We could get used to having this guy around, helping out.

Our publisher and editor-in-chief, Dinos Trigonis, has been a busy man lately. And we’re not talking about jet-setting all over the country in an effort to make this one of the nation’s top publications. He’s been out there doing what he does best, evaluating talent. Make no mistake, he does this better than most.

And when Trigonis is out on the road scouting, that means one thing, he’s bound to offer up Nothing But Magazine followers some of his many observations. And that’s a good thing. A very good thing, mind you. So, without further delay, let’s take a look  at a sampling of some of the talent he saw in action.

La Verne Lutheran (La Verne CA) boasts one of the deepest young rosters of talent in the West this season. Juniors Bruce English, CJ Cooper and Xavier Jones will get plenty of playing time. So will sophomores Grant Jerrett and Cameron Osorno and freshmen Eric Cooper Jr., Nick Colletta and Jay Miller. With a roster so deep, there was a good reason that Trojan coach Eric Cooper Sr. had visitors at his practice last Wednesday, the first day of the fall NCAA contact period. Coaches from Arizona, Arizona State, Stanford, UNLV and Washington State were on hand to get a first-hand look at Cooper’s young but impressive looking squad…

Speaking of La Verne Lutheran, the Trojans’ lone senior, Jordan Salley, suffered a devastating ACL tear just prior to the July evaluation period, but is making good progress in rehab. He’s hoping to return by January. Prior to the injury, Salley, one of the top 2010 post prospects in Southern California, had been receiving interest from Tulsa, New Mexico, San Francisco, Santa Clara and Pepperdine. Due to the setback, the attention has been somewhat sluggish. Creighton, however, is in the process of setting up an on-campus visit soon. If Salley can make a full recovery, look for the rugged and bouncy forward to be a valuable recruit in the spring…

From time to time, our publisher and editor-in-chief, Dinos Trigonis, will take time out of his busy schedule to provide Nothing But Net Magazine readers with his unique, and often times, truly insightful perspective on some of the nation’s premier players. This, just so happens to be one of those occasions.

Mind you, our head honcho has plenty experience at evaluating talent. He’s been doing it for 25-plus years. For those interested in checking out additional information, more Trigonis’ tidbits, follow this link: fullctpress.net. Once there, you will find plenty of news, notes and features, both recent and archived.

In the meantime, lets’ get down to business.

While 6’10” Josh Smith (Kentwood/Kent WA) has long been mentioned by many as the top 2010 prospect on the West Coast, the summer play of his Northwest neighbor, Terrence Jones (Jefferson/Portland OR) has now made the race for top-billing a two-horse race.

Jones, a 6-foot-9 senior, was terrific at the Pangos All-American Camp, making the top 20 game in late May. He duplicated the feat a month later, playing just as well at the NBPA Camp and Nike Peach Jam. And at the Center Stage Tournament in Las Vegas, NV., in July, he led his team to the championship.

But it was at the GBOA Challenge of Champions, the same weekend, that he served notice, in a big-time way with his multi-dimensional talents, that he deserves top 10 national consideration. He had a standout effort in an event that attracted 22 of the nation’s top club teams.

Plenty of the top players in the country were in attendance, including Tristan Thompson, Joe Jackson, Quincy Miller, Tony Wroten Jr, Gary Franklin, Jalon Kendrick, Ray McCallum, Josh Hairston, Corey Joseph, Keala King, Bryce Jones and DeAndre Daniels.

Myck Kabongo was there too, along with Trey Zeigler, JT Terrell, Dominique Ferguson, Tarik Black, Richard Solomon, Rod Odom, JJ Moore, Josh Huestis, Quddus Bello, Daryl Traynham, Tyler Thornton, Alex Dragicevich, Dwight Powell, Godwin Okonji, Stephen Holt Ashton Pankey, Isaiah Epps, Gary Bell, Brandon Dawson, Adonis Thomas, Norvel Pelle and Deion Houston.

Throw in an A-list of elite high-major coaches — Roy Williams (North Carolina), Mike Krzyzewski (Duke), Jim Calhoun (UConn), Billy Donovan (Florida), Ben Howland (UCLA), Jay Wright (Villanova), Lorenzo Romar (Washington), Bobby Huggins (West Virginia), John Thompson III (Georgetown), Mike Montgomery (Cal), Tom Crean (Indiana), Mike Brey (Notre Dame), Herb Sendek (Arizona State), Jeff Capel (Oklahoma), Jamie Dixon (Pitt), Mark Few (Gonzaga), Johnny Dawkins (Stanford), Seth Greenberg (Virginia Tech), Craig Robinson (Oregon State), Kevin O’Neil (USC), Buzz Williams (Marquette), Scott Drew (Baylor), Matt Painter (Purdue), Frank Haith (Miami FL), Mike Anderson (Missouri) and Isiah Thomas (Florida International) — and you had the most star-packed day in Vegas that week.

It was on this stage that Jones rose to the occasion, and in a sense, to the top of the West Coast’s 2010 class. He displayed a confident court presence, exceptional ball-handling for a player with his size, deep NBA perimeter range and the ability to make big plays at both ends.

Jones’ impressive overall skill set could make him an NBA prospect for the future. The schools in the hunt for a commitment from “T Jones” include Arizona, North Carolina, Washington, Kansas, Florida, Oklahoma and Kentucky. To read the rest of Trigonis’ tidbits, click here: fullctpress.net.

The 7th annual Pangos All-American Camp presented by Pit Bull Energy Drink was held this past week Cabrillo High School in Long Beach, CA. The dynamic Dave Miller, former New Orleans Hornets Assistant Coach and current Fox Sports Net analyst, was again on hand as the Lead Camp Skills Instructor.

As has been the case in past years, a large contingent of national and regional media and scouts attended, including Dave Telep & Evan Daniels (Scout.com), Jerry Meyer (Rivals.com), Brick Oettinger (Prep Stars and ACC Journal), Clark Francis (Hoop Scoop & Maxx Athlete), Frank Burlison (Long Beach Press Telegram), Van Coleman (Hoopmasters.com and MaxxAthlete), Rob Harrington (Prep Stars & USA Today), Joel Francisco (ESPN.com), Aggrey Sam (Slam Magazine), Sean Ceglinsky (Nothing But Net Magazine), Greg Hicks (Scout.com), Josh Gershon (GOAZCats.com/Rivals), Dinos Trigonis (Fullcourt Press and Nothing But Net Magazine), Ronnie Flores (ESPNRise.com) and Dave Keefer & Dave Rogahn (California Preps/Rivals).

