The St. James NIBC Invitational concluded over the weekend after 10 days of action outside of Washington D.C. Fifteen of the top high schools in the country participated, with many of the best prospects going head to head in their first competitive action since the onset of the pandemic in March.
High school juniors and seniors have lost as much high-level basketball competition as anyone. For high school seniors, the fate of the all-star game circuit in April is still up in the air, making this NIBC league possibly their best chance not only of national exposure, but also an opportunity to test themselves against elite competition and sharpen their skills from a developmental perspective.
Word among team participants this weekend indicated that this high school league format could end up being the preferred method for Nike to showcase its stars of the future long-term, in addition to -- or perhaps eventually instead of -- its AAU league, the EYBL. Oversight over prestigious and well-established high school programs, with track records that go back sometimes decades, seems easier logistically than the sometimes chaotic world of grassroots basketball -- including COVID-19 protocols, academic eligibility and travel.
So, which prospects moved the needle? Here's our look at the standouts.
Jalen Duren | Jr. | C | Montverde Academy
No. 2 in ESPN Class of 2022
The leading scorer of a loaded Montverde squad that finished 7-0, Duren has taken the next step with skills, intensity and productivity, looking every bit the part of a future top NBA draft pick. The 6-10, 245-pound center with a 7-5 wingspan was a dominant figure inside the paint on both ends of the floor. Bouncy off two feet, with reliable hands, he was nearly automatic in catch-and-finish situations, and he even showed some glimpses of potential as a face-up shooter. Duren is already a decent passer who is effective finding the open man out of double teams, dishing out 15 assists in his seven games and finishing with a positive assist-to-turnover ratio. Fairly robotic with his back to the basket, Duren still has work to do to become a modern big man in terms of expanding his shooting range, finishing with his off hand and improving his playmaking ability, but he's making strides in those areas, which is what you want to see from a player who just turned 17 two months ago.
Duren is most effective on the defensive end, where he offers a near-ideal combination of length, strength, mobility, fluidity, instincts and quickness getting off his feet. Known as a guy who would pick and choose when to operate at max intensity in the past, Duren has made significant progress in that department since arriving at Montverde and put on an absolute clinic of rim-protection in Montverde's heavily anticipated game against then-undefeated IMG Academy, sliding his feet effectively on the perimeter, using verticality around the basket, recovering after getting beat to make plays at the rim and controlling the defensive glass. Montverde mostly keeps things simple for Duren right now on both ends of the floor, so the next step in his development will come in terms of adding more nuance to his game as the competition stiffens.
Caleb Houstan | Sr. | SF Montverde Academy
No. 8 in ESPN class of 2021
On a strong Montverde team, Houstan was a star in his own role -- spacing the floor from the perimeter, being a key playmaking cog, coming off screens on occasion and playing excellent defense.
Despite standing 6-8, Houstan was one of the best shooters at the NIBC (42% on 3s), consistently on point if able to step into 3-pointers with his feet set. He does an excellent job of moving off the ball and finding opportunities to get his shot off in the open floor, and shows some flashes of being able to get his jumper off the bounce or coming off curls. More fluid than he is explosive, Houstan's ball-handling and overall shot-creation ability remain works in progress, though he's savvy with the way he moves the ball and generates easy shots for teammates within the flow of the offense. Houstan's feel for the game shows up especially with the way he defends off the ball, and he's almost always in the right spots positionally.
Houstan will be an easy player for Juwan Howard to integrate into Michigan's roster next year thanks to his positional size, skill, feel and willingness to do the little thing. He's attractive for a lot of the same reasons from an NBA perspective, but finding a way to ramp up his aggressiveness and finding a little more volume without sacrificing efficiency will make him an even more coveted prospect.
Kennedy Chandler | Sr. | PG | Sunrise Christian
No. 10 in ESPN class of 2021
Leading his team to a 6-1 record with an outstanding outing against potential national championship candidates IMG Academy in the final day of action, Chandler had a great weekend and is considered by many the best point guard in his class.
What Chandler lacks in size he makes up for with quickness, ball-handling and an innate ability to play at different speeds and get wherever he wants on the floor. He hits nearly every pass you want to see from a point guard operating out of pick-and-roll, making pocket passes, lobs over the top and using both sides of the floor. While he's one of the most creative guards in the high school game, he showed that he can take over as a scorer as well when called upon, be it generating and finishing difficult layup attempts in traffic, drawing fouls or hitting pull-up 3s from well beyond the arc, a part of his game that wasn't considered a strength in the past. While small and thin, Chandler's long arms, quick feet, excellent instincts and competitive nature allowed him to be a menace getting in passing lanes, as he generated a huge amount of steals (25 in 167 minutes) in every game he played.
Although his size will always be questioned, Chandler passed several tests over the course of the week that proved he's ready for the rigors of the SEC with Tennessee and has a strong case to be considered a potential one-and-done.
Tamar Bates | Sr. | SG | IMG Academy
No. 53 in ESPN class of 2021
Bates was the breakout performer of the event considering his starting point, being the clear-cut engine of a vaunted IMG Academy team that is loaded with top-shelf recruits. Not especially impressive on first glance standing just 6-4 with an average frame, Bates looked like one of the best shooters in the class and an outstanding defender, making a major imprint on the game any time he stepped on the floor.
Dynamic with the way he gets his jumper off, he's capable of shooting off screens, relocating for pullups off closeouts or isolating off jab-steps. Although a solid athlete, Bates' rudimentary ball-handling skills prevent him from creating much offense for himself at the moment, making him difficult to do much out of pick-and-roll or isolation situations.
Sporting inconsistent guard play, Bates' frenetic energy and intensity were major factors in keeping IMG in games defensively. He covers ground quickly and has a huge wingspan that allows him to cover players both bigger and smaller than him, as well as toughness that his teammates feed off. Those around him rave about his approach to the game.
Bates looks like a perfect fit for Shaka Smart's style of play at Texas, where he's committed next season.
Dariq Whitehead | Jr. | SG | Montverde Academy
No. 6 in ESPN Class of 2022
Identified when he was a 13-year-old playing up on a loaded Montverde roster prior to even enrolling in high school, Whitehead has added additional facets to his game every time we've watched him the past three years. Still only 16, Whitehead stood out once again as one of the most versatile players in attendance, helping Montverde to an undefeated record while doing a little bit of everything on both ends of the floor.
Now sporting a solidly built 6-6, 190-pound frame to go along with impressive athletic ability, Whitehead was tasked with more shot-creation responsibilities than he had in the past. Able to probe with his dribble operating at different speeds, especially going to his left, Whitehead plays a mature and under control game, driving with his head up and looking for teammates while also capable of absorbing contact in the lane himself. His jumper, while not broken, remains a work in progress, as he shoots a set-shot pull-up from behind the arc and is prone to putting significant side-spin on spot-up jumpers, leading to inconsistent results.
Active and engaged defensively, Whitehead fights over screens with his quick feet, contains dribble penetration using his strong frame, contests jumpers with his length and often finishes the play by cleaning the glass. Already on an excellent trajectory, it will be interesting to see how Whitehead's jumper and overall scoring ability evolve next season when he steps into an even bigger role for Montverde as a senior. He seems well on his way to establishing himself as one of the best prospects in his class considering the steady progress he's making.
Jarace Walker | Jr. | SF | IMG Academy
No. 9 in ESPN class of 2022
Walker was up and down from a productivity and efficiency standpoint in three games but will always pique the interest of scouts -- even among bouts of inconsistency -- thanks to his outstanding physical tools and budding versatility on both ends of the floor. Standing 6-8 with a 230-pound frame and a near 7-2 wingspan, Walker already looks the part of a NBA forward. While not overly explosive in a traditional sense, Walker plays with unique pace and changes speeds fluidly with long strides, making him a graceful shot-creator when operating at his best. The next step in his offensive development will have to come with his jumper, which sports a slow release and an incredibly high arc, making him inconsistent throughout his career, as well as from the free throw line.
Walker's defensive versatility does make up for that to an extent, as he plays with excellent intensity and shows a lot of versatility switching onto guards, wings and forwards, while being a real event creator getting in passing lanes, protecting the rim and crashing the glass.
NBA scouts can afford to be patient with the 17-year-old Walker, who displays intriguing playmaking ability on both ends of the floor. His projection is highly dependent on finding more ways to put the ball in the basket efficiently, which may be easier with better spacing and less ball-handling responsibility.
Ryan Nembhard | Sr. | PG | Montverde Academy
Unranked in class of 2021
Lost in the shuffle behind a sea of McDonald's All-Americans in his first two years at Montverde, Nembhard patiently waited his turn and had a breakout tournament as the engine behind his team's 7-0 outing. He was especially impressive in a win over IMG, getting anywhere he wanted on the floor, hounding opposing guards the length of the floor and making the right decisions out of pick-and-roll. Nembhard showed quickness attacking the paint at this event, rarely needing a ball-screen to get to the front of the rim. He uses soft touch to get his layups off in traffic and showed real toughness drawing fouls and getting to the free throw line thanks to his strong frame. Sure-handed with the ball and more than happy to execute the offense, Nembhard does a great job of keeping his star teammates happy with well-timed passes.
Nembhard's jump-shot has long been a question mark, and he's begun to show some progress in that area, making five of his 15 attempts at this event. Continuing to speed up his release and finding consistency shooting off the dribble will be major points of emphasis as he gets to the college ranks, where defenses are sure to go under ball screens if he's unable to punish them. Defensively, Nembhard can really move his feet and has made a living getting in passing lanes his entire career.
Trevor Keels | Sr. | SG | Paul VI Catholic
No. 19 in ESPN class of 2021
Keels scored 50 points in his 59 minutes over two contests, but he did so inefficiently, converting just 16 of his 48 shots. Not in the best shape from a conditioning standpoint, Keels showed what makes him interesting at times with the wiggle, body control and pace he displays as a slasher and the creativity in which he finishes inside the arc. But he was trying to play too much bully ball and couldn't get his outside shot to fall with any consistency, partially because of the high difficultly of his attempts.
Keels has excellent shooting mechanics and range that extends out to the NBA line, showing soft touch on his pull-up. He can play at different speeds, gets to the line frequently with his strong frame and is normally a very good passer, something that wasn't as noticeable in this setting as in previous viewings. He guards everyone from point guards to power forwards thanks to his strong frame and sharp instincts. Highly accomplished from a young age, Keels has an outstanding résumé and the type of versatility and feel that NBA teams actively seek out, making him someone to monitor once he joins the college ranks.
Keyonte George | Jr. | SG | iSchool of Lewisville
No. 12 in ESPN class of 2022
George's team only played twice at this event, both losses, but proved to be one of the more gifted scorers in attendance, averaging a cool 26 points per game. It's easy to see what makes him so highly regarded on first glance, as he has a natural pace to his game, changing speeds smoothly, being quick off his feet for explosive finishes and showing an impressive knack for putting the ball in the basket. He can make jumpers with his feet set or off the dribble, sometimes from well beyond the arc, showing soft touch and deep range that gives him excellent shot-making potential even coming off screens.
Still figuring out what separates a good shot from a bad one, George can create for others but is at an early stage of development as far as his decision-making goes, being wildly inconsistent from possession to possession. His defensive intensity fluctuates as well, even if he has quick feet, a strong frame, good instincts and the ability to make plays getting in passing lanes or even blocking shots. Being more attentive off the ball -- and showing better technique on it -- could help him significantly in the long-term, even if his average size and length aren't ideal projecting long-term. George just turned 17. The fact that he already shows explosive athleticism, a fairly dynamic jump-shot and the ability to affect the game in several ways is a good sign for his future, especially if he continues to grow.
Mason Miller | Sr. | SF | Houston High
No. 98 in ESPN class of 2021
Miller demonstrated some real intrigue in his two NIBC games, and that could very well allow him to exceed his recruiting ranking. At 6-9, he already has elite size for a wing to go along with strong athletic ability. He's one of the more dynamic shooters in his class, capable of coming off screens, relocating off a closeout and throwing in pull-up 3-pointers with deep range, even from awkward angles. More than just a shooter, he can play above the rim emphatically if allowed to get downhill in space, showing sharp footwork attacking closeouts or being very effective operating out of dribble handoffs thanks to his strong first step.
With a narrow frame, thin hips and very little lower body strength, Miller's body will likely take several years to fill out, something that affects him most noticeably on the defensive end at the moment. He struggles to get over screens, gets bullied by stronger players and has a difficult time finding a position to defend. Heading to Creighton next season, he'll be utilized in a wide-open offense that should be tailor-made to his strengths. Shooters with size, feel and versatility are at a major premium in the modern game, making Miller someone NBA teams will surely want to learn more about as his frame continues to evolve.
Eric Dailey Jr. | Jr. | SF | IMG Academy
No. 31 in ESPN class of 2022
Sporting a trimmed-down frame and what appears to be an improved jumper, Dailey's intrigue comes into focus more sharply when he's playing within himself and showing the type of versatility he demonstrated in his 60 minutes of action at this event. Standing 6-6 with a near 7-foot wingspan, his size, strength and length gives him terrific potential defensively, as he can get in passing lanes, rotate to the protect the rim and defend players both bigger and smaller than him thanks to his instincts and quick feet.
Most interestingly, he made a barrage of jumpers from all over the floor in two of the three games he participated in. That isn't quite in line with what he's shown in previous settings, but it would be a very positive development if it held up over time.