EBO Big Showdown – 2019 Sleepers
Every year, Lady EBO Director Marlon Wells brings many of the top San Diego clubs – and a few out of state ones – together for the EBO Big Showdown, a tournament with regional bragging rights on the line.
A number top prospects dotted the field spread out across the tournament’s multiple sites. Prep Hoops So-Cal was there at several of the main sites – Canyon Crest Academy, Sweetwater High School and Southwestern College – for games throughout the weekend.
The “17u East” championship game turned out to be a surprise, as the San Diego All-Stars and Gamepoint Select met to decide the field that included a very strong Powerhouse Hoops Dynasty team and a loaded Dream Vision 16u squad. San Diego All-Stars won the championship in convincing fashion, 59-34, fueled by the offense of unsigned prep prospect Malik Parsons and a stifling halfcourt defense that stymied teams the entire weekend.
San Diego All-Stars also captured the “16u East” championship with a 44-38 victory over Dream Vision’s 15u team.
And in the top “15u East” bracket, a well-coached And1 Academy defeated a very strong Las Vegas Prospects 2022 44-29.
Our coverage continues with the biggest sleepers in the 2019 field.
EBO Big Showdown – 2019 Sleepers
2019 West Coast Elite F Elijah Seales is an explosive athlete who plays much bigger than his heightElijah Seales, 6-3 WF, Morse/ West Coast Elite SD
Seales is an explosive athlete with a nose for the ball. He has impressive length and the physique of a NFL linebacker and is very productive on the court. He rebounds at a prolific rate, both inside and out of the paint, using his explosive bounce to snag rebounds at their high point. Seales also showed some flashes of his ability on the perimeter, knocking down mid-range jumpers off the catch, but his offense is largely generated on offensive putbacks and finishes at – or above – the rim.
Andre Scott, 6-1 G, Mission Bay/ West Coast Elite SD
Scott is a physical combo guard who gets into the paint and makes plays for himself or others off the drive. He has good burst off the dribble and is strong enough to finish plays through contact going to his right. Scott also thrives on the defensive end, where his agility and length come into play. The biggest area of improvement for Scott is shooting, especially from midrange, where he showed he could hit shots off of one or two dribbles, and knock down free throws consistently. His shooting from three still needs work.
Kyeem Kabeer, 5-9 PG, Crenshaw/ Gamepoint OC
The stocky and diminutive point guard was the catalyst of Gamepoint’s win over a very good Dream Vision 16u team. Kabeer got into the paint off the dribble against Dream Vision’s bigger guards, and finished over their huge front line with a variety of runners and floaters. Kabeer also played tough on-ball defense, making it difficult for the bigger guards to get into the paint by crowding their space and aggressively sliding his feet. One of the areas where Kabeer has made strides is his perimeter shooting. He can knock down midrange and three-pointers off the catch and off the dribble. He needs to tighten his handle, especially in the pick-and-roll, and develop his off hand. If he continues to do this, Kabeer is an intriguing point guard option at the smaller school level.
Maceo Reddick, 6-3 SG, Villa Park/ Gamepoint OC
Reddick has always had impressive length, frame and athleticism. It looks as though his skill level is starting to catch up with his potent physical gifts. Reddick was a difference maker for Gamepoint OC’s team this weekend, hitting shots from three off the catch and showing off an improved mid-range attack. Defensively, he is an imposing on-ball defender due to his length and lateral quickness. His handle still needs to get better, but Reddick is starting to realize the potential that he displayed early in his high school career.
Patrick McLachlan, 6-2 G, Rancho Buena Vista/ Gamepoint Select
McLachlan is an intriguing point guard prospect. He has a nice frame with solid length, and plays with good pace (doesn’t get sped up) and uses a nice hesitation dribble to free himself from the defense. He runs the high screen and roll effectively, and more often than not makes the right read. While his shooting is streaky, he has shown the ability to knock down shots from mid range and from three off of the dribble and off the catch. More crafty than explosive, McLachlan needs to improve his first step in the halfcourt and tighten his handle, but he’s a guard that should garner some D2 and lower D1 interest sooner than later.