San Diego Fall High School Showcase: Day 2 Recap
Saturday’s action inside of Miramar College lived up to previous installments of the San Diego Fall High School Showcase, which perennially features the top teams in San Diego and gives us a glimpse into the upcoming season.
Mission Bay arguably made the biggest statement over the weekend, going 4-0 with wins over Santa Margarita and Temecula Valley. Boogie Elllis looked more and more like the top point guard in San Diego, regardless of class.
Here are some of the other players who stood out on Day 2 of the showcase.
Top prospect: Boogie Ellis, 6-2 2019 PG, Mission Bay – Ellis, coming off of a strong performance at the 3p Creme of the County, continued his strong play in the fall. He scored at will from all three levels, but also made some exceptional reads with the pass in the half court. This is an area of his game where we’ve been waiting to see growth, and it appears Ellis recognizes it too. His physical tools (great length, improved explosiveness and quickness) are also very impressive.
Best scorer: Bryce Pope, 6-2 2019 G, Torrey Pines – Pope went on an impressive run against San Marcos where he scored 12 of his team’s 14 points during a critical stretch. He’s not just a shooter: the crafty lead guard has excellent footwork and feel in the mid-post area, which he displayed as he repeatedly attacked the heart of the Knights’ zone defense. Pope also made some impressive scores in transition, finishing plays with either hand through contact.
Top guard tandem: Taurus Samuels, 6-0 2018 PG, and Isaiah Morris, 5-11 2018 PG, Vista – The backcourt duo’s contrasting styles complement one another extremely effectively. Samuels is the steady floor general who sets up the offense and can score from all three levels, while Morris is an athletic, fearless finisher whose energy and passion – especially on the defensive end – is infectious. Together, they make life difficult for opposing back court players.
Biggest Sleeper: Nick Hulquist, 6-4 2019 G, La Jolla – Every year, it seems like the Vikings trot out an impressive under-the-radar prospect. Three years ago, it was Eddie Parker. A year later, it was Charlie Gal. This year, it’s Hulquist, a lanky lead guard who’s game is reminiscent of a recent Vikings standout, Reed Farley. Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves, as Hulquist has a lot of work to do to reach the level of the Harvard wing. But, he’s got the physical tools, shooting touch, and improving handle to be a breakout star for the Vikings this year.
Most intriguing: Cody Mathis, 6-8 2018 C, San Marcos – Mathis is arguably the most improved post prospect in the class. At 6-8 and blessed with a 7-0 wingspan, Mathis runs the floor like a deer, protects the rim and scores off of offensive rebounds or short-range shots. His post game is still a work in progress, but there’s a lot to like here. Mathis’ best basketball is still ahead of him.
Most dependable: Damien Miller, 5-10 2018 PG, Orange Glen – Miller spearheads a Patriots team that could be the surprise team in San Diego this year. He does it with a no-nonsense approach to both ends: he is a dominant on-ball and off-ball defender, and a straight-line driver who puts pressure on defenses with his dribble penetration. Once he gets into the teeth of the defense, he locates open shooters with crisp passes with either hand. Miller’s teammates often oblige him by knocking down open shots. Miller is the definition of a pass-first point guard, but can score when necessary for his team.
Notes
- San Marcos defeated Torrey Pines 54-53 on a game-winning layup by Cody Mathis, who scored off a nice feed from 2021 PG Chris Howell. Howell and senior SG Kody Clouet had strong performances against the Falcons, who were led by Finn Sullivan and Bryce Pope.
- Christian High, which defeated San Diego in the afternoon cap, has a plethora of weapons, starting with 2018 PG Nashom Carter and 2019 PG Dominic Safarta. Watch out for 2021 PG Gabe Harrison, who is a physical defensive presence, and 2019 F Jackson Larsen, a lanky face-up four with upside.
- Santa Fe Christian got a strong performance from 2018 G Jack McRoskey, who missed Day 1 of the showcase returning from a visit to Colorado College.
- San Diego HS has an intriguing senior forward in Emanwel Henry. The 6-4 lefty can score it from all three levels, but must develop his off hand and get stronger to enable him to finish through contact.
- Poway, which was missing starting senior wing Zach Reiter, scored an incredible 50-47 win over La Jolla after trailing 47-35 with 2 minutes remaining in the game. Jordan Cooke Harper and Adam Sevier keyed the comeback, but watch out for senior guard Jack Estepp, who is a relentless defender.