G-League Elite Camp: Day 1 Top Performers

Chicago, Illinois – The G-League is in Chicago hosting its G-League Elite Camp, an invite-only combine for players trying to make it to the NBA. Last year seven players who participated in the G-League Elite Camp were invited to the NBA Draft Combine. While ultimately, that is the goal of participating in this event, it can also serve as a proving ground to put your name on radars for next year’s draft.

Forty-four players were invited this year and split between four teams. Throughout the camp, players will go through interviews, athletic testing, and measurements. The games are broadcast on Youtube on the G-League channel, which is how I viewed the games.

The G-League Elite Camp is a two-day event, Saturday and Sunday, that leads right into the Monday start of the NBA Draft Combine. As it was mentioned previously, seven players were invited last year from this camp. The previous year, ten players were invited. The invites come from NBA personnel who want to see more.

Day one of the G-League Elite Camp took place on Saturday. The top performers are not necessarily the players who will get NBA Draft Combine invites or even get drafted; they are simply the players who performed the best on the day. With that said, On3 took in the live stream to talk top performers.

Full G-League Elite Camp Roster of Players

On3 MVP: PF Johni Broome, Auburn

Johni Broome led all scorers on day one of the G-League Elite Camp with 23 points. The lefty was a force on the block and from ten feet and in. He not only showed touch, but he was able to absorb contact around the basket and finish. He also showed range with the pick-and-pop jump shot, leading to believe that could consistently be a part of his game.

Broome finished with only 4 rebounds in this game; you would like to see him get better positioning there. While he is not an explosive leaper, he uses his length and timing well to affect plays around the rim. Broome’s offensive showing certainly opened eyes, with 23 points on 8-of-11 from the field. He seemed unaffected by any defense he saw from the opposition.

2. SG Johnell Davis, Florida Atlantic

It was an eye-opening, two-way day for the Florida Atlantic wing. Johnell Davis was the leading scorer for the Owls team that made a historic run to the Final Four out of the Conference USA. Davis was an efficient scorer on day one, making at least one basket from each level. He has a smooth three-point shot off the catch, and he has the strength to finish through contact high above the rim.

Defensively, Davis was capable of sliding his feet with guards and bumping wings as they attempted to get to the basket. This was a good day for Davis; he showed a lot of tools with toughness and some winning plays. He finished with 12 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks while going 2-of-4 from three.

3. SG Antoine Davis, Detroit-Mercy

We all know the scoring with Antoine Davis. He finished three points shy of the all-time NCAA Division 1 scoring record with 3,664 career points. This is a big stage for Davis, who entered the day with a lot of eyes on him to see how the 6-foot-1 guard would handle this level of competition.

Davis was able to get to his spots and get his jump shot off. He knocked it down with consistency because of his ability to maintain his balance in the space he created. In scoring 3,600-plus career points, you can build a lot of confidence.

He got after it on the defensive end, took a charge in the half-court, and played with an obvious competitive edge. A point-of-attack defender who can create and make his own shot is an interesting archetype. Davis finished with a team-high 12 points on 4-of-9 from three

4. PG Markquis Nowell, Kansas State

There is a sense of electricity that Markquis Nowell brings to the game. He brings flair, not in an out-of-control way, but that is based in skill and confidence. Nowell made his name in the NCAA Tournament with the passing; he set the all-time NCAA Tournament single-game record with 19 assists in an Sweet Sixteen win. And he touched the paint and distributed the ball well here, but he also showed that he is capable of creating and making shots for himself.

The height, listed at 5-foot-8, will always be a question at the next level. You saw times here where the size hindered his defense in the half-court, and finishing plays at times in traffic. Make no mistake that all eyes are on him when he is on the court. In 21 minutes, he finished with 11 points and 8 assists, going 2-of-4 from three. He also added 2 blocks and 2 steals.

5. PF PJ Hall, Clemson

In his career, PJ Hall has made a name by playing within himself at an extremely high level. Hall carried that over to the G-League Elite Camp. He is a grinder, a grunt work guy who collects floor burns and sets jarring screens. He also shot 39.8 percent from three this season at Clemson. Hall did a good job of getting to his spots off the ball, setting up balanced, and moving with the ball handler to give a clean target.

