FASTBREAK RECRUITING

Fastbreak Recruiting provides exclusive interviews, highlight footage and an extensive database of the top prep players in the country as well as hosting the official sites of the National Basketball Players Association Camp, the adidas ABCD Camp, and the adidas Big Time Tournament. Sports America, Inc., produces FastBreak and is the founder of the McDonald's All American Game and the Reebok Capital Classic.

Miles can break a defender down at the point with his crossover move and remarkable first step with the same ease as he can rain 3-pointers from the wing. He can elevate through traffic and tomahawk dunk from the small forward position, or can back down a defender down at the four or five and score in the post with his quickness and guile. Simply put, Miles can play all five positions on the basketball court, which has college and pro scouts waiting for the day next spring when he announces for a year of college or a direct jump to the NBA.

An East St. Louis, Ill., native, Miles is FastBreak's No. 1 wing forward prospect and No. 2 overall prospect, behind 6-9 power forward Eddie Griffin. If a college program does get a shot at him, Miles could give Illinois, Saint Louis, DePaul or UCLA, among others, a look.

Our No. 2 wing forward is Gerald Wallace of tiny Childersburg, Ala., one prepster who made a quantum leap this summer, moving his small-town game to a national stage in May at the Tournament of Champions in North Carolina. He is FastBreak's No. 6 overall prospect, and along with AAU teammate Mario Austin gave Alabama a huge start in the race for the nation's No. 1 class with dual commitments last month. Wallace is a jumping jack with an above-the-rim game -- he could be the most explosive leaper in the class. Wallace was ranked as the No. 10 player at the adidas ABCD Camp in July, averaging 16.7 points per game.

FastBreak's No. 3 wing forward is Iowa City native Glenn Worley (6-7), who gave Iowa coach Steve Alford a commitment early in the summer. Worley is a top shooter, defender and all-out hustler who would have gotten major looks from the likes of Duke and other national powers had he kept his recruitment open until the fall.

Mississippi standout Justin Reed of powerhouse Provine High School is FastBreak's No. 4 prospect. Reed is an explosive scorer from anywhere on the court and is skilled at all facets of the game. At the NBA Players' Association Camp in June, Reed was the No. 3-rated camper, behind only Miles and super-junior Rashard Carruth.

FastBreak's choice at No. 5 is one of the summer's fast-risers, Washington, D.C. native Bernard Robinson. The smooth 6-5½ swingman has been rumored to have given a verbal to New Mexico, joining AAU teammate Cliff Hawkins who has already committed, and indeed will host coach Fran Fraschilla's staff Sept. 9 for his first in-home visit. Robinson might also visit Michigan, Georgetown, Temple and a few others. He will attend either Winchendon (Mass.) Academy or New Hampton (N.H.) Prep this fall, after starring at D.C. Dunbar last year. Robinson has a NBA frame and game, and loves to run. He was named all-tournament at the adidas Big-Time Tournament in Las Vegas last month.

At No. 6, Luke Whitehead (6-5) of San Francisco will spend his senior year at Oak Hill (Va.) Academy, where he arrives for classes Aug. 31. Whitehead can bury the 3-pointer as well as handle and create. Several schools are calling, including Louisville, New Mexico, Stanford and Cal.

FastBreak's No. 7 wing forward is Marcus Toney-El (6-5), the West Orange, N.J. native who got the ball rolling on Seton Hall's bang-up class in early July. Toney-El was the first commitment, making it official on the first day of ABCD Camp in New Jersey. He and Griffin are AAU teammates for the Timmy Thomas Playaz club. Toney-El is an athletic slasher who can score from the wing position or can finish strong inside with his quick hops. Toney-El also made the adidas Big-Time all-tournament team.

At No. 8, much-traveled Caron Butler (6-6) will be back at Maine Central Institute for a second year this fall. Butler, a Wisconsin native, is one of the class of 2000's premier "power swings," with the ability to use his power to score in bunches from either forward position. Butler committed to national champion Connecticut last month. Butler has been compared to Mark Aguirre, and was the eighth-ranked player at the NBA Camp.

FastBreak's No. 9 WF prospect is North Carolina's Marcus Melvin (6-9), who at 210 pounds can play out on the perimeter with his ball skills. Melvin had a quiet summer, opting for summer school to pull up his grades (which he did), but finished with a bang at the Pepsi Challenge in late July in North Carolina. Melvin gave N.C. State a verbal three weeks ago, helping the Wolfpack gain three of the state's top four prospects this fall.

At No. 10, Gerald Riley rounds out our top wing forward prospects for the Class of 2000. Riley, who averaged 28 points as a junior at Baldwin High School in Milledgeville, Ga., committed to Georgetown two weeks ago, choosing the Hoyas over several SEC schools. Riley is a slashing athletic scorer who goes strong to the hole and finishes, as well as a strong defender.

Other top swingmen of note include Scott Hazelton (6-7) of Lawrence (Mass.) Central Catholic, Omar Weaver (6-7) of Centennial High School in Los Angeles, Nick Anderson (6-6) of Baton Rouge (La.) Southern Lab, Michael Bell (6-9) of Raleigh, N.C. Enloe, David Hawkins (6-4 1/2) of Washington, D.C. Carroll, Erroyl Bing (6-5) of Largo, Fla. and Julius Johnson (6-5) of Garfield Heights, Ohio.

Bell, a combo forward, has committed to N.C. State, while Temple and Miami could head Hawkins' list. Hazelton has narrowed his top five to Villanova, Syracuse, UMass, UConn and Providence.

Recruiting tidbits