On The Trail: Preseason College Tour and USAB Minicamp
Unfiltered insights from a two-week scouting trip spanning USA Basketball Minicamp, several highly competitive college practices, and a pair of box-office charity exhibitions. Here’s a look at what stood out at each stop:
USAB Minicamp (Colorado Springs, CO)
I kicked off my trip in Colorado Springs for the USA Basketball Junior National Minicamp, where I, alongside nearly all 30 NBA teams, had the opportunity to get an early feel for 80 of the nation’s top high school players. USAB is an awesome evaluation setting because the coaching, player selection, competition level, standards, and overall infrastructure are so high-level. I was particularly impressed by Chris Cenac’s versatility, Brandon McCoy’s maturity, and Christian Collins’ late-blooming trajectory. Young prospects like CJ Rosser and Marcus Spears Jr. also showed promise. (Full Scouting Notebook from USAB)
Chris Cenac Jr., a 6-foot-10, 17-year-old forward, looked every bit the top pro prospect in the building. His rise from an unheralded recruit to a gold medalist and consensus five-star prospect—complete with a list of college suitors long enough to accidentally click an ad on the 247 website—might be enough for some, but Cenac remains hungry, telling me:
“I want it real bad. I want to make it to the NBA. I want to make a lot of money playing the game I love. I’m motivated. “
Full Interviews with Cenac, McCoy, Collins, Rosser & more on our YouTube channel
Rutgers vs. St. John's (Piscataway, NJ)
I’m not sure I’ve seen a more electric atmosphere for a mid-October charity exhibition. Jersey Mike’s Arena was packed with fans well before tipoff, and 20 NBA teams, including several notable executives, were in the building to get a look at potential top-5 picks Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper as they made their unofficial college debut.
Ace Bailey's infectious energy, spirit, and charisma always light up the gym. He went through an entertaining warm-up routine, working on the bounce and rhythm of his shot, playing some spot 1s with teammates, and bouncing the ball back and forth as BabyFace Ray boomed on the speakers before the group started their formal pre-game routine around the 60:00 mark.
The 6-foot-9, 18-year-old wing finished with 25 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 turnover, shooting 4-of-9 from two-point range, 4-of-9 from beyond the arc, and 5-of-7 from the free-throw line over 37 minutes in the 91-85 loss to St. John’s.
His effortless fluidity, touch, and defensive versatility were on full display, reinforcing why he could very well be the first player to shake Adam Silver’s hand next June at the Barclays Center. Yet, his performance was marked by thrilling highs and head-scratching lows. His decision-making will undoubtedly spark debate throughout this draft cycle.
Dylan Harper put up 20 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, and 3 turnovers on 8-of-16 shooting in the close loss. The 6-foot-6 lefty was assertive early, finding his spots in the mid-range and maneuvering downhill with veteran craft. His size, strength, feel, and toughness give him tremendous versatility in the backcourt, and each time I see him live, I’m continuously encouraged by his potential as a defender.
However, as expected from a freshman lead guard in his college debut, he struggled to get the Scarlet Knights into effective offense late in the game. Their rhythm faltered against a disruptive St. John’s defense, ultimately leading to a loss of control as they fell 91-85.
RJ Luis had some nice moments for St. John’s and looks poised to play a key role for Coach Pitino. Known for his rangy defense and smooth slashing since a promising freshman season at UMass, the 6-foot-7 wing could rise on NBA radars with improved shooting and durability.
Maryland Practice (College Park, MD)
The next stop was a highly competitive, intense practice led by Coach Kevin Willard in College Park, MD. Freshman big man Derik Queen has been on the national radar since he was 14 at St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, MD. Since then, to his credit, unlike many who receive such early praise, he has stayed afloat, impacting winning at every stage of his high school career and collecting hardware with both Montverde Academy and Team Thrill.
Standing 6-foot-10, the 19-year-old big man possesses an exceptional feel for the game. He plays at his own pace, handles the ball smoothly, and is a gifted passer. Around the basket, he displays advanced patience and understanding of angles. His knack for grabbing the ball off the glass and going coast-to-coast has caught attention for years, and that was evident in the Terps' practice, where he seemed to enjoy an excellent dose of freedom and empowerment from the Maryland staff.
His jumper has appeared to settle into a comfortable, repeatable motion from three. A clear offensive talent, NBA scouts will be monitoring his defensive play. While not the most explosive athlete, he showed some promising flashes in practice guarding the PnR –– reading space, absorbing contact, and recovering to contest. It will also be interesting to see how much time he plays alongside Julian Reese, a returning 6-foot-9 big man who has been a solid interior presence in the Big Ten for three years.
