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Kenner Is Coming: 2016 Kenner League Preview

By Run DSR and St. Patrick
William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports

Cheap snack and free basketball enthusiasts of the greater Washington, D.C. area, rejoice, for it is truly the most wonderful time of the offseason! The Nike Pro City/Jabbo Kenner League kicks off this weekend, and not a minute too late, as some among us were resigned to utter despair at the prospect of a weekend without the NBA Playoffs or Game of Thrones.

We can't find rosters yet, nor a schedule for anything past the first two days — and for those of you new to Kenner League, this is typical of the overall operation. It's entirely possible that some of these players won't appear, due to injury or other commitments. But who needs fancy "official" "announcements" of "facts" about the "games?" We're here to speculate!

All (most) jokes aside, there's a lot to look forward to in McDonough this summer. We've got two brand-new transfers, a 2015 transfer who hasn't seen court time, a freshman, and a whole crop of rising sophomores and juniors vying to fill a massive scoring vacuum. Putting it another way: 12 or 13 of these players either played important minutes here at some point or transferred here expecting to play important minutes.

So, we've got some stuff to figure out. Let the analysis — and, soon, the games — begin!

GUARDS

TRE CAMPBELL, JUNIOR GUARD

What we know: We know Tre is one of the quickest players on the team who is a streaky, but occasionally very effective outside shooter. His outburst at Xavier last year was a flash of his potential, but his inefficiency against Villanova in the BET shows he has a long way to go. On defense, it's more of the same story. Tre is quick and can stay in front of his man, but his gambles don't always pay off.

What we would like to see: Tre needs consistency, and a lot of it. Without knowing much about Mulmore, Tre could slot in as the starting point guard on the team this year. So, we're looking for Tre to balance his explosiveness with consistency and shoring up his defensive performance. Part of this consistency is going to come from the weight room, where the slight guard could benefit from a little more muscle in Big East play.

— Run DSR

JONATHAN MULMORE, JUNIOR GUARD

What we know: Nothing, Jon Snow. Well, some, but not a lot. Mulmore is a 6-foot-4 junior college transfer from Maryland's Allegany College, where he put up a 26-4-6 line en route to the NJCAA scoring title. A big point guard who can clearly light it up, it certainly seems like his game *should* transfer to the major-conference level — it was reportedly injury concerns, not talent, that caused D1 schools to lose interest in him as a high schooler. Take his numbers with a JUCO grain of salt, but he Mulmore sounds like a serious D1 player. Want a fun stat? He shot almost 12 free throws per game last year and made 81 percent of them.

What we'd like to see: To be clear, no sane Georgetown fan would ever be upset about the addition of a go-getter scoring guard. That free-throw number alone should have you salivating. But it's clear that Mulmore is used to fully running the show, so I'm curious if he can keep the ball moving as much as JT3's offense demands. We won't see real offensive sets in Kenner, though, so mostly I'll be looking to see if he's the dominant off-the-dribble force that his numbers indicate.

— St. Patrick

RODNEY PRYOR, SENIOR GUARD

What we know: He's a score-first slashing guard who played at community college before spending his last few seasons at Robert Morris. Pryor is 24 years old and should use his experience and maturity to his advantage. Pryor can really get the ball in the hoop, averaging 18 points and 8 rebounds per game last year.

What we would like to see: One red flag with Pryor is with increased usage, his 3-pt FG% dropped from an impressive 42% to a below-average 29%. There could be a lot of reasons behind that, but I'd like to see his shot in person. Pryor will likely have the ball in his hands a lot less than he did last year — or any other year of his career, for that matter — so I'm also looking to see what other parts of his game he has to offer.

— Run DSR

JAGAN MOSELY, FRESHMAN GUARD

What we know: Mosely is a freshman combo guard from Bob Hurley and the magicians at Jersey City basketball factory St. Anthony's. By all accounts, he's a tough, smart, resilient kid who never stops working, which is always encouraging to hear about a borderline top-100 recruit. He's only 6-foot-3, but his large wingspan and athleticism could make him a valuable defender off the bat.

What we'd like to see: Based on the number of Jabril comparisons I've heard, I get the sense that Mosely isn't a proven shooter or ballhandler at this point. He's got his work cut out for him at Kenner. Some aggressive dunking displays wouldn't hurt either.

— St. Patrick

WINGS

REGGIE CAMERON, SENIOR FORWARD

What we know: When he's on, the man can shoot as well as anyone on the team. He knows the offense and isn't as prone to mental lapses as some of the younger players, but his limitations as a defender and ballhandler and our depth on the wings make it difficult to see him contributing starters' minutes.

What we'd like to see: Cameron's a senior. Chances are, we largely know what we've got. A perfect Kenner League from him would basically look like one of those Klay Thompson downpours where he hits anything from within 25 feet, catch-and-shoot, no matter the defense. Cameron's game isn't particularly suited to Kenner, and much of what he'll be asked to do this year doesn't revolve around big summertime developments.

