Players from as far as Nebraska gathered in Fort Mill, SC, this weekend to attend one of the most prestigious camps in the country. There was talent from wall to wall, and many took advantage of the stage to put…
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Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log inPlayers from as far as Nebraska gathered in Fort Mill, SC, this weekend to attend one of the most prestigious camps in the country. There was talent from wall to wall, and many took advantage of the stage to put in work and display their skills.
I enjoyed watching the players compete throughout day 1, and a lot of players caught my attention and found their way into my notes. Here are a few standouts from day 1…
Michael Wilson (6’0/PG/2026)
Team: Madcitymambas
Instagram: Mikey_wilson12
Twitter: @Mikey_wilson12
Michael had a great day 1 as he displayed all the tools in the toolbox. He scored at all levels and did so in a variety of ways. He was aggressive off the bounce when attacking, and he showed his range when he shot it from deep. He has good size and a strong-shouldered frame that allows him to take contact well.
Michael is a high octane guard that was consistent in his production.
He is listed as a PG but has a good balance between scoring and facilitating. He had the switch turned to scoring more so than facilitating throughout the weekend, but he left no question that he could do both. He is a lefty that is a difficult cover and is one that I will be following throughout the spring and summer.
Solomon Clanton (5’8/CG/2028)
Team: GPSA
Instagram: Lilslugg2gs2ps
Twitter: N/A
Solomon was a top performer on day 1. He was a high-level scorer that put up huge numbers throughout the day. I initially noticed Solomon during the 3v3 action and was highly impressed at his ability to score the rock. His scoring production continued as the 5v5 games got underway, and he did not look back. He has really good handles and got out into the open court often with a burst of speed, putting pressure on defenders getting back. We are talking about camp, so the transition defense was not a point of emphasis, and as a result, Solomon was often running down the defenders’ backs by the time they were getting ready to turn around to defend.
He was one of the best iso scorers in all the age divisions.
He is a good finisher in the paint and at the cup, and I cannot express enough how he scored in bunches. He is only a 6th grader and is on the trajectory to be a name often mentioned in the 2028 class.
Calvin Goss (5’5/PG/2028)
Team: TSFMack2028
Instagram: callmeq2028
Twitter: N/A
Calvin was one of the smaller-sized guards, but he put on a show throughout the day. He is smooth, creative, and crafty when handling the rock. He was aggressive off the bounce and was getting to the cup, where he continued his craftiness when finishing. His first step was explosive, making him one of the quickest guards at camp when the ball was in his hands. He is extremely tough off the bounce and was in attack mode the entire day.
His gifts as a PG are obvious as he has good court vision and can make the high degree of difficulty passes.
The ball was often in his hands in 3v3 and 5v5, and he was extremely comfortable and confident running the show. We will continue to monitor his development throughout the spring and summer.
Shane Goines (5’5/SG/2028)
Team: Felton Elite
Instagram: Shanegotgame2k28
Twitter: N/A
Shane is another small in size guard that was an absolute beast when scoring the rock. He was at his best when out in transition and slashing to the rim in the half-court to score. He has to be added to the list of top iso scorers at camp. It was basically over when he got two feet in the paint, as he was one of the best finishers at camp.
He has a good IQ and put it on display throughout the day.
When teams tried to double team him to get the ball out of his hands, he stayed calm and made the right decision. Make no mistake about it Shane can score the rock, and he used the camp’s platform to show it to all in attendance.
Michael Vilmenay (5’6/SG/2027)
Team: Team Hardaway Jr and On the Rise
Instagram: Dfb_mikey
Twitter: N/A
Michael was one of the most skilled guards at camp. His fundamentals were impeccable, and his IQ was superb. I really enjoyed watching Michael play as he played the right way, which is not often found at camps.
Can Michael score the rock? Yes, for a matter of fact, he is a big-time scorer.
He was highly crafty when crowded by defenders as he created space with a single hard dribble or a single hard dribble and jab. He is one of the camp’s most promising young players in the 2027 class, as he asserted himself as one of the top playmakers and is hands down an emerging prospect to keep an eye on.
DaVonta Lindsey, Jr. (5’7/CG/2028)
Team: Team United Cooke
Instagram: dj_hoopdreams4x
Twitter: N/A
Leading up to the McDavid camp, I had heard about DJ, and let me say what I was hearing was all true. DJ can absolutely go. He is just a 6th grader but made a case to be one of the top players in the camp, regardless of classification. He was one of the best attacking off the bounce as he was shifty in his attack, which was coupled with good body control that helped him gain the step needed to get past defenders.
He scored at all levels and was one of maybe three other players that commanded double and triple teams.
DJ is a 10-eyes player, meaning when the ball is in his hands, he is occupying the eyes of all five defenders. He forced help often, once defenders saw that he was attacking and scoring at ease. He is a ferocious playmaker that also created well for his teammates. We will definitely be following DJ throughout the spring and summer.
During the spring and summer, for those of you that follow my writings, you know that I add the component of ‘Opportunities For Growth’ to each player’s eval. For this article and all the articles, I will release coming out of the camp, I will say this. As for much of the fantastic play I saw, there were not-so-good plays that included wasted dribbles, ill-advised passes, low IQ decisions, lack of energy and effort, and lack of commitment to the defensive side of the court. Many will say, well, it was just a camp…to that, I say just choose any of the following quotes from one of the greatest, the late Kobe Bryant:
“After all, greatness is not for everybody.”
“A lot of people say they want to be great, but they’re not willing to make the sacrifices necessary to achieve greatness.”
“From the beginning, I wanted to be the best. I had a constant craving, a yearning, to improve and be the best.”
“There’s a big misconception where people thinking winning or success comes from everybody putting their arms around each other and singing kumbaya and patting them on the back when they mess up, and that’s just not reality. If you are going to be a leader, you are not going to please everybody. You have to hold people accountable. Even if you have that moment of being uncomfortable.”
“Great things come from hard work and perseverance. No excuses.”
“I saw you come in, and I wanted you to know that it doesn’t matter how hard you work, that I’m willing to work harder than you.”
“It’s the one thing you can control. You are responsible for how people remember you—or don’t. So don’t take it lightly.”
“Trust me, setting things up right from the beginning will avoid a ton of tears and heartache.”
“I can’t relate to lazy people. We don’t speak the same language. I don’t understand you. I don’t want to understand you.”
“I want to see if I can. I don’t know if I can. I want to find out. I want to see. I’m going to do what I always do: I’m going to break it down to its smallest form, smallest detail, and go after it. Day by day, one day at a time.”
Stay close…more will be coming from the McDavid All-American Camp.
