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Adidas Gold Gauntlet Notebook (July 14)

07/15/2018, 9:15am EDT
By Eugene Rapay

Eugene Rapay (@erapay5)
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NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Over 40 qualifying AAU teams from all over the country arrived at Basketball City in lower Manhattan for the Adidas Gold Gauntlet Finale. Saturday marked a full day of basketball, with games being played across four courts. Here is a notebook from the event's third day of competition:

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Christian Ray (above) is up to double-digit scholarship offers and playing strong in NYC. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Haverford star Christian Ray's hard work is paying off

It's been quite the year for the Haverford School's Christian Ray (2019/K-Low Elite). 

In his second year with the Fords, he was able to guide them to their first Inter-Ac title in a few decades, all while scoring over 20 points per game. His AAU team, K-Low Elite (Pa.), has continued to win and advance in the 17U bracket of the Gauntlet Series.

"We've been winning a lot, which is my favorite thing in the world to do," he said. "I've been picking up offers and interest, I've been treated right, but I feel like it's deserved with all the hours I've spent in the gym."

Despite all of this success on the court over the last year, Ray has maintained a humble approach to the game. When he's not travelling, he's working hard to improve his game, treating it almost like a 9-to-5 job. On Monday through Friday, he wakes up early and hits the gym until later in the afternoon. He's been working with Harriton head coach Kyle Sample, who is also the assistant director for K-Low Elite. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, he works with Jim Ferris, a former strength and conditioning coach for the Philadelphia 76ers. Recently, he also has gotten to workout with a number of former Big 5 and Philadelphia-area high school standouts.

"I workout with pros, I rebound for pros, I defend against pros--it gets me better everyday," Ray said. "...Reggie Redding, St. Joe's Prep. Maalik Wayns--Roman Catholic. Tyreek DurenJuan'ya GreenRamone Moore, [James] Bell--Villanova, Temple, everybody, name it from around here."

The best piece of advice he's picked up came from Moore, a four-year player at Temple who is currently playing with the Adelaide 36ers of the National Basketball League.

"I can remember something from Ramone Moore, who told me 'you don't spend all those hours in the gym for nothing," Ray said. "You gotta go out there, show yourself, don't care who it's against, don't care what name it is, what offers they got--just be you. Remember where you're from and just go from there.' I came from not necessarily being a basketball player, but I think I've transformed into one over the years, for sure."

The 6-foot-5 wing showed his worth in a come-from-behind 68-63 victory for K-Low Elite over Basketball University (Texas), one that would be settled in overtime. Ray finished with a team high 17 points, 15 rebounds, and four assists. His aggressiveness and tenaciousness resulted in points and rebounds for his team. He also drained a timely three-pointer that sparked the comeback rally in the closing minutes of the game.

So far, he has offers from Stony Brook, NJIT, St. Francis (Pa.), Central Connecticut, Bowling Green, Lehigh and Binghamton. Over the last week, Brown and Lafayette also offered him. He also says that Saint Peter's, Wagner, Dartmouth, and a few other schools have started entering the picture. However, don't expect him to make a decision anytime soon, but he feels great about his newly garnered attention.

"Feels great, I'm very humbled when it coems to that because I know where I started, where I came from when it came to basketball," Ray said of his new offers. "I worked my way up, never cared about what people thought, just stayed to myself, stayed in the gym and stayed humble."

However, he does have a role in mind for when he plays in college.

"I want to be a two, but I play with a chip on my shoulder," Ray said. "Where I come from, it's a small town--Octorara--when you're 6-5, you play big. I know how to rebound, box out, and do certain things like a big, but I like playing guard. I think, a lot of times, when you come in from the wing, you can get a lot of rebounds because people don't respect you as a rebounder."

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Belgium native Camara relishing in United States' basketball culture

Although soccer is a contagious sport outside of the United States, Belgium native Toumani Camara (2019/Team Knight, Fla.) had no dreams of playing on the pitch, but rather the hardwood.

The recent buzz surrounding his home country's deep run to the semifinals of the World Cup was something he enjoyed watching, but he wanted to go somewhere that basketball dominated the landscape.

"My first goal was to play Division I basketball and when I was in Belgium, I didn't know how," Camara said. "I tried to find a way to play in college and my coach in Belgium helped me get here."

