In fact, a quick perusal of the 200 or so names that attended and participated in the week-long talent showcase and judgment platform turned up only a handful of players from the Garden State, significantly reduced from year's past.
So when there are two players from the same New Jersey high school team in attendance, you're simply bound to take notice.
It shouldn't be a surprise that the school that sent the two players off to the wonderful world of the ABCD Camp was our local giant, St. Anthony of Jersey City.
St. Anthony has had its fair share of nationally recognized players over the years, some All-Americans along the way. Guys like Rodrick Rhodes and Anthony Perry used similar summer camps to catapult them to national stardom. In recent years, Elijah Ingram got recognized for a performance at the ABCD Camp and eventually earned McDonald's All-America status.
So there's nothing shocking about soon-to-be senior Miles Beatty, a Guttenberg native, and junior-to-be Travon Woodall, his talented Friar teammate, making appearances at the ABCD Camp last week.
After all, Beatty is already considered a top-flight college prospect, while Woodall should be among the best point guards in the country by the time his senior year tips off in November of 2007.
But there was still a little shadow of a doubt whether either player could handle the rigors of being among the finest players in the country, under the spotlight of about 100 of the best college basketball coaches in the nation sitting in the stands.
You name the big-time program and you know the coach was there. Bruce Weber of Illinois was a fixture for the entire week. Jim Calhoun of Syracuse was there. So was the legendary Mike Krzyzewski of Duke. Bob Huggins was making his first official appearance as the new head coach at Kansas State. Tim Floyd of the University of Southern California was making his way around the gym.
They were all there watching all the players' every move, so local products like Woodall and Beatty had to feel like they were under the microscope.
"I was playing with the best competition in the world with some of the best players around," Woodall said. "I think this gave me the confidence that I can do it against anybody. I just went out there with the idea that I wanted to become a better player and I think it helped me a great deal. I think I did pretty well. I've been shooting the ball a lot better and that helps."
Woodall had 27 points in one game against Brandon Jennings of Dominguez High School in Compton, Calif. Jennings is readily respected as the premier underclass player in the country, and here's Woodall from little old St. Anthony lighting him up to the tune of 27 points.
"Brandon Jennings is a great player and he might be the best point guard in the country," Woodall said. "There were some people who thought I might back down from the challenge of facing him, but that's not me. I stepped up to the challenge. That's probably a game I'll never forget."
And it's certainly a performance that has made Woodall's stock skyrocket.
"I sure hope so," Woodall said. "I just wanted to impress some of the colleges that I could play."
Woodall makes his home in Paterson and lives with teammate Jiovanny Fontan, so whenever the two need a workout, they just head to the neighborhood courtyard and go one-on-one.
"The only thing is that he knows all my moves," Woodall said of Fontan, whom he calls "my God cousin."
"We basically go outside every day and play, working on our shots," Woodall said. "We're going to be ready."
Beatty made his presence felt as a sure-fire NCAA Division I prospect toward the end of last season, when Beatty became the leading scorer for the 26-2 Friars. A product of Guttenberg's Anna L. Klein School, Beatty used the ABCD Camp as a stepping stone for bigger and better things.
"I think I made a pretty good impression," said Beatty, who is now ranked by Scout.com as the No. 26 shooting guard in the country. "I was lucky to play with the guys that I did at the camp, because we were able to share the ball. I was happy to be able to show a lot of different aspects to my game. If my shot wasn't going down, I was still able to do some other things to impress. I think my performance definitely put me on a step up, at least, I hope it did."
Beatty is fielding offers from a host of schools, including Maryland, Miami, St. John's, Georgia Tech, Boston College and Virginia. However, Beatty is also seriously considering Rutgers and new coach Fred Hill was watching Beatty's every move last Sunday morning.
"Rutgers is definitely in there," Beatty said. "I'm not too sure which way I'm leaning, but it's a good feeling to get out there and get recognized. I don't like dealing with the off-the-court stuff. I'm much better on the court. My goal is to make a decision before the end of the summer. It was fun to see where my game is at. I had a lot of fun."
Veteran St. Anthony basketball coach Bob Hurley was pleased to be able to send both standout players to the prestigious camp.
"When they get the invitation, coaches definitely look at you differently," Hurley said. "They went into a higher classification. They both played well with all the people watching. Travon's performance will only help him down the road and Miles played under control. If he continues to do that, he will be in good shape."
With performances among the elite of the country, is there any wonder why St. Anthony is already being considered the team to beat in New Jersey for the upcoming season?
"I'm really excited about what's in store for us, but I'm also trying to keep it humble," Beatty said. "I think we all feel the same way that this could be a special season, but we don't want to get overconfident."
"This is definitely going to be a season to never forget," Woodall said. "Maybe there should be another book about St. Anthony. We'll call this one 'Miracle, Part II.' It's going to be a great season because we're all on the same page, from the first guy to the last one."
Woodall was referring to "The Miracle of St. Anthony," the book written by Adrian Wojnarowski that came out two years ago about the 2003-04 Friars that went through the season without a loss.
Maybe it's time for sequel. After what happened last week at ABCD, it's not out of the realm of possibility.
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