Carver Summer SLam & Brew Tech Play Date
By Jeff Johnson
As the Team Camp Season hits its stride BAMAMIXTAPE has taken the opportunity to hit the road and check out a few Play Dates across the state to see who'll be top contenders for a trip to Birmingham next March. While doing so, we ran across some names that you should get to know in the coming months. These guys are primed for breakout seasons. Everyone knows who the state’s top players are and they deserve the household status given to them but this is also a chance for some under the radar guys to shine. I had the chance to check out Carver High School's Annual Summer Slam and a Play Date at Brew Tech High School and I was pleasantly surprised with the action I saw. Some of the teams there were breaking in new coaches and players but a few stood out to me and the rest of the crowd on hand.
Notable Performers:
Notable Performers:
Henry Ruggs of Lee-Montgomery (Photo Cred/Jeff Johnson)
HENRY RUGGS 2017 6'0 Combo Guard (Robert E. Lee) - Ruggs put on his usual aerial display Friday afternoon. He made acrobatic lay ups, emphatic put back dunks and played all out pressure defense. But what would surprise you was the improved jump shot he displayed. His in between game has improved which only makes him a more dangerous player because he's a nightmare in transition. Ruggs, a 4-Star football recruit who's going to commit August 1st, could easily play Low-Mid Major basketball if given the opportunity. If you get the chance, he'll be playing in the North/South All Star Basketball Game in July check him out.
DESMOND WILLIAMS 2019 6'1 PG/SG (Brew Tech) - Remember this name for the upcoming season. If you go to a Brew Tech game you'll hear the ball bouncing and you'll see it going through the nets. But chances are you won’t see Mr. Williams. He is a blur!! He had the crowd calling him Usain Bolt and The Flash as he dashed by defenders with ease. Williams uses his speed and creates separation which allows him to get to the basket for easy layups time and time again. But you can't play off of him because his jump shot is deadly. After playing behind Austin and Steve Rogers for two years it’s finally his time to shine. He's been running with the Alabama Challenge 15U this spring and looks to have a Big Summer having already picking up heavy interest from Samford along the way.
DESMOND WILLIAMS 2019 6'1 PG/SG (Brew Tech) - Remember this name for the upcoming season. If you go to a Brew Tech game you'll hear the ball bouncing and you'll see it going through the nets. But chances are you won’t see Mr. Williams. He is a blur!! He had the crowd calling him Usain Bolt and The Flash as he dashed by defenders with ease. Williams uses his speed and creates separation which allows him to get to the basket for easy layups time and time again. But you can't play off of him because his jump shot is deadly. After playing behind Austin and Steve Rogers for two years it’s finally his time to shine. He's been running with the Alabama Challenge 15U this spring and looks to have a Big Summer having already picking up heavy interest from Samford along the way.
Demond Robinson of Lee-Montgomery (Photo Cred/Jeff Johnson)
DEMOND ROBINSON 2019 6'8 240lb C/PF (Robert E. Lee) - The Big Rising Sophomore dominated play in the paint all afternoon. Blessed with a soft touch and a jump hook with either hand, he scored easily all day on smaller opponents. Robinson has A 7-foot-2 wingspan which allows him to rebound and block shots with ease. His free throw line jump shot is automatic when he catches it in rhythm. The best big I saw and he's only going to get better once his body matures. Early Interest from New Mexico State & Longwood.
AZARIAH "AZ" SEAY 2018 6'4 SG (Prattville) - Let AZ tell it, this BAMAMIXTAPE love is long overdue. Mr. Seay first caught my eye two years ago as a freshman and I've been waiting on him to put it all together and Friday was almost the day. He's a long 6'4 combo guard that can score from all levels. He led his squad to the surprise of the day by upsetting Carver in their own house. Even though it was a Play Date, Carver has never lost there in the regular season or playoffs and Prattville's victory was the talk of the camp. AZ runs with the Alabama Challenge 16U look out for him in July.
AZARIAH "AZ" SEAY 2018 6'4 SG (Prattville) - Let AZ tell it, this BAMAMIXTAPE love is long overdue. Mr. Seay first caught my eye two years ago as a freshman and I've been waiting on him to put it all together and Friday was almost the day. He's a long 6'4 combo guard that can score from all levels. He led his squad to the surprise of the day by upsetting Carver in their own house. Even though it was a Play Date, Carver has never lost there in the regular season or playoffs and Prattville's victory was the talk of the camp. AZ runs with the Alabama Challenge 16U look out for him in July.
John Williams of Carver-Montgomery (Photo Cred/John Williams)
JOHN WILLIAMS 2018 6'0 PG (G.W. Carver) - The Jeff Davis transfer picked up where he left off in his sophomore campaign by playing relentless full court defense and scoring in transition. Williams is a throwback guard who uses his in between game as a deadly weapon. He stays true to his ability and is truly a stat sheet stuffer. Not a flashy player, he's a kid that quietly goes about his business and at the end of the night when the stats are tallied is when you realize his impact on the game. Jeff Davis' loss is certainly Carver's gain.
