RHP State Preview: Francisco’s Finest (Part 2)
RHP State Preview: Francisco’s Finest (Part 2)
NORWALK, CA— Harvey Kitani and his staff did an outstanding job of corralling many of the elite teams in Southern California, including arguably the best prospect in Southern California in Onyeka Okongwu. The Chino Hills versatile 4-man affects the game in multiple ways and does it a spectacular, yet efficient manner. There were a number of fine performances that will be covered in-depth this coming week, including Mr. Consistency: Utah-bound Riley Battin.
Mr. Consistency
Riley Battin (Oakpark)
2018, PF, 6-foot-8, 225 pounds
Joel’s Take: The Utah-bound 4-man is always about consistency. He is always engaged and is certainly the go-to guy on his team. Whether it’s snatching rebounds (never brings the ball down) or nailing elbow jump shots, Battin is a pleasure to watch. He schools would-be defenders on the block with his impeccable footwork and he is an innate passer both in transition and in the half court set. By reshaping his frame, he is more mobile and quicker around the rim as this has helped him to be more productive against length.
Best Sleepers
Nick Schrader (Bishop Montgomery)
2019, WF, 6-foot-5, 180 pounds
Joel’s Take: Each and every season, Mitchell always has these glue-types that emerge to maintain the continued success of this dominant program. Schrader is a multi-skilled wing-type who is a productive rebounder at his size (always blocks out) and he can knock in shots from all three levels. He isn’t outstanding in one particular area of the game, but he affects the game with his motor, savvy, and sneaky athleticism.
Isaiah Johnson (Crean Lutheran)
2020, PF, 6-foot-6, 205 pounds
Joel’s Take: Johnson has an ideal frame with broad shoulders, long arms, and overall good length. He can finish above the rim in transition, rebound in and out of his area, and he plays with purpose in mind. He needs to continue to hone his inside-out skills (finishing on the block and attacking defenders off the dribble), but he’s an intriguing prospect for the Division 1 level.
Clever Finisher
Kihei Clark (Taft)
2018, PG, 5-foot-8, 140 pounds
Joel’s Take: Five seasons ago Virginia snagged a Southern California point guard in London Perrantes. Well, Tony Bennett has done it again as he ventured into Woodland Hills and corralled another So-Cal product in Clark. The small, yet incredibly crafty point guard has a nifty handle and he changes speeds very well. He can finish with either hand and does a nice job dropping off impressive dimes in the tightest of areas. His jump shot is more than solid out to the stripe and he gets good lift on it. Scouting is not an exact science and it will be interesting to see how productive Clark will be in the lengthy and ultra-athletic ACC.
Most Clutch
Paris Dawson (Corona Centennial)
2020, SG, 6-foot-1, 155 pounds
Joel’s Take: Dawson started off the game quite cold, but when that 4th quarter arrived he found his groove. He is a fearless scorer who has the ability to slash his way to the rim or nail the deep jump shot. He shows solid speed and quickness in the open court and has a nose for the ball at both ends of the court. Despite his youth (1st year varsity player), he showed zero reservations about taking over the game—and he did it dramatic fashion.
Mr. Multi-Skilled
Jaylen Clark (Corona Centennial)
2020, PG, 6-foot-5, 175 pounds
Joel’s Take: Clark has all the tools, both athletically and skillfully, to be a high-level Division 1 recruit. He pushes the ball well in the open court and he is a gifted passer in transition. He can knock down the 3-point shot and he has the bounce to crunch it on would-be defenders. However, he runs on his tippy toes which makes it difficult for him to come to a jump stop (traveled on multiple possessions). Defensively, he needs to show a greater urgency to add another element of the game he can affect to take his game to another level.