RECAP: 2021 Paradise Camp

Some additional notes from Ivins on 247

Just wanted to pass some of this along.

– Last night there seemed to be different buzz in the air than some of the more recent Paradise Camps. I'm not sure why, but kind of felt like Paradise 1.0 when there was a ton of alums on hand and an elite group of kids working out. I thought the NFL star power on the sidelines was pretty **** impressive and those guys were actively recruiting for Miami, most notably the official visitors during warmups for the camp. I overheard Jon Beason and Calais Campbell just laying it out to Demario Tolan and Shemar Stewart why Miami was the place to be.

– Not a ton of 2022s worked out, which makes sense with everyone trying to take visits. With that being said, I think the 2023 group that actually went through drills was pretty solid. I believe that Wilky Denaud, Cedrick Hawkins, Dwight Bootle, Kaven Call, Amare Ferrell, Cedric Baxter, Andy Jean, Eddie Combs, Javian Simpkins and Jeremiah Shack all have a chance to be Top 50 players in the Sunshine State next cycle. Most are already ranked that way.

– Miami seems to be in the best spot right now with Shack and Hykeem Williams when it comes to 2023 wide recievers. I'm not saying they aren't recruiting others (they absoultley want Brandon Inniss, Jalen Brown and some of the others that were on the sidelines Saturday), but I have heard enough to beleieve that the Hurricanes should be considered the team to beat for both. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out just in general next cycle with the 2023 wave of wideouts.

– Raheim Jeter, a 2023 quarterback from South Cariolina, got a late invite Friday and flew down to throw Saturday. Jaleel Skinner is the reason that Jeter got that invite from what I gathered as the two are friends. I also saw Jake Garcia's parents hanging out inside the IPF with Skinner's parents. I belive Garcia was the player host for Skinner, who was also seen talking with David Njoku.

– I still like Alabama for Earl Little Jr. and was honestly surprised he went through drills. I'm not sure what to make of Marvin Jones Jr. as his recruitment is kind of crawling along compared to some of the other blue-chip prospects in 2022. I am bit surprised though that he didn't make it up to Tuscaloosa this month. I'll add that I think he's really taking a look at what system and schemes each school runs as he brought that up when we were talking Saturday.

– I think it says a lot that Jacolby Spells didn't make it out. Miami wasn't expecting him to show up, but I still think it's pretty notable that he wasn't there. I'm close to putting in a Crystal Ball pick for West Virginia with him set to announce on July 4. On the flip side, I found it very interesting that Wesley Bissainthe was there with mom, especially considering the fact that they were on campus last week for an official visit.

– I haven't dug much into this weekend's official visitors yet, but I'm under the impression that Miami made a big move with Demario Tolan. I also think the Hurricnaes are in a good spot with Zane Durant.

– Jacob Hood ia a massive human. I was told he measured 6-9.5, 378 at some point this weekend.

– This is random, but thought it was unique. At one point during Paradise Camp last night I saw Ephraim Banda on Face Time with James Williams and Kam Kinchens. I think that says a lot about Banda as a coach.
Great news about Tolan if accurate, we really need him IMO.
 
Advertisement
The first part of ur post was spot on. Iirc, Richt had Paradise Camp, not just as a camp, but treated it like a quasi Rivals 5 star camp. It wasn’t just open to anyone; only the best were invited & if u were an under classman, u had to be special. Hence the invite went out.

Couldn't reference it if I tried but I'd swear I remember Manny addressing this at some point early in his tenure. Didn't want Paradise to be as exclusive and preferred the focus to be more aligned to engaging the community.

Take it for what it's worth.
 
The first part of ur post was spot on. Iirc, Richt had Paradise Camp, not just as a camp, but treated it like a quasi Rivals 5 star camp. It wasn’t just open to anyone; only the best were invited & if u were an under classman, u had to be special. Hence the invite went out.

Now, it feels like “a” camp. Love the amount of former players coming back to help, but yeah, we need to go back to making this an exclusive invite.

Regardless, off season Manny does great; but as I’ve said from the onset of this off season, these kids r now going to see these campuses again. We’re going to have to show these higher profiled kids that we r serious about winning on the field.
I'm pretty sure if it's a camp you cant have a restriction on who can attend. So any and everyone can actually attend. I think they inform all the people they invite but know obviously more people will show up.
 
NCAA doesn’t allow a True invite camp. I don’t think anything about paradise has changed other than that first one was the first type of Elite camp Miami has had so it felt different. It also helps when all the top guys show up and compete. I think In years past they had a underclaassmen event on Friday and then invited the best ones back on Saturday.

Right; the way Richt set it up “felt” more exclusive. Underclassmen had their day, upper classmen had theirs.
 
Couldn't reference it if I tried but I'd swear I remember Manny addressing this at some point early in his tenure. Didn't want Paradise to be as exclusive and preferred the focus to be more aligned to engaging the community.

Take it for what it's worth.