The list goes on and on…

Etop Udo-Ema (Fullcourt Press & Hoopmasters) made an appearance, along with Brian Rothmuller (USCHoops.com), Dave Nahabedian (Networx), Matt Rodriguez (BallisLife.com), Gerry Freitas (Hoop Review), Paul Dean & Roy White (West Coast Hoops Report), Anthony Ray (Arizona Preps & West Coast Hoops Report), Marc Maggard (Roundball Recruiting), Jason Hickman (CBS/Max Preps), Gary Randazzo (Wildcat Sports Report), Aran Smith (NBADraft.net), Dave Keefer & Dave Rogahn (CaliforniaPreps.com), Webb Wellman (One Entertainment), Thom Jones (TJ Sports), Chris Karpman (ASUDevils.com), Rob Taylor (Buckeye Prep Report), Bob Miller (TheBootLeg.com), Neal Nieves (Coast2CoastRecruiting.com), Nick Koza (SportsAmp.com), Scott Kurtz (Kurtz Photo) and Jamie Calsyn (ICON Sports Media).

This year’s games were filmed by BallisLife.com (with Pat “Straw” Pratt doing the “play-by-play” and Schea Cotton doing the “color”) and will be made available via webcast in the near future. Statistics are available online at CaliforniaPreps.com. Additionally Pac-10 officials Bruce Hicks and Frank Harvey held their Hicks/Harvey Officials Clinic in conjunction with the camp which resulted in a first-class effort by the three-person crews that worked the games.

Last year’s Pangos Camp standout and 2009 McDonald’s All-American Michael Snaer (Florida State signee) and camp guest speaker Steve Lavin (ESPN) were present to handout camp awards at the conclusion of the event.

This year’s affair may have been the deepest talent-laden camp in the history of the event. There were several serious 2010 McDonald’s All-American Game candidates present, as well as one of the top prospect in the nation, Harrison Barnes. In the Cream of the Crop game, featuring the camp’s Top 25 players, the Blue Team outlasted the White, 121-118, in what may have been the most competitive all-star game ever.

As a testament to the talent present, there were several high-major players that performed well but didn’t make the Cream of the Crop game, including Adonis Thomas, Keaton Miles, Tony Chennault, Phil Taylor, Cezar Guerrero, Aaron Bright, Winston Shepard, Dezmine Wells and Nick Jacobs.

Here’s a look at the players that were chosen to the Cream of the Crop game.

Harrison Barnes 6’6” 2010 Ames (Ames IA): There is a growing consensus emerging (Scout.com, ESPN.com, Hoop Scoop, PrepStars and Hoopmasters) that Barnes is the #1 prospect in 2010 and his excellent performance here did nothing to slow that momentum. A model of efficiency and productivity, “H” poured in 26 points in the Top 25 Game on 8/13 shooting (including a perfect 7/7 from the FT line) to go along with 8 boards. This all-star effort combined with his fine play during the rest of the camp games (led his camp team to a 3-1 record) as well as an impressive work-ethic on display in the skills work-out portion of the event led him to being selected as the camp MOP – joining an impressive company of former Pangos Camp players (including past #1 players like Brandon Jennings and John Wall) that have garnered that award.

Joe Jackson 5’11” 2010 White Station (Memphis TN): Speedy point has always been fast as lightning on the court as well as a deluxe scorer but at this camp he showed that he could be that and more. Displaying an impressive command of his team’s offense and a very annoying on-ball defensive pressure, Jackson may have very well cemented a spot in next year’s McDonald’s Game by also exhibiting that he could create for others as well as himself. Jackson’s 19 points (on 8/10 shooting) and 4 assists sparked the Blue squad to 121-118 win over the White – earning Top 25 Game co-MVP honors in the process.

James Johnson 6’9” 2010 Morse (San Diego CA): The biggest surprise of the camp has also been among the biggest surprises of the entire spring so far. Very agile bigman is active on the glass, athletic around the cup and can utilize a variety of methods to put points on the board. A injury on Sunday morning may have kept him from participating in the Top 25 Game, but his stellar play here earned him both NBPA Camp and LeBron James US Skills Academy invites.

JT Terrell 6’4” 2010 Cummings (Burlington NC): While JT has always been known as excellent shooter, he enhanced that reputation to an even higher level at this camp. Terrell was on fire all weekend long and his game-high 28 points (on 10/15 shooting) including 6 “threes” in Top 25 Game was nothing short of sensational. If Terrell can continue his torrid shooting the rest of the summer, talk of a 2010 McDonald’s selection may not be out of the realm of possibility for the Wake Forest-bound bomber.

Will Barton 6’6” 2010 Lake Clifton-Eastern (Baltimore MD): Challenging Barnes for camp MOP honors was the energetic and passionate Barton who had a head-turning camp performance that solidified this Baltimore native firmly within the nation’s Top 10 in his class. Whether it was a barrage of three-point shots that found nothing but net or thunderous dunks on his spectacular drives to the hoop, Will definitely left his mark on this event. Barton’s 19 points (on 8/12 shooting) complimented Terrell’s three-point fireworks for the White squad and helped make the Top 25 Game a real masterpiece. Barton’s post-camp buzz was so huge, Memphis coach Josh Pastner wasted no time securing a verbal not just from Will but also his talented brother Antonio Barton (more about him in Part II of this camp report) when they attended the Tiger Elite Camp last weekend. 

Quincy Miller 6’8” 2011 Quality Educational Academy (Winston-Salem NC): Fast-rising 2011 prospect was a star at last October’s Pangos All-South Frosh/Soph Camp in Atlanta where he flashed signs of being an elite high-major player – earning Top 15 status in Nothing But Net’s 2011 national rankings. While Michael Gilchrist, LaQuinton Ross and Tony Wroten have much more established national reps, Miller has the physical tools, a significant skill package and immense upside to one day possibly challenge that trio for top honors in 2011.

Ryan Harrow 5’11” 2010 Walton (Marietta GA): Quick as a cat playmaker directs traffic well and is dangerous in transition. The North Carolina State-bound PG was difficult to contain off the dribble here and his 7 points/4 assists in the Top 25 Game was an very solid way to cap-off an impressive camp performance.

Gary Franklin 6’2” 2010 Mater Dei (Santa Ana CA): As critics keep doing what they do best (criticize), Franklin keeps doing what he does best – put the ball in the basket from long range. While his routine shooting exhibitions (had 11 “threes” – including 8 straight – in a game Friday night) don’t surprise me anymore, it is Franklin’s evolution as much more complete lead guard that is becoming a revelation to many scouts. Gary was a beacon of poise in the Top 25 Game here and with Terrell and Barton combining for 47 points on his White squad, Franklin was content on being a “facilitator” – contributing 8 points and a game-high 8 assists.

