One of the spring's top recruiting evaluation events took place last weekend in the Greater Houston area, as over 100 Division I coaches flocked to the 8th Annual Kingwood Classic.

For the record, the hometown favorite Houston Hoops won the tournament with a 83-69 victory over Ft. Sooy-No Limit of Illinois. But, due to newly imposed NCAA restrictions, college coaches viewed the thee-day event as one of this year's rare opportunities to get a glimpse at the rising junior class of 2003 and a few prospects for 2004, as well.

Here's some of our observations of the top players in attendance.

Ndudi Ebi, junior, 6-10, PF (Westbury Christian H.S./Houston, Texas): This long, lean junior is a major athlete and exceptional runner/jumper for his height. He's been ranked by others as among the nation's top five juniors. Based upon what we saw at the Kingwood Classic, however, I can't go along with that hype.

Granted, Ebi is an exceptional athlete, but he's mostly athlete and needs to catch up in the area of skills and development. He is a very good shot blocker, but he relies too much on that athleticism and shot blocking talent, instead of playing fundamental basketball. Ebi is not very good defensively in terms of playing physical inside and denying post position. When viewed in Kingwood, he didn't even try to contest post position, he was content to sit behind the opposing postman. And while most of the Top 100 caliber prospects in any class aren't very good defensively, it's was surprising how raw Ebi's fundamentals were.

He's All-World in terms of the layup line, transition or scoring when he's got an open path to the bucket. But put a decent defender between him and the goal and things get complicated. He can't create his own shot and doesn't possess much of a back-to-the-basket game (to be fair, I did see him convert a fairly raw looking half-hook shot). Give him a lob in the right place and he's finishing with the best. But when defended, he needs to really develop some game.

To his credit, there are some unusual things that he can do. How many 6-10 players can grab a rebound, go coast-to-coast with a decent looking handle and the finesse of an athletic 6-5 small forward, and finish the play with his elbow in the rim? Well, Ebi can.

If I were to compare him to anyone, I'd say he's a softer version of Darius Miles, which isn't too bad. He's just a talented super athlete who needs to get some more individual coaching.

Daniel Gibson, sophomore, 6-3, PG (Jones H.S./Houston, Texas): I thought he looked great at last summer's Nike Camp and Gibson has continued to improve and develop his game. He's a very good athlete with just as good skills. In Kingwood, he showed time and time again the ability to knock down the deep 3, often bringing the ball upcourt and drilling a 25-footer from the top of the key. Not exactly the greatest shot from a coach's perspective, but the way Gibson knocks them down, who cares? He's also got the ability to penetrate and plays with an unusual poise for a 10th grader. Gibson was one of the best players, regardless of class, in the tournament.

Taurean "Tack" Minor, junior, 5-11, PG (Booker T. Washington H.S./Houston, Texas): Though listed at 5-11 in the tournament program, Tack actually looked smaller. But it doesn't matter, because this dynamo plays significantly bigger. He's got explosive quickness, pure speed, very good skills, a great deal of confidence and plays hard. Now, he doesn't always play that way, which leaves him devoid of criticism (e.g.: Minor likes to leak out when the opposition puts up a jump shot, giving him several cherry pick layups/dunks each game ... and his shot selection at times leaves one wondering).

But there is no denying that he's a talent. Minor has a strong handle, penetrates with ease and can also shoot the ball. He's all about an up-tempo game and he does play hard. Consider the muscular Minor a shorter version of a Jonathan Hargett or a Raymond Felton. I don't know if he's the top point guard in the Class of 2003, but he's not far off.

Vakeaton Waffer, junior, 6-5, SF (Pineview H.S./Lisbon, La.): A virtual unknown before this tournament (I was actually tipped off to his talent by a college coach a week prior to the event), Waffer exploded on the recruiting scene last weekend with some eye-catching performances which had the gallery of college coaches watching him mushroom with each impressive performance.

Waffer is a swingman who saw his recruiting grow from Louisiana Tech and Kansas State to Indiana, Texas, LSU and North Carolina. Waffer is a very athletic player, who can knock down the long-range jumper with consistency and he also is a strong slasher to the bucket. He plays hard all the time (another key attribute of big-time prospects), whether it's defending on the perimeter or crashing the offensive boards. This kid's a scorer and he's fairly efficient in this game, making good decisions and displaying lots of vertical pop.

Brandon Bass, junior, 6-7, PF (Capitol H.S./Baton Rouge, La.): The same coach who tipped us to Waffer had mentioned Bass' name to us in February, before he blew up with a strong performance in Las Vegas in April. Bass is a strong, rugged kid, who makes strong takes to the bucket. He's a good athlete and works hard on his rebounding. He also plays with a fierce aggressiveness at times. I don't think he's a top 20 player as some other scouts have already declared, but Bass is awfully good. And with so many soft, finesse big men these days, a tough, rugged inside player like Bass gets a lot of respect.