I think u may be right as that does sound familiar, now that u say that. I know there was a tweak in how he put it on vs. Richt, but man it’s been a yr & some change since the last camp so I’m happy we got to have something this yr, regardless.
 
Advertisement
I think we eventually land him with a good season, but valid concern. I got a buddy working for ohio state and they really want him so we're going to have to keep chipping away and stay on him. They got Garrett in his ear i wouldnt be surprised if young has reached out. I like are chances
The photo I saw was a little unsettling to me....I believe we get him though
 
Kids today are a joke. Injured, fine, but if you're good to go, you should go. You want to compete, handle your business, and show everyone who the boss is. Soft
Kids today play in camps and tournaments year round.. More than the guys in the glory days by a lot. Wtf does a top recruit need to prove at a pseudo recruiting event?
 
Advertisement
NCAA doesn’t allow a True invite camp. I don’t think anything about paradise has changed other than that first one was the first type of Elite camp Miami has had so it felt different. It also helps when all the top guys show up and compete. I think In years past they had a underclaassmen event on Friday and then invited the best ones back on Saturday.
I was at Paradise 2 years ago. I thought they did a better job of separating the kids back then - who was inside, who was outside….. The rain may have changed the way they did that as well.
 
Advertisement
Kids today play in camps and tournaments year round.. More than the guys in the glory days by a lot. Wtf does a top recruit need to prove at a pseudo recruiting event?

They haven't been in camps in a year and a half. They haven't had much exposure.

As an athlete, you should want to compete. Not sit on the sidelines watching others put work in. Show everyone why you're the guy.
 
Advertisement
Just curious, but do we know of any other schools like OSU, UF having their camps, yet? Were we the first?
 
Some additional notes from Ivins on 247

Just wanted to pass some of this along.

– Last night there seemed to be different buzz in the air than some of the more recent Paradise Camps. I'm not sure why, but kind of felt like Paradise 1.0 when there was a ton of alums on hand and an elite group of kids working out. I thought the NFL star power on the sidelines was pretty **** impressive and those guys were actively recruiting for Miami, most notably the official visitors during warmups for the camp. I overheard Jon Beason and Calais Campbell just laying it out to Demario Tolan and Shemar Stewart why Miami was the place to be.

– Not a ton of 2022s worked out, which makes sense with everyone trying to take visits. With that being said, I think the 2023 group that actually went through drills was pretty solid. I believe that Wilky Denaud, Cedrick Hawkins, Dwight Bootle, Kaven Call, Amare Ferrell, Cedric Baxter, Andy Jean, Eddie Combs, Javian Simpkins and Jeremiah Shack all have a chance to be Top 50 players in the Sunshine State next cycle. Most are already ranked that way.

– Miami seems to be in the best spot right now with Shack and Hykeem Williams when it comes to 2023 wide recievers. I'm not saying they aren't recruiting others (they absoultley want Brandon Inniss, Jalen Brown and some of the others that were on the sidelines Saturday), but I have heard enough to beleieve that the Hurricanes should be considered the team to beat for both. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out just in general next cycle with the 2023 wave of wideouts.

– Raheim Jeter, a 2023 quarterback from South Cariolina, got a late invite Friday and flew down to throw Saturday. Jaleel Skinner is the reason that Jeter got that invite from what I gathered as the two are friends. I also saw Jake Garcia's parents hanging out inside the IPF with Skinner's parents. I belive Garcia was the player host for Skinner, who was also seen talking with David Njoku.

– I still like Alabama for Earl Little Jr. and was honestly surprised he went through drills. I'm not sure what to make of Marvin Jones Jr. as his recruitment is kind of crawling along compared to some of the other blue-chip prospects in 2022. I am bit surprised though that he didn't make it up to Tuscaloosa this month. I'll add that I think he's really taking a look at what system and schemes each school runs as he brought that up when we were talking Saturday.

– I think it says a lot that Jacolby Spells didn't make it out. Miami wasn't expecting him to show up, but I still think it's pretty notable that he wasn't there. I'm close to putting in a Crystal Ball pick for West Virginia with him set to announce on July 4. On the flip side, I found it very interesting that Wesley Bissainthe was there with mom, especially considering the fact that they were on campus last week for an official visit.

– I haven't dug much into this weekend's official visitors yet, but I'm under the impression that Miami made a big move with Demario Tolan. I also think the Hurricnaes are in a good spot with Zane Durant.

– Jacob Hood ia a massive human. I was told he measured 6-9.5, 378 at some point this weekend.

– This is random, but thought it was unique. At one point during Paradise Camp last night I saw Ephraim Banda on Face Time with James Williams and Kam Kinchens. I think that says a lot about Banda as a coach.
Banda is still one of my low-key favorite couches we've had in the past decade and I hope he kills it as a DC. Tolan would be absolutely huge I mean huge and Jake and his parents are just elite I mean he hadn't played a game and he's truly showing some of the best freshman leadership I've seen
 
Advertisement
Back
Top