Doron Lamb 6’4” 2010 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson VA): Strong and quick off the dribble, Lamb makes a living getting to the FT line as his 9/11 shooting from the charity stripe en route to 15 points in the Top 25 Game clearly demonstrates. Lamb is also an effective scorer from mid-range and showed that he also has 3-point range. This serious 2010 McDonald’s All-American candidate projects as a potential Jason Kidd-type lead guard with an authoritative handle and dangerous ability to penetrate defenses.

Terrence Jones 6’9” 2010 Jefferson (Portland OR): Everything is starting to come together for this unique and versatile big-time forward that is a real scoring threat anywhere inside of 20 feet. Having a strong body and impressive ball-handling skills for his evolving size (Jones is just a shade under 6’9” after being in the 6’6”- 6’7” range just a year ago), Jones has really boosted his recruiting value as of late and his performance here was no exception. This legitimate 2010 McDonald’s All-American Game candidate showed well in the Top 25 Game – 11 points (on 4/6 shooting) to go with 5 rebounds.

Andre Dawkins 6’4” 2010 Atlantic Shores Christian (Virginia Beach CA): Sharp-shooting Duke-bound off-guard has a solid physique and an impressive ability to get his shot off in traffic. While he only scored 6 points in the Top 25 Game, Andre showed that he could really tingle the twine here (had 22 points in a earlier camp game).

Trevor Releford 5’11” 2010 Bishop Miege (Shawnee Mission KS): Crafty playmaker makes things happen in a positive and productive way for every team he directs. Releford was great in the Top 25 Game – going for 13 points (on a perfect 6/6 from the field) to along with 6 dandy assists. Trevor is not going to wow you with his physique or size but his tremendous court savvy and his ability to make plays will make you a believer.

Anthony Brown 6’6” 2010 Ocean View (Huntington Beach CA): Smooth and versatile swingman has the talent to play all three perimeter positions and his excellent grades give him the widest variety of college options. Brown did not force things in the Top 25 Game but he did have his moments – displaying a high skill set that is the main reason he is attracting serious interest from the likes of Stanford, Arizona UCLA, Washington and Arizona State.

Keala King 6’5” 2010 Dominguez (Compton CA): Savvy wing with much swagger is quick off the dribble and has the ability to get to the basket and finish with regularity. Keala (an excellent student) is an underrated rebounder (5 boards in the Top 25 Game) and his fine passing skills have some envisioning his potential to be a lead guard down the road. Although he did not display it much here, King’s outside stroke is better that some realize.

Luke Cothron 6’8” 2010 McDonald Academy (Red Springs NC): Alabama native is a strong post that provides a physical presence in the paint. Cothron seems to finish with authority everything he gets his hands on inside and his ferocious rebounding (had 5 boards in Top 20 Game) is definitely a huge strength in his game. Cothron has ignited a SEC/ACC “battle royale” for his future services.=

Melvin Tabb 6’8” 2010 Enloe (Raleigh NC): Great looking power forward is a force inside and his rebounding and shot-blocking are talents that make him a valuable 2010 commodity. The Wake Forest-bound prospect has ability to score in traffic and the quickness to be a major factor on the glass.

Tarik Black 6’8” 2010 Ridgeview (Memphis TN): Monster PF takes no prisoners in the paint and his mobility baseline-to-baseline is impressive for a guy his size. Tarik had 9 points/4 boards in the Top 25 Game and is only a reliable mid-range jump-shot away from being a special post player. Look for Black to make a rapid rise up the national charts after his terrific play here.

Kendall Williams 6’4” 2010 Los Osos (Rancho Cucamonga CA): Very underrated floor-general is a bona-fide leader and an underrated scorer. Williams is more athletic than you think and his positive energy is contagious. While there are a few on the UCLA fan bandwagon that are having second-thoughts about this heady PG with size, make no mistake about it – K-Dub is winner by any definition of the term and would be a welcome addition to any high-major squad that aims to contend for conference and post-season championships. Excellent student and human being!

Alex Kirk 6’10” 2010 Los Alamos (NM): Physical center with a soft touch around the basket won over on-lookers here as he was a dependable producer on both ends of the floor. Kirk also displayed extended range on his jump shot and a defensive prowess in the paint. Kirk had a solid effort in the Top 25 Game (7 points on 3/4 shooting).

PJ Hairston 6’5” 2011 Dudley (Greensboro NC): Hardnosed athlete runs the floor well and has real three-point ability too. Hairston was terrific in the Top 25 Game – connecting for 13 points (including 3 “threes”). North Carolina is reportedly the leader for this Top 10 2011 prospect and could get a verbal soon although Florida appears to be also in the mix.

Dwayne Polee Jr. 6’7” 2010 Westchester (Los Angeles CA): Nobody played more above the rim during the 2009 Pangos Camp then Polee who is arguably the best “run and jump” athlete in the 2010 class. As he continues to fill-out and get stronger as well as improve his skill set, Polee may have as much long-term upside as anybody in this camp.

Travis McKie 6’7” 2010 Marshall (Richmond VA): Long and athletic, this mobile swingman won over a multitude number of major scouts here including ESPN.com’s Joel Francisco who could not stop raving about his play. A solid effort in the Top 25 Game – 10 points (3-3 fg and 4-5 ft) to go along with 7 boards only fueled talk about the need to raise the Wake Forest-bound McKie significantly in the national rankings.

Godwin Okonji 6’9” 2010 Findlay Prep (Las Vegas NV): Very improved post has always been an excellent rebounder and defender but he has recently improved his footwork immensely and is now a legitimate offensive threat in the paint. Okonji was very assertive here at both ends of the floor and should garner substantial high-major interest this summer when schools get a chance to observe his offensive improvement. Credit Okonji’s tremendous work-ethic, great attitude and the tutelage of Findlay Prep head coach Michael Peck and assistant Todd Simon for this Nigerian’s rapid development. Godwin’s was more than solid in the Top 25 Game as his 11 points/5 rebounds attest.

Mychal Parker 6’7” 2010 The Miller School (Charlottesville VA): Strong and athletic swingman was inconsistent here, but his natural talent is too large to ignore. Parker uses his excellent physical build and quickness to get to the basket off the dribble and he has the potential to also be a lock-down defender.

Royce Woolridge 6’3” 2010 Sunnyslope (Phoenix AZ): High-scoring lead guard had a solid camp, knocking down shots like usual but it was his desire to make good decisions and get teammates involved that impressed me the most and showed that the Kansas-bound guard can impact the game in a multitude of ways beyond scoring.

Shane Southwell 6’6” 2010 Rice (New York NY): Blue-collar combo-forward is physical and can score block-to-block as well as step out and defend perimeter-oriented opponents. Southwell, an underrated passer, is attracting Big East and SEC interest.

Shabazz Muhammad 6’4” 2012 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas NV): Very promising wing had scouts impressed all weekend long and his stellar play was good enough to earn him a berth in the Top 25 game – scoring 10 points (on 5/6 shooting).