— St. Patrick

LJ PEAK, JUNIOR GUARD/FORWARD

What we know: After coming off of the bench halfway through the year, LJ was the lone bright spot on a team that could not quite click. He has always been able to get to the rim and finish well, but last season he was one of our best perimeter shooters (41%). He reduced his foul rate throughout the year but kept his status as one of our better perimeter defenders.

What we would like to see: LJ has two weaknesses in his game right now: fouling and turnovers. He likely won't have the luxury of coming off of the bench next year, so he has to make sure he can come in and adjust to the tempo of the game without picking up 2 quick fouls. On offense, LJ's only issue is that he can be a bit of a bulldozer going to the rim, resulting in offensive fouls or turnovers. While we don't want him to sacrifice his aggression, I'd love to see him incorporate a hop step/DSR-esque jumper in the lane.

— Run DSR

ISAAC COPELAND, JUNIOR FORWARD

What we know: Oh, Isaac. Since he stepped on the court in 2014, Isaac Copeland has looked like he could be a 20-point-per-game scorer and even a lottery pick...the operative word here being, of course, "could." He's an incredibly fluid athlete, a good rebounder and shotblocker, a confident shooter with good mechanics — all at 6-foot-9. But he has yet to put it together for more than a few short stretches, prone to defensive lapses and passive periods on offense.

What we'd like to see: It's hard to translate a player's offensive assertiveness from the wide-open, anything-goes Kenner League to the patient JT3 offense. And it's possible that Copeland doesn't need to be a takeover guy, given Peak's evolution and the arrival of Mulmore and Pryor. Still, we'd like to see him develop at least a few go-to moves off the dribble or in the high post, as he relied too often on wild floaters when asked to create his own shot. Above all, he needs to be the deadeye three-point shooter his form suggests he could be. I suspect learning to not jump quite as high while shooting could help there.

— St. Patrick

PAUL WHITE, REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE FORWARD

What we know: One of the smoother players out there, The Natural had a fantastic freshman campaign that showcased his versatility and basketball IQ in all of the best ways. I really think we missed him out there last year—the offense just seems to move more smoothly when he's in the game, and his length is a matchup problem for whatever position he is playing. He has a good mid-range jumper and great offensive instincts.

What we would like to see: Just return to form. In his limited sample size last year, he looked very out of place and his shot was way off. I think we can correctly chalk that up to his injury and never really being in rhythm, but any and all reps are important for someone returning from a season-long injury. Part of returning — and part of what I would have liked to see regardless — is improved ball-handling abilities so we can play him in a point-forward role at times next year.

— Run DSR

KALEB JOHNSON, SOPHOMORE GUARD/FORWARD

What we know: Johnson was a pleasant surprise filling in for Paul White as our plug-and-play guy at any wing position last year. He's a surprisingly good rebounder at 6-foot-6 with a guard's frame, and he's got good court vision and instincts. None of his offensive skills have blown anyone away, but he played stretches of excellent defense and generally looked like he belonged on the floor.

What we'd like to see: It's going to be very interesting to see how many of his minutes Johnson can hang on to, as White returns from injury and several new guards enter the picture. A lot of that will likely hang on how much he improves his unorthodox-but-not-ugly southpaw jumper. Confidence knocking down the 3-ball and bringing the ball up against pressure would be big for him this summer.

— St. Patrick

BIGS

BRADLEY HAYES, REDSHIRT SENIOR CENTER

What we know: If Hayes doesn't seem like Josh Smith in most regards, it shouldn't mask that their effects on the game are very similar. He can be dominant on offense in the low post like few players in all of college basketball, but his lack of lateral quickness severely limits the kind of defense we can play. Any pick-and-roll situation requires immense amounts of help from teammates — but are those additional rotations worth it, if he gets six offensive rebounds a game?

What we'd like to see: It would obviously be a game-changer for him to hedge and recover well on a pick-and-roll. But Hayes seems like a hard worker and obviously has a massive frame, so at this point I suspect he's just not able to move quickly enough to keep up with most guards. Beyond that, a reliable 15-18' jumper would be awesome, given that he spends a ton of time in JT3's offense stationed in the very-high post.

— St. Patrick

TREY MOURNING, JUNIOR FORWARD

What we know: I maintain that Mourning has enormous potential. He has a smooth shot, good mobility, plus shot-blocking instincts (duh), and a feel for our offense. I'm still not sure he's going to get many minutes this year with Agau returning from injury and Hayes back for another year. But Trey could probably play some minutes at the 4 if we want to go with a bigger lineup.

What we would like to see: If Trey wants to play the 5, he needs to beef up. He was bullied down low and extended minutes would put us at a significant rebounding disadvantage. If Trey wants to play the 4, he needs to prove he has a consistent in-game shot. If he can score consistently and shows that he's not a rebounding or defensive liability, he could carve out a small role for himself this year.

— Run DSR

AKOY AGAU, REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE FORWARD

What we know: Only what we've heard from scouting. Prior to his torn ACL that forced him to miss all of last season, we knew that Agau was a bruiser with solid mobility and strength but with a raw offensive game. But a major knee injury can definitely change the equation for Agau, and we're left with little certainties about his game.

