Sneaker camp snub no big deal to Fields

Based on the way Trinity Fields finished his junior year at Cardozo, and the way he started his summer on the A.A.U. circuit with the Westchester Hawks, it was surprising he was at home this weekend.
While the nation’s top prospects were in Akron, Ohio for Nike’s LeBron James Skills Academy; in Cincinnati, Ohio for the Adidas It Takes Five Classic; or at Reebok U in Philadelphia; he was diligently working on his game in southeast Queens.
“It really didn’t bother me too much,” he said of the oversight. “If they were looking for the best players, I would be there.”
Many of the borough’s other highly touted stars were there - Holy Cross’s Sylven Landesberg was the lone representative from Queens in Akron; while Jamaica native and St. Benedict’s (New Jersey) center Samardo Samuels was in Philadelphia; and Fields’ teammate James Southerland was invited to Reebok U but did not attend.
“I tell this to the kids: Going to the camp is great, but not going to the camp will make you work harder,” Cardozo Coach Ron Naclerio said. “Darryl Hill [formerly of St. John’s] never went to the camp. [Atlanta Hawks guard] Royal Ivey never went to the camp. The camp isn’t the end of it all.”
Fields said he did get a late invite to Reebok U, but lacked the means to get to the city of brotherly love. Anyway, playing with the Westchester Hawks, which boasts two of the nation’s most heavily recruited big men - Peekskill’s Mookie Jones and Mount Vernon’s Kevin Jones - will give the Jamaica point guard all the exposure he needs.
“He lucked out,” Naclerio said. “When they do see him, he’s just got to produce.”
So far, he has. Fields was the Most Outstanding Player at Five Star Camp at Fordham, and shined at The Rumble in the Bronx, both of which earned him a spot at Syracuse University’s Elite Camp recently. Talent evaluator Tom Konchalski, publisher of the High School Basketball Insider, has called Fields the PSAL’s best returning lead guard.
Right now, Fields is concerned with the rest of his summer and preparing for his all-important senior season. He will be playing in the upcoming Reebok Summer Classic East tournament at Rider College with the Westchester Hawks, and will make his way around the country, going to such A.A.U. showcases as the Bloomington Shootout in Indiana, and Nike Super Showcase and Nationals in Florida
“It’s real busy,” he said. “Every day I’m playing. I like basketball, so I love it.”