DeAndre Daniels 6’7” 2011 Taft (Woodland Hills CA): Other than James Johnson, nobody improved his stock here more than the multi-dimensional Daniels who combines excellent athleticism with above-average perimeter shooting. Texas, UNLV and USC have been among the growing list of schools that are taking notice of Daniels’ great potential and you best believe that after this eye-popping camp performance that list will get longer before it gets shorter. Solid performance in the Top 25 Game (7 points/4 boards) capped off a very productive weekend. Originally slated to be a 2010 prospect, Daniels recently received notice from the NCAA Clearinghouse that he will be granted an additional year to achieve initial NCAA freshman eligibility although his senior year will have to be spent outside the authority of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) which would most likely not permit him to play for a CIF member school in 2010-11.

Pe’Shon Howard 6’3” 2010 Oak Hill (Mouth of Wilson VA): Strong and assertive combo-guard tied Franklin with a Top 25 Game-high 8 assists and his overall fine play here boosted his standing in the eyes of the national media present. Howard also showed an ability to run a team as well as knock down outside shots.

Words by Sean Ceglinsky

Derrick Favors is a soft-spoken kind of young man. He’s low key, to be sure.

Seldom does he partake in trash-talking, not even when he’s being baited by an opponent. Rarely, if ever, does he argue with referees over what some might perceive as a bad call. What his coach says goes, too. No questions asked.

Favors is a throw back, of sorts.

Unlike most, the 17-year old senior forward from South Atlanta High, Ga., prefers to let his play on the court serve as his words. And the entire country is listening. His message is coming across loud and clear. No doubt about it.

“Derrick is different. He doesn’t feed into the hype,’’ said Jammar Stegall, an assistant coach for Favors’ AAU team, Atlanta Celtics. “I mean, I’ve seen him come down the lane, during the middle of a game, do a 360 dunk, in traffic, and the whole crowd has gone wild.

“What does Derrick do right afterwards? He runs down to the other end of the court, without even cracking a smile, without any emotion at all, and gets ready to play defense. He’s a silent killer. That’s his style.

“He goes about his business. It’s strictly business with him. When he’s out on there, he’s focused. There’s no reason to say anything, or to pump your fists on your chest when you are focused like he is. He’s humble. It’s plain and simple.’’

Fair enough.

At 6-foot-9, 225-plus pounds, Favors possesses the frame NCAA Division I scouts covet. He has the skill set to match, a fact that makes the Georgia Tech faithful a bunch of lucky followers considering they landed a commitment from him back in mid-January.

Favors’ game on the block is advanced beyond his years, allowing him to back down defenders and take the ball to the rim, often times finishing strong with either hand, without much of a fight.

Out on the perimeter, his touch continues to improve. He keeps opponents honest with range that extends to 18 feet, and from time to time, he’s been known to knock down the occasional 3-pointer.

And when an opposing big rushes to close out on him, Favors’ unusually good handle enables him to blow bye the fellow post player off the dribble and get into the paint for an easy pull-up jumper.

“If you put in the hard work, the results will come,’’ Favors said. “I feel that there’s always room for improvement, always ways to get better and better. If you’re out there focused, there’s not much to say. I let my game do the talking.’’

The way he carries himself is unique in this day and age. He prefers to fly underneath the radar. His undeniable talents, however, make doing so a difficult task.

If he continues improving, it wouldn’t come as a big surprise to see him playing one year of ball for Georgia Tech before being confronted with all important decision about the possibility of forgoing college life for the NBA.

It’s a scenario that Ramblin Wreck coach Paul Hewitt must think about on a daily basis. How could he not be concerned about losing Favors before his sophomore season rolls around?

“Georgia Tech sends players to the league. That’s where I want to end up some day,’’ Favors said. “I feel like coach Hewitt can help me develop as a player and get me ready for the next level. I’m ready to put in the work.’’

Remember, we are talking about a kid who could have played for any college in the country.

John Calipari and Memphis courted Favors for a while. So did UCLA’s Ben Howland, UConn’s Jim Calhoun and Florida’s Billy Donovan. And that’s naming a few of the powerhouse programs that were once potential suitors.

As a teenager, Favors burst onto the national scene with the Atlanta Celtics, a program that has had its share of standouts over the years. Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard and Atlanta Hawks’ Joe Johnson and Josh Smith once starred for the Southern-based juggernaut.

“Derrick has the potential to be as good, maybe even better, than some of the guys that came before him, no questions asked,’’ Atlanta Celtics coach Corey Smith said. “He’s going to make an instant impact in college too.’’

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up as one of the top freshmen in the ACC, one of the best in the nation. His lifelong goal is to make it the NBA and college is just the first step on the way. He’s going to be a Tim Duncan-type of player. He’s that good.’’

Tim Duncan? That might be a little far fetched, at least at this stage of the game.

But make no mistake, Favors is talented. As a senior, he averaged 27.5 points, 13.3 rebounds, five blocks, four steals and three assists per game while guiding South Atlanta to the program’s first ever Georgia Class AAA State title.

For his efforts, Favors was named 2009 Naismith National High School Basketball Player of the Year. Selections to the McDonald’s All-American and Jordan Brand All-American games are further proof of his tremendous upside.

The recruiting services jumped on the bandwagon a long time ago and have enjoyed the ride since. Scout.com lists him as the No.1 prospect for the 2009 class, ESPNU/Rise ranks Favors No.2 overall and Rivals.com has him at No.4.

As for Nothing But Net Magazine… We reserved a spot for Favors at No.2, just behind top-ranked John Wall from Word of God Christian Academy in Raleigh, N.C. It was, however, a tough call, given the dynamic nature of both players’ games.

Favors is dynamic, yes. But he doesn’t talk the talk. He walks the walk.

“I don’t showboat. It’s not my style,’’ Favors said.

The inaugural Pangos Sweet 16 tournament was held in Long Beach, CA., this past week, and on Wednesday, the LA Dream Team took home the title, defeating the Compton Magic, 72-67, in front of a large contingent of scouts.

Ronnie Flores (ESPNRise.com), Gerry Freitas (Hoop Review) and Tracy Pierson (BruinReportOnline.com) were on hand to cover all the action, along with Sean Ceglinsky (Nothing But Net Magazine) and Matt Rodriguez (BallisLife.com).

There were plenty of other members of the media in attendance, including Nick Koza (SportsAmp.com), Dave Keefer & Dave Rogahn (CaliforniaPreps.com), Neal Nieves (Coast to Coast Recruiting) and Roy White (West Coast Hoops Report).

 That’s enough about the so-called experts watching from the stands. Now, let’s take a look at some of the players that left a lasting impression.

