slots and got to the rim in addition to hitting a few outside shots.

Donivine Stewart 6'0" PG 2011 Limestone - Donivine is not a flashy player and does not standout as a big time performer until you check the statlines.  He's very heady, shot the ball well from deep, and got his teammates involved.

Andrew Jordan 6'5" WF 2011 Limestone - Andrew played in the post for Limestone as he was easily their biggest guy.  He wasn't very aggressive today as it looked as if he was still trying to find his niche in the program.

Steve Walker 6'6" PF 2009 Simeon - Steve may be undersized and a widebody but he is so much more athletic and agile than he looks.  He is very skilled underneath and, though he tweaked his ankle against Sterling, had a good showing on this day.

Jarod Oldham 6'3" Guard 2010 Decatur Eisenhower - Jarod showed that he's a talent.  Underused last year, due to the major abilities of Lewis Jackson, Oldham will be the main man on the perimeter for the Panthers.  He is long, got to the rim, and was a leader on the floor.  He didn't shoot it from the 3 a lot but is a very good, though streaky shooter.

Brock Von Nordeck 6'9" PF 2009 Decatur Eisenhower - Brock has a great body, is mobile, and is skilled offensively.  He hs a soft touch on his shot and also has good footwork inside.  If he can get that killer mentality there wouldn't be many interior players better than him.  Von Nordeck-Brock was solid but did, however, earn himself a technical foul after being blown for a foul on a fastbreak.

Joseph Bertrand 6'5" PG 2009 Sterling - The tools are definitely there and if he can put it together consistently, he could be scary good!  Outside of, what was reportedly, a great game against Brandon Paul and Warren Township, Joseph had a tough time, especially against Chicago Simeon's press.  He made a good effort to involve his teammates but, overall, his team just didn't have enough overall talent to compete with the rest of the team's on hand.  To his credit, he was his team's lone ball handler and Simeon's entire game plan was focused around stopping him.

Brandon Paul 6'4" WG 2009 Warren Township - Paul has a chance to be 2009's in-state marquee player with his natural ability.  His shot was a rusty throughout the day but still got to the rim at will.  He finished with a lot of acrobatic moves and was also solid defensively.

Ronald Steward 5'9" PG 2009 Zion-Benton - Ron was the catelyst for the Zee-Bees.  It seemed as if everytime they needed a bucket he provided it.  Against Whitney Young he hit his first three 3-point buckets and brought a lot of energy to the floor.

Lenzelle Smith 6’3” WG 2010 Zion-Benton – Lenzelle played very strong.  He was very efficient getting to the rim and finished with both hands.  He rebounded well and did what it took to help his team.  Tenacious is a good way to describe his game.  He is a lot like Demetri McCamey at the same age (remember, Demetri was a post and a wing before becoming a point guard his senior year) and if someone helps him develop his ball handling to a science, he could be the next power point guard for the Illini, should he decide to commit.

Chris Colvin 6’3” PG 2009 Whitney Young – Colvin was definitely the best player in the gym on this day.  He’s a much different player from what most, if not all saw this season with Whitney Young. He’s extremely quick and is definitely a clutch player.  He handles it, gets to the rim, and has very good court vision.  His clutch game-winner against Zion-Benton set the crowd on fire.

Marcus Jordan 6’3” PG 2009 Whitney Young – Marcus’ game against Zion-Benton had to be the best single game performance all day.  Marcus was on fire from the field.  Throughout the day, he showed that he could hit the outside jumper, squeeze through defenders with a very quick crossover, defend, rebound, and get to the rim.  As we’ve said all spring, he’s a high major point guard!

Stanford Brown 6’6” PF 2009 Whitney Young – Brown needs to add some bulk to his frame but definitely held his own inside.  He can rebound, block shots, and finish.  He had good footwork and ran the floor very well.

Anthony Johnson 6’2” Guard 2010 Whitney Young – Johnson displayed good athleticism and scoring tools.  He didn’t run much point guard throughout the day as he played alongside Colvin and Jordan.  He’s thin but shoots it well from the outside and gets up and down the floor.

Chasson Randle 6’2” PG 2011 Rock Island – Chasson was very good scoring the ball all day long.  With his newly found success and confidence, Randle has taken a more aggressive approach to the game offensively.  He’s shooting it with confidence and has become a leader on the floor.

Brandon Pullman 6’6” WF 2009 Rock Island – This is a kid that we have always thought was a sleeper.  We were undoubtedly the first to bring you Chasson Randle as well as Pullman, though you may not remember him as much.  He’s 6’6”, athletic, strong, skilled, and versatile.  He shoots the 3, attacks the rim, rebounds, and can post.  He will be a very good mid major player.

Jereme Richmond 6’7” WF 2010 Waukegan – Only saw Richmond once today and when we saw him, he was not his usual self.  Usually, aggressive and ball dominating, Richmond played passive and disinterested.  He showed flashes of greatness but must play with more passion on a consistent basis.  He has all of the tools to be the nation’s best player in 2010 but, in his matchup against Mike Shaw, he didn’t provide much for Waukegan.

Notes:
You’d be hard pressed to find a team with the talent of Whitney Young.  Colvin, Johnson, and Jordan are all high major bound players.  Stanford Brown is also a D1 player as is Ahmad Starks, who was forced to watch from the sidelines today.  Add in high major talent Sam Thompson, who was not in attendance, and you've got a core of monsterous talent!

Class of 2011 players Andrew Jordan and Darren Weeks have both transferred to Limestone High School.  They will be participating in the University of North Carolina Team Camp at the end of the month.

6'9" 220 lbs incoming freshman Zach Peters did not compete with St. Anthony's this weekend but sources close to the situation have confirmed that he will be there for this upcoming season.

6’2” James Kinney was in the building watching the competition.  He stated that he will be competing with Team Illinois during the month of July.

Crandall Head and Reggie Smith were both in attendance as well.  Head is still without a school but is considering Rich South, Whitney Young, North Lawndale, or Harvey Thornton.

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