Las Vegas, NV – Sunday night kicked off the 21st Annual Pangos All-American Camp at Bishop Gorman High School. The event features approximately 115 national prospects from around the country, placed on teams, and will compete in 4 rounds of showcase games, which will be followed by Top 50 and Top 25 All-Star Games. This article provides a recap of the opening day games, which took place over two rounds in Session 1. The 6 ACC teams played in the first set of games, followed by the 6 Pac-12 teams in the second round of Session 1.
Game 1 Court 1 Final: Duke wins over Notre Dame, 100 – 81
Duke had an impressive opening game at the PAAC, as it had five players score in double-digits led by Ryan Jones of Rock School (FL) and Moustapha Thiam of DME Academy (FL) with 18 points each. Boogie Fland of Archbishop Stepinac (NY) had 15 points and Isaiah Abraham of Paul VI (VA) had 17 points, but the player that stole the show with 14 points was one of the top players in the 2024 class, Flory Bidunga of Kokomo (IN). Bidunga had some monster dunks, crowd pleasing blocks, and showed an improved handle and ability to push the ball up the court. The shot-making and dominance in the paint gave Duke a huge advantage that Notre Dame was not able to match.
Nevertheless, combo guard Tahaad Pettiford of Hudson Catholic (NJ) got in his bag in the 2nd half and put up a game-high 24 points, as he showed his ability to score form 3-levels off the dribble, the court vision to make plays when on the attack, and some tough buckets off the step-back 3-ball. Cam Scott of Lexington (TX) added 14 points, as well as 11 points each for Aleks Alston of Kenwood Academy (IL) and London Jemison of Northwest Catholic (CT).
Game 1 Court 2 Final: North Carolina wins over Florida State, 82 -77
Court 2 featured a more competitive game in the opening round, which resulted in a win by UNC. UNC was led by Vyctorious Miller of Compass Prep (AZ) with a game-high 28 points, as he was knocking down the 3-ball off the dribble, attacking the basket in the open court, and getting to his shot spots from the mid-post area. Right on his heels was Mercy Miller of Notre Dame/SO (CA) who dropped 24 points and showed off his ability to score at 3-levels, the court vision to make plays, and has NBA range from beyond the arc. One of the highlights of Day 1 was Mercy’s lob off the backboard in transition to his cousin Vyctorious for a huge bang out. Thomas Ryan of Archbishop Ryan (PA) added 15 points and was a force on the glass.
Florida State kept it close but had no answer for the Miller boys. Despite the loss, Jasper Jones of Woodford County (KY) had 16 points and connected on 4 threes to lead his team in scoring. Pharaoh Compton of Compass Prep (AZ) was a force in the post and had 14 points and close to 10 rebounds. Brayden Burries of Roosevelt (CA) and Jalen Shelley of Prestonwood Academy (TX) both added 9 points for FSU.
Game 1 Court 3 Final: Syracuse wins over Virginia, 85 – 82
This game was held in the auxiliary gym and I was not able to watch that game live in person. However, Kon Knueppel of Wisconsin Lutheran (WI) led his team with 19 points. James Brown of Link Academy (MO) had 15 points and Keitenn Bristow of Holiday (TX) added 12 points in the Syracuse win.
Rob Wright of Neumann Goretti (PA) for team Virginia led all scorers 26 point. Jared Harris of Silsbee (TX) scored 16 points, Godswill Erheriene of Long Island Lutheran (NY) had 14 points, and Taj Degourville chipped in 11 points.
Game 2 Court 1 Final: Stanford wins over Colorado, 106 – 87
Stanford had it going from beyond the arc and it gave them an early lead that Colorado could not overcome. Stanford was led by Rakease Passmore of Combine Academy (NC) who led all scorers with 28 points and connected on 5 threes. Passmore was knocking down the 3-ball off the dribble and the catch and shoot, showing his ability to attack off the perimeter and finish with authority above or with creativity around the rim. Eric Freeny of Corona Centennial (CA) had 14 points, was connecting from the mid-range to the 3-point line, and displayed the court vision to make some tough passes in tight windows. Ahmad Nowell of Imotep (PA) was also in his bag, as he would have 17 points and showcased his tight handles, shifty moves to create openings, strength to bully through defenders when attacking the basket, and the court vision to make plays. Nick Jefferson of Bishop Gorman (NV) had 15 points, and Jaden Toombs of Dynamic Prep (TX) added 11 points.
Alexander Lloyd of Westminster Academy (FL) led Colorado with 22 points connecting on 4 threes. Jalil Bethea of Archbishop Wood (PA) had one of the top showings of Day 1, as he was knocking down the 3-ball, attacking off the bounce, and displayed elite court vision with some unbelievable dimes to finish with 16 points. Amari Reed of Lancaster (TX) chipped in 12 points.
Game 2 Court 2 Final: Arizona wins over UCLA, 87 – 79
This game was one of the more competitive games of Day 1, and was a one possession game with less than 2 minutes to play. Arizona was led by Hudson Greer of Lake Travis (TX) with 21 points, as he was taking flight often and showing his ability to space the floor with the 3-ball. Elzie Harington of St. John Bosco (CA) had 12 points and showed his accuracy with the 3-ball off the dribble, moves to attack the defense, and the court vision to find open teammates. Darius Adams of Manasquan (NJ) had 13 points and Jamier Jones of IMG (FL) chipped in 11 points.
Larry Johnson of Huntington Prep (WV) led UCLA with 25 points, as he connected on a pair of threes and hit from the mid-range. Standout sophomore Tounde Yessoufou of St. Joseph (CA) and Labaron Philon of Baker (AL) added 12 points each, along with 11 points from Nate Ament of Colgan (VA).
Game 2 Court 3 Final: USC wins over Oregon, 92 – 62
This game was played in the auxiliary gym and I was not live in person to watch this game but here is a recap of the leading scorers. USC got a huge burst from Nathan Guerengomba of South Kent (CT) who had a Day 1 scoring high of 33 points, as he would go unconscious from beyond the arc connecting on 9 threes. Jalen Reece of Oakridge (FL) had 16 points, Drake Powell of Northwood (NC) had 11 points, and Nikolas Khamenia of Harvard-Westlake (CA) added 9 points.
Oregon was led by Jase Richardson of Bishop Gorman (NV) with 16 points. Jamari Phillips of Compass Prep (AZ) chipped in 10 points.
Other Notable Players:
Brannon Martinsen of Mater Dei (CA)
Bryce Heard of Montverde Academy (FL)
Robert Hinton of Harvard-Westlake (CA)
Matt Gilhool of Long Island Lutheran (NY)
Lathan Summerville of The Skill Factory (GA)
Nasir Cunningham of Overtime Elite (GA)