Tony Chennault 6’0” 2010 Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia PA): Strong point guard with an excellent pull-up jump shot was the leader LA Dream Team needed to go the distance here. He’s bound for Wake Forest.

Allen Crabbe 6’5” 2010 Price (Los Angeles CA): Smooth shooting wing found the bottom of the net more often than not. What else is new? The Cal-commit had 22 points in the championship game and 29 in the semifinals

Royce Woolridge 6’3” 2010 Sunnyslope (Phoenix AZ): High-scoring guard continued his high-point production, which included a game-winning jump shot in the quarterfinals. Woolridge committed to Kansas.

James Johnson 6’10” 2010 Morse (San Diego CA): The Calgary, Canada product is quickly shedding the sleeper tag after sitting out junior season. The skilled post with size will get a long look from high-majors this July.

Deonte Burton 6’2” 2010 Centennial (Compton CA): Athletic and tough lead guard is dangerous off the dribble as well as a pesky defender. Has a great feel for the game and projects as a solid mid-major prospect.

Cezar Guerrero 6’0” 2011 Workman (City of Industry CA): Quick-off the dribble lead guard has dangerous perimeter stroke. He’s great with the ball in his hands, capable of getting to the rim whenever he pleases.

Derek Brown 6’1” 2010 Chino Hills (Chino Hills CA): Heady point guard plays with great confidence and has the heart to make big plays on both ends of the court. Bottom line: This guy likes to mix it up.

Gabe York 6’2” 2012 Orange Lutheran (Orange CA): Talented scoring guard has already created a strong national reputation for himself with his fine play. Keep in mind, York was one of the youngest players here.

Jordan Salley 6’7” 2010 La Verne Lutheran (La Verne CA): Strong and physical power forward is athletic and has added a soft jump hook to his offensive arsenal. Possesses tons of upside and is about to realize it.

Alex Tiffin 6’7” 2010 Thousand Oaks (Thousand Oaks): Power forward is skilled around the basket and his continued impressive play should garner plenty of recruiting interest from the WCC and Big West this summer.

Richard Solomon 6’9” 2010 Price (Los Angeles CA): Improving forward has that combination of size, skill and potential that high-major programs crave.  Transferred to Price from Bishop Montgomery recently.

Bryce Jones 6’4” 2010 Taft (Woodland Hills CA): Fast-rising wing has all the key ingredients. Athleticism, ball-handling and speed are the difference-makers in the eyes of scouts everywhere. Jones is on the rise.

Anthony Holiday 6’3” 2010 Norwalk (Norwalk CA): Excellent shooter’s offensive production included a half-court shot to win an early-round tourney game. That said, it’s easy to understand why his range is unlimited.

LaBradford Franklin 6’2” 2010 San Diego (CA): Clever ball-handler can get to the basket and finish. His jumper continues to improve. Great thing about him is, he loves to play defense. Go figure.

Kyle Bailey 6’5” 2010 University (Spokane WA): This northerner can play. Spot-up shooter with nice size finds ways to get his shot off in traffic. Deadly once his feet are set. As close to automatic as they come.

Maverick Ahanmisi 6’1” 2009 Golden Valley (Santa Clarita CA): Athletic combo-guard handles defensive pressure well and can get to the cup in a hurry off the bounce, regardless of who’s in his way. He’s not afraid of contact either.

Zeke Chapman 6’1” 2011 Chapparal (Scottsdale AZ): Son of former Kentucky and NBA star doesn’t have quite the bounce his dad had but is a savvy guard with a potent outside stroke who gives maximum effort.

John Ryan 6’8” 2010 El Segundo (El Segundo CA): Bruising post is a blue-collar player that gives total effort all the time. Ryan has improved his offensive moves on the block. He alters shots and is a monster rebounder to boot.

 Deuce Johnson 6’6” 2010 Campbell Hall (North Hollywood CA): Undersized but athletic power forward could be a force if he beefs up his lanky frame. Always seems to be around the ball and that‘s something you can‘t teach.

Clint Bozner 6’7” 2010 Villa Park (Villa Park CA): Sharp-shooting 3-point specialist with size. Once he learns how to take his game down low in the block and consistently score, he really start opening some eyes.

Nate Bullock 6’4” 2010 Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood CA): Hard-working wing plays with passion and is a very good athlete with an improving jump shot. Never seen him out-hustled for any loose ball.

At 6-foot-9 and 220-plus pounds, Derrick Favors is an imposing presence on the basketball court. Off the court, the senior from South Atlanta High (Atlanta, GA) is quite the opposite. That said, we figured it was about time to learn a little bit more about Favors, so we sat down with Nothing But Net Magazine’s #2 ranked prospect for the 2009 class and asked him some random questions in an effort to get the inside scoop. We think you’ll like his candid responses.

NBN: Derrick, you just com­mitted to Georgia Tech. What were some of the deciding factors in your decision?

DF: Georgia Tech has always been my dream school and being close to home made it a perfect fit.

NBN: What are your individual and team goals for your final high school season at South Atlanta High School?  

DF: Win the state championship.

NBN: Playing for the Atlanta Celtics during the past several years, you have had a chance to play against a lot of great play­ers from coast-to-coast. Who is the toughest opponent you have been matched up against?

DF: Michael Beasley.

NBN: Who do you model your game after?

DF: Kevin Garnett.

NBN: What do you consider some of your individual strengths and what areas of your game do you feel that you need to improve on?

DF: My individual strength is rebounding and blocking shots. I feel I need to improve my jump shot.

NBN: We know that you vis­ited Africa last summer as part of the adidas Nations program. What was the highlight of the trip?

DF: Having a chance to play the African team as well as perform community service while I was there. It was a great once-in-a lifetime experience.

NBN: We know that you were close to the late Wallace Prather, an icon on the youth basketball scene in Atlanta. We imagine he had a great impact on your early playing career. What do you believe will be the legacy that Wallace left behind for you and other members of the basketball community?

DF: Great players participate in the Celtics program every year and have a chance of going to col­lege and NBA.

NBN: Tell me the high school team to beat in Georgia this year?

DF: South Atlanta.

NBN: We knew that answer was coming. Let’s talk about something else besides hoops. How about your favorite food. What does Derrick Favors like to get down and durty with at the dinner table?

DF: Hot wings.

NBN: Fair enough. And if you had to sit down with Rihanna or Beyonce at dinner, who would you choose?

DF: Rihanna.

NBN: Rihanna and plate of hot wings… You’re a romantic type of guy, huh?

DF: No comment.

Words by Sean Ceglinsky 

Growing up, Cezar Guerrero wasn’t like most Hispanic kids his age.

Rarely, if ever, did he join neighbors at the local park to play soccer. Wearing shin guards and cleats just to kick around a ball on a grassy field never really appealed to him, even if all his friends were playing futbol and wondering why he wasn’t.

