Devin Ugland
- 5 min read

Anthony, Bassey named co-Pangos All-American Camp MOPs

NORWALK, Calif. — The 15th installment of the Pangos All-American Camp presented a balanced list of basketball prospects ranging from the high major Division I level on down to Division II and Division III caliber players.

Two of the biggest standouts at Cerritos College, who can be categorized in the “high major” category of prospects, were camp co-Most Outstanding Players Cole Anthony of Archbishop Molloy (NY) Charles Bassey of St. Anthony in San Antonio (TX).

Anthony, a 2019 point guard and son of former NBA’er Greg Anthony, was perhaps the most explosive guard on the weekend. The 6-2 Anthony is adept at getting into the paint off the dribble and exploding off two feet to the basket where he wowed onlookers with powerful dunks.

Bassey, a 6-10 forward/center prospect, is also from the class of 2019, and like Anthony, rocked the rims all weekend long. Bassey is difficult to defend in transition and high ball-screen action because of how hard he plays. He sprints the floor on the break and establishes deep post position on the block.

Bassey sets a physical screen in the half-court setting and rolls hard to the front of the rim, giving his guards a big target for an entry pass. He also made his presence felt on the glass and defensive end of the floor, blocking and changing countless attempts in the paint.

Camp settings are always playgrounds for guards and 2018s Logan Johnson and Elijah Weaver took full advantage of that.

Johnson, who was egregiously left out of the Top 30 game, was able to find the balance of scoring, distributing and winning that’s rarely achieved in showcase camp settings. He put the ball in the basket from all three levels, didn’t dribble the air out of the ball and showed the ability to play off the ball, slashing to the bucket for dunks and setting screens to get teammates open looks.

2018 guard Logan Johnson had a strong showing at the Pangos All-American Camp.

Johnson’s team went 4-0 in camp games and he scored 13 points, dished seven assists and pulled down six rebounds in helping his side to a Top 60 Cream of the Crop victory.

Weaver is a silky smooth left-hander who can score in every way imaginable. He was rightfully selected to the Top 30 Cream of the Crop game after stroking a consistent 3-point shot both off the catch and with some rhythm dribbles, while also utilizing ball-screens, hesitations and changes of speed to get into the paint and score.

Florida-native Elijah Weaver was one of the better all-around scorers at Pangos All-American Camp.

A couple of the better local guards were both of the Compton Magic persuasion in 2018 Jules Bernard and 2019 Jarod Lucas.

Bernard is always superb in camp settings because of his footwork and creativity off the dribble and his ability to get into the paint and score in a variety of ways. Lucas had his shooting stroke on full throttle, knocking down the three-ball both off the catch and off the bounce at a consistent clip.

In order for big men to standout (in a positive way) in this type of environment, they must defend, rebound and run the floor with purpose.

Six-foot-9 Arkansas-commit Reggie Perry was one of the big men who did exactly that. Perry is super long, athletic and mobile which, despite what many think, doesn’t necessarily make him a good basketball player. Rather, he uses his physical gifts on both ends of the floor in ways that make him a high major player.

Perry contested, blocked and changed shots at the rim and ran the floor after throwing bullet outlet passes. He keeps the ball high when operating in the painted area and can finish with touch with either hand. Perry displayed the ability stretch the floor, as well, with touch out to the 3-point line.

Perry’s teammate, 6-foot-7 forward Darius Days, impressed with his all-around skill set and willingness to play the game the right way. Days is somewhat of an undersized four-man, but has his hand in a little bit of everything on both ends. He can guard multiple positions, rebounds at a high clip, and uses his physicality to score around the basket with ease. Days is also a good passer off the wing and out of the high post.

Reggie Perry (left) and Darius Days were two of the more effective big men at Pangos All-American Camp.

Kofi Cockburn was another big man who was successful on the weekend and it was due to his pure brut strength. Cockburn, a 6-foot-9, 250 (or so) pounder in the 2019 class, used his size to clear out space in the paint where he could catch and finish with authoritative dunks only.

One of the highest “motor” players of the weekend was Las Vegas Coronado center Bryan Penn-Johnson. The 6-foot-11, class of 2018 big man has shown vast improvement over the course of the last year. He’s planting himself in the paint on offense and finishing stronger and more efficiently around the basket. Penn-Johnson’s defense has never been in question as he’s always used his elite length to block, change shots and even deter guards from challenging him all together.

Though some in Southern California were already aware of how good Riley Battin is, the skilled 6-foot-8 power forward out of Oak Park high school proved himself yet again against top competition.

Oak Park's Riley Battin had his skill and versatility on display at Pangos All-American Camp.

Battin’s effectiveness against more athletic big men is questioned by some, but his endless array of post moves and improved touch out to 3-point range negated any athletic advantage his opponents held. Battin himself continues to revamp his body and athleticism, which has led to and enhanced first step and more lift around the rim.

All-Pangos All-American Camp Teams

First Team

G Cole Anthony (Archbishop Molloy - Briarwood, NY)

G Logan Johnson (St. Francis - Mountain View, CA)

G Elijah Weaver (Oldsmar Christian - Oldsmar, FL)

F Reggie Perry (Thomasville - Thomasville, GA)

F/C Charles Bassey (St. Anthony - San Antonio, TX)

Second Team

G Luther Muhammad (Hudson Catholic - Hudson, NJ)

G Jules Bernard (Windward - Los Angeles, CA)

G Anferne Simons (Edgewater - Orlando, FL)

F Darius Bazely (Princeton - Cincinnati, OH)