Over at A Sea of Blue, SB Nation Dallas contributor Jeffrey Chao breaks down the 2012 McDonald's All American Game.
One of the players he was most impressed by was Texas commit Cameron Ridley, a 6'10 230 center from Fort Bend, Texas:
Best Big Man: Cameron Ridley (Texas)
This was a spirited battle, and seeing Ridley and opposing East starter DaJuan Coleman (Syracuse) go head to head was enjoyable. Coleman led the game in rebounds with 12, but Ridley was the highest scoring big, posting up 12 points. Isaiah Austin (Baylor) showed undeniable perimeter talent, and Tony Parker (undecided) was a load inside. Also, Arizona's future twin tower duo of Brandon Ashley and Grant Jerrett looked sneaky good.
In the end though, Ridley showed the most with a dazzling array of fundamentals. He started the game with a nifty post move (though he didn't finish), was excellent at rolling to the basket, and was one of the few bigs who felt comfortable enough handling at the perimeter. Most importantly, Ridley was a solid rebounder and the best defender, owning the paint better than his fellow bigs.
Despite playing in a game that is traditionally played at a very fast pace to the detriment of big men, Ridley scored 12 points on 5-10 shooting with 9 rebounds and 2 blocks.
If he could provide a legitimate answer at the center position, Texas could be a Top 10 team next season.