Coming off a sub-par performance as a team in Las Vegas, Khalil Dukes (Capitol Prep, CT) and company came into the tournament with some experience under their belt and ready to do some damage.
“We had to get some team chemistry issues down, but we came in here and played together and we ended up getting a win out of it,” explained Dukes after a gutsy playoff win at the Hoop Group Providence Jam Fest.
Once his team and he found their rhythm, they found a way to get an impressive win over a tough Rhode Island Breakers team in the opening round.
The Breakers tried to ride their inside-out duo of 2013, 6-7 forward Christian Ejiga from Hyde HS in Woodstock, CT) and versatile 2013, 6-3 guard Tykei Hallman (17 points) who recently moved from Boston, MA and has enrolled in Central HS in RI.
However, Dukes (23 points) heated up late in the first half, hitting five three-pointers in the contest while keeping his teammates involved throughout the game.
Throughout the tournament, Dukes was practically defenseless: Current Golden State Warriors head coach and former color commentary provider Mark Jackson’s, “Hand down, man down,” was in full effect for every defender that attempted to shut down Dukes during the three day event.
His sniper-like shooting combined with his ability to play on the ball efficiently while making plays for his teammates are a few of the reasons that Dukes recently earned a scholarship offer from the likes of Southern California while in Las Vegas last weekend.
“My recruitment has changed,” highlighted Dukes. “I got a big offer from USC, so I think after that, my recruitment has changed a lot.”
As the AAU season continues to move forward, you can expect Dukes’ game and recruitment to advance as well.
Other CBC-Smith News and Notes
- Dukes may have highlighted the tournament, but CBC had some upper-echelon youth talent on display throughout the weekend also 2015 guard/forward Jared Wilson-Frame (Windsor High School, CT) is about as versatile of a 6-4 player as there can be, and this is just the beginning. Wilson-Frame sports a size 17 sneaker – yes, as a freshman. With the abilities to dribble, make plays, score from the perimeter, or bang down low with the big men, there aren’t many holes in this promising freshman’s game.
- Levy Gillespie didn’t force the issue this weekend, but he also wasn’t unaggressive either. The 6-3 Capital Prep (CT) sophomore guard is steady and makes solid decisions with the basketball in his hands on a consistent basis.
- We already mentioned Mustapha Heron in a feature story here.
Twitter
Facebook
