**—————SUNDAY—————**Allen Fieldhouse belonged to [Mike Dixon][1], who led KC Pump N Run to its fourth straight 17U Jayhawk Invitational crown.The Lee’s Summit West junior led Pump N Run in the title game with 14 points (on 6-of-10 shooting), seven assists, three steals and three rebounds. His team coasted to a 62-42 win over High Intensity (from Oakland, Calif.), paced by a blistering 18-1 first half run.![][2]He could be a name to keep in mind not only being essentially in KU’s back yard, but also because he really has a chance to blow up this summer.Currently, Dixon is ranked No. 87 in the 2009 class by Rivals.”A lot of coaches are going to fall in love with him, because in this particular class, there aren’t a lot of great point guards and he’s a really good one,” Pump N Run coach L.J. Goolsby said. “I think he’s going to have a tremendous summer. “His game truly is complete. He looks comfortable at all times running the show, his quick hands on defense created all three of his steals Sunday afternoon in situations where few would take the gamble on going after the ball and despite a slight pause in his shooting stroke when he hits his peak, his shot is pure.Coaches are certainly taking notice. He already has several scholarship offers, with the most recent coming from Louisville.Dixon said he’s always had an interest in KU, living 45 minutes from campus and all, but his list of potential schools he rattled off is pretty impressive. It also includes Missouri, Purdue, Oklahoma, California, Arkansas and Marquette. There’s several more. The kid truly is wide open right now.”I don’t have a clue where I’m going,” said Dixon. “I’m just enjoying the recruiting process right now, because it’s really not as bad as everybody says it is. Right now, it’s really kinda fun.”Teammate [Jeff Reid][3] agreed that this summer could be pretty kind to Dixon.”He’s a hell of a point guard, and he just controls the game real well,” he said. “His time’s coming. It hasn’t come yet, but it’s coming.”On pure talent, [Elijah Johnson][4] may be rated higher than Dixon, and he has better size and a more intimidating body. But the local guy certainly had the better weekend in terms of results.**-As for Reid,** he had a solid showing Sunday to cap his weekend. The 6-foot-5 junior, who plays his high school ball at Hayden in Topeka, scored 10 points and showed tons of athleticism. He was up around the rim several times on both ends of the floor, and displayed a soft three-point touch. ![][5]His best highlight was an alley-oop finish in the first half on a fast break. He may be the state’s best high school player next winter, and so far said the two schools recruiting him the hardest are K-State and Gonzaga. His older brother, Josh, played for the Wildcats in the late 90’s.Teammate Justin Clark, who plays his prep ball at William Chrisman, was the Invitational MVP. He scored 12 points on four three-pointers in the finale, and showed a sweet outside touch all weekend.**-And a bit more from Johnson … **The 6-foot-2 guard from Vegas, whose Pump N Run Elite team lost its 9:45 p.m. game Saturday night, hung around the Fieldhouse for a bit of the title game before departing for the airport and a flight back home.Johnson sounded like he had some mixed feelings from the weekend, once the travel woes of Friday and loss Saturday were coupled together.”It was cool – It wasn’t what I wanted it to be, though,” he said.He said he noticed some similarities, though, to his visit in March for the K-State game, saying he loved the town and the people, offseason or not.”Everybody knows basketball,” he continued. “(A lot of people said) ‘I saw you on the news last night,’ all that stuff. It feels good to know that people know you and they follow up when you’re doing good.”When asked about a potential official visit to Lawrence during the recruiting process, Johnson said ‘maybe next year sometime.’For now, he said he wants to focus on improved ball handling, shooting and defense over the summer. The one thing he displayed in short flashes on Saturday for the local crowds was that he certainly has the athletic capabilities to play at KU. That was about it, though, as his team struggled before getting ousted from the field.**-Most impressive single-game showing of the weekend, though,** was still [Rodney Williams][6] on Friday night against [Stephan Van Treese][7] and Indiana Elite One. His 23 points were [littered with highlights][8]. Out of curiosity, I did a Google News search on him to read some archives on his college interests, and based on [Royce White’s][9] recent commitment to Minnesota, you’d have to think it’ll be tough to pull him out of the state and away from **Tubby Smith**. Still, KU fans should keep that name in mind. He’s worth the price of admission, and he definitely played like he’d recently [purified himself in the waters of Lake Minnetonka][10].