Phillip Thomasson, junior, 6-7, SF (Burleson H.S./Burleson, Texas): I've liked this kid and his game since I first saw him play last year for Tom Rogers' Fort Worth Lions club. Thomasson, who bears some facial resemblance to current Florida Gator freshman David Lee, is a very solid player, who produces with quiet efficiency. He can guard bigger opponents, gives a strong effort on the boards, and has a knack for scoring in the paint area. No big-time theatrics in terms of leaping ability or athleticism, Thomasson is simply a very good basketball player who works his tail off. He committed to Colorado State last year and it sounds like he's holding true to that commitment, despite some recent interest from ACC schools. Expect him to have a successful collegiate career at Colorado State.

Tyrone Nelson, junior, 6-8, F (Hempstead H.S./Hempstead, Texas): After talking about Nelson with several college coaches and his club coach for the past couple of months, I have to admit I was disappointed after watching him for the first time in a couple of games last weekend. I heard he was raw, but I didn't think he was that raw. Nelson is a very thin, runner/jumper, who is listed at 6-10 most places, but is probably about 6-8, and who needs to add strength/weight/muscle mass in a bad way.

In one game I witnessed, Nelson hit the deck more than Michael Spinks in the Mike Tyson fight. His sub-200-pound willowy frame shouldn't spend that much time in the paint (at this high level of competition) because he was getting pushed around like a hen-pecked husband. He was getting tossed around by baby-bull, 6-8 sophomore Kalen Grimes of the St. Louis Eagles. And what's worse, he wasn't getting much accomplished when he was able to get his shot off.

Nelson is a good athlete for such a lean frame. He just needs to also improve his skills in addition to working on his body. But, should we write Nelson off? No. He's just a player in development, who needs to add some strength ASAP. Remember, big men take longer to develop, especially big men who are playing at the small school level. To his credit, Nelson was trying to play hard out at the Kingwood Classic, but it just wasn't his day or his tournament.

Kalen Grimes, sophomore, 6-8, F (Hazelwood Central H.S./Hazelwood, Mo.): Speaking of Grimes, this kid is a bad, bad man. Bad as in good. This thick bodied (he's probably around 240-250 pounds) banger in the key is another Elton Brand in the making. Grimes doesn't back down from competition, makes strong takes to the bucket and he finishes plays. He competes hard, has good hands and keeps it very simple. He's going to overpower players. And there isn't much that most high school players can do about it. Grimes is a blue-collar kid, who probably will add more athleticism as he tones and defines his thick frame. This kid's for real. He plays for head coach Rich Gray's St. Louis Eagles program and don't be surprised if he continues to develop and take his game to an even higher level.

Marshall Brown, sophomore, 6-6, F (L.B. Johnson H.S./Austin, Texas): A well-built, athletic small forward, Brown has made significant strides since his impressive freshman debut last year. Playing for John Eurey's Houston Superstar 3 Stripes, Brown is now playing over the rim and he threw down dunk on a defender something nasty during one of his later games. He's a very good slasher to the bucket and he's improving at a mighty strong clip.

Ryan Appleby, junior, 6-0, PG (Stanwood H.S./Stanwood, Wash.): Just got a brief glimpse of Appleby's game and I was impressed. This is a thin kid with excellent wheels. He's a true point guard version of Brett Nelson. Appleby really knows how to run in transition and he tosses some beautiful no-look dimes to teammates on the Emerald City Pioneers team. He also showed off a good shooting touch, but those who watched him were more impressed with his decision making and his distribution skills. Appleby is a good one, though, he looked closer to 6-feet than the listed 6-3.

Shaun Livingston, sophomore, 6-6, G (Richwoods H.S./Peoria, Ill.): Of the three big-time prospects on the Ft. Sooy-No Limit team, I liked Livingston's performance the best. While bearing some physical resemblance to Tayshaun Prince's lean frame, Livingston is so much better than Prince (at the same stage) at putting the ball on the deck. He played point without any trouble, saw the floor and delivered the rock. He's also got some toughness and he's equally skilled in knocking down the jumper. He's probably about 170, but a lot of that is heart.

Brian Randle, junior, 6-8, F (Notre Dame H.S./Peoria, Ill.): I was expecting a lot more from Randle, who's been a much-coveted recruit since his freshman year. Maybe it's just too early in the spring. When he does make plays, this long lefty is impressive with his athleticism. I didn't remember Randle (I last saw him in July at the Nike All-American Camp) being that athletic (he's got some explosive verticality). To his credit, he did have some Sportscenter quality highlight dunks and also showed the ability to drain the jumper. I guess what concerned me was the fact that he's often not a factor while he's out on the floor (maybe he'd play much better on a more structured team). Bottom line: Randle is a finesse player who can handle the ball, slash to the bucket and shoot it.

