NBPA HBCU Top 50 Camp's Top Performers
The best in HBCU basketball shared the court in Atlanta, Ga., for the NBPA HBCU Top 50 Camp at Morehouse College.
Fifty players from the SIAC and SWAC received instruction from former NBA and WNBA players and competed against each other in 20-minute scrimmages on Friday and Saturday.
While there was a host of talent, ten guys separated themselves from the pack. Here are the best performers (in no order) from the NBPA HBCU Top 50 Camp.
Dhashon Dyson - Bethune-Cookman
If the camp had an MVP, it would go to Dyson. The Bethune-Cookman guard was nearly unstoppable offensively, scoring at all three levels, especially from beyond the arc.
More importantly, Dyson didn't need the ball to score. He made sure to balance the floor and effectively come off screens, whether a fade to the corner or the old "elevators" play for a top-of-the-key 3-pointer. Dyson was also a reliable catch-and-shoot threat, and while he did a lot of scoring, it was within the flow of the offense.
Dyson averaged 11.4 points on 36% 3-point shooting for the Wildcats last season. He needs to improve his free-throw shooting (67.3%), but Dyson is definitely a player to watch in the SWAC next season.
Khadim Samb - Fort Valley State
At 6 feet, 8 inches, Samb had to play center a lot during camp, but the Wildcat forward was one of the best interior players there while still showing his ability to play either forward spot.
Samb's at his best in the short corner, where he can use his quickness out of the triple threat to attack and finish at the rim, where he embraces contact. He also had flashes of stretching the floor with mid-range and long-range jumpers, something he did last season at Fort Valley State (51.2% on 41 3-pointers in 2022). He's also one of the first guys down the floor and is a threat in transition.
Samb has the tools and size to succeed on the wing and as a small-ball 4 in college and potentially in the pros. He needs an opportunity to prove himself in that role; the sooner he gets accustomed to it, the sooner his ceiling will be known.
Zion Harmon - Bethune-Cookman
The challenge of having two games at once is missing the performances of one game while watching the other. Zion Harmon falls into that category, but as this list was being put together, Caleb Smith of Between the Lines Sports raved about the SWAC Freshman of the Year and Second Team All-SWAC selection.
"He's got a different gear," Smith said. "And he has a quick-trigger release." Watching his tape, Harmon has zero wasted motion on his shot and uses his quickness and agility to get to the rim.
Joe French transferred to Arkansas-Pine Bluff, but Harmon and Dyson's 1-2 punch will be a formidable backcourt next season.
TJ Madlock - Alabama State
Madlock was the SWAC Newcomer of the Year last season after following his father, head coach Tony Madlock.
The 6-foot-3 guard attacked the rim in every game, using athleticism to slash and power his way through contact. More importantly, Madlock showed improvement at the free-throw line and from 3-point range, both areas where he struggled last season.
If he continues to be consistent with his shooting, Madlock is a strong candidate for All-SWAC First Team selection, with the best scenario being a dark horse for being SWAC Player of the Year.
PJ Henry - Texas Southern
Henry is one of two Texas Southern Tigers to make the list, and he did so with his excellent shooting touch.
The 5-foot-10 guard scored effortlessly from 3-point range, whether off the dribble, in transition, or catch-and-shoot scenarios. Moreover, he could score in the pick-and-roll and knock down a healthy amount of midrange jumpers. Henry was also a lead guard for many of his minutes during camp, displaying some of his facilitating skills.
Henry might've had the best jump shot in the camp, and after choosing to return to Texas Southern, Johnny Jones will have a shooter that cannot be left open.
Zytarious Mortle - Texas Southern
As PJ Henry did most of his damage from the outside, Mortle used his top-tier athleticism to thrive inside, throwing down several dunks and controlling the defensive glass.
It was also an excellent sign to see Mortle convert several 3-pointers after shooting only 27.4% from deep. Going into his sophomore season, the development of his perimeter shooting can open up the Texas Southern offense that struggled to shoot last year and in the NCAA Tournament.
Mortle also has the size (6-2, 199 LBs) and speed to be a solid perimeter defender in the SWAC. If the Tigers want to improve upon last season, it'll be with Mortle and Henry as core pieces.
Gregg Boyd - Tuskegee
Boyd was one of the first players to stand out at the camp, not because of any outstanding athletic feats or otherworldly performances, but because he was a sound point guard.
The All-SIAC First Team guard took on the role of a floor general, making sure his team executed the offense and facilitated ball and player movement. That isn't easy in a camp setting where many guys try to stand out instead of letting the game come to them.
Boyd still scored when the offense called for it, something he did a lot last season for Tuskegee, including a 40-point performance at Morehouse, which was also the campsite.
In the first camp game, Boyd was called on to ice the game by sinking six consecutive free throws. Boyd answered the call; it takes a certain level of gusto to not crack under pressure.
Cameron Tucker - Alabama A&M
Next season is a big one for Cameron Tucker; the two leading scorers from Alabama A&M transferred out, and he'll likely have a more significant role alongside his teammate and fellow camper Ernest Williams.
That said, Tucker was one of the better finishers at the camp as he converted some tough layups with both hands. He also played solid perimeter defense, indicative that his 40 steals last season (third on the team) wasn't a fluke.
Hopefully, Tucker can ride this momentum (and work on his shooting) leading up to the 2023-24 campaign.
Kylen Milton - Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Milton, the final member of the unofficial all-camp team, is similar to Zytarious Mortle in that he's another top-end athlete. But unlike Mortle, whose power and movement are smooth, Milton's play above the rim is explosive, like a firework.
He used that quick-twitch athleticism and 6-foot-4 frame to sky for rebounds. His teammates also tried to maximize his bounce by throwing him lobs, but between the pass and the contact, it was a challenge to complete the alley-oop.
Milton isn't just a high-flyer, however; the rising junior showed off his perimeter shooting touch, a sign that he's worked on his 3-pointers after shooting 31% for the Golden Lions last season. With Joe French joining the squad next season, that may create more opportunities for Milton, who has the tools to be an All-SWAC Selection.