Evan Smotrycz
Smotrycz went out this spring to prove to the recruiting world exactly how good he is. It seems like every time he attends an event with national scouts, he produces. NBA camp was no different.
Rivals was one of the major services that has yet to really see Evan play this year and Jerry Meyer sounds like a guy who realizes that Evan isn’t a prospect loaded with athleticism but he is a player who can get it done.
The Michigan commit is not that athletic and his game isn’t necessarily aesthetically pleasing. Smotrycz, however, produces. He can score at all three levels and has to the tune of 13 points per game. He can also find the open man and has a penchant for coming up with 50/50 balls. He is not a prospect who everyone is going to love, but it is evident why coach John Beilein thinks highly of him.
Smotrycz was one of twenty players voted into the camp all-star game by player vote. Making a twenty player all-star team at a camp featuring the top 100 players in the country is impressive. The all-star team included 13 5-stars, 5 4-stars whose Scout top 100 rankings averaged out to 22.
Smotrycz was in the top 10 scoring list for much of the week but dropped out after a lackluster final day. Overall it was another productive weekend for Evan, whose next chance to prove himself will be the Vince Carter camp for the top 20 wing prospects in the country.
More scouting: Scout ($), TheWolverine ($), TheWolverine ($), Hoopville Rumble in the Bronx notes
Brandan Kearney
Congratulations to Brandan Kearney and the U-16 team USA basketball team for a great performance in Argentina. Team USA won five games in five days en route to a gold medal. Brandan played well despite nursing a slightly torn tendon on his left index finger.
Kearney didn’t get it going in the championship game in only 6 minutes of play. However he played well in semifinals versus Canada with 3 points (1-3 shooting), 3 rebounds, 2 assists and no turnovers. Brandan’s best game came against Puerto Rico Friday when he posted 8 points on 3 of 4 (2-3 3pt) shooting with two assists and two steals in 13 minutes of play.
Kearney’s averages for the weekend were: 11.2 mpg, 4.4 ppg, 7 of 16 (4-11 3pt) shooting, 1.8 rpg (full stats).
Trey Zeigler
The scouting report has become very clear on Trey Zeigler: pure scorer. Zeigler scored the ball all weekend and helped guide his team to a 7-0 record and the camp championship. Zeigler posted 14 points in the title game. The next step for Zeigler to proceed with his visits, I believe he is also expected at Michigan camp this week.
ESPN scouting report:
Trey Zeigler (Mount Pleasant, Mich.) has the ability to get into the lane with ease because of his quick first step. He also does a good job of using those penetration skills to get into the teeth of the defense and dish to open teammates for scoring chances.
More scouting: Scout ($), Arizona State Update ($), More ASU ($), TheWolverine ($)
Casey Prather
Prather played on the same team as Trey Zeigler and was also a key cog in the Rockets championship run. Prather posted an impressive 19 points in the 79-74 championship win. Prather might not be as refined of an offensive player as Trey Zeigler but he definitely has the athleticism. The next step for Michigan is to keep trying to get him on campus.
More scouting: Scout ($), Rivals ($)
Ray McCallum
Ray McCallum is a pure point guard in an era of combo guards. McCallum isn’t going to be a big scorer every night but he is going to set his teammates up night in and night out. McCallum was named to the “Workout Warriors” team of the top 5 hardest workers at the camp. In a tournament that was loaded with super star guards, McCallum at the very least proved that he can play at that level despite a couple of more athletic point guards getting the best of him at times:
Joe Jackson (No. 19 scorer at 10.6 ppg)- Jackson had an impressive fourth session against Ray McCallum. Jackson brought the fight to the match up and gave McCallum problems with his pressure defense and then consistently penetrated the lane on the offensive end.
More links: Detroit News feature, McCallum recaps overseas trip ($)