What we would like to see: I'd like to see him 100% healthy. If Agau has regained his athleticism that caused Georgetown to recruit him in the first place - and not just out of Louisville, but while he was in high school as well - then I'd consider that a major win. I'm fully expecting his game to be some combination of raw and rusty, but that can be addressed later. For now, I want to see good health and a comfort in moving around the court.

— Run DSR

MARCUS DERRICKSON, SOPHOMORE FORWARD

What we know: Derrickson is an offensive force in both the low post and the perimeter, the rare stretch-four that can push people around in the paint if asked. He suffered a midseason injury that I'd imagine contributed to that uncomfortably long cold streak, and the jury's still out on how many positions he can defend. Still, I'd imagine his range alone has most fans thinking of him as a crucial building block for the next few years.

What we'd like to see: In my dream scenario, Derrickson is the Hoyas' Draymond Green — a highly skilled passer and shooter who can still body up anyone at the three, four and occasionally five. To do this, he needs to both improve his face-up game and show that he can stick with quick forwards on the perimeter. Kenner should be a great opportunity to do both.

— St. Patrick

JESSIE GOVAN, SOPHOMORE CENTER

What we know: Govan is a talented, full-bodied center who has a viable post game, great shot-blocking instincts, and a terrific perimeter shot. He can be a bit slow defensively to make adjustments and got winded over the course of faster games last year. But Govan has the potential to become one of the better big men in the Big East this year with his rare combination of talent and size.

What we would like to see: I'd like to see him use his body a little bit more and play a bit stronger with the ball on the offensive side. Kenner is usually a tricky indicator to judge any player by, but it is good for one thing — fast, street-ball style games that will test Govan's ability to stay on the court. It would be interesting to see Hayes and Govan play against each other to see if we can identify a clear winner of the two.

— Run DSR

GEORGE MURESAN, FRESHMAN FORWARD

What we know: His dad is GHEORGHE MURESAN! He's not 7-foot-7, sadly, but he's 6-foot-9 and reportedly growing, with three-point range to boot. He's a walk-on, heavily recruited by any major programs, but he chose to walk on here rather than at Syracuse (boo) or Maryland (hiss). Check one in the good judgment column!

What we'd like to see: Anything, really? He's a walk-on, and virtually the only player on this list I'm confident won't see floor time. Which means he'll probably drop 40 per game in Kenner and start in November.

— St. Patrick

ROSTERS AND SCHEDULE:

Press release from Georgetown re rosters and such:

The schedule for the 2016 season is set to begin on Saturday, July 2 with four games, the first at 1 p.m. between A Wash Associates and Premier Athletes.  Other games are slated to start at 2:20 p.m. (On Point vs. Beyond Belief), 3:40 p.m. (Darren McClinton All-Stars vs. Clyde's) and 5 p.m.(Higher Level vs. The Tombs).

Four more games will be played on Sunday, July 3, beginning at 1 p.m.  Games will be held every weekend through the end of the month, with the last day of the regular season being held on Sunday, July 31.

Georgetown players will be spread out among eight teams in the 10-team league.

Center Bradley Hayes (Jacksonville, Fla./Sandalwood) and junior college transfer Jonathan Mulmore (New Orleans, La./Redemption Christian/Allegany [Md.]) will play for DCX.

Freshman Jagan Mosely (Morganville, N.J./St. Anthony's), graduate student transfer Rodney Pryor (Evanston, Ill./Notre Dame Prep/Robert Morris) and sophomore forward Marcus Derrickson (Bowie, Md./Brewster Academy [N.H.]) will play for The Tombs.  Junior guard Tre Campbell (Washington, D.C./St. John's College HS) and sophomore forward Kaleb Johnson (Martinsville, Va./Carlisle School) will play for A Wash Associates.

Sophomore Jessie Govan (Manhasset, N.Y./Wings Academy) and juniorLJ Peak (Gaffney, S.C./Gaffney) will play for Clyde's, while senior forward Reggie Cameron (Hackensack, N.J./Hudson Catholic) and junior Trey Mourning (Miami, Fla./Ransom Everglades) are on the roster for Higher Level and junior Isaac Copeland (Raleigh, N.C./Brewster Academy) will play for Hoop Magic.

Junior transfer Akoy Agau (Omaha, Neb./Omaha Central/Louisville) and junior forward Paul White (Chicago, Ill./Whitney Young) will play for OnPoint.

Quarterfinal games will be played on Thursday, Aug. 4 and Friday, Aug. 5, both dates starting at 8 p.m.  Semifinal games will be played on Saturday, Aug. 6 (2 p.m., 3:20 p.m.) and the championship game will be played onSunday, Aug. 7 at 3 p.m.

All parking for Nike Pro-City Jabbo Kenner League games will be in the Southwest Garage off the Canal Road entrance to the University.

A full schedule of games can be found here:  http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/gu/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2015-16/misc_non_event/Kenner_League_Sked.pdf.

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