On Episode 133 of the "In The Paint" Show (LISTEN HERE, WATCH BELOW), hosts Ronnie Flores and Ani Umana break down the 2022 Pangos All-American Camp with three special guests: participants K.J. Lewis (Chapin, El Paso, Tex.), Marvel Allen (Montverde Academy, Fla.) and D.J. Thomas (Liberty, Henderson, Nev.).
RELATED: "In The Paint" Podcast (Spotify) | Ballislife Podcast Network (YouTube) | ITP Episode 133 (Spotify) | ITP Episode 133 (YouTube) | Pangos: Yves Missi, Oh Yes! | 2022 Pangos Camp Top 60 Player Rankings | Ballislife Player Profiles
The 2022 Pangos Camp wrapped up on June 7 with the camp's top players selected to either the Cream of the Crop Top 60 or Top 30 game. There weren't many surprise selections and at the end of the camp, fast-rising Xavier Booker, a 6-foot-11 2023 forward from Cathedral (Indianapolis, Ind.) joined the likes of James Harden, John Wall, and Harrison Barnes as Pangos Camp Most Outstanding Player. It wasn't a difficult call, as Booker showed why he's the fastest-rising prospect in the national Class of 2023 with his size, skill level and fluidity.
Leading a strong contingent from the class of 2024 was 6-foot-6 wing guard Ian Jackson of Cardinal Hayes (Bronx, N.Y.), the 2021-22 National Sophomore of the Year. Jackson was efficient all weekend long and displayed a package of skill, confidence, outside shooting, athleticism and IQ rarely seen in a high school player, much less an underclass prospect. Jackson was one of 25 underclassmen selected to either the Top 30 or 60 Cream of the Crop All-Star Games.
Jackson and 6-foot-1 2024 D.J. Thomas of Liberty (Henderson, Nev.) were two of the 12 selected to the Top 30 game reserved for the camp's top performers. Unfortunately, that game won't go down as one of the better played all-star games in the 20-year history of the camp, but fortunately ITP co-hosts Ronnie Flores and Ani Umana were able to interview Thomas and two other Top 30 selections: Arizona-bound 6-foot-4 2023 K.J. Lewis of Chapin (El Paso, Texas) and 6-foot-4 2023 Marvel Allen of Montverde Academy (Fla.).
On ITP Episode 133, the ITP crew got the camp trio's hot takes on their camp individual and team camp performances, their experience at the event, areas of improvement and goals for the 2022-23 season and beyond (SEE FULL ITP EPISODE 133 BELOW).
Ron and Ani also break down top performances, their breakout campers and recap the top individual players on the pod. The fellas also break down their top five camp performers (CLICK HERE to see Ron's Top 60 Player Rankings) and the performance of the often talked-about and followed 6-foot-3 2023 Mikey Williams of San Ysidro (Calif.).
The MVPs of the Top 30 game were 6-foot-4 2023 guard Tru Washington of Mountain Pointe (Phoenix, Ariz.) and camp veteran Baye Fall, a 6-foot-11 center from Accelerated Schools (Denver, Col.). A standout at last year's camp, Fall was rated by both Flores and Umana as a top 5 player at this year's camp.
The Cream of the Crop Top 60 game was a much better contest and emerging as the top performer was 6-foot-4 2023 big guard Wesley Yates III of Beaumont United (Beaumont, Texas). Yates was the consensus top choice as the player most deserving of a Top 30 game selection and his play made a statement louder than any words could ever about the situation. He led his Red Team to a 123-110 victory by hitting six 3-pointers, including four in a row where it looked like he took the shot from further each time, en route to a game-high 26 points. Yates threw some terrific passes during the came, finished strongly in the paint and his presence made a lasting impact at this camp. A terrific student to boot, Yates has major interest from Gonzaga, Stanford and Houston, while some insiders feel the Cougars will be hard to beat out.
Others who made a positive impression in the Top 60 game include Isaiah Abraham, a 6-foot-6 2024 from Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.), Kaden Cooper, a 6-foot-5 2023 from The Skill Factory (Atlanta, Ga.), Brandon Williams, a 6-foot-8 2023 from Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.), K.J. Windham, a 6-foot-1 2023 from Ben Davis (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Assane Diop, a 6-foot-10 2023 from Putnam Science Academy (Putnam, Conn.). Diop joined Yates as game MVP.
Pangos Camp All-Time MOPs
2022: Xavier Booker, Cathedral (Indianapolis, Ind.) 6-11 PF
2021: Jalen Duren, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 6-10 C
2020: Jabari Smith, Sandy Creek (Tyrone, Ga.) 6-10 PF (Festival)
2019 (co): Cade Cunningham, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 6-7 G
2019 (co): Evan Mobley, Rancho Christian (Temecula, Calif.) 7-0 C
2018: Charles Bassey, Aspire Academy (Louisville, Ky.) 6-10 C
2017 (co): Cole Anthony, Archbishop Malloy (Queens, N.Y.) 6-2 PG
2017 (co): Charles Bassey, St. Anthony (San Antonio, Texas) 6-10 C
2016 (co): Trevon Duval, API (Dallas) 6-2 PG
2016 (co): Michael Porter Jr., Father Tolten (Columbia, Mo.) 6-9 SF
2015 (co): Rawle Alkins, Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.) 6-5 SG
2015 (co): Mustapha Heron, Sacred Heart (Waterbury, Conn.) 6-5 SG
2014 (tri): Isaiah Briscoe, Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.) 6-3 PG
2014 (tri): Tyler Dorsey, St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) 6-5 SG
2014 (tri): Stephen Zimmerman, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) 7-0 PF
2013: Stanley Johnson, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) 6-7 SF
2012: Cliff Alexander, Currie (Chicago) 6-9 PF
2011: Shabazz Muhammad, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) 6-6 WF
2010: Myck Kabongo, Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) 6-2 PG
2009: Harrison Barnes, Ames (Ames, Iowa) 6-7 WF
2008: John Wall, Word of God Academy (Raleigh, N.C.) 6-3 PG
2007: Brandon Jennings, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) 6-1 PG
2006: James Harden, Artesia (Lakewood, Calif.) 6-5 SG
2005: Davon Jefferson, Lynwood (Calif.) 6-8 WF
2004: CJ Miles, Skyline (Dallas) 6-6 WF
2003: Robert Swift, Bakersfield (Calif.) 7-0 C
RELATED: "In The Paint" Podcast (Spotify) | Ballislife Podcast Network (YouTube) | ITP Episode 133 (Spotify) | ITP Episode 133 (YouTube) | Pangos: Yves Missi, Oh Yes! | 2022 Pangos Camp Top 60 Player Rankings | Ballislife Player Profiles