As far as grassroots basketball is concerned, Dinos Trigonis is one of the OG’s. His Belmont Shore AAU program has been the top independent squad in the country for over a decade now, turning down offers from every major shoe company on a yearly basis. James Harden, Brandon Jennings, DeMar DeRozan, Jrue Holiday, Jason Kapono, and Kirk Snyder are just a few of the NBA ballers to rock a Belmont Shore jersey. For Trigonis, it’s not just about Belmont Shore; It’s about giving athletes of any program exposure through his events.
Dinos’ Pangos All-American Camp in June, Fab 48 in July, and Tarkanian Classic in December are three staples on the grassroots scene. Throughout the remainder of the year, he holds a number of smaller events that still attract top talent, albeit usually from a particular region of the country. We saw this first hand at the Pangos All South Frosh/Soph Camp in Dallas.
Blending players from all over the deep south, the Pangos All South Frosh/Soph Camp gave us a glimpse of the future. The bulk of the top talent was from the Lone Star State, but there will still a number of sleepers who emerged from other areas as well. Phones were blowing up, offers were getting handed out, and there were a number of players who certainly raised their stock over the two day event.
Here are a few of the underclassmen who caught our eye:
Charles Bassey, 6-10, PF, St. Anthony’s (TX), 2019
Rivals top player in the class of 2019 definitely lived up to the hype at Pangos. At 6-foot-10, he has a unique blend of perimeter skill and athleticism that make him such a special prospect. The Nigerian product is most effective going to work from mid-range a la KG, where he creates mismatches with his ability to rip and take slower bigs off the bounce. Bassey is the face of Jeff Merritt’s emerging program at St. Anthony’s, which certainly has the potential to be one of the very best in the Lone Star state.
De’vion Harmon, 6-2, PG, Guyer HS (TX), 2019
Fresh off of an impressive showing at the USA Basketball trials, De’Vion Harmon showed why he might be repping the stars and stripes. The tough playmaker was in attack mode the entire camp, constantly putting pressure on the D and finding the open man when the opportunity didn’t present itself. Harmon has established himself as not only one of the top lead guards in Texas, but in the entire south for the sophomore class.
Tyrese Maxey, 6-3, PG/SG, South Garland HS (TX), 2019
A serious talent, Tyrese Maxey showed the natural ability to play both guard spots down the road. While he is a natural bucket getter, Maxey is able to create on just about anyone and showed off nasty court vision in transition. When you throw in the fact that he is a big time athlete who can finish with either hand, it is easy to see why the bulk of the Big 12 is recruiting him.
Tyreek Smith, 6-8, PF, API (TX), 2019
If you built the prototype for a power forward physically, Tyreek Smith would be that dude. Blessed with a great frame, long arms, and crazy athleticism, Smith has all of the tools college coaches dream of. As his offensive skill level continues to grow, expect Tyreek’s recruitment to blow up.
Avery Anderson, 6-3, PG, Northwest HS (TX), 2019
Perhaps the flashiest player the event had to offer, Avery Anderson set the crowd on fire with his exciting style of play and crazy finishes. He was able to break down defenders with ease, showed off a nasty crossover, Avery needs to continue to grow as a decision maker, but has all of the talent that you desire in a big lead guard.
Montavious Murphy, 6-7, SF/PF, Klein Collins (TX), 2019
One of the more versatile players in attendance, Montavious showed a rapidly developing perimeter game with ideal size for a swingman. He’s got a silkly smooth J out to three, is a good straight line driver, and is a solid athlete for a player who is far from being done developing physically. Murphy is undoubtedly one of the biggest sleepers in not only Houston, but the entire state of Texas.
Obi Prosper, 6-8, PF, St. Anthony’s (TX), 2019
Starting in the frontcourt for St. Anthony’s next to Charles Bassey, Obi Prosper is another post with tremendous upside. The super athletic forward plays with a great motor, is consistently improving, and has shown flashes of range out to the three point line. Far from a finished product, Obi still needs plenty of refinement, but has all of the makings of a high major prospect.
Cade Cunningham, 6-5, SG, Bowie HS (TX), 2020
Perhaps the best freshman in the event, Cade Cunningham showed off a skill set that extended well beyond his years. He bombed deep three pointers, had no problem getting his own shot, and used his strength to finish through contact. Cunningham is definitely one of the more polished 2020’s in the DFW
