Six Takeaways: Mater Dei Summer League
Santa Ana, Ca. — The Mater Dei summer league is one of the most eye-opening events of the summer. The three-day event provides the opportunity to view teams from all over the Southland, while pitting the top teams against one another at some point during the weekend. Mater Dei, Corona Centennial, Taft, Anaheim Canyon, Rolling Hills Prep and Fairfax were among the top teams in attendance.
Six Takeaways
Mater Dei is relying on a youth movement
The Monarchs are looking thin on contributing seniors just a few months removed from a year where it’s roster featured four senior starters, three of which went on to the Division I level. Six-foot-8 big man Wilhelm Breidenbach will shoulder much of the offensive load next season and is certainly capable of taking on that responsibility with his versatile skill set. Devin Askew, who was at the Nike Elite 100 camp and missed the tournament, will inherit the point guard duties from Spencer Freedman, while juniors Aidan Prukop and Ryan Evans (who transferred in from Santa Margarita) will be relied upon to provide perimeter scoring. Mater Dei is usually known for bringing in a strong freshman class and this one is highlighted by talented 6-foot-3 wing Gabriel Quiette.
Mater Dei sophomore F Wilhelm Breidenbach will be the go-to offensive option for the Monarchs this season.Anaheim Canyon is prepared to play faster than last season
If we thought Canyon played uptempo last season, what they showed over the weekend is in fast forward compared to last. Rising senior guard AJ Perry will lead the 3-point shooting barrage to go along with Crean Lutheran transfer Maximus Bo – both of whom are big time 3-point shooters with with an evergreen green light. The key for this team will be junior point guard Justin Williams who has the task of orchestrating the high-powered attack.
Vaughn Flowers’ progress is key for Rolling Hills Prep
Coach Harvey Kitani’s squad returns most of its best players from last season and Vaughn Flowers has taken over the point guard duties. The rangy 6-foot-1 rising junior didn’t play club basketball during the spring and used the time to work on his ball skills which, in turn, has led to him being much more comfortable as the primary ball handler and decision maker for the Huskies. Flowers’ improved feel for the game should raise his stock in the recruiting landscape.
Taft looked formidable without one of its best players
The Toreadors were missing talented sophomore Demetrius Calip, but didn’t miss a beat on the weekend. Rising seniors Brandon Wilson and Makani Whiteside were in attack mode all weekend long, while junior-to-be Khalil Haywood was a menace on the offensive glass and when finishing in transition.
Capo Valley may not be in for a down year
Coach Brian Mulligan graduated all five of his starters from last season, but might have some reinforcements on the way. San Clemente transfer Spencer Egbert is a skilled and smooth lefty at 6-feet-5 and there are rumors swirling that talented Mission Viejo freshman Langston Redfield is on the way to the Cougars as well. One holdover from last season is upstart rising junior Connor Gleason who had a huge weekend in the scoring department.
Dos Pueblos PG Jaron Rillie is one to monitor
If there was a better true point guard in the gym than Jaron Rillie, I didn’t see him. The 6-footer defines the term “crafty lefty” as his feel for the game and passing IQ are both off the charts. He sees the game a step ahead of his opponents, is unselfish to a fault at times, and can knock down the open 3-point shot. Rillie is a 16 year-old rising senior who is younger than most juniors and some sophomores in the area. Another Rillie-based note, 13 year-old incoming freshman Kael Rillie made his varsity debut over the weekend, showing good feel and IQ to go along with some 3-point sniping ability. He took and made the first triple of his varsity career and isn’t shy about letting them fly from deep.