Tournament gave boost to some players' stock

The Michigan Mustangs left Durango High on Monday night with the championship trophy from this year's Big Time basketball tournament.

But the even bigger winners will be the players from the 224 teams who elevated their stock in the eyes of college coaches and scouts with their play during the past week.

Taking home a big trophy is nice, but not nearly as nice as having schools like North Carolina, Duke, Kentucky or Stanford willing to pick up your college tuition payments for the next four or five years.

So just who were the big winners in the scouts' eyes at the Big Time tourney this year?

"Jason Parker certainly elevated his stock," said talent scout Bob Gibbons of Lenoir, N.C., referring to the 6-6 power forward from championship game loser Carolina Sonics. "And (guard) Klevin Torbert (of the Michigan Mustangs), who's a better sophomore than him?"

Although trying to catch most of the 224 teams can prove to be a logistical nightmare, Gibbons said he will be leaving Las Vegas today with the names of several key new players on his list that he either had not seen or heard of before.

"There was a player from Kingwood, Texas, named Ryan Lockwood (6-8) whom I had never heard of before I got here," Gibbons said. "But I thought he was a very talented high Division I prospect."

Previous unknowns who Gibbons liked were: Julian Sensley, a 6-9 junior from Kailua, Hawaii; Derrick Paulson (6-4, Jr.) and Jared Reiner (6-9, Jr.) from South Dakota; and Aarom Abrams (6-4) from Oceanside, Calif.

Players from his preseason Top 50 list who also played well included 6-7 forward Donnell Harvey (Cuthpert, Ga.), swingman Jason Kapono (6-7, Artesia, Calif.), Michael Dunleavy (6-5, 2G, Portland, Ore., Jesuit), guard Kenny Satterfield (6-2, New York Rice), power forward Nick Collison (6-9, Iowa Falls, Iowa), 6-5 wing forward Jason Richardson (Saginaw, Mich., Hill) and Arizona-bound point guard Jason Gardner (5-11, Indianapolis North Central).

Biggest disappointments?

"Carlos Boozer," Gibbons said of the 6-8 power forward from Juneau, Alaska, who had schools like Duke, UCLA and Georgetown recruiting him hard. "He's got such a huge body, but he acted like he was allergic to rebounding. I think he got two rebounds in one whole game I watched."

Also making the list was DerMarr Johnson, the 6-9 guard/forward from Kensington, Md., who entered the summer rated No. 1 on Gibbons' list and reportedly is leaning heavily toward entering the NBA draft next year.

"He was disappointing, but then the whole D.C. Assault team was disappointing," Gibbons said. "I didn't think DerMarr, Jonathan Bender (6-11 forward from Picayune, Miss., who was rated No. 2 by Gibbons) or Matt Bonner (6-9 forward from Concord, N.H., who was ranked No. 3) played up to expectations here. Same with (Florida-bound point guard) Brett Nelson. But these kids are under so much pressure these days what with the NBA, the expectations and college coaches calling all the time."

Gibbons said Clark High point guard Kevin Gaines, who was ranked No. 23 on his pre-summer list, and Cheyenne guard Demetrius Hunter, who was rated No. 76, both played well this week.

"Kevin is so talented," Gibbons said. "He and Demetrius both helped (their stock) playing here. It was a positive week for both of them."

Ditto 6-9 center Martin Iti, who is rumored to be headed to Durango this fall.

"He's a tremendously talented ninth-grader with a world of potential," Gibbons said.

archive