On Sunday, the Next Level Athletics staff broke the campers up by states and had a 7-on-7 tournament. New Jersey with the most number of campers had its own team. Pennsylvania had a team, Maryland & D.C. had a team as did New York. A handful of New Jersey players were placed on the Pennsylvania team. The players from Connecticut and Massachusetts were on the New York squad and the Delaware players were on the team from Maryland & D.C.
The very first game of the day was the most spirited of the day as New Jersey and Pennsylvania squared off. The most entertainment came from the two biggest smack talkers in the entire camp kept giving their best to each other. New Jersey’s Brandon Smith and Pennsylvania’s Jermaine Robinson gave each other their best verbal jabs.
The undermanned team from Pennsylvania scored a lopsided victory of the more talented team from the home state. The jubilation was short lived as the team from Maryland/D.C. upset the Pennsylvanian’s. New Jersey then defeated Maryland/D.C. and Pennsylvania defeated a stubborn New York squad in sudden death overtime. Time ran out at noon before a final victor could be declared, so New Jersey and Pennsylvania were declared co-champions. The team from Pennsylvania was stung by the loss of Je’Ron Stokes and Tom Savage who left after Saturday’s morning session.
During the day a number of prospects really stood out, but two may have shined a little bit more than most. Pittsburgh (Pa.) Brashear safety Jermaine Robinson had a very strong showing on offense and defense. Matthew Brown plays at The Peddie School in New Jersey, but he is actually from Maryland, so he decided to roll with his in-state brethren. Brown impressed everyone during all three days of the camp. Little did we know that Brown was just as impressive on offense as he is on defense.
Several other players had outstanding showings as well.
New Jersey: Metuchen’s DeJuan Miller an Oklahoma Sooner commit had an outstanding day, as did New Brunswick native Brandon Smith. Miller just glides with his 6-6 frame and catches everything. Smith is the vocal leader. Whether it’s in group drills or team events he is the leader. Smith was upset that Will Hill was a no show. Smith feels that he is the best in the state and he was looking for an opportunity too prove it. Asim Hicks is a linebacker who is heading to Bridgton Academy in Maine for a post-graduate year. He is a talented linebacker who should be one to watch. Theo Riddick will be a star, I hate to put that on a young player, but this kid can handle it. The 2009 prospect is mature beyond his years and he is one of those kids who just keeps his mouth shut and does what needs to be done. Jonathan Blassingame and Jerry Jones from W.W. P. and Linden, respectively are both going the post-grad route and will be heard from again. Shaqil Scott from Edison is a receiver worth watching. He is a little stiff, but he can be a playmaker.
New York: I still think people are sleeping on Rashaad Slowley, the kid can play. The only question is he too muscular? David Zapata should have offers. He is better than kids I have seen with multiple offers and he continues to show that each time out. Calvin McCoy really did not grab my attention until the last day. The Fordham Prep star turned it out during the 7-on-7’s. Jamel Lyde was basically the same way. The Sleepy Hollow running back came alive once it was game time.
Pennsylvania: Linebacker Quinten White was a kid that I did not know much about heading into the camp, but he impressed me all three days. He has minor D-I and D-II interest, but he is a sure D-I player. He is good enough to play at that level and his grades are very good. Many are lauding Cardinal O’Hara’s Tom Savage as the top player in the state, I agree he is a very good player and will likely be the top quarterback. There are a number of great players at the top of the 2009 class, so I’ll reserve final judgment until this season. Je’Ron Stokes is a player I like a lot. This kid is all about his business. In all honesty he was the most explosive receiver at the camp. He will be a potential National 100 type player. I have been waiting all year to see a performance from Brashear athlete Jermaine Robinson that made me say this is why West Virginia wanted him. He gave that performance this weekend. Robinson was all over the field and was Pennsylvania’s biggest weapon on offense while playing wide receiver.
Maryland: Even though he plays at The Peddie School cornerback Matthew Brown is from Maryland, so he’ll be in this list. Brown was the most productive player at the camp hands down. If he was 5-10 everyone in the country would know his name, but as it stands he is only right around 5-6. I will say this, someone will get a great player with him. Malek Redd had an outstanding camp. He will be a 2009 prospect worth keeping an eye on. His teammate Leron Eaddy was solid. He needs some work in pass coverage, but he should be a decent prospect in 2009. Deon Long has a chance to be the go to guy at Dunbar this year and he proved he can play. Sam Stockes also from Dunbar had a solid camp. Reggie Ellis as usual did his thing and abused many of the offensive linemen. He played linebacker during the 7-on-7 and didn’t do half bad.
Delaware: Dallas Brown from Christiana is a prospect who has really grown on me. I loved his competitive nature. He is very explosive with a ball in his hands. Isaiah Fleming also had a very good camp the former Newark star who is headed to Penn for his senior season took more reps than anyone I saw. He got beat a few times, but he kept coming right back.
New England: Cambridge & Latin wide receiver Josh Adams was at the camp, but I did not notice him until the last game on the last day. He is a good player, but he didn’t show the potential that I had been hearing about. Maybe my expectations were set too high. Chris Lopes who had attended Brockton has now transferred to Tilton in New Hampshire. When healthy he was a solid performer. Here is a name to keep an eye on Andrew Tallman from Boston College High. He is close to 6-7 and has a great frame, this kid could be a monster.
Props to Next Level Athletics co-founders Baron Flenory and KaShann Simmons for a great camp and their first class treatment that they showed Scout.com These two and all the other people involved really put on a great camp.
Here is a recap of the content produced from the X-treme X-posure Camp:
X-treme X-posure Preview
X-Treme
X-posure: Day One Notebook
X-Treme
X-posure: Day Two Notebook