Believe it or not, basketball was Guerrero’s sport. All he needed was a slab of concrete with a hoop and nylon net at either end and he was content. More than happy… Hoops was the name of the game back then, and not surprisingly, still is today.

The 6-foot sophomore point guard from Workman High, just outside Los Angeles, Calif., has spent countless hours refining his skills throughout the years to emerge as one of nation’s most promising prospects among the 2011 class.

“I tried soccer, you know, like everyone else around me did when I was younger,’’ said Guerrero, whose nickname is C.J. “But there was always something special about basketball. I can’t really explain it, there’s just something special about the game.

“Once I started dribbling the ball, I was hooked. Shooting jumpers came easy to me. After that, it was a wrap. Nothing else mattered. Nothing at all. Not baseball, not football, not tennis. Definitely not soccer.

“Basketball was my first love. It’s my passion.’’

His decision to forge his own path in basketball is unique in the sense that Latinos haven’t had much success in making a name for themselves in the sport. Guerrero, however, has been able to draw inspiration from Eduardo Najera.

The 10-year NBA veteran is from Chihuahua, Mexico, the same region as Guerrero’s mother, Martha. Najera has played for four different teams in his career and is averaging just less than 12 minutes per game for the New Jersey Nets this season.

“Eduardo Najera is out there making a difference,’’ Guerrero said. “He’s out there proving that anyone can do whatever they want regardless of where they are from. How could a person doing something like that not put a smile on your face?

“Basketball is universal. It doesn’t belong to any one race of people. Basketball doesn’t belong to any two races. It doesn’t belong to any three races or any 10 races. I play for the love of the game. That’s how it should be.’’

Guerrero opened plenty of eyes as a freshman when he averaged 18 points, five rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals a game for St. John Bosco, a relatively small private school in Bellflower, Calif.

Moreover, he didn’t put up those numbers against inferior opponents. Guerrero and his teammates played in one of Southern California’s toughest leagues, the Trinity, where national powerhouse Santa Ana Mater Dei reigns supreme.

“I’ve been impressed with Guerrero’s handle, ability to score in bunches and insane quickness,’’ said Patrick Stanwood, Nothing But Net National Recruiting Analyst. “He has to be mentioned among the top 10 point guards in the country for his class.‘’

Such praise is worthy considering how well Guerrero performed on the national level during last spring and summer.

As a freshman, he started for his club team, Belmont Shore, alongside Arizona-bound Kyle Fogg, Duke-bound Mason Plumlee and Louisville-bound Stephan Van Treese. Guerrero & Co. ended up winning the 2008 Las Vegas Easter Classic, defeating the likes of Team Odom Los Angeles, featuring Texas-bound Jordan Hamilton, and a Branch West group, anchored by UCLA-bound Tyler Honeycutt.

Guerrero also went head-to-head with the best of the best at the Fullcourt Press All-West Camp and made the Top 25 game there with the likes of Jeremy Tyler, Michael Snaer, Hollis Thompson and Roberto Nelson.

Guerrero silenced the critics at the Arizona Cactus Classic when he teamed with Michigan-bound Darius Morris to defeat the Northwest Panthers, led by Abdul Gaddy and Avery Bradley.

Guerrero didn’t back down at the Nike Hoop Jamboree in St. Louis, MO., and then, held his own at the Reebok Summer Championships in Las Vegas.

Turns out, scoring goals in soccer was never an option for Guerrero. But scoring baskets always was.

“I remember when CJ was six years old and he was making jumpers from everywhere on the court with consistency,’’ older brother Joe Covarrubias said. “Then, at 10, he scored 72 points in a recreational league game and I knew it was time to start working with him.

“He’s grown up fast since then. He’s matured.

“There was a time when he wasn’t ready to go up against big-time competition, but those days are long gone. He’s got a target on his back now. He knows people are after him so he has to bring his ‘A’ game all the time. There’s no holding him back anymore.”

Recruiting services such as Rivals.com and Scout.com are crazy about Guerrero, both constantly providing updates about the prospective colleges interested in him. Arizona, Stanford, Gonzaga, Texas, Oregon State, Marquette and Maryland, along with UCLA and USC are among the potential suitors.

In the midst of all the hype, he’s become an Internet sensation, of sorts. His highlight video on BallisLife.com gets tons of hits on a daily basis, ranking second in total views to USC freshman DeMar DeRozan.

Onlookers have dubbed Guerrero everything from Mexican Michael Jordan to Hispanic Tim Hardaway to Latino LeBron James.

The future is bright. But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. Guerrero, after all, is 16-years old. There’s no need to put any added pressure on him. Remember, he has two more years of high school ahead of him.

“I’m on a journey, a basketball journey,’’ Guerrero said. “Ever since I was a kid there have been a lot distractions, people telling me I can’t do this and I can’t do that. One thing I’ve learned is, with work ethic and a lot of determination, anything is possible. It’s all about desire.

“I want to leave my mark on the game.’’

Words by Sean Ceglinsky

John Wall’s head is seemingly on a swivel, his eyes constantly surveying the floor as he dribbles the ball across halfcourt. The pesky little guard draped on his shoulder and the oversized forward heading directly toward him offer little resistance.

Accustomed to the situation, Wall uses a one-bounce dribble to the left and a quick crossover move back to the right to free up additional space, leaving the double-team behind. Seconds later, he’s driving down the lane, into the heart of a defense quickly collapsing around him.

Amid all the confusion, he collects himself with a jump stop, just inside the free-throw line. A short jumper presents itself. Out on the wing stands a teammate, positioned beyond the 3-point arc, patiently waiting for the kickout pass.

If there ever was a time for a spilt-second decision, it’s now.

Somehow, blame it on instincts, he catches a glimpse of a cutter diving to the basket and a well-placed bounce pass leads to an uncontested layup. Just another good, no wait, make that another great example of just how great John Wall can be.

“My job is running the show. That’s what I do,’’ Wall said.

And no one in the country does their job better than him. Perhaps that best explains why the 6-foot-4 senior point guard from Word of God Christian Academy in North Carolina is the most sought-after prospect in the country.

“When I step out on the court, I have a big target on my back. I know that,’’ Wall added. “I expect everyone to go hard at me, hard as they can so they can try to make a name for themselves. And that’s fine.

“I love the competition. It keeps me hungry. It keeps me on top.’’

But is he really on top?

Yes.

No doubt about it.

There’s no one better.

No one.

That said, it shouldn’t come as a big surprise for Nothing But Net readers to learn that Wall is this publication’s top-ranked player for the 2009 class. The decision, believe it or not, was easy given all the tools he possesses.

Size. Speed. Quickness. Vision. Handle. Improving range. The list goes on and on.

