Adidas MW Elite Camp – Recap

The fall showcase season officially got underway in Cleveland this past weekend when Ohio Basketball Club director Michael Duncan hosted the Adidas Midwest Elite Camp at Garfield Heights High School. Prospects from in and out of state impressed over the course of two days, with the Cleveland area talent standing out above the rest. Here’s a look at a few of the top performers from Adidas Midwest Elite Camp…..

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  Willie Jackson

  Frankie Hughes – ’16 Cleveland Garfield Heights SG: Hughes was the talk of the camp from start until finish, dominating play with his rangy scoring ability. A 6-foot-3 lanky guard that can really shoot the ball from deep, Hughes has improved his handle to the point that he can create a shot for himself off the bounce, attack and score at the rim or make a pass when the help defense swarms him. TDP was most impressed by Hughes aggressive and competitive mindset as he scored and attacked against older and bigger prospects. His sophomore season could be a breakout year at Garfield, where Hughes just might establish himself as one of 2016’s most elite prospects on the wing.

• Willie Jackson – ’16 Cleveland Garfield Heights SF: The 6’5 wing is still without a position, but it is tough to argue with his results on the court. A hardnosed combo forward with athleticism that is elite at a national level, Jackson was very active on both days of camp. The sophomore rebounded, scored off the dribble in traffic, led the break and while he still has a ways to go with his jumper, did knock down several long-range shots on Sunday. Several high major schools have already been in to see Jackson this fall, and if he continues to develop his skill-set to match his immense physical talents and toughness he should see a significant boost in his recruitment.

• Jimond Ivey – ’14 Cleveland Glenville SG: Our friends at 3^rd Coast Hoops had been talking up Ivey pretty good to us for the past few months, and we’ll give them credit, he was excellent on Sunday. The virtually unknown scoring wing out of Cleveland is a dominant athlete that can really get to the rim off the bounce and find ways to score. For a player that relies on his athleticism Ivey is also more skilled then you would think, showing good vision as a passer, enough of a jumper to keep the defense honest and an above average handle in transition. TDP was also impressed by his competitiveness and vocal leadership, especially at a showcase event where you don’t always see emphasis on team play. Look for Ivey to be one of Ohio’s breakout seniors and for his recruitment to pick up soon.

• Carlton Bragg – ’15 Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joe’s PF: For the majority of the event TDP put Bragg’s performances on the backburner. After all we were there to watch some under the radar kids, and as a top ten player nationally in 2015 Bragg didn’t fit that description. However, his performance needs mentioning as Bragg showed improved physicality from a rigorous fall workout schedule as well as his signature top end motor, which he easily could’ve turned off given his status against lesser known prospects. Bragg was a little sporadic with his decision-making, but at 6’9 he showed a skill-set on the perimeter that very few players in his class have. With Kansas, UCLA, Michigan State, Ohio State, Kentucky and others recruiting him, Bragg continues to improve and plays with such a passion that it’s hard to see him not developing into a stud down the road.

• Devon Andrews – ’15 Cleveland Lorain SG/SF: There are a lot of things that Andrews needs to work on. He’s got to be more consistent, value every possession offensively and give a better effort on both ends; however, man is this kid talented. The 6’6 wing has high end leaping ability, can score off the dribble at will and handles it well enough to actually play point guard. After briefly being enrolled at Cleveland Central Catholic, Andrews is back at Lorain and will be counted on to dominate in every area of the game. If he improves his motor there is absolutely no reason why Andrews can’t be one of the best wings not only in Ohio but in the entire country.

• R.J. Jones – ’15 Cleveland Benedictine PG: This was our first time seeing Jones, although we’ve heard a lot about his performances this fall at Coach Vic’s open gym in Columbus on Sunday’s. Like Ivey, Jones didn’t disappoint in our first viewing, showing the makings of a future Division I point guard. Jones is a competitor who will be able to score or pass to help his team win, and while he doesn’t have the prettiest form he’s more than capable of knocking down mid and long range jumpers off the bounce. We love him as a defender and he showed the ability to be a crafty playmaker or finisher off of turnovers in transition. The 6’1 Jones is starting to see a surge in his recruitment, and will be one of the top juniors that TDP plans to monitor moving forward this year.

• Yavari Hall – ’16 Cleveland Warrensville Heights SG: Hall was a little inconsistent with his play, but the 6’3 wing is a serious talent, complete with leaping ability and a jumpshot. Hall looks to be one of the top scoring perimeter talents in 2016, and impressed us in the spring and summer both with All-Ohio Red and Ohio Basketball Club. We want to see him do it every possession and limit his mistakes, but his potential speaks for itself.