SHAWN BARNES 2017 6'0 PG (Brew Tech) - The lefty got wherever he wanted on the court and shot at least 10-12 free throws in every game I saw. He's crafty and has a change of pace game that keeps defenders off balance. Barnes and Desmond Williams form a thunder and lightning combination and Coach Shines really lets them play. Barnes has early interest from the Citadel, Georgia State and Texas A&M Corpus Christi. With a big July, he's hoping to turn the interest into offers.
SHAWN BARNES 2017 6'0 PG (Brew Tech) - The lefty got wherever he wanted on the court and shot at least 10-12 free throws in every game I saw. He's crafty and has a change of pace game that keeps defenders off balance. Barnes and Desmond Williams form a thunder and lightning combination and Coach Shines really lets them play. Barnes has early interest from the Citadel, Georgia State and Texas A&M Corpus Christi. With a big July, he's hoping to turn the interest into offers.
Trey Webster of Carver-Montgomery (Photo Cred/Jeff Johnson)
TREY WEBSTER 2017 5'9 PG (Carver) - Floor General for the always powerful Carver Wolverines mixed it up well Friday. Got everyone involved and still picked his spots to score. Steady and smooth guard with a decent jump shot. He and John Williams dominated against Jeff Davis
NATHAN GIVHAN 2017 6'4 F (G.W. Carver) - An undersized post who really bullied and intimidated the competition all day long. Athletic kid whose second and third jumps are just as quick and explosive as his first. Rebounded and competed and I really liked what I saw. Will be a force in the post for Carver this season after being a backup the last two years.
Out of Nowhere
NATHAN GIVHAN 2017 6'4 F (G.W. Carver) - An undersized post who really bullied and intimidated the competition all day long. Athletic kid whose second and third jumps are just as quick and explosive as his first. Rebounded and competed and I really liked what I saw. Will be a force in the post for Carver this season after being a backup the last two years.
Out of Nowhere
Kentravious Dudley of Central-Hayneville (Photo Cred/Jeff Johnson)
KENTRAVIOUS DUDLEY 2018 6'4 SG (Central Hayneville) - The surprise of the day was Mr. Dudley. He came out of nowhere without any pre-camp buzz and gave Lee-Montgomery all they could handle in the 2pm game. He is a silky smooth 6'4 guard with a long wingspan who can fill it up from deep. He hit his first 6-3pt attempts totaling 8 for the game. But he's far from one dimensional. He put it on the floor several times and rose up over the Lee defenders at the cup. He currently has no interest or offers but is a must see for the fall.
JOHN BUTLER 2017 5'10 PG (Robert E. Lee) - For the past two years Kendarius Hartwell, Henry Ruggs and the Late Great Rod Scott have logged all of the meaningful minutes in the backcourt for the Generals. Well going against those guys in practice every day has served John Butler some good. He took over the reins this summer and hasn't looked back. He's lightning quick and gets to the hole with ease. But his strength and bread and butter is as a defender. He picks you up 94ft. and never lets up. Great on ball and team defender who gets it done on defense. I guarantee with Butler and Ruggs at the top of the Lee Press opponents are going to have nightmares this season.
Overall a great day of action in Montgomery. All 12 Teams in action competed and got better as the day went on. Looking forward to following these guys as well as other top Alabama stars throughout the rest of the summer and into the season.
Side Notes: Missed out on seeing Impact Freshman Antuan Barnett (6'5 SG) and Jamari Smith (6'3 SG) of Sidney Lanier as they pulled out at the last minute. But they will be fun to watch over the next 4 years and I know Coach Brian Williams is grinning ear to ear to land these two talented players.
Keep an eye on: Academic Schools, Lee HS 6’4 Senior Brian Mclean is worth a second look. In line to be Lee HS Class Valedictorian and also boasts a 28 on the ACT. He made some great hustle plays and got a few dunks in transition. He’s yet to play meaningful minutes for the Generals but is going to be a key contributor this year.
JOHN BUTLER 2017 5'10 PG (Robert E. Lee) - For the past two years Kendarius Hartwell, Henry Ruggs and the Late Great Rod Scott have logged all of the meaningful minutes in the backcourt for the Generals. Well going against those guys in practice every day has served John Butler some good. He took over the reins this summer and hasn't looked back. He's lightning quick and gets to the hole with ease. But his strength and bread and butter is as a defender. He picks you up 94ft. and never lets up. Great on ball and team defender who gets it done on defense. I guarantee with Butler and Ruggs at the top of the Lee Press opponents are going to have nightmares this season.
Overall a great day of action in Montgomery. All 12 Teams in action competed and got better as the day went on. Looking forward to following these guys as well as other top Alabama stars throughout the rest of the summer and into the season.
Side Notes: Missed out on seeing Impact Freshman Antuan Barnett (6'5 SG) and Jamari Smith (6'3 SG) of Sidney Lanier as they pulled out at the last minute. But they will be fun to watch over the next 4 years and I know Coach Brian Williams is grinning ear to ear to land these two talented players.
Keep an eye on: Academic Schools, Lee HS 6’4 Senior Brian Mclean is worth a second look. In line to be Lee HS Class Valedictorian and also boasts a 28 on the ACT. He made some great hustle plays and got a few dunks in transition. He’s yet to play meaningful minutes for the Generals but is going to be a key contributor this year.