Llewellyn and Vernon MVPs at Hamilton NPH Showcase
Canada’s 2017 and 2018 classes continue to grow in depth, especially at the guard and small forward positions.
The identification of Canadian prospects continued as 100 of them made their way into McMaster’s Burridge Gymnasium this past weekend to attend the Hamilton #NPHShowcase.
Jaelin Llewellyn Steals The Show
Cadet National Team member Jaelin Llewellyn is a 2018 prospect that took advantage of every possession and showed that he was well ahead of the talent pool not only here at camp but in the entire country. J. L was the first prospect in our four years of running showcase events to take the Upperclasmen MVP as an underclassmen.
Although his minutes with the national team did not serve his game justice, he has proven time and time again that he is considered a top 5 player in the 2018 class.
It is rare to see a player that has every move calculated and purposeful. He doesn’t waste a dribble and is very quick on his toes, enabling him to pull out hesitation moves that leave defenders behind. Finesse would be the words to best describe Llewellyn.
Many coaches from the NCAA will be making the trip to Canada to evaluate and recruit this 2018 Canadian prospect this season.
Stay tuned for his official mixtape in the next few days.
Antoine Vernon Captures Underclassmen MVP
Continuing with guard play at camp, another 2018 stud, Antoine Vernon picked up MVP honours for the Underclassmen while displaying his play making abilities and scoring touch.
Vernon was later moved up to be tested in the upperclassmen game where he held his own and showed that he can compete among the older heads.
Because of a high IQ and tight handle on the rock, Vernon is fearless and always composed, even while under pressure.
His expression after a made basket, nice move, mistake, win or loss remains the same. He is a relentless competitor and doesn’t celebrate until the deed is done.
He will be joining Canada’s newest prep program, The Hill Academy, which will be opening it’s doors for basketball this fall in Brantford, Ontario.
Julian Walker Tremendous Upside
Joining him at Hill, will be another standout from camp, who has made his mark in two consecutive years at the NPH Showcase in Hamilton, 6’7 Julian Walker.
Walker is a very athletic player who is just breaking out of his shell. The amount of the above the rim plays that he had far outnumbered others in this camp.
It’s the in between game that needs the work, specifically operating off the wing using his dribble.
Walker is a 2017 prospect with tremendous upside and a willingness to absorb new information. You’ll be hearing a lot more on him in the coming years.
Under The Radar
Under the radar prospects benefit greatly from this type of event, because they usually don’t play for high schools that play in highly recruited tournaments.
For a guy such as Elijah Lufile, who abused defenders in the paint and cleaned up on the glass, things are about to change for him, after receiving no interest from the post-secondary level in his fourth year of high school.
Lufile’s genes are advantageous to what he could become. He happens to be the brother of NBA D-Leaguer Chadrack Lufile, who was also part of a record setting team at Wichita State in the NCAA.
Physically Elijah is a mammoth, standing at 6’7 and weighing in at 245 pounds. He uses his weight well in the post while setting him to receive and entry with his back to the basket or when ceiling out opposing rebounders.
If he can transform his body between now and this season’s end, Lufile can be a solid piece at a high place in the CIS or at a Low Division I program in the NCAA.
There was a total of 30 prospects that we projected from this group as next level players and they will be featured in a scouting report in NPH’s scouting service this week.