His journey took him to Hollywood, Fla. and the Chaminade-Madonna Prep school. This is his second year in the States and he's enjoyed being able to play basketball nearly all-year round. It's his first year playing AAU and on the Adidas Gauntlet, and so far, he's enjoyed soaking in all of the hoops he can, even when school isn't in session.

"I think it was the language first, and the speed of the game basketball-wise is different," said Camara, about the challenges he's faced while adjusting to American basketball.

The 6-foot-6, class of 2019 wing seemed well-acclimated in Team Knight's (Fla.) 64-59 loss to Team Loaded (Va.). Camara was a bright spot in Team Knight's defeat, posting a game-high 16 points off of a 7-for-13 shooting performance. 

Camara made an impact in various areas of the game. He demonstrated an ability to attack the basket or pull up from the perimeter. Defensively, he was always in motion and seemed to be in the right places at the time right. He also played feisty defense no matter who he was matched up against--a smaller guard or a bruising big man.

He's hoping college coaches can fall in love with his versatility as a player. So far, some of them have. He's on the road to completing his goal to become a Division I basketball player. According to Camara, Dayton, Murray State, George Washington, Wofford, South Florida, and a few other schools have offered him.

Despite this attention, he knows there's more work that needs to be done on his search for his dream school.

"I need to get more consistent with my shot and get by people more easily, and my defense," Camara said. "I'm just looking for a school that I can fit into, with a good coach and a good program. Somewhere I feel comfortable."

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Brookwood Elite's Quincy Guerrier talks reclassification to 2018 and representing Canada

Hockey might rule the Great White North, but that doesn't mean basketball goes unappreciated. As a matter of fact, Canadians have been well represented in the NBA over the last few years.

Since 1946, there have only been 36 Canadians to ever make it to the NBA. However, as of late, Canada seems to be going through a sort of basketball renaissance.

In 2014, there was a record-number 13 Canada natives on NBA opening day rosters. According to RealGM.com, there are 11 Canadians currently on NBA teams. For Brookwood Elite's (Can.) Quincy Guerrier, he's hoping to be able to one day add his name to the list of Canadian NBA players and represent the red and white.

"I see guys like Andrew Wiggins--all those guys--it encourages me to work on my game, to be better," Guerrier said. "Those players are leaders, and I want to be able to make the NBA."

Guerrier set the tone early in Brookwood Elite's game against Team Faith (Texas). He scored a game-high 22 points in the one-sided 66-46 victory, primarily from bullrushing his way inside and finishing around the basket. He did drain a few three-pointers, but not at the same rate as his shots from inside the arc. Team Faith did not have an answer for the 6-foot-7 wing.

"Honestly, I've been working hard for this event and for [the championships in] L.A.," Guerrier said. "I've been shooting everyday, working out, that's it. It's all coming out now."

So far, Guerrier said that he's received offers from Vanderbilt, Oregon, Syracuse, N.C. State, Illinois, Creighton, and a number of other schools. He plans on cutting down his list by mid-August and start planning some visits soon after. He hasn't taken an official to any school yet.

He also plans on reclassifying to 2018, getting a head start to his collegiate career and enrolling at some point midway through the season.

"Every school that's been recruiting, they're cool with that," he explained. "I'm ready right now. I'm ready, honestly. The system of Canada isn't the same system as the U.S.A. That's why I will graduate in December and join in January." 

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January is a big man bruiser in a basketball world transitioning to small-ball 

As the game of basketball seems to fall in love with unicorns, small-ball lineups, and three-point happy big men, Dream Vision's (Calif.) Antwan January is a throwback.

The 6-foot-11, 250 pound center enjoys playing physically, bullying and tormenting his opponents in the paint. He especially thrives on defense, using his bullish frame to thwart his opponents, never allowing them to get comfortable. He's an old school bruiser that works hard on both ends of the court, although he says he can stretch the floor to a degree, his toughness mostly radiates on the floor.

"I stay solid," January said. "I don't want anyone to score on me. I just take it like, 'I don't want people to score on me, so I'm going to block real hard and block their shots."

In some ways, he even contrasts his own team. Dream Vision seemed to always be flying down the court, overwhelming the Atlanta Celtics (Ga.) with their fast-paced style of play en route to a 68-47 lopsided win. January wasn't a top scorer, chipping in eight points, behind three other teammates that reached double figures.

Despite this, he takes pride in his work, even if it's doing the dirty work and playing physically inside. 

