Mid-Way Recap: 10 Blow-Up Players

At its core, the month of July is designed to yield scholarship offers for deserving players. Here at Scout.com we've identified 10 kids who used the first evaluation period to move to center stage.

Justin Brownlee

Justin Brownlee, SF – It’s taken Brownlee an extra year but he’s achieved “blow up” status. Last spring, his AAU coach told everyone who would listen that he had a player. Brownlee didn’t qualify and is headed to prep school where’s sure to have his pick of strong programs if his grades check out.

At RBK U, a popular “blow up” destination, Brownlee’s attacking style game was on full display. Not an overly skilled perimeter player, this kid will get to the rim and crush it. Playing at a camp pace tailor made to his skill set, Brownlee finished 11th in scoring and 8th in rebounding. (Dave Telep)

Allan Chaney

Allan Chaney, PF – The word began leaking out during RBK U. Chaney, who earned his way into the Reebok event by way of a regional exposure camp, was the real deal. For some, us included, it was hard to measure his true value in the up and down nature of the camp games. He played well enough to earn a bid into the all-star game but got the snub which many schools counted as a blessing. Guys ahead of the curve at mid-level programs were gearing up for a battle.

Providence was first to the party and began staking its claim to him early. By the time Chaney rolled into Morgantown for the JamFest the word was out. Billy Donovan flew Gator One into town to watch Chaney and he had company. Later that day, the future Top 100 prospect hung 19 and 15 on the D1 Greyhounds and the secret was fully out of the bag. (DT)

Olek Czyz

Olek Czyz, PF – Since the Cactus Classic, this Las Vegas Prospects power forward has been the toast of the circuit. As schools like Kentucky and others tried to jump in on him and beat everyone to the punch, many of them really didn’t understand his abilities. Well, after RBK U they should have a good idea.

This Top 100 prospect made the all-star game and showed off his athletic ability. For us, he’s a shorter version of Tom Chambers (kids, you might not remember he finished 5th in the ’87 slam dunk contest). We tagged him as a riser in the spring and since then he’s picked up offers from UK, KU, Duke and a host of biggies. RBK U was merely the confirmation those programs needed to more forward. (DT)

Chris Fouch

Fouch Dialed In Deep

Chris Fouch, SG – If there’s one thing about a player’s DNA that doesn’t lie it’s the intangibles. What are intangibles? Maybe it’s the ability to spot an open teammate cutting to the bucket and thread a pass to him for the game-winner. Maybe it’s having the guts to hoist up the game-winning shot at a major summer event … and nail it.

Whatever “it” is, Fouch has plenty of “it” in the tank. Realistically, he’s a mid-level prospect (remember, we said that about Chris Lofton too, ouch!) but his resume is laced with wins and he’s on fire.

Will he get overvalued because of his recent success? Maybe, but then again so will other kids with less on their resumes than Fouch. (DT)

Dan Jennings

Dan Jennings, C – When the big fellas begin figuring it out, go to the bank, take out a loan and bet the ranch on their success. Jennings, since late spring, has been in the process of going from prospect to player. The same guy who couldn’t look you in the eye a year ago was hammering dunks on kids at the Peach Jam.

“I stunk in the second game,” Jennings said of his performance. OK, maybe it wasn’t great but two of his first three games were pretty good. If academics don’t allow him to make it this year, a post-grad season will be needed and by then he’ll be a monster. (DT)

Dwight Miller

Dwight Miller, PF – This is one of the neatest stories we’ve run into. Dante Anderson, a stud guard, died this spring. In his honor, RBK U named an award after him. It’s given to best performance by a camper who played his way into the event. Miller was the inaugural winner.

Miller was selected to the all-star game in Philly. During camp, the native Bahamian showed a face-up game to mid-range and the body to knock around in the paint with at a high-level.

Where he winds up is anyone’s guess but he’ll always be linked with Anderson and that’s pretty cool. (DT)

Jeff Reid

Reid Has Scorer’s Touch

Jeff Reid, SF – Playing alongside Michael Dixon clearly makes the game a little easier for Reid, however the 6-foot-6 small forward is pretty good in his own right. At the adidas It Takes 5ive Classic, Reid managed to get loose for a monster game against the Capital City Blazers, where he scored 20 in the first and at least another 10 to 15 in the second.

Although his big time effort against the Blazers was impressive, his overall game was on full display all weekend.

He has a good-looking shot with good rotation and a decently quick release. Reid isn’t a great handler, but certainly a capable one, as he’s able to go off the bounce for mid-range jumpers. (Evan Daniels)

Ryne Smith

Ryne Smith, SG – He stroked it at a good clip at the King James Shooting Stars Classic in April, but still didn’t get many looks from coaches. That changed at the adidas It Takes 5ive Classic, as he reciprocated the performance and college coaches began taking note.

Smith Doesn’t Miss

His best performance at the event was a 32-point outburst where he buried five trifectas and showed that he was capable of shooting on the move. His strong play continued at the Kentucky Hoopfest, and high-major coaches showed up to evaluate the rising senior.

Although we think he’d be best fit at the mid-major level, there aren’t many prospects (if any) that shoot the ball better than the Toledo (Ohio) Whitmer standout. (ED)

Tyshawn Taylor

Tyshawn Taylor, PG – We’ve got to add context to this “blow up.” We’ve harped on the fact the Class of 2008 is point guard poor. The lack of depth has programs in straight scramble mode this time of the month. Frankly, colleges are looking for someone to fall in love with: enter Taylor.

The St. Anthony’s product made the all-star game at RBK U and finished the camp 5th in assists. More importantly he showed the ability to be on the floor with good players and make an offense move forward. Sure, he’s got to shore up his decision making but the natural tools are there and the big dogs are gearing up to see if this Bob Hurley-coached lead guard has what it takes to earn his scholarship by month’s end. (DT)

Brad Tinsley

Brad Tinsley SG/PG – He’s not a pure one, but there’s no doubt that he could play it at the next level. Tinsley, a 6-foot-3 rising senior, is smart with the ball, rarely makes mistakes and almost always finds the open man.

At the LeBron James Skills Academy, Tinsley also showed that he has no problem scoring. He shot the ball as consistent as anyone at camp, and displayed deep range that extends to 24-feet. To go with the nice jumper, Tinsley penetrated the lane and finished with ease over bigger defenders. This one has flown under the radar, but he’s certainly capable of playing at the high-major level. (ED)