Prep Hoops SoCal Awards: Best Shooters (Part II)
The 2017-18 high school season is officially a wrap, which is the perfect time to release some All-SoCal teams.
But instead of going through the same old worn out, mundane First, Second, Third type of squads, we’ll recognize some of the area’s top players in categorical form.
Now up, the best shooters in SoCal this past season, with some names you might not recognize.
Best Shooters (alphabetical order)
Tobin Kund, Sr., Riverside Poly
Kund set multiple school records with his 90 3-pointers made on the year and 11 3-pointers in a single game. The first team All-Inland Valley and first team All-CIF selection connected on 41 percent from deep on the year and averaged 15.6 points per game in helping the Bears reach the CIF Southern Section Division 2A championship game.
Ryan Langborg, Jr., La Jolla Country Day
The 6-foot-4 shooting guard has always been a knockdown guy off the catch from 3-point range, but he added another layer that has taken his stroke, and his overall game, to another level. Langborg was much more comfortable shooting off the move this season, utilizing an effective shot fake to nullify hard closeouts and get into a mid-range pull-up or a one-dribble, side-step trey.
Nic Lipovic, Sr., Capistrano Valley
Lipovic did his damage quietly down in South Orange County for Capo. The 6-foot-3 senior sank 89 of his 228 3-point attempts on the year and took just 79 shots inside the 3-point line. Lipovic was money from either of the short corners and hit a triple in 29 of the 30 games he appeared in.
2019 Bryce Pope is an elite shooter and an all-CIF San Diego Section performer.Jarod Lucas, Jr., Los Altos
Lucas has made it clear he doesn’t want to be categorized as just a shooter, and while he does do much more outside of his consistent jumper, he certainly belongs here. Lucas dropped 99 3-pointers on the season at a blistering 46 percent clip from behind the arc. What’s most impressive about Lucas’ season was that he shot 87 percent from the free throw line on 244 attempts. Lucas ranked third in the state (of stats recorded on MaxPreps) in free throws made and ninth in free throws attempted.
Bryce Pope, Jr., Torrey Pines
Pope was in our “Breakout Stars” piece yesterday and a lot of that had to do with his shooting. The 6-foot-2 junior only made 48 3’s, but connected on a 46 percent clip from deep. Pope shot 58 percent on 2-point field goals – a lot of those coming by way of the mid-range pull-up – and 84 percent at the free throw line.
T.J. Wainwright, Fr., Culver City
Wainwright might have an awkward looking shot and release, but there’s no denying the end result as it usually falls through the net. The 6-foot freshman knocked down better than 60 3-pointers on the year and shot 42 percent from deep. Wainwright’s signature effort came in a 10 trey, 34-point effort in a double overtime loss to Taft at the Classic at Damien.
Duane Washington, Jr., Sr., Sierra Canyon
Washington finds himself on this list not completely because of the quantity of his production, though we’re sure that’s impressive, but rather the nature in which he hit his shots. Washington hit multiple 3-pointers in clutch moments in both the Southern Section and State Playoff runs for the Trailblazers. Washington hit two clutch shots against Bishop Montgomery – once in the Southern Section semi’s and the other in State Regional semi’s – both giving Sierra Canyon momentum to pull off close wins.
Mason Westlake, Sr., JW North
Westlake had an underrated season for an underrated JW North team that went 23-3 on the year. The 6-foot senior nailed 86 3-pointers at a 42 percent clip. He averaged a team-high 18.6 points per game.