Richard McBridge, junior, SG (Lamphier H.S./Springfield, Ill.): Another player who's been well thought of since his freshman year, McBride is a well-built shooting guard. He can handle the ball, create his own shot and he shoots it well and with deep range. But McBridge is more apt to take the long-range J than attack the basket. Still, there was no denying his ability at Kingwood.

Mohamed Abukar, junior, 6-9, F (Rancho Bernardo H.S./San Diego, Calif): Abukar will likely turn out as a small forward on the collegiate level due to his shooting ability. This kid can shoot the rock, up to about 18 feet. He's got very good hands, catches the ball, keeps the ball high and has a fairly quick release on his soft jumper. He's got shooting touch. Even when his feet and body weren't squared, if Abukar got a good look, chances were high that it was going down. He's not much of a power player and his finesse abilities probably dictate a future at the three spot. A good athlete who runs the floor well, Abukar tries to play inside, but his power game wasn't used and he continually drifted out toward the elbow or the free throw line.

Andre Allen, sophomore, 5-10, PG (Booker T. Washington H.S./Memphis, Tenn.): Allen has been hyped as one of the rising stars of the Memphis high school scene, but I didn't get it, watching him in parts of three games. He's a small point, a good athlete and can make some plays. But ...

Robert Swift, sophomore, 7-0, C (Garces Memorial H.S./Bakersfield, Calif.): This wasn't a great showing for Swift, but it wasn't his fault. His team, California Team Select, didn't get him the ball. And when you're a 7-foot true postman with hands, good position and a strong post-move series, you can't do anything if your team doesn't get you the ball. And playing with arguably the tournament's most talented starting frontline, Swift couldn't get too upset because CTS teammates, 6-9 Ekene Ibekwe and 6-8 Trevor Ariza didn't get the ball much either. Where Swift did impress was on the defensive end with his shot-blocking prowess. I've seen Swift play quite a few times and he was deserving of more than just the two touches he received in the tournament's opening game, when he played most of the game.

Ekene Ibekwe, junior, 6-9, PF (Carson H.S./Carson, Calif.): Another talented big man, who suffered from a lack of touches. Ibekwe did show off a solid jump shot from mid-range and he's also got some explosive bounce around the bucket. He's a very good athlete with skills. His ability to make plays on a consistent basis is getting better and better, but you can't score if you never get the ball. Ibekwe's upside is serious.

Trevor Ariza, junior, 6-8, F (Westchester H.S./Los Angeles, Calif.): Again, there was a lack of touches to go around, but Ariza tried to make the best of it, crashing the boards (he's athletic, long and active) to get his share of putbacks. He wasn't hitting his outside jumper, but he found the driving lanes somewhat crowded when he did attack the basket. He did block his share of shots and did a good job on the boards. No doubt, there will be better performances from him down the road.

Michael Brock, junior, 6-7, F (Simon Kenton H.S./Independence, Ken.): While his more celebrated Kentucky Hoop Stars teammate, 6-3 shooting guard Michael Bush, wasn't available for this tournament, Brock was impressive with his heady and consistent play. While not possessing great size, Brock hustles his butt off and has an excellent nose for the basketball. In a tournament loaded with great athletes, Brock was impressive with his large basketball acumen.

Marc Gasol, sophomore, 6-10, F (Lausanne H.S./Memphis, Tenn.): I had heard though the grapevine that Memphis Grizzlies star Pau Gasol had a talented younger brother who was attending high school in Memphis, so I was eager to catch his play for YOMCA Team Memphis. Well, I did get the chance to see him play. My reaction? It's tough being the younger brother of the NBA Rookie of the Year, when it comes to comparisons.

It's not only tough, but it's pretty unfair. The younger Gasol doesn't share any physical characteristics of his more talented siblings. He's out-of-shape (over 300-pounds, easy), out-of-sync and doesn't get a whole lot done on the court. But, he is just a 10th grader, so let's cut him some slack. But this is one example where the apple did fall pretty far from the orchard.

David Burgess, sophomore, 6-10 (Woodbridge H.S./Irvine, Calif.): Another sibling connection, David is the younger brother of Chris Burgess, the McDonald's All-American, who attended Duke and Utah, respectively. And like the Gasol situation, there is a big difference between the siblings. David Burgess doesn't possess any of the athletic explosiveness that his older brother was known for in high school. Burgess can move on the floor, but at times, appears robotic in his movements (keep in mind that he's still developing).

The good thing about Burgess is that he's got good size for a post-player his age and David Burgess knows he's a post player. He keeps his sizable butt on the block, not wandering out to the perimeter for bad 3-point shots nor does he leak out early when a shot goes up (when he should be rebounding). Unlike his older brother, Burgess seems to have been better schooled in post moves and he was effective scoring on the block when he did get the ball.

On The Recruiting Trail