Pangos All-American Camp gathered once again this year, this time with 105 of the top players in the country coming together in Las Vegas, Nevada, from June 6-8. With practice time, four games played by a majority of the players, plus Top-30 and Top-60 Cream of the Crop games, it was a great chance to see high-level competition. We asked five members of the Pro Insight team who were in attendance a series of questions to shed light on some of the standouts from the camp. Below, we’ve transcribed a discussion between Andrew Slater (based out of New York), Ani Umana (Texas), Conrad Chow (Nevada), Tyler Glazier (Utah) and Michael Visenberg (Oregon), who were all on-hand at Tarkanian Basketball Academy.
In the latest edition of 'P.I. Pulse,' the Pro Insight team takes turns discussing various topics surrounding the 2021 Pangos All-American Camp:
Q: Pangos All-American Camp is a pretty special, long-standing showcase event. After experiencing the latest rendition first-hand in Las Vegas, what would you say makes it so unique?
Andrew Slater: It is both the ability to attract consistently the depth of talent and across all sneaker platforms by Dinos Trigonis that sets the Pangos All-American camp apart. He manages to navigate the fine line of structure and competitive play without the suffocating pressure of some events.
Ani Umana: For sure it was the NBA scouts being present. Nearly all 30 teams were represented at the camp. Very uncommon for high school players to have that kind of an opportunity in a camp setting.
Conrad Chow: The Pangos All-American Camp is in its 19th rendition and it never fails to attract top current high school prospects as well as future NBA potential athletes. What makes this event so special is the high profile guest coaches that Dinos Trigonis has brought to the camp each time. This year’s skills instructor was NBA vet and former Phoenix Suns head coach Earl Watson. Besides coaching, the 2021 event was undoubtedly unique as the top 30 players in the “Cream of the Crop” game each got limited edition NFTs from BallerTV, a timely move as legislation moves forward for athletes to benefit from their name, image and likeness (NIL).
Tyler Glazier: The talent. As mentioned by Conrad, Dinos has always done an excellent job getting talent in the building. The access for media is always fantastic, as well. It’s great to be able to connect with prospects, parents, coaches, scouts, etc. in such an open setting. There was a constant buzz of excitement in the gym throughout camp.
Michael Visenberg: This camp features 100 top players from across the country, plus offers an up-close look at some American-based international prospects, which is what makes this event particularly unique when comparing it to a USA Basketball minicamp, for example. It reaches across shoe circuits, which is always cool, and it had extra incentive in terms of the presence of NBA scouts. As Conrad mentioned, BallerTV even gave every Cream of the Crop Top-30 game honoree their own NFT. Great attention to detail with big time talent and intense competition is what makes Pangos so prestigious.
Q: Who was the most impressive prospect at camp not currently ranked in the top-50, or so, nationally?
AS: Of the non-top-50 ranked prospects, Anthony Black was most impressive, due to feel, size, relative improvement in skill, and upside.
AU: Yohan Traore, in my opinion. He’s a 6’10 forward that has exploded onto the scene this spring. He’s agile, he can face-up and score and he holds a massive amount of upside. He accumulated 14 points and 4 rebounds in the Top-30 Cream of the Crop game.
CC: Alex Karaban. He is a skilled wing who simply cannot be left open. With a higher premium placed on floor-spacers at the next level, the 6’7 Karaban demonstrated versatility as both a knockdown three-point shooter and a strong straight-line driver. He had the only 30-point-plus outing (31 points) the entire camp. Karaban made 14-26 threes at the camp and is positioned to climb into the top-50 or so, nationally.
MV: There were many and my ultimate feeling is that not having the spring and summer of 2020 for the players in the class of 2022 will lead to some radical rankings shifts in the coming months. Anthony Black will likely end up as a five-star, and another Texas product who was very impressive was Jordan Walsh. He led the camp in steals per game, could stretch from the outside and was constantly looking up the floor as a transition passer, ball handler. His team lost every game, though he was one of the standouts in the Top-30 game, finishing with some really athletic plays to end the camp with a bang, plus a W.
TG: Milos Uzan was consistently productive throughout the event as a lead guard. His high BBIQ was on full display as he was able to facilitate and run an efficient offense in more of a “get mine” type of setting. I’d been able to evaluate him in the past, but never in this type of setting. Was easily one of my favorite players at the camp.
Q: Who were you hoping to see at camp (prior to the rosters being released) that didn’t end up in Vegas last weekend and why?
AS: Of the initially listed group, I was hoping to see the Thompson twins compete, but it would’ve been surprising, given their Overtime deal. Of the second listed group, I would’ve been interested in seeing Skyy Clark compete against quality talent. As to why, I believe the official answer was that he “missed his flight.”
