Ganon Baker Jr.RSA Orlando Top Performers

Posted by on Nov 19, 2011 in EBS News

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Ganon Baker is bringing together the nation’s best 6th, 7th and 8th graders with his Jr. National Skills Advancement series. The Jr. National Skills Advancement will take place from July 27-30 in Sacramento, CA. The Jr.NSA will feature 200 of the best players from across the U.S. who are hand-picked at regional events that take place during the fall and spring. For more info on the Jr.NSA click the following link: www.jrnsa.com

Skill development and training are things that are seriously lacking in today’s game in the U.S., especially with younger players. Ganon created The Skills Advcement camps with that in mind. He started from the ground up and is teaching elite 6th, 7th and 8th grade prospects the importance of skill development and hard work on and off the court.

While we usually scout elite-level high school, junior college and international prospects, many people want to know who’s next. Who has the ability, tools and work ethic to step in and be one of the best? Nobody knows how younger players will develop mentally and physically over the next few years, but here is a look some who have a chance  to excel at the high school level. Below is a list of the top performers from Ganon Baker’s Orlando Jr. Regional Skills Advancement Camp:

Name: Marcus Tillman
Grade: 5
Height: 5’0
Position: 1

Evaluation: Tillman is a very good point guard who held his own as a 5th grader. He didn’t back down from players who were several years older. He has a very physical game for a player his age. His head is always up in transition and he knows how to advance the ball with the pass. He has a solid first step which allows him to get around slower defenders. He rebounds well for a point guard. Tillman is solid on the defensive end, but needs to be more aware off the ball.

Name: E.J. Montgomery
Grade: 6
Height: 6’4
Position: 1-4

Evaluation: E.J. is an extremely skilled lefty who can play multiple positions. Montgomery handles the ball well and has the ability to rebound on the defensive end and push in transition. He has great balance/coordination for his size/age. Montgomery has solid back to the basket moves. He picks things up well and seems to have a good understanding of the game. He hits the glass hard on both ends. He needs to bring consistent energy during games and drill work. He is definitely highly skilled for his age, but it will be interesting to see how he handles playing against other players who are similar in size and ability. He is one of the more intriguing prospects in his age group and has a high ceiling because of his mixture of size and skill.

Name: Tyler Cook
Grade: 6
Height: 5’6
Position: 4

Evaluation: Cook has good size and skill for his age. He runs the court well and is able to step out and knock down mid range jumpers. His handle is decent for his size. He is able to defend multiple positions. He plays hard consistently and rebounds/chases down loose balls aggressively. He needs to improve his post moves and hands around the basket. He also needs to get his game to become more fluid which will come with time and effort.

Name: Jasen West
Grade: 6
Height: 5’2
Position: 1/2

Evaluation: West is a smooth guard with a very high basketball IQ. He has a great handle and takes care of the ball well. He does a great job of changing direction/speed to get the ball into the paint. He can score it in a variety of ways and is a solid defender. West consistently plays hard and brings positive energy to his teammates.

Name: Tyrone Perry
Grade: 6
Height: 5’2
Position: 2

Evaluation: Perry is a solid wing who attacks the basket well off the bounce. He shoots it well enough to keep defenders honest. On the ball he is a good defender, but off the ball he needs improvement. He turns his head and loses track of his man. On the offensive end he pounds it too much instead of reversing the ball.

Name: Nick Honor
Grade: 6
Height: 5’1
Position: 1/2

Evaluation: Honor is very skilled on the offensive end. He handles the ball well and has very good foot work on the offensive end. He has good form on his jumper and knows how to square his shoulders before the catch. Honor has a good feel for the game and finishes well in the lane. He is a very good defender on the ball and isn’t afraid to be physical. He needs to improve his shot selection and move the ball more on the offensive end.

Name: Miles Miller
Grade: 6
Height: 5’1
Position: 2/3

Evaluation: Miller is a long/athletic combo guard who excels on both ends of the court. He is very active defensively. He anticipates well and gets into passing lanes on D. Offensively, he has a quick first step and gets to the basket well. He is very active and has a good motor. He needs to get more consistency on his jumper and continue to work on his handle.

