2019 Rankings Update: Balance at the top
The 2017-18 high school basketball season brought some movement and clarity to SoCal’s bevy of 2019 hoops talent.
One of the storylines to evolve from November to March was the balance at the top of the junior class rankings.
Three guards, three bigs and four wing prospects make up the updated Top 10, led by the No. 1 overall prospect Onyeka Okongwu of Chino Hills.
Here’s a look at the four wings in our updated Top 10 rankings for the 2019 class.
While Camarillo’s overall record might not be eye-pleasing, but the Scorpions’ star Jaime Jaquez is a joy to watch play the game. Jaquez comes in at No. 2 in the updated 2019 rankings thanks to his ridiculous production on the season.
Camarillo wing Jaime Jaquez averaged better than 31 points and 12 rebounds a game this past season.The 6-foot-6 wing averaged 31.2 points and 12.8 rebounds while carrying his teammates to 15 wins through a strong schedule which included trips to the Tarkanian Classic and Classic at Damien tournaments. Jaquez is a beastly athlete and physical attacker who can also pull-up from the 3-point and mid-range levels.
Santa Margarita’s Jake Kyman rises to No. 3 and that’s due to his high level production and improvements game-in and game-out. Kyman blasted the criticisms that he’s just a spot up shooter, proving he can create for himself and teammates off the bounce. Kyman’s consistent mid-range game is one of the biggest strides he made on the season.
Sierra Canyon’s high flying, transition menace Cassius Stanley comes in at No. 6. The 6-foot-5 wing is an electric athlete both in transition and in space and is one of the better above-the-rim finishers out west. Stanley’s game continues to mature and proof of that is in him helping the Trailblazers to a CIF State Open Division title.
Rounding out the Top 10 is one of the more intriguing long-term prospects in the class, Santa Margarita’s Max Agbonkpolo. The 6-foot-8 wing has all the “measureables” and is smooth in transition, but also possesses explosive leaping ability when he needs it. Agbonkpolo benefitted from the Eagles not having a true point guard at its disposal as it upped his responsibility as a ball-handler and improved his ball skills.