The 2016 Pangos All-American Camp concluded after three days with the Ballislife Cream of the Crop Top 25 Game on Sunday afternoon at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif. It wasn't an easy task to select the 30 players for the top all-star game, but when the dust settled Billy Preston of Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) led his Red Team to a 112-97 victory over the White Team to earn game co-MVP honors with DeAndre Ayton. You can now watch the FULL GAME.
RELATED: Michael Porter, Hamidou Diallo Among Pangos Standouts
The talent level at the 14th annual Pangos All-American Camp was arguably the deepest it its history and a plethora of the nation's best players selected for its top all-star game.
The Ballislife Cream of the Crop Top 25 was controlled by the Red Team throughout and led 51-41 at halftime over the White Team. The guard tandem of Jaylen Hands (Balboa School, San Diego, Calif.) and Trae Young (Norman North, Norman, Okla.) helped the Red Team build its early lead with solid outside shooting, strong scoring drives and put pressure on the White Team by pushing the ball in transition.
The White Team made its move in the second half with some strong scoring finishes by DeAndre Ayton (Hillcrest Academy, Phoenix, Ariz.), Hamidou Diallo (Putnam Science Academy, Putnam, Conn.) and P.J. Washington (Findlay Prep, Henderson, Nev.). It got within four points, but a Texas trio consisting of Victor Bailey (McNeil, Austin, Texas), Jay Jay Chandler (Cinco Ranch, Katy, Texas) and Charles Bassey (St. Anthony, San Antonio, Texas) helped the Red Team take control down the stretch and record a 112-97 victory.
Chandler (10 points), with his scoring versatility, and Bailey (10 points), with an his explosive first step and three-level scoring, were sparks and they made quite an impression at camp after coming in less heralded than many of the other players in the top all-star game. Chandler and Bailey were two of six players to hit for double figures, including Bassey, who also had 10 points. Bassey, the National Freshman of the Year, had the platform to show he's one of the best players in the nation regardless of class and did not disappoint.
Billy Preston of Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) scored a team-high 17 points for the winning team and was named game co-MVP along with Ayton, who reportedly finished with a game-high 20 points for the White Team.
Charles O'Bannon Jr. (Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas, Nev.) added 15 points for the Red Team, while Diallo and Washington had 14 and 12 points, respectively, for the White team.
Point guard Trevon Duval and combo forward Michael Porter Jr. were named 2016 Pangos Camp co-Most Outstanding Players (MOP). Porter was unable to play in the Cream of the Crop Top 25 Game, so accepting the award on his behalf and presenting Duval with his was 2013 Pangos All-American Camp MOP Stanley Johnson of the Detroit Pistons.
All-Time Pangos All-American Camp MOPs:
2016: Trevon Duval, Advanced International Prep (Dallas, Texas) 6-2 PG
Michale Porter Jr., Father Tolton (Columbia, Mo.) 6-9 SF
2015: Rawle Alkins, Word of God Academy (Raleigh, N.C.) 6-5 SF
Mustapha Heron, Sacred Heart (Waterbury, Conn.) 6-5 SG
2014: Isaiah Briscoe, Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.) 6-3 PG
Tyler Dorsey, Maranatha (Pasadena, Calif.) 6-4 SG
Stephen Zimmermann, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) 7-0 C
2013: Stanley Johnson, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) 6-7 SF
2012: Cliff Alexander, Currie (Chicago, Ill.) 6-9 PF
2011: Shabazz Muhammad, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) 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: Jerry-Davon Jefferson, Lynwood (Calif.) 6-8 WF
2004: C.J. Miles, Skyline (Dallas) 6-6 WF
2003: Robert Swift, Bakersfield (Calif.) 7-0 C