AU: Shaedon Sharpe. A few months back, I went down to Arizona and watched Dream City Christian hold a workout, but Shaedon’s participation was limited due to recovery from an injury. So I thought this would be my chance to see him live and 100%, but that didn’t occur. I liked what I saw in limited action and I know he has reached five-star status, since. It was a bummer he wasn’t in attendance.
CC: For me, this would be Elijah Fisher — one of the top players in the class of 2023. Fisher has been suiting up for Grassroots Elite Canada during the AAU season along with fellow top prospects Romad Dean and Zaiden Cross. Fisher and Crestwood Prep (Canada) matched up against Robert Dillingham and Combine Academy (NC) earlier this year. However, a camp setting would definitely have helped scouts get a better sense of his physical and on-court development to date.
TG: Tough not to say one of the top players in the 2022 class in Emoni Bates. Being based out west, it’s been a bit more difficult to evaluate him in-person during COVID-19 and I was hoping to get an updated look at his development. He was surely a special talent when I last saw him live at the USA Junior National Team minicamp in 2019, but his game and body have grown since then. It would’ve been beneficial to scout him in this type of setting.
MV: Even a camp like Pangos cannot get everyone, and beyond Jalen Duren, Keyonte George and Adem Bona, a lot of the consensus top of the class of 2022 unfortunately did not make it to the camp. One player I would have loved to have seen was Dariq Whitehead, who would have been a very welcome presence as a very bouncy athlete who could play both sides of the floor. Would have been great to see how his ball skills, playmaking ability and defense stood out among the other wings in attendance. Among the 2023 prospects, really was hoping for Dajuan Wagner, Jr. and Marquis “Mookie” Cook. Wagner, Jr. would have been a possibility to lead the camp in scoring and Mookie was invited but was still playing his high school season. Cook is another wing who can play both sides of the ball, has fantastic physical tools and it would have been great to see how he played against other top players in attendance.
Q: Who were some pleasant surprises for you throughout camp?
AS: I’m not sure if surprised was the word, but Ernest Udeh was fairly consistent and clearly worked on improving his skill-level over the pandemic. He felt significantly underrated at 181st in the rankings.
AU: Definitely Chisom Okpara. First time seeing or even hearing about him and came away impressed with versatility on the wing. Good feel as a passer, reliable as a shooter off the catch and has a strong, functional frame.
CC: It’s not easy going 15-15 from the charity stripe, but 7’1 Vincent Iwuchukwu did just that in addition to leading the camp in scoring at 21.8 points per game. It was a pleasant surprise to see Iwuchukwu made strides with his jump shot, even knocking down a couple of threes over the course of the weekend. He moves with tremendously long strides after his gather move when driving to the hoop as well as utilizing a strong lower body to get where he needs to go on the court.
TG: Quite a few guys made an impression in different ways, so I’ll name a few:
Rayvon Griffith, the 2023 combo guard out of Taft (OH) popped on a number of occasions. He’s a hyper-quick prospect who primarily played the lead guard role at 6’4”. He did a good job breaking down defenses, making quick decisions as a playmaker, defending, and scoring in the paint. Flashed some shades of Gonzaga commit Hunter Sallis.
Collin Chandler, 2022 guard of Farmington (UT) was another prospect who opened quite a few eyes at the event. After adjusting to the competition the first day, he came out gunning on days two and three. The quick and bouncy guard was able to generate space and get buckets against some of the top competition in the country. I’d seen it in-person before, but to do it in this setting was all the more impressive — I thought he further solidified his stock at the camp.
While Oziyah Sellers only participated in two days of the event, he didn’t hesitate in making his presence felt. He shot a blistering 66.7% from 3 on 12-18 attempts and was the second-leading scorer at the event at 18.7 pts/game. Aside from being a confident shooter, Sellers is also able to move without the ball, generate space off the bounce, and finish above the rim. Name to track closely at Southern California Academy/Team Arsenal (CA).
Lastly, Pop Isaacs had himself a very productive camp. Captaining one of the best squads at the event, Isaacs struck a nice balance between facilitating and scoring. He didn’t force the issue and was efficient when he decided to look for his shot. The talented guard from Vegas played in more of an off-ball role next to Gonzaga commit Nolan Hickman this past season at Wasatch Academy (UT), but looks ready to be more of a lead guard at Prolific Prep (CA) where he recently announced he’ll be transferring. His game and development have been on an upward trajectory over the past few seasons and it was good to see him rise to the occasion at a loaded event.
MV: It was a really nice camp for a couple of wings in Ven-Allen Lubin and Jaylen Thompson. Both were in the Top-60 game, and both were big factors for their team. Lubin is quite strong and was very efficient, showing some ability to finish inside and get to the line. Thompson has great physical tools as he is around 6’8 with ability to get his own shot. He took and made a high volume of three-pointers, with a strong pull-up game that should take him quite far. They both will be at high majors, more proof of how loaded this camp truly was.
