Nike Extravaganza: Top showdowns on tap
SANTA ANA, Ca. – The 23rd Nike Extravaganza, hosted by Mater Dei High and played in the school’s 3,200-seat Meruelo Athletic Center, will be the on-court home to many of the better players in Southern California – and beyond – over Friday and Saturday.
Here’s a look at some of the intriguing potential player “match-ups” that could be showcased during the 13 boys’ games being played:
Friday
*Servite vs. Saddleback Valley Christian (3 p.m.): The SVC Warriors have one of the better still-available Class of 2018 “big man” prospects in 6-foot-10 Jordan Taylor.
*JSerra vs. Rancho Christian (4:30): Rancho Christian’s Mobley Brothers, junior Isaiah and sophomore Evan, will be challenged by Trinity League-tested 6-10 Joel Mensah (a San Diego State signee) and 6-5 D.J. Rodman (a junior).
*Corona del Mar vs. Rolling Hills Prep (7:30): Each squad has an underrated senior, CDM in 6-5 Kevin Kobrine and RHP in 6-3 Alex Garcia.
Saturday morning session
*Los Alamitos vs. St. John Bosco (8:30 a.m.): The Griffins are led by one of the better Class of 2018 and unsigned “bigs” in 6-8 Jacob Eyman. The SJB Braves have a strong group of Class of 2019 prospects, including 6-6 Jonathan Salazar, 6-3 Christian James and 6-5 Jalen Manson.
*Oak Park vs. Colony (10): Two of the Southland’s better “combo guards” could go head-up in this one, Dartmouth-bound Wes Slajchert for Oak Park and 6-3 junior Sedrick Altman for Colony.
*Capistrano Valley vs. L.A. Westchester (11:30): One of Orange County’s best seniors, 6-3 Dawson Baker, will need a strong performance to keep the Cougars close to the L.A. City power Westchester Comets in this one.
Saturday afternoon/evening session
*Corona Centennial vs. Santa Margarita (1:15): There is scheduled to be junior one senior starter (forward Jordan Guest of Santa Margarita, who signed with Boston University in November) and oodles of elite prospects in the Classes of 2019 and ’20.
*Orange Lutheran vs. Villa Park (2:45): In another all-Orange County matchups, Orange Lutheran will put an underclass-dominant lineup on the floor, including 6-8 Cade Potter, while Villa Park will answer with its own very good junior in Julien Franklin (already committed to Oregon State).
*Long Beach Poly vs. Sierra Canyon (4): Look for a nifty point guard matchup in this one with Poly led by 5-10 senior Daryl Polk and Sierra Canyon Scotty Pippen Jr.
*Las Vegas Bishop Gorman vs. L.A. Fairfax (5:45): Coach Grant Rice has loads of top-flight underclass talent but is led by Washington-bound forward Jamal Bey. The L.A. City power Lions are guard-oriented, led b senior Jamal Hartwell and junior Ethan Anderson.
*Chicago Whitney Young vs. San Diego St. Augustine (7:15): The club from Chicago is guard-dominated, led by senior Xavier Castaneda (he’s going to the University of South Florida) while St. Augustine has two impressive sophomores in forwards Chibuzo Agbo and Luke Haupt (son of Coach Mike Haupt).
*Mater Dei vs. Chino Hills (8:45): In the finale of the event, the Monarchs will be led by Ivy League-bound Spencer Freedman (Harvard/he’s PICTURED) and Michael Wang (Pennsylvania). The Huskies are led by one of the best “bigs” in the national class of 2019 in 6-9 Onyeka Okongwu.