Magic Memorial Day Festival: (2018/19 Standouts-Part 2)
Magic Memorial Day Festival: (2018/19 Standouts-Part 2)
ORANGE, CA—The Magic Memorial Day Festival, hosted by Compton Magic, was the place to be in Southern California as there was a bevy of quality teams and players—most of which were from the So-Cal region. However, there were a few quality programs out of the region—most notably Nor Cal based Team Lillard as well as the Las Vegas Knicks.
After four grueling days Compton Magic (17u), Dream Vision (16u), and Team Lillard (15u) took home the hardware in their respective divisions.
Francisco’s Finest
Nick Blake (Las Vegas/Durango) Club: Las Vegas Knicks
2019, SG, 6-foot-5, 185 pounds
Joel’s Take: Blake has all the physical tools to be a Division 1 player. The length, athleticism, and continued skill development are evident. Consistency and overall production have always been the issues with Blake, but in the couple of games I took in with him on the floor, I saw a more consistent effort at both ends of the floor, a willingness to rebound, as well a player that came through in the clutch when his team needed it most.
Quinton Morton-Robertson (Radford/VA) Club: Team Winston
2019, PG, 5-foot-10, 145 pounds
Joel’s Take: One of the bigger surprises of the event was the play of Morton-Robertson. He’s undersized, but he exhibits a nice burst, changes speeds well while attacking the defense, and he gets great lift on his 3-point shot. This true game manager has a terrific court demeanor and never gets rattled under pressure.
Jamon Kemp (Seattle/Garfield) Club: NW Panthers Team Bradley
2019, SG, 6-foot-5, 175 pounds
Joel’s Take: Kemp was captain of the mid-range game this weekend as he converted a number of buckets within 15-feet of the basket. He has a quick 1st step, gets great lift on his jump shot, and he is very explosive in transition. Defensively, he slides his feet well, rebounds in traffic, and has the lateral quickness and length to suffocate opponents. He plays at a good pace and rarely forces the issue.
Both Gach (Arizona Compass Prep) Club: Firestorm 17U
2018, WF, 6-foot-6, 180 pounds
Joel’s Take: One of the bigger surprises of the spring has been the emergence of Gach. The lengthy wing-type is an explosive athlete in transition where he can throw it down over the top of the defender or slash his way around the defense. He has an explosive 1st step to the basket and a potent pull-up jump shot. Think Arizona’s 2019 Majok Deng, but a better prospect in my opinion.
Isaiah Hill (Bakersfield/Liberty) Club: Compton Magic
2019, PG, 6-foot, 155 pounds
Joel’s Take: Hill has always been on the radar, but it’s tough to get things going offensively when you have bonafide high-major prospects littered on the roster. However, this wasn’t the case in the championship game where Hill nailed a number of jump shots and set up teammates while attacking off the dribble. Many kids in his position would force the issue and try get “theirs” as they say in our business, but Hill allowed the game to come to him and ran the lead guard position with aplomb.
Aaron Murphy (Modesto Christian) Club: Lakeshow 17U
2019, WF, 6-foot-6, 200 pounds
Joel’s Take: The ultimate glue-type is the best way to describe Murphy. The well-built combo-forward affects the game with his athleticism, motor, and instincts. He snagged a number of rebounds in traffic, finished through contact, and was tough to deal with in transition. With continued skill development in the half court set, he looks to be a Division 1 prospect.