Blake Harper Makes His Mark at Basketball Spotlight Future Phenom Camp

Another player that stile the show was class of 2024 Blake Harper;  a combo guard with excellent size who is more than capable of running the lead guard spot but one you don’t want to limit due to his offensive prowess.  A player we have been keeping our eye on this is the first time we have been able to see him extensively in a competitive situation and the upside is obvious.  

He is way more than potential having shown exceptional production all weekend long against elite level competition.  Throughout the weekend he scored the ball and showed creativity offensively, as well as pace and patience picking his spots to shine and to make his teammates better.  Adding to his excellent profile is a commitment to perform on the defensive end where he equally as strong he showed that he can transition from one end to another seamlessly. 

Harper looks as if he will be a long armed athletic playmaking guard with excellent size - and outstanding athleticism, Blake showcased a very nice first step and the ability to create his own shot very effectively, and basic passing skills on the drive and dish. Loved his decision making in the half-court, giving us the  impression that he clearly has point guard skills and mentality and it’s even more natural to him then a combo, he’s a coach’s son so that is frankly no surprise. He can also pull-up off the dribble, which he did nicely on a couple of occasions. His 3-point stroke looks better than many we have seen at this age and has more than acceptable results.  If a shorter man is on him (which is often the case) he can take him down to the post a little bit and score with his back to the basket.

Defensively is where Harper is also very effective;  as he has terrific tools to get the job done (size, length, sneaky athleticism), and is fully committed to the task, getting right into his man’s face in a fundamental stance and being extremely disruptive, particularly in the passing lanes. 

You add this package to a Magic Johnson type smile, excellent attitude, and coach-ability and it’s no wonder Harper was rated as Top 5 player in the camp at the Basketball Spotlight Future Phenom Camp.  His path is clearly laid to enter the national conversation; we predict a very bright future for this young man not just in the DMV but the country.

New Star Carlos Alexander has a Furious Style

Middle School All-American and Basketball Spotlight Future Phenom Camp All Camp team member Carlos Alexander plays the game angry with a passion that his success is as important as breathing; has separated himself and scouts left the weekend making statements that do not see anyone like him in the class of 2022.  What makes him that singular player, is that he is defying positional norms and conventions. 

With a chance to compete against the very best players in the country he peers referred to him a as a ‘certified killer. Beast’

 Alexander has the "killer" and "warrior" mentality, and approaches and plays every possession on both ends like it’s his very last. He has excellent speed and quickness to go along with court vision. He is a shoot first, pass second lead guard but puts so much pressure on the defense and plays at such a fast pace the volume of his playmaking actually increased opportunities for teammates.  

A strong personality with great talent and skill – jumper range beyond the arch who does it off the bounce; a stallion who once tamed and adjusted to half-court play; as his transition play is where he is best and excels the most, look for him impact the game every time down the court with the ball in his hands and just by his presence on the court. Being developed to be a bigger version of Baltimore legend the “Crime Stopper” Aquille Carr; though not as athletic as of yet, you can see similarities.  

This player has a real chance talent wise to be special, one of best is a long line of talented players to come out of Charm City; the development of the game between the ears for an Iverson styled lead guard  ie. IQ, spacing, keeping teammates happy, knowing when to go, when to use clock, picking high percentage spots and plays, knowing when to take over and when to milk a mismatch somewhere else are the type of things that will ultimately determine how high his trajectory takes him as he proved this weekend against the very best out there that he has the pure basketball skill and talent to play with anyone.  Carlos Alexander needs to be on every radar nationally as he is right on the cusp of being able to dominate night in and night out; hands down a very special talent that put on a show all weekend long.

The Nation’s Best Collide in the Nation’s Capital

Washington, DC------ St. John’s College High School in Chevy Chase, DC will host the Annual Middle School All-American Games and the regional Top Rising Freshmen Game The Coach Francis Classic on Friday, August 26th. 2016. Four games will be played, the first of which will tip-off at 6:00 PM in the school’s Gallagher Center. 