Name: Joe Placer
Grade: 6
Height: 5’1
Position: 2

Evaluation: Placer has all the tools to develop into a very good shooter. He is at his best when in drive and kick and/or catch and shoot situations. He squares up his shoulders and has his feet shoulder width apart before the catch. His form is solid for a player his age. While he is a good shooter, he needs to improve on shooting the ball off the dribble and coming off of screens. He needs to improve his foot speed as well to be able to contain quicker guards on the defensive end.

Name: Mykarri Hodges
Grade: 6
Height: 5’0
Position: 1

Evaluation: Hodges is an ultra-quick point guard who uses change of speed and direction very well. He keeps his head up in transition and advances the ball well. He is very good at getting the ball into the heart of the defense. Although he is only a 6th grader, he uses his body very well and does not shy away from contact. He is a good on-ball defender, but does get lost at times off the ball.

Name: Ken Bradshaw
Grade: 6
Height: 4’10
Position: 2

Evaluation: Bradshaw is a small/quick guard who can play either guard slot. He is a good on-ball defender and is able to turn his man several times each possession. On the offensive end, he is very active and moves well without the ball. Bradshaw needs to tighten up his handle so he is able to consistently play the point as well as the two spot.

Name: Maarek Mascarenhas
Grade: 7
Height: 5’3
Position: 2

Evaluation: Mascarenhas was very good in drill work and brought tons of energy. Both of those qualities translated well to the court. He plays very hard on both ends and is a solid defender. On offense, he makes hard precise cuts to the basket and works hard on hitting the glass from the perimeter.

Name: Ben Hayden
Grade: 8
Height: 6’7
Position: 5

Evaluation: Hayden is a long/thin big who has solid hands and decent athletic ability for a player his age/size. He works to gain position in the post and finishes above the rim. He is a good shot blocker on the defensive end and understands timing (when and when not to jump). He rebounds the ball well, but needs to become more physical when playing against other players his size. He needs to live in the weight room to be prepared for the transition from 8th grade to high school varsity level basketball.

Name: Joe Carland
Grade: 8
Height: 6’4
Position: 4/5

Evaluation: Carland is a solid post player who is decent around the rim. He knows how to post up and use his body on the block. He needs to improve his foot speed and continue to get stronger. Carland also needs to improve his balance. He is a solid shot blocker and rebounds the ball well. Carland is another 8th grader who needs to really work on his game to prepare for the transition to high school basketball.

Name: Denzel Mahoney
Grade: 8
Height: 5’9
Position: 4

Evaluation: Mahoney is a solid blue-collar forward who isn’t afraid of physical contact. His skill level is average and he needs to improve all aspects of his game. He is at his best when he’s around the basket mixing it up, rebounding and doing the dirty work.

Name: Courtney Wynter
Grade: 8
Height: 5’9
Position: 4

Evaluation: Wynter is a work-horse in the paint. He plays very hard and pounds the glass. He enjoys doing the dirty work, but is a bit wild. His skill level is average for an 8th grader, but his effort is hard to match. He needs to improve all aspects of his game and add some perimeter skill. There is always a place for blue-collar players, but if he doesn’t improve his skill level he may get left behind. 

Name: T.J. Gill
Grade: 8
Height: 5’6
Position: 1

Evaluation: Gill is a very quick guard who gets to the rim at will. He finishes well and knows how to protect the ball when attacking the basket. He is a good passer and understands how to get his teammates involved. Gill can take a hit and score the ball. He needs to keep improving all aspects of his game to be prepared for varsity level basketball next season.

Name: Jawuan White
Grade: 8
Height: 5’5
Position: 2

Evaluation: White was one of the better wings at the camp. He has a high IQ on both ends of the court and understands passing angles/post entries. He sits down on D and contains the ball. He gets off his man well on D and is able to get his hand in passing lanes which creates easy transition offense. 

Name: Dylan Sacco
Grade: 9
Height: 5’8
Position: 1/2

Evaluation: Sacco is a very good spot up shooter. He has quality form from top to bottom, although his release point is a little low. When playing against players his age or older he would be average. He does have some tools to work with, and his foot speed is solid. He needs to improve his strength to have success at the varsity level.