LOS ANGELES -- The First Annual The Difference Tournament of Match-ups provided scouts and fans alike with an abundance of Southern California talent -- 6-9 Fairfax High junior Renardo Sidney being one of many -- as well a taste of East Coast supremacy -- that being 6-5 junior Lance Stephenson (Brooklyn, N.Y./Lincoln).
LA Dream, led by the lethal inside-outside duo of the aforementioned Sidney and Stephenson -- not to mention a stellar performance by up-and-comer 6-6 Fairfax High junior Solomon Hill -- would be too much for a well-balanced I-Can All-Stars squad to overcome.
LA Dream dominated the first half, but I-Can received valiant efforts from 6-6 junior Tony Freeland (Los Angeles/Fremont) and 6-1 junior Allen Huddleson (Merced, Calif.). Freeland -- due to his moxie and length -- scored effectively against the physically-imposing Sidney, while Huddleson utilized his quickness and toughness to catapult the comeback. But in the end it was too much Sidney; he poured in 26 points to lead LA Dream to the championship 76-74.
Standout Players
Renardo Sidney (6-9, 240)
Junior, Los Angeles/ Fairfax
Sidney -- think Chris Webber -- will never be described as relentless, but at his size I would be surprised if there is someone as overtly talented as him in the nation. His back-to-the-basket game is still in its infantile stage and he has a tendency to fall-away on his jump shot, but at this event he used his body well to convert on a regular basis. He has a soft touch out beyond the stripe and his passing ability -- not to mention his handle -- is impressive considering his size. He has been criticized in the past for his lackadaisical effort, but at this event when the games became tight, he took over. He dominated the paint area at both ends and played with purpose in mind on every possession.
Lance Stephenson (6-5, 205)
Junior, Brooklyn, N.Y./Lincoln
Stephenson arrived at this event with a lofty reputation, and for the most part, he lived up to it. He is an immense talent, but he has some kinks in the armor that need to be smoothened out to reach his upside. He is a big 2 guard with a solid handle (although he does pound the ball too much) and has a good looking stroke with range out to the stripe. In addition, he can break defenders down off the dribble (very explosive first step) with regularity, utilizing his chiseled frame and quickness. However, he isn't as bouncy as I originally thought -- more power and speed than lift. Overall though, he is a handful going to the basket and ends up at the foul line quite often. In addition to his power game he is quite the passer, especially on the break, and he didn't hunt for his shot as much as I had expected. But to reach his potential he needs to stop overhandling the ball and make a more concerted effort at the defensive end on a regular basis.
Solomon Hill (6-6, 200)
Junior, Los Angeles/ Fairfax
I may be in the minority, but I think Hill is climbing the recruiting charts quicker than any prospect thus far this spring. It's amazing how his game has transformed from a year ago. He used to be an undersized center, but now he's blossoming into a legitimate Division I point forward. He has great size and length and he's one of the better passers on the West Coast. His handle has improved considerably since his sophomore campaign, and he had a dribble drive (led to a thunderous baseline dunk) that was simply off the charts. Hill is a solid shooter, but the improvement of that one area will determine the level of Division I he'll play at.
Jordan Hamilton (6-7, 190)
Junior, Compton, Calif./Dominguez
Hamilton is a prolific scorer from anywhere on the court, and he dazzled the crowd in a quarterfinal against 2D1. He can score in a variety of ways -- has a sweet floater in his arsenal -- and is actually a much-improved passer. His handle has gotten better, but in a semifinal against LA Dream, Hamilton struggled against Lance Stephenson. Stephenson's strength and tenacity (when he wants to play hard on the defensive end) contained Hamilton's opportunities, holding him to 7 points. As Hamilton continues to get stronger and does a better job allowing the game come to him, his future is bright.
Surprise Players
Victor Rudd (6-7, 200)
Junior, Van Nuys, Calif.
The bottom line with Rudd is when he decides to play with energy and purpose, he is one of the most talented wings in the country. At the So-Cal Review, Rudd was very average and settled far too often for the outside shot. However, at this event he showed a greater urgency at both ends and displayed the kind of talent that will attract the high-majors. He is a tremendous athlete and had some of the most resounding dunks in the event. Furthermore, his jump shot was feathery and his release was tight. Whether he decides to develop his game (midrange pull-up, good shot selection and handle) remains to be seen, but it's hard to deny his overall talent.
Jordan Burris (6-5, 190)
Sophomore, Bakersfield, Calif./Stockdale
This was my first look at Burris and I came away impressed. He has a lanky frame with long arms and he may grow a couple of inches, as well. He is a very good shooter with range out to the stripe and his stroke looks solid. In addition, he went in the post on occasion and displayed a nifty looking jump-hook. He has some bounce to his game as well and came out of nowhere to block a dunk attempt that was quite impressive. Burris still needs to improve his ball handling skills and add strength, but overall he projects to being one of the better looking wings in the Class of 2010.