**—————SATURDAY—————**In the words of Adam Sandler … ‘Can someone get the kid a Happy Meal?!’Just that might have helped put [Elijah Johnson][4] a little more at ease Saturday evening.The 6-foot-2 guard from Las Vegas – a prospect KU appears to be high on in terms of the ’09 class – didn’t exactly turn heads in his Allen Fieldhouse debut, a sluggish 57-36 win for his Pump N Run Elite team late in the afternoon over the Springfield (Mo.) Mustangs.Johnson finished with just four points (a coast-to-coast layup and a late two-handed dunk), was off on a slew of threes (a couple ill-advised ones, too) and turned it over a few times during a second-half stretch in which each trip down the court for his team was a failed alley-oop attempt.Of course, Johnson showed a couple flashes of why Rivals ranks him as the No. 38 prospect in next year’s senior batch. He showed advanced athleticism in snaring a couple of one-handed rebounds up near the iron, sprung off the floor in impressive fashion and displayed excellent ball-handling skills. Plus, in terms of physical appearance, he looks the D-I part.There were other factors, though, which led to the underwhelming Fieldhouse debut in front of a handful of fans and a few KU staff members. It wasn’t just the whole four-games-in-one-day thing that can set in on an player in an AAU setting.See, Johnson’s trip to Lawrence for the Invitational was truly a last-minute deal. He said he was originally scheduled to be working out with his regular AAU club – another Pump N Run team – in Los Angeles.The ticket to Lawrence was booked for him, and while Johnson said he’d rather play in games than just work out, the trip didn’t get off to a flying start. He didn’t arrive in town until late, LATE, Friday night following travel complications, and hadn’t eaten for more than 24 hours.”I don’t want my first game to be like this at Allen Fieldhouse – It didn’t go how I wanted it to go, but I can make up for it later on today,” Johnson said. “More energy. I just want energy. If I can get energy, I can make anything happen. But I have no energy. I haven’t eaten, it’s not looking good right now.”The time to eat at any point Saturday was minimal. Johnson’s day of ball started at 10:30 and didn’t conclude until more than 12 hours later. In the game following the conversation with him (played just over an hour later across town at Haskell), Johnson scored three points and again only played about half the game as his team squeaked by Arizona Premiere Blue, 49-44.Again, this isn’t a total thrashing of what Johnson’s capable of, since there were some circumstances at hand with the combination of a wiggy travel schedule and a hectic slate of games. Plus, Johnson’s teammates didn’t necessarily bring the fire, either.After all, Johnson is still very capable of stuff like [this (nevermind the cameraman)][11]. The original plan was to get some highlight video material from Johnson’s games Saturday like the [footage of Rodney Williams from Friday][8], but the opportunities were simply few and far between.Johnson also talked a little bit about his recruitment, which it sounds like is still in its infant stages.”Really, if you win a national championship, it matters, but it really doesn’t matter to me,” Johnson said when asked if KU’s recent March success would have any influence on him. “If you’re a winning program, that means more to me, and KU’s a winning program. That’s what turns my eye to them more.”I really don’t worry about playing time,” he continued, “because I’ll outwork anybody. It doesn’t matter who you are, I’ll outwork you, I’ll show the coach I want it more.”That didn’t exactly shine through Saturday, though it might have had it come on the heels of a full night of sleep and a couple of cheeseburgers. We’ll never know, but he’ll probably still be a name to keep in mind as far as ’09 targets go. One afternoon of AAU ball isn’t the end of the world.**Most memorable play of the day …**I stuck around for the first half of the game following Johnson’s Fieldhouse debut to watch **Trevor Releford**, the younger brother of incoming KU frosh [Travis Releford][12], who plays for the KC Pump N Run’s 16U team.After seeing him play a solid all-around game earlier this year in Eastern Kansas League play with Roeland Park Miege, he showed the same skills now in the early stages of the AAU season.The younger Releford is certainly an intriguing prospect. He’s listed right now in this weekend’s program at 6-foot-1, though it’s probably more like a couple inches shorter than that (Rivals lists him at 5-foot-6 … I’d guess he’s somewhere in-between). Though if by the time his high school career is done (he will be a junior next fall at Miege) he’s about six inches taller than that, it wouldn’t come as much of a surprise. He’s got long arms, with hands hanging down to near his knees, and has the look of a kid who could grow some here pretty soon.Anyways, in the first half of his evening game, he drove down from the right wing, faked a spin back to his right towards the lane, then swung back with another 180 towards the hoop, leaving a defender frozen on the block as he dropped in an easy two.He could be an intriguing prospect to watch in terms of the class of 2010, equipped with smooth handles and a nice touch on his jumper from just about anywhere. He looks like a natural point guard.Be back tomorrow with stuff from the final day, including the 3:30 p.m. title game in Allen.