The Middle School All-American Games, modeled after the McDonalds All-American Game features both top local and national talent in the classes of 2021, 2022, and 2023. This is the only event in the world where top-ranked middle school basketball players collectively play in a national All-Star game. Participants were selected via votes by a national panel of scouts and media representatives, who have extensively covered middle school hoops on the grassroots level throughout the spring and summer. 

Some noted players scheduled to participate, are local up and coming stars Ryan Conway and 6'7 Detwan Montegu as well as national studs and Montverde bound 6'8 Trey Patterson (NJ),Texas' # 1 rated player 6'7 Duncan Powell, and the #1 rated center in the county 6'9 Caleb Furst. Emoni Bates 6'4 (MI) and Bryce Griggs (Tx) #1 rated player in his state, from the class of 2022. 

Friday night’s finale will be the Coach Francis Classic, a regional All-Star Game featuring the top rising freshmen in the class of 2020 from the Mid-Atlantic region. This game will feature many of the DMV’s top 20 ranked players going head-to-head in their last game ever at the middle school level. Some notable names scheduled to participate are top ranked national prospects 6'11 Hunter Dickinson, 6’6 wing Che Evans who was recently feature on The Undefeated & ESPN (click to read), primetime combo guard Jordan Toles, 6'8 Justin Lewis as well as the 6’6 Terrance Williams and two of the areas sleepers in 6'7 Will Skyes and 6'9 Trevon Todd. 

All coaches will receive free admission and have access to players as well as exclusive seating and entry. General admission is $10.00. Media personnel are encouraged to coordinate individual interviews in advance and register for the appropriate credentials. 

Join Basketball Spotlight, P2Ball.com, HoopScoop, Slam Magazine, CourtCred, Bleacher Report, Finest Magazine, Hoop Nation and many others for a great night of basketball with the very best talent in the country and the DMV area. Doors Open at 5:30 PM, we look forward to seeing you all in the gym! ~MSAG Promotions 

Additional Information can be found at: www.p2bball.com, www.bballspotlight.com 


Future Phenom Camp Pre-Registration 6:00PM - 10:00PM

GAME SCHEDULE:


Friday August 26, 2016 
St. John's College High School 
2607 Military Rd. NW 
Chevy Chase, DC 20015 

Future Phenom Camp Pre-Registration 6:00PM - 10:00PM 
 
Middle School All American Games 
6:00PM Rising 6th Grade/Class of 2023 
7:15PM Rising 7th Grade/Class of 2022 
8:150PM Rising 8th Grade/Class of 2021
 
Coach Francis Classic 9:00PM Rising 9th Grade/Class of 2020 

 

Byers Makes Late Surprise Move - Oh Wait a Minute You Thought He was Finished

Many have wondered where class of 2020 Cameron Byers the talented 6’7 forward from Baltimore would land for his high school career.  Well the rumors and the wait is officially over as Cameron Byers has formally committed to and enrolled at the John Carroll School in Bel Air, Maryland.  

John Carroll 28-11last season finished their season on a high note coming in 2^nd in the prestigious Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament and finishing near the top of the MIAA; the Baltimore Catholic League.  John Carroll returns multiple starters and has added one of the top guards in the country in Montez Mathis to go along with Olympian Immanuel Quickley in the backcourt.  The addition of Cameron Byers to an already solid core makes John Carroll one of the favorites to win the league title and a possible local team with national ranking possibilities.

Cameron Byers will play varsity and will be looked upon to contribute immediately as a member of the rotation and a possible starter.  Byer’s who is one of the top players locally also boast a very strong national profile having already competed against high school level competition playing this summer in the 15U division of the UA Association.  Having added a few inches over the summer as well as explosion and an improved face up game Byers in a player that will garner attention from college level immediately; with a very talented cast of players expect Byers to get plenty of looks throughout the year and once his size skill package is on display for recruiters expert doors to open.  We anticipate a very successful season for Byers and John Carroll who will introduce a new coach with the departure of Tony Martin.

Check Cameron Byers below in his summer mixtape from Hoop Nation and in person in his final Middle School contest on August 26^th at St. John College High School in the Coach Francis Classic where he will compete with the top rising freshman in the DMV.

