Summer Recap: Francisco’s Finest (Part II)
Francisco’s Finest (Part II)
Mr. Blue Collar
Jaedon LeDee (The Kincaid School)
2018, PF, 6-foot-8, 220 pounds
Joel’s Take: LeDee has been a well-known prospect since his freshman season. This blue-collar 4-man plays with a high-level motor mixed in with some impressive inside-out skills. When his team (Pro Skills) was down to Team Final, he literally took the game over with his defense, rebounding, and finishing.
Coach on the Floor
Spencer Freedman (Santa Ana, CA/ Mater Dei)
2018, PG, 6-foot, 160 pounds
Joel’s Take: Freedman is arguably the top game manager in the nation. He isn’t overly quick or explosive, but he changes speeds very well and is crafty while finishing in the paint. Finds open teammates before they realize their open and he has a smooth shooting stroke. Harvard is getting an immediate impact player.
Mr. Clutch
Jules Bernard (Los Angeles, CA/ Windward)
2018, SF, 6-foot-6, 190 pounds
Joel’s Take: Bernard has been the catalyst for the Compton Magic squad all spring and summer. His relentless slashing moves to the basket are tough to deal with, especially in transition. However, it was his two free throws with 5.3 seconds left that sealed the victory over the New England Playaz in the “Creator’s Cup” that garnered this award.
Best Scorers (2018)
Mathew Bradley (Mt. Pleasant, UT/ Wasatch Academy)
2018, SG, 6-foot-4, 200 pounds
Joel’s Take: This gifted scoring machine, who is committed to Cal, plays at an efficient pace. The chiseled lefty can knock down the 3-point shot, convert pull-ups in transition, or bully-ball his way to the rim. He is always on balance and gets teammates involved as well.
Bryce Hamilton (Pasadena, CA/ Pasadena)
2018, SG, 6-foot-4, 185 pounds
Joel’s Take: To appreciate Hamilton, you need to watch him with his high school team. During the club basketball circuit he was far to shot hungry, but with his high school team he would find open teammates as well as be that bonafide “bucket getter.”
Best Scorers (Underclassmen)
Clark Slajchert (Oak Park, CA/ Oak Park)
2020, PG, 6-foot, 155 pounds
Joel’s Take: Not sure if this game comes any easier to anybody else in the Class of 2020. This “ice-in-his-veins scorer” can convert buckets from anywhere and his jump shot is as smooth as silk. He’s a scorer first and foremost, but he does have the savvy to run a team.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. (Camarillo, CA/ Camarillo)
2019, WF, 6-foot-7, 205 pounds
Joel’s Take: Prior to the summer Jaquez Jr. was a deadly scorer in the mid-range area due to his innate ability to get to the rim and ability to score over defenders. Now he’s added an improved jump shot to add to his deadly arsenal of scoring weapons.
Mr. Dependable
Riley Battin (Oak Park, CA/ Oak Park)
2018, PF, 6-foot-8, 240 pounds
Joel’s Take: It’s well known that Battin is the most fundamentally sound and skilled “Big” in Southern California. His footwork and skill set are impeccable and he is money in the elbow area, but it was his takeover mentality each time out that separated him from his foes.