Q: Who would you say boosted their stock as much or more than anyone in attendance?
AS: I would say the two that boosted their “stock” the most were Dereck Lively and Anthony Black. For better or worse, neither were ranked particularly highly, from an NBA perspective. Lively’s upside as a stretch big combined with length and plus-athleticism fits the modern game much more than many of the “prehistoric” bigs that tend to dominate college and high school basketball. Black, as a 6’7” secondary playmaker with an improving perimeter shot, is a projectable player.
AU: This is a tough one but for me, it was between Chris Bunch and Isaiah Miranda. Bunch shot it well from deep with extended range and holds a maturing physical profile. Speaking of physical tools, Miranda possesses the tools to be able to play basketball for a long time, but has only started playing the game in the past few years. In an environment like Pangos All-American Camp, competing against a high-major big in every matchup, he more than held his own and showcased a promising inside/out offensive game.
CC: While many players boosted their stock, Jordan Walsh was a unique standout by unveiling a diverse package of positional rebounding, playmaking, and shot creation ability, in addition to his insane vertical athleticism. The 6’7 wing plays with a nice bounce to his step on offense. Defensively, Walsh has active hands in the passing lanes and leverages his plus-wingspan well. He recently transferred to Southern California Academy (CA) and will join Oziyah Sellers, Jaylen Thompson, and Varick Lewis, among others.
TG: Taylor Bol Bowen was the prospect the gym was talking about the most outside of Jalen Duren and Keyonte George. He was incredibly productive at the event and flashed his scoring diversity, versatility, IQ, efficiency, and plenty of upside throughout the week. At 6’8” with a 7’0” wingspan, the 2023 wing put his name on the map in front of numerous NBA evaluators as a legit prospect to keep track of in the coming seasons.
MV: Even with both of them being highly-ranked prospects, Vincent Iwuchukwu and Taylor Bol Bowen should both see a boost in ranking. Iwuchukwu was in legitimate conversation as the camp MVP, as he led Pangos in scoring, was second in rebounding and was among the best rim protectors. He was confident out to three point range and showed some ball skills as well. Bol Bowen started the camp off a little slowly, then finished with an absolute sizzle. He combined above the rim athleticism with shooting touch, handling and ability to make decisions on the move. Throw in his lateral quickness as a perimeter defender, he should be making an additional climb upwards.
Q: What were some takeaways after watching the 2024-2025 prospects in attendance?
AS: It’s physically challenging to play up, in some cases, three years, at that stage of life. Class of 2024 guard Elliot Cadeau was impressive, in terms of his relative poise, but he’s also significantly older for his respective class. The 2025 player, Koa Peat, was the most impressive and productive of the youngest group. The other one who stood out was Boateng from Arkansas. He held his own, on a relative scale, physically.
AU: All five held their own at the camp. Elliot Cadeau showed poise on the ball and an ability to change speeds at a high level. K. Annor Boateng has the body to compete right away with guys 2-3 years older than him. Koa Peat can be as good as he wants to be. He had a 20-point game off 90% shooting, this week, as the youngest guy in camp. Nothing else needs to be said there. Isaiah Elohim showed shiftiness off the bounce and the ability to create separation and score. Tayshawn Bridges, who I got to see in Houston a few weeks ago, is a stocky guard that gets to his spots and is capable of making plays for himself and others.
CC: Class of 2025 Koa Peat was the youngest prospect, but already has quite a developed physical profile and athleticism at his age. Amongst the Top-60 “Cream of the Crop” selections, a case could be made that Peat was more than deserving of a spot. He showcased his scoring potential with smooth shooting mechanics, dropping double-figures in two games highlighted by a 20-point (9-10 shooting) performance. Besides Peat, 6’5 K. Annor Boateng also stood out as he matched up well defensively against opposing guards and wings.
TG: The lone 2025 prospect Koa Peat more than held his own playing against top competition a few years older than him at the event. Although more of a playmaking power forward when playing against his age group, it was educational to see Peat operate more on the wing during the week. He was much more poised operating with the ball, running pick-and-roll, and pulling up off the bounce than anticipated. He wasn’t rattled or phased at all and showed why he’s one of the top eighth-graders for a reason.
MV: The physical talent and advanced basketball IQ of the youngest players at Pangos were very impressive. Of course, Koa Peat, at a sculpted 6’7 inching towards 6’8, was one of the talks of the camp with his day two, 20-point performance on 9-10 from the field. He can work inside and out, with confidence as a ball handler as well. K. Annor Boateng is very strong, has a lot of defensive potential and showed a lot of promise as a playmaker. Both of the 2024 point guards, Elliot Cadeau and Styles Phipps, were very competent running a team and each could get to the paint at a solid rate.
Q: Which prospect isn’t currently getting enough attention and deserves more?
