The prestigious Pangos All-American Camp, an invite-only event featuring the top high school prospects in the nation, returned this summer after it was cancelled due to the pandemic last year. Pro Insight was on hand to evaluate the event and caught up with Keyonte George of iSchool of Lewisville (TX) and Southern Assault (TX). George was selected to the Top-30 Cream of the Crop Game and averaged 10.5 points and 3.8 assists while showcasing his shot creation, three-level scoring, and facilitating throughout camp.
As part of the Pro Insight Q&A series, George talked about his background, his off-court interests, his recruitment update, and more.
For the next installment of the Pro Insight Q&A series, we present 2022 prospect Keyonte George, from Lewisville, Texas:
Pro Insight: What are your impressions of the event?
Keyonte George: First impression, there’s a lot of high-level guys. Great camp, Dinos [Trigonis] did a good job inviting high-level guys. It’s a great camp and it’s just fun to come out here and compete with the highest level of guys across the country.
PI: How do you feel you’ve performed so far?
KG: I feel like I’ve been pretty good, showing that I can share the ball, play the game the right way, get my teammates involved, get to my spots, and be an efficient scorer.
PI: Any guys you’ve had fun playing with or against?
KG: Right now I’ve got my boy Anthony Black on my team, so it’s fun playing with him. He’s a downhill guy, he can shoot it, he’s a good passer. I like to call him a 6’6” PG, but he can play any position and he can guard. So it’s been fun playing with him. Just going out there and playing against guys that I’ve played against at many other camps throughout the year so it’s fun.
PI: Talk about your background.
KG: I’m from Lewisville, Texas, and I was born in 2003. I’ve got my pops with me. I’m with my mom and it’s just me and my mom. But my pop is alright, I’ve got a little step brother and step sister. They are little and it’s just good to have them around sometimes and hang out with them. Most of the time I’m just at home with my mom, kickin it. I take care of her and she takes care of me. She gets me to the camps and stuff like that so all I gotta do is pay her back for it.
PI: Any other athletes in the family?
KG: My granddad, he played football, but he passed away. Everybody in my family are mostly athletes, they’ll play any type of sport. It’s a diversity of everything.
PI: Did you play any other sports growing up?
KG: I played football. That’s pretty much it, though.
PI: Which position?
KG: Wide-receiver.
PI: When did you stop playing football?
KG: In 7th grade when I realized basketball was my passion so I started taking it seriously.
PI: Describe your game — what are your strengths?
KG: That I can shoot the ball. I think I can shoot the ball really well. I can pick my spots, I’m a three-level scorer. I can get my teammates involved, rebound the ball. I’m working on the defensive end, able to guard multiple positions so I can play multiple positions. That’s pretty much it.
PI: What are some underrated aspects of your game?
KG: I feel like I’m starting to get better at the defensive end. Many people said I couldn’t guard, but now I’m starting to lock in. Now not only can I score on you, but I can get a stop...multiple stops at that. I’m really trying to show people that I can really guard.
PI: Any players you model your game after?
KG: Everybody says Russell Westbrook, so I try to use that, his downhill game. A little Brad Beal how he gets to his spots and how he shoots the ball from the 3 or mid-range. That’s two guys I really watch a lot.
PI: What’s the update with your recruitment?
KG: Just finished my official to Texas, I take my official to Baylor next week, and hopefully get to Oklahoma State soon. Then I’ll get to Kentucky at the end of the month. So just take those visits, soak everything in, listen to the coaches, and then make a decision before school starts.
PI: What are you looking for in a school of choice?
KG: I’m not really just looking at the basketball part, but at the same time I’m still keeping in consideration the way they play. My style of play. At the same time I’m just looking at the culture they have, the coaching staff and how they bond. I’m looking at having a great relationship with the head coach and to see how he cares about his players off the court. That’s what I’m looking for the most.
PI: How do you see your role at the next level?
KG: Right now in college I see myself being a scorer for a team. Being able to lead a team, win some games, and make it to the highest level. My goal and my dream is to make it to the NBA, so just go in there and still be me. There’s a lot of veterans there, so just soak in everything in the NBA. Be a guy who can make shots, like a Tyrese Maxey type of guy. Playing the PnR and being a three-level scorer like I am.
PI: How has your game developed over the past year?
KG: I feel like I got real stronger, I’ve been able to read my spots better, be a better passer, being more efficient with my passes…passing to assist. Always learning my guys, being a vocal leader, leading my example, so just being an all-around player.
PI: Do you feel an internal or external pressure to perform being such a highly-ranked prospect?
KG: No I don’t really feel any pressure. I go out there and have fun because it’s the game I love. So I feel like if you love the game then you don’t need to have pressure on your back. Everybody has bad games, so go out there and have fun. Just hoop and play freely. Going to tournaments and taking pictures with different kids, I just take it all in because at first I wasn’t known. I don’t want to tell no to anybody for a picture, I just want to be a great role model off the court. I want kids to look up to me just how I look up to people in the NBA. So that’s really my main goal.
PI: What are your interests off the court?
KG: I hang out with Anthony Black, that’s my best friend. We always hang out...at his house or my house. That’s all I do, really. I’m just chill and laid back…stay out the way. At the end of the day I’ve still got an end goal, and that’s all I do.
PI: How would you rate yourself on 2K?
KG: I’d probably give myself like an 81 [smiles]. Give myself some improvement.
PI: If you were to wake up with a fortune in your bank account — what would be your first purchase?
KG: Get my mom a house. I’d [also] probably get myself a nice car. Probably like a G-Wagon, that’s my favorite car. So I’d get something like that.
PI: At the end of the day what do you hope to be remembered for?
KG: I want to be remembered as a good guy, a great role model. Somebody who takes pride in everything he does. That’s really it, be a great role model and be remembered as one of the greats if I can play well in the league and get there. That’s pretty much it.