Off TOP 20 guards

Sporting News, The, July 17, 2000 by Luciana Chavez

No recruiting list ranks Flint phenom Kelvin Torbert higher than third overall in the upcoming senior class but no freshman may have a bigger impact on the college scene 18 months from now. Michigan State, of course, is the odds-on favorite to land him but those in Storrs, the Queen City and Ann Arbor aren't about to give up on signing him. Sorting everyone else at shooting guard is not near as easy so analyst Stephen Wacaser ranks them for us. (**) Verbally committed to school.

PLAYER                 HT./WT.   HIGH SCHOOL

1. KEVIN TORBERT       6-4/196   Flint, Mich./Northwestern
Schools: Michigan State, Connecticut, Cincinnati, Michigan,
 Marquette
Inch-for-inch nation's No. 1 prep. Gets separation on his
 Jordan-like jumper.

2. JULIUS HODGE        6-4/167   Bronx, N.Y./St. Raymond
Schools: Syracuse, N.C. State, Maryland, North Carolina, Florida
Reggie Miller-like in his ability to twist, turn and finish in
 heavy traffic.

3. JOSH CHILDRESS      6-6/187   Lakeweod, Calif./Mayfair
Schools: Arizona, Kansas, Stanford, North Carolina, Duke
Game brings to mind George Gervin. Effortlessly scores coming off
 picks.

4. BEN GORDON          6-3/190   Mount Vernon, N.Y./Mount Vernon
High Schools: Seton Hall, Duke, Massachusetts, Temple, Connecticut,
 Ohio St.
Led 28-0 team to Class A state title, averaging 24.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg
 and 6.3 apg.

5. DANIEL EWING        6-3/177   Sugar Land, Texas/Willowridge
Schools: Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Cincinnati, Texas
Benefits from having T.J. Ford in his high school backcourt. Drains
 opportunities.

6. JAQUAN HART         6-5/185   Flint, Mich./Northern
Schools: Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Cincinnati, Texas
Very athletic 2G. Effective midrange with SF slashing skills. Very
 disciplined.

7. RASHAAD CARRUTH     6-2/183   Mouth of Wilson, Va./Oak Hill
Schools: Kentucky, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Louisville, others
Total game improved since transfer to Oak Hill. Unlimited range.

8. ANTHONY RICE        6-4/188   College Park, Ga./North Clayton
School: Memphis(**)
Automatic jumper from the arc in. Paired with Dajuan Wagner,
 future's bright.

9. CEDRIC BOZEMAN      6-4/187   Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei
Schools: UCLA, Syracuse, Arizona, Kansas
Steady combination guard, contributes in several ways.
 Team-oriented player.

10. DOMINIC INGERSON   6-2/180   Moreno Valley, Calif./Canyon
                                  Springs
Schools: California, UCLA, San Diego St., USC, Saint Louis,
 Arizona St., Utah
Talkative 2G who backs up words with baskets. Can convert
 perimeter jumpers.

11. EARNEST SHELTON    6-3/183   Memphis/White Station
Schools: Wake Forest, Ohio State, Duke, Memphis, Georgetown,
 Tennessee
Averaged 21.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.7 apg in leading school to state
 title.

11. ANTHONY VASSER     6-6/193   Birmingham, Ala./Woodlawn
Schools: Alabama, Auburn, UAB, Georgia Tech, Florida St., NC State
Improves parts of his game each outing. Lethal in traffic and
 along the baseline.

12. GREGORY TINCH      6-4/204   Albany, Ga./Westover
Schools: Duke, North Carolina, Tennessee, Maryland, possibly
 football
Inconsistent outside jumper his only weakness. Bravery inspires
 teammates.

13. LEVAR SEALS       6-3/178   Chicago/Providence-St. Mel
Schools: Siena, DePaul, others
May follow former prep coach Bill Garrett to Siena Patient,
 disciplined player.

14. ALAN ANDERSON      6-4/185   Minneapolis/De La Salle
Schools: Iowa, Michigan St., others
Reminds me of former NBA veteran Kevin Gamble. Solid all-around
 game.

15. SALIM STOUDAMIRE   6-2/177   Lake Oswego, Ore./Lake Oswego
School: Arizona(**)
Explosive point producer with NBA range. Excellent penetrator,
 deft passer.

16. DENNIS COUTEE      6-5/190   Jeffersonville,
                                  Ind./Jeffersonville
Schools: Indiana, Iowa, Louisville, Murray State
Averaged 18.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg last season. Defends with intensity,
 shoots the 3.

18. M. DEAN-LIGGONS    6-3/174   Rome, Ga./Coosa
Schools: Clemson, Georgia, Georgia Tech, South Carolina, Auburn,
 others
Michael reminds me of Pistons standout Vinnie Johnson. Scores
 from anywhere.

19. LUTHER HEAD        6-3/177   Chicago/Manley
Schools: Illinois, Illinois St., Bradley, DePaul, Wisconsin,
 Florida St., Miami (Ohio)
John Thompson loved players like him at Georgetown. Can't
 pinpoint his position.

20. ERNEST TURNER      6-2/195   Somerdale, N.J./Sterling
Schools: Rutgers, Connecticut, Villanova, Temple
Averaged 38 points at Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions/

Your ramp guide from a to N

Let me give you the condensed version to Summer Hoops Camps 101: Nike All-American vs. adidas ABCD.

On the outside, there's little difference between the two. Both get their share of talent. Both require their players to attend life skills and other classes during the day before playing ball at night. Each camper is assigned a number that sticks with him the entire time, and each is all decked out in the latest gear each manufacturer has to offer.

You'll find coaches, recruiters, scouts, parents and "family friends" milling around, looking for quiet corners behind the bleachers to talk business.