INDIANAPOLIS – If you were in the National Institute of Fitness and Sport gymnasium Saturday night and feeling a little groggy after watching Nike All-America Camp action since 9 a.m. (like at least one person I know fairly well), a nice pick-me-up came in the form of a 6-foot-10 junior-to-be from Gretna, La.

And the performance of Greg Monroe was more jolting than any espresso that could have been bought anywhere in Downtown Indy would have been.

The 226-pound lefthander (and get ready to cue the Lamar Odom comparisons very shortly) was the standout during the evening session of games, even while on the floor at the same time as Top Five Class of 2007 prospect Kyle Singler made his camp debut after arriving from Medford, Ore., earlier in the day.

With Mike Krzyzewski (Duke) and Lorenzo Romar (Washington), two of the head coaches who would be downright giddy if the 6-foot-8 Singler – who helped lead the Romar-coached U.S. 18-under squad to a gold medal in San Antonio a week ago – was to sign one of their letters of intents in November, in the stands, Monroe was the guy who had what was left of the crowd buzzing when play wrapped up about 10 o’clock.

Monroe, who may have as many offensive skills as any player his size in high school, regardless of grade level, led his Illinois team to a narrow victory over the Wake Forest squad that had played without Singler during its first five games played since Thursday afternoon.

And disregard any notion that might exist that the 226-pound Monroe is a “center” prospect. He’s much more a player in the mold of the Los Angeles Lakers’ Lamar Odom (another southpaw with a comparable frame at the same age) – a player every bit as dangerous to the opposition whether he’s in the low post or has the ball in his hands a foot behind the top of the key, initiating his team’s offense.

Monroe put a big part of his skills resume on display Saturday night, even while being checked by a determined defender – Singler – through a big part of the second half.

Follow shots in traffic . . . mid-range jumpers off the pass or dribble . . . coast-to-coast drives and buckets or passes that led to buckets . . . and, just as impressively, poise down the stretch . . . Monroe did it all while (intentionally or not) building a sturdy case for anyone who’d like to tout him as the No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2008 when the bulk of the summer camp and tournament tour wraps up at the end of the month.

And what of Singler?

After a performance in San Antonio that many believe was the U.S. team’s most consistently outstanding during the four games played in the tournament, Singler looked every bit the part of a guy who hadn’t played against anyone who could really challenge him for the better part of a week.

He caught that challenge Saturday night.

Singler was a tad out of synch – he never got into any sort of shooting rhythm – but did enough to remind those who have watched him multiple times why he is the best “combo-forward” in this class. He’s got the savvy (at both ends of the floor) of a 30-year-old who has been collecting NBA paychecks for eight or nine years.

Those getting their first look at him Saturday night who weren’t ready to buy into the hype might be more willing to jump on the bandwagon after Sunday’s action, including the all-star game that wraps up the camp Sunday night.

*More on Monroe: Earlier in the afternoon, he was almost as impressive while matched against another elite-level member of the Class of 2008, 6-10 Xavier Gibson of Dothan, Ala.

Gibson doesn’t have nearly Monroe’s perimeter skill. But he continually beats people to the glass with his “length” (one of the basketball catchwords of the 21^st century), quickness and determination.

And I’m sure there are those who would put up a persuasive argument in support of 6-9 Samardo Samuels (Newark St. Benedict’s Prep) being the best “big” junior-to-be in the camp.

Get ready for the comparisons to another Los Angeles NBA standout – this time, the Clippers’ Elton Brand – to begin in earnest for Samuels. As long as he remembers he’s a power forward and doesn’t start daydreaming that he should be playing on the “wing”, Samuels will merit those comparisons.

*I watched Chris Allen (Norcross, Ga.) extensively at the Pangos All-America Camp in Cypress, Calif., last month.

And I had long looks at point guard Kalin Lucas (Orchard Lake, Mich.) and wing Durrell Summers (Redford, Mich.) in both the 3-on-3 competition as well as afternoon and evening session of games Saturday.

All three have committed to Michigan State and if each signs with the Spartans in November, it’s difficult to envision a program having a group of perimeter-oriented freshmen any better than Tom Izzo will have available to him in the fall of 2007.