B.C. Prospect Clinic - Event Recap

Sam Hutchins | Sunday, June 27th, 2010

The Boston College Prospect Camp kicked off on the Chestnut Hill campus on Sunday afternoon, and of the 50 or so elite players invited to attend, few disappointed. After being put through a variety of stretches and drills by members of the Boston College men’s basketball staff, the highly touted high school prospects competed in a series of games.

Arguably the most impressive player throughout the entire day was Shaq Thomas of Alif Muhammad NIA Prep in New Jersey. At 6’6” and 165 pounds, his size and athleticism were unmatched among the other players, and his ability to dominate in the open floor was most apparent on any one of the rim-rocking dunks that he showed off. He was able to knock down open jumpers from fifteen feet and demonstrated good body control when attacking the basket. He was equally impressive on the defensive end, where his leaping ability allowed him to be a major shot-blocking threat.

Local Alex Murphy of St. Mark’s also put his talent on display for new Boston College head coach Steve Donahue and his staff. The 6’8” swingman showed off an array of offensive moves, including a sweet stroke from beyond the arc, and an impressive mid-range game. His athleticism made it difficult for defenders to cover him on the perimeter, and his size made him dangerous in the post as well. Although Murphy was very fundamentally-sound, he did not hesitate to show off his athletic ability in the open floor, where he completed the play of the day by dunking over two defenders on a fast break. Most importantly, his toughness and commitment on both ends of the floor made him stand out among his peers.

There were also a solid group of point guards on hand, and none were more impressive than Bryce Cotton of Palo Verde High School in Arizona. The 6’1” senior was a terrific floor general who attacked the basket and saw the floor extremely well. What made him stand out more than any of the other guards, however, were his quick hands and non-stop motor on defense. He played just as hard on the defensive end, which is a key ingredient in his success as a point guard.

Another player who stood out was local Marlborough native Zach Auguste.  The six-foot-nine forward's upside has been undeniable for the last year but on Sunday he starting to turn potential into production and ended up leaving the Chestnut Hill campus with his first high-major scholarship offer.  Auguste has terrific length and athleticism and the developing skill set to be a very good fit in Donahue's system. 

Others Who Impressed:

Kaleb Tarczewski - The seven-footer from St. Mark’s has serious high-major potential, and showed off his strength in the post finishing at the rim in the first round of games.

Jake Layman - Has a good mid-range game for a young forward, and once he adds a few pounds to his frame he should be dangerous inside.

Marco Banegas - Another solid point guard with a similar style to Cotton; has a quick first step and a very tight handle. He was very effective distributing the ball on the fast break and in the half court.

Georges Niang & Tommy Carpenter - Both long, athletic big men who are strong defenders in the post, and also a threat offensively.