The measurements will be big for him; if he does measure his listed 6-foot-10, his skill set could be quite valuable. He does have good length, and the shooting was pure here. The lateral quickness is a question, can he turn his hips and move and switch on that end as the players continue to get bigger and more athletic? Hall finished with 17 points, going 6-of-13 from the field and 3-of-7 from three.

6. PG Tyger Campbell, UCLA

Tyger Campbell won 99 games in his career at UCLA, including three Sweet Sixteens and a Final Four. Watching him play, he does not have great size and is not a bursty athlete; however, there is no denying that Campbell has complete control of everything that is going on around him when the ball is in his hands as he simply runs his team.

Campbell is a compactly built guard, but his feel for the game and floor spacing, and how to attack a defense was hard to deny. He took care of the ball, and he got his teammates into favorable spots. With his size being a question, where things got interesting was Campbell’s scoring in the mid-range and at the rim here. He finished with 10 points, 4 assists, and a steal here, going 4-of-4 from the free throw line in 22 minutes played.

7. SF Dillon Jones, Weber State

Dillon Jones brought a toughness, a physical presence that the other team could not match. Especially down the stretch, he was able to force his will into production and consistent winning plays. Where he really shined was on the defensive end. When switched onto a point guard, Jones slid his feet and caused the guard to give it up. When he guarded forwards, he kept his base strong and kept players from getting to their spots. He also rotated over to take multiple charges.

Offensively, Jones showed some handle, using pace to shake loose in the half-court and straight line drive toward the rim. He will need to continue working on the jump shot, extending his range, but the production, especially in crunch time, was hard not to notice. In his first game at the G-League Elite Camp, he had 9 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals in 18 minutes with a plus-13 +/-.

8. C Colin Castleton, Florida

Every time you looked up during his game, it seemed that Colin Castleton was making a play. Whether it was setting a screen to get his man open, grabbing a rebound to keep a possession alive, or finishing a play as a vertical lob threat in traffic. Castleton was a constant physical presence throughout the game on both ends of the floor.

Castleton has good size, one of the taller players in the camp. While not necessarily an explosive shot-blocking presence, he walled up well around the basket and used his length to affect plays around the rim. He showed touch over his left shoulder at Florida while he played more in the dunker spot here. I liked what he did in the pick-and-roll here. He finished with a team-high 12 points, going 4-of-6 from the field and 4-of-4 from the free throw line.

Other notables

Drew Peterson (USC) – It is the feel for the game that popped for Drew Peterson. At his size, listed at 6-foot-8, he finds himself in the right spots often, enabling him to make a play, oftentimes for teammates. He took a couple of errant jump shots, but his feel for passing was undeniable.

Hunter Tyson (Clemson) – It was a solid overall day for Hunter Tyson. The Clemson forward earned first-team All-ACC accolades this season and played here with confidence, taking 14 shots in the game. Finding his spots and creating space will be the next step for him; he finished with 12 points.

Jazian Gortman (Overtime Elite) – Jazian Gortman has never lacked toughness or confidence. He plays, at all times, with a competitive chip on his shoulder, and that did not change here. He guarded the ball and used his quick feet and long arms to create some trouble. Gortman also knocked down shots, showing smooth form with range on it. He finished with 10 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals.

Cliff Omoruyi (Rutgers) – The activity level of Cliff Omoruyi was non-stop from start to finish. He moved fluidly on the defensive end, and he was able to affect rebounds both in and out of his area. He is raw on offense, but his explosion can be tough to stop as he gets momentum going toward the basket. Omoruyi had 12 points and 6 rebounds.

Kendric Davis (Memphis) – Kendric Davis was able to apply consistent pressure at the point of attack. On the ball, he got downhill, put two feet in the paint, and he made plays. He also guarded the ball, turning the ball handler consistently. Davis had 8 points and 4 assists and finished with a plus-two +/- as the starting point guard for the winning team.

