Adidas Gauntlet LA: 17U Breakout Potential
There’s no better time for a player to bring the best of their game than the live viewing period.
The first one of the spring kicks off this weekend as college coaches will flood gyms across the country in search of their program’s next star or program or glue guy.
The Adidas Gauntlet’s regional format makes a stop in Irvine beginning Friday. Many of the west coast’s top Adidas-affiliated teams – separated into Gold and Silver divisions – will be on hand for the three-day event, capped by bracket-style playoff system Sunday evening to name a regional champion.
Some of the SoCal’s top players will be on hand, including 6-foot-9 center Onyeka Okongwu (Compton Magic/Chino Hills), the Dream Vision duo of 6-foot-7 wing Jake Kyman (Santa Margarita) and 6-foot-6 wing Julien Franklin (Villa Park), 6-foot-8 wing Max Agbonkpolo (Pump-N-Run/Santa Margarita), 6-foot-6 forward Jonathan Salazar (Dream Vision/St. John Bosco) and Compton Magic’s brother tandem of 6-foot-9 forward Isaiah Mobley and 6-foot-10 forward Evan Mobley.
While most of the cameramen will be focused on the players mentioned above and other top-flight prospects from neighboring states, the following prospects have a good chance of putting themselves on the map.
Jakob Alamudun, Cali Rebels Elite
The Marina High junior forward plays with one of the highest motors you’ll find anywhere. At 6-feet-5, 190 pounds, some may say Alamudun is undersized for his position, but those naysayers will quickly forget those comments once they see how productive he is. Alamudun gobbles up rebounds both in and out of his space, can knock down the open 3-point shot and get to the basket off the bounce where he can finish through contact.
Sedrick Altman, Dream Vision
Altman is a freakish vertical athlete and has blurring end-to-end speed both of which make him a terror to deal with in transition. Altman, a junior who plays his high school ball at Colony in Ontario, is another guy who leaves it all on the floor every possession. He’s best as a slasher and finisher on the break and is a beastly on-ball defender who can jump passing lanes with his speed.
2019 Colony High wing Sedrick Altman affects the game with his athleticism and budding skill set.Roland Banks II, Gamepoint Elite
The Gamepoint coaching staff has raved about what Banks has done for their team since joining in the spring. Despite making the drive down to San Diego from Bakersfield, Banks is of the pass-first point guard mold who has quickly learned where his teammates are best suited for scoring. Look for the gritty 6-foot-2 junior guard to make a huge impact defensively.
Jared Brown, Los Angeles Elite
Brown hasn’t had many eyes on him throughout his high school career, hiding in Orange County with the Cypress Centurions, but the 5-10 combo guard has a lot of talent. The junior is crafty with the handle and weaves his way through the paint where he can finish with a floater or a kiss off the glass.
Shengzhe Li, Pump-N-Run
Li seemed to get better every time out with his Santa Margarita high school team after adjusting to the quicker whistle of the Orange County officials. At 6-feet-10 and a strong and mobile 240 pounds, the junior center has some nice touch with dexterity in the paint, clears out space in the paint with his wide body, buries defenders with screens and pulls down rebounds at a high clip.