Prep Hoops So-Cal 2020 Prospect Rankings – San Diego’s First Five
San Diego has its fingerprints over all of the recent Prep Hoops So-Cal rankings updates. The 2020 class is no different, as the region’s top prospect, Chibuzo Agbo, slots at No. 5 overall.
Who are some of the other top San Diego prospects to make the rankings? In the first of a series of reports, we look at the top five ranked San Diego prospects in the overall rankings – which includes a name mysteriously absent due to a clerical error.
2020 Rankings Update – San Diego’s First Five
Chibuzo Agbo, 6-6 WF, Saint Augustine/ Vegas Elite (Prep Hoops So-Cal No. 5 overall)
Agbo is an evolving prospect who is taking his game more to the perimeter after playing in the post early in his career. He has a college-ready frame, solid athleticism and freakish length. His combination of power and agility make him one of the toughest covers in San Diego. He also plays big on the boards, using his body to carve out space and explode to the ball, both in and out of his area. And this spring, he has shown the ability to step out and hit the three consistently with Vegas Elite. He will need to sharpen his handle to make the transition to the wing complete.
Nakial Cross, 6-7 PF, Bishop’s/ West Coast Elite- San Diego (Prep Hoops So-Cal No. 23 overall)
Cross is a prospect who is all about the upside. He has a long, wiry frame and explosive athleticism. Cross runs the floor like a deer and can finish above the rim in transition. In the halfcourt, Cross has improved his shooting markedly this year, hitting shots from 15-20 feet off the catch. As a rebounder, Cross’ quick second jump allows him to block shots, corral rebounds and find outlets on the break. He needs to improve both his strength and assertiveness on the offensive end, where he tends to disappear at times.
Brandon Angel, 6-6 WF, Torrey Pines/ San Diego All-Stars (Prep Hoops So-Cal No. 25 overall)
We make mistakes from time to time. Angel was slotted as our No. 25 prospect, but due to a clerical error, didn’t appear in the rankings. We’re fixing that.
As a prospect, no San Diego 2020 prospect has improved their stock as much as Angel, a sharpshooting wing blessed with a tremendous body. At 6-6, we estimate his wingspan to be nearing 7-feet. He has impressive, repeatable mechanics and footwork on his shot and does not dip his shoulder. Angel has also shown improvement handling the ball on the wing, scoring on pull-ups and using ball fakes off the dribble to open passing lanes, through which he delivers crisp passes to teammates. Angel’s combination of skill and upside make him one of the fastest rising prospects on the West Coast.
Beon Riley, 6-4 G, Mater Dei Catholic/ Las Vegas Prospects (Prep Hoops So-Cal No. 29 overall)
Riley has been one of the most productive sophomores in the class since he stepped foot on the Chula Vista campus. The powerfully built combo guard is a matchup nightmare for opposing perimeter players, as he uses his strength to overpower guards on his way to the basket. Riley does most of his scoring damage in and around the paint off the drive, but has shown flashes of improved shooting off the catch. He also has solid ball skills, especially in transition, where he can drop off nifty no-look passes. A younger 2020 prospect, Riley’s upside will be be determined by how much more fluid he can become, as he has somewhat stiff hips and plays rather upright at times.
Yassine Gharram, 6-2 PG, Foothills Christian/ Compton Magic (Prep Hoops So-Cal No. 30 overall)
Gharram played a prominent role for the new-look Knights team this winter, which finished as runners-up in the CIF Open Division. The true point guard plays with great pace and feel and has improved his decision making in halfcourt, delivering pinpoint passes in drive and kick and pick-and-roll. Gharram has also come into his own as a scorer, where he is a consistent shooter from three and has developed a nice mid-range package. His foot speed becomes an issue when defending quicker guards, but he makes up for it by playing hard on the defensive end and using his length to create steals.