**—————FRIDAY—————**Who needs [Lance Stephenson][13]?Everyone who showed up at Allen Fieldhouse right at about 8:45 p.m. Friday night for what many thought would be the highlight of the Jayhawk Invitational’s first day were left disappointed (and sweating … it was quite balmy in there, wasn’t it?). Stephenson, who was supposed to play with the **Atlanta Celtics** and team up with [Derrick Favors][14], didn’t show up. It wasn’t quite going to be the Atlanta Celtics of a few years back, which featured **Dwight Howard, Josh Smith and Randolph Morris**, but the buzz was there.Even had he arrived, it would have been tough to top the show that [Rodney Williams][15] put on two games earlier.Williams, who teamed up with [Royce White][16] to lead **Howard Pulley (Minn.)** in a 72-67 win over [Stephan Van Treese][17] and **Indiana Elite One**, was without question the most impressive performer Friday night in the Fieldhouse.Before getting into the details, [here’s a video featuring some of Williams’ highlights from his team’s first game in this year’s Invitational][8].![][18]The performance – **23 points, four assists (just one turnover), three rebounds and three blocks** – featured a little bit of everything. Of the 23 points, the first six came off a pair of three-pointers, and the rest of his scoring came in the high-flying variety. Williams threw it down on the Fieldhouse rims seven times when it was all said and done, displaying incredible leaping ability (he said he doesn’t know an exact figure on his vertical, having last measured it in the eighth grade when it was 28 inches – good golly).Coming down to play in Allen Fieldhouse for the second straight season, though, Williams said he felt there was a little added incentive this time around.”I came down here last year, so I was kinda familiar with it, but now it’s even more fun to play in because they won the National Championship, so that made it a lot more fun to be here,” he said.Maybe the most impressive part of Williams’ game, though, was on the defensive end, especially working in the paint (yes, lockdown defense in an AAU setting … that says something). While matched up with Van Treese – a 6-foot-9 KU recruiting target along with the 6-foot-5 Williams – he looked nothing short of comfortable.”For my high school team (Robbinsdale Cooper), I’m the five-man,” he said. “So I’ve got to guard a lot bigger people, so I was kinda used to it.”His most memorable defensive play came with 1:09 left in the game and Pulley up 67-65. At that juncture, 6-foot-10 Duke commit [Mason Plumlee][19] swooped in from the top of the key, skying for a floater about six feet out. Williams, as was the case for most of the night, sprung off the floor in an instant and forced Plumlee to rethink the shot in mid-flight. It fell off the right side of the rim, never had a shot, and Elite One never tied the score the rest of the way.KU staffers **Ronnie Chalmers, Mike Lee and Brett Ballard** were all in attendance. I’m sure someone had to have taken extra notes on him.**_Some thoughts on Williams after Friday …:_**: Again, was comfortable playing both inside and out … While he hit two early threes to keep Pulley afloat during a slow start, he said his jumper’s been off for about a month now. His shot from the outside is constantly close, but it doesn’t have a ton of arc … While the leaping ability is impressive, it’s how quick he gets off the floor and to the rim which really opens the eyes … He’s a very smooth slasher … Said he models his game after Kobe Bryant (**Sidenote on the Bryant thing:** You know you’re getting old(er) when the player you’re interviewing says he’s watched Bryant since he was a little kid … weeeeird) … Don’t let the baby face fool you. Williams looks young and it’s something which could probably catch opponents off-guard if they haven’t done their homework … He could really be something else with about 15 more pounds on his frame, might even remind some of **J.R. Giddens** in terms of their skill sets … Came across as a very personable kid …**_What he thinks about KU_**: “They like to run, and get up and down the court, and that’s my style of basketball.” (The follow-up question to that response was asking him if he watched the title game and could picture himself fitting in with the style KU with. His response? “Oh yeah … ” with an ear-to-ear smile.**_When and where you can catch him Saturday_**: Howard Pulley plays at Haskell at 10:30 a.m. against Wichita Flight, then against MSB Roadrunners, still at Haskell, at 2:15 p.m.**SPEAKING OF VAN TREESE …**Had a chance to catch up with Van Treese, too, following the game.![][20]The senior-to-be at Indianapolis high school hoops powerhouse **Lawrence North** (yes, the Lawrence North **Greg Oden** played at) came to Lawrence in February to see KU play Baylor. He said he compares Allen Fieldhouse to Butler’s **Hinkle Fieldhouse** in terms of the historic feel.Allen has another endearing quality for Van Treese.”I like the floor, feels very springy,” he said. “I had fun playing on it.”The bouncy floor matches his game. In the first half of the loss to Howard Pulley, Van Treese slammed home the first two of his 12 points on a breakaway, outrunning a defender and never breaking stride in rising to the rim and finishing.”I really try to hang my hat on that,” Van Treese said of his ability to run the floor. “I really don’t think anyone my height can run with me. I just really try to hustle, beat everyone down the floor and get that dunk.”Van Treese said his list of six schools – all of which he plans visiting while taking his time in making a college decision – includes **Kansas, UCLA, Indiana, Louisville, Florida and Ohio State**.Elite One features one of the more intriguing rosters in this year’s tournament, with Van Treese, Plumlee, Indiana commit Bobby Capobianco and 2010 sensation **Lavonte Dority**.You can catch Van Treese & Co. Saturday at Haskell at 1:00 p.m. against Wichita Flight.