John Beilein was busy throughout the last weekend as the second of three July evaluation periods was in full swing. Beilein attended games in four different cities – Milwaukee, Augusta, Orlando and Grand Rapids – and kept a close eye on a number of Michigan recruiting targets and commitments. His assistants were also on the road with between Milwaukee, August and Orlando throughout the weekend.
Michigan coaches watched Mark Donnal, Derrick Walton, Devin Booker, Keita Bates-Diop, Trevon Bluiett, Vitto Brown, Luke Kennard and a host of other prospects throughout the week. After the jump, find out how those players and others performed.
The focus in Milwaukee was 2014 offeree Keita Bates-Diop while Michigan coaches concentrated on Reggie Cameron, Vitto Brown and Trevon Bluiett at Peach Jam. In Orlando, Bacari Alexander watched Mark Donnal, Devin Booker, Nate Fowler and others. Beilein began the week in Milwaukee before stops at Peach Jam, the Super Showcase in Orlando and the Brawl for the Ball in Grand Rapids as well.
Up and down weekend for Peach Jam notables
Michigan coaches were focused on two teams in particular at the Nike Peach Jam EYBL Finals over the weekend: Spiece Indy Heat and the New Jersey Playaz. Spiece features 2014 offeree Trevon Bluiett along with 2013 target Vitto Brown while the Playaz have 2013 shooting forward Reggie Cameron. It was a tough weekend for both squads as Spiece went 1-4 on the weekend while the Playaz went 2-3.
Bluiett averaged 10.2 points, four rebounds and one assist per game at Peach Jam. Brown averaged 7 points and 3.5 rebounds per contest. Cameron averaged 14 points and four rebounds per game for the Playaz.
Watch our scouting videos from the Peach Jam to watch all three prospects in action:
- Scouting Video: Vitto Brown at Nike Peach Jam
- Video: Reggie Cameron at Nike Peach Jam
- Scouting Video: Trevon Bluiett at Nike Peach Jam
Kennard leads King James Shooting Stars to Super Showcase final
Luke Kennard led the King James Shooting Stars on an impressive run to the AAU National Super Showcase final before suffering a come from behind defeat to the Boca Raton Vipers.
We posted day one and day two footage of King James in action but here’s footage from the final day, leading up to the finals loss:
Two other important names on the Wolverine radar were also in action in Orlando: 2013 commitment Mark Donnal and 2014 offeree Devin Booker.
Booker’s Alabama Challenge squad didn’t qualify for the Peach Jam and opted to participate in the Super Showcase. It was an up-and-down weekend for Booker, who drew John Beilein and Missouri head coach Frank Haith to his games, as reports are that he never found his shooting stroke.
Reports were that Donnal played well in Orlando and while we don’t have footage from the Super Showcase, here’s some fresh footage of Donnal at the NBPA Top 100 Camp in Virginia this spring:
Keita Bates-Diop adds major offer
2014 target Keita Bates-Diop put together a strong tournamnet at the NY2LA Summer Jam in Milwaukee over the weekend. Bates-Diop has impressed scouts with his length, athleticism and blossoming skill set this weekend and that trend continued. Here’s a report from NBE Basketball’s ND Kendrick:
Keita Bates-Diop (Illinois Wolves 16s) – Bates-Diop proved why he continues to be talked about in recruiting circles. Long and smooth is the best way to describe what he does. He rebounds the ball at both ends at a high level. He is always composed on the floor, never getting rattled with inside post banging. Upside is high with him as he will most likely gain strength and more of an offensive package.
The strong performance yielded Bates-Diop an additional major offer, this one from Buzz Williams and Marquette, according to his AAU coach Mike Mullins.
Pair of ‘13 commits win regional tournaments
The Michigan Mustangs stayed in the state of Michigan for last weekend’s evaluation period and participated in the Brawl for the Ball in Grand Rapids. Future Michigan point guard Derrick Walton continued to impress this summer while leading the Mustangs to the tournament championship.
Michigan head coach John Beilein was in attendance to check in on Walton during Sunday’s action while Al Horford of the Atlanta Hawks was also in Grand Rapids to watch his younger brother at the freshmen to be level.
Zak Irvin led a shorthanded Eric Gordon All-Stars squad to the Best of the Midwest championship, the third in a row for the team despite finishing with just five players. Here are some highlights of the Eric Gordon All-Stars squad from last weekend in Indianapolis.
2015 name to remember: Diamond Stone
The number of 2015 names on the recruiting radar continues to grow this summer and prospects utilize the live evaluation period to create a buzz early in their careers. We’ve focused on Luke Kennard, Ryan Fazekas, Nate Fowler and others but at the Peach Jam a new name popped up on the Michigan radar: Diamond Stone. Stone was one of the more impressive young big men targets and Michigan has expressed interest:
Diamond Stone (The Family 2015) – Another massive big man who is still in the early stages of recruitment, Stone also has an impressive list of schools who have already expressed interest. He mentioned Wisconsin,North Carolina, Georgetown, UCLA, Indiana, Michigan State, Michigan, DePaul, and Kentucky as programs that are already involved. Head coaches Bo Ryan (Wisconsin) and Roy Williams (UNC) were courtside on Wednesday along with assistants from Michigan State and Indiana. Stone will eventually have his choice of just about any program in America as the 2015 big man is clearly one of the best in his class.
Indiana Elite 15U add to trophy case
Michigan has spent plenty of time this summer focusing on Indiana Elite’s 15U AAU program, which features Hyron Edwards and Chandler White, this summer. Leading one of the top programs in the country, the duo took home yet another trophy this weekend at the Best Buy Summer Classic in Minnesota.
Chandler White scored 21 in the final, a 69-61 win over Minnesota Pump ‘n Run, while adding 13 in the semifinals and 11 in the quarters. Hyron Edwards served as a distributor, scoring 12 in the semifinals and notching a double-double with 11 points and 11 assists in the quarterfinals.
Other Notes
- Sean O’Mara reportedly played very well over the weekend but Michigan coaches seem to be moving in a different direction. O’Mara has mentioned the Wolverines less frequently and there are few, if any, reports of John Beilein or his assistants watching O’Mara in action.