INDIANAPOLIS – Nike’s fourth installment
of their Regional Skills Academy brought some of the
best players in the Midwest together to test their
skills and mettle. From the outset the vibe was
different than previous camps. Of the 35 players on the
invite list just 17 were checked in and ready to go on
time Friday night. Sure there was traffic and not all
the participants were in close proximity but something
else was just off.
From the opening whistle the energy in the gym was
simply underwhelming. Even the always amped camp
director, Ganon Baker, couldn’t infuse the intensity
that has become the staple of the Nike Skills Academies.
Some participants looked nothing short of disinterested
and it was only compounded when more than half of the
campers failed the written test while a handful didn’t
even bother to answer all the questions. Tamika
Catchings stopped by Saturday and spoke to the kids
briefly and most didn’t even notice she was in the
Northwest High School gymnasium. Not a single
participant approached her during a water break to pick
her brain. None of the players challenged the two
collegiate players helping out, Amber Harris or DeeDee
Jernigan to play one-on-one. Opportunities that many
kids would jump at, even if their talent is lesser than
those here.
The second 2008 Nike RSA in Santa Ana and the third
in Philadelphia were models of enthusiasm but the
attitudes are different here. Not that there was a lack
of talent but a great deal of players don’t seem to
grasp the opportunity in front of them. Scrimmages on
Saturday night had to be stopped and the teams were
threatened to play with fire and intensity or leave the
gym. It was baffling. The best are supposed to be the
hardest working, most engaged players but among the many
good players in attendance the number with the heart and
desire to be great is minimal at best.
It isn’t all bad though. Many
players took the opportunity to
work on their skills with other
top players over playing in
regional AAU qualifiers and
other club team tournaments. One
participant, Connecticut commit
Kelly Faris, worked out at the
camp Friday night, then left a
little early to play with her
club team Friday night. She
injured her back in the game.
Even though she couldn’t play,
she returned to the gym Saturday
to watch and try to learn from
the coaches and players at the
RSA.
Faris was not the only top
2009 prospect limited in action
this weekend. Skylar Diggins,
the No. 4 ranked player in the
class according to ESPN
HoopGurlz, played Friday but
missed Saturday to go to prom.
Tayler Hill, the No 12 ranked
player in the class didn’t make
it to the gym until Saturday.
Throughout this odd weekend
there was still talent on
display.
Samantha
Arnold
(Medinah,
Ill./Lake
Park)
has
played
most of
her
career
on the
perimeter
but at
6-foot-4
she
needs to
keep
advancing
her
interior
game for
the next
level.
She
bounced
between
the
guards
and
posts
for
drill
work to
get a
taste of
everything.
She
played
hard and
the area
for
improvement
is
simply
playing
a more
physical
style
when she
does get
inside.
She’s
not a
weak kid
at all
and
learning
to get
leverage
and play
with
contact
will
also
help her
on the
perimeter.
Her
footwork
is
sound,
she can
make
plays
passing
the
ball,
her
face-up
game
from the
mid-post
is
outstanding
but when
going
one-on-one
against
players
her size
she has
to get
comfortable
taking
it right
at the
defense
and
reading
their
movement.
Alex
Bentley
(Indianapolis,
Ind./Ben
Davis)
is a
smooth
two-guard
but at
5-7
she’s
going to
have to
work
that
much
harder
than all
the 5-10
guards
at the
next
level.
She has
a strong
upper
body.
Bentley
was one
of the
few that
took the
drill
work and
applied
it in
the
scrimmages,
especially
attacking
the
defender
with
contact
and
exploding
by them.
She uses
her
strength
and
aggressive
style of
play
inside
to
finish
against
taller
players.
She
needs to
continue
to
master
her
change
of pace
and
attack
with
perfect
angles
to be
successful
against
the
guards
who will
be
quicker
and
taller
than she
is. If
she
learns
to use
her body
on the
perimeter
the way
she does
protecting
the ball
on
dribble
penetration
she will
be
harder
to
defend.
The
framework
is there
though.
Skylar
Diggins
(South
Bend,
Ind./Washington)
was
easily
the most
skilled
player
in the
camp.
She
brings
great
body
control,
ball
handling,
footwork,
basketball
IQ with
a work
ethic
that the
other
players
in the
gym
should
have
been
emulating.
She
isn’t
afraid
to
attack a
new
skill
with
vigor or
the fear
of
failing.
She
simply
wants to
get
better.
Strength
is
really
her only
limiting
factor
right
now and
she’s
not
exactly
weak
either.
