A Scout’s Take: The League (Part 3)
A Scout’s Take: The League (Part 3)
WESTMINSTER, CA—Compton Magic put on another worthwhile event as they presented another nice addition of “The League.” With the exception of recent USC commitment Onyeka Okongwu sitting out due to an injury, the rest of Compton Magic Elite were on display as well as number of up-and-coming prospects from the San Diego-based Gamepoint program.
Two-way standout
AJ Burgin (San Diego) Club Team: Gamepoint 15u
2021, 6-foot-1, 155 pounds
Joel’s Take: It’s always nice to see a young player who plays the right way, and that is exactly how Burgin approaches each game. He doesn’t force the issue, allows the game to come to him, and impacts the game with his outside shooting, passing, and on-ball defense. He needs to continue to work on his initial burst, changing speeds, and finishing in traffic, but overall he is a solid prospect.
Scorer Deluxe
Johnny Juzang (Harvard-Westlake) Club Team: Compton Magic 17s
2020, SG, 6-foot-5, 190 pounds
Joel’s Take: Some kids are born scorers and Juzang fits that mold to a tee. The rangy scoring guard has range on his shot out to 23-feet and he oozes confidence. He is a good athlete that can finish in transition and he plays with urgency. He needs to improve his triple threat game (mid-range skills) in the half court set and find ways to make others better off the dribble, but if you need a bucket-getter, Juzang is your guy.
Basketball Player
Nikko Taylor (Vista) Club Team: Gamepoint 15u
2021, SG, 6-foot-3, 160 pounds
Joel’s Take: Taylor has a rangy frame with good length and he plays the game at an excellent pace. He affects the game in many ways due to his nose for the ball. He gets his hands on numerous balls, can score inside and out and he shows a soft touch out to 19-feet. Thus far he appears to a future glue-type.
Skilled 4-Man
Isaiah Mobley (Rancho Christian) Club Team: Compton Magic 17s
2019, PF, 6-foot-9, 230 pounds
Joel’s Take: Mobley had his all-around game flowing at The League. The skilled 4-man exhibits excellent savvy in the paint area and possesses a knack to score with either hand. His ball skills are quite good in the open court and he’s an astute passer. He isn’t overly explosive, but he knows how to carve out space and his footwork has improved.
Astute Passer
Melo Sanchez (Chula Vista/Mater Dei) Club Team: Gamepoint 15u
2021, SG, 6-foot-2, 170 pounds
Joel’s Take: Sanchez dished out some nifty assists this past weekend and that is just start of what was a very productive weekend. The skilled 2-Guard impacts the game with his moxie, skill, and feel for the game. He can force the issue at times, but he gets to where he needs to go and his passing acumen is impressive—not too mention he is quite the scorer in the paint area off of his penetration.
Mr. Motor
Jarod Lucas (Los Altos) Club Team: Compton Magic 17s
2019, CG, 6-foot-2, 175 pounds
Joel’s Take: When it’s all said and done, we may have to retire this award with Mr. Lucas. In this day and age when kids are playing more than ever, Lucas always finds a way to play with extreme assertiveness at both ends of the floor. Offensively he puts defenders on their heels while on the defensive side of the ball he’ll dive for loose balls, rebound, and work the passing lanes.