Francisco’s Finest: Adidas Gauntlet LA (On the Cusp)
Francisco’s Finest: Adidas Gauntlet LA (On the Cusp)
IRVINE, CA—The Adidas Gauntlet (LA Session) was the place to be this weekend as all the elite Adidas sponsored teams (West Coast that is) competed. One of the eye-opening observations taken this weekend was the number of elite 2020 Adidas-affiliated prospects that reside on the West Coast. Led by Evan Mobley the class also consists of Dalen Terry, Jalen Green, Kyree Walker, as well as couple of super sleepers in 6-foot-9 Coleman Hawkins and 6-foot-9 Mitchell Puttkammer Saxen.
Wilhelm Breidenbach-Dorsz (Mater Dei) Club Team: Compton Magic 16U
2021, PF, 6-foot-8, 220 pounds
Joel’s Take: Breidenback-Dorsz is all about production. The skilled 4-man has the strength, fundamentals, and skill to convert inside and out. He finishes with either hand and he is an astute passer, especially with his off hand (left). He needs to improve his mobility (plays too straight up) and quickness around the rim, but overall he is a hard-nosed prospect who sets strong screens and isn’t afraid to mix it up in the paint.
Coleman Hawkins (Antelope) Club Team: Dream Vision 16U
2020, PF/WF, 6-foot-9, 200 pounds
Joel’s Take: Hawkins showed flashes of his potential at the So-Cal Tip Off a week earlier and those same intangibles were evident at this event. The lengthy 4/3 can shoot the 3-ball, hand out the nifty assist, and he shows a nice effort level on the defensive end (hedging/sliding his feet). He needs to gain strength to bang inside and continue to polish his skill set, but overall he is an excellent prospect.
Isaac Johnson (American Fork/Utah) Club Team: Exum Elite Utah Prospects
2019, PF, 6-foot-10, 225 pounds
Joel’s Take: The rangy Johnson has been a household name in Utah since his freshman season. His length (very long arms) and skill set are impressive for his player his size. He can play inside-and-out due to his shooting touch and ability to convert jump hooks with either hand. However, his motor is not consistent and production needs to become more prevalent in his repertoire.
Steven Richardson (Sacramento/Grant Union). Club Team: Team Lillard
2019, SG, 6-foot-4, 170 pounds
Joel’s Take: Richardson is a solid looking sleeper who hits all the check points when evaluating a potential D1 sleeper. He has a terrific frame with long arms and broad shoulders and his quickness and bounce are impressive. He excels in transition slashing his way to the rim and he can also hit the pull-up. Defensively, he showed ideal lateral quickness and active hands to be a potential lock-down defender at the next level.
Marjon Beauchamp (Garfield/WA). Club Team: Team Bradley
2020, WF, 6-foot-6, 175 pounds
Joel’s Take: Beauchamp projects well to the high-major level. He has that prototypical D1 wing-type frame and the skills to go along with it. He has long arms, ideal quickness, and can explode in transition. His feel for the game is displayed by his passing prowess and he utilizes his length, athleticism, and budding skills to create offense in the half court set. His jump shot is solid out to 20-feet off the catch and he has the body control to slither his way to the rim. One of the better looking prospects in the impressive West Coast Class of 2020.
Ryan Langborg (La Jolla Country Day) Club Team: Gamepoint
2019, SG, 6-foot-4, 180 pounds
Joel’s Take: Langborg had an up-and-down weekend and most of the time it depends on the consistency of his jump shot. The mechanics of his jump shot are spot-on as he gets good lift and he’s always on balance. In addition, he’s a high IQ player who makes excellent decisions in the half court and has enough burst to get to the rim off the dribble. Improving his lateral quickness (defending) will help elevate his stock.