“John Wall might be the most exciting player to come along since LeBron James,’’ said Patrick Stanwood, Nothing But Net National Recruiting Analyst. “We could be talking about a future NBA All-Star! His charisma and presence are also worth noting.”

Desire, however, could be his greatest attribute. It’s the one thing that separates him from the rest of the crowded pack at the top.

Individuals like Wall don’t come around very often and breakout efforts during the Reebok Summer Championships, LeBron James Skills Academy and Pangos All-American Camp last summer only strengthened his reputation as the best around.

Remarkably enough, there are still some skeptics out there.

For instance, ESPN/Rise Magazine lists him as the No.6 player in the nation, behind worthy counterparts such as Xavier Henry, Derrick Favors, John Henson, DeMarcus Cousins and Renardo Sidney – in that particular order.

It should be mentioned that, with the exception of Henry, each of the aforementioned players is capable of providing a huge post presence for their respective team, one of the few things Wall can’t do. Or could he, if given the opportunity?

Adding more fuel to the fire is the fact that Scout.com lists him at No.2 overall, with Favors sitting atop their rankings. Although Wall would never admit that being second best is something that bothers him, you get the feeling it must get underneath his skin, at least a little bit.

“John is well aware of what’s going on around him but he’s not consumed by all the hype,’’ said Brian Clifton, director of Wall’s AAU team, D-One Sports. “Let’s just say it’s not a wise idea to provoke him, because when someone does, when the opportunity presents itself, he makes sure to show everyone what he’s all about, in no uncertain terms.

“The thing about John is, he’s one of those individuals that makes everyone around him better. I’m not sure the other top kids in the 2009 class can say that. He makes a tremendous impact each and every time he puts on that uniform.

“There have been times when we have had to find a way to keep him from getting bored out of his mind when he’s on the court. No one can touch him. There’s no one even close. He does what he wants. He’s as good as advertised.’’

You can count college coaches Bill Self and John Calipari as believers. Wall has already made official visits to Kansas and Memphis. Plenty of other powerhouse programs have courted him, too.

But it appears as if the Jayhawks and Tigers, along with Baylor, North Carolina State, Duke and Oregon are the only schools with a realistic chance of securing a commitment from the dynamic floor general.

“John has a tremendous amount of upside,’’ said Jerry Meyer of Rivals.com, which ranks Wall as its top recruit in the country. “The point guard position is the marquee position now and John is the marquee player. The sky is the limit for him.

“I’m not sure where he’s going to end up, but he’s going to make some coach extremely happy once he gets there. John is the guy to go after if you’re looking for a player to come in and make an instant impact on your program. He has a chance to be one of the great ones.’’

Perhaps the most interesting part about the whole recruiting process, at least up to this point, has been the way Baylor managed to work itself into the whole equation. The Bears, after all, have never been mistaken for a hoops haven. They did, however, become a major player when it was announced that Clifton’s brother, Dwon, was coming onboard back in late July to be Baylor’s Director of Player Development.

Make no mistake, Dwon is qualified for the job, having played ball at Clemson and UNC Greensboro before heading overseas in 2005. Not so coincidentally, talk of Wall following Clifton to Waco has dominated chat rooms and message boards ever since.

“As of right now, I haven’t made a decision. I’m not worried about it either. I’m in no rush to pick a school,’’ Wall said. “There’s still work to be done before I think about going to the next level. There is always room for improvement.

“Sometimes, I sit back and look at my situation and think about how great it is to be able to go anywhere in the country. It’s a big world out there. A big, big world.’’

His sole focus nowadays is simple: He wants to do what every other kid his age wants to do: Finish high school. A decision about college life figures to come shortly thereafter.

“To be honest, the first time he practiced with us, I thought every school in the nation should have signed him right then and there,’’ Word of God Christian Academy coach Levi Beckwith said. “He’s grown up quite a bit since then. He’s matured and what you’re seeing now is a player that’s real close to being a finished product.

“He’s gotten over the hump. He can go anywhere he wants in life, both on and off the court. John is going to be star at the next level. We’re talking about a kid who could be the top pick in the NBA someday.’’

Interestingly enough, NBAdraft.net and Draftexpress.com list Wall as the No. 1 overall pick in their 2010 NBA mock drafts. “My ultimate goal is to make it to the league someday,’’ he said.

First things first.

He must carry the torch of being named the first, the inaugural, Nothing But Net top-ranked player in the nation. Beyond that, who knows.

 If, however, the present is any indication of what’s in store for the future, John Wall is heading in the right direction.

Words by Sean Ceglinsky

While most of Michael Snaer’s op­ponents are relaxing at home, the 6-foot-4 shooting guard is just getting start­ed on his third extensive basketball workout of the day. He’s getting his second wind.

There’s work that needs to be done and no one works harder than Snaer.

He stands alone in an empty Rancho Verde High gym with a content look on his face. He‘s perfectly fine with the fact that he’s the only one putting in the extra effort on the dimly lit Inland Empire court, locat­ed on the outskirts of Southern California.

“I’m never satisfied. My goal is to play and practice harder than everyone else,’’ said Snaer, who has used an unmatched work ethic to transform his status from, a once relatively unknown recruit on the na­tional level, into one of the most sought-after senior prospects in country.

The hardwood is home for the Florida St.-bound Snaer. He’s in his element.

Shortly thereafter, his daily ritual of shoot­ing 100 jumpers from the top of the key re­sumes. Snaer makes his first 15 shots from straight away, and 27 of his first 30 overall. He buries so many buckets, it’s tough to keep count.

Next up: Another 100 long-distance bombs, this time from beyond the 3-point line along the right baseline. Then, he jacks up 100 more from the left side. Before finishing up, Snaer steps up to the charity stripe for 200 free-throws. Swish. Swish. Swish. Nothing but the bottom of the net three times in a row. Only 197 more to go.

Get the picture?

“Basketball, basketball, basketball, that’s my life,’’ Snaer said. “I think you can always improve, always get better. I’m hungry. I want to eat. I want to be the best and that means getting stronger, faster, quicker. I’m going to do whatever it takes.’’

Whatever he is doing, it’s working. And the people that matter most, NCAA Divi­sion I scouts, have been paying attention.

In fact, his stock skyrocketed this past summer when he turned in dominant performance after dominant performance at the Pangos All-American camp, Ree­bok All-American camp and Nike Paul Pierce skills camp.

Based on those efforts, Snaer also won over the so-called ex­perts at Rivals.com and Scout.com. As a result both recruiting services rank him among the top 25 players for the 2009 class.

“I’ve spoken to plenty of people about Mike and everyone agrees that he’s in the upper echelon of high-major prospects,’’ Sonny Vaccaro said. “He’s been making a lot of noise. He’s really made a name for himself. Mike is playing about as well as anyone else out there right now. He’s pretty damn good.’’