Byers is being sought out by many local programs already for spring play and rumors have surfaced that the talented forward may be heading down south to Team Loaded and the Adidas circuit.  A fluid situation according to a source close to the family is one that will be monitored by many – as there are not many players with the size skill package that Byers possesses.    

The 2020 Final Chapter: 2016 Coach Francis Classic Rosters Announced

The Coach Francis Classic has already become legendary in the Washington, DC community; designed to showcase the DMVs top rising high school basketball talents as they say good-bye to Middle School Basketball. The Coach Francis Classic will again act as the grand finale to the Middle School All-American Games played on Friday August 26th.  Players will compete in front of a national audience, major media, as well as national high school scouting services. 

The star-studded rosters feature a proverbial who’s who of basketball in the DC Metropolitan area and again this year will provide all in attendance with an exciting brand of basketball!

TEAM DOWNTOWN NAME, HEIGHT HIGH SCHOOL CLUB TEAM (CIRCUIT) C Treyvon Todd 6'9 Bishop O'Connell High School, Arlington, VA DC BLUE DEVILS (UA) F Paul Smith 6'8 Dematha Catholic High School, Hyattesville, MD TEAM TAKEOVER (NIKE) F Justin Lewis 6'8 Calvert Hall College High School, Baltimore, MD TEAM MELO (NIKE) F Will Skyes 6'7 Mount Saint Joseph High School, Baltimore, MD TEAM MELO (NIKE) WG Myles Stute 6'5 Gonzaga College High School, Washington, DC TEAM TAKEOVER (NIKE) WG Anthony Thomas 6'5 St. Frances Academy, Baltimore, MD TO BE DETERMINED WG Austin Allison 6'4 St. Johns College High School, Washington, DC TO BE DETERMINED G  Jordan Toles 6'3 St. Frances Academy, Baltimore, MD BALTIMORE UNITED (UA) G Mike Sumner 6'3 St. Mary's Ryken High School, Leonardtown, MD DC PREMIER (UA) G Keyshawn Johnson 6'0 Paul VI Catholic High School, Fairfax, VA TEAM LOADED (ADIDAS) COACHING STAFF HIGH SCHOOL  CONFERENCE  Chuck Driessell Maret High School, Washington, DC MAC Nick Jones Spalding High School, Severn, MD MIAA Ralph Flowers Concord High School, Wilmington, DE DE - State TEAM UPTOWN NAME, HEIGHT HIGH SCHOOL  CLUB TEAM (CIRCUIT) C Hunter Dickinson 6'11 Dematha Catholic High School, Hyattesville, MD TEAM TAKEOVER (NIKE) F Cameron Byers 6'7  John Carroll School, Bel Air, MD TEAM LOADED (ADIDAS) F Terrance Williams 6'6 Gonzaga College High School, Washington, DC TEAM TAKEOVER (NIKE) F Montez McNeil 6'5 Calvert Hall College High School, Baltimore, MD TEAM MELO (NIKE) WG Che Evans 6'6 Dulaney High School, Lutherville-Timonium, MD TEAM MELO (NIKE) WG Dimingus Stevens 6'5 Bishop O'Connell High School, Arlington, VA DC BLUE DEVILS (UA) WG Earl Timberlake 6'4 Clinton Christian School, Upper Marlboro, MD TEAM TAKEOVER (NIKE) G  Cory Barnes 6'2 Cape Henlopen High School, Lewes, DE WE R 1 (UA) G Tyler Brelsford 6'0 Mount Saint Joseph High School, Baltimore, MD TEAM TAKEOVER (NIKE) G Caleb Bowers 6'0 Saint Maria Goretti High School, Hagerstown, MD DC BLUE DEVILS (UA) COACHING STAFF HIGH SCHOOL  CONFERENCE  Chris Cole  Clinton Christian School, Upper Marlboro, MD BELTWAY CONFERENCE  Matt Lochte Dulaney High School, Lutherville-Timonium, MD MD - Baltimore County Junior Burrough Norfolk Collegiate, Norfolk, VA TIDEWATER CONFERENCE