CBB Recruiting Notebook: How Team USA Basketball Impacts Top Prospects

COLORADO SPRINGS -- USA Basketball held its annual Junior National Team minicamp this weekend, which brought together the nation's elite prospects in the classes of 2016, 2017 and 2018. 

The event serves as a valuable tool for players and the USA Basketball program, building cohesion among potential future teammates while providing high-level coaching and training.

For returning seniors like Harry Giles, Jayson Tatum, Josh Jackson and Terrance Ferguson, it's also a chance to hand down wisdom (and on-court beatings) to younger players like they experienced as underclassmen USA Basketball participants. Now that all four won a gold medal at the FIBA U19 World Championships this summer, they're the elder statesmen of USA Basketball's junior division.

"It means a lot. I remember when Justise, Tyus, Jahlil; those guys helped us a lot and kicked our butts. I'm glad now we can return the favor," Tatum said.

Perhaps the best example of how much USA Basketball means to these players is Giles and 5-star guard Malik Monk being among a few invitees who came to Colorado Springs even though they couldn't play. The opportunity to be in the United States Olympic Training Center with some of the best players in America is too important to pass up.

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"I've been here seven times and every time it's an honor and a blessing. It's about catching up with family and USA family. Out here having fun and watching everyone compete," Giles said. "Being one of the older guys and veterans of this group [is important]. Give them info and give them feedback of how to be successful. People did it for me and now I have to do that with them."

On the floor, Jackson and Tatum set the tone by often torching the younger classes with a variety of moves. The 6'7" Jackson established himself as the alpha male of the camp by dunking with authority through fouls, fighting for loose balls and playing with one of the highest motors in camp. The 6'8" Tatum, a Duke commit, looked much-improved as a straight-line driver after gaining a reputation as a skilled mid-range shooter the last few years

Events like this weekend's USA Basketball camp gives 5-star prospects like Tatum and Jackson a measuring stick for top honors in the class during a slow time of the year. It's a great sign for both the class of 2016 and USA Basketball that the best players came to play with chips on their shoulders.

Jackson and Tatum might have been the proven 5-star prospects with gold medals, but USA newcomers like Marques Bolden, Frank Jackson and Markelle Fultz also made positive impacts in Colorado Springs.

Younger Prospects (with Basketball Bloodlines) Emerge

One of the most interesting aspects of this weekend's minicamp was the abundance of class of 2018 prospects playing against talented older players. It's the first weekend some of these sophomores are facing elite competition and they're getting thrown in the deep end right away.

Two class of 2018 guards stood out this weekend, and they both come from strong basketball bloodlines.

Tiny but talented guard Darius Garland is the son of former NBA veteran Winston Garland, but the younger Garland made a reputation for himself this weekend as one of the event's premier perimeter shooters. Despite standing only 5'11", the Tennessee native felt comfortable bombing three-pointers from well beyond the arc.

Meanwhile, Tre Jones, the younger brother of former Duke guard Tyus Jones, is a bit more athletic than his NBA brother, but doesn't quite have his older sibling's command for the game yet. With Tyus now playing back home on the Minnesota Timberwolves, Tre has been able to take advantage of his brother being around.

"It's great to finally have him home again. He was gone for not even a year but it's great to have him home again and to be able to workout with him in the summer time," Jones said.

The duo also spend plenty of time talking about basketball, watching sports and playing Playstation 4. Tyus will have plenty to talk about with Tre in regards to recruiting. The younger Jones has already racked up scholarship offers from Baylor, Minnesota, Texas Tech and Duke.  

Knox focuses on basketball

One of the better class of 2017 prospects in attendance was 5-star forward Kevin Knox II. The 6'7" Knox II has burst on the national recruiting scene this spring and summer, and he continued trending upward in Colorado Springs.

The son of former Florida State football star Kevin Knox, the younger Knox credits some of the improvement in his game this year to giving up football, in which he was a promising quarterback prospect.

"In football, it really wasn't where I was going to see myself in the future. So, why keep playing if that's not going to help me in basketball?" Knox II said. "Now, instead of playing football, I'm attacking my weaknesses, so it's making me better."

The improved ball handling and face-up perimeter game is helping Knox transition from being a forward to more of a wing, and college coaches are telling him the same thing. Knox told Bleacher Report he has 16 scholarship offers for basketball and remains open in the process, as he continues to make strides in his chosen sport.

"I was good at football, but I just had to give it up," Knox II said. "Football, it taught me a lot of things. It taught me to be tough and that's helped in the paint. But focusing on basketball is better for me and my future."