The 2024 Pangos All-American Camp closed with two aggressive All-Star Video games and when all of the mud settled, it might need been probably the most aggressive camp within the occasion’s 22-year historical past. Guard Meleek Thomas takes residence camp’s Most Excellent Participant and lots others shine on the large stage.
Many occasions in a person showcase camp for elite expertise, the play will be lower than inspiring or sloppier than expertise scouts or NBA personnel would hope to see. However the 2024 version of the Pangos All-American Camp actually did not have that downside. The video games had been well-played, and most significantly, had been extremely aggressive from the primary ones on Sunday by way of the ultimate prime all-star recreation on Tuesday afternoon.
For the primary time within the occasion’s historical past, there was a workforce championship recreation previous to the Cream of the Crop All-Star Video games to reward profitable basketball. Illinois representing the Huge 10 Convention and took on Notre Dame representing the Atlantic Coast Convention each went 3-0 throughout common camp video games to qualify for the championship. The Illini then got here up with a 86-73 come-from-behind-victory to complete 4-0.
Main the way in which for the camp’s finest workforce together with his regular play was 6-foot-3 2025 guard Jerry Easter of La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.) with 15 factors, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Additionally netting 15 factors for his workforce was 6-foot-5 2025 Jermaine O’Neal Jr. of Dynamic Prep (Dallas, Texas). Turning heads together with his play on the inside was 6-foot-10 2025 Badara Diakite of South Kent Prep (Conn.). He completed with 10 factors and 6 rebounds.
Notre Dame held a 43-41 lead at halftime however could not maintain it, as Illinois out-rebounded the Irish (39-37)and had been credited with extra assists (20-15). Joshua Lewis, a 6-foot-7 2025 ahead from Blake (Tampa, Fla.) chosen for the Cream of the Crop Prime 60 Recreation, led Notre Dame with 20 factors. It must also be famous that when Brayden Burries, the 6-foot-5 2025 from Roosevelt (Eastvale, Calif.) and Notre Dame’s prime total participant, was out of the sport, his workforce constantly gave up leads. Burries was the unifying drive together with his unselfish passing and overpowering finishes and rebounding. Burries’ plus/minus doubtless was off the charts all through the camp and he confirmed why he may efficiently play on or off the ball on the subsequent degree.
Burries was arguably the very best all-around participant on the camp, with the one distinction between he and Easter was the latter’s effectivity from the sphere. Easter was credited as taking pictures 7-of-8 from the sphere within the championship recreation (plus his workforce bought the win), whereas Burries was 4-of-10. Within the Cream of the Crop Prime 30 All-Star Recreation designed for the camp’s prime performers amongst 110 contributors from 31 totally different states, Easter was 6-of-7 from the sphere (good for 15 factors), whereas Burries was 2-of-7 (good for 10 factors). Easter was simply tremendous environment friendly all weekend lengthy together with his managed recreation, change of tempo and excessive proportion shot makes an attempt. He let the sport come to him and has that knack for conserving defenders only a bit left or proper when he assaults or on his launch level. Easter has been a well-known commodity on the circuit since center college, however feels enjoying in a balanced assault at La Lumiere within the scholastic setting durning his junior season helped him coming into Pangos Camp.