**SPEAKING OF LAVONTE DORITY …**Seriously, a spitting image of a young **Sherron Collins**.Dority will be a junior next season at Foreman High in Chicago. He’s already regarded as one of the top prospects in the class.The [resemblance is striking][21]. There’s the short, muscular build. There’s the want to attack the rim. There’s even the [braids Collins use to wear in his prep days][22] and a tattoo on the upper arm very similar to that which was [Collins’ first ink job][23] (a basketball player featuring the words ‘Caution: Don’t Reach’).”It’s a pleasure to say I play similar to him,” Dority said. “He’s tough, strong, fast, he’s a floor general, that’s what I like about him. Great handle on the ball, he’s a good all-around player.”Dority and Collins spoke briefly before Indiana Elite One departed the gym for the night.”I just asked him what it was like, what the atmosphere was like, gameday (in Allen Fieldhouse), what it’s like to be playing on the floor.”Lavonte Dority = Definitely a name to keep in mind. He didn’t play a ton of minutes Friday night, but remember, he’s just a sophomore.**AS FOR COLLINS …**Collins said his knee, after undergoing arthroscopic surgery shortly after the NCAA Tournament, is feeling fine. He was walking around without any kind of a limp Friday night and was in good spirits.**A COUPLE OTHER FINAL NOTES FROM FRIDAY …**-Derrick Favors looked a bit sluggish during the **Atlanta Celtics’** nightcap game against the Las Vegas Prospects. Though, even not coming across as being that spirited, Favors still made it obvious as to why Rivals ranks him as the No. 3 prospect in the 2009 class. He certainly has the physical appearance. His frame gives the impression that he could one day develop into a freakishly imposing athlete. During the first half, he showed a couple of nice post moves and stepped out to hit a straight-on three-pointer. Maybe he was even a little disappointed Lance didn’t show? Who knows. Also, it was odd to see someone in Allen Fieldhouse playing in a green Celtics uniform which featured the No. 34. Not sure if there’s any reason for Favors choosing that number in particular.
-As for [Elijah Johnson][4], another KU target who several fans looked forward to seeing, word is he’ll be in action in Lawrence on Saturday. He didn’t arrive via plane until late Friday night, and the Las Vegas product will first suit up with Pump N Run Elite at Horejsi, taking on the KC Nuggets at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. He’ll finish Saturday on the Fieldhouse floor at 4:45 p.m., going up against the Springfield Mustangs.Without Johnson, Pump N Run Elite was downed 74-49 by KC Pump N Run, which featured Lee’s Summitt West (Mo.) guard [Michael Dixon][24], who looked pretty solid.Talk to you again Saturday evening, with some stuff from Elijah Johnson’s late afternoon performance, including video highlights._(Photos courtesy of **Rivals.com**)_ [1]: http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=2&pr_key=55045 [2]: http://vmedia.rivals.com/IMAGES/PROSPECT/PHOTO/MICHAELDIXON6_30150.JPG [3]: http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=66829&sport=2 [4]: http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=2&pr_key=57537 [5]: http://vmedia.rivals.com/IMAGES/PROSPECT/PHOTO/JEFFREID5_10150.JPG [6]: http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=2&pr_key=66838 [7]: http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=52308&sport=2 [8]: http://www2.kusports.com/videos/2008/may/03/18356/ [9]: http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=2&pr_key=65384 [10]: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDbQnUVpagU [11]: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZgs2ANULPc&feature=related [12]: http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=42506&sport=2 [13]: http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=41972&Sport=2 [14]: http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=44563&Sport=2 [15]: http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=66838&Sport=2 [16]: http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=65384&Sport=2 [17]: http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=52308&Sport=2 [18]: http://vmedia.rivals.com/IMAGES/PROSPECT/PHOTO/RODNEYWILLIAMS7_23150.JPG [19]: http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=56247&Sport=2 [20]: http://vmedia.rivals.com/IMAGES/PROSPECT/PHOTO/STEPHANVANTREESE12_12150.JPG [21]: http://webzoom.freewebs.com/chipatsj23h/Picture%201618.jpg [22]:
[23]:
[24]: http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=55045&Sport=2
