NBPA point guards: Knight outduels Irving

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - More observations from the NBPA top-100 camp for elite high school prospects:

- The most highly anticipated point guard meeting of the camp came Thursday night, when Brandon Knight of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., squared off with Kyrie Irving of Elizabeth, N.J.

Both players are Duke targets. Score this round to Knight, who’s an inch or two taller and more athletic than Irving. Knight penetrated and scored with ease, and Irving wasn’t strong enough to get into the lane against Knight.

Earlier Thursday night, another point guard demonstrated that he deserved the early scholarship offer he accepted from North Carolina. Kendall Marshall of Arlington, Va., isn’t a scorer like Knight or Irving, and he admits that he’s not fast like former Tar Heel point guards Raymond Felton and Ty Lawson.

But Marshall plays under control and does a good job penetrating and then finding teammates for easy baskets.

- Baylor missed out on Raleigh Word of God point guard John Wall despite hiring his AAU coach, Dwon Clifton.

But the Bears won’t be without elite talent for long. Perry Jones, who’s 6-foot-11 and from Duncanville, Texas, is a true power player in the Class of 2010 who shows a good combination of speed and explosion.

Though he’s not nearly as flashy as Wall, Jones should be a force on the boards for as long as he’s in the Big 12.

- Duke commitment Josh Hairston’s stock had dropped heading into this spring, but he appears to be on the rebound.

Hairston is 6-foot-8 and 215 pounds and routinely beats his opponents down the floor, demonstrating hustle and speed. He maneuvers cleverly in the lane and can shoot the 3-point shot.

When caught on a defensive switch against highly rated small forward Jeremy Richmond on the perimeter, Hairston pressured him, causing a futile drive and airball by Richmond.
Hairston played well at the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions club event for the D.C. Assault and is off to a strong start at the NBPA camp.

- The Class of 2010 appears to have a high-quality 7-footer in Fab Melo of Weston, Fla.

Melo is 7-0 and 265 pounds and isn’t just a bruiser. He has fairly polished low-post moves and a feathery jump shot from 15 feet.

- The player at the NBPA camp you might not want as a teammate is Wake Forest commitment J.T. Terrell of Burlington, N.C.

Terrell is a heck of a scorer. But he must have missed camp director Dave Telep’s request in front of all the campers to pass more often before Thursday night’s games, because Terrell shot the ball at virtually every opportunity.

- Ken Tysiac