HM Tip Off Provided Needed Exposure, 17u All Stars
Ron Bailey, Publisher
Page 3
17u Class of 2009 Unsigned/Prep/Juco/Steals
Curtis Symonds, Jr - 6'2", 175lbs, Class of 2009 (pending), McLean (VA) - Pending an eligibility ruling, Symonds may be headed to prep school, where his penchant for shooting and passing can be meshed with developing his attack skills. Receiving solid minutes is a necessity for Symonds, who could flourish in college basketball as a lead guard.
This Hoop Magic baller is an undiscovered talent, who after next year could flourish on multiple levels of college ball.
Curtis Symonds, Jr. is the definition of a sleeper.
Trawn Rodgers, 6'7", 185lbs, Class of 2009, Saint Frances Academy (MD) - A solid athlete, the slender Rodgers has received only an offer from Davidson-Elkins, A West Virginia Division III school (which is a solid look). With more playing time in his senior year, Rodgers would likely have generated greater options. Another Nike Baltimore Elite performer.
Needs to get stronger, but can make plays in the paint. He's a player that with work can bear fruit down the road.
Leon Sampson - 6'8", 215lbs, Class of 2009, Blair HS (MD) - Long player who is likely headed to Guilford C.C. (NC), Sampson can contribute in several areas, including rebounding, passing, and running the floor.
Needs to get a go-to move, and to concentrate on being that dynamo he's capable of being. Sampson is a hidden gem for Mid-Atlantic Select.
Robel Getu got to the rim against Team Takeover, despite being the object of their defensive attention.
Robel Getu - 6'0", 185lbs, Class of 2009, Wakefield HS (VA) - Formerly a jumpshooter only, Getu, a lefty, can now attack the rim with some of the best, using quickness and slick change of pace moves to get there. Several more celebrated players had a rough time defending him, and if not for some missed foul shots - seemingly a point of necessary improvement along with the need for being more of a pass first guy - Getu could have led his team to the event's final.
Va. Weslyan and Greensboro College, Division III schools, are interested in Getu, whose parents are from Ethiopia. Ran with the Fairfax Stars.
Devin Cole - 5'9, 175lbs, Class of 2009, O'Connell (VA) - Devin illustrates the insanity of college recruiting: Despite being a team player that willfully took a lesser role for the betterment of his high school squad, patiently waiting his turn. When minutes finally came his senior year, and despite still accomodating more featured playes, Cole distinguished himself as an intelligent lead guard also capable of scoring.
After all of that, supplying things coaches claim they value, Cole has not received a scholarship offer. For a kid who showed he has the chops in Tip Off play also, that makes no sense. Oh yeah, his grades are solid, which further highlights the insanity of his recruitment. Hoop Magic benefited from his play during the Tip Off.