AS: Jaxon Kohler mentioned that his recruiting had been very quiet, outside of hearing from St. Mary’s and, to a degree, Cal. He merits more than a near moribund recruitment, but I expect it to pick up in the remainder of June and July.
AU: I would say Jordan Walsh. He’s a 6’7 forward with outlier length and athleticism and a growing perimeter game. I thought he started slow at camp, but really picked it up the next two days. He’s currently rated as a four-star prospect and is a priority for high majors, but I don’t think he’s getting enough attention for how much better he’s gotten and for what all he brings to the table.
CC: Ven-Allen Lubin had a fantastic weekend and showed he not only belonged, but also excelled in scoring the ball consistently throughout the camp. He averaged 14.8 points and 5.0 rebounds on a highly efficient .667/.571/.917 shooting splits in four games. Currently ranked outside of the top-140 in the 247Sports Composite rankings, Lubin is deserving of more attention and should be a stock-riser as he continues to impress playing for Southeast Elite (FL).
TG: Once again, tough not to highlight a few guys who deserve more attention than what they’re currently getting. The first of which is Prince Aligbe of Minnehaha Academy and Team Sizzle. The 2022 forward has been playing alongside teammates Chet Holmgren (Gonzaga commit) and Jalen Suggs (2021 NBA draft prospect) throughout his high school career and is poised to be the top dog next season. The work he’s been putting into his shooting, ball-handling, facilitating, and overall versatility showed throughout the event. Already equipped with pro-level physical and athletic tools, Prince is a guy who needs more attention.
Continuing the trend of talented forwards, Dillon Mitchell of Bishop McLaughlin Catholic (FL) and E1T1 (FL) was one of the more intriguing prospects at the event. Currently ranked outside of the top-100 in the 2022 class (via 247Sports), Mitchell has been generating steam with his recruitment due to his elite blend of size, athleticism, and upside. While the camp was loaded with top-level prospects, it was tough to take my eyes off Mitchell whenever he was on the court. Not many forwards have his natural talent, IQ, and defensive motor. I doubt he’s ranked that low for much longer.
Another Southern California Academy prospect to keep an eye on is Jaylen Thompson. The 6’8” forward is a do-it-all prospect who continues to add to his game at each event. His consistency, no nonsense approach, self-awareness, efficiency, and fundamental play all stand-out when evaluating him. Thompson has also made significant strides in his physical and athletic development the past year. While he’s currently ranked in the top-50 of the 2022 class, Thompson remains a sleeper who deserves more buzz than he’s receiving.
MV: Varick Lewis only has one high-major offer and that has to change. The 2023 guard was an adept playmaker, could hit outside shots and also play off of the ball. He’s really strong and an impactful on-ball defender. He had to be among the last few players left off of the Top-30 game roster and has the look of a high-major rotation player down the line.
Q: What was the single-most impressive play or performance you witnessed throughout the entirety of the 2021 Pangos All-American Camp?
AS: I thought Jalen Duren’s first game was as impressive as I’ve seen him play in 25+ games. He’s never made two three-pointers in a game, but to do it while under the scrutiny of nearly every NBA team, was both amazing and amusing. Effort had been an issue for the first two years of high school, but Montverde encouraged him to try harder and/or more consistently. They also encouraged him to become a more willing and able passer, which he’s improved on. Overall, he played as complete a single game as any I’ve seen him play. Credit to him.
AU: Definitely would say the finish Collin Chandler had vs. Vincent Iwuchukwu. Chandler cuffs the ball in mid-air to navigate and finish over a footer with a 7’4 wingspan.
CC: Can’t disagree with Ani, there. The single-most impressive play I witnessed was Collin Chandler’s acrobatic finish through the 7’1 big man Vincent Iwuchukwu. Iwuchukwu rotates over to contest the layup at the rim, but Chandler does a phenomenal job of protecting the ball and utilizing strong body control as he takes flight.
TG: The play that stands out to me was a relatively “unsexy” move according to highlight-worthy metrics, but it had me swooning. It came from Jalen Duren. On this occasion, he was operating in the mid-post, roughly 10 feet from the basket. He caught the ball, gave a jab, turned/faded on his backfoot, and swished the jumper. Although more of a textbook move, it was one that got me even more excited about his potential outcome.
MV: Will give a couple plays that really stood out among two of the top big men. First play was a fantastic one-handed put back slam by Jalen Duren when Duke played Notre Dame the first night. The timing, bounce and power gave an absolute glimpse into what makes Duren such a special prospect. The other play was in a different game with Duren, only this time the play was by Adem Bona. Duren faced him up and bided his time with some jabs, then took a shot. Bona did not bite on any of the fakes and made the athletic, difficult, block. Bona being relatively new to the game and having that level of patience and instinct were a great sign.
If you missed our #PangosAACamp event recap, check it out here.
