2006 Phenom 150
Camp Report
June 22-26, 2006
San Diego, California

Prepared by Rob Taylor
Publisher, Buckeye Prep Report

Another jewel of Joe Keller’s Phenom empire was on display a couple of weeks ago in San Diego, California.  The Inaugural Adidas Phenom 150 Camp, Keller’s most recent brainchild, played host to about 350 kids from various parts of the country.  As was the case with the Adidas Jr. Phenom Camps, which burst onto the youth basketball scene in 2004, the camp was held at Alliant International University as was a great success.

In terms of the format, the Phenom 150 Camp followed the same model used for the Jr. Phenom Camps.  Each of about 15 teams (per the 2 divisions) participated in six games over the course of the 3-day event.  In addition, the camp included instructional stations throughout the 3 days, and for the truly dedicated ballers, each morning early bird instructional stations were offered.  Once again, Dave Taylor acted as camp director and used his coaching and military background to establish order and discipline at the event.

Because of the amount of young talent assembled for the event, the camp attracted several media types including Hoop Scoop’s Clark Francis and Pat Stanwood, Rivals.com’s Justin Young, Prep Spotlight’s Vince Baldwin, and Californiapreps.com’s  Lee Hubbard.  If that wasn’t enough, an ESPN news crew was present on Saturday and was seen walking around the facility shooting footage and conducting interviews.

Nationally ranked players were in abundance at the camp and included 2009 standouts such as: Dexter Strictland (#16), Demetrious Walker (#29), Tamir Jackson (#38), Stephen Van Treese (#39), Stevie Rogers (#44), Joe Burton (#46), Darien Kelly (#60), Jeronne Maymon (#63), Tyrone Gardner (#69), D.J.  Byrd (#76), Orlando Williams (#78), Dominic Cheek (#94), Jesse Morgan (#98), Rome Draper (#100), Alex English (#105), Chase Tapley (#120), Zach Brown (#146), Bill Edwards (#171), Bobby Copabianco (#196), Brian Wozniak (#210), and Joey Brooks (#256).

For 2010, the following nationally ranked players (by Hoop Scoop) attended the camp: Tony Chenault (#1), Jarrell Eddie (#11), Josh Selby (#18), Darryl Traynham (#38), Reynolds Maharajh (#48) Trey Zeigler (#49), Keith Jordan Downing (#50), Josh Turner (#55), Marcell McClain (#57), Phillip Taylor (#63), Dominic Ballard (#64), Joseph Harms (#66), George Matthews (#83), Jack O’Neal (#86), Tim Peete (#90), Dondre Whitmore (#94), Cody Kale (# 97), Freddie Eberhardt (#104), Montana Brown (#115), Joe Sharkey (#117), Clay Hillyard (#125), Kyle Boswell (#130), Aaron Gowans (#136),  Henry Gaskins (#152), Rodney Givens (#177), Eric Swoopes (#192), Woody Redding (#209) and  Karl Madison (#226).

Two players from the class of 2011 were invited to participate in the camp and both Damion Cain (#9) and Stevie Taylor (#12) had outstanding performances in San Diego.  In fact, Cain was an alternate for the all-star game and Taylor was selected to participate in the all-star game.  In that game, Taylor scored 10 points and 2 assists.

Both all-star games were entertaining and proved to be very competitive.  In the sophomore game Dexter Strickland was outstanding, led his East team to a championship, and played his way to MVP honors.  Other standouts in that game included Joey Brooks, Bill Edwards and Chase Tapley.  Below is a list of both all-star teams.

2009 All-Star Teams

Team Adidas East (White)                                                    Team Adidas West (Blue)
Coach: Matt Pauls                                                                   Coach: Rod Greene
Asst Coach: Randy Adams                                                     Asst. Coach: Nick Parisi

Dexter Strictland (MVP)                                                          Demetrious Walker
Stephen Van Treese                                                               Brendan Lane
Joey Brooks                                                                            Stevie Rogers
Bobby Capobianco                                                                  Williams Edwards
Michael Dixen                                                                          Joe Burton
Darian Kelly                                                                             Jesse Morgan
Alex English                                                                             Rome Draper
K. Hollis Thompson                                                                 Cable Hogue
Tamir Jackson                                                                         D.J. Byrd
Chase Tapley                                                                          Dominic Cheek
 

Dexter Strickland, a 6’4 WG from Rahway, NJ, was clearly the top player at the camp in the 2009 division.  Strickland is a super smooth combo guard who can handle the rock, sees the floor well and is explosive enough to throw it down any time he finds a lane to the basket.  Strickland seems to always be in control and he rarely forces the action or turns the ball over.  Although he has always been considered one of the top players in this class, his performance in San Diego should translate into a rise up the rankings.

Stephen Van Treese, a 6’9 C/PF from Indianapolis, IN, showed why he is a major college prospect.  With great size and skill, Van Treese is a can’t miss recruit. His AAU teammate, D.J. Byrd, a 6’4 PF from Indianapolis, IN, was one of the hardest working players at the camp.  Byrd posses a powerful body which he effectively uses to get to the basket and crash the boards. Oh but that’s not all, Byrd passes well and can score from the perimeter if left alone.  Van Treese is just a good looking basketball player.

Since he is an Ohio kid, I have seen Bill Edwards, a 6’5 WG from Franklin, OH, play on many occasions.  With that said, I have never seen him play as well as he did in San Diego.  Edwards played well the entire camp including the all-star game where he led his team to an early lead.

Other Top Players (2009)

Vondrae Tostenson 6’6 C KS
Jeronne Maymon 6’6 C WS
Tyrone Gardner 6’1 WF CT
Chris Taylor 5’10 PG AR
Joe McBride 5’9 PG KS
Rome Draper 6’4 WF CA
Bryant Jackson 5’6 PG MO
Brandon Babineaux 6’0 WG CA
Dijon Henry 6’2 WF CA
Jordan Hull 6’0 PG IN
Ryan Hargrave 6’6 C NC
K.J. Brown 5’10 PG NJ
Gerard Glass 5’8 PG CA
Raphael Jordan 6’1 WG MD
Keith Douglas-Clanton 6’7 C FL
Nicholas Handsberry 6’3 WF TX
Bryant Jackson 5’6 PG MO
Leandre Hubbard 6’0 WG CA 

2010 All-Star Teams

Team Adidas East (White)                                                    Team Adidas West (Red)
Coach: Chris Wright                                                                Coach: Rick Lewis
Asst. Coach: Jeff Harper                                                         Asst. Coach: Jarrod Mitchell 

Darryl Traynham (MVP)                                                          Trey Zeigler (MVP)
Josh Selby                                                                               Tony Chenault
Stevie Taylor (2011)                                                                Jason Morris
Jay Canty                                                                                 James Bell
Rodney Givens                                                                        Josh Turner
Keith Jordan Downing                                                             Corbin Harris
Timothy Peete                                                                         Kadeem Green
Daniel Broughton                                                                     Brandon Dawson
David Glasco                                                                           Erik Swoope
Jerrell Eddie                                                                             Kendall Williams

Other Top Players (2010)

Rakeem Brookins 5’10 PG PA
Woody Redding 5’6 PG PA
Jalen Courtney 6’6 C/PF MS
Jay Canty 6’3 PF NC
Phillip Taylor 5’7 PG NY
Damion Cain 6’4 C CA (2011) (All-Star Game Alt)
Cory Andrews 6’4 PF CT
Karl Madison 5’8 PG IL
Vander Blue 6’0 WG WS
Markese Tucker 6’3 PF NJ
Dondre Whitmore 5’6 PG NJ
George Matthews 6’4 PF AR
Jordan Richardson 5’8 PG TX
Greg Langston 6’3 PF CT
Kendall Williams 6’0 WF CA
Jason Morris 6’4 C GA
Brandon Dawson 6’4 PF GA
H.J. Gaskins 5’8 PG PA
Ryan May 5’11 WG NC
Michael Escobedo 5’10 PG CA
Ryan Harrow 5’6 PG NC
David Butcher 5’8 PG FL
Stephon Smith 6’4 C MS
Adrian Rodgers 6’3 WF GA
J’Quon Wroten 6’0 WG NV
Montana Brown 5’6 PG FL
Damion Cain 6’4 C CA

Misc Notes

Although the camp boasted of a number of nationally ranked players and the over all competition was significant, as is the case with every camp there were a few prominent no shows who had they attended, would have greatly contributed to the camp.  Those players included G.J. Valerino (2009), K.C. Ross-Miller, and Jamison Sterns.  All three of these players appeared in the program and were expected to attend the event.  

In an impromptu dunk contest the broke out during one of the breaks, Chris Taylor (2009) and James Bell (2010) put on a show for the players who crowed around the court.  Both players have serious bounce and were entertaining throughout the camp.  As proof that he could get it done in a real game situation, in one game I saw Chris Taylor caught a nasty ally oop and finished.  That kid gets up!

In recent years, Ohio basketball has proven to be a force among the other hotbeds around the country.  Ohio players and teams have enjoyed a lot or recent success in major tournaments and events.  The Buckeye State sent nine representatives to the camp including: Bill Edwards (Franklin), Orlando Williams (Cincinnati), Zach Brown (Mason), Brian Wosniak (Loveland), Bobby Capobianco (Loveland), Denzel Sims (Columbus), Stevie Taylor (Gahanna), Justin Desilva (Newark), and Perry Freed (Pepper Pike).

In closing, by most accounts, the Inaugural Phenom 150 Camp was a huge success.  This was my 3^rd year attending a Keller-run event and it is clear that he continues to refine his product. Congratulations to Joe Keller and his entire staff for hosting such a nice event.

If you have any comments or questions about this report, please feel free to contact me at Taylorobe@aol.com or visit our website at: www.BuckeyePrepReport.com.