According to 247 sports, January is a four-star, class of 2019 prospect. He says he has offers from Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Kansas State, Washington State, UNLV, Boise State, Grand Canyon, and many other schools.

He's taking his time on making a decision and hasn't visited a single school yet. He's placing his attention on bolstering his leadership skills and hoping to lead Santa Monica (Calif.) to greater success. This past season, it finished 15-12 and was bounced out of the first round of the CIF playoffs in lopsided fashion.

"I really want to be more of a leader," January said. "It being my last year of high school, I want to be more of a leader to the younger guys."

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Quick Hits:
Miles McBride (2019/Archbishop Moeller, Ohio/Indiana Elite): This past high school season was a bittersweet one for McBride, who was sidelined for the season due to a foot injury, while his teammates went on to win a state championship. McBride, a West Virginia commit, decided to lace up for one more season of AAU with Indiana Elite, hoping to get back into game shape and prove to himself that he is still capable of playing at a high level. In a showdown with Upward Stars (Calif.), McBride got the answer he was looking for. It wasn't until midway through the second half that he would have his first miss of the game, after starting a perfect 7-for-7 on the floor. He finished the game with 26 points, demonstrating an ability to shoot off of the dribble, attack inside, or spot up on the perimeter. He was able to make contested shots and slowly saw improvement as a faciliator. Although he mainly played the '2' and '3' in high school, West Virginia is expecting him to play the '1,' a task he's growing more accustomed to.

Gage Malensek (2019/Brookfield Central, Wisc./Iowa Barnstormers): He wasn't the biggest on the court, but he played with a ferociousness that made him seem like he was six inches taller than he actually was. Malensek was fearless in his approach on the court, often attacking the basket or hitting his teammates off of the drive-and-kick. This floor general played a big part in keeping his Barnstormers locked in a game with Team Rose (Ill.). Although the Barnstormers lost 63-55, Malensek added a calming presence when he was on the floor, dictating the flow and setting the tone with the way he attacked the basket. He had a team-high 15 points and four assists. His tenacious approach to when he stepped onto the court made him a fun player to watch.

Chris Ledlum (2019/St. Peter's Boys School, N.Y./NY Jayhawks): Ledlum continued his strong play in the Adidas Gauntlet into Saturday afternoon, as he helped serve as a difference-maker in the NY Jayhawks' 61-57 victory over Mass Elite (Mass.). Both teams were engaged in a closely contested match, with the Jayhawks trailing for a majority of the game, Ledlum helped spur a late-game run to take ahead and then provided a couple of baskets and much-needed free throws to secure the win. Ledlum was a threat to score whenever he touched the ball. He posted a game-high 30 points, demonstrating a high energy and a lot of confidence in his play. Even when he dealt with cold spells throughout the game, he continued to fire away with great belief in himself and he showed once again how dangerous he can be once he gets into a rhythm. Although he primarily drove to the basket, he can also punish opponents from beyond the arc.

Mark Williams (2020/Norfolk Academy, Va./Team Loaded Va.): He might come off the bench and serve as a backup for Team Loaded (Va.), but Williams is no slouch. At 6-foot-11, he is an imposing player go up against. Apart from his size and length, he's very mobile and can move across the floor well, whether it's switching on defense or attacking the basket. However, he really shines on the offensive glass. Williams was a putback machine against Team Knight (Fla.) He was able to fight for second, third--and sometimes even, fourth--chance opportunities. He's a solid finisher around the basket, combine that with his rebounding skills and he's problematic for opposing teams.

Sahvir Wheeler (2019/Houston Christian, Texas/Basketball University): For what Wheeler lacks in size, he makes up for in speed. Standing only 5-foot-8, this Texas A&M commit is explosive, shifty, and crafty. He truly shines in transition and on fast breaks. Wheeler flies down the court, boasting great ball handling skills and a knack for getting by his defender. He's not shy when it comes to dealing with contact, and will lower his shoulder and attack the basket. Although his finishing is a little inconsistent at times, he can make up for that with the way he's able to get to the free throw line and convert his free throws. Apart from his ability to score and be a slashing threat, he's great at setting up his teammates. Wheeler has solid court vision and can execute those flashy passes, whether it's a no-look or alley-oop lob to a teammate. Against K-Low Elite (Pa.), he had a game-high 20 points and nine assists in the 68-63 overtime loss.


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