Hoop Review SoCal Tip-Off: Standout Freshmen (Part II)
The Hoop Review SoCal Spring Tip-Off featured nearly 120 programs from all across the Western United States.
Many of the most well-known programs from Southern and Northern California, along with Nevada and Arizona, made their way to Next Level Sports Complex in Garden Grove for the two-day event which kicked off what will surely be a wild club basketball season.
Below is the second set of freshman prospects who played well throughout the weekend.
D.J. Sanders, Chaos SD 16 (Bonita Vista)
Sanders has a throwback feel to his game. He’s a crafty 5-foot-9 left-handed point guard who uses the bounce and some wiggle to get into the paint and create for himself and others. Sanders has a nasty floater and is a creative finisher around the basket. The Bonita Vista product’s game is reminiscent of Tustin High grad and current UC Davis point guard T.J. Shorts.
Isael Silva, Team Lillard 16U (Jesuit)
Silva separated himself from many other young point guards with his high basketball IQ in all facets of the game. The Jesuit High product controls pace well, handles pressure with poise, doesn’t over-handle the basketball and knows where to get his teammates the ball when and where they will be most successful.
BTI guard Kenneth Simpson had a strong freshman campaign at Chaminade High and continued that stellar play into the first club event of the spring.Kenneth Simpson, BTI Prospects 17
Simpson, who shouldered a heavy load at Chaminade this season, has game well-beyond his years. The 6-foot-1 combo guard has a strong frame at this point in his development and knows how to use it to his advantage. Simpson does a nice job of getting defenders on his hip and keeping his dribble alive when probing the lane and creating for himself or others.
Alex Wade, Las Vegas Prospects 16
Wade’s high basketball IQ saved the Prospects from saved the Prospects from dropping games after losing big leads. The 5-foot-8 Cathedral Catholic point guard proved to be a calming force, making big shots and high IQ decisions down the stretch in close games.
T.J. Wainwright, Team Why Not 16U
Wainwright earned a solid reputation as a big time shooter during his freshman season at Culver City, but he showed some growth as an overall scoring guard over the weekend. The 6-foot lefty recognized teams closing out hard on him at the 3-point line and took those open lanes that resulted in numerous floaters in the lane.
TyTy Washington, Team Harden 16
Washington was one of the more explosive and speedy freshmen guards in the gym. His blurring speed in transition resulted in countless paint scoring opportunities for himself or his teammates. Washington possesses elite blow-by speed in the half-court setting, as well, which shot him into the lane, drew help defenders, and allowed him to set up his teammates. Washington averaged better than 15.2 points a game this past season at Laveen (Ariz.) Cesar Chavez
Corey Yerger, Dream Vision 15
Yerger has an intriguing skill set complete with the ability to create his own shot in isolation situations or work off the ball to find space to get an open look. The Sacramento Grant High-product has a deep bag of dribble moves at his disposal and uses those, along with high level feel with the ball, to get by defenders and into the paint where he can create for himself or others.