In what may prove a precursor to his college career, Jermaine Sanders lit it up this weekend on the Villanova campus.
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound rising senior wing from Rice High School averaged 18 points and 8 rebounds and hit two game-winning shots to lead Rice to a perfect 5-0 mark at Villanova’s team camp.
“Jermaine has a high basketball IQ,” said New Heights AD and Rice assistant Kimani Young. “Once he increases his strength and conditioning, the sky’s the limit for him.
“He’s one of the best shooters in the country. He’s 6-4 and has a big strong body. There’s not many guards that have his package of size, skill and IQ.”
A week ago at Fordham University, Sanders hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to win a game against Team Final. Then he woke up the next morning and dropped 23 points on the Playaz to help New Heights advance to the semis. In that game, he scored 20 against East Coast Elite.
A week later at Villanova, Sanders made two more game-winners.
“He hit a floater at the buzzer to beat Liberty [Saturday],” Young said. “He hit a free throw to beat St. Anthony in overtime [Saturday]. He was our team MVP.”
Sanders has excelled and moved on despite losing his cousin, Ronald Washington Jr., who was shot to death last fall in Far Rockaway.
Sanders says his college list includes Villanova, St. John’s, Rutgers, Seton Hall, Miami, South Carolina and Maryland.
He has long thought highly of Villanova.
“They are pretty high right now,” he said.
Sanders has been to St. John’s many times, and Young said Sanders may try to visit Rutgers and Seton Hall in the coming days.
“We’re going to look at Rutgers and Seton Hall. We might try and squeeze some visits in the next week with the local schools and after the live period we might take some other visits,” Young said.
Wherever he lands, Sanders figures to be a factor.
“I can bring shooting, rebounding, scoring and defense,” he said.
KAMBOLA TO MARSHALL
J.P. Kambola, a 6-9, 225-pound center from Toronto who played at St. Benedict’s Prep, has verbally committed to Marshall and head coach Tom Herrion.
“Coach [Bill] Barton and Coach Herrion have shown a lot of interest and they need some help up front,” Grassroots Canada coach Ro Russell said by text.
Kambola could redshirt or prop a year before becoming eligible.
“His eligibility is yet to be determined. He may redshirt to get stronger and more developed,” Russell said.
–Alex Kline & Adam Zagoria
NBA TOP 100 CAMP AWARDS
Chane Behanan, a 6-8, 230-pound rising senior power forward from Bowling Green (Ky.) and All Ohio Red, was named MVP of the NBA Top 100 Camp in Charlottesville, Va.
Behanan decommitted from Cincinnati last winter and is reportedly considering Louisville, West Virginia, Cincinnati, Ohio State and Xavier, among others.
He scored 12 points in the title game, but the Hawks fell to the Pistons, 81-73. He was tied for the camp’s second-leading scorer at 14.7 ppg.
Dezmine Wells, a 6-3 SF from Hargrave Military, was named Tournament Most Valuable Player. Wells is the No. 13 SF in the Class of 2011.
Anthony Davis, a 6-9 PF from Chicago Perspectives High, was named Most Outstanding Prospect. The 2011 forward is reportedly considering Syracuse, Louisville, Ohio State, Kentucky, North Carolina and Duke, among others.
The top 5 scorers were:
P.J. Hairston – 15.8 ppg
B.J. Young – 14.7
Chase Behanan – 14.7
Cody Zeller – 14.3
Michael Gbinije – 14.0
(Photo courtesy Lexington Herald Leader)
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