Pitt Practice (Pittsburgh, PA)
Washington Wizards No. 14 pick Bub Carrington was the main attraction for the Panthers last season, and rightfully so. However, by season's end, Jaland Lowe quietly emerged as one of the best freshman guards in college basketball, showcasing an undeniable 'it factor' down the stretch. Notable moments include him catching Duke's Kyle Filipowski on a pair of switches and sinking two deep 3-pointers to secure a win at Cameron Indoor, as well as going toe-to-toe with North Carolina's RJ Davis in a thrilling atmosphere at Capital One Arena during the ACC Tournament semifinals.
Now he’s got the keys, and we’re eager to track his growth. I sat down for a film session with Lowe that will be released soon on our YouTube channel. We dissected various pick-and-roll coverages, his problem-solving and adaptation to scouting reports as a freshman in the ACC, and lessons learned from mentors like John Lucas and Chris Paul.
Xavier vs. Dayton (Dayton, OH)
A primetime exhibition at UD Arena featured two players on our 2025 Watchlist: Xavier's Dailyn Swain and Dayton’s Hamad Mousa.
Dailyn Swain, a 19-year-old, 6-foot-7 sophomore, showcased his defensive versatility, using his voice, length, and fluid athleticism to guard multiple positions, disrupt passing lanes, and pressure ball handlers. Offensively, his smooth ball-handling and lanky frame add a herky-jerky dynamic to his game. He showed flashes of some offensive connectivity ––slicing through defenses, making sound reads, and finding shooters when the defense collapsed.
Swain finished with 10 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 27 minutes, shooting 3/5 from the field and 1/1 from three –– an area he told me this summer he was aware he needed to make significant progress to reach the heights he aims for in his career.
Hamad Mousa entered about five minutes in and committed two early turnovers under pressure from Xavier’s aggressive ball-screen defense. It was encouraging to see his teammates help him adjust throughout the game. He closed with 8 points and 3 rebounds, shooting 3-of-7 from the field and 1-of-2 from deep in 15 minutes, with no additional turnovers.
At 18 years old and all of 6-foot-8, the Qatari native brings an enticing mix of length, natural touch, and basketball IQ. While he'll need some time to adapt to the speed and physicality of college play, he’s certainly someone to watch as he acclimates to this level.
Another Dayton freshman, Amaël L'Etang—or "Frenchie," as his teammates call him—also had promising moments in limited minutes. He finished with 9 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block in 12 minutes, shooting 4-of-6 from the field and 1-of-3 from three. He’ll be one to keep an eye on as A-10 play progresses.
Kentucky Practice (Lexington, KY)
The next stop was Lexington for Kentucky's practice, led by Mark Pope and his staff. The session was sharp and detailed, highlighting the Wildcats’ competitiveness and impressive depth 1-through-5. They have an intriguing mix of players—some who have already impacted winning in college at a high level, and others who are on the brink of the NBA—rather than the typical lottery-level talent Coach Calipari grew accustomed to rolling with.
Jaxson Robinson continues to evolve. For someone who entered college at 17, faced DNPs, and had to navigate the transfer portal multiple times, it's refreshing to see him find a home with Coach Mark Pope. His shooting gravity and movement shooting have formed an excellent synergy with Pope's offense. He appears ready to make another leap offensively this year, displaying increased patience with the ball, making more mature reads off the bounce, and becoming a more consistent night-to-night performer and leader, as he shared in our interview. We sat down with Jaxson for an interview and film session that will be released soon on our YouTube channel.
Drexel transfer Amari Williams is poised to be a key two-way weapon for the Wildcats. Few players in college basketball blend his physical tools (listed at 7-foot, 262 lbs, with a 7-foot-5 wingspan) with his playmaking ability. He was one of only two players in the Nation last season with a 17% assist rate and an 8%+ block rate. This gives Pope an intriguing anchor to work with on both ends, operating out of dribble hand-offs, blocking shots, and making reads in the open floor. He's bound to become a fan favorite.
WVU Practice (Morgantown, WV)
My tour wrapped in Morgantown, where Coach Darian DeVries set an energetic tone, showcasing the impressive connectivity of his first group at West Virginia. Oklahoma State transfer Javon Small looks ready to steer the backcourt, while Tucker DeVries, the 6-foot-7, 21-year-old son of the coach, steps into a pivotal role. Fresh off a season as the nation’s sixth-leading scorer at Drake, his shot-making will face new scrutiny atop Big 12 scouting reports.
Amani Hansberry is an under-the-radar name to watch. The 19-year-old has shown steady growth since his high school days at St. John’s in DC and Mount St. Joseph in Baltimore. At 6-7 with a 7-1 wingspan, Hansberry’s versatility and decision-making could thrive in a small-ball 5 role. He’s retooled his shooting mechanics, a key swing skill for his long-term upside. A gritty rebounder with strong intangibles, Hansberry will need to address concerns about his size in the frontcourt and ability to contain quicker guards, but his blend of length, feel, and progress to date makes him intriguing.