Mike Sharavjamts (Dayton) – Mike Sharavjamts has a feel for the game that is easy to see. This is a tough setting for him, as he does not have a flash game necessarily. The 6-foot-8 wing showed easy jump shot form, good passing acumen, and an understanding of team defense. He entered the transfer portal last week, so maybe one more year in college would do him well, but you like the size and feel looking forward.

Norchad Omier (Miami) – If I were asked to pick one word for Norchad Omier, instincts would be a good one. He simply has a natural feel for the basketball. He is a good area rebounder, he is trouble in the passing lanes, and he has the timing to block shots. Omier also knocked down a pick-and-pop jumper from 18 feet at the G-League Elite Camp. He finished with 10 points and 8 rebounds, going 5-of-9 from the field.

Alex Fudge (Florida) – Listed at 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-0 wing span, Alex Fudge’s defensive upside is so intriguing. He showed natural instincts and the ability to slide his feet and switch up or down a lineup. The offense is raw, but there is a clear upside here.

Anton Watson (Gonzaga) – Anton Watson was very efficient, playing within himself, but more importantly, making shots. Watson finished 6-of-11 from the field, 1-of-2 from three.

Tyrin Lawrence (Vanderbilt) – Tyrin Lawrence started strong in his game. He is an athletic guard who flourished when the game was fast and he was in transition. Lawrence showed instincts toward the rim and a capability to finish through contact. He showed toughness, and he showed he can create some offense. When he was on the floor, you heard his name. He is in the transfer portal in the event he comes back to college. Eyes were opened with this performance, but will it be enough to earn the NBA Combine invite? He had 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists.

Matthew Mayer (Illinois) – Mathew Mayer is who he is. He plays with his pedal pressed to the metal and with an unashamed amount of confidence. Mayer is a scorer; he can drive straight line to the rim or knock down jumpers off the catch or a pull-up. He finished with 12 points, going 2-of-5 from three.

Mark Sears (Alabama) – As the game wore on, Mark Sears started to get into his groove. And when in crunch time, the ball found its way into Sears’ hands. He is not the quickest of players, but he got to his spots. The handle was confident, and the jump shot was effective. Had the look of a gamer with 10 points, 4 assists, and 2 steals in the win.

Landers Nolley (Cincinnati) – It is hard not to look past the positional size and the shot-making. Landers Nolley plays at his own pace, meaning he does not get used to getting to what he wants to do. He has a consistent touch with repeatable mechanics – when his feet are set – from beyond the arc. You want to see him affect the game in other ways than just shooting, but the size and the jump shot are appealing. He finished with 12 points on 3-of-5 from three.

Caleb McConnell (Rutgers) – Caleb McConnell’s defense shined. He was all over the floor, making plays throughout the game. The offense is raw, and I am not sure how he scores moving forward; however, with how he defended, I’m not necessarily sure how the opposing team scores on him consistently. He is one that will have to grind and continue to improve, but with some strength and a more consistent jump shot, there is a place for 6-foot-7 defensive stoppers in the NBA.

Sir’Jabari Rice (Texas) – Sir’Jabari Rice came into camp with a reputation on the defensive end; while he showed more than capable there, his offense is why he is getting written about here. Rice played confidently and effectively, going 6-of-12 from the field and 2-of-4 from three. He showed touch and pace while finishing with a team-high 16 points.

Tosan Evbuomwan (Princeton) – Probably the player I was most interested in seeing today, Tosan Evbuomwan ended up as more of a flashes guy. He was good in transition, with excellent balance and nice pop. He was also interesting on defense, both in moving and in the passing lanes. In the half-court, he did not do much other than move the ball. I will be interested to see if he is able to impose more of his will tomorrow. He finished with 6 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals, going 2-of-3 from the field.

Charles Bediako (Alabama) – Charles Bediako made plays around the basket. Where he was most effective was providing a dump-down target as ball handlers touched the paint. He was 4-of-5 from the field for 11 points. Bediako was in on a lot of rebounds, but you would like to see him secure the ball better in traffic, and he was 3-of-7 from the free-throw line. He did do some good things out there.