He was pretty darn good from the beginning, too.

Snaer cracked the starting lineup at Rancho Verde High as a freshman, played an even more prominent role during his soph­omore season and emerged as the go-to-guy as a junior when he guided the Mustangs to a CIF Southern Section Division II-A champion­ship.

And with his senior season right around the corner, it ap­pears as if the sky is the limit.

“Mike has made huge leaps every year he’s been with us,” said Rancho Verde coach Travis Show­alter. “He takes a lot of pride in his game. He’s asserted himself as one of the elite, one of the top players in the country. No one can take that away from him.

“Working out several times a day, on his own most times, made him the special player he is today. He really enjoys the solitude of the gym, and I’ve got to admit, I was a little concerned about that at first.

“Then I realized that Mike is a different kind of guy. A different animal.’’

Seemingly every powerhouse program has been in contact with Snaer at some point over the course of last year or so. Col­lege coaches understand that a player of his caliber doesn’t come around very often.

His tenacity is a rarity. Few play better defense, just ask highly-touted stars such as Jordan Ham­ilton, Xavier Henry, or John Wall. Snaer has held his own against each of his peers in the past.

His athleticism is undeni­able. A 35-plus-inch vertical jump is a good indication of that.

His range from out on the perimeter knows no limits.

His upside is off the charts.

“Everyone in Califor­nia knows how good he is, and now, finally, everyone else is starting to under­stand, Snaer’s club coach Elvert “Kool-Aid” Perry said. “We’re talking about a kid who’s going to end up being a McDonald’s All-American, no doubt about it. He’s that good. You can take that to the bank.‘’

Snaer proved Perry right when he was selected to the McDonald’s All-American game on Feb­ruary 18th.

Marquette and Missouri were among the numerous schools that courted Snaer for quite some time. His 3.5 grade point average attracted the interest from Stan­ford. The big boys, Kansas and UCLA, were in the mix too.

Each, however, ended up miss­ing out on the Snaer sweepstakes once he decided on playing for the Seminoles.

“Mike wasn’t trying to go to a college where he was going to be like Tito or Jermaine in the Jack­son 5,‘’ Perry said. “He wanted to go somewhere and be the lead singer. He wanted to be Mi­chael Jackson. And he‘s talented enough to do it.

“The thing that separates Mike from everyone else is that he’s al­ways in the gym. If you look up the word gym rat in the diction­ary, you’ll see a picture of Mike Snaer.

“You know, it’s funny, I can’t tell you the number of times his mom has called me looking for him. I always know where he is too — in the gym. All the hard work he’s put in during the past is finally paying off. He deserves every­thing that’s coming to him.’’

Words by Lee Hubbard

High school club basketball, often referred to as AAU basketball, has attracted a negative reputation over the course of the past couple years. The NCAA, along with various media members, have been quick to point the blame on the AAU game and its so-called problems, ranging from the lack of teaching fundamentals and the corrupt culture that some believe exist.

All, however, is not as bad as it seems.

Strangely enough, this development has occurred at the same time as AAU basketball has seen an explosion in reach and influence. Responding to the bad rap, top club team coaches from all over the country joined together in 2007 to form Grassroots Basketball of America (GBOA), a national organization created to give a foundation and structure to club basketball.

One of the main people behind the GBOA formation is current president Gary Charles, the founder of the New York Panthers and one of the veteran pillars of the club basketball circuit. “I had been having these ideas for a while, to clean up the game and to create a unified voice when it comes to grassroots basketball,” Charles said.

“So after Team USA lost in the 2004 Olympics, and the NBA and college basketball coaches started making a lot of noise about AAU basketball and the decline of American basketball, I decided to call a few guys in the grassroots basketball community to explore the possibility of unifying ourselves,” he added.

Various long-time prominent coaches from across the nation were contacted in order to start setting up a long-term structure for AAU basketball. Thus, GBOA was formed, with various organizations _ such as the Atlanta Celtics, Arkansas Hawks, Texas Blue Chips, Belmont Shore, DC Assault, Boo Williams, SYF Players, EBO, Illinois Warriors and Albany City Rocks _ as the founding members.

“The idea was to clean up the game,” said Charles. “We want to start stressing the teaching of fundamentals and to disassociate ourselves from the negative reputation that the AAU game had come to represent. All of us were lumped together into AAU basketball, when in fact most of us simply play club basketball.”

While Charles said that AAU basketball is very strong when it comes to youth basketball, pre-high school, he wanted people to know that AAU basketball is different. “My idea was that we had to get guys from all of the various shoe companies as well as independent teams involved,” he said Charles.

NCAA Division I college coaches such as Kansas’ Bill Self, Georgia Tech’s Paul Hewitt, Villanova’s Jay Wright and Virginia’s Dave Leito serve as advisory board members. Two years into its formation, the GBOA has had some major successes as a grassroots basketball organization.

In 2007, GBOA created regional tournaments, similar to the NCAA tournament with various club teams from their regions playing in the West, East, South and Midwest areas of the country. 

The organization held a national GBOA Challenge of Champions in Las Vegas just prior to the three major national summer tourneys in Nevada. D-I Greyhounds beat Southeast Elite for the title.

High-profile players that completed in the tournament include: Brandon Jennings, Kenny Boynton, Renaldo Woolridge, Jordan Hamilton, Tristan Thompson, Sylvan Landesburg, William Buford, Courtney Fortson, Brandon Knight, Mike Rosario, Terrence Jennings and Quincy Acy.

Former NBA star Scottie Pippen was on hand to conduct a skills work-out for all the participating players present. Washington-bound Clarence Trent, now a YouTube sensation, captured the slam-dunk contest crown while Pippen and Memphis Grizzlies guard OJ Majo judged the competition.

Besides hooping it up on the court, GBOA’s Education Director, Dr. James Dye, has also constructed the framework of a player educational program that is expected to be fully implemented in 2009.

This year, Charles wants to continue the concept of having teams play in regional GBOA tournaments with a 32 team tournament taking place just before the start of the major July tournaments in Las Vegas. “We also want to establish an annual national banquet in the near future to give out awards to previous GBOA players and top teams,” Charles said.

Additionally, Charles wants to implement basketball coaches education into the GBOA apparatus and make sure that all coaches who coach club team basketball are certified to do so in accordance with criteria that the NCAA would approve. “We want to organize clinics with college coaches to certify as well as educate these grassroots coaches,” Charles said.

Other areas of concern he wants addressed include protecting the rights of players, stopping the team-to-team jumping by players, and most importantly, having the GBOA grow further.  “I always felt it could be done, but there is so much more that still needs to be done,” Charles said.