Tony Freeland (6-6, 210)
Junior, Los Angeles/Fremont
Freeland has an impressive frame with some of the broadest shoulders I've seen. Although he doesn't have great bounce, his long arms and toughness make him an effective scorer in the paint area. He did a solid job guarding Sidney for the most part and on the offensive end he made life difficult for him as he was in continuous attack mode throughout the game. His jump shot is a bit unorthodox (elbow sticks out), but it's consistent. In addition, he does a nice job of utilizing the up-fake to get to the rim. His game is still raw and he's an undersized 5/4, but his approach to the game will probably make him a solid mid-major recruit.
Hollis Thompson (6-7, 190)
Junior, Los Angeles/Loyola
Thompson is considered one of the top wings in the country, and for the most part, he didn't disappoint at this event. Thompson plays with great energy at both ends and possesses the qualities (length and quickness) to be an outstanding defender at the next level. His jump shot is consistent, although his release is quite flat. However, he needs to get much better with the ball in his hands to be an effective scorer at the next level ( he is a Georgetown verbal). He is very good at utilizing the pump fake and setting up for his pull-up, but when he has to put the ball on the floor he struggles. One issue is a lack of strength, but overall he needs to hone his left hand and become a better finisher at the rim off the bounce.
What we learned
• Jordan Gathers, a 6-2 sophomore out of Los Angeles/Loyola, has a tendency to hunt for his shot too often, but his skill level and overall talent are impressive.
• One of the quicker point guards in the West is 5-8 junior dynamo Dominique O'Connor (Los Angeles/Westchester). He's undersized, but he can penetrate at will and is quite effective.
• One of the best kept secrets on the West Coast is the emergence of 5-11 freshman Chris Brown (Los Angeles/Manual Arts). C.J. Guerrero, the 5-11 dynamo out of Bellflower, Calif./St. John Bosco, is the best point guard in the West for the Class of 2011, but Brown may have a better feel for the game and his frame may suggest a more significant upside.
• Travis Wear, the 6-9 junior out of Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei, had a solid weekend for Team Odom; he displayed solid fundamentals and an ability to finish strong on the break. Twin brother David Wear has mononucleosis and may be out the whole spring.
• One of the strongest drivers in the West is 6-5 Guy Edi (Henderson, Nev./Findlay Prep). His chiseled physique allows him to draw contact and finish with regularity. In addition, he has the potential to be an outstanding defender because of his strength and quickness. However, his jump shot is erratic and he has a tendency to be turnover prone as well.
• Eric Lawton, a 6-1 junior out of Hemet, Calif./West Valley, is one of the most spectacular guards in the country. His jump shot is inconsistent, but he has some Allen Iverson in him when attacking the rim.
• Kawhi Leonard, a 6-6 junior out of Riverside, Calif./Martin Luther King, established himself as one of the more gifted wings on the West Coast during the regular season. His jump shot is very good, but he needs to get better at taking defenders off the bounce and become a more aggressive inside force -- utilizing his huge hands and broad shoulders.
• He has very good hands, solid skills and sound fundamentals, but 6-7 junior Chris Cunningham (Diamond Bar, Calif./Diamond Ranch) has limited bounce.
• A couple weeks ago, 6-7 junior Derrick Williams (La Mirada, Calif.) displayed his blossoming perimeter skills. However, playing for Team Odom he was forced to play inside due to the presence of Hollis Thompson and Jordan Hamilton.
• Moses Morgan, a gifted 6-5 sophomore from Las Vegas/Palo Verde, needs to get more aggressive off the bounce to free up his smooth shooting stroke.
• He is one of the more physically gifted freshmen that I've seen, but 6-3 Dominique Evans (Van Nuys, Calif.) needs to hone his perimeter skills, particularly his shooting touch to reach his potential.
• Tony Wroblicky, a 6-8 sophomore out of Los Angeles/Loyola, is a fairly bouncy left-hander who has an impressive frame as well as a soft touch within 15 feet of the basket.
• One of the more intriguing sleepers is the ultra-athletic 6-1 Allen Huddleson (Merced, Calif.). He is more of a scorer at this stage, but his frame and explosive first step should attract recruiting attention.
• He is far from a finished product, but 6-7 junior DeAngelo Scott (Lynwood, Calif.), has many of the intangibles (length and athleticism) to become a Division I 3.
• Kevin Smith, a 6-0 sophomore out of Compton, Calif./Dominguez, doesn't have a position as of yet, but he's one of the more explosive prospects on the West Coast.
Joel Francisco has been a high school basketball scout for 15 years. He has written for Hoopscoop Magazine and Basketball Times and organized "So-Cal's Finest," his own scouting service.