New Englanders Heading to NBA Camp

New England Recruiting Report | Tuesday, June 14th, 2011

The annual NBA Players Association Camp gets underway on Wednesday at the University of Virginia. 

The camp has become an annual rite of passage for the nation’s top prospects in preparation for the summer evaluation period and has become arguably the most elite national camp in the country in recent years because of its ability to transcend sneaker affiliations. 

This year’s camp boasts one of the top fields ever and of the 100 players heading to Charlottesville eight have New England roots in Kareem Canty, Andre Drummond, Kris Dunn, Kuran Iverson, Ricardo Ledo, Mitch McGary, Georges Niang, and Nerlens Noel.  Kaleb Tarczewski was also invited. 

Canty is a New York native who recently completed his first season in New England at Bridgton Academy.  He made his debut on the ESPNU 100 last month as the 90th ranked prospect and 15th best point guard in the national class of 2012. 

Drummond hasn’t budged from his spot atop the 2012 national rankings in almost two years now.  The six-foot-eleven big man with incredible physical tools and potential has become much more efficient this spring and proved it with a dominating performance at the Pangos All-American Camp two weeks ago which included an individual match-up with the nation’s second ranked prospect Isaiah Austin. 

We predicted that Dunn was likely to see his stock soar after watching him lead New London to a state title but the level of his jump was something no one could have anticipated.  Now, he’s a top 50 prospect in the national class of 2012 and the seventh rated point guard in the ESPNU 100 after big performance at the Real Deal on the Rock and Pangos All-American Camp. 

Iverson is currently the 12th ranked national prospect in the ESPNU Super 60 and the third rated small forward in the class of 2013.  A versatile six-foot-eight playmaker with a world of potential at his finger tips, there is no denying Iverson’s potential and if he shows well at this week’s camp it could go a long way towards solidifying his status as one of the best in 2013. 

Ledo is one of the best pure scorers in the country and someone who is likely to thrive in this week’s camp atmosphere.  A six-foot-six two-guard with virtually every offensive skill in the book and corresponding quickness and athleticism, he ranked lucky thirteen in the latest ESPNU 100 and third overall among shooting guards but undoubtedly has the tools to continue to climb that list. 

If Dunn has been the hottest guard of the spring then McGary has definitely been the hottest big man.  The Brewster Academy product got started early with a dominant performance at the Pittsburgh Jam Fest and has kept it coming every weekend since with an MVP performance at last week's Under Armour Best of the Best coming just two weeks ago.  He's up to #4 on the ESPNU 100 and could still be climbing. 

Niang made the NBAPA camp roster based on his breakout junior season at the Tilton School where he scored handfuls of high-major offers before making an early commitment to Iowa State.  One of the most efficient offensive players you will find in the frontcourt with a skilled inside out game, Niang looks to battle for a top 100 ranking with a solid performance this week. 

Noel is arguably the premier defensive big man in the country and currently the third ranked player in the ESPNU Super 60.  The best center in the national class of 2013, Noel has had a strong spring on the EYBL tour, even blocking twelve shots in a single game at session III.  This week he’ll look to show off his emerging offensive skills in hopes of challenging Julius Randle and Jabari Parker atop the national class.