Justice dominates Hinkle Invitational

Every summer for the last 5 years, recruiting guru and telepsychic Huey Hinkle has invited the Top 50 Southern preps to Louisville, Kentucky for a week of instruction and evaluation.  The event has grown to be the largest of its kind in America. 

Invitations are coveted, and rarely declined.  This year, 6’6 Wesley Neagle, widely considered to be the nation’s top 2G prospect (and called “the next Chris Mullin” by Clarence Hood), declined for personal reasons.  And 6’8 combo guard Jaylen Casey, who some say is a legitimate PG prospect at 6’8, missed the camp with an injury.

Everyone else was there:  Gus Justice, Gabriel Coulter, Adrian McRae, Marvel Jackson, Quadre Dixon and Elston Gunn.  Justice took all challenges, and removed any doubt that he is the South’s, and the nation’s, top prospect.

 

6’1 Gus Justice is a silky smooth and jet quick combo guard who shoots from distance as well as any guard we’ve seen, but also showed exceptional penetrating and passing skills.  He played with poise and grace.  He always took the big shot … and always made it.  Huey Hinkle calls Justice the best Southern prep prospect since Leodis Lee.

If Justice is generally considered the best PG prospect in years, then Marvel S. Jackson is the most spectacular.  Jackson is the most creative passer we’ve seen since Issy Washington.  He recorded several triple doubles during the week of competition, unfortunately, one double digit stat was consistently turnovers.  He never makes the simple play.  “If Jackson was playing on one court and Gus Justice on another,” commented Hinkle, “you watched Jackson’s game.  He’s spectacular."  Jackson is convinced that he’ll be a 4-year starter at LSU, but its unclear whether he’ll get an offer.  Jackson also has a standing offer from the Harlem Globetrotters, but is said to prefer college first.

Wesley Neagle's decision to decline the invite to Hinkle’s camp provided an opportunity for another 2G prospect to step up and be noticed.  No one did so more than 6’3 blur Excedric Townes.  Townes’ perimeter skills lag his athletic ability, but there is not a better athlete in the Class.  Earl Hooten, a 6’3 2G proved he’s as good a shooter as in the Class, and 6’5 Marshall Long quietly impressed all week.

The Class of 2005 has two outstanding SF prospects.  6’7 Adrian McRae is a skinny lefty who soars smoothly to the hoop for spectacular dunks, or can pull up and hit the 15 foot jump shot.  McRae arguably maintained his claim as the South’s top SF prospect, but his battles with 6’5 stud Quadre Dixon were a draw by most observations.  Dixon has an NBA body.  He battles underneath.  He can score on the blocks.  He can nail the 3.  He loves the big shot.  He’ll be a McDonald’s All American and a Top 20 national recruit.  6’5 Elston Gunn got his points, and always his shots, but disappointed many with his selfish play.

The surprise of the camp may have been the play of 6’8 Nat Runge.  He’s a do-it-all PF, who defends and scores on the low post, and can step out to hit the 3.  No one expect Runge to stand out among the best in this class, but Hinkle now ranks him in the South’s Top 5.  A 6’10 German named Heimey Deutsche came to camp, and walked away with scholarship offers from all the major programs.  He’s listed at PF, but could probably play 4 positions.  Two athletic PF’s that turned heads were Tevian Cosby and Chevis Howard.  Cosby was a top 50 national senior this past year, but was reclassified as a junior and will attend prep school before college.  He’s 20 years old and academics remain an issue.  Howard is just 6’7 but jumps out of the gym.  PF is his best position, and any coach lucky enough to sign him will find a place somewhere for him to play.

The center with the biggest reputation coming into camp was 6’10 Gabriel Coulter, and after a week of battling all comers, Gabe is clearly established as the top big man in the Class.  He is a terrific passer and outside shooter, but he doesn’t mind playing underneath, he can block shots, defend the post and score effortlessly.  Kentucky’s Bob Boyd watched Coulter’s every move during the week.  The most athletic of the center prospects was 6’10 Koy Johnson, who is raw offensively, but a very athletic shotblocker.  The most interesting of the center prospects was 6’9, 280 lbs Ken Moore, “The Appliance.”  (Get it … Ken Moore?”)  “He’s the ultimate space eater, gushed Hinkle.  “He’s not movable.  He boxes out the entire opposing team.  He dominates the boards without grabbing all the rebounds.”

 

Clarence Hoods’ Top 5 at the Hinkle Camp

1    Gus Justice

2    Marvel Jackson

3    Quadre Dixon

4    Gabriel Coulter

5    Adrian McRae

  

Huey Hinkle’s Top 10

 

1   Gus Justice

2   Gabriel Coulter

3   Quadre Dixon

4   Nat Runge

5   Adrian McRae

6   Excedric Townes

7   Adrian McRae

8   Heimey Deutsche

9   Marshall Long

10  Wayne Hickey-Smith