Reebok Classic Open Run Report8207;
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FlaVarsity.com tripped to Orlando Saturday to catch the Reebok Classic Open Run at the Barnett Park Recreation Center.
This was one of 12 Reebok Classic Open Runs throughout the nation. Select top performers from each Reebok Classic Run will be invited to the Reebok Classic Breakout in Philadelphia during the next NCAA 'live' period July 8-11, 2014.
Fouls were seldom called and at times defense appeared optional, but...there was a lot of talent on the floor.
Dwayne Bacon, 6-6 G/F Faith Baptist (Brandon) 2015
Once again Dwayne Bacon delivered the goods. In the early afternoon session he had 17 points (13 in the first half) and threw several lob passes to teammate Christ Koumadje for easy dunks. Bacon is a straight baller and gets it done time and time again. He has an answer for however a team chooses to defend him. He was able to get past anyone that attempted to guard him on this day.
Jeantal Cylla, 6-6 SF Lake Worth Christian 2015
The more we see of Cylla the more we like. He is athletic, can handle it well for his position, sees the court well and is a good passer. Cylla can create off the dribble and score against most defenders and he has a terrific motor. We expect his offer list to grow after the July 'live' period.
Jonathan Laurent, 6-6 SF Dr. Phillips (Orlando) 2015
Laurent was ready to play and showed off his explosiveness on one of his teams first possessions with a thunderous dunk. Laurent hawked the ball on defense. At times he tried to do too much on the offensive end but he also was successful at times getting into the lane and dishing to a teammate for a score when the help defense arrived.
Christ Koumadje, 7-4, C Montverde Academy (Montverde) 2015
This was the second time we've seen Koumadje, who we were told has only been in the U.S. for about six months, and he had a very good day. He dunked everything he got his hands on. Whether it was an offensive rebound, a lob or an entry pass, the big fella just dunked it. He runs well, but his post footwork needs some work. At times in the early afternoon he looked uncomfortable on the court but seemed to find his stride as the Open Run continued. He definitely needs to add strength, and we wouldn't be surprised if he reclassified to 2016 to allow time for that to happen. A raw but very intriguing player, Koumadje he has a tremendous upside.
Corey Sanders, 6-1, PG, Kathleen (Lakeland) 2015
Sanders is known for his athleticism, explosiveness and his skills at running a team. All were on display at the Open Run. He knows when to push the ball or slow it down. Sanders has very good court vision and gets the ball to teammates where they can do the most damage. His jump shot is improving as is his help defense. Sanders uses his lateral quickness to keep his man in front of him on defense.
Josh Raoul, 6-7, SF, University (Orlando) 2015
Raoul showed off his scoring versatility from all three levels. three-point range and his ability to get to the rim. He's equally comfortable in transition as he is in the half court. Raoul is a smooth, deceiving athlete who has a streaky long range shot and the ability to finish above the rim as well. If he adds strength he'll be able to slide over and play power forward in a small lineup and create mismatches since he can stretch defenses with his shooting.
Xeo Golding, 6-2 ,G, Windermere Prep (Windermere) 2015
Golding had 13 points in the first game of his that we watched, but he scored his points in both an efficient and in a variety of ways. He's a tough defender that can keep his man in front of him and his help defense is improving. His athleticism has also improved and he's playing with more confidence than we've seen him play with in the past. In fact this was the best we have seen him play.
Chad Brown, 6-8, PF, Deltona 2015
When he's dialed in Brown can affect the game at both ends of the court. On this day he played with good energy. The UCF commit had 13 points in the game we saw, but he rebounded well (he's a volume rebounder at the defensive end), blocked a shot and altered other shots. We'd love to see the athletic four-man add a pick-and-pop element to his game to make him more versatile and tougher to defend.
Tyson Ward, 6-3, guard, Tampa Prep, 2016
This young combo guard first caught our eye at Big Shots Jacksonville while playing with his Q6 All-Stars 16U team. Ward plays with a high IQ and makes good decisions with the ball. He reads defenses well which allows him to make the right pass on the move. The thin guard showed a willingness to feed the big man on his team which many guards don't do in these types of settings and he set screens on the perimeter. At the other end of the floor he keeps his man in front of him on defense. Gaining strength and getting more consistent with his outside jumper are areas in need of improvement.
Niko Green, 6-4, SG, Spruce Creek (Port Orange) 2016
Green showed off his athleticism and good decision making all day, whether in two-on-two, one-on-one or team games. He an score from the perimeter or get to the rim and finish. Green has good bounce and his second jump is as good as his first jump. He's a very good rebounder for his position. The 6-foot-4 guard showed some toughness on defense. If he can develop a reliable jump shot he will become a difficult player to defend.
Malik Williams, 6-7 Combo Forward, West Orange (Winter Garden) 2017
In January Williams' high school season ended with a quadriceps tear, he's been back on the court for a few months now and looked in playing shape. Williams has an advanced skill set for a player his age. He showed off a good handle for his position, has good footwork in the post, even using a spin move at the basket to score. Williams likes to play on the perimeter and is very capable of knocking down open three-pointers. When he didn't grab a rebound he kept the ball alive for a teammate to get it. He's a very good shot blocker and his help defense is very good.
Chaundee Brown, 6-3 Guard, Dr. Phillips (Orlando) 2017
Brown showed off his jump shot nailing an open three-pointer while we watched, he was aggressive with the ball driving the baseline and finishing above the rim. In an environment where it can be "me first", Brown played within a "team concept" and shared the ball. Defensively he's strong enough to guard his position and the SF position, he is also quick enough to defend smaller guards. If his shoe size is any indication, Brown is likely to grow a few more inches. A run/jump athlete, Brown needs to improve his ball handling, with both hands, and his continue to refine his jumper.
Russ Wood is a basketball recruiting analyst for Rivals.com and Inside the Gators. You can follow him on Twitter - @RussHoops.