Eric Hampford:
Future150 GM / Senior National Analyst. Covering high and middle school basketball.
Charlottesville, VA (Future150) -- The 2016 NBPA Top 100 Camp kicked off on Wednesday afternoon on the campus of the University of Virginia. Nationally touted prospects in the classes of 2017, 2018 & 2019 battled against one another in one of the most unique settings in all of prep basketball. Below are a list of standouts from the first session of action.
Zion Williamson, 2018 CF: From the opening tip, it was clear that the 6’7” bruiser brought his best this week. He’s an absolute bull around the rim, with deceptive quickness for a player his size. He was finishing everything he got his hands on, particularly in traffic. He was also relentless on both the offensive and defensive boards, confirming our belief that he’s a top 15 player nationally in his class right now.
Malik Williams, 2017 PF: It’s hard not to be impressed by the fluidity of the 6’11” big man. He plays hard on both ends of the floor, looked comfortable handling the basketball in transition, and showed he can finish around the rim. A B1G priority, he sits at #37 in our updated class rankings, which is accurate at this juncture.
Hasahn French, 2017 PF: For a while now, the knock on the Commonwealth Academy (MA) power forward has been his size at 6’7”. However, after a dominant spring on the AAU circuit, he’s showing that his brute physical strength and relentless motor more than make up for him being a tad undersized. Simply put, he’s the type of kid you win with, a guy who will do whatever it takes to take his team to the next level.
Tremont Waters, 2017 PG: A consummate floor general, the 5'11" Connecticut native seems to generate an open look for his team every time down the floor. An expert in maneuvering through pick-and-roll situations, Waters is equally adept at hitting big men cutting to the rim, kicking the ball out to shooters, or hitting jumpers of his own. Though a bit undersized, it’s hard to imagine him not eventually leading an elite high-major offense in a few years.
Nate Watson, 2017 PF: The 6'9" wide-bodied post has carried over his strong spring play into June, as he stood out in the afternoon session Wednesday. A pretty jump-hook, solid instincts around the rim, and toughness on the inside make him stand out. His recruitment has been surging of late, and that should continue to be the case throughout the summer.
Jordan McCabe, 2018 PG: After struggling a bit in the early going, the 6'0" floor general seemed to settle into the game as play continued. A flashy passer who has the ball on a string, McCabe was able to pinpoint open shooters all over the court and hit them with on-target passes for triples. He's got a capable stroke in his own right, but is at his best creating for his teammates.
Makhi Ashton-Langford, 2017 PG: This Massachusetts native has been impressing on the Adidas circuit all spring with Mass Rivals, and did more of the same in his first game in Charlottesville. Possessing a muscluar 6'2" frame and elite athleticism, Ashton-Langford gets to the rim seemingly at will. He needs to work on finishing with his off-hand and expanding his perimeter game, but there's no doubt he's an elite slasher at the point guard spot.
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