CdM Summer Shootout: Under-the-radar prospects
Corona del Mar, Ca. — The three-day Sea Kings’ Summer Shootout featured many of the top programs in Orange County from private schools’ the likes of Mater Dei, Santa Margarita and Orange Lutheran down to strong public school programs in Anaheim Canyon, Newport Harbor, Capistrano Valley, Laguna Beach and Huntington Beach Edison.
Here are five top performers we saw while taking in the solid summer league slate:
Budd Bernie, Riverside Poly
Bernie, a junior-to-be was on fire from 3-point range over the weekend, helping lead a Lamont Butler-less Bears team to a couple of solid wins on the weekend. Bernie, a 5-foot-10 shooting guard who is also the starting quarterback on Poly’s football team, fits in perfectly to what coach Yancy Dodson needs – confident knock-down shooters who take and make open triples.
Gavin Kroll, Patriot
Kroll has nice size for the shooting guard/small forward position standing at 6-feet-5 and a fluid athlete to boot. The rising junior makes a living trailing the break in transition, walking into rhythm 3-pointers with range. Kroll works well out of pin-down screens and doesn’t need much time or space to get a clean look off.
Kendall McHugh, Santa Margarita
McHugh arrived at Santa Margarita from Chantilly high school in Virginia and brings with him a physical ball handling presence that should help the Eagles when the regular season comes around. The 6-foot-1 senior-to-be has good speed in the open floor, a strong frame that allows him to bully defenders into the paint and has a knack for finding open 3-point shooters on drive-and-kicks.
Laguna Beach forward Nolan Naess is one to watch in the 2021 class.Nolan Naess, Laguna Beach
Naess is a name many should become familiar with. The 6-foot-6, class of 2021 wing/forward has an innate feel for the game, is a knock-down shooter off the catch and plays with a high motor and high basketball IQ on both ends of the floor. Naess, who plays club for a local program, JSK, is yet another talented player to come through the Breakers’ program, but could shed the “sleeper” tag with a big sophomore year.
Derek Rubidoux, Riverside Poly
Rubidoux is the kind of player every high school team needs. The 6-foot-1 rising junior has no defined position and his impact on the game goes well-beyond the box score. Rubidoux has the ball skills and basketball IQ to initiate the offense, he sets a tough screen, can guard multiple positions and is the first on the deck to grab a loose ball or the guy who is going to step over and take a charge on an out of control driver.