Pro Insight was on hand to cover Coach Wootten's Top-150 Basketball Camp during an action-packed weekend of hoops. Players went through drills, received coaching, and ran one-on-one, three-on-three, as well as full five-on-five games. There was a copious amount of talent in attendance, but these were the players that caught our eye the most over the course of the weekend.
In the latest edition of ‘P.I. Pulse’, Pro Insight’s Jeremy Berman and Alex Brown highlight a group of standouts from Coach Wootten's Top-150 Basketball Camp in Mansfield, Texas:
Class of 2022
Jordan Walsh
Wing | 6’7, 195 | Link Year Prep (MO) | Undecided
Five-star wing Jordan Walsh was nothing short of dominant for the majority of the event. He got initiator reps, communicated constantly, played with confidence, forced scorers into incredibly difficult shots on defense, played excellent team D, showcased an improving three-point shot, and was the strongest finisher of all the wings in attendance. By getting to his spots on offense and owning his space on both ends, he showed that he could embody the versatile two-way wing spot that the modern game covets. Along with being an incredible team player and vocal presence, he also was the most dominant one-on-one player in the building, winning the one-on-one tournament. He could potentially benefit from tightening his handle and being a little less ambitious with his playmaking, but he continues to grow in those two areas.
Anthony Black
Guard | 6’7, 180 | Duncanville HS (TX) | Undecided
Anthony Black showed everyone at Wootten Camp exactly why he should be a top-10 player in the 2022 class. Black has multiple elite tools and the motor to be special. He is a high-level playmaker in transition that is always playing with his head up, and locks down opposing guards with his intensity, size, vertical contests, and lateral mobility. Black was especially impressive as a vertical athlete, as he rose up with ease off one or two feet and put on a dunk fest both in the halfcourt and in transition.
JJ Starling
Guard | 6’4, 180 | La Lumiere (IN) | Undecided
Starling is the consummate lead guard. He’s as solid as it gets. For starters, Starling displayed high-level leadership skills throughout camp, encouraging his teammates and generally expressing a great attitude. Secondly, even in a hyper-individualized camp setting, he picked his spots and was extremely unselfish, drawing multiple defenders and finding his man whether on a drop-off, lob, or kickout. He showed pull-up jump shooting equity from multiple levels. While he possesses decent wiggle with the ball, he relies on a good handle, wide shoulders and his solid frame to create separation from defenders.
Tyrell Ward
Wing | 6’6, 170 | DeMatha Catholic (MD) | Xavier commit
Xavier commit and four-star Tyrell Ward is one of the most dynamic athletes in the country. An absolute blur with the ball, Ward has great full-court speed to go along with explosive hops. He goes hard at all times and uses his length well. In the halfcourt, he knifes through the paint and can find open teammates at the last second. While he has some outside shooting ability, consistency from the perimeter will be very important in his development.
Lee Dort
Big | 6’10, 238 | Greenville School (TX) | Vanderbilt commit
Vanderbilt commit Lee Dort’s chemistry with guard Seth Hubbard clicked right away, with Hubbard and Dort running a lethal two-man pick-and-roll game that led to a myriad of dunks for Dort. Lee showed the potential to be a strong play finisher, roll man, and interior presence on the glass. He dunked everything he could and consistently generated an advantage as the screener. His future really depends on how good of a rim protector he can be as an anchor 5, but he certainly looked the part as a play finisher.
Honorable Mentions: Felix Okpara, Aidan Shaw, Adante Holiman, Seth Hubbard, Cameron Corhen
Class of 2023
Sean Stewart
Forward | 6’8, 190 | Windermere Prep (FL) | Undecided
The first thing we noticed about four-star Sean Stewart was how he plays with a high motor despite his more reserved demeanor at the event. He was engaged and assertive in his role and showed that he can shoot the spot up 3, hit the mid-range shot, as well as play down low. He can play above the rim with ease and showed a motor via attacking the glass. He played some pretty serviceable defense as well, and likely fills that modern 4 mold as he fills out and adds to his skillset.
Austin Ball
Wing | 6’7, 188 | Miller School (VA) | Undecided
Another pleasant surprise of the weekend was Austin Ball, a 6’7 wing with a sweet shooting stroke and some sneaky athleticism. When Ball got going, he looked like the best player on the floor due to the perimeter gravity he was generating and capitalizing off of. He shoots an easy ball with deep range off the catch and has the shooting versatility needed to run off screens and shoot off movement. While he is still improving on the defensive end, there is always a place for wings with size who can shoot it with volume and operate off their own gravity, and Ball is that guy.
Trent Pierce
Wing | 6’9, 185 | Union HS (OK) | Undecided
Pierce came into Wootten Camp a bit under the radar, but there is a lot to like about what he offers on the court. The most appealing part of his game is his three-point shooting, as he has gotten much more confident in his stroke (especially corner shots) and was assertive in hunting perimeter looks. He plays defense as well, and while he may not be a lockdown defender, he stays engaged and has the mobility to defend smaller players along with the length to deter some rim attempts. While he doesn’t excel as a playmaker or handler, he had to play some point forward due to team injuries, and showed that he is serviceable and unselfish. Although he struggled to handle the ball and create when faced with aggressive defense, Pierce showed that he was adaptable and willing to take on different roles to help the team. The next steps for Pierce will be to add strength to his frame, tighten his handle with some more deliberate dribble moves, and talk more on both ends.
Darius Carr
Guard | 6’3, 190 | Cathedral HS (CA) | Undecided
Sharing a backcourt with Texas commit Arterio Morris, Darius Carr did phenomenal work balancing on-ball and off-ball responsibilities. He’s got a good handle and flashed the ability to utilize his first-step burst to get by defenders. We were impressed with his ability to draw two defenders and find the open man with the ball. He also showed a willingness to space the floor for Morris, and converted on multiple perimeter jumpers, displaying some consistency with a compact release from behind the arc. While a very good athlete, Carr can continue to work on improving his finishing package and adding functional muscle to his solid frame.
K.J Lewis
Guard | 6’3, 190 | Chapin HS (TX) | Undecided
K.J Lewis had some dominant stretches where he was blowing up plays on defense, hitting difficult perimeter looks, and getting to any spot he wanted in the halfcourt. He is an excellent athlete with a very solid frame that can shoot it, drive it, and defend with an edge. When he had his confidence going at max, he was a very tough guard to stop. If he can make some more strides as a playmaker and keep his energy high throughout, he has a very bright future.
Honorable Mentions: Layden Blocker, Brady Dunlap, Nazar Mahmoud, R.J. Jones
Class of 2024
Sasha “Dink” Pate
Guard | 6’7, 180 | Prolific Prep (CA) | Undecided
Dink Pate impressed at Wootten Camp with a mindset and game beyond his years. At 6’7” or so with great length, Pate showed off a variety of skill to go with impressive athleticism. Despite still being six months away from turning 16, he plays a very mature floor game and changes pace effectively to keep the defense off balance. He can explode up at the rim in a hurry, and showed an unselfishness to find teammates on time and on target. A differentiator for him in this class will be his jump shot. He’s got a quick, compact release with great touch. He showed off ability to hit from deep range throughout the weekend. Thriving amongst much older campers, Pate showed that he has loads of potential.
Liam McNeeley
Wing | 6’7, 185 | John Paul II HS (TX) | Undecided
A little over a month removed from winning a gold medal with the Team USA U16s in Mexico, McNeeley showed why he was selected for that roster. Still a week away from turning 16, McNeeley fit right in with guys who are seniors in high school. McNeeley continues to grow and improve his athleticism. We attended a private workout a year ago today, and McNeeley was barely rim-grazing. Now, he is throwing down 360s with ease. He is also a smart and skilled wing who can shoot, pass and dribble and gives great effort at all times. A known hard worker, we expect McNeeley to continue to ascend.
K. Annor Boateng
Wing | 6’5, 205 | Little Rock Central HS (AR) | Undecided
The first thing you notice when seeing Boateng play is his clear and obvious strength and athleticism. He’s built quite differently from most kids his age, and he uses it to the fullest on the basketball court. He also utilizes a solid handle on straight line drives to get a step, create separation with his shoulders and explode to the rim. In the one-on-one portion of camp, Boateng flashed the ability to hit tough step back jumpers and shoot from range. As he continues to tighten up and improve the jump shot, he’ll unlock more of his potential. Off the court, he is mentally mature beyond his years, showing a growth mentality, realist approach, and an emphasis on learning and his education.
Marcus Allen
Forward | 6’6, 200 | Miami Norland HS (FL) | Undecided
Coming in at #18 on the ESPN 25, Marcus Allen showed his value at Wootten Camp by filling a role and playing very tough defense for a heralded wing prospect his age. He has the length to make plays at the rim on both ends, a developing jumper, and a great frame to grow into. Marcus did not try to do too much on the court or play outside of himself, but he clearly has a great foundational skillset to build upon. Off the court, he came across as a polite kid with a good head on his shoulders as well, and will be a name to pay close attention to as he continues to develop.
John Bol
Big | 7’2, 200 | Christian Brothers College HS (MO) | Undecided
John Bol was one of the most interesting prospects to attend Wootten Camp, as he is pushing 7’2 with high major interest and a clear joy in the way he plays the game that was hard for anyone to match. He is always smiling on the court and he looks like he is having the time of his life, and that energy was infectious during the event (especially when he had a streak going in the one-on-one tournament). He can stretch the floor a bit, contest shots with his outlier length, and has flashed some surprisingly decent touch. While there is a lot of physical and mental maturing to do, his tools are undeniable and he is sure to gain fans quickly.
Honorable Mentions: Delamortay Jones, Tyler “Tybo” Bailey
Special thanks to the coaches, players, parents, event organizers, and event staff for making this event a terrific success.
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