Smithson Basketball Training Combine – Standouts

KENNESAW, GA – My good friends over at Smithson Basketball Training (SBT) held a combine-style camp for players this past weekend, and I dropped by for a couple of hours to see who was in attendance.

Some standouts from the morning:

By: Keith Agran

Ryan Williams | PG | 2024 | North Paulding | Wood Elite

Bigger, stronger and swifter for sure this year, there has always been a ton of skill packed into the now close to 6-0 frame of Williams, and all the guts to go along with it. At the Combine the stroke was once again pure, as he’s got terrific range 3 to 4 steps past the arc, but what impressed the most was his willingness and certainty about getting to the basket more after taking his share of licks last year trying the same formula. He is primed for a big summer with the Wood guys, where he played up a bunch last year and used that experience to his advantage with the Wolfpack this past winter.

Khalil Humphery | SG | 2023 | Furtah Prep | SBT

Coming over to SBT from the ATL All-Stars is a solid move as he can be much more of a featured scorer under the Smithson boys. He too has packed on some muscle and uses it in a football-like style to be a really physical presence at the guard spot. Loved seeing him pull the shot from range more as well, not relegated to cleaning up others’ misses or grinding for baskets, he was more assertive and creative.

Holden Cardon | SF | 2024 | North Cobb Christian | SBT

An intriguing mix of physicality and yet a much better mover than he might look after he makes the catch. Has stretch-4 kind of natural skills, but at 6-3 or is a better fit right now heading into his sophomore summer to work facing the basket more and in space as an attacking wing and guarding larger SF’s because that is likely his role to break into the NCCS varsity next year. Can shoot it, rebound, and is a heady passer.

Jai Pathmarajah | 20222 | Furtah Prep | ??

Regularly noted on social media and other places is the tough road for 2022 unsigned seniors right now, a player like Pathmarajah at 6-3, who clearly has skill and translatable ability at the next level, will have to grind to find a spot. But we saw a lot of positives on this day – 3-pt shooting, ballhandling, smart play as a passer and defender, and good athleticism getting up at the rim.

Shaun Smith | PG | 2024 | Mount Paran | SBT

Didn’t get to catch Mt Paran this season but liked his work last summer with SBT as a developing PG with good instincts and a frame that was sneaky strong. He looks even a bit stronger and still plenty confident after being the lead guy with the ball for the Eagles this past winter, and he’ll be back with a lot of familiar faces from last year on SBT’s 16U group this summer. The work out in space with the ball and on the drive is noteworthy, looking for more from the perimeter over the next 5 months.

Keith Agran has lived in Georgia since 2011 and joined OTR as a National Evaluator in 2021. He previously scouted for Prep Hoops dating back to 2019 and has both a championship-coaching background on the HS-level and daily newspaper writing experience, both from New Jersey. You can